A Great TNQ Destination

Townsville's faultless blue skies ,long beachfront esplanade means that Queenslands third largest city retains the relaxed tropical atmosphere of its smaller counterparts. It is endowed with a grand coastal position,park lands,purpose built attractions, a lively cafe and restaurant scene and lofty Castle Hill, from whose peak you can survey the lot.

The Great Barrier Reef is just a few hours away out by a fast catamaran and its closeness has allowed Townsville to be increasingly recognized as a center for research into marine life. Reef HQ is home to the headquarters to The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. This underwater observatory is both informative and visually breathtaking. Its living reef is the largest captive reef in the world. Townsville is home to a major armed forces base and James Cook University, giving it a significant population of young adults and a better-than-average nightlife. Many o Townsville's pubs and bars serve food. Most of the action is along Flinders Street and winds down around 1am. There is also Jupiter's Casino, famous for its flashing neon faux fireworks, cinemas and nightclubs that are licensed until 5am. Restaurants are numerous and wherever you go seafood is always amazing. For dining with a view, head to C Bar which has a broad outdoor deck. Naked Fish is obviously famed for its seafood menu but also includes Cajun and Moroccan dishes.

In 1864, sea captain Robert Towns commissioned James Black to establish a settlement on Cleveland Bay to service the new inland cattle industry. The many historic buildings found around Cleveland Bay are a reminder of this heritage. It is still a major port for the beef and mining industries. A shameful claim to fame is that the same Robert Towns began the practice of black birding kidnapping Kanakas (South Sea Islanders) from their homeland and bringing them to Australia for cheap labor as European were considered inherently unsuited to work in the tropics .The Kanakas were primarily used in the Sugar Industry and were paid a pittance, housed in substandard accommodation and were given the most physically demanding jobs. The kidnapping was outlawed in 1868 and government ships were placed on all Kanakas ships to check that their emigration was voluntary but only in 1901 was the use of island labor completely stopped.

Magnetic Island is about 8km offshore, named by Captain Cook who erroneously believed that magnetic fields generated by the huge granite boulders he could see were causing problems with his compass. It has 2,500 inhabitants and is the only reef island with a significant permanent population. It has 12,000 acres of largely mountainous terrain includes lush and varied vegetation and almost half the island is designated as a national park. You can have a great day trip here or even stay overnight in private accommodation on offer and there are many walks around the island. Sandy bay is a great place for a swim or snorkel and you can see spectacular views from old WWII forts.

Bowling Green Bay National Park, a coastal park, offers much for the self-sufficient guest. Walk along Alligator Creek to see cascades and waterfalls. Stay overnight on the campsite and go spotlighting to see brush tail possums and sugar gliders. Granite Mountains blends a variety of landscapes including saltpans and mangrove country.

There are numerous queensland hotels for you to choose when planning a visit to TNQ. You can log onto www.tropicalnorthqueensland.com.au to find the cairns accommodation that is most suited for your vacation requirements.

April 15 2010 | hotels | No Comments »

Scotland And The Clans Of The Highlands

The Highlands of Scotland were well written about for their wars and betrayals and it is certainly accurate that from the reign of James IV in the 1490's existence in the Highlands was somewhat tumultuous. In 1493, James went against the strong chiefs of the MacDonald Clan and forfeited the MacDonald Lord of the Isles in favour of himself and the Campbell Clan. Therefore the Campbell's took over as powerhouse in that time at the expense of the MacDonalds.

Difficulties arose not simply with the MacDonalds but also with several other Scottish clans because of this unhealthy power divide that the Campbells held over all others. The Campbell were in such a position that they could actually buy up available property and charge a kind of lease upon everyone that wished to utilize the area for cows or sheep. The MacLeans were extremely aggrieved Clan. As a sidenote here, the word Clan originates from the Gaelic word "clann" which actually means "children".

It would seem this can signify any person inside a clan were strongly related however this was not the case. Only the higher echelons of the specific clan were associated with the chiefs. All others simply saw the chief as the leader rather than as a relative as such.

The particular system of clans came from a mixture of early Celtic idealism and feudal ways, the main point being the ownership of lands. The clan chief was the owner of the lands of the clan and he had the capability to grant the land out to his fellow clans men. The status of a clan nonetheless wasn't necessarily about the amount of land that the family owned or operated but more concerning the number of males the clan could possibly muster to be able to fight in war. Because of the Highlands being extremely militaristic they would be looked to for fighting men during the time of conflict between the King and his opponents. For the highland clans this became problematic because they often became embroiled in lowland politics.

When James VI came to be King however, civil war broke out. When he called on the clans to assist the Campbells decided otherwise. It was not just the Campbells who were to cause issues for James - he extirped (sent away) the clan MacGregor in 1603, and in 1609 he introduced new laws in to force which limited all clan chiefs from utilizing and abusing their earlier powers.

More can be learned about the colourful history of Scotland at visit Scotland.

February 19 2010 | vacation | No Comments »

What Is There To See In Cairns?

Cairns is a wonderful city in Far North Queensland in a great location, in between the Great Dividing Range of Australia and the great blue sea. There are many great natural locations close by which brings in lots of tourists such as the Daintree Rain forest, Atherton Tableland and the Great Barrier Reef. There are many places to stay in Cairn, plenty of beds available varying from luxury hotel penthouses and little one room cottages.

In 1876 the town of Cairns was founded during the time of the gold strikes. The port there, Trinity Inlet was the best way to move the gold out, and then there was a saw mill and an agricultural base added. As the railroad built tracks in more immigrant workers came which increased the agricultural interests there. The commerce continued to grow which brought Cairns higher status than surrounding town. Due to this the public utilities and transportation were improved, and in 1903 it became an official town due to the increased population.

Environmental awareness and protection of the natural environment are strong in Cairns. Many national parks and preserves such as Hann Tableland protected area, Barron Falls National Park and Daintree National Park are very nearby. These bring in lots of visitors and researchers who come to see the exotic natural areas, home to wildlife and plants. Due to Cairns proximity it is the place where most of these tourists choose to stay, and there are many options there. The national parks do have camp grounds and small hotels also.

Paronella Park is an architectural marvel and a major tourist attraction located near Cairns. Built in the 1930s by Jos Paronella, the Moorish-influenced concrete castle has suffered damage over the years, but retains much of its unique charm. Paronella also built the first hydroelectric generator in Queensland, currently being restored to working condition. The grounds of Paronella Park are maintained in approximately their original state, and the ballroom and cinema are available for tours.

If you're a sun seeker, Cairns and Port Douglas have the beaches and tropical climate you dream about. There are plenty of accommodations to choose from, luxury resorts to hotels right on the beach to extended stay apartments and homes for rent. Budget challenged visitors will have a good choice also. But make sure to book your stay early as the places in Cairns fill up quickly even in the off season due to the international appeal.

If you are preparing a trip to Australia you must go to TropicalNorthQueensland.com right now to locate all the information necessary for your trip. TropicalNorthQueensland.com will provide you with details about palm cove accommodation and cairns accommodation, and make the reservation for you.

January 10 2010 | vacation | No Comments »

The Mapes Hotel: Reno’s Lost Art Deco Jewel

On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the efficacy and justification of demolishing the Mapes is debatable, one thing that is not is the glorious history of the hotel. It was built in 1947, and signaled the start of the modern era of casino gambling. Despite the notoriety of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, it was the Mapes that became the first building in the nation to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of 'The Misfits'. Joseph McCarthy, America's famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn't have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.

During the 'Rat Pack' era of the 50's and 60's it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the 1960's and 70's but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in 1982, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.

Reno never experienced the massive growth that occurred in Las Vegas and southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands"perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state"is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate. The old properties may have historic value to pop culture historians, but their survival doesn't make economic sense. They're simply 'analog players in a digital world'.

This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land"which sits along the banks of the Truckee River"to expand its riverside district of art galleries, restaurants and shops. The revitalization of downtown Reno is definitely needed and a legitimate goal, but at the same time it is hard to think that the Mapes was a barrier to this. Indeed, a number of proposals for redevelopment including office space, artists lofts and upscale senior housing would have probably served to enhance the livability of the downtown area. For whatever reason, the City Redevelopment Authority wouldn't approve any of the proposals and the fate of the Mapes was sealed.

The behavior of the City Redevelopment Authority throughout the process has come into question. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was perfectly placed between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. In 1996, the city purchased the htoel and began accepting proposals for redevelopment. Despite receiving a number of proposals that made sense both in terms of their financial workability and positive impact on the downtown area, the City Redevelopment Authority nixed all of them and insisted that the hotel be razed.

Following the 2000 demolition, the lot remained vacant for over a year until a temporary ice skating rink was hastily constructed the following winter. The property has been improved and the rink is now permanent which, while not in itself a bad use for the land, further calls into question the efficacy of demolishing the structure. It would appear that the city had no clue what to do with the land, but for whatever reason wanted the building brought down. This has led to all sorts of conspiracy theories, from the City Development Agency having financial incentive to raze the hotel to rumors that the building was haunted and was destroyed to keep the Reno area from being overrun with paranormal activity. Whatever the reason for the decision, the city of Reno has lost a beautiful art deco treasure that played a significant part in the economic growth of the state.

July 25 2009 | Travel | No Comments »

The Four Best Historical Sites

The wonders of the ancient world can still be seen today. They are spread out around the world and give us insight into the development of people and places and cultures. They help us understand the past and help us understand who we are now. There are many places around the world like this bu the four best are Machu Picchu, Tikal, the Pyramids, and Angkor Wat. These are the giants. They biggest, the most visited, the most talked about. They are remnants of some of the most powerful cultures that have ever lived.

Machu Picchu- This world heritage site is under siege by the tourist who visit it each year. With millions of people visiting this place each year, it is getting worn down and there have been a number of efforts to preserve the site from tourism lately. This place is located high in the Andes mountains and was part of the Incan empire. Many theories about it exist but it was most likely a summer home for the Incan king.

Tikal- Situated within the Central American jungles, Tikals archeology and architecture, flora and thick forests are a popular tourist destination. Tikal is a world heritage site with beautiful temples that give us a peak into the lives of 7th century Mayans. Tikal was one of the biggest city states in the region and was once the most powerful Mayan state. It was lost to the jungle for centuries and has only been excavated over the last few decades. Many of its buildings still remain under the forest. The crowds here dont come until mid-day so in the mornings, this wonderful place is all yours.

Angkor Wat- Angkor Wat and the Angkor temple complex are the most visited tourist attractions in the world. People come from all over the world to see the remains of this lost city. It has been featured in many movies and everyone is familiar with it. Located in Cambodia, Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer civilization. Built in the 12th century, there are hundreds of temples and structures here to explore. The most famous is the main temple of Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Te Phrom, the last being featured in the movie Tomb Raider. Make sure you come early to beat the crowds.

The Pyramids- Pyramids are situated in Egypt on the banks of river Nile and they are the major tourist attraction in Egypt. Built thousands of years ago, they were built with a great understanding of math and with all human labor. They align perfectly to the stars and how this happened is still not really understood by science. It is proof early civilizations were not as primitive as we like to think they are. These three giants are a great site to visit and give us a lot of information about one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

There are many historical sites in the world that are important and should be visited by tourists. However, these four are by far the most popular and the biggest. They see the most tourists and get the most fame. Tourism is very beneficial to places in the world but its also important to remember to conserve and protect these sites too. When you go visit, make sure you do your best to keep these places safe for future generations.

May 03 2009 | Travel | No Comments »