China

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing, be met & transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 2 (B, L, D) Full day trip to Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, silk store and the Temple of Heaven. In the evening (7:15~8:30PM), enjoy the Peking Opera Show(or Chinese Acrobat, or Chinese Kongfu show, choose one show from these three options, depending on your interest) - Tian'anmen Square: The largest city square in the world. - Forbidden City: The largest imperial palace in China during the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years. Visit scenic spots: 1. The hall and the courtyard of supreme harmony, 2. The meridian gate, 3. the hall of supreme harmony, 4. the hall of complete harmony, 5. the hall of preserving harmony, 6. the huge of stone carving, 7. the hall of union, 8. the palace of earthly tranquility, 9. the imperial garden, etc. - Temple of Heaven: The place where the ancient emperors used to pray for the God's blessings on the whole nation. Visit scenic spots: 1. the hall of prayer for good harvest, 2. red stairway bridge, 3. the imperial vault of heaven, 4. echo wall, 5. triple sound stone, 6. the circular mound altar, etc.

Day 3 (B, L, D) Full day trip to the Great Wall, jade market and Ming Tomb. Enjoy a famous Peking Duck Banquet for dinner in the most famous Quanjude Restaurant.. - Great Wall: One of the seven wonders in the world and the symbol of China. (about 60 miles away from downtown, one and half hour's drive) Visit scenic spots: Badaling Geat Wall, Badaling fortress, beacon-towers, "looking-toward beijing stone", etc. - Ming Tomb: The only underground tomb of the thirteen tombs of the emperors in the Ming Dynasty. Visit scenic spots: 1.ling en gate, 2.ling en palace, 3.soul tower, 4.the great red gate, 5.the stele pavilion, etc.

Day 4 (B, L) We will drive to visit Hutong, the old Beijing lanes, nearby Rear Lake area (Shi Cha Lake) and the typical Chinese quadrangles by rickshaws bicycle ride, where you can experience the real life of ordinary people in Beijing while across many narrow streets, which lasts for about 2 hours, led by local guide and pass many famous old building, like the drum tower, silver bridge, etc. Have lunch in local family, home cooked Chinese dumpling, everyone loves it. After that, there will be a tea ceremony in local tea house to show you. Then visit Summer Palace in the afternoon. - Summer Palace: The largest and best-preserved royal garden in China with a history of over 800 years. Visit scenic spots: 1. East palace gate, 2. the hall of benevolence and longevity, 3. hall of jade billows, 4. the hall of joyful longevity, 5. the covered walkway, 6. the marble boat, etc.

Day 5 (B) Tranfer from hotel to airport or railway station, see off. Hotel Options: Five Star Hotel: Beijing International Hotel , Beijing Asia Hotel ????? Four Star Hotel: Howard Johnson Paragon Hotel ???? Three Star Hotel: Golden Palace Silver Street Hotel, Beijing Xuanwemen Hotel, Shatan Hotel ??? Economy Hotel: GreenTree Inn Beijing or New Dragon Hotel ?? Single Room Supplement: 5-star: 1500RMB; 4-star: 1000RMB; 3-star: 720RMB; Economy Hotel: 450RMB

China Travel

The first civilizations in China arose in the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys at about the same time as Mesopotamia, Egypt and India developed their first civilizations.

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. Paper, gunpowder, the compass and printing (both block and movable type) for example, are Chinese inventions. Chinese developments in astronomy, medicine, and other fields were extensive. A Chinese tomb contains a heliocentric model of the solar system, about 1,700 years before Copernicus. In mathematics, "Pythagoras' theorem" and "Pascal's triangle" were known in China centuries before their Western discoverers even lived.

China was also the first civilization to implement a meritocracy. Unlike other ancient cultures, official posts were not hereditary but had to be earned through a series of examinations. Based on mastery of the Confucian Classics and the literary arts (calligraphy, essay writing, poetry, painting), a prototype the exams were first conducted during the Han Dynasty. The system was further refined into the formal Imperial Examination System and opened to all regardless of family background during the Tang Dynasty. The Imperial Examination proved very successful, and save for a brief period during the Yuan Dynasty, continued to be used by all subsequent Chinese dynasties until the beginning of the 20th century, and till this day education is still taken very seriously by Chinese parents.

Everything Comes With A Price


Historically, East Asia existed in a China-centric order very different from the nation-state system which emerged in Europe. China is "Zhong Guo," the "Middle Kingdom." Foreigners of all nationalities are "Wai Guo Ren," literally "outside land people." Rather than sovereign states, the Emperor was sovereign over all "under heaven" and thus rulers seeking to be "civilized" would need to enter the tributary system. As the Middle Kingdom, China was surrounded by states which paid tribute to the Emperor. The Emperor did not receive ambassadors from these outlanders, only tribute bearers.

New kings in these surrounding countries were invested by the Emperor and granted seals of authority, thus giving them the "right" to rule. Many areas which are now considered part of China — Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Manchuria — were once tributary kingdoms. Other places not considered part of China — Malacca, Korea, Vietnam, Burma, Mongolia, Okinawa, Japan — were also tributaries at various times in history (Okinawa's Shuri Castle has an interesting exhibit on the tributary system). Of course at times the "tributary" states were actually more militarily powerful than the Chinese dynasty at the time but the idealized image of a harmonious order with China and the emperor at the center endured for centuries.

Tributary relations were complemented by academic, religious, political and cultural exchanges. Tributary rulers received protection, trade benefits, and advisers (academic, political, scientific, etc). In a sense, China really is the "center land." Chinese influence is quite apparent in the traditional culture of many of its neighbors, most notably Vietnam, Korea and Japan. Each of these countries adopted the Chinese writing system at some point, and it is still in use, to varying degrees and with certain modifications, in the latter two today. Confucian philosophy and social theory deeply influenced their societies. Indeed, Japan's ancient capital of Nara was modeled after the Tang dynasty capital of Chang'An (now Xi'an).

http://wikitravel.org/en/China

BELGIUM

Day One:
DAY 1 : DINANT
Embarkation in Dinant at 6:00 PM. Settling into the cabin is followed by introduction of the crew in the lounge over a welcome cocktail. Dinner on board the ship. Overnight in Dinant.

DAY 2 : DINANT - THE MEUSE VALLEY - LIEGE
Departure of the ship early in the morning with breakfast on board as we begin sailing on the Meuse River. This will be an exceptional cruise as the Meuse is known for the richness and variety of its scenery. We disembark at the RiviŠre Lock for an optional sightseeing trip by coach to the Guy Delforge Perfume Workshop, which is uniquely situated in the citadel of the town of Namur . Their slogan is that their "Perfumes are born and mature in the bowels of the citadel". Back on board the ship at about 12:00 Noon in Namur . Lunch is served on board as we begin sailing towards Huy. Arrival in Huy is at about 3:00 PM . We then depart on an optional sightseeing tour of Huy. This is a charming little town with a well protected old city centre that is dominated by a Gothic cathedral and a fort dating from the beginning of the XIX century that overlooks the town of Huy and the Meuse River . Embarkation from the town is between 6:00-7:00 PM in LiŠge which is Georges Simenon's native city. Dinner on board with the evening free to explore this very busy city. Overnight in Liege.

DAY 3 : LIEGE - NAMUR


Breakfast on board. In the morning, an optional sightseeing tour of LiŠge is offered. Liege is the main town for art and history in Wallony. The architecture is typical of the Renaissance era and the principality of LiŠge dates back to the X century. In the heart of LiŠge, you will see the bishop prince palace with certain parts of it that go back to the Renaissance. After the tour, we get back on board the ship for lunch as we depart Liege at about 12:00 Noon . In the afternoon, we stop at the Val Saint-Lambert Castle. An optional visit is offered to the castle that was converted into a museum of fine glassware and crystal making. Back on board the ship in Huy as we begin sailing towards Namur. Arrival in Namur at about 7:00 PM. Dinner and a gala evening on board is planned. Overnight in Namur.
Belgium is a member of the Schengen Agreement. For EU and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) citizens, an officially approved ID card (or a passport) is sufficient for entry. In no case will they need a visa for a stay of any length. Others will generally need a passport for entry.

There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty - the European Union (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen member is valid in all other countries that have signed and implemented the treaty. But be careful: Not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen members are part of the European Union.

Airports in Europe are thus divided into "Schengen" and "non-Schengen" sections, which effectively act like "domestic" and "international" sections elsewhere. If you are flying from outside Europe into one Schengen country and continuing to another, you will clear Immigration and Customs at the first country and then continue to your destination with no further checks. Travel between a Schengen member and a non-Schengen country will result in the normal border checks. Note that regardless of whether you travelling within the Schengen area or not, some airlines will still insist on seeing your ID card or passport.

Keep in mind that the counter begins once you enter any country in the Schengen Area and is not reset by leaving a specific Schengen country for another Schengen country, or vice-versa.


Antwerp Street, City Square

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830. It was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II and has many war graves near the battle zones, most of them are around Ieper (in English archaically rendered as Ypres, with Yperite another name for mustard gas due to intensive use there in WWI). It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Comines Fete des Louches, 2008

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830. It was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II and has many war graves near the battle zones, most of them are around Ieper (in English archaically rendered as Ypres, with Yperite another name for mustard gas due to intensive use there in WWI). It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.



http://wikitravel.org/en/Belgium

Australia

Sydney is one of the most visited cities in Australia and is steeped in history with plent of sites, attractions and tours to keep most visitors busy for weeks, let alone a day.
The Sydney Harbor (technically, Port Jackson) offers a number of stunning views. But how much more delightful to see them from a different angle on the water, while moving at top speed in a jet boat, or cruising along on a sailboat.
Some are leisurely sail boat trips, where the gentle winds of the sea blow through your hair while you sip gin and talk about the weather. From that vantage point, you can relax and see how closely the sails on the ship match the curves of the Sydney Opera House.
Fish tails, powerbrake stops (in which the boat stops dead within two boat lengths), spins and more beat any theme park ride by a kilometer, the locals say. 700 horsepower diesels take the brave and the terrified on rides up to 80km/hr (48mi/hr). Rides last up to 30 minutes and some hold as many as 23 passengers. For those who want just to watch, not to catch, there are variety of scenic cruises that offer whale watching, along with views of Fairy penguins, seals, dolphins and many of the birds native to the area.
Lunch, dinner or sunset cruises are offered, too. There are afternoon cruises that last 2,5 hours and take a scenic tour of the eastern suburbs and the upscale Middle harbor. The 1,5 hour evening cruise takes riders into Darling harbor, where you get an excellent nighttime view of Sydney. The ship passes Garden Island naval base for a stunning view of the Opera House with all lights blazing.
There are even day or evening gondola rides for the romantically inclined. Set off from Cockle Bay and gently glide around the inner western area of Sydney Harbor. Rides are uncatered or catered, as you choose, and seat up to four.
Check out our specials from time to time as they will be highlighted on our price comparision page, these are usually operators who have seats available and want them filled at the last minute, can be quite a saving if you are a family.

Outback Mount Nameless Western Australia Travel Landscape Square


Sure it's got deadly spiders, snakes and sharks, but they don't stop people from coming here, never mind living here. And for good reason. From the prehistoric gorges of Kakadu National Park, to the white sails of the Sydney Opera House, Australia is a country as big your imagination. Kick back on a beach as white as your mother's wedding dress in Western Australia; lose yourself in the labyrinthine laneways of culture-rich Melbourne or be humbled by red desert sunsets over Uluru. Turn south to visit hundred year old giants that loom large in the forests of Tasmania or take on Sydney, a heady mix of surf, sun, money and sex, and you'll soon realise Australia is a place to be discovered, not feared.


Sydney Australia Travel Guys Flight Centre Travel Blog

The locals seem to be cursed with an insatiable yen for the unknown and they bend to it willingly, fleeing for weeks, months even, into that vast spot in the middle called the outback. And it's a big out back; you can travel indefinitely without coming within cooee of a phone call or an email. Nuts! Instead you have to make do with landscapes that shift from saffron to ochre beneath a seamless canopy of deep indigo. And then there are ancient Aboriginal cultures, dazzling salt pans, secretive reptiles, rough-cut canyons and pristine gorges. Some Australians simply go walkabout, traversing national parks filled with such devilish critters as koalas, sugar gliders and knee-high wallabies. Others whiz through world heritage rainforests on mountain bikes or apply ropes to their limbs, chalk to their hands, truly skimpy shorts to their nether regions and scale lofty summits like bronze-backed insects. And some simply launch themselves into the sky with parachutes attached to their backs.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia

Pakistan

The history of Pakistan traces back to the beginnings of human life in South Asia. Pakistan is home to the Indus Valley civilization, which is amongst the oldest in the world. Prior to the 1900's the area of Pakistan was the area from which the Muslims ruled over Central and Southern Asia for over 300 years. Today Pakistan is made up of people from various races including Arabs from after the Islamic expeditions, Persians from Bukhara and Samarkand, Turks from Central Asia and the native Sindhus who were converted to Islam.

The official name of Pakistan was used after the partition of (British) India into the 2 nation-states of India and Pakistan in 1947. However, the word Pakistan was first used by Ch. Rehmat Ali back in 1933 in his declaration, Now or Never - calling for its separation from the Empire. Afterwards, British-ruled India was divided into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and secular India. A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Jammu and Kashmir is ongoing between India and Pakistan.

[edit] Terrain
Pakistan is one of those few countries in the world which has every kind of geological structure. It has the sea, desert (Sindh & Punjab), green mountains (North West Provice), dry mountains (Balochistan), mountains covered with ice, rivers, rich land to cultivate (Punjab & Sindh), water resources, water falls, forests etc. The North West Frontier Province and Gilgit-Baltistan contain the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, the Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush. Pakistan's highest point is K2, at 8,611 meters, which is the second highest peak in the world. The Punjab province is a flat, alluvial plain whose rivers eventually join the Indus River and flow south to the Arabian Sea. Sindh lies between the Thar Desert the Rann of Kutch to the east, and the Kirthar range to the west. The Balochistan Plateau is arid and surrounded by dry mountains. Pakistan experiences frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe, especially in north and west.

[edit] Climate
Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north. Flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August). Fertile and sub humid heat in the Punjab region.

Karachi, Pakistan travel


Getting around the country has become much easier in recent years with the completion of some motorways, and an increase in private airlines.


Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) [6] serves numerous domestic destinations and is the only airline to serve the three airports in the north of interest to trekkers or climbers: Chitral, Gilgit, and Skardu. There are usually two flights from Islamabad to these cities daily, but they are often canceled due to bad weather, and often over-booked &mash; show up early to guarantee a seat.

Other domestic carriers include Aero Asia International [7], Shaheen Air International [8] and Airblue [9].

Pakistan Railway [10] provides passenger rail service. The stations tend not to have their timetables in English, but sales agents can usually explain everything to you. There are several different classes of fares depending on amenities. Foreign tourists and students with an ISIC card can get 25% and 50% discounts, respectively, by first visiting the PTDC (Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation) office, getting q verification certificate there, and bringing it with them to the train's commercial ticket office (which is different from the regular ticket office, but usually close by).

People of Pakistan

A large portion of travel between cities in Pakistan is carried out by bus. Travelling between Karachi and any of the country's other major cities by bus may take days, and is usually advised against, because of highway robbery, known locally as 'dacoitry'. With that exception, however, travel by bus is often the cheapest and most convenient alternative. The Dae-Woo company runs a regular bus service between several major cities, with air-conditioned buses and seats booked one day ahead. While rather unexpensive, they are still almost five times as expensive as the cheap and uncomplicated rides offered by minibuses or larger buses between the major bus stations of the cities. Fares are often (though not always) paid directly on the bus, there is no aircondition, and sometimes very little knee space, but you get where you are going all the same, and I have never met with anything but kind interest and friendly conversation on my many rides. Buses leave almost incessantly from the major bus stations for all the major cities, and many smaller locations, so booking ahead is neither possible nor necessary on the simpler buses. When travelling between major cities, smaller buses are to be preferred over the larger ones, as the larger ones tend to take up passagers along the way, and therefore travel more slowly.

The situation is similar for local transport. While the organization of local transport may look a little different between cities, there is usually an active bus service running through the city, with varying levels of government control.

For local transport within cities, auto rickshaws are a cheap and flexible alternative. A development of the bicycle rickshaw, the auto rickshaw is a small vehicle powered by a two-stroke or four-stroke engine. The original gasoline versions constantly emit a stuttering noise and foul blue-black smoke, but many are opting for the CNG(compressed natural gas) versions, which are less polluting and a little quieter. Blue-and-yellow auto rickshaws take passengers, other colors tend to be privately owned. Always negotiate a price before entering the rickshaw.

wikitravel.org/en/Pakistan

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of three countries named for their royal families, along with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and also Liechtenstein. The family were sheikhs of Nejd, the area around Riyadh, but were driven out by a neighbouring tribe, hiding with their relatives, the sultan of Kuwait. Then in 1902, young Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud and a few dozen lads rode out to raid their home territory. As it turned out, the invaders had been ruling badly, so many locals joined them. They not only re-captured Riyadh, but much of the surrounding territory.

After that, Abdul Aziz set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. The area united under him became known as Saudi Arabia.

In the 1930s, the discovery of oil transformed the country. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its sand for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. A burgeoning population, unemployment, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all major governmental concerns.

[edit] Economy
Saudi Arabia is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proven reserves), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from the private sector.

Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. Riyadh expects to have a budget deficit in 2002, in part because of increased spending for education and other social programs.

The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is expected to continue calling for private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Shortages of water and rapid population growth will constrain government efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural products.

Unemployment among young Saudis is a very serious problem. While part of this can be explained by Saudi reluctance to take many types of work, it is also true that imported labor is much, much cheaper than that of the locals.

Al Faisaliah Complex

Riyadh looks like any other cosmopolitan city with its neon lights and skyscraper skyline, but nightlife here goes as far as your neighborhood coffee shop or a visit to your favorite restaurant. The dress code dictates that women regardless of nationality have to wear the abaya, and men must wear long sleeves. There are a number of recreational parks in the city. Riyadh, which means “the gardens” in Arabic, is the capital of Saudi Arabia, located in the Central Province. In an advantageous location in the Hanifa valley, the city and surroundings are very green and boast many parks. Summers bring extreme heat and dryness, followed by mild winters and cool nights with occasional rain.

Saudi Arabia Yours to Discover

People tend to think of Saudi Arabia as an expanse of scorchingly hot desert punctuated with oil wells, and for most of the time in most of the country, they would be absolutely right. From May to September, the central areas of the country (basically everything except the coasts) bake in temperatures that average 42°C and regularly exceed 50°C in the shade. In July and August, in particular, all who can flee the country and work slows down to a crawl. The coasts, on the other hand, are moderated by the sea, which usually keeps temperatures below 38°C — but at the price of extreme humidity (85-100%), which may even be more uncomfortable than the dry heat of the interior, especially at night. Only the elevated mountainous regions stay cool(er), with the unofficial summer capital of Taif rarely topping 35°C and the mountaineous Asir region cooler yet.

In winter, though, it's a surprisingly different story. Daytime highs in Riyadh in December average only 7°C, and temperatures can easily fall below zero at night, occasionally even resulting in a sprinkling of snow in the southern mountains. The winter is also the only season when it rains at all in most of the country, although in many years this is limited to one or two torrential outbursts. In the south, though, this pattern is reversed, with most rain falling during the Indian Ocean's monsoon season between May and October.

http://www.wayfaring.info/category/countries/saudi-arabia/

Norway

Norway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The fjords in the west of the country are long narrow inlets, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the sea penetrates far inland. Norway was an old Viking kingdom. Economically it is known for its oil and seafood exports.

Norway is a sparsely populated country, roughly the same land size as Great Britain or Germany. It has a population of only 4.76 million people but a land area of 385,155 square kilometers. Thus, for each inhabitant there is 70,000 square meters of land, but the vast majority of this land is a rocky wilderness which is completely unusable for agricultural purposes. As a result, Norway has a large number of completely unpopulated areas, many of which have been converted to national parks. Even outside the national parks, much of the land is unspoiled nature, which Norwegians strive to keep unspoiled.

In winter, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and snowboarding are very popular. In summer, hiking and biking are obvious ways to enjoy the enormous mountain areas. For the adventurous, kayaking, wildwater rafting, paragliding, cave or glacier exploration are possible. Car tourists will enjoy driving along the fjords and mountains in the west or to the midnight sun in the north. In short, Norway has a lot to offer in terms of nature. Norwegians take pride in keeping fit and being sporty (a Sunday walk is not 20 min to the pub but rather three-four hours or more in the forest or up a mountain).

Norway is on a large peninsula shared with Sweden in the north of Europe. In the north, it also borders Finland and Russia. A large but loosely defined northern part of of Norway and Sweden, as well as parts of Finland and Russia outlines an area known as Sapmi (Sameland), which is where the most of the Sami people traditionally lived. Today, most of the Sami people live in the capital, Oslo.

A rugged landscape shaped by the Ice Age, shows forested hills and valleys, mountains, waterfalls, and a long coastline with fjords, islands, and mountains growing directly up from the sea. Norway's highest point is Galdhøpiggen, 2469m (8100ft) in the Jotunheimen region that lies midway between Oslo and Trondheim, but away from the coast. In the far north (Finnmark), you will find flatter open spaces. Several of the worlds greatest waterfalls [2] are in Norway, particularly in the western fjords and the mountain region.

Norway's primary income is the petroleum industry in the North Sea. It also has several other natural resources such as fish and minerals, some industry, and a healthy technology sector. Politically, it is dominated by a widespread and continued support for the Scandinavian model, which means high taxes and high government spending to support free schools, free healthcare, an efficient welfare system and many other benefits. As a result the unemployment rate in Norway is extremely low (about 2%).

The Norwegian people have rejected membership in the European Union (EU) in two independent popular votes in 1972 and 1994, both times just by a few percent, after being vetoed out of membership by France in the 50s and 60s. However, being a member state of the European Economic Area and part of the Schengen agreement, Norway is closely connected to the EU, and integrated as a full member in most economic matters, as well as in customs and immigration matters. This is of great economic importance to Norway.

Norway is a Christian country, so Sunday is considered a holy day and most business are closed Sundays. Many gas stations are open 24-7, some malls are partly open and restaurants are normally open, but this varies from place to place. Christmas and Easter are major holidays in Norway, and most Norwegians are on vacation for more than one week. Formally it is a Christian country with a dominant Lutheran majority of near 90 %, but this number is skewed by a type of automatic membership of the state church, where people become automatic members when they're baptised or if one of the parents is a member. In reality, roughly 3/4 is atheist or agnostic. Because of this, Norway has become rather liberal in moral issues and thus more similar to southern neighbors like Denmark and the Netherlands. Prostitution is (as of 1.1.2009) illegal in Norway. Homosexuality is accepted by most people and recently (2008) same-sex marriage was given the same legal status as traditional marriage. For instance, a previous male minister of finance and prominent figure in the conservative party is in partnership with a prominent male business manager.

As one of the richest countries in the world and with a strong currency, most visitors should be prepared for greater expenses than at home. In addition, Norway has a very compressed wage structure which means that even the typical low skill work is relatively well paid. For the same reason, firms try to keep the number of staff as low as possible, even for low skill service work. On the other hand, many attractions in Norway are free of charge, most notably the landscape and nature itself.

Norway is a country for every age

Because of the gulf stream, the climate in Norway is noticeably warmer than what would otherwise be expected at such a high latitude. Almost half the length of Norway is north of the arctic circle. Summers can be moderately warm (up to 30 degrees C), even in northern areas, but only for limited periods. The length of the winter and amount of snow varies. In the north there is more snow and winters are dark; on the southern and western coast, winters are moderate and rainy, while further inland the temperature can fall below -25 degrees C. Some mountain areas have permanent glaciers.

In Northern Norway there is 24 hour sunshine in the summer and no sun at all at mid-winter. Although Southern Norway can not enjoy the midnight sun, at midsummer the night is very short even in Oslo - it doesn't get really dark at all.

Norway Travel: Oslo/Bergen-Travel Video PostCard

Norway generally has big differences in daylight, temperature and driving conditions across seasons. Travellers are therefore advised to obtain specific information about seasonal variations when planning a trip. Note that seasonal variations crucially depend on region as well as altitude. Note in particular that the area with midnight sun (north of the arctic circle) also has winter darkness (polar night) when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all.

Norwegian weather is most pleasant during the summer (May to early September). If you like snow, go to Norway in December to April. Along the coasts and in southern part of West Norway there is little snow or frost and few opportunities for skiing even in winter. In the mountains there is snow until May and some mountain passes opens end of May. If you come in the beginning of May some passes can be still closed, but since the snow is melting very quickly, you will get a possibility to enjoy plenty of waterfalls before they shallow or disappear. And in this time the number of tourists is very small. Spring in Norway is quite intense due to the abundance of water (melting snow) in conjunction with plenty of sunlight and quickly rising temperatures (typically in May).

Be aware that daylight varies greatly during the year. In Oslo, the sun sets at around 3.30 PM in December. North of the Arctic Circle one can experience the midnight sun and polar night (winter darkness). However, even at Oslo's latitude, summer nights exist only in the form of prolonged twilight during June and July, these gentle "white nights" can also be a nice and unusual experience for visitors. The polar (or northern) light (aurora borealis) occurs in the darker months, frequently at high latitudes (Northern Norway) but occasionaly also further South.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Norway

Iceland

Took a FREE walking tour around the centre of the city for about 2 hours. We didn't actually walk too far, but got some interesting information about the city, it's people and it's culture. I was amazed that almost everybody's ancestory is known and recorded back as far as the original settlers. It was also interesting to hear about the geneology of Icelanders... the male line is predominantly linked to Denmark (the good old Vikings) and the female line is linked to Ireland! Our guide reckoned, in true romantic fashion, that the Vikings which had arrived to Ireland, fell in love with the Irish cailins (girls) and they decided to settle on this amazing island to the north!!! (Perhaps he was just charming us Irish so as to get a decent tip!!) It was also nice to hear that the Icelandic language remains unchanged from it's origins... the earliest written documents can be as easily read by Icelanders as a book published today. I think the language is fascinating and would dearly like to learn more than the few basic phrases I picked up.

Spot the whales
Tjornin lake
see all photos » On that note I must admit that the vast majority of Irish, and indeed English people should really be ashamed when it comes to other languages. Too often we 'expect' people to speak to us in English and make no effort to attempt their language. I hate that! BUT, hats off to all the people I've met and dealt with on my travels - your ability to switch over and converse in English truly amazes me. It was most evident to me after our walking tour, when we stopped for a bite to eat on one of the local squares where a group of young boys (aged 8-14) were skateboarding and hanging out. They would be talking together and without any hestiation, they would switch to English and hold a perfectly fluent conversation with us. I'd love to see Irish kids try that in reverse!!!!


Hello... Mr. Whale... are you there?
see all photos » Anyhow, back to the days activities...

After lunch, we headed for the docks and took a Whale-watching tour which went out into Faxafloi Bay. Now, I've done a few whale-watching trips before, so I knew what signs I was looking for. Not long into our trip, we encountered some dolphins and got some great views of the puffins (Boy, do they flap their wings!). Then, the smell came...stinking! There is nothing worse than the smell of whale breath- you'd think there was something dead and rotten around. Anyhow, we were blessed to see a pair of Minkes, which is quite unusual, as they tend to be solitary more often than not. On our return journey, things seemed to be quiet, the whales were nowhere to be found when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a whale breach the water. I couldn't believe it as no one around me saw it. THEN, amazingly, it breached a further 4 times!!! Funny thing was, the guide didn't spot it at all, so the majority of the people on the boat, didn't see it either. I think I should become a whale watcher, I'd be good at it!!!

Landed in Keflavic airport where the bus was waiting to transport us to the capital, about 40mins away. It was raining lightly when we arrived adn we were told to expect it at some stage each day.

Checked in to Apartment K and were taken aback by the extremely high standards that were evident in every room, which was to be our home for the next 8 nights. We would have been happy being locked into it for the week, it was that nice! I would recommend these Apartments to anyone thinking of staying here. Apparently, some have even availed of them as Honeymoon suites, they're that good - better than a 4* hotel and not far off a 5* one, in my opinion.

First thoughts
Main Street, Reykjavik
see all photos » After unpacking, we decided to take a stroll and locate the Pizza Company, which came highly recommended by the owner of the apartment. On leaving the building, I was a little taken aback... we were staying on the main street of the city, but it didn't look like any of the main streets of any of the capital cities I've been in before. Nope, this was more like a side street. One-way, one lane traffic and small, yet quaint, boutiques and jewellery shops aligning it. There were no big department stores, no traffic lights, no crowds! A strange sight to behold in a capital city. Yet, it grew on me very quickly and it will be a main street I won't easily forget.


View from Apartment
see all photos » After having a tasty, yet expensive, pizza, we took a short walk further along the street, window shopping and getting our bearings before returning to the luxurious Apartment K to relax and prepare for day 2

OK, so we're in Iceland and the first port of call for anyone travelling here is usually a visit to the Blue Lagoon and we're no different!

Because we had no car hired, we decided to travel to/from the Lagoon with Iceland Excursions, who provide the transport, reduced entry tickets, collect you from your hotel/apartment and drop you back, while the driver gives you that little extra info on the journey.

What's that mud on your face!
The famous mud
see all photos » The Blue Lagoon is about 40mins out of the city, not too far from the airport and is set in the midst of an expansive lava field. The facilities are top class and you can't help but relax while bathing in the geothermal seawater surrounded by lava rocks adn fresh air.

On entering the lagoon you have a little giggle at all the people covered in a white thick mud, but then this white mud (silica & algae) is world famous for it's positive effects on the skin, so you just join the club and laugh a yourself too! Other treatments are available, some for a further price, but worth it if you really need to relax. The temperature of the water varies from spot to spot, so it's easy to find the place that suits you best.


Entrance through lava field
see all photos » It really is a relaxing experience sitting out in the open air in warm water and treating your skin. What an experience it must be when the place is covered in snow!

After a few hours chilling, we caught the bus back home, cooked up a nice dinner, went for a little stroll around the city and took an early night.

Iceland - Geysir: blue waters

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway, then Denmark, achieving full independence in 1944.

Iceland experiences a rather mild climate for a country on such a northern latitude, yet weather patterns are known to be volatile, conditions changing frequently. During the summer months, Iceland never reaches full darkness, and in northern areas a Midnight Sun can be seen. Iceland's stunning landscape provides areas of geothermal activity, mountains, waterfalls and glaciers. It's cities although small, provide both a taste of traditional culture and the chance to experience the Icelandic way of life

Iceland on dirtbikes


http://www.visiticeland.com/