Travelogger

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

North Cyprus: Your Mediterranean Paradise

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bafra-beach-from-airThrough the years, I have come to the realization that I am very much partial to beaches. When planning a vacation, I would seek out a beautiful isolated beach. The wonderful thing about this is that there are so many of these in the world, and one destination that I have recently discovered is North Cyprus.

I am sure that the name is not unfamiliar to many of you. It is an island located at the northern part of Cyprus, shares the same name, but is an independent republic. It has so many things to offer the traveler, best of all its long stretches of sandy beaches.

Since the sun shines in this part of the world almost all year long, you can visit any time you want to. The beaches in North Cyprus are numerous, offering various options ranging from luxurious resorts and hotels to backpackers’ destinations.

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The three most popular areas which you can consider visiting are the Kyrenia Beaches, the Famagusta Beaches, and the Karpaz Beaches. All of these beaches offer turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. They are all safe for these activities, and some of them are owned by hotels. If you are looking for people and perks that resorts offer, then you should head on to the more popular spots. If you are looking for solitude – just the sun, the water, the sand, and yourself, then you are sure to find a spot in any of these coastlines as well.

Mind you, beaches are not the only reason to visit North Cyprus. The culture in this tiny island has strong roots in ancient civilizations, and you will surely be mesmerized by the array of cultural treats awaiting you. For your next trip, why don’t you consider North Cyprus? It is a veritable treasure trove waiting to be discovered.

The Maldives is the World’s Most Romantic Destination

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February is still several months away, but who says you can’t have a romantic vacation any time of the year? If you are looking for a destination that will ensure you of the most romantic time of your life, you can’t do any better than the Maldives. This popular travel destination was recently hailed as the most romantic place you can visit for a vacation by the World Travel Awards.

The World Travel Awards started 17 years ago, and has since then become a leader in acknowledging the best in the travel and hospitality industry. Their mission is summarized as:

Separating the good from the outstanding.
Identifying companies that consistently excel beyond expectation.
Taking customer expectations to a new, unparalleled high.

This year, the Maldives have impressed the guys behind the Awards. More than being listed as the destination of choice for a romantic getaway, it also received the distinction of being the Leading Cruise Destination and Honeymoon Destination in the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives has a lot to offer its visitors, not the least of which are the astounding beaches. The crystal clear water and powder soft sand that can be found in the beaches never fail to capture the hearts of travelers, not to mention the beauty that the underwater world offers.

More important for many travelers, though, is the level of service that one can expect in many of the resorts and hotels in the area. This is exactly why the WTA presented the award.

Come to think of it, even if you aren’t in for a romantic destination, the beaches alone are enough incentive to pack your bags and pamper yourself for a week or so!

Hang Up Your Hammock In Some Of The World’s Best Beaches

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There is no denying it – I am a beach fanatic. It wasn’t always the case. It wasn’t till 2006 that I discovered my passion for the sun, the sand, and the water. Since then, however, I haven’t been able to control this passion. When I saw Lonely Planet’s list of the best beaches in the world to put up a hammock, I knew I had to put these places on my own list. Here are my most desired destinations in the list.

Jambiani, Tanzania
The Beach that Time Forgot – that’s how this area is described. The only drawback to this beach is that you cannot really swim as the tides are low. However, you can put up that hammock and be lazy all day.

Pulau Perhentian, Malaysia
Lonely Planet’s write up says “Except for snorkelling, diving, frolicking, swimming, sunning your body or pretending you’re either Brooke Shields or Christopher Atkins inThe Blue Lagoon (1980), there’s nothing to do.” I think that that just about describes paradise for me! The biggest selling point: this place is so free from any commercial activities!

Kai Islands, Indonesia
They say that more and more people are proclaiming these islands to be the best in the world. I wouldn’t know, but I would sure like to find out for myself! Again, there isn’t much to do in terms of partying, but you can snorkel all you want and simply enjoy nature.

North Stradbroke Island, Australia
This area is said to offer some of the largest sand islands in the world. The waves are high and are best for surfing. There are also parties monthly, so extroverts will find it more interesting.

For the complete list, visit the article at Lonely Planet.

More Island Hopping In Caramoan

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Island hopping is the main reason one should go to Caramoan. I was really quite disappointed with the beach front at the resort we stayed in. The sand was brown and looked dirty. Dried seaweed littered the beach. I thought I would not enjoy myself, but I was proven wrong. Two days of island hopping showed me just what this place has to offer.

There are two main groups of islands that are usually visited by tourists – one to the south and one to the north. The southern islands are farther, but a whole lot more beautiful. Manlawi, which I wrote about in the previous post, is located in this area. Another island in this area is Cotivas. It is also beautiful, but smaller than Manlawi. When we got there, there were a small group of people lunching under the shade of a small tree. It was so serene!
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Sabitang Laya is also a must visit. The beach is much smaller, but the rock formations are astoundingly beautiful! There is a small cove – if you can call it that – with more rock formations. I could spend a whole afternoon there just breathing it all in!
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Islands in the northern part worth visiting are Lahus Island and Matukad Island. Lahus has a relatively long beach in the middle of two groups of rocks.
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Matukad is smaller, but has some interesting plants. There is also a lagoon which is accessible by climbing a steep “cliff.” There is supposed to be a “guardian fish” in the lagoon, which cannot be caught by anyone.
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Isn’t this place just magical?

Things To Do And See In Caramoan

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Umang Cave 2This time and day next week, I should be lounging at the beach – soaking in the sun! For now, I have to deal with work for three more days. That does not mean that I cannot keep thinking about what I will be doing for the five days that I’ll be in Caramoan.

The main thing for me, really, is the beach. I will probably spend most of my time just relaxing and swimming. I already have books and some TV shows lined up. Just give me food and drinks and I’ll be fine. Of course, I cannot pass up on the famed island hopping tours. Caramoan supposedly has 7 islands – all of which have to be discovered by the visitor. From other travelers’ experiences, a tour will take at least a day. Boats can be rented for PHP1,500 to PHP1,800 (about $30), and they can accommodate about 5 people. Not bad!

Spelunking or caving is also a popular activity in this part of the world. I am not sure I will try this as I have an aversion to dark enclosed places, but it sounds interesting. They say that you can hire guides for less than PHP500 ($10) to take you to Omang Cave. We’ll see how I feel when I get there.

Fishing – now this is something I would LOVE to do! My dad’s an avid fisherman and I guess he passed that on to me. Imagine having fresh fish for lunch – something you caught yourself. As long as I don’t have to clean it, I’ll be good!

Photo courtesy of caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com