Travel Vignettes
Life Down Under
in Australia
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Australia's no.1 destination is Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. This area begins at Coolangatta on the border of Queensland and New South Wales and stretches northward as far as Runaway Bay. With a wide range of attractions, the Gold Coast is the ideal spot for full on, day and night entertainment. The sub tropical climate allows alfresco dining throughout the year, and the restaurants are numerous.
A journey from Cairns to Kuranda in North Queensland on the Scenic Railway is an unforgettable experience. The track itself is an engineering marvel. The Railway passes Baron River Falls on the climb to it's destination at Kuranda. The Railway Station is a delightful, picturesque ending to a wonderful Rail Ride. Kuranda Markets, and The Butterfly Sanctuary, are there for your pleasure before you return for a second helping of the delightful scenery on your journey back to Cairns.
Understanding the Local Culture
When on vacation, it's easy to see all the sites or visit the museums. Trying to immerse yourself in the local culture proves to be the real challenge. To complement the usual sightseeing, here is a checklist of things to sample to fully experience the flavor of Northern Europe:
Finland - Coffee: Finns drink more coffee per capita than any other people in the world. Be sure to try their particularly dark brew.
Denmark - Bicycle: As the preferred mode of transportation, Copenhagen has been nicknamed the "City of Cyclists". Enjoy a favorite local sport - for free. CityBike is very popular and offers a free, eco-friendly transportation service: free bicycle rentals to everyone!
Berlin - Dine: Dine on local specialties in the quaint but dynamic neighborhood of Hackescher Market. When it comes to food, the local favorite in Berlin is the Currywurst. 'Currywurst' is simply a sliced sausage with tomato and curry powder.
Unlike in America, where sales tax is (mostly) a state-by-state phenomenon that gets added on at the cash register, in Europe sales tax is included in the price tag. Since non-E.U. residents technically do not owe VAT (for "Value Added Tax"), a system has been set up to refund these taxes to you. Getting the VAT refund involves several steps including filling out numerous forms and paperwork and presenting your items at Customs.
There are two ways around this effort. Many shops are now part of the "Tax Free Shopping" network (look for a sticker in store windows). These shops issue a check along with your invoice, which, after you have the invoice stamped at Customs, you can redeem for cash directly at the Tax Free booth in the airport usually located near Customs. You can also avoid the VAT completely by having your purchases shipped back home, but this can get extremely pricey.
The 3 Natural Phenomena of
Scandinavia
1. The Northern Lights- We associate the Northern Lights with wintertime, although in reality they are present year round. In Tromso and Finnmark, you can see the Northern Lights every other clear night and from southern Norway you can see them a few times each month.
2. The Midnight Sun- The occurrence of the Midnight Sun during the early summer months is great for travelers to experience during summer vacations. There are quite a few myths regarding this natural phenomenon.
3. Polar Nights-- Polar Nights do not mean spending countless months in darkness. Depending on the location of your destination, there may be a lot more light than you expect! Regions experiencing Polar Nights often get more sunlight per year than other destinations.
Source: http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/knowledgesafety/tp/naturephenomena.htm
Gene Camfield