Winter Vacation Information

Ski destination Vail Resorts, in the Rocky Mountains, has an all inclusive guided trip for summer-time, called “Epic Summer: A Colorado Family Adventure.” For four or seven days, guests … Read Full Post

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It may seem odd to suggest that people already in Hawaii leave the beautiful islands, but anyone who’s tried going shopping in Hawaii quickly learns that it requires more money than you might be comfortable parting with. The logical solution, then, is to take a trip to the mainland with an empty suitcase and come back with all kinds of goodies. As fate would have it, you can get cheap flights to Portland from Hawaii – and since Oregon has no sales tax, it’s the ideal place to come for a shopping visit. Portland has a great mix of shops to choose from, too, including big national brands that you’ll find pretty much anywhere in the country (but typically with lower prices) and small local boutiques that you won’t find anywhere else. The quirky style of some of those great shops bleeds over into accommodation in the city, too, and even some of the best places to stay also fall into the category of cheap hotels in Portland . I won’t try to sell you on the idea of packing your suitcase with coffee to bring back to Hawaii (Portland does coffee well, but you’ve probably got them beat on that front), but a few shopping highlights that aren’t to be missed are: Powell’s Books – The nation’s largest independent bookstore sells both new & used books and takes up an entire city block (with several floors). It’s called the “City of Books” for a reason. Plan to spend a long time there. And because Portland is on the tech-happy side of things, you’ll find fun gadgets and even iPad accessories for sale there, too (check the gear in the travel books section). Northwest Portland – 21st and 23rd street up in the northwest section of downtown have long been known for having a great selection of small local shops and restaurants, including clothing, books, and home accessories. Pearl District – “The Pearl,” as it’s called, is a newer area of the city for shopping, and this is where you’ll find a mix of national brands (Anthropologie, Lulu Lemon, etc.) and some small boutique stores. It’s a high-rent neighborhood, though, so the small boutiques tend to be elsewhere in the city. Have you been to Portland? Do you like the shopping there? What’s your favorite shopping area of the city? photo by Jami Dwyer

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Bali is renowned throughout the archipelago of Indonesia and overseas for their handicrafts . You could say that Bali is a mecca for arts and handicrafts. You might browse what is on offer in the Kuta area, but if you want the genuine article and not just a ‘copy’ [as so often seen in the tourist strip] it is far better to visit the village of origin for the particular handicraft you re seeking. Of course there are handicraft centres located in the tourist strip which sell the genuine handicraft but I have so often found the products to be mass produced. Even so, these places are well worth checking out before you head up country. This way you can get an idea of quality. If you are an independent traveller then there are local buses to the villages that specialize in various products, but, it’s easy to get the places mixed up. Most organised tours to the major tourism objects in Bali travel through a majority of these handicraft villages and stop at these places so you can peruse the particular handicraft associated with the village. Batubulan : Here you will find stone sculptures of all sizes lining the street are there are many stone figures and statues. These include Buddhas, demons, and ornaments for family shrines. You can actually watch the carvers at work in certain places. Batuan : Known for traditional woven cloth, craftsmen in this village also create carved and decorated painted wooden panels. Celuk : Famous for its weaving, gold & silver. Celuk is a mile long street lined with silversmiths. You can buy ready made stuff in one of the many large shops or order custom work to suit. Bona : This is a place known for its traditional dance performances, however, there are places where you can purchase some excellent bamboo furniture. It is also a centre for plaited baskets, hats and sandles. Puaya : This place is located close to Sukawati and is renowned for its puppets made from old Chinese coins. Leather puppets also made here. Mas, Peliatan and Ubud : These villages are located in the cultural heart of Bali, Ubud. They are carving & painting centres. Some of the best carvers are found in Mas. Penestanan : Known for its paintings and beaded purses. Goa Gajah : Although the main attraction here is the Elephant Cave, this place is known for its baskets and shell carvings. Bangli and Tampaksiring : In these villages you will find handicrafts made from coconut, cattle-bone, and buckhorn carvings. Klungkung : Wood carvings, hornwork, bone carvings and fine woven silk is the major handicraft. Also there are shops selling Chinese porcelain, ornamental gold and silver jewellery. Take the time to walk around the small shops and down back alleys. Blaju and Gianyar : The famous weaving centre of Bali. There are many fine pieces of sarong in the various shops and weaving centres. Although a good place for textiles, you will find the prices a bit steep and in a lot of the places they are fixed price. The above are the main handicraft areas in Bali but there are smaller villages each with their own speciality. Take time to explore when you travel in Bali. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

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Indonesians are renowned the world over for their textiles . Balinese traditional textiles are much more than simply decorative pieces of cloth. In Bali , the Balinese produce textiles for a variety of markets and, one of them the tourist trade. Various forms of cloth are produced on the island of Bali and each one beautiful in its own right. Batik is a textile is manufactured mainly in factories these days but there are some smaller places in the outer lying villages where the batik process is still as it has been for centuries. The two main styles of Batik are batik tulis and batik cap . The art of Balinese textile decoration is best expressed in skirt, chest and head cloths. There are three main categories of Balinese textile and these are Prada , Songket and Ikat . The main batik manufacturing town on Bali is at Gianyar where many factories can be found and visited. Be warned though, the price you pay at the factory is inflated and you would be better of checking the street prices in markets such as Sukawati first. Be warned though that purchasing traditional cloth in the markets along the tourist strip will not give you the quality you will find in the places of origin. There are other traditional weavers in other places across Bali that weave stunning pieces of cloth and it is to these places you should visit. There is one special place on the island which will accommodate all your needs; Threads of Life . This place is well worth a visit for top quality traditional textiles. Grinsing is one of the rarest weaving techniques practiced and you will find this textile in the traditional village of Tenganan , East Bali. Gringsing is also known as the ‘flame cloth’ and in this elaborate dyeing process both the warp and weft threads are carefully bound before dyeing. This creates numerous patterns that once finished seemingly fit together perfectly and harmoniously. Tenganan is the only place in the world where the double-ikat process is practised. There are not many women left in Tenganan who know this practice of weaving but it is being handed down to the next generation. To weave a piece of gringsing could take up to three days but the finished product is superb. When you visit the village you are welcome to have a look at this weaving process and of course for a fee!. Endek is a tie-dyed woven textile popular with most Balinese. Wooden hand-operated looms are used in the process of the weft-ikat method. This is where sections of the cloth are tied and then wrapped before immersing them into tubs of dye. The basic designs are irregular and soft wavy patterns. Also created are diamond designs and a zigzagging pattern. Endek is a versatile cloth for the Balinese because it can be worn for both daily use and ceremonial purposes. Songket is a brocaded silk that has interweaving patterns of silver and gold thread and is classified as the ceremonial dress of all Balinese. Worn mainly on religious occasions, it is also worn to weddings, tooth filings and other important ritual events. The cloth is tapestry in appearance and has various motifs including wayang figures, birds, butterflies, flowers and leaves. The process of weaving is done on back-strap looms. Because of its thread and quality it is generally accepted that it is a wealthy man’s cloth. Interestingly, the kain songket is bought in two pieces and then sewn together. The men wear the songket saput. This is a narrow piece of cloth worn over a sarung. Together with a songket udeng or head band this is for more formal and ceremonial occasions. Decorated with silver or gold thread, kain prada is a lustrous fabric woven of cotton or silk. A ceremonial cloth, it is generally two meters in length and can take up as long as three months to weave from start to finish. Various patterns include lotus blossoms with swastikas as border decorations. These are however the most common motifs.

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If you have more time and money then consider taking a winter vacation in the Southern Hemisphere which is summer during the U.S.’ winter. Rio de Janeiro has the world famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana with Sugar Loaf as a rugged …

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When you are searching for the perfect place to spend a winter vacation hitting the slopes and exploring stunning terrain, make your way to.

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Leave early at least an extra hour - As you prepare for your winter vacation , perhaps longer than usual in order to anticipate the edge of the delays that may occur. Remember to bring some reading material while waiting or the security …

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Yet, there are mandatory requirements which a ski holiday needs to meet and all we are interested in them in order to customise the winter vacation in a better way. Depending on the type of traveller, their budget, experience and …

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What are your plans for this winter vacation ? It is almost near and by now you should already have a carefully laid out plan so that you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest. If you are looking for excitement, nothing is more fun than …

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