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Archive for January, 2007

31 January, 2007 | No comments

World’s best diving-centers



Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Islands are very special islands. Here you will be impressed with the rocks from basalt and volcanic granite, planted with huge bushes of a black coral.  You can swim for a while with Galapagos penguins, and can be even see the rare starfish which have opened not so long ago. However immersing on Galapagos Islands - is not the entertainment for the beginners. You are obliged perfectly to be guided, able to define speed of current and to know one million different cunnings. One of the most interesting places for immersing on Galapagos Islands are the Darwin and Wolf islands, unsurpassed on beauty and quantity of sea inhabitants. Here sharks gather in flights, sometimes admitting skin-divers on a half-a meter distance.
Sipadan
The name of island Sipadan is considered with legends. Sipadan is located near to the northeast coast Borneo in Sulawesi Sea. Its area is only 12 hectares and it is possible bypassing it for half an hour. At first sight it looks like any other Malaysian islands: dense tropical vegetation, a ring of snow-white beaches. Sipadan is the extinct underwater volcano which has acquired with corals. It is well-known among divers first of all for the vertical reef wall leaving downwards almost on 700 meters that is in eight meters from local coast. Huge flights of barracudas and the fishes-parrots float there paying absolutely no attention to divers. Any fishing is absolutely forbidden here, so you may see many kinds of the exotic fish.
Malta
There is a set of diving-centers on Malta, besides all of them are well-known and solid. The most popular among divers are the islands Gozo and Comino. Small islands with coastal rocks from light yellow limestone involve with a unique structure: grottoes, caves, breaks… On a card where the best places for immersing are specified, coast Gozo is marked with badges: no matter where you dive, it will be interesting everywhere. The especial place included in all guidebooks - the Azure window, a huge stone arch, which is a symbol of the country. We advice you to dive into the Blue Hole; it is a well of 18 meters depth. You long go down downwards, and at last you appear as if at the bottom of the bank: on the one hand from you there is a huge grotto, with another hand - a stone arch, and above your head - a small sparkling circle where the sunrays are playing.
Maldives
Here there are huge centers, some of which serve even several islands at once. Their main priority is safety. On Maldives there are very strict rules of diving operate, and to the beginning diver, for example, it will be allowed to dive only on 20 meters depth. We advice you to stay at a luxurious hotel Kurumba Village, where the scuba diving school («Eurodivers») functions. All local entertainments are anyhow connected with the sea. Night immersing enjoys a special popularity. When the sun comes, the reef becomes unrecognizable. Familiar fishes change colors, starfishes, curtailed in ballin the afternoon, are coming out, as flowers.
Egypt
At northeast coast of Egypt there are such large resorts of the Red Sea as Hurgada and Sharm El Sheikh,  where the quantity of instructors of a scuba diving per capita is, apparently, the biggest in the world. Hurgada is an optimum place for the first output in the sea. Here there are more than forty places for immersing and more than hundred diving-centers. The only problem is an enormously high number of divers due to the cheap resorts and warm sea.

30 January, 2007 | No comments

1001 way to get to the Great Britain (Part 2)



What does ISIC card offer?
On the UNESCO’s initiative in 1949 the International confederation of student’s tourism ISTC (International Student Travel Confederation), promoting development of student’s tourism, educational and cultural exchanges, has been established. 
The Association of owners of international student’s certificate ISIC (International Student Identify Card) is one of the five associations entering in ISTC. ISIC is a unique official international student’s identification card which simultaneously is the discount card, giving from above 17 thousand of discounts and privileges worldwide (from 5 % up to 100 %). The discounts extend literally on everything: on accommodation in hotels and, on all kinds of transportations and a municipal transportation, on visiting of museums, theatres, cinemas, exhibitions, on telephone conversations and many other things. Pupils can get this card practically at any educational establishments. Only the student’s or student’s ticket (or the information from an educational institution) and a photo 3×4 is necessary for its registration. The cost of the card is established by the International confederation of student’s tourism and makes $7. 
What is an ITIC card?
Since 1984 the International Teacher Identity Card, similar to the student’s card, is issued by the Confederation ISTC. The cost of the card is $7. The list of privileges for teachers is a little bit less, than for students. ITIC card allows saving essentially on traveling worldwide. For registration of the card you should present the document (reference) confirming, that you are the teacher of the educational institution, and a photo 3Х4. 
How to reduce the price of the air ticket
Plan a flight in advance. The majority of reduced rates work on condition that the passenger buys the ticket 2 or 3 weeks prior to a trip.
Define the date and terms of a trip. Often the discounts for tickets operate during certain time (at the beginning of month, at the end of a season, at a minimum or a maximum of stay). It is possible to save much, having planned a trip according to these positions.
Plan an easy route. The cost of the ticket depends on the range of distance. If your route passes through 2-3 cities, do not do a “hook”. Ask the operator. Perhaps, just for you the most significant discounts and the most successful special offers are also stipulated.

29 January, 2007 | No comments

1001 way to get to the Great Britain



The Great Britain is an island. Therefore it is more convenient, and quirkier to get there by air. Nevertheless there are fans that prefer to travel by train, by bus and the ferry. However, both in air, and on the ground, and on water, people equally are not away to save.
By air
It is possible to save, flying to England by the plane, in several ways. Vacation tour for pupils (language training or just a rest). Not only parents, but also the tourist and educational companies plan school trips for the period of vacations. Travel companies reserve special blocks of tickets in airlines-partners in advance. Therefore tour agencies always have reserved places in the planes. Working with children, tour agencies more often form a group, and the group tariff is cheaper than the individual one.
If to your child is less than 12 years old, his ticket would cost approximately twice cheaper than it would cost to an adult.
Significant discounts (usually about 30 %) are given under the student’s tariff (if you have an ISIC card). These cards entitle to the discount not only at flight, but also in the further (at visiting of the theatres, museums, restaurants, clubs, etc.). The round-trip ticket would cost not more than $400 with the ISIC.
If you already out of the tender age and you are a hopelessly adult person, you also have equal rights to discounts. The preferential adult tariff exists on the ticket with rigidly fixed dates of the departure and the arrival. That is why it is necessary to redeem your tickets no less than a week prior to the departure.
One more a little bit non-standard way to save on tickets is cooperation with tourist agency. At first sight, the trip manages more expensive, in fact it is necessary to pay for the services of the agency. And basically, you can, having spent it is a lot of hours on calling to the airlines and on visiting of their sites in the Internet (to which too should pay for using), independently to find out, what tariff is the cheapest and the most favorable to you. The result is not guaranteed, as the tariff for private persons frequently strongly differs from the tariff stipulated for tourist agencies. Thus sometimes at intermediary of tour agency cost of the air ticket  transfer from the airport up to city centre or up to a hotel is included. The ticket reserved by tour agency, as a rule, is guaranteed. You are also likely not getting the ticket for the necessary flight as the majority of the places are already reserved.
One more, but not the new, way to save your money are charter flights. The only significant inconvenience at saving, almost in 2 times, at depreciation of the ticket’s price is the impossibility to refuse from it and a precisely fixed date of the departure. 
The ferry
Crossing La-Manche by the ferry, you don’t really save much money. But before this you will spend a lot of time and forces. It is necessary to go by the bus through Poland, Germany or France and that would take approximately three days, including tiresome night crossings. To travel across the Europe the additional transit visa (and it is not so easy to receive the Schengen visa) is required.
If you cross the Europe by train the ticket for the ferry can be bought, the truth, already with the discount up to 50 %. 
The underground railway
High-speed trains Eurostar and Le Shuttle go in both parties of the Eurotunnel, laid on five-ten-meter depth near the La-Manche.  It is possible to reach for 3 hours from London to Paris or to Bruxelles. Everyday about thirty trains ply between the countries. All tickets for these trains are strictly differentiated. The price depends on several factors: a departure time, a class, etc. The ticket in the “premium” car in one side would cost 240 pounds, in the first class - 190 pounds. In general, the fare in Eurostar exceeds cost of air flight. However here also there is a system of discounts, allowing traveling more economically, than by the plane. There are children’s, student’s and youth tickets. As a whole, the trip by Eurostar train borrows much less time, than the flight as the time for landing procedures is considerably reduced. 
(to be continued)

28 January, 2007 | No comments

Feeling of national consciousness of the British (Part 2)



The feeling of national consciousness until recently existed only in the cultural environment, and, in general, British government has been recognized by all four people, except for a small amount of inhabitants of Northern Ireland. However, in 60-70th years the nationalism has got over in a policy in Scotland and in the Wales. Appeals to independence of these two countries of England have led to the beginning of creation of own parliament in the Wales and transfer of greater powers and freedom of actions to the Scottish parliament. The requirements to decentralize economy inside of the England reflect its regional distinctions. As Englishmen as the nation are rather diverse, their customs, accents and behavior are also considerably different. The inhabitants of northern England, for example, consider them better than their southern neighbors, and on the contrary. Inhabitants of different counties and districts keep fidelity to their environment that is often expressed in sports, the politician, competitions, cultural actions and style of their life. 

In Wales there are also distinctions between the inhabitants of the industrial south and the basically agricultural north, between the wests which inhabitants speak Welsh language, and the English-speaking east and a southwest. And still, the majority of the Welsh precisely allocate them as the separate nation which is distinct from Englishmen. Their national and cultural uniqueness takes roots in their history, literature, the Welsh language which speaks 26 % of the population, sports and national festivals. It is also reflected in close communication between industrial and agricultural societies and supported by political, religious and public distinctions between two people. Today the Welsh struggle against the replacement of their culture and language with English equivalents, opposing with uniqueness of people of political authority of London. 

Similarly Scots are united, protecting the nation and culture, because of historically developed hostility to Englishmen. Scots honor their traditions which are reflected in local festivals and differing from English legislative, religious and educational systems. Scots are dissatisfied with the fact that all political authority is concentrated in London that the government does not develop the economy of Scotland (though to Scotland it is put more than budgetary money, than to England or the Wales). More than 30 % of Scots want political separation from England. Thus, it is possible to make a conclusion, that modern British is a mixed and non-uniform people whose “distinctions” are aggravated with emigrants and their cultures. Accordingly, the problem of identifying of a term “Englishman”, the Welsh, the Scot or the Irish who would approach under all the stereotypes connected with “the typical British”, becomes very difficult, if not impossible. 

27 January, 2007 | No comments

European Union is going to lower airport charges



The European Union has declared the intention to put under the control size of airport charges. In opinion of the EU officials, supported by many air passengers, the airports overestimate the prices for the services. Frequently, airport and other charges exceed the cost of the air ticket, especially on short intra-European flights. From 25 airports of the world (which are the most expensive in this plan) 15 are in the Europe - though the European airports at all are not world leaders on a level of service. At this time, a long-distance budgetary airline Oasis Hong Kong Airlines has entered unusual for the discounters offer, addressed to 55 year old-and more senior passengers. They have an opportunity to buy the ticket on a route Hong Kong - London for 1270 Hong Kong dollars ($162, 7) in view of charge. The cheapest usual ticket is approximately in one and a half time expensive. The return ticket from London will manage in 1880 Hong Kong dollars. Thus the passenger can take with him for the same price one fellow traveler of any age. It is the cheapest offer on similar routes. The sale of tickets starts on February, 1st, and flights are possible till February, 25th and from April, 15th till May, 31st. 

26 January, 2007 | No comments

Feeling of national consciousness of the British



It has historically developed so, that emigrants always seem to some British people as a threat of moral, social and to cultural values, someone whose presence will considerably change a society. However this sight absolutely overlooks difficulties of definition of the British norms during the different periods of history of the Great Britain. Emigrants, certainly, in the certain measure have changed the society and attitudes inside of it, but British Isles have always been occupied by several various cultures. There is a set of distinctions between four nations of England, the Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and also a variety of cultures inside of these countries. Such variety of the cultures and presence of communities of emigrants call into the question a definition “typically British”.
The “Typically British” behavior is attributed to all population of British Isles since 1070, when the Great Britain has been formed. Since then in this concept stability and central institute of management is put without damage to the developed of national traditions. But the history of British Isles prior to the beginning of XVIII century represents not the history of the united state, but the history of four absolutely different countries and their people, who quite often were in the state of war with each other.
The inhabitants of the present United Kingdom have kept the important national and cultural distinctions. Political terms, such as “British” and “Britain” seem artificial to much of them. Foreigners often name British Englishmen, and quite often hardly distinguish the British cultures and do not notice irritation of not English population connected with such reference.
Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish people basically are descendants of the Celts, while Englishmen are descendants of Anglo-Saxons. Critics notice, that many inhabitants of the Great Britain do not consider themselves as “British”, and consider, that is necessary to reconsider this term in a view of multinational country.
Certainly, for centuries, these four nations in any measure have mixed among themselves that was promoted by groups of the emigrants. There have been established political, public and state systems therefore all inhabitants of islands began to feel themselves as a united nation. However British are often confused to Englishmen because, Englishmen are the most numerous of people in territory of the Great Britain, secondly, the uniting of smaller Scots, Irish and Welsh has occurred under the English crown, and, thirdly, because all government is concentrated in England.
It turns out, that the nationalism of Englishmen dominates, and they do not see a special difference in definition of by British or Englishmen. Representatives of other people always differentiate people and the Great Britain in general, and, as a rule, do not suffer domination and influence of Englishmen, consider them absolutely distinct from Englishmen and prefer to  remain Scots (Welsh, Irish), instead of British.
 

25 January, 2007 | No comments

Some useful links on Great Britain



1.       Shops are opened from 9.00 a.m. till 17.30 p.m. All the goods sold in shops, are assessed with the tax to the added cost in the size of 17, 5 %. If purchases are made for the sum more than 100 pounds within three months at crossing border it is possible to receive the refund in quantity of 11 % from the price of purchase. In shop it is necessary to receive the corresponding receipt. If any department of shop arranges sale the inscription: “Buy one, get one free”, is hung out.
2.       Museums are opened from 10.00 a.m. till 18.00 p.m. On Sundays the shops are opened from 14.00 till 17.00. For visiting museums there are preferential “family” tickets for two adult and two children. At visiting museums of London it is better to use the guide registered in the London management on tourism. These guides carry a dark blue badge on a jacket.
3.       The politeness of Englishmen is known all over the world. Really, you will hear indispensable “thanks”, “please” everywhere: in the cafe, in shops, stations and at the hotel. Restraint and even stiffness are the national character features of British people. Perhaps, the inhabitants of British Isles also seem a little bit coldish in dialogue, but it is very hospitable country which stores the culture and traditions, despite of thousand tourists from New and the Old World.
4.       One of the Great Britain’s features with which you will face at residing at hotel, is that till now in the majority of hotels water cranes above a washstand are not supplied by the amalgamator. Englishmen wash, having typed a full washstand of water, and then lower the used water. On the departure day it is necessary for you to check out till 12.00 p.m. If there is a lot of time up to the plane, your luggage can be left in a left-luggage office of the hotel.
5.       English people adore pets. Even if you do not like cats and dogs, try to not show it publicly. You will not be understood. It is the country where there are no thrown or vagrant animals.

24 January, 2007 | No comments

British cuisine



In modern British kitchen which can brag of an appetizing variety of dishes, advantages of various culinary traditions of all worlds have incorporated together. The British cookery has undergone significant changes for the last some decades. The Chinese, Indian, Italian and French food now is not less popular to the Great Britain, than traditional dishes of England, Scotland, the Wales and Northern Ireland. In many cities of the Great Britain after the Indian, Italian, Mexican restaurants Russian, Indonesian, Spanish, Mexican, Moroccan and Thai institutions have also appeared.  Taking to the consideration the fact that people from all over the world come to the Great Britain, they bring to this country their culinary secrets, new products, sauces and recipes. There, where before it was possible to hope only on traditional English meal “fish-and-chips” (the fish with a fried potato), now you may find the Italian linguine, Spanish paella, and Indian and Algerian dishes.  

The traditional British food is more various, than it can seem at first sight. In different parts of the Great Britain special dishes are prepared. In England, for example, it is a blood sausage and a pie (the pudding from the shaken up test with spices often moves to meat). Scotland is famous for veal meat and special seasoning, shortcake and oat flat cakes. In the Wales you will submitted with small breads from red seaweed, fruit bread and toasts with cheese. And in Northern Ireland gourmets will try chump (a potato with green onions) and a dish from the wiped vegetables and a potato. And for those who would like an even greater variety, it is necessary just to cross La Manche.  In the Great Britain it is accepted to cook food practically without sauces. But those who tried typically English dishes, understand, that sauces to them are not necessary. To such dishes concern, first of all, beefsteak with blood and a roast beef. Vegetables are prepared almost without thermal processing owing to what their natural taste is kept. The British table is characterized by a set of various cold snacks and dishes from natural meat, and bread is almost completely replaced with every possible pudding -vegetable, sweet fruit puddings etc. 

The British prefer to arrange two breakfasts. The first (breakfast) is usually served at 8 o’clock in the morning. It includes boiled eggs, an omelet with a ham, green peas or tomatoes, butter, fried bacon without a garnish, pastes, and porridge with milk. Among hot drinks is coffee or strong tea. A lunch (lunch, the second breakfast) is about one o’clock in the afternoon. At this time you are offered various sandwiches (closed sandwiches) with a ham, paste, language, boiled pork, a fish, drink juices and hot drinks. Five-o-clock is a well-known tradition of drinking evening tea. You may drink tea with milk the fruitcake, cookies, rolls with jam or a cream. A dinner is usually at 18-20 o’clock. The first dishes are vegetable cream soup or a broth with toasts and vegetables. On the second dishes you will be offered meat, game, a fish, a bird, and vegetables. Natural beefsteak from the beef cutting and boiled rice with tomato seasoning is the most favorite dish of British people.  For a dessert you will be proposed a compote, fresh berries and fruits, mousses, ice-cream, cocktails, mulled wine, punch, in the end of a meal - black coffee. By the way you will always see a butter and cold water on the British table. 

23 January, 2007 | No comments

What do the tourists lose during their vacations?



As it was found out during the interrogation lead by mail.ru project, more often travelers lose sunglasses - 14,4 % of travelers lose this beach attribute - fifty-fifty among men and women.
On the second place, strangely enough, belongs to the time (10 % interrogated). Perhaps, these tourists were disappointed with their rest or do not know that it is possible to find any necessary information about the best vacation spot in the Internet. For example, it is possible to get the required details about the resorts, and also to receive other helpful information.
The third place goes to a purse or money. They were lost with 5, 1 % of respondents.
Among other answers are:
 Room key (3, 7 %);
 Clothes (3, 6 %);
 Shoes (3, 1 %);
 Sex-toys (1, 3 %);
 Mind (0, 8 %).
The top-ten answers set closes with those who lose virginity (0, 8 %), honor and conscience on the rest.
The majority of tourists (52, 1 %) lose nothing, being on vacation.

22 January, 2007 | No comments

London (Part 3)



London Eye
Big wheel - London Eye 135 m height - is the highest big wheel in the world. On it you can make half-hour flight above the capital of the Great Britain, admiring with magnificent kinds. The most romantic time for survey of London is evening when it starts to darken and set of fires are lit.
Kew Gardens
Royal botanical gardens (Kew Gardens) were stretched on the area in 300 acres. There it is possible to see more than 40.000 kinds of plants. In its territory the Japanese garden, a garden of stones and two art galleries are located. It works from 9.30 a.m. up to a sunset.
London Aquarium
 London Aquarium contains hundreds kinds of fishes and other inhabitants of the sea. This is a unique place in London where it is possible to see the sharks, huge sea eel and electric slopes. Visitors can even touch crabs or starfishes. London Aquarium works from 10.00 a.m. till 18 p.m. (the last input is till 17.00 p.m.).
London Dungeon
Vaults of London (London Dungeon) are located deeply under the stones of historical roadways. Here you will plunge into the severe and bloody past which has kept here in all terrible details. In these terrible labyrinths which are more than 2000 years old, awful histories realistically come to life which occurred during all history of London. London Dungeon is opened from 10.30a.m. till 17.30 p.m.
London Planetarium
More than 40 years the London Planetarium admires the visitors with star shows. Today’s visitors can make virtual star travel owing to the most perfect star projector in the Europe.
In interactive space attractions you can learn about black holes, take part in search of extraterrestrial civilizations and feel, what your weight would be on the Jupiter - the largest planet of solar system. London Planetarium is opened from 10.00 a.m. till 17.30 p.m.

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