Happy Earth Day

Earth by Rodolfo Clix


"EARTH DAY is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and yet brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology, the measurement of time, and instantaneous communication through space. EARTH DAY draws on astronomical phenomena in a new way – which is also the most ancient way – using the vernal Equinox, the time when the Sun crosses the equator making night and day of equal length in all parts of the Earth. To this point in the annual calendar, EARTH DAY attaches no local or divisive set of symbols, no statement of the truth or superiority of one way of life over another. But the selection of the March Equinox makes planetary observance of a shared event possible, and a flag which shows the Earth as seen from space appropriate."

Quote by Margaret Mead

The Galapagos Islands

Quito, Ecuador by Justin Phelan

Ecuador is small country in South America. It derives its name from the fact that it lies exactly on the Equator. Ecuador neighbors Peru and Colombia, and although these two are a lot bigger in size and economic power, as a tourist destination Ecuador is their equal. Ecuador offers beautiful old towns, such as the capital Quito, with its big and lively old town, filled with museums, churches, old mansions as well as shops and small restaurants. Then there is the highland of the Andes, with its many Indian villages with their colorful markets, that every photographer and shopper will find an absolute treat. High mountain tops and active volcanoes are never far away. The Amazon basin with its tropical forest offers wildlife and hiking possibilities as well as the chance to get to know the habits of the Indians that live in the Amazon region. Finally you might be able to visit the Galapagos islands . These are a must to all nature lovers. They offer many animals you will not find anywhere else in the world.





Blow rock and Redcliff Crab by Eva Schuster

Galapagos is the nature lover's paradise. Sea birds, sea lions, iguanas, finches, none fear man, and for a short time the tourist can live in harmony and peace with this wonderous environment. The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator about 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador. The Galapagos archipelgao is made up of 13 main islands, six smaller islands, tiny islets, and named and unnamed rocks. They are of volcanic origin and cover a land area of 3,090 square miles.




Iguana and Juvenile Boobie by Eva Schuster

Galapagos boast some of the most unusual and rare fauna in the world, many are endemic to Galapagos and found nowhere else in the world. Endemic fauna include: Giant tortoise, Lava lizard, Land Iguana, Marine Iguana, Galapagos fur seal, Galapagos penguin, Waved albatross, Flightless cormorant, Swallow-tailed gull, Lava gull, Lava heron, Galapagos hawk, Galapagos rail, Galapagos flycatcher, Galapagos martin, Galapagos dove,Charles mockingbird, Cactus ground finch and Vegetarian finch.

Ecuador travel

Handle Airport Delays

Airplane aproaching Heraklion International Airport-"Nikos Kazantzakis" by R.K.



With all the bankrupties, merges and cancellations, Traveler's most common complaint is the airlines. My advice to you is to stay on a friendly basis with your Travel Agent. Let's face it - we have no control over the delay, but its comforting to know that if something does happen, you have someone that can make calls to other airlines or hotels on your behalf. This is especially helpful if you're stuck at the airport for a few hours or overnight. You have enought to worry about.

Bret Michaels loves Mexico

Cancun by Enyeto Rucker

I really enjoyed watching the season finale of VHI's "Rock of Love". Bret Michaels takes his final two, Amber and Daisy to the ME Cancun in Mexico. The views of Cancun were breathtaking! I especially liked Amber's date. They start off with a Mayan Jungle Experience at the Xcaret and later take a short boat ride to a beautiful cave where massage tables are set up in the water. I was thinking to myself, Amber is going to win this! You could hear the relaxing sounds of the water and nature while they were enjoying a truly magical massage at the opening of the cave. A Traveler's Delight! Later in the evening, they enjoy a sunset dinner surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico. And as if he were reading my mind, Bret says that what he loves about travel is - you find out what you like and don't like. Travel is enlightening in that way. If you really want to test that relationship, just take a trip and see what happens.

Poison: Live Raw & Uncut Summer Tour 2008

Cancun by Enyeto Rucker

Travel Wish List - Cancun, Mexico


The city is actually split into two main areas, the Zona Hotelera, which is a 18 Km long island facing the Caribbean on one side along a long sunny beach strip with many large fancy hotels. The other back side is surrounded by a beautiful lagoon called Laguna Nichupte. The second part of the city is called Ciudad Cancun, which is in the mainland. This is where most of the Cancun local people live, and also where tourists can find more budget accommodations. Ciudad Cancun and Zona Hotelera are joined by this long causeway/bridge. They are literally two different worlds. Ciudad Cancun has some nice restaurants and bars along Avenida Yaxchitlan, and a more Mexico feel to it. The Zona Hotelera has the opulence of Las Vegas, Nevada with a beautiful beach, nice malls, fancy bars and no casinos.


By Benjamin Earwicker - Garrison Photography




By Michel Meynsbrughen




Nearby are many Maya sites that are easy to explore. They offer a unique insight in the Chiprecolombian civilization of Mexico. Many tourists get packages to visit the Chichen Itza, a good 2-3 hrs away by car. But, if a tourist takes local buses, or even better, rents a car...there are many wonderful places to be seen. Some of the closer ones to Cancun are Coba and Tulum, which are near Playa del Carmen, which is also another tourist ocean area on the so called Ruta Maya, within an hour from Cancun. Tulum ruins are near the water, so it is a scenic place, Coba is about 45 mins inland from Tulum....very wonderful place. Renting a bike in the premises is recommended to be able to visit the whole site, as it is very large. There is also a nice tall pyramid to climb with an awesome view of the surrounding jungle....




Pyramid in Tulum by Alejandro Gonzalez



Beach in Tulum by Sergio Penaloza



Near Chichen Itza, just north of the city of Valladolid, there are the recent excavations in a place called Ek Balam. The place is very well preserved, and it is worth a visit...and you'll miss most of the crowds that go to Chichen Itza. If you are into Mayan Ruins, it is recommended that you visit the surroundings near the city of Merida (on the west side of Yucatan, 4 hrs by car from Cancun) and do the Ruta Puuc. This route is best enjoyed in a couple days, but if you are in a rush, you can do it all in one day if you have an early start. The most impressive one is a place called Uxmal...it is well preserved and very large. There are several other ones...about 5-6 of them, among them Sayil and Labna. They are all great, well kept, and uncrowded. From there, after Ruta Puuc, you can drive to Chichen Itza...visiting some small Yucatecan small towns and villages on the way, such as the town of Oxcutzcab, famous for their citrus industry and see their main downtown square, church and market.




Chichen Itza by Mike L.

The other main attraction of Cancun consists of the possibilities to see the world under the waves. Snorkeling and diving in Cancun and nearby Cozumel are among the best of the world. There are these other things around Ruta Maya, they are these waterholes near mangrove area, sort of like sinkholes filled with clean fresh water. These are called Cenotes, and you can swim in them. There are tons around this area and they are worth checking out. To do Cancun on a budget, try Ciudad Cancun for lodging, the hotels are a lot more reasonable there, and there are even a few hostels. You can always catch a bus to the beach area. Cancun is a wonderful destination. For beachcombers who do not want to leave the sun, they can just do that. But for those who want to get some culture and explore the richness of Yucatan and Quintana Roo, the opportunities are endless. This is a very unique area, very different from Mainland Mexico.




Mexican Sunset by Marina Nisi

Mexico travel

King Tut Exhibit in Atlanta

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo by Tamlyn Rhodes

The Boy King by Paul Porteous


For the first time in 30 years, King Tut is going on vacation ! If you've always wanted to visit Egypt, here's your chance to see over 130 of the Cairo Museum's most prized possessions. In November 2008, Emory University's Carlos Museum will host the Tutankhamun Exhibit at The Atlanta Civic Center. Already on Exhibit in London, Tut will travel to Dallas and then to Atlanta this November. If you would like to book a King Tut Package with VIP Tickets for your group contact Tara Travel Agency.

Pharoe Tout Ankh Amoun Golden Face at

Egyptian Musuem near pyramids by M.A. Makky

Pyramids in Giza by Piotr Lapinski

Travel Wish List - Egypt

Egypt does not need an introduction. It was the introduction to human civilization itself, and has all the evidence to show for it. Tour Egypt from the lively Nile Valley, to the solitary deserts, the diversity of the Sinai desert, the lush oasis, the exotic underwater life of the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean beaches.


"Now, let me talk more of Egypt for it has a lot of admirable things and what one sees there is superior to any other country." - Herodotus, 500 BCE

"St. Anthony's monastery in Egypt's Eastern desert,

complete with the friendliest monk imaginable!" by Photographer Pete Shelley

Cairo, the capital is the place to start. It has the Pyramids, the Sphinxs, the Egyptian Museum, many more sights and more than ten million cairenes to share the experience. Alexandria , the second city of the country has its fair share of historicsights as well and with its location on the Mediterranean it is an ideal spot for yourholidays. The south of Egypt has many impressive temples and graves from Pharaonic times. Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel should all be on your to do list. The Red Sea has great scuba diving : Hurghada is world famous for its under water world.

Red Sea Reef by Damien King

Egypt travel

Charise Pempengco - International Idol

I live in Atlanta and love how this city is turning into big melting pot of culture. Sonny Perdue's trip to China proved successful and we're proud to announce plans for our own Business Advisory Center in Beijing. Just in case you didn't know, Coca Cola is one of the sponsers for the Summer Olympics and Project Hope. They donate millions of dollars to the children of China . Yesterday, Mrs. Perdue spent time with the children of Trenjin, near Beijing and the trip ended on high note. And speaking of high notes,I wrote this post just so I could feature this talented "Filipina Jennifer Holiday". Originally thought to be Chinese, Charise Pempengco is from the Phillipines. Stay tuned for her guest appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show !

Panama, more than just a canal

Beautiful Beach by Kevin O'Brien

My most recent trip in Panama was one of the memorable trips I have ever taken. We started with a well planned city tour on Sunday, first stop, the Miraflores Locks on the Panama Canal. We watched ships pass through the locks from the roof deck, had a chance to view a movie on the construction of both the old and new canal projects and spent some time in the new museum. After passing by the old military zone, now the ‘City of Knowledge’, we went to the Amador and an island owned by the Smithsonian. There you can learn all about Panama; how the land was formed, animals past and present, the American military presence, the flora, and all while enjoying the ocean views and maybe even spot a sloth in the trees. After a delicious and fresh seafood meal for lunch with the best view of the city skyline, we went to Casco Viejo. Beautiful cathedrals, colonial buildings, and cobblestone streets make this a perfect place to stroll away the rest of the day. Be sure to try flavored shaved ice in Plaza de Francia and seafood lovers won’t want to miss the famous fish market.

After a short flight Monday morning, we were in a different world, the Comarca de Kuna Yala! There are 365 islands (covered in coconut trees and many uninhabited) that make up the Archipielago de San Blas. The Kuna Indians govern the region with little interference from the national government and even used coconuts as currency until the late 1990’s. We spent two days soaking up the culture while mingling with the Kuna, shopping for their famous molas and watching the traditional dance. We also soaked up the sun on the white sand beaches and while snorkeling in the turquoise Caribbean ocean.

Kuna Indian Woman by Thomas Walker

Back to the city to hop on our transport for the rest of the trip, we crossed the Bridge of the Americas on our way to El Valle. After about 2 hours, we were amazed at the change of scenery and climate. Located at about 3000ft, in the crater of one of the largest, extinct volcano’s, El Valle’s cool climate is great for hiking, spotting wildlife, and shopping for handicrafts. There is also a ‘mud bath’, square-trunked tree, and local zoo where you can see some colorful frogs and other exotic animals.

The Pacific beaches of Panama are another one of the many reasons to visit this wonderful country. Surfing some of the best waves in Central America, scuba diving in the national park compared to the Galapogos, or relaxing by a camp fire on the beach while listening to the sea and counting stars… our guide knew all the best spots!

Boquete Mountains by Joy

I think the parts of Panama that surprised me the most were the mountains. We drove higher and higher into the bread basket of the country with farms clinging to these hills up to an elevation above 8000ft. The lodge we used had wonderful spa treatments, the freshest food, great view of Panama’s tallest mountain (Volcan Baru) and included a hike in the cloud forest. One day we hiked the famous Quetzal trail to Boquete and even were lucky enough to spot one of these elusive, emerald green quetzal birds. Boquete is a little lower and is well known for its flowers and coffee plantations but also has zip lines, white water rafting and rock climbing for the more adventurous.

Before crossing the continental divide, we stopped at some nice little hot springs and cooled off in the Chiriqui River. The views were amazing as we approached Bocas Del Toro. This is a perfect place to wind up the tour. We visited another national park, sailed with dolphins, snorkeled by the mangroves and enjoyed the Caribbean nightlife. Unfortunately, we also had to catch our flight back to Panama City and no one wanted to leave.

Our guide left the island the night before so he was there when we landed. We had plenty of time to test our siesta skills and freshen up before our last night’s dinner. The guide knew the perfect place with exceptional views of the skyline at night. Seeing that our flight wasn’t until late the next day, we decided to test out the cities legendary nightlife… we were not disappointed!
It is easy to see why Panama is becoming such a popular place to travel. Safe and inexpensive, friendly people and beautiful places, adventure and wildlife, culture and history all make this a place that everyone will enjoy.

Thanks to Kevin, our guide with Panama Breezes (http://www.barefootpanama.com/) we had a most memorable vacation and will talk about it for years to come.

Signed,
One happy traveler.

Panama Breezes

S.A.Natural Adventure

http://www.barefootpanama.com/