Spending money wisely in Macau

Every time a traveler is in a flashy location, there is an urge to spend money. Every time there are more avenues to buy, people spend more money. And when this is coupled with casinos, money flows freely. That is the case with Macau. This country is such a lifestyle statement. It’s casinos make more money than Las Vegas and that is why all the leading casino brands of the world have an empire here.


And with China’s growing riches, Macau is just getting bigger and bigger. There are mighty big casinos and five star hotels, there are the leading fashion brands and then there is unlimited shopping. All of this ensures that the traveler is tempted to shell out a lot of money.


Sometimes it is the temptation to become one with Macau and play the part. For a while, this is a way to have a good holiday. But, if not kept in check, it could have a big drain on your wallet as living the Macau lifestyle is an expensive proposition. And when it comes to the casinos, we know how gambling makes people behave. The temptation to make more money is always there and to make some profits, people have been known to lose a lot if not all.


If someone is lucky and ends up on the positive side of the casino table in terms of profits, even they get controlled by the lust for more money or fame. They either end up placing the money in another bet or end up spending the money on lifestyle products or services. In sum, money is not earned, but spent. If you wish to keep your spending habits in check when you are in Macau, always use a credit card when possible with a pre-defined limit so that you can keep yourself in check. This will help you enjoy your Macau holiday while ensuring that you don’t have a financial heart attack when you return home after your holiday.

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Why Luxury Vacationers Love Belize

When it comes to vacationing, you can go just about anywhere along the coast to find a nice sandy beach. So why are so many luxury vacationers heading to Belize for their getaways? The main reason is the depth of vacations to Belize. There's so much to do beyond the beaches.

Mayan Culture
For those interested in Mayan culture, Belize is the epicenter of this ancient civilization with the most temples, pyramids, and ritual chambers in the Americas. Sites such as Caracol along with Altun Ha, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech are great locations to explore what remains of the Mayan civilization.

Belize Zoo
Unlike the common concrete zoos found in many locations, the Belize Zoo is very open, creating a more natural environment for the animals where enclosures blend in with trees and plants around them. Once a refuge for wild animals and used as a site for documentaries, it now exhibits 150 animals that have been orphaned, rescued or born in the zoo.

Dangriga and Hopkins Village
For travelers who want more than just to enjoy the touristy areas, heading to Dangriga and Hopkins Village allows you to immerse yourself in the culture of Belize. Dangriga is where Punta Rock music was born and these two towns are Garifuna settlements, a distinct culture consisting of those with a West African and Amerindian (indigenous to South America) descent. This culture has their own language and rituals.

Museum of Belize
This museum is distinct. Once an overflowing prison, parts of the building have been restored to its original condition. The historical accuracy of the building shows how rough the prison was when it housed national heroes who fought for Belize's independence from the British Colonial government. Also housed in the museum are priceless artifacts, some dating back more than 2,500 years.

Luxury Accommodations
For luxury travelers planning a long stay, there are luxury accommodations to accompany the amazing adventures found in Belize. For a desert island getaway, check out the island of Cayo Espanto. This island is almost private with only six villas, each with a private swimming pool, private dock, and personal butler. At the Turtle Inn, luxury cottages are available right on the beach. Other options include Mahaca Hill Lodge, La Lancha Resort, and Chaa Creek.

Luxury Travel
For those looking for a plush vacation full of amenities and comfort, traveling lavishly should be part of the deal. You can take a luxury Caribbean cruise vacation that stops off in Belize, allowing you to explore the Maya ruins and more along with other island escapes.

Exclusivity
Overall, one reason many choose to head to Belize is it's a gem in Central America. Despite being a small country, it has miles of beaches along the coast and tons to explore within the country's interior locations. With luxury provided through cruise ships and five-star accommodations, there is a special feeling that comes with those who can say they've traveled to Belize.

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13 places to visit in 2013

There are endless number of places to visit in this world for travel freaks and with the new year dawning upon us and tourism developing across the globe, more destinations unexplored and untouched are becoming popular for visitors who get bitten by the travel bug every now and then! Here are a few suggestions on where you could tiptoe this year and make it one of the best ones on your travel calendar.

Europe is undoubtedly one of the best places to start thinking! The tourist attractions like Paris, Geneva, Berlin are all but exhilarating. The true Europe however, needs to be explored in its quiet corners. Nestled in south-eastern Austria, close to the German border is the city of Salzburg. It has been quite a hotspot for backpack travellers. The Youth Hostel of Salzburg is often abuzz with local cultural activities for its foreign travellers who take great pleasure in exploring the city on foot. A cozy winter when the whole city gets blanketed with snow to the extent that even the river stream freezes is one of the best sites in the world! If you are worried about staying in touch with your folks back home when travelling, with local phone cards today, calling has become a very cost-cutting activity. You do have other options like VOIP or Skype for video chatting while on the move. If you do not wish to spend on calling, international texting is one more option that is cheap and easy.

Whilst on the move in Europe, a few other places to visit would be Venice in Italy and Stockholm in Sweden. Both are island nations with a large tourist following every year. Stockholm is a much lesser commercially exploited city but a walk around gives you a similar feel of being in Paris. The stone pathways and the old town showcases the majestic lifestyle of the rich and overwater bridges give you some magnificent shots for your photo album. Venice too is an island city though it has its own little charm to it. Visit at a time when tour packages do not operate there. The weather might not be conducive but the slightly emptier streets will allow you to explore. Visit the smaller islands nearby and the tiny lanes lined up with pizzerias give you a true glimpse of the Italian cuisine. Travel further west and cross the border into France. The Southern region of France has plenty of beautiful towns where country-side lifestyles give you the taste of fine wine and dine. The famous cheeses and the Alpian towns are a paradise for skiers. Travel further south into Spain to the Basque country of Spain where the popular beach destination for foodies is San Sebastian.

Moving slightly away from Europe is the vast continent of Africa where destinations like Kenya await you with a very differing natural beauty and landscapes all around. One of the best places for safari, Kenya is home to a lot of national parks where you get to see animals roaming around freely. Choose your season carefully though as summers get very hot on this part of the planet. June would be an ideal time to venture out here. A jump onto a new continent would land you in Latin America, one of the most exotic locations on Earth. The Amazon basin and its deep rain forests give you an awesome adventure trip feel. You need to gear up for that kind of a travel though and prepare yourself for some hardships as nature is not at its best when explored to its depths.

From South to the North of America will give you one of the biggest continents to explore. Florida is a good place to start here. The entire coastline is tourist friendly with a lot of travel and touring options open. Miami is a great city to be in if you wish to witness good night life. A switch from seas to the desert and land yourself in the land of money and gambling! All of this right in the middle of a desert! The sin city of Las Vegas! It’s lit all through the night and a paradise land for players and amateurs alike! From small tables to bigger poker rooms, name it and you have it here. Travel further west to explore the beach destinations of Los Angeles and San Diego where the local cultures will enthrall you. The beach parades will leave wanting for more!

Other exotic locations around the world include the southern state of Kerala in India. A popular tourist attraction, the local food and backwater rides will take you a land that is serene, peaceful and an experience that is only but spiritual. The North Eastern states of this country too pose terrific landscapes, different than seen anywhere in the world. Further South-East Asian countries of Malaysia, Singapore too have varied tourist spots. Now that the list is ready, you can think of choosing your hot favorite destination first and embark upon a journey that will give you an experience of a lifetime!

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Top 9 Wildlife Holidays in India

Now that the Indian government has relaxed the tourism norms around India’s tiger reserves, wildlife lovers can breathe easy and plan their wildlife holiday in India. And with the upcoming Diwali holidays and the Christmas/New Year holiday season, I thought it would be helpful if I put together a list of the best 9 wildlife destinations in India. This list is not based on the best forests per se, but that provides the best wildlife experience including good infrastructure for a holidaying family or group. Make sure to check some of the India tour packages before deciding, you’ll find a lot of useful information there.  
   


1) Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam
This UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the floodplains of the mighty Brahmaputra is home to endangered and rare species such as the Indian one-horned Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffalo, Capped Langur, Hoolock Gibbon and more. It is one wildlife sanctuary where no one gets bored as it’s central, western and eastern ranges keep changing from woodlands to swamp plains to elephant grass to hills and evergreen forests while offering the wildlife lover to check out rich and diverse mammal, reptile and bird life. It is also one of those places where apart from the jeep safari, one can get on top of an elephant and get within close quarters of the Kaziranga wild denizens, be it a tiger, rhino or wild buffalo.

Best Season to Visit: November through March

Location: 260kms or 5 1/2 hours from Guwahati

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Hoolongopar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nameri National Park, Majuli Island



2) Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
Charger and B2 were one of the largest Indian tigers. They belonged to Bandhavgarh and their bloodline roam the forests of Bandhavgarh today. Bandhavgarh with the highest density of tigers is your best bet to see a Royal Bengal Tiger in the wild. The Tala zone of Bandhavgarh enjoys iconic status. It is very difficult not to see a tiger in the Tala zone during the warm summer months. But, it is not just about the tiger here. Bandhavgarh is home to some exotic birds and mammals. The Bandhavgarh river and the fort offer variety too.

Best Season to Visit: March to May and November to February

Location: 200 kms or 5 hours from Jabalpur

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Khajuraho, Panna Tiger Reserve




3) Kabini National Park/Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka
This place sees the biggest congregation of elephants in summer, offers possibly the best opportunities to see the leopard in the world, is fantastic for birding and also offers regular sightings of the tiger. Sounds unbelievable right? But, it is very true here at Kabini, which is one of those tiger reserves in India that is open all around. Boat cruises on the Kabini reservoir and jeep safaris in the Nagarhole forests is also one of its striking qualities.

Best Season to Visit: All year around, though it is special in the monsoons

Location: 200 kms or 4 1/2 hours from Bangalore

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Mysore, Srirangapatna, Coorg



4) Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu / Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala
This contiguous forest spanning the Western Ghats of Kerala and Tamil Nadu is home to some of India’s most pristine evergreen forests. The funny part is that both Anaimalai and Parambikulam needs to be entered from Tamil Nadu. The best part about this place is that everything is within the forest and hence you are always close to the wild animals. Gaur, spotted deer and sometimes even elephants will walk by your room. It is quite an experience. One can do jeep safaris, boat safaris or go trekking on designated trails in the evergreen belt in the presence of armed forest guards.

Best Season to Visit: All year around, except the monsoons

Location: 75 kms or 2 hours from Coimbatore

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Aliyar Dam, Valparai, Athirapally Falls, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary



5) Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand
India’s first national park has its own unique aura. The man-eaters of Kumaon and Colonel Jim Corbett himself lend a lot of legacy to this place. Tigers, leopards, elephants and many other wild animals live here in healthy numbers, though one needs to get lucky to see all on a single trip since Corbett NP spreads over quite a large area. The Ramganga river is also one of those rare places to spot the very endangered Gharial. One of the best things about Jim Corbett NP is Dhikala lodge, a forest department run accommodation that is located in the inner reaches of the tiger reserve. Even though it is fenced for safety reasons, it is something to experience the true wild by being real close to them.

Best Season to Visit: Oct to Jun

Location: 230 kms or 5 hours from New Delhi

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Ranikhet, Nainital, Almore and Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary



6) Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
Royalty and lots of tigers is how one connects with Ranthambore. Ranthambore is possibly the jewel of Rajasthan when it comes to wildlife. After all, Machli, Ranthambore’s very own carries the tag of the most photographed tiger in the world. Set in arid terrain and surrounded by the Aravallis, the oldest mountain range in India, Ranthambore is an oasis when it comes to wildlife. It’s lakes also attracts a lot of winged visitors every winter. The temple on top of Ranthambore fort, the ruins where Machli used to live and the surrounding hills and caves, each have a lot of tiger stories to share.

Best Season to Visit: March to May (for tigers) and Nov to Feb (for a full wildlife package including migratory birds)

Location: 180 kms or 3 hours from Jaipur

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Jaipur, Chittoragarh



7) Gir National Park, Gujarat
The king of the jungle is seen in only one place in India and that place is Gir. The Nawabs of Junagadhs have gone and the African slaves have embraced Indian language and culture, but the lions of Gir have continued their lineage. The forest is quite large and thus the wildlife is quite diverse. The entire place makes for a lovely green setting in an otherwise dry part of Gujarat. The only sad part is that the lions have originated from a small gene pool, thus making them sensitive to certain virus strains. But, that doesn’t reduce the awe factor even a wee bit.

Best Season to Visit: All year around except the monsoons

Location: 365 kms or 6 1/2 hours from Ahmedabad

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Diu, Somnath, Junagadh, Rajkot, Rann of Kutch



8) Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra
TATR is one of those places that people never knew existed in India. Today, it boasts of a healthy tiger population that is multiplying quite rapidly. It is also one of those rare tiger reserves that is open all year around thus making for a great monsoon wildlife destination. But, this place is mainly about the big animals and that too the tiger. For some reason, I don’t like forests that don’t have variety and that is why TATR is low on my list else it would be pretty high given its very high tiger sightings. And the forest department really care about their forest and are doing their bit to save this beautiful environment. The leopard and the black panther are also sighted here quite often.

Best Season to Visit: All year around (Best tiger sightings in summer and the monsoons)

Location: 130 kms or 2 1/2 hours from Nagpur

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Nagpur, Pench Tiger Reserve



9) Sunderban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal
It is the land of the man eating tigers. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site that is the world’s largest mangrove forest. It is also the place where the Royal Bengal Tiger swims, eats fish and weighs half of its counterparts that live in other parts of India. The Sunderban Tiger Reserve is one of those tiger reserves where it is very difficult to see a tiger and if you do, you are flirting with real danger. But, the true beauty of Sunderbans lies in its boat cruise that takes you through creeks and rivers and estuaries. The sheer variety of mangroves will keep your mind interested. The low and high tides will help you remember you physics classes. In between, you will get to see the famous salt water (mugger) crocodile, fiddler crabs, deer, terrestrial birds and may be the elusive tiger. But, you will definitely see and understand how the locals here live with these man eating tigers.

Best Season to Visit: Nov to Feb (check out the weather forecast here. can get pretty rough here sometimes)

Location: 120 kms or 2 1/2 hours from Kolkata by road and one hour by boat

Other Sightseeing Options Around: Digha

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Top 7 Birding Holidays in India

India is a birding paradise with as many as 1301 species recorded. This includes endemic, terrestrial and migratory birds. With a variety of forests and landscapes, India offers a wide variety too that includes endangered species like the Great Hornbill, Great Indian Bustard, Jerdon’s Courser and more. Below is a list of my favorite 7 birding holidays in India.



1) Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh
This is the place where Bugun Liocichla, one of the most recent bird species was discovered. Named after an Indian army camp and located in Western Arunachal Pradesh and bordering Bhutan, the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is a heady mixture of bamboo thickets, evergreen forests and alpine forests. This diversity in forest cover ensure a wide variety of avifauna. This place is really special for the smaller birds, but very beautiful species like the Yuhina, Tit, Sibia, Nuthatch, Bush Robin and more. The lovely Eastern Himalayan terrain, perfect solitude and the snow capped peak views are a bonus.

Bird watching mode: On foot and in jeep, but ideally on foot. You might have to walk long distances to cover wider number of bird species. It is advised to carry a lightweight pair of birding binoculars with you, a keen eye, alert ears and lots of patience to see some of the prettiest and most colorful birds of India.
     
Best time to visit: March-April or November to January, but place remains open throughout the year.



2) Pong Dam Wetands, Himachal Pradesh
This is undoubtedly Kangra’s hidden gem. Not a lot of people know about this place in spite of it being one of the prettiest spots of India. The Pong Dam Wetlands is located on both the Punjab side as well as the Himachal side, though I personally prefer the Himachal Pradesh side at Nagrota Surian owing for its rich numbers and brilliant views. Imagine this setting…The snow capped Dhaula Duan Himalayan ranges in the background, the Shivalik ranges in front of it, golden wheat and mustard fields at the ground level and the highest congregation of bar-headed geese in India. Doesn’t it sound imaginary? Well, such a sight is real during winter every year. Apart from the Bar-headed geese, Pong Dam also sees  about 200 waterfowl. Some of them are terrestrial, but most of them fly in from Tibet or Europe.

Bird watching mode: On foot. You can drive close to the water body, but then onwards, you will have to walk in either slush or on pebbles depending on water levels.

Best time to visit: October to February to see the birds in huge numbers.



3) Silent Valley National Park, Kerala
The Silent valley is not really silent as the birds here make quite a racket. This national park, which houses one of the rarest forms of rainforests in the world is home to some very colorful birds that are endemic to either this forest or the Western Ghats in overall. The Greater Racket-tailed drongo, Paradise Flycatcher, Laughing thrushes, Whistling thrushes, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, black and orange flycatcher and more. Some years back, a new species of raptor, the Long-legged buzzard was discovered in one of its peaks.

Bird watching mode: Mainly by jeep to Sairandhri. On foot after that.

Best time to visit: Anytime except the monsoons. The park is generally closed from June to September.



4) Nameri National Park, Assam
Nameri is one of those places where the probability of sighting the rare Great Hornbill is quite high. Its helicopter wing-flapping sound is synonymous with its jungles. The snow fed Jia-Bhoroli river and the surrounding forests ensure a rich variety of birds right from raptors to water fowl to small and large birds in the deep inside the forest. The Ibis bill and the woody duck are some of the other rare species sighted here.

Bird watching mode: If water birds interest you, then come down the Jia-Bhhorili river on a raft. If forest birds or raptors interest you, explore the park on foot under the supervision of an armed forest guard.

Best time to visit: October to February



5) Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
How does millions of flamingos sound to you? Add to it the beauty of a vast salt desert and you have a brilliant holiday panned out. Little Rann of Kutch or LRK as it more commonly known is home to the largest concentration of lesser flamingos in India. You can spend hours together watching them feeding in a frenzied fashion in the algae-rich waters of LRK. Apart from the lesser flamingos, one can also see the rare Houbara Bustard, common and demoiselle cranes, reef egrets and some desert birds.

Bird watching mode: You will definite need a jeep to commute the mighty LRK. After that, you can cover the last mile by foot.

Best time to visit: November to February



6) Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan
A birding site that has been conferred the World Heritage status. What else does one need to know? The Keoladeo Ghana or commonly known as Bharatpur bird sanctuary hosts a wide variety of birds in an extremely small area. It’s wetlands and forests attract everything from the magpie robins, water hens, lapwings, herons, storks, egrets, spoonbills to the very rare Sarus Cranes. Ideally, it should have been on the top of my list, but lack of rains in the past, over-grazing by the cattle and increasing pollution levels have caused the winged visitor numbers to reduce. Nonetheless, it still is a formidable birding destination.

Bird watching mode: Either on foot or a cycle rickshaw.

Best time to visit: All year around. If migratory birds is your interest, then winter months. If photography is your interest, then skip winter months as fog or smog can be quite dominating.



7) Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
Evergreen forests, Shola forests and montane rainforests make up the Anaimalai tiger reserve that nestles in the Western Ghats. It’s vibrant ecosystem makes it a great place for a variety of birds, the hornbills especially. It is one of those places where one can spot the near threatened Great Hornbill along with the Malabar pied Hornbill and the Grey Hornbill. You can also see the colorful woodpeckers, flycatchers, barbets, parakeets, orioles and more. The best part about this tiger reserve is that one need not be inside the park to do birding, but can also watch these birds in and around Valparai, a colonial tea estate town, which cuts across the Anaimalai tiger reserve.

Bird watching mode: Only in a closed vehicle if you are inside the park perimeters, but in the buffer zone or at Valparai, you can explore by foot.

Best time to visit: All year around at Valparai and in the buffer season and non-monsoon months inside the park area.

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