Congo was Once One of Africas Largest Petroleum Producers

Congo is situated in Africa, bordered to the north by Cameroon and the Central African Republic, to the south and east by the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the southwest by the Atlantic, and to the west by Gabon. The Cabinda Enclave, belonging to Angola, lies to the southwest, on the Atlantic coast.

Vast areas are swamps, grassland or thick forests with rivers being virtually the only means of internal travel. The vast River Congo and its major tributaries form most of the countries border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, drawing much of its water from the swamplands in the north of the country. The narrow sandy coastal plain is broken by lagoons, behind which rise the Mayombe Mountains. Most of the population lives in the south of the country.

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis.

The Republic of Congo was once one of Africas largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

Equatorial climate with short rains from October to December and long rains between mid January and mid May. The main dry season is from June to October each year.

Sights include the beautiful Basilique Sainte Anne, the colourful suburb of Poto Poto, the Temple Mosque, the markets at Oluendze and Moungali, the National Museum, the Municipal Gardens and the house constructed for de Gaulle when Brazzaville was the capital of Free France.

The first church in Congo was built in 1882 by a French priest and is located in Linzolo, 30km from the capital. The city is also home to the regional seat of the World Health Organization and a very good market.

About 60 percent of the country is covered by tropical forest, roughly half of which can be exploited economically. Forestry is thus an important part of the economy and, along with agriculture, employs about two thirds of the working population.

Travel Accessories For Babies

The travel accessories for babies are so cute and adorable that some Mothers forget that they actually do serve a purpose. The parents of twins would simply be lost without a stroller built for two and every parent would be lost without a car seat that was built to fit the miniature size of the little person in their lives.

Some of the travel accessories for babies can be used for years. Many parents would never think to travel with their child in the car without having a small and cuddly toy for them to play with. These toys can be used to entertain a child during a shopping trip or serve as a little buddy when the child is put down for an afternoon nap.

Parents benefit often from the travel accessories for babies that allow them to pump milk out when they are away from home. Many Mothers will stash these marvelous pumps in a diaper bag so that they can discretely take them into the restroom at their favorite restaurant. Both people at this small dinner party can get their lunch in very little time and not have to fret over it one bit.

Every child needs a bed to sleep on and this rule applies when they are away from home too. There are travel cots that pack up nicely and are easy to load and unload from the car. Parents are able to visit with friends after nightfall and know that their child is relaxing nicely in a bed that they are familiar with. These small travel cots come with removable covers that can be cleaned in the washing machine.

There are new inventions in travel accessories for babies during the past five years and some are more helpful than others. A helpful travel accessory that mothers love is a new changing pad that can be manipulated with one hand. The changing pad has been designed to form a circle of fabric under the baby instead of the standard rectangular shapes that never seem to work very well. The baby’s bottom never has a chance to slide off, and the changing pad has pockets to store diapers and wipes.

Most of the travel accessories for babies are meant to keep things organized, but there are some helpful items that will also keep children safe. There are safety gates in various sizes that can keep a toddler from tumbling down several flights of stairs, and these gates can even be used to keep small dogs in the right part of a friends backyard during a visit.

Every new mother will feel a bit of weight gain after they give birth to their child. A trip to the gym once or twice a week will help them to regain their figure. There are travel accessories for babies that provide enough activities that the child can have their own gym to play with even if their Mom is on some exercise equipment a few feet away. The hanging toys on the baby gym are travel accessories for babies that will help the child progress nicely and become fit in the process.

Madeira Life Quite Slow

The island of Madeira is located in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean. The mariners who discovered the island in the 15th century were led by Joao Goncalves Zarco and Vaz Teixeira. Drawn by curiosity concerning what looked like a dark cloud, the mariners sailed into a breathtakingly beautiful bay and high green mountain.

Upon hearing of this, Dom Henriques began to organise the cultivation and colonisation of the island, shipping in high quality vines, sugar cane, wheat and barley grains and the finest cattle. Settlers came from the Algarve to create farms on the island, its claimed that the settlers chose the names Adam and Eve for the first boy and girl to be born in Madeira.

Funchal is the capitol of the island and a beautifully colourful port. The Portuguese took immense pride in the island and fine decorative architecture can be found everywhere. The quality of the fruit and vegetables that are grown on the island is exceptional. A visit to the lavradores market will give you the opportunity to discover how much difference there is between the homogenised products that are sold in supermarkets and the flavour filled produce that is grown locally.

The nearest beach requires a two hour boat ride to the island of Porto Santo. It is claimed that Christopher Colombus lived here, married to the daughter of the governor of the island.

Living in Madeira expatriates will find the pace of life quite slow and the quality of life achievable very high. Especially during the summer season the island is busy with tourism traffic but this doesnt affect the laid back nature of the locals. This is worth bearing in mind because those who want things doing quickly may find they have to wait and wait. In terms of finding work in Madeira, unless you speak Portuguese the majority of jobs available are in the tourism industry.

Like property in Portugal, especially on the Algarve, property in Madeira is not cheap basically on any island there is a limited supply of property for sale which in a place like Madeira where demand for real estate is high creates an environment where prices rise quite sharply. The level of health care available in Madeira is quite high, there are a number of private medical centres as well as the main hospital Cruz de Carvalho, but private expatriate health insurance is recommended for those moving to Madeira. For those moving to the island that have children, The British School of Madeira is a bilingual Portuguese and English school recognised by the Regional Education Authority of Madeira but there are other international and local options available to parents.

Inhabitants of Rwanda Were Pygmoid

Rwanda is a landlocked republic in Equatorial Africa, situated on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift, a western arm of the Great Rift Valley, on the watershed between Africas two largest river systems the Nile and the Congo.

Much of the countries are impressively mountainous, the highest peak being Karisimbi, in the volcanic Virunga chain protected by the Volcanoes National Park. The largest body of water is Lake Kivu, but there are other numerous lakes around the country, notably Burera, Ruhondo, Muhazi and Mugesera, some of which have erratic shapes following the contours of the steep mountains that enclose them.

Primarily a subsistence agriculture economy, Rwanda nonetheless produces for export some of the finest tea and coffee in the world. Other industries include sugar, fishing and flowers for export.

A combination of tropical location and high altitude ensures that most of Rwanda has a temperate year round climate. Temperatures rarely stray above 30 degrees Celsius by day or below 15 degrees Celsius at night throughout the year. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes of the Virunga Mountains, and the hot low lying Tanzania border area protected in Akagera National Park.

Throughout the country, seasonal variations in temperature are relatively insignificant. Most parts of the country receive in excess of 1,000mm of precipitation annually, with the driest months being July to September and the wettest February to May.

The earliest known inhabitants of Rwanda were pygmoid hunter gatherers, ancestral to the modern Twa people who today comprise only 0.25 percent of the national population. Some 2,000 years ago, agricultural and pastoralist migrants from the west settled in the area. Oral traditions recall that prior to the 15th century a ruler named Gihanga forged a centralised Rwandan state with similar roots to the Buganda and Bunyoro Empires in neighbouring Uganda. Comprised of a cattle owning nobility and agriculturist serfdom majority the precursors respectively of the modern day Tutsi and Hutu this powerful state was able to repel all early attempts at European penetration.

Lucky visitors may chance upon spontaneous traditional performances in the villages of Rwanda. The finest exponent of Rwandas varied and dynamic traditional musical and dance styles, however, is the Intore Dance Troupe.

Founded several centuries ago, the Intore literally The Chosen Ones once performed exclusively for the Royal Court, but today their exciting act can be arranged at short notice through the National Museum in Butare.

A more modern form of Rwandan music is the upbeat and harmonious devotional singing that can be heard in any church service around the country.

Samui Lifestyle and Activities

Not that long ago Samui island was a favorite destination for adventure seeking sun worshippers. These seasoned travelers visited Samui long before it was in the guide books. Seaside bungalows were available for as little as 150 baht per night, and you could count on spending day after sunny day on the beach in near perfect tranquility. These visitors found there was an almost mesmerizingly restful and carefree feel to the island that often kept them here long after they intended to return home.

Those who have known and loved Samui Island since those early days may not agree about the current pace of development in some areas, but for the most part they do agree on one thing. The island retains its sleepy magic and Ko Samui is still a tropical paradise. These days’ luxury Samui villas are popping up throughout the island and Ko Samui seems intent on catching up with its Andaman counterpart, Phuket in terms of development, infrastructure and the choice of Samui villas.

However, much of Samui Island, especially south coast, remains largely undeveloped. A day spent on a motorbike or in a jeep exploring this lush terrain is a day of sheer serendipity. With its spectacular and astonishingly diverse flora, and its dozy little neighborhoods peopled by some of the world’s most amiable islanders, this kind of exploration is sure to provide the delights you imagined when you planned your holiday.

Short direct flights here now on Samui Island depart several times a day from Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. You can also arrive by train, bus and boat.

The most obvious thing to do while holidaying on Koh Samui is to laze on one of the beautiful beaches, and swim or paddle in the warm tropical waters, but you will probably want to do other things as well, and there are lots and lots to do. Some of the more popular activities include Snorkeling. Snorkellers can accompany their diving companions on scuba dive trips, take a tour organized for snorkellers, a trip arranged by local fishermen to one of the many surrounding islands, or just snorkel from the beaches and rock formations dotted around the Island. Either way, the beauty of the coral and fish that can be seen through your mask is great.

Windsurfing equipment is available for rent from several water sport centers around the island. Lessons are available for beginner adults and children. Prices start from 300 baht per hour for equipment rental and from 500 baht for a one hour individual lesson (equipment included). The conditions for windsurfing are great, with good offshore winds throughout the year.

Scuba Diving is also very popular and the Gulf of Thailand offers a huge variety of dive sites suitable for all levels of diver. So whether you want to blow your very first bubbles underwater or you’re an experienced diver looking for something more challenging, there are plenty of options to choose from.

One of the things that makes Samui so appealing is the fact that you can still stop at a street cart for a 30 baht plate of Pad Thai or Fried Rice, while just around the corner a lavish buffet is being served on the beach. All the options are here, including several Thai vegetarian restaurants.

In recent years an international community of entrepreneur restaurateurs have brought to Samui the cuisines of Japan, Italy, Germany, India, Brazilian, Switzerland, France, Sweden and Mexico, among others. Good Western cuisine can now be found in almost every village on the island. Need a “back home” style snack or a fast-food fix? There are excellent bakeries, ice cream parlours, McDonalds is in Chaweng and Lamai along with other well known pizza outlets.

If you stay long enough for your digestive system to begin to get acclimatized, you might try eating at one of the outdoor evening markets that locals frequent. Here you will find some of Samui’s most authentic (and spicy!) Thai food. The seating arrangements may be crude and the air filled with the noise of nearby locals relaxing after work with Karaoke, but the food will be hot, tasty and cheap.

Aquariums are a must-see when in California

California vacations are all about doing things with the entire family, and one of the best things to do while in the Golden State is visit one of the state’s top-notch aquariums. From San Francisco to La Jolla, there are several awaiting your discovery.

If you have young kids, a trip to an aquarium can be richly rewarding experience as you watch the wonder in their eyes as they get an up-close look at the other-worldly creatures swimming in tanks designed to look like native habitats. With elaborate signing and fun hands-on exhibits, an aquarium seems almost like a theme park to most children. They’ll discover sealife and various creatures that will offer hours of stimulation.

Here is where you can find some great aquariums in the state of California:

Monterey Bay Aquarium

With its colorful history and Cannery Row sightseeing, Monterey is a popular destination for many California travelers. And Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the biggest reasons people travel to Monterey. You can easily spend many hours in this first-class facility housing more than 6,500 fascinating sea creatures.

Housed in one of the former cannery buildings, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fascinating exploration of the undersea life found near Monterey. The aquarium covers everything from tide pool creatures to sharks and even features a 31-foot high kelp forest that is visible in one of the aquarium’s huge tanks. Two-story viewing windows give visitors the feeling they are truly 20,000 leagues under the sea.

One of our first impressions was how unique and artistic many of the exhibits are. They combine living creatures with art displays in a very unsual way. The great thing is that exhibits are always changing. So, while we enjoyed the Jellies during our visit, you’ll see other interesting exhbits when you go: Living Art exhibit which featured not only the always colorful jellyfish, but artwork and installations by such well know art figures as Dale Chihuly, David Hockney and Cork Marcheschi.

Among the other parts of the aquarium we enjoyed were the sharks and schools of fish in the Monterey Bay Habitats section, the unusual animals found only at great depths in the Mysteries of the Deep exhibit, and the California Sea Otters, always a crowd favorite.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach. For more information, phone 1-800-756-3737 or visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.

Aquarium of the Pacific

If you haven’t been to Long Beach yet, you’re in for a treat. You’ve no doubt heard about the famous Queen Mary – worth an hour or two of exploration all by itself – but nearby is Rainbow Harbor, which offers a multitude of activities that are all within a short walk. The “boardwalk” around the harbor’s shoreline takes you past a host of sea-going vessels ranging from huge excursion boats to paddle-wheel riverboats to historic schooners to garden-variety fishing boats. Several boats offer harbor tours while others will take you whale-watching.

One of the must-see attractions right in Rainbow Harbor is the Aquarium of the Pacific. Home to more than 12,500 ocean animals, the Aquarium also features 19 major habitats and 32 focus exhibits. We spent a couple hours wandering through the exhibits and found each one fascinating and a fun experience for oldsters as well as youngsters.

The Shark Lagoon is one of the most popular exhibits at the Aquarium of the Pacific. With more than 150 sharks, the lagoon includes large sharks, rays and shark touch pools where you reach down and feel them as they swim by. The Aquarium also has exhibits on various geographic areas including the Northern Pacific, Southern California/Baja and the Tropical Pacific.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is an example of major redevelopment that has made Long Beach one of the most surprising and interesting destinations in California. This is a former Navy town, which some people say spawned businesses that mainly catered to enlisted men and were not the family-oriented type of businesses they needed to be a major tourist attraction. All of that has now changed and the stylish condos, new restaurants and colorful shopping areas such as Shoreline Village and Pine Avenue have made Long Beach a popular spot for families and couples from all over California.

Aquarium of the Bay

Next time you visit Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, the Aquarium of the Bay is right in the center of the action. Even in summer, the chilly breezes blowing down on the wharf may convince you it would be good to take a break and see a great exhibit that happens to be located indoors.

Uniquely, the Aquarium of the Bay has about 300 tunnels that visitors can walk through that makes it feel like you’re walking through a fish tank. Sharks, eels, octopus – whatever sea animals you’re interested in, chances are you’ll see it swimming somewhere at the Aquarium of the Bay.

The kids will be especially interested in the touch pools where they can touch starfish, bat rays and even small sharks.

But here it’s not just the aquarium that brings the ocean to life – the many seafood restaurants and tourist attractions along Pier 39 create a festive atmosphere with great vistas of the San Francisco Bay. Take a walk along the pier and you’ll probably spot dozens of sea lions sprawling on the docks below. It’s as if they’re holding court for the tourists who can’t resist their charms.

For more information on the Aquarium of the Bay, visit www.aquariumofthebay.com or call 1-888-732-3483.

Birch Aquarium

The village of La Jolla, near San Diego, is worth a getaway any time of year with its spectacular coastal views, great restaurants and trendy shopping. But one of the best local attractions for kids is the Birch Aquarium.

This is not a huge facility like the aquariums in Monterey and Long Beach, but rather a smaller, more intimate experience where the kids can take their time viewing the exhibits and where parents won’t have to deal with large crowds.

Exhibits at the aquarium are organized by type of fish, and by type of environment. For example, the “Gateway to Baja” looks at fish from that particular region. Another exhibit is on the various species found in tide pools. You can see the difference between the fish found in Southern California waters and those found in the tropics.

Among the most popular exhibits at the Birch Aquarium is the seahorse exhibit where you can view a wide variety of these creatures ranging from tiny half-inch seahorses up to sea dragons. Kids also will learn a lot about oceanography through various interactive exhibits. They can ride an earthquake machine or learn the properties of water and how waves are made. Videos offer extraordinary glimpses of life beneath the sea.

For more information on Birch Aquarium, call 858-534-3474 or visit http://aquarium.ucsd.edu.

Travel Agents Event Management

It does not matter the size of the conference or where it is, travel agents can be a major help in their planning. Travel agents can be especially helpful if it is an international conference. Travel agents can have knowledge of the area as well as such things as transportation, accommodations, and hospitality issues. One of the main hassles when planning a conference is taking care of the needs of the people attending. It doesn’t matter if it is a press release, convention, training seminar, or product launch, travel agents can take care of many of the needs of the attendees so that the people attending or the people running the conferences do not have to worry about those details. The larger the conference the more travel agents can be of service.

One of the main ways that travel agents can help with conferences is with transportation and travel needs. Many times if the conference is international the people attending the conference will need a way to get there. Travel agents can help with flight, train or bus information as well as procuring tickets. The larger the group travelling to a conference the more travel agents can be used and many times they can also get better deals. Travel agents are in direct contact with airlines, train lines, and bus services so they can find out if there is space available as well as the best price for the ticket. They can also contact charter services, as it may be cheaper to travel this way for larger groups. Another advantage of using travel agents is that they can be available to coordinate travel times so that it can be easier, once the people arrive, that they do so around the same time making it easier to either get to accommodations or to the conference itself.

Another beneficial aspect when using travel agents when dealing with conferences are accommodation issues. Much like travel issues the travel agent can have direct contact with hotels and inns as they can find accommodations for people that are travelling to the conference. Also much like travel they may be able to find better rates than if the people travelling to the conference booked accommodations themselves. One thing that travel agents have as well are information about package deals, which can save people, or a company, a lot of money as travel, accommodation, and transportation services can all be packaged in one deal. When people travel out of town to go to a conference they will also have transportation needs so they can get to and from the conference itself. They can also help with such things as arranging for car rentals and taxi services to and from the conference. Travel agents can also find accommodations that are closest to the conference site. If a travel agent is working with one group of people there is also a better chance that they will be staying in one location, or, at least, close to each other. This is a crucial aspect of a conference if many people from one organization or company are in attendance.

While travel agents can be used for many types of conferences one of the most important ways in which they can be used is for companies that need to have many employees in attendance. For example, if the company is having a training seminar for hundreds of employees their main goal is to make sure that the seminar runs smoothly. The company needs to find a conference site and deal with the information that will be presented at a seminar. If the company uses travel agents there is a huge amount of time and resources that can be saved that can be used in areas of more importance. Any time that the company needs to take care of the travel needs of the people in attendance travel agents should be used.

Travel agents can also be of service when dealing with hospitality issues as well. If the conference runs more than one day they can find out information such as where to eat and what there is to do in the area that people are travelling to. If the people that attend the conference do everything for themselves they will not be as informed, as if a travel agents took care of them. Travel agents can find restaurants, make reservations, book lunches, and rent out halls, just to name a few things they can do.

The hassles that can arise when travelling to conventions can be great for the people travelling to them and the people running them. By using travel agents many of those hassles are taken care of. When dealing with conferences, especially international ones and ones where many people will be in attendance, the things that travel agents can take care can be invaluable to both the company and/or the traveller.

Explore Scenic Shenzhen, China

Situated in Guangdong Province, China, Shenzhen is a city with a population of over 12 million people. Any of the travel guides of China does not say much about this city except the fact that it is good only for shopping.

The impression is changed now due to its fast growth. Shenzhen is a sub-provincial city of southern China and is well-known for its great immediacy with the border of Hong Kong. Shenzhen is a hub of foreign investment and it has been one of the fastest growing cities in the world since the late 1970s. It also holds the busiest port in China after Shanghai. Now-a-days Shenzhen is a lively, multi-ethnic city that offers variety of cultural and leisure venues for travelers, as well as endless shopping and dining.

Shenzhen has three most famous city center places, Diwang Building, Grand Theater and Citizens’ Center, which attract thousand of tourists year round. With 69 floors, Diwang building is the tallest building in Shenzhen and is the symbol city’s fast growth. This building is home to the most high-status firms in the city. You can have a view over the whole city from the viewing deck in the 68th floor. Mix C, a multi-storied shopping center, is situated just opposite to the Diwang building. It has ice rink, cinema, and lots of international style restaurants.

Shenzhen Stock Exchange is situated near the Diwang. Completely renovated in 2006, Grand Theater is the best place to enjoy classical music and traditional Chinese music events. Near the Grand Theater is Lychee Park. A picture of Deng Xiao Peng, the “father of Shenzhen”, is displayed on the signboard which is placed on the corner of the park. Deng Xiao Peng made the plan to develop Shenzhen in to a global scale metropolis from a fishing village.

Citizens’ Center was built when the government decided to change the central business district out of the city center. Citizens’ Center is a large government building with “bird shape” roof. Children’s Palace amusement center and exemplary New Shenzhen Library near the Citizen’s Center are also worth visiting. New Exhibition Center which is built in typical Shenzhen style is around half a mile from the Citizens’ Center.

The Window of the World, Chinese Folk Culture Villages, Happy Valley, Splendid China, the Dameisha Promenade, the Safari Park in Nanshan district, Xiaomeisha Beach Resort in Yantian district, Zhongying Street, Xianhu Lake Botanical Garden, and Minsk World are some of the major place of tourist interest. There are several public park which offers free admission including Lianhuashan Park, Lizhi Park and Wutongshan Park. Shenzhen has several well-known restaurants which provide various mouth-watering cuisines and you can taste your favorite food from these restaurants.

The Window of the World is a theme park which is situated in the western part of Shenzhen. It holds around 130 reproductions of some of the well-known tourist attractions in the world. Sprawls around an area of about 480,000 square meters, the park houses the models of 108 meter tall Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. The park also holds several international restaurants and mini exhibitions on well-known figures from world history.

In Window of the World you can eat Mexican food, see the Niagara Falls and stroll around Angkor Wat. It will take half a day to explore the whole park. Firework and laser shows will be there in the end of the day. You can enjoy Fervorous Paris Nights at Caesar’s Palace in the evenings. Happy Valley is another major tourist spot in Shenzhen. Several sightseeing areas are there in Happy Valley which includes Cartoon City, Mt. Advantage, Gold Mine Town, Shangri-la Woods, Sunshine Beach, Typhoon Bay, Happy Times, Playa Maya Water Park and Spanish Square are also worth a visit. Attractions in the Happy Valley include the Gold Mine Train, Space Port, suspended Looping Coaster and Shoot the Cute.

Splendid China, a complete miniature park, is capable of satisfying the visitors. It reflects the history, art, culture, ancient architecture, and customs and habits of various nationalities in the country. Developed and managed by the major travel and tourist corporation, China Travel Services, it is also the largest scenery parks in the world. The Minsk World, a military theme park, is situated in Dapeng Bay, Shenzhen. Opened on May 10, 2000, the park ground holds the huge former Soviet aircraft carrier. There is a theatre on the fifth floor of the park which can accommodate 776 people at a time. Why waiting still to visit Shenzhen? Plan your next vacation to this vibrant city now itself.

Fun For The Entire Family – Fishing, Sailing, Nature Cruises And More

When planning a family vacation, people often choose to enjoy a day on the water as part of the vacation. Why do families love to go fishing, sailing or boating? These types of trips offer togetherness, laughter, new experiences, and a day of fresh air and sunshine. The assistance offered on charter boats, tours and guided trips help make activities stress free and relaxing for everyone. Another benefit of selecting a chartered or guided trip knowing you are in safe hands as most charter boat captains and guides are licensed professionals with the experience, training and equipment to deal with the unpredictability of the local weather, landscape and environmental conditions.

Choosing your Guide or Charter Boat. When choosing a guide, charter or tour boat, it may be a good idea to consider the weather, traffic, and other factors, and plan ahead. Some boats provide charters on short notice, while others may be booked up to a year in advance. Depending on the trip, season and vessel you might need sun block, camera, insect repellent, water, snacks, a light jacket or even rain gear. Information on what to bring is typically available by contacting the captain in advance.

The number of people, age and health of your family group will be a factor in choosing a charter. Adventure seeking adults might choose a day fishing offshore for tuna, marlin or sharks while a family with young children might instead enjoy a pontoon boat that provides a scenic cruises or nature tours. Many guides and charter boat operators have responded to family’s needs by offering a wider range of trips and varying times to suit the various age groups.While the charter industry might have once served mostly men, today’s captains will be of both sexes and will offer trips geared towards all ages and skill levels.

Fishing Trips. Fishing charters and guided fishing allows families to enjoy a non-pressure day of fishing. Usually it doesn’t really matter if the anglers are not catching lots of fish, usually families still enjoy the day togeter. The expression on a kid’s face when catching their first fish is usually priceless though.

Fishing guides might fish for flounder, trout, bluefish, croakers, spot, drum, striped bass, shark, sea bass, tautog, tuna, billfish, mahi-mahi, wahoo or other fish, depending on the season, boat and destination. Other trips will feature crabbing, shrimping, clamming, or just exploring.

Sailing charters are another option. Sailboats from single occupant models up to top of the line ocean going yachts are ready to go, depending on the size of your group, time, distance and price range that you desire.

Nature Cruises and Eco-Tours. Waterfront destinations generally offer a variety of boat cruises, nature cruises, scenic cruises, sunset cruises, site-seeing, eco-tourism trips, kayaking adventures and fishing charters. Having a choice of guided trips gives families a bit of a backup plan and there is usually something for everyone. For more experienced mariners, boat and other watercraft rentals are sometimes an option as well.

Nature cruises and eco-tourism tours provide encounters with of wildlife and waterfowl including deer, ducks, geese, herons, egrets, plovers and other shorebirds, whales, porpoises, otters, seals and more. Local guides know the best areas for viewing nature and are eager to guide families to share scenes that just cannot be viewed from land.

Hopefully after being out on boat fishing, you’ll experience best night’s sleep you’ve had in along time.

What To See And What To Do In Tokyo

Situated in the Kanto region on the mid-eastern part of the Honshu Island, Tokyo is the capital and the largest city in Japan. Tokyo, literally meaning ‘Eastern Capital,’ is also one of the 47 prefectures in the country. However, it is much popular as a metropolis rather than a prefecture. The largest of its kind in the world, Tokyo’s metropolis is made up of: 26 cities, 23 city wards, eight villages, and five towns.

Once a typical village known as Edo – the city became the political center of the country when Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most powerful rulers, established his feudal government here during the 16th century. But, Tokyo got its present name when the emperor Meiji shifted his capital from Kyoto to Edo. A city of contrasts, Tokyo has now become one of the most popular destinations in the world, brimming with world-class attractions.

Tokyo has to its credit such a great number of attractions that it takes months to explore them all. One of the most popular among the city’s attractions is Imperial Palace, which is still the residence of the emperor of Japan. The palace is built on a huge amazing site, where still the remains of Edo Castle can be seen. Another worth-visiting attraction here is Diet Parliament, which was opened in 1936. Equally worth mentioning is Kabuki-za Theatre, which is perhaps the most popular in the country. Opened its door in 1889, the theatre conducts daily performances.

No visit to Tokyo would be complete without taking a tour to Akihabara, also known as Akihabara Electric Town or Akiba. This area boasts of an enormous collection of electronic shops. Also, a great attraction in the city is Tokyo Tower, a soaring structure that takes after the Eiffel Tower in Paris. A marine aquarium can also be seen here. Additionally, Tokyo is home to Tsukiji Central Wholesale Market, one of the largest fish market in the world.

Other not to miss destinations in Tokyo are Shinjuku, a business area of the city with one of the biggest amusement squares in the country; Asakusa, with attractions such as Sensoji Temple and the Kaminarimon gate; Roppongi, a trendy area regarded as the international area of the city; and Odaiba, a highly developed waterfront as well as island area in Tokyo bay.

Above all, while your stay in the city, don’t miss Tokyo Disneyland, an amusement park with highlights such as Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour, Fantillusion, Western River Railroad, The Mickey Mouse Review, and Meet the World.

Shrines and Temples – Each of the temples in the city is truly a sight to see. Most popular among the shrines in the area is Sensoji Temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple. Located in Asakusa, the temple is a Buddhist shrine, with features such as the Kaminarimon or thunder gate and a five-storied pagoda. Nakamise, a shopping street with a history of several centuries, leads to the second gate of the temple, Hozomon.

Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife Shoken, is another popular temple in the city. Completed in 1920 and rebuilt after the Second World War, Meiji Shrine is home to various festivals and events.

A visit to such shrines as Sengakuji Temple, where 47 Ronin are buried; Yasukini Shrine, which commemorate Japan’s war dead; and Zojoji Temple – the main shrine of Buddhist Jado sect would be a great experience.

Museums – Tokyo has a great number of museums, which among many others, are the Tokyo National Museum – the oldest as well as the largest in the country; Mitsuo Aida Museum, with a rare collection of artifacts; Edo Tokyo Museum, where on display are artifacts related to the city’s history and culture; O Art Museum, a multi-purpose art museum; Mori Art Museum, showcasing contemporary Japanese art; Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum; Nezu Institute of Fine Art; the Bunkamura Museum of Fine Art; Science Museum of Tokyo, and Sompo Japan Museum of Art, housing works of Seiji Togo, a well-known Japanese artist.

Parks and Gardens – For nature lovers, Tokyo has an astounding array of parks and gardens. Some of the most popular among them are:

- Rikugien, a beautiful landscape garden designed in Japanese style

- Hama Rikyu, one of the most attractive gardens in the area, which once served as the garden of a feudal lord’s residence during the Edo period

- Kyu Shiba Rikyu Onshi Teien, which is developed on the site which was earlier the residence of several feudal lords as well as government officials

- East Gardens, an amazing garden located within the compounds of the Imperial Palace

- Ueno Park, one of the largest public parks in the country, is home to many museums, such as the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum for Western Art

- Yoyogi Koen, a unique park designed in western style

Tokyo has some of the best shopping areas in the form of Ginza district, located in the heart of the city. Many stores designer items, jewelry, and apparels can be seen here. Among the largest department stores in the area are Hankyu, Seibu, Printemps, Matsuya, Wako and Mikimoto.