Stepping abroad the Ha Long Ginger my eyes are flooded with dark reddish browns. The yacht's timbers are the color of an old tree, its sails bright yellow against the high blue sky. The yacht guides out of the harbor like a boat in a fairytale, heading into Bai Tu Long Bay.
Rather than follow the route taken by most boats around Ha Long Bay, the Ginger sets off in a different direction. Leaving the other boats behind we weave through towering islands. Staring at the deserted islands my mind takes flight like a sea bird, soaring high above my normal concerns.
After crossing Bai Tu Long we anchor in a calm cove. Dusk yellows the sky and purple lines the horizon. The only sounds are those of the wind and splashing fish. Everyone on board, including crewmembers and tourists, prepares to board kayaks.
There are no words to describe the feeling of dipping a paddle into still, green water. Leaving the yacht the kayaks resemble birds flying from their nest. We spread out across the deserted bay. We dodge around towering islets and passing through a sea cave full of bats, surprised to find ourselves in a beautiful lagoon. Surrounded by mountains, the lagoon is perfectly still.
Sometimes, local fishermen are so absorbed with their nets that they fail to notice the rising tide. With the exit under water they must wait in the lagoon overnight. I find the idea adventurous and romantic.
Kayaking in the lat afternoon is just one of the trips delights. Measuring 38 meters in length, the Ginger provides a luxurious means of touring this magnificent bay. The staff is helpful and professional. Each cabin features a window overlooking the sea. I lie in my cool, wood-paneled cabin and watch the waves. Later, while listening to the soft sounds of lapping of waves and wind, I eat a mail as memorable as one offered in a fine, big city restaurant. Candles flicker. The walls are made of a sweet-smelling wood, the floors of ironwood.
After dinner the tables are chairs are pushed back to transform the dining room into a dance floor. Couples waltz across the wooden floor and way to the boats gentle rhythm. At dawn, when light peeps over the horizon, the upper deck becomes an exercise area, where guests receive training in Thai Cuc Quyen (a type of traditional Chinese shadow boxing). At night, guests lounge in rattan chairs on the foredeck to watch the stars and moon. The sight of the sails being hoisted at dawn is extraordinarily solemn. I feel like a participant in an ancient rite to greet the sun.
The yacht, like Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, is full of surprises, as unique as the plant it is named after - a type of ginger found only in Ha Long Bay. Room keys that are musical instruments, a cocktail of tea and ginger, waltzing in candlelight, the warm smiles of the staff ... there was so much to surprise and delight me. The journey was like a dream.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Ha-Long-Bay---Dream-voyage/58815
Monday, March 3, 2008
A New York City Walking Tour of the Neighborhoods Around Grand Ce
Visitors to New York check out the main attractions, like Times Square, the Statute of Liberty, Rockefeller Plaza and Broadway, but there's so much more to experience in Manhattan! Manhattan is made up of neighborhoods, each with its own identity and culture and excitement. Explore Manhattan by walking -- you can take the subway or a cab to the area, but be sure to walk once you're there, so pack your comfortable walking shoes!
The Grand Central Station area is a perfect example. To begin with everyone must experience the cavernous Grand Central train station with its 2-story windows on each side and gigantic domed ceiling, complete with drawings of star maps. Don't hesitate to look up, but be prepared to dodge the scurrying workers busy on their errands -- time is of the essence for them -- and they'll walk right over you! If you have the time, check out the lower level which has a number of restaurants and oh, so cool, deep leather chairs in the center, and, of course, the famous Oyster Bar. The Oyster Bar has the best seafood in the area, but the attraction is the ambiance: tiled walls and a high ceiling, and the feeling of eating in a restaurant eons ago in an old-fashioned train station.
Grand Central Station, which is found at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, is home to both subways and the commuter railroad, MetroNorth, which goes "upstate" to Westchester County and Connecticut. But did you know that Grand Central sits right in the middle of Park Avenue? Park Avenue has a narrow, go-around elevated street that circumvents the Station, but the wide Avenue itself stops at 46th Street and begins again at 42nd Street. Can't tell you how many times a bewildered tourist stopped me and asked what happened to Park Avenue and how do I get to Park and 50th Street?
Ok, here's your exploring-Manhattan exercise: Go up the escalators from the Station. Here you're in the walkway through the 200 Park Avenue building and continue walking uptown. (There's no north, nor any directions in Manhattan; there's only uptown and downtown and toward the Hudson River or the East River.) From 200 Park Avenue go across the street to 230 Park Avenue and continue through the building in the Art Deco tunnels and walking out again into the wide and bright main thoroughfare of Park Avenue. This is a busy business section of Manhattan -- watch out for the taxis and the black Town Car radio cars! They move to turn no matter if people are in the crosswalk; but it's just a game to them, and act like a New Yorker and continue walking, and they always give way to you. (I've not been hit once in 30 years!)
Then double back into Grand Central. Find the downtown entrance from Grand Central (from the open area go to your left and follow the corridor downtown). Here you'll face Park Avenue South which goes toward Greenwich Village. Across 42nd Street is a restaurant, and Park Avenue is on either side. A couple of blocks downtown from Grand Central is the Murray Hill area, a quaint and elegant neighborhood -- reminiscent of areas of London. There are stately townhouses (brownstones in Manhattan parlance) alongside apartment buildings. You might be a block or two from the commercial areas of Manhattan but you feel far removed!
East of Grand Central, "toward the East River" for natives, brings you to the UN area, with many newly-constructed apartment buildings, and a consulate here and there. But, on your walking tour, be sure to check out Tudor City which is downtown from 42nd Street between First and Second (that's First Avenue, but NYers never add the Avenue). Tudor City is a collection of brick apartment buildings built 2 stories above the street. It's an enclave all to its own, with wrought iron fences setting it off from the rest of the busy Manhattan world. Walk around and feel as if you've stepped into a different time era!
Walk up First to 50th Street, and there's a whole new unique neighborhood. Here, you'll find the Sutton Place neighborhood, and you can feel the wealth of times past. There's a lot of building being done here and razing of the older buildings, but the old upper-class, moneyed elite air still remains, with an art deco building here and there. And intermixed here and there are the 5th floor walk-ups -- how do any of these tenants walk up with bags of groceries??
And, if your feet allow, walk down 53rd Street toward Third and enter into the Citicorp Atrium to chill out. There's a number of food choices, both fast food and sit down, and you just might be lucky enough to be there when live piano music echoes from the multi-story open area. Here you are, two blocks from Sutton Place, and you're back into the commercial area and the 21st Century. Leave on the Lexington side, walk a block to Park . Face downtown and walk back to Grand Central toward the 230 Park building at the end of the Avenue, savorying the bustle of NY's commercial area, and just imagine if the people you pass are lawyers, bankers or into real estate. If you're lucky enough to be there in December, enjoy the chill in the air and anticipate the Christmas spirit with the holiday lights brightening Park Avenue.
Explore Manhattan by foot and experience the excitement of current times and ages past!
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/A-New-York-City-Walking-Tour-of-the-Neighborhoods-Around-Grand-Ce/115124
The Grand Central Station area is a perfect example. To begin with everyone must experience the cavernous Grand Central train station with its 2-story windows on each side and gigantic domed ceiling, complete with drawings of star maps. Don't hesitate to look up, but be prepared to dodge the scurrying workers busy on their errands -- time is of the essence for them -- and they'll walk right over you! If you have the time, check out the lower level which has a number of restaurants and oh, so cool, deep leather chairs in the center, and, of course, the famous Oyster Bar. The Oyster Bar has the best seafood in the area, but the attraction is the ambiance: tiled walls and a high ceiling, and the feeling of eating in a restaurant eons ago in an old-fashioned train station.
Grand Central Station, which is found at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, is home to both subways and the commuter railroad, MetroNorth, which goes "upstate" to Westchester County and Connecticut. But did you know that Grand Central sits right in the middle of Park Avenue? Park Avenue has a narrow, go-around elevated street that circumvents the Station, but the wide Avenue itself stops at 46th Street and begins again at 42nd Street. Can't tell you how many times a bewildered tourist stopped me and asked what happened to Park Avenue and how do I get to Park and 50th Street?
Ok, here's your exploring-Manhattan exercise: Go up the escalators from the Station. Here you're in the walkway through the 200 Park Avenue building and continue walking uptown. (There's no north, nor any directions in Manhattan; there's only uptown and downtown and toward the Hudson River or the East River.) From 200 Park Avenue go across the street to 230 Park Avenue and continue through the building in the Art Deco tunnels and walking out again into the wide and bright main thoroughfare of Park Avenue. This is a busy business section of Manhattan -- watch out for the taxis and the black Town Car radio cars! They move to turn no matter if people are in the crosswalk; but it's just a game to them, and act like a New Yorker and continue walking, and they always give way to you. (I've not been hit once in 30 years!)
Then double back into Grand Central. Find the downtown entrance from Grand Central (from the open area go to your left and follow the corridor downtown). Here you'll face Park Avenue South which goes toward Greenwich Village. Across 42nd Street is a restaurant, and Park Avenue is on either side. A couple of blocks downtown from Grand Central is the Murray Hill area, a quaint and elegant neighborhood -- reminiscent of areas of London. There are stately townhouses (brownstones in Manhattan parlance) alongside apartment buildings. You might be a block or two from the commercial areas of Manhattan but you feel far removed!
East of Grand Central, "toward the East River" for natives, brings you to the UN area, with many newly-constructed apartment buildings, and a consulate here and there. But, on your walking tour, be sure to check out Tudor City which is downtown from 42nd Street between First and Second (that's First Avenue, but NYers never add the Avenue). Tudor City is a collection of brick apartment buildings built 2 stories above the street. It's an enclave all to its own, with wrought iron fences setting it off from the rest of the busy Manhattan world. Walk around and feel as if you've stepped into a different time era!
Walk up First to 50th Street, and there's a whole new unique neighborhood. Here, you'll find the Sutton Place neighborhood, and you can feel the wealth of times past. There's a lot of building being done here and razing of the older buildings, but the old upper-class, moneyed elite air still remains, with an art deco building here and there. And intermixed here and there are the 5th floor walk-ups -- how do any of these tenants walk up with bags of groceries??
And, if your feet allow, walk down 53rd Street toward Third and enter into the Citicorp Atrium to chill out. There's a number of food choices, both fast food and sit down, and you just might be lucky enough to be there when live piano music echoes from the multi-story open area. Here you are, two blocks from Sutton Place, and you're back into the commercial area and the 21st Century. Leave on the Lexington side, walk a block to Park . Face downtown and walk back to Grand Central toward the 230 Park building at the end of the Avenue, savorying the bustle of NY's commercial area, and just imagine if the people you pass are lawyers, bankers or into real estate. If you're lucky enough to be there in December, enjoy the chill in the air and anticipate the Christmas spirit with the holiday lights brightening Park Avenue.
Explore Manhattan by foot and experience the excitement of current times and ages past!
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/A-New-York-City-Walking-Tour-of-the-Neighborhoods-Around-Grand-Ce/115124
Places to visit in Guildford
During your trip to Guildford there are numerous things that you would like to see and also do. With a magnificent countryside and a history of kings and emperors, Guildford certainly has a lot to offer to its visitors. Let's have a look.
In central Guildford you will be able to discover numerous things. You will come across the Abbot's Hospital. The hospital was built in the year 1619 by George Abbot as a retirement home for old people living in Guildford. Another place you'll most probably see is the Guild Hall. A striking fact about the hall is its superb clock built in 1683 hanging at the front of the building. Furthermore, you will see the Guildford Castle and Grounds. The garden is open to the public everyday during a year. As for the castle, during the winter it remains closed. During the summer it opens at specific times. Long ago the Guildford Castle had been one of Henry III's best homes.
Moreover, you could also visit the Guildford Cathedral. The cathedral is open every day all year round. The Guildford Cathedral was built in 1930 and was completed in 1961. The time lapse was caused due to World War II. The building was built in brick and its inside can be said to be far more beautiful than its outside. In addition to, you may as well have a trip to the St Catherine's abbey. You may then admire the scenery and have a short walk along the river coast situated at the Guildford town centre. Also, you may have a look at The Wey Navigation. The Wey Navigation passes through Guildford until it reaches the Thames River in Weybridge. The Wey was once very busy with the ongoing business to and from Guildford.
In addition to, there are various interesting things to discover around Guildford. Some of these could be described as Clandon Park, Hatchlands Park, Denbies Vineyard, Loseley House, Painshill Landscape Gardens, Leith Hill and its folly and the Newlands Corner. At the Newlands Corner, you may be able to see some parts of Surrey as well as you can have a great time walking and discovering the natural beauty of the area. You may even see places such as the Surrey Hills, Watts Gallery, RHS Wisely Gardens and the Waverly Abbey. An interesting thing you can do is to take the guided tour of Guildford. The tour may often take place on specific days and times. It is guided and may take around 90 minutes to complete. It also includes looking at historic buildings of Guildford or ghosts and legends. It's completely up to you to choose which tour you want to take.
You may even go to the Odeon Cinema. It is a multi screen cinema and shows the latest Hollywood movies. Also, you could attend the Spectrum which is a leisure centre with bowling and ice skating among others. Finally, you could go and enjoy yourself at the Guildford Lido which is a beautiful swimming pool of the 1930's. The swimming pool is normally closed during the winter.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Places-to-visit-in-Guildford/115438
In central Guildford you will be able to discover numerous things. You will come across the Abbot's Hospital. The hospital was built in the year 1619 by George Abbot as a retirement home for old people living in Guildford. Another place you'll most probably see is the Guild Hall. A striking fact about the hall is its superb clock built in 1683 hanging at the front of the building. Furthermore, you will see the Guildford Castle and Grounds. The garden is open to the public everyday during a year. As for the castle, during the winter it remains closed. During the summer it opens at specific times. Long ago the Guildford Castle had been one of Henry III's best homes.
Moreover, you could also visit the Guildford Cathedral. The cathedral is open every day all year round. The Guildford Cathedral was built in 1930 and was completed in 1961. The time lapse was caused due to World War II. The building was built in brick and its inside can be said to be far more beautiful than its outside. In addition to, you may as well have a trip to the St Catherine's abbey. You may then admire the scenery and have a short walk along the river coast situated at the Guildford town centre. Also, you may have a look at The Wey Navigation. The Wey Navigation passes through Guildford until it reaches the Thames River in Weybridge. The Wey was once very busy with the ongoing business to and from Guildford.
In addition to, there are various interesting things to discover around Guildford. Some of these could be described as Clandon Park, Hatchlands Park, Denbies Vineyard, Loseley House, Painshill Landscape Gardens, Leith Hill and its folly and the Newlands Corner. At the Newlands Corner, you may be able to see some parts of Surrey as well as you can have a great time walking and discovering the natural beauty of the area. You may even see places such as the Surrey Hills, Watts Gallery, RHS Wisely Gardens and the Waverly Abbey. An interesting thing you can do is to take the guided tour of Guildford. The tour may often take place on specific days and times. It is guided and may take around 90 minutes to complete. It also includes looking at historic buildings of Guildford or ghosts and legends. It's completely up to you to choose which tour you want to take.
You may even go to the Odeon Cinema. It is a multi screen cinema and shows the latest Hollywood movies. Also, you could attend the Spectrum which is a leisure centre with bowling and ice skating among others. Finally, you could go and enjoy yourself at the Guildford Lido which is a beautiful swimming pool of the 1930's. The swimming pool is normally closed during the winter.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Places-to-visit-in-Guildford/115438
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Norwich
Considered by many to be one of the last great provincial cities, Norwich offers visitors and residents a wealth of art, food, culture and excitement all within the confines of a compact and historic city.
Norwich is a city with a rich history and heritage that dates back to the Norman conquests and beyond. In fact during the middle ages Norwich was one of the most important cities in the country, second only to London. This was due in a large part to the wealth of the wool trade in East Anglia and resulted in the city being a centre for weaving, with an international reputation for its cloth.
However with the advent of the industrial revolution, which required fast flowing water and coal to power the mills, workhouses and looms, Norfolk and Norwich's reputation as one of the major cities in the UK began to wane.
Today however the city has never been more vibrant, as the mix of modern and historic buildings has enabled Norwich to transform itself into one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK.
The city has a great range of historic buildings, with castles, cathedrals and reputedly a church for every week of the year. The castle, which dominates the skyline is one of the oldest buildings in the city, and is a great destination to discover the history of the city. Alongside the castle Norwich cathedral is definitely worth a visit, as is the close surroundings of the magnificent building, which boosts lawns and gardens where people come to relax.
The other mediaeval area of Norwich is Tombland, which although it is next the Cathedral doesn't derive its name from graves, rather the old Anglo-Saxon word for market. This leads to one of Norwich's most famous streets, Elm Hill, which is a fantastic example of mediaeval buildings, now filled with antique and bric-a-brac shops.
If you are looking for something a bit more lively then the nightlife in the city has improved enormously over the last 5-10 years and has a growing reputation for being a great place for an evening out - and apparently a pub for every day of the week!
The city has a great range of bars and nightclubs. Venues like the UEA and Waterfront offer some of the UK's best bands, and alternative nightlife. While the Riverside and Prince of Wales areas of Norwich are where the liveliest nightlife can be experienced, with a range of clubs and bars that cater for all tastes.
A slightly more refined caf?nd bar culture is to be found in the Tombland area of Norwich, where you can sit out in the evening and enjoy a meal and a drink. The city also has a good reputation for food, and like many UK destinations offers everything from Sushi to Indian, via burgers, tapas and trendy gastro-pub dining.
Norwich has recently been voted one the of the top five UK retail destinations. In the last few years the city has added a second major shopping centre, Chapelfield, to complement the Castle Mall and Gentlemen's Walk, where the latest fashions can be found. Alongside the major national retailers you can find in any major city, Norwich also has a great range of quirky streets with specialist shops, with Lower Goat Lane and the covered market definitely worth a visit.
For sports fans there is only one real major attraction, and that's Carrow Road, the home of the Canaries. The club plays in the Championship and offers a real family atmosphere, with tickets available via the football clubs site and box office.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Norwich/60253
Norwich is a city with a rich history and heritage that dates back to the Norman conquests and beyond. In fact during the middle ages Norwich was one of the most important cities in the country, second only to London. This was due in a large part to the wealth of the wool trade in East Anglia and resulted in the city being a centre for weaving, with an international reputation for its cloth.
However with the advent of the industrial revolution, which required fast flowing water and coal to power the mills, workhouses and looms, Norfolk and Norwich's reputation as one of the major cities in the UK began to wane.
Today however the city has never been more vibrant, as the mix of modern and historic buildings has enabled Norwich to transform itself into one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK.
The city has a great range of historic buildings, with castles, cathedrals and reputedly a church for every week of the year. The castle, which dominates the skyline is one of the oldest buildings in the city, and is a great destination to discover the history of the city. Alongside the castle Norwich cathedral is definitely worth a visit, as is the close surroundings of the magnificent building, which boosts lawns and gardens where people come to relax.
The other mediaeval area of Norwich is Tombland, which although it is next the Cathedral doesn't derive its name from graves, rather the old Anglo-Saxon word for market. This leads to one of Norwich's most famous streets, Elm Hill, which is a fantastic example of mediaeval buildings, now filled with antique and bric-a-brac shops.
If you are looking for something a bit more lively then the nightlife in the city has improved enormously over the last 5-10 years and has a growing reputation for being a great place for an evening out - and apparently a pub for every day of the week!
The city has a great range of bars and nightclubs. Venues like the UEA and Waterfront offer some of the UK's best bands, and alternative nightlife. While the Riverside and Prince of Wales areas of Norwich are where the liveliest nightlife can be experienced, with a range of clubs and bars that cater for all tastes.
A slightly more refined caf?nd bar culture is to be found in the Tombland area of Norwich, where you can sit out in the evening and enjoy a meal and a drink. The city also has a good reputation for food, and like many UK destinations offers everything from Sushi to Indian, via burgers, tapas and trendy gastro-pub dining.
Norwich has recently been voted one the of the top five UK retail destinations. In the last few years the city has added a second major shopping centre, Chapelfield, to complement the Castle Mall and Gentlemen's Walk, where the latest fashions can be found. Alongside the major national retailers you can find in any major city, Norwich also has a great range of quirky streets with specialist shops, with Lower Goat Lane and the covered market definitely worth a visit.
For sports fans there is only one real major attraction, and that's Carrow Road, the home of the Canaries. The club plays in the Championship and offers a real family atmosphere, with tickets available via the football clubs site and box office.
Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Norwich/60253
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