I don’t know about you, but when I hear about Sapporo, the first thing that comes to mind is beer. I’m a long time Sushi eater and Sapporo is my beer of choice when eating. What you might have not known is that there’s an actual city in Japan called Sapporo. In fact, that’s where the beer comes from. Sapporo is a perfect place for making beer. The hops are excellent and it’s cold.
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido Islandlocated in the West. It’s the fastest growing city in Japan. At last check, there were more than two million living in Sapporo. It is the 5th largest city in Japan.
When many think of Japan, they think of the over crowded life in Tokyo. Life in Sapporo is much different. First of all, the island of Hokkaido is covered with forests. Many Japanese escape to the island and Hokkaido attracts millions of visitors annually. The summer is the peak time.
Earlier I mentioned the beer they make here. Sapporo has been making beer since 1891. If you visit Sapporo, you can take a tour of the facility. It’s one of those must-see attractions. There’s nothing like a fresh Sapporo beer.
Sapporo is also famous for its snow festival, Yuki Matsuri. It takes place for one week each year in February. It continues to grow each year. It started out as a couple of snow sculptures and has now grown to a main event held at multiple sites. Many come for the international snow sculpture competition.
Perhaps the most interest aspect of the Yuki Matsuri is the community effort given to one giant statue each year. If you arrive in Sapporo just before the festival, you can participate in the creating of this statue. It’s advised that you book your stay ahead too. More than two million tourists flood into Sapporo for the Yuki Matsuri.
Another aspect I find interesting about Sapporo, as someone that doesn’t speak fluent Japanese, is the fact that the tourist information centers are English-friendly. They are always staffed with personnel that speak English well. At the International Information Corner, they have maps and information handouts in English. This makes any English-speaking travelerthat doesn’t speak Japaneseat home.
Another great first stop is the Sapporo International Communications Plaza. It’s just across the street from the Tokeidai Clocktower and right by City Hall. It has more literature in English, including newspapers and magazines. You are bound to meet Japanese people there who know English as well. There is so much more to talk about, but this article was meant to wet your whistle for Sapporo, Japan.
Author is the owner of TourismJunction.com, a travel & vacation articles and websites portal. You can find more Japan Travel articles by clicking the link. Read an article about Tokyo travel by clicking the link.
Tags: asia, japan, sapporo, travel, vacationasia, japan, sapporo, travel, vacationShare This
The Seychelles is the only mid-ocean group of granitic islands in the world, the Seychelles was formed 600 million years ago when Gondwanaland broke up. A veritable Garden of Eden with its rare and unique flora and fauna, the islands protect more than 46 percent of its territory with conservation and natural reserves.
Its virgin beauty can be witnessed in the uncrowded white beaches, swaying palms, striking grey and pink boulders, untouched forests, bird sanctuaries, exotic hideaways and unspoilt underwater riches. Ecological treasures the Seychelles boast include the world’s smallest frog, the female Coco-de-Mer fruit, prehistoric beetles, the magpie robin, brush warbler, the white-throated rail, black parrot, giant tortoises, rare butterflies and flowers. If you are looking for a natural paradise, the Seychelles will more than satisfy you, it will astound you with its splendour.
CAPITAL:
Victoria
CLIMATE:
The Seychelles climate conditions in different areas can vary considerably, but in general the rainy season is Nov-Apr with high humidity and strong winds and the cool, dry season is May-Sep. Rainwear is required throughout the year.
CURRENCY:
1 Seychelles Rupee = 100 cents. Complete currency transactions at the airport for better rates than at banks. It’s illegal to exchange foreign currency with unauthorized money changers; penalties can be severe. All major credit cards are accepted. Pound Sterling traveller’s cheques are recommended. Only foreign currency is accepted in making payments in hotels, guesthouses and for other holiday-related expenses such as hiring of cars or boats, services of tour operators or travel agents, patronage of casinos and domestic transfers within the country. Incidental purchases or payments to restaurants outside hotels, for shopping (excluding duty-free shops) and taxi fares are payable in local currency. It’s illegal to enter or leave the country with more than 2000 Seychelles Rupees without authorisation.
ELECTRICITY:
240 volts, 50Hz. Plugs are 3-pin flat. Adaptors are provided by most larger hotels.
HEALTH:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas or who have passed through partly or wholly endemic areas within the preceding 6 days. You are advised to take pre-arrival precautions against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Other health concerns are limited medical facilities, tetanus (recommended for rural areas), hookworm and other parasites (don’t walk barefoot) and influenza (risk extends throughout the year).
LANGUAGE:
The official languages are English and French. Seychellois is a mixture of Seselwa and French Creole.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
New Years’ Day (1 Jan); Good Friday (9 Apr); Easter Monday (12 Apr); Labour Day (1 May); Liberation Day (5 Jun); National Day (18 Jun); Independance Day (29 Jun); Assumption (15 Aug); All Saint’s Day (1 Nov); Immaculate Conception (8 Dec); Christmas Day (25 Dec)
SHOPPING:
Commercialised souvenirs; unique natural artifacts and craftwork e.g baskets, tableware and hats; Mother of Pearl, coral and shell rings and pendants; red and black coral necklaces; local wood boxes and walking sticks; paintings; jewellery; exotic local spices; strong black island tea; orchids dipped in gold. Polite bargaining is acceptable. NB: You need an official permit to purchase a Coco-de-Mer.
SOCIAL CONVENTIONS:
Religion is mainly Roman Catholic. Hand-shaking is the customary form of greeting. The Seychellois are very hospitable and welcome guests into their homes. Clothing is casual at dinner - for men, slacks and shirts are fine for the evening. Swimwear is only for the beaches. A shirt with a tie are suitable for business, no jackets are required.
TIME DIFFERENCE:
GMT +4
TIPPING:
Tipping is not expected at hotels, restaurants and in taxis as bills include a service charge.
TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:
Mah
Tags: African, Gerald Crawford, Seychelles, Travel TipsAfrican, Gerald Crawford, Seychelles, Travel TipsShare This
For many of us, our image of Austria is of stunning mountain ranges, covered in snow. That’s probably the reason that the ski season is the peak time for tourists to visit Austria. But if you want to see a different side of Austria, and avoid the worst of the crowds of tourists, why not visit in summer?
Vienna is certainly a beautiful city, with something to offer almost every traveler. But there’s another area of Austria that is worth visiting in the warmer months - the Salzkammergut, or Lakes District. It’s located east of Salzburg, and is a picturesque region dotted with more than 80 lakes amongst the mountains. If you want to do some hiking, indulge in some water sports or just relax, then this is the place for you to go.
Bad Ischl is at the heart of the Lakes District, and so makes a great base for you to explore the whole region. It’s easy to access from other parts of Austria and Europe, and there’s a wide variety of accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Once there, it’s also possible to get around the district by either bus or train, although having your own car does make it easier to explore any out of the way places.
Bad Ischl has always been a spa resort, and nowadays is also a very popular place for retirees. Interestingly enough, it’s also the place where World War I was declared in 1914, which hardly seems in keeping with its laid back and relaxed image. Still, Emperor Franz Josef had his summer residence here, and he was visiting when events took a turn for the worse at that time. Nowadays you can still visit his villa on a guided tour, or visit the photo museum that used to be his wife’s teahouse.
Hallstatt is also worth a visit, mainly because of its interesting history. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site, with evidence of human occupation from as long ago as 4,500 years having been found there. It’s also a breathtaking location - the village clings to the side of a mountain, right beside a beautiful lake. Salt mining in the mountains above the village was the main source of industry for the village for many centuries, but nowadays tourists are a more common sight than miners. It’s a great destination for a day-trip, but it can also be interesting to stay overnight and see how things change when all the visitors are gone.
There are also some interesting places to visit close by, including the Beinhaus, or Bone House, which is located near the village parish church. It contains a collection of decorated skulls from around the 15th century. You can also visit the Giant Ice Caves, although these are mostly stone, but they are magnificent anyway! You can also take a funicular ride to the Salzbergwerk (Salt works), which is worthwhile just for the ride.
There’s plenty more to see in the Lakes District of Austria, including Wolfgangsee, a very popular lake close to Salzburg. So give yourself plenty of time to explore, and you’ll return home having experienced a side of Austria that most people never get to see.
If you want to find out more about great places to visit in Austria, click over to Gordon’s site at http://www.travelaustriainfozone.com.
Tags: Austria, bad ischl, halstatt, Travel AustriaAustria, bad ischl, halstatt, Travel AustriaShare This