Island Calling

Perhentian Island, Besut, Terengganu

Perhentian Island

 1 of World's Most Amazing Island

The Perhentian Islands lie approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the north eastern coast of West Malaysia in the state of Terengganu.
The two main islands are Perhentian Besar and Perhentian Kecil . The small, uninhabited islands of Susu Dara (Virgin Milk), Serengeh and Rawa lie off Kecil.

Like Besut, people here generally speak Kelantanese Malay, however English is widely spoken and understood to accommodate the growing tourism market. The Perhentian Islands have become a popular travel destination for families and backpackers alike due to the many lodging options that accommodate almost any budget.
Popular tourist activities include scuba-diving, snorkeling, and swimming. On most beaches, the water is shallow with many rays, cuttlefish and parrotfish. For diving, there are dozens of dive sites around both main islands, as well as several off-shore sites. Apart from these, activities like camping, canoeing, fishing, jungle trekking, and banana boat riding are also available. As for accommodation, most of it can be found on Perhentian Besar, the larger island. Hotels are usually aimed at budget travelers. A rise in tourism in Kuala Besar has led to the expansion of many different resorts and many options for snorkelers and divers alike

The Perhentian islands are home to numerous different species of monitor lizards, poisonous spiders, and geckos. In the water and on the coral reefs, sea turtles, clownfish, cuttlefish, blue spotted rays, and black tipped sharks swim freely among many others.

Fun Facts About Maldives

Maldives

If you’ve ever seen pictures of a tropical island with sparkling blue water that stretches as far as the eye can see, private beach huts on white sandy beaches, and coral reefs that teem with life, chances are they’re pictures of the Maldives. This tropical paradise sits in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and is made up of 1,190 coral islands and atolls that stretch over 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 sq mi). Ninety-nine percent of the nation of the Maldives is ocean water, but it still supports a rich, 3,000-year-old culture.

For as long as there has been recorded history, the Maldives has been an incredibly important island chain due to its location along a number of trade routes. The first people to officially colonize the islands came from India; the real date is unknown, but it was thought to happen before 269 BC.

 Legends says that there was no government, only a peace-loving community of people who worshiped the Sun and the water. The first actual kingdom was said to have been established by the son of the king of Kalinga in India. The king was greatly displeased with his son, so he was sent away to the Maldives—what was then known as Dheeva Maari. 

This prince, named Sri Soorudasaruna Adeettiya, was responsible for the establishment of the Maldives’ Adeetta Dynasty. Also known as the Solar Dynasty, this era ended with the marriage of a Solar Dynasty queen to a prince of Kalinga’s Lunar Dynasty. Legend is mixed with history in the early days of the Maldives; according to tradition, these days of the early kings are only known through a much later telling. Copper plates inscribed by a Princess that had been banished from her home island to Is Midu in the 1100s were supposedly found by a 14th century scholar, translated, then buried back in the sand to be lost forever.

Adulterers in Maldives, Face Public Flogging 

 The vast majority of flogging victims are women; recent statistics from 2006 accounted for 184 people who were convicted of having extra-marital sex and sentenced to be flogged. Only 38 of them were men. Most men who are accused of the crime walk free—all they have to do is deny it. Amnesty International has gotten involved with what they call a human rights violation, saying that most of the people who disagree with the practice are afraid to say so. In 2009, an 18-year-old mother was flogged 100 times, and later sent to the hospital for her injuries. She denied the charges as well, but was found guilty because she was pregnant. The two men accused with her were acquitted.

Maldives is a Muslim Nation

            Visitors should realize that the Maldives is a strictly Muslim nation, and obeying local laws and traditions are a requirement. Both the Shari’a and Ja’fari schools of law are represented on the islands, with the Shari’a overseeing family and criminal law. Originally a Buddhist nation, the Maldives were converted in the 12th century by traveling Islamic holy men, who were accompanying traders and merchants on their long journeys. In the 16th century, the islands were colonized by the Portuguese, who attempted to convert them to Christianity. The conversion failed, ending in violence and bloodshed. With the restoration of their government, the position of King came to be seen as a sacred position made possible by Allah. By law, the president and all cabinet members must be Sunni Muslim.

Alcohol Is Forbidden Outside Of Resorts

Because of the country’s strict Islamic beliefs, tourists are expected to obey and respect Muslim traditions while on the islands. Alcohol is prohibited everywhere except resort hotels, and the beverages cannot be taken off resort property. Illegal imports include anything that infringes on the Muslim belief system, such as alcohol, pork, and pork products. During the month of Ramadan, tourists are expected to respect Muslim traditions; this can include avoiding food, drink, and smoking during the daylight hours. Some restaurants will still cater to tourists, but they might be screened from public view.There is no public observation of any other faith allowed, although acknowledgment of the tourists’ beliefs have made private worship acceptable. And contrary to implications that might be given in some of the beach photos of the Maldives, nudity and topless sunbathing absolutely aren’t allowed, even on resort islands.

The Great Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls Festivals


According to Wikipedia, Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between theprovince of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge.

Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow,[4] and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average.
The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.

The OPG Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls, Ontario is illuminated with millions of lights within the Niagara Parks Winter Wonderland, Dufferin Islands and surrounding tourist districts. A wintertime visit to Niagara Falls during the OPG Winter Festival of Lights has become a tradition for over 1.5 million visitors annually.
A favourite winter attraction for local residents and visitors for more than 30 years, the Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of Lights helps people get in the spirit of the season by walking or driving the five-kilometre illumination route. Visitors can expect to see many of the iconic displays that have become favourites for attendees including the shimmering Zimmerman Fountain and the world's largest illuminated Canadian-American flag. This season the Festival will also unveil a number of brand new illuminations including 3D Canadian Wildlife displays and projection lighting that will illuminate the trees in Dufferin Islands animating the moraine with the lights choreographed music to create an audio/visual experience.