Travel Destinations around the world
	Travel! Sydney etc · other countries Click on the cablecar to book your worldwide tours and adventures online at AbFab Australia. Book, pay, print Voucher, all in a few minutes! Be prepared for your trip before you leave home ... what could be easier? Here is a new list of locations. This is by no means a complete list of anything, just a few places I have been to or heard about, or websites I thought might be of interest. Remember - this is not a commercial site - just some links of interest. Email me if you have a question or would like to tell me about a site. (Each site should open in a new window - if you get an error message, click OK and press Return again to launch the URL in the new window.) Armchair travellers enjoy ... Teena! Click on the icon to download the document, AbFabTravelList.pdf, 2 pages of info on "what to take" on a tropical holiday. (P.S. It also has great suggestions for all other kinds of trips!) To return to the other travel page, click here. Travel Spots Listed by Country A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Click on a letter above to jump to a country - this is a living growing page, so all suggestions/additions/changes greatly appreciated. Search the site by typing a word in the box below. To search for a phrase, type inverted commas around it, like "Byron Bay" Worried about political unrest and your safety whilst travelling? Check out the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs website for up-to-the-minute info. Women Travellers - don't forget to go to JourneyWoman.com for all your travelling questions! Qantas info on Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - Economy Class Syndrome in air travel Worldwide Hotel Guide Australian backpacker website - lists all of the backpackers' hostels in Australia, including the YHA ones. The search facility makes it easy to find hostels anywhere. iExplore's Trip Finder iExplore and National Geographic team up to help you create your dream adventure - from bicycling to birding, culinary trips to ecotours -- and then promises you won't find a better deal anywhere. The coolest feature is a Trip Search tool that asks you not only your destination, but also the price range, physical and mental difficulty level and consumer satisfaction ratings you seek. There's also NG's famously beautiful photos and features on expeditions, plus experts' advice and readers' top picks. Register for a free iExplore membership to get 10% to 50% discounts, news on great travel deals, one-of-a-kind trips, a personalized travel file and chats with "the world's most accomplished explorers." and: Travel Dish "This site is definitely deep-dish travel. Welcoming you to "enter the global playpen", it offers reviews of destinations, tips, travel columns, links and reservations all designed for the traveler who wants to fully immerse him/herself in foreign places, and not just watch from the bus. Special sections tell it all: Get Physical with martial arts, Get Deep with spiritual retreats, Get Gorgeous at stimulating spas for the mind and body, Get Down with hedonistic adventures, or Get Smart with cultural study. Flying Solo features choices for adventurers who like to go it alone." and also: Best Rated Travel "Making travel plans? Best Rated Travel grades travel sites on functionality, content, entertainment value and usability." (these tips from Charles Kessler - Cool Tricks & Trinkets Newsletter) Top A Africa Top Australia Click on the Bridge to book your Australian tours and adventures online at AbFab Australia. Book, pay, print Voucher, all in a few minutes! Be prepared for your trip before you leave home ... what could be easier? LonelyPlanet Australia purchase from Amazon.com Guess What? Australia is an island, and we have to be very careful not to let illegal products into the country. That great wooden mask you bought in Bali? Could carry a bug or insect which could wipe out our forests. That fresh fruit in your bag from the airplane? Could wipe out our citrus trees, nationwide. I know it's hard to understand why you shouldn't bring in one itty bitty little thing, but please read these articles before you act foolishly, and this applies equally to Aussies coming home or tourists coming to visit. Let's keep Australia beautiful for all generations in the future! Thanks ... Australian Quarantine Restrictions American Quarantine Restrictions British Quarantine Restrictions New Zealand Quarantine Restrictions Melbourne July 2001 - I have just spent a delightful winter weekend in Melbourne, and one treasure I came across is in the Mount Dandenong area. Lemon Grove Café 17 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Ferney Creek Vic 3786 tel: 03- 9755-2808 If you're driving up to the mountains for the day, do drop in to Judy and Ray Stolz' Lemon Grove Café, preferably on Sunday afternoons when Ray plays piano (beside the cozy fire in winter) - his repertoire includes some great old show tunes. Being a man of many talents, Ray's oil paintings are displayed on the walls and are for sale. Enjoy Devonshire Tea (with 3 scones, jam and fresh cream, plus a pot of tea, a coffee or hot chocolate (all for $A9 in 7/2001) - delish! The ambiance is wonderful, the decor charming, with stained glass windows and olde worlde charm. A family run business, ask for Judy and tell her Teena sent you - we spent a wonderful afternoon in fabulous surroundings, cozy and warm on a wintry day. Visit the 12 Apostles, or join a tour to experience one of the many amazing adventures in Melbourne (or anywhere else in Australia). Book online, download the Voucher - what could be easier? Click on the picture at left to book. Art Enthusiasts - join a fabulous tour of Melbourne CBD (central business district) and surrounding countryside while visiting artists, artisans and craftspeople at work in their own Studios. Tours start from $A45 (in June 2002), from coffee tours to wine & dine tours. Contact Kim and Marie at Creatours in Melbourne. Read about Australia's first "mobile home" built by Pop Kaesler in 1931. (picture at left) (Price correct in Jan 2001) Micalini's Café is nestled in a little oasis of green trees, just off Military Road, between Neutral Bay and Mosman (number 7/ 332). As at Aug 2001, Mike and Mike are the owners in this family-run business (Mum in the kitchen, sister Linder serving), and their warm friendliness brings customers back time and time again. Sit inside the groovy Café or under an umbrella outside, savour their great Italian Scrambled Eggs for brekkie on the weekend, complemented by fab lattes and other coffees. Within walking distance of the famous art deco Cremorne Orpheum Cinema. Both highly recommended by me! Kirribilli Wharf Café is one of my all-time favourites. Jump on the Neutral Bay ferry at Circular Quay (pron. "Key") - it's the very first stop across the harbour. The Café has been run by Shane and Kym for 15 years, and they are a great couple with lots of info about the area. The food and coffee is excellent, with a view to die for, at a small price. Ferries come every 20 minutes (approx) and do a loop before returning to Kirribilli as their last stop before returning to Circular Quay. Stay onboard to see the Submarine Station, Kirribilli House where the Prime Minister lives, and a gorgeous inlet with yachts bobbing on the gentle waves. Riverwood Downs Resort, south of Sydney, dog kennels $15/day - allowed to roam free in forest (Oct 2001) All areas - cottages, B&B, hotels - free call Australia 1800-222-747 (international +61-800-222-747) Balmoral Beach - B&B Berringer Lake, NSW Bondi Byron Bay - Azabu - a little slice of heaven Hamilton Island: - Self-contained house Lord Howe Island Manly Noosa: - noosaresort.com.au - Noosa Heads - The Beach House, absolute beach front - Tali absolute beach front homes Sydney - check out sydneyis.com.au Whitsunday Hotel/Motel, $A42 per night, single $A28, Kathryn 07-4957-2811 (international +61-7-4957-2811) Informaton about a small, vibrant community in southern Tasmania - Franklin Great info about Australian beaches Want to check out some historical pioneering travel ideas? Sydney Accommodation Lonely Planet's Destination Sydney World Executive - Sydney Hotels HotelGuide - Sydney Sydney Hotels Travelling Australia on the Internet Travel Section of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper (SMH) Check out AUSPASS - coupons for travel & accommodation Travel.com.au Trailfinders Travel Experts Pacific and International Travel Company Webjet - bargain flights! Airlines: Virgin Blue Airlines Qantas Surfing: - Freeline Indonesian Surf Adventures - Surf Travel - World Surfaris - Atoll Adventures Snow Skiing - contact Steve Walsh at www.surefoot.com Great news, woof! Doggie friendly hotel in Sydney: Medusa tel: 02-9331-1000 (int'l +61-2-9331-1000) 267 Darlinghurst Rd, Woollahra "Dogue" shop, where else would you go to buy doggy furniture and clothing, luxury items to pamper your pooch? Edgecliffe Rd, Woollahra 938-9969 Top B Bali for more details on Bali maps, please go to http://www.baliguide.com http://bali-islandhotels.net/ - website with tons of info on Bali hotels, restaurants, etc "Kubuku", near Monkey Forest, Ubud (had a great write-up in a magazine - well worth a visit) Ubud is the artists' mecca of Bali, in the mountains Rooms $A25 - $A45 per night, transport to/from airport extra (prices as at 1997) tel: +0361-974-742 - fax: +0361-975-120 Bali Tourism info can be found on this website - as well as other Indonesian destinations Turta Ayu Homestay is in east Bali near the village of Tirta Gangga. For around 150,000Rp ($A20 at 4/2002) per night, you can stay in an extraordinary part of the island. Call Tirta Ayu Homestay, Tirta Gangga East Bali on +62-363-22-967. other inexpensive accommodation, and food Villa Turta Ayu is owned by Carole Muller, and overlooks the Tirta Gangga water gardens. Approx $A250 per person per night, call Carole direct on +62-363-22-049. Click here to book your Balinese tours, adventures & cooking classes online at AbFab Australia. Book, pay, print Voucher, all in a few minutes! Be prepared for your trip before you leave home ... what could be easier? Currency as at April 2002 - $A1 buys approx 5,000 rupiah (Rp). Fly from Sydney to Denpasar with Qantas or Garuda. Learn a bit of the language before you go! Bahasa Indonesia is the national language of the Republic of Indonesia. BALI, INDONESIA, "Taman Rahasia" The Secret Garden Guesthouses & Spa. Explore exotic Bali; located 1 kilometer from Ubud, the "Cultural Center" of Bali. Eight beautifully appointed rooms set in lush tropical gardens. Pool, Spa, Jacuzzi & Restaurant. Traditional Balinese Massage. Knowledgeable and friendly staff will cater to your every need. Let us help you plan your Bali adventure. Website:www.balisecretgarden.com E-mail: info@balisecretgarden.com - $US75 per night (June 30, 2002) Ready to retire? Seniors Welcome in Bali - read all about this here. Books to read: World Food : Indonesia (Lonely Planet) purchase at Amazon for $US11, or for $A19.80 Bali & Lombok (Lonely Planet) purchase at Amazon for $US12.50, or for $A28.60 Diving & Snorkelling : Bali & Lombok (Lonely Planet) purchase at Amazon for $US11.90, or for $A25.30) Top C Canada Ski Canada JourneyWoman.com for all your travelling questions China Click here to book your tours online. So easy! Print the receipt/Voucher to take with you. What could be simpler? Top D Dominican Republic contributed by Karen Zabawa, photojournalist, Canada, 2002 It's not surprising to be seduced by the Dominican Republic's crystalline warm-water ocean edged with beaches of baking sand, where marshmallow clouds go bouncing off mountain tops, and the requisite palms sway in the breeze. What's surprising is how rapidly that seduction occurs, and how insidious its effect. If the ultimate test of a holiday destination is a place where you want to come back to, then this Caribbean country gets full marks. Timing can be everything when it comes to travel. If you've just missed Carnaval, or find a hurricane whipping up the surf and closing the airports, well, let's say that your holiday may be less than ideal. Carnaval is in late February; on the north coast, Cabarete's windsurfing is great all year round but spectacular in June; and whale watching is the highlight in Samaná from mid-January to mid-March, when about 80 percent of the North Atlantic humpback whale population -- some 10,000 of them -- comes to breed in Bahia de Samaná on the east coast. Atlantic hurricane season is June-November, though residents of the DR north coast claim the mountains usually deflect the full fury of the storms. The temperature at sea level is tropical year round, with the rainy season in the north (Puerto Plata) running from October through May; the southern coast (La Romana, Santo Domingo) is the opposite -- rainy from May through October. The Dominican Republic occupies two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, lying just east of Cuba, the largest Caribbean island; Haiti occupies the other third. Columbus named Hispaniola, where he ran the Santa Maria onto a reef near Cap-Haitien in Haiti, on the northern (Atlantic) coast, on Christmas, 1492. For souvenirs, look for paintings, carvings, Dominican cigars and rum, rum, rum. Barbancourt, from Haiti, is reportedly the world's finest. Bring a good supply of sunscreen from home - local outlets charge around $US20 US for a small bottle. There are lots of internet cafées and Codatel (telephone) offices for those who just have to stay in touch. Lonely Planet Dominican Republic and Haiti guidebook www.lonelyplanet.com Dominican Republic tourism www.dominicanrepublic.com Turinter SA (organized DR tours or private hire with driver/translator) www.turinter.com Samaná information www.samana.net Top E England Top F France 6 Cottages French Alps Provence and Dordogne Cottages Provence French Riviera An Australian couple has a charming restored barn in France which is rented out most of the year - called La Vieille Grange ("The Old Barn"), it appears on the front of the 2002 Stephanie Alexander's "Cooking and Travelling in South-West France". Located in the Dordogne region of France, this is a beautiful place to become immersed in all things French. All questions to Margaret McPhee and Derek Barton in Sydney on +61-2-9660-8461 or visit the website. Price in high season Aug 2002 is $A1350/week. How about visiting the quintessential chateau, a moat with drawbridge, a forest ... how romantic! Chateau de Chantilly is a good side trip out of Paris, consisting of two buildings (one built around 1460). If you'd like to sleep over, check out Chateau Hotel Mont Royal for an upmarket resting place at chateaudechantilly.com (approx $A340/night 5/2002) Skiing Lodge in French Alps - Gite de Vulmix A lovely lodge run by an Australian woman and her French husband, Didier Camelin. Ensuite bathrooms, hot water, fluffy towels, telephone. Delicious meals cooked by Didier. Knowledge of the mountains readily shared by the hosts. Location: Gite de Vulmia, Vulmix 73700, Bourg Saint Marie, France Cost: B&B 32 euros / $A58 (as at Oct 2002) Tel: +33-4790-67250 Romantic Cevennes, 80km nth of Montpellier on the Mediterranean A beautiful isolated location in the mountains, definitely off the beaten track. Don't look for any large tourist hotels here, instead stay in gites (small properties rented out by locals, part of their home or barn, fully equipped). Other accomm is in auberges (houses converted into small boutique hotels with few rooms, fully equipped). Spectacular scenery and plenty to do for the outdoorsy types. When to go: French spring and autumn, summer (Aug) is a bit hot. Info: Florac Tourist Office, open from April to Sept, some English info on the website. Tel: +33-466-450114 Top G Top H Hawaii, see USA Top I INDIA Auroville - home of 1500 largely Western inhabitants, this community began in 1968 and is where a respect for nature lives alongside eco-friendly technology; buildings are as diverse as cone homes, mushroom mansion, tree chalets and a golfball like meditation centre. IRELAND Kilvahan Horse-Drawn Caravans ITALY Australians book wonderful accommodation in Italy through TT Tuscan Holidays (call Sydney +61-2-9331-1496). Looking for a villa or house? How about an apartment in the heart of Florence (Firenze), looking out over the Piazza Signoria? Or a beautiful apartment in Lazio province? Cristina Pignataro is a Journeywoman living in Roma, Italy, and has this charming pensione ... for current prices and more info, email Cristina or visit her website. Italy's Amalfi coast is beautiful, rocky, cliffs abound, colourful hotels carved into the cliff faces - truly spectacular. Check out Ravello which has several inns and much cheaper than the more well-known hotels. For more info go to amalfi.it Top J Japan Tokyo To buy traditional paper (Washi) products, go to Asakusa in downtown Tokyo. In Asakusa you might also like to visit the very old and famous Sensouji Temple, and on the way there you will come across a famous street called Nakamise-doori where you will find many shops selling Japanese traditional pottery and paper (washi) products. As for Washi (Japanese paper), there is a famous shop called Isetatsu on the Nakamise-doori street. Tip: Tokyo is very hot in February, so take eye cream to reduce puffiness. Anca T. of Melb, Feb 2001 Top K Top L Top M Mauritius http://www.mauritius.net Foreigners getting married in Mauritius In May 2001, I spent two glorious weeks in Mauritius, and I'll be honest, I didn't really know where it was until my friends moved there! It sounded like such an exotic location, an island off the coast of Madagascar which also conjures up images of market places filled with people in Lawrence-of-Arabia style flowing clothes, aromas of spice-filled baskets, etc ... (Madagascar is off the south east coast of Africa, and Mauritius is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn.) On my arrival at the island at midnight, I was bombarded by the absolute weight of humidity and the intense heat. I took a taxi to my friends' place, a half hour drive away (at Curepipe in the centre of the island), and I was so excited but could hardly see anything in the darkness of the night. I thought I'd be too excited to sleep, but a seven and a half hour flight from Sydney to Singapore with a 6 hour lay over on a boiling hot day, then another 7 hour flight, tired me out totally. When I woke up the next morning and looked at the view from our balcony, I could see the ocean and couldn't wait to go explore! I was so lucky to have friends living in this amazing place, and each day we drove to another part of the island to explore the sights, coloured sands, stunning tropical beaches and azure blue waters (see photo above). The inhabitants of the island are Mauritians mostly descended from China, Africa, India and France speaking dialects with French flavours and a combination of other languages (read more here). My rusty French helped me to understand most conversations (after I started remembering it). The culture is totally fascinating and we explored markets in different parts of the island; sometimes I felt so immersed in each separate culture as I explored, one minute in a Chinatown area, the next in an Indian area, always fascinating no matter where we were! One day we scoured the markets and shops looking for saris, gorgeous silk wrap around clothing worn by Indian women, and I had lessons in fabric, colour and style - I was in heaven! And yes, I bought quite a few, which turned out to be a bargain with my $Aussie. Top N New Zealand Feb 2002 - Here is a Backpacker Travel site that has just launched (www.destinationdownunder.com). With New Zealand's largest online selection of Backpacker accommodation, as well as a host of other information online, also check out their other sites: jasons new zealand travel channel www.jasons.co.nz jasons australia travel channel www.jasons.com.au jasons south pacific islands travel channel www.pi-travel.com Top O Top P Portugal Algarve, Portugal The best time to go is any time except summer, unless you really like crowds and bumper to bumper traffic that can turn a quick trip to the grocery store into a full-day excursion. From Faro, daily tour buses head out to a number of destinations, like Lisbon or Seville (both about 42 euros and both about 3 hour�s drive each way) and Gibraltar (about 52 euros and 4-5 hours each way). Many roads are cobbled and narrow with steep inclines, traffic circles are inconsistently signed, and local drivers often exceed the freeway's posted 120 kph limit, all of which makes for some interesting drives. Be sure to keep a copy of your car rental agreement with you because police do make random checks. If you want to take the car into Spain, you'll need extra insurance, but the freeway into Seville and beyond is new and a fairly easy drive. With the EU there is no border stop, but if you go to Gibraltar, you'll need your passport. Plan to spend a day at the Monchique Spa/Termas de Monchique for water treatments and therapy, lovely pools, mud packs, massages and saunas. It's a pretty spot in the mountains about 18 kms north of Portimáo, and on the busline. There's a hotel on site if you want to stay awhile. http://www.monchiquetermas.com Check the distance from your accommodations to the beach, especially in the Albufeira area. Many hotels are advertised as being within a kilometer of the beach, and they are, but what they may not say is that you have to cross a busy road, then take a long hike down a cliff path or stairs. For a wonderful yet inexpensive day trip, pack a picnic and join the locals on the 40 minute ferry ride to the islands of Farol and Culatra, large sand banks that lie to the south. The ferries run from Faro in the summer and year round from Olháo (Ol-Yow), and cost about two euros per person round trip. You can cross the islands on the walkways, then walk along the beach from one island to qthe other, about 5 kms. There are a few restaurants and corner stores, and a 900-metre pier to a lighthouse. For accommodations, tours and more, go to http://valegrifo.com/index.htm or Portugal Tourism at http://www.portugalinsite.pt Looking for somewhere less touristy? Try Salema, 25km west of Lagos and down near the south-western tip of Portugal. With a handful of simple hotels and villas, you can even rent a room in a private home for abou $A30 a night. Check it out at algarvenet.com Top Q-R Top S Top T Thailand 3 day Barge Holiday In Australia, call 1-300-360-667. As at Nov 2000, a 3 day barge tour with Intrepid Travel costs from $A290 per day, all meals included. Bargain! Travel Informationa and Online Reservation Service in Thailand http://www.thailandhotels.net This website offers hotels guide and online reservations to Thailand and other main cities like Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Hua Hin, etc. Find out all you need to know about room rates, travel guides, hotel facilities, restaurants and bars. Make your online booking now! Tasmania (see A for Australia) Top Worldwide Hotel Guide Australian backpacker website - lists all of the backpackers hostels in Australia, including the YHA ones. The search facility makes it easy to find hostels anywhere. UNITED KINGDOM Wales - see W USA Click here to book all your U.S. tours and adventures online at AbFab Australia. Book, pay, print Voucher, all in a few minutes! Be prepared for your trip before you leave home ... what could be easier? Hawaii In January 2000 I stayed at a budget motel, one street from the famous Waikiki Beach, at the Malahini Hotel. Run by a lovely lady named Frances, you can rent self-contained studios and 1- and 2-bed rooms in comfy basic style, kitchenettes and ceiling fans, from $US50 per night (no credit cards accepted). There are 30 units, some with aircon, in the best location at an excellent price. Located at 217 Saratoga Rd, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815, telephone (808) 923-9644 and 923-3095. (just down from the Post Office) Check out http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/ where you can see NY with the help of Volunteers - a great idea! Yosemite National Park JourneyWoman.com for all your travelling questions DISCOUNT HOTEL RESERVATIONS (up to 65% off) A1 discount hotels offers fast online reservations for 40 cities in the U.S, Canada and Europe. It is quick, convenient, and easy. Book online or call our operators at +1-888-511-5743. Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Online "The cheapest places on earth, the world's best and worst budget hotel chains, even a Civil-War themed 600-mile budget auto tour --- no one has been getting there cheaper, longer, than Arthur Frommer. Today's tips include how to e-mail while on the road, citing cybercafé outlays at $US4 for 50 minutes in London and $US1 per 15 minutes in Kusadasi, Turkey. You can Ask Arthur specific questions here, as well as search destinations, deals and vacation ideas. His Special Traveler section is truly exhaustive, with targeted tips for such diverse traveling-types as the bereaved heading back East for a sudden funeral, to intellectuals seeking a bargain destination to study Dante and Homer." (from Charles Kessler) Green Tortoise Bus - from southern California to New York to Alaska, this famous bus company has been in operation for years offering budget travel in unusual buses peppered with all kinds of people, from the eccentric to the staid ... do yourself a favour, use Green Tortoise just once in your life! I am speaking from experience, I did a trip from L.A. to Alaska in the 1980's, 3 months, and lived to tell the tale! San Francisco, California For info on my trip to San Francisco with helpful links, click here. "We're Not Your Typical Cybercafe" (this info was read in the iMac Update Oct 2001) Andy Harris is founder, proprietor, and "scanner safety monitor" at the Red Roaster Room Internet Cafe in San Francisco. At the Red Roaster you can partake of your usual latte or mocha or cappuccino while opening your email - $US2 puts you in front of an AirPort-equipped iMac with unlimited Internet access. Many days at the Cybercafe see up and coming filmmakers open Final Cut Pro software and walk out with CDs of their new film clips. Freelance web designers can post their work on the web for their clients, and digital artists can mix music and make multimedia available on their websites. More: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/articles/2001/09/cybercafe/ To subscribe to Apple eNews, go to http://www.apple.com/enews/subscribe/ New Orleans Cooking Classes $US25 (March 02) click here Self contained rooms with balcony, kitchen at Ruffino's Guest House, 631 Phillip St in the French Quarter. Prices from $US50 per night low season. Email here or go to website. North Carolina, Outer Banks by Karen Zabawa, Travel Writer in Canada, April 2002 Basically just a giant sand bar, the Outer Banks are a 160-km long chain of barrier islands lying off the North Carolina coast. The easiest way to get around is by car. The main highway runs south from Kitty Hawk to Hatteras, with its famous lighthouse, where you can take the 45-minute free ferry ride to Ocracoke Island, the long-ago haunt of Blackbeard and his pirates. Canadian Hole near Avon is one of the continent's top windsurfing spots. Here, as in a number of places on the Outer Banks, a few minutes' walk takes you from the Atlantic rollers across the road to the shallower Sound side with its magnificent sunsets. March to June, and late August to December are the best times to visit, when the accommodation rates drop dramatically and the summer crowds are gone. Outer Banks style is laid-back, casual and very friendly. In Duck, when I stopped at the posh Sanderling Inn and Spa to ask for directions to the nearby Audubon trail, the staff never batted an eye at my decidedly unlovely wet and windblown backpacking self, but cheerfully gave me a cup of coffee and pointed the way. Fast food chains are few and far between, and no boardwalk will ever blot its shores. Look for local specialties like crab cakes (ask for grilled), grits (sort of like hot Cream of Wheat cereal, quite tasty dotted with butter, and salt and pepper) and hushpuppies (sweet and cinnamon-y deep fried fritters) at family-owned restaurants like these: Sam and Omie's where once the fishermen stopped for breakfast before heading out to sea for the day, is a great place for breakfast, complete with grits. Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe overlooks the water just off the Manteo Causeway -- lots of fresh fish, jumbo shrimp, crab cakes, and hot crab dip, washed down with locally-made Weeping Radish beer. Owen's Restaurant in Nags Head is more fine dining but still homey and friendly. The duck confit and the bouillabaisse are excellent. What to See Though you can easily drive through the Outer Banks in a day, it takes at least a week to see and do everything -- surfing, parasailing, exploring shops and attractions, like the granite monument atop Kill Devil Hill in Kitty Hawk that marks the spot where the Wright brothers first took flight; a celebration to mark the centennial is planned for December, 2003. At Jockeys Ridge State Park, you can climb a 400m-high sand dune that's right out of Lawrence of Arabia, or learn to hang glide. Check these two sites for great links to everything in the Outer Banks: Dare County Visitors Bureau http://www.outerbanks.org - (USA) 800-446-6262 Insiders Guide North Carolina's Outer Banks http://www.insiders.com/outerbanks/index.htm UZBEKISTAN Latest info on everything Uzbekistani First internet cafe in Uzbekistan. Top V Top W Wales Conwy - The Smallest House in Great Britain, 183cm wide and 310cm high!!! In 1900 the house was declared "too small for human habitation". http://www.northwalesinfo.co.uk/tourism.htm Top X Top Y Top Z Top