http://traveltalk.islands.com Connect with Island travelers, create your own travel blog, share travel questions and advice for islands in Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Pacific, etc. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:07:29 GMT vBulletin 60 http://traveltalk.islands.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://traveltalk.islands.com http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1273&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:10:29 GMT I am looking to move to Hawaii, but want to make sure I am in the right place. I know what I am interested in... Is there a classified description to... I am looking to move to Hawaii, but want to make sure I am in the right place. I know what I am interested in... Is there a classified description to each island? ie. island for honeymooners, best for surfers, best for students, designers, raise a family...etc. etc. Any suggestions? Thanks! =) ]]> Hawaiian Islands atthepalms http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1273 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1251&goto=newpost Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:12:22 GMT Spanish language is very interesting and many peoples want to learn it. My brother is planning to go to Spain to learn Spanish in Madrid... Spanish language is very interesting and many peoples want to learn it. My brother is planning to go to Spain to learn Spanish in Madrid. And I think Madrid University is the best option for it. They provides good education for students. ]]> Islands to Live On unique07 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1251 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1247&goto=newpost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:17:05 GMT Phu Quoc is famous for its two traditional products: fish sauce and black pepper. The rich fishing grounds offshore provides the anchovy catch from... Phu Quoc is famous for its two traditional products: fish sauce and black pepper. The rich fishing grounds offshore provides the anchovy catch from which the prized sauce is made. Pepper cultivation is located inland in the center of the island. More recently a pearl farm was established.

Tourism plays an important part of the economy with the beaches being the main attraction. Phu Quoc is served by Phu Quoc Airport with air links to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)'s Tan Son Nhat Airport and Rach Gia's Rach Gia Airport. Plans are in progress for a new international airport for the island. Phu Quoc is also linked with Rach Gia and Hà Tiên by fast ferry hydrofoils.

Phu Quoc Great Island Best Beaches Phu quoc Hotel Phu Quoc Flight Resort ]]> Islands to Live On ajri02 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1247 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1246&goto=newpost Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:18:11 GMT I am looking to move to Hawaii, but don't know how or where to start. I would need to find an apartment and roommate. Is there a particular database I should check? I am in my mid 20's and would like to be surrounded by a diverse crowd and vibrancy. ]]> Hawaiian Islands atthepalms http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1246 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1245&goto=newpost Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:42:13 GMT Photo canvas art (http://www.yourwovenphotos.com) is the contemporary art form that adds new life to your photographs and is popular art form among... Photo canvas art is the contemporary art form that adds new life to your photographs and is popular art form among photographs, artists. The reason for choosing photo canvas as first choice for personalized photo gifts and decors for this holiday season is that – it is affordable when compared to other forms, delivers high quality products with durability and long lasting features.

So, make best out of your photographs for this holiday season using photo canvas technique to enlighten your Christmas in a unique way. ]]> Photo Talk domanicjohn http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1245 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1242&goto=newpost Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:12:34 GMT Mui Ne holds a lot of memories for me as it is the perfect escape from Saigon when the traffic and the noise all gets too much - if only it was just... Mui Ne holds a lot of memories for me as it is the perfect escape from Saigon when the traffic and the noise all gets too much - if only it was just a little bit closer!

A beautiful beach with an ever-growing strip of resorts lining the coast, Mui Ne strikes a good balance between having sufficient entertainments to justify a long weekend and being overcrowded. The hotels lie between the sea and the road, with many restaurants lining the opposite side of the road.

Fortunately the majority of the resorts are low rise and well covered by plenty of lush green foilage - most have tried hard to create attractive gardens around their bungalows, and the result is that from the beach there is not too much evidence of the booming growth in hotels - it still manages to look secluded and peaceful, without a concrete block in sight.

It has a wide range of restaurants, with the local shacks providing some of the freshest, cheapest and tastiest seafood you will find in Vietnam, as well as many high-class restaurants selling top notch Italian, European, Indian and Thai cuisines.

Muine | Ticket | Resort | Tour | Place | Paradise | Vietnam ]]> Best of ISLANDS ajri02 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1242 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1206&goto=newpost Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:19:25 GMT A Red Sea (http://www.cheapholidays.com/red-sea.html) diving holiday in Egypt (http://www.cheapholidays.com/egypt.html) is simply unforgettable.... A Red Sea diving holiday in Egypt is simply unforgettable. Well-established diving centres will gladly provide you with scuba diving information and arrange courses, daily excursions, and live-aboard trips to almost anywhere, from the gigantic coral outcrops of Taba to the vertical walls of Ras Mohammed, from the wrecks of Sha'ab Abu Nuhas to the lonely offshore islands of The Brothers and Zabargad. The Red Sea is dubbed Egypt’s “Garden of Allah”, due to the wealth of underwater pristine life.

The Egyptian Red Sea offers the world's best scuba diving: at only a few hours by plane from Europe, you find superb visibility (up to 50 metres), abundant and diverse fish life (over 1,000 species), countless varieties of hard and soft coral (over 200 species), year-round diving in comfortable water temperatures (18° to 26° Celsius), incredibly diverse underwater topography, spectacular wall and shipwreck destinations, sunny weather and pleasant air temperatures (18° to 40° Celsius), and easy access to diving locations. Browse through our Red Sea dive sites maps and you will be impressed by the range of diving possibilities.

It is no surprise therefore that Red Sea diving is one of the most sought-after holidays. Whether a hopeful wannabe or expert diver, eight year-old kid or sporting grandmother, diving can be experienced and enjoyed by nearly everyone. ]]> European Islands Martin Ricky http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1206 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1205&goto=newpost Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:40:23 GMT The Costa Blanca (http://www.cheapholidays.com/costa-blanca.html) has some of the best beaches in Spain (http://www.cheapholidays.com/spain.html) and... The Costa Blanca has some of the best beaches in Spain and they are usually very well cared for and safe, there are a large number of "blue flag" beaches and these are normally cleaned every day and will often have life-guards on duty during the busy summer months. Some of the more popular beaches can get very busy during July and August but if you take some time to explore a little, you may find quiet and isolated beaches even during the high season.

Overall the Costa Blanca has much to offer holidaymakers and tourists of all types, fine beaches for sun lovers, ancient towns & cities for culture lovers and wonderful natural parks for nature lovers. Try a visit some time soon and enjoy a little of what the Costa Blanca has to offer. ]]> European Islands Martin Ricky http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1205 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1203&goto=newpost Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:50:53 GMT UNESCO lists five World Heritages in the country, but Adventure Beat editor Christian Kallen's list presents a more varied picture: the Eight Wonders of Vietnam.

If many of a certain generation tried to avoid going to Vietnam at all costs, now these same travelers may be tempted to explore a densely textured destination as historic, culturally rich and scenically stupefying as any country on Earth.

Adventure Beat editor Christian Kallen's "Eight Wonders" of Vietnam:

1. Ha Long Bay
Legend has it that the dragon that created civilization dove into these waters (Ha Long means "descending dragon") to his rest. There is a mythic, supernatural quality to this bay on the Gulf of Tonkin, east of Hanoi, that must be experienced to believe. Limestone "haystack" islands draped in jungle foliate erupt from the placid bay, fishermen in dragon-headed boats lay their nets, caves both above and below water level invite exploration. There are some 700 islands in the bay, and nowadays you can sea kayak among them with local tour operators — although in ancient times the Vietnamese general Tran Hung Dao outwitted the Chinese navy here.

2. Hanoi's Old Quarter
Few capitals necessarily qualify as "wonders" — Paris comes to mind — but Hanoi belongs in that class. It was first made capital of Vietnam in 1010 A.D., along a bend in the Red River, and even today, 996 years later, it's still a rush of urban energy and pastoral ease. Walk around the central district's Hoan Kiem Lake in the cool morning hours, while the locals do their daily tai chi; shop in the narrow streets of the Old Quarter where tradesmen have practiced in the same shops for up to 25 generations; dine European, Asian, or fusion at one of the many restored colonial mansions.

3. Cao Dai Temple
Even knowing in advance that the Cao Dai religion counts among its saints Victor Hugo, Louis Pasteur, and Sun Yat-Sen does little to prepare the visitor for the psychedelic splendor of its Holy See. Primary colors run riot over plaster dragons, flowers, and figurines crawling up the pillars and walls, while the all-seeing eye (a Masonic symbol also found on the US Great Seal) is everywhere. The temple is just a short drive from Ho Chi Minh City, and elaborate services and
ceremonies are held almost daily.

4. Mekong Delta
The Mekong's route begins 2,500 miles upstream in Tibet, and its course through China, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam is a waterway through the exotic. It flows into the South China Sea through a delta of many streams (its Vietnamese name, Cuu Long, means Nine Dragons), a fertile region known as "the ricebowl of Vietnam." The highlight for most visitors are the floating markets of Cai Be and Vinh Long, where you can get everything from fruits, flowers, and handicrafts to exotic snakes — and dishes as memorable as the “elephant's ear” fish (not
endangered).

5. Tonkinese Alps
The Tonkinese Alps create the barrier between Vietnam and China to the north, and their highest peak is Mount Fansipan (10,312 feet). Most people don't think of going to Vietnam to go mountain climbing, but consider this multi-day trek anyway, not only for its spectacular views into China but for the hilltribe villages you pass through en route. The route begins in Sapa, a popular tourist center in the midst of hill country, then forges through valleys of terraced rice fields into ever more remote villages peopled byanimistic minorities, such as the Dao, Hmong and Nung. Frommer's Guide on the Tokinese Alps.

6. Endangered Wildlife
With its centuries of warfare and commerce, napalm and revolution, it's hard to think of Vietnam as a wildlife hot spot, but it is becoming increasingly recognized as such. Exotic creatures such as several rare species of langurs, gibbons and monkeys; wild boars and the extremely rare brown-antlered deer vie with lizards, snakes and birds for life liters. Although habitat loss in this growing country is a problem, an even bigger one is the catholic appetite of the Vietnamese palate – and the illegal trade in endangered species and restaurants that serve them.

7. Phong Nha-Ke Bang
The most recent of Vietnam's World Heritage Sites is the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Travelers to Southeast Asia are well aware of the widespread karst formations of the region (Ha Long Bay is one such). Karst topography is limestone-based, riven with caves and cracks, given to weird shapes and striking vistas. The formations in Phong Nha- Ke Bang are among the world's oldest, 400 million years old; its geomorphology is complex and a motherlode for earth sciences.

8. Hoi An Village
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1999, Hoi An is the former main port of Vietnam in the 16th century, and today 844 of its historic structures are preserved as landmarks. You can walk down the crooked streets surrounded by the atmosphere and odors of times gone by, take a sampan ride down the Do River or the streams that lace the town, hunt the traces of the foreign traders – Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, and Indian – who made Hoi An the center of culture in old Vietnam.

Helpful Hint: Visit during full moon, when the shop owners turn off the lights and illuminate the streets with candle lanterns.

Learn More:
Halong Bay
Hoian Ancient Town
Mekong Delta Cruise
Tonkinese Alps
Hanoi's Old Quarter ]]> Best of ISLANDS Space_travel http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1203 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1199&goto=newpost Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:27:22 GMT Hello forum members , This is Martin, 26 yrs have just joined the forum, I am a great traveler and absolutely love traveling to different... Hello forum members ,

This is Martin, 26 yrs have just joined the forum, I am a great traveler and absolutely love traveling to different countries across the globe.

I would love to contribute to the forum by sharing my travel experiences, also gaining some inputs from the forum.

I have been to Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki, Vienna, Paris, Swiss, Amsterdam and some more countries in Europe. ]]> Best of ISLANDS Martin Ricky http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1199 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1198&goto=newpost Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:16:38 GMT I just wrote an article about Salt Spring Island BC Canada... I just wrote an article about Salt Spring Island BC Canada that I thought some of you might be interested in if you ever head over this way.

Happy Tails! ]]> Best of ISLANDS dmvictoria http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1198 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1188&goto=newpost Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:13:30 GMT We are renting a bare boat to sail around the British Virgin Islands and would very much appreciate any recommendations about places to see there. We... We are renting a bare boat to sail around the British Virgin Islands and would very much appreciate any recommendations about places to see there. We are especially interested in places to snorkel/scuba, things to do/see, good bars ...

All suggestions greatly appreciated.


Bob ]]> Caribbean Islands bobmcdonld http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1188 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1181&goto=newpost Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:17:29 GMT The process of transforming new generation artwork from your favorite photo by printing them on to high quality canvas is nothing but photo printing... The process of transforming new generation artwork from your favorite photo by printing them on to high quality canvas is nothing but photo printing on canvas. So, while choosing a company for delivering photo on canvas prints and to provide justification for your photo, there are few things that should be given attention in order to create prints that last for lifetime:

1) First of all your photograph should be analyzed to guess the feasibility of the print, it always preferred to choose images taken from digital camera to expect quality canvas print before placing an order to the company.
2) The best in the industry can only deliver quality photo canvas products to customer. So, while choosing you need to review the track record of the company and also check whether they are implementing the latest technologies such as dye sublimation deeply blend ink and quality canvas for delivering the end product to the customer. ]]> Photo Talk domanicjohn http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1181 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1180&goto=newpost Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:14:08 GMT Once known to the ancient Romans as the Fortunate Islands, the Canary Islands (http://www.cheapholidays.com/canary-islands.html) were named after the... Once known to the ancient Romans as the Fortunate Islands, the Canary Islands were named after the large dogs (Canes) found living on the islands.



Located off the northwestern coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are one of the most popular tourist destination on the planet, especially with Europeans.

The Canary Island's archipelago includes (7) major islands, all remnants of very steep, extinct volcanoes. Weather conditions here are considered perfect, and the beaches - some of the best on the planet. ]]> European Islands Nikhil http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1180 http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1177&goto=newpost Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:32:36 GMT Photo blanket (http://www.yourwovenphotos.com) is well-respected art form for communicating ideas and emotions by depicting symbols, proverbs and... Photo blanket is well-respected art form for communicating ideas and emotions by depicting symbols, proverbs and favorite photos on a fabric to express your intended message to your recipient. The contemporary techniques used had made photo blankets as the first choice for personalized gifts as well as home decors. Photo blankets are one stop solution to preserve your memories in the form of object of decors and gifts.

Choose the best among three types of Photo blankets - Knitted photo blankets, Dyed photo blankets and Woven photo blankets ]]> Photo Talk domanicjohn http://traveltalk.islands.com/showthread.php?t=1177