Saturday, August 28, 2010

Dolphin chatting

Dolphin Cove at SeaWorld San Antonio

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Friday, August 27, 2010

Strikers Dolphins Cove Karaoke - Rocko - I Don't Wanna Stop ( Karaoke )

Strikers - Dolphins Cove Karaoke Rock Hill, SC. Fri & Sat 8:00 pm - 2:00am

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Thursday, August 26, 2010

A Wildlife Cruise in Alaska - Seeing Alaska Up Close and Personal

Getting there wasn't easy. We flew from Tampa to Seattle to visit a friend there, overnighting at the Seattle Marriott near the airport for a morning flight that went through Vancouver to Prince Rupert, where the airport is on an island, necessitating a bus to a ferry, then a ferry ride to the Crest Motor Hotel for another overnight. The next morning after a tour of the city and the countryside, we finally boarded the yacht.

The passengers included a retired physician and his wife, two bankers, a social worker and massage therapist who were starting their own retreat, and a now rich man who had helped start a computer company in a garage and his wife, plus us as writer and photographer. The crew consisted of captain, mate, chef, naturalist, two waitresses who also took care of cabins, and a naturalist trainee.

The 105-foot Safari Spirit is very impressive vessel, with beautifully appointed state rooms and a richly furnished salon. Our cabin had twin beds, private bath with shower, individually controlled thermostat, a dressing table, chest of drawers, two hanging lockers, and plenty of room. There were windows, but high so they had no view. Our stateroom was very quiet. (The two aft cabins, closer to the engine, had some vibration and noise when the yacht was underway.) The most elegant staterooms were on the Bridge Deck with king-size bed and large sliding glass doors to a balcony.

It was indeed, as the brochures said, not like traveling on a big cruise ship, but like cruising in your own private yacht. In fact, I hung out at the helm station most of the time we were underway, getting the captain's eye of the voyage, following our course on the charts, and hearing stories of how whales migrate and the captain's and mate's experiences swimming with whales on research voyages. On two afternoons I even got to take the wheel for an hour or so.

The Safari Spirit was an intimate way to see the heart of Alaska up close and personal. We learned just how up close and personal on the first evening when we made our first exploring run in the ship's zodiac. We had arrived in Foggy Cove, which indeed it was, with mist rising all around, the water flat and still, and the scenery as serene as a Japanese painting. I was huddled behind the naturalist, shaking with cold (I had just come from Florida and was wondering why I hadn't worn long underwear and a full-length alpaca coat), when we saw the bear. It was a brown bear (you tell by the teddy-bear shape of the face and shoulder hump more than the color - black bears have a pointed face and no hump). It was grazing on grass in a flat meadow along the shore (bears eat mostly grass in the spring, eat salmon at spawning time in the fall). We shut off the outboard engine and quietly glided close to shore, watching the bear and the bear watching us. We sat entranced for quite a while, until the bear decided to check us out more closely and came out on a log just a few feet from us, at which point we quickly got out of there. We saw many bears on other days, but this one was special because it was our first, and it was so close.

We spent the night at anchor in the cove, and the next day explored some more by zodiac and by kayak. Then we cruised to Ketchikan and checked out the museum and other high spots there, luckily on a day when none of the big ships were in port.

Monday morning we left early, cruising through the Misty Fiords National Monument Wilderness and arrived in Yes Bay, again with mirror-like calm water. Then three at a time we took a floatplane sightseeing tour of the area, where we flew over mountain lakes, and saw long stretches of ice fields and glaciers, and mountainsides with occasional mountain goats on craggy slopes. In the evening was more kayaking, more zodiac exploration, and a hike to a waterfall.

Going through these remote waterways to secluded bays and coves was wonderful. We took deep breaths of the fresh air and looked hard at the incredible scenery to imprint the views on our memory. We seldom saw another boat. Mostly we saw virgin forests, dotted by an occasional village or fishing lodge. Every bend around the next point meant another glimpse of awesome scenery. The passengers tried to figure ways to rate the views:"5 wows", "5 ahhs", "incredible", "awesome", "mystical".

In our evening discussions in the salon we had a lot to talk about. There also were lectures by the naturalist, videos to view, and excellent reference books on Alaska culture and wildlife. There was also a hot tub on deck for relaxing and star-gazing at night.

The next day was Meyers Chock, a fishing village, population 18 (including two families who haven't spoken to each other in years). We visited the little post office which also housed the village pool table and talked to the local people: the postmistress, a man painting his fishing boat, the woman in the gift shop who warned us there was bear sighted on the trail that morning, the widow who wove baskets to sell. In the afternoon we went by zodiac to an island to explore where a house used to be. Coming through the woods in our orange float suits that we wear for warmth we looked like invading Martians or weird orange guerilla forces moving through the trees. That day in Meyers Chock the chef had loaded up on supplies and we had a dinner on deck of fresh salmon, crab, and barbecued ribs. And the fresh baked bread that we had every day.

By now we had seen several bears, a huge black bear, several browns including one with a cub, as well as eagles, various seabirds, dolphins, and sea otters. And we were appreciating more and more the waterways we were going through, seeing the real Alaska wilderness. The Tongass National Forest that we were cruising through is the largest national forest in the United States, 17 million acres. It is isolated and wild, uncrowded, with huge tracts of old-growth trees... a scarcely touched wilderness with spectacular scenery. There are many streams and lakes and waterfalls because of the high rainfall, and more bears and eagles than anywhere else in the world.

As we went from Prince Rupert on the Canadian/Alaskan border and cruised north to Juneau it was like going back through geological time. We could see the same differences in plant succession that occurred over the centuries as we went from lush fully matured forest to the glaciers, like going back in capsule form to the ice age. After the ice age came lichens and mosses, then pioneer plants like fireweed, later bird droppings brought shrubs and tree seedlings, then willows and cottonwoods and alders, climaxing with spruce and hemlock trees. It takes some 300 years to grow a forest, and every mile we go is like going back 10-15 years in history. And the glaciers are still moving and receding and molding the land. We began to see more and more treeless snowy mountains as we cruised northward.

Our next town was the Norwegian fishing village of Petersburg, and we docked next to dozens and dozens of fishing boats, all reflected in the water at sunset. We walked the town, did some shopping, and after dinner went to Kato's Kave, the local dance hall/lounge. Our nutty naturalist - we were beginning to catch on to his tricks - said they check at the door for knives or guns, and if you don't have any, they give you one. There were a lot of beards and boots, but no guns, and we got to know some locals, most of whom thought coming to Florida in the winter would be a good idea.

The next day we hiked through the forest, different from the usual nature hike because instead of being quiet so as not to scare away wildlife, you are told not to carry food and to make lots of noise. Our nutty naturalist sang songs and chanted "Hi Bear. We are coming. We have no food, Bear." After the hike up a salmon-spawning creek, we cruised to an island for a picnic on the beach where we saw oyster catchers and bear bones and took pictures of the chef pretending to gather bones for soup and the crew bringing flower arrangements by zodiac to put on the driftwood picnic table.

On our way to the next destination Dall porpoises zipped around our bow; later we came upon a whale or two, then we came upon an island filled with hundreds of sea lions, wrestling and belching in their own noisy frat party.

On Friday we entered Tracy Arm. The captain revved up the action by nosing us closer and closer right up into a waterfall, the water pounding onto the foredeck. Then we cruised right up to the north and south arms of the Sawyer glacier, then got closer yet by zodiac, motoring around brilliant turquoise bergies through water milky with ice bits. That evening from the ship we saw a huge momma black bear and her two cubs strolling in a meadow along the water, a fitting tribute to our last night on board. We all agreed that of the millions of people who come to Alaska not many experience what we did on the Safari Spirit.

In Juneau we were picked up by Northern Sights company in a cool 1937 touring car. Some people took the tour to Mendenhall Glacier, the rest of us caught the beginning of the parade of tribal dancers of native American communities from all over Alaska and their celebration of military veterans at the Juneau convention center.

American Safari Cruises also has the Safari Quest, a little larger than the Safari Spirit, carrying 21 guests. It has eight-night packages between Sitka and Juneau. On both vessels, meals are served family style at one seating, dress is always totally casual. They both typify the joy of small ship cruising. American Safari Cruises calls it yacht cruising. What ever you call it, it gives you flexibility of changing course for a whale sighting or other wildlife sightings, it lets you get to know your fellow travelers and the officers and crew, and to get to know about the people and cultures and environment where you travel.

When should go to Alaska? It depends on what you are looking for. In May and June there is more snow and fewer people. You see many bears on the beaches, many nesting and migrating birds, but fewer whales. June and July are reported as the best fishing months. July and August are warmer, you will see more whales, and salmon are spawning so you can see bear fishing for salmon. August starts the rainy season.

What to bring: Casual warm clothes, including parka, gloves, scarf, and hat; camera with lots of film; hiking shoes; and binoculars.

You can add on post cruise excursions to Anchorage, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks or you can stay for some fishing at a fly-in fishing lodge.

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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Coromandel NZ - Your Insider New Zealand Holiday and Travel Guide


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You don't have to go far from Auckland to find a natural paradise of unspoiled coastline, rain forests and gorgeous white sand beaches. A road trip around the Coromandel Peninsula rewards visitors with endless opportunities to explore the magnificent coastal landscape that defines this area.

Starting on the west coast side of the Coromandel peninsula, your first stop is Thames. Built on the pioneering industries of gold mining and kauri milling, discover the rich history of this town at the Thames Historic Museum and Thames School of Mines Museum.

Keeping your eyes on the road will be your next challenge as you drive up the Thames Coast Road. Hugging the coastline, the road passes through seaside settlements and offers spectacular views across the Hauraki Gulf back to Auckland. Stands of giant Pohutukawa trees line the road and when in flower, are a visual splendour of dark green and crimson red.

Next stop is the township of Coromandel, renown for its relaxed, laid back lifestyle, historic character buildings and home to many artists and craftspeople. Take a stroll through town and you'll soon see the many art studios and galleries.

Coromandel township is also home to Bruce Bricknell's Driving Creek Railway, a one hour narrow gauge train ride that winds its way through kauri trees and native forests. Bruce originally built the railway to extract clay from the hills for his pottery but was so inundated with requests for train rides; he decided to open it up to the public. Today Driving Creek Railway is one of Coromandel's most popular tourist attractions.

From Coromandel township, head over Whangapoua Hill to explore the magnificent beaches of Whangapoua, New Chums, Matarangi and Kuaotunu. Whangapoua beach is a wonderful beachside spot; a place where many kids have warm childhood memories of idyllic summer holidays and catching their first fish off the Whangapoua wharf.

Northwest of Whangapoua lies New Chums Beach, rated one of the top 20 beaches in the world by Observer, yet unknown by many New Zealanders. The reason for its obscurity is that New Chums Beach cannot be reached by road. You need to take a 30 minute walk, through estuary, over rocks and past a magnificent grove of Nikau Palms. But it's worth the walk as you'll find a stunning stretch of unspoiled beach paradise lined with pohutukawas; no people, no houses, no developments of any kind.

From Whangapoua, continue along the main road to Matarangi. With 4.5 kilometres of white sandy beach that's super safe for swimming, Matarangi is one of the most popular family destinations on the peninsula. If you are feeling a bit peckish, local haunt Piper's Café offers great coffee and wood fired pizzas to recharge the batteries. Matarangi also boasts a 18 hole international golf course designed by Bob Charles which regularly attracts top golfers to test out their skill.

Bluff Road winds its way around the bluff between Matarangi to the western end of Kuaotunu, an area popular with fisherman for its many rocky outcrops perfect for surf casting. Located on Bluff Road is Rings Beach, a small settlement of about 20 houses with a fresh water lagoon that's ideal for kids.

The settlement of Kuaotunu is blessed with awesome views of the Mercury Islands. Its excellent boat ramp and close proximity to the islands makes Kuaotunu a popular place for boaties. But its beaches and fresh water lagoon also means Kuaotunu is popular for fishing, walking, swimming, kayaking and diving.

As you drive down the east coast side of the peninsula, your next stop is Mercury Bay and the town of Whitianga. The palm-lined Esplanade is the hub of this busy town featuring cafes, restaurants and bars all overlooking the Whitianga marina. From here, you can go big game fishing with Rod of RNR Charters, take the Cave Cruiser to Cathedral Cave, swim with the dolphins or view the undersea world from one of several glass bottom boats.

Inspired by old stories of a lost thermal water spring on the Coromandel, Alan Hopping spent 20 years searching for the spring. His eventual success led to the creation of the Lost Spring Thermal Resort, a spectacular set of hot pools set in beautiful native forests.

Mercury Bay is also home to Cooks beach, Hahei Beach and the famous Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Accessible only by foot or water, Cathedral Cove is a magnificent cathedral shaped cavern situated in the middle of a pristine marine reserve teeming with fish and sea life.

Hot Water Beach is one of those unique experiences every visitor to the Coromandel must do. An underground river of hot water surfaces at Hot Water beach and one hour either side of low tide, visitors flock to the beach to dig their own spa pool in the sand.

Road 309 is a narrow windy gravel road but worth the drive. Linking Whitianga directly with Coromandel township, Road 309 is a scenic drive through farmland and native forest with several must-do activities.
The Kauri Grove is a protected stand of giant Kauri trees. The walk takes 10 minutes but you really need to spend 30 minutes here to appreciate their beauty and that Coromandel was once covered by these magnificent trees.

Castle Rock is the core of an old volcano that rises above the bushline and worth the two hour walking round trip for the panoramic views from the top.

Waiau Waterworks is an innovative theme park that features whimsical contractions and machines all powered by water. With a flying fox, picnic area and safe swimming hole, Waiau Waterworks offers lots of fun for all the family.

Continuing along Road 309 brings you back to Coromandel Township. A meal of local fresh crayfish at The Pepper Tree Bar and Café is the perfect place to recoup from your road trip. Enjoy some fine wine and reflect on the wonderful places you've seen in this natural wonderland of Coromandel Peninsula.

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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Dreaming Theme Parks? Visit Orlando

Orlando, the 'family entertainment capital of the world', is another jewel in the crown for Florida. Entertainment giants, including Disney and Universal have made the city a galaxy of mind boggling theme parks that delightfully grow on the senses and transport one to the realm of fantasy.

The world's most popular marine park, Sea World takes you on a visit to the lost world of Atlantis on Journey to Atlantis, a heart thudding water coaster. Unseen forces surprise you and giddying slopes make you gasp. For the ultra adventurous, the Kraken, an extremely fast floorless roller coaster ride is the answer. For a tamer experience, try the Dolphin Cove with its friendly Dolphins that feed out of your hand or the docile rays at the Stingray Lagoon. The Sea Turtle Point gets you up close to endangered sea turtle species.

Enter the pages of your favourite childhood fairytales at the Magic Kingdom Park of Disney World. For simulated but stimulating nerve racing spatial and sky adventures, Disney's Epcot is the place to be. Imagine being stuck in Jurassic Park. This is just one of the numerous other equally, if not more thrilling adventures at Universal's Islands of Adventure. The futuristic Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, and Silver Springs are all packed with mind numbing wonders.

An air ticket to Orlando is not just about theme parks. The city is also home to the NASA Kennedy Space Center launch headquarters. This awe inspiring mecca of technological development with its humongous rockets and interactive simulators is like a tribute to the cliché 'truth is stranger than fiction'.

The shopping scene is also a universe in itself. Every kind of retail outlet under the sun is to be found here, whether it's opulent malls or flea markets. A paradise for bargain hunters, Orlando brims with discount outlet shopping plazas. After a day of hectic shopping or fun at one of the theme parks, one can look forward to an electrifying nightlife. The Downtown Orlando, CityWalk, and Pleasure Island are the best bets. With nearly 50 million annual visitors, the city makes sure that cuisine leaves nothing to be desired. Gourmets can pick from over 4,000 restaurants.

From Orlando, you can also take short trips to Clearwater and St. Petersburg, The city literally has everything. If its holiday time, don't think twice before buying your air tickets to Orlando. A world of fun awaits you.

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Monday, August 23, 2010

Jamaica Attractions, Excursions and Tours

Jamaica is known for interesting people, great resorts and beautiful lands, but it also is filled with many things to do for anyone on vacation there.

One of the most popular Jamaican attractions is the Bob Marley Museum, dedicated to the singer and songwriter who helped make reggae music world famous. The museum is located in the Jamaican capital of Kingston.

While in Kingston, visitors can tour the largest English-speaking city south of Florida to shop, dine and view architectural and historical sites. They include:

The National Gallery -- a collection of Jamaican art
Devon House -- built by one of the first black Caribbean millionaires in the 1800s
Hope Botanical Gardens -- located on 60 acres in New Kingston

Localed near the resort area of Ocho Rios is Dunn's River Falls, another premier attraction, especially for families. Visitors form a daisy chain and can climb more than 600 feet up the cascading platforms of water to the top of the falls.

Right by Dunn's River Falls is Dolphin Cove, where visitors can swim with Bottle Nose dolphins.

Excursions for cruise ship visitors stopping at Ocho Rios or Montego Bay -- and anyone staying at a hotel or resort -- almost always include Dunn's River Falls. Other popular excursions include zip lining, ATV rides, horseback riding on beaches, deep sea fishing and river tubing. More adventurous vacationers might consider a safari along the Black River, the longest river in Jamaica.

Anyone visiting Jamaica by cruise ship will be able to schedule a tour or excursion on board ship. Anyone staying at a hotel or resort will find numerous tour operators available through Internet search engines.

For more information:

Click Jamaica vacation guide for more activities plus travel tips, weather forecasts and other useful information.

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Hilton Head Family Vacation

Hilton Head family vacations take you straight to the heart of nature. Here's your chance for fun and frolic on the beaches, lagoons, salt marshes, and woods on an island that has a dazzling range of excitements to offer. Resorts and golf courses attract visitors in millions and the hauntingly beautiful sunsets ensure they got what they came for. What exactly are you looking for in your Hilton Head family vacation?

Chances are your Hilton Head family vacation began as one big rush to just get here. Now that you are here, wind down at the beach under the sun and in the surf. Once you're happy with the tan and had your fill of the sand, move on to greener pastures inland. Hit the right note with a trip to Adventure Cove where kids and adults have plenty to rave about.

Explore Harbor Town with its restaurants and shops full of goodies. The marina with the various docked vessels is an elegant sight to behold. You can't miss the lighthouse looming against the blue skies. At the pier is where you get to take a dolphin spotting cruise, and you certainly get more than you bargained for. In addition to the friendly dolphins, you also get to see otters, sea turtles and birds like cormorants, pelicans, and blue herons. The pier is also the place to get some water sport activities like jet skiing, sailing, and kayaking. There's plenty right here to fill your Hilton Head family vacation for at least a couple of days.

What probably sets a Hilton Head family vacation apart from the others in the genre would have to be the copious amount of golf and tennis available literally everywhere. Some resorts like the Sea Pines give golf lessons for under 17 year old. This should most certainly put Hilton Head at the top of family vacation destinations.

Speaking of resorts, they are quite popular with visitors on Hilton Head family vacations, and almost always booked out. If you intend to stay in one, make sure you reserve well in advance and confirm before you set out. There are a number of camps and programs aimed solely at kids. These include activities from face painting to crabbing and kayaking to mountain biking.

Here are a few things to keep in mind to take the pain out of a Hilton Head family vacation. Being almost tropical in nature there is the possibility of mosquito attacks at dusk, especially after wet weather. Bring repellent. Alligators might look lethargic and uninterested in you, but are known to move fast and bite hard. Do not wade into water bodies. While swimming in the sea, watch out for jellyfish stings. The streets do not have great lighting at nights so as not to upset and disorient the wild life. Stay in.

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Saturday, August 21, 2010

Survivors Play at Discovery Cove in Orlando

Dozens of winners, heroes and villains of Survivor got together at Discovery Cove in Orlando for a day of outwitting, outplaying, outlasting and out-and-out relaxing. Swimming with dolphins and rays and hand feeding exotic birds were Survivor's first winner, Richard Hatch; the game's only two-time winner, Sandra Diaz-Twine; villains Russell Hantz and Courtney Yates; and players Yau-Man Chan and Terry Deitz. Also at the park were players and winners from The Amazing Race and Big Brother, including Amazing Race winner, Jordan Pious. The winners and players were in Orlando to benefit Give Kids the World, a non-profit organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.

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Friday, August 20, 2010

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Explore Fabulous History and Scenic Up Country Kealakekua in Kona

One of the unexpected joys of many people's trips to the Big Island is their discovery of the rich and varied tapestry that history weaves around the Island of Hawaii. Hawaii is the only state in the union that has king's palaces, temples to the gods of surfing and and architectural history that spans a millennium and a half. Many people don't realize that the Kona Coast was an important region of major fishing villages, taro farms and religious centers for a millennium and a half. However, the Kona region rose to ascendancy as a religious and political center when King Umi founded his capital here in the 16th century.

In 1812, King Kamehameha established Kailua Kona as the Capital of his newly united Kingdom of Hawaii. For almost 400 years, temples and palaces around the Kona region served as a kind of "Rome of the Pacific", one of the great political and cultural centers in Polynesia, until the capital of the Kingdom was moved to Honolulu in 1850 by Kamehameha III. Slipping into a sleepy, territorial back-water torpor, Kailua Town and the Kona District dozed gently through the decades of the plantation era and early statehood into modern times. Today, booming and exciting, this fast-paced area is the center of the Big Island's financial and cultural reawakening in the new century. Just remember, when I describe the Kona District as a "booming and exciting...fast-paced area", I mean "booming and exciting" in a very Hawaiian, mellow and relaxed way.

Some of the most important historical sites in all of Polynesia are right here in Kona---let's take a quick tour of the Kealakekua Region of Kona, that portion which lies along the Hawaii Belt Road from Kainaliu south, turning at the junction with Highway 160 down to Napo'opo'o and into Honaunau. It was in this region the Kings of old ruled and dispensed justice; where the great explorer Captain James Cook spent time among the Hawaiians and ultimately lost his life; and where the two sustaining agricultural industries of ranching and coffee farming were born on Hawaii and flourish today.

Kainaliu Town

Napping gently on either side of Highway 11, Kainaliu Town is one of the principle commercial centers of Up Country Kona. Kainaliu grew up at the intersection of two donkey tracks that serviced the sugar, coffee and ranching industries, sometime after the construction of Lanakila Church in 1867. The star attraction in Kainaliu is, by far, the Aloha Theater and Aloha Angel Café. This historic and beautiful theater is still the center for stage productions of all kinds as well as cinematic shows; it is the centerpiece for the Kona Association for the Performing Arts (KAPA). Another of the town's interesting attractions is the amazing Oshima Grocery and Dry Goods Store ("If we don't have it, you don't need it"). In addition the town boasts numerous other businesses, galleries, furniture, thrift, herbal medicine shops as well as several wonderful restaurants and coffee houses. Donkey Balls has a candy factory that offers fun tours and tasty samples and Captain Cook Coffee has a roasting house right in town that gives weekday tours. When the weather turns wet in West Hawai'i, or you need a relief from the heat on the beach, a day spent browsing and eating in cool, shady Kainaliu is a real treat.

Aloha Theater

The Aloha Theater and its cafe, serve as a gathering place for the community and the home of independent, classic and second run films as well as the Hawaiian International Film Festival and various community events. Construction of the Aloha Theater began in 1929 and was finished in 1932, long before Hawai'i was a state. Starting life as a silent movie theater, it survived the changeover to 'talkies' as well as the great fire of 1948 that destroyed much of it's side of town. Still in use today as a performing arts center by the Kona Association for the Performing Arts, performances feature live music and dance as well as film. The Quonset-hut shaped original theater building and the original marquee still in use are very typical of the style used in other theaters of this period in Hawaii. The Aloha Angel Café associated with the theater is a marvelous gustatory find and offers a wide-ranging menu of entrees, baked goods and deserts and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Kona Hongwanji

Mission Originally built in Ho'okena in 1897, this Shin Buddhist Temple was moved to Kainaliu in 1906. The stone arch was built in 1915 and the temple itself has been extensively modified through the years, although the current structure's arrangement dates from 1980. On the main alter is a carved sandalwood image of the Amida Buddha which was consecrated in 1933.

Kalukalu Homestead (Greenwell Farm)/Greenwell Store/Kona Historical Society Museum

Members of the Greenwell Family have been important in Kona history and society since Henry Nicholas Greenwell bought 300 acres of farmland at Kalukalu in 1850. Leaving the British military service at age 23 for adventure in gold rush California, Henry Greenwell was injured off-loading supplies and he sailed to the Hawai'ian Kingdom in search of a doctor for healing. Once ensconced in Kona, and like many early pioneers in Hawai'i, Henry Greenwell had several businesses and served the community in many ways: he was not only a farmer, but also a rancher and sheep herder, dairy farmer, importer, school agent, postmaster and the Customs Agent at Kealakekua Bay. He married Edith Caroline Greenwell in 1868 and they raised 10 children. During his lifetime in Kona, he and his neighbors, competitors and partners presided over the massive agricultural change in West Hawai'i as the small, Hawai'ian kuleana, or family garden plots, were rapidly displaced by large scale sugar and coffee farms and ranches. The original Greenwell home at Kalukalu was torn down in 1960s, however the store Henry Greenwell built in 1875 is still standing and is operated today as a museum by the Kona Historical Society. Greenwell's store was one of the very first commercial ventures to serve the growing upland Kona settlements; until then, poor wagon roads meant most stores and businesses were located along the coast at ports such as Kailua and Napo'opo'o. Greenwell Farms 15 acres planted in coffee which produces around a million pounds of coffee a year, is open for free tours Monday through Saturday from 8 to 4:30; tours last 15-20 minutes. In the Greenwell Store original buildings, the Kona Historical Society has its offices, archives and runs a small museum. The museum has an interesting array of artifacts from early Kona life and coffee and sugar farming as well as an impressive archive of historical photographs, which may be seen by appointment. The Museum is open weekdays only, from 9-3; $2 admission.

D. Uchida Coffee Farm

Have you ever wondered what life was like on a Kona coffee farm during the early 1900's? The D. Uchida Coffee Farm is where you can listen and relive the story of Kona's first Japanese coffee farmers. The present day Kona Historical Society has collaborated with the Kona coffee community, creating a project which both amuses and informs the visitor of the chronicles of Kona Coffee. It is a chance to peek into a past Kona life style which is close to being altogether erased. The Kona Historical society arranges tours daily.

Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden

Hawai'ian culture and society, due to the limited resources of island living, revolved around the efficient and knowledgeable use of a vast array of plants for building, medicine, food, clothing and just about every other aspect of life in the Hawai'ian archipelago. The Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens preserves this ancient knowledge and the rapidly disappearing plants in a delightful garden which is now run under the auspices of the Bishop Museum. Amy Greenwell had a ferocious and wide-ranging curiosity about plants and their cultural uses, so this garden hosts not only indigenous Hawaiian plants and herbs, but also a variety of tropical botanical specimens from around the Pacific. The park is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week and there are free guided tours on the first and second Saturday of the month at 10 am.; other tours can be taken by arrangement.

Manago Hotel

Built in 1917 by a Japanese mail-order bride and her husband with an initial investment of $100, The Manago Hotel started out as a single house and evolved, through numerous remodelings, into the oldest continually-operating hotel on Hawaii Island. Kinzo Manago and his wife Osame bought the original cottage, stove and land with borrowed monies. Providing meals and futons to overnight guests, the Managos continually remodeled and enlarged the house to meet the rising demand of travelers on the Big Island. The toko-bashira, or good-luck post necessary to any Japanese business, was acquired back in 1917. At that time all they could afford was a coconut log which the artist soaked in the ocean to soften and to keep termites out. When you visit, be sure to see it in the lobby, still hard as a rock, still beautiful after nearly 100 years. Today, the grandchildren of Kinzo and Osame operate the Hotel with all the tradition, hard work, affection and commitment to service that their parents and grandparents put into the Hotel. The restaurant still serves world famous stuffed pork chops, best on the Island. Whether you come to eat, to stay or just to see this wonderful piece of living Hawai'ian history, be sure to take a stroll through the lobby and look at the photographs of Old Kona.

Kealakekua Bay Archaeological and Historical District/Captain Cook Monument

Kealakekua Bay is one of the most truly magical spots in the State of Hawai'i. Beautiful and peaceful, Kealakekua Bay (Pathway of the Gods) opens beneath steep, beetling cliffs on the ancient surfing beach along the shoreline of Napo'opo'o Village. The site of arguably the most important single event in the history of Polynesia and of unparalleled, majestic scenery, Kealakekua Bay is today home to pods of frolicking dolphins, hosting the greatest density of hammerhead sharks anywhere in the Pacific Ocean and providing some truly breathtaking snorkeling. Captain James Cook made his longest visit with, and deepest impression on, the native Hawai'ians when he first arrived late in November of 1778. And it was along the shores of Kealakekua Bay where he met his tragic end in February 1779 during his second visit. Forever altered from the moment of Cook's arrival, the evolution of Hawai'ian society would soon change in ways the Native Hawai'ians could scarcely have imagined just days before the Englishman made shore here. In 1874 British sailors erected the current white obelisk monument to Captain Cook on a spot quite a bit distant from where he was actually killed, although there is a cement memorial in the tidal zone, west along the shore from the monument, marking the actual spot he was killed. The area remains a piece of British Territory on American soil and is maintained by Brit sailors passing through. One can see the monument, across the bay from Napo'opo'o, rising among the ruins of Ka'awaloa Village. Today, most tourists choose to come by boat to visit the actual monument. However, the monument is also accessible by hiking a trail down from the highway; this hike takes 2-4 hours round trip and drinking water is not available anywhere along the journey. Perhaps the most sought-after snorkeling area in Hawai'i, visitors also frequently kayak from Napo'opo'o to the monument to enjoy the Class Triple-A waters and abundant sea life there. High along the cliff walls can be seen numerous burial caves of the iwi (bones) of Ali'i, and in the late afternoon light, a greyish streak is visible on the northwest wall. Local legend has it that a canon-ball fired by Cook to impress the Hawai'ians left this streak as it smeared and bounced along the cliff. Close in along the beach, historic Hikiau (Moving Current) Heiau stands through the ages, witness to the tsunami of enormous changes that swept through Hawai'i with the coming of Cook and the Europeans, which began right here at Kealakekua Bay.

St. Benedict's Catholic Church (Painted Church)

In 1899, Catholic Father John Velghe landed in Honaunau and built his parish church. Having decorated the inside of previous parishes in the Marquesas and Tahiti with painted scenes from Biblical stories, he proceeded to decorate the interior of the church with scenes whimsical to inspiring, earning this church the nick-name it is most commonly known as, "Painted Church".

Place of Refuge/Pu'u Honua O Honaunau National Historic Park

One of the most enchanting, beautiful, and restful spots in all the Hawai'ian Islands, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau is a place of ease and regeneration for even the most weary and jaded soul. Of enormous historical and cultural significance, the sacred grounds at Honaunau are the best-preserved and largest remaining Pu'u Honua, or Place of Refuge, complex in Hawai'i. The temple and royal complex and royal residences at Pu'u Honua O Honaunau, established as a National Historical Park in 1961, are vast, well preserved and pervaded by a soul-filling peace. On the grounds of the refuge itself stands the stone platform, 'Ale'alea, which was used for sports, the Keoua Stone, legendary resting place of the Ali'i and the Ka'ahumanu Stone, where it is said the favorite wife of Kamehameha the Great hid after quarrels with her husband. Down the center of the Park runs the Wall of Honaunau, 100 feet long, 10 feet tall and 17 feet thick. It separated the palace grounds of the Ali' from the temple grounds of the Pu'u Honua. The wall was made without mortar or dressing the stones and has survived in this tectonically active area for over 500 years. In the royal residence area are the canoe landing at Keone'ele Cove, Heleipolala Fishpond, several reconstructed residences and a canoe hale as well as the famous Hale Keawe, where the iwi (bones) of as many as 23 Ali'i ancestors of Kamehameha were once stored.

King's Trail/Lava Tube

The King's Trail, or Ala Ali'i, was renamed the Trail of 1871 when residents were asked to square their tax bill to the monarchy by repairing the over-grown and run-down trail. The trail leaves the road from the City of Refuge proper along the road to the National Park Picnic Area, or can be joined by the Shoreline Trail, taken out of the south end of the picnic area. Along the trail are ruins of several Hawai'ian villages, Heiau, cattle pens and so forth. The trail also crosses over a large lava tube, which is only about 150 feet long and leads to spectacular views of the ocean, where it emerges from the cliff about 40 feet above the water.

To celebrate the conclusion of your Historical Soirée, as long as you are in Honaunau you really ought to plunge into the refreshing waters at Honaunau Bay at wonderful Two Step Beach, swim with the colorful tropical fish, amazing green sea turtles and playful dolphins . Or, you could stop in for a cup of famous Kona Coffee at any one of a number of local coffee shops between Captain Cook and Kainaliu...not the harsh sameness of the ubiquitously monotonous Starbuck's, each individually special Kona coffee cafe reflects the personality of the local growers and roasters who produce Kona Coffee, widely held to be the best in all the world. Also, the singular and exclusive galleries and stores along this stretch of highway makes perfect shopping for completely unique gifts to take home.

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Cove Sweded

The Cove Sweded made it the Swedish Finals! Its is our entry to the Jameson Empire Done in 60 seconds competition 2010. Please watch the original The Cove & act to stop the Dolphin Slaughter in Japan! www.savejapandolphins.org Cast & Crew: Johannes, Izi & Sam Heiligers. Only stuffed animals were harmed during the making of this movie.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Theme Parks - Just Ideal For Family Vacations

The Theme Park is a new type of entertainment attraction nowadays. Visiting theme parks has a motive of entertaining large number of people together. The parks are full of lush green stretch of land thus adding charm to it. It is the best way to explore the beauty of nature.

Everyone loves to visit cities, beaches and islands. What about making a trip to theme parks? So let our trip be an uncommon and different experience from the other trips.

In this article I will tell you about the best theme parks which can be visited during the vacations.

1. Sea World, San Diego
Sea world is located around Shamu with exotic wild species. The fascinating whales splashing water on you is just an amazing experience. Even the dolphins and the sharks are the eye catching attraction to the visitors. Here you will find all kinds of penguins and other aquatic animals. There's a small pool with colorful fishes to discover. You can also enjoy rides in this park.

2. Busch Garden, Tampa Bay
The Beach Garden in the Tampa Bay is much known for around 2000 animals with more than 300 species. It is the home of many exotic animals like elephants, zebras and antelopes. The added feature of the garden is the Gorillas.

3. Discovery Cove, Orlando
Discovery Cove is said to be the sister park of Sea world. It consists of pools, rivers and sandy beaches. Around 1000 people visit this park every day. The major attractions of this park are the Dolphins.

4. Disney World, Orlando
Disney World is said to be the king of all the parks. It is composed of four separate parks with separate entrance. Here you have lots of places to see like the Magic Kingdom, Disney Animal Kingdom, Cinderella's Castle and many more. The Mad Tea Party is very famous here and has served many visitors since long time. You can also enjoy delicious food, shopping and other attractions.

5. Cedar Point, Sandusky
Situated on the Lake Erie it is the best destination of the world. Adjacent to it is the water park full of different rides. The park has become very famous among the teenagers as it offers thrilling experiences. The Cedar Point is now being expanded for families that will include beaches and zoo.

So according to me the theme parks or the amusement parks are the best options as it is not only different but an unusual experience. Hope you enjoy visiting them with your family and kids.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

CNN inviews Ric O'Barry

Ric O'Barry leader of Save Japan Dolphins is interviewed on CNN. Ric explains why the hunting and killing of dolphins for food is a barbaric practice that must stop.

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Change Of Heart- FreeThePod.org

This video is a summary of the change of heart from the days that I once was the Dolphin Dealer to the changes I have made to help dolphins with their conservation. I made many mistakes to nature and wish to spread the word to assure that others do not repeat the same. We need to manage the oceans better to assure that our cities zoos and aquariums are not the last hope for wild animals.

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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Florida Vacation Rentals - Luxurious Yet Affordable

Many families have enjoyed a trip to the Sunshine State by staying in one of the comfortable Florida vacation rentals. People can choose from a wide variety of properties based on their budget and the size of their family. They can select secluded cottages and cabins, beach front villas, houses and condos. The best thing about vacation rentals in Florida is that the holiday can work out incredibly cheap especially if you share costs with another family. Most rentals are equipped with amenities like a well-fitted kitchen, BBQ, hot tub/Jacuzzi, swimming pool, wireless internet connection; phone, cable TV, Flat Screen TV, DVD, stereo, washer, dryer and fresh linen.

More Space Than In Cramped Hotel Rooms

People seem to prefer to stay in Florida vacation rentals than in hotel rooms on account of many factors in favor of the rentals. They are more luxurious than hotel rooms and more spacious. Families can build bonds and memories by staying in a home away from their home. They get to select the kind of view and locale they wish to spend some time together in. Families with small children will definitely appreciate being able to take care of the mounting pile of dirty clothes without any hassles. People can dine in and save money or opt to eat at the many restaurants that are just a few minutes drive from away.

Many couples have hired Florida vacation home rentals to have the perfect beach wedding and reception. It is also a great place to enjoy romantic getaways with your loved one. There are several family destinations too that can make it a very enjoyable and memorable occasion. Children love trips to the fabulous Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and SeaWorld. Tourists will never get enough of the Discovery Cove, Orlando, which can be a most enjoyable excursion swimming with dolphins and snorkeling through the coral reefs. Beach side fun such as surfing, jet skiing, scuba diving, para sailing, boat excursions can keep your days busy while the nightlife is equally tempting and enjoyable.

Florida beach vacation rentals are available too, with ocean fronted properties being much in demand. Some of them are offered along with water crafts and most of them are located within easy driving distance from the shopping and entertainment areas. You could enjoy casino cruises, dinner cruises, sunset and themed cruises. If you are a history buff, you might love visiting the Heritage Village and St. Augustine. If you are a nature buff and love outdoor sports you might want to visit one of Florida's Natural Forests; Apalachicola, Ocala or Osceola. Hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, biking, boating, water skiing and picnicking with family and friends in the Natural Forest is an experience not to be missed.

Children will love staying in Florida vacation rentals and visiting the many water parks while the women may enjoy shopping at the malls and Downtown areas. The golfers may have a fabulous time at one of the beautiful courses while the ladies will definitely want to pamper themselves at the day spas. With just so many things to see and do you will definitely appreciate coming back to a cozy condo or a warm house instead of an impersonal and cramped hotel room. You can double the fun and even extend the trip if you share accommodation and costs with another family.

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Saturday, August 14, 2010

Dolphins of Taiji - A Murder Suicide

With great alacrity do these noble fishermen, spear held aloft, carry on their hunt. Though not dressed in traditional garb or manning the small thatched canoes of their ancestors, roughly 26 men clamber into vessels at the edge of their steep, rocky shoreline. This year, as in every year, the small seaside village of Taiji at the southernmost reach of Japan's great archipelago prepare for what some may see as the most barbaric and savage of seasons. Though tradition metes out sometimes harsh realities upon our gentler and more prosaic lives, even this seems a bit harsh and out of character from the honorable people who brought us the serene sounds of haiku and nature worshiping Shinto. Nets and loud noises are used to coral these creatures, at once regarded for their poise and intelligence and their copper-like, moist flesh, into a shallow cove where they are at once beaten, speared and eviscerated. With salacious gusto, barbed gafs are employed by the men, as is threshing the very waters, to stab, pinion and pierce the writhing beasts. Hoisting them into their boats, laden with the flesh and disembodied death-mates, clicking-their dying calls. These are the last rites of what most would consider our closest cousin (of the swimming kind).

This has not gone unnoticed. An onslaught of of publicity and the requisite public outcry met these fishermen and their grand tradition. Many conservation, animal protection and environmental activists have swum to the aide of the dolphins. In trying to interject themselves between boat and bottle-nose, many have found themselves at the intersection of the end of a spear and the end of their life.

"Thus, it was a traumatic experience that our values were attacked fiercely by western environmentalists and animal right activists." S. Hamanaka, Mayor and The People of Taiji

If the honorable Hamanaka-san is terrified by the ado stirred by the blood-roaled waters, he may want turn away, eyes cast geisha-like down when the boats come to port, bearing fins and flippers and the mercurial ire of the global community.

So we come to the grand irony, the symbolic gest. If like ours, the dolphin's proto-hand, under all the pressures of aquatic Darwanism, had taken to fingers as swimmingly as humans, they would be raising a solitary digit to these clandestinely suicidal fishermen and their compatriots who will purchase, consume and be poisoned by the very meats that they are taking such heat for partaking of.

ScienceDirect.com reveals that according to the Japanese ministry of health has found that the mercury levels found in the liver and other tastier and sought after organs "exceeds the permitted level by approximately 5000 times and the consumption of only 0.15 g of liver" and offers "the possibility of an acute intoxication by T-Hg (mercury concentration) even after a single consumption of the product."

So, the fishing village of Taiji finds itself in one clandestinely satiric situation. The very act of thumbing their nose at the conviction, conventions and custom-culling modern society will be the literal death of them. Very poetic really. In order to stave off the demise of their traditional fishing rights, they continue to kill the dolphins, which spells certain death to the villagers. If one was to view this as an outsider, as every man, woman and child outside of this piteous, execrable little far off land does, it would be lauded as the single most insane and Socaratic-ally suicidal venture in man's great fallible riddled history.

Yet, in the words of the mayor, espousing great philosophy in his A Message from Taiji, addressing the International Whaling Commission and other critics of the slaughterings ..."We are proud of our own heritage and want to hand it down to the next generations." (See mercury poisoning=no next generation.) "We believe we know more about our own sea in Taiji than anyone who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away from us."

Speaking for the dolphins posthumously, that remains to be proven.

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Aquarium Adventure!

I went down town with my Mom, Sister and A friend to the aquarium. Heres some footage from the train and in the aquarium. The dolphin show was more sad then exciting. A week ago I watched a documentry called "The cove" The Cove is a 2009 American documentary film that describes the annual killing of dolphins in a National Park at Taiji, Wakayama, in Japan from an antidolphin-hunting campaigner's point of view. The film highlights that the number of dolphins killed in the Taiji dolphin hunting drive is several times greater than the number of whales killed in the Antarctic, and reports that 23000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year in the country's whaling industry. The migrating dolphins are herded into a hidden cove where they are netted and killed by means of spears and knives over the side of small fishing boats. Anyways the 3 dolphins in the show at the vancouver aquarium came from that EXACT place in japan. If those dolphins hadnt been bought by vancouver, they would of been slaughtered.

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Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Cove-Movie Review

Yeticket.com reviews, The Cove. In a sleepy lagoon off the coast of Japan lies a shocking secret that a few desperate men will stop at nothing to keep hidden from the world. In Taiji, Japan, former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it was O'Barry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation "Flipper." One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and self-aware creatures must never be subjected to human captivity again. This mission has brought him to Taiji, a town that appears to be devoted to the wonders and mysteries of the sleek, playful dolphins and whales that swim off their coast. But in a remote, glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and "Keep Out" signs, lies a dark reality. It is here, under cover of night, that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and an underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in an unseen hunt. The nature of what they do is so chilling and the consequences are so dangerous to human health that they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it.

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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Free "Flipper" : Uncaptivated Dolphins : Rick O'Berry

Sylvie Tarnovsky is the founder of Silverseas Dolphins. She coordinates and hosts wild dolphin swim expeditions in Key West & the Bahamas. www.silverseasdolphins.com http www.savejapandolphins.org Urgent Ending dolphin slaughter in Taiji "I hope you'll join me in this campaign to stop the killing of dolphins in Japan. Most people in Japan don't have any idea that the dolphin slaughter is even happening. If we can spread the word around the world - and especially in Japan - we can expose the secret of Taiji and force the Japanese government to stop it. We can win this issue - but we need your help!" Rick O'Berry '09 Help us get the word out. Help us get the word out in Japan, and pressure our leaders to take action. Send a letterto President Obama, Vice President Biden and the Japanese Ambassador to the US. Your message will be displayed on social networks, web sites and blogs in Japan, along with information from the The Cove. Make a pledge: don't go to dolphin shows. Don't pay to see or swim with dolphins in captivity. Donate now. Help our campaign to stop the killing of dolphins in Japan, and the sale of captured dolphins around the world. Go see The Cove. The secret is out. Spread the word. The more people who see the new documentary The Cove, the greater the pressure around the world to end the killing of dolphins and whales. Visit the official film site for locations and information on group sales. WAZA has the power to stop the slaughter in Taiji. Pressure them to ...

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Isabel Lucas account on Today Tonight

Sonia Kruger interviews "Home and Away" star Isabel Lucas who is now technically a fugitive after the Japanese issued an arrest warrant for her 'crime' of protesting against Japan's slaughter of dolphins in the killing cove near the whaling village of Taiji. Isabel joined "Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere and other surfers in the protest.

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Monday, August 9, 2010

THE COVE "Trailer"

Documentary about the mistreat and irresponsable killing of dolphins in Japan.

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Saturday, August 7, 2010

Part 1: Rick O'Barry on extenuative dolphins and The Cove

www.abc.net.au In the 60s, the TV hit Flipper made us all fall in love with dolphins. Rick O'Barry is the man who trained the dolphins to do the tricks that were so endearing — and that spawned a whole industry of sea worlds and marine worlds and flipperworlds around the globe, committing dolphins to a lifelong sentence of enslavement and humiliation, all in the name of our entertainment. These days Rick O'Barry feels sickeningly guilty about that, and has spent decades since dedicated to freeing dolphins. That mission has seen him arrested all around the world, thrown into jail, banned from conferences and other venues. But it has also seen him expose the most horrendous and senseless massacre of dolphins, an annual slaughter of 23000 dolphins that takes place for several months every year in a tiny cove near a town called Taji in Japan.

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Friday, August 6, 2010

Plan A San Diego Vacation For Your Family


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Wondering where to take your next family vacation? A San Diego family vacation may be exactly what you are looking for.

San Diego is rightly famous for its near perfect weather year round, but that is just the starting point in its long list of attractions as a family holiday destination. The city and its vicinity offers a wide variety of activities for many interests, both indoors and outdoors.

Families are especially attracted to San Diego to enjoy the San Diego Zoo and Sea World San Diego. These two attractions have an international reputation for their high standards of interest and entertainment for visitors.

The pandas at the Zoo have captured the hearts of many, but they are only one example of the many animals you can see in the surprisingly natural settings of the enclosures. Take the bus tour when you first arrive to learn your way around, and if you are on the upper deck you will hardly be aware of the fencing. Then take your time and go round again on foot, and enjoy the many attractions up close for the rest of the day.

The performances of the orca killer whales will rightly dominate your visit to Sea World San Diego, but there is much more to see and do. The dolphins are a very popular feature, and you can get close enough for a delightfully unique experience of these beautiful creatures. Many other marine animals can be seen on show and in live performances. And there are other family entertainments to keep everybody busy all day.

San Diego also boasts other exceptional attractions, such as the Wild Animal Park, Legoland, the amusement rides at Belmont Park and the gardens and museums at beautiful Balboa Park, the jewel of the city.

A touch of Old California and Mexico can be experienced at the Old Town, and you can always experience the real Mexico with a short trip south across the border.

San Diego has a long maritime history, and a close link with the US Navy today. You can take a harbor tour, cross over to Coronado Island, spend some time at other waterfront communities such as Seaport Village, visit the preserved ships and other exhibits at the Maritime Museum and make a special trip to see the USS Midway.

Beach life and the outdoors play a big part in the San Diego lifestyle, with many beaches and nearby walking areas for you to choose from. For example, you could surf at Ocean Beach, see the seals at La Jolla Cove, visit the La Jolla Caves, get a tan at Mission Beach or go for a walk near the Cabrillo Monument or the Torrey Pines Reserve.

And San Diego is also a sophisticated city, with shopping, dining and convention facilities, especially downtown in the Gaslight District, to match the best of any other great city.

With something to please everyone in your family, why not consider a week or two in San Diego as your next family vacation?

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Thursday, August 5, 2010

Visit Maui's Haleakala Crater to See a Glorious Sunrise

Haleakala National Park stretches across the east of the island of Maui and is home to the commanding 10,000 foot Haleakala Crater, the world's biggest inactive volcano and Maui's highest peak, the soaring slopes of which can be seen from any point on Maui. The term 'Haleakala' means 'house of the sun': a beautiful name which appropriately describes how the sun can be seen rising to the east of the mountain.

One of the best times to see the Haleakala Crater is at sunrise, which is beyond doubt a memorable experience. Heading up there for sunset is also riveting as the day closes to reveal a blanket of star-studded skies. At 9,740 feet the Haleakala Visitor Centre is a excellent place to stop to take in these experiences. The look out point at the Haleakala Crater will leave visitors breathless as they look down on the vast 25-square-mile crater floor, the landscape of which seems so alien and could be on another planet. Indeed, NASA used the volcanic lunar landscape of the crater to train the Apollo astronauts in the 1960's.

A hike across the vast Haleakala National Park will take visitors through coloured landscapes, desolate deserts and great wilderness. Closer to the sea there are flourishing tropical areas to visit, which are filled with waterfalls and streams. Many people chose to drive through the area to take in the view or an additional way to explore is by bicycle or on horseback, but the roads to the summit of the Haleakala Crater site are well maintained.

Maui, on which the Haleakala Crater is to be found, is the 2nd largest of the Hawaiian Islands and has the most number of swim-able beaches. One of the most intimate beaches is Makena Beach, known locally as "Big Beach" for its mile long white sand beach whilst nearby "Little Beach" offers great snorkelling. The Hana Highway on the eastern side of the island is one of the world's great drives as it meanders through the rainforest, taking in surroundings that is packed with abundant vegetation, waterfalls and striking cliffs overlooking the blue ocean.

The ocean off Maui is the place to get a glimpse of the wonderful humpback whales which migrate to these shores every winter to breed. Spotting a dolphin is also an unforgettable occurrence - Dolphin Cove is the place to go to see the resident spinner dolphins. Boats can take guests out to snorkel around the colourful coral swarming with colourful fish and it is also quite common to see green sea turtles.

Culture vultures are in the right place in Maui as it is home to the biggest intact temple, the Piilanihale Heiau, which provides fascinating tours by native guides. The very old traditions of Maui can be revealed on journeying through the remarkable island in the form of the hula, oli (chants) and the co-existence between man and nature. You cannot fail to be impressed by the power of nature when you are brought face to face with evidence of the volcanoes that formed these Hawaiian Islands on a visit to the Haleakala Crater.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Dolphin Hunt in Solomon Islands

Re:The Dolphin Slaughter in Taiji, Japan - Nov. 2007 Re:Dolphin Killers Hide Slaughter from the Japanese People! Re:Dolphins in Japan Captured! Re:Japanese Slaughter Dolphin 日本によるイルカの惨殺Re:Save Japan Dolphins Re:Hayden Panettiere's fight to save the dolphins in Japan Re:Annual Dolphin Slaughter Met With Anger Re:Dolphin Ceremony in Taiji Japan Re:Japan's dolphin genocide Re:Dolphin slaughter in Japan Re:Abschlachten von Delfinen in Japan - Teil II Re:Matt Damon narrates story of dolphin slaughter in Japan Re:dolphin killing in japan- a crime or not Re:KILLING DOLPHINS IN JAPAN FOR FOOD Re:hunting dolphins - 2 stop this hunting vote 5* Re:Dolphins slaughtered in shallow water Re:How that is possible in the century XXl ? Re:Dolphin massacre in Japan-Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix-y Re:Hayden Panettiere a hero to dolphins Re:A Dolphin's Tears Re:Save the whales and dolphins! Re:Japanese Dolphin Massacre Re:Japan's Dolphin Hunt Re:Heroes star Hayden Panettiere protests over Dolphin killings Re:Japanese Dolphin Capture and Slaughter (Japanese Version) Re:Dolphin Swim Programs & SLAUGHTER Linked!!!! Re:Dolphin hunting protests at Japanese embassy in the US Re:'The Cove' Trailer HD

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Swim with Dolphins in Florida, Wild Dolphin Swims/Encounters, and Controlled Dolphin Swims/Wades


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Dolphins hold a very special place in peoples hearts and most people find swimming with a dolphin a very moving experience and cannot wait to do it again, despite the price. Florida offers many opportunities to swim with dolphins no matter where you are staying.

If you are staying in Central Florida near Orlando then you can simply head over to SeaWorld and watch the dolphin shows or visit the next door Discovery Cove where you can spend 30 minutes in the water in a controlled environment with an Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin. Even if you are staying in Orlando and do not have a car, you can take a two day bus trip to the Florida Keys including a dolphin swim.

Alternatively you can head for the coast to one of a number of companies offering dolphin swims and dolphin encounters. Note that some companies offer therapeutic programs for special needs children.

Wild dolphin swim/encounter

It is illegal to harass, feed, chase or touch marine mammals in the wild and so a wild encounter is a different kind of experience to the controlled encounters that take part in marine parks. All reputable companies will take time to teach the participants the correct way to deal with wild dolphins in their environment.

Typically you are taken out by boat into the open ocean to meet wild dolphins in their natural habitat. Once the dolphins are found, you can either just watch them from the boat or go over the side and snorkel with them; you must be a confident swimmer to swim in the sea like this.

Obviously there is no guarantee that the weather will be suitable, that you will meet any dolphins or that they will want to spend time with you but if you want to experience as natural an encounter as possible then this is the sort of trip for you. It is worth checking if the company offers any form of 'no show' guarantee if no dolphins are found.

As well as a one day trip, some companies also offer extended programmes/workshops of anything from 2 days to 7 days if you want to spend more time with the dolphins.

Special Tip

Before making your visit check with the operator exactly what gear you need to provide yourself and what is supplied or can be hired; for example, snorkel, fins, towels etc.

Controlled dolphin swim/wade

If you do not want to go out into the ocean, then you can still either swim with a dolphin or even wade with a dolphin in captivity.

There are really two kinds of controlled swim, the natural swim where you typically free swim using a snorkel with captive dolphins and the structured swim where you are one on one with a trainer (much like the swim with dolphins experience at Discovery Cove, Orlando).

Generally you need to be a good swimmer, comfortable in water 10-15 feet (3-5 metres) deep without using any flotation device. If you do not like getting out of your depth then some companies offer a wade with a dolphin programme where you can still cuddle and touch a dolphin whilst standing in shallow water (up to your waist) or at places like Discovery Cove you can wear a flotation device for the actual swim.

Copyright 2005(c) Stephen Downs, the Florida Review and Travel Guide.

This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and this resource box (with a live link) are included and the article is not changed in any way (apart from grammatical corrections).

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Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sea World Amazing Dolphin Show, San Diego, Ca

SeaWorld Dolphins' Show- Sam Diego California September 2, 2009

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