Monday, August 19, 2013

TRAVEL SPECIAL ...BEACHES... Live like there’s No Tomorrow



Live like there’s No Tomorrow 

Best beaches across the world spell fun and adventure.

    Beaches can be a spectacular place for some extraordinary adventure sports. ET-Travel suggests you try the unique ‘tow-in surfing’. Pioneered by Laird Hamilton (in pic) and others in the mid 1990s, what makes it mind-blowing is that the surfer is towed into a breaking wave by a partner flying a helicopter with an attached towline. This method has a demonstrated advantage where the wave is amazingly large (such as in Pe’ahi off the north side of Maui in Hawaii), or where position on the wave is extremely critical (Teahupoo, off southeast Tahiti). There are only a few good spots across the world that offer this thrill. But this indulgence is a must for any surfer.
    Seychelles is another favourite amongst sailing enthusiasts. Divers adore this spot for the variety of marine life that can be observed. This time, try underwater photography, too, and you’ll be amazed at the picturesque fluorescent shades.
    If you choose to rekindle some romance by the sea, move to Langkawi Beach in Malaysia. Sunset cannot look any more marvellous post an action-packed day in the turquoise waters here. Hit it!
  
LANIKAI BEACH & KAUNAOA BEACH
REGION: Hawaii
Think of Hawaii, and beach babes clad in bikinis and strapping macho men moving around shirtless with a carefree smile may form your vision. But what makes these beautiful model-like people so interesting is that most of them are into heavyduty adventure sports. And these bravehearts often throng to the beautiful Lanikai Beach on the windward coast of Oahu, Hawaii. Why we chose this beach over others is because this small 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometre-long), sandy haven has constantly been ranked among the best beaches in the world. It’s interesting to know that this beach area is only accessible through public beach access paths. Although the beach itself is public property, it is not state land and is not a county beach park like many beaches in Hawaii.
    Due to its position on the east side of the island, Lanikai has been lauded as an ideal spot to watch the moonrise over the Mokuluas, especially when there is a full moon.
    Moving on to the Kohala Coast toward Kaunaoa Beach, this one’s a hit with sun worshippers. This beautiful crescentshaped beach is a natural draw for water sport enthusiasts and also families who travel with kids for some safe, sandy fun. Good news is that a natural rock reef provides some protection from the surf. This beautiful beach is located in front of the popular Mauna Kea Resort and thus sometimes, the beach is also called Mauna Kea Beach. Beach lovers can go swimming, snorkelling, and boogie boarding apart from other recreation that can be enjoyed at this spectacular beach. It is a good idea, however, to check the ocean conditions and the weather before you enter this area. It is said that in the nights, you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming in the clear waters.
    FOR DETAILS:
www.hawaiiweb.com 

SEYCHELLES
BEST BET: Sea expeditions, diving, cuisine
Great news for beach fun enthusiasts. The very location of Seychelles is God-gifted —115 islands across the vast Indian Ocean, all between 4° and 10° south of the Equator. This makes Seychelles offer diverse touristy diving spots. If this is going to be your first visit here, then you must know that Mahé is the principal island. You can board a plane from India to the Mahe international airport. Once here, you will often hear the mention of Victoria. It is the world’s tiniest capital and boasts of being the cultural and economic hub of this island nation. Take a tour of Victoria and then sit down to choose from a host of choices of accommodation, right from budget to luxury categories to stay in Seychelles. Cultural and eco-tourism hotspots, outstanding restaurants with bars, quaint cafés and a chance to try your luck at the casinos, can all be booked from Victoria. With family, you may also want to know of the nature trails, dive centres, car and sailing boat rentals. Officials in Victoria can ably help you with that. DON’T MISS: Apart from shopping, cuisine is one aspect you must not skip. The Creole cuisine features evident nuances of French cooking mixed with a dash of Indian dishes and the flavours of the Orient. ET-Travel suggests some grilled fish or octopus sauteed with a sauce of crushed chillies. It’s easy to see that ginger and garlic are national favourites. Rice is accompanied with curries prepared with coconut milk and dips made from local fruits such as papaya and golden apple. Built up an appetite, already?
    FOR DETAILS:
www.seychelles.travel 

LANGKAWI
REGION: MALAYSIA
Legends and myths surround the beautiful beach of Langkawi in Malaysia. We’ll let in a little story to you — Legend has it that a beautiful young woman Mahsuri once laid a curse on Langkawi Island for seven generations because she was wrongly executed for adultery. When she was stabbed, she bled white blood and that proved her innocence. Today, her tomb, Makam Mahsuri, has become a tourist attraction on the island. The curse, however, seems to have been lifted as Langkawi is a throbbing tourist destination with many Indians and other nationals heading here for some romance and adventure. The legendary Langkawi Island is an archipelago of 104 islands overlooking the panoramic Andaman Seas and Straits of Malacca. You can plan to get here on the island by boat from Kuala Perlis or by taking a flight from Kuala Lumpur. The main tourist attractions here are the sunset spots on the idyllic white sandy beaches with exclusive butler service. Diving areas can give you glimpse of the marine life, here. DON’T MISS: Strike a good bargain at the many star resorts, villas and hotels in Langkawi. Off-season packages are the best bets.
    FOR DETAILS:
www.tourism.gov.my 
Compiled by Nimisha Tiwari ETTR130808

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