Virtual Countries http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/ en 2007-02-05T14:26:12+00:00 daily 1 2007-02-05T14:26:12+00:00 Travel Back in Time http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/travel-back-in-time 2007-02-05T14:26:12+00:00 en Administrator Features It is best to sleep during the long drive from Bhubaneshwar airport to Gopalpur-on-Sea. The endless rice paddies, cows and their cousins, and colorful garments worn by women of all ages, are novel and even fascinating sights, but the Orissa countryside can prove to be somewhat monotonous even within the first hour. Moreover, traffic conditions and road habits will leave you wishing desperately for your own air bag, shoulder pads, and a helmet! It is best to sleep during the long drive from Bhubaneshwar airport to Gopalpur-on-Sea. The endless rice paddies, cows and their cousins, and colorful garments worn by women of all ages, are novel and even fascinating sights, but the Orissa countryside can prove to be somewhat monotonous even within the first hour. Moreover, traffic conditions and road habits will leave you wishing desperately for your own air bag, shoulder pads, and a helmet!

Why should you undertake such hazards in the first place? After all, Goa is also in India, on the sea, and has delightful places to stay within minutes from the airport. However, the colors and spirit of the Bay of Bengal are quite unlike anything you can find in the steady calm of the Arabian Sea. The coastline is different as well, though it takes a discerning eye to notice it. However, the defining difference between Goa and Gopalpur-on-Sea is in terms of time. Goa is contemporary while Gopalpur is medieval at best. Now that is not a disparaging comparison, for traveling back in time is not normally within mortal powers.

The eastern sea board of India was once the seat of glorious kingdoms, ancient customs, and high learning as well. Dance was a major form of the performing arts, and community life was far ahead most other places on the globe. The Indian State of Orissa was famous for its seafaring explorers, and one can see their imprints as far way as in Vietnam and Indonesia to this day.

That is the magic of Gopalpur. The sea-side town, which is more of a village by contemporary standards, is a wonderful museum of the best of the erstwhile Kalinga kingdom. No one can be sure about the circumstances of long gone ancestors, but Gopalpur must be close to how they once lived. The community of fisher people are especially enchanting to observe, and with whom to interact, if you have an interpreter.

Basic food, clean water, and places to bathe and sleep are inevitable concerns when one indulges in any form of tourism, but fortunately Gopalpur has a choice between modest lodgings and a luxurious property of the international group of Oberoi hotels.

]]> A surprise near home! http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/a-surprise-near-home 2007-01-29T08:58:59+00:00 en Administrator Features How would you like to spend quality time on a tiny island, surrounded only by pristine ocean waters, stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, soothing vegetation, and no unwanted human company? This is not about a remote part of the globe, far away from civilization, but in an integral part of Sunny Florida! How would you like to spend quality time on a tiny island, surrounded only by pristine ocean waters, stretches of sand as far as the eye can see, soothing vegetation, and no unwanted human company? This is not about a remote part of the globe, far away from civilization, but in an integral part of Sunny Florida!

Madeira Beach strikes such a pleasing balance between solitude and convenience that you might well decide to invest in a second home here, after a first visit. The extraordinarily primordial ambience of this enchanting piece of Pinellas County is surprisingly well governed. You can roam around on land, laze all day, set sail in to the ocean, or enjoy a spot of urban mania, all at the same time. Madeira Beach is entirely secure, notwithstanding its pastoral atmosphere, and though fine dining, casual entertainment, and delectable shopping are all within easy reach, they are all tucked neatly out of sight for those who would like to be alone.

The best lodgings can be pricey at this exclusive island hamlet, but they certainly deliver top value for your money. You can be sure of gorgeous views, courteous service, and every creature comfort you can wish in your room as well! You have to go for a bit of stroll though, if you fancy some variety in every meal, but chirping birds by day and noisier crickets and frogs, will serenade you all the way!

Speaking of food and drink, be sure to do a kind of food exchange by starving for days before and after every Madeira Beach sojourn, because the city is a temptress when it comes to matters of the palate! You will find a beguiling array of cuisine in this tiny island, and it all comes with loads of friendship and fresh air as well!

So pack a small bag of essentials and take off for Madeira Beach in Florida. You will have the time of your life, and forget the stresses of real life for a few dream days! Do not worry about making it a habit either, because this jewel in the Gulf of Mexico will add to your productive and creative capabilities on the mainland.

]]> Paying it Safe with Hotels http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/paying-it-safe-with-hotels 2007-01-22T13:26:06+00:00 en Administrator Features You have to travel at short notice to a new place. Adventure beckons at a destination about which you have just read or heard. A distant relative, or a friend, invites you to a social occasion, which you are tempted to attend. Perhaps a spot of wanderlust just hit you, and you want to take off on a refreshing break in a completely new scene. You have to travel at short notice to a new place. Adventure beckons at a destination about which you have just read or heard. A distant relative, or a friend, invites you to a social occasion, which you are tempted to attend. Perhaps a spot of wanderlust just hit you, and you want to take off on a refreshing break in a completely new scene.

There can be any number of reasons to visit or to travel to strange places, and whenever such an opportunity presents itself, I for one respond with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The romance of new friends and of renewing long lost acquaintances fills me with pleasurable anticipation, but I cannot stop worrying about getting lost, feeling hungry and thirsty, and falling ill as well. No one has friends and family with whom to stay everywhere, and I prefer the privacy of a guest room at a hotel in any case.

Modern photography may be a marvel, but I tire of the tricks it can play when it comes to choosing a hotel at a new place. Why do buildings and rooms look so drab in real life compared to the glossy finish in brochures and web sites? This spoof applies to service as well, as far as I am concerned, because hotels with the most extravagant claims tend to trip when it comes to a hot tea on awakening in bed!

I have found a way around this, and would love to share the secret with you. Rest assured that we have no commercial interest in the matter, but maybe you should play safe and settle for an international Hilton, if one is available where you are headed. You can be sure of being received at the airport and transferred to the safety of your room in peace, no matter how chaotic and lawless a country may be. Your room will give you all the space you need, have clean bath and toilet amenities, and can serve as a temporary office as well. You can entertain the most demanding of associates and local contacts with flare, and big up some local flavors, without losing your shirt, or finding bugs in the belly!

No one travels to far places merely to stay in a hotel, but a Hilton gives you the best shot at achieving everything you need to get done on a trip in seamless and discreet manner. Click on the name and reserve your room with confidence!

]]> The Allure of Sunny Beaches http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/the-allure-of-sunny-beaches 2006-12-25T13:48:40+00:00 en Administrator Features I point my face into the sun and feel a brief caress of dry heat whip over my brow, the phrase “Welcome to Agadir” still echoing in my ears. Something about this city cast a spell on me and I keep coming back. I point my face into the sun and feel a brief caress of dry heat whip over my brow, the phrase “Welcome to Agadir” still echoing in my ears. Something about this city cast a spell on me and I keep coming back.

You can make it to Agadir from Essaouira in just over two hours. But take your time – no one’s in a hurry in this neck of the woods. The jaunt up the Atlantic coast spotlights some great scenery -- miles of undisturbed beaches, an occasional lighthouse and a mix of sand, mountain and greenery that seems to sprout up out of no where.

Agadir boasts nearly 10 kilometers of clean, sandy beaches. Take your pick -- walk idly beside the lapping waves or stroll the boardwalk on Rue de la Plage. Some areas are more packed than others, and you can find an umbrella to rent for next-to-nothing or just grab yourself a hunk of sand to lie on.

Once in the city, check out the market at Suq al-Had. So typical with row upon row of stalls and vendors hustling their wares. Spices and herbs, sights, sounds and smells. Have of the merchandise may remain nameless in your mind, but that’ precisely why it’s fun.

Or take the tourist train for a brief spin around town. The "Noddy Train" is 18 Moroccan dirams that take you to see the sights of Agadir. Sure the locals will look at you with that silly "oh-they-are-just-tourists" smile of theirs, but they are happy you’re here. The ride will be over before you know it but it’s a half hour well spent.

In the evening go to a restaurant or bar and sit out on the terrace for dinner and a drink. Many places offer up live music. Most hotels put on live shows with traditional dances and music, and everyone is invited whether they are guests at the hotel or not. Forget where you are – better to just let the music and color sweep over you.

Agadir is whatever you want it to be: warm sands, blue skies and rolling surf and friendly people. No wonder I keep coming back for more.

]]> In Search of the Old West, Arizona Style http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/in-search-of-the-old-west-arizona-style 2006-12-18T11:05:02+00:00 en Administrator Features Whether you were born in the United States, or you are a visitor from some far-away land, chances are your knowledge of the Old West is limited to the pages of a history book or a Louis L’Amour paperback. Whether you were born in the United States, or you are a visitor from some far-away land, chances are your knowledge of the Old West is limited to the pages of a history book or a Louis L’Amour paperback.

But if you want to see the area known as the Old West, then you can start a journey anywhere from Phoenix to Sedona, Arizona - an area which is renowned for its variety of barren desert, majestic forests and of course the Grand Canyon. There are a variety of sites and places to experience in this region- from riding aboard a vintage trolley car or four-wheel drive jeep to exploring desert canyons on horseback or by pack mule. There are many excursions to choose from and they can last anywhere from a day to two weeks.

Old West tours promise to put you in the middle of a land you only dreamed about. Forget about staged gunfights and acrobatic horse riding, this is a journey through the real West -- Where legends were born and hard working men and women threw caution to winds in order to chisel out a new life. Some of the notable highlights in Arizona include a visit to Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley and Old Town Scottsdale (known as the “West’s most Western Town”).

Amazing views reveal themselves as you drive along the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Relive the excitement of the Old West aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, a historic train that covers several miles of beautiful Arizona countryside.

Through it all you might fall under Sedona's spell as you experience the areas canyons, wind-shaped buttes and dramatic sandstone towers that embody the rugged character of the Old West- Arizona style.

]]> One of America’s Finest: Martha’s Vineyard http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/one-of-americas-finest-marthas-vineyard 2006-12-11T10:55:11+00:00 en Administrator Features The privileged inhabitants of Martha’s Vineyard refer to it as The Island or the Vineyard. The pristine little is just five miles from the southern coast of Massachusetts and can be reached by ferry from Cape Cod. Martha's Vineyard is spread over approximately a hundred square miles, with the Vineyard Sound to its west, Nantucket Sound to the east and Atlantic Ocean to its south. The privileged inhabitants of Martha’s Vineyard refer to it as The Island or the Vineyard. The pristine little is just five miles from the southern coast of Massachusetts and can be reached by ferry from Cape Cod. Martha's Vineyard is spread over approximately a hundred square miles, with the Vineyard Sound to its west, Nantucket Sound to the east and Atlantic Ocean to its south.

The unusual name is probably in honor of the daughter of the English explorer, Bartholomew Gosnold, who arrived here in 1602. It could have been for his mother-in- law who financed his trip or even his favorite saint who protected his voyage. Made up of six unique towns, Martha’s Vineyard is home to about 15,000 permanent residents. There are almost a hundred thousand people living here during vacations. Among the seasonal visitors are the greatest celebrities from all fields of achievement in the country. Many of them have large secluded private estates on the Island.

Martha’s Vineyard greatest charm is its unspoiled nature. Very little has changed here over the years and the Island does not even have any of the popular chain restaurants or any shopping malls either. The six diverse island towns are grouped as the up-Island towns on the southwestern side and the northwestern down-Island towns. The up-Island towns are Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury and are more rural. The down-Island towns are Vineyard Haven or Tisbury, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown which are more urbanized. Most Islanders prefer to cycle around but there is a bus service that connects the towns.

Aquinnah originally known as Gay Head is recognized by the brilliant colors of the mile-long Aquinnah Cliffs, a national landmark. It is the location of one of the first revolving lighthouses in the country which was erected here in 1799. Many of the permanent residents of Aquinnah are descendants of the Wampanoag Indians, who were the original inhabitants of Martha’s Island.

Chilmark was mostly fishing village and secluded sheep farms but now is where celebrities live. It is a scenic town with an incomparable coastline and pristine undulating countryside. Edgartown has been the county seat since 1642 and has charming houses from the 1800s. Old Bluff is renowned for its colorful gingerbread houses.

]]> Virtual Countries Features San Francisco http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/virtual-countries-features-san-francisco 2006-12-04T15:02:43+00:00 en Administrator Features San Francisco is the jewel of the Bay area and is located on the tip of San Francisco Peninsula in North California. Its most famous landmark is the Golden Gate though most people neglect to visit the superlative Golden Gate Park with its conservatory and botanical gardens. A beautiful city by day or night, few can resist its charms. San Francisco is the jewel of the Bay area and is located on the tip of San Francisco Peninsula in North California. Its most famous landmark is the Golden Gate though most people neglect to visit the superlative Golden Gate Park with its conservatory and botanical gardens. A beautiful city by day or night, few can resist its charms.

Another characteristic of San Francisco is its rolling hills and streets that are almost a gentle roller coaster ride. Do not miss a trip to the famous China Town area or a ride in the trolleys of San Francisco. The city has a warm and friendly atmosphere and an easy going attitude. San Francisco has a beguiling air of a vacation resort which is quite in contrast to its reality of a center of world class academics and high tech business.

A highly cosmopolitan and multicultural city there are different neighborhoods that are like different parts of the world. The city’s architecture is a beautiful blend of Victorian and modern and like all aspects of the city the different styles coexist beautifully.

Fisherman’s Wharf is a delight to visit at any time of the day or night. This historic waterfront area of San Francisco is full of the most amazing restaurants, many specializing in seafood. Home to some delightful shopping, the area is a vacation resort in itself. A cruise from the wharf at sunset under the Golden Gate is memorable. The Aquarium of the Bay is a thrilling place for kids and adults. So is the entertainment at Pier 39. The place is on a perpetual vacation with its street performers, live music and dancing.

Alcatraz Island and the infamous high security penitentiary from where almost no one has ever escaped can be reached by a ferry. A number of exhibitions are held here through the year. It is the location of the first US lighthouse and fort on the west coast. Alcatraz is also home to a beautiful nature park tide pools where water birds nest. It offers wonderful views of the Bay area.

]]> Everything about Cairo is Special http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/everything-about-cairo-is-special 2006-11-27T16:07:26+00:00 en Administrator Features There is no city in the world quite like Cairo and almost everything about it is special. Even before you land at the airport the magnificent sights of the mighty Nile River meandering through the city and the incredible Pyramids of Giza greet you - and you know you are here for real! There is no city in the world quite like Cairo and almost everything about it is special. Even before you land at the airport the magnificent sights of the mighty Nile River meandering through the city and the incredible Pyramids of Giza greet you - and you know you are here for real!

The various districts of the city are so different from each other that you cannot believe they can coexist so happily. Egypt is extremely well geared for tourism, the biggest contributor to the nation’s economy. Despite the unfortunate sporadic bombing incidents, the major attractions are maintained excellently and efficiently run. Tourism police are available on the move everywhere. Drinking water and public toilets, both the bane of traveling in developing countries, are available every where.

The Pyramids need more than one viewing – one by day, where your luck decides if you can get inside one of them and which one. The three familiar structures are huge in close up and you wonder how they were ever built! The sound and light show by night is the most spectacular vision where the Sphinx ‘narrates’ the history of the Pyramids against the magnificent backdrop.

The Egyptian Museum is among the finest in the world and whatever length of time you may spend in it will be inadequate. A heritage and culture of thousands of years can hardly be appreciated in a day!

Spend an evening in the Khan al Khalili market, where a maze of little lanes and alleys, lined with every imaginable kind of shops and wares overwhelms all your senses. Full of haggling Egyptians, gawking tourists and persistent shop owners, the market has been this way since the 14th century. You cannot come away without parting with some ready in exchange for a silver trinket or perfume or whatever.

It is an unforgettable experience watching Sufi dancers whirl to the strains of intoxicating music. An abandoned mosque in the crowded old market district is the venue for this twice for a week – a not to be missed free performance! It is then that you realize that the most special thing about Cairo is the seamless blend of history into the present!

]]> Cape Town, South Africa http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/cape-town-south-africa 2006-11-20T12:57:37+00:00 en Administrator Features Cape Town is one of the loveliest cities in the world situated at the tip of the African peninsula. It is a melting pot of cultures and, just as the waters of the Indian Ocean mingle with the Atlantic Ocean around its pristine coastline, the people of the world make up the population of this city. You will find members of various tribes of northern Africa, people of Indian, Chinese, Dutch, French and British origin all living here in harmony. Cape Town is one of the loveliest cities in the world situated at the tip of the African peninsula. It is a melting pot of cultures and, just as the waters of the Indian Ocean mingle with the Atlantic Ocean around its pristine coastline, the people of the world make up the population of this city. You will find members of various tribes of northern Africa, people of Indian, Chinese, Dutch, French and British origin all living here in harmony.

It now seems incredible that apartheid held its sway here for so long and that South Africa was isolated from the rest of the world by international sanctions not so long ago.

Today, the prison on Robben Island, where freedom fighter Nelson Mandela and other Black leaders were imprisoned for years, is virtually a place of pilgrimage for South Africans and tourists. Robben Island is now a World Heritage Site.

The city of Cape Town is dominated by the huge Table Mountain at whose foot it nestles. The one thousand meter high mountain is a part of the Table Mountain National Park. The forest is virtually in the heart of the city. Periodic climatic changes bring on the Cape Doctor, southeasterly winds which cover Table Mountain with a tablecloth – a cloud over its top. It could be a gentle breeze or a howling, forceful gale, particularly in the spring.

The top of the mountain can be accessed by several paths or by revolving cable car. It offers wonderful views of the city and the ocean. Bungee jumping, paragliding, biking and hiking are all popular sports here. Kleefing or canyoning, which involves climbing, hiking, swimming and jumping is something the brave indulge in at Kamikaze Canyon.

The waters off Cape Town provide ample opportunity for surfing as well as shore or boat diving. One can explore the bottom of the ocean for corals, wrecks, caves and wonderful fish. If you are brave enough you can go diving with the sharks, inside a cage of course!

Cape Town offers a rich variety in its food, music and cultural activities, a range as wide and mixed as its people.

]]> Imprint Greece on Your Mind http://www.virtualcountries.com/blog/imprint-greece-on-your-mind 2006-11-10T14:31:47+00:00 en Administrator Features The discerning will not agree with common perceptions of travel to Greece. There is more to this ancient land than cruises! Cycladic Art scores over the other myriad attractions of Greece for many, because it transports you back to the very roots of the magnificent civilization which marked the best centuries to date for this country. There can be no dispute that the natural wonders of the Aegean are sufficient reason for anyone to travel to Greece. However, it is the human expression through sculpture that many would argue are the most valuable fruits of this part of the world. The discerning will not agree with common perceptions of travel to Greece. There is more to this ancient land than cruises! Cycladic Art scores over the other myriad attractions of Greece for many, because it transports you back to the very roots of the magnificent civilization which marked the best centuries to date for this country. There can be no dispute that the natural wonders of the Aegean are sufficient reason for anyone to travel to Greece. However, it is the human expression through sculpture that many would argue are the most valuable fruits of this part of the world.

The simple lines grow on you as you absorb the full impact of the female forms in Cycladic Art. Even accomplished critics may be forgiven for mistaking pieces which pre-date Christ by at least two millennia, for works of late 20th century sculptors. The inspiration of the Cyclades is as durable as the stones and minerals which embellish the volcanic earth. Only carbon dating and the physical evidence of a museum can reinforce the truth of antiquity that marks the splendor of timeless figures. Archaeology comes to uncommon life in the magical surroundings of the stark land of the Cyclades, enthrallingly untouched by millennia of human footprints.

Cycladic Art transcends life and time in their conventional senses, and joins us with our ancestors with magnetic power. The littoral Cycladic islands may present a geographic norm in their distribution amongst the ethereal beauty of the Aegean Sea, but the deep spirituality of ancient Greeks saw their garland-like arrangement as homage to Apollo himself. The people who lived on the islands used figures sculpted by their blessed artisans as adornment for graves, which may be why contemplation of the signature style has such a riveting effect on us today. Cycladian artists were adapt at fashioning every subterranean offering of their lands, but figures made of the local Parian marble stand in exclusive esteem of most admirers.

The Aegean region has such a pivotal role in the evolution of humans that it is entirely appropriate that classic representation of our form should emanate from this crucial repository of earth’s history. Symbolically close to the center of the surface of the earth from most axes, the communities which produced Cycladic Art have been witness to the transition from the civilization of Mesopotamia to the continuing ascendancy of Europe and its colonial descendants. Many of us may perceive, on deep introspection in the salubrious Mediterranean climes, fascinating and surreal connections with our forefathers.

Most people need no introduction to the exceptional values of holidays in Greece. However, the great wealth of legendary structures may overshadow schedules set by unfeeling operators, and leave insufficient time to savor the eternal and varied delights of the Cyclades. The sculpture and the landscapes which have inspired it can make devout and passionate art lovers of people with little prior aesthetic sense. This is a potential benefit of a relatively low profile, though by no means Spartan vacation in Greece. An urge to return at the cost of potential experiences in other parts of the globe, is a hazard with which you must contend!

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