Category Archives: Travel and Leisure

Exploring Ankara on Turkey Holidays

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There’s not much doubt that, when it comes to glamour and an international reputation for luxury, Turkey’s capital of Ankara tends to have to live somewhat in the shadow of the rather more famous Istanbul. This though, is a pity, as Ankara has unique charms of its own.

The origin

Ankara is an ancient city and, as for much of Turkey, has been occupied or ruled by many different peoples down the centuries. Many of the great civilisations of Europe or the Middle East have passed this way, including the Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Turks and Mongols. It was known for many centuries, in Europe, as ‘Angora’ and is the origin of angora wool, cats, goats and rabbits.

Although a vast and influential city during parts of classical and early medieval history, by the start of the 20th century it had declined to something of a moderately sized backwater town of Ottoman Turkey. By the early 1920s, Turkey was making the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the modern Republic it is today and Ankara was chosen as its new capital, replacing Istanbul (Constantinople) in the process. The reasons for this relate to the politics of time and Istanbul’s powerful associations with the old Ottoman regime, however, it was a very big boost to the city, which started its growth to the major metropolis of today.

Historical Turkey

As you might expect given 5000 years of history, there are many things to see in this great city.

A traditional place to start is the citadel – the most ancient part of the city dating back to well before the Romans. There is a great selection of ancient architecture and traditional Turkish housing and you’ll also find some fine restaurants serving local dishes.

The ‘Temple of Augustus and Rome’ is another ‘must’ if you enjoy ancient history. The emperor Augustus is interesting for many reasons, not the least of which is that prior to his death he wrote his own form of ‘autobiography’ (called the ‘Res Gestae’) in which he gives a very romanticised and highly sanitised list of his lifetime’s achievements – the best intact ‘in situ’ copy of this is inscribed in this temple.

It is worth making the effort to see the Roman baths, theatre, and the column of Julian. There are also several beautiful and historically interesting mosques, of which the largest (and surprisingly most recent, dating to the 1980s) is the Kocatepe Mosque, which is exceptionally beautiful and built in the Ottoman style.

It would also be a tragedy to miss The Museum of The Anatolian Civilisations. They have a fantastic range of exhibits covering many different civilisations over thousands of years. If you love history and archaeology, this will be for you.

Fun-loving Turkey

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The Klein Karoo Has the Best Game Reserve in Cape Town on Offer

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When it comes to finding the best game reserve in Cape Town, the beautiful Klein Karoo offers a premier destination to enjoy a world-class safari in South Africa. This region has no malaria risk, which means that you can enjoy your game drives and other activities in peace without the worry of malaria medication, and with plenty of big game species, bird species and spectacular natural surroundings to see; you will soon forget that you are not in the deepest remote plains of Africa.

Some of the many highlights that can be found when you visit a game reserve in Cape Town include the following:

• See a number of big game species

From the large prides of lion, through to huge numbers of antelope species such as black and blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, springbok, blesbok and gemsbok, endangered species such as cheetah, leopard and rhino, plus other game among the likes of giraffe, warthog, hippo, zebra, buffalo and crocodile, you will see a number of big game species on a typical game drive through a game reserve Cape Town. Photographic opportunities abound, especially during the dry summer months when game can be found in abundance around waterholes.

• Excellent bird watching opportunities

Bird watchers can enjoy a large number of species to spot throughout the reserve, with waterbirds such as flamingo occurring in large numbers during the rainy season. The large number of habitats range from wetlands to grasslands and dry woodlands, attracting many endemic and migratory species such as owls, birds of prey, ostrich and many others.

• Partake in horseback safaris

For a unique perspective, you can explore a game reserve in Cape Town by horseback, travelling through the grasslands as you spot any number of wildlife and birdlife. Trained guides are on hand to give information on the things that you see along the way, ensuring a thrilling adventure through the heart of the game range.

• Central location

Another advantage of visiting a game reserve in the Cape is the central location – situated just two hours away from the city centre in the Klein Karoo, the city’s premier reserve is easily accessible by car, shuttle or plane, making it easy to schedule your safari into your travel plans while you are in Cape Town. This makes it possible for anyone and everyone to enjoy a safari in a game reserve Cape Town, either as a day trip or a longer stay.

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Working With Animals in Africa – Penguins – More Than Happy Feet

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The most popular gap year activity is not partying, it is not sleeping late while your parents take care of things, nor is it working at a regular job. A gap year has become, to many students around the world, all about gaining experience while having an once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

For plenty of students, volunteering abroad during their gap year fulfills all their needs. Some individuals want to see how well they can do on their own in a strange and exotic country. They want to expand their understanding of the global community and they want to express their passion for a certain cause or ambition. Some want to work with children, teach or absorb the local culture, while others find working with animals the ideal choice for a gap year project.

African Penguins – an Unusual Choice

Most people do not put the words ‘South Africa’ and ‘penguins’ in the same sentence, so you may be surprised to know that South Africa is home to the African penguin. If you want to spend time with these delightful creatures, you can volunteer with the South African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). It has a reputation of being one of the world’s foremost rehabilitation centres for marine birds. African penguins comprise part of their mandate. In this atmosphere, working with animals means helping to save this wingless and endangered species of bird.

The habitat you will be heading to is Robben Island. This is a small island just off the coast of South Africa, sitting in Table Bay just off Cape Town. The island was the original home of the African Penguin until they were virtually wiped out. A new colony took shape there in 1938, and it is here you will spend time working with the penguins and learning how to take care of them.

Taking Care

This project allows a certain amount of scope to its volunteers. Working with animals in this context and environment can include addressing rehabilitation issues, helping out with general care (e.g. food preparation), learning how to catch, hold and even feed the African penguins, exercising the animals and taking care of any wounds that the penguins may have.

For those animals in captivity, recovering from wounds and undergoing rehabilitation, volunteers assist in feeding them – including by a feeding tube if necessary. You will also tend to their wounds and clean out both their pens and swimming pools. In undertaking these tasks you will learn first-hand about the life-cycle of the African penguin. You can also discover your ability to work as part of a team in the care and rehabilitation of these beautiful and unique animals – this is not Happy Feet. This is real life.

A Gift that Lasts a Lifetime

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What To Consider In A Skiing Holiday

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Vacations are always something that people look forward to. Regardless of the destination or the activity, most people love to go on a vacation. Indeed, going away with your family, or friends, or even just by yourself is an exciting idea of unwinding and visiting places that you fancy. As such, lots of people plan ahead the destination and the activity that they will be doing in order to prepare for it in advance most especially the expenses that will be incurred. However, a vacation can be pretty expensive depending on the type of activity and the destination. Thus, it needs a lot of planning and preparation in order to have the best one ever.

One of the most popular recreational activities is skiing. Compared to camping or going to the beach, skiing is really costly since it requires a lot of equipment that can easily deflate your wallet. However, the fun and excitement that you get from skiing is incomparable. This is probably the reason why many people spend lots of money just to get to the best skiing slopes in the world.

Unlike other outdoor recreational activities, picking out ski equipment is not as easy as getting a beach ball. Finding the best equipment should come with the knowledge of the type of skiing that you will be performing. Moreover, you also need to choose the best equipment for the price. If it is your first time on the hill, it is even advisable to borrow ski clothes since these are really costly. Investing on gears and equipment may not be a very good idea most especially if it turns out that you don’t like skiing at all. As such, if possible, it is beneficial if you can borrow some clothes and equipment for your first skiing trip. However, if you have been preparing for this trip all your life, it is still better to buy your own clothes, gears, and equipment.

Some of the most important things that you should prepare on a skiing vacation are skis, clothing, ski equipment, and ski boots and bindings. If you are buying these, you should make sure to get the best quality and the best deals. There are actually a lot of stores that offer winter sports equipment and clothing at affordable prices. In fact, there are even online shops that offer awesome snowboards, ski equipment, outerwear, and top selling skis. Amazingly, these shops provide the best gears and clothing that are conveniently accessible online. You don’t really have to go out of your homes just to get the things that you need for your dream vacation because you can conveniently get these items online. In addition, there are also a number of gorgeous women’s clothes and accessories that will make you still look glamorous on your skiing trip.

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