traveling articles

2) Hawaii is the most isolated population center on earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

3) Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows coffee.

4) More than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.

5) From east to west, Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.

6) The Hawaiian Islands mountain range tops are the biggest in the world.

7) Honolulu’s zenith star (the star that rises directly above it) is named Arcturus. The Hawaiians called it Hokule’a (Hoo koo lay uh).

8) The first Asian-American in the U.S. Senate was Hawaii’s Hiram Fong. Senator Fong was descended from Chinese immigrants.

9) Hawaii was the 50th state admitted to the U.S. union on August 20, 1959.

10) Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time). There is no daylight savings time. Hawaiian time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time, and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.]]>

Barcelona is one of the largest cities in Spain and one of the main tourist destinations. It’s also the capital of Catalonia, a province with its own language and big ambitions.
Millions of visitors Barcelona receives every year, are attracted by the original architecture and live attitude.
The conditions for tourist in the whole travel infrastructure are perfect. Barcelona has more than 300 hotels, like Madrid, but the capital of the Spain is twice as big as Barcelona.
When you think of Barcelona architectural attractions Antonio Gaudi buildings are the first things that come to mind. The best known is his unfinished structure – Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family) cathedral. This masterpiece of the architectural thought has became the symbol of the city. Its image adorns the postcards, photos and travel guides devoted to Barcelona.
Barcelona has small Gaudi museum - in Apartment and office block - La Pedrera, - also of his work. His style is unmistakable and is noted for clear, bright colors and the untraditional lines.
Old city with almost two thousand years history, Barcelona survived its rises and falls. After Roman and later Arabian invasions, in Middle Ages Barcelona became one of the most significant cities of the Mediterranean. If you like to sink into the medieval atmosthere, you can visit the houses of the nobility, which still adorn the centre of Barcelona.
Don’t forget shopping when you come to Barcelona. Its most famous shopping street La Rambla (also called Las Ramblas) has the numerous amount of the prestigious boutiques and the small shops with the works of the local craftsmen.
Barcelona has gained its glory not only by its architecture, but by the people born in the city too. Pablo Picasso, Juan Miro, Jose Carreras, Montserrat Caballe and the above-mentioned Antonio Gaudi - are the greatest Barcelona citizens.
One of the unique attractions in Barcelona is Barcelona Aquarium. It’s the biggest aquarium in Europe with more than 300 species of the sea fauna. 80-meters tunnel goes under the huge oceanarium with sharks and the rare fishes.
Barcelona is also one of the Spanish sport centers. Its stadium “Nou Camp” (or “Camp Nou”) is considered to be one of the best stadiums in the country, and Barcelona clubs (football and basketball) are always among the leaders of the Spanish championships.
Barcelona warm climate makes the city a very popular destination for summer trips and beach holidays. The most of the beaches are situated around the Olympic Village, built in 1992 for the Olympic games. The only problem is that they are often overcrowded.]]>

With about 3,400,000 inhabitants, Berlin is the largest City in Germany. It is 38 kilometres long and 45 kilometres wide. Consider that Berlin has a lot of suburbs and districts. As you know, the city was divided in its history. You will still recognize that there is/was East-Berlin and West-Berlin so it has a “City East” and a “City West”.

Arrival is possible with four different options.

1. By aircraft – Berlin has three airports.

2. By train – it’s a junction of the German Rail Network. Example, the station “Bahnhof Zoo” is located within Belin Mitte (City East), thus you have “instant access” to a lot of sights and pubs.

3. By Car – All motorways to Berlin lead to the “Berliner Ring”. From there you can get to the inner city on various access roads.

4. By Bus – it’s a well-priced and comfortable way to travel to this (or any other) city. The “Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof” (ZOB – Central Bus Station) is situated near the Exhibition Centre (ICC), in Charlottenburg, City West. From there, you have connections to over 350 destinations in Germany and Europe!

Now, shall we get started? Okay, c’mon, take my hand, let’s go sightseeing!

Reichstag

The Reichstag was constructed from 1884–94 by Paul Wallot, is the seat of the German Bundestag or federal government and, with its new transparent dome, one of the biggest crowd-draws in Berlin. Its colorful past reflects the turbulence of German history since the 19th century. From 1994–99, the Reichstag was reconstructed and extended by the Architect Sir Norman Forster. He decided to add an accessible transparent dome, inwhich you can walk through and “participate” and view how political decisions are made. One says, “We (the government) want to show that we have nothing to hide”. Go to http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/berlin.html for further information of this monumental building.

Friedrichstrasse

This is the most legendary street in the whole city. It combines the architecture of the New Berlin with the tradition of the “Golden Twenties”. In the Twenties, the 3.5 km long street was the location for pleasure palaces, cafיs, theatres and variety theatres such as the famous “Wintergarten”. After the division of the city, the Wall also cut through this street. The world famous Checkpoint Charlie was located at the border of the districts of Kreuzberg and Mitte and thus at the border of East and West Berlin. Not only visitors but also the employees from the new, chic offices, agencies and media centres all enjoy the urban spirit and New York flair of the new Friedrichstrasse.

Checkpoint Charlie

From 1961 to 1990, Checkpoint Charlie was the only border crossing point for the Allies, foreigners, employees of the Permanent Representation, and officials of the GDR. And it was the place where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face. Today, the checkpoint is commemorated by a border sign and a soldier’s post.

Stuck for a moment, the second part arrives soon Then you can go on with your Berlin Sightseeing Tour. In it we will go to places like the Alexanderplatz, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Museum’s Island.

Kind regards,
Marcus Hochstadt
© Copyright http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/ All Rights Reserved]]>

Did you know that Berlin has more than 140 Museums? Did you know that this city has more than 1,400 bridges, and besides all that more than 100 additional places of interest? Read on to discover.

IV. Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

This impressive building was the court church of the Hohenzollern Dynasty. It was also conceived as a protestant answer to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was built during the reign of Kaiser Wilhem II, end of 19th Century. Following extensive damage to the building during the Second World War, a simplified reconstruction took place from 1975–93. The Christening and Marriage Chapel contains the altar painting “Miracle of the Pentecost” by K. Begas the Elder. The royal crypt of the Hohenzollern contains around 100 burials of five centuries.

V. Alexanderplatz

Its short name is “Alex,” and it’s the most famous square in Berlin. It was almost completely destroyed in the World War 2. It has also the big TV Tower which dominates the square, the Fountain of International Friendship, and the World Time Clock.

VI. Fernsehturm (TV Tower)

This is the highest building in Berlin and one of the biggest attractions. It has a height of 368 metres. When you go up to the viewing platform (at a height of 203 metres), you have a perfect view over the whole city you will never forget.

VII. Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate)

This is the true symbol of the city. Because it was situated in the no man’s land just behind the wall, it also became a symbol of the division of the city. After the fall of the Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22nd, 1989. It is just amazing to walk through this huge and historical building. Would you like to know how the gate looked like in the year 1770? Or in 1969? Go to http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/brandenburg-gate.html for further information. There you will find the gate’s history, and some pictures.

Fortunately, since October 22nd, 2002, the Brandenburg Gate remains closed for cars, cabs and busses. So now you can better enjoy the renewed beauty of the Pariser Platz, which forms the link between the Brandenburg Gate and the magnificent “Unter den Linden” boulevard.

VIII. Unter den Linden

It’s called as the magnificent boulevard of Berlin Germany. It is surrounded by trees, which it was not all the time. Hitler ordered the linden trees to be chopped down so that the road could be widened and integrated into the east-west axes. However, by the end of the Second World War, the avenue was a wasteland of ruins. Today you can not recognize this part of history. Unter den Linden has been beautifully and well developed and reconstructed.

Museum’s Island? Where is it? Calm down It will arrive in the third part of this 4-part article about the TOP 10 Sights in Berlin Germany. And in the fourth part, we will cover the Erotic Museum and… we’ll see what else.

Stay tuned!

Kind regards,
Marcus Hochstadt
© Copyright http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/ All Rights Reserved]]>

Some cruise ships even offer romantic honeymoon packages. Imagine a private oasis for the two of you. Arriving in your room to find a bottle of champagne, flowers and gourmet nibbles. Make time to have a romantic massage for two, how about the honeymoon table specially set aside in the dining room? How about a pampering facial, manicure and pedicure for the bride? Most cruise ships also offer complimentary sessions for hair and make up, depending on the package you choose.

The most difficult decision about the cruise could be one that takes place months before the cruise itself. It’s the decision of which cruise to take. This would depend of course on the couple and their interests. The Caribbean is a very popular honeymoon cruse destination, along with Hawaii and Mexico. What could be more romantic than walking hand in hand with sweet warm tropical breezes blowing and a full moon shining overhead?

Cruises are the ultimate all inclusive honeymoon. You unpack one time, and have six or seven or even more days of cruising from port to port shopping and exploring each one. You can take the excursions offered by the cruise line or do some exploring on your own. Your time is your own, and this is the true beauty of a cruise. You have no where in particular to go, and all day to get there. You can sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, relax by the pool all day and go dancing into the wee hours of the night.]]>

If you are feeling a little tired out after a few days of sightseeing in Florence, a Florence hills tour can be a great way to relax and wind down. With a great ambience and an aura of solitude the hills of Florence are very popular and ideal for those who wish to take a break from the city.

If you only have a few hours to spare and don’t want to venture too far from Florence, then a trip to the town of Fiesole is highly recommended. Set amongst the hills, just 5 miles from Florence, Fiesole makes a pleasant half-day trip from Florence and provides a wonderful view of the city. You can get there by bus from the centre of Florence in around 20 minutes.

If you’re feeling more energetic or have a little more time to spare you can walk from the centre of Florence to Fiesole in around 2 hours. Once in Fiesole you can easily spend two or three hours wandering round, taking in the sights and the views of Florence and the valley below. Sights include a Roman Amphitheatre and baths dating from 1 BC, the Duomo and a few small museums.

If you have a full day to spare there are numerous tour companies that can organise day trips by bus, walking tours or biking trips. Alternatively you can hire a car and use a map to discover the delights of the Tuscan countryside for yourself.

A guided walking tour of the Florence hills will provide you with an insider’s view of Florence & Tuscany - you can discover the hidden treasures and learn of great legends and stories, giving you a more intimate experience of the region of Tuscany. A walk through the Florence hills is invigorating and you can soak up the beauty of the surroundings as you breathe in the fresh air and bask in the warm sun. You’ll also find plenty of photo opportunities as you pass by churches, castles, hill top towns and villages, olive trees and vineyards

If you’re reasonably fit and have cycling experience you may want to take a Florence Hills Tour by bike. There are many tour companies that offer guided biking expeditions of the area. With these tours you will cover more ground than the walking tours and you will see many of the different terrains and landscapes that the Florence hills have to offer. Be sure to find out as much information as possible about the cycling route before you go, as many tours of the Florence hills by bike can be arduous because of the steep climbs that you have to make.

If you want to make the most of the peace and quiet and spend a few more days enjoying the countryside you may want to book a stay in one of the many bed and breakfasts, hotels or villas in the Tuscan hills. Hiring a car will allow you to venture just that little bit further afield and visit some of the beautiful Tuscan hill towns such as San Gimignano, Colle Val D’Elsa and Monteriggioni.

Regardless of how much time you have to spend there, a trip to the hills surrounding Florence will give you a taste of the Tuscan countryside that will help to make your trip just that little bit more special.]]>

The Hawaiian shirt we know and love today was created from a combination of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, native Hawaiian, and American fashion influences.

All of these influences came together in the 1930s to create a shirt that put colorful native prints on silk fabric, with American-style tailoring.

The shirts became an instant hit on the islands, and when movie stars and other Hollywood celebrities began wearing the colorful shirts in movies and on the Mainland, the Hawaiian shirt exploded in popularity.

Now it’s hard to imagine Hawaii without the colorful printed Aloha shirts. When you’re ready to buy yours, be sure to look for the “made in Hawaii” label so that you know you’re getting an authentic Hawaiian shirt.]]>

Malapascua is an island part of Daan Bantayan, North of Cebu. For Cebuano’s Malapascua is not an alien destination as it is very known to boast a next-to-Boracay Paradise without being overrated and as tourist infested as Boracay is. Going to Malapascua is a 5-hour bus ride from Cebu City where you will be dropped to Maya, place in Daan Bantayan where you can catch a 45-minute boat ride from there to the white sand coast of Malapascua.

Day 1

5:45 AM Saturday morning
We grabbed our backpacks and headed for the North Bus Terminal, where the assembly place is. The agreed time was 6 a.m. Irik and Karmil were the first to arrive there.

5:45 AM Saturday morning
We were the second to arrive, Glin and I at about roughly 6 am. We waited for the remaining of the group to arrive, Fatrik and Cilishti. The supplies and our food were with Cilishti. Fatrik was to help in bringing them.

6:45 AM Saturday morning
Still no sign of either two, the four of us were impatient to get to the weekend ahead of us and still no Cilishti or Fatrik in sight. Karmil, Glin and I then decided to grab a bunwich to fill our empty stomachs while waiting for them. Meanwhile, Irik impatiently called Fatrik in the office only to confirm that Fatrik was still asleep. Somebody was asked to wake Fatrik up.

7:10 AM Saturday morning
Cilishti and Fatrik arrived carrying the supplies which consisted of 3 big water containers each full with 5 litres of drinking water, canned goods, junk foods, a tent and some hammocks.

7:20 AM Saturday morning
We were then all set and were in good spirits getting ready to board the bus toward our November-weekend-to-remember Adventure in Malapascua. The memorable quality of that island adventure could be attributed to some silly, funny and memorable things that never ceased to plague our trip from start to finish. This is how it all started.
Episode 1: Bus Driver Fight. The bus drivers had this fight over whose bus to board and even a bit forcefully persuaded some of us to board another bus which resulted in getting us and our belongings so disorganized that the half of us boarded this bus and other half boarded the other bus. But eventually were able to agree on one bus. Whew, what a really a chaotic way to start an island trip.

7:30 AM Saturday morning
The bus we decided on started its engines and we were finally heading towards Maya. While the bus continuously headed towards the North, we were also content to happily watch reruns of Commando and Rambo at the bus’ plasma TV. Even though we groaned at the antics of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, we were nonetheless blissfully occupied with the scenery and the “classics” we were watching. In no time we arrived at the wharf in Maya where pump boats bob peacefully at the shore. We grabbed our belongings backpacks, litres of drinking water, canned goods, drinks, tents, hammocks and all and boarded the soonest pump boat for our island destination.

12:00 NN Saturday and the Rest of the Day
It was really a bumpy boat ride as there has been news of an impending storm. For us new to such strong current and thick waves, it was really just so marvelous to stare into the ferocious dark blue green sea. Nonetheless, the boat ride was filled with our incessant chatter and bubbling enthusiasm that never ceased to amaze the other passengers. As the island of Malapascua came nearer and nearer into view, the water became tamer and the waves were nowhere to be seen and soon after, the sparkling white expanse of the Malapascua Southern Shoreline winked a welcoming glitter.

We disembarked via a 1-foot wide plank and touched our toes to the hot, fine and pristine white island sand. We arrived at about past twelve not really caring what time it was but our hungry stomachs clamored for food. Heading towards the Tropical Beach Cottages- the least expensive beach front accommodation, we passed along a few of skimpy bikini clad tourists sunbathing along the shore. It was then when it finally dawned that indeed our island getaway has officially started. Upon reaching the cottage, we deposited our belongings and unanimously agreed to feed our stomachs first. We proceeded to Cocobana, a bounty beach resort offering a variety of mouth watering foods at a hundred plus per serving. We then hungrily ate our food mindless of the sky soaring price for each order. Even tap water was sold at 7 pesos per glass without ice. Maybe it is because fresh water and electricity are so hard to come by. Malapascua has no electricity during the day and powered by generators during the night. Electricity only lasts from sundown at until about 10 or 11 pm.

After eating, we began to set up the tent and hammocks that we brought along and slackened for a while. At about 4 pm, we proceeded to the Sunsplash floating bar, just about 25 meters from the shore. We were just in time for the happy hour where all drinks can be obtained at half the price. We lazed for a long while, sipping rum coke and taking in the afternoon view of the island. When we were just remarking about how great it is being away from everything else while leisurely enjoying the unhurried and nice little chitchats, guess who boarded the floating bar… it was our bosses, Nik and Tobi, ready to take their afternoon swim. We later found out that they are regulars at the island after all.

After a while we decided to head to shore again where we dipped, swam and relaxed into the afternoon water. The sand was really so white and the view was just so unspoilt that even a simple afternoon swim could ease all your worries. Then just as time flies so quickly it was time for dinner again, we were forced to take our dinner early as the way of life at the island is just as early as it would again be lights off. We changed our wet clothes and gotten ready for dinner. We ate at Ging Ging’s, a garden eatery which boasts of home cooked Filipino food. The prices were reasonable as the food were also just like ordinary home cooked food. But don’t get us wrong, the food was ok but they were not what we were really looking for. That night, there was a town disco in preparation for their upcoming fiesta celebration, but we decided against it as going there would require a long hike towards the other end of the island. We all voted for relaxing session near the shoreline.

A sleeping bag was laid near the shore with some lounge chairs and a tent and we began pouring the gin and biting lemons and eating junk food and at the same time counting falling stars, Glin and I have counted a total of about 10 falling stars that night. Cilishti and Fatrik were enjoying a silly game about things in a store together with Karmil and Irik. We all laughed our hearts out and contentedly enjoyed the fun-filled and outrageously nice night we are having.

We then prepared to retire after two hours of fun — eager to rest our weary bones. Just as we were about to sleep, the sounds of slapping here and slapping there, itching here and there awakened our drowsy selves. Oh, did I mention that the island also abound with a gazillion of blood sucking mosquitoes? In fact every cottage has an installed mosquito net at every bed as a desperate act to ward them off. But still, I guess their mosquitoes are hybrid or have just been toughened up by the mixture of blood they have sipped from foreigners, to locals to even us. Not surprisingly, they have gotten past the mosquito nets and have never ceased to suck our blood till morning.

Day 2

The second day was another fun filled lazy day; we woke up very late in the morning, not caring what time it was and ate breakfast which the owner of the cottage prepared for us. This is when the second episode of our a-November-weekend-to-remember adventure began.
Episode 2: Island tour. A local named Jun-jun offered an island tour for 600 pesos that would last for 2 hours which we graciously declined for another offer of 500 pesos for an unlimited time presented by another local who happened to overhear the initial island tour offer. By then Windil who was scheduled to arrive came and together with the rest of the group planned for the afternoon ahead. We were really excited for the afternoon in front of us and we were so thrilled to explore the rest of the island and to go snorkeling above some known boat wrecks.

Come lunchtime, the food was superb as a freshly caught fish was sold to us and was natively yet deliciously cooked by none less than the owner of the cottage. After taking lunch and enjoying the afternoon siesta, 2 o’clock came and our scheduled island tour was about to begin. A big tube of Sun block was passed around, sunglasses were readied, hats and caps as well as goggles and snorkels were carried. We went to the shoreline eager to board the Yahoo, the boat we are to use for the tour and to spend the afternoon snorkeling and exploring, only to find out that the Yahoo is still happily anchored at the shores of Maya. Such a disappointment, but that could not succeed in washing away the excitement of the group; especially Cilishti’s who at that time was halfway to being very very drunk.

After deliberating what to do, we again proceeded to the floating bar, since it was not yet time for the Happy hour; we just sat there and expectantly waited for any signs of the boat. After being on such good terms with the local bartenders due to Cilishti’s unabashed friendliness, we learned from them that the local named Basik, whom we negotiated with, about our island tour, was a bit of a scatterbrain and we entrusted our plans for the afternoon in her hands. What a waste, indeed! Luckily someone in our group was persistent enough to negotiate with another boat owner for our intended island trip but their boats too were still in Maya so we waited and waited at the floating bar until it became so straining to the eye to squint for an incoming boat.

That was when we thought to forego that doomed island trip. We resumed our bar hangout and some swam while the others just sat down and killed the time with endless gazes towards the island and still reeling from the fact that our island trip was never going to come true after all the preparations and the excitement and the endless squirts of the sun block we applied.

Late afternoon came and we headed back to the cottage where some local masseuses have waited for an hour or so. By the way, I forgot to tell you that we have arranged with some locals for an afternoon massage of an hour per person to be done after the planned island trip, but the island trip was cancelled so we proceeded with the massage. That’s when the third episode struck.
Episode 3: Masseuses fight. We learned that while we were at the floating bar, the masseuses were having this great disagreement because we haggled for the price of the full body massage from 200 to a hundred and fifty and some of the masseuses agreed just so they could have clients. But, the other jealous ones were so furious and indignant and were planning to report us to some local authorities because of the lowered prices. That was when we concluded, that we sure could stir some excitement of an otherwise boring masseuse’s life.

Yet, Boy, was the massage heavenly, yes it was … It was every bit as relaxing as it should be. The massage certainly managed to knead our tensions away and ebbed all the frustrations from that cancelled boat trip.

After the massage, we were again psyched up for the evening. Eager to take away the thoughts the impeded island tour behind us, we ate our dinner and filled our minds with plans for the night ahead. That night we planned to go to Maldito’s a famed local bar which boasts a big platform of cushion with pillows where you can practically do whatever you want. A huge flat screen monitor is strategically placed in front of it. Lying back, you can either watch TV, watch the people playing billiards or look at the shore while lazily sipping your drink. We played billiards, laughed a lot, posed for pictures, ate pizza and ordered endless shots of tequila, rum coke and baileys and simply had a helluva good time with the cool breeze blowing and the intoxicating feeling of exciting contentment. By the way, did I mention that Cilishti was left behind because the combination of alcohol she earlier drank and the relaxing massage sure did put her to sleep? We regretted leaving her behind though as Maldito’s would sure have been triple the fun if Cilishti’s boisterous laugh filled it halls. Then again 2 or 3 hours, it was time to head back to the cottage again as the breeze was almost intolerably very cold even with all the alcohol and the euphoria.

On the way home, we met Cilishti at Sunsplash, a restaurant where she ate late night dinner. We joined her for a few moments and some stayed and the rest headed back to the cottage to prepare for the long night of being mosquito food again. Indeed the mosquitoes never ceased to disappoint us. They showed on time, just when we were about to doze off, the buzzing started as well as the constant slapping of skin and mosquito. But that night, Irik and Windil decided to fight against our dreaded bedmates, they bought a whole pack of mosquito killer and some repellant lotion. That was when we were able to finally sleep at peace.

Day 3

Morning came and it was time to go home. We ate a leisurely breakfast and packed everything up after that. A storm was threatening to blow but still we are headstrong in our decision to go home and to resume our much loved office work. Nah…not really, we were so afraid to be stranded at the island with having consumed all our supplies and with very little money left. So we stubbornly made arrangements to go home despite the weather.

We contacted a local boat man and he informed us that the pump boat could not get us to Maya as the coastguard would not permit pump boat travels due to the approaching storm. They said that they could only take us to Talisay instead, a place a bit far from Maya but we could also get a bus from there towards Cebu City. So we agreed, we trotted our belongings carried our backpacks and proceeded to what I may call the bumpiest and scariest boat ride I’ve ever been to. The waves were hungrily lapping at us, while the wind whipped incredulously. We sure were glad to have finally reached Talisay alive after an hour or more. Luckily none of us were with motion sickness as it would have completed the excitement of that boat ride. Upon reaching Talisay, we then learned that episode four hit.
Episode 4: Never Trust Anyone. We were tricked again. We found out that it was just permissible to travel from Malapascua to Maya but the boatmen who proposed the Talisay route just needed passengers in going to Talisay where a foreigner couple awaits their service. That was really underhanded but we were just so grateful to finally have gotten over the big waves so it was a little okay even if a boat ride from Malapascua to Talisay took longer than a boat ride from Malapascua to Maya.

After Talisay, we boarded the bus towards our normal life again.

That 3-day weekend adventure and episodes in Malapascua sure did heal our boredom of the everyday office routine and renewed our eagerness towards life. It is so amazing how a single island trip could bond people like all seven of us did and could be as fun packed as it was. It is such a wonder how a 3-day relaxation renew your positivism towards everything and happily say that when things get too rough or too boring, all it takes is just a hop to the bus and a 45-minute boat ride to feel so alive, so young and so renewed.

Note: The author decided to change the names of the persons in this article to protect their interests. But if you would want to reveal their real names, you can simply change a few consonants and vowels to make them sound more civilized.]]>

Besides being the highest peak in Borneo and the whole of South East Asia (between Irian Jaya and the Himalayas to be exact), and the youngest non-volcanic mountain in the world, Mount Kinabalu is extremely climber-friendly and compared to other much lower mountains around the world, Mount Kinabalu is an ideal first mountain for novice mountain trekkers to conquer.

The standard climb up Mount Kinabalu is via the Kinabalu Summit Trail at Kinabalu National Park (~1,560m above sea level). The first ascent is from the starting point at Timpohon Gate, about 4km or 30 minutes drive from the Kinabalu National Park Headquarter.

If you prefer to start the ascent on Day 1, it is advisable to arrive at the Park late morning the latest or else, depending on the weather, the Park may not allow you to do the first ascent due to hazardous condition (i.e., the fog may be too thick by late evening causing visibility problems and/or the trail may be extremely slippery).

Most climbers prefer to stay overnight at Kinabalu National Park upon arrival to not only acclimatize to the altitude but also to enjoy the magnificent flora and fauna at the Park before the “assault” on the next day/morning.

The first ascent is from Timpohon Gate just after the Power Station up to the mid-summit Laban Rata Resthouse (or more popularly known as the 11,000 ft or ~3,873m). You will first follow the crest of a narrow ridge that dips down onto the main slopes of Mount Kinabalu itself. A little further on, you will reach a scenic waterfall known as Carson’s Falls, named after the first Warden of the Park. Don’t forget to take a sip and fill your water bottles with the fresh natural mountain water.

Conservatively, it should take a normal fit person an average 5-6 hours to reach Laban Rata. Participants at the annual Mount Kinabalu Climbathon competition went all the way up to 13,400ft (4092.5m above sea level) and back in 2 hours. But it is not really about how fast you can reach the top. It is about the experience of trekking pass different vegetation zones from Oak and Chestnut to mossy and eventually to alpine type of vegetations, and observing the rare and exotic flora and fauna on the way up.

Besides the heated Laban Rata Resthouse, the other option for climbers is to stay at the unheated mountain huts. There is actually another accommodation option at the so-called VIP Lodge, which is more expensive compared to the others and also, more difficult to secure (i.e., only two such units available).

After a short night rest to recharge your battery, the second and more grueling phase will commence early morning on Day 2, at about 2 am to 3 am. The second ascent will be from the mid-summit all the way to the summit, which is called Low’s Peak, named after the British colonial officer Sir Hugh Low, supposedly, the first person to conquer Mt. Kinabalu.

The ascent should normally take a few hours but it is much more challenging than the initial ascent due to the thinner air near the summit. But near the peak on the granite portion of the ascent, there will be a thick nylon rope laid down to mark the route so that climbers will not get lost in the fog. You can use this rope to pull your tired body up.

Although, to reach the summit is already an achievement, it is best to target, if possible, to reach the summit just before sunrise to catch the awesome sight. If you reached too early, it will be too freezing cold to wait too long for the sunrise. On a good clear weather, the sky seemingly turns from black to red then orange and finally gold as the sun appears. When daylight breaks, you will truly feel that you are standing on top of the world. You can see as far as Kudat and even Sandakan if the weather permits.

One important tip is to make reservation early. Given the popularity of the Mount Kinabalu climb nowadays, it is advisable to book at least 3-4 months in advance (or even much earlier during the peak season usually around mid-year) to avoid any disappointment.

This is mainly due to the limited accommodation at the mid-summit (i.e., Laban Rata Resthouse, Mountain Huts or the VIP Lodge). In the event that there is no accommodation at the mid-summit, the climb will not be possible as strictly stipulated in the National Park’s rules and regulations. Additionally, a mountain guide is compulsory.

In essence, Mount Kinabalu is relatively an easy mountain to climb. There is not much risk of acute mountain sickness at the first phase of climbing. Given climber-friendliness of the mountain, conquering the mountain must be high in your list of “activities to do” if you were to visit Sabah. For the average fit person, a visit to Borneo will not be complete without conquering Mount Kinabalu.]]>

Thousands of soldiers were sent to Europe, and Italy, during the Second World War and Florence became a land to conquer and then to defend. Museums, churches, cathedrals, piazzas and other beauties of Florence were no longer the aim of those who came from far away. Sadly, many would not make their way back home and thanks to their lives, Florence, Italy and Europe could find again its previous freedom.

For those who want to pay homage to these lives, they can visit the Florence American Cemetery, located on the west side of Via Cassia, about 10 km south of Florence. The Rome-Milan motorway passes nearby and its Certosa-Florence exit is about 3 km from the cemetery. The “SITA” bus station provides a frequent bus service along Via Cassia. The bus stop is conveniently located just outside the cemetery gate.

The site covers seventy acres and is duly kept in perfect order, with a variety of beautiful trees and bushes around immaculate lawns, on the west side of the Greve River. Between the two entrance buildings, a bridge leads to the burial area where the headstones of 4.402 American military are arrayed in symmetrical curved rows upon the hillside. Most of them died in the fighting occurred after the capture of Rome in 1944, including casualties of the heavy fighting in the Apennines shortly before the end of the war. Above the burial area on the topmost of three broad terraces stands the memorial marked by a tall pylon surmounted by a large sculptured figure depicting the spirit of peace. The memorial has two open atria joined by the Tablets of the Missing upon which are inscribed the names of 1.409 Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country and who rest in unknown graves. The architects of the cemetery and monument were McKim, Mead and White. The landscape architects were Clarke and Rapuano.

The cemetery is open to visitors all year round. In Summer (16th April- 30th September) from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, every day, and in Winter (1st October - 15th April) from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, again every day.]]>