Travel to New Zealand

New Zealand has just about everything to satisfy the different palates that traveler might have. For those who are quite comfortable with comfortable cuddles, champagne breakfasts in bed followed by lazy morning strolls amid lush and beautiful scenery, there are rolling hills and rich green plains, the perfect location for romantic picnics.

 As you fly into South Island’s largest city and main international gateway of Christchurch, you will be swept into the cosmopolitan feel of the city. There are 19th-century grey stone buildings, tree-lined avenues and extensive leafy parks. The Cathedral Square is where the heart of all the action is. Here, you will definitely not miss The Wizard, New Zealand’s only human attraction.

Christchurch offers a vast array of shopping malls such as Riccarton Mall which is the largest on South Island; to the numerous antique shops spread throughout the city. Be sure to also check out the markets that often offer the best bargains.

For a romantic rendezvous at the break of dawn, ballooning is an experience not to be missed, especially in Christchurch’s ideal geography and climate. Take off from any park in the city and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the endless ocean, the majestic mountain peaks and the undulating plains. However, where the balloon is launched is dependent on weather conditions.

If you are scared of heights and taking to the skies is not exactly your cup of tea, then perhaps the idea of gently gliding on the Avon River might be more appealing. Sit back with your spouse in the comfort of a custom built and fully upholstered punt as the boatmen expertly; guide the punt along the charming sights of Christchurch. Sights such as the Botanic Gardens, tree-lined banks and quaint bridges will provide punters with a peaceful and romantic feel of the city.
Two hours drive from Christchurch will find you in the Canterbury region at Arthur’s Pass, heart of the Southern Alps. Take in huge gulps of fresh air; feast your eyes on the blue glacial lakes of Tekapo and Pukaki among the blooming wild flowers.

Ban Gioc Waterfall

This waterfall is a beautiful display of the natural heritage of Vietnam. It is the most perfect site to indulge into for your fantasies of nature. A breath-taking scenary of falling water is inviting and comforting to those seeking an escape from their busy lives. The waterfall is located at the Cao Bang Mountain, 272 kilometers from Hanoi.

 

The waterfall looks like a resemblance of flowing silk, up from the top through the green forest. Several rocks covered with plants cut its path, while limtestone formations await to be flowed away by the steady stream. The river is as calm as glass, with beautiful flowers lining its banks. Tourists from all around the world come running at the inviting natural scene of the waterfall, and it is one of the greatest tourist spots of the region. There are 9 minority local tribes in Cao Bang and its surrounding. Mingling with them could give you an insight in the rich culture of vietnam and can be a learning experience too.

 

Amazing Lava Lake in Ethiopia

Erta Ale is a continuously active basaltic shield volcano in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia. It is the most active volcano in Ethiopia. Erta Ale is 613 metres (2,011 ft) high, with one or sometimes two active lava lakes, one of only five in the world, at the summit. These lava lakes occasionally overflow on the south side of Erta Ale.[1] It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake, present since the early years of the twentieth century (1906).

It is located in the Afar Depression, a badlandish desert area spanning the border with Eritrea, and the volcano itself is surrounded completely by an area below sea level, making it one of the lowest volcanoes in the world.

Erta Ale’s last major eruption was on September 25, 2005, which killed 250 head of livestock and forced thousands of nearby residents to flee. Additional lava flow activity took place in August 2007, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and leaving two missing. Not much is known about Erta Ale, as the surrounding terrain is some of the worst on earth and the native Danakils are not friendly.

The name of the volcano means “smoking mountain” in the local Afar language and its southerly pit is known locally as “the gateway to hell”. It has recently been mapped by a team from the BBC using three dimensional laser techniques. These types of volcanoes are very rare and have searingly hot temperatures. For that reason the laser was used, as it has the capability to map any surface. Read more at wikipedia and sverop .

Photos source : volcanosdiscovery

Most Exotic Spa Treatments

You've heard of Shiatsu, Swedish and Thai massage but did you know that the world's cultures offer some more unusual treatments to sample?
Instead of being a luxury pastime, many people from around the world indulge in body scrubs and massage as part of their daily ritual.
So if you're thinking of splashing out on a holistic holiday this year - or just want a taste of some exotic products from around the world - why not get some spa inspiration from Indonesia, Australia and Mauritius?





Gold Body Mask, Oman 

The Claim: Many ancient cultures believed that gold, along with symbolizing power and wealth, imparted immortality (hence all that burying of bling in Egyptian tombs). These days, chrysotherapy—the treatment of maladies like rheumatoid arthritis, bad circulation, depression, and hypertension with gold—has become relatively well known, and beauty experts say powder-fine gold used in spa treatments can help absorb pollutants, regulate the skin’s ionic balance, and impart a fresh glow.

Where to Try It: In the Arabian Gold Ritual at the Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay in Oman, guests are exfoliated with a basil and mint scrub, then painted with a purifying gold-and-clay body mask. Next comes an invigorating massage of the scalp, face, and body—the latter with a gold-infused oil.

Queen Conch-Shell Scrub, Turks and Caicos

The Claim: Found in the shallows of the Caribbean and southern Atlantic seas, queen conchs are mollusks whose large shells are lined with pink-hued mother-of-pearl, or nacre. Caribbean natives have long considered this shell lining to be health-friendly, likely because it’s rich in proteins and anti-aging keratins. Today’s aestheticians have also found that the relatively soft conch shells, when ground, make an ideal low-impact exfoliant.

Where to Try It: For the 30-minute Mother of Pearl Body Treatment at The Regent Palms in Turks and Caicos, hand-crushed queen conch shell (one of the island’s biggest exports) is mixed with aromatherapeutic oil to create a gentle scrub. The soft, powdery shell bits help to slough off dead skin cells and polish and revitalize the skin underneath.

Coca Leaf Body Mask, Peru

The Claim: Native to northwestern South America, the coca leaf—which contains the alkaloids used to make cocaine, but is not, in itself, addictive—is an integral part of traditional Andean medicine and has long been chewed, brewed, and applied topically to treat everything from headaches and depression to muscle pain and high blood pressure. Besides having a high concentration of calcium, the leaf also contains skin-friendly alkaloids like papaine and benzoine.

Where to Try It: Designed to detoxify and improve blood circulation, the three-hour Inkaterra Therapy service at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu’s UNU Spa starts with a stint in an Andean sauna (in a eucalyptus-wood hut), then moves on to a stimulating coca-oil body massage, a coca-leaf body mask, and hydration with a coca-leaf moisturizer.

Tepezcohuite Body Drench, Mexico City

The Claim: Known for centuries as the “skin tree” all over Mexico and in parts of Brazil, Tepezcohuite (pronounced “Te-pez-co-whee-tay”) was traditionally used by the Mayans to stop bleeding, prevent infection, and treat lesions. More recent lab studies have shown that the tree’s bark has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, while its extracts contain anti-aging flavonoids, skin-smoothing tannins, and nutrients like zinc, copper, and magnesium.

Where to Try It: Opening in March 2009, the Aurora Spa at Mexico City’s Las Alcobas hotel will feature influences from the Mayan, Aztec, Toltec, Nahuatl, and contemporary Mexican healing cultures. The one-hour Tepezcohuite Body Drench is a cooling, hydrating, and therapeutic body salve combining the restorative bark with aloe and mint—perfect for parched or sunburnt skin. 

Maple Sugar Body Scrub, Vermont

The Claim: About a decade ago, Canadian dermatologic chemist Ben Kaminsky was on a midwinter fishing trip when he began pondering the ability of maple trees to thrive in such cold temperatures. Many tests later, Kaminsky discovered what he calls the Bio-Maple compound in the tree’s sap—a combination of antioxidants, polyphenols, and minerals that makes maple extract a deeply soothing, hydrating, and reparative substance. Alpha hydroxy acids also help make it an effective, but gentle, exfoliant.

Where to Try It: Bio-Maple is now an integral part of the B. Kamins, Chemist product line (a particular favorite of people with sensitive or rosacea-prone skin), but the pure stuff is also used in spa services in maple-rich Vermont. Both the Topnotch Resort and Spa and the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa offer maple sugar body scrubs that exfoliate and moisturize using sap from local trees. 

Black Pearl Body Buff, Tahiti

The Claim: Found only in French Polynesia, rare black pearls are naturally more prized than their paler counterparts. But though they’ve got superior cachet (and dazzling shades that include deep purple and green), black pearls’ beauty benefits are the same as those touted in China for more than 3,000 years. Crushed, pearls reportedly have anti-aging and skin-lightening properties and also act as a mild sunscreen; in skin products, they’re said to improve circulation and elasticity and encourage cell turnover to leave complexions smooth and even.

Where to Try It: During the Monoi Poe treatment at the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort in Tahiti, you’ll get buffed with a combination of real Tahitian black pearls—harvested at one of Manihi’s 60 pearl farms—and indigenous monoi, a hydrating nut oil used by all local women. Skin is left smooth and glowing.

Cedar Massage, Wisconsin

The Claim: Regarded as sacred by numerous Native American tribes, cedar is thought to have qualities of purification and protection, as well as an ability to cleanse on an emotional level. As a result, it’s often used in ceremonies designed to release heavy emotional baggage and is also used for “smudging”—the burning of herbs to remove negative vibes and create a healthy, sacred space. (It also just smells really nice.)

Where to Try It: At the Aspira Spa in Wisconsin, cedar gathered from the ancient trees growing along nearby Elkhart Lake is used in the signature Cedars Massage. The treatment—which incorporates cedar-infused massage oil and a wrap in a blanket layered with fragrant sprigs—was influenced by the traditions of the local Ojibwa Tribe.

 Argan Oil Massage, Morocco

The Claim: Native to southwestern Morocco, the spindly Argan tree produces a small, pitted fruit that’s something like an olive. For centuries, native Berber women have ground up the pits and seeds of these fruits and pressed them to produce an oil for use in cooking and body treatments. Thanks to a high content of vitamin E, carotenes, and fatty acids, the oil is an excellent hydrator—it leaves skin nourished but not greasy—and also helps minimize wrinkles, restores elasticity, and stimulates cell oxygenation.

Where to Try It: At the Amanjena Resort in Marrakesh, the traditional communal hammam experience has been refined into the pampering Moroccan Bloom spa treatment. Guests enjoy a steam, a wash with locally made black soap, a thorough body scrub, and a rhassoul clay body mask, topped off by a dousing with refreshing eucalyptus-infused water. Once skin is squeaky clean and polished, a massage with Argan oil helps seal in moisture.

Achiote Hydrating Wrap, Cancún

The Claim: Grown widely in Peru, Brazil, and Mexico, the flowering achiote, or annatto, plant has been used for health and beauty ever since the Mayans first ground up its rust-colored seeds to make lipstick. Local cultures still use raw achiote leaves to treat skin problems and stomach distress, the roots for coughs and digestive issues, and dried-leaf tea to fight inflammation, high cholesterol, and obesity. On the beauty front, oil extracted from the seeds has moisturizing and antioxidant properties and also creates a light UV barrier when applied to the skin and hair.

Where to Try It: The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa’s Mayan-influenced menu includes an Achiote Hydrating Wrap—which does exactly what it says—and also an Xux Ek Venus Goddess Facial, which mixes mud from the Chicxulub meteor crater with achiote to nourish tired and dry skin.

Jade Hot Stone Massage, Beijing

The Claim: Long considered a symbol of beauty, power, and good health in Asian countries (where it’s largely harvested), jade is often worn against the skin for the purposes of strengthening the kidneys, liver, and heart. Cosmetic manufacturers who infuse their products with the green stones also insist the ingredient helps to even skin tone, reduce inflammation, and add moisture, likely due to its high content of silica, which helps produce collagen.

Where to Try It: The Jade Hot Stone Massage at The Peninsula, Beijing, begins with a cleansing facial, “polarity balancing,” and an acupressure head massage, followed by a dousing of the body in warm scented oils. Next, hot jade stones are used during a deep massage, helping to loosen muscles and—ostensibly—impart mental clarity and spiritual harmony.