Banda Islands lie in the middle of nowhere in the wide open and deep Banda sea. Banda Islands are a group of total ten volcanic islands and part of Maluku Province. Banda Islands are also known as Spice Island, due to their production of world’s only source of spices nutmeg and mace in the middle of 19th century ago.

But nowadays has lost their name as spice Island. The Banda Islands offer stunning tropical scenery and some of the globe’s most pristine, biologically diverse coral reefs. This mass of Banda Islands rise through lapping shores of Sulawesi Island to the west, Alor Island to the South and Papua Island to the east.

The seas around Banda Island are site of the famous Maluku sea gardens with their bright corals and colourful fish darting through the crystal clear waters. It is considered to be one of the finest diving paradise in the world. Big pelagic fish and tiny mandarin fish are abundant in Banda waters,due to the nutrient rich waters seems to effect the size of creatures dwelling among the coral.

Highlight among reef walls are the presence of large marine Life, like reef fish, sharks, turtles, ray, lobsters. Interesting diving sites around Banda Islands are Sonegat, Lontor Island, Batu Belanda, Hatta Island, Keraka/crabs Island, Sjahrir Island, Gunung api and Ai Island. Ai Island is the best diving site. Both north west and south west of Ai Island are ringed with flawless coral walls. Banda Islands can be reached by plane or by boat

Author Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

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A Taste of the Islands

The conch is a single-shelled marine mollusk, or sea snail. There are a number of varieties of this mollusk, including the hawk-wing, milk, rooster-tail, fighting, and queen, or pink, conch. The variety that is especially enjoyed as food here is the queen conch. It bears the Latin name Strombus gigas and is principally found in warm waters from Florida to Brazil.

The queen conch has a large spiral-shaped shell with a wide flaring lip, the adult varying in length from eight to ten inches [20 to 25 cm]. Visitors usually pronounce it “konch” and are quite surprised to hear the locals say “konk.” However, either way is acceptable.

Capture and Uses of the choch

As a youngster, Basil recalls going out on a boat with his father in search of conch. “My dad used a large cone-shaped bucket with glass at the wide end along with a long pole with two hooks at the end. He would dip the glass-bottomed bucket in the ocean so he could look down and locate the conch. As he held the bucket with one hand, he used the other to hook the conch with the pole and pull it into the boat.”

The popular method today is for a diver simply to go down and bring the conch up by hand. When diving in deeper waters, he may use a snorkel or if he has a government permit, an air compressor.

To extract the conch, a hole is made at the base of the shell. A knife is then inserted through the hole to nudge the conch to the entrance of the shell so that it can be pulled out. The conch has four main parts: the head, the internal organs, the mantle, and the muscular foot. Attached to the foot is a single brown horny plate, or operculum. A tough skin covers the foot, which is the part that is eaten. The skin and all inedible parts are cut away, leaving the sweet, white meat.

Conch is an excellent source of protein. It continues to be highly regarded for its therapeutic value. Many people recount experiences of remarkable improvement in their health after a diet rich in conch.

Today there is a thriving industry in conch-shell jewelry. The shell, with its pink flaring lip, is beautiful and very popular among shell collectors. However, the biggest use for conch is in pleasing the palate. Over the years, innovative cooks have come up with a variety of tasty ways to prepare this delicacy.

Mouth-Watering Treat with conch

In the days before refrigeration was common here, conch was preserved by drying. First, it was tenderized by being beaten with a mallet. The meat was then hung in the sun for a few days or so to dry, or cure. Before it was cooked, the meat was soaked in water for a few hours to soften it. Many still enjoy the flavor of conch preserved in this way.

A favorite with locals and visitors alike is conch salad, which might be called conch sushi. Yes, the conch is eaten raw. The meat is cut out of the shell, and bite-size pieces are combined with celery, green bell peppers, hot peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Salt, fresh lemon, and orange juice are added.

If you shudder at the thought of eating raw seafood, there are many recipes in which conch is cooked. A word of caution, though. When cooking conch, first tenderize it with a mallet. If you don’t, the conch will be tough and rubbery.

Conch can be steamed, stewed, jerked, grilled, cracked, made into burgers, cooked in rice or soup–the list goes on and on. Conch fritters and chowder are often served as appetizers. Basic recipes for preparing these dishes have been passed down from one generation to the next. So when you visit the beautiful isles of the Bahamas, do not return home without sampling conch. It will give you a real taste of the islands.

Sandra, a local wife and mother, describes how she prepares delicious cracked conch: “First, tenderize the conch thoroughly. Then coat it with flour that is seasoned with salt and pepper, and dip it in egg batter. Fry the conch in hot oil until golden brown. Drain it on paper towels, and add lemon juice.”

Conch prepared this way is usually served with French fries and lots of catsup or with peas and rice. Cracked conch may also be eaten with tartar sauce. Frozen conch is often exported, so you may be able to find conch in your area. Why not try it? You just may like it.

Author: Flor Ayag

Get your free Favorite Food Recipes at favorite-recipez.blogspot.com

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Island Destinations – Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, Northeast of New Zealand. The Cook Islands consist of fifteen small islands in this South Pacific Ocean and they are a self governing democracy with the New Zealand. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean. Aitutaki, Rarotanga, Taranaki, Pukapuka and Palmerston are the main population centre in this region. Tourism is the country’s number one industry, apart from pearls, marine and fruits.

There are fifteen major islands, divided into two distinct groups: the Southern Cook Islands, which consists of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke, Rarotonga, Palmerston, Manuae, Mitiaro and Takutea and the Northern Cook Islands which consists of Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn Island, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, and Suwarrow. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands The shape of the Island takes the shape of an equilateral triangle. Aitutaki is famous for its lagoon, almost uninhabited islands and its beautiful beaches. Another advantageous point is that it has been spared by mass tourism.

There is also an old church and some gigantic Banyan Trees on this Island.

One Foot Island, a small islet in the Southeast, is often said to be the most important attraction. It provides the best views of the Aitutaki lagoon and depending on the tide one can walk on a sandbank a decent distance away from One Foot Island.

There are two other noteworthy islets namely Rapota and Moturakau.

Mangaia is the southern most of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga.

It is also told to be the oldest island in the Pacific according to the Geologists. This Island is renowned for its coconuts. Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands and the important establishments like the Airport and the Parliament buildings are located on this Island.

Palm studded white sandy beaches occupy most of the island and there is a popular cross island walk that connects Avatiu valley with the south side of the island. This walk passes through

Te Manga, the prominent Needle shaped rock visible from the air and some coastal areas. It should be noted that Rarotonga has only two bus routes: Clockwise and Anti-Clockwise and the driver’s pickup and drop anyone anywhere along the route. Manihiki is known as the Island of Pearls and is said to be one of the group’s loveliest islands.

Penrhyn Island is the most remote Island of all the 15 of the Cook Islands This Island is also called as the Tongareva, which is its original name.

Rakahanga is one of the most unspoiled places on earth.

The Cook Islands are known for Diving, the beautiful nature, and dining.

The universal language in these islands is English though the native language is Cook Islands Maori.

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Diving at Flores Island in Indonesia

Flores Island is Right Place For Adventurous Travelers and Real Paradise For All Divers

The word Flores is firstly given by Portuguese who reached the island about 15 th century ago. The word itself means Flowers. Actually it is to describe for beautiful coral formations that shimmer in crystal sea. The Flores archipelago itself is endless in diversity.

Starting in the west lies Komodo Island where the biggest Lizard in the world can be seen. It is also known as Komodo Dragon.

photo credit: Eric Kilby

The sea around also offers excellent coral reefs to explore, where home for reef sharks and tropical fish. The highlight island’s attraction are the three colored lakes (blue, green and black) of Kelimutu volcano at east of Komodo island, marine life and Komodo Dragons.

Labuan Bajo is perfect location to explore untouched coral in Komodo National Park. Maumere offers the opportunity to explore great marine life and have around forty different diving sites in the Marine Garden of the Bay of Maumere.

Maumere Bay has black sand and inhabit at least at least 1200 species of fishes. After the earthquake in 1992 reefs were impacted. Nowadays the reefs have regenerated nicely and still world class dive sites. Outstanding walls covered in sea fans, soft corals and invertebrate covered overhangs along with some pristine hard coral gardens.

The corals of Flores sea are amongst the oldest in the world and are still in pristine condition. The coral Flowers preserved in stone. In Wai Terang, just off the coast of Flores Mainland. Here you will find Japanese world war 2 freighter wrecks, which now is covered with soft and hard corals and harbouring small fish life.

Author: Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

Find more information before your travel to Indonesia here

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photo credit: Georg Wittberger

Untouched Paradise – Thousand Islands

Nestled in the Bay of Jakarta, The Thousand Islands or Pulau Seribu are an archipelago of nearly 130 islands dazzling and bewitching the Java Sea. Beautiful as well as bountiful, the islands are tropical with sandy beaches and at times possess scenic coral atolls strewn in a display of size and shapes.

The Thousand Islands are a true gift to earth by Mother Nature. Encompassed of beautiful reefs, this archipelago is home to an amazing marine wonderland. With colourful fishes and underwater adventures, the islands are the ideal location for diving, snorkeling, fishing and underwater discoveries.

The shimmering turquoise waters tempt divers to indulge in exploring the land beneath. With fascinating marine creatures and their aquatic wonderland, there is much to see and do at the Pulau Seribu. Some of the islands in Pulau Seribu are still undeveloped for habitation, but a couple have been developed for tourism purpose.

Those islands include Pulau Bidadari, Pulau Ayer, Sepa, Coconut, Pelangi, Bira, Pantara, Kul-kul and Pulau Putri. Within these islands, tourists and visitors alike can bask in rest and relaxation on the sandy beaches of a paradise on earth. Some of the golden palm fringed exotic locations were once home to the likes of formers kings of Indonesia as well as dignitaries such as the first President of Indonesia.

The islands can be reached within 1-2 hours by ferry or chartered boat from the Marina Ancol. Look forward to rest and relaxation mingled with tranquility and serenity at these islands when in Jakarta. With serviced apartments in the main land, such as the Somerset Grand Citra, indulge in this wondrous attraction and return to the comforts and warmth of this serviced residence in Jakarta.

Naveen Marasinghe is an e-marketing executive at eMarketingEye(Private) Ltd. eMarketingeEye is an search engine marketing company offering integrated Internet marketing solutions, specializing in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.

More information about Island vacation in Indonesia.

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Selayar Island is Maybe One of the Few Remaining Exotic Diving Paradises in the World

Selayar Island lies in the flores sea between Sulawesi Island and Flores Island. A mountain range runs along the eastern side of the island rising to about 600 meter and dropping to over 2500 meter below the surface. There is a chance to see everything that the tropical under water world has to offer at Selayar Island. The Selayar Island is a narrow Island which is rising 4000 meter from the Banda sea. The interesting highlight diving site is about 3,000 meter long house reef consist of pristine coral slopes and walls are thickly covered with hard and soft corals,where drift diving can be done.

Marine Life can be sighted here include reef fish, turtles, barracudas, reef shark, pelagic fish, etc. Just southeast of the Island is largest coral atoll/Taka Bonerate Atoll in this area. The atolls rise abruptly from a deep oceanic trench and offer an amazing wall diving. Here has variety of coral growth and sea grass on this atolls, fringing and barrier reef. The reefs that surround east side of Selayar Island are mostly steep walls that are full of overhangs and small caves.

Since 2000 this area has been put under protection by Indonesia Government as marine park to preserve island’s natural resources on land and in the surrounding sea. Selayar Island can be reached either by boat from Bira cape, which lies at the southeastern tip of South Sulawesi Province and about 5 hour drive from Makassar/ capital of South Sulawesi Province or by plane. Interesting. So Come here and discover it yourself.

Author: Anto Kasan – EzineArticles Expert Author

More inspiration about diving during island vacation here.

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Before Cruise Travel Checklist

A cruise?  What an exciting idea! But in the excitement of getting ready to embark on this wonderful adventure, you may forget a thing or two. Here’s a quick “before-you-cruise” checklist to help make sure you have done everything necessary to ensure smooth sailing.

1.

Pack a credit card; maybe even two. Cruise ships operate under their own “credit card” system; an identity card backed up by your personal credit card. You will be expected to register a credit card with the purser’s (reception) desk once onboard the ship. All your onboard purchases like your liquor drinks and store purchases will be filed onto your shipboard account. You may opt to pay for these purchases at the end of your cruise with cash, but the ship wants your credit card as a guarantee.

2.

Seasickness medication. A must-have item. Wristbands or anti-seasickness drugs can be purchased over the counter at your local drugstore. I haven’t seen a cruise yet where rough seas didn’t lead some passengers to terrible bouts of seasickness.

3.

Remember your own personal medications. Keep all medications in their ORIGINAL bottles with your name on the labels. Put these bottles into small Ziploc bags and you will be able to clear airport security just fine. But the labels MUST match the name on your passport.

4.

Ah yes, your passport, your lifeline back to your home country. It is nearly impossible to move on or off a cruise ship without a passport. Even with a ship’s identity card, each passenger must carry his or her passport. You will not even be allowed to check in on the first day, without your passport.

5.

Photocopy your passport, your cruise ship itinerary and any other valuable documents like your credit cards, before you leave home. Leave these copies with a trusted friend or family member. Should you ever get into trouble and lose your documents while cruising, having these copies back home could be a god-send.

6.

Travel insurance. It is essential that all travelers purchase travel insurance. A broken eardrum during a scuba diving adventure will set a traveler back several hundred dollars, in doctor’s visits and medications.

7.

Your cruise tickets. Don’t forget your tickets. Keep them in an easy-to-reach pocket of your carry-on bag.

8.

Bring your laptop computer. You are very welcome to bring a laptop onboard. In the ship’s Internet caf, you will be able to log onto the Web and keep in touch with loved ones, or (perish the thought) your boss. This is a costly luxury, however; be prepared.

9.

Are you planning to take digital photos? One of the most forgotten items is an extra memory card. Because I travel with my laptop and CDs, I have been begged by fellow passengers to download their camera’s full media cards to a CD. If you forget extra memory cards, your vacation pictures will be limited to the capacity of a single digital card. And won’t that be disappointing?

10.

Batteries for electronics? Make sure to pack the extra power you’ll need for those iPods, MP3 players and digital cameras. And, if you are traveling to a European destination, bring along a voltage power converter and plug adaptor. My husband found out the hard way (when he blew out his palm pilot charger) that not all the outlets in a cruise ship cabin are American voltages.

11.

What of your house? Cruise durations can be at least a week and many much longer. Have you made arrangements for your pets? Your houseplants? Have you turned down the water heater temperature? Have you alerted your neighbors nearby that you will be away for awhile? Have you left a key with a trusted neighbor? Have you canceled your newspaper? Remembering to settle things at your house before you leave, will make for a much more relaxing vacation.

12.

You will burn on the open sea under the bright sunshine. Even in cooler weather. So, whether you are bound for Alaska or the Caribbean, be sure to pack your favorite sun block product.

13.

Formal clothing is a must onboard cruise ships. That is, if you plan to attend a formal dinner in the ship’s dining room. If not, don’t worry about it. But do pack more than just casual clothes; even in the less formal dining areas, cruisers are expected to dress neatly.

14.

A second swimsuit is a good idea if you don’t relish the thought of struggling into a wet clammy one every day.

15.

If you love to shop, then bring along an extra suitcase. I always pack a collapsible bag into both my husband’s and my suitcases. They’re great for bringing back souvenirs, like that Jamaican beach painting and that African giraffe statue, you just had to have.

A cruise ship vacation is a wonderful way to relax; ensure that relaxation by taking care of the details before you cruise.

A cruise can be one of the most stress-free vacations; when the ship leaves the port you can leave your worries behind and enjoy being pampered and entertained. Getting ready for a cruise can be complicated. Prepare a checklist before cruising to ensure smooth sailing.

Step 1

Check and, if necessary, renew your passport six months in advance. Is the expiration date on your passport less than six months away? Some countries require a six-month expiration period for all passports.

Step 2

Book your flights three months in advance. Start early to get the best possible rates. Try to arrive at your port city the day before the cruise leaves, since a cancelled flight can cause you to miss your cruise departure.

Step 3

Make your final payment on the cruise on or before the due date. When the tickets arrive, double-check your assigned cabin, dinner seating, luggage tags and other materials. If the travel agent has booked your flights or pre- or post-cruise hotels, check them carefully too.

Step 4

Choose your excursions or research your own day trips at your ports of call. You can book excursions that are run by the cruise line on their websites. These excursions can fill up early, so book them two or three months before you cruise.

Step 5

Go shopping. Make sure you have swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts, sandals, formal wear and anything else you might need. You can get specific details about what you will need for your cruise from your travel agent or on the cruise line website.

Step 6

Make arrangements for home care. Do you have pets that need to be taken care of? What about houseplants? If your children are staying home, make childcare arrangements early. Arrange for your mail and newspaper to be collected or for delivery to be stopped while you are gone.

Step 7

Fill out the pre-boarding forms that the cruise line requires. You can do this online or fill out hard copies.

If you are bringing credits cards with you, write down the numbers, expiration dates and credit card contact information and leave it at home in case the cards are lost or stolen.

Ask your travel agent or cruise line about any vaccinations you might need.

Author www.KomailNoori.com
Get Discount Cruise Deals on Vacation Packages from Traveloni.

Soren add: See also

Island Vacation Tips: Your First Travel Abroad Packing Checklist

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photo credit: yuko_ppp2501

Some Must Sees of Fiji

Author: Kieron Sellens is the marketing manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO).  With AITO’s luxury Fiji holidays, you can tailor-make the dream holiday.

Christmas Island is a great place to visit when taking a holiday vacation. It is known as the Island of the Crab or Kiribati because there a lot of crabs patiently crawling on the seashore. Christmas Island is barely known as a holiday destination, but this is likely to change after the TV series Survivor shot a whole season here. With its sandy white beaches and its turquoise waters, Christmas Island is a jewel in the Pacific.

Video about the yearly mass migration of the red crabs to the sea where they will breed and spawn.

You should visit Christmas Island National Park first before touring around the island. From here you will get to know the island’s rich culture and natural resources. You will also get to enjoy and admire a variety of the island’s flora and fauna. You will also see a variety of endangered species that are treated well in the national park. The park is simply nature at its best. It is a miniature representation of the whole of Christmas Island.

Christmas Island is also a popular place for water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. Beneath these activities, however, lies the beauty of sea creature found in Christmas Island. There are evil-looking moray eels gaping from corral crevices, parrot fish and somewhere beyond the reef lurk an alarmingly healthy population of hammerheads and tiger sharks. There are many reefs here that are homes to a myriad of sea creatures. You will get to see dolphins and a variety of tropical fishes which are really colourful.

There are whale sharks to see in the depths of the island shore in their natural habitat. When you are done with the marine life, then you may experience bird watching. The island is home to a wide species of birds, any bird lover will surely appreciate Christmas Island. There are lots of colourful birds here, ranging from very small to larger birds like the eagle.

Another thing that makes Christmas Island a popular place to stay is the Red Crab festival, which is an event a lot of visitors await for. Christmas Island would not be the same without the yearly mass migration of the red crabs to the sea where they will breed and spawn. The best month to experience this is after the beginning of the wet season. This is truly a sight to behold as this island is invaded by these tiny red creatures. People will witness how the white sandy beach on the island becomes swarming with red crawling sea creatures.

The Flying Fish Cove is another attraction on the Island. You can reach this cove via yacht. Once there, there are a lot of things to keep you busy and a number of places to explore. Here, you might be lucky enough to see a giant manta ray. For starters, there are recreational activities such as swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoing, and other water sports. If you are not into these activities, you can just romanticize the place by strolling along the cove by foot.

Author: Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing online travel websites for booking holiday homes. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Holiday Villas.

Direct Holiday Bookings also has a great selection of Holiday Cottages and self catering holiday apartments that can be rented as holiday homes all over the world.

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