The Style Blog - Travel & Outdoors

Are you wondering where to go on vacation and Europe is too expensive and everywhere else is too hot or two crowded? Well if so I have just the place: there is this little island in the middle of nowhere that nearly no one has heard of but is still gorgeous and has so much to do for such a small place, yes I am talking about Bahrain! This amazing Island in the Middle East has been developing and improving economically over the past but it has also become more and more tourist friendly. Bahrain hosts the annual Formula 1 which is a huge event for racing lovers and people who just like to hang alike!

Malls are not something Bahrain lacks because everywhere you go you will either find a huge Mall which has some of the most renowned shops like Mango and Topshop or a Mall that is under construction such as the City Centre which should be ready this Summer! If you aren’t into the whole Shopping Mall scene then Bahrain offers a Souq which sells everything you could possibly need from clothes to spices and all for quite cheap prices, the Souq has been described as an amazing cultural experience from everyone who visits. Bahrain has a recent but interesting history which includes a tradition of pearl diving and all of this is celebrated by the Bahrain Museum and several forts which show old villages! Generally prices in Bahrain are reasonable except sometimes, as is the case in any country, when they know you are a tourist they will automatically inflate prices! So don’t hesitate visit Bahrain: the pearl of the Gulf.

By Karim

If you like the underwater life so much but do not want to actually go under the sea just to see what lies in it, you should try the aquarium tour right in the Mall of America located in Bloomington, Minnesota. This aquarium tour is really worth the attention you place on it because it was voted by Discovery’s travelchannel.com as “World’s Best Shark Encounter.” This aquarium measures a 300 foot-long glass tunnel that is built with a moving walkway. So while you are in the walkway you get the experience of being underwater without actually getting wet. The glass tunnel will take you 14 feet under the water’s surface so while you are under it you will see an entirely different world where sharks, stingrays and giant sea turtles swim so up close you just have to reach our and you can almost touch them.

While you are on the tour 14 feet under the surface you will witness lakes, rivers and reefs. They also have the Fisherman’s hollow and the colorful place, which they call as the Carribbean Rainbow Reef.

Aside from the underwater tour, visitors can also take a tour on the different sections where various sea creatures are held on display. So if you and your kid don’t want to get wet but would like to get a good view of sea life, go on the underwater tour.

Turkey is one of those countries that half in Europe and half in Asia but I have to say it’s the most beautiful country you can find and has an amazing combination of culture and modernity. The first thing that hit me when I got there was how proud and nationalistic people, they have flags with the pictures of the man who gave them their independence! Aside from the pride the people there are welcoming and always seem to have a smile on their faces they don’t think of you as a tourist they think of you as a guest and you get to experience their amazing hospitality!

But something that whoever is lucky enough to visit any part of Turkey is struck by is the food! I love international food but Turkish food is versatile but everything and anything is delicious! They also have a national drink that consists of processed yoghurt with salt or sugar and its healthy and mouth watering!

One thing you should keep in mind when visiting Istanbul is the weather its gets pretty cold and rain is not scarce so prepare and be warm. In Turkey you can find the Covered Market where they sell all kinds of traditional things for quite cheap and in the malls you can find all the regular stuff you find in any other malls and prices there are crazy so shopping isn’t the best pastime in Turkey! So book your flights and visit Turkey this summer believe me you wont regret it!

By Karim

It’s been a while since you’ve been out on some adventure and now your feet are probably rarin’ to go again. This time why not route on the southern part of the hemisphere, Namibia for instance. Namibia is situated in the African continent specifically on the southwest coast. In terms of size, Namibia is a large country but with only a handful of inhabitants. You’ll be surprised by the diverse culture of this country since 87% of the population is black and about 6% are white. This is so because the country was originally a part of Germany until it was captured by South Africa during WW I.

And do you know that there are still Bushmen that wander about in some areas of the country? And aside from the unique people, Namibia also boasts of a unique landscape. Two of the world’s renowned Deserts can be found right here, the coastal Namib Desert and the majestic Kalahari Desert. A great place for a Namibian adventure is the central semiarid mountains. Its rich landscape is home to a wide variety of wildlife and birdlife. It’ also rich in minerals like diamonds, copper, lead, gold and zinc.

Feel a craving for the city lights? The capital city Windhoek is the perfect place to be. It is said that this is one of the most relaxed capitals in Africa. This Namibian capital offers neogothic architecture of cafes, local eateries that serve delicious local cuisine and German delicacies.

Air travel is the fastest and most convenient way of reaching your preferred destination, especially if your target is overseas. Seasoned travelers have no more qualms about hopping onto a plane; everything to them just seems to be mechanical. But for first timers, queasiness can still be experienced arising from both excitement and apprehension. But these feelings can be avoided if you’ve done all the needed preparations. Don’t know where to start with your travel plans? Worry no more because here are some travel tips to help you!

1. Make sure to book for an early flight since delays usually happen. It’s always good to make allowances for time.
2. Only pack the things that are necessary. Segregate what you can and can’t take with you on your carry-on luggage.
3. Before going to the airport, call the airport to see if there has been some delay in your flight schedule.
4. Don’t forget to pack food, medication and water that you need before getting on the plane and get on the plane once your ticket is called.
5. Make sure your cell phone has charge and you have the airline’s phone number just in case you encounter some problems regarding your reservation. And if lots of problems bombard you just when you’re about to leave, remember to just keep calm.

Well, I hope these tips will be of some help to you in dealing with airports and air travel in general. For a more complete tips check out the advisory made by spokesman for Air Traffic Association David Castelveter over at www.time.com.

Anyone who has been lucky enough to visit any part of Egypt, especially about ten years ago, will bear witness that Egypt is a great tourist attraction and has a vibrant abundance of color, life and warmth. However, incoming Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) chairman has seen that it is fit to fix a few things in Cairo to revive tourism in the area. He made a very valid point when he said that ‘Cairo has all the basics to make it a wonderful city, the problem is that there are 18 million people living there’. The overpopulated are in turn suffers from traffic jam and severe congestion, which is not appealing to most tourists.

As a result of this realization the chairman has decided to start a campaign of reconnecting people and training those who work with tourism hands-on. According to the Chairman, he aims to show people how to ‘behave appropriately’ as many people who visit Cairo are attracted to the warm and sun-like smile of the Egyptian people. I think this is a great step as Egypt depends very heavily on tourism and it has in fact had an increasing number of tourists over the years but it’s never too late for a little renewal.

By Karim

United Arab Emirates is becoming the center for notable developments. Another exciting landmark that can be looked forward to in UAE’s near future is the Hollywood-based theme park. The theme park will be based on the blockbuster hits that were produced in Hollywood – a project that will cost 42.5 billion. Ruwaad Holdings, a company that handles real estate, hospitality and tourism investment and development, will handle this project. In order to realize this project Ruwaad Holdings signed in a long term licensing contract with Paramount Licensing. However, it is not Paramount Pictures that will be supplying the fund, instead they will be the give right to use Paramount’s intellectual property library.

So what are the things to look forward to in the park? Fun and enjoyment are just some of the things you’ll experience once the park has been established with its feature rides, shows and attractions. Maybe visitor’s will eve feel like a Hollywood star once they have first-hand experience with shows like Mission Impossible Titanic and a lot more! So, everything that you’ll see in the park has their foundation on Paramount’s heritage and library of motion pictures. But of course to complete visitor’s needs, the park will also be built with boutique hotels, themed retail section as well as residential property.

You probably heard that there is a new set as the 7 wonders of the world. One of them is the mysterious Petra located in the heart of Jordan in the Middle East. When you get to visit this place you’ll understand why it is worthy to be named as one of the 7 wonders. Petra was only discovered in 1812 after being “lost” for roughly 300 years. So all in all this ancient city has been in existence for over 400 years now. This is a one-of-a kind place because the whole city was contoured and painstakingly carved from a huge rock face – a city built on rocks! The people that constructed it were the desert tribe called the Nabateans that settled there and started trade up to Syria.

The city cannot be easily penetrated because it is right in the middle of towering hills of massive sandstone. You’ll have to pass through ancient paths and little by little you’ll see the splendor of the city right before your eyes. The first sight that will take your breath away is what they called Siq or the official entrance into the city. Twisting and turning, narrowing into a mere cleft in the rock until the blaze of the sun can no longer be seen. And from that cleft you’ll have your first glimpse of the city and once inside are the awesome ancient rock buildings, carved from sandstone cliff wall standing erect in their splendor after hundreds of years.

Inside you’ll see the Khazneh or treasury, the High Place of Sacrifice and the Royal Tombs. There’s just so much to see in Petra. By just being there you’ll have a glimpse of how the people lived their lives during the ancient times. You can even find romanticism on it since poet Dean Burgon described it as “rose-red city, half as old as time.”

Want to experience peace in the middle of nature? Try visiting Africa. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle and fast pace of the city life, an African safari is just what you need. Far away from the traffic and pressures, you’ll be able to rediscover yourself at the same time that you rediscover the wonders of nature. The Kruger national Park safari is one of the most popular safaris in South Africa. It is in this place that you’ll find superb and outstanding creatures right in their natural habitat.

This place is haven to rich wildlife. It’s a place where you can see to your fill big games like lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos. Of course you will be accompanied by experienced trackers and rangers on your safari. And there is no need to worry about where to stay because all around Kruger National park are a number of lodges available. There are also private game reserves if you want luxury with your safari. One thing’s for sure, an African safari is an experience that you won’t easily forget!

The beach seems to be where the fun and relaxation never ends…I think no one can just really get enough of the beach! There are still a lot of lesser-explored places where beauteous beaches can be found. So this time why not venture into the British Virgin Islands? This is the place where you will be surrounded by endless blue oceans…To some this can be a daunting sight but for others it will be a welcome relief from concrete and other edifice.

So, where to go in once you’re in BVI? You can take your pick of the islands that comprise BVI like Tortora, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and lots of other little islands.

What to do? Well, you’ll never be bored in the British Virgin Islands because you can scuba dive, beach comb, sail or just lounge around the beach. One day is not enough to do all these in this Caribbean Island so it would be good if you allot at least two weeks vacation in this place. There are lots of establishments around should you have a desire to get in touch with the faster way of life. After the British Virgin Islands for sure you’ll feel refreshed and ready to face the fast world again.