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AccomBlog AsiaHotels HotelClubWe’ve all heard the ultimate wish, uttered under breaths in the midst of a strenuous work day or after a tedious task. “I wish I was on an island.” Islands are the ultimate destination for fun, sun, and plain old relaxation. There’s no reason why your next vacation destination can’t be an island, and there are dozens of choices all over the world. Here you’ll find just a few of our favorites!
The third installment of our investigation of places around the world most under threat begins with a common source of controversy. Debate will rage forever on how far we must go as humans to balance conservation with practical concerns in our modern world. To develop or not develop, at great financial opportunity cost, is the major question. Those who believe that money is the root of all evil will certainly not change their minds once they read on.
Once a pristine coastline the envy of the Pacific, the North Shore of Kauai is now under threat because of that very deadly sin. In our endless quest to secure a portion of idyllic landscape, we often neglect long term concerns and look the other way. The North Shore and much of Hawaii for that matter, is a supreme example. What was a natural paradise has become a wasteland of speculative land developers, resorts and harmful tourist activity.
When we think of planning our next vacation, volcanoes don’t normally come to mind. Volcanoes, after all, are dangerous and unpredictable natural wonders. At the same time, their power and the long lasting impact they have on the landscape and environment are just as intriguing. These 10 volcanoes are some of the most magnificent in the world - add them all to your list of places to visit in your lifetime!
Continue reading The Top 10 Most Magnificent Volcanoes to Visit »
The second part of our look at the most likely candidates for removal from the world map moves on. The loss of some of these places would be so epic in scope that implications as a result could cause the deaths and displacement of tens of millions. So on that happy note, enjoy them while you still can!
Bioluminescent Bays of Puerto Rico
Micro-organisms that glow like neon signs underwater exist all over the world and tend to freak out and amaze people at the same time. The phenomena is natural of course and the most remarkable example is in Puerto Rico. The popular vacation destination draws thousands every year to bays that glimmer with brilliant dinoflagellates.
Our planet is under threat. Pollution, climate change, civil unrest, overpopulation and warfare all conspire with other destructive forces to change the world map. Every other month science heralds the demise of another precious resource, animal, plant or part of the world under severe strain because of human intervention.
We have to appreciate what we have while we have it. With that in mind, here is the first installment of places around the world most likely to vanish or transform beyond recognition in the next century. Catch them while you can.
Taller than any peak in Europe, Mount Toromocho and the villages that surround it have become the latest victims of China’s insatiable need for raw materials. The mountain contains over 2 billion tons of copper ore which China desperately requires in the form of electrical wire. As such, the government of relatively poor Peru has been paid off by China to in effect sell the mountain and displace thousands of people in nearby villages across the valley.
You’re planning your next vacation and have spent hours trying to decide where to go. Whether you plan on staying within the country or traveling abroad, there is something you should know. You do not need to completely fill your travel itinerary with high priced stops in major metropolitan cities in order to have a great time.
The benefits are twofold. First, you’ll see parts of the country you might not have experienced while experiencing real local culture that hasn’t been saturated or altered by a need to cater to foreign tourists. Second, these less traveled cities are less likely to jack up the prices for accommodations and food the second they see you coming.
While these cities may not be some of the most famous or most talked about, they surely give their competition a run for the money. Try to include one of these amazing destinations in your next vacation itinerary!
Prisons are an integral part of our justice system, housing the convicted and condemned for years. While they seem to be constantly under fire for some sort of human rights infraction, prisons were never intended to be plush criminal resorts.
So what happens once a prison closes? Some are abandoned and left to rot, but others are redeveloped as tourist attractions so that the public has the ability to tour their mysterious inner walls. What famous criminals were housed here? How bad were their stays? The original four walls keep these secrets to themselves, but their visitors get to explore and wonder exactly what it was like to be an inmate.
Some of the world’s harshest and most famous prisons closed and reopened as tourist attractions. The government in each country hopes that you’ll both learn about the history of the prison while at the same time having an experience that will discourage you from doing anything that might result in you having your own stay within the system.
The Cozy Suite is a brand new type of airline seat that you may soon find on your next flight. The new seat, which was developed by Thompson Solutions from the United Kingdom, is meant to help make passengers more comfortable on their long flights. In addition to comfort, however, these seats can also help battle a rare but deadly condition referred to as deep vein thrombosis. This condition, which involves the formation of a blood clot, from holding one’s body in an unusual position while flying, can cause death.
Continue reading New Airline Seats are Comfy and May Save Your Life »
Monasteries are not just religious sites, they are also extremely beautiful architectural masterpieces. While all monasteries are beautiful and mysterious in their own way, there are some that stand out from the rest.
Taktshang, which is the most famous of the monasteries in all of Bhutan, is located on a 3,120 meter cliff and is more than 700 meters above the Paro valley. The name of this beautiful monastery was derived from the story of Padmasambhava, who was said to have flown to the monastery on the back of a tiger. There are a total of seven temples in the monastery, all of which can be visited, though visitors must either climb to the monastery by foot or ride a mule in order to get there. Continue reading The World’s 10 Most Magnificent Monasteries »
The world is filled with amazing natural phenomena that are certainly worth visiting when possible. Here is a look at ten of the most amazing to add to your list of “must see” natural attractions.
The Moving Rocks, which are located at the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley, have perplexed researchers for years. When you visit the area, you will notice that there are trails leading to many of the pebbles and boulders in the area. Scientists believe the movement is caused by a combination of water and changes in temperature that make it possible for the wind to actually blow the large rocks.
