Some of the things you should know about Jounieh, Lebanon

Jounieh (Arabic جونيه, or Junia, جونية) is a coastal city which is located about 16 km north of Beirut, Lebanon. It is well known for its seaside resorts and also bustling nightlife, as well as its old stone souk, ferry port, and a cable car that takes passengers up the mountain to the infamous shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. There is a small hill named Bkerké above Jounieh and not far from there stands the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.

For your information, the residents of Jounieh and the surrounding towns are amongst Christian Maronites, making Jounieh the largest Christian Maronite city in the world. If you do visit Jounieh, don’t forget to stop by the bay of Jounieh, which is considered to be the most beautiful bay in Lebanon.

Coming to Jounieh? Make sure you have a comfortable stay while you are there. Here is a list of some of the hotels in Jounieh that you can check in:

1.      Reston Hotel

This hotel offers a high quality service and it is a harmony between the romantic and the luxurious. In fact, this four stars hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in the area.

What it offers:

24h Front Desk and concierge, Free Wireless Internet in lounge, 24h Room service, Daily housekeeping, Airport pick-up and drop off facilities, Taxi service, Tour operator, Car rental, Laundry and Dry cleaning service, Breakfast area, International Restaurant and Banqueting facilities.

2.      Aquarim Hotel

This hotel is ready to offer you both luxury and comfort. Located in the heart of Jounieh, the Aquarium Hotel is just a short distant away from the popular shopping areas, attractive tourist sites and nightlife entertainment places.

What’s hot here?

Aquarium Hotel offers you a beautiful pool, which is located by the sea. Sit tight and relax!

Churchill Rooftop Pub/Restaurant that offers you excellent food and beverages, so you can get together with your friends and family at night after your tiring exploration around the city.

3.      Madisson Hotel

Located 100 meters away from the sea-shore and just 3 kilometres from the Casino du Liban, this hotel offers you nothing but convenience and comfort during your visit to Jounieh. It is also 20 minutes from downtown Beirut. What’s cool about this hotel is that you don’t have to worry about finding a parking each time you come for a visit. 

Facilities:

Fitness centre, Jacuzzi, Sauna, etc

Activities:

Horse riding, Scuba diving, Skiing, Tennis, Golf, Hiking, etc

Condom machine; don’t try without consent

Surprisingly, this is a condom machine that can be found in one of the pubs in the UK!

NEST OF THE DRAGONS

About the park

Komodo National Park is a sanctuary for Komodo Dragons, which was established in 1980 and declared as a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in the year 1986.  It was established to conserve the Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodoensis). The park was first discovered in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn.  Here, you can watch these dragons living their lives on an island where they are all kings in their own habitat.

To get there

By air: Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) & Trans Nusa Airlines (TGN)

By land: Buses or Cars

By sea: Ferry

About Komodo Dragons

The Komodo dragon is a large species of lizard that can be found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Padar. It can grow to as big as 10 ft and weigh up to 70kg. They are considered the “giant” of the island since there are no other carnivorous animals that can beat them in term of size on the islands where they live.

Komodo Island Diving

If you love snorkelling, stop by at Red Beach (Pantai Merah) which is located in front of the old dragon feeding station. There is a village nearby too. The locals are very friendly too, so if you need any information during your visit to the island, feel free to ask them.

Snorkelling here is awesome. Get ready to dive in to as low as 25 metres and witness the beautiful reef that decorates the ocean.

Jenglot: A mystique creature from Asia

For those of you whom may have watched an Indonesian movie called “Jenglot Pantai Selatan”, the face of Jenglot probably gives you the chill. ‘Jenglot’ is a mysterious creature or vampire that is commonly told in the Indonesian culture and mythology. This creature is as small as a human doll even though it was once a human who meditated in the cave and gained supernatural power, according to the locals. It has a scary looking face that very much resembles the famous Medusa of the Greek mythology.

Indonesia is believed to be the birthplace of Jenglot, Java in specific. These creatures can be found whenever a supernatural ceremony has been performed and they can be crawling in various places, such as the grounds, on a rooftop and even in the trunk of a huge tree. To our surprise, these amazing creatures are actually fed by Jenglot keepers; blood is fed to them, such as human and animal blood. What’s even shocking is that Jenglot keepers can actually buy blood legally from the Indonesia Red Cross! Unlike the type of vampire that sucks blood whenever it has the chance, Jenglot prefers to consume blood whenever it is left alone, out from the sight of human beings. 

Budget Hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Are you a budget traveller travelling to Kuala Lumpur? If you are, perhaps you should take a look at some of these budget hotels listed here. These hotels offer good deals and you can always choose the one that suits your preference best.

(i)Casavilla Travellers Lodge

Located in KL, this hotel offers spectacular night views of the Bukit Bintang area and its famous Bintang Walk. Since it is close to the local shopping malls such as Berjaya Times Square and Sungai Wang, travellers get to enjoy shopping as long as they want. You don’t even have to take a taxi; you can just walk to the malls and the city’s wonderful attractions. The infamous Kuala Lumpur Convention and Exhibition Centre (KLCC), Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower are also nearby, so be sure not to miss them. If you need the night clubs to spice up your adventure, the Vegas Club and Rootz KL are just around the corner! There are plenty of rooms offered by the Casavilla Travellers Lodge and price range is from as low as RM40 to RM150 per night. 

(ii)Green Hut Lodge

Located in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur, the Green Hut Lodge is a walking distance from the beautiful Petronas Towers, Chinatown and night clubs. There are also 24 hours convenience stores that you can always walk into anytime, just in case you need to grab a can of beer, phone card reload or sanitary pad. The hotel makes a good place for travellers between 18 to 45 years old. It is cosy, safe and secured with 24 hours CCTV surveillance.

(iii) LaComme Inn

Located in Bukit Bintang, this budget hotel provides you with reliable facilities and convenience to go shopping as it is close to the city’s shopping complexes. The train stations such as the LRT and Monorail are also nearby so you can always hop on to any in order to get around the city economically; well, at least it is much better and cheaper than taking a taxi.

For more deals on budget hotels, visit this link http://goo.gl/S1zc4

Horse Semen Shot in New Zealand

Beer? Sounds good. Horse Semen? Euwww no thanks!

Did you know that a pub in Wellington, New Zealand known as “Green Man” has introduced an apple-infused horse semen shot which tastes like custard? The shot is very popular among the ladies and guess how much does it cost? Horse semen shot would cost you $300 for vials of semen; that’s pretty expensive. Although Lindsey Kerslake (founder) has never tried the shot, he is confident that his product tastes good, just like a milkshake. He believes that shot drinkers can have the feel of a stallion themselves when they drink this shot. If you wish to try horse semen shot, we advise you to drink it one shot rather than taking a sip because if you do so, you’ll probably vomit. Likewise, try your best not to feel disgusted and you’ll be fine: D

Why do Muslims eat dates during Ramadan?

 

Dates are a staple fruit of the Middle-East that have been consumed for thousands of years. It is widely known as a traditional food eaten by Muhammad when he broke his fast. Due to this, Muslims consume dates to break their fast during Ramadan. Muslims are required to fast for a month; due to this, their bodies will become weak, along with minor headaches, dehydration and low blood sugar by sunset. In order to avoid these problems, dates are consumed as they are believed to be rich with fibre, sugar, magnesium, potassium and carbohydrates. The carbohydrates found in dates can provide extra energy too. 

EgyptAir

 

Did you know that EgyptAir is an airline from Egypt which is based at Cairo International Airport? The airline is one of the world’s oldest airlines in the world and it offers its services worldwide. The airline is also a member of Star Alliance and has been joining the team since 11^th July 2008. Every airline has its own logo that represents its identity; so does EgyptAir. The airline’s logo is the infamous Horus, who was the sky deity in the Ancient Egypt belief. Horus is depicted as a man with a head of a falcon and the symbol was selected as the airline’s logo due to its ancient symbolism as a “winged God of the sun”. This definitely carries a significant meaning for the Egyptians.

Since 2011, EgyptAir offers its services to 76 destinations:

1. 12 in Egypt
2. 20 in the Middle-East
3. 7 in Asia
4. 20 in Europe
5. 1 in the Americas

To book your air tickets with EgyptAir, visit http://goo.gl/0AhIO

Some of the things you should know when travelling to China

 

Travelling to China for the first time? Be sure to know some of these facts:

1.      Language barrier can be a problem. If you know the Chinese language basics, this advantage will help you while travelling to the country. Mandarin is very useful. You can always buy language learning software before visiting the country.

2.      Since China is a big country, you are advised to plan your trip properly. Decide on which region to visit first and then. Once you have made your decision, make a plan and do some preparations if any. Make sure you learn about the regions that you wish to visit. This is because some places have different cultures and practices.

3.      Learn about the country’s public transportation, from its local schedule to transportation fares. You have to know all these in order to avoid yourself from getting cheated. Your knowledge will come in handy, especially when you are going to take a taxi. There are public buses that will take you around, so consider taking one whenever you can. You will not only save money, but you’ll get to learn your way around the country better.

Snakes and humans

Snakes have always been regarded to evil and danger. The creature often appears in horror movies. It is also mentioned in the Bible, in which it was described as an evil form that plays with the human mind. As for ancient Egyptian, snakes represent judgment and death. Although most cultures view snakes as an evil present in an individual’s life, they are endangered species that have to be protected.

Snakes are found worldwide and they come in different sizes and colours, with many different lifestyles. The King Cobra for instance is a dangerous snake whose bite is capable of killing a human in just 15 minutes! Did you know that the world’s smallest West Indies thread snakes are dangerous too? Surprisingly, they’re just about the size of a pencil lead!

Yes, King Cobra is beautiful, especially when it shows off its hood. Pythons on the other hand are ancient snakes; it is believed that their ancestors might have had legs a long time ago. In India, the pythons inhabit the jungle and they can grow to as long 20 feet! Unlike the Cobras that spray out venoms to their prey, pythons kill their prey simply by squeezing the body of their prey and then crush their bones that will eventually kill the unlucky animals. Bear in mind that pythons are extremely active predators and they normally hunt at night. If you think you can escape from a python by jumping into the water, you are wrong. Pythons are good swimmers too and the water is probably the last place that you would want to go to when being chased by a python!

Pythons have beautiful skin and the patterns on their skins help them to camouflage and then strike their prey. They will hide in the bush and when there is heat, this is when the action starts. Since a python can grow as long as 20 feet, it can also swallow a deer instantly. Once a python has already consumed such a big meal, it will not eat again; well, at least until the following year. 

Pythons may live more than 18 years and throughout its life, it will keep searching for its mate for the purpose of reproduction. Baby pythons will hatch from eggs that are incubated by a female python and make their way out to the wild; not all will make it out and survive until adulthood as they are hunted by eagles, crocodiles and tigers.

Snakes may be one of the animals that you would probably want to stay away from, but they play an important role in controlling the amount of pest such as rodents and insects. There are people who keep snakes as pets; well, if you are planning to have one, just be careful as animals can be unpredictable at times.