F E B R U A R Y, 2 0 0 9
Dear readers, Welcome to the chilly February issue. If you are already thinking about your next summer holiday let us give you some suggestions. If you are an adventure enthusiast you might like the idea of visiting the Central Asia – specifically Kyrgyzstan. Why? More than 80 per cent of the country is covered by mountains, they have the largest lake in the world and what more – wonderful nature. Read the Destination part. If you prefer a bit of the good old Europe you might go for the Roman sites outside Italy. You would be surprised how far the Romans got. Go for the Heritage supplement. Would you rather see some urban center? Then you might be interested in the numerous city cards offering tempting discounts and free bonuses for the visitors. Let us give you only a tiny sample of all these city passes whose numbers keep growing. Read the Professional part. Hey, divers, don’t despair! We have something even for you. The Adventure supplement opens the gate of the deep sea. However, if you feel you cannot leave the house after all those delicious cakes and cookies on your winter menu, read the Spa supplement and the smart advices of the experts on losing weight. Milada Sovadinova Editor
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
F E B R U A R Y, 2 0 0 9 M e d i c a l / S pa
H E R I TAG E Romans ConqueRing euRope
Losing Weight? onLy in sPA
The ancient Roman Empire stretched over 5,9 million square kilometers of Europe and the Mediterranean. As such, Romans considerably influenced numerous nations – especially their language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law, as well as government system. The remains of the extensive empire can be found all over Europe. Why not to have a close look on some of them? Come and visit Colchester, Swiss Augusta Raurica, Roman villas on the Isle of Wight, or Spanish Aragon. Don’t worry we will not omit the Hadrian’s Wall.
Do you also have the feeling that after the holidays your clothes somehow cannot cope with your waistline any more? Or have you come to the conclusion that your chubbiness is not as cute as you thought? Then you might be interested in what the spa experts say about the best way of losing weight. Maybe you will find out that it doesn’t have to be only about starvation and drill.
HERITAGE: Romans Conquering Europe.......... 4
Medical / Spa: Losing Weight? Only in SPA........... 34
COLCHESTER: BRITAIN’S FIRST ROMAN CITY. .................................................................... 5
WHY A SPA MAY BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR WEIGHT LOSS.......................................... 35
AUGUSTA RAURICA: OFF TO ANTIQUITY!............................................................................ 7
THANKS TO SPAS THE JOJO DAYS ARE OVER...................................................................... 38
ROMAN VILLAS REVEALING HISTORY.................................................................................. 9
TO LOSE WEIGHT, STOP FOCUSING ON IT!......................................................................... 39
SPAIN: THE ROMAN HERITAGE IN ARAGON....................................................................... 11
MEDICAL SPAS: WEIGH LESS, FEEL BETTER........................................................................ 40
WALKING THE ROMAN WAY. ............................................................................................... 13
Professional
De st i nat ion
Regional TRavel CaRds Over one hundred destinations worldwide have launched their city cards or region passes offering attractive discounts and free extras to tourists. The cards purportedly help to increase both the tourist numbers as well as the visitor spend. Since many European cities launched such cards only recently it is still hard to say whether they are so profitable for the destinations or not. However, let’s see what some of the “smart cards” offer to the visitors as well as providers.
Professional: Regional Travel Cards.................... 15
Kyrgyz
stan
Kyrgyzstan? Wait a minute, isn’t it somewhere in Africa? Not really. Come and discover the land of beautiful mountains, gorgeous wilderness, rich history and friendly people. Learn about Issyk Kul, the largest lake in the world, where you can swim and enjoy the view of snow capped mountains at the same time. Find out how many statues of Lenin can be seen in the capital Bishkek. Visit the comfortable yurts and try the local specialties. Welcome to Kyrgyzstan!
Destination: Kyrgyzstan.............................................. 42
THE CITY PASS: WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE PARTNERS?.......................................................... 16
KYRGYZSTAN: HIGH MOUNTAINS AND ANCIENT TRADITIONS...................................... 43
TAILOR MADE HELSINKI...................................................................................................... 18
TOURISM INDUSTRY STRUGGLING HARD.......................................................................... 46
HOLLAND: CITY PASS FOR AMSTERDAM & BEYOND......................................................... 19
BISHKEK: THE CITY OF LENIN AND THE WHITE HOUSE. ................................................. 49
ZÜRICH: THE UNIQUE MIX................................................................................................... 21
TOURISM HOPES PINNED ON ALPINE LAKE REGION......................................................... 51
ACROSS THE SALZBURGERLAND WITH A SINGLE CARD................................................... 22
THE LAND OF ADVENTURE.................................................................................................. 53
Active/Adventure
Fairs & Exhibitions T r av e l / To u r i s m
Welcome to the Divers’ WorlD Underwater restaurants, underwater hotels, underwater weddings – yes, underwater tourism is really hot. Come and see the diving spots at Isla Guadalupe or even at Green Island not far from Taiwan. Don’t miss the Shark Week in Palau or the sinking ceremony of USS Kittiwake. First of all though, take your diving gear and head to Caesarea for the fabulous and world’s first underwater museum.
i n
F e B r u a rY
2 0 0 9
B Y
r e g i o n s
Active/Adventure: Welcome to the Divers’ World........................................................... 24
Fairs & Exhibitions: Travel/Tourism in FEBRUARY 2009 by regions................................................. 55
CAESAREA: THE UNDERWATER MUSEUM OPEN. ............................................................... 25
Western Europe. ............................................................................................................... 56
MEET THE GREAT WHITE AT ISLA GUADALUPE................................................................. 27
CENTRAL Europe................................................................................................................. 59
RETIRED NAVY SHIP TO BECOME A DIVING SPOT. ........................................................... 29
Africa/MIDDLE EAST...................................................................................................... 60
DISCOVER THE SEA LIFE AT GREEN ISLAND....................................................................... 30
North America.................................................................................................................. 61
PALAU: SHARK WEEK ATTRACTS SEARCHERS & TOURISTS.............................................. 32
Asia & Pacific....................................................................................................................... 63
H E R I TAG E Romans Conquering Europe The ancient Roman Empire stretched over 5,9 million square kilometers of Europe and the Mediterranean. As such, Romans considerably influenced numerous nations – especially their language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law, as well as government system. The remains of the extensive empire can be found all over Europe. Why not to have a close look on some of them? Come and visit Colchester, Swiss Augusta Raurica, Roman villas on the Isle of Wight, or Spanish Aragon. Don’t worry we will not omit the Hadrian’s Wall.
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
COLCHESTER: BRITAIN’S FIRST ROMAN CITY
of invasion and when the Roman army did arrive in AD43, the capture of Camulodunum was its primary objective.
Roman Life in Colchester
The Roman Emperor Claudius spent just sixteen days in Britain, long enough to lead his troops and his elephants into Camulodunum and receive the submission of several British kings. The Roman army then built a legionary fortress on the highest ground inside Camulodunum, the site of the present town centre. The High Street still follows the central axis of the original fortress while the intersection of Head Street and North Hill marks the main cross-roads of the subsequent Roman town. As the Roman army moved north to conquer the rest of Britain, new military bases were built on the way. By AD49 the fortress at Camulodunum had been turned into a civilian settlement named Colonia Claudia after the Emperor and this became the first capital of the new Roman province of Britannia. The colonia was home mainly to retired soldiers whose role was to spread Roman civilisation and keep an eye on the natives. Many of the military
i The Romans: They Came, They Saw, They Conquered
Colchester is famous as a Roman town, but its origins pre-date the Romans. Two thousand years ago much of the area surrounding Colchester was occupied by the Trinovantes tribe. Towards the end of the first century BC the Trinovantes created Febr u a r y, 2008
a settlement on the River Colne which became known as Camulodunum, meaning ‘Fortress of Camulos’, a Celtic war god. The Romans were well aware of the growing importance of Camulodunum and referred to its powerful ruler Cunobelin as King of the Britons. Cunobelin’s death around AD40 rekindled thoughts
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B ritai n ’ s Ol de s t R ec or de d Tow n
The earliest record of the town’s existence is a reference by the Roman writer, Pliny the Elder in AD77. In describing the island of Anglesey, he wrote that ‘it is about 200 miles from Camulodunum, a town in Britain’. Camulodunum being the pre-Roman name for Colchester. This is the first known reference to any named settlement in this country. Pliny died in AD79, one of the victims of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii.
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
buildings were retained and converted, but the legionary defences were dismantled leaving the town fatally unprotected. Large public buildings were built, including a theatre, part of which can be seen today in Maidenburgh Street, and a senate house. Grandest of all was the Temple of Claudius, built to worship the Emperor after his death in AD54, when he was made a god. The foundations of the temple still survive beneath Colchester Castle and can be visited on guided tours in the Castle. Roman Colchester was virtually destroyed only a few years after the town was founded. In AD60 Queen Boudica of the Iceni tribe, led a major rebellion against Roman rule ad the Romans had refused to accept her status after the death of her husband Prasutagus. A revolt erupted and Boudica led her followers and joined with the Trinovantes tribe to attack the Roman capital at Camulodunum, which was undefended. Despite the scale of the destruction, Colchester was quickly rebuilt but this time enclosed by a substantial defensive wall. Some two-thirds still stands; the oldest town wall in Britain. Of particular interest is the Balkerne Gate, the original main entrance Febr u a r y, 2008
to the town, which probably began as a triumphal arch celebrating the conquest by Claudius. Roman Colchester lasted at least 400 years. The distinction between conquerors and conquered faded. To be Roman was to be civilised and this is well illustrated at Gosbecks on the south-western edge of the modern town. Nearby the largest of the five known Roman theatres in Britain was built with seating for up to 5,000 people. There was also an impressive RomanoCeltic temple complex. The discovery nearby of the Colchester Mercury, the finest bronze figure from Roman Britain now on display in the Castle Museum, shows that even native religion was becoming Romanised. Gosbecks is now preserved as an Archaeological Park and its various historic features are explained on site.
Roman Discoveries Still Taking Place
Archaeological excavations over the last 80 years have revealed a town of importance and sophistication. Artifacts from these excavations can be seen
i
C ol che s ter : Di d You K n ow ?
• It was the capital of Roman Britain when London was just a trading post • It has the largest surviving Roman gateway in Britain. • It has 1½ miles (2½ km) of Roman wall, the oldest town wall in Britain. • Colchester Castle is the largest surviving Norman keep in Europe. • Colchester Castle pre-dates the Tower of London and was in fact the blueprint for it. • Colchester Castle was the first Royal Castle outside of London. • Colchester Castle is built on the massive foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius.
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in the internationally important archaeological collections in Colchester Castle Museum. One of the most important recent excavations was the discovery of a Roman Circus in 2004. Built around 3AD it had a seating capacity of around 15,000. It is hoped that a funding bid will enable visitors in 2011 to view some archaeological remains of the circus, see a virtual reality film about what it would have been like to spend a day at the races and follow a trail around most of the perimeter of the circus. By Karen Turnbull http://www.visitcolchester.com If you would like to find out more about Colchester please contact the VisitColchester Information Centre on +44 1206 282920 or email: vic@colchester.gov.uk. You can also plan your visit by using the official tourism website: www.visitcolchester.com
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
AUGUSTA RAURICA: OFF TO ANTIQUITY!
2000 years ago, 20,000 people lived in Augusta Raurica. Today, more than 140,000 visitors a year stroll through the ancient ruins, the museum and the domestic animal park. This is no surprise, because the ample grounds are an ideal destination for a full-day excursion, which offers a lot while costing very little. A considerable portion of the remnants left by the indigenous Celtic population and the immigrants from the Mediterranean in the former Roman town have now been excavated and are on show in the largest archaeological open-air complex in Switzerland. More than 30 monuments from the ancient town can be viewed here. For instance, one can take a seat in the best-preserved ancient theatre of Central Europe; one can explore 100m of sewage canal or be enchanted by the atmosphere in an underground well house. Finds from the excavations are exhibited in the Museum, including the famous silver treasure from Kaiseraugst. It is one of the most important Late Antique treasures ever found. Further exhibitions on Roman themes, such as early Christianity, Roman bathing customs or crafts in Augusta Raurica, are located in the outdoor areas of the open-air museum. One element of the Museum, which is particularly popular with children, is the reconstructed Roman © Susanne Schenker
Why not embark on an exciting journey to an ancient city?
The Colonia Raurica in today’s Switzerland was founded in 44 BC and is the earliest colony settlement on the Rhine. The site developed into a cultural centre with fora, theatres, baths and temples. After a lot of damage had been caused by warfare during the 3rd century AD, the Roman army Febr u a r y, 2008
erected an impressive fort near present day Kaiseraugst on the Rhine. During the Early Middle Ages it evolved into a settlement that was the region's Episcopal see for a while. Basle, situated further down the Rhine, began to gain importance during the 7th and 8th centuries while the formerly thriving Roman colony town of Augusta Raurica turned into a small fishing village.
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i
On Yo ur Ow n or Acc om pa n ie d by a n E x p ert
Take a seat in the best-preserved Roman theatre north of the Alps. Discover the workings of the waste water system of an ancient city. Ponder the toilet in the kitchen in the Roman house. Make sure you do not miss the largest silver treasure from Late Antiquity exhibited in the museum.
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
© Susanne Schenker
House. As in Roman times, the rooms are furnished and painted colorfully. There is a kitchen, a banquet hall, bathrooms and a bedroom. The workshop contains a butcher’s, a smithy and a bronze foundry. Both the workshop and the tavern overlook the street. An exact replica of a Roman carriage is parked in the entrance area and inspires much discussion about how uncomfortable travelling must have been in Roman times. Animal breeds, known to Roman husbandry and cuisine, are kept in the Animal Park. Among others, there are domestic guinea fowl, grey lag geese, peacocks, woolly grazing pigs and a breed of small cattle. Numerous activities for families with children and schools invite visitors to spend a whole day roaming through the ancient city in order to experience firsthand what it was like in Roman times. Some of the highlights from our varied programme include real archaeological excavations for everyone to participate in, baking bread in a Roman wood-
Febr u a r y, 2008
© Intes Horisberger
burning oven, restoring sherds, and theatre plays for school children. Particularly popular with both young and old is the annual Roman Festival, held in Augst at the end of August. This conveys various researched aspects of Roman life in a popularized manner. The colorful festivals have become famous far beyond the region and attract thousands of visitors, who are delighted to let themselves be transported back to Roman times. Food is available in the Augusta Raurica Snack Bar beside the theatre (summer months only) or in one of the restaurants in the area. Or why not have a barbeque in the Roman amphitheatre? By Karin Kob http://www.augusta-raurica.ch Our visitor service is happy to provide further information and take bookings for individual activities, particular group programmes and guided tours (phone +41 (0)61 816 22 22 or mail@augusta-raurica.ch).
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H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
ROMAN VILLAS REVEALING HISTORY agricultural land and valuable metal resources such as iron and lead.
Villas in Brading & Newport
T
here are several reasons why the Romans invaded Britain in AD43, one of the major motivations was that Claudius had been recently installed as Emperor by the army following the assassination of Caligula, and needed a military victory to impress the Roman people and cement his position. South East Britain was an attractive target. It had good
Febr u a r y, 2008
On the Isle of Wight the first signs of social and economic change were the construction of villa farms at Brading and Newport, on or near to late Iron Age settlements. These were the country homes of wealthy Romano-British farmers and in contrast to the native round house, they had rectangular ground plans. A villa also included a range of functional buildings such as barns, granaries and workshops, and an estate incorporating other settlements. Over 700 villas have been found, mostly in southern England, which formed the agricultural heartland of Roman Britain. They formed part of a market-orientated economy, and developed in response to the growth of new towns and the needs of the army. All the materials for the construction of the villas on the Isle of Wight could be obtained locally. Clay for bricks and tiles was widely available. Walls were made of flint gathered from arable fields, chalk and greensand from the downs, and Bembridge limestone from coastal outcrops. Timber for supports, floors and roofs was available from the northern woodlands. Newport Roman villa was built to a winged-corridor design. It consisted of three parts: a long rectangular house with several rooms; a projecting room on each end; and an entrance corridor in front. The villa lies close to an important ford-
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ing point across the river Medina and pottery found at the site dates from the late 1st Century AD. The villa we know today was not built until the late 3rd Century AD, and seems to have been built in one operation. The whole of one end formed a superb bath range with mosaic floors, baths and sweat rooms. The dining room had a red tessellated floor with a chequerboard design at the centre. The wing at the other end of the house also had a hypocaust (an under-floor heating system), suggesting it was a special room. The villa at Brading is an example of a courtyard villa which consisted of a series of buildings around a square courtyard. These were the largest type of villa and were owned by the wealthiest RomanoBritons. The Villa you can see today probably developed from a small stone building occupied by a British or Romano-British farmer. These were usually modest wooden crofts of two or three rooms in a row. Later they were often rebuilt in stone with additional rooms, as appears to be the case at Brading.
Life at Villa
By the mid 2nd Century AD the farm had developed into an impressive villa with stone and wooden buildings on three sides of a central courtyard or garden. Brading Roman Villa was sited to take full advantage of Brading harbor situated between Sandown and Bembridge the main port of the Isle of Wight. Produce farmed at the villa may have been shipped to other parts of Britain and the Roman Empire in
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e twenty-eight year reign of Emperor Honorius began in AD395. In the chequered corridor of the main house, a deep stokehole was dug for a corn-drying furnace. Most of the magnificent mosaics survived, possibly buried and protected by stored grain. How long occupants continued to live in this sub-Roman style is difficult to tell. Once a building was abandoned, anything useful would have been scavenged. In the 5th Century the Villa collapsed and was covered by a deep blanket of soil and leaf mould. By the time the undergrowth was eventually cleared for agriculture, the name and position of Brading Roman Villa was lost to sight and memory.
The Villa Resurrected
exchange for Samian ware from southern France, quernstones from Germany and wine and olive oil from Italy and Greece. Calm waters around Brading Haven provided good fishing, including oysters, cockles and mussels the shells of which have been found around the Villa. The forest that covered the northern land of the Isle of Wight was a rich source of food. Storks and cranes were hunted. The forest floor provided a home for wild boar, red and fallow deer (the tusks and antlers of which have been found at the Villa). The sheep that grazed on Brading Downs provided wool and food. The peasant farmers tended both the sheep and crops such as wheat, barley, rye, oats and beans. Several ards and iron shoes, which formed wooden ploughs, have been found at the Villa and are now on display.
Highs and Lows
Probably no more than waist high, the stone walls of the Villa would have supported a stout timber Febr u a r y, 2008
frame, infilled with wattle and daub. Some walls were built with large boulders carried straight from the beach. Corners, doors and windows were constructed from blocks of Bembridge stone. The roof was tiled with limestone and clay tiles. Inside, the walls were finished with brightly painted plaster. Surviving fragments show floral and woodland scenes, a hanging basket of flowers and a peacock. Windows either often had iron grills, or small panes of misty green glass and heavy wooden shutters. The front door of the Villa had a grand lock faced with a large brass plate, and its key was later found in the remains of this once great house. The Villa suffered a disastrous fire in the 3rd Century AD. Despite this the site was still used for farming purposes for another 100 years. The decline of Brading Roman Villa started after about AD340, when estates in southern Britain suffered frequent raids by barbarian pirates. Life and trade were both at risk; yet Roman coins excavated at the site indicate human activity continued at Brading until the
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In 1879 Captain Thorp of Yarbridge began searching for Roman antiquities in the fields of Morton Farm. Mr. Munns, a local farmer, also became interested. One evening whilst using an iron bar to make holes for a sheep pen, he struck the Bacchus mosaic floor. The following morning he and Captain Thorp had uncovered the Gallus panel. By spring 1880, half of the Roman villa had been excavated on farmer Munns’ land. The remainder of the site extended beyond the field and onto the Oglander estate. Lady Louisa Oglander then purchased the entire site so that excavations could continue. Now as a registered charity, the Oglander Roman Trust is continuing the story of Brading Roman Villa and its unique mosaics into the 21st century, and a series of archaeological digs led by Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe of Oxford University hope to expand the story of Roman life at Brading and on the Isle of Wight as a whole. By Adam Watson, Brading Roman Villa www.islandbreaks.co.uk
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
SPAIN: THE ROMAN HERITAGE IN ARAGON Nowadays we can follow the trace of the Roman streets and the remains of its walls, theatre, baths, forum and its river port (there is four archaeological museums that belong to the town hall of Zaragoza and an archaeological section in the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts). There are also some paleochristian remains from the 4th century. The Roman history of this territory is linked to the figure of Augustus in various ways. Modern scholars indicate that when Augustus came back ill from the Cantabric wars, he took a medicinal bath in the
A
ragon, one of the 17 Spanish autonomic communities, is divided into three provinces, Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel. However, in the Roman Age, this territory belonged first to the Hispania Citerior and later to the Provincia Tarraconensis. In addition, under the Augustus’ empire, Hispania was divided into conventus iuridicus, i.e. administrative districts. The capital city of one of them was Caesaraugusta, the modern Zaragoza. The main city from the time of Augustus was Caesaraugusta, a strange and exceptional name in the Roman empire, because it contained the names of Iulius Caesar as well as Octavius Augusus. It was founded in 14 BC as a new city with a Hippodamic urban pattern near a pre-Roman city called Salduba. Febr u a r y, 2008
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sanctuary of Silbis, a local deity of the Health, and he quickly recovered. He thus founded the sanctuary of Salus that eventually became the sanctuary of Minerva. This took place in the ancient Turiaso, a pre-roman city now called Tarazona. In the sanctuary the archaeologist discovered one of the most important busts of Augustus, made of a semi-precious stone, exposed in the Provincial Museum of Zaragoza. Also, there is a small archaeological museum in Tarazona, under the bishop palace. Another important Roman city here was Bilbilis Augusta, where the poet Marcus Valerius Martialis was born. It was founded under a Celtiberian city and it is possible now to visit its archaeological sites including a theatre, forum, baths, some houses, walls, and the Archaeological Museum of Calatayud (Bilbilis was abandoned during the crisis of the Roman empire and it was re-founded by the Muslims with the new name of Calatayud, 5 km away from the Roman setting).
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
An important event that took place in this area were the Roman wars against the Celtiberians. The war against Numantia and the Numantines is quite well known, but many people are now aware that the modern calendar starts on the first of January thanks to a Roman war against Segeda and the Segedians, neighbours of the Celtiberian Bilbilis. In 154 BC it was necessary that the Romans elected their consules not on the normal date, the first day of every year, i.e. the Idus of March (March, 15th), but several days earlier. In this way one of the consules could take the command of the Roman army against the Segedians. Thus they were elected in the Kalendas of January (January, 1st). As the consules could be in charge only one year, in the following years they were always elected on January, 1st. Unfortunately, we only have a few remains of the Celtiberian city of Segeda, that extended on an area of 17 hectares. In the Roman time, during the Civil Wars, a preRoman city, that later was re-founded by the RoFebr u a r y, 2008
mans as Osca (in honour to the Oscan soldiers that served in the Roman Army), had an important role. Here Quintus Sertorius, the follower of Pompeius, had his headquarter for his operations against Iulius Caesar and his generals and army. In a similar way, only a few remains of the Roman time have been preserved in Huesca (the ancient Osca). Finally, it is possible to visit one of the most important Roman dams in the western empire, in Almonacid de la Cuba. You can walk through an impressive aqueduct dug in the rocks between Albarracin and Cella (Teruel). You can find in Fabara the best Roman mausoleum preserved in Spain; the remains of a Roman city of unknown name (Tarraca?) in Los Bañales, near Uncastillo, with aqueduct, baths and mausoleums; and much more. By Roberto Lérida Lafarga For further information and photographs you can visit http://catedu.es/aragonromano/index.html and http://aragonromano.blogspot.com.
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H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
WALKING THE ROMAN WAY
The
Romans certainly appreciated dramatic scenery when they marched into northern Britain. As they advanced they set up defences against the local inhabitants (Picts) of Caledonia (Scotland) and indeed they had to on more than one occasion retreat back to the safety on the south side of Hadrian’s Wall.
Febr u a r y, 2008
This wall stretching from the west coast at Bowness on Solway to the east coast at Wallend was a major engineering undertaking but that was far from all they built. The Romans continued north extending Dere Street as far as the Firth of Forth close to present day Edinburgh. All along this route they established further forts, one of the most ex-
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tensive being at Trimontium just below the Eildon Hill next to Melrose. It would be possible to talk about a lot more of the Roman occupation of Caledonia and the more northerly forts and walls, such as the Antonine Wall, but we are going to focus on an area bounded by Hadrian’s Wall in the south to Trimontium Fort some 55 miles further north. In this “T” shaped area there are countless Roman structures, fort sites, signalling stations and now modern day exhibitions dedicated to the Roman occupation. But rather than encouraging the growth of touring buses and car loads of visitors, we focus on the active visitors, the ones who will walk the walls and military roads that the Roman’s built, and who will walk through the expansive and sometimes wild countryside that rang out to the sound of Centurions some 2000 years back. The Roman Heritage walking route is 100 miles (160 km) in length and takes the average walker 7 days to complete. The route offers the walker two principal options, either starting from the western corner of Hadrian’s Wall on the Solway Firth and concluding at the Trimontium Fort by the banks of the world renowned River Tweed or starting at the eastern end at Segedunum on the River Tyne close to its mouth with the North Sea and again ending at Trimontium. Both options give the visitor the thrill of walking half of the World Heritage designated Hadrian’s Wall, ascending all the way from the sea to its central point close to the Roman Fort at Housesteads. Especially in this centre portion of the wall the visitor will see extensive remains of this defensive stone wall and forts build on the edge of the crags. But regardless of which half you walk, there are roman forts to visit and marvel at and several very well presented Roman Museums to enjoy. Passing across the Wall between Cuddy’s Crag and Hotbank Crag the Roman Heritage Way is now common to both route options as it tracks north
H eritage : R oman s C onqu e r ing Europ e
into north Northumberland and then Scotland. The countryside becomes more varied and the hills more frequent and high although it should never be that strenuous to deter the walker. In reality we think the hills and changing scenery only add to the enjoyment. The Roman history is never far removed from the walk but at times it is off to the east in the Redesdale Valley as the walking route gradually converges with the line of Dere Street. The walker can look onto the sites of Habitanovm, Dargnes and Brigantium before arriving at the small community of Byrness. The walk is now into the Cheviot range of hills and Febr u a r y, 2008
soon arrives at the remains of the remote Roman Fort of Chew Green. This is adjacent to the Scottish English border and for the next mile or so the walking route is directly on the border, shortly picking up another section of the Roman Dere Street. For the next day and a half the trail sticks very closely to the line of the Roman road passing the Roman camps at Woden Law, Pennymuir and Cappuck. In the distance the Eildon Hills are distinctive and signal the end point of the walking route. The North Hill was used by the Romans as a signalling station and below and close to the River Tweed are the extensive fields that housed the Trimontium
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Fort, one of the largest forts in all of Scotland. All that remains of Trimontium is now below soil level but archaeological work over the last 100 years has unearthed a large amount of detail that has allowed interested individuals to know in detail the nature and workings of the Fort. From the Trimontium Fort there is now only a miles walk along the Tweed valley and past the ruined remains of Melrose Abbey to the centre of this beautiful Border Town, famous for its Abbey and the Founding of Rugby Sevens. In the square the walker can stop and visit a wonderful Museum run by the Trimontium Trust where yet further Roman treasures are to be found. Even if the interest in things Roman is not all consuming, this walking route takes the visitor across some very varying and beautiful countryside. By John Henderson of Walking Support http://www.romanheritageway.com To access much more on the Roman Heritage Way visit the website www.romanheritageway.com.
Professional Regional Travel Cards Over one hundred destinations worldwide have launched their city cards or region passes offering attractive discounts and free extras to tourists. The cards purportedly help to increase both the tourist numbers as well as the visitor spend. Since many European cities launched such cards only recently it is still hard to say whether they are so profitable for the destinations or not. However, let’s see what some of the “smart cards� offer to the visitors as well as providers.
Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
THE CITY PASS: WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE PARTNERS? By introducing the City Pass visitor card for Dublin, the involved partners can benefit from the global exposure of the internet and a comprehensive, united marketing approach to tourism in the city. The introduction of ‘smart’ technology enables partners to capture valuable demographic and usage data to better plan marketing activities. Further market intelligence and experience can be gathered from established city cards, which form the working group European Cities Marketing. The concept behind any visitor card is simple, with the aim being to offer visitors the best in attractions (currently 27), sightseeing, shopping, service and restaurant offers, all in one complete package – i.e. an overall ‘visitor experience’. The purchase price covers entrance to visitor attractions and also gives access to special offers, added value and preferential rates (as opposed to ‘discounts’) at certain shops, theatres, venues and restaurants etc. The option of transport from the airport is also provided.
How the system works…
In
2004 Dublin Tourism introduced a City Pass for Dublin following the example of successful operations established in London, New York and over 35 major continental European destinations such as, Stockholm, Berlin and Copenhagen. Febr u a r y, 2008
• Dublin Pass is available in duration periods of 1 /2 /3 and 6 day passes • Visitor purchases Dublin Pass prior to arrival (via dublinpass.ie, Tour Operator/Travel Agent etc.) or on arrival in Dublin via a number of retail outlets (Tourist Information & Reservation Centres/ Airport/Hotels/Retail outlets etc.) • They also receive a comprehensive guidebook on the Dublin Pass which includes a feature for
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each of the participating facilities (visitor attractions and restaurants/pubs/retail outlets etc)–this allows research and itinerary planning by visitors prior to arrival • Each participating facility must offer unique “added value” to the Pass holder in order to participate in the Dublin Pass. This special offer must be a quality, unique offer to encourage the visitor
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B e n efit s f or Partici pa n t s
By becoming involved in Dublin’s official visitor card, the partners will experience the following benefits: • Inclusion in Dublin Pass guidebook, websites and comprehensive worldwide sales and marketing and PR strategy • Maximizes exposure through a united marketing strategy • Eliminates brand devaluation of facilities from ‘discount’ offers • Increased visitor flow and numbers; increased visitor revenue (visitors who use a City Pass tend to have a greater spend on secondary goods, such as restaurants and souvenirs during their stay) • Increased international customers and proven incremental revenue • No. of participants in the Dublin Pass are strictly limited and once purchased, visitors will go to participating facilities as they will want to get value for their purchase • Can provide essential statistical information on visitor flow and movement
Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
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B e n efit s to Dub l i n
• Increases visitor numbers to Dublin • Increases tourism spend • Achieves dispersal of visitors throughout the Dublin region • Enhances the image of Dublin as a premier world tourism destination • Enables Dublin to remain competitive with other tourism destinations • Allows Dublin to be marketed as a single product • Creates an image of an open and accessible city • Benefits both business and leisure tourism markets • Encourages repeat visits
to visit your facility, e.g. “With every €30 spent in retail outlet, Dublin Pass holder is given a particular quality gift” or “With every 2 main course meals purchased in a restaurant, a free bottle of wine will be offered to Dublin Pass holders”
Access to Valuable Statistical Data
You also have the option of installing a Dublin Pass Reader in your facility which will give you access to valuable statistical data on Dublin Pass visitors. The Reader downloads information nightly and you can view and print reports on statistical information relating to visitors daily. The technology being used is a state of the art system that has the highest level of functionality of any City Pass system in the world. By using this system, it is possible to considerably automate manual processes and to use it as the backbone of the city pass operation. Febr u a r y, 2008
The information stored on the smart chip along with the reader's capacity to configure and download that information to a central database has provided the scheme with essential marketing information such as: Visitor flow and volume, Country of origin, Statistical mapping, Visitor tracking, Relationship marketing, Demographic profiling, or Success evaluation.
Dublin Pass Statistics
The Dublin Pass will celebrate its 5th Birthday in May 2009. Over its first four years of operation, the Dublin Pass, using Smart card technology, has provided Dublin Tourism and participating facilities with essential marketing and visitor demographic information. The following are some Dublin Pass statistics for your reference: • Visitor flow and volume – Dublin Pass holders made over 94,000 visits to participating attractions in 2007
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• Country of origin of Pass purchasers – 38% from the UK, 28% from the USA, over 9% from Central Europe and over 6% from Scandinavia. The remaining visitors come from over 55 countries • Dublin Pass is promoted at over 40 trade and consumer shows worldwide each year including FITUR Madrid, ITB Berlin and WTM London. • The Business Tourism Unit of Dublin Tourism offer, promote and sell the Dublin Pass to over 100 conference organisers each year • VIP Dublin Passes were issued to over 700 visiting travel trade, press and media in 2007 to promote the Pass and each of its participants • Over 100 tour operators and travel agents sell the Dublin Pass worldwide to their clients
http://www.dublintourism.ie http://www.visitdublin.ie
Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
TAILOR MADE HELSINKI Card with a great success. The tour has a recorded commentary in 12 languages together with imposing sound effects. In Helsinki the Card is sold in over 50 sales points including hotel receptions, information desks at the airport etc. The Card can also be purchased in the Helsinki Expert online shop where discount is given. The online shop was launched in 2005 and each year its popularity has been growing steadily. The majority of the Helsinki Card users are foreign visitors but recently more effort has been put into promoting the Card for domestic clientele with encouraging results.
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W hat you n ee d to k n ow http://www.helsinkicard.com
The one-day Helsinki Card is valid for 24 hours from the time it is first used, the two-day Card for 48 and the three-day Card for 72 hours. The children’s Card is designed for the age group from 7 to 16 years – children under 7 years travel free of charge on public transport and have free entrance to most attractions.
H
elsinki Card was launched in 1983 as one of the first city cards in Europe. The Card was developed and produced by the Helsinki Tourist Association (today Helsinki Expert Oy). From the very beginning the Card holders have been entitled to unlimited free travel on public transportation and had free entrance to sights and museums – among various other benefits. Since 2007 also a free Audio City sightseeing tour has been inclusive in the
Febr u a r y, 2008
The recent development of the Helsinki Card includes a new helsinkicard.fi portal presenting the places and benefits of the Helsinki Card. The various site modules of the portal can be freely combined to create tailored programmes for different target groups, such as families planning a weekend break, for design freaks, or people looking for activities with nautical or other special interest. The programmes can be printed out and taken on one’s travels. The new site comes in five language versions: English, German, Swedish, Russian and Finnish. The Guide Book which is given to every Card holder is published in the same languages including details of all items and benefits together with city maps. The contents of the Helsinki Card are being developed and renewed continuously. One of our major future challenges is to transform the Card to fit in modern electric systems.
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Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
HOLLAND: CITY PASS FOR AMSTERDAM & BEYOND In addition, pass holders enjoy convenience as they have the advantage of gaining fast-track entry at major museums and attractions! Whether you are traveling through Holland or enjoying a citybreak in Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague or Rotterdam, Holland Pass will definitely help discover the highlights of Amsterdam and beyond! Holland Pass offers a choice of 5 free admissions (XL edition 6 free admissions) at museums and attractions and in addition unlimited discounts with “Holland Pass discount card” varying from 10-50% on entry at museums, attractions and at restaurants & shops. Pass holders can visit at their own pace, as Holland Pass is valid for 1 year! (edition 09/10 valid from February 1 2009–March 2010). The
i
H
olland Pass is the all-in-one pass for any individual traveler visiting Amsterdam or other major cities in the Netherlands, such as Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam and other sights of interest. The pass offers savings and benefits at major museums, popular attractions, sightseeing tours, souvenir shops, public transport, bike rental, cheese and clog farms, mill museums, recommended restaurants, shopping tips and much more.
Febr u a r y, 2008
H igh l ight s
Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Canal cruise, Madame Tussauds, Diamond factories, Heineken Experience, Hermitage Amsterdam, Panoramic Circle Tour... Utrecht: dick bruna huis, Dom tower, Rietveld Schröderhuis, Centraal Museum... The Hague: Madurodam, Escher in het Paleis, Panorama Mesdag, Museon, Mauritshuis… Rotterdam: Euromast, Spido, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Splashtours, Maritime Musuem Rotterdam, Netherlands Architecture Institute… And more: Zaanse Schans (cheese and clog farms, mill museums), Keukenhof (bulbfields), Royal Palace “Het Loo”, Zuiderzee Museum...
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free admissions and discounts offer great “value for money”. When visiting more than 2 or 3 museums and attractions, pass holders will always save money as opposed to purchasing individual tickets. Savings continue with the discount card.
Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s Pass holders have the advantage of jumping the queue and gaining fast-track entry at: Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Hermitage Amsterdam, 1 hour canal cruise, Artis Royal Zoo, Madame Tussauds, The Amsterdam Dungeon, Zuiderzeemuseum, Madurodam and Keukenhof, the place where spring starts in all its glory. In addition to savings, benefits and convenience, Holland Pass also offers service. A full-colour guide book is included offering detailed information on each museum and attraction, information on each city, walking tours, city maps, recommended restaurants and shopping tips. Pass holders are wellinformed on the wide variety of museums and attractions in Amsterdam and in other major cities such as Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam. For further information, please contact info@hollandfactory.com, tel: 0031 (0)20 419 32 20 or check www.hollandpass.com (February 2009: new website)
Holland pass
Febr u a r y, 2008
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Holland pass
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PASS for AMSTERDAM,
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Your CITY
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ADMISSIONS UNLIMITED DISCOUNTS NO WAITING IN LINE 100 MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS
Book your Holland Pass at www.HollandPass.com
RESTAURANTS & SHOPS SPECIAL OFFERS 260 PAGE GUIDE BOOK
Exclusive! SKIP—THE LINE AT: 20 —
Van Gogh Museum • Rijksmuseum • Madame Tussauds • The Amsterdam Dungeon • Canal Cruise • Hermitage Amsterdam • Artis Royal Zoo • Hermitage Amsterdam • Madurodam • Zuiderzee Museum • Keukenhof!
SKIP THE LINE
Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
ZÜRICH: THE UNIQUE MIX seums and more than 100 galleries. The cultural and art calendar leaves nothing to be desired: from the Street Parade with the most colourful house and techno party in the world to the Zürich Festival; the latter being a unique inspirational combination of opera, concert, drama, dance and Free Form Theatre in the Zürich cultural locations of the Opera House, the Schauspielhaus (Switzerland’s largest theatre) and the Tonhalle (Concert Hall). The Old Town with its history going back over 2,000 years invites visitors to discover the traces of the past, whilst the currently trendy former industrial quarter of Zürich-West attracts with its urbanity.
Idyllic Oases
Z
ürich offers shopping, culture, nightlife with sea breezes and an Alpine panorama – seasoned with the best quality of life in the world. International fashion labels, jewellery and watches delight lovers of luxury on the shopping mile Bahnhofstrasse, urbane Zürich brands inspire the fashion-conscious in the western part of the city.
Arts & History
As one of the leading cities in the art trade, Zürich opens its doors to art and culture with over 50 muFebr u a r y, 2008
From the latest culinary trends behind old factory walls through Zürich specialties in historic guild houses to open-air eateries Zürich tempts the palate of its guests – with one restaurant for every 180 inhabitants. One can become immersed in clean lake and river water in the middle of the city. Where people go swimming during the day, at night there is flirting and dancing, as the swimming facilities transform into bars and lounges at twilight. Further idyllic oases of nature give an energy boost in and around Zürich: whether on a nostalgic steamship ride or a hike up the Uetliberg, Zürich’s local mountain, with views of the snow-covered Alps on the horizon.
The Cards
The best way to experience Zürich is the ZürichCARD and ZürichCARD Plus: ZürichCARD The ZürichCARD entitles you to unlimited 2nd class travel on all public transport (tram, bus, rail, boat, cable car and funicular railway) in and around Zürich.
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Free is also the entry to 37 museums in Zürich, a trip from Zürich up to the Uetliberg or a boat trip on Lake Zürich and the river Limmat. Furthermore you can benefit from other discounts. The ZürichCARD is the best way to experience Zürich in 24h or 72h! All this for only for CHF 19 or CHF 38 (€12 or €24). ZürichCARD Plus Would you like to venture farther afield? In addition to the benefits to the ZürichCARD, ZürichCARD Plus entitles the holder to unrestricted travel on the entire network of the Zürich transport system ZVV as well as discounted access to regional tourist attractions and free admission to more than 14 museums in Winterthur. Benefit from this unique opportunity and explore Zürich and its region during 24h for only CHF 36 (€22). The ZürichCARD and ZürichCARD Plus are available at Zürich Airport, train stations, VBZ-Ticketerias, hotels in Zürich and the Tourist Service at Zürich Main Railway Station. Photo: Zürich Tourismus http://www.zuerich.com/zuerichcard
Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
ACROSS THE SALZBURGERLAND WITH A SINGLE CARD The
most beautiful sights and excursion destinations throughout the SalzburgerLand, all bundled together in a single all-inclusive card. Family vacations with the SalzburgerLand Card – that means more vacation for less money and an array of recreational opportunities that couldn’t be any broader. How about trying your hand at gold-mining in Rauris, taking a steam-train ride with the Taurachbahn in the Lungau region, visiting the aquatic wonders of the WasserWunderWelt in Krimml, staring at the stars at the planetarium in Wald/Königsleiten and so much more...
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Price s
For €39 for a 6-day card and €49 for the 12day card, the SalzburgerLand Card puts more than 190 sights and attractions in the palm of your hand. Children aged between 6 and 15 pay only €19,50 or €24,50.
G rowi n g T re n d Card Sale 2002 until 2007: 2002 – 29.503 2003 – 33.591 2004 – 40.743 2005 – 44.533 2006 – 51.568 2007 – 52.967
Febr u a r y, 2008
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Profe s si ona l : R e g i onal Trav el C ard s
The SalzburgerLand Card is particularly attractive for families, especially as the all-inclusive card is free for the third child and more, while children 6 and under enjoy free admission to all participating SalzburgerLand Card partners. The Card carries you up to the top of the most beautiful Alpine peaks! From the Zwölferhorn lift in St. Gilgen in the heart of the Salzkammergut, to the Grosseck lift in the Lungau community of MauFebr u a r y, 2008
terndorf, the Saalbach lifts and the Wildkogel lift in Neukirchen (Hohe Tauern National Park) – the SalzburgerLand Card gives you free roundtrip rides on them all. With 25 mountain lifts to choose from, you will have quick, convenient access to the highest elevations, from where you’ll be able to embark on a broad variety of hiking tours of the mountains. And after your hike, enjoy a jump into the cool, wet waters of our crystal-clear lakes, or stop in at
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one of our numerous open-air pools. Nestled amid the unique panoramas of Salzburg’s alpine world, there’ll be nothing to disturb your daydreams, as memories of every-day life fade further and further away! Give mind and body the break they so dearly need and enjoy a relaxing day at one of our region’s new spas! This all-inclusive card is a hit with everyone – be they families, youth groups, school classes, or even the locals themselves! http://www.salzburgerlandcard.com
Active/Adventure Welcome to the Divers’ World Underwater restaurants, underwater hotels, underwater weddings – yes, underwater tourism is really hot. Come and see the diving spots at Isla Guadalupe or even at Green Island not far from Taiwan. Don’t miss the Shark Week in Palau or the sinking ceremony of USS Kittiwake. First of all though, take your diving gear and head to Caesarea for the fabulous and world’s first underwater museum.
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
CAESAREA: THE UNDERWATER MUSEUM OPEN
It
was the largest, most impressive port in the Roman Empire when it was inaugurated in 10 BCE. And some 2,016 years later, the ancient port of Caesarea – along the Mediterranean coast of Israel – was inaugurated again in April 2006, this time as the world's first underwater museum. Divers can now don their wet suits and tour the sign-posted remains of the magnificent harbor built by King Herod to honor his Roman patron, Caesar Augustus. The site has been excavated over the last three decades by a team led by the late Prof. Avner Raban of the University of Haifa's Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies. It's not an ordinary museum tour. Visitors float from one 'exhibit' to the next, marveling in silence Febr u a r y, 2008
at the untouched remains of a once-glorious harbor: a Roman shipwreck, a ruined lighthouse, an ancient breakwater, the port's original foundations, anchors, pedestals. "It's a truly unique site," said Sarah Arenson, a University of Haifa maritime historian and participant in the project. "This port was built as the stateof-the-art port of the Roman Empire, and made the other ports of the time, including those of Rome, Alexandria and Piraeus, look small and out-of-date by comparison." Arenson notes that the port is also unique today: "There are no other ancient ports in the world that are accessible to ordinary divers," she said. Some such ports are restricted to authorized scientists.
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Others may be open to any diver, but would be meaningless to such visitors because, all you would see is a bunch of stones." At Caesarea, divers view some 36 different signposted sites along four marked trails in the sunken harbor covering an area of 87,000 sq. yards. They are given a water-proof map which describes in detail each of the numbered sites along the way. One trail is also accessible to snorkelers. The others, ranging from 7 to 29 feet below the surface, close to the beach, are appropriate for any beginner diver. And what does the visitor see? In a sense, an abrogated history of this once prominent port town – from its entrance at sea (about 350 feet from the current shoreline) to the Roman shipwreck that signaled the demise of the port, probably due to an earthquake, about a century after its construction, researchers believe. And, in between, divers can view the remnants of the original foundations that made this harbor one of the wonders of the Roman Empire. "This port was built using the knowledge and technology of Roman engineers," explains University of Haifa maritime historian Dr. Nadav Kashtan, a member of the team that excavated the site. It was constructed with a type of hydraulic cement, invented by the Romans, known as pozzolana. "The Romans found that when they take the volcanic powder found around Mount Vesuvius and mix it with lime and rubble, the substance hardens in water," said Kashtan.
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
"This 'hydraulic concrete' was imported to Caesarea and used to fill wooden frames which were then lowered into the water to lay the foundations for the port." Two such frames were found, one almost perfectly intact, and are on view today. Kashtan notes that thousands of men were recruited – both from Rome and locally – to build the port over the course of 12 years. Among them were many divers, who descended simply holding their breath, or possibly in a diving bell. The Roman city of Caesarea was built on the ruins of a decaying Phoenician town called Straton's Tower. “Its builder, Herod, who also built the Second Temple of Jerusalem, was considered one of Febr u a r y, 2008
the most magnificent builders of the Roman era,” notes Kashtan. The Jewish king built the town – given to him as a present by Augustus – into a grand, fortified city that served as the capital of the Roman province of Judea for about 600 years. The first century Jewish historian Josephus Flavius described the building of the port of Caesarea in 'The Jewish Wars': "Along the coast Herod discovered a city that was in decay named Straton's Tower. The stretch of coast-line from Dora to Joppa, between which the city lies, was completely devoid of harbors, so that every ship sailing from Egypt along the coast
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of Phoenicia had to ride at anchor in open when menaced by southwest wind, for even a moderate breeze from this quarter dashes the wave to such a height against the cliffs that their reflux spread a great commotion far out to sea." Researchers note that the excavations correspond closely with Josephus's detailed accounts of the port. Israel has long been known as a diver's mecca because of the rainbow of corals and exotic fish found off the coast of the Red Sea resort of Eilat. But the country has more than two dozen other diving sites along the Mediterranean coast – from the unique maze of chalky white caves of Rosh Hanikra in the north, to a collection of shipwrecks dotting the coast as far south as Ashkelon. The sunken port of Caesarea – with its ancient sites and modern explanations – is sure to become one of the top underwater attractions. By Leora Eren Frucht http://www.israel21c.org
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
MEET THE GREAT WHITE AT ISLA GUADALUPE fore the great white disappeared back into the cobalt depths. Moments later, after almost getting thrown into the water by the surge, I was safe within the 100-square-foot cage, the hookah regulator looping from between my clamped teeth to the deck above. The current tossed the cage — and us — only slightly more gently than a washing machine. And then it appeared. Like a phantom shadow, the shark approached from below, slowly swishing its massive tail side to side as if it had all the time
The
red rocks of Isla Guadalupe blazed in the morning sun, a clear sky welcoming us after a stomach-churning 14-hour crossing. Lapping waves and the cries of fur seals on the nearby shore were the only sounds to be heard one hundred fifty miles from the mainland. The water roiled as foot-high fins sliced the surface like a knife through cerulean silk. It was a perfect day for a dive. "We've got a 16-footer," announced Patric Douglas, CEO of Shark Diver, the outfit leading our expedition. From beneath his shades, Douglas beamed like a proud papa as he pointed out the great white circling the cages. Not wanting to miss the action, I hustled to join the other divers, who had already scurried to squeeze themselves into wetsuits be-
Febr u a r y, 2008
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in the world. This was nothing like spotting a shark confined in an aquarium's tank. With our cage dangling over the side of the 88-foot MV Horizon, my cagemates and I were well aware that we were but visitors in the shark's domain. As the behemoth approached, we determined it was a female, and as she glided past just inches from our cage, her length was so great it seemed forever before she passed. I'd heard that great whites could reach such lengths — and longer — and for better perspective, I'd told myself I'd be seeing creatures roughly the length of a VW bus. What I hadn't counted on was the girth. I'd joked to landlubber friends that I was going to ride a shark, but after seeing how wide a female could grow, there was no conceivable way I could have saddled one, even had I been suicidal enough to try such a ridiculous (and illegal) feat. The six-foot-wide creature slid past, her black eye so close we could see the
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
pupil, which made the shark even eerier than when she appeared to have two black, unseeing orbs. When I emerged 45 minutes later, I had a grin as toothy as a great white's. Douglas slapped me on the back after helping me out of the cage and back on deck. "Pretty boring, eh?" He guffawed at his own joke as I racked my brain for an appropriate adjective. What emerged from my mouth cannot be printed in most publications of repute. Only in the last few years have these waters, under the jurisdiction of the Mexican state of Baja California del Norte, earned fame for its white shark population. Other locations around the globe — Australia's Great Barrier Reef, South Africa's notorious Shark Alley, and even San Francisco's Farallon Islands — have long been renowned for their notorious aquatic residents, but Isla Guadalupe has quickly become a favorite, as much for its convenient location (an overnight sail from San Diego) as for its warm waters and astounding visibility, which can reach up to 100 feet. Such ideal conditions attract not only adventure-seeking divers such as my shipmates but also scientists in search of primo research conditions. Febr u a r y, 2008
During shark season (September through November), at least 50 white sharks — and possibly as many as 100 — patrol the waters, estimates marine biologist Mauricio Hoyos, who spends several months a year camped out in a tin shack a couple yards away from a fragrant fur seal colony. He and a couple dozen lobster and abalone fishermen comprise the whole of the population of the island, a desolate red rock long since made devoid of vegetation by a marauding pack of abandoned goats. After dinner our second night, Hoyos presented his most recent findings to a galley of rapt shark aficionados. We felt special, privileged even. Not only were we among an elite few — a couple hundred a year at most — to visit these waters, but we were getting a first-hand account with the most upto-date information on sharks available. Shark Diver provides a great deal of aid — both financial and practical — to Hoyos and his project. The crew has provided almost all of the research photos of the sharks, duplicates of which exist in a massive binder in the ship's galley, each labeled with the shark's name and distinguishable markings so that passengers can identify underwater visitors. Divers, inspired by Hoyos' shipboard stopovers, often go on to send donations or even specifically requested equipment. Shark Trust Wines, which has graced the table of many a Shark Diver meal, donates a portion of its profits to both shark conservation and research. The combination of first-hand encounters, freshly caught scientific knowledge, and cultured respect for the creatures we came to visit was but one of the many aspects of the trip that made it unique. As we entered the galley our final night at Guadalupe, we did so solemnly, well aware that our oncein-a-lifetime experience was drawing to a close. It was then we discovered that our congenial chefs had taken it upon themselves to whip up a fare-
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well meal we wouldn't forget, which included the 60-pound yellowfin tuna that had been caught the day before. Divers and crew retold the tale of how we'd almost had two such tuna on our tables that night, and those who’d had the good fortune to be in the cages at the time shared their photos and video. Unlike the tuna caught earlier that last day, the dinner yellowfin had been landed whole, without a shark-sized chunk missing. There had been quite a ruckus onboard — and below — as Melanie Marks, founder of Shark Trust Wines, began reeling in a yellowfin, much to the excitement of a patrolling white just below the boat. The occupants of the cages had a spectacular view as the great white circled slowly toward the fish struggling on the line then zipped towards its prey with astonishing speed. With a single chomp, the fish was severed just behind the gills, and Marks had no problem reeling in what remained of her catch. She shrugged, well aware that's what you get when you fish at the "sharkiest place on Earth." For more info: Shark Diver www.sharkdiver.com Shark Trust Wines www.sharkstrustwines.com By Jenna Rose Robbins (Jena is a freelance writer and editor based in the Los Angeles area. She can be reached via e-mail at jenna@jennarobbins.com.)
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
RETIRED NAVY SHIP TO BECOME A DIVING SPOT
It
is always an issue with old navy ships. What to do with them when they can no longer ‘remain in service’? When their technical qualities do not suffice? Some privileged ships get transformed into museums; some get simply hidden from the eyes of the public and become deserted ghost ships that
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gather rust. The USS Kittiwake has a different destiny ahead. And it is nobler than one would have expected. USS Kittiwake is to become an underwater attraction and more importantly, and artificial reef in the waters of the Cayman Islands The USS Kittiwake has not been in use for several years now. The vessel was officially launched
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in 1945 and it was cruising the international waters for several decades, supporting mostly submarines in the Atlantic. Before the battleship is sunk, toxic materials need to be removed from it. However, as many scientists point out, its intricate structure will most certainly create a very welcoming environment for diverse schools of fish. Also, the sunken vessel will very soon turn into a very interesting dive site. Following the trail of historical ships resting on the sea bed is a very appealing activity for thousands of tourists, who are attracted by the crystal clear Caribbean waters, where the visibility is exceptional and the choice of sites extraordinary. After it is deemed safe for USS Kittiwake to descend on the ocean bed, it will be a first artificial reef of its kind. The keen divers may expect to see the official ‘ceremony’ possibly in June 2009. http://www.tourism-review.com
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
DISCOVER THE SEA LIFE AT GREEN ISLAND
us to our hotel and after checking in our scooters were delivered (one scooter per couple). Our three day package allowed a lot of flexibility time wise and we decided to explore the island (17 km circumference) and its very special rock formations, old villages, white beaches and hiking trails as well as one of the only three salt water hot springs in the world – overlooking the ocean! The evening kicked off with a lovely seafood meal at the “Fisherman” restaurant overlooking the Pa-
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In
March 2008 a group of us went to Green Island, a small volcanic island not far from Taiwan, on a Green Island Adventure. On Friday morning we boarded the train to Taitung on a scenic 5,5 hour journey round Southern Taiwan. After a short wait (allowing time to freshen up at the new Febr u a r y, 2008
and clean bathrooms at Taitung station), we were greeted by Jacky who took us to the harbor where we boarded a ferry on a 50 minute cruise to Green Island. Green Island greeted us with a blanket of greenery and crystal clear waters. A mini-bus transported
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P oi n t s to n ote :
– Sea sickness tablets (well advised to take some) – Beach Towels – Favorite drinks – Snacks etc. for the trip getting there Divers – Take your favorite mask or fins if you can (optical masks can be rented at dive shop) – Remember SCUBA Certification card!
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d at very shallow depths was not disappointing. Coral and reef fish abounded! The second evening was spent in an open-air table barbeque restaurant (eat as much as you like) on the quiet northern side of the island. In addition Eddie surprised us with a few kilos of Boerewors (South African sausages). The food was good and the beers great…
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G ree n I sl a n d
Green Island, once known as “Fire Island” is a small island located 33 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South Eastern Taiwan. Having a population of 2000 on an area of 16,2 square kilometers, the island was formed by volcanic action which left a curved and complex coastline. Coastal beach terraces and cliffs drop to colorful coral reefs where schools of tropical fish make their abode. Along the shoreline, white coral beaches can be found and numerous coves which lead into warm tropical waters.
cific Ocean. The fish and vegetables were fresh and the beers ice cold… The next morning our scuba diving adventure was arranged. We kitted up at the dive shop, and were transported as a group to the first dive site. The underwater topography abounds with coral (hard and soft) and reef fish. Our second dive took us to some of the oldest coral formations known on the planet as the giant "Mushroom Coral". Spectacular underwater scenes greeted us…. While we were diving, Eddie took the non-divers for a guided tour around the island and all the inFebr u a r y, 2008
teresting places like the prison exhibition center (depicting the modern history of Taiwan and the reign of the White Terror) as well as the original little settlement village of the first Taiwanese Chinese that inhabited the island. The Sleeping Beauty and Pekinese Dog rock formations provided excellent photo opportunities. The afternoon was spent taking the non-scuba divers for a guided snorkeling excursion, which proved to be a momentous occasion for two people who have never been in the ocean before, let alone snorkeling – and they loved it! The rest of us joined the guided snorkeling excursion. Even snorkeling
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Sunday morning was spent having a hearty breakfast after some went to their favorite spots on the island and others went shopping in the many little shops of which the “Brother Story” shop proved to be the most popular. Little coves with little white beaches and beautiful rock pools are to be found everywhere on the island and shell gathering is allowed. Our journey back was perfectly organised by Eddie and the train ride along the South Eastern Coastline very spectacular in scenery. By Jerry Cardy http://www.greenislandadventures.com
Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
PALAU: SHARK WEEK ATTRACTS RESEARCHERS & TOURISTS research itself. Representatives from Palau, Guam, US, UK, Australia, Germany, Austria, France, Russia, Switzerland, Singapore, Israel, Holland, Spain, Italy and other countries gather for the only purpose to enhance the awareness in order to protect our sharks. With the media’s support, education and scientific data we could achieve wonders with shark protection. The 2009 event will host guest speakers from Australian Institute of Marine Science, Dr. Mark Meekan, who is the leading foundation scientist, Dr. Iain Field, Gerhard Wegner from Shark Project, and key officials from the Palau government and community. Scientific data and information regarding sharks is very limited, and the foundation’s goal is to re-
W
hen we say sharks, the word draws attention. Many are afraid of these magical creatures but many are attracted to them. There is a growing movement with a substantial involvement with shark protection. Many sites around the globe that had a healthy shark population are witnessing a huge decline in the numbers of sharks; in many places they are already extinct. Palau is one of the last unique places with a rich shark population. Sharks are protected here
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and any shark fishing and fining is illegal. Very few countries have such strict laws. The Micronesian Shark Foundation with the assistance of Fish ‘n Fins Dive shop have been conducting scientific research as well as events and seminars targeting divers and shark fans from all over the world. Groups and individuals, all sharing their concern and admiration of sharks are gathering during a special week, Shark Week, and dive with the sharks, listen to capturing lectures and are involved in the
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Acti v e / A dv e n ture : Wel come to the D iv e r s’ Wor l d
search the migration patterns of the Micronesian sharks. Every year in February to April we witness a huge migration of sharks that are not residential. Where are they from? Where are they going? The foundation is hoping to get this information and more. This is your chance to join an adrenalin-packed shark themed event as The Micronesian Shark Foundation will hold its 7th annual SHARK WEEK event at Fish ‘n Fins dive shop in Palau, March 8-15, 2009. Febr u a r y, 2008
This is a fabulous opportunity to dive with the world-famous sharks of Palau, help with scientific data collection and enjoy full evening programs of shark-themed seminars and activities. For information please visit the Micronesian Shark Foundation website .
By Tova Harel Bornovski http://www.msfpalau.org/
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M e d i c a l / S pa Losing Weight? Only in SPA Do you also have the feeling that after the holidays your clothes somehow cannot cope with your waistline any more? Or have you come to the conclusion that your chubbiness is not as cute as you thought? Then you might be interested in what the spa experts say about the best way of losing weight. Maybe you will find out that it doesn’t have to be only about starvation and drill.
Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
WHY A SPA MAY BE THE BEST SOLUTION FOR WEIGHT LOSS How a Spa Can Help You Keep Your Resolution to Lose Weight
This is why structured weight loss programs – like those offered by spas – are so critical. While not everyone agrees on which weight loss regimes are best, there is general consensus that losing weight necessitates a multi-faceted approach that includes exercise, nutrition and stress reduction. It also helps to explore the emotional baggage that may be at the root of overeating and, as demonstrated in recent research, learn how to get enough healthy sleep to help hormones stay balanced. Addressing each of these factors and coming up with a successful formula to lose weight – and keep it off – is no easy task. And it’s extremely difficult to accomplish alone. That’s one important reason why so many people never accomplish their weight loss goals – and why, for many, a supportive spa program often works best. In fact, over my 30- year career in the spa industry, I have found that there is one step that people can take which makes the entire weight loss process a lot easier, more fun and greatly improve the odds for success. Check into a weight loss spa!
A
ccording to the National Center for Health Statistics, two-thirds of adults in America are either obese or overweight, and that statistic doesn’t factor in the hundreds of millions of people around the world who are also increasingly overweight. In fact, the quest to lose weight has become an almost universal pursuit – as eviFebr u a r y, 2008
denced by the recent annual survey by Franklin Covey, a global organizational products company. For 2009, weight loss ranked as one of the top three New Year’s resolutions people make. But the survey also found that 75 percent of those people fail on that resolution within the first three months.
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How to Choose the Right Spa for Your Goals
Most ‘getaway’ spas (especially destination spas which are total immersion spa experiences) are about exercise, diet, stress reduction, mind/ body programs and healthy sleep. Many address weight loss directly, offer educational programs,
Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
and generally excel at creating a supportive environment. But with so many spas to choose from, how do you know which ones are tops for helping people lose weight? One resource is the Top 10 Weight Loss Spas in the annual SpaFinder’s Readers’ Choice Award poll. These are voted on by spa-goers from around the world who have actually experienced programs offered by a wide range of spas. Here are the winners for 2008 (in alphabetical order): Febr u a r y, 2008
Cal-a-Vie (CA) Fitness Ridge Resort & Spa (UT) Grail Springs Health Retreat and Wellness Spa (Canada) Hilton Head Health (SC) New Age Health Spa (NY) New Life Hiking Spa (VT) The Oaks at Ojai (CA) Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa (FL) Rancho La Puerta (Mexico) Red Mountain Spa (UT) But before you check in, SpaFinder recommends that you ask a few questions. The answers will help you choose a spa anywhere that can best meet – and maintain! – your weight loss goals. • Does the spa have a dedicated weight loss program? (Best if the answer is yes.) What is the program? (Better if it is a multi-faceted approach.) • Are meals portion-controlled or are they buffets where there are no limits? (You will likely be more successful if there is help with portion control.) • How many fitness levels are accommodated? (More is better. It’s important to be in a group where participants are at the same level, instead of exercising with people who slow you down or push you beyond your limit.) • Are there medical professionals on staff? (Better if the answer is yes since high blood pressure, movement limitations, and possible food issues often accompany being overweight.) • How much exercise will I be doing every day? (More is not always better as too much can be, well, too much – however it helps to have several movement activities dispersed throughout the day.) • Are there classes or lectures that address the underlying causes of being overweight? (Better if
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there are, since overeating is a complex problem and needs to be addressed at root levels as well as through nutrition and exercise.) • Are spa services included in your weight loss program? (Better if, yes. Rewarding yourself with relaxing spa and beauty treatments is part of what makes it easier to adhere to the program.) • Will I learn the tools to continue my weight loss at home? (Again, best if, yes. Look for cooking classes, follow up with email newsletters and support groups.)
Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
Myths and Misconceptions
Is a spa frivolous? I’m often asked, “Isn’t it frivolous to go to a spa to lose weight because, after all, how much can I lose in a few days or even a week?” The truth is that weight loss isn’t about merely quantifying how many pounds you can drop in a week – it’s about a long-term changing of directions. And that you can do in a week – in fact, you can usually do it in a few days. If by going to a spa you are inspired to begin exercising regularly, eating more healthfully and taking better care of yourself in general, then the resulting transformation will guide you to your ultimate ideal weight. And that will be worth whatever you paid for time at the spa. Will I starve? Many people are afraid they will starve at a spa and be very uncomfortable, but just the opposite
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is true. Spas are extraordinary at helping people lose weight while at the same time providing a lot of comfort and satisfaction. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the easiest way to lose weight is to check into a good weight loss spa. Getting away from the stresses in your personal life, and being surrounded by a supportive program that has been designed specifically so that you won’t be hungry while you are losing weight – while getting more fit – is a wonderful experience. And any small discomforts are hardly noticeable thanks to all the feel-good activities like massages, facials, whirlpools, fun with new friends and restful sleep. Will I be embarrassed? Often people are concerned that they’ll feel embarrassed at a spa because they’re overweight and other people will be thinner. But let’s face it, at a weight loss spa you’ll find yourself in the company of others in the same situation. And even if you hap-
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pen to be the heaviest person there, you’re sure to be surrounded by understanding people struggling with the same issue. After about 24 hours, no one is looking at body size, whether or not someone is wearing make-up or how much money you make. Happily, spas are the experts at creating mutually supportive environments where you have a chance to really be you. And that’s part of the reason for their ongoing success and popularity for weight loss! By Susie Ellis (President, SpaFinder Inc. and SpaFinder.com) SpaFinder is the global spa resource, and the world’s largest spa information, marketing and publishing company. Through its award-winning website Spafinder. com, its consumer publications, and leading spa gift certificate programs, SpaFinder connects millions of spa-goers to thousands of the world's finest spas. http://www.SpaFinder.com
Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
THANKS TO SPAS THE JOJO DAYS ARE OVER
Do
you remember the “Fat Farm”? Believe it or not, it was the forerunner of the modern health resort / spa of today! It used to be, that when you went on vacation you were encouraged to gain weight – especially when you lived in a city with lots of pollution and where healthy, fresh food was rarely available – a vacation in the country with lots of exercise, fresh air, warm cow milk and more was the ideal “cure” to get you back to “normal”. So, then what is normal? The Fat Farms of the 1930’s in the US were mainly for the rich and famous (Al Capone had his own hide-away in Palm Springs), where they would go on a strict 600-700 calorie diet (for men it was a bit more 900-1200) and they were encouraged to hike up mountains to lose more fat and liquid. These crash diets worked wonders, as many of
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the celebrities not only needed to eat less, but also drink less – or better “dry-out”! After a week at one of these resorts, they would return to Hollywood, Chicago, New York, etc. slim and trip with a deep tan – looking like new (probably even feeling a lot better). And so the merry-go-round begins, as they start celebrating their good looks and well-being and in no time, they have gained the weight back and even more pounds than they originally lost. Today’s crash diets do the same and are as harmful as ever – people feel like jojos – with their weight going up and down, which puts a lot of strain on their heart and other organs; the effect on their skin, which eventually loses its elasticity when stretched too often adds years to their looks! Today’s health spa resorts have come a long way since these “jojo” days! 90% of people going to a resort / destination spa go for the #1 priority – to lose weight! Weight loss today is gained through healthy diets, combina-
tions of foods that cancel each other out in calorie counts, combined with exercise and a good nights’ sleep. The aim of these spas is to teach their guests a “healthy lifestyle” – behavior modification – something they can take back home with them and apply in their every day life. Many of the resorts have teaching kitchens and the chef actually takes them to the supermarket to teach them how to shop (read labels) for lunch and dinner! Some spa resorts offer juice fasting, a more drastic way to start losing pounds, i.e. get a jump start. In the contrary to the healthy diet and exercise program, a fasting program does need medical supervision, in order to assure the client does not experience dehydration or other side effects. Don’t want to go through all of that? Too much trouble, time and efforts? Well, modern science has invented and created many devices that can help you lose weight and look your best. Mud or herbal wraps will not only detoxify your body, but will take inches off your thighs and waste! Of course these will come back as soon as you resume your normal diet; weight loss belts and other devices allure have the same effect in “contouring” your body. These are recommended for temporary, fast solutions, but in order to achieve true and lasting weight loss, you can either have a complicated operation whereas they tie up your stomach, or you can opt to go to one of the many spas and learn how to change your habits and start eating healthy, get moving and enjoy life! And that is normal! By Hannelore R. Leavy (Founder & Executive Director – Day Spa Association WorldWide, International Medical Spa Association) http://www.dayspaassociation.com http://www.medicalspaassociation.org
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Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
TO LOSE WEIGHT, STOP FOCUSING ON IT! the U.S. National Weight Loss Registry, those who do maintain weight loss from a diet do so at high cost. Their days are devoted to counting calories, fat or carbohydrate grams or otherwise monitoring what and how much they eat, and to exercise that doesn't often qualify as joyful – not a recipe for a pleasant lifestyle, in our opinion. But what are we supposed to do if we're too fat and out of shape? It's called taking care of yourself. Now there's a concept!
Jumpstart Weight Loss by Not Focusing on Weight Loss
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hile January screams ‘time to lose weight' for many people, the drive to lose weight plagues us throughout the year. Spending more than $33 billion a year on diet books, diet foods, diet programs and other schemes ‘guaranteed' to take the weight off for good, people are being misled by the millions. The truth is, when we try to lose weight, we may end up gaining it. And according to Febr u a r y, 2008
Read these tips for a quick refresher course on what taking care of ourselves is all about. Ironically, they can help jump start weight loss by removing our focus from the subject. • Accept your wonderful self. The first step in taking care of ourselves is to adopt a non-judgmental attitude towards ourselves, to help us see what's what without interfering, critical self-talk. Rather than causing us to ‘give up' and just accept our current state of fitness, self-acceptance actually motivates us to take steps to improve things. Read our FitBriefing on self and size acceptance for healthy weight for more on this. • Quit trying to lose weight. Set our sights on doing what's
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necessary to help us feel great. Generally, those are activities that will take our bodies to their natural, healthy weight. Weight loss becomes an outcome rather than a goal, and with this method, it's likely a lasting result, rather than a yo-yo diet effort. • Stop dieting. This may sound like a repeat of the previous tip, but here we're focusing on that constant attention to what we're eating, how many calories, fat or carbohydrates it contains, when we eat it, etc., etc. Instead, start eating mindfully, using internal cues to guide eating. If you need a little help getting started, use the healthy eating plate model to help put together balanced meals and snacks that support your body's cues. • Start moving. The first step is to just start moving in whatever way that feels good. It can be a walk around the block, a belly dancing class, a strength training session, a snowball fight with the kids. We can fine tune things as we go along to be sure we include aerobic, strength-training and flexibility activities that are all considered important for fitness. But don't get caught up in believing there's only one way to achieve each of these. If we don't like to lift weights, we can strength train with yoga, for example. Read our FitBriefing Intrinsic Exercise: Learning to Love Physical Activity for some good insight into making regular physical activity a part of your life. • Enjoy life. With these fundamental ways of thinking and doing in place, we're set for living a life doing what's important to us. By Marsha Hudnall, MS, RD, CD (Green Mountain at Fox Run, Director) At Green Mountain at Fox Run, we've been helping women learn how to do the above for over 37 years. Our healthy weight loss program can help you jump start your weight loss program by helping you to stop dieting and shift your focus from weight loss to living well. Join us for the time of your life that can change your life! http://www.fitwoman.com
Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
MEDICAL SPAS: WEIGH LESS, FEEL BETTER
It
is the beginning of another year and time to fulfill resolutions to look and feel your best. As we age and enter our 30’s our hormones are in a downward decline making it more difficult to stay fit and look young. It is believed that our hormone levels decrease by approximately 5% every year after the age of 30. Considering that testosterone is responsible for building lean body mass and muscle, it is
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no surprise as we grow older it is harder and harder to stay in shape even with a good diet and workout routine. Testosterone is not a hormone only for men but also females. Even though females have approximately 10% of the amount of testosterone than that of men it plays such a big role in mental and physical well being. When testosterone levels drop people may have symptoms of mental cloudiness, low sex drive, no energy and gaining weight in the midsection. The replacement of testosterone may be in the form of gels, creams, injections or pellets. The most physiologic way to replace testosterone is by means of Sotopelle therapy. Sotopelle therapy involves a simple procedure where the bio-identical hormone testosterone is placed directly under the skin by a medical doctor to allow the slow release of hormones, avoiding the peaks and troughs as seen with the other methods. The body simply takes the hormones as it needs it. Through Sotopelle therapy the bio-identical hormones last approximately 3-6 months. Most individuals experience an almost immediate relief of symptoms of mental cloudiness, fatigue and no energy; however for some it can take up to two weeks. When testosterone is rebalanced to the optimal levels as you were in your 20’s, workouts begin to show better results in muscle definition by increasing lean body mass. Testosterone is just one of the few hormones that may be replaced through Sottopelle Therapy.
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Estrogen (estradiol) for example plays a big role in looking younger and is sometimes considered the “fountain of youth” as the skin improves with more elasticity and less dryness. Estradiol is the estrogen that is cardio protective unlike the synthetic derivatives that are composed primarily of Estrogen – Estrone has not only been proven to cause an increase in heart disease but also ovarian cancers. To determine if you are a candidate for Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy a comprehensive medical history, physical exam and evaluation of hormone levels obtained by blood will determine your unique clinical picture. Another new treatment on the horizon to look your best and get rid of those troublesome fatty areas such as the love handles, belly pouch, fat around the bra strap is the Inch Loss System. The Inch Loss System uses nano-technology to create muscle contractions without pain or sweating. The muscles are contracted involuntarily through the inch loss machine causing tightening and shrinking of muscle fibers resulting in inch loss. The Inch Loss System has a diuretic effect as well as stimulating the removal of waste products through its inherent lymphatic drainage which assists in riding the body of excess fluid. Bodily circulation is greatly improved and notable results in cellulite reduction have been reported. There is no glucose burn
Me dica l / Spa : L o sing We ig ht? O nly in SPA
which results in very little lactic acid being released, so there is no muscle soreness after an inch loss system workout. It is not unusual to have up to one inch loss with each treatment. To enhance the results of the Inch Loss System it is common to use a combination of therapies especially Mesotherapy. Mesotherapy is used on specific targets areas where your body stores excessive fat. It assists your body in breaking down existing stored fat cells through a formulated mix of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The mixture
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is injected into the fat and connective tissue which make up the middle layer of skin called the mesoderm. Mesotherapy is an in office procedure and requires no anesthesia or downtime. The Inch Loss combined with Mesotherapy has a synergistic effect as Mesotherapy helps break down the fat cells as the Inch Loss System assists in ridding the body of the excess fat by increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage. In general, after four sessions you will not only see inch loss but visible improvement of the treated area – smoother skin and fat reduction. If you want to look your best on both the inside and out, you’ll definitely want to do your research and find that Medical Spa that houses a full-time on staff physician specializing in Bio-Identical Hormone Sottopelle Treatment in combination with Mesotherapy and the Inch Loss System. There is no need to live with the symptoms of mental cloudiness, low sex drive, no energy and gaining weight in the mid-section anymore. Improve your health and look great!
By Dr. Jean Claude Nerette Jean owns and operates Bellissimo Medical Spa & Salon. At Bellissimo we provide an all-inclusive facility where you can receive salon services, as well as a visit with a Board Certified Physician for all your medical and health care needs. http://www.BellissimoMediSpa.com
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De st i nat ion
K
n a t s z y g yr
Kyrgyzstan? Wait a minute, isn’t it somewhere in Africa? Not really. Come and discover the land of beautiful mountains, gorgeous wilderness, rich history and friendly people. Learn about Issyk Kul, the largest lake in the world, where you can swim and enjoy the view of snow capped mountains at the same time. Find out how many statues of Lenin can be seen in the capital Bishkek. Visit the comfortable yurts and try the local specialties. Welcome to Kyrgyzstan!
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
KYRGYZSTAN: HIGH MOUNTAINS AND ANCIENT TRADITIONS So far it's getting by on pluck, a liberal agenda and goodwill from Western donor countries. It is doing more than any Central Asian republic to encourage tourism and streamline bureaucratic procedures for visitors – partly because tourism is one of the few things it has to sell to the outside world. The downside is that away from Bishkek, IssykKul and parts of the Tian Shan, tourist infrastructure is minimal or wretched, transport is limited, fuel overpriced, roads unpoliced and there is a growing crime rate, fuelled by alcohol and desperate poverty. There is a great temptation to hop off the bus in the middle of nowhere and hike into the hills but, except in few places, this is not recommended if you value your life.
W
hat Kyrgyzstan lacks in gracious buildings and fancy cakes, it more than makes up for with nomadic traditions such as laid-back hospitality, a healthy distrust of authority and a fondness for drinking fermented mare's milk. Many travellers find Kyrgyzstan the most appealing, accessible and
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welcoming of the Central Asian republics, particularly as it contains the central Tian Shan and Pamir Alay ranges, Central Asia's finest mountains. In 1991, the collapse of the Soviet Union left this tiny, under-equipped republic out on a limb, seemingly without the resources to survive on its own.
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De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan and see a rushing herd of antelopes. Marmots and pikas are preyed upon by eagles and lammergeiers while the elusive snow leopard hunts the ibex amongst the crags and rocky slopes. Forests of Tian Shan spruce, larch and juniper provide cover for lynx, wolf, wild boar and brown bear. In summer, the wildflowers are a riot of colour.
Rich Culture
Mountainous Land
Landlocked Kyrgyzstan is slightly larger than Austria and Hungary put together. Nearly 95% of the country is mountainous: almost half of it at an elevation of over 3000m (9840ft) and three-quarters of it under permanent snow and glaciers. The dominant feature is the Tian Shan range in the south-east. Its crest, the dramatic Kakshaal-Too range, forms a stunning natural border with China, Febr u a r y, 2008
culminating at Pik Pobedy (7439m/24,400ft), Kyrgyzstan's highest point. The southern border with Tajikistan lies along the Pamir Alay Range. Lake Issyk-Kul, almost 700m (2300ft) deep, lies in a vast indentation on the fringes of the Tian Shan in eastern Kyrgyzstan. The mountains of Kyrgyzstan are the setting for high, grassy meadows. It is not rare to look out of a train or bus window on the open steppe
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Nearly everyone in Kyrgyzstan is Muslim, but Islam has sat relatively lightly on the Kyrgyz people. The geographically isolated southern provinces tend to be more conservative and islamised than the industrialized, russified north. Ancient but still important tribal affiliations further reinforce the north-south differences. The Kyrgyz language has not been imposed on non-speakers in Kyrgyzstan, and the use of Russian persists, especially in the north. Central Asian literature has traditionally been popularized in the form of songs, poems and stories by itinerant minstrels, called akyn. But the Kyrgyz, the originally nomadic people, are also associated with something rather more complex – an entire cycle of oral legends, 20 times longer than the Odyssey, about a hero-of-heroes called Manas. The stories are part of a wider, older tradition, but have come to be associated with the Kyrgyz people and culture partly because Soviet scholars 'gave' Manas to them in efforts to create separate cultures for the various Central Asian peoples. Although the oral tradition is pretty much dead, Manas is still a figure for the Kyrgyz to hang their dreams on.
Nomadic Way of Life
Nomadic life was necessary because of the numerous flocks of sheep on seasonal pastures at different heights. Such lifestyle led to the isolation of
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
i
Fact s at a G l a n ce :
Full country name: Republic of Kyrgyzstan Area: 198,500 sq km (77,415 sq mi) Population: 4.5 million Capital: Bishkek (population 670,000) People: 57% Kyrgyz, 21% Slav (Russian & Ukrainian), 13% Uzbek Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian Religion: Sunni Muslim
families, who had to go up to high mountains to find enough grass for the cattle. This is also the reason for the unique Kyrgyz hospitality. Guests were always welcome because they brought news.
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Ancient Dwelling – the Yurt
A skilled master can make a yurt (tent) in a month, but it will endure for decades. The yurt consists of a wooden carcass and felt. It is easily dismantled and transported from one place to another. During its assembly, first, a door is hung on it. After that, wooden trellises (kerege) which serve as wall are set in place. Tunduk (a wooden circle in the upper part of the yurt) is connected to kerege by long bent poles. Then the kerege are tightly fitted with mats, covered with ornamented felt pieces of different forms and sizes and tied around with narrow embroidered stripes and laces. All in all, yurt setting takes about an hour. A day in the yurt starts long before sunrise. The first rays of sun find yurt inhabitants already doing everyday chores. Women prepare breakfast and put food into bags for men, who leave for jailoo (pastures) with herds of sheep. After see-
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ing their husbands off, women start numerous minor and major household chores. Small boys, who are barely able to walk, already learn to ride horses. Girls learn the art of cooking, embroidering, and making shyrdaks, ala-kiyiz and tushkiyiz – national carpets made of felt and fabric that not only serve for such practical purposes as home warming, but also for decoration. Kyrgyz ornaments resemble the richness of colors and forms that exist in nature: a vivid diversity of field flowers, eagles with proudly spread wings, curved of mountain goats and ibexes, and snowcapped mountain tops.
Photo sources: C.A.T. Company, TR archive, Flickr http://www.times.kg http://eng.concept.kg
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
TOURISM INDUSTRY STRUGGLING HARD
major advantage of the region is the tourist season lasting for seven or eight months as opposed to three sunny months offered by the Issyk Kul Lake. However, the services provided in the region are far from being high. The number of decent hotels in Osh and Jalalabat is strikingly scanty, let alone desolated villages.
Authorities Get in the Way
Recently, the authorities have kept a close eye on the south of the country. But their ardour was cooled down by scanty funds allotted for the industry development. This financial gap is filled by businessmen who skillfully make money on tourism. If only authorities did not get in our way, the businessmen often sigh. Kanybek Isanov, director of Beijing Hotel built in the Osh downtown, believes the tourism industry is on the upbeat at present. There are several tourist companies and guest houses offering sightseeing and transportation. Hotel business is another concern. "I've been dreaming about a hotel for a long time. Is there any better place then Osh? Sulaiman Too,
i
K
yrgyzstan, like other ex-soviet countries has kept low profile behind the iron curtain for the last 70 years. It was an unknown country for foreign tourists. "Unknown. Pshaw! Life was not bad without tourists," sneers an old man. The life was quite well, indeed. There were no noisy tourists speaking some double Dutch and demanding supernatural
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living conditions… However, there is one significant factor prompting people to indulge whims of foreign tourists. Decent remuneration. This factor motivates the authorities to put tourism industry on the top of agenda. The south of Kyrgyzstan crossed by the Silk Road has been a haunting place of foreign tourists. The
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E c o - To uri s m
Currently there are several efforts to promote “ecofriendly” tourism in Kyrgyzstan. The many tourist companies in Kyrgyzstan understand that “eco-” anything sounds very appealing to the many backpackers that come to their country, so they tend to use it to describe their organization, even if they do nothing to promote “low-impact” or “leave no trace” camping. However, the very nature of the type of tourists that are attracted to Kyrgyzstan dictates that most of the tourist attractions offered is aimed at enjoying the beauty that the local environment has to offer. Wikipedia.org
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan businessmen to create new jobs and attract more foreign tourists and investors," Kanybek Isanov said.
Old Aircrafts & Brave Pilots
Silk Road museum, shrines of Asaf ibn Burhiya, Rawat Abdulla Khan, Barbour and celestial mountains are favourite vacation spots for foreign tourists. I imagined building a modern hotel in my native town when worked in Moscow. However, I would not take a risk a year ago. Once entangled by the vicious corruption web, the industry could hardly breathe. But for the time passed Kyrgyzstan has made significant improvements in the industry development. There were only three bodies engaged in tourism industry before 1991. Today, private enterprises prevail in the industry. The incumbent president makes significant concessions to the entrepreneurs. He took the industry under its personal control, thus enabling Febr u a r y, 2008
Traveler D.D. is not very optimistic about the development prospects of the tourism industry. “Roads in Kyrgyzstan are stricken with holes; hotels are uncomfortable. The most terrible thing about the country is its remoteness.” It is difficult not to agree with him. There are air flights to Kyrgyzstan from Moscow, Istanbul, London, Washington, DC, Urumqi and Tashkent. Getting to the country from Moscow by railway takes several days of going through the hot and dusty Kazakhstan. Besides, you'll have to get visa to get into Kazakhstan. More nerves and more money. Inner flights frighten foreign guests even more: old aircrafts, brave pilots and passengers quaking with fright. What a trilling romance trip! Not for the foreigners. "Kyrgyzstan is a country full of paradoxes," D.D laughed. "That is why I like it. Can you imagine that the price of a tour to Kyrgyzstan is more expensive than to Italy or Turkey given to the level of services provided? Besides, these countries are widely promoted. Local tourism industry fails to meet either of international standards. The foreigners will never sacrifice conveniences at the altar of the Asian beauty."
Incoming Tourism
Although Kyrgyzstan’s mountains and lakes are an attractive tourist destination, the tourism industry has grown very slowly because it has received little investment. Currently the industry struggles with insufficient infrastructure (roads, hotels, facilities), vague policies, excessive bureaucracy, insufficient promotion,
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lack of direct flights to Bishkek, and unskilled tour guides. According to the tourism companies of Kyrgyzstan the number of foreign tourists increases by 1015% every year. “The peak of foreign tourists was in 2001 year. Then it has been in recession since 2002. But there is a stable increase since 2005”, said Valentin Derevjanko, manager of a tour agency “Yak Tour Travel”. He stressed that there would be a double increase of the number of foreign tourists if the political situation was more stable. Most of tourists coming to Kyrgyzstan are from France, Great Britain, Holland, USA, Japan and Australia. According to the statistics of the tourism companies, the most visited area in Kyrgyzstan is Issyk-Kul Lake. Especially travelers from Kazakhstan and Russia are interested in spending their holiday by the lake. Foreigners are more attracted by the Tian Shan Mountains.
i
Roa d s
Transport in Kyrgyzstan is severely constrained by the country’s alpine topography. Roads have to snake up steep valleys, cross passes of 3,000 metre (9,000 ft) altitude and more, and are subject to frequent mud slides and snow avalanches. Winter travel is close to impossible in many of the more remote and high-altitude regions. Additional problems are due to the fact that many roads and railway lines built during the Soviet period are today intersected by international boundaries, requiring time-consuming border formalities to cross where they are not completely closed. Horses are still a much-used transport option, especially in more rural areas; Kyrgyzstan’s road infrastructure is not extensive, so horses are able to reach locations that motor vehicles cannot, and they do not require expensive, imported fuel. Wikipedia.org
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
Civilized wild Asia
Sergey Katanaev, manager of “Dostuk Trekking” said, that about 70% of the tourists decide for the special tours of the Great Silk Road. The route goes from Kashgar to Bishkek across the Torugart pass and includes excursions around Issyk-Kul Lake. Tourists are accommodated in yurt camps on the Issyk-Kul lakeside and in Tash-Rabat gorge near the Chinese border. Besides the mountains, tourists are also lured by white-water rafting (there are rivers of seven levels in Kyrgyzstan) and heliskiing.
Febr u a r y, 2008
Rome was not built in a day. The same is true for Kyrgyzstan. The period of social, cultural, and industrial facilities construction boom has passed. Many Europeans do not know even the right spelling of the country. They do believe that people here live in yurts and ride horses and camels. "Very often foreigners are disappointed when they see hotels, expensive cars and supermarkets in Osh. They came to enjoy wild Asian way of life, horses, and camels. They pay money for extreme. Those who want to relax in five-star hotels travel in other directions," says D.D. The country has been a member of the World Tourism Organization since 1993. Besides, Kyrgyzstan participates in London Tourist Fair, Tashkent International Fair, International Tourism Exchange Fair in Berlin and other reputable events. "The actions taken by the state are quite important," believes D.D. "Yet, the first and foremost challenge for the state is to ease the visa regime, increase the number of air flights, improve the infrastructure and build good WCs at least. This is the only way to lure the major world tour operators to Kyrgyzstan." Photo sources: C.A.T. Company, TR archive, Flickr http://eng.24.kg http://kyrgyzstan.neweurasia.net
— 48 —
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
BISHKEK: THE CITY OF LENIN AND THE WHITE HOUSE Kazakhstan. The Chui River drains most of the area. Bishkek is connected to the Turkestan-Siberia Railway by a spur. Bishkek is a city of wide boulevards and marblefaced public buildings combined with numerous Soviet-style apartment blocks surrounding interior courtyards and, especially outside the city center, thousands of smaller, often privately built houses. It is laid out on a grid pattern, with most streets flanked on both sides by narrow irrigation channels that water the innumerable trees which provide shade in the hot summers.
History
B
ishkek is the capital and the heart of the Kyrgyz Republic, its political, economic, scientific and cultural center, and the main transportation hub. It has population of approximately 1,000 000. Originally founded in 1878 as the Russian fortress of Pishpek, between 1926 and 1991 it was known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze. The name is thought to derive from a Kyrgyz word for a churn used to
Febr u a r y, 2008
make fermented mare's milk (kumis), the Kyrgyz national drink. Bishkek is situated at about 800m altitude just off the northern fringe of the Ala-Too range, an extension of the Tien-Shan mountain range, which rises up to 4,800 m and provides a spectacular backdrop to the city. North of the city, a fertile and gently undulating steppe extends far north into neighboring
— 49 —
Originally, a caravan rest stop (possibly founded by the Sogdians) on one of the branches of the Silk Road through the Tien Shan range, the location was fortified in 1825 by the Uzbek khan of Kokhand with a mud fort. In 1862, the fort was conquered and razed when Tsarist Russia annexed the area. The site became a Russian garrison and was redeveloped and named Pishpek from 1877 onward by the Russian government, which encouraged the settlement of Russian peasants by giving them fertile black soil farms to develop. In 1926, the city became the capital of the newly established Kyrgyz ASSR and was renamed Frunze after Mikhail Frunze, Lenin's close associate who was born in Bishkek and played key roles during 1905 and 1917 revolutions and during the Russian civil war of the early 1920s. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan achieved independence in 1991, and the
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
city was renamed Bishkek. Today, it is a vibrant, rapidly modernizing city, with many restaurants and cafes and lots of second-hand European and Japanese cars and minibuses crowding its streets. It is also the country's financial center, with all of the country's 21 commercial banks featuring offices in the city. During the Soviet era the city was home to a large number of industrial plants, but most have been shut down or operate today on a much reduced scale. Bishkek was also home to a major Soviet military pilot training school; one of its students, Hosni Mubarak, later became president of Egypt.
Landmarks
Bishkek is an attractive city, especially in summer when its thousands of trees provide color and shade. Though the city is relatively young, the surrounding area has sites of interests dating from prehistory, the Greco-Buddhist period, the period
Febr u a r y, 2008
of Nestorian influence, the era of the Central Asian khanates, and the Soviet period. The city is known as the Zurich of Central Asia. Like its European cousin, the city is densely saturated with historical monuments and ancient buildings. Structures date as far back as 1000 BC and through to Soviet occupation. The White House: The main government building, the White House, is a huge seven-story marble block and the former headquarters of the Communist Party of the Kyrgyz SSR. Several statues of Vladimir Lenin can be found in the city. The largest one stands opposite the parliament building in a leafy park — having been moved there in 2003 from its original more conspicuous location on the main square of the city. Ala-Too square: It is the main city square. It is the site of frequent political demonstrations and
— 50 —
regular festivals. At night many vendors set up photograph and karaoke booths. It is still dangerous at night for foreigners though. There is also a military monument with an hourly changing of guards. Victory Square: The square spans several acres and is made of the Soviet concrete. In the center there is an eternal flame that honors all those who died in defense of their motherland, regardless of their nationality. Kyrgyz State Museum: The finest collection of ancient Central Asian archeology can be found here. Much of the digging was done by Soviets in the early 20th century. Finds belong to ancient civilizations that date back as far as 2000 BC, including Sogdian, Bactrian, Scythian, Persian, Greek and of course Turkic artifacts. Frunze Museum: This museum is dedicated to Mikhail Frunze. The building consists of numerous rooms that resurrect the general in life size dioramas, set at various points throughout his life. Osh Bazaar: This is the city's best known food bazaar where you can buy hundreds of different products from a fresh sheep's head to locally made Korean pickled salads. While some guidebooks warn of pick-pockets, most find this a safe and rewarding visit. Photo sources: TR archive, Flickr http://www.kyrgyzjer.com http://www.bishbish.com http://wikitravel.org
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
TOURISM HOPES PINNED ON ALPINE LAKE REGION tive boon for their cash-strapped economy. But the slow pace of Kyrgyz investment suggests it is up to others to make Issyk-Kul a hotspot for international tourism. Lake Issyk-Kul, tucked away in Kyrgyzstan’s northeast corner and measuring 160 kilometers east-to-west and 60 kilometers north-to-south, is the second-largest alpine lake in the world. But although nature has bestowed remarkable beauty on this area, it has also presented formidable obstacles. The region lies deep in the heart of the Asian continent – far from the affluent capitals of Europe, East Asia, and even Russia. Access can be difficult, with poorly maintained roads snaking up toward the 7,000-meter mountain peaks.
H
igh in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, near China’s western border, there lies the country’s jewel: Lake Issyk-Kul. Kyrgyz officials and local entrepreneurs have long hoped that international tourism to the lake – which is ringed by eternally snowcapped mountains – might provide a lucraFebr u a r y, 2008
— 51 —
But local official Nurlan Nasirdinov and other development-minded Kyrgyz want to see Issyk-Kul become the centerpiece of the country’s tourism industry. "Lake Issyk-Kul is a unique place," Nasirdinov says. "It has curative properties. A person can relax here, rest, and recover their health. Aside from that, we have mountain tourism and extreme-sport tourism. I think the future of Issyk-Kul is bright." Only a few towns along the northern shore host resorts. The biggest is Cholpon-Ata, where Kyrgyz officials have sought to attract international conferences and investment. Four out of five tourists are from nearby Kazakhstan – most of the rest are Russians. Former Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev had pinned high hopes on Issyk-Kul, hosting annual international investment summits here each year until he was ousted by a popular revolt in 2005. It is not surprising that locals are looking across the border to Kazakhstan, where vast oil resources are driving an economy that is growing by 8-9 percent per year. Its increasingly wealthy business
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
i
Sec on d Large s t, Sec on d H ighe s t
Enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains, lake Issyk-Kul literally meaning “hot lake” is said to be the world’s second-largest alpine lake or second highest navigable lake in the world after lake Titicaca in South America, the lake never freezes even in the depths of winter due to some thermal activity, strong winds, physics of deep water and unique microclimate over the lake. In lake flows 118 large and small rivers, but there is no streams flowing out of the lake. That is why the water is slightly salty. The lake’s water consist of 10 billion tones of different salts, but there is 5 times less salt then in Oceanic water what is right enough for keeping the lake clean and very comfortable for swimming. Ky rg yzj er.c om
"If a person is from some government – say Kazakhstan – and if he really wants to invest, then that is possible; it works," Nasirdinov says. "But we insist that the jobs there go to residents of Kyrgyzstan. And, of course, that helps Issyk-Kul’s infrastructure." The effects of small-scale Kazakh investment in Issyk-Kul are already evident. Once-modest cabins – with no running water and communal bathrooms – have been joined by hotels named after Kazakhstan’s former capital. A huge billboard advertises a health spa that claims ties to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev. Nazarbaev has a vacation home nearby, purportedly a gift from former President Akaev. leaders are looking for places to invest – and relax. Kazakhs own a huge cement plant outside the Kyrgyz capital, and hold controlling or other major stakes in four Kyrgyz banks. Febr u a r y, 2008
Laws barring foreign ownership prevent the ownership of land, but local official Nasirdinov says eager investors – with the right connections – can skirt such legislation.
— 52 —
(text shortened) Photo sources: TR archive, Flickr By Bruce Pannier http://www.eurasianet.org
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan
THE LAND OF ADVENTURE In the south of Kyrgyzstan in the Pamirs is Peak Lenin (7,134 m). With easy routes up its broad face this peak attracts climbers going into altitude for the first time. High altitude climbing in Kyrgyzstan shows great potential for growth, with no peak fees and easy access the area could become a destination point as Nepal and Pakistan. The southwest of Kyrgyzstan provides excellent opportunities for mountain climbing and trekking up to 4000 m which is the altitude where the glaciers start. Here remote valleys and soaring granite walls first attracted large numbers of Soviet climbers in the 1980s. This type of mountain tourism also is possible in the accessible peaks near Bishkek, wooded valleys of southern Issyk Kul, as well as glaciers of the northern Tien Shan.
Skiing
Kyrgyzstan has a lot of opportunities for skiing and heliskiing in the mountains too. 95% of the territory of the country is lying in the mountains of Tien-Shan. Hundreds of virgin slopes are waiting
i
For
many, Kyrgyzstan is the synonym for extreme tourism. Thanks to its mountainous landscape the country is gradually becoming a hot spot for all adrenaline enthusiasts.
Climbing
Kyrgyzstan provides a venue for the most extreme climbers in the world. The northern Tien Febr u a r y, 2008
Shan’s highest summit is Peak Pobeda (7439m). First climbed in 1943, Pobeda is the most northern seventhousender of Earth. Not far from Peak Pobedy rises Khan Tengri (6995 m), "Lord of the Sky". This towering pyramid first climbed in 1936 each summer attracts climbers from all over the world.
— 53 —
Sa n ta C l au s Li v e s i n K yrgy z s ta n ?
Hoping to revive its shaky tourism industry, Kyrgyzstan declared itself the new home of Santa Claus. Citing Swedish engineering firm that determined the ideal spot for Santa’s main office as Kyrgyzstan since it is the geographic center of the world, officials in this predominantly Muslim country quickly moved to capitalize on the finding. They named a mountain peak after Santa, to join Mounts Lenin, and Yeltsin, and declared 2008 “The Year of Santa Claus”.
De s ti nati on : Ky r g yz stan will guide you through the verdant, flower-filled valleys, across the wide open steppe lands and over the high mountain passes. The best way to glimpse Kyrgyzstan from the locals’ perspective is on horseback. Kyrgyz horses are hardy, wiry beasts, purpose-built for high altitude and rough paths. Particularly recommended areas to explore on horseback are the foothills of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, the Issyk-Kul to Kazakhstan trek via Balbay, the route from near Kochkor to Lake Song-Kul and, for more experienced riders, the Tien-Shan and AtBashy mountains. for the skiers who love wild nature and nice free runs on the fresh snow. Eco trekking, through which the tourists discover both local culture as well as the nature, is a growing trend in the country. Kyrgyz are one of the few remaining nations that still use yurts as seasonal dwellings and keep alive their traditions of moving into the high mountains in summer to tend to sheep, horses and cattle. The high mountain lakes and pastures of the Naryn region attract more and more eco tourists each year. These are tourists that have hiked in mountains in their own countries but still seek new adventures.
Cycling
Cycling is also a great way of seeing Kyrgyzstan. The standard of roads varies greatly. The main Bishkek to Osh road (650 km) has been upgraded recently and is up to Western European standards. The other main roads are not in very good condition, but are fit for cycling. Secondary roads are almost all gravel tracks. Some of these can be quite strenuous.
Febr u a r y, 2008
Rafting
To make the most of a tour in Kyrgyzstan you need a mountain bike or a robust tourer that can cope with the gravel tracks.
Horse Riding
Horse riding is also quite popular with the tourists. Few places on earth can claim such a fine tradition of horsemanship, or a life so orientated around the horse, and local horsemen
— 54 —
Whitewater rafting is an exotic way to relax in Kyrgyzstan. For trips starting at half a day there is the Chui River, which flows through the austere scenery of the eerie Boom canyon, just two hours from Bishkek by car, and also the nearby Chong Kemin river. Further afield and more rigorous are trips on the Suusamyr valley (Levels 3-4), including a trip through flooded marshlands and on the Kekemeren river (Levels 2-4), through fast-changing landscape at the western edge of Suusamyr valley. To the west of Naryn, rafting trips go through the dramatic gorges of the Naryn river (Levels 3-4), while camping with nomads. In the autumn of 1999 a group of rafters from Russia took on the magnificent marble canyons of the perilous Sary Jaz river – and lived to tell the tale. Photo sources: TR archive, Flickr http://www.kyrgyzjer.com
Fairs & Exhibitions T ravel / T ourism
in
F E B R U A RY
2 0 0 9
by
regions
Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008
Western Europe
Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show London Location
London / UK
Start / End
05 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
Clarion Events Ltd
Contact
katie.white@clarionevents.com
Salon International Des Peches Sportives Location
Paris / France
Start / End
06 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
Exposium
Contact
chantal.parachini@noos.fr
Nauticampo
Reisen Hamburg Location
Hamburg / Germany
Start / End
04 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
Hamburg Messe
Contact
info@hhmesse.de
Salon des Vacances Location
Brussels / Belgium
Start / End
05 February 2009 / 09 February 2009
Provider
Brussels Fairs and Exhibitions
Contact
vakantiesalon@bfe.be
Carvan & Outdoor Leisure Show
Location
Lisbon / Portugal
Start / End
07 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
Feira Internacional de Lisboa
Contact
nauticampo@aip.pt
Vacanze Weekend Location
Brescia / Italy
Start / End
07 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
Vacanze Weekend
Contact
info@vacanzeweekend.it
CATEX Location
Dublin / Ireland
Start / End
09 February 2009 / 11 February 2009
Provider
Expo Exhibitions Limited
Contact
info@expo-events.com
Travel Technology Show
Location
Glasgow / UK
Location
London / UK
Start / End
05 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Start / End
10 February 2009 / 11 February 2009
Provider
Clarion Events Ltd
Provider
Centaur Exhibitions
laura.leveson@clarionevents.com
Contact
david.chapple@centaur.co.uk
Contact
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Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008 Business Travel Show 2009
Ferien – Messe Salzburg
Location
London / UK
Location
Salzburg / Austria
Start / End
10 February 2009 / 12 February 2009
Start / End
20 February 2009 / 22 February 2009
Provider
Centaur Communications
Provider
Reed Exhibitions Salzburg
Contact
general.enquiry@businesstravelshow.com
Contact
feriensalzburg@messe.at
Monaco Spa Event
International Confex
Location
Monte Carlo / Monaco
Location
London / UK
Start / End
12 February 2009 / 14 February 2009
Start / End
24 February 2009 / 26 February 2009
Provider
SoGeSpa Monaco
Provider
CMP
Contact
info@monacospaevent.com
Contact
kdisley@cmpi.biz
Rhein Golf Location
Cologne / Germany
Start / End
13 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
Koelnmesse GmbH
Contact
info@koelnmesse.de
Basler Ferienmesse Location
Basel / Switzerland
Start / End
13 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
MCH, Wigra Expo SA
Contact
info@baslerferienmesse.ch
Idées Vacances Location
Charleroi / Belgium
Start / End
17 February 2009 / 22 February 2009
Provider
Charleroi Expo
Contact
charleroiexpo@charleroiexpo.be
International Tourism Exchange BIT 2009
Reise / Camping Location
Essen / Germany
Start / End
25 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
Messe Essen GmbH
Contact
info@messe-essen.de
C.B.R Leisure and Travel Location
Munich / Germany
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 02 March 2009
Provider
Messe München
Contact
info@c-b-r-muenchen.de
Reisepavillon 2009 Location
Munich / Germany
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 02 March 2009
Provider
Fachausstellungen Heckmann
Contact
info@fh.messe.de
Mahana – Toulouse
Location
Milano / Italy
Location
Toulouse / France
Start / End
19 February 2009 / 22 February 2009
Start / End
27 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
Fiera Milano International S.p.A. Expocts spa
Provider
Exposium
Contact
expo@expocts.it
Contact
commercialmahana@exposium.fr
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— 57 —
Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008 Hoteliers European Marketplace – HEM 09 Location
London / Europe
Start / End
27 February 2009 / 27 February 2009
Provider
European Tour Operators Association
Contact
info@etoa.org
Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show Birmingham Location
Birmingham / UK
Start / End
27 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
Clarion Events Ltd
Contact
katie.white@clarionevents.com
Wellness Fair Location
Göteborg / Sweden
Start / End
27 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
Svenska Mässan
Contact
wellness@svenskamassan.se
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Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008
CENTR AL Europe
Travel: International Tourism Exhibition Location
Budapest / Hungary
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
Hungexpo
Contact
utazas@hungexpo.hu
International Fair of Tourism (IТТFА) Location
Belgrade / Serbia
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
Belgrade Fair
Contact
info@sajam.co.yu
Holiday World Location
Prague / Czech Republic
Start / End
05 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
Incheba Praha
Contact
incheba@incheba.cz
Baltour 2009 Location
Riga / Latvia
Start / End
06 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
International Exhibition Company BT 1
Contact
info@bt1.lv
TOUREST 2009 Location
Tallinn / Estonia
Start / End
13 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
Estonian Association of Travel Agents
Contact
helle@etfl.ee
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Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008
Africa/MIDDLE EAST
Meetings Africa Business Tourism Conference 2009 Location
Johannesburg / South Africa
Start / End
25 February 2009 / 27 February 2009
Provider
South African Tourism
Contact
info@meetingsafrica.co.za
Arabian Travel Market 2009 5–8 May 2009 Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre
TDIM: Tourism Development Projects & Investment Market Location
Dubai / United Arab Emirates
Start / End
08 February 2009 / 10 February 2009
Provider
Reed Exhibitions Middle East
Contact
ara.fernezian@reedexpo.ae
One Event, Unlimited Destinations
OTM: International Travel & Tourism Exhibition Location
Muscat / Oman
Start / End
17 February 2009 / 19 February 2009
Provider
OITE
Contact
zaheer@oite.com
Jordan Travel Mart Location
Dead Sea / Jordan
Start / End
22 February 2009 / 25 February 2009
Provider
William H. Coleman, Inc.
Contact
sales@whcoleman.com
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Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008
North America
All-Canada Show – Des Moines, IA Location
Des Moines, IA / United States of America
Start / End
06 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider
All-Canada Show
Contact
info@allcanada.com
All-Canada Show - Omaha, NE Location
Omaha, NE / United States of America
Start / End
09 February 2009 / 11 February 2009
Provider
All-Canada Show
Contact
info@allcanada.com
St. Louis Boat & Sportshow
Florida Huddle
Location
St. Louis, MO / United States of America
Start / End
11 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc. (NMMA)
Contact
kousley@nmma.org
Boat, Sports and Travel Show - La Crosse
Location
Orlando, FL / United States of America
Location
La Crosse, WI / United States of America
Start / End
01 February 2009 / 03 February 2009
Start / End
12 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
Huddle International Inc.
Provider
Shamrock Productions, Inc
Contact
lynn.warren@floridahuddle.com
Contact
info@shamrockprod.com
The New York Times Travel Show Location
New York City, NY / United States of America
Start / End
06 February 2009 / 08 March 2009
Provider
MSE Management, Inc.
Contact
info@nyttravelshow.com
Denver Golf Expo Location
Denver, CO / United States of America
Start / End
06 February 2009 / 08 February 2009
Provider Contact
Adventures in Travel Expo - Los Angeles Location
Los Angeles, CA / United States of America
Start / End
14 February 2009 / 15 February 2009
Provider
Unicomm
Contact
info@adventureexpo.com
The Boston Globe Travel Show 2009 Location
Boston, MA / United States of America
Start / End
20 February 2009 / 22 February 2009
Denver Merchandise Mart
Provider
MSE Management, Inc.
lcramer@expomasters.com
Contact
info@bostonglobetravelshow.com
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— 61 —
Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008 Adventures in Travel Expo - Washington DC Location
Washington, D.C. / United States of America
Start / End
21 February 2009 / 22 February 2009
Provider
Unicomm
Contact
info@adventureexpo.com
Des Moines Boat & Sportshow Location
Des Moines, IA / United States of America
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Provider
National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc. (NMMA)
Contact
gmulcahy@nmma.org
Destinations Showcase Location
Washington, D.C. / United States of America
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 26 February 2009
Provider
Destination Marketing Association International
Contact
kwhite@destinationmarketing.org
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— 62 —
Fair s & E x hibition s : Febr u ar y, 2008
Asia & Pacific
Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali Location
Nusa Dua, Bali / Indonesia
Start / End
15 February 2009 / 18 February 2009
Provider
PT. Pamerindo Buana Abadi Allworld Exhibitions
Contact
fhtbali@oesallworld.com
AIME - Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo Location
Melbourne / Australia
Start / End
17 February 2009 / 18 February 2009
Provider
Reed Exhibitions
Contact
janelle@schreiberpr.com.au
India Travel Mart – Chandigarh
Travel & Tourism Fair - Mumbai Location
Mumbai / India
Start / End
07 February 2009 / 09 February 2009
Provider
Fairfest Media Limited
Contact
fairfest@vsnl.com
Travel & Tourism Fair - New Delhi Location
New Delhi / India
Start / End
12 February 2009 / 14 February 2009
Provider
Fairfest Media Limited
Contact
fairfest@vsnl.com
International Islamic Expo 2009 Location
Jakarta / Indonesia
Start / End
14 February 2009 / 17 February 2009
Provider Contact
Location
Chandigarh / India
Start / End
20 February 2009 / 22 February 2009
Provider
India Travel Mart
Contact
indiatravelmart@airtelmail.in
IAAPI Trade Show Location
Mumbai / India
Start / End
21 February 2009 / 23 February 2009
Provider
Indian Association of Amusement Parks & Industries, Thane
Contact
info@iaapi.org
Global Healthcare 2009 - Crossing International Borders Location
Singapore / Singapore
Start / End
23 February 2009 / 26 February 2009
Provider
Magenta Global Pte Ltd
Contact
catherina.koh@magenta-global.com.sg
Seoul International Golf & Resort Fair Location
Seoul / Korea
Start / End
26 February 2009 / 01 March 2009
Alia Convex
Provider
Seoul International Golf & Resort Fair
aliaconvex@cbn.net.id
Contact
joanna.gbkorea@yahoo.co.kr
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