TRAVELLING PLACES

If you are on a tour to China and decide to stop at Yunnan province, then you are guaranteed a wonderful time with Chinese minority groups. Yunnan is a beautiful province which is proud of its ethnic minorities and culture; this is reflected in the lifestyle of the locals who inhabit the community. Considered as one of the beautiful places to go in China, the province of Yunnan is a place that celebrates life. It can be divided into different cities namely Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian and Deqin. Each of these cities has various sightseeing and highlights which attracts tourists all year round.

Kunming is known as the city of eternal spring which is usually the best city to travel to in China in spring. This is because of its mild climate which has in turn boosted the tourism and natural beauty of the city. With over four hundred types of flowers and orchids in the various gardens, it is no wonder horticulturists and nature lovers’ flock to this part of China to spend some time. Kunming is also known to be the center of the Yunnan minority culture where over 25 different ethnic groups live together. The major ethnic minorities have their various cultures, languages, and customs and celebrate different festivals. Major highlights to see in Kunming include the stone forest, a long acre of karsts limestone formations which were formed into cliffs, peaks, caves and arches; the birds and flowers market where different species of birds and flowers are sold; Dian Chi Lake, the Yunnan nationalities museum and the World Horticultural Expo garden.

Dali is another city in Yunnan well known for preserved relics for historical interests. The beautiful sceneries, different traditions, the locals and the unique environment are what makes Dali a stop over for tourists on their Yunnan province tour. For example the Old town of Dali is a place that was set up in the Ming Dynasty where you will find well preserved traditional styled houses of the Bai people. These houses were built with unique designs featuring grey tilted roofs, stone walls, windows and doors carved in dragon patterns. The streams fed by the run offs from the Cangshan Mountains and the idyllic courtyards and peaceful streets which were well known in the ancient times have now become a place of interest for visitors. Major highlights in Dali include the Erhai Lake, an ear like shaped Lake, the Three Pagodas, the Butterfly Fountain and Dali Museum to enrich your knowledge about the history and culture of Yunnan.

Lijiang is an old town resting in northwestern Yunnan. It is located on a plateau which rises on an elevation of 8,530 feet above sea level. Lijiang Old town is Yunnan’s mecca for most Chinese tour groups and this is because of the magnificent landscape which it has. The Old town is a world heritage relic site as listed by UNESCO. It has a number of attractions for tourists to visit, many of which includes The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: a snow capped mountain which looks like a jade dragon lying in the clouds when seen from Lijiang, the tiger leaping gorge believed to be the deepest gorge in the world which attracts rafters and adventure tourists. Other interesting things to do in Lijiang are the use of cable cars to the top of Cangshan Mountain to witness a panoramic view overlooking Erhai Lake and the traditional musical concerts.

Zhongdian and Deqin should be the final destination on your Yunnan province tour. It is one of the three counties that form the Diqen Tibetan Autonomous Territory. With some of its history based on the concept of Shambhala, a mystical city in Tibetan Buddhism; it was formerly called Zhongdian County and was later renamed to Shangri-la after the fictional land in the book ‘Lost Horizon’ in 2001. Shangri-la is considered to be a mythical distant paradise on earth characterized with great beauty and peacefulness; this is why many travelers come to this place to spend some peaceful time. This town has also been used by hikers and mountaineers as a gateway to Tibet. Some of the major highlights in this town include the Emerald Pagoda Lake (Bita hai Lake), the Meili Snow mountain (God Mountain) and the Ganden Sumtseling Gompa monastery. This monastery is a 300 year old complex which has around 600 monks. The small town is centered with multi story temples filled with statues and colorful paintings of Tibetan lamas, guardians and mandalas. The landscape of Zhongdian is not enough to describe in words, it gives a kind of feeling which is difficult to describe; this is why most people recommend a visit to Zhongdian and its sacred temples.

For comments and inquiries about this article, visit Great Wall of China tours.

Lola loves to write about adventure travels and tours in China. She writes for China Tour and Travels a foreign inbound tour operator in China.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lola_Adewoyin

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Posted by moci at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments  

Be Safe in the Surf

Australian beaches are magic - they're clean and big and free ... but they can also be very dangerous. Here are some basic precautions to help you enjoy your time at the beach:

Do:
• Swim on patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags
• Comply with the directions of lifesavers
• Watch children constantly when they're in the water
• Take plenty of fresh drinking water to the beach
• Protect yourself from the sun
• Remain calm; if you get into trouble in the water, don't panic. Raise your arm for help, float and wait for assistance
• Float with a current or undertow. Stay calm. Signal for help and wait for assistance.

Don’t:
• Swim directly after a meal
• Swim alone
• Swim in surf board riding areas
• Try to swim against a current, this will just tire you
• Run and dive in the water. Even if you have checked before, conditions can change
• Swim when the beach has been closed by the Life Savers - this is indicated by crossed flags, or red flags
• Swim after consuming alcohol

Swim Between the Flags

The area between the flags is the only section of the beach that is patrolled by lifesavers, and during the summer months, lifesavers are on duty from approximately 8:00am to 6:00pm.

Make sure you can recognise the flags:

A flag that's half red and half yellow means it's safe to swim.

A red flag means you should not enter the water.

Sometimes you'll see a flag depicting a swimmer in a red circle with a red diagonal line crossing. This also means danger and you should not enter the water.

A yellow flag indicates dangerous conditions and that only very experienced swimmers should swim. And even they should exercise extreme caution.

A green flag indicates that conditions are safe and you can swim in a flagged area.

The red and yellow flags are positioned on the beach to show the safest area to swim in terms of water depth, wave break patterns, underwater obstacles, currents and potential rips.

Beach Conditions and Wave Types

There are a number of different types of waves, and being able to identify these will help you decide when it's time to settle for watching instead of swimming.

When you're in the surf, it's important that you keep a close watch on approaching waves; never keep your back to them for more than a few seconds. If you see a large wave approaching, don't panic. Take a breath and simply duck-dive under it. Give yourself a push off from the bottom when it's passed over.

Plunging Wave

This is commonly called the "dumper." Waves of this type break with tremendous force. A swimmer can be easily thrown to the bottom and suffer injuries. This type of wave should be left to experienced surfers.

Spilling Wave

This wave formation is when the crest tumbles down the face of the wave. Waves of this type are safest for body surfers, swimmers and board riders.

Surging Wave

This type of wave may never actually break as it approaches the water's edge, but there's a great build-up of water that can surge unexpectedly on the beach. The danger in these circumstances is that your feet may be knocked from under you. Small children should always be "attached" to an adult when this type of wave is breaking ... hold their hands tightly or lift them out of the water and carry them.

In-Shore Holes

The in-shore hole is a trough that runs parallel to the shore and the depth may vary from a few inches to several feet.

Small children can be swept into a hole by the water build-up on the slope of a beach and the wave action returning down the face of the beach.

Rips or Rip Currents

Where surf rolls onto a beach, rip currents develop. (You may also hear a rip referred to as rip tide, wash, gutter or run-out.) The rip is formed, basically, by water seeking its own level, thus causing the drag outwards, and these rips push water back out to sea and carry floating objects, including people, with them.

You can usually identify a rip because the water often appears to be very calm above them and attracts inexperienced surf swimmers who want to avoid the waves. If you do get into trouble in the surf, stay calm and signal for help.

Surf Lifesaving Australia has the following ways of identifying a rip current:

• Discoloured water, brown in colour, due to sand stirred off the bottom
• Foam on the surface extending beyond the beach
• Waves breaking larger and further out on both sides of the rip
• Debris floating seaward
• Rippled appearance, when the water around is generally calm.

How to Escape from a Rip Current

If caught in a rip -- DON'T PANIC. If you're not a strong swimmer, you're best action is to ride it out from the beach. Tread water or float as you're being carried out, while still waving your arms and trying to attract attention. Rips don't extend very far out to sea ... there's no risk you'll be carried to New Zealand!

Once you feel the current weaken, start to swim parallel to the shore or across the current until you reach the edge of it and then return to shore where waves are breaking. You can usually catch a wave in from either side of a rip.

Never try to swim back to shore against the rip. An Olympic swimmer is no match for a powerful rip. If you are a competent swimmer, swim at right angles to the direction that the rip is taking you and then swim towards the white water where waves are breaking. The waves should wash you back to shore.

Inshore Drift Current

This is a current that moves parallel to the shore and can be either fast flowing or almost indistinguishable from the water around it. Its intensity is greater inside the surf line and diminishes as you move away from the shore line. Many swimmers begin swimming inside the flagged area and then look up a few minutes later to see they've been carried out of the safe area by the current. When you enter the water, find a spot on the shore you can use as a marker, and check back regularly to see if you're being carried away from the flags.

Alcohol and Swimming

The hazards associated with drinking and driving are well recognised, but few appreciate the similar dangers associated with alcohol and water sports. With alcohol, judgement is impaired and more risks are taken. You'll tire more easily and your body temperature drops more quickly and this can lead to severe cramps. If you do get into difficulties, you're more likely to vomit and inhale stomach contents into your lungs.

The message is clear: don't mix alcohol and swimming.

Visit the Surf Life Saving Association of Australia for more information.http://www.slsa.com.au

About the author J M Stewart's travel sites http://www.luxury-cruising.write101.com help you prepare for your cruise and http://www.traveltoaustralia.write101.com provide intending travellers with all they need to know to visit, live and work in Australia. Drop by now to see if you're eligible for an Australian work visa!

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Posted by moci at 8:22 AM | Permalink | Comments