Best Places to Visit in Costa Rica

Having Visited Costa Rica, I have compiled a list of the best locations to visit. This list is by no means comprehensive or complete, it is just a checklist of all the places I would visit when I go to Costa Rica.
Arenal Volcano
The Arenal Volcano area is one of Costa Rica's top attractions. Only 3 hours away from San Jos, in the town of La Fortuna, stands a majestic 1,633m volcano, known to be one of the most active in the world. Despite its constant activity, the volcano is very safe to visit as long as you stay within the safety perimeter. In this area take advantage of the pristine natural surroundings! Go fishing, horseback riding; take a canopy tour, rafting or experience a tremendous canyon expedition. Whatever you decide, be sure to visit the relaxing hot springs in the area, the most famous being Tabacon and Baldi.
La Fortuna and Surroundings
Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible from the capital city San Jose, and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa's Rica's most active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is the country's top rated tourist attraction and is indeed a sight to behold.
Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides. Beside the volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, Tabacon Hot Springs, white water rafting, hiking excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and Cao Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that one can enjoy while you are here.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Most famous for being associated with the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve,the tiny community of Monteverde is a small village located near the entrance of the cloud forest. Monteverde was founded by the Quaker community that migrated from North America to Costa Rica in the 1950's. In town, which is actually Santa Elena, you'll find banks, drug store, a local hospital, book store, gas station, ATM machine, police station, post office, supermarkets, internet cafes, restaurants
As the weather here is quite chilly and misty, due to the village being high up in the Tilaran Mountain Range, you should bring some thick clothes and a light jacket to stay warm. When here, do remember to try out the delicious local cheeses, which are a treat to eat. If you are a bird watcher, this village offers some lovely bird watching opportunities, even though you are not in the cloud forest itself. However, if you prefer to do the more touristy thing, visit the local craft centers, the women's co-op center, the butterfly garden and the Hummingbird Gallery in town.
Dominical Beach
Located on Costa Rica's amazingly beautiful Central Pacific coastline, the small village of Dominical is a surfer's paradise where waves can reach over 10 feet high, a place rich in island biodiversity and amazing underwater flora and fauna. It is the perfect combination between the extensive golden coasts full of scenic beaches & luscious mountains.
Dominical is a 4 km long beach strip, with a few hotels, lodges, resorts and restaurants in the area. While swimming here is near impossible with the strong swells and rip tides, one can kayak off the coast or enjoy some diving or snorkeling opportunities in the area. Horseback tours can also be arranged to the nearby Nauyaca Waterfalls, or one can visit the Marino Ballena National Park, which is home to a number of marine mammals like turtles and whales that come here seasonally to mate and nest. If you like, you can take a short day trip to the lovely Cao Island just off the coast. This island is considered one of the best adventure diving spots in the world and is home to an impressive array of underwater marine life.
Tortuguero
Tortuguero National Park is one of Costa Rica's most biologically diverse wildlife areas. Featuring one of the most verdant landscapes in the country, the 26,156 hectare park was created with the main purpose of protecting the green sea turtle nesting area. Tortuguero owes its very wet tropical forest to the 5000 to 6000 millimeters of rain it receives per year. These climatic conditions are favorable to more than 400 tree species, around 2200 species of other plants and more than 400 birds, 60 amphibian and 30 fresh water fish species, as well as several endangered animals including tapirs, monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, manatees and sloths. Tortuguero is characterized by beautifully scenic canals, lagoons and rivers that may be toured by boat, canoe or kayak. In addition to the green turtle, three other sea turtle species nest on the park's beaches.
Malpais
Malpais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Also known as the Hawaii of Latin America, there are several beaches to swim, dive or snorkel though it's main attraction is it's unique conditions for surfing and it's pristine subtropical nature. Horseback riding, sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, and nature tours make up some of the other popular activities nearby. Malpais is a community unlike any other in Costa Rica with a strong surf culture and a the laid-back atmosphere that maintains the type of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica famous.
MalPais boasts a great selection of places to stay and eat from camping on the beach to luxurious resorts and a wide range of activities. Without a doubt it's a very attractive place to relax and enjoy the golden rays of the Pacific sunset.
Turrialba Valley
With some stunning views of Costa Rica's rural countryside, Turrialba is a charming little town in the lush and beautiful Central Valley in Cartago province. Famous for being a white water rafting hotspot and base camp, this town lies 53 km east of the capital city San Jos and is an excellent place to tour the pre-Columbian ruins at Guayabo National Monument, or the rarely visited but lovely Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba. A quiet town, Turrialba with its charming street corners and gorgeous surrounding sceneries is among the few places in Costa Rica with direct access to a volcano's crater. From the summit of the volcano, you can on a clear day, see the Irazu, Pos and Barva volcanoes in the distance Botanists and gardeners will want to pay a visit to the Center for Agronomy Research and Development (CATIE), which is located 5km (3 miles) southeast of Turrialba on the road to Siquirres. This center is one of the world's foremost facilities for research into tropical agriculture.

 

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Bangkok Sex Districts - The Best Places to Visit and Stay

Bangkok has 5 separate sex districts throughout the city. Some are located near each other and some are just a bit further away. The best thing of all is that all of the sex districts are connected by the BTS Sky Train (elevated train system) and the MRT (underground train system). Both of these fast and cheap modes of transportation have stations strategically located near all of the sex districts.
The first three sex districts are where the majority of Bangkok's world famous go go bars are found. They are called Patpong, Nana and Soi Cowboy.
Patpong's sex district consists of two streets that run side by side called Patpong 1 and Patpong 2. It's these two streets where you'll find go go bars upon go go bars as well as sex shows. There are a few soapy massage parlors in this area but the best ones are found in Ratchada which you'll read more of below.
Next area filled with go go bars is Nana Entertainment Plaza. You can't miss this neon light filled 3 story building with an open courtyard packed with beer bars. Many popular go go bars here to check out and explore.
Soi Cowboy is the final sex district with mainly go go bar and the smallest out of the three. But don't let the small size fool you as much of the venues here have been renovated with louder neon colors and more beautiful women.
Keep in mind, you are able to bring the go go bar girls back to your hotel. However you have to make sure your hotel won't charge you a joiner fee. The fee is usually 500THB. To avoid this stupid fee you should stay in a hotel that is considered girl friendly. You can find these hotels near all of the red light districts. Many girl friendly hotels are some of the best hotels in Bangkok.
When it comes to sexual massages Bangkok can't be beat. There are basically two types, oily and soapy.
Oily massage involves... well oil. At the end of the massage the girl will usually ask what kind of sexual service you require. You can use your imagination to fill in the details. Oily massage district is found in the Phrom Phong section of Bangkok. It's very easy to find, just take the BTS Sky Train to Phrom Phong and you're there.
Soapy massages are a bit different than oily massages except the end results which is sexual gratification. But before that the lady washes you with her hands and body in a large bathtub filled with soapy goodness. And again, you can fill in the rest about what happens next. Soapy massage parlors are located along Ratchada, which is a major street. To get there just take the MRT train and get off at Huay Kwang station.
Traveling to any of Bangkok's sex districts is absolutely easy. All the train stop announcements are in English as well as maps in the stations.
Don't feel intimidated about exploring these places as the areas are very tourist friendly.

 

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Top 5 Historical Sites of Italy

Italy... a country so rich in culture, art and history that it's hard to narrow down its highlights. The number of books on the subject shows just how fascinating the area is to so many tourists with a yen for historical discovery, and this article could in fact be several tomes in length. For brevity, I have picked out the very best Italy has to offer - if you only visit 5 historical places in Italy, these should be them. Unfortunately, they're not within easy reach of each other, so you may have to book several luxury resorts in Italy if you wish to tackle them all in one go!

Basilica di San Miniato al Monte

When it comes to Florence, it's hard to narrow down the spot which captures the very essence of the history, but for me the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte is as close as you can get. Construction on this beautiful church was begun in 1013 in the name of St. Miniato - an Armenian Prince beheaded for being a Christian. Legend has it that after being thrown to the beasts in the Amphitheatre, a panther refused to eat him. When beheaded by the emperor, Miniato is alleged to have physically carried his head up the hill of Mount Fiorentinus to his hermitage, which later became the site of the church.

Whether or not you believe the legend attached to it or not, there is no doubt that the Italian historical sight is truly beautiful, and it is one of the most tranquil places in Italy, let alone Florence.

Duomo di Milano

One of the world's largest Cathedrals, the Duomo di Milano is a magnificent structure that really makes an impression from the second you first see it. Work building it began in the 14th century, and continued all the way up to the 19th - in a way, it is still unfinished as work continues to be performed upon it. Its spire reaches 349 feet, and it has a capacity of 40,000 - if you're used to seeing local parish churches, this is a real eye-opener!

The Vatican City

The smallest independent country in the world warrants its own place as an historical sight in Italy. With a population of just 932, the holy city still manages to never feel empty thanks to the seemingly constant influx of tourists and Catholics eager to see the Pope. In terms of historic value, the place oozes it - from the medieval walls to the city to the Sistine Chapel and its famous ceiling painting to the seemingly endless stream of museums, the Vatican City should be on every historical tourist's Italy hit-list.

The Ruins of Pompeii

Over the last 200 years, the ruins of Pompeii have been successfully excavated to reveal an incredibly preserved city that was lost to Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 A.D. Having lain in ash for 1700 years, wandering round the ruins is a haunting, yet fascinating experience and something that everyone with an interest in ancient history.

As the ruins cover such a large area, this may not be one historical place in Italy that you can see in within a single day.

The Coliseum

Rome's Coliseum is another one for those interested in ancient history - but even those who aren't can't fail to be impressed by the structure! Standing 165 feet tall and measuring 600 feet long, this Iegendary historical place in Italy held up to 50,000 screaming spectators for blood soaked fights to amuse the gathered crowds - which would include the emperors of the time.

Although the fighters in the ancient ring were typically trained gladiators or convicted prisoners of war, you would occasionally get glory hunting members of the public wanting to try their luck - though, more often than not they overestimated their skills and suffered the ultimate consequences for their bravery...

Of course, if you're serious about your history, then this will only be the first of many visits to one of Italy's luxury resorts. It will take you many days to catch up with the thousands of years of history that have occurred in this magnificent country, but once the initial curiosity is in you, the days will simply fly by!

 

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Top Ten Places to See in Argentina - the Top Five

Argentina is a country of contradictions and contrasts, home to both Patagonian glaciers and tropical rainforests. A country of vineyards and waterfalls as well as deserts.

To help you define your priorities when you’re planning your trip, here’s a quick list of my five favorite Argentina tourist attractions:

1. Buenos Aires. Number one because it can’t be missed. Which is convenient for most visitors since, as the center for transportation in the country, the city would be hard to miss if you tried. Even if you only have a short time, plan on staying here for at least a few days: flexible travelers with lots of time on their hands often find that after several months they still haven’t moved on! Things to see and do: Go to a “milonga” (a tango dance hall), the city is, after all, the place where tango began. Have a steak, the best beef in the world. Spend an evening or two in the neighborhood of Palermo with its restaurants, bars and clubs. And if your language skills are rusty, B.A. is one of the best places in Latin America to learn Spanish.

2. The Glaciers National Park. You may have seen photos in National Geographic of these glaciers calving off icebergs and thought that this was one of those exotic places in the world you’d never be able to see. Well, think again: Argentina’s glaciers, though in the far south of the country, are these days easily accessible by air and land transportation and the Perito Moreno glacier, the park’s star performer, is so awe-inspiring that even the most jaded world traveler could scarcely fail to be impressed. Mount Fitzroy in the north of the Park is only a short drive away, too. With its sheer rock cliff face, it is one of the Andes’ most emblematic peaks.

3. The Iguazú Waterfalls. This enormous waterfall in Argentina’s tropical north, by many accounts the world’s largest, is formed by a confluence of swollen rainforest rivers dropping hundreds of feet off volcanic rock cliffs. Since the falls form part of the Argentina-Brazil border, try to see the falls from the National Parks in both countries. On the Argentine side, walkways take you to the very edge, letting you peer down into the misty void. On the Brazilian side, you’re able to take in the whole panorama of the falls from below.

4. Salta and Jujuy. Argentina’s Andean northwest, with its high planes, green valleys, llamas herds, spicy food and indigenous people sporting ponchos. The region is home to some of Argentina’s most varied and rugged landscapes.

5. Puerto Madryn and Peninsula Valdéz. No visit to Argentina should be considered complete without a visit to coastal Patagonia, one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. In the winter and spring months the Southern Right Whale mates, gives birth and raises its young in the sheltered harbor of the Peninsula. At other times of the year, there are sea lions, seals, penguins, dolphins and even orcas on view.

 

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Three Cheap Travel Tips

Cheap travel means you get to go more often, go on longer trips or just save some of your money for other things. Fortunately, it doesn't mean low-quality travel. If you find a way to get a cheaper plane ticket, for example, you might be flying on the same plane as with the more expensive tickets.

Of course sometimes you can save money by traveling differently, and that's okay too. Why pay an extra $40 for a hotel if you like the idea of staying in a hostel with visitors from around the world? Why rent a car in countries where good bus and train systems make for cheaper and more interesting trips?

Essentially you can travel cheap in two ways. First, you can find cheaper ways to get the same thing. The other, perhaps more powerful way, is to alter your expectations and plans to create a more interesting trip that is also inexpensive. The tips that follow will help you do both.

1. See if you can book two flights cheaper than one.

My wife and I are thinking about going to Ecuador this year (2007). Checking for our approximate dates, I found that it would cost $950 each round trip from Colorado Springs, or $1,900 total. Then I checked from Colorado Springs to Miami. It would be $215 round trip. From Miami to Guayaquil, Ecuador costs $350 round trip. That makes it just $565 to Ecuador, or $1,130 total - a savings of $770.

Of course, if you are going to do this, you have to find flights that have enough time in-between them. You probably won't get e refund if you miss the second flight because of a delay on the first. In our case, we have friends near Miami, so we'll just arrange the flights to be a day or two apart, and go visiting. Even after the cost of renting a car for a couple days we'll still be hundreds of dollars ahead.

2. Live in a new place for a while.

One way to make a vacation less rushed, cheaper, and in many ways more interesting, is to stop going from hotel to hotel. Why not stay in a place, and even rent a condo or apartment? We did this a few years back in Tucson, Arizona. It was nice to escape winter for a couple months, and it was fun to explore and get to know a new city. Often you can save hundreds of dollars this way, versus paying by the night for hotel rooms.

3. Be an opportunistic traveler.

This is the most valuable of these cheap travel tips. There are so many things to do out there and so many places to see, so why get stuck on just the ones you have already thought of? With a little luck, you might find a more interesting place to go for half the price. With little shopping, you might find a bed and breakfast in whatever country you visit, and pay less for a more interesting experience.

First look for all the possible alternatives that are less expensive. This isn't about doing something you don't want to do. But among those cheaper choices there might be a perfect trip for you. Why not find out? To start with, do any of your friends live in interesting places? Visiting friends is a great way to save on travel costs and have a load of fun (with the right friends).

Here's a good example of being an opportunist. We were in the mountain resort town of Banos, Ecuador, and asked about the cost of taxi ride to some waterfall. It was $15. It was apparently a popular attraction with tourists. We kept that in mind as we wandered around. Then we saw a chiva (an open-sided bus with seating on the roof) go by playing music. We asked about that.

The chiva took us on a tour of the city (I rode on the roof), then up into the mountains for a view of the city from above. Then we watched the volcano Tungurahua erupt and spit out a bit of lava. They served us hot rum drinks (included in the price), and there were fire-juggling entertainers. Passengers had to push the chiva to get it started for the trip back to town. The cost of all this? $3 each. Cheap travel does not mean uninteresting travel.

 

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Happy life you should pay more attention to it

EdEveryone only have one life in their whole time. So life is important to we everyone. We should pay more attention to our happy life and know how to enjoy our happy life.

Attention to your own life. Do not say: "As long swallow of the poison, he will be free." We might think so, "PMA will help you through all the difficulties." Things that the you make friends with them and places where you have gone are all recorded in your memory. Because the mind command the body how to act, so you may wish to engage in advanced and the most optimistic thought. People ask why you are so optimistic? Please tell them that you're feeling high because you are taking, "An Duofen."

Take activities such as the good entertainment and educational activities. Watch a video which detail introduce a natural beauty, family health, and cultural activities. selection of television programs and movies, according to their quality and value, and not pay attention to commercial appeal. We select television programs and movies according to their quality and value, rather than pay attention to commercial appeal.

We should show our good healthiness when we are dreaming, thinking and talking. Talk to yourself that I am the best in the world and now I am living in a good life instead of thinking of some small problems, like colds, headaches, cuts, bruises, cramps, sprains, and minor trauma. If you pay too much attention to these small problems, and they will become your best friends  who often come to "greet" you. Your body will be shown what you think in your mind. This is especially important to specifically think of the benefits of the family when we are taking care of children and their education. pay attention to the health of the environment surrounding the family. Some parents are more concerned about the child's health and safety than others, which on the contrary make their children into mental illness.

Every day in your life, write, visit or call in to someone who are in need of help. Show your PMA to your friends, and put your PMA to others.

Take Sunday as a day to change culture "PMA" days. Develop your habit of going to the church. According to the report those who are addicted to the drugs compared to those who are normal. Their lives are with the three pillars; religious, good family relationships and high self-esteem.

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11 Easy Steps to Breakup Recovery

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1. Dedicate a specific amount of time for healing, no longer than 1 month. Keep this time in mind while processing. Mark the date on a calendar. This creates the time and space to get over it.  Much like a cold or the flu where recovery is just a matter of time and rest, this is committing this time to recovery.
2. Erase all phone numbers, emails, all forms of contact, and erase all pictures as well. These little reminders act as tempting hooks to pull thoughts back into the past. It is not possible to move forward while looking back without running into a wall or stumbling. This process is hard enough without these reminders. So erase them with a vengeance and declare victory. This a very important step that is taking you back from them.
3. Burn everything they ever gave you or donate it. (Disclaimer: Not to include houses, cars, boats, pets, or anything else that will get you arrested or harm others) Both burning and donating feel good. So depending on the situation an ex bonfire may not be an option in a large city. No body ever actually admits to doing this. In contrast, donating everything but the lingerie helps others and turns the negative into a karmic positive not to mention it is a slightly safer option.
4. Cry, scream, jump up and down; whatever it takes, just get it out! The worst thing to do is to hold these feelings inside. This only results in harboring resentment and an unhealthy festering of emotion. Don't let this turn you into one of those angry jaded people that you pray to God you never have the misfortune of looking at from across the table while on a date. Also, if these emotions are not released they will pop at the worst times with acts of misjudgment and regretful impulsiveness. So get it out to be in a better emotional place so you can trust yourself that you won't snap.
5. Throw out all the junk food in your house and detox the body as well as the heart. Remember, this is a clearing out phase so keep it clean; life and body don't need junk right now. Spoil the body by doing truly good things for yourself. Pick foods you really enjoy that are light healthy and do not weigh you down. Sure chocolate bonbons, donuts, and other yummy treats feel good at first but gaining the weight, the sugar highs and lows, and a possible break out sure won't make you feel or look wonderful.
6. Don't get a new hair style or commit to any appearance modifications or financial expenditures. This can not be stressed enough. A new hair cut or expensive new car will take a whole lot longer to recover from than one month, just don't do it.
7. Rearrange the furniture in your home and clean your car. This changes the energy in your home signifying a new beginning by breaking old patterns. So play some good happy music and have some fun cleaning up your home while your are cleaning out the emotional closet.
8. Contact all the people you blew off before because you were too wrapped up with your ex and apologize to them without boring them with the breakup details.   This just happens. When one person comes into our lives and takes up our time and emotional space often it is our friends who fall by the way side. This is a good time to reconnect and visit them as well.
9. Exercise exercise exercise your worries away. Walk, run, whatever, just keep moving. Getting out of bed can be rough during this time but think of it this way; so long as our bodies are still our minds tend to be still as well and run in circles. When we move our bodies forward it is much easier for our minds to jump on track and move forward as well.
10. Buy 3 new outfits to wear in the near future while scoping out potential partners. This should be something casual that shows off your best assets while you are out an about wherever you might run into someone; something dressy for that night out on the town with your friends and something for a first date. This gets your mind focused on the future and it is hard to buy a new outfit and not wear it as soon as possible. This last step should be done in the last few days of your dedicated time period.
11. Last but not least, always remember the golden rule to forgive and forget; forgive them . . . and then forget them. The End

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