This place is popular for fishing, caving, bush walking, canoeing, swimming or just take a picnic and enjoy the fauna and flora.  Trout fishing though is very popular and when the dam is high there are more chances of catching a good fish.

Its a long drive from Sydney so plan on staying a few days and enjoying the whole area.    It is best to go in the early or late Summer when the temperatures aren't so extreme.  The winter can be cold but the skies clear.

If you like fishing or camping then Wee Jasper is worth checking out.

Many hotels and tourist spots have special facilities for seniors and often at an discounted prices.  Older people should always be alert to their surroundings, first because they don’t know the place and may not have any knowledge of its culture if traveling overseas, and second, seniors can be vulnerable and seen as an easy mark for thieves.  Also when booking a hotel ask about whether the shower is in the bath, that can make a big difference if you have mobility problems or if you are like me and afraid of falling in a slippery bath.

Seniors should make sure they carry all the appropriate documents they needed just in case a problem may occur like identity cards, passports, visas and a driving license. Make sure to make photocopies of these entire documents and keep it on a safe place. Ensure that all your documents are valid and as much as possible take out the original documents.

Choose if you want to travel by train, bus, ship or plane. It’s better to use airplanes if the destination is far and time is short.  Also vacation travel with friends or in a group is perfect. Organized groups for seniors are often more slow paced and perfect for your needs and is a safe way to travel.

Before the trip, get a thorough physical checkup.  When going on your vacation travel it's good to  know you are healthy and fit to avoid being on a trip to all the hospitals where you’re going.  Get vaccinations if needed.  Don’t forget to bring your medicines with you and make sure to include your prescriptions. This also applies to your glasses as well and I like to take a spare pair if I have one.

It’s better to prepared everything you needed on a vacation travel ahead of time to avoid unnecessary stress and regret later.

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When you want to have a vacation, luggage is the most important thing to carry, well if you don’t have luggage where will you put all your personal things?  So it’s a must.  On buying luggage, you must consider if it is light to carry, expandable or does it have wheels, in able for you to move more quickly and be less tired.  Also you have to consider what your bag weighs before you add anything so the lighter the better.

Buying luggage in plenty of time before you leave is very vital because if you wait until the last minute it could ruin your dream vacation travel. No one wants a suitcase that breaks open in transit.  If you have plans to have some vacation soon then before you buy tickets think what luggage you will need.

If you’re planning to have a vacation travel for less than a week, then small luggage like a weekend bag or a small roller suitcase is best for you. But if you have more than a week or two, you need to buy bigger luggage so that you can bring more clothes and the essentials you can't do without.

Buying luggage can cost a lot of money, so it’s significant to consider you’re buying before you make it. Luggage can be both trendy and convenient but remember that it will quickly damage depending on its usage.  If you travel less, you should consider durability and practicality.  If you travel a lot, you should not only consider an item for it’s cost but how long it will last you.  Designer luggage is more durable and it is well made but you pay for that as well but it can be worth it if you travel often.

Evaluating cost, design, toughness and practicality will help you choose just the right luggage for your vacation travel needs and will help assure you that the luggage that you buy is an excellent one.

Last minute luggage buying is not advisable. Admit it, we are fond of last minute shopping, but you need to plan on buying luggage ahead of your travel schedule in order for you to make the right decision.

Remember, your luggage is your biggest companion when you’re on vacation travel.  Take care of it and make sure your luggage is always near you, if not, it might get lost, so be careful and don't wait until the last minute to buy it.  Check out great luggage on Ebay...Deals are on ESSENTIAL LUGGAGE on this site and also see some great deals to the right ------>

One of the  most memorable and breath-taking beaches that I will never forget is the Canibad Sunrise Beach Resort, Aundanao, Samal Island in the Philippines.  It is located at the other side of Samal Island facing Davao Oriental.  You can only travel it by land since there’s no port around Canibad.  It’s a 20km drive from Bakbak proper.

Canibad is also known as the “Virgin Island” since it is not yet developed and it is the only resort in Samal that has no electricity (the only source of electricity in the island is power generator or gasoline lamp).  It  is a quiet, isolated, covert gateway on the other side of Samal Isle frequently visited by locals and foreigners because only few people know about the Island.  This secret paradise ideally lays where white sands meet crystal lucid bright green waters.

Canibad can be found at the bottom of the mountains. You need to trail down a steep road before reaching the beautiful white sand and cool water of the beach.  You will find lots of coconut trees around it.  Though the road is hard to trail, it’s worth the walk, because after a few minutes you will see how wonderful this Island is.  There’s an entrance fee of P15.00, and if you’re planning to stay overnight you can rent a cottage starting from P200.00 and up, or you can take your own tent and pay for the amount of P50.

It’s better if you spend your night on the Island, because you’ll have the chance to see its amazing sunrise.  I already have witnessed it and based on my experience, I can tell you that I can’t explain how beautiful and astounding it is, so you better witness it too yourself!  If you’re planning to go there, don’t forget to take your camera or you will miss every wonderful spot on the Island.  Well my friends and I can’t stop clicking the buttons of our cameras just to capture great pictures of this Isla.

We're planning to go back there again soon and I can’t wait for that day to come!

Note:  Sandy I love the pictures, it looks idyllic and untouched.

Words for the Music

I hope you enjoyed and the music which was very uplifting wasn't it.  I will be doing some reviews of the Philippines in posts in the future.

Hawaiian Airlines is not like your usual domestic airline that merely offers budget flights with meager service.  It provides topnotch service that can match even the best airlines in the world.  It has only limited destinations in the US and flies also to some Pacific Island destinations, Australia and the Philippines.

Travelers can also take advantage of their mileage promotion through their frequent flyer program where you earn points you can redeem as plane tickets.

I was surprised with the service on Hawaiian.  Their staff are always courteous and helpful, reminiscent of how most Hawaiian people are.  From the front desk staff to on-flight staff the customer service is excellent.  The food is not bad either for airline food.

The price though is what gets most people to book with Hawaiian Airlines.  They offer flights at reasonable prices and compare very favorable against the major airlines.  The only negative is the in-flight entertainment.  I didn't like having to pay for a dig-e Player to be able to watch movies.

I did a long haul flight of 10 hours with Hawaiian Airlines and I would definitely fly with them again.  Their price, service, food and the plane itself were excellent.

I stayed at an airport hotel overnight and took a shuttle to the dock and unloaded by bags with the porter.  It took around 1.5 hours to board, go through the scanner, get my picture taken and find my cabin.  I had an inside cabin and was sharing with someone the group had assigned me. The ship was a bit confusing in its layout and as it was so big (well the biggest I have been on).

The first day was at sea and it was formal night and the show was a dance show which was quite good but didn't quite flow.  Second day was in Grand Cayman and was by tender to dock.  At this port I did the Stingray tour which was just incredible. The water was warm and the creatures so silky but a little scary at first.  You go about 20 minutes by boat out to the sandbar.  Don't forget to take an underwater camera (I had a disposable one that worked fine).  The singles group had a 70s night and karaoke in the Paris Hot Lounge so taking an organized singles cruise can mean you have company and activities which is great.

Third day we docked at Roatan and I did the tour of the west side of the island.  We went to beach and shops, butterfly farm and botanic gardens. The people speak English and Spanish and eat the local iguanas (although they are protected).  Tonight was black/white attire and cabin crawl with the singles.  On fourth day we docked at Costa Maya and I took the Mayan Tour.  The ruins were very interesting bit it was very hot and humid there.  I spent the afternoon in the pool bar with a frozen Martguerita and with other singles from the group.  It was formal night again tonight and we all had pre dinner drinks in the Winston Bar.

We docked at Cozumel on the fifth day. Very pretty town and after shopping I went with a friend to Carlos and Charlies and had margaritas and joined in the conga line and danced a bit.  You have to try it!  The last day was at sea so I relaxed for awhile on deck in the sun.   By afternoon though we had a salsa lesson in the One Step Lounge which was quite fun.  The theme tonight was Caribbean and karaoke in the Paris Hot Bar where everyone was taking pictures of the groups we had spent time with during our cruise.  On debarkation day it took about an hour and I got a taxi fairly easily.

I really enjoyed this trip and it was a lot different being on a singles cruise.  I would recommend it to anyone traveling alone.  You can join in as much or as little as you want.  The Valor is a beautiful ship and I hope to travel on her again.

I wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo especially to see the giant pandas.  I wasn't going to leave until I saw them and I wasn't disappointed although they can be a bit illusive.  I was a bit worried that they wouldn't appear but in the end they did.  The monkeys too I really liked, but it was the giant pandas that made this trip special for me and I often went to the zoo's website to look at them on their webcam. starting with the birth of Hua Mei in 2000.   You see I have been watching them for a long time.   The newest giant panda is Yun Zi but there are 5 pandas currently.

Souvenirs of course were a must for us so we got a few of those that have the pandas on them.  You may like the polar bears which are also special animals.  My favorite is a small folder with a clip board.  Don't worry about being hungry while you are there as there are so many cafes, carts and stalls and even fine dining options.  We opted for the carts mainly for our snacks.

A new exhibit that has only reopened recently is the Polar Bear Plunge.  I think best viewed from the underwater viewing room.  You should not miss them.

I lost all my digital photos of my visit so I am going to have to go back again.  If you cant get to the San Diego Zoo then, well do the best thing and experience their website.  Its pretty awesome!

Some things you might like to consider:

1. Price - if you are only going to consider this one item then choose the cheapest fare you can get.
2. How many people are sharing the cabin - this will impact on the size of the cabin and the layout. Check the deck plans and cabin categories carefully. If you are a large family you might need two cabins.
3. Location - if you get seasick like I do, then you will want a mid ship location on a lower deck. If you are going with family, you might like to be closer to the public areas of the ship for quick access. Lower decks are cheaper though but you may hear more engine noise. Aft balconies are larger than usual sizes for the same category as they wrap around the back of the ship. Ill stick to the mid ship location though where I know I am more stable.
4. Cabin categories - inside, outside, balcony and suite -Inside cabins give the best value but can be dark.Outside cabins offer more light but are usually the same size as inside (before booking check whether you have a porthole, a window or an obstructed view). Balcony cabins have access to a small balcony where you can sit and watch the sea or when you come into/out of port. Suites have larger cabins and bathrooms usually but are also the most expensive. When you book a guarantee cabin you book the category but not the specific cabin so its a bit more of a lucky dip where you will end up but then again you may be upgraded.
5. How much time are you going to spend in the cabin - If you spend most of the time out of your cabin then maybe a lower category will be better value. If you like to relax in your cabin then a balcony or suite may be your better choice.

I hope this information helps you make a decision but any cabin is better than none at all.  Enjoy your cruise!

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RARE SPECIAL EDITION CARNIVAL CRUISE BARBIE NRFB 1997

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23d 12h 13m

I hope you like roosters waking you up in the morning as they are everywhere.
This is a great place to get married or have your honeymoon.
You can catch the local bus around Rarotonga which is $4 one way or $7 return.
If you want flexibility then hire a motor bike or car.  We hired a small convertible which was a lot of fun.
All the dogs are medium to large size and not on leads.  This is probably due to interbreeding.
It has the best weather, not too hot or cold and is the perfect beach vacation.
You have to get a driver's license from the police station which costs $20 if you want to drive.When riding a bike you don't have to helmet if you go less than 25 kms.
Buy fresh local fruit like bananas and pawpaw (papaya) from roadside stalls.
Take an underwater camera.   You can get disposable ones.  The fish and coral are worth capturing.
Make sure you credit card will work in the automatic teller machines.  Banks on the island are ANZ and Westpac.
Take plenty of sunscreen and a hat.  This applies really to all summer vacation travel destinations but its summer all year round here.
Do a cultural dinner and show.  Most resorts hold them.
Sunday a lot of the shops are closed so don't wait for Sunday to buy those souvenirs.
Take your own snorkel gear.  You can snorkel anytime and anywhere you want then.  Most resorts have them but they won't allow you take them off their property.
Visit the Cultural Markets on a Saturday morning in town.  A lot of the same stuff but it is a good atmosphere with native dances and music as well.

These are my own observations but I encourage you to research the internet for others as well as this will give you a better idea of what to expect and what to do and not do at Rarotonga.  Whatever you do this has to be the best vacation travel destination I have been to.