Choose Your One-Day-Tours!
Tour A - Bath &Stonehenge: including entrance fees to the ancient Roman bathrooms and Stonehenge -£37 until 26 March and £39 thereafter.
Visit the city with over 2,000 years of history and Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent and the Costume Museum, Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments dating back over 5,000 years.
Tour B - Oxford & Startford including entrance fees to the University St Mary's Church Tower and Anne Hathaway's -£32 until 12 March and £36 thereafter
Oxford: Includes a guided tour of England's oldest university city and colleges. Look over the "city of dreaming spires(尖顶)"from St Mary's Church Tower. Stratford: Includes a guided tour exploring much of the Shakespeare wonder.
Tour C - Windsor Castle &Hampton Court including entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace -£34 until 11 March and £37 thereafter.
Includes a guided tour of Windsor and Hampton Court, Henry VILL's favorite palace. Free time to visit Windsor Castle(entrance fees not included).With 500 years of history, Hampton Court was once the home of four Kings and one Queen. Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. Visit the palace and its various historic gardens, which include the famous maze(迷宫)where it is easy to get lost!
Tour D -Cambridge including entrance fees to the Tower of Saint Mary the Great -£33 until 18 March and £37 thereafter.
Includes a guided tour of Cambridge, the famous university town, and the gardens of the 18th century.
D
My grandson, Daniel, and I have always been very close. When Daniel's father remarried after a divorce, Daniel, who was eleven, and his little sister, Kristie, came to live with us. My husband and I were more than happy to have kids in the house again.
Things were going along just fine until the diabetes (糖尿病) I've lived with most of my adult life started affecting my eyes, and then more seriously, my kidneys (肾). Then everything seemed to fall apart.
Three times a week, I had to go to the hospital to be hooked up to a dialysis machine (透析机). I was living, but I couldn't really call it a life — it was an existence. I had no energy. I dragged myself through daily chores and slept as much as I could. My sense of humor seemed to disappear.
Daniel, seventeen by then, was really affected by the change in me. He tried as hard as he could to make me laugh, to bring back the grandma who loved to clown around (开玩笑) with him. Even in my sorry state, Daniel could still bring a smile to my face.
But things were not improving. After a year on dialysis, my condition was deteriorating (恶化) and the doctors felt that if I didn't receive a kidney transplant within six months, I would surely die. No one told Daniel this, but he knew — he said all he had to do was look after me. To top it off, as my condition worsened, there was a chance that I would become too weak to have the transplant surgery at all, and then there would be nothing they could do for me. So we started the tense and desperate wait for a kidney.
I was adamant (坚决的) that I didn't want a kidney from anyone I knew. I would wait until an appropriate kidney became available, or I would literally die waiting. But Daniel had other plans. The time that he took me to my dialysis appointments, he did a little secret research on his own. Then he announced his intention to me.
“Grandma, I’m giving you one of my kidneys. I'm young and I'm healthy …” He paused. He could see I wasn't at all happy with his offer. He continued, almost in whisper, “And most of all, I couldn't stand it if you weren't around.” His face wore an expression of appeal mixed with determination. He can be as stubborn as a mule (驴) once he decides on something -- but I've been told many times that I can out-stubborn any mule!
We argued. I couldn't let him do it. We both knew that if he gave up his kidney, he would also give up his life's dream; to play football. It was all he ever talked about. And he was good, too. Daniel was co-captain and star defensive tackle (防守阻截队员) of his high school team; he expected to apply for a football scholarship and was looking forward to playing college football. He just loved the sport.
“How can I let you throw away the thing that means the most to you?” I pleaded with him.
“Grandma,” he said softly, “compared to your life, football means nothing to me.”
After that, I couldn't argue anymore. So we agreed to see if he was a good donor (捐赠者) match, and then we’d discuss it further. When the tests came back, they showed Daniel was a perfect match. That was it. I knew I wasn't going to win that argument, so we scheduled the transplant.
Both surgeries went smoothly. As soon as I came out of the anesthesia (麻醉) , I could tell things were different. I felt great! The nurses in the intensive care unit had to keep telling me to lie back and be quiet — I wasn't supposed to be that lively! I was afraid to go to sleep, for fear I would break the spell (魔法) and wake up the way I had been before. But the good feeling didn't go away, and I spent the evening joking and laughing with anyone who would listen. It was so wonderful to feel alive again.
The next day they moved me out of ICU and onto the floor where Daniel was recuperating (复原) three doors away. His grandfather helped him walk down to see me as soon as I was moved into my room. When we saw each other, we did not know what to say. Holding hands, we just sat there and looked at each other for a long time, overwhelmed by the deep feeling of love that connected us.
Finally, he spoke, “Was it worthwhile, grandma?”
I laughed a little ruefully (懊悔). “It was for me! But was it for you?” I asked him.
He nodded and smiled at me. “I've got my grandma back.”
And I have my life back. It still amazes me. Every morning, when I wake up, I thank God -- and Daniel -- for this miracle. A miracle born of the purest love.
Many of the world's famous cities are known by some special names. Paris is known as the "City of Light". Hong Kong is the "Wall Street of Asia". One small city in Pennsylvania may be the sweetest place on Earth. That is town of Hershey, which is known as the "Chocolate Town". It is named after Milton Hershey, the founder of the largest chocolate factory in the world.
Milton Hershey built his first candy factory in the early 1900s. At the time, Hershey was developing a technique for milk chocolate. Eventually he succeeded. Hershey was also the first to produce individually wrapped chocolate bars. His factory grew and produced more and more types of chocolate. To this day, Hershey's chocolate factory is the largest in the world. Hershey used his success to give back to the community. He built a town around the factory for his employees. He gave streets fun names like Chocolate Avenue. He built schools, parks and shops. This generous man gave millions of dollars to charity. He built an amusement park with rides, trains for children and a swimming pool. Over the years, the town grew. People from near and far came to visit this special town, whose beauty and fame continue to attract lots of tourists. Every year close to three million tourists visit the Chocolate Town.
Today visitors to the city can enjoy a variety of attractions and activities. The Hershey chocolate factory offers tours. Visitors can learn all about chocolate and how it is made. A gift shop sells all kinds of chocolate and toys made to look like chocolate. Even if you don't buy a souvenir, there is one thing that is impossible to forget: the wonderful aroma of fresh chocolate everywhere. In this special place even the streetlights are shaped like chocolate.
Another attraction is the Hershey Hotel. It has an unusual mineral spring where guests can enjoy a variety of special treatments. The treatments all have one thing in common: chocolate.
Geneva(日内瓦) Tourist Guide
* Universal compact app for iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPhone 5 / iPhone / iPod / iPad GENEVA TOURIST GUIDE with attractions, museums, restaurants, bars, hotels, theatres and shops with traveler reviews and ratings, pictures, rich travel information, prices and opening hours.
Discover what's on and places to visit in Geneva with our new cool app. It will guide you to top attractions and shopping malls, and tell you directions to hotels, bars, and restaurants. This is an all-in-one app for all the local attractions. Our travel guide to Geneva features up-to-date information on attractions, hotels, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, travel tips and more.
Highlights :
◆ Geneva Information —Overview, climate, geography, history and travel
◆ Attractions —Ancient sites, beaches, botanical gardens, coffee farms, museums, scenic drives, towns, waterfalls, religious and historical sites, etc.
◆ Hotels —From luxury hotels to budget accommodations, including reviews, price comparison, address and more.
◆ Map —It is an interactive map and get turn-by-turn driving directions. Find traffic details, road conditions, street maps, multi map, satellite photos, and aerial maps. Allow you to easily search and find local businesses with directions.
◆ Gallery —Picture galleries of Geneva's most beautiful sights, interesting events, unusual occasions and more.
◆ POI Search —Search everything at Geneva.
Enter any keyword or name to search. Find Name, address, distance, route map, call, and directions to every business location.
◆ Translator —Supports 52 languages, Large text Translation.
◆ World Clock —All major cities of the world (1000 Cities).
Glacier Bay is one of the most famous parks in America, located in the state of Alaska. This park in the southeastern part of the state covers more than 1 million hectares of Alaskan wilderness. It includes mountains, glaciers (冰川), bays, and even rainforests. Glacier Bay supports hundreds of kinds of animals, including many species of birds, fish, bears, whales and sea lions.
As its name suggests, much of Glacier Bay National Park is covered by glaciers. A glacier is a large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope (斜坡) or valley, or over a wide area of land. Glaciers cover more than 5,000 square kilometers of the park.
Glacial ice has shaped the land over the last seven million years. The glaciers found in the park today are what remains from an ice advance known as the Little Ice Age. That period began about 4,000 years ago.
During the Little Ice Age, the cold weather caused the ice to grow and advance. That situation continued until about 1,700s, when the climate began to warm. The higher temperatures caused the ice to start melting. That melting led the huge glacier to separate into more than 1,000 different glaciers.
The extremely tall and jagged (参差不齐的) mountains seen in Glacier Bay National Park were formed by the ice advancing and then melting over time. The melting of the ice also created water that filled in and created the many fjords (峡湾) within the park. Fjords are narrow parts of the ocean that sit between cliffs or mountains.
The huge amount of water from the melted ice killed off many kinds of plants. Vegetation returned to the area over the next 200 years. The regrowth in plants also brought back many animals to the land. This return of life to Glacier Bay is why it is sometimes called “a land reborn” by people.
From the modern London Eye to the historic Tower of London, below are London's most visited tourist attractions. Many of London's top attractions are free, making them affordable places to learn about some culture. Whether you prefer history or modern art, you'll find it at one of these must-visit spots.
British Museum
The world-famous British Museum exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times, from around the world. The most interesting and exciting parts include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures (雕塑) and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. Some exhibitions require tickets.
National Gallery
The greatest and most beautiful building of Trafalgar Square, London's National Gallery is a vast space filled with Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. In this impressive art gallery you can find works by masters such as Van Gogh, da Vinci, Botticelli, Constable, Renoir, Titian and Stubbs. Some exhibitions require tickets.
Tate Modern
Sitting on the banks of the Thames is the Tate Modern, Britain's national museum of modern and contemporary (当代的) art. Its unique shape is due to it being a power station before. The gallery's restaurants offer wonderful views across the city. Some exhibitions require tickets.
Coca-Cola London Eye
The Coca-Cola London Eye is a major feature of London's skyline. It has some of London's best views from its 32 capsules, each weighing 10 tonnes and holding up to 25 people. Climb aboard for a breathtaking experience, with an unforgettable view of more than 55 of London's most famous landmarks — all in just 30 minutes!
Madame Tussauds
At Madame Tussauds, you'll come face-to-face with some of the world's most famous faces. From Shakespeare to Lady Gaga you'll meet influential figures from show business, sport, politics and even royalty. Strike a pose with Usain Bolt, get close to One Direction or receive a once-in-a-lifetime audience with Her Majesty the Queen.
Choosing a vacation place your kids would love is quite a headache. Here are some highly preferred fun vacation places for you, which would make sure your entire family has fun together.
Hersheypark
Hersheypark, the “Chocolate Town” of USA, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is now a main theme park with sixty rides. The amazing water rides, family rides, live concerts and shows make Hersheypark a perfect place for the young children. It also has a water park known as the “The Boardwalk at Hersheypark” and a zoo.
Old Orchard Beach in Saco, Maine
The Old Orchard beach, where there is the amazing sand, water, rides, some fried food, and great fun games, can keep your kids busy and happy. Besides, there are downtown shops with great beach food.
Snowbird Resort in Snowbird, Utah
As a great place for those who enjoy the snow, Snowbird Resort allows families to enjoy many activities in the winter months, such as snowboarding and ice skating. The live music concerts are held year round.
Hilton Waikoloa Village in Waikoloa, Hawaii
This is actually a fun vacation place when you are looking out for a getaway with your kids. Hilton Waikoloa Village is the place to go if you would like to have your children enter for Camp Menehune. Looking for the chance to feed birds is an exciting experience. However, an activity that your kids would enjoy most is the communication with dolphins.
Now is the best time for Hong Kong shopping lovers, as most shops and markets are having their seasonal sales. With the same amount of money, you can find different kinds of goods in this city. Women, young and old, rarely resist the attraction of this shopping paradise(乐园) at this time of year. Lovers will surely have an exciting Christmas and New year's Eve celebrations at the Time Square or in the western styled bars. Spending your holiday in Hong Kong will be easy too, as several packing tours are available from CZL Travel Service, with four-day tours for less than 15,000 yuan.
Tour package 1(3,200 yuan): a 4-day-tour including three nights' accommodation(住宿), science helicopter flight, night ferry tour of Victoria Harbor and shuttle bus to the park to view the city at night.
Tour package 2(1,880yuan): a 4-day-shopping tour including three nights' accommodation, tour to Golden Beach and the Vex work Museum, shuttle bus to the Peak and shopping opportunities.
Tour package 3 (1,480 yuan): a 4-day-DIY-tour including three nights' accommodation in a four-star hotel and total freedom to do what you want, when you went.
Time for an adventure?
Are you a bit bored with your nine-to-five routine? Have a look at our exciting range of holidays and decide what type of adventure you'd like.
Activity holidays
Our activity holidays are for everyone, people who love danger or who just like sports. We have a huge variety of water, snow or desert holidays. We'll take you SCBA diving in the Red Sea or kayaking and white water rafting in Canada. If you prefer snow, you can try skiing or snowboarding in the. Alps or even igloo building. For those who like warmer weather, we also have sandboarding (the desert version of skateboarding) or camel safaris.
Polar expeditions
Take an expedition to Antarctica or the northern Arctic; explore a land of white natural beauty and wonderful wildlife. Our experts will explain everything about the two poles as you watch the penguins in Antarctica or whales and polar bears in the Arctic, There's no greater adventure than travelling to the ends of the earth. A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Cultural journeys
Our cultural journeys will help you discover ancient civilizations: India, Thailand, Egypt and many more. Visit temples, palaces and ancient ruins—just remember to bring your camera! Get to know local ways of life by exploring markets, trying exotic foods and meeting local people.
Wildlife holidays
We organize small - group tours to get closer to nature in Africa, Asia or South America. Go on safari in Africa and watch lions and giraffes. Meet the famous turtles off the Galapagos Islands, Look for tigers in India, or take an elephant safari in Sri Lanka. We use local guides and stay in a range of accommodation, from tents to tree houses.
Something about the four World Famous Statues
The Little Mermaid
The statue The Little Mermaid sits on a rock in the Copenhagen harbor at Langelinie in Denmark. Tourists visiting for the first time are often surprised by the relatively small size of the statue. The Little Mermaid is only 1.25 meters high and weighs around 175kg. designed by Edvard Eriksen, the statue was erected in 1913 to commemorate(纪念)the fairy tale The Little Mermaid. The poor lady has lost her head several times but each time it has been restored. Copenhagen officials announced that the statue may be moved further out in the harbor, as to avoid further vandalism(故意破坏)and to prevent tourists from climbing onto it.
David Statue
David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture sculpted by Michelangelo from 1501 to 1504. The 5.17 meter marble statue portray the hero after his victory over Goliath, Michelangelo chose to represent David before the fight contemplating(沉思)the battle yet to come. To protect it from damage, the famous statue was moved in 1873 to the Accademia Gallery in Florence in Italy, where it attracts many visitors. A replica was placed in the Piazza della Signoria, at the original location.
Great Sphinx
Located at the Giza Plateau near Cairo in Egypt, the Great Sphinx is one of the largest and oldest statues in the world, but basic facts as who was the model for the face, when it was built, and by whom, are still debated. It is the largest monolithic(独块巨石的)statue in the world although it is considerably smaller than the pyramids around it. Despite conflicting evidence and viewpoints over by the years, the traditional view held by modern Egyptologists at large remains that the Great Sphinx was built in approximately 2500 BC by the Pharaoh Khafre, the supposed builder of the second pyramid at Giza.
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people France to celebrate the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, stands upon Liberty Island and is one of the most famous symbols in the world. It represents a woman wearing a stole, a radiant crown and sandals, trampling a broken chain, carrying a torch her raised right hand and a tabula ansata tablet in her left hand. The construction of the statue was completed in France 1886 until the jet age, it was often one of the first glimpses of the United States for millions of immigrants.
Have you ever been to Taiwan, China's biggest island? Do you want to pay a visit there? We'll show you the best of Taiwan island. | |
A four-day tour Places ▲Sun Moon Lake A beautiful lake. A small island. On one side of the island, the lake looks like the sun, and on the other side it looks like the moon. That is why people call it the Sun Moon Lake. ▲Ali Mountain The nearest mountain around the Sun Moon Lake. A nice experience to have a party with Gaoshan people. A wonderful place to see a very beautiful sunrise. ▲People Lake A great place for swimming, fishing, boating and eating delicious fruit and fresh fish. ▲Gao Xiong A great place to spend a full day shopping. | |
Price | Book (预定) now |
Only ¥5,000 Including: Round-trip plane tickets between Beijing and Taiwan. Bus service around Taiwan and great tour guide service. | Office hours Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m.— 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a. m. —4:00 p. m. Tel: 6459-9561 Book by phone now for next month. |
Leaving Hanoi on a fiercely hot summer day,after an hour by air,Luang Prabang gradually appears below our airplane wings.From a few hundred meters above,my first impression of this UNESCO-listed heritage(遗产)is an area of green land and mountains,surrounded by snaking rivers.
Encircled by mountains,the former royal capital of Luang Prabang is more than just the country's picture-perfect showpiece.
Travelers will be attracted to Luang Prabang by the city's timeless peacefulness with its shiny Buddhist temples, French colonial architecture and friendly people.
Tourists visiting Luang Prabang shouldn't miss the chance to see one of the most sacred(神圣的)Lao traditions, tak bat,or the Buddhist almsgiving ritual(仪式),which dates back to the 14th century.
As the sun rises in Luang Prabang,hundreds of Buddhist monks depart from their temples to gather their daily offerings,which most commonly are rice,fresh fruit and traditional sweet snacks.The daily alms gathering begins on the main street before spreading to all the side streets.
Our group of six got out of our comfy beds at 5 am to join other local residents and tourists to offer alms to the monks.We kneeled by the roadside in front of the 3 Nagas Hotel on the main street with big baskets of steamed sticky rice,waiting quietly until monks of all ages passed by to accept our gifts.
The daily ritual gives you a wonderful opportunity to experience an ancient Lao tradition.However,there are some strict rules if you wish to join the event.
Firstly,shoulders,chests and legs must be covered in modest clothing as a mark of respect.You should also remain a suitable distance from the monks.Photographs may be taken,but from a distance and never use a camera flash.The ritual has to be performed in silence.Talking to or touching the monks at any time,even when making an offering,is not allowed.
Another must-do morning activity is to visit the local market,where you can see the generosity that Mother Nature offers this dreamy land.While walking through the morning market,located within a long and narrow hamlet,I was excited to see all kinds of products from the nearby river and jungle: some ill-fated squirrels lying next to fresh bamboo shoots,different kinds of wild mushrooms and vegetables displayed on banana leaves and giant river catfish in baskets.
Although Luang Prabang is small,there are many things to see here.Active travelers can get up close and personal with Laos' gentle giants at the elephant conservation camp or take in some scenes of riverside life with a cruise or kayak excursion on the rivers.Two waterfalls that are perfect for picnicking in the foothills nearby,and classes are available in traditional crafts.
Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and, at its best, it makes little environmental influence. But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness, it is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively (不引人注目地) and leave no mark.
Wild camping is not permitted in many places, particularly in crowded low—land Britain. Wherever you are, find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces, and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building. For example, it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland, but in England you must ask the landowner's permission, except in national parks.
Camping is about having relaxation, sleeping outdoors, experiencing bad weather, and making do without modem conveniences. A busy, fully—equipped campsite (野营地) seems to go against this, so seek out smaller, more remote places with easy access to open spaces and perhaps beaches. Better still, find a campsite with no road access; walking in makes a real adventure.
Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night's sleep. Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum influence on others and the environment. Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot. When camping in woodland, avoid standing dead trees, which may fall on a windy night. Avoid animal runs and caves, and possible homes of biting insects. Make sure you have most protection on the windward side. If you make a fire, do so downwind of your shelter. Always consider what influence you might have on the natural world. Avoid damaging plants. A good campsite is found, not made—changing it should be unnecessary.
Phillip Island is a small island and nature reserve off the coast of South Australia, about 140 km from Melbourne. On the island you can see koalas, kangaroos and the main attraction, the Penguin Parade(归巢)on Summerland Beach.
As dusk was approaching, we made our way down to the beach, as did everyone else. On the beach was a stone grandstand, rather cold on the behind, so bring a coat or blanket to sit on. As it got darker, people talked less, keeping an eye out on the beach to see the arrival of that first penguin.
Suddenly there was movement at the edge of the surf and all heads turned as one. There, standing by the edge of the water was the smallest penguin we had ever seen. He looked left, then right, as if he was considering crossing a busy road and then he ran quickly across to the sand dunes and the penguin holes.
He must have been the scout(侦查员), because after him, there came groups of penguins, some consisted of two or three penguins, and some had about ten or fifteen, but they all made the same mad dash across the sand into the holes, as if they couldn't get there fast enough. The groups started to lessen and finally no more penguins emerged from the sea.
We sat on the grandstand for a while, not talking, just feeling awed(敬畏的) at what we'd just seen. Neither of us had ever seen penguins in the wild before, only in zoos and it was an amazing feeling.
You could see the penguins here every evening and morning, but they weren't in cages or in small pools. The sea was their playground and it is a sight we would definitely recommend to anyone.
You weren't allowed to take flash photographs as it scared them. After the penguins had gone to their holes, you could walk along boardwalks and see them there. That's got to be worth a look.
a. The smallest penguin stands in front of the parade and looks around.
b. Groups of penguins go after the smallest penguin and dash into the holes.
c. The smallest penguin runs quickly to the holes.
d. The penguins appear as a whole.
e. There are no more penguins on the sea.
Travelling can be a fun way to gain life experiences, but what if you're a student and don't have enough money for a trip? Don't worry. Here are some useful tips.
Save: This probably is the most important preparation for travelling. Cut expenses (花费) to fatten your wallet so you'll have more choices about where to go and how to get there.
Plan ahead: Don't wait until the last minute to plan your trip. Giving yourself several months to get ready can mean security and savings.
Do your homework: No matter where you go, research the places you will visit. Decide what to see. Travel books will provide information on the cheapest hotels and restaurants.
Plan sensibly: Write down how much you expect to spend for food and hotels. Stick to (坚持) your plan or you may not have enough money to cover everything.
Travel in groups: Find someone who is interested in visiting the same places. By travelling with others you can share costs and experiences.
Work as you go: Look for work in places you visit if you need more money to support your trip.
Go off the beaten path: Tourist cities may be expensive. You may want to rethink about your trip and go to a less-known area. Smaller towns can have many interesting activities and sights.
Pack necessary things: The most important things to take are not always clothes. Remember to take along medicine in case you get sick and snacks in case you cannot find a cheap restaurant.
By planning sensibly, even students can enjoy their travel. Your travel experiences will be remembered for a lifetime.
As soon as you are on your way to Eastern Europe, here are a few tips on what you should pack. In general, pack lightly, with only the most basic clothes. People dress casually(随便地) in Eastern Europe, so you don't need to bring along your smartest clothing.
At the risk of going against our own advice by weighing down your luggage, we suggest you consider bringing along the following things, which we found particularly useful in Eastern Europe.
Batteries:If your camera, flash or other appliances run on batteries, bring enough supply along. Certain types of batteries don't exist in Eastern Europe, and those that do often don't last very long.
Calculators:Many travellers find it useful to figure out foreign exchange rates on a calculator. We suggest a credit card calculator that fits into your wallet or purse.
Cash:We have found it good to have a supply of small unit US bills ($1 and $5) to use in hardcurrency(硬通货) stores, to buy international train tickets, etc. The hardcurrency stores never seem to have the right change, and thus you may lose out without some "pretty cash" in hand.
Electric Current Adapters:If you bring any appliances, remember that the electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts C. ,not the standard 110 volts of North America. A 110volt appliance will soon burn out when attached to an uncharged 220volt plug. Get in touch with the Franzus Company, 352 Park Ave, South, New York, NY10010(tel. 212/889-5850),and ask for their booklet, "Foreign Electricity Is No Dark Secret".
Language Tools:One of Europe's big challenges is communicating with the local people, since their language is so different from our own. To help overcome difficulties, you might buy phrase books before you go—you won't find them useful once you are in Eastern Europe.
If you are interested in learning an Eastern European language in more detail, we recommend the tape course produced by Audio Forum. In each course you listen to native speakers on a tape and follow along in a textbook. You can ask Audio Forum for their catalog(目录) at Broad St. Guilford, CT 06437 (tel. toll free 800,/243-1234).
Money Belts:A money belt is especially helpful when you have many documents(证件) to carry around(as you always do in Eastern Europe). The best one we found is made by Eagle Creek Travel Gear, 143 Cedros Ave. (P. O. box 651),Solona Beach, CA92075 (tel. 619/755-9399,or toll free 800/874-9925) outside California.
Traveller's Checks:These are necessary. Bring your traveller's checks in small to medium unit ($10,$20 or $50) to change a little bit at a time, so as not to be left with a lot of local money. To be on the safe side, be sure to copy down the check numbers in two places, just in case something happens to the checks.
Travel is one of the most exciting experiences a human being can have.Imagine how the Italian traveler Marco Polo must have felt when he found himself on Chinese soil, seeing a way of life quite different from what he'd seen before.And how marvelous(了不起的) it must have been to listen to Zhang Qian when he returned to China from his journey through Central Asia and West Asia!His brain must have been packed with everything he'd seen and heard, leading to the founding of the Silk Road.
Some people have traveled all over the world, and travel is a way of life for them.They perhaps know what to expect before they travel.That's why the best travel is the first one.Imagine a person who has always wanted to travel to the United States.Of course, he has probably seen the Statue of Liberty a thousand times on TV, and the White House, and all the other famous sights.But nothing would compare to the thrill of looking out of the cabin window(舷窗) as the plane lands, watching the buildings and streets of the real America come into view.
Although travel is often just for recreation, it's also educational.We may not know that we are getting an education, but we still are.
We're learning every day:new words in a new language, new people, and new ways of life.But this learning takes place in the school of the world, not the classroom.One of the lessons we learn is undoubtedly a moral one.As we get to know foreign places, we come to understand that there are many different ways to live, and that the way we live isn't necessarily the best.The British politician Benjamin Disraeli summed this up well when he said, "Travel teaches toleration."
There are many places to go on safari in Africa, but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswana's Okavango Delta must be one of the world' most exciting wildlife journeys.
Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure(冒险经历), providing rides twice a day to go deep into the delta. The camps have excellent horses, guides and lots of support workers. They are famous for providing a great riding experience.
The morning ride, when the guides take you to beautiful, shallow lakes, is more active. It is unlike any other riding experience. With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face, it is truly exciting. You are very likely to come across large wild animals, too. On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The sense of excitement and nervousness rise suddenly though, as does your heartbeat, as you move closer to them.
In the evening, rides are usually at a less exciting and unhurried pace, with golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink. Though they are peaceful and slow, rides at this time of day are still unforgettable. As the sun's rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses, the romance of Africa comes to life.
Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine. Looking back on your day, you will find that a horseback Safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild.
Travelers in America who want to experience the Wild West can now go on holiday in the old style to see how the American pioneers traveled and lived.
Today's travelers go by horse wagons like the old time. They set up camp at night under the stars and learn to cook their meals over fires. They also learn to lead herds of cattle with present-day cowboys and try to bring wild horses into a corral (畜栏). For those who just want to pretend halfway, the special holidays offer the chance to "rough it" during the day in the wagons but sleep at night in the comfort of fan air-conditioned ranch (牧场) complete with the swimming pool, the sauna and tennis courts.
In Wyoming the holiday makers will travel by wagon past ghost towns and cemeteries where pioneers and wild cowboys were buried. The route goes along the same track as the Pony Express riders who braved attacks from Indians and robbers to get the mail through to the Wild West. High Island Ranch in Wyoming at the foot of the Rocky Mountains is also an ideal place to go trout fishing and to ride wild horses. In Colorado, the modern-day pioneers can stay at Randy George's ranch and try their hand at breaking in horses and branding (给……打上烙印) cattle. In New Mexico there will be a chance to help in driving cattle to their new summer pastures (牧场). Trips last for a week so those taking part get a chance to have a feel for the Wild West as it really was.
A hobby is a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. By continually taking part in a particular hobby, one can acquire practical skill and knowledge in that area. Is travel a good hobby? Travel, in the youngest sort, is a part of education and, in the elder, a part of experience. Some may think otherwise. To them, visiting churches, castles, libraries, etc. is an absolute wastage of time. They may further say that one can read the account of these or see the films of the important places of the world. They forget that touch of actuality gives a different type of sensation and satisfaction.
Travelling may be an expensive hobby but it makes up for the financial loss. If a traveller has interest in life and its manifestations (表现), one can find much to keep oneself absorbed and happy. A student of any stream can definitely find something of his own interest and studies. One can definitely find everything that satisfies his cravings for knowledge and feelings.
As a hobby, travelling keeps us busy during leisure time; it is the best method to make use of time. Till a person breaks from dull routine, physically and mentally, one cannot find satisfaction. Travelling helps us to achieve this break. At a new place, one is curious to know and eager to gather all the unknown information about the place which he has neither read nor heard before and he gets thrills and surprises which keep the interest and enthusiasm alive and encourage us to keep our-journey on.
While travelling, one comes across a number of people from varied backgrounds and places. By interacting with them, he comes to know about their traditions also. In case one has ps ychological bent of mind, one increases one's experience and power to understand others. Understanding human nature is, perhaps, the best part of education. Travelling satisfies all demands of a good hobby--it is absorbing education and refreshment to the mind, body and soul.