Travel Guides

Recently, the Chinese people celebrated 60 years of communism and the formation of the Peoples Republic of China. In that time the country has transformed from a nation of farmers into one of the most powerful economies in the world. What’s China like today, and more importantly, what’s it like for tourists and what is the future of tourism in China?

China is actually a vibrant and rapidly developing economy. It’s now one of the strongest in the world, and every Chinese person is proud of their heritage.

Almost everywhere you go in China you can see people who are proud and respectful. As the world looks on, many are uncertain as to what China is about and there is still a great deal of mystery about what will become of this country, as it has rapidly transformed into a major global superpower.

Recently, it was announced that the United States is to create a $10 visa surcharge for all visitors to the United States in their efforts to fund a program that boosts tourism. It would seem that they want to ‘boost’ tourism by making people that don’t need a visa pay another $10.

The Travel Promotion Act is supposedly going to raise around $200 million dollars annually that will be spent on boosting tourism. Senate has now passed the bill which will apparently help the much battered American tourism industry, which has yet to recover since the devastating attacks of 9/11.

With the economic crisis also having a rather devastating impact, many people are under the impression that these new changes will rescue the much ailing tourist industry. Opinion is divided though as it also encourages that everyone who is entitled to a free visa on arrival should be forced to pay a $10 surcharge. Compared to the $131 visa that other nations have to pay, surely it’s a bargain.

The United Arab Emirates has been doing a great deal lately to become known as the ultimate country on earth for luxury tourists. With Palm islands and countless other luxury hotels, it would seem that the U.A.E is the place to be.

But it’s their latest idea that’s got everyone up in a storm as their new hotel has the potential to change the face of luxury hotels forever. If you’ve not heard of the Hydropolis then you’re certainly in for a shock when we tell you about this strange but fascinating hotel.

Perhaps your wondering just what exactly a Segway is? Well if you’re on a tour of a city, a Segway is the end of tired legs, and the start of a new relationship with what could be the best invention ever. It’s an electric vehicle with two wheels that really does change the whole tour experience. Segway tours are fun, exciting and really, you have to try one!

There’s a new competition being started by Thailand’s tourist authority. This latest competition is in a bid to raise awareness of the popular country which has been affectionately nicknamed the Land of Smiles.

This dish is something I picked up on a Moroccan TV show I found on the internet. This dish is a lot like a Moroccan version of a classic roast turkey for thanksgiving.

• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
• 2 teaspoons cardamom seeds (from about 1 1/2 tablespoons cardamom pods)
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/2 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 whole chicken, rinsed, patted dry
• 1 pound carrots, peeled, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth

Preheat your oven to 420°F.

Take the first 7 spices and grind them together in a coffee grinder or food processor. Transfer to small bowl.

Over many long years, La Manga has developed into a bustling, widely diverse society made up of a wide variety of cultures from just about every ethnic background. Because of its vast diversity, La Manga calls home to more of a variety of goods than one will find in most areas of the Mediterranean. In La Manga, it’s just as likely to hear dickering over prices in English as in Swedish, German, Russian and French, among a long list of other languages. The result of this ethnic melting pot is also heavily reflected in the area’s food.

If you take a brief shopping trip to nearby Cabo de Palos, an impressive local market sells up a wide variety of produce, meats and fish. You can even find local homemade gifts and crafts that you just can’t find anywhere else. The food market is a go-to destination for travelers from the surrounding areas, including those from La Manga. After shopping, take a small walk down to the harbor, snack on some tapas and take in the beautiful scenery.

Let’s face it, Haiti doesn’t have a good reputation thanks to the years of trouble and civil unrest the country has had to face. But if you didn’t know any different, this little nation which occupies a third of the Hispaniola Island may seem like a pretty good place to stay, after all it’s in the Caribbean, it’s got beaches and its tropical.