Travel Eden - Part 2

Top Destinations In Vietnam

With its warm summers and mild winters, many travelers are making their way to visit beautiful Vietnam.

Vietnam has many tourist attractions perfect for those who love leisure, agriculture, shopping, and a bit of sight seeing.

Before you book your trip to Vietnam, make sure you have the most updated information for your Vietnam visa.

Nha Trang

If you are a fan of spacious beach towns, Nha Trang will keep you entertained. It is Vietnam’s most visited seaside resort town just along the most beautiful bays in the country. Nha Trang has miles of clean beaches with very fine and well-kept sand. The surrounding waters are clear and warm which is nice for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

In this particular area of Vietnam, the weather is mild and sunny making it the perfect location for an eventful lunch or a romantic night on the beach. Around 300,000 inhabitants populate Nha Trang city, which gives it a lively urban feel. If you are a fan of adventure and exploration, then Nha Trang is the perfect location as it is the scuba diving center of Vietnam.

Mekong Delta

If you are a fan of agriculture and submersing yourself into the lifestyle of locals, then the Mekong Delta is waiting for you. Many compare the lush river waterways of the Mekong Delta to the waterways of Venice, Italy.

The Delta is in the southern region of Vietnam where the Mekong River connects with, and empties out into the surrounding sea. The surrounding vegetation is lush and plentiful.

The Mekong Delta is also located amongst fields of rice that contribute to roughly half of Vietnam’s agricultural output. Understandably, the culture on the Mekong Delta is very focused on the river and the locals often travel by small boat rather than roads. If you wanted to visit the local villages along the Delta, most of them are accessible via the waterway.

Sa Pa Terraces

Located in northwest Vietnam, you will find the local mountain people the Hmong, Giay, Dao, Tay, and Giay who grow rice and other crops in the city of Sa Pa.

The Terraces are where you will find traditional rice fields very close to the Chinese border. Most of the rice fields are found between Sa Pa town and the Fansipan Mountain in a little area called the Muong Hoa valley.

Corn and other vegetables are locally grown in the paddy terraces of the valley and all the while the landscape is bordered by thick bamboo forests. This location is perfect for a quiet anthropological day of exploration in northwest Vietnam.

Hoi An

Hoi An once was a bustling fishing town, now it has turned into a popular tourist attraction which sits on the coast of the South China Sea.

For anyone interested in history, Hoi An’s past is riddled with adventure because it began as an international port in the 16^th century. All major shipping industry has since moved to the city of Da Nang.

In the city centre, you will find the Old Town, composed of winding pathways and Chinese-styled shops.

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake located in the city of Hanoi, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city as well as a favorite hangout spot for locals.

Hoan Kiem translated means “returned sword”, which is based on a legend in which King Le Loi received an enchanted sword by the gods, which allowed him to drive out the attacking Chinese. He then restored the sword to the Golden Turtle God in Hoan Kiem Lake.

Check Out This Unique Experience for Your Next Las Vegas Vacation

By Maria

At the heart of every vacation lays a virtual to-do list, with a long list of things that you want to do, along with some “dream stuff” you want to do. In other words, you know from the beginning that you will not have enough time and money to see and do absolutely everything a vacation spot has to offer. Where does that leave you? Do you want to do the same old things, or move on to something more interesting? It just depends on the place in question. Of course, when we’re talking about Las Vegas, people usually think about casinos or nightclubs. The truth is that the city is truly becoming a lot more than that. Indeed, Las Vegas is trying to include everyone, including senior citizens and children, and they’re doing a very good job so far.

But what if you want to still keep a little bit of adventure and wonder in your trip, without necessarily getting too risky? That’s when it’s time to look at a very unique experience that will give you both the adventure you crave along with the perspective you deserve: Grand Canyon day trips from Las Vegas!

Sounds straightforward, right? Of course it does. You could go out and tour the Grand Canyon in style, traveling by helicopter rather than by car. A vacation is about creating memories that last a life time. Imagine taking just a day trip to see the Grand Canyon by air. You’ll get pictures that you can positively guarantee no one else will have at home. It gives you something to immediately chat about with strangers as well. If you’re in sales, then you already know how important it is to stand out from all of the other salespeople. Interesting photos that you gathered on an incredible vacation is a great conversation starter for anyone. Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of such an opportunity?

When people think about helicopter tours, they worry that their safety is going to be in jeopardy. Just as there are safety regulations for big airplanes, there are safety regulations for small aircraft types as well. In other words, your pilot is highly trained and is under numerous safety protocols designed to protect everyone on board. If there’s a medical emergency during the flight, the pilot knows where to take you and how to handle this. If you’re a little nervous about being so high up in the air, the pilot isn’t going to laugh at you! They will try to ease your concerns to the best of their ability. You will not be the first person that’s ever had a tough time getting used to air travel, and you certainly won’t be the last.

The Grand Canyon tour is designed as a day trip, so you won’t even miss dinner back in Las Vegas! It’s a great way to do something different, without necessarily giving up everything else that you wanted to “check off” your vacation to-see list.

For those looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush, this might not meet your expectations. But if you’re looking for a safe way to walk on the wild side, so to speak, a Grand Canyon helicopter tour could be the best attraction yet!

A trip to Israel

By Maria

Over the years I have traveled to numerous places but my most memorable trip was one to Israel. Although it receives many visitors each year, it is not often at the top of traveler’s “must see” destinations. I felt it was truly unique and offered an experience not typical of the tourist haunts I have ended up in all around the world. I have compiled a list of my most favorite experiences while in Israel that I hope can guide and inspire you to head there yourself.

Sleeping in a Bedouin tent

My first introduction to Israel was experiencing the life of the Bedouins, an ethnic group of nomads who travel around the Israeli deserts. I arrived to their desert village in the evening and was welcomed with tea accompanied by a traditional live music show. I sat on satin pillows and woven mats as I watched a man produce beautiful music out of a strange instrument. The show was followed by dinner, served on huge silver platters at floor level tables, which I ate with my hands. After an incredible dessert of baklava, I was walked further out into the desert and got a lesson on the stars as I looked at the different constellations with a telescope. The night ended huddled up in sleeping bags on the floor of a tent shared with 30 other travelers trying to keep warm from the desert night’s cold.

Riding a camel through the desert

Upon waking from the Bedouin tent, travelers are allowed to ride camels through the desert under the supervision of the locals. Riding on the back of such a massive animal while taking in such stunning scenery was a thrill.

Climbing to the top of Mt. Masada

I awoke while it was still dark and slowly made my way to the top of the mountain for the sunrise. As the sun came up over the dead sea I could finally see the sweeping desert around me and the ancient ruins behind me. I spent the rest of the morning discovering ancient grottoes and halls.

Floating in the Dead Sea

There are many avenues for exploring the Dead Sea but I chose a spa. The spa was housed in a building with changing rooms and a pool and the back opened up into the sea. I floated effortlessly while chatting with friends, reached to the sea floor and utilized the exfoliating scrub that was the sand and covered myself in a natural mud wrap to relieve the sting from the salty waters.

Staying on a Kibbutz

This agricultural settlement is the home of people living a communal life by working off of the land. Visitors get to experience their unique way of life, interact with the farm animals and eat traditional food in their shared cafeteria. The life was simple but interesting and my visit left me feeling inspired to extend my stay. Many kibbutz offer volunteer opportunities for travelers that I think I will take advantage of in the future.