Gloucester City Guide, Including Gloucester Hotels

Introduction:

Gloucester is situated in the south-western section of England in the county of Gloucestershire, and is very near the Welsh border. Possessing a population that is well over 100,000 people, Gloucester is a bustling and thriving city as well as a popular tourist attraction. Gloucester is home to many historical sites and recreational activities, making it a place where tourists love returning to every year. No matter what time of year someone visits Gloucester there are plenty of things to do and see.

Places of interest:

Gloucester has much to offer both residents and tourists. From museums to galleries, from monuments, to historical sites, Gloucester is filled with an endless Array of things to both see and do. Further, Gloucester is situated near other popular English cities, making such cities easily accessible. Popular cities surrounding Gloucester include: Bath, Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Oxford, and York.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS: Gloucester Cathedral is the actual site where King Edward the II has been buried. In 681 AD this church was dedicated to St. Peter and the cathedral itself possesses a tremendous amount of Gothic architecture.

WALKS AND TOURS: Both residents and tourists will enjoy the numerous trails and tours that can be found in Gloucester. The Severn Way is a 2100 mile walk along the river in Britain and there are Cathedral guides, historic walks and dock walks for everyone to enjoy.

SHOPPING: There are plenty of fantastic places to shop while in Gloucester. The Mall Eastgate and the Kings Walk offer both specialist shops and boutiques, giving every tourist the ability to find suitable souvenirs.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES: Gloucester is home to some of the finest museums and galleries; among them are the Nature in Art Museum, a museum totally dedicated to art that focuses on nature, and Gloucester City Museum and Art Gallery, with archaeological exhibits and more.

EVENTS: Gloucester is a busy city, one filled with many events to attend and enjoy. Gloucester frequently hosts many festivals and museum events.

Things to do:

There are plenty of things to see in do in the gorgeous city of Gloucester. If truth be told, both residents and tourists will have no trouble finding recreational activities that are suitable for the entire family. From historic sites to educationally suitable recreational activities, Gloucester is the city that offers something for everyone.

WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS CENTRE: in Slimbridge is a fantastic site for both children and adults alike. When visiting Gloucester, families will enjoy this recreational facility which was established in 1946. With trails to walk and many different species of birds to see, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre proves entertaining for all families. The cost of admission is as follows: £6, and children £3.60.

HAILES ABBEY: in Winchcombe is the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey that was established in the 13th century, in the year 1246. Visitors can still see and enjoy its cloistered arches and visit the shop and museum located on this historic site.

WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM: in Tetbury is a section of land that is home to well over 18,000 trees. Families can enjoy the trails all throughout Westonbirt Arboretum and visits will find the location particularly beautiful during the fall. With a visitor’s centre, a shop, and a museum as well as a plant centre and places to picnic, Westonbirt has much to offer its visitors. Admission prices are as follows: £3.80 for adults and £1 for children.

THREE CHOIRS VINEYARD: located in Newent, is a vineyard that offers self-guided tours and an opportunity to enjoy the delights of wine tasting.

CLEARWELL CAVES: the Clearwell Caves is a site that proves entertaining for the entire family. Clearwell is an old iron mine with a blacksmith and ochre workshop and offers guided tours for groups by appointment.

Food & Drink:

There is no shortage of fantastic dining locations in Gloucester to choose from. No matter what your preferences are in terms of food and drink, Gloucester will meet your personal demands.

JAPANESE DINING: If you are looking for Japanese delights and delicacies, Gloucester is home to Spirit on 1 Station Road. Spirit is located in the centre of Gloucester making it easily accessible after residents or tourists are through with other activities.

GREEK DINING: Both Dino’s Village Taverna and Nicki’s Hotel & Taverna offer visitors fine Greek dining. Dino’s Village Taverna is located at 1 St Catherine Street, while Nicki’s Hotel & Taverna is situated at 105 – 107 Westgate Street in Gloucester.

INDIAN DINING: Gloucester is home to several Indian restaurants, including the Baburchi Restaurant, Balti King, the Hill Top, Jewel in the Crown, and Lahore Balti Restaurant, to name a few.

ITALIAN DINING: If it’s Italian entrees you seek, Gloucester does not disappoint. Gloucester is home to Topoly’s and Prezzo, both located on Southgate Street.

THAI DINING: Siam Thai at 5 Park Road and A Taste of Thai at 117 – 119 Southgate Street, Gloucester offer both residents and visitors fine Thai entrees to choose from.

Gloucester Hotels & Accommodation:

Gloucester has a number of accommodation styles to choose from. Visitors can stay in any number of the fantastic hotels in Gloucester or they can choose to use self catering facilities. Either way, tourists are destined to receive the finest amenities from the Gloucester accommodations they choose.

Express by Holiday Inn Gloucester South

Edward Hotel

Cheltenham Gloucester Moat House

Ramada Hotel & Resort Gloucester

Ramada Bowden Hall

Hatton Court Hotel

Watersmeet Motel & Angling Centre

Hatherley Manor Hotel

Days Inn Hotel Gloucester – (North Bristol)

New County Hotel

Entertainment

The nightlife in Gloucester is promising because there is so much to do and see—giving both tourists and visitors an Array of entertainment options to choose from. Several night clubs provide entertainment and there are even more pubs that visitors can stop in to have a drink and socialise.

Gloucester: an English city rich with history and equally rich in all of its offerings to its residents and visitors. Fabulous accommodations, excellent dining and lots of fun things to do: all within the boundaries of Gloucester. Gloucester: a current tourist hotspot and a city that promises to be a tourist attraction for many years to come.

Corporate Overview Tgr Group Asia

TGR Group Asia develops and markets award-winning luxury hotels and resorts in Phuket. The management team has over 120 years combined experience working with leading, global construction companies and a successful track record across three continents. Like all members of the senior management team, Edward intends to live on the island once it is completed.
The invitation-only Jumeirah Yacht Club will feature a state-of-the-art clubhouse with luxury accommodation, super yacht marina phuket, super yachts phuket, superyacht marina phuket, superyacht phuket, superyachts phuket, spa, gym and restaurants and will be host to regular regattas and exclusive Black Tie functions.

Forcez-vous à modifier vos habitudes

« Il faut prendre très tôt de bonnes habitudes, surtout celle de savoir changer souvent et facilement d’habitudes » (Pierre Reverdy, poète français du XXème siècle).

Je suis tombée sur cette citation il y a quelques jours et je me suis dit que cet auteur avait parfaitement raison.

En effet, toujours faire la même chose, s’enliser dans une routine quotidienne qui nous emprisonne, suivre notre petit train-train, peuvent nous être nuisibles.

Certes, il est parfois difficile de changer certaines de nos habitudes : le travail, l’école, les courses, les activités régulières, etc. nous obligent à respecter un certain horaire.

Pour certaines personnes, d’ailleurs, avoir de tels repères constitue un gage de sécurité. En respectant un planning, elles ont l’impression d’avoir la maîtrise totale sur leur vie. Elles donnent la sensation d’être hyper-organisées, de tout contrôler.

Or, si un jour, ce rouage bien huilé se grippe d’une manière ou d’une autre, ces personnes qui semblaient tout maîtriser, sont perdues et ne savent pas comment réagir. Elles ne supportent pas que leur vie soit déréglée.

Justement, si elles avaient pris l’habitude de changer quelques-unes de leurs habitudes, elles sauraient parfaitement comment se comporter. Elles n’auraient pas peur des changements et sauraient s’adapter à toutes les circonstances.

Ainsi, si vous êtes routinier, si vous n’aimez pas changer d’habitude, essayez quand même de le faire. Par exemple, changez de route pour aller travailler, ne mangez pas toujours la même chose au restaurant, n’allez pas faire vos courses toujours le même jour, ne faites pas toujours la même chose avec vos enfants, etc.

De cette manière, non seulement, vous vous libérerez de votre train-train quotidien mais surtout vous vivrez de nouvelles expériences qui ne pourront qu’être enrichissantes.

De plus, vous serez désormais capable d’aborder sans peur toutes les situations, même celles que vous n’avez pas encore vécues.

Faites preuve d’imagination. Vivez pleinement. Inévitablement, vous n’aurez plus une totale maîtrise sur votre vie mais vous récolterez, en échange, plus de fantaisies, d’inattendus, d’imprévus.

Vous serez ouvert à de nouvelles expériences, à de nouvelles rencontres. Libéré de votre carcan, vous oserez plus et vous aurez d’avantage confiance en vous. Vous serez avide de vivre d’autres choses.

C’est un peu un cercle vicieux : plus vous êtes libre, plus vous vivez dégagé des habitudes, plus vous oserez de choses, plus votre vie sera riche !

A bas les habitudes ! Tentez tout au moins de vous échapper le plus souvent possible de votre routine. Vous aurez ainsi la sensation de liberté, de disponibilité. Vous serez, en même temps, plus détendu, moins stressé par le temps, les horaires.

Ne faites pas de vos habitudes une tyrannie !

Co-auteurs : BRUNET Isabelle et GAWELIK Katy

N’hésitez pas à visiter le site Abond@nce Editions http://www.abondance-editions.com et à télécharger les ouvrages et les audios gratuits.

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Best Asian destinations for the US dollar

Want to make your travel dollar go further? Dreaming of beautiful crystal white sandy beaches and aquamarine oceans? Want to spice up your senses and taste something different? Planning to travel in 2009? Then look no further. We’ve placed together a selection of our best cost-saving places to visit. Southeast Asia is waiting for you. And there’s plenty to do. With a favorable rate of exchange, all Americans traveling to Southeast Asia will still find their money goes a long way. So, if you’re ready to discover some of the most beautiful and exciting travel destinations on earth, check out our ‘hot spot’ travel list below.

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Hot spot # 1: Thailand

Thailand is set within a lush tropical landscape. The beauty of its culture is spellbinding even to the most seasoned traveler. Rich in history and social heritage, this proud Buddhist nation is resplendent in natural resources. Thailand is also renowned for having the friendliest people on earth and offering world class customer service. So, if you want the best fuss free travel experience your money can buy, Thailand is your place to discover in 2009.

What to do: Join in the ‘Loy Kratong Festival’ in Chiang Mai (North of Thailand) in November.

What to see: The Grand Palace; “Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha); Chatucha’s Weekend Market (one of Asia’s biggest).

Places to stay: Phuket; Pattaya; Koh-samui; Bangkok; Kho Racha; Phi-Phi Island.

Hot spot # 2: Hong Kong

“Hong Kong, once a colony of Britain, is still a great place to visit for the budget conscious traveler. Many luxury hotels offer great deals. And of course, it continues to live up to its reputation as being a shopper’s paradise. But if you’re more of a foodie than a shopper, Hong Kong won’t disappoint. With its many restaurants, the city enjoys a longstanding love affair with food. However, if you’re searching for a slower pace travel destination (with even better deals), try crossing the border to the city of Shenzhen. The prices here are much cheaper than Hong Kong.

What to do: “Hong Kong’s Disneyland; visit Cat Street in “The Central district for antique shopping or Queens Road and Des Voeux Road for the

Gay Guide To Bangkok At Night

The tolerant nature of modern society in Thailand has made many a traveller feel comfortable and at home despite being in Asia. It has also made Bangkok the site of many an unforgettable party.

There is fun to be had in a variety of locations around the city from the comforting company of foreigners to the truly Thai style of a local disco. Although the options for men almost shout at you they are so visible, there are a number of locations where women meet women for drinks, dancing and perhaps more.

Although many of the bars are primarily targeted towards men, there are all kinds of people cruising down Silom soi 4. Phuket and Pattaya may have great beach parties but for a night out in the city, nothing beats this pocket of Bangkok for action. Every year the whole city explodes during Pride Week, but every night, the spirit of pride is alive and well and sauntering between the many bars and patios of Bangkok’s Gay street.

One of the most popular places to enjoy a cocktail and watch the parade of people passing is the Balcony. Not only do they have a large number of street-side tables, but their happy hour prices are the best in the area. Plus the bar is perfectly positioned to watch the staff on the other side of the street who are inevitably well dressed and drool-inducing.

On rainy nights, Telephone Pub and Restaurant is another popular venue. Each table comes equipped with its own telephone so that those too timid for a direct hit can start conversations with strangers at a distance.

In addition to the cocktails, pubs and sports bars on the soi, several establishments host nightly cabarets and shows. Just off soi 4 is the G.O.D. club, formerly known as the Freeman Dance Arena. Under its old name the shows were legendary, and since reopening the club has only gotten better. An enticing mixture of alluring drag queens and purely masculine muscle, G.O.D. really stands up to its name: Guys on Display.

One visitor from the UK, Jack Nambert has visited Bangkok a number of times over the last few years. He says that although he loves the saunas and discos, it’s the drag shows at G.O.D. that keep him coming back. “G.O.D. club looks great, the music is fantastic and it’s open until at least 04:00. It blows other clubs completely away”, he said.

Drag queens in Thailand are legendary for their beauty, poise and all around sex appeal. The phenomenon on men dressing and living as women is widespread and accepted in Thai culture. The Thais call them kathoey; English tourists call them lady boys. Although many kathoes are so convincing they are difficult to tell apart from those born as women, kathoey, just like everyone else, come in a wide variety, from men who dress as women, to those undergoing various stages of hormone treatment and surgery.

DJ Station, on Silom soi 2, combines a nightly cabaret-style show with a fantastic DJ for the rest of the night. Cover charge is minimal and includes two drinks, generally mixed on the strong side. After the show, the crowd is pumped for dancing and by the end of the night, it’s hard to get to the bar amid the crowd of shirtless sweating men who have come to dance here from all over the world.

The most notable club in the area is on Kamphaengphet road. ICY was recognised by Metro Magazine as one of the hottest gay bars in Bangkok and if you want to meet a Thai guy, this is the place to go.

The intersection of Ramkhamhaeng and Lamsalee roads is another area worth exploring for a taste of Thai culture. Several bars, including ICK, SeaTure, Finalle and Crazy, attract a primarily local clientele. Most of the bars have good DJ’s, especially on weekends, and unlike the clubs on Silom soi 4 that cater to foreigners, the Lamsalee bars serve drinks that are reasonably priced.

Men in Bangkok need only to head to a bar, a club or a sauna to meet other men. Women don’t have things nearly quite so easy. After strolling up and down Silom soi 4 several times and still not spotting any likely lesbians, one tourist asked a bouncer at Balls, a sports bar on the soi where she could find lesbians. “I think they go to sleep at 18:00”, he promptly replied.

Although not all lesbians in Bangkok stay at home every night, it is true that they can be difficult to find. For an outsider passing through and looking for a night on the town, it can sometimes seem impossible to locate the private gatherings and hidden lairs of the lesbians in Bangkok.

Because many Thai lesbians feel entirely comfortable going out with the girls in Thai society, the fact of the matter is that they can be found almost anywhere. The trick is spotting them.

When searching for lesbians out on the town in Bangkok, the best thing to do is go out on a Friday or Saturday night. Sukhumvit road has the most number of promising establishments including Mambo, a restaurant with cabarets, and Thumb Up, both on soi 32.

Vega, on soi 39, is actually run by a lesbian couple so even if there is no one in attendance, they are usually happy to dish out the low down on what’s happening in town. Things do tend to get hot here on the weekends though with great live music complementing a selection of excellent food.

Bars that cater to a mixed crowd litter Silom road and there are several on Phra Athit road. On a weekend, there’s usually a good crowd including some toms and dees at many clubs.

It’s definitely not as easy for women to find other women as it is for men to find other men and for travelers with a limited amount of time to enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors of Thailand, it can be very frustrating.

Great restaurants and areas to eat in Bangkok, Thailand

When you’re in Thailand you will never be short of great places to eat at cheap and affordable prices. Thai food is found all over the world but like many places, what you get in Thailand will totally blow your mind in terms of quality and what authentic Thai food really tastes like.

Where do you start when you’re in Thailand? Well if you’re in central Bangkok and want an Array of choices, head for the new CentralWorld Shopping complex. Southeast Asia’s largest megamall offers over 50 restaurants up for you’re choosing and this isn’t inclusive of their humungous food court that might tempt you as well with its cheap and delicious servings.

Another place similar would be The Emporium which plays host to the The Park Food Hall and the Erawan Bangkok which is home to Urban Kitchen. The Park Food Hall is a more formal kind of setting with many food bars and a huge 400 seating dinning area in a soft-lighted atmosphere. Choose from gourmet Arabic dishes, Japanese sashimi, fresh pizzas from the pizzeria, Thai delicacies and even simple dishes like bangers and mash. The Urban kitchen is a little different, with 14 restaurants under one roof. Choose from the famous Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, which serves Chinese dim-sum and freshly made noodles, Erawan Japanese Restaurant; which serves authentic Jap food, The Erawan Tea Room which overlooks the famous Erawan shrine and much more.

If you want a break from the malls, try Baan kanitha; an award winning Thai Cuisine restaurant located on 69 Sathorn Road. Located in a grand Thai House, this neat restaurant doubles up as an art gallery as well, branding works of art all over the walls, adding an even more special ambiance to your dinning experience. Try some of their signature dishes such as the stir-fried river prawns with curry powder and chicken wrapped in pandan leaf to complete a satisfying experience.

For a journey back in time try out the Blue Elephant restaurant located on 233 south Sathorn Road. Traditional Thai cuisine with fusion flare is on the menu in this lovely restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve travelled back a 100 years. Try their specialty house starter, the pearl of the Blue Elephant which compromises a selection of Asian favorites such as Satay and fish cakes with different sauces. If you’re in to trying something slightly different, dishes such as stir-fried crocodile meat might be something to look out for on their menus.

Most Famous Pizza Restaurants in the US and the UK

There are lots of pizza restaurants around the world. Know which pizza restaurant best suits your tastebuds.

Pizzas are usually made from round and flat bread that is oven baked and normally covered with tomato-based sauces, toppings as well as cheese. These dishes have become famous in different cities, towns and other countries like the US and the United Kingdom.

Listed below is some of the most famous Pizza Restaurants in the US and the UK

United States of America

• New York J and Pizza Restaurant: The New York J and Pizza restaurant offer wide selections of pizza, salads, pasta, subs, steaks, and seafood, as well as chicken and veal dishes. Their pizza is made in strombolis, calzones and the freshest ingredients. It also has beverage bars that offer wine and beer for adults. This pizza restaurant is located at central portion of New York.

• Pizza Inn: This restaurant or inn is located at #3551 Plano Parkway, Texas. This inn has a seating capacity of about 140 up to 190 persons. Moreover, it normally offers additional delivery services as well as “take out”. It also offers sandwiches, deserts, beer, wine and pasta. Their product is also found in airports, convenience stores and college campuses.

• Round Table Pizza Fast Food Restaurant: This unique pizza restaurant offers garden salad sandwiches without the garlic sauce and cheese. On its menu are various garden salad delights for vegetarians. Their parmesan cheese pizza is the most famous dish in this restaurant. This is due to the fact that it is made from animal enzymes. In addition, their product Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza contains natural flavors and eggs only.

• Filippi’s Pizza Escondido, Grotto: This restaurant is known for their traditional Italian menu such as ravioli, spaghetti, salads, lasagna, soups as well as mozzarella and pepperoni pizza. The Filippi’s restaurant is not for franchising. It is located at #114 East Avenue California and it is open from 10:00 AM up to 11:00 PM on weekdays.

• Brick Oven Pizza: This restaurant cooks the pizza directly into the oven, along with garlic butter and topped with long-simmering sauces and cheeses. In their menu are Italian pizzas that come with Italian sauces, seafood-styled pizza-breads, smoked hams and vegetarian pizzas. It is also served with Biersch Gordon beer. Hence, the pizza and sandwiches prices are less than $10 up to $31 dollars. It is situated in Kaumuali Highway 50 California, USA.
United Kingdom

• Olive Grove Restaurant: This restaurant is beautifully designed in high rustic furniture. It offers a variety of Paella pizza, Mediterranean dishes, sandwiches, pasta as well as salmon supreme drinks. This restaurant opens from 11:00 AM and closes at 11:30 PM on weekdays. It is located at #14 Dame Alice Street Bedford, United Kingdom.

• Campana’s Pizza Restorante: This restaurant has various toppings added on their delectable pizza. This would include pesto sauce, common cheese, basil, garlic vegetables, and oregano. Their pizza, pasta, and sandwiches are also found in supermarkets, convenient stores, and grocery stores. Hence, Campana’s Restaurant delivers pizza within the range of their restaurant. Their restaurant is situated at #69 Micklegate Street UK.

• Pizza Point Restaurant: This pizza restaurant has friendly and fast service for their customers. Their menus include Margherita Vegetarian, Hawaiian, Volcano, Marina, Beefeater pizza, and Pizza Point Special. This is for a price of only $7.20 dollars. They allow their customers to watch their staff cook and bake their pizza. It is located at #4 Church Street, Warrenpoint, Maryland, United Kingdom.

• Pizza Magic3 Restaurant: This restaurant always serves pizza with fresh toppings and fresh ingredients. It offers delivery, take out, dine in and catering services. Their restaurant has a top rated Canadian Bacon Pizza, Bison classic pizza, and Garlic shrimp pizza. It is situated at #4353 Central Avenue, Columbia Heights.

• Monsoon Pizza restaurant: This pizza restaurant serves the best Thai pizza and Thai meals ever! The dishes in this restaurant are extremely healthy for it uses fresh ingredients as well as fresh vegetables. This restaurant serves their dishes well and fast. They also provide free delivery as well as catering services. Thus, Monsoon Pizza Restaurant is located at #4 London Road Hindhead, United Kingdom.

Some Thai Food Has Six Legs

Many people enjoy Thai food worldwide: spicy soups and salads, flavorful rice dishes are abundant. But in Thailand, fried or roasted insects and scorpions are also popular, readily available, and inexpensive.

Insects have traditionally been a rich source of protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals in the Northern Thailand diet. They are also prized as delicacies. In fact, it is unusual to find an insect which is not eaten in one form or another by local people. Among the most popular are:

• cicadas, locusts, mantises, crickets, and grasshoppers which are all deep fried and are rather crunchy;

• bamboo worms, which are also deep fried;

• giant water bugs, which are steamed; they are also ground into a paste with chili and eaten with sticky rice;

• weaver ants (red ants with a painful bite) and their eggs; sticky rice is dipped into a mixture of ants, eggs, and chili;

• dung beetles; which add a wholesome flavor to curries; however, many people will not eat them because they live in and on excrement.

In addition, Thai people will eat

• the pupae of silk moths and other moths and butterflies; you must first remove the pupae from their cocoons, then boil them until soft with a pinch of salt, finally sautée them lightly;

• the larvae of wasps and bees; these are deep-fried;

and arachnids:

• poisonous scorpions, which are grilled;

• giant tarantulas, which are also grilled.

I haven’t seen other spiders eaten, but I suspect if it moves, it’s considered food somewhere.

Also, termites (large white ants) are grilled and their eggs are a delicacy used to make a flavorful soup.

Where I lived in Bangkok, Sukhumvit Soi 4, every night starting around 5:00 PM, there was a street vendor with half a dozen kinds of fried and grilled insects and scorpions; her customers were mainly the bar girls in the area. Every night she was quite busy as the girls consider these insects a tasty snack, and munch on them as frequently as Western people munch on potato chips.

The lady vendor does not speak any English, but will pose with her wares for a photograph if you give her a 20 baht (about 60 cents) tip. And if you’re brave, you could always buy a bag of deep fried bamboo worms…

Unique Islands Offer a Luxurious Seychelles Vacation

The Seychelles islands cluster, off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, is a tropical remote location. This collection of 115 islands is home to some of the world’s rarest wildlife. Unlike many of the other island clusters in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles is large enough to support a healthy population of natives. Because some of the islands are fairly distant from one another, travel between them is accomplished by small airplanes, ferry or helicopter. If seeing nature is the goal, a private helicopter transport between islands is breathtaking.

On the capital island Victoria, there are marketplaces filled with cultural arts and crafts, museums detailing the rich French culture of the area, five-star restaurants featuring exquisite local cuisine and even a golf-course. Many Seychelles hotels and resorts are attractive destinations in and of themselves. On some of the smaller islands it is possible to schedule a local guide for a hiking trip or boat tour around the island. On these nature excursions, a glimpse of the rare giant tortoise is not uncommon. In addition, the islands feature lush green jungles alive with local birds, like the glamorous Seychelles Flycatcher. In fact, the Garden of Eden, from the Judaeo/Christian faith, is said to be located in the Vallee de Mai on Praslin Island. Be sure to visit this magnificent place. Protecting wildlife as a natural resource is so important to the culture of these islands that many have been designated as wildlife conservatories and refuges.

For the more adventuresome vacation, there are high impact activities galore. Most of these islands are made from the natural upheaval of coral reefs; the surrounding waters are teeming with reef fish and beautiful living corals. This environment provides a perfect location for scuba divers and snorkelers. Many resorts offer classes in scuba and rentals for the equipment necessary to become immersed in this natural wonder. To further experience the Indian Ocean at its finest, surfboards and para sails are available for rental at many Seychelles hotels and resorts. In addition, if sailing is of interest, there is a yacht club on the capital island and many of the resorts have sailboats for hourly rent. Sailing through the beautiful clear waters and the gentle breeze surrounding these magnificent islands is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Although the cities in the Seychelles Islands are fairly modern, especially in the capital district, many of the smaller remote islands still contain Creole natives that are untouched by civilization. Be sure to visit these with the local natives that inhabit some of the remote islands and learn how they make a living by farming and fishing in the traditional way. By visiting with these people and removing oneself from civilization, even for only an hour, is a life changing experience and will instill a feeling of appreciation of nature.

Whether you are interested in hiking, sailing, scuba diving, culture, food or relaxation, Seychelles Island hotels and resorts offer something for everyone. Their secluded locale, scintillating scenery and friendly natives make the Seychelles Islands an unforgettable vacation experience like no other.

Pattaya – The Best Of The City’s Wining And Dining Scene

The city meets this demand admirably with a plethora of venues dedicated to satisfying the needs of the hungry and thirsty. A large number of establishments are aimed specifically at tourists, while others continue to provide the same fare to the same Thai clientele that they always have.

For lunch, fast food lovers will find the City Grill restaurant on Walking street a good call, with its excellent selection of burgers, hot dogs and similar fare, while Bob’s BBQ & Grill makes some pretty awesome Wagon Wheel burgers and tasty barbecued ribs. In addition, a branch of the famous chain Subway is located on Pattaya Klang road and sells the usual impressive selection of hearty sandwich creations.

For a lunch with a distinctly English flavour, Pat’s restaurant on soi 3 is well -known for its fish and chips, pie and chips and Sunday roasts, while the Queen Victoria Inn on soi 6 has favourites like shepherd’s pie, ploughman’s lunch and Cumberland sausage with mash.

Come sunset, hunger will be creeping up on you again and it’ll be time to find an evening dining destination. The selection in this category is a good deal wider than that of lunchtime venues, with many establishments only opening their doors for evening business including many Thai eateries of the roadside variety.

The stalls of Thai food vendors are ideal places at which to find cheap and authentic local cuisine. As long as you don’t mind the absence of competent English speakers and the grit and grime of the roadside setting, these stalls are great places to enjoy an evening meal.

If you still want Thai food but in a more pleasant environment, then Somsak on soi 1 offer authentic cuisine at affordable prices, while Baan Thai on Central road presents a nouvelle cuisine approach to Thai food (and its prices reflect this). For dining alongside live performances, head for PIC Kitchen on soi 5 or Adam & Eve’s at Sabai Jai Village, Sukumvit road.

International options in Pattaya are plentiful and include French, Belgian, German, English, Italian, Mexican, Japanese and Indian. While international establishments are invariably run by Thai staff, the proprietors are generally foreign and on hand to oversee operations.

Pattaya has a good selection of French eateries among which is Mon Ami Pierrot on Walking street and Au Bon Coin on soi 5 (the latter having the better reputation of the two). At Klein Vlaanderen on the Pattaya 2nd road customers can enjoy authentic Belgian cuisine, as they can at Patrick’s Belgian situated at the Diana Arcade. Italian food is best enjoyed at either Duilio’s on Central road or at Little Italy situated opposite the Royal Garden Plaza.

For a good curry of the Indian variety, Ali Baba on Central road or Sher E Punjab on Beach road should fit the bill, while Yamato on soi Yamato is a safe bet for Japanese cuisine. Daidomon at Big C and the Royal Garden Plaza also offer Japanese food although they have a chain-restaurant feel. Finally, if it’s tacos and chili you are after try out the Mexican cuisine at either the Tequila Reef on soi 7 or the Blue Parrot on soi 2.

After dinner, the appeal of an ice cold beer or wine cooler at one of Pattaya’s watering holes may well encourage you to set off in search of the best spot at which to enjoy a pleasant drink. Depending on the kind of character you are after, you may want to take advantage of the city’s abundant girly-bar selection, a booming scene which dominates the main drinking area known as Walking street.

It is however possible to avoid the venues associated with this scene. Kilkenny’s Irish Pub, for example, is a great little place to enjoy a drink with likeminded individuals, as is the Bamboo Bar on Walking street. On Beach road, the Hard Rock Café, Hopf Brew House and Rosie O’Grady’s offer pleasant ambiences with no skin trade associations. For a pub with a traditional English atmosphere and beverages to match, try the Queen Victoria Inn on soi 6 of the Pattaya 2nd road, while Shenanigans, located on the same road, is a cheery Irish style venue.

To be entirely sure of avoiding the riff-raff and not having to be accosted by flirtatious young Thai ladies, visitors are advised to seek out the bars at the city’s respectable hotels such as the All Seasons on Pattaya 2nd road, Sheraton in Pattaya Hill, Royal Orchid Resort in North Pattaya and Marriot on Beach road. While these venues are unlikely to raise the roof, they do offer quiet and upmarket settings where drinks may be pricey but the atmosphere is anything but cheap.

These hotels and others of a similar rating all have their own restaurants and it’s worthwhile considering enjoying a high quality meal of either Thai or international food in one of their dining suites before retiring for a relaxing drink in the bar.

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