China - Olympic 2008

There is no better time to visit Melbourne than during summer. At this time of the year, it holds many attractions for the sport-lovers, music-lovers, travel enthusiasts, families and children. Every summer in Melbourne brings with it spectacular events, alfresco dining, delicacies, and enjoyment for the whole family.

Every summer, world-famous sporting events such as Grand Slam, the Heineken Golf Classic and the Sail Melbourne Regatta take place. There are also special sporting events like sports for the deaf, such as the “Deafalympic Games.” Also, one could get an entrance ticket to the Australian Open in Melbourne for just $ 25.

If one is a music-lover, one could visit the famous Melbourne International Music Festival that happens every summer. Melbourne also holds attractions such as theaters, festivals, exhibitions and music shows. One could buy a ticket to either an Enrique Iglesias or even a Savage Garden live concert.

The Melbourne Zoo organizes a program, where one could spend a musical night under the stars at the “Zoo Twilights.” There is also Melbourne’s Open Range Zoo at a place called Werribee, where one could either camp out in a tent overnight or take a wildlife safari through one of their attractions, “the African Savannah.”

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival attracts top national and international talent and lets one have a good laugh. One could find Jerry Seinfeld or even the famous Jim Carrey doing his acts on stage and right in front of your eyes. This show is held at a different venue every year.

Melbourne is the vanguard of the Australian and Aboriginal culture and heritage. One could either shop for Aboriginal items in the array of tourist shops or just take a look around the Australian Center for Moving Image in Melbourne city. Melbourne also holds attractions such as the Immigration Museum and the Melbourne Museum, where one could see such Aboriginal art.

Shopping in the famous Collins Street of Melbourne city is a must on one’s visit to Melbourne. This is a great place for clothes for both men as well as for women. For a book shopping session along the way, one could just pop into Dymocks bookstore on Bourke Street or just walk around Flinders Street.

Bars and Nightclubs are the most happening night-spots in Melbourne. Nightclubs are spread throughout the city. They include Heat Cocktail Bar and the Glow Bar. Melbourne is also a premier destination for jazz lovers. One could visit jazz-clubs or even jazz festivals, such as Tony Starr’s Kitten Club or the Hardware Lane.

One could catch Asian Delights at the Flora (Indian) Restaurant on Swanston Street or even at the Little Bourke Street near Swanston Street. There are sprawling numbers of fast-food chains such as McDonalds or Hungry Jacks, where one could catch a quick meal. There is also the famous Gopal Restaurant or the Swanston Walk Caf

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North Central Washington provides for one of the widest variety of recreation and scenic opportunities that can be found in one region. There are snow-capped mountains, glacier-fed lakes, rivers, and streams, and arid desert areas as well. Whether exploring the Okanogan highlands to the north, the Cascade Mountains to the west, or the sage covered coulees to the east there is plenty to see and do in North Central Washington. The communities of North Central Washington offer weekend festivals and holiday celebrations throughout the year and out of town visitors are welcome to be part of the excitement. There is a rich local history surrounding the entire region and dating back to before European settlers set foot in the area. The North Central Washington area invites visitors to explore its resources thoroughly, but here are fifteen things you may not have known about North Central Washington.

1. The Bavarian town of Leavenworth was named for Charles Leavenworth, president of the Okanogan Investment Company, who purchased the area that is present day downtown Leavenworth, WA.

2. The city of Cashmere was originally known as Mission, as it was a site of numerous religious settlements.

3. Before 1886, the area of land from Chelan to the Canadian border was called the Columbia Indian Reservation; President Grover Cleveland did away with this reservation in 1886.

4. The island that sits in Lake Wenatchee, just off the shore of the State Park, is named Emerald Island.

5. Lake Chelan measures 50.4 miles in length while averaging a width of only 2 miles.

6. Approximately 70% of the land in Okanogan County is owned by the State and Federal government.

7. The Grand Coulee Dam was used in the Harrison Ford movie, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

8. The Pacific Coast Trail (PCT), a hiking trail allowing continuous hiking from Canada to California passes through the North Cascades National Park.

9. In 1909, 60% of the sheep raised in Washington State were summered in the Wenatchee National Forest.

10. The community of Chesaw, located about 25 miles east of Oroville, is the only town in the United States named after a Chinese settler.

11. The first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean ended with a landing in a most unlikely of spots, East Wenatchee’s Fancher Field.

12. Okanogan County did not have its first stoplight installed until the early 1980’s.

13. The Columbia River has eleven dams on it from its beginning in Canada to where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. Five of those dams, almost half, lie in North Central Washington. (Grand Coulee, Chief Joseph, Wells, Rocky Reach, and Rock Island)

14. In 1880, the United States Army maintained Camp Chelan at the current site of the city of Chelan. Camp Chelan lasted one year and was abandoned as it was deemed too remote to conveniently get troops into and out of.

15. The Rock Island Dam was the first dam to be constructed on the Columbia River.

Experiencing all that North Central Washington has to offer in one visit is nearly impossible. From recreational opportunities like boating, camping, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and more; to experiencing the scenic wonders of Lake Chelan, Dry Falls, Grand Coulee Dam, and others, there is something in North Central Washington for everyone.

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We were extremely excited when we touched down at the Incheon International Airport. I had done lots of research on South Korea and brought with me the shopping list that I had prepared earlier. No items to be sparred, we were determined to make this trip a fulfilling one!

Although we had constantly reminded ourselves to be gentle with our pockets, we arrived home with bags of Korean specialties. We did a great deal of shopping in Seoul and Jeju Island, fully utilising every compartment of our luggage bags to make rooms for the things that we bought. Like Singapore, South Korea is a good place to shop. If you are visiting South Korea, here are my recommendations.

– Korean Ginseng –

An expensive and nourishing herb, Korean Ginseng is widely known for balancing the “chi” in the body, good for the overall well-being of the body. I got to know from the sales assistant that Korean Ginseng is also effective in relieving menstrual cramps in women. Grown in the mountains, Korean Ginsengs between four to six years old are harvested and sold. The older the Korean Ginseng, the higher the price it demands.

Besides the normal “white” Korean Ginseng that I have mentioned earlier, you will also be able to find what is known as the Red Ginseng in South Korea. The Red Ginseng is prepared by treating “white” Korean Ginseng in Chinese herbs, giving it a red colour. It is known to be effective in treating erectile dysfunction in men.

Apart from being the main ingredients for many of the Korean cuisines such as the Ginseng Chicken, Korean Ginseng can be taken on its own in small slices or in the form of powder. As Korean Ginseng tastes a little bitter, you may want to consider buying honey coated Korean Ginsengs. The sweetness of honey helps to curb the bitterness of the Korean Ginseng a great deal.

If you find Korean Ginseng too expensive, Korean Ginseng products such as ginseng candies and rice cakes are good and affordable alternatives. Korean Ginseng and ginseng products can be found in many shops in Seoul.

– Amethyst –

We visited an amethyst shop in Seoul. Amethyst is a gemstone that is purple in colour and many women’s favourite. I was amazed by the Korean’s creativity and brilliant workmanship in jewelleries. Amongst the beautiful pieces of amethyst jewelleries, I came across an amethyst bracelet that could be folded into a four-leaved clover pendant! You should see the “WOW” written all over my face! Amazing!

We were told by the sales assistant that amethysts come in two grades - Grade A and B. Grade A amethysts are darker in colour and more expensive while Grade B amethysts are less expensive but in a lighter purple. Drop some hints to your partner. You might just get yourself an amethyst bracelet as your birthday present!

– Honey –

Honey is good at soothing any discomforts caused by a sore throat. Should you be visiting the Jeju Folk Village, buy yourself a few jars of honey, a perfect gift for everyone back home! Here is a trick that you might want to try. Scoop two tablespoons of Korean Honey into a bowl, followed by some water. Gently sway (not shake) the bowl, allowing the excess honey to stay at the base. Notice that polygons of the same sizes, similar to the cells in a beehive, start to appear in the honey!

– Kimchi –

Kimchis are fermented vegetables served in every Korean meal. They are made of vegetables such as cabbage, cucumber and radish. Red, hot spices are applied onto the vegetables and kept for fermentation in big jars. Extremely hot and sour, kimchi is a delicacy in Korean cuisine. Kimchi comes in airtight packets and can be found in all supermarkets in South Korea. In order not to cause your fridge to stink, make sure you keep the kimchi in airtight containers after you have removed it from its packaging.

There are simply too many things to try out in South Korea, and it is impossible for me to cover all of them here. If you like shopping and planning to go for a vacation, visit South Korea! I can assure you that you will shop till you drop!

For more travel resources and information, please visit the Travel Mambo

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