Tag Archives: Travel

High of Smoky Mountain

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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park that includes the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains and a part of the Blue Ridge Mountains which are a part of the larger chain. It offers undulating ridges, forested valleys, and tumbling streams. The true beauty of the park lies in one key detail: 80 inches (203 centimeters) of rain a year. The flow feeds primeval hardwood forests and innumerable creeks that tumble down hazy mountainsides. 1) The Alum Cave Trail of Mount Le Conte is the most popular of the five paths that lead to the summit of the mountain. 2) Another popular hiking trail leads up to the pinnacle of the Chimney Top mountains. 3)The Laurel Falls and Cling man’s Dome trails offer relatively easy, short, paved paths. After hiking and simple sightseeing, fishing is the most popular activity in the national park, although there are strict regulations under which fishing must be conducted. Horseback riding , bicycling is all also available within the park. Image:Q.T.Luong Via: Wikipedia

Green Mountain at Fox Run: Spa with a mainstay of Weight Loss

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If you want to get fit and feel good about yourself then definitely go in for this package deal that offers: All-women weight loss program, Accommodation, Meals, daily Workout routines, Fitness and lifestyle evaluations, Lifestyle education and fitness workshops, Individual nutrition and fitness consults. Location: Ludlow, Vermont, United States Booking Dates: Oct 10, 2006 – Dec 09, 2006 Stay Dates: Nov 12, 2006 – Dec 09, 2006 Regular Price: $2,350 Discount: $500 Price After Discount: $1,850 plus Taxes By working on behavioral, metabolism, and nutrition component this spa hopes to provide a new you, who carries on healthy living and does not let it end with the programme. Via: SpaFinder

Sand Mountain, partly off-limits to protect vanishing butterfly

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Sand Mountain consists of a 600-foot high mound of sand that stretches for two miles. Located about 25 miles east of Fallon it is a tempting destination for off road vehicle enthusiasts and dune buggies. Though this region might appear desolate and bleak, it has over 70 species of plants and wildlife. It is home to the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly. The Kearney Buckwheat plant, which is found on Sand Mountain, is the habitat that the butterfly uses for the duration of its lifecycle. It is the buckwheat population at Sand Mountain which is declining as a result of traffic. Destructive off-roading is ruining the butterflies only known home. New rules hope to change that. Federal land managers trying to keep a rare butterfly off the list of endangered species have closed dozens of off-road vehicle trails at one of the largest sand dunes in the West. Sand Mountain: A mountain that sings This enormous sand dune was created by sand carried by the wind from the beaches of a prehistoric inland sea that once covered much of Nevada. The musical sounds of Sand Mountain are a result of sand particles rubbing together. Walk up Sand Mountain and you’ll hear all kinds of noises that sound like moans, booms, and loud roars coming from beneath your feet. Some of these sounds can be herd up to seven miles away! Their 200 miles of trails of sand mountain attract an estimated 50,000 off-roaders annually on motorcycles, dune buggies and all-terrain vehicles. That is why the whole mountain is not being shut down. The main dune at Sand Mountain where most motorized use occurs will remain open. The controversy had been carrying on for some time now. Conservationists filed a lawsuit in federal court in Sacramento, Calif., in January 2006 to try to force the Fish and Wildlife Service to declare the butterfly an endangered species. However some conservationists feel that more protection is required. Initially most people will be educated about the off-limit trails and maps will be distributed amongst the people. However, violators will be subject to up to one year in prison and if violations continue probably the whole area would be closed down. Source: Discovery

Libya’s Green Mountain Project: Blend of environmental and cultural tourism

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Libya is planning to build a green village to protect the Greek and Roman ruins in Cyrene from haphazard developments. Cyrene is one of the oldest and the richest Greek cities and lies in a lush valley in the Jebel Akhdar uplands. It is home to some of the most beautiful ancient structures like the Temple of Apollo, the temple of Demeter and the temple of Zeus. Most of these were damaged under the orders of Moammar Al Quadhafi in 1978. The project, the Green Mountain Conservation , will be powered with wind and solar energy and the trash generated would be recycled and converted into biofuel. The architecture of the resorts, hotels, villas and residences would be in sync with the rugged landscape. The idea is to blend environmental and cultural tourism across the thousand miles of undeveloped coastlines. The area is also the last breeding ground for some species of turtles and tuna in the Mediterranean, so care is taken to see that the ecosystem remains intact and is not subjected to dangers. Foster and Associates, a British architectural firm would be designing the Green Mountain Conservation and Developmental zone while the UNESCO aid the restorations of the ruins. Though, the idea is welcoming, the skeptics are unsure about the tourist inflow as the basic infrastructure like an airport is missing. Hopefully, the basic amenities will be taken care of soon. Image Source

Tips for bus travelling in mountains

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The bus passenger death toll is always on a high in Andes. In Ecuador, a passenger bus tumbled 1,000 feet off a jungle mountain killing 17 passengers and injuring 16 others. Colombia reported 513 deaths and 2,782 injuries in 2004 from accidents involving long-distance buses. Peru, the most notorious among Andean nations for the stunning regularity of accidents involving passenger buses reported 557 casualties between July 2004 and June 2005. A major cause of the high number of accidents is the recklessness of the drivers. Also, the buses they drive inadequate brake systems. So here we have for you some tips for safer bus travel in mountainous countries: o Keep away from low-cost bus carriers, which often add rows of seats to poorly maintained vehicles to bring in more passengers to maximize profits. o Avoid operators of bus-trucks, the prohibited passenger-haulers built on used truck chassis. Bus-truck wheel axles are higher off the ground than those of regular buses and are very risky. o Plan bus travel well in advance. Book tickets either through a travel agency or directly with some established bus company. o Traveling by bus is always recommended in day time, instead of night. Source

Visit the natures’ smoky zone- The Great Smoky Mountains

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Nature gifted our life with so many astonishing presentations like rain, sunlight, moonlight, snow etc. Among them fog is one, which gives a natural smoke effect to the climate and if we review our past then surely we all must have loved to experience the years first foggy view, couldn’t you? Although I don’t remember when in my life I experienced the foggy weather for the first time, but I always liked it. Even if we can get the same kind of effect by using man-made sprays and all but nothing can please you as of the nature. So, this time I am going to tell you about a typically smoky destination. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park situated in the states of Tennessee and North Carolina, which is stretch in approximately 800 sq. miles, is among the major protected land area in the eastern side of the rocky mountains. It is a home to thousands of plants and animal species. These mountain provides a stunning sight of rolling crest swathe in hazy-blue, and the “smoky” fog, and vibrant prompts of the Appalachian trails. It is a dream destination for many trekkers. Moreover every year this place experience more then 9 million visitors every year. So I am ending with that figure only as I don’t think one requires knowing more about it… Read

The Northeast Georgia Mountains: One of the best venues nature lovers

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Many authors most loved, scripted destination; the Northeast Georgia Mountains, it comes in the icon list of the top and the picturesque landscapes of United States. Here, in Georgia travelers can discover stunning parks, wildlife, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, seashore, beaches and islands. This place provides the one in all kind of nature’s presentations. Various itineraries in Georgia:- 1) Cloudland Canyon State Park 2) Lake Conasauga Recreation Area and Songbird Trail 3) Crockford – Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area 4) Fort Mountain State Park 5) Coosawattee Wildlife Management Area 6) Arrowhead Public Fishing Area and Wildlife Interpretive Trail 7) Rocky Mountain Public Fishing Area 8) Berry College Wildlife Management Area 9) Red Top Mountain State Lodge Park 10) Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park The wine industry of Georgia is the most famous name in the world of wine market. Even in one of its villages, still one can find some reminiscence of gold for what it was quite famous in the 18th century. This place has so many things to offer tourists that one visit will not be satisfactory.

China Restrains Tibetan trail to Mt Everest for Mountaineers

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China has shattered the hopes of Mountaineers who are desiring to climb Mt Everest via Tibet because of less travel costs and easy norms. Form next spring China is going to imposing the restrictions because of the Olympics, scheduled in China, by 2008. The China Tibet Mountaineering Association in Lhasa (CTMA) in alliance with China Mountaineering Association say the route has to be prepared for 2008 Olympic Torch Race therefore number of trekkers in the region has been curtailed. China wants to make the inaugural ceremony memorable and it will kick off after the torch will be carried atop Mt Everest to Beijing. For that, the trial run of the torch ceremony will be started in next spring. However, the seasoned climbers and human rights activists giving a twist to the story, alleging that China is trying to avert the attention of international furor. Notably, A 17-year-old Tibeaten nun succumbed to the injuries after she was shot dead by Chinese’s troops while crossing the border along with other 70 Tibeaten refugees. However, China denied that border police fired in defense but the video footage captured by a Romanian cameraman clearly depicts that the Tibetans had their backs to the soldiers, were unarmed, and offered no resistance. Via: Timesofindia

India too busy in low cricket to climb high Mt. Everest, lack of funds is just an excuse

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India has set the record to send the large number of climbers atop 8,848 meter high peak, Mt. Everest. But these days, sponsors are favoring cricket over all other sports leading to lack of fund for other sports. This time there are no Indian expeditions to Mt. Everest. India lost the World Cup and people have been mourning the dull performance of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag at the World Cup. How many of us even know about Kalpana Das? Kalpana Das is an advocate and is very keen to go on an expedition to Mount Everest. She comes from Dhenkanal in Orissa, one of India’s most economically backward states. A climber has to raise at least $19,000 to tackle Mt Everest, that too by the cheapest route (via Tibet in the north). For climbers who want to choose the southern route via Nepal, the permit fee alone varies from $10,000-$25,000 per person. Kalpana is not lucky enough to let her dream come true. She has been trying to climb Mt Everest since 2004 but has not been able to do so due to lack of funds. She tried in the year 2005 also but failed again. The dreams of various climbers are being shattered due to the lack of funds. If fund are raised for other sports along with cricket, many people can prove themselves as the real heroes. Source: ibnlive

Mount Everest now covered under mobile phone network

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Mobile phone networks are being installed virtually everywhere to enable travellers to keep in touch with their family, friends and work. Until recently hostile terrains amidst the icy Himalayan peaks were inaccessible by mobile phones forcing mountaineers to use the more expensive satellite phones. But now no more, China Mobile, Asia’s largest mobile company has established and successfully tested a Mount Everest mobile phone base. Adventurers and mountaineers who are attempting the world’s highest peak will stay in range of calls and text messages throughout the ascent. This news was published in Chinese media on Wednesday. Sited at an altitude of 6,500 metres (21,450 feet) above sea level, the station was basically established to facilitate communication for the bearers of the Olympic torch, which Beijing 2008 Games organisers plan to carry to Everest’s summit reported the state-run China Daily. Since the weather conditions were very harsh the station’s key equipment was immediately packed away after the test. The station will start functioning around may when the torch visit will happen. The station will be operated by China Mobile, the country’s largest mobile phone service provider and is the world’s highest cell phone base. According to company sources, the station will remain operational during mountaineering season and other times will be closed. This is the third station built on the route to the top of the world. The earlier two stations had ensured limited connectivity but now the third station has enabled mobile connectivity all along the route upto the very top. This is third step by China in the direction of improving tourism infrastructure in Tibet and Himalayan regions of neighbouring Nepal. The first was the rail link to Lhasa, then came the road to Everest base camp and now the mobile station. These activities coupled with China’s aggressive marketing of their country among tourists and travellers will ensure an increasing number of visitors to the Beijing Olypics next year and the flow will continue further too. Source: Indiatimes