Travel - 6/12 - Teronga

Mizanur Rahaman Mizan / September 11, 2015

Kuakata-one of the rarest places to see the full view of both sunrise and sunset

Kuakata

Kuakata is about 320 Kilometers south of Dhaka, the capital, and about 100 km from Barisal and 70 km from Patuakhali district headquarters. It is a wide sandy beach of 30 km long and 6 km wide, The name Kuakata originated from the word ‘Kua’-the Bengali word for “Well” which was dug on the sea shore by the early Rakhine settlers in quest of collecting drinking water, who landed on Kuakata coast in the eighteenth century after being expelled from Arakan (Myanmar) by the Mughals.Afterwards, it has become a tradition of digging well in the neighborhoods of Rakhaine tribes for water.

Kuakata is one of the rarest places where one can see the full view of both sunrise and sunset from the same white sandy beach in the water of the Bay of Bengal. Here tourists can also enjoy the unique lifestyle of the tribal people known as the Rakhaines. They are friendly and well known for their hospitality. Fisherman village is another place where you can visit and watch the lifestyle of the Fisherman. If you are adventurous you may also go for fishing on the fishing boat. That will give you pleasure and experience, which you won’t be able to gather from anywhere else. Tourists can also visit a vast Buddhist statue in Misry Para near Kuakata. Kuakata is the place of pilgrimage for both Hindu and Buddhist communities. Innumerable devotees arrive here at the festival of ‘Rush Purnima’ and ‘Maghi Purnima’. On these two occasions the pilgrims take holy bath at the bay and participate in the traditional fairs. You may also visit the 100 years old Buddhist Temple where the statue of Goutama Buddha and two wells of 200 years old are located.

From Kuakata you can also visit a part of the great Sundarban forest, which is called Fatrar Chor.

Kuakata is locally known as Shagor Konna (Daughter of the Sea), the long strip of dark, marbled sand stretches for about 30km. The long and wide beach at Kuakata has a typical natural setting. This sandy beach has gentle slopes into the Bay of Bengal. Kuakata is also a sanctuary for migratory winter birds.

Finally, At Kuakata excellent mishmash of the scenic natural beauty, sandy seaside, blue sky, huge expanse of water of the Bay and evergreen forest in truly attention-grabbing.

How to go to Kuakata

If you want to go from Capital city Dhaka directly by bus, start from Gabtoli Bus Stand. Everyday 5 or 6 buses of different companies start at night from here and reaches Kuakata in the morning the next day. A direct BRTC bus service is also available from Dhaka to Kuakata that leaves from Sayedabad Bus terminal at night. But it might be a hectic bus journey as a number of ferries are there on the way to Kuakata by road. BRTC has introduced direct bus service from Dhaka to Kuakata via Barisal.

Another way is Dhaka to Patuakhali by river boat locally known as “Launch”. They leave from Dhaka Sadarghat launch terminal between 4 to 7 PM. It is advisable to go Patuakhali by launch, which is an overnight journey, and you can enjoy the unique beauty of Bangladesh Rivers at nighttime during this journey. You will reach Pautakhali around 7 to 8 AM. From here you have to take a local bus to Kuakata, Distance between Pautakhali and Kuakata is about 70 km. Instead of Patuakhali you can go to Khepupara by launch, which is also an overnight journey and from Khepupara you can go to Kuakata by microbus.

Where to stay and dive

There is a Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation owned Motel and Guest house. There are 30 to 40 hotels of private ownership. Among them 8 to 10 are upto the mark. Some of these hotels have there own restaurants. But if you want to drive outside you can go to Khabarghar, Hotel Barisal, Hotel Rajdhani, Hotel Joy etc. There restaurant take orders to supply foods according to you own demand.

Previously tourists did not feel comfort there due to poor transport and poor housing places. But recent times a lot of development done by the government and local business owners.

lailawati / September 5, 2015

Discover Nautical & Marine Tourism at its best at Raja Ampat, Indonesia.

Raja Ampat (translated literally in English as the “Four Kings”), is a group of majestic islands, located in the northwestern tip of Indonesia’s West Papua Province, near birds head peninsula. Raja Ampat is known as one of the World’s most famous marine tourism places in Indonesia to visit. Apart from Bali, international tourists talk a lot more about Raja Ampat as a very popular place to visit.

The Raja Ampat archipelago consists of hundreds of small islands which are spread everywhere, has an area of about 46,000 km2, with a land area of 6,000 km2 and 40,000 km2 rest is ocean, and consists of 610 islands, of which four large islands are called Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo.

According to Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, the Raja Ampat archipelago is rated as the most comprehensive coral reef in the world. These distinctive green hilly island mounds, flanked by piercing turquoise waters, offer a glimpse of underwater nature that few people are even aware of. In these nutrient-rich bays you’ll find over 70 percent of the world’s coral and waterborne species and a total of 1,397 species of reef fish.

If you are lucky enough, you’ll be able to see manta rays and sea turtles around the place. You do not have to dive into the deep here to be able to enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. Simply use a snorkel and you can start swimming along the coast. The water is so clear that you can even enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery from a boat.

A variety of interesting elements make up the archipelago, such as dense forest, rare plant species, a group of exotic limestone island and turtle nests around the beach. During the breeding season, thousands of turtle appear around the coast to spawn.

Accommodation in Raja Ampat

To get to Raja Ampat’s Sorong Airport from Jakarta (the capital of Indonesia) takes 6 hours by plane.

As Raja Ampat is such a popular tourist destination, there is accomdation which ranges from bungalows to luxury cottage class. Other accommodation is loated closer to certain sights and attractions in Raja Ampat. There are many business operators who rent snorkels and other swimming or diving equipment. So you do not need to bring these items from home.

If you want to travel to Raja Ampat, you can use the services of a travel agency to help you organise your trip. There are many agencies that offer diving packages in Raja Ampat. A popular service is the houseboat. The route is usually determined in accordance with current conditions and water clarity. The peak period to visit the Raja Ampat is usually around October to December. During May to September, the sea is rather bumpy and it often rains. If you visit during June to October, you’ll be able to see groups of whales swimming in the area. You’l also be able to see a very rare species such as the walk shark and carpet shark.

Mizanur Rahaman Mizan / September 3, 2015

Visit the Amazing MOUNT EVEREST

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain of the world. Mount Everest is located in the “Mahalangur” section of the Himalayas along the International border of Tibet & Nepal. Its nepali name is “Sagarmata”.

It’s height is 8,848m (29,029ft). There are many routes for climbing the mountain. Among all of the routes, there are two main climbing routes: the southeast ridge from Nepal & the north ridge from Tibet. The southeast ridge is technically easier than the north ridge route.

Mount Everest is the ultimate challenge for climbers from all over the world. Many climbers have tried to climb the Mount Everest, but few have succeeded. The few that did succeed, however, had to face so many problems but persisted by making it to the top.

Edmund Hillary: the First Person to Reach the Summit of the Mountain

On 29th May, 1953 at 11:30 am, Sir Edmund Hillary and his team reached the top of the world. Hillary said that his whole team had reached the mountain top together, however, his group members later accepted that it was Hillary who first conquered the peak of Mount Everest. Hillary was not the only person who tried to climb this mountain. Before him, George HL Mallory had made an attempt to climb the mountain but sadly his body was found frozen on the mountain in the late 1990’s. Hillary has used the southeast ridge route for reaching the summit of Mount Everest.

Apa Sherpa holds the highest record for reaching the Mount Everest summit 21 times. He climbed on Mount Everest between 10 May 1990 & 11 May 2011.

Mount Everest as an Amazing Tourist Attraction in Nepal

The most beautiful Mount Everest attracts hundreds of people each year. Some of them are experienced mount climbers while some are novice. There are some who do not know how to climb but they still want to see this magnificent snowy mountain. For this, they are even willing to pay a high price for as much as 20,000USD per person to get permission by the state to climb the mountain. Mount Everest generates significant revenue for Nepal.

This article has provided you with some amazing Mount Everest facts you ought to know even if you do not plan to climb the mountain. There are also several motivational stories of climbers who did not give up on their mission to climb it despite a number of challenges and difficulties. Inexperienced climbers can learn from them and create a new world record by reaching the Mount Everest’s incredible height for themselves.

By visiting Mount Everest, we can get inspire people of all ages to go and explore the world, to really live life. Life has so much to offer, and all it takes is to make the conscious decision to really live it.

Want To Climb the Mount Everest?

Imagine you are Mount Everest climbers. What would you feel if you were to stand on the highest point on Earth, that is Mount Everest? There is no doubt that it would be an amazing feeling!. You should allow two months before your trip to schedule an appointment with a travel-medicine specialist. You will also have to be well trained by the best mountaineer training centre. You can receive such training from India. There are two types of training available:

(1) Basic & (2) Advance. For this training, you’ll have to pay about $500USD (35,000Tk). Your total cost for the full trip (at this time of writing) can be around 25,000USD (17, 50,000Tk).

So, don’t be late and take preparation if you really want to make break a record like our golden face Musa Ibrahim.

anna / September 1, 2015

Everybody dream to spend their vacations in the luxury villas in Tuscany

Do you want to spend your vacation in luxury? Do you want to enjoy your holiday to the fullest within your budget? Do you wish to go for an Italy tour? Then now there is the chance for you. Do not worry at all if you have a small budget. Italy is a mind blowing place and everyone have their dream to visit it but only a few people can able to fulfill it. The country is known for its rich cultural heritage, historical background and sight seeing. Moreover, it dotted a number of beautiful cities like Rome, Florence and others. If you have already booked your travelling and other related issues and facing problem with the accommodation then let me tell you how to get the best accommodation at the minimal costs.

Have you ever heard about the luxury villas in Tuscany? These are magnificent villas where you can enjoy the top class amenities and services at the lowest possible price. The villas are usually equipped with everything that you can get into a complex like swimming pools, gardens, parking and other facilities. Personal chef and personal attendants are also provided and if you want any extra services then you can get it by paying the extra amount.

There are many types of villas like seaside villas, hillside villas, farmhouse villas etc. if you are a sea lover then you can visit the seaside villas where you will get to enjoy all the facilities that you wish to explore in sea side accommodation. Similarly, hillside villas also have their own opportunities and it also arrange for the services of trekking, rock climbing and others. Each of the villas has their own uniqueness and they completely vary from one another in several ways. Farm side villas are very common and they are just like country side bungalows where you can enjoy the nature from close proximity. It includes fresh gardens and vineyards where you can take a walk and enjoy your days during the stay.

If you want to book these villas then let me tell you that you can simply log in to the website and directly book it from there. Online bookings have many more facilities in comparison to manual booking. Through online booking of the villas you will not require to pay the commission of the brokers and agents. The best part of these villas are that it will not charge you anything in case you have to cancel the trip. On the other hand, you can also contact with the agents if you want to book through them. In case, if you are not aware about the contact of the brokers than you can simply log in to the website and get their contacts. It is suggested to book it in advance if you are going during the festive seasons because these villas are known all over the world for its beauty and facilities. This is the reason why tourists visiting Italy prefers to stay in these villas.

Anna is a freelance writer who writes on different topics such as travelling, beaches and social media. She is studying the various tourist villas in the world like luxury villas in tuscany. She loves to travel and make new friends.

lailawati / August 31, 2015

Discover Three Colored Crater Lakes at Kelimutu, Indonesia

If you’ve ever heard of the three colored lakes, you might remember Kelimutu. If not, then this place is very unique indeed just to see three striking summit crater lakes of varying colors.

Mount Kelimutu is a volcano located to the small town of Moni about 50 km to the east of Ende, Indonesia in central Flores Island of Indonesia. The three crater lakes that are on the summit of Mount Kelimutu are referred to as the “Kelimutu Crater Lakes”. The name ‘Kelimutu’ is broken down to mean the following: “keli” meaning mountain, then “mutu” that means ‘to boil’..

The Kelimutu Crater Lakes consists of 3 wide lakes with total over 1 million square meters. The peak altitude of the lake is about 150 meters.At the westernmost of the three lakes is located ‘Tiwi Ata Mbupu’ (Lake of Old People) which is usually a blue color. The other two lakes, ‘Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai’ (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and ‘Tiwu Ata Polo’ (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are usually green or red respectively.

Geologists are fascinated with Kelimutu for the fact that the three lakes are different colors yet at the crest of the same volcano. These lakes have the characteristic to change water colors at periodic times. It’s believed that the colour changes as a result of chemical reactions resulting from the minerals contained in the lake perhaps triggered by volcano gas activity.

The Kelimutu Crater Lakes are located at an altitude of 1631 meters above sea level. The Kelimutu Crater Lakes are not the only lakes in the World that can change color. In South Australia, there is a lake that is able to change color from blue to gray. In Japan, there is a Yudamari lake that is able to change color from turquoise to green. However, the color changes in these lakes are predictable, while th Kelimutu Crater Lakes can change color changes at any time and can not be predicted. Also the color can be blue, green and black, and other times can be white, red and blue, and some time ago even turned a dark brown color.

According to traditional beliefs, the colors of the Kelimutu Crater Llakes and when they occur are not coincidental. They believe that every color has a special meaning, and there is great power behind it. Water in one of the lakes has a red color and can be changed to maoon or dark green. Other lakes have a deep green color and can be changed to light green, while the other lake is a blackish brown at times and can turn into a blue sky color. According to belief, the blue lake is a gathering place for the spirits of young people who have died. The red colored lake is a gathering place for the spirits of people who have done evil during their lifetime. The White Lake is believed to be a gathering place of the old human spirit.

Scientists suspect that the discoloration of water in the lake is due to Kelimutu volcano activity, refraction of light, the sun, the micro-biota of water, the dissolved chemical substances, as well as due to the reflection color of the walls and the bottom of the lake. A brief explanation that the water color changes to blue and white (now green) is made possible by changes in the chemical composition of the water crater due to changes in volcanic gases, or it could be caused by rising temperatures.

Meanwhile, the increasing concentration of iron (Fe) in the fluid causes the red color to become black (now brown). The green moss is possible from certain types of biota.

Kelimutu offers other attractions besides the beautiful views of the lakes. It is also a conservation area. Since 1992, the place officially became a conservation area covering the Dipterokarp forest, Montane forest, and the Ericaceous Forest.

How to get there?

To access this place, you have to board a plane to Ende city. From Ende City you travel to the village Kaonara which is 93 miles and takes approximately 3 hours. Then, from the village of Kaonara you can go up to the summit of Mount Kelimutu on foot.

Accommodation

Kelimutu Crater Lakes is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia, therefore, there is plenty of accommodations around this attraction. You can easily find lodging, shelter, parking areas, and restrooms around this place. Simple class bungalows are available. If you want to stay in more luxurious lodging, you can go to Maumere, located about 4 hours away.

Lodging prices vary, depending on the facilities offered. There are only a few restaurants in this area. Before going home, take the time to buy some unique souvenirs so you’ll remember the uniqueness of this travel destinaton.

I hope I’ve given you enough of a glimpse into this geological wonder, that you’ll feel inspired to visit there one day. If you do, or you’ve been there, be sure to let us know!