| Sydney
is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia,
with lots of attractions for residents and tourists alike.
Much
of the action is based around its large and picturesque harbour,
which features boat rides, swimming and sightseeing, either from the water,
the shore, or high up on the magnificent bridge which straddles the harbour. |
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Far
North Queensland cities like Cairns and Townsville are gateways for the
Great Barrier Reef, where the water is extraordinarily clear, and the reef
is full of surprises, such as remarkably colorful giant clams.
From
Cairns you can explore the surrounding attractions of the tropical rainforest,
while Townsville and Magnetic
Island, just offshore, are home to animals of the dry forest, like
echidnas and koalas. |
Delight
yourself with the comical antics of those adorable fun-loving Australians.
Who
can forget such classics of "dinkum Aussie culture" as gambling on the
outcome of toad races?
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Belize
is the only English speaking country in Central America and a good introduction
to the pleasures of this area of the world.
Tucked
away below the south-eastern edge of Mexico, its relatively undeveloped
attractions are ideal for adventurous travellers. |
| Belize
has the second longest barrier reef in the world, three of the only four
coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere, and the Blue Hole, a perfectly
circular 1000 foot diameter hole in the middle of one of the atolls.
This
makes it a heavenly place for divers and sport fishers.
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The
Belizean mainland offers numerous nature reserves and some Mayan ruins,
though not on the same scale as in neighbouring countries.
The jungle
is a good place to see local wildlife. |
At
the time I visited his kingdom, the Sultan of Brunei had for many years
been the world's richest man, courtesy of the massive oil wealth which
he distributed as he saw fit.
Since
then he's fallen on harder times, his richest man bragging rights taken
by a computer geek called Bill Gates, his moral purity tarnished by accusations
that he kidnapped an American beauty queen as a sex slave, and his family's
unity broken by the financial scandals brought about by his brother Jeffrey. |
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Still,
the oil keeps flowing, and the largesse trickles down to the general populace
in the form of free education, free health care, and no taxes.
A little
bit of the money even came my way, as I spent a month working in Brunei,
commuting on giant helicopters to the oil rigs. |
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The
oil wealth has resulted in a population lacking in initiative and enterprise,
with the ironic result that the jungle which forms the background to the
narrow inhabited coastal strip has been left virtually untouched, to the
benefit of the local insect and bird life.
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As
all informed people know, Canada is a frozen wasteland,
a
vast country with a razor thin inhabitable strip just north of the border
with the United States.
This is
a land where the currency is called the looney and the national animal
is an oversized rat. |
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However
there is some magnificent scenery, with mountains, forests and lakes, and
the coastlines are home to interesting maritime birdlife.
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As
the more astute among you might have already deduced, my actual experience
of Canada is limited to the area around Niagara Falls.
Perhaps
if I'm not assassinated by enraged Canadians I might one day have an opportunity
to explore more of the country. |
Costa
Rica is about the most attractive country in Latin America for tourists
who want adventure without the fear of violent crime.
After
a brief but bloody civil war Costa Rica disbanded its military forces in
1949, sparing itself the political turmoil which wrecked so many other
countries in this region.
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Costa
Rica's volcanoes are a definite drawcard, and some tourists are even lucky
enough to see them when the ever-present clouds part.
The
architecture, though often pleasant, befits the country's position as a
modest backwater.
There's
very little worthwhile diving, and although there's some surfing and some
attractive white sand beaches, this country will never be in the same league
as the Caribbean islands inundated by hordes of sun-worshippers each winter. |
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It
might be lacking in the usual tourist attractions, but many people come
for the same reason I did - the wildlife. Although very small,
Costa Rica's location, variety of habitats and pro-active conservation
policies have made it a very popular location for researchers and eco-tourists
who want to see a wealth of bio-diversity unequalled in any other similarly
sized area of the world. With over 850 bird species (more than
the USA and Canada combined), 135 snakes (17 of which are poisonous), thousands
of varieties of butterflies and 6 of the world's 8 types of marine turtle,
this is a place where almost every visitor will see something exotic.
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The
Czech Republic has some of the most attractive architecture in the
whole of Europe, with Gothic cathedrals, Renaissance towns, castles and
chateaus scattered all around the country.
Even
without travelling around, you can sample a lot of these cultural treasures
by spending a few days in the very lively and pedestrian friendly capital
of Prague. |
There's
plenty for nature lovers, with mountains, forests and hiking trails to
enjoy.
The
main reason I came here was to attend the
2006 Czech International Air Fair, which featured a dizzying array
of modern military hardware from a dozen or more European countries; however
I also made time to enjoy the outdoors, spending most of a day in the forest
photographing mushrooms and
toadstools, as well as some interesting
wildlife, including the first salamander I've ever seen.
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Salamanders,
toadstools and killing machines aren't the only exotic delights of the
Czech Republic.
Aviation
enthusiasts like myself can also visit the Kbely aviation museum in Prague
for a broad selection of German aircraft from world war two, as well as
Russian cold war equipment and machines designed and built in the Czech
Republic itself. Fans of the really freakish can make a beeline
to the town of Sedlec, which has a chapel decorated entirely with human
bones! |
Egypt
has been a tourist destination for longer than almost anywhere else on
the planet. Napoleon's short-lived occupation at the start
of the 19th century, which included a very large team of scholars and researchers,
created a huge amount of interest throughout Europe, and laid the groundwork
for many famous authors who followed and spread stories of the wonders
to be found here. Then in 1869 an enterprising Englishman called
Thomas Cook pioneered the age of mass tourism in Egypt, which has continued
to this day.
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However
Napoleon and those who followed were by no means the first or only people
who had been drawn to the extraordinary relics that are found here.
So while you can certainly see French grafitti inside the
Red Pyramid and British grafitti on the Temple at Philae, there is
even more ancient grafitti on artifacts such as this Shrine of Hathor which
is now at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
This country is jam packed with monuments and artifacts. At
times it seems as if there are almost too many ancient wonders in the country,
and if you're not careful you might find yourself secretly dreading your
next visit to that awesome temple or tomb. |
One
wonder which earlier tourists certainly didn't experience was the beauty
along Egypt's Red Sea coastline.
Modernites
who've had one too many mastaba, pylon or hypostyle hall can come here
to chill out on a beach, shore dive on a reef or enjoy the dramatic desert
scenery of the Sinai Peninsula. It's a special delight for
those who choose to enjoy the
marine life here, because not only is everything very accessible, but
many of the species found here live nowhere else.
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The
island nation of
Fiji has a huge amount of
variety, with sandy beaches, flat coral islands and large mountainous volcanic
islands with thick forests and waterfalls scattered across a large area
of the South Pacific. |
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Most
tourists restrict themselves to their hotel or resort, and never experience
this interesting land or its friendly people and culture.
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The
only part of the natural environment which many tourists encounter first
hand is the coral reef which they snorkel on, an attraction which brings
thousands of hard-core scuba divers to this country each year.However,
there's also some interesting native birdlife and other wildlife, including
flying foxes as well as beautifully coloured dragonflies, damselflies and
beetles. |
Years
of pro and anti communist civil war have left Guatemala
economically backwards and devastated, a major victim of the Cold War.
The killings have cheapened life here, and the often violent crime which
continues to this day makes this a destination for only the most adventurous
traveller.
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It's
a shame, not only for the people who have to cope with this legacy, but
also because Guatemala has a lot of geographical and historical sights
to offer visitors including Tikal, the largest and most spectacular complex
of Mayan temples and buildings in Central America. |
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For
those brave or foolhardy enough to come here, it's possible to see some
of the local bird and insect species as you move around the ancient city.
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Indonesia
is the fourth most populated country in the world, with over 230 million
people, and it's also very diverse culturally.
The
most well-known tourist destination within Indonesia is the island of Bali,
renowned for the Hindu-based culture of its people, expressed in painting,
carving, dance and the many temples which still form a vital part of daily
life. |
The
main island of Java is less well trodden by foreigners, but equally fascinating,
with spectacular Buddhist and Hindu temples dating back hundreds of years,
as well as geographical wonders mostly related to the country's volcanic
history, which continues to this day with more than 130 active volcanoes,
the most of any country.
Mount
Bromo ranks as one of the world's most spectacular natural sights, and
it's only one of the highlights
of Indonesia.
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The
large human population and a largely unfettered plundering of natural resources
has decimated the original flora and fauna, but Indonesia is still considered
the second largest region of bio-diversity in the world, after the Amazon
basin.
In
particular, divers will find a whole universe of other-worldly creatures,
and Lembeh Strait in northern Sulawesi can justly claim to be the "muck
diving" capital of the world, home to more extraordinary animals than can
be seen on any coral reef, such as the "bearded ghoul" shown here. |
| The
ancient culture of Japan lives on strongly
even amidst the modernity and ugliness of its commercial buildings and
the practical needs of its citizens.
You
only have to scratch the surface of a thoroughly industrial looking city
like Tokyo or Kyoto and out pop ancient temples and shrines.
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The
atomic bombing of Hiroshima is one part of history that many Japanese would
rather forget,
both
for the terrible direct consequences, and for the memories of their own
actions which most Japanese prefer not to think about.However, a visit
to the city reveals a real desire to learn from the past and benefit from
all its lessons. |
| Okinawa
is a tropical island which seems to combine some of the worst aspects of
Japanese and of American culture.
Perhaps
a leisurely exploration of its remote areas and of the surrounding reef-fringed
islands would leave a more endearing memory, but the first impression of
any visitor is likely to be of noise, traffic and the sort of suicidal
determination which made the bombing of Hiroshima necessary.
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Kuala
Lumpur is the dynamic heart of Malaysia, with skyscrapers and a telecommunications
tower which are amongst the world's tallest, along with other symbols of
Malaysia's drive to become an economic power. |
Nestled
in amongst the modernity of Kuala Lumpur and other cities around
the Malay Peninsula, there's still plenty of colonial architecture
to admire, as well as mosques and temples belonging to the Indian and Chinese
communities.
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In
spite the best efforts of its leaders, Malaysia still hasn't succeeded
in wiping out the extraordinary birds, butterflies and other wildlife
which inhabit this part of the world, giving Malaysia a mixture of modern,
colonial and natural sights. |
Mexico
has almost 100 million inhabitants, making it the second most populated
country in Latin America, and enough of those inhabitants are crammed into
Mexico city to make it the second most populated city in the world, after
Tokyo. Its huge population has made this a sprawling, infuriating
city where even a day in the park feels more like a visit to a circus or
amusement center, and the chaotic traffic causes the air to regularly exceed
basic health standards.
Despite
all of the hassles, it's worth visiting to see its museums, and ancient
sites like the Aztec ruins of the Templo Mayor alongside Spanish colonial
architecture and modern world-class buildings.
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There's
plenty more to do in the areas surrounding Mexico city, such as visiting
natural sights such as the massive caves called the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa,
and the spectacular volcano Popocatepetl, snow-covered even in summer despite
being in the tropics.
The
natural wonders are supplemented by more human-made ones, including attractive
Spanish colonial cities and a surprising number of monumental structures
built before the arrival of the Spanish. As well as the justly
famous pyramid complex at Teotihuacan, there are other pre-hispanic cities
such as Xochicalco, Cacaxtla and Xochitecatl, with restored buildings and
remarkable artwork. |
| Of
course, like most tourists I really came to this country for the grasshoppers,
which come in an extraordinary range of colors, patterns and shapes - it's
little wonder that Mexico city's largest park is in an area originally
called Chapultepec or "hill of the grasshoppers", though you'd be hard
pressed to find many of them there nowadays.
Although
most of the country's natural environment and wildlife has been devastated
by the needs of its large population, smaller creatures such as butterflies,
spiders and lizards still eke out a living on the fringes.
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| New
Zealand - my homeland |
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At
the ends of the earth, New Zealand
is the first country to see each new day. Fifteen hundred miles
and three hours by jumbo jet from its nearest neighbour, New Zealand's
native wildlife is unique and benign with no land mammals, no snakes and
only one venomous spider, which never bites anyone. |
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The
lack of dangerous animals is one thing which makes New Zealand a hiker's
paradise. It also helps that there are many miles of trails
with cosy cabins and lots of virgin native forest, including some sections
of rainforest which receive over 8 metres of rain a year, as well as fantastic
snow-covered mountains with trails which take you above the treeline to
stunning views of the valleys below.
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This
country is a unique collection of what the world has to offer - mountains
like the Swiss Alps, fjords like Norway, glaciers like Iceland, geothermal
wonders like Yellowstone National Park, and some things like nowhere else
on earth: a city whose harbour is dominated by a volcano and caves filled
with thousands of glow-worms shining like stars. |
The
Philippine Islands consist of a very large collection of islands with
a variety of geography, including lowland forests and jungles, many active
volcanoes, limestone caves and mountain ranges covered in picturesque terraced
rice paddies.
The
human inhabitants add to the interest too, with many colorful indigeneous
cultures as well as the hustle, bustle and noise of the modern capital
city of Manila.
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There's
plenty of fascinating wildlife
to see for people willing to leave the cities and beaches, including endemic
animals like this Philippines Tarsier, one of the smallest primates in
the world, with the largest eyes of any mammal relative to its size.
Even
the local insect life is fascinating, with attractive butterflies and dragonflies,
jewel-like beetles and weirdly shaped ants and other critters. |
Since
I used this trip to learn to scuba dive, I didn't spend as much time on
the local insect life as I normally do, however I did spend a lot of time
underwater, including a trip to the town of Donsol to snorkel with whale
sharks, the largest fishes in the world.
There
are many pristine dive sites around the country, so be sure to check out
the
underwater highlights of the Philippines and an entire page of the
incredibly colored and shaped sea
slugs of the Philippines.
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Russia
might no longer be the sinister and inaccessible place it once was, but
it's still a long way off the beaten track for anyone who doesn't live
in Europe. And travellers who have filled out the Russian visa
papers can be forgiven for thinking that this place is still in a Cold
War time warp.
It's
a shame, because there's a wealth of interesting architecture and scenery
in the country, and although I only had an opportunity to see some
of the highlights of Moscow and the "Golden Ring" towns, it has left
me with a desire to return and see other parts of the country. |
My
visit wasn't made primarily for the architecture or scenery, instead I
came as a media representative to photograph the exotic military and civilian
aircraft at the
2005 MAKS airshow at the once secret Zhukovsky airfield south of Moscow.
As
well as classic Russian fighter aircraft like the MiG-29 "Fulcrum" and
Su-27 "Flanker", there was also a good turnout of helicopters like the
Ka-50 "black shark" gunship, Ka-31 "Helix" and Mi-8 "Hip", as well as several
jet display teams from France, Italy and Russia itself.
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For
hardcore aviation enthusiasts like myself there's another must see site
near Moscow, the
Russian Air Force museum at Monino.
As
well as a very complete collection of Cold War fighters and bombers, there's
also a collection of American lend-lease aircraft from world war two, and
a large number of historic Russian helicopters, including the extraordinary
V-12 "Homer", by far the largest helicopter in the world ever to take to
the air. |
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Right
on the doorstep of peninsula Malaysia, and only 100 miles north of the
equator, Singapore is yet another product of British imperial planning.
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Fear
of racial tension amongst its mixed Chinese, South Asian and Malay population,
together with a love of orderliness has now made this the world's ultimate
Nanny State.
Planned
to the nth degree, it's hard not to be impressed by the cleanliness of
the city and the law-abiding people - this is perhaps the only place in
the world where people like their government sponsored high-rise apartments
enough to buy them. |
Like
any good theme park, there are plenty of organized entertainments to keep
the populace, and the tourist passing through, amused. But,
then, who wants to spend the rest of their life trapped in Disneyland?
Certainly not some of the Singaporeans I spoke to!
The
multitude of rules (like a ban on the sale of chewing gum anywhere within
this city-state) and the government's attempts to squeeze out any vaguely
threatening elements (like bulldozing all but one backpackers' hostel)
have lead to sterility and a lack of entrepeneurial spirit in the population
- the government even runs courses on dating to help people meet the opposite
sex!
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Very
few of the young American marines who departed from training in New Zealand
had ever heard of the island of Guadalcanal before they landed there in
1943.
The
fighting turned into an extremely vicious and prolonged struggle, but not
without results - before Guadalcanal the Japanese always advanced, but
after Guadalcanal they always retreated. After all these years,
the relics of war are still around. |
War
veterans from America and Japan still make the pilgrimage to this out of
the way spot in the Pacific, to relive their memories and come to terms
with the often brutal events which happened here.
Nowadays,
however, visitors also include adventurous young people drawn here to experience
underwater excitement in what many people rate as one of the world's top
ten diving hotspots.
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Struggling
to develop a national identity on top of traditional tribal loyalties,
the
Solomon Islands has recently experienced a major period of unrest and
upheaval. Its location means that it is fated to remain a backwater,
with tourists as a tiny but economically significant minority.
Hopefully
the genuine friendliness and helpfulness of the local people will continue
despite the difficulties, and they'll find a way to keep this small tropical
paradise peaceful and pleasant. |
Thailand
is easily the most popular tourist destination in south-east Asia, and
for good reason.
The
heady mix of sunshine, beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, interesting
history and fascinating ancient and modern cultural artifacts means that
there's something for every taste, and the friendly local people makes
it all readily accessible without fear of losing life or limb.
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Thailand
is blessed with lots of great landscapes, with large limestone formations
providing not just other-worldly Karst scenery around the south-west coast,
but also interesting caves scattered throughout the country.
The
jungle-clad mountainous areas have great landscapes and also provide the
settings for many attractive waterfalls. |
Thailand
has many national parks, both on-shore and off-shore. Those
on land preserve some of the best scenery in the country, and they have
hiking trails to allow you to easily penetrate the jungle or forest.
The
parks also preserve marine life and terrestrial life, some of which will
be happy to see you and some of which won't!
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The
original inhabitants of Trinidad
called it Lere, "Land of the Hummingbirds", and it's still a mecca for
bird and nature lovers, with 400 species of birds, 600 species of butterflies,
50 reptiles and 100 assorted mammals such as agouti, armadillos, and monkeys. |
| The
people of Trinidad and Tobago
have the largest Carnival in the Caribbean, which gives them an excuse
for two months of unbridled excess.
They're
also more than happy to help the innocent tourist with his or her excess
- excess money, that is.
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Tobago's
no slouch in the tropical bird stakes, but whereas Trinidad lacks coral
reefs because of its proximity to several large South American rivers,
Tobago
has spectacular reefs and underwater sights, including the largest brain
corals in the world. |
Turkey
straddles Europe and Asia, a strategic location which has made it a great
power centre from Roman times right up to the current day.
The religious life of the great imperial city of Byzantinium, which later
became Constantinople and then Istanbul, has been tempestuous, with pagan
worship ousted by Christianity and Christianity in its turn ousted by Islam.
Relics
from all these periods are still to be seen around Istanbul,
including the unmatched architectural achievements of the great church
turned mosque known as Aya Sofya.
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The
Bosporus (literally "place where the cow crossed') is the geographical
feature which made Istanbul so important. This waterway connects
the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, and separates Europe on its eastern
shore from Asia on its western shore.
Even
today it's a major transport route, and no visit to Istanbul is complete
without a ferry excursion along its length to see the traffic that plys
its way through the heart of the city, as well as the many historical buildings,
fishing villages and villas which overlook its waters. |
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Perhaps
surprisingly, a ferry trip along the Bosporus is also a good way to see
some of the local wildlife, especially the seabirds which make a living
catching fish in its clear waters.
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The
famous wit-about-town Dr Johnson said "If you're tired of London
then you're tired of life", and what was true in his day is still true
today.
Of
course Johnson and Bosley would have no problem recognizing most of the
landmarks that people associate with London. The historical
sights scattered around the centre give the place a familiar and well-worn
feeling. It might not be flashy, but this slightly shabby place
is undeniably one of the world's truly great and memorable cities. |
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London
is the largest city in Europe, but it has more than just population, it
has a heart and soul - a superb public transportation system with a character
all its own ("Mind the Gap!"), lively and interesting people, busy public
parks, and night life to keep you awake even if you don't dance!
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For
the noble, sensitive and artistic souls among us, museums stuffed full
of treasures stolen from all over the world! |
Vanuatu
is one of the least familiar of the Pacific Island nations, but also one
of the most interesting. Previously known as the New Hebrides,
Vanuatu was ruled by the British and the French - at the same time!
Formally called the Condominium, this style of government was known locally
as the Pandominium.
The
capital, Port Vila, is on the island of Efate and is one of the most beautifully
situated cities in the Pacific, beside a coral-filled and island-speckled
harbor.
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Other
islands in the group have their own charms, like Pentecost, where bungy
jumping was invented, using jungle vines and 90 foot bamboo towers.
And
on the island of Tanna you can stay in a local village and test your nerves
against a lecherous ten-foot dugong, a close relative of the Caribbean
manatee. |
| While
you're in Tanna, visit a classic "cargo cult" village next to an active
volcano, and see the place where the local people used to throw irritating
people to the sharks.
In
the evening, drive up the volcano and take a short walk to the rim, where
you can watch the vents showering hot magma around the crater.
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Vietnam
has numerous scenic attractions for visitors, from the highland areas with
their scenic beauty and interesting ethnic cultures, to limestone formations
and caves in places such as Tam Coc and Halong Bay, to classic white sand
beaches with palm trees and crystal blue waters. There's also
a considerable amount of historical architecture, including various sites
in Hanoi such as the Temple of Literature, through to the emperors' tombs
and remnants of their Chinese-style imperial city in Hue, and the little
known Cham Towers, which are of Hindu origin. |
Of
course, modern-day Vietnam is dominated by history of another kind, namely
the Vietnam War, which is known locally as the American War.
For the Vietnamese this was just another episode (and not even the most
recent) in a struggle for independence which has continued off and on for
over a thousand years. There's extraordinarily little obvious
resentment in Vietnam towards foreigners, and many tourists make a point
of visiting military
museums in Hanoi and Saigon. If you take some internal
flights within the country then you might also be lucky enough to see the
Vietnamese Air Force in action.
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I
made a real point of visiting some of Vietnam's few remaining natural areas
while I was there, so I could photograph some of the extraordinary creatures
that live in the world's tropical regions. Although it was
the wrong time of year to dive on Vietnam's reefs, I was still able to
photograph many colorful butterflies
and dragonflies, and I also saw many equally attractive moths and caterpillars,
as well as beetles and spiders.
Despite being the cold season there were still many lizards about, especially
in the south, as well as frogs and toads. |
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