Where is the Franz Josef Glacier?
Like a living thing, the glacier’s snout alternately advances and retreats over the course of time. Beyond a narrow strip of coastal lowland along the western shores of New Zealand’s South Island, a towering wall of mountains rears against the sky. The Southern Alps, as they are called, include the highest peak in New Zealand, Mount Cook, which reaches 12,349 feet (3,764 meters).
Because of abundant precipitation throughout the year, the mountains are capped with eternal ice and snow, and glaciers stream down their sides. The lower slopes, in striking contrast, are cloaked with luxuriant fern-filled subtropical rain forests.
To preserve a portion of this magnificent alpine scenery, Westland National Park was established on the mountains’ western slopes. A superb blend of mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, and sparkling waterfalls, the park is also famous for its so-called twin glaciers, the Fox Glacier and the Franz Josef Glacier. (The Franz Josef was named by an explorer-geologist in honor of the emperor of his native Austria-Hungary.)
Though the Fox Glacier is slightly longer, the Franz Josef is more dramatic in its steep descent. It is also very accessible, with a road leading almost up to its snout. And of all New Zealand’s glaciers, it has been the most thoroughly studied because of the pulsing rhythms of its periodic advances and retreats.
The glacier originates in snowfields perched on the mountain slopes at an elevation of about 8,850 feet (2,700 meters). A tongue of ice about 1,600 feet (500 meters) wide, it descends downslope for some 7 miles (11 kilometers) to a terminus about 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level.
The movement of the ice mass as it grinds down through its deep, U-shaped valley is quite rapid. Scientists have monitored its progress, but the mo: t dramatic evidence of its down-slope movement came about by accident. In November 1943 an airplane crashed on the glacier and was buried in the ice at a distance of 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) from its snout. Six years and four months later the wreckage reappeared at the snout. The velocity of the ice flow in the interior of the glacier was thus found to be an astonishing 5 feet (1.5 meters) per day.
Just as impressive have been the alternating advances and retreats of the glacier’s snout over the course of time. Anyone approaching the Franz Josef is sure to notice a group of large so-called roches moutonees in the Waiho River Valley downstream from its snout. These streamlined humpbacked, glacier-carved rock outcrops are definite evidence that the glacier once extended much farther down the mountain than it does today.
Its retreat up the mountain has not been a steady one, however. From time to time its snout has advanced very dramatically, only to lose ground again later on. Beginning in 1965, for example, the glacier grew steadily over the course of 22 months, and its snout moved downslope a total of about 1,300 feet (400 meters). But over the long term its movement has been upslope. Since 1894 the Franz Josef Glacier has retreated a total of some 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). Sarah writes the Czech Guide and would love to visit New Zealand.
Read MoreFrom the Big Buddha in Bangrak to Yoga at Kamalaya Resort in Laem Set, Koh Samui in Thailand has Something for Everyone
Koh Samui is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, and is easily the most visited island in the Gulf of Thailand. One of the reasons for the success of Koh Samui is that it has plenty of things to see and do. While some people prefer deserted beaches and cheap bungalows, many others want a beach holiday with plenty of diversions other than white sand and a warm ocean to swim in.
Koh Samui has attracted such notable hotel chains as Marriot and Hilton. It also has several privately owned luxury resorts many of which feature private pool villas. There are also a number of wellness centers in Koh Samui. For many people Koh Samui is a great destination for those looking to detox, learn yoga and Pilates and get a far infrared ray sauna. Kamalaya Resort in Laem Set and the Samui Dhama Healing Center in Lipa Noi both offer personalized wellness courses and have an impressive range of expertise and equipment on offer.
For those intent on loading up on toxins the nightlife of Koh Samui does not disappoint. The main tourist hub is Chaweng and it has a big sprawling town with numerous shops, bars and restaurants. At night there are nightclubs, bars with live music and the infamous go-go bars. Lamai beach provides the same thing on a smaller scale.
For a more boutique and mature night out Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village has a selection of fine dining options and picturesque bars and cafes.
Those who like to hit the green will not be disappointed. The Santiburi Country Club has a championship golf course. There are also a few other smaller golf courses to choose from.
Near Bophut is a go kart track with several powerful karts to drive. Canopy Adventures based in Chaweng take you into the interior of the island where you can see the forest from zip lines.
For those wanting to see animals there is a tiger show, aquarium, butterfly garden and aviary on Laem Set beach. There is also a snake farm near Taling Ngam. They have shows and areas where snakes slither freely among the tourists.
There are also a number of dive shops in Koh Samui. There are a few local dive sites as well as the PADI 5 star site of Sail Rock to explore. It is possible to see reef sharks, turtles and whale sharks.
Finally, Koh Samui has a rich culture. There are a number of beautiful temples to visit. These include the famous Big Buddha in Bangrak and the Chinese temple in Nathon. The later is in the administrative capital of the island. Nathon is not a place to stay but it has some great markets and offers excellent value for those looking for souvenirs.
After two weeks in Koh Samui many people board their plane to leave determined to come back. They already miss the beach and they realize there was so much that they never got around to doing during their stay on the island.
Read MoreWelcome Aboard The Top Cruise Lines!
The day has finally arrived and its time to board that new mega cruise ship destined for the sunny skies and blue water of the Caribbean. If you can, try and make it to the port a little early and be one of the first passengers on the ship. There are many advantages of being one of the first people on the ship and you may even find you can do more in a few hours than some people will do all cruise. Here are a few steps to take to make the most out of your first few hours on board.
Eat
Your first instinct may be to take off towards the newest and greatest water slide but head over to the buffet before the lines get to long. This way you get first crack at all of the delicious first day treats and chances are good you made the family skip breakfast so you could be at the port early. The wife and kids need to eat and it goes without saying, if they aren’t happy, you aren’t happy.
Take Pictures
Now that everyone is full, it’s time to pull out the digital camera and take pictures all over the ship. This is hands down one of the best times to get pictures of the ship that aren’t filled with random strangers in the background. Go all over, fill up a memory card if you have to. You’re going to look back at this at the end of your trip and be thankful you did this and you are going to learn the layout of the ship pretty quickly.
Mini Golf
With the serious stuff out of the way it’s time for some fun. Grab the kids and head up top for some mini golf. All the top cruise lines have mini golf so chances are good its there. Play a couple of rounds and take some more pictures. Who knows you may even find you start a trend and by the time you finish there could be a line forming.
Take a Dip
It gets hot up on the top deck so now it’s time to head to the pool. Unless you decide to stay on the ship at one of the ports this is your best chance to take a swim without at least 45 kids fighting for space. It’s also the best time to grab a couple of free lounge chairs because trust me when I say in a couple of hours they will all be saved for the entire cruise and you will be lucky to get one again. Now’s also the time to try out one of those new mega slides too.
Drink of the Day
Now that you have eaten, taken pictures and had a little fun in the sun it’s time to sit back in those lounge chairs and enjoy yourself with a couple of ice cold Bahama Mama Drinks while you watch all the late arrivals come on board and wait in those ridiculously long buffet lines that you are now so glad you avoided.
Gold Coast City: A Surfer’s Paradise
They say you can never become a good surfer unless you surf the tidal waves of the gold coast. Such is the reputation this city has earned for its waves and beaches. The city boasts of one of the most beautiful golden beaches in the world and waves that can get the adrenaline rushing of a true blue surfer. It also has many coaching classes which offer surfing lessons. So whether you are a novice or experienced, amateur or professional surfer, your surfing experience is incomplete without a trip to Gold Coast.
Gold Coast is situated in the Australian state of Queensland. It borders the state capital of Brisbane. It has an amazing shoreline of 57 km. The Pacific Ocean runs along this shoreline. It has some of the most inviting beaches in the world. The shorelines are continuously monitored by lifeguards throughout the year. The surfing times are set between 7:30am and 6:30pm. During these hours around 65 lifeguards and thousands of volunteers help in keeping a watch on the surfers and caution them in case of any impending dangers. The life guard system is well organized and well equipped with life boats, jackets and even helicopters to assist surfers during emergencies. As an encouragement for surfers and to increase the popularity of this sport further, the local government has developed many accommodations along the shoreline. There are many hotels and resorts in the city which cater to the needs of these surfers.
As Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere the summer season starts in September. The ideal time to travel here is between September to April however the climate is more or less pleasant throughout the year. Gold Coast enjoys sub tropical climate. Neither the summers here are too harsh nor the winters too cold. The average temperature in summer is around 30 degrees Celsius and in winter it is around 20 degrees Celsius. The absence of winds further makes the weather ideal for swimming and surfing around the year.
The city is friendly to travelers backpacking through Australia. Major parts of the city are well connected with bus and taxis. Tourism is the biggest industry in this part of the state and almost 25% of all jobs are related to tourism. Apart from swimming there are many other activities that one can enjoy in Gold Coast. Malls here are open 24/7 and offer great food and entertainment. The city also offers a great night life. There are many pubs located around Surfer’s Avenue where one can drink, eat, enjoy music and party till the early hours of morning. If one does not have the inclination to enjoy at the beach he can use the other avenues offered by gold Coast.
Read MoreThe Advantages of Bottle Beach
Bottle Beach is one of the most famous beaches on the tropical Thai island of Koh Phangan. It is located on the northern coastline of the island and has long been a favorite with experienced traveler’s in Asia. This post will take a closer look at Bottle Beach and discover what, if any, are the advantages of the beach.
In the 1990s Bottle Beach was perhaps the coolest destination on Koh Phangan. This was because the beach was so inaccessible. It used to be that the only way to get to Bottle Beach was via a longtail boat taxi from Chaloklum or a trek through the jungle. It was not a place to visit for 2 nights because of the risk of getting stuck on Bottle Beach.
Moreover the accommodation on Bottle Beach consisted of a couple of places with cheap wooden bungalows offering only fans and mosquito nets as facilities. Bottle Beach was a place for people to stay cheaply for months at a time. An isolated place far removed from the cares of the world.
That all changed when the road between Thong Nai Pan and Bottle Beach was built. Suddenly the beach was no longer cut off from the world. Around the same time electricity arrived on the beach and new bungalow outfits emerged that were imaginatively called Bottle Beach 2 and Bottle Beach 3. For many when this happened, Haad Khuat or Bottle Beach lost its appeal.
Nevertheless the main advantage of Bottle Beach has always been its perfect crescent shaped beach with white sand and clear blue waters. The beach and water remain just as clean and attractive as ever. Furthermore, the bungalows on Bottle Beach offer hot water and air-con.
The hippy heyday of Bottle Beach might have passed but it is still a great beach to stay on. It is one of the quietest and most beautiful beaches in Koh Phangan.
Read MoreLufthansa Airline Restrictions
Lufthansa is one of the biggest airlines in the world. Every year, they are responsible for transporting millions of passengers and luggage safely to their destination. To reduce the risk of getting your luggage rejected at this airline, you should be fully aware of the restrictions and regulations implemented by Lufthansa.
Free Baggage
Lufthansa uses a free baggage allowance. This deal is determined by the destination and baggage class of each passenger. Travelers are able to bring as many bags as they want, provided they fit within the required weight. However, these requirements on apply for flights within Europe. On international flights, passengers will only be allowed a few pieces of luggage. Purchasing a 6 piece VIP luggage or DVF luggage set will do no good if you cannot bring them all with you while traveling.
Carry-on Luggage
Economy passengers will only be allowed one piece of carry-on luggage. For business class and first class, two pieces are usually allowed, depending on the airplane size and flight destination. Gels and liquids can be carried in your hand luggage as long as they are placed in a transparent bag. Any liquid based products cannot measure more than 100 milliliters and carry-on bags should not weigh more than 18 pounds. Although Lufthansa is not overly strict with carry-on weight regulations, passengers should pack less than 18 pounds to avoid being fined.
Special Baggage
Travelers will be allowed to carry certain sporting equipment on Lufthansa airlines. An excess fee will be required, although the exact amount will depend on the weight and size of the suitcase. Animals can also be taken on flights, although passengers are required to give a 24 hour notice prior to taking their animal on the plane. In addition, the animal transport will need to apply with the local laws of the destination you are flying to.
Read More