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Goa Wildlife Sanctuaries And Parks: Not Just For Party Animals
Wednesday, March 02nd, 2011 /

By Sanjog KR

Goa is a destination known for its rich and vibrant collection of flora and fauna, mesmerizing symphony of sun, sand and sea, gourmet cuisines and eclectic carnival.

The geographical location of this place gifted it with a range of wildlife sanctuaries which are also a vital facet of Goa tourism. These wild sanctuaries and Parks are enchanting destinations teeming with varieties of wild animals, birds and plant species.

Some of the well known wildlife sanctuaries in Goa are:

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary

Goa’s only bird sanctuary which is located in Chorao Island on the Mandovi River. It spreads over an area of 1.8 Sq Km and is known for its rich collection of local as well as migratory birds.

This bird sanctuary is named after the India’s famous Ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali. It is among the well-known attractions and is known for several unique species of birds and plants. Some of the well known attractions are kingfishers, mudskipper, pintails, black drongo coots, egrets etc.

The mangrove ecology of this place nurtures several varieties of birds and plants. The exotic collection of 400 species of birds, including migratory attracts scores of tourists to this place. The best time to visit this place is from the month of October to March because the weather is pleasant and birds come here in plenty.

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

This sanctuary was initially established as a refuge for injured or orphaned animals. Today, it is a well known wildlife sanctuary visited by scores of tourists from several parts of the globe.

The attraction of this place is a botanical garden, a rose garden and a small deer-park. Some of the other common species found here are bison, wild bear, deer, leopards, serpents and birds.

The best time to visit Bondla wildlife sanctuary is from the month of November to March because the weather is pleasant.

Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary is located 53 km from Panaji in Sanguem taluka, South Goa district. It is the largest wildlife reserve in Goa which is spread over an area of 240 sq. km. This sanctuary is situated amidst deciduous and evergreen flora which makes it rich in natural beauty.

The Molem National Park is a well known attraction of this park which is known for its herds of deer and gaurs (Indian bison), Malayan giant squirrels, clusters of monkeys and python.

The wild beauty of this park attracts scores of tourists to this place every year. But from October to March is considered as the best time to enjoy the beauty of this place.

Goa Tourism is among the most attractive destinations of India visited by both national and international tourists. Goa Wildlife Travel will offer you fun, thrill and excitement & make your holidays memorable.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Category: Family Travel, Family Vacations, Goa Culture, Goa Holidays, Goa Travel Tips, Goan Culture, Holidays, India Holidays, India Travel, India Travel Destinations, India Vacations, Travel Destinations, Travel Tips, Travel Videos, Vacations  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Goa Hotels: Where Foodies Enjoy Sumptuous Culinary Delights
Saturday, February 05th, 2011 /

By Chandan Kumar Sinha

With the gleeful carnivals, lazy evenings on beaches, tantalizing aroma of fish curries and the resplendent gesture of its emerald environs, Goa enchants and inspires its visitors with its delightful camaraderie.

Goa hotels similarly are evocative of a certain sense of bonhomie. Their main objective is to make the guests feel absolutely like at home when they are residing in it. These hotels in Goa are focused to make their rooms exude warmth and the ambiance to be refreshing and they have been very successful in their endeavor to do so.

Not only the rooms at these hotels are well equipped, but also they are very tastefully decorated for which they deserve a special mention. Another added advantage of these properties is the stunning view from the rooms, the beach resorts overlooks the ceaseless sea and most of the other hotels are placed amidst lush foliage creating a soothing ambiance for the guests.

The foodies on vacation in Goa find their perfect base at the luxury hotels in Goa. The famous luxury hotels known for offering sumptuous culinary delights are:

Taj Exotica Goa

Ranging from casual to fine dining and all day-eateries, the brand hotel of Taj offers numerous choices to dine at. The selection of cuisines and refreshing drinks are prepared by the expert chefs and their proficient teams. An array of cuisines is prepared to impress a diverse clientele residing at the hotel. The restaurants here are:

Adega Camoens: Superior quality beverages are served at this handsomely panelled lounge bar.

Allegria: Fresh flavors of Goan cuisine and delectable sea food is served with Portuguese Wines.

Eugenia: Ranging from traditionally prepared Indian cuisines to other Asian delicacies to satiate your taste-buds.

Li Bai: Try succulent flavors of Sichuan, Canton, Hunan delicacies.

Lobster Shack: As the name announces, this is a thatched beach view restaurant offering impressive selection of seafood.

Miguel Arcanjo: A feast of delicious Italian, Moroccan, Spanish and Provencal fares is on offer.

Taj Exotica - Lobster Shack

A quiet evening at the Lobster Shack at Taj Exotica, Goa

The Leela Kempinski

The hotel known for its distinctive hospitality and international standards offers a wide range of options when it comes to dining and wining perfect for all moods. Its restaurants are:

Jamavar: Most Goan hotels specialise in Indian food, but at this restaurant you will be served only the best of Indian along with special Goan fares.

The Cafe: By the pool this is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate with coffee.

Riverside: A romantic setting by the Sal River with open terrace adding a magical ambiance and the perfect Italian cuisines the whole scene is nothing less than intoxicating.

Susegado: The restaurant keeps Portuguese flavours of Goa alive by offering most elegant seafood grill to its guests.

Yali Lounge: The majestic domes of the restaurant along with soothing live music serve for ideal settings for savoring cocktails.

Aqua: The entertainment lounge.

The Pool Bar: Serves choicest of cocktails and spirits by the pool.

These and other restaurants at five star hotels in Goa make dining a luxurious affair. Check out Nautilus at Bogmalo Beach Resort for a la-carte treat of delectable national and international cuisines. Visit Morisco at Fort Aguada Beach Resort to savor ultra-fresh seafood in the state.

© Chandan Kumar Sinha is a traveler who likes to share his experiences. All the articles published by him will help you understand India better and answer all your holiday queries regarding South India Tour, Travel to Kerala and Goa hotels. Find tourist info on travel destination, Holiday Packages, India hotels and much more.

Resources For Foodies:

Recipes From Around The World – Packed with more than 1000 tantalizing recipes from far away lands, the 2 volume set lets you serve and satisfy even the most sophisticated of cravings with inspired meals created fast and easy. Packed with more than 1000 tantalizing recipes from far away lands, the 2 volume ebook set lets you serve and satisfy even the most sophisticated of cravings with inspired meals created fast and easy.

Cooking Tips From Around the World: A Culinary Travel Adventure – An enhanced e-cookbook with recipes, tips, photos and videos from some of the best culinary professional worldwide. Travel to New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali and Europe.

101 Camping & Outdoor Recipes – Food tastes better outdoors. Even campers who have never cooked anything more complicated than S’mores can make great meals and snacks over the campfire. Get 101 delicious, and easy-to-prepare recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that are sure to make you a hit around the campfire.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com & Photo source Flickr

Category: Beach Holidays, Beach Vacations, Family Travel, Family Vacations, Goa Culture, Goa Holidays, Goa Night Clubs, Goa Travel Tips, Goan Culture, Goan Food, Holidays, Hotels And Resorts, India Holidays, India Travel, India Travel Destinations, India Vacations, Travel Destinations, Travel Tips, Vacations  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Overcoming Fear Of Flying: Treatments And Remedies That Help
Monday, January 31st, 2011 /

By Arun Chitnis

If a fear of flying has been holding you back from your love of exploring new places, you need to know that there are many new treatments and remedies that can help sufferers of this phobia. All you need is the willingness to overcome that fear, no matter what it takes.

Options For Treatment Of Aviophobia

The most common treatment options available to help overcome fear of flying include drug therapy, natural remedies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), relaxation techniques and airline-affiliated programs.

Once the final diagnosis has been made by the psychologist, the patient can now start with treatments depending in the severity of the phobia. Since each of these is based on different principles and processes so it’s up to you to decide which one could be suitable to your needs.

1. Drug Therapy

This is the quickest form of treatment available for people who are starting in overcoming their fear. Once a diagnosis is made by the psychologist or psychiatrist, the most common drug prescription includes benzodiazepines and other relaxant drugs which are proven to control the symptoms of the phobia for a certain period of time.

Although some can be bought over the counter, always remember to check with your health provider which drugs may help you overcome that fear while in flight. Their approval and prescription is very important because these will ensure that the problem will not get more complicated.

2. Herbal And Natural Remedies

If you want to go the natural way, there are certain natural remedies that can be made or taken at home to help you control anxiety attacks during flights. These herbs include St John’s Wort, Scullcap, Passiflora incarnate, and Valerian are recommended because these are believed to help calm your nerves while aboard.

Because these herbs contain properties that help people relax, many are open trying this treatment option. But since herbal or natural remedies don’t necessarily have clinical approval, it is best to test first the effects of these herbs before you go aboard.

Fear of Flying

Test the efficacy of any remedy or treatment before your next flight

3. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT

Experts say that one of the most effective methods for helping people overcoming their fear of flying is the process called “desensitization.” This is an educated approach to overcoming fear in flying because the process involves making the person face the fear “face to face”.

How do they do that? The moderators introduce the patient to his or her fear and then, slowly, the idea of flying will be re-introduced. Other components of the method also include conversations on it, field visits such as the airport, and soon, you will be accompanied to take a real flight.

During the sessions, the patient will be taught various relaxation methods as well as techniques so they can cope with the phobia and eventually eliminate it form their system.

4. Relaxation Techniques

Since anxiety is the main culprit for fear of flying, people who experience this are advised to try techniques that help them relax such as meditation and deep breathing as well as muscle relaxation.

You should practice these relaxation techniques at home until you’ve mastered it, if you intend using them when you’re finally able to take a flight. Learning these techniques are important because it will help you reduce your anxiety, relieve tension brought upon by fear, and help you put your mind on positive thoughts.

© Arun Chitnis is a professional content and copywriter, proof-reader and editor. He wields his pen on a diverse range of topics, but his primary areas of interest are medical and lifestyle issues, family dynamics, parenting, natural health, home improvement, real estate, humor and fiction.

This article may be reprinted with the complete author bio and a live link back to http://www.goa-beach.com

Travel Resources:

Overcome Fears Of Flying: Natural Treatments for In-Flight Problems – Are you one of those people whose career or vacation time suffers because you can’t handle getting on a plane? Do you have to drug yourself senseless with anti-anxiety medications just to get to the airport? Learn short term remedies as well as long term strategies for getting past your difficulties with flying without having to take brain fogging drugs.

Avoid Jet Lag: Unique Plan To Cure Jet Lag – All travelers suffer from some level of jet lag. Discover how you can completely avoid jet lag – every time you fly – following a simple step by step approach. The program is built on both the most up to date, scientific sleep studies and personal experience flying all over the world, several times a month.


Photo source

Category: Air Travel, Goa Travel Tips, Holidays, International Travel, Travel Tips, Vacations  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Caribbean Vacations: Top 10 Caribbean Beach Destinations
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 /

By Ryan Burden

Looking for the best Caribbean beach vacation? I love sharing the highlights of all the places I visit and learn about. Here you’ll discover the top 10 hot spots for a great beach vacation and learn what’s special about each of them. Then you can decide which one you think would be the best beach vacation in the Caribbean for your trip!

Aruba:

This place is for those that like a non-stop vacation with lots of restaurants, bars casinos. The beaches are gorgeous, the water is wonderful and it hardly ever rains. The scuba diving is awesome with great opportunities for photography. The fishing is pretty good too.

Barbados:

Your troubles will simply wash away in the soft island serenity of this great beach vacation destination. Brighton Beach is a great place to stay for your Caribbean beach vacation and the most popular here.

If you want a little more privacy you can get secluded villas around the island. Taking that horseback ride on the beach will feel as if you’re in a movie and I would highly recommend trying it. Probably my second favorite beach vacation overall.

Turks and Caicos Islands:

Like long beach walks? At 12 miles long, Grace Bay is simply a phenomenal stretch of soft white sand with smaller luxury resorts, spas and great restaurants perfect for a beach honeymoon vacation. And the water color is the most vibrant translucent turquoise… I love it!

Seems that many movie stars and rock stars like it too with several owning homes and vacationing here on some 8 secluded islands all with fantastic beaches. Turks & Caicos has long been a diver’s paradise with great deep-sea and bone fishing too! Taking the kids? Well, Beaches Resort consistently gets high marks as one of the world’s best family beach vacation spots.

Flamingos on a beach in Aruba

Flamingos on a beach in Aruba

Bahamas:

Technically not in the Caribbean, but with so many beautiful beaches I had to add it to the best beach vacation list… it’s close enough. Paradise Island is great fun especially swimming with the dolphins, which is an experience of a lifetime. The diving here is fantastic because of the calm waters and enjoying the nightlife is all kinds of fun. For a secluded romantic get-a-way try the pink sand beach on Harbor Island.

British Virgin Islands & U.S. Virgin Islands:

Both make great beach vacations, especially for island hopping. Having a chance to easily enjoy not 1, 2, but potentially 3 islands or more each with it’s own charm make for one of the best beach vacation spots. Trunk Bay on St. John is particularly gorgeous and popular with calm waters and an underwater snorkeling “trail.”

Cayman Islands:

A very entertaining destination with odd things like feeding iguanas grapes while dining at a restaurant. Definitely worth it for the pictures! Three islands in all, its another great place to island hop and enjoy waterfall climbing, extensive shark diving, and swimming with the stingrays and shopping, shopping, shopping.

Dominican Republic:

Here is a place you can go for a cheap beach vacation and still enjoy all the splendid beauty of a Caribbean island. Have a great time scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, deep sea fishing and hiking. Fabulous beaches too!

Anguilla:

A fun Caribbean beach vacation to tell your friends about. It’s the only area known in the Caribbean to have beautiful white sandy beaches deserted during peak season, which makes this a great place for couples to enjoy.

Especially with activities that include windsurfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Oh, and if you love seafood, all I can say is, “The best chefs in the Caribbean!”

St. Lucia:

A honeymooners delight. Think jazz music, small island, secluded and intimate and that is St. Lucia. Beautiful beaches, lush tropical foliage, scenic mountains, spectacular sunsets and typically many great all-inclusive packages are offered. It all makes for a very seductive beach honeymoon vacation.

Hey, I could add a couple more since the Caribbean is full of beautiful and interesting places. Some may offer a little better snorkeling or fishing, larger or smaller hotels, more seclusion or more nightlife, but all are wonderful in their own way.

You really can’t go wrong with these when planning and dreaming of your next Caribbean beach vacation!

Author Ryan Burden loves the beach! Ryan is a self-professed expert beach bum, traveler and publisher of Turks and Caicos Beach Vacation.com a comprehensive insider’s guide for planning all your Turks & Caicos adventures. See ya on the beach!

Carribean Vacation Resources:

How To Plan A Caribbean Fun Vacation: FREE 5 Part-Ecourse – Have a taste of the Caribbean Islands with this ecourse which explore with you the rich flavors of different countries of the Caribbean. Begin to discover the turquoise seas. Develop ideas for your next vacation. If you’re not familiar with the Caribbean beaches, Caribbean lifestyle, and Caribbean vacation, this report will explain to you why the Caribbean Islands are considered one of the best vacation destinations.

Last Minute Traveler: How Procrastination Can Save You Money – The essential guide to last minute travel deals that only available if you are able to travel at the last minute. Having open travel dates can open up a world of possibilities for you when you know how to grab a last minute deal to your dream holiday.


Cruise to the Caribbean! Click Here

Article Source: EzineArticles.com & Photo source bas3ssen

Category: Beach Holidays, Beach Vacations, Carribean Vacations, Goa Travel Tips, Hotels And Resorts, International Travel, Island Vacations, Travel Destinations, Travel Tips, Vacations  Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
Adventures In Goa: Aquatics, Camping, Trekking And GoKarting
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011 /

By John Michel Cane

Sun, sand and snorkeling! Those who love Goa are crazy about its inimitable charm that has attracted hordes of tourists over the years. Goa is a must for those who love the passion and excitement of adventure sports and is well known for the variety of water sports offered.

Snorkeling in Goa is one of the most fun adventure sports that you can enjoy while exploring its beautiful beaches. Those who like more variety, can get their adrenaline pumping with other sports like river rafting, kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving, go-karting and trekking.

Aquatics In Goa: Scuba Diving And Snorkeling

Goa has many sites to enjoy this particular adventure sport. Being one of the popular sites in Goa, Grand Island possess some of the most thrilling adventure scuba diving sites such as Suzy’s Wreck, Umma Gumma Reef, Davy Jones Locker, Shelter Cove, and Bounty Bay.

A day trip to Goa can include a visit to this place where you can enjoy these water sports more easily. In addition to the adventure you’ll enjoy the view of the beautiful marine life on this beach. The famous Barracuda Diving club and other clubs at Bogmalo beach provide specialized water sports training to tourists.

If you want to enjoy learning more about these sports then you get enroll in one of these courses. With exotic sea species and water sports, Goa is truly a haven for travelers. The best time to visit is from November to April.

Kayaking on Palolem Beach in Goa

Kayaking on Palolem Beach in Goa

Trekking, Hiking And Camping in Goa

The best months to go for trekking in Goa are from October to December. The Goa Hiking Association organizes a popular hiking program in Panaji by every year in the month of October.

Even in the month of December, there are various trekking excursions and family trekking trips organized in Goa. Apart from this, there are famous treks accessible in this very travel destination.

Goa is not only fun for treks and excursions but also for the ancient temples, churches and other sacred places that dot the landscape and add to its exotic look and feel. You can take in the Portuguese architecture of the houses if you take a road trip in Goa.

Goa Go-Karting

Go-karting is the newest craze in Goa. One of the finest places in Goa to go-karting is at Nuvem, on the Panaji-Margao Highway. This place is near south Goa and its 500 meter long track thrills its trekkers with a lot of twists and turns in it. Another go-karting track is located in north Goa near the Calangute and Baga beaches. It is 300 meters long and fun to drive in.

Whether you just want to relax and enjoy the waves rolling at your feet, take the pleasure of adventure sports or just enjoy the sea food and culinary traditions, Goa is the ultimate destination for travelers. Even on a budget, you can have a great time with adventure tourism in Goa.

Just Do India is India’s leading holiday tour companies offering various tour packages including trekking tours in India such as snorkeling in Goa, Himalaya trekking, trekking in Uttrakhand and many more places.

Additional Resources:

Camping Equipment – Buy Direct: All of the family camping tents, canvas tents, sleeping bags, camping mattresses, camping furniture and camping accessories are direct from our own factory with no middle men involved – so you can take advantage of our discounts!

101 Camping & Outdoor Recipes – Food tastes better outdoors. Even campers who have never cooked anything more complicated than S’mores can make great meals and snacks over the campfire. Enjoy these 101 delicious, and easy-to-prepare recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that are sure to make you a hit around the campfire.

The Hotel Bootcamp: A Travelers Guide To Staying Fit – The hottest guide for anyone wanting to stay in shape while traveling. Easy to follow with illustrated workouts you can do in the privacy of your hotel room. No more nasty hotel gyms!

Scuba in Goa – and those showoff puffers

Article Source: EzineArticles.com & Photo source Flickr

Category: Beach Holidays, Beach Vacations, Goa Culture, Goa Holidays, Goa Travel Tips, Goan Culture, Holidays, India Culture, India Holidays, India Travel, India Travel Destinations, India Vacations, Travel Destinations, Travel Tips, Travel Videos, Vacations  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
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