Brisbane is the Australian state of Queensland’s capital, and largest, city. It’s location, in the south-eastern corner of the state, gives it a pleasant Mediterranean climate. A Goldilocks climate — not too hot, not too cold. Much of the rest of Queensland is tropical, particularly in the north around Cairns, or dry savannah bordering on desert in the Outback around places like Cloncurry and Longreach.

These catamarans ferry residents and visitors up and down the Brisbane River from the University of Queensland in the western (inland) suburb of St. Lucia to Apollo Road downstream near the commercial port. They run every fifteen minutes or so during the day, stopping frequently on both sides to link up with the equally regular city buses. In a place where the sun always shines, and the surroundings are so beautiful, just the daily trek to work must be a joy on a CityCat.

The cats and buses also connect with local trains and the whole public transport system works really well. Well enough to consider not renting a car if you’re staying in or around the city. If you decide to tour outside the city, driving is also pleasure because the roads are good and the population small. Just keep in mind Australia drives on the left.

I’m generally a ‘four seasons’ kind of person but Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate is a delight. It’s pleasantly hot in summer and pleasingly warm in winter. Making Brisbane even better, the humidity is bearable and there aren’t the numbers of annoying insects, such as mosquitoes, that you find in other places, including other places in Australia. With a climate like this, people spend a lot of time outdoors and Brisbane is built for that, with the downtown core, around Queen Street, blocked off to vehicles, forming an outdoor, lightly covered (against the sun!), mall. The only downside to all that sunshine and outdoor living is the frequent reminders to wear sunscreen and cover up. The catchwords are Slip (on a T-shirt), Slap (on a hat), and Slop (on sunscreen), which visitors from colder climes, like me, find baffling.

Enjoying an adventure travel tour is one of the activities that many travelers want to experience during their lifetime. A travel tour is one of the most effective ways to actually relax and escape the stressful days of ordinary life. If you take the time to plan ahead and really research your options, you will find your vacation filled with wonderful memories. So, if you long to have a more enjoyable and fun journey, then you better get busy planning it very well before you ever make that first non-refundable deposit. You will have the time to better enjoy the trip if you have planned ahead and well researched your options. It is definitely better to arrange and organize your trip first in order for your vacation to be totally relaxed and safe.

If you are new to this “travel” thing and are looking for an adventure, well, there are plenty of travel companies who specialize in adventure vacations, so consider starting there.

Don’t know where to start or where you want to go for your trip?

Well, to give you some ideas about where you might want vacation, consider one of the following:

* Antartica Cruise
* Botswana Wildlife Safari
* Costa Rica Highlights
* China Discovery
* East Africa Safari
* Everest Base Camp Trek
* Galapagos Adventure
* Gorilla and Chimp Safari
* Greek Island Wanderer
* Highlights of Tibet
* Highlights of Northern India
* Hiking in Provence
* Kilimanjaro Climb
* Loire Valley Cycling
* Machu Picchu Hiking
* Mongolian Wilderness Adventure
* Mont Blanc Hotel Trek
* Nile Cruise
* Outdoor Alaska
* Rajasthan Desert Safari

Did that get you excited about your travel? If one of these didn’t make it to the top of your list, then keep looking. Talk with a tour expert. Don’t give up!

One of the most popular types of journal to keep is a personal one. Essentially you write about your day-to-day life and personal feelings in one of these. Often people end up simply listing everything they did during the day. This can become a bit tedious after a while; lead to one not enjoying the activity and even giving it up all together. So how can you make writing in a personal journal more meaningful? Here are ten ideas:

1. Focus on feelings - When you write about your daily life events make sure you write about how you feel too. These don’t have to be long accounts of your day, just simple entries that allow you to express how you feel about the day’s events. By noting down our feelings about our experiences we often challenge our beliefs about ourselves and in time this leads to further self growth.
2. Past memories - When you have a day you don’t feel is worth writing about, think back and write about a childhood memory or any event in your past that you do feel strongly about. This is especially useful when you don’t have a good day. Going back to a happy time and writing about it, recalling how you felt then can help to change your focus and improve your current mood.
3. Dreams - You might have to keep your journal close to your bedside so you can get these down while you remember the details. Writing down dreams has been useful to people who experience recurring dreams that bother them.
4. Gratitude - Make a list of everything you are thankful for. This can be from the toaster in your kitchen to your talents. It’s a very useful activity to help you focus on everything that is “right” in your life and will help you develop an awareness of how blessed you are.
5. Acknowledgments - At the end of the day write down three to five things you have achieved for which you want to acknowledge yourself for. An example might be; ‘I acknowledge myself for tidying my bedroom cupboards today.’ It may seem insignificant, but recognizing our achievements no matter how small helps us to validate our personal contribution to life.
6. Abundance - Attracting more abundance into your life starts with noticing how abundant you already are. Keep a log of abundance you experience on a daily basis. For instance someone may buy you coffee or lunch, give you a lift or you may find 20c lying on the ground. Write down all the evidence of abundance you attract in to your life and soon you will realize that you already are abundant.
7. Goals - Goals are statements about what you want but don’t yet have in your life. Your journal is a good place to write these down and reflect on your plans to see if your life is going in the direction you want it to. A good way to start is to write a detailed description or sketch what your ideal life would be like if you could have anything you wanted. It is said if your mind can see something then it can be achieved. Once you have the bigger picture in place, you can choose parts to work on as goals.

Keeping a personal journal is not only a very rewarding activity but can bring about real transformation in our lives. Try some of the above ideas and you will soon be hooked for life.

Bali may be one of the smaller islands in Indonesia, but it is by no means limited in terms of family fun. Bali holidays can be packed with experiences and adventures that will keep every member of the family amused. These are just five of the many family activities that come highly recommended on a family holiday in Bali.

1. Take to the Trees

The jungles of Bali are rich with wildlife and wilderness, but convincing young children that they want to wander through them for a day may be something of a challenge. Why not suggest to them that they can explore the jungle from above? The Bali Treetop Adventure Park is home to various obstacle courses, consisting of cargo nets, zip wires, rings, bridges and for the bravest - rope swings. With six different circuits, designed for all ages and levels, there’ll be no need to keep your feet on the ground on Bali holidays.

2. Take to the Skies

If you enjoyed seeing the jungles of Bali from above, you can also get a birds eye view of the Indian Ocean as you take to the skies and try your hand at paragliding. See the stunning Balinese shoreline and marvel at the coral reefs that are visible through the clear green waters of the lagoons. You needn’t even worry about remembering to steer yourself, as instructors can take you on a tandem flight, leaving you free to sit back and relax, with the knowledge that you and the rest of your family are in safe hands.

3. Take the Plunge

If you found the waters beneath you particularly tantalising whilst paragliding, you’ll be more than ready for a swim. However, on Bali holidays, there are only so many beach trips that can be taken before they begin to lose some of their excitement. When it comes to fun for the kids, the Waterbom water park is perfect. With nine exhilarating action rides and flumes, they will never want to leave. Not forgetting the parents, the more sedate lazy river ride will provide endless entertainment and, when your appetite for aquatic adventure has been satisfied, you can head towards the spa for a relaxing massage. Take your time indulging yourself, as with water blasts, pleasure pools and climbing walls, you can be sure the kids will be in no hurry to leave.

4. Take them to the zoo

Indonesia is full of exotic and unusual wildlife, but it can be difficult to spot many of the animals. The Bali Zoo can solve this problem for you, with an enormously diverse collection of animals, from crocodiles to monkeys to a whole array of beautiful, rare birds. You can buy food for the animals and mingle with wallabies, gibbons, orangutans and many others as you hand-feed them. With the help of a member of staff, you can even interact with lions and crocodiles at feeding time. For the youngest members of the family, pony rides and a petting zoo all make for a great day out.

5. Take to the dance floor

Finally, after the kids have gone to bed, take some time out for yourselves and try the tango! Bali holidays offer such a rich and diverse culture, and the best way to experience this is to try it for yourself. Treat yourself to dinner in one of the many Balinese cafes, and then take to the dance floor; with classes for beginners through to all levels, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can pick up the steps. Your dancing will never embarrass the kids again once you’ve mastered these fiery moves.

India has over 500 wildlife sanctuaries and about 100 National Parks that are attempting to preserve its rich flora and fauna. One of the 18 biodiversity hotspots in the world, it has 197 species of amphibians, 408 species of reptiles, 410 species of mammals, 1300 species of birds and 2550 species of fishes. There are as many as 28 Tiger Reserves in India that are actively working to salvage the highly endangered species of Royal Bengal Tiger. The amazing diversity of terrestrial, aquatic, and avian fauna Indian wildlife sanctuaries have to offer are enough lure in themselves for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

The tiger sighting opportunities at Ranthambore National Park and Bandhavgarh National Park are unmatched. Besides, forests in India are also known for Asian Elephants, Asiatic Lions, Leopards and Indian Rhinoceros. The elephants at Periyar and rhinos at Kaziranga are a big attraction, while Keoladeo National Park is known as home to a number of indigenous and migratory birds. Bird watching tours at Keoladeo are an opportunity to see rare Siberian cranes, beautiful Indian peacocks and as many as 26 rare bird species. The unusual wildlife tours take you to conservation centers for a particular fauna species, such as National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can see how Indian crocodiles live and reproduce.

After Africa, India perhaps has maximum number of eco-zones and unique habitats. An India wildlife tour can take you to high mountains and highlands in the North, temperate and desert forests in the West, plains and grasslands in Central India, riverine areas and swamplands to the East, and tropical forests of the South. Then, there are virgin forests of the island archipelago to explore too. The vast variations in latitudes, altitudes, rainfall, topography, and vegetation of these wildlife areas are interesting to watch and shoot. Expert guides, with ample real-life adventures and local knowledge to keep you safe and well assisted during your jungle safaris, add thrill and excitement to your wildlife tours.

Nowhere in the world will you be able to ride a camel through deserts to see reptiles, embark on an elephant safari to inaccessible corners of the jungle to see forest animals from close quarters, enjoy boat rides that take you so close to bird nests and tigers lazing around in the sun that you can stretch and touch them in a single wildlife tour. Jeep safaris around national parks, waiting for hours to click tigers at strategic positions such as water spots, nature walks with expert tour guides who know all about the best trails through the jungles, and bicycling through bird sanctuaries are other wildlife pleasures that you can experience during your jungle adventure in India.

If you are traveling to the wonderful country of Spain, you would most probably wonder on what places you would probably visit. Finding the most organized and efficient itinerary for the eager traveler is essential to a wholesome and worthwhile travel experience.

The Iberian Peninsula of Spain boasts a lot of places to visit, with its vast religious heritage and monuments, pristine beaches and island resorts, and its world class metropolises such as Madrid, Barcelona, and the like.

Flying in to Spain is of no primary concern, as there are adequate accommodation, resources, and modes of transportation available. There are no extreme weather conditions which would definitely be dangerous for travel, except with isolated instances of high winds and cold weather situations.

Besides the usual higher rates during peak season, and the seasonal congestion of travelers coming in and out of the country, the only other determining factor would have to be the reason of the tourist of visiting as some events are just seasonal such as festivals, season dependent tourist spots, and budget. Some of the most suggested places to go when in Spain would be the three highly populated areas of Madrid, and Barcelona. Though there would be doubts of serenity found with the other less densely populated regions, these population centers are good places to start because of their high ratio of cultural diversity.

Madrid: Spain’s Living Museum

Madrid is a central region province which is rather dry and warm due to the hot, dry winds coming in from the Sahara desert. Accessibility to Madrid is available all year round. Places of concern would be the historical streets of Plaza Mayor, Gran Via, and Preciados streets where you can find bazaars and commercial hubs.

Well known museums can be found in this culturally rich province such as Prado Museum, Centro de Reina Sofia National Museum, and the Royal Palace where the world renowned painting “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso is housed. Even the towns within Madrid, namely Avila, Toledo, and Segovia are considered as open air museums because of its rich cultural heritage preserved. Such manifestations and proof of the country’s history may be seen in the towns’ streets, design, and architecture.

Barcelona: Preserved History in Living Testimony

Similar to Madrid, Barcelona is one of the most distinguished cities that has seen worse days during the past, but its existence through the darkest times has made it shine brightly with history. Museums such as the Picasso Museum, Cathedral’s Museum, and the Museum of Catalonian Art accommodate some of the most precious paintings, such as by the great painter Pablo Picasso, as well as Salvador Dali.

If you like to do a lot of sightseeing, Torreviejas is the town for you. Most people come to the Costa Blanca to enjoy the sun and play a little golf, but there is a lot of sightseeing they are missing. The musueams , festivals and beautiful natural attractions will draw the avid sightseer. And the advantage is that these activities go on all year long, so you can enjoy this city at any time. Torreviejas is located 30 kilometers to the east of Alicante, on the southern tip of the Costa Blanca. Even though this city started as a humble fishing and salt mining village, it now attracts visitors from all over the world, and vacation homes owned by Brits, Germans and Scandanavians are common.

There is a very good reason that this area attracts so many visitors. The climate is gentle year round. Summer is the most popular time of the year for most visitors, but you can visit anytime and enjoy good weather. Golf, stroll outdoors or take the salt baths that are a unique feature of Torreviejas’ location between the sea and two salt lakes. Given this location, it is not surprising that Torreviejas has a “Museum of Sea and Salt”. Torreviejas’ history is rooted in the salt industry. The museum exhibits models of the ships that transported salt all over the world. There is also a wonderful exhibit where you can explore the interior of a submarine.

Passion processions are a vital part of this region of the country, and Torreviejos celebrates them with a musuem dedicated to this custom. The Holy Week Museum of Tomas Valcarcel, opened in 1992 and named for a local artist, exhibits various art forms depicting this centuries old custom. You can see sculptures, paintings and even embroidery that portray passion processions of the past. It is closed on Sundays and during the important week proceeding Easter. There are so many local festivals in Torreviejas that you can see one just about any time you visit. Even in the winter, you will find a festival for the patron saint of the town, as well as important Christmas festivals. In January, when the rest of Europe is shivering, they celebrate New Years and the Three Kings with a townwide festival.

If you like to do a lot of sightseeing, Torreviejas is the town for you. Most people come to the Costa Blanca to enjoy the sun and play a little golf, but there is a lot of sightseeing they are missing. The musueams , festivals and beautiful natural attractions will draw the avid sightseer. And the advantage is that these activities go on all year long, so you can enjoy this city at any time.

Torreviejas is located 30 kilometers to the east of Alicante, on the southern tip of the Costa Blanca. Even though this city started as a humble fishing and salt mining village, it now attracts visitors from all over the world, and vacation homes owned by Brits, Germans and Scandanavians are common.

There is a very good reason that this area attracts so many visitors. The climate is gentle year round. Summer is the most popular time of the year for most visitors, but you can visit anytime and enjoy good weather. Golf, stroll outdoors or take the salt baths that are a unique feature of Torreviejas’ location between the sea and two salt lakes.

Given this location, it is not surprising that Torreviejas has a “Museum of Sea and Salt”. Torreviejas’ history is rooted in the salt industry. The museum exhibits models of the ships that transported salt all over the world. There is also a wonderful exhibit where you can explore the interior of a submarine.

Passion processions are a vital part of this region of the country, and Torreviejos celebrates them with a musuem dedicated to this custom. The Holy Week Museum of Tomas Valcarcel, opened in 1992 and named for a local artist, exhibits various art forms depicting this centuries old custom. You can see sculptures, paintings and even embroidery that portray passion processions of the past. It is closed on Sundays and during the important week proceeding Easter.

There are so many local festivals in Torreviejas that you can see one just about any time you visit. Even in the winter, you will find a festival for the patron saint of the town, as well as important Christmas festivals. In January, when the rest of Europe is shivering, they celebrate New Years and the Three Kings with a townwide festival.