Singapore Lights Up For Christmas

Singapore’s highly-anticipated ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ is on now and runs to 2 Jan 2012. This year, in addition to the festivities along Singapore’s prime shopping belts, Orchard Road and Marina Bay, the Sentosa HarbourFront precinct stakeholders will also come together to present a special Yuletide experience.

“Singapore’s ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ celebrations has almost become a tradition for locals and visitors from the region. This year, the two major precincts – Orchard Road and Marina Bay– have each designed their Christmas experience to feature a special and distinct focus. The Sentosa Harbour Front precinct has joined in to present even more fun and festivities to merry-makers this Christmas,” said Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Precinct Development, Singapore Tourism Board.

The Christmas Light-Ups at the precincts are led by their respective stakeholders and precinct associations. Each precinct’s creative light-up design is aimed at strengthening their individual identities as well as offer variety to appeal to different crowds.

ORCHARD ROAD

The Christmas Light-up on Orchard Road continues into its 28th year. In 2010, about 27 per cent of visitors to the light-up were tourists, marking a slight increase from the previous year’s 23 per cent.

The theme for this year's Christmas light-up is "Starlit Christmas" with the decorations revolving around the star representing love, peace and joy. As such, Orchard Road has been divided into three colour segments - pink representing peace, blue representing joy and purple representing love.

Having been ranked third in Lonely Planet’s list of “Top 10 Christmas Markets of the World”, and by Frommer’s as one of the “Top 10 World’s Best Holiday Lights 2010”, the 2011 edition of the Christmas Light-Up @ Orchard is set to once again delight visitors with its brilliant display of Christmas lights.

Directed by the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA), the light-up on Orchard Road is themed “Christmas Blooms in Singapore”, where the 2.2 km Orchard Road will be lit up like a tropical garden with a specially designed three-dimensional flower as the central icon to communicate the message of love and joy this Christmas.

“In the spirit of love and giving this Christmas, we hope to add a sparkle to the lives of those less fortunate even as our festive décor on Orchard Road is lit during the Switch-On Ceremony. A new ORBA charity initiative, we want to Light Up Beyond the Light-Up,” said Mrs Sng Ngoi May, Chairman of Orchard Road Business Association. “With every CCIS Candle lit by volunteers and members of the public on the night of the Ceremony, ORBA will donate a dollar to Community Chest.”

“Beyond charity, visitors can expect a visual and aural treat in our elaborately decorated precinct which will be enlivened with live musical performances. Visa cardholders can also look forward to exclusive shopping deals. With so much lined up this Christmas, we hope to bring exceptional experiences to everyone visiting Orchard Road.”

The Hitachi Group of Companies, the main sponsor of the Christmas Light-Up @ Orchard since 1991, is an important partner to bring the festive cheer to the crowds.

“The Hitachi Group is delighted to continue our support for the Christmas Light-up, a tradition that both locals and visitors look forward to annually. Our partnership with Community Chest to raise funds for the needy is in line with Hitachi's commitment to contribute to society wherever we are located and we are glad that we are able to play a role in helping to spread cheer to the less fortunate during this festive period,” said Mr Makoto Nagashima, Managing Director of Hitachi Asia Ltd.

The theme for this year's Christmas light-up is "Starlit Christmas" with the decorations revolving around the star representing love, peace and joy. As such, Orchard Road has been divided into three colour segments - pink representing peace, blue representing joy and purple representing love.

MARINA BAY

Over at Marina Bay, the Marina Bay Business Association unveils a dramatic bayside experience with “Christmas Alive at Marina Bay”, a daring breakthrough from conventional street decorations that throws the spotlight on musical performances, art installations and interactive street decorations.

“This year, we have partnered the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts for the first time to create an arts-inspired Christmas experience against the stunning backdrop of Marina Bay. We look forward to seeing Marina Bay come alive with spectacular night displays and a host of exciting fringe events—from choral performances to land and sea cruises, charity events involving a specially designed Gail Pantin umbrella and even a Christmas food trail,” said Michelle Koh, President of Marina Bay Business Association

SENTOSA HARBOURFRONT

For the first time, stakeholders from the Sentosa HarbourFront precinct have come together to organise a precinct-wide Christmas Light-Up to celebrate the festive season with the crowds. On 19 November, thousands of iridescent lights were lit in synchrony, turning the spotlight on the vibrant and charming Sentosa HarbourFront.  Adding to the splendour, a there is a special minute-and-half light-and-sound show at the waterfront area of Resorts World Sentosa along with roving characters on stilts.

“In the jolly spirit of Christmas, the precinct’s leisure, entertainment and retail giants will put up a mesmerising display of the most sparkling Christmas lights,” said Noel Denis Hawkes, Vice President of Travel Partner Relations at Resorts World Sentosa on behalf of Sentosa HarbourFront.

“Precinct-wide celebratory promotions from Mount Faber to VivoCity, HarbourFront Centre, Resorts World Sentosa and Sentosa Island will ensure everyone shares in the Christmas cheer.”

SEASON FESTIVITIES AND HIGHLIGHTS

This holiday season, merry-makers can look forward to new retail concepts and first-to-market brands including Orchard Road’s Knightsbridge, Scotts Square, H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch. Event organisers and businesses have also prepared a host of lifestyle offerings and experiences ranging from entertainment, dining to retail options.

A first for Singapore and the ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ celebrations is the introduction of the Elephant Parade, the largest open-air art exhibition worldwide that seeks to generate public awareness and support for the preservation of the Asian elephant.

Hundreds of brightly painted life-sized elephant statues will be displayed prominently on the streets of Singapore, including Orchard Road. Painted by local and international artists, each elephant is a unique piece of art. All elephants will be auctioned off after the exhibition, of which a significant portion of the benefits will be donated to the Elephant Family, the largest elephant charity in the world.

The malls along Orchard Road are decked out in their holiday best as the “Best Dressed Building Contest” will takes place.

Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS) takes place on Orchard Road and Marina Bay from 16 to 25 December this year. For the last eight years, CCIS has told the story of Christmas in various entertaining ways, expressed through song, dance and theatre. During the ten days of CCIS, spectators can revel in the festive spirit with nightly music and drama performances, as well as a drive past of spectacularly decorated Christmas floats.

In addition, Singapore’s two integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, will celebrate the Christmas cheer with visitors and locals through their festive décor, hotel packages and special events.

At Marina Bay Sands, visitors can look forward to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition from 3 December 2011 to the end of January 2012, which will offer the young and old alike a world of adventure, inspired by the legendary C.S. Lewis. In the spirit of the holiday season, all proceeds from the sale of exhibition tickets will go to the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. Broadway’s biggest blockbuster WICKED will also fly into Singapore to cast its magical spell on audiences at the Grand Theater from 6 December 2011 to 26 February 2012.

A Fairytale Christmas at Resorts World Sentosa will see the integrated resort transformed into a magical fairytale land with the most dazzling lights, iconic arches, fairytale tableaus, roving characters and Southeast Asia’s tallest Christmas tree at 38 metres with 20 carollers performing at the foot of the tree. From 12 November to 31 December 2011, visitors can enjoy fairytale-themed events, festive promotions at RWS’ hotels and attractions, dining privileges and daily entertainment from carollers and musical bands. Come 3 December 2011, TRANSFORMERS The Ride will also make its world debut at Universal Studios Singapore®.

No Christmas is complete without shopping. Shoppers will have plenty to be excited about during this festive season as they get more value out of their spending.

Visa, as a strategic partner, is once again partnering STB to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Tourists visiting Singapore during the ‘Christmas in the Tropics’ period will enjoy shopping privileges when they pay with their Visa cards.

A Visa spokesperson said: “Visa is excited to be working in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board to support the Christmas in the Tropics celebrations, which is fast becoming one of the highlights of the Singapore festive season. This year, Visa has a series of attractive cardholder promotions to reward shoppers including a S$10 voucher when they spend S$200 with their Visa cards at any of the participating shopping malls in Orchard Road, and the chance to purchase a limited edition Gail Pantin umbrella for just S$15 with every S$80 spent at Marina Bay, with part of the proceeds going to the Singapore Community Chest.”

World’s Exotic Lotuses to Be Displayed at Chiang Mai Horticulture Expo

Lovers of the plant kingdom, members of the travel trade, consumers, agro-scientists, conservationists, and all those keen to help tackle global warming, climate change, and similar looming challenges of the 21st century, will find that the place to be is at Thailand’s greatest garden show, the International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011.

The International Horticultural Exposition, known as the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Fair is aimed to mark and celebrate the three auspicious occasions - HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday anniversary in 2011, Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday anniversary and Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 60 birthday anniversary in 2012.

There will be grand-scale celebrations. Activities are divided into three parts - exhibitions about agriculture and the royal agricultural projects, national and international agricultural conferences, and plant contests.

Most interestingly, visitors will see for the first time at this Expo a fascinating innovation in horticulture developed by Thai agriculturalists – a giant color-changing lotus. This lotus is usually categorized under the same group as the giant lotus of Australia, which is considered very rare. Thailand’s Lotus Research Department, Ministry of Agriculture, has developed it as a thoroughbred. When cross-breeding is done properly, a total of five colors is achieved: white, pink, light blue, dark blue, and purple. The lotus petals change their color, starting from white in its first bloom and gradually darkening every day till finally the color turns to fuchsia. The flower will bloom for up to six days. The best time to admire this miracle is on a bright, sunny day between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Another highlight of the exposition is the miniature lotus. This lotus flower is very small and can be grown in small containers like bowls or coffee cups. Requiring only a little sunlight, it can thrive even in the shade.

Unconventional Christmas Trees Sprouting Up at Siem Reap Hotels

I'm not sure if you’ve noticed, but there’s a bit of a fir tree shortage here in Cambodia. And as for those palm trees, well, it’d be tough to reach the top with a star.

So as the Yuletide season creeps upon us and many are left contemplating The Christmas Tree Situation, two of Temple Town’s premier hotels have decided to solve the dilemma by designing their own versions of the traditional tree.

There’s not a piece of tinsel in sight at Raffles d’Angkor Hotel as its Eric Raisina-designed haute couture Christmas tree takes pride of place in the lobby. Inspired by the lotus flower, the striking structure consists of over 800 fabric flowers. It took two weeks to create, and is Raisina’s second festive creation for the hotel.

“For me the lotus flower is Cambodia, it’s everywhere, it’s so symbolic,” explained Siem Reap’s foremost designer at the launch of the tree.

Eric described the laborious process involved in making the tree. The organza silk blooms were hand stitched and embroidered by him and his team, using the iconic pink and white shades of the lotus, building from bud to flower. As for the portholes, Raisina says these were created for several reasons. “The lotus comes in many forms, and primarily this shows the holes in the flower, but I was also conscious of the space. I wanted people to be able to see through it, and make use of the lighting.”

Launching the tree were children from the Sunrise Village, who serenaded guests after designing the hotel’s Christmas card this year; the sales of which will go back to their village. Raffles also boasts a five-foot-tall edible ginger bread house, though cracks are starting to appear where wily guests have taken a nibble.

Meanwhile Hotel de la Paix also had a talented designer-in-residence creating a unique take on the tannenbaum. Organisers looked in-house for creative talent and found it in their artistic director of sales and marketing, Christian De Boer.

His stunning creation consists of 3,000 white goose feathers individually hung from the ceiling. Christian says he’s had the vision to create the tree since he was five years old. “This tree has been my dream. Cambodia is a Buddhist country, so it’s not really correct to have the traditional tree, so why not play with ideas and let your imagination run wild?”

Wild is a good word for it. Christian worked with the hotel’s art curator Sasha Constable to time the launch of the tree around an endangered-species art exhibit happening later in December.

The tree took a full week to assemble with de la Paix’s housekeeping team and engineers painstakingly measuring and hanging the feathers. Christian said the image of the tree has gone viral online, receiving praise from around the world.

“That’s exactly why we made this tree,” explained the hotelier turned artiste. “We want to show people Cambodia is more than just temples.”

If you’re a fan of holly, baubles, mince pies and mulled wine, you may have to look further afield, but if a modern day Cambo Crimbo is what you’re after, two pioneering venues in Siem Reap are giving the “most wonderful time of the year” an inventive new twist.

Source - phnompenhpost

Mary Poppins a Major NSW Success Story

NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts, George Souris, has declared the Sydney production of the musical, Mary Poppins, a raging success with almost half a million people experiencing the Mary Poppins magic at the Capitol Theatre.

Mr Souris said Mary Poppins found the perfect home in Sydney with locals and visitors alike embracing this world class production starring Australia’s best musical talent.

“The Capitol Theatre is experiencing 93 per cent capacity throughout the season, with 21 per cent of attendees from regional NSW and more than 11 per cent or 54,000 of patrons coming from interstate and overseas.

“Destination NSW estimates that of this 11 per cent, about 36,000 interstate and overseas visitors came to Sydney specifically to see Mary Poppins, generating up to $20 million in new money for the State, over nine months.

“2011 has been a bumper year for major musicals in Sydney, breaking the one million ticket sales mark for major musicals in Sydney.

“The NSW economy has received in excess of $70 million from interstate and international visitors who came specifically to see these musicals.

“This is a fantastic outcome. There is no doubt major musical productions drive tourism, enhance the cultural life of the city and generate economic benefit for the people of NSW.
“Destination NSW’s musical strategy is well on track and Sydney has re-emerged as the number one city for first run musicals as well as successful second run shows, including, Mary Poppins, Jersey Boys and Wicked.First run major musicals can generate $20 million in just six months.

“This year Sydney hosted the Australian premiere of Doctor Zhivago to critical acclaim and it’s going to be a very exciting year for musicals on the 2012 NSW Events Calendar.

“We will be hosting the Australian premiere of Annie and Legally Blonde and the world premiere of An Officer and a Gentleman as well as the southern hemisphere’s only stage production of Richard III starring Kevin Spacey.

“In 2013 Sydney will stage the Australian premiere of The Addams Family and the world premiere of Baz Luhmann's Strictly Ballroom – the Musical.

“Sydney is fast becoming a city that producers worldwide are choosing to premiere their musicals.

“The NSW Government is a great supporter of musical theatre. Pursuing major events including blockbuster musicals through Destination NSW forms a key part of NSW Government’s strategy to rebuild the NSW economy.

“Destination NSW working closely with the City of Sydney as part of the State’s musicals strategy to ensure CBD marketing activation for musicals opening in Sydney.

“Mary Poppins has demonstrated there is always a market for high quality productions that capture people’s imagination.

“Mary Poppins comes to end with the last performance on Saturday 17 December. Sydney has thoroughly enjoyed having Mary Poppins in our city”. 

Lights of Christmas

Come along and view a spectacular show of light and colour against one of Australia's most beautiful buildings, St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, capital city of NSW Australia.

Like a story book, the building's facade will showcase spectacular creative designs and light projections that explore this year's theme, peace.

Enjoy choral performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. The sounds of Christmas, festivity and joy will emenate from the voices of our city's best choral singers as darkness falls and the lights are switched on at 8.30pm.

Afterwards, take a walk to Sydney Town Hall where the projections continue up until 1am.

 

St Mary’s Cathedral

St Mary’s Cathedral will be lit up this December, hosting beautiful projections. Choirs will be singing beautiful carols from 7.30-8.30 during 8-25 December (Thursday to Sunday only).
Venue: St Mary’s Cathedral
Date: to 25 December
Time: 8.30-midnight

Note:- For those who can’t get to Sydney you can watch a video of the St Marys Cathedral lights at http://www.xt3.com/lights2011 or  http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19249634 

Sydney Town Hall

St Mary’s Cathedral will also be lit up this December, hosting beautiful projections.. Choirs will be singing beautiful carols from 7.30-8.30 during 8-25 December (Thursday to Sunday only).
Venue: Sydney Town Hall
Date: to 25 December
Time: 8.30-1am

World's HIghest Hotel

The world's highest hotel opens its doors in Hong Kong, housed in the city's tallest skyscraper and offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbour. Photo: AFP

The world's highest hotel opened its doors in Hong Kong In March this year. It is housed in the city's tallest skyscraper and offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbour.

Towering some 490 metres above the bustling, chaotic streets of the Southern Chinese city, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel is making a grand comeback after temporarily closing in 2008.

Visitors peer out of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre, which houses the hotel, for a 360 degree view of the glitzy financial hub and the South China Sea.

"We're opening an iconic hotel which took us about 10 years to build," president and chief operations officer Herve Humler told reporters. “We are taking luxury to new heights in every sense."

The Ritz-Carlton however will likely lose the world's highest hotel title in 2014 when the J-Hotel opens near the top of the over 600-metre Shanghai Tower in mainland China.

"People compete all around the world about everything -- I'm sure someone somewhere is building an even taller building as we speak," Humler said. "We emphasise service."

Inside the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong exudes a chic, modern vibe in the restaurants and lobby areas, with a lot of sparkling decor and chandeliers, the main colour themes being black, brown and beige.

Visitors can find facilities that include the highest bar in the world, and a top-floor pool that features a 19-metre ceiling-mounted LCD screen which swimmers can watch while enjoying the warmth of the heated water. With 312 guest rooms, the hotel also has one of the largest ballrooms in the city at 930 square metres.

Humler said mainland Chinese customers account for about 35 per cent of the hotel group's market, up from just three to four percent 14 years ago. "This number is expected to rise. Mainland China is a key market for us. Asia as a region has bounced back significantly in the past year, with business going up about 20 percent in 2010," said Humler. "In China, everything that is created has to have the "wow" factor to attract the top echelons of society. They want quality service and efficiency," the president added.

Brunei Darussalam, - Facts and Figures

OFFICIAL NAME: Negara Brunei Darussalam (The Country of Brunei, Abode of Peace)

FLAG

Yellow with two diagonal bands: white (top band, double-width) and black (starting from the upper hoist side). The national emblem is superimposed in red at the flag’s centre. The emblem includes the following components:

• Swallow-tailed flag, representing Royalty

• The Royal umbrella

• Winged column, symbolizing the protection of justice, tranquillity, prosperity and peace

• Two upraised hands, signifying the Government’s pledge to promote welfare, peace and prosperity

• An upturned crescent, symbol of Islam, the national religion of Brunei

• Embodied within the crescent in yellow Arabic script is the nation’s motto, which can be roughly translated: Always in Service by God’s Guidance

• A scroll beneath the crest with Arabic script reading “Brunei Darussalam” or “Brunei, the Abode of Peace”

LOCATION:

Located on the northern shore of the Island of Borneo, between longitudes 114’04″ and 114’23″ East and latitudes 4’00″ and 5’05″ North. Brunei, although occupying less than 1% of Borneo’s land area, is the only sovereign country on the island, which it shares with the Indonesian provinces of West, East, South and Central Kalimantan and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.

LAND AREA: 5,765 sq. km.

POPULATION: 372,360 (2005 est.)

DENSITY: 65 persons/sq. km.

CAPITAL CITY: Bandar Seri Begawan

POPULATION: 236,200 (district)

ETHNIC GROUPS: Malay: 67%; Chinese: 15%, indigenous tribes: 6%; other: 12%

LANGUAGE:

Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the official language, but English is widely spoken. Mandarin, Chinese dialects and native languages of Borneo are also spoken by segments of the population.

RELIGIONS:

Islam (official): 67%; Buddhism: 13%; Christianity: 10%; indigenous beliefs and other: 10%

NATIONAL PHILOSOPHY:

Since gaining independence from the British in 1984, Brunei has adopted the national philosophy of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja), a system that encompasses strong Malay cultural influences, stressing the importance of Islam in daily life and governance, and respect for the monarchy as represented by His Majesty The Sultan. It is a philosophy of tolerance, which allows other cultures to follow individual traditions and to practice other religions.

CLIMATE:

Temperate equatorial climate year round, characterized by temperatures ranging between 23 to 32 degrees Celsius, and an average annual rainfall of 320 cm. There is no distinct rainy season, though the period from November to March tends to bring heavier rains.

BORDERS:

Bounded on all sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, except for a 161 km long stretch of coastline along the South China Sea to the north.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:

4 Districts: Brunei-Muara (housing the capital city), Tutong, Belait, and Temburong

HEAD OF STATE:

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty is the 29th ruler of his line, which began with Sultan Muhammad in 1405.

SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT:

Independent sovereign constitutional Sultanate, with His Majesty The Sultan as the supreme executive authority. His Majesty is advised by an appointed Council of Cabinet Ministers, Religious Council, Privy Council, a Council of Succession and a Legislative Council.

ECONOMY:

With a total GDP of around US$6.5 billion and a per capita GDP of around US$18.3 thousand (2002), Brunei’s resource-rich (oil & natural gas) economy affords its population high living standards, resulting in positive social indicators such as high literacy rates, longer life expectancy, and low unemployment and crime rates. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing.

Government, construction, services, retail and some light manufacturing are the other major sectors in Brunei’s economy. The government is currently working towards economic diversification — in which tourism plays an important role — as well as encouraging foreign investment and developing education and human resources. These measures are designed to prepare the nation for the challenges of the future when the oil and gas reserves will have been depleted and new sources of income will be needed to maintain the current high standards of living enjoyed by Bruneians.

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE:

With over 2,500 rooms spread among 30 establishments ranging from guesthouses to the super luxurious “7-star” Empire Hotel and Country Club, and with a dozen or so active inbound tour operators, Brunei has a well-established, yet underutilized tourism infrastructure attracting an increasing number of regional and international visitors.

TOURISM ARRIVALS:

Brunei recorded approximately 1 million foreign visitors in 2003, the vast majority arriving from Malaysia through land entry points. Based on estimates derived from hotel occupancy rates and on market intelligence gathered from inbound operators, Brunei Tourism estimates the number of bona fide leisure and business tourists to be around 100,000 in 2003, with a 3-day average length of stay. Most of these tourists originated from the short- and medium-haul markets, though a significant portion originated from long-haul markets, mainly UK and Germany. Brunei Tourism’s objective is to increase international tourist arrivals by a minimum average rate of 7% yearly, as well as to increase average length of stay and expenditure.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT LINKAGES:

Brunei enjoys a convenient location at the heart of Southeast Asia and is well-connected to destinations worldwide.

Air:

Royal Brunei Airlines, the nation’s flagship carrier, flies non-stop or direct to most major Asia-Pacific destinations and the Middle East, as well as to Europe via London and Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Dragonair and Philippines Airlines serve Bandar Seri Begawan and offer one-stop connections to the rest of the world through their hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Manila.

Sea:

Ferries link Brunei with the Malaysian island of Labuan off the coast of Sabah, and to the Malaysian towns of Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak.

Road:

An extensive overland road network also connects Brunei to Sarawak and Sabah, while the Indonesian province of Kalimantan can be reached by road, air or boat via Sarawak or Sabah.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY:

Brunei is free from malaria and other tropical diseases, is outside the typhoon belt, has no volcanoes, and is not prone to earthquakes or other major natural disasters. The country also enjoys government stability and economic prosperity, resulting in a very low crime rate.

Adventures Await You in Bodrum

In today's cost conscious world, many travelers are opting for all-inclusive resort options when planning their holidays.  But just because it's all inclusive, doesn't mean you have to limit your experience.  

Let's face it - if you've traveled half way round the world to visit a new location - why would you want to sit and look at the same strip of beach, or visit the same shops, day after day.

Holiday's are an opportunity to throw caution to the wind, and step off the beaten track to see what adventures await you.

Bodrum Peninsula Adventures:

On a map, the Bodrum Peninsula is a tiny fraction of Turkish landmass, but don't let its size fool you.  This area of Turkey can deliver enough mini-adventures to keep you busy for a week, and still get you back to your hotel in time for dinner.  Whether you're a sun-worshiper, an archeology buff, a shopaholic or a hiker, there's enough to fill your camera lens with memories to treasure.

   

Getting About:

Each and village on the peninsula is linked together by a frequent Dolmus service.  These small mini-buses zip from location to location, packed with tourists and locals.  It may be packed and hot, and it may be cheap, but being an adventurer isn't all about comfort - sometimes it about the thrill of the ride!  Tips on using a Dolmus

So where should you go?

Roving Jay’s Top 5 Bodrum Peninsula Adventures:

1. Sightseeing: 2 of the 7 wonders of the world are in Bodrum, and the Underwater Archeology Museum in Bodrum is world renowned.  It houses artifacts from a myriad of local shipwrecks (which, by the way, is what makes the Bodrum Peninsula a great diving destination).

2. Beaches: Be careful when you choose your beach, they're not all created equal.  If you want to avoid Banana Boats and the Party Brigade, avoid Gumbet, and head over to the tranquility of Turkbuku or Gumsuluk. There’s 17 miles of sandy beaches throughout the Turgutries municipality, and Torba, Ortakent and Bitez are only a short Dolmus ride away from Bodrum.

3. Ocean: A day boat trip is a must.  During each of my trips to the area, I’ve taken a different boat trip. Whether it's a ferry ride to Kos, a lively boat trip from Bodrum or Turgutreis, or one of the quieter boats from Gumusluk or Bitez, it'll be a memorable day.  You'll visit multiple bays, be served lunch, and have plenty of opportunities to snorkel and swim.  If you're feeling a little bit anti-social - there are plenty of options for hiring a private boat to take you and your party out onto the crystal clear blue waters of the Aegean.  

4. Hiking: The peninsula is hilly, but there is a vast array of easy and strenuous hikes.  You'll be afforded fabulous vistas of the Turkish mainland as well at the Greek Islands.  It gets really hot in summer, so start early in the day, and bring a good supply of water.  You'll encounter ruined buildings from the Leleg era, and deserted villages.  One of the most popular hikes is to the deserted village of Sandima, near Yalikavak.  If you want some hiking adventure, but you're fearful of getting lost, there are local companies who can plan and accompany you on your hike.

5. Visit a Pazar:  One of my favorite holiday activities is visiting the local produce markets of the Bodrum Peninsula.  Market days rotate through the local towns, so if you miss it on one day, you can visit it the next. So what fun is walking these markets if you don't need to buy groceries? They're a great option for a cheap snack or lunch, and many of the stall holders are more than happy to give you samples.

You can create an adventure out of each of these activities, and still make it back to your hotel in time for your dinner.

*Written by Guest Writer Roving Jay, who is a frequent visitor the Bodrum Peninsula. During her first trip to the area in 2008, she started to collect travel information, and has been sharing her local knowledge via her Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide site ever since.  If you're traveling through the blogosphere, why not stop off at one of her blogs: Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide or Roving Jay

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