Tropical Destinations

Big Island (Hawaii) travel guide

Posted by Laurentiu - Filled under Pacific Islands

Kiholo Bay HawaiiThe island of Hawaii comprises over half of the area of the state of Hawaii in the United States of America. It is almost universally called the Big Island partly to avoid confusion. It is home to the most active volcano in the world, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as well as the largest mountain in the world in volume (Mauna Loa) and the tallest mountain in the world as measured from its base on the sea floor to its peak (Mauna Kea).
There are two major airports if you are flying into the Big Island, Kona International Airport and Hilo International Airport. There are some direct flights from the mainland, mostly from California, but it is more common to arrive via Honolulu or Kahului. You should try to get a flight direct from the mainland to Kona to save time waiting (and walking) around the Honolulu airport.
Although several cruise ship lines operate in Hawaii, there is currently no dedicated inter-island boat service. Hawaii Superferry, a private company supported by the Hawaii state government, proposes to implement high-capacity catamaran ferry services.
Renting a car is really the only way to see the island. Getting around by local bus, bikes, or on foot work well if you’re staying in one area. Many budget travelers are unpleasantly surprised by the lack of public transport on the Big Island. Although there are limited bus services from Hilo to destinations like Volcano or the Kona side, they require reservations, and travel on a minimal set schedule.

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Bali, the pearl of Indonesia

Posted by Laurentiu - Filled under Pacific Islands

Petitenget Beach, SeminyakBali is an Indonesian island located at the east end of Java. The word “paradise” is used a lot in Bali, and not without reason. The combination of friendly, hospitable people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and (not least) spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali Indonesia’s unparalleled number one tourist attraction.
The popularity is not without its flip sides — once paradisical Kuta has degenerated into a congested warren of concrete, touts and scammers live on overcharging tourists, and the island’s visibility has even drawn the unwanted attention of terrorists in 2002 and 2005 — but Bali has managed to retain its magic.

Bali’s best-known attractions are its countless Hindu temples. There are an estimated 20,000 temples (pura) on the island. Even the smallest villages usually have at least three, but the nine directional temples (kayangan jagat) are the largest and most important. Uluwatu, at the southern tip of Bali, is easily accessed and hence the most popular, with Tanah Lot a close second. However, for the Balinese themselves, the “mother temple” of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung is the most important of all.
There are several hot springs to be discovered in Bali. One of them, along the northern coast of the island, near Lovina, is Air Panjar where stone mouth carvings allow hot water to pass between pools which are set among a lush garden. Bali is paradise for spa lovers and all sorts of treatments are widely available, but the Balinese lulur body scrub with herbs and spices — traditionally performed before a wedding ceremony — is particularly popular. Balinese massage is usually done with oil and involves long, Swedish-style strokes. A day at any spas in Sanur, a small town on the east side of the island, is exactly what you would expect during your stay in Bali: full service treatment steeped in Balinese tradition. Take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy a spa during your stay, the cost here is at least half what you would pay in North America or Europe.
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Fiji Islands - Your next vacation destination

Posted by Laurentiu - Filled under Pacific Islands

Fiji islands

Lying 2,000 miles northeast of Australia, in the South Pacific Ocean, the archipelago consists of about 332 islands mainly surrounded by coral reefs. Fiji is the product of volcanic mountains and warm tropical waters.

Many places worth visiting here and here are some of them:

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