Ever since South Africa had its own democratic elections back in 1994, there has been more and more interest in seeing what all the fuss about. What visitors to South Africa will discover are lush forests, jungle atmospheres, friendly natives welcoming all different people, cultural tapestries of diverse ethnicity, wildlife preserves and national parks, safekeeping [...]
Ever since South Africa had its own democratic elections back in 1994, there has been more and more interest in seeing what all the fuss about. What visitors to South Africa will discover are lush forests, jungle
atmospheres, friendly natives welcoming all different people, cultural tapestries of diverse ethnicity, wildlife preserves and national parks, safekeeping the treasured wildlife that is so precious to the nation itself. Many people do not actually realize how much of South Africa remains unexplored, and untouched by the hands of man, while at the same time, the economy and social structure has been developing to compete with many different countries’ economies. There have been advances in industry as well as natural preservation in South Africa, and the natives to the country are growing stronger as a people because of it.
The various attractions in South Africa can be educational, fun, and awe inspiring for families, couples, and even individuals who came to relax and enjoy their vacation.
Take a tour the South Africa’s most recent national park, opened only recently in June 2007, Mokala Natural Park, and discover a kaleidoscope of flora and fauna.
Visit the various Natural Botanical Gardens of South Africa, where amongst tropical rare flora, you can find the giant legendary Baobab trees.
The Northern Cape in South Africa, is where the famous small town is located; famous for the enormous Southern Africa Large Telescope, which is expected to draw in many astronomy oriented tourists.
Several tourists also love interacting with the rich cultural history of South Africa. There are over 500 different museums in South Africa, dedicated to just that. Here are few of the best:
- The National Cultural History Museum, Pretoria
- Transvaal Museum of Natural History, Pretoria.
- The South African National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg
- The National Museum and the Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein.
The cuisine found in South Africa varies from the popular to the traditional. Most of South African traditional foods were at one time based on a wide variety of grains, wild game,
fruits and vegetables, but when the country became more and more industrialised, the general dishes of South Africa fused together popular eats, and cultural cooking. Some of the popular traditional foods that tourists will most likely encounter while in South Africa are breads and porridges made from “mealie-meal” which is a type of maize, or corn flour, Ostrich meat, ground, or made into various steaks and stews, much like beef. There’s also Amasi, which is sour milk, chutney, a sweet sauce made from fruits and vegetables and served over meat, and Bunny Chow; which is hollowed out bread, stuffed with curry.
Transportation in South Africa has undergone some very sophisticated development; most visitors will be surprised at the ease in which they can travel freely. There are car rental agencies, where those so inclined can even rent off-road vehicles for trips through the bush. There are also regional and extended trips that many can take by bus, taxis, and a good number of airports for regional and international travel. Visitors can also take advantage of modern railway services as well. One of the most popular resorts in South Africa is Singita; finding anything to top their establishment is going to be a struggle. There are many different lodgings; such as five star resorts, rustic safari or game lodges, camping grounds, local hotels, and bed and breakfast establishments.
Read More...The country of Russia is very large, and stretches out of a large portion of both Western Europe and Northern Asia. Russia is in fact, the largest country in the world, and covers twice as much area, as the second largest country, which is Canada. After December of 1991, Russia was no longer the Russian [...]
The country of Russia is very large, and stretches out of a large portion of both Western Europe and Northern Asia. Russia is in fact, the largest country in the world, and covers twice as much area, as the second
largest country, which is Canada. After December of 1991, Russia was no longer the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, after it finally broke free of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, becoming instead, the Russian Federation, and to most of us, known simply as Russia. The Russian culture, having been around for many, many centuries, is rich in struggles, and history. Travelers coming to Russia to experience the vivid, and culturally colorful atmosphere, will not be disappointed with what they find in this incredible country.
Russia is also not just a frozen wasteland, the winters may be cruel, or even bleak in some regions of the country, but in others, there are still beautiful summer days, and green grass growing. Travelers interested in coming to Russia for a leisurely stay have many options; the summer for the warmth, traveling north for the cold, winter activities, or traveling in the off seasons to South Russia, for smaller crowds, and colder weather. There are many popular destination cities in Russia, but the three best known and most popularly traveled are Moscow, Russia’s capital city, St. Petersburg, known as The City of Tsars, and Pskov, one of the oldest cities in Russia. Moscow, being Russia’s capital city, covers a large area; there’s something for every vacation palate there. If tourists want to explore the city, go hiking, or lounge in a luxurious hotel, they can. St. Petersburg, contains several points of interest, such as the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Mikhail Castle, the Summer Garden, the St. Isaac and the Kazan cathedrals. And as for Pskov, as far as it being said to be old, it recently, in 2003 celebrated its eleven-hundred year anniversary. Although it’s a bustling city, full of new developments, and stylish, trendy places and people, travelers will still be able to feel how ancient the city around them is.
Soups and stews are very popular in Russia, because centuries ago, it was mainly a peasant meal, and hundreds of years later, traditions amongst the Russian people still thrive. Soups in Russia go from several
different variations, in both hot and cold. Borscht, is a popular traditional Russian soup, that should definitely be sampled by visitors. Meats in Russia are served either as large boiled cuts, in soups or porridges, or cold, as a snack. Fish was an important part of Russian cuisine, when most were still Russian Orthodox, as it was similar to the Catholic religion, where families would eat fish on Fridays, instead of other meats. Most of the traditional drinks in Russia are no longer in use, but when they were, the drinks were original to their region, and not used anywhere else; such as sbiten’, kvas, medok, mors, curdle with raisins, and boiled cabbage juice. Sbiten was later replaced by tea, a similar drink.
Hotels and accommodation in Russia are varied; namely it depends on what cities you plan to visit; for example, in St. Petersburg, one very attractive alternative to hotels is actually staying in temporary apartments. They are much, much cheaper than a luxury hotel, and provide a more homey atmosphere, and welcoming environment, for those who prefer that to hotel accommodations
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