Natural History Museum, London

          

  The cathedral-like Central Hall of London's Natural History Museum boasts a towering arched ceiling ribbed with exposed iron beams and adorned with hundreds of hand-painted tiles depicting plants and animals. Designed in the 1860s in the German Romanesque style by architect Alfred Waterhouse, the building first opened its doors in 1881.

Stonehenge, England

                   

Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain, is arguably England's greatest archaeological treasure. Though weathered and broken, its ruins are a window on a prehistoric world, guarding secrets after more than 4,500 years. Here, lights from the nearby town of Amesbury lend a lavender glow to the sky above the enigmatic monument.

Windsor castle, Berkshire England

                             
  The first tower of Windsor Castle, the sprawling royal residence and fortress in Berkshire, England, was completed nearly a thousand years ago. It is currently the oldest continually occupied castle in the world, and the largest, spreading over 13 acres (5 hectares) of land. This vantage shows a portion of the Queen's Jubilee Garden, built in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 50 years on the throne.

South Down National Park, England

        

• England's Newest National Park The South Downs are a line of rolling hills that run roughly parallel to England’s southeast coast and create a landscape of open heath and chalk grasslands, 400-year-old oak woods, and dramatic coastline—highlighted by the towering cliffs of Seven Sisters and Beachy Head. South Downs is less than an hour from London and, though England’s newest national park, stunningly popular. The National Park Authority estimates 39 million visitors come to the park each year—nearly triple the number to the next most visited national park.

• White Chalk The bones of South Downs are made of chalk limestone, the soft rock formed by the fossilized skeletons of sea creatures that inhabited an ancient ocean here nearly 100 million years ago. In some places this chalk contains visible remains of ammonites, sea urchins, sponges, and other ancient creatures. The brilliant white rock is most obvious in the exposed cliffs of the Seven Sisters, between Cuckmere Haven and Birling Gap. The cliffs here are worn away by 10 inches (25 to 30 centimeters) each year by the action of the ocean.

• Wave-Cut Platform When the tide is out, a trip to the wave-cut platform at the foot of the towering cliffs gives visitors a glimpse of living and ancient creatures. Fossils such as giant ammonites can be found here, and the area is alive with modern marine animals. Limpets and mussels, whelks, sea anemones, and shrimp can be found on the rocks and in pools. Visitors can also see algae, seaweed, and even kelp forests—though these lie at the platform’s oceanside edge and emerge only at the year’s lowest spring tides.

• Rare Landscape Chalk downland, the park’s iconic landscape of rolling hills covered with grass, scrub, and heather, may seem commonplace here but is globally rare. Even in South Downs chalk grassland exists over only 3 percent of its original area thanks to intrusions of invasive scrub and the encroachment of modern farming and development.

• Great Diversity Today the grasslands are home to species in amazing variety—up to 40 different plants may live in a single square meter. This diversity is sustained by intense competition for nutrients in the thin, well-drained soils overlying the chalk below. The many plants and flowers help to sustain an animal ecosystem that includes insects, rare butterflies, snails, hares, and birds.

National Park Of Svalbard Island, Norway

              

• Seven Parks The Svalbard Islands, an Arctic Ocean archipelago halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, are home to seven Norwegian national parks: Forlandet, Indre Wijdefjorden, Nordenskiöld Land, Nordre Isfjorden, Nordvest-Spitsbergen, Sassen-Bünsow Land, and Sør-Spitsbergen.

• Beware of Bears Svalbard is Arctic wilderness and polar bear country. The opportunity to see one of these giants draws many visitors. But polar bears can be dangerous, and close encounters may prove fatal for the bears and, occasionally, for humans. People traveling in bear country are advised to carry flares or other deterrents to scare off aggressive bears—and high-powered rifles in case such measures fail.

• Nordvest-Spitsbergen Nordvest-Spitsbergen National Park is a glorious land of mountain peaks, glaciers, and offshore islands. It is also home to Svalbard’s main historical monuments. Whaling stations and burial grounds were established here as early as the 1600s. The ill-fated balloonist Salomon Andrée took off from Virgohamn for the North Pole in July 1897. His remains, and those of his companions, weren’t found until 1930. Visiting the remnants of his camp, and other sites on Virgohamn, requires a permit from the governor.

• Forlandet Forlandet National Park, established in 1973, covers all of the island of Prins Karls Forland and features high mountains, small glaciers, and a sizeable coastline. Geese and eider ducks nest here and walruses can be seen along the water’s edge. The park is also home to the world’s northernmost harbor seal population.

• Indre Wijdefjorden Indre Wijdefjorden National Park is dominated by its namesake fjord, the longest in Svalbard, which stretches from the sea back to an inland glacial front. On either side of the fjord rare Arctic steppe vegetation can be found—including plant species not known elsewhere in Europe.

• Sassen-Bünsow Land Sassen-Bünsow Land National Park has large stretches of wetlands and Arctic vegetation—an enticing landscape for the many birds that live here. Perhaps the most legendary figure of Svalbard’s rich hunting history, Hilmar Nøis, also lived here, at Fredheim. Visitors can see the base station where he spent many of his 38 Svalbard winters between 1909 and 1973.

Pyrenees National Park, Spain

                

• Border Park Stretching along the mountainous border with Spain, Pyrénées National Park includes six distinct alpine valleys and elevations that soar from a low of 3,478 feet (1,060 meters) to 10,820 feet (3,298 meters) at the summit of Vignemale. Mont Perdu (10,990 feet/3,350 meters) anchors an enormous massif, which is marked by three major cirques on the French (northern) side.

• Pyrenean Desman The park's most intriguing inhabitant is a close relative of the mole called the Pyrenean desman. This patchwork creature has a mole-like body, trunk-like nose, and webbed feet. It lives in these mountains, and almost nowhere else, feeding on insect larvae and small shellfish along the banks of crystal streams.

• Little Train One Pyrénées attraction not to be missed is the unique “tiny” railway. This precipitous narrow-gauge journey, the start of which is reached by cable car, runs along what’s billed as Europe’s highest track. The Petit Train d'Artouste was originally built to provide worker access during construction of massive hydroelectric dams during the 1920s. Today the train fills with tourists each summer and travels an unforgettable six-mile (ten-kilometer) stretch from the peak of La Sagette to Artouste Lake—all at a dizzying altitude of 6,562 feet (2,000 meters).

• Pastoral Partners While the park’s central area is largely uninhabited, an ancient, pastoral way of mountain life endures in a “partnership zone” where some 40,000 people live in 86 villages. Here shepherds and their charges frequent upland pastures and mountain hamlets perch comfortably between dizzying heights and farm fields. Such communities were once widespread in Europe’s mountain regions but are now found in relatively few places—the Pyrénées quite notable among them.

Peneda Geres National Park, Portugal

• Border Park In northern Portugal along the Spanish border, Peneda Geres is a lovely jumble of regenerating oak forests, plateau peat bogs, green valleys, and 300-million-year-old granite heights.

• Species Haven Some of Europe’s very few wolves prowl the park, as do foxes, wild boars, ibex, and deer. Peneda Geres is also home to otters, fish, frogs, salamanders, 147 different bird species (many migratory) and 15 bat species—10 of which are endangered.

• Wild Ponies Garrano ponies are among the park’s most famous inhabitants. These wild animals have been native to the region since the Celtic era during the first millennium B.C.—but extensive domestication nearly wiped them out in the mid-20th century. The Portuguese government began to rebuild the herds in the 1940s in the area of what is now the national park.

• Ruins and Relics This part of the Iberian Peninsula has an ancient history of human habitation, as evidenced by megalithic stone tombs dating to the third century, Celtic fortifications dotting the hilltops, and a well-preserved first-century Roman road that crosses the park and remains popular with cyclists. Castles like Castro Laboreiro (tenth century) and Castelo do Lindoso (12th century), and monasteries like Santa Maria dos Pitões (ninth century) are enduring relics of medieval times.

• For Walkers Dozens of old shepherd trails provide hiking access to the park and can be linked to make multiday treks. April and May are especially good times to explore on foot because the park flowers are in full bloom at this time. The Homem River Valley offers a notable ramble through rare remnants of ancient native forest.

Killarney National Park, Ireland

           

• Ireland's Top Peaks Killarney National Park is home to Ireland’s tallest mountain range, the irresistibly named McGillycuddy’s Reeks. The peaks top out at over 3,280 feet (1,000 meters).

• Lake Land Killarney is famed for its beautiful lakes, which cover about a quarter of the entire park. From their shores rise mountain slopes, cloaked by notable forests like Tomies Wood. One of Europe’s only remaining pure yew woods can be found across 60 acres (25 hectares) of the Muckross Peninsula. Together these trees make up some of Ireland’s largest remaining stands of old forest.

• Native Deer Red deer have lived in Ireland since the last ice age and now survive only within the refuge of the park. Local waters are home to salmon and trout, and water-loving birds like cormorants thrive in the park.

• Dinis Island Dinis Island is home to Dinis Cottage, a historic lodge and charming tearoom. Walkers and cyclists can reach Dinis by crossing the Muckross Peninsula or meandering along the lakeshore some 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) from Killarney Town. Boats also dock here and return to the boathouse near Muckross House.

• Mansion and Farms Muckross House and Gardens is a major cultural attraction within the park. The 19th-century mansion was once owned by a member of the Guinness family and has hosted notable guests, including Queen Victoria. Muckross Traditional Farms, near the house, allows visitors to explore working farms and the traditional way of life as enjoyed in these parts in the 1930s. The farms are closed from November to March.

Cinque Terre National Park, Italy

   

 Seaside Charm Even in Italy, a land of many wonders, Cinque Terre National Park is unique. The park includes a group of five picturesque seaside villages perched high atop the rocky Mediterranean coastline. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, the towering hills behind them, and the breathtaking Ligurian coastline itself are all included in this special national park.

Timeless Attractions History is alive in the villages, which are replete with ancient churches, castles, and homes that line narrow streets and squares. Roman villas, Benedictine monasteries, and Romanesque architecture bear witness to the steady march of time here.

 Pedestrian Paradise The rocky, rugged coastal cliffs keep Cinque Terre in scenic isolation. Most visitors arrive by train or boat, or even on foot, because it’s extremely difficult to reach the villages by road. That makes the park, villages and all, a pedestrian paradise linked by footpaths that traverse seaside promontories, terraced vineyards, and olive groves.

 Water Park While most visitors focus on the charming villages and breathtaking views found on terra firma, Cinque Terre is a seaside park and its bays, coves, and offshore waters are part of a protected marine area.

Local Tastes Like most places in Italy, Cinque Terre boasts local specialties of fine food and drink. A crisp white wine called Sciacchetrà is the prized product of local vineyards and good for washing down pesto made with locally grown basil. Freshly caught fish, garnished with local lemons, is another must-have.

Cevennes National Park, French

                     

 Peaks to Plains In Cevennes National Park low mountains flow smoothly onto the plains of Languedoc, creating a patchwork of rocky heights, grasslands, forests, and farms. This is not a pure wilderness park but a classic landscape of traditional French life.

 Many Villages Cevennes is the only national park in France that has human settlements at its core—there are some 250 villages within its borders.

 Prehistoric Inhabitation People have lived here since at least 400,000 B.C. By about 2,500 B.C. they were erecting standing stones, called megaliths, which can still be seen today. Later, the Romans left their mark with enduring buildings, burial sites, and roads. Many churches from the Middle Ages also still stand, although most of that era’s castles are in ruins.

•Agricultural Woes Agricultural crises plagued the area around the park beginning in the second half of the 19th century. Diseases devastated silkworms, which were then key to a local industry, and sweet chestnut trees, which had been introduced by the Romans. These and other economic problems led to an exodus and a significant population decline, which was exacerbated by the staggering death tolls of World War I.

Layang-Layang Island, Sipadan Sabah

                         

  Layang Layang, meaning kite, is fast becoming another one of Malaysia's premier dive destinations after the world-famous Sipadan Island. This oceanic atoll is situated in the South China Sea about 300km north-west of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah.
The little land mass supports a luxurious 90-room dive resort, a Malaysian Naval base and a nesting colony for several sea-faring migratory birds. The reef topography is essentially made up of a rich growth of hard corals; some so shallow that they break the sea surface during low tides, but most begin at depths of about 5m right down to the ocean floor.
Some of the marine animals observed around the 14 dive sites include black-tip sharks, hammerheads, jacks barracudas, bump-head parrotfish, lionfish, moray eels, turtles, nudibranches, gobies and the ghost pipe fish.

Langkayan Island, Sandakan Sabah

              

 A jewel like tiny island in the Sulu Sea, an hour and a half boat rides north of Sandakan; Lankayan has been declared part of an immense Marine Protected Area to adopt the eco-tourism concept.Unpopulated and covered by thick tropical island vegetation on its topside, this peaceful, untouched little bit of paradise is ringed by an endless pure of white sandy beach, offering simply elegant and exquisite accommodation in all 23 wooden, roomy and perfectly appointed seafront chalets.

While the ideal destination for those who search for tranquility and relaxation in a virgin natural setting and for families with children, Lankayan Island is also becoming one of the hottest diving destination on the map today: its dive sites - all just a few minutes away - boasting unbelievable colorful macro, fauna, fascinating wrecks and in season from March to May, regular sightings of gigantic and harmless whale sharks, the "dream date " of every diver in the world.

Situated within the Sea Turtle Corridor, Lankayan Island is also a nesting place and foraging ground for sea turtles; most commonly Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle. Therefore, guest will have a chance to see turtles nesting as well as new hatchlings of baby turtles released to the sea especially in season from June to September

Sipadan Island, Semporna Sabah

The internationally famous island of Sipadan lies five degrees north of the equator in the Sulawesi Sea (Celebes Sea). Lying 35km south of Semporna, on Sabah’s mainland, like many tropical islands it is thickly forested and surrounded by sandy beaches. Sipadan is an oceanic island and was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano, which rises 600m from the seabed.

The geographic position of Sipadan puts it in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin. More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystems. Sipadan is well known for its unusually large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles which gather there to mate and nest and it is not unusual for a diver to see more than 20 turtles on each dive. Another unique feature to divers visiting Sipadan is the turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave with a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles that became disoriented and then drowned.

The residential schooling barracuda and big-eye trevally, which often gather in thousands forming spectacular tornado-like formations, are one of the highlights of every diver’s wish-list. With the possibility of seeing pelagic species such as mantas, eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, each dive at Sipadan is a highly anticipated event.

It is not only the big fish that amaze divers coming to Sipadan, the macro life is equally mesmerizing. Garden eels, leaf scorpion fish, mantis shrimps, fire gobies, and various pipefish are guaranteed at various dive sites. The diversity and abundance of marine found at Sipadan gives it its reputation of being one of the ten best dive locations in the world.

Kapalai Island, Sabah

                      

A few minutes by boat from the islands of Sipadan and Mabul but a full world away from it lays the exhilarating Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, sitting on its sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs. Planned and built in full style as an airy, comfortable, sunny water village with no land in sight, it boasts a mile-long sandbank of powdery white sand where one can suntan at complete leisure while gazing out to the miles of brilliant turquoise stretching into the horizon offering the purest image of natural serenity
Dive spots are extremely close and can be reached in just a few minutes by speedboat and some of them, actually, just by swimming from the dive center pier. For those who are ready to venture more and aside from the tiny marvels of the macro life of Kapalai can, in just a few minutes, dive in Sipadan (where big fish and turtles abound) or in Mabul (where silky and muddy bottoms offer different and equally pleasant experience and opportunities to the lovers of "muck diving").
With a combination of sun and water in a unique and serene setting with friendly staff, Sipadan-Kapalai is an ideal destination for diver and non diver alike seeking a great holiday experience!

Mataking Island, Sabah

 

                                     

The Reef Dive Resort at Mataking Island is an exclusive romantic& diving destination in the Celebes Sea, located just 40 minutes boat ride from Semporna, East Coast of Sabah in Malaysia.It is a promised island with majestic treasures, natural warmth and friendship for holiday makers, spa lovers, honeymooners and divers alike. Whether it is a retreat for yourself or exciting undersea exploration, you’ll find Mataking the perfect choice.The resort is caressed by the tropical sea breeze. Our executive chalets and deluxe rooms designed in traditional architecture offering simply elegant and exquisite accommodation for up to 70 guests in a serene and cozy environment.Enjoy Malaysian and International cuisine with an enticing spread of fresh local sea food or relish the weekend barbecued favorites at our sea facing restaurant

Chile Tourism

                   

Chile is one of the most extreme countries on Earth, from the driest desert, the Atacama, to Antarctica in the far south, travelers will find some of the most powerful destinations in the planet. Easter Island, the Chilean Wine Country, Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, the Futaleufu River, the Andes mountain range, to name a few.

All of this beauty accessible by Chile´s great road and air route network.

Superb natural beauty, amazing food, and the hospitality of Chileans make this country a place worth of visit a hundred times.

Chile is good for

Merit Prize

                                          
                                 

"Waterfall"

Timofey Tararin found this waterfall at Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia on a rainy afternoon. “It was cold outside,” he recalls. “I was soaking wet and hungry, but I couldn’t help taking pictures, being mesmerized by the stunning splendor of the place.” He used a long exposure time to turn the waterfall into wisps and make the pool appear glassy and flat. (Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, 17-40mm lens at 21mm, exposure at ten seconds, f/10, ISO 160)

For the fifth year, Traveler paired its photo contest with that of Photo District News, an award-winning magazine for professional photographers. More than 3,700 avid amateur photographers entered nearly 11,000 images in the 2010 World in Focus competition—our 22nd annual contest. The pictures captured an assortment of the places, wildlife, and people that make our travels memorable, evoking a sense of delight or discovery—or

Temples Of Kathmandu, Nepal

                                  
        

Larry Louie photographed the Tripureshwar Mahadev Mandir Temple in the slums of Nepal’s capital city, steps away from where people lived under bridges. “Most foreign tourists are warned away from Kathmandu, told this is a chaotic city falling apart,” he says. “This photo shows there’s still old beauty here, even in the slums.” He was drawn to the scene by the flying birds, backlit by the sunrise burning through the fog. “The scene was such a contrast to its surroundings.” (Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera, 24-105mm lens at 24mm, exposure at 1/125 second, f/11, ISO 400)

For the fifth year, Traveler paired its photo contest with that of Photo District News, an award-winning magazine for professional photographers. More than 3,700 avid amateur photographers entered nearly 11,000 images in the 2010 World in Focus competition—our 22nd annual contest. The pictures captured an assortment of the places, wildlife, and people that make our travels memorable, evoking a sense of delight or discovery—or both.

Maras,Peru

                                     
                                          

Maras, Peru

Photograph by Robert Clark, National Geographic

This Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Magazine Features

The terraced pools of mineral-laden water at Maras produce salt by evaporation, as they did in the time of the Inca. The ancient community nearby was called Kachi, "salt" in the local language.

Mount Mayon Philippines

Mount Mayon, one of the many active volcanoes in the Philippines, has always been a favorite among Filipinos because of its perfect cone. As the year 2009 was about to end, she started to act up. We decided to drive south from Manila to the province of Bicol, where Mount Mayon resides, to be able to capture the anger of the beautiful Mayon.

Uitimate Adventure Bucket

                                      

                                 

Surf Big Waves at Shipsterns Bluff

Tasmania, Australia

On the far southern coast of Tasmania, jutting into one of the Earth's most unpredictable and tempestuous seas, lies a point break so remote and isolated it's reachable only by boat or an hour-long wilderness trek. This is Shipsterns Bluff, a cold and dangerously unpredictable break where waves start crashing at eight feet (two meters) but can top 20 feet (six meters). The waves' characteristic steps trip even expert surfers–recently such as Kelly Slater and Ryan Hipwood (pictured)–and swing perilously close to rock fields, but the rush of lassoing the goliath of all waves beneath the coast's dwarfing black cliffs keeps surfers returning. "The scariest part is seeing the wave and committing to catching it," says local surfer Charles Ward.

Cinque Terre National Park

                          

                                                                         

• Seaside Charm Even in Italy, a land of many wonders, Cinque Terre National Park is unique. The park includes a group of five picturesque seaside villages perched high atop the rocky Mediterranean coastline. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, the towering hills behind them, and the breathtaking Ligurian coastline itself are all included in this special national park.

• Timeless Attractions History is alive in the villages, which are replete with ancient churches, castles, and homes that line narrow streets and squares. Roman villas, Benedictine monasteries, and Romanesque architecture bear witness to the steady march of time here.

• Pedestrian Paradise The rocky, rugged coastal cliffs keep Cinque Terre in scenic isolation. Most visitors arrive by train or boat, or even on foot, because it’s extremely difficult to reach the villages by road. That makes the park, villages and all, a pedestrian paradise linked by footpaths that traverse seaside promontories, terraced vineyards, and olive groves.

• Water Park While most visitors focus on the charming villages and breathtaking views found on terra firma, Cinque Terre is a seaside park and its bays, coves, and offshore waters are part of a protected marine area.

European Train Trip

                 

                         

Much of European train travel is about efficiency and comfort—punctually leaving and arriving and having a cozy seat or sleeper compartment in which to devour the latest issue of the Economist. But rail travel in the United Kingdom and on the Continent is also about experience: gaping out the window at Alpine glaciers, savoring gourmet cuisine in a restored last-century dining car. Accordingly, our ten favorite European trains don’t necessarily offer the fastest journeys—just the most memorable. All aboard!

Machu Picchu

                                      

                                                                                       

                                              

Machu Picchu

Photograph by Robert Clark, National Geographic

Perched high in the Peruvian Andes, the royal retreat of Machu Picchu testifies to the Inca's masterful building skills with its precision-cut stones and perfectly placed cascades of terraces.          

Kung Fu Master, China

                                           

                                                                                      

Kung Fu Master, China

Photograph by Fritz Hoffmann, National Geographic

Buddhist monk and kung fu master Shi Dejian (above) and his disciples hauled bags of cement and roof tiles up steep mountain paths to build an isolated retreat (in background) away from the tourist crowds at the Shaolin Temple.

Hang En Cave, Vietnam

                                                                                                                                                  

                     

Hang En Cave, Vietnam

Photograph by Carsten Peter, National Geographic

Going underground, expedition members enter Hang En, a cave tunneled out by the Rao Thuong River. Dwindling to a series of ponds during the dry months, the river can rise almost 300 feet (91 meters) during the flood season, covering the rocks where cavers stand.

Seven Best Destination Honeymoon in Malaysia

Honeymooner before or newlywed couples often chose to celebrate in the Caribbean or in some grand castle in Europe but the trends have changed in so many ways. Today’s couples are more adventurous and more open minded when it comes to choosing their honeymoon destinations.

They have come to realize that there are plenty of places worth discovering aside from the usual tourist spots. Today’s couples have open minds and adventure loving spirits. Regardless if you’re an outdoor person or not there are several honeymoon spots in Malaysia that you can go to. Let me give you the top ten honeymoon destinations.

1. Pulau Tioman, Pahang – Tioman Island has spectacular landscape. It is a volcanic area which was chosen as one of the best ten desert islands by Time magazine in 1970. It has white-sand beaches, rich flora and fauna in the jungle and of course several amazing waterfalls like the Mukut Waterfall which cascades down to a granite peak. The Nenek Si Mukut and Batu Sirau mountains also are exceptional. If you want to go trekking then there are numerous trails that lead from the main area called Tekek and northward to Salang and southward to Genting.

2. Redang Island, Terengganu – If you’re an avid fan of golf then this place is for you. It is a tropical paradise complete with an 18-hole golf course. This place has been awarded the “Best Tourist Attraction” prize twice, once in 1994 and in 1995. You can see the wrecks of H.M.S. Prince of Wales as well as H.M.S. Repulse, which are both World War II ships. Couples can lie under the sun on Pasir Panjang Beach. If you want to go snorkeling then you can try the islets of Pulau Pinang and Pulau Ekor Tebu.

3. Pulau Pangkor Laut, Perak – This place is just pure paradise. If you’re into diving then go to Coral Beach. Its beautiful coral reefs will satisfy your eyes. If you are a wind surfing enthusiast then go to Royal Bay. The place also does not disappoint in architecture and design. Most facilities there have Balinese and Malay origins but all were made with the couple’s relaxation and pampering in mind as the ultimate goal. A forty minute boat ride from the town of Lumut in Perak state will take you to the island of Pangkor Laut. If you’re one of the lucky few who have more than enough money then its best that you charter a plane and then take a fifteen minute boat ride.

4. Cameron Highlands, Pahang – This is the perfect place for couples who love the outdoors and for couples who are adventurous. Cameron Highlands is Malaysia’s number one hill resort. It is located between 4,900 to 5,900 meters above sea level on the Titiwangsa Range. It is complete with lots of romantic places which honeymooners can go to. You can walk through rose gardens and nurseries, eat fresh strawberries and even go bird watching. You can stay in lavishly designed Tudor cottages while admiring the beauty of nature right outside your room. Cameron Highlands is an hour’s drive away from Tapah.

5. Pulau Langkawi, Kedah – This island is a very famous place for lovers. The two most famous spots are the Dantai Bay which is located in the northwest of Langkawi as well as Tanjung Rhu also called Casuarina Bay is nestled by a promontory. Tanjung Rhu is twenty kilometers away from Danati Bay. Dantai Bay has two high priced resorts where special guests can go out of their balcony and see for themselves the crystal clear waters that lead to Thailand. Couples can walk hand in hand on Pulau Gasing and Pulsu Pasir. There are also mangrove swamps in the area where both you and your loved one can see eagles and even feed them by hand. Do not also forget to go to Kuah for your souvenirs and bargain shopping.

6. Genting Highlands, Pahang – Located on the misty Ulu Kali Mountains, the Genting Highlands greets clients with a Las Vegas/Disneyland type of entertainment. If you want to try your luck then drop by the casino and play. You can enjoy various, amazing rides on the outdoor theme park but don’t forget to save some money for shopping. After all honeymoons is the time to forget about your worries and just relax with your better half. During evening you can either go to the disco or you can watch an international stage show. You can also try horse riding at Awana Horse Ranch. Genting Highlands is only 45 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur.

7. Cherating Pahang – You will also share with your loved one the unforgettable sight of turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs from July to September. Club Mediterranee is the most popular hotel but there are many others that you can choose from. Cherating is just 30 km away from Kuantan, capital of Pahang State.

Acadia National Park

                   

                                                     Location: Maine

Established: February 26, 1919
Size: 47,748 acres (19,323 hectares)

Sea and mountain meet at Acadia, where, as one presumably ambidextrous visitor wrote, "you can fish with one hand and sample blueberries from a wind-stunted bush with the other." Most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, a patchwork of parkland, private property, and seaside villages that seasonally fill with what residents call "the summer people." Other bits are scattered on smaller islands and a peninsula.

Mount Desert Island once was continental mainland, a mountainous granite ridge on the edge of the ocean. Some 20,000 years ago, towering glacial ice sheets—sometimes a mile (1.6 kilometers) thick—flowed over the mountains, rounding their tops, cutting passes, gouging out lake beds, and widening valleys. As the glaciers melted, the sea rose, flooding valleys and drowning the coast. The preglacier ridge was transformed into today's lake-studded, mountainous island, which thrusts from the Atlantic like a lobster's claw.

Samuel de Champlain, who explored the coast in 1604, named the island L'Isle des Monts Déserts, sometimes translated as "the island of barren mountains." From his ship he probably could not see the mountains' forested slopes. The summer people rediscovered Mount Desert in the mid-19th century, built mansions they called "cottages," anchored their yachts in rock-girt harbors, and cherished the wild. To preserve it, they donated the nucleus land for the park, the first east of the Mississippi. The original name, Lafayette National Park, was changed in 1929.

Dependent on donated land since its inception, the park took what it could get, skirting around private property and growing piece by piece. Acadia's real estate was so patchy that not until 1986 did Congress set its official boundaries.

Although one of the smaller national parks, Acadia is one of the most visited—by almost two and a half million people a year. Heavy traffic can produce a phenomenon unknown to Mount Desert's first summer people: gridlock. The Island Explorer shuttle bus has helped alleviate the proble

Amazon: The Lost world

 

The pure scale of the Amazon is astonishing: 28 miles wide, on average, when the water is at its highest, a half-mile when it drops to its lowest ebb. At its most swollen during the rainy season, the mouth of the river can be 300 miles across, dumping 7.1 million cubic feet of water per second into the ocean—60 times the discharge of the Nile and 11 times that of the Mississippi.

The Aqua, built to Francesco’s specifications by the Peruvian Navy, towers above the water like a citified condo. It's one of only a handful of large boats running regular trips down the Peruvian Amazon (it will be joined by a bigger sister ship, the Aria, next April). The Aqua accommodates 24 travelers and a 24-person crew that includes pilots and naturalists who know the jungle intimately.

Most visitors to the region stay in landlocked lodges, limiting the area they can explore. But the Aqua has the advantage of ranging much farther afield, using its small skiffs, twice daily, to penetrate deep into previously inaccessible jungle. In the next four days it will take us roughly 280 miles, ending the journey in Iquitos.

The rainy season came two months early this year. Fed by an average annual downfall of more than 120 inches, the river rises and falls 30 feet throughout the calendar in Peru and more in Brazil. Only the wildlife sense what the skies will bring.

As we settle into our cabins, curtains of lightning accompany window-rattling gusts, and the skies drive rain down hard. The Aqua is not anchored; instead it is lashed securely to riverbank trees.

My fellow travelers and I dine off a menu prepared by Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Peru’s top chefs and owner of Malabar, a prestigious Lima restaurant. Throughout the trip we are told to expect Peruvian dishes, South American wines, and local ingredients. Juices like cocona and camu camu. Fresh heart-of-palm soup with avocado puree. Regional pastries like aguaje muffins andsachaculantro and sweet chili bread. And such entrees as Amazon bass tiradito,tiger catfish ceviche, and river snails with Amazon salsa. After we eat, we huddle in the boat’s top-deck lounge in front of a huge picture window. “Some people ask me if we have TV on board,” says Francesco. “You’re looking at it.” He motions to the plate glass. “A moving window on the Amazon.”

Later, as I settle to sleep, I consider what lies ahead. We are in Pacaya Samiria, the second largest rain forest reserve in Peru and one of the world’s most diverse. It is home to anaconda, manatees, pink dolphins, jaguars, anteaters, giant otters, tarantulas, and more than 500 species of birds. Accessible only by water or air, it is a five-million-acre monster that has only 92,125 inhabitants and saw fewer than 6,000 tourists last year.

We steam through the night, lulled by the rolling gait of the boat. Light creeps up by 5:30 a.m., and I am treated to a doublewide-window view of a rain forest smorgasbord of mangroves and palms. On our first day in the reserve we motor in a 24-foot-long skiff powered by an eco-friendly four-stroke, 40-horsepower outboard. Photographer Richard Olsenius and I share the boat with our guide/naturalist Juan Tejada, Francesco, a driver, and the Aull family from Los Angeles—Robert, Jan, and high-schooler Nick.