Bubbly blog

Christmas in Jamaica is celebrated with plenty of fervor and festivity. It is one of the most popular festivals of the year and it is celebrated in every part of Jamaica. During the Christmas season every corner of Jamaica is adorned with the colorful banners, accordion-style bells, traditional wreaths and alluring Christmas lights.  From shopping at the markets to restaurants serving Christmas delicacies along with special drinks, Christmas in Jamaica is undoubtedly the best of the lot.

Shopping at the markets

There are plenty of stores in Jamaica that are filled with the jubilance of Christmas. These markets get alive and kicking with plenty of Christmas crafts, Christmas trees and plenty of gifting options. While at these markets you can also browse through accessories, gift items, balloons and varied Christmas decorations. Buy wooden artifacts at the Bamboo village or buy various antiques & accessories at the artisans markets. Here you will get a plethora of options to choose from. Show your bargaining skills and get the best deals at these markets.

Restaurants serving special delicacies

While in Christmas, all the restaurants and cafes are decorated on the lines of Christmas festivities. During this period all the restaurants are decked up special foods and drinks. At these restaurants you will be served traditional dishes from the likes of unique-tasting ackee with the salted fish, tangy goat curry, roasted duck, rice, mouth-watering stewed ox tail are a few of the usual meals served in the island during Christmas. Those who want to have authentic Caribbean dishes they should head to The Native Restaurant and those who want to try International cuisine they should go for dining at Rockhouse Restaurant.

Drink and make merry

Apart from food, when it comes to drinking one thing that you shouldn’t miss during this festive period is the appetizing sorrel. This is the Jamaica’s special Christmas drink that is made of cinnamons, rum, sorrel, sugar, sepal and orange peel. Some of the prominent bars in Jamaica include Kinky Jam, Sally’s and Jamaican Bar. While in Christmas, these bars houses special offers during the Christmas season. From cocktails to mocktails, these bars serve it all.

if you have decided that you want to be in Jamaica around Christmas, then you can book your tickets in pretty advance. You might be thinking what you will gain out of it? By doing this you have the high chances of getting Discount Flights, discounts along with other freebies.

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are found in every nook and corner of our globe come in many varieties. Some are especially beautiful, and we’re going to take a look at 5 such beautiful UNESCO sites that are easily visited.
1. Iguazu National Park, Argentina/Brazil. This National Park is actually in two countries where the border between Argentina and Brazil is marked by the Iguacu River. The river creates one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world, 240 feet high and extending over 8,000 feet in diameter across a basaltic line.
The waterfall’s many cascades producing vast sprays of water allow rare and endangered species of animals to exist, including the giant otter that can reach nearly 6 feet long. The constant clouds of spray also create an environment that supports lush vegetation. Over 2,000 species of flora have so far been identified.
2. Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize. The largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere lies 980 feet from shore and stretches for 25 miles within the country’s limits. The site identified by UNESCO is actually part of one of the largest barrier reefs in the world – the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that extends from Cancun to Honduras.
One of the most beautiful features of the Balize Barrier Reef system is the “Balize Blue Hole.”
Popular for scuba diving and snorkeling, the Balize Barrier Reef is quite possibly Balize’s top tourist attraction, as well as being vital to the country’s fishing industry.
There are almost 450 cays within the barrier reef, and atolls range from small sand spits to permanent islands. Three of these large atolls, Turneffe Island, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover’s Reef, have been settled by locals.
3. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. This karst landscape (created by subterranean rivers which have dissolved soluable bedrock such as limestone) has resulted in an area of lakes, caves, and waterfalls. The lakes here are arranged in cascades and are all interconnected. Sixteen lakes can actually be seen from the surface.
Here natural dams of travertine, deposited by moss, algae, and bacteria, separate the lakes. The barriers of travertine are created when the encrusted plants and bacteria accumulate on top of one another. These geological forces continue even today.
4. Sangay National Park, Ecuador. This outstandingly beautiful UNESCO site is not only the home to two active volcanoes, but also exhibits an amazing ecosystem that ranges from tropical rain forest to glaciers.
Because of the wide-ranging ecosystem the park is especially important as a refuge for several animals including the mountain tapir, northern Pudu, and Andrean fox.
In 1995 UNESCO was forced to place the park on the Danger list due to encroachment of the park by poachers, unauthorized road construction, and extensive grazing. Thankfully the park was able to be removed from the Danger list in 2005.
5. Mount Huangshan, China. This mountain range in eastern China is well-known to most people as its stunning beauty has been reproduced over centuries in traditional Chinese paintings and literature, and is now popular with both amateur and professional photographers.
This UNESCO site mountain range had a dual creation. The area was first uplifted from an ancient Mesozoic era sea, and then the mountains themselves were actually carved by glaciers.
The iconic clouds grazing the peaks and touching the sides of the mountains are constant for more than 200 days a year. The scenery, sunsets, carved granite peaks, and artistic-appearing Huangshan pine trees all combine to create one of China’s major tourist attraction.
Alice Perkins is a travel blogger for RedWeek.com, the largest online market place with a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, where you can buy a timeshare direct from the owner, or rent a timeshare for luxury accommodations that costs less than a typical hotel room.

South Africa is rich in history and diversity and reflecting this past are many museums throughout the country.  Included are some exciting car museums that offer visitors the opportunity to look back on motoring history in South Africa and the rest of the world. These places are bound to tickle every motor enthusiasts fancy and they can be found across the country from Franschhoek to Johannesburg.

Franschhoek Motor Museum

The Franschhoek Motor Museum is a popular destination in the Cape as it houses an exciting collection of classic and modern cars as well as a range of bicycles and motorbikes. The museum can be found at L’Ormains estate in Franschhoek and items on display include a McLaren F1, a Maserati 6CM, a Ferrari Enzo and a Shelby Cobra GT350 amongst many others.

James Hall Museum of Transport

The James Hall Museum of Transport can be found in Johannesburg, South Africa and offers a comprehensive view of transport in South Africa. The museum showcases the country’s history including items such as animal-drawn vehicles to bicycles and motorcycles, busses, fire engines, motor cars, steam vehicles and trams.

Old Car Haven

Old Car Haven can be found in Komatipoort Mpumalanga and is an ode to the ford with many classic fords as well as other vintage motor vehicles on display. This car museum also houses a collection of restored engines and tractors and personal tours can be pre-arranged.

Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Museum

The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe Museum in George houses a variety of steam trains, model trains as well as a selection of vintage cars. This is ideal for families as there are a variety of interesting displays (not just cars!) and visitors to the museum can also enjoy a tram ride up the mountain.

Casterbridge Motor Museum

This car museum in White River, South Africa is found at the Casterbridge lifestyle centre. The museum houses a variety of restored vintage cars and bikes and is also a popular venue for conferences and events.

VW AutoPavillion

The VW AuroPavillion is found in Uitenhage and is situated at the Volkswagen factory itself. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the factory in action as well as visit the interactive display and heritage centre. The AutoPavillion shows the history of the VW brand in an entertaining display.

This article was written by Janine Mare. Janine is a regular blogger for a lot of travel sites and she currently works for the South African Tourism Company http://www.south-african-hotels.com developing hotel write-ups and travel articles.

Did you miss the fireworks and the ball drop in New Year City’s Times Square during the new year? You don’t have to wait a whole year to watch another dazzling display in the sky. You can just explore other places where fireworks festivals are regularly held.

Japan’s Fireworks Festivals

There are many fireworks festivals held all over Japan so you don’t have to worry if you missed one. You can just catch the next one in another place since they don’t occur on the same dates. The fireworks festivals usually occur in summer, though, and your summer won’t be complete without attending one. The fireworks are not the only draw to these festivals. Here, you get to dress in authentic Japanese clothing, the yukata, and enjoy the different booths with other revelers. Some famous fireworks festivals in Tokyo include the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay Fireworks Festivals.

Macau International Fireworks Display Contest

“Shining, shimmering, splendid” is probably the perfect way to describe the how Macau International Fireworks Display Contest lights up the night skies. Now in its 25th year, the silver jubilee of this competition promises to be even bigger and aims to be the best in history. Only ten teams are participating in this fiery duel and you can be sure that they are the best of the best. Here you will see a glittering fusion of color and light dancing in tune with music. This not your ordinary fireworks festival. It’s the brightest and most breathtaking combat you will ever see decorating the skies. It will make your stay in Macau all the more memorable.

Pohang Fireworks Festival

Another item to cross off your fireworks bucket list is the Pohang Fireworks Festival. If you’re a fireworks geek, then you won’t be disappointed by the spectacular fireworks you will see at this crowd-drawing summer event in Korea. Each year, the competition gets tougher and the pyrotechnics showcase more creative than ever. While waiting for the contest to start, you can kill time by taking in the sights and sounds of Pohang. There are games and even sports events that will keep you busy during the day. If you want a bit of culture, you can see a theatre festival where performers will present traditional song and dance numbers. At the night, the fireworks festivals is the perfect way to cap off your day.

Malta International Fireworks Festival

This annual festival began in 2003 in the Grand Harbour of Valletta. Fireworks have long been a part of the Maltese people’s traditions, which eventually evolved into a craft. At the Maltese International Fireworks Festival, Maltese fireworks factories and a number of foreign delegates compete in a magnificent firework show that is synchronized with music. The festival is part of the anniversary celebrations of Malta’s addition to the European Union. It is usually held in the last week of April.

Based in San Diego, California, Tiffany Matthews is a professional writer and a social media contributor for Plaza Hotel Casino. When not writing, she likes to travel and watch movies with friends.

If you are one of those people who love the feeling of warm soft sand between their toes, then you are likely to book an island vacation when its time to pack your bags and get away for a bit. There is something special about islands that draw people to them and some islands offer great weather year round. It is common for those who live in colder climates to be seen on Waikiki beach in January. They do this to get away from their wintery location after all the holiday activities have finished and to enjoy eighty degree weather and sunshine.

How would you like to get a photo sent to you from your friend’s mobile phone showing them in shorts and sandals basking in the warm breeze of a Hawaiian island? You might be freezing where you are but you can use your imagination to feel what they must be experiencing. 

Island vacations are easy to book, the only problem is choosing which one to visit. The Caribbean has literally thousands of islands to choose from and there are also islands that offer black sand and some where pink sand makes up the shoreline. An online search will give you information you need to make your decision, whether you choose an island in the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Pacific or some other part of the world. You can also read mobile phone reviews so you can update yours and take with you a phone that can take panoramic pics so you can share your island vacation with friends and family back home where its cold and blustery. An island adventure will have you enjoying the sun and sand that will have you coming back for more because there is something special about visiting an island.

Alaska’s wilderness is brimming with raw, magnificent potential. It is a home to all things gargantuan, from humpback whales to calving glaciers. It also houses some of the youngest terrain in the world.

A Dramatic Encounter:

When the first humans set foot on the Alaskan coast in the late 1800s, a miles-long glacial sheet shrouded Glacier Bay into a frozen time capsule. Glacial retreats have woken the ecosystem, beginning a fresh bionetwork of jungle, sparse vegetation and fauna that is only 200 years old. Seals, porpoises, orcas, humpback whales and bears have populated the receding land. In the background, the ‘white thunder’ of calving glaciers makes the bay’s recession audible and startling. There are nine glaciers in the area, all with their own palette, which is generated by the color enhancing effects of air bubbles and the density of the ice.

The most extreme way to confront the icy wilderness on Alaska holidays is by kayak. A combined hiking and paddling adventure reveals the starkness of the landscape up close and personal. Loop trails extend for miles through hemlock forests and across ponds and are inhabited by bears and moose. Less challenging ambles take place along Bartlett Cove, but to experience the backcountry, sea travel is a necessity. Paddlers take on the sea in search of McBride Glacier, Nunatak Cove and the campsites that dot the national park. Travelers with a penchant for luxury can confront the ocean on board a cruise chip. Day paddlers taking a break from the lavish amenities on the ship can transfer temporarily to kayak to Beardslee Islands, Muir Point and McBride Lagoon. Tiny icebergs pepper the surface of the water. Lucky travelers will experience a calve, a dramatic experience that will expose fresh glacier and cause the surf to slam onto the shore. From a kayak’s vantage point, the experience is all the more extreme. Bergs constantly calve, making a stay at the McBride campsite a vibrant one. Breaching whales and flocking killiwigs create an ecstatic atmosphere for the trip.

Meeting with Giants:

There is something mystical about coming into contact with colossal creatures in their own territory on Alaska holidays. The region is home to some of the most intimidating animals in the world. Brown and black bears congregate In Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Viewing platforms allow visitors to watch the summer congregation of hungry browns searching for the fresh roots that begin to emerge during the warmer months. During the middle of the year, the bears hunt for tastier meals at the salmon-spawning stream close to the meadow.

Those who prefer giants with a gentler nature take on the Inside Passage in search of whales. The passage is strewn with fjords, glaciers and marine creatures. Orcas and humpbacks can be seen up close and are most predominant in Catham Strait. Daylong kayaking trips and tours ashore allow you to search out the feathered sea life, otters and sea lions in the area. Waterfalls and coves are heavily populated with mountain goats and bears. Humpbacks feed at Point Adolphus and can be listened to live using a hydrophone.

Underwater Worlds:

The Inside Passage can be experienced from a different vantage point when snorkelers take on the clear waters of Mountain Point. Its tidal pools are swarming with breathtaking marine life. Alaskan diving is not as chilly as would be expected and wet suits are tailored to keep divers cozy. A kaleidoscope of colors is created by multicolored starfish, urchins and fish. Kelp forests and steep rock walls construct an alien landscape that is overwhelming, even to seasoned scuba divers.

AUTHOR BIO:

Idania Silvia is a photojournalist who has published extensive reviews about holidays for singles. Her features have been published widely by online magazines and blogs.

Many people are not able to quit their job and responsibilities for an extended period of travel around Europe. However, it is possible for almost anyone to travel to fantastic cities around the continent for weekends or short trips, whilst following their favourite sport.

HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND EUROPE
Rather than simply watching your favourite team on television, give yourself a break from every day life and book a trip to soak up the atmosphere of live games in fantastic destinations across Europe. Sports tours allow people to travel for short periods of time that can easily fit within their schedule.

The RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament begins in February 2013. It is made up of a number of matches in destinations such as Dublin and Paris. Tours typically take place over the weekend, meaning little time off work will be required. The organised nature of a tour means that even those with little travel experience will be confident in exploring new destinations. Your transport, hotel and match ticket are all arranged by the company meaning all you have to do is turn up and enjoy the game.

Each trip is about more than the game. A tour to Paris in February includes evenings experiencing French cuisine at local restaurants as well as a full day of sightseeing, viewing internationally renowned attractions such as The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. During the Dublin trip a few weeks later, travellers have a free morning where they can take a trip to the famous Guinness Storehouse. This attraction features spectacular views of the city and complimentary Guinness. The tour visits Italy on the 20th February 2013, where rugby enthusiasts can watch the Italy v Wales game and explore the city of Rome. During this trip it is possible to visit attractions such as the Colosseum, The Pantheon and the Sistine Chapel. As your trip typically lasts no longer than three days, it is possible to pack in as much excitement as possible before heading home.

Many who have not had the chance for a gap year or a summer travelling around Europe feel they have missed out on meeting many different people from around the world. A short trip on a sports tour will introduce you to people from many different countries who share the same interest as you. Even if you trip is only for two or three days, you will be quickly immersed into a group of liked minded people who share the same passion for sport. Well regarded tournaments such as the RBS Six Nations, The Ashes and the IRB Sevens draw in a friendly international crowd, allowing you to meet fantastic new people from countries throughout the world. Games are played in the countries finest stadiums, so you will get to spend time in some of the best stadiums in the world whilst travelling. Many rugby matches in Paris are played in Stade de France. This stadium boasts stunning modern architecture with a sensational atmosphere, making it the perfect setting for the France vs Wales game. Other famous stadiums include Stadio Olimpico in Rome and The Sevens stadium in Dubai.

AUTHOR BIO

Scott Beaton is a writer from London, who regularly contributes to a number of websites and blogs. Scott has travelled to countries throughout the world and has lived in New Zealand, Singapore and New York. In his spare time Scott enjoys Cricket, Rugby, Football and Golf. Scott will be visiting the 6 Nations in Rome in 2013.