Amusement Centres

By Albert Garcia

 Donsol used to be a sleepy coastal town in Sorsogon-a province in the southernmost tip of Luzon. Nobody knows Donsol except for, of course, its local inhabitants until a few years ago when tourists from all over the world began to flock this remote place to get a look-see at the largest fish on earth: the whale shark.

Before, fishermen in Donsol were ignorant of the ecological (and tourist) value of whale sharks. They used to hunt, slaughter and sell the poor gentle sea creatures to Japanese traders. Local folks call them “butanding” or “big fish” in the vernacular. Early sightings of the butandings were reported in the Visayan seas in Bohol further south. It was said that massive slaughtering caused their migration to Donsol waters.

Although, according to stories, the first butanding that was netted out in the area was also butchered. A marine biologist witnessed it and instantly recognized the fish as a rare marine specie. The biologist immediately reported the incident to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international organization promoting the preservation of the wildlife.

WWF wasted no time and launched an education campaign about the giant creature. After coordinating with the Department of Tourism, whale-watching soon became a tourist activity that allowed extra income for the people of Donsol.

Whale sharks can grow up to 50 feet in length. It has a rather wide mouth with hundreds of pointed teeth. It usually comes in grey or greenish brown color with white or yellow spots all over its body.

It earned the label gentle giant of the sea because of its harmless nature, considering it is of the shark family. It has nothing in common with whales except for its size, thus the name. Divers can swim and interact with them and are only known to sink deeper into the ocean when it gets upset. There has been no known attack on humans of whale sharks.

Scientists are still baffled with the large migration of whale sharks in Donsol. These fishes are known to prefer the cold waters, not the tropical seas that we have. One explanation would be the flourishing of planktons in the area. Planktons are organisms that fill the diet of the whale sharks. It is also hard to record the number of whale sharks that now thrive in Donsol. But early studies show that whale sharks can travel 14,000 miles in 40 months and is capable of breeding in different sea environments.

Whale sharks swim on the surface of the water especially during the morning and early afternoon. It opens its mouth rhythmically when feeding on the planktons and visitors may be treated to this wondrous sight if they spot the fish at the perfect time. But don’t expect them to jump up and down the water like the whales or dolphins. That’s actually another beauty of the whale shark experience because this makes it perfectly east and safe to get near them.

Learn about ficus care and ficus deltoidea at the Ficus Plant site.

Preparing for a Road Trip

By Albert Garcia

 Whether you are a seasoned pro or a novice newcomer to the world of interstate travel, planning a road trip can be more time-intensive than you think. If you are about to embark on a cross country adventure or a coastal tour of the Atlantic, there are a few important things to consider before you hit the road. With a little planning and forethought, your trip should go off without a hitch.

Preparation for a road trip should start weeks in advance. Beyond saving up your money for the trip, you must also make sure that all of your bills are paid and animals are taken care of while you are gone. You should begin contacting possible house-sitters well in advance, especially if you are planning to take your trip during vacation season. At the least, you will want to arrange for someone to pick up your mail, and to give the appearance that your house isn’t just sitting empty for weeks at a time.

Another thing you should do in advance is to make sure that your car is in good working order. Most automobile service shops offer trip checks that include checking your brakes, tires, transmission, belts and hoses- all of the things that could leave you stranded if something were to go wrong. They will also change your oil and fill up all of your fluids to prepare your car for putting on a lot of mileage. Once your car is checked out and ready to go mechanically, you should then make sure it is legal. Make sure you have an up-to-date copy of your insurance card in the glove box, and make sure your registration sticker is current and properly placed on your windshield. Also, it is a good idea to bring an extra set of keys in your wallet or purse just in case you accidentally lock them in your car.

Planning where you are going is the next step in preparing for road trip travel. There is a lot of flexibility in this step, because it is all up to you. One of the beautiful things about a road trip is that you can go wherever you want whenever you want without being confined to other people’s schedules or destinations. If you are adventurous, you could just get in your car and start driving wherever the road takes you. Just be sure to bring a good map in case you want to find your way back. However, if you are a planner by nature, you might want to plot your route out on a map. Consider how long you’d like to be gone and what you would like to see, and you can use mileage charts to figure out how long it takes to get from one place to another.

Once you are finished with the preliminaries, it is time to start packing. If you are not sure where you are heading, it would be wise to bring a variety of clothing choices, both for hot and cold weather. That way, you won’t end up in a snow storm with only Bermuda shorts to wear. However, if you know you are driving to the desert or the beach, be sure to plan accordingly. Pack sunscreen, cool clothes and several jugs of water for those long desolate stretches.

You should also remember to bring a camera and several rolls of film or memory sticks to document your journey. Once you are back in the real world, you will only have photographs and memories to remind you of your trip. Also, be sure to bring along a wide variety of music, as even your favorite tunes can start to get old after several hours of driving.

Learn about ficus tree and ficus bengalensis at the Ficus Plant site.

Your Source For The Top Amusement Theme Parks Around The World

Places to Visit in Muskoka, Ontario

By Roberto Garabell

 For many folks who visit Ontario, one of the first ventures beyond Toronto is a trip to the District Municipality of Muskoka. A 2500 square-mile region usually referred to as simply “Muskoka,” it has small communities, like the township of Muskoka Lakes, whose population of some 7000 swells to 34,000 during the summer, as the region gets over two million tourists a year. Muskoka is among the Canadians’ (and foreign tourists’) all-time favorite vacation destinations.

The region - full of gigantic pines, rivers, crystal clear lakes, mountains and meadows - is home to friendly and warm people representing many, diverse cultures. Muskoka is just a short, 90-minute jaunt north from the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada’s business capital. When you first reach Muskoka, the gateway to inner Ontario, you will be surrounded by pink granite rock and endless vistas, while roaring waterfalls contrast with the quiet charm of the villages and the people that inhabit them.

The District also includes the timeless towns of Gravehurst, Huntsville and Bracebridge. You will find a unique experience waiting for you in any one of these little towns but Muskoka itself is by far the best place for entertainment and a plethora of activities. Among the town’s great places to visit are museums galore like the Muskoka Heritage Place- Museum, Villa and Train, Muskoka Rails Museum, Muskoka Boat and Heritage Center, Bala’s Museum that includes artifacts belonging to local legend Lucy Maud Montgomery, Huronia Museum and the Muskoka Lakes Museum.

From Indians to internationals

These museums present the rich and colorful history of Muskoka in a special way, showing how the native peoples assimilated others from France, England and other nations to live in the area. You can almost feel the experience of how the pioneers lived and worked during the late 1800s and, in fact, you actually can see the home of one of the first families to live in Muskoka, the Halls. Their two-storey log cabin, built in 1875 and a marvel of craftsmanship and beauty, has been lovingly maintained. Exploring the vast history of the lakes in the Muskoka region will teach you about the boat building industry and the steamships that brought the visitors to the District.

There are many other fine attractions in the area, as well. You can get up close and personal with nature and visit some of Muskoka’s outdoor paradises like the Muskoka Wildlife Center, the Echo Valley Observatory and the world’s only permanent dark sky reserve (no manmade light allowed), Torrance Barrens. Take the kids to Santa’s village and Sportsland during the holidays or experience great performances at the Gravehurst Opera House or the Muskoka Lakes Music festival, site of some of the best live musical entertainment in Ontario. You can hop aboard a historic steamship and cruise along any of the beautiful lakes on the Joseph, Rousseau or Lady Muskoka steamships. You can even rent a private pontoon boat and tour the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay, as well.

Lots to do

Muskoka can be a fisherman’s dream with some of the best freshwater sports fishing in the world. There are special accommodations and packages available for the eager angler, available from any number of tour operators, including more than a few small local boat rental firms. You will need to get a fishing license in order to reel ‘em in but you can easily obtain one from the local sporting goods stores, fishing lodges and bait-and-tackle outlets. Fishing in Muskoka can be done in many different ways, from taking a canoe into one the interior lakes or flying into remote areas, to trolling along the coastline of Georgian Bay or just casting a line from the dock of a comfortable cottage resort.

To top off a perfect day in Muskoka, many folks hit the roads for some shopping and “antique-ing” before settling in for the evening. There are various old, new, strange and wonderful shops and antique stores where you can find some hidden treasures and memorabilia to take home. For instance, the Old Palmer House is a fun place to find a vast selection of handcrafted furnishings, antiques, collectibles and home accessories. This store is a rustic log cabin that is filled wall to wall with hundreds of curious, unique and inspirational items that will give the ladies decorating ideas for their own homes. The store offers everything from pottery, rugs and quilts to garden accessories, tools and plenty of other “guy stuff,” too.

Fun of all kinds

The Muskoka District also offers individuals the opportunity to water-ski, boat, cycle, rock climb, kayak, snowmobile, ice fish, snowshoe, ski, sled, skate, toboggan and otherwise enjoy the great outdoors. If you are planning to visit Ontario anytime soon, pencil in a trip up Muskoka way if you want the experience of a lifetime. On second though, write that down in ink as a form of commitment. Muskoka offers you a huge platter of pleasures, and puts the “you” in “unique.” The District of Muskoka is something quite special - and well worth discovering.

CottageCountry.com is the premier online destination for people looking to enjoy the great lifestyle of Cottage Country. With many cottage rentals available youre sure to find the one you are looking for. Listings include Muskoka cottages, Stony Lake Cottages, Kawartha Highlands Cottages to name a few. Visit us online today and you will know you have come to the right place.

disney theme park

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.