Exploring the Tropical Rainforests of Australia

It's getting harder and harder to find land left that's not been touched by man, it's unfortunate but this is the direction our world is headed, and these lands will never be the same after being altered. Australia's Tropical North Queensland region is still one of the place that has this natural beauty still to be seen. There is much historical importance to this area also and many schools of higher education use the area for their school to teach and learn as much as possible.

The rainforests of this region have been placed on the World Heritage list as being a natural, living museum, so to speak. A place where you can come and explore the natural beauty, wonder, and amazement of watching creatures thriving in the natural habitat, the Australian rainforests are considered the oldest naturally preserved rainforests potentially dating back one hundred thirty five million years.

The rainforests have been left as natural wilderness but to help keep the human impact light boardwalks and other types of walkways were constructed. This small human touch has been very helpful to keep everything as natural as possible in the rainforests.

There are brochures for the rainforests if someone wants to wander this habitat on their own time, and guided tours for those who want some guidance. If you wish to stay close by there are quite a number of accommodations to make your stay comfortable during your tour of this unusual natural area. And most of these places to stay will offer some type of guided tour either day or night so their guests can see this incredible place and learn more about all of it. The tours encompass all of the uniqueness of the rainforests, from the white beaches to beautiful creeks to tumbling waterfalls.

The Tropical North Queensland region has something no other area in the world offers so among the tourist destinations to choose from it draws a lot of tourists. It offers an untouched natural habitat unlike anything else people can see anywhere else.

Seychelles Islands Beaches - Holidays in the Sun on Exotic Tropical Islands

Thinking of Seychelles Islands? Thinking of an exotic holiday? Imagine sun and deserted beaches. Think of warm seas 365 days a year. Dream of tropical islands without hurricanes. Dream of beaches - coral white beaches, pink beaches... It sounds like heaven, right? Or just Fantasy Island? Well the Seychelles group of islands is just such a place in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Seychelles is one of the most unusual of exotic islands. Some call it paradise. Some call it home. It is my home - a gem still to be discovered and enjoyed by the discerning few. Mass tourism here is not encouraged to preserve its character and charm.

Seychelles can be enjoyed the year round. There are no winters here. The temperatures hover around 29 and 30°C during the day and 26 to 27°C at night. So the sea is always warm - come rain or shine. Yes it does rain in the Seychelles and quite heavily at that when it does. The lush green islands are testament to that fact.

The Seychelles is made up of 155 islands in two distinct groups. 42 of these are rocky and mountainous and the rest are flat coral islands - mostly sand cays but some are raised coral islands, like in the Aldabra group.

The sand cays are no more than 3 metres above high water mark, so when there was that huge Tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean a couple of years ago the islanders were understandably concerned, expecting the worse, but other than some simulated extra-high tides on the coast all passed without incidents much to their relief.

Most visitors to Seychelles tend to stay on the rocky islands, two of which rise to a peak of almost 1000 metres (3000ft). For a small island measuring 3 to 5 kilometres (2 to 3 miles) across this is indeed very high. The majority of the population live on the three main islands, Mahe, Praslin and la Digue, which are of ancient granite rocks.

Languages spoken in the Seychelles are English, French and Creole. There are no indigenous natives of Seychelles. All trace their past to the first French settlers and their African slaves. The first European colonists gave way to the English as the war for control of the seas in that region intensified 250 years ago.

Seychelles is a relatively new nation, which attained self-determination in 1976. It is now in what is popularly referred to as the "third republic" phase in its recent history. The late 1970s and early 1980s was a time of upheaval in Seychelles with coups and counter-coup plots but now it is at peace and you can enjoy it without fear.

The islands have weathered their man-made storm and the Seychelles people seem to have put their past behind them and are pulling their weights in a unified direction. The people there are called Seychellois (masculine) and Seychelloise (feminine).

They eat fish at least 10 to 12 times a week, and fishing has always been a favourite pastime in these islands - not surprisingly with such abundance. I've heard seasoned anglers, who travel half way around the world to come fish the Seychelles waters, refer to Seychelles as the GT capital of the world (GT standing for Giant Trevally) and they are real giants attaining 60 pounds or more. Well there are thousands of species of fish in the seas around the Seychelles Islands.

It has not always been all good in Seychelles but the people are easygoing. So as a place to live Seychelles is one of the best in the world. As a holiday destination it is a paradise and second to none. It has a tempered tropical climate, so if you want to run away from your cold winters or your very hot summers Seychelles is the place 365 / 365.

Having said all that don't expect paradise to come cheap. Yes Seychelles is quite costly. Nothing is cheap here. So if you decide to visit or live in Seychelles you should have a fairly large budget. The reason for the high cost of living is that most necessities are imported.

The mainstay of the country's economy used to be cinnamon and coconuts. Since the opening of the Seychelles airport in 1972, this has changed, and now the focus is tourism and industrial fishing, of which tuna is the most important.

Bali Island Holidays - An Untouched Tropical Paradise

If you want a holiday in a place where the modern world has reached, but not tainted, Bali is one of the last options open to you in the world! Bali does a thriving trade in tourism, but mostly the island is an untouched wilderness, where locals still speak their own language, and if you've chosen a more secluded villa in Bali, all you'll be able to hear after the sun goes down is the chirping of crickets and croaking of frogs. Today we look at the awesome options for private accommodation in Bali, quiet attractions and beaches in Bali for those who would truly like to get away from the rest of the world.

Private retreats in Bali

Bali is full of beautiful, private, isolated, and tranquil accommodation. In fact, after visiting some of the places that are considered 'quiet' and 'out of the way' in Bali, you might re-think your need for the company of random strangers! You'll be looking mostly for villas in Bali, if you want a private Bali holiday. Previous tourists in Bali on TripAdvisor have recommended these Bali hotels for privacy and seclusion:

* The Laguna Resort and Spa in Nusa Dua
* The Chedi Club at Tanah Gajah in Ubud
* Spa Village Resort Tembok Bali
* Komaneka at Monkey Forest in Ubud
* Kupu Kupu Barong Villas & Tree Spa in Ubud

These Bali villas are much more than little hotel rooms, this is reflected in the price. However, your credit card will soon forgive you when you are sitting on a quiet verandah in the mountains, or sipping cocktails on the pristine beaches!

Private attractions in Bali

Between the serene accommodation in Bali, and the many private attractions, it would be entirely possible to have a vacation without encountering more than ten people you'd never met before! Checking out Bali's secluded beaches is an obvious must-do; we'll explore the best private beach options in a moment. If you want to do more than just laze around or enjoy the water, why not check out:

* Uluwatu Half Day tour: You'll get to check out 100 metre rocky drops to the ocean, the Kayangan Jagat temple, and the place where holy man Dang Hyang Nirartha came to his enlightenment.
* Besakih Mother Temple Tour: This full day tour takes you to the Old Court of Justice at KlungKung and Goa Lawah, the Bat Holy Cave, as well as spending plenty of time exploring Pura Besakih, the largest temple of the island and consisting of five temple compounds around the main structure.
* BikeBaik Tours: Bike tours are very popular across Bali - this one takes you into the countryside where you can check out how Bali's rice farmers and rural craftsmen actually live - fascinating!
* West Bali National Park: This beautiful national park stretches across 65,000 acres, Trekking, birdwatching and diving in the adjacent ocean are all popular with tourists. You can see giant water monitors, kutjak deer, jungle fowl, violet crabs, macaques as well as ebony langurs.

Bali's private beaches

If you are mostly going to Bali for the beaches, book your beach hotel in Bali through the dry season, which runs from April to October. While most tourists avoid the wet season in Bali, you can actually save quite a bit of money by going in this period of lower demand. Plan your days to avoid the downpours in the afternoons, and you'll mostly have the beaches to yourself and a beautiful, less expensive holiday besides! Here are some of the quietest (and best!) beaches in Bali:

* Mengiet Beach in Nusa Dua: This runs from the Hyatt hotel to Geger Temple, and has gorgeous white sand and blue water as well as few vendors. You can rent chairs from 20 rupiah per day.
* Jimbaran beach: This is easiest to reach if you are staying in one of the adjacent Bali hotels - but even if you aren't, it is worth coming down to get some of the better waves in Bali.
* Sanur area beaches: The beaches here have less of a tourist-y feeling, and much more of a local flavour. This was the first developed resort area in Bali, but can be nice in times of few tourists.
* Balangan: This beach has almost a Hawaiian feeling, and there are plenty if secluded corners. Access can be difficult... which bodes well for you, if you'd rather enjoy the place by yourself!