"Schools of fish and soft coral" Georgeescape's photos around Coral Bay, Australia (travel pics)

Preview of Georgeescape's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Coral Bay, Australia Entry Title: "Schools of fish and soft coral" Entry: "Day 79 to 81 -- September 5 to 7 Written by Stephen Coral Bay Day - 1 Up early yet again and off into Exmouth for a quick refuel and a little bit of food. Some people finally remembered it was Father's Day and I got a really great emu card and a block of white chocolate (all was forgiven). Suz Comment: Hard to remember what day it is when you are on the road. Headed south into Coral Bay with every intention of just spending a few hours there and then continuing on. However, when we arrived and saw what a beautiful beach it was and the weather was sunny, and importantly no wind, we arranged a night in one of the caravan parks. As it was fellow travellers the Freemans (who we had just spent three days in Cape Range with) also arrived and were about 6 campsites away from us so the kids were happy. We headed straight down to the beach and had a quick snorkel, not that good here as the coral is a bit bleached but huge snapper cruising the drop off past the sand bar -- they were amazing (more about them later). Someone on the beach advised that the snorkelling was better around the point in the next bay called Paradise Beach so we headed around there. On the way we ran into Gary & Steffi and also Pip, who we had ...

"Port Vila and Fatumara" Swatral's photos around Port Vila, Vanuatu (bon marche no 2 port vila)

Preview of Swatral's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Port Vila, Vanuatu Entry Title: "Port Vila and Fatumara" Entry: "After Eratap we went down market and stayed at Fatumara. It was certainly down market and very tired. Nice location and close to town but it was a bit dingy and run like faulty towers. I swear the whole place was kept together by a rubber band, paper clip and piece of chewing gum! We stayed in the 2 bedroom back units and on our last night moved to the front studio unit which was much nicer. The back units are also very noisy from road traffic and the resident rat did not help things. If I went back I would stay at Paradise Cover and/or Hideaway Island. Port Vila istelf is a great town and the Vanuatu people are fantastic. Best exchange rate was by far at Goodies - Sydney airport offered 70 cents for a 100 vat. At Goodies we got between 82 and 84 for our dollar. What an Australian rip off. Bon Marche numbertwo (cannot remember the right spelling) was definitely the best place to shop - but don't miss out on the great fresh fruit and vegetables at the market - heaps cheaper and better quality then any of the supermarkets. Also lots more fun. I loved the supermarkets with all the French products - but for saving look for the locally produced products - much cheaper and just as good to any of the French, Australian and NZ ...

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Pound 4 Pound DVD Presents: LOX- "Fuck You" Live at BBKings

Pound 4 Pound brings you Yonkers Own LOX Performing The Single "Fuck You" at BBKings for Styles-P's Album Release Party. Album Now In Stores titled "Master Of Ceremonies" which is in stores and on Itunes Now!!! Support Real Hip-Hop

Review of Kauai, Hawaii - Visiting the Lush Green Island With Kids

First Impression:
Arrival to Kauai (and Maui 2 years ago) was similar. The open design airport greeted me with only air-conditioning being the trade winds. This openness and fragrant air have brought the Maui memories back, and I knew that I was in Polynesia. We proceeded to the rental car, and found our hotel. It was already dark and opening the room window was scary - I could hear the roaring ocean but I could not see how far it is. I realized at that moment how remote we are, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Kauai climate:
Warm year-round with rainier period signifying the winter. The winter is generally Nov - April, and summer May - October. The temperatures are balmy, often not exceeding 90 F. Trade winds are enough to cool you down; hotels provide air-conditioning for those who like it really cold. There are many micro-climates from the wettest spot on earth being the top of a Kauai mountain with over 400 inches of rain per year, to a much more arid south and west parts. It can rain at any time and showers are quite enjoyable and warm. They tend to pass quickly in the summer months. Rainbows are common. Kauai rarely suffers a hurricane. Since Kauai is closer to northern storms, the winter surf is exceptionally high making it a surfer's paradise. Winter months are not good choice to visit northern beaches that could be closed due to safety issues. If visiting in winter, you should choose south shore that has calm water during this time. During summer, the northern part is pure paradise while the surf is higher on the south side of the island because the waves are the after-effect of the southern hurricanes.

Geography and waterfalls:
Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands and its crater is a rainy meadow only accessible via a helicopter. The plentiful rain has carved the most impressive mountain range with very sharp peaks that are green with tropical vegetation. While the waterfalls are plentiful, they are often difficult to access, and the easiest way to see waterfalls is a helicopter tour - which we didn't do due to the cost. There are some smaller waterfalls that are easy to access, but almost all large ones require a very difficult hike.

Kauai beaches:
While Kauai names their beaches, I will have to argue this is just for the sake of being able to give directions to a particular stretch of sand. Kauai is all beaches on most sides of the island. They stretch for miles with Polihale being over 15 miles long. Sometimes beaches have different names but they are all on the same magnificently long stretch of gold sand... the testament of the ocean power. The Kauai beaches can be particularly dangerous with undertow currents, strong shore brakes, lack of beach guard etc. My disappointment was that although being magnificent, I was partly afraid to test these waters myself. After you talk with some local people you understand their respect of the ocean. If in doubt, don't swim! All Hawaiian waters contain sharks but the shark attacks are rare. In these pristine waters, you are much more likely to drawn than be attacked by a shark. The old Hawaiian saying is: "Never turn your back to the ocean." A rogue wave can form unexpectedly and pull you in. To be more relaxed select a beach that is protected by a reef such as: Ke'e, Tunnels, Lydgate, Poipu. The reef calms the ocean and also provides for colorful fish all around you; so don't forget a snorkeling gear. If you do, you can rent it in Kauai.

Kauai wildlife:
Hawaiian sea-monk frequently rests on Kauai beaches. I didn't get lucky to see one, but if you do, you are not to disturb them. Sea turtles are everywhere and can be seen while snorkeling or simply viewing the ocean. They like rocks and there are many on the south side. I was lucky to see a smaller turtle while snorkeling on the east coast in the Lydgate beach pool. Whale watching is popular during the winter months. There were no whales there in June as they travel each summer to their feeding grounds in Alaska. Kauai doesn't have any life-threatening animals such as poisonous spiders, snakes etc. The only dangerous animal is wild boar that lives in wilderness and is possible to meet if you choose some off the beaten path hikes. Ocean wildlife is magnificent - plenty of colorful fishes - I saw groups of thousands congregating and loved to swim into them as they would run away from me in all directions and re-assemble again.

What to do in Kauai:
This island is a nature-lovers paradise. You can swim, snorkel, scuba, fish, camp, hike, paddle, bike, sunbathe... anything that has to do with enjoying nature. This island has a ruling that the highest building cannot be taller than the tallest palm (this means max of 2-3 stories high). This keeps the development out of Kauai. The resorts have a hard time capitalizing building on expensive land if all they are allowed to do is 2 stories. This keeps the island very relaxed, low-key, with a lot of local flair. In comparison, Maui has too many resorts, many blocking the view of the coast and beaches. I side with Kauai on this one - why build a solitaire on a small tropical island - it is out of scale, disrespectful of it surroundings.

What not to do in Kauai:
There are hardly any places to go out in Kauai. Many say this is the place for retirees. Not much to do after sunset except dining at the restaurant. This is also not a place to go shopping as many stores operate on island hours - whenever! If you are not into nature, scenery and relaxing, this is not your island. Maui has a lot more of night entertainment and shopping, so if you have to have those things pick Maui.

My favorite 3 things in Kauai:
• Visit Koke State park and hike from the end of the road to see Kalalau Valley
• Spend some serious time in the surf town Hanalei and enjoy Hanalei Bay, voted the best beach in America!
• Visit backcountry and enjoy the scenery - Hollywood filmed close to 100 movies in Kauai with a good reason - scenery is magnificent! Movies filmed here are Jurassic Park, King-Kong, 7 nights-6 days, South Pacific, Indiana Jones, etc.

My favorite 3 things in Maui:

• Drive to the northeastern part of the island known as "Road to Hana". This is a very exciting, waterfall-ridden part of the island, and hike to a big waterfall.
• Spend some time on Kaanapali beach - the resort area that is manicured to perfection.
• Watch the sunsets that are plentiful as most development is on south and western parts of the island - perfect for sunsets!

Kauai people:

Kauai has very nice, most hospitable people I have ever met. There is a significant amount of homeless, and they are tolerated, even helped by locals. Kauai people are kind, calm and welcoming. Crime is almost non-existent. The only problems if occur are by the visitors to the island - some who come for construction work tend to drink on the beaches and harass tourists a bit. You will quickly know who is who. There is nothing to be afraid of. There is no animosity against tourist such as the case is in Maui.

Kauai uniqueness:

Here, you can drive all the way to the beach, make a campfire on the beach, camp on the beach... Kauai is uniquely free! The whole time no one ever warns you about anything - it seems like everything is allowed.

Hawaiian shave ice is a desert of ice covered with the sugary syrup in 30+ flavors to choose from. The little Hawaiian shave ice stands are everywhere and the cool treat is addictive to all generations. It practically costs nothing to make but they charge between $2.50 - 5.00 per cup, and people just love it. Young and old- everyone wants Hawaiian shave ice.

Chickens in Kauai are free. In fact, this is the world's largest free-range chicken coupe. I hear the chickens are fair game and pretty tasty. I met a boy who has a pet Chicken Joe. The roosters are annoying and can wake you up at any time.

In conclusion, Kauai is a beautiful corner of the world and part of United States. The only way to understand Polynesia is to pay a visit. Besides being so relaxing, it is also a patriotic thing to do, as Hawaii is now available at great discounts. In Kauai, you will forget about your problems, and the memories will be priceless.

Scuba Diving Naked!

Well I can’t honestly say that I have scuba dived naked, that is with no clothes on, the closest that I have come was accidentally flashing my girlfriend when I was avoiding a embarrassing moment in my wet suit on a particularly long dive in Hawaii; you see I had custom wetsuit that had a zipper installed that I told everyone was so that I could control the temperature by venting the suit at the junction of my legs, which everyone knows that has taken a cold weather survival class is the hottest area on your body. By the way it is a myth that you can warm up your wetsuit that way, all it does is make it smell bad and then no one wants to dive with you and all the fish will swim away as well, can you blame them!

I do like the idea of water that is warm enough to dive naked. I remember once being in water that was 25 degrees that would be Celsius roughly 70 degrees on the American scale and I thought that I was going to need to be placed in a microwave for 10 minutes to warm up, to say that I am a wimp when it comes to cold is grossly understated, I even drink my water with out ice!

I like the feeling of freedom that you get when you are skinny dipping, just kind of hanging out, if you will, in warm water, is akin to having a giant bathtub that you don’t use soap in, if you are the environmentally sensitive type, which most skinny dippers by nature tend to be. Before I do it though I am going to have to some questions answered like.

What about the fish, I wonder are they sensitive to this kind of thing?

Will the fish confuse the new things they are seeing with bait?

Jellyfish?

I am also having a hard time understanding the mechanics of scuba diving naked, where do you put the BCD jacket, do you carry it in your arms, or drag it behind you, you can’t really wear it or you are not technically diving naked right? Maybe they dive Hawaiian kind style with just a tank and a mask, and suck the air out of the top like in the old days?

I don’t remember any of this being answered in any of my dive books. Maybe you can help me out; if you have any pictures, please send them along so I can see and understand for myself what’s involved to make it a pleasurable experience. Thanks in advance for the pictures!

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Guide to Kiddie Scuba Fin Selection

In the age of the Internet, it seems that physical forms of recreation have been moderated by the thrills of a virtual gaming experiencing. Consequently, kids are becoming less attuned to traditional games that enticing them to sporting activities or a few minutes of exercise will prove to be a challenge for most parents. Apparently, the only way to sustain your child's interest towards active recreation is to introduce them to fun, water-bound activities such as scuba diving or snorkeling. Scuba diving is now a favorite theme of many summer camps for kids or you could enroll your 10-year old with a local diving school to get trained for a junior open water certification.

Before getting your kids involved in any water sports, be sure to gear them up properly with the right scuba equipment to optimize comfort and fun. Wetsuits come in child sizes and so do diving masks. Scuba fins are no exception. Fins are the type of scuba gear that kids can't seem to get enough of; so better check out a few considerations outlined below before driving to the nearest scuba equipment shop.

1. 
   Comfort. Kids won't be enticed to love the sport should their scuba fins become a persistent source of discomfort.  Padded and easy to wear - these are major features to consider in the selection of underwater propulsion scuba gear. Moreover, the pair should neither be too loose nor too tight; so as much as possible bring along your child during the purchase and encourage him to select scuba fins that snuggly fit their feet.


2. 
   Durability. These are kids we are talking about. Thus, the subject of durability should form part of your decision. If you are expecting a longer serviceable life from the pair of scuba fins you intend to purchase for your child, make sure you are getting durable ones. The most durable scuba fins on the market are manufactured from rubber, reinforced plastic or a mix of said material components.


3. 
   Efficiency. Select a pair of scuba fins designed to provide excellent thrust and propulsion that won't entail heightened kicking effort from your kids. Indeed, you are enticing your child to be physically active, but then again you wouldn't want to wear them out with too much leg movement.


4. 
   Price. While fine tuned for improved performance, present day scuba fins are surprisingly inexpensive. In fact, you are bound to find a moderately-priced pair of durable and efficient scuba fins if you are diligent enough.

The above tips should help you get started on your purchase. Nonetheless, if you are still undecided, allow us to recommend the Kona Shoe Style Fins from the scuba equipment line of H2Oddyssey.  For starters, the pair comes in kiddie sizes that makes the Kona appropriate for kids and moms with extremely small feet. Outfitted with soft rubber foot pockets and only high grade materials, the scuba fins allow for optimum performance and user comfort; not to mention the advanced engineering methods employed in its manufacture. Furthermore, a pair of Kona Shoe Style Fins [http://www.scubasuppliers.com/site/1408308/product/F17] retails for less than $20; so what more could you or your kids truly ask for in a fin?

Best Snorkeling Mask - It's a Necessity For Snorkeling

Snorkeling is an activity that is best enjoyed and made safer with the right equipment and gear. If you think that masks are solely meant for scuba divers, there are also snorkeling masks meant for snorkelers, too. These masks provide ample protection for your face, nose, and eyes even when exploring shallow waters. They also provide assistance for breathing through your mouth so you won't have to resurface every now and then just to catch some air.

High quality is preferred
But the best snorkeling masks is not just something that you can buy cheaply because you need to make sure that it is made of high quality materials so it won't break easily and it won't come off when you are using it. The right snorkeling mask is something that fits snugly over your eyes and face while keeping the water out. They should also be comfortable to wear over your face. You should still be able to move your head without any restrictions underwater.

Durable but lightweight
The best snorkeling masks is also lightweight but durable, which means that it is not only comfortable but it won't break or warp easily. If you like swimming along strong currents or rough waters, get a snorkeling mask with polycarbonate lens that are stiff and designed to endure high pressures. The lens should also be shatterproof and waterproof to provide more protection for your eyes, nose, and face.

No allergies
The materials that your snorkeling masks is made of should also be non-allergenic. There are times when the rubber on the frame can irritate your skin especially if you wear your snorkeling mask for extended periods. In such cases, the best snorkeling mask for you is something that has a non-allergenic and soft silicone along the frames.

"Day Ten" Nwcreolelady's photos around Akumal, Q Roo, Mexico (coatamundi tracks)

Preview of Nwcreolelady's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: www.travelpod.com This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Akumal, Q Roo, Mexico Entry Title: "Day Ten" Entry: "Today we visited Xel-Ha, an ecological park for both kids and adults alike. We've never felt the desire to visit these places when traveling on our own, but with Sara as our travel companion we thought what better time to do this, plus we wanted to do something special with her. She was so excited because she was going to swim with the dolphins! It was tempting for us to do the same, but maybe next time. As soon as we entered the park we were impressed by the natural beauty of our surroundings and how well everything blended with the outstanding accomodations and ammenties. We put our things in lockers and lathered ourselves in sunscreen (biodegradable, of course!) and got Sara checked in for the dolphin adventure. We then went to a wonderful buffet breakfast - I usually "poo-poo" buffets, but this was wonderful! Now that our bellies were happy, we wandered on and found our way up the river, jumped on some inner tubes (which we later ditched) with our snorkel gear and meandered down the Xel-Ha river into the lagoon. The combination of the waters meeting sometimes creates a murky feeling and is not always easy to see. Still we saw lots of fish and Sara actually saw her first turtle swim right next to her! Lucky girl! We stepped out of ...

Fish Aren't Biting? Try Crabbing Instead!

If the fish aren't biting or you want a change from fishing then why not try crabbing? Crabs are delicious, easy to cook and great fun to catch. Below are 9 crabbing tips to help you catch some delicious crabs.

1) Target areas where crabs are located. Estuaries, rivers, inlets and bays are all prime places to hunt for crabs.

2) Choose which method you are going to employ to catch the crabs. Using drop nets works well but is best from a boat. It can work from a jetty or pier but is less reliable this way. Using scoop nets on the water edge is fun but the crabs you get will often be undersized. Diving for crabs is both fun and exhilarating but requires a bit of skill and patience.

3) As with fishing you need to choose the right time of day to go crabbing. Crabs feed first thing in the morning or in the evening at sunset. Crabbing in the middle of the day is likely to produce no results.

4) Carry the right equipment to catch crabs with. If you are using drop nets you will need long lengths of rope attached to each net. You will also need bait, bait hooks and sinkers attached to the nets. If you are scooping crabs, you need a scoop, a good pair of water shoes, a container with rope attached that can float to place your crabs in and a towel to cover the crabs you have caught. If diving for crabs you will need a wetsuit, snorkel and mask, and a thick glove. With all methods of crabbing you will also need to carry a sizing guide (usually a small metal bar) so you can measure the crabs to ensure legal sizes are taken.

5) Crabs will always try to pinch you so always be on guard. Thick clothing is good but is not always practical. The best way to avoid getting pinched is to stay vigilant. Try to pick crabs up from behind. You can either hold them from behind or hold them just below their pincers (holding from behind is the easiest).

6) On the car trip home, pick up some ice to make an ice slurry. Crabs will keep best in an ice slurry. It is also the preferred ethical way to treat crabs as they go into a paralized numb state from the ice. When cooking remove immediately from the ice slurry and place gently into the boiling water. Make sure the water is boiling rapidly otherwise the crab will take longer to die. Place the crab gently into the water to avoid boiling water splashing up onto your body.

7) If you plan on using drop nets you should always get the best nets you can find. There are basically two sorts. The cheaper versions are made entirely of string netting. The better versions have a chicken wire base. The chicken wire nets are only slightly more expensive but get far less tangles, are a lot easier to use and are more sturdy. Also remember with drop nets to retrieve the rope rapidly. If you go slow the crabs are likely to jump out.

8) If scooping crabs, try to approach with the scoop from the sides. Crabs will often evade you by swimming either to their left or their right. So pick a side and approach with the scoop from there. If you try to scoop from front to back or from back to front they will get away nine times out of ten.

9) If diving from crabs try to approach from behind. If you can, try to surprise them as if you approach from the front you are sure to get pinched!

Crabbing is a great alternative to fishing and is a lot of fun. Crabs also taste great and can be quite a challenge to catch. So why not use these tips and start catching some crabs today?

Get Revved Up In Daytona Beach

You'll be encouraged to start your engines upon arrival in Daytona Beach, but there's much more to do that doesn't involve fast cars or big crowds. There's the beach, of course, but even beyond that are multitudes of opportunities that will keep everyone in your group consistently engaged, amazed and stimulated. This multi-faceted destination is buzzing with activity, so consider a trip to Florida's Central Atlantic coast if it's time for a break from reality.

Begin with a little rest and relaxation in order to properly charge up your probably depleted batteries. Pick a spot along the more than 23 miles of fabulous beach, all of which are free and open to the public every moment of the year, and either settle in for a snooze in the sun, a reading session (you can finally get to that novel that's been gathering dust on your nightstand) or rent the necessary equipment to fully delight in the surf. This could be a jet ski, snorkeling gear, a boogie board or a fishing pole. The region is packed with parks and plenty of room to spread out, so look for your lost sense of fun along Atlantic Avenue or Oceanshore Boulevard - it's there waiting for you.

Brush the sand from toes and try to make yourself put some shoes on as you head back towards civilization. Not that theme parks, golf courses, tennis courts and flea markets are all that fancy or anything, flip flops and shorts should work just fine. Play some games with the kids, hop onto a go-kart, ride a rollercoaster and scream like you wish you could every time your computer crashes. The days during this trip will most certainly be sunny and bright in more ways than one, so take advantage of it and make a list of fun and fabulous places to visit. Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory comes highly recommended, as does Daytona Lagoon and Main Street Pier.

Like all families, everyone in the group has their own distinct interests, and it's okay to split up for a while to pursue them. For example, the Haunts of the World's Most Famous Beach Ghost Tour might be too scary for the little ones, and the Marine Science Center might not float everyone else's boat. Skydiving and sunrise ballooning will be for the adventurers, and the others may be perfectly happy to play beach bingo or stroll down the boardwalk. The point is, just as sure as everyone will scatter to the wind, they'll meet back up again (probably around meal time) to compare stories and celebrate the never ending play land that is Daytona Beach.

Chances are, if you're choosing to visit this particular destination, you have at least an occasional need for speed. That is, you're well aware of the racing influence on the local culture and have made the pilgrimage to the birthplace of all things motorsport to learn more about the hows, whens, wheres and whys of this crowd pleasing tradition. This urge can be satisfied by stopping by International Speedway, and if your thirst continues be sure to visit the Birthplace of Speed Park, the Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum, or the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Fill your entire day with racing; you know you want to, and this is the only place to do it.

The possible itineraries are far from being exhausted. Shopping for antiques, trinkets, bargains or the latest designer fashions could fill a couple days alone. Dining on all the wonderful culinary delights will make you wish you had room to handle at least five meals a day, and the nighttime offerings, from comedy clubs to coffee houses, will keep you revved up long into the evening. Continuing with the theme of accessibility and variety, you'll see that Daytona Beach really does have it all.

One more thing before you start packing your bags; don't forget to choose a Daytona Beach Vacation Rental that will complement the fantastic festivities of this trip. You and your family deserve to be lodged in comfort and style, so check out the amenity-filled condos, houses and ocean front properties in order to discover the one that's just right for you. It's out there waiting, so keep your eyes peeled as you surf online.

Your upcoming vacation should be restful yet exciting, supercharged yet laid-back. Daytona Beach has a way of encompassing all of these things, so consider crossing its finish line before too long.

The Lox performing 'Fuck You"

The Lox performing at BB Kings