Explore Australia by Car

The world’s smallest continent and biggest island is Australia. In size, it is almost as big as the 48 adjacent United States. There are about 20.4 million people and they are mostly focused in th eastern and southeastern coastal urban regions. This means that there are great open spaces to explore in the remainder of the country, and this can be best accomplished by car. Picturesque coastal lines, inland mountainous areas and verdant tropical forests with native plants and wildlife are there for the traveller to discover.

All you need to easily arrange for car rental at the airport or hotel is a valid drivers permit that is in English. There are dozens of car hire companies providing many kinds of vehicles, from different makes and sizes of cars and SUVs to minivans, camper vans and RVs, minibuses, and 4WDs. There is constantly a vehicle type to suit any need or preference. For example, those who wish to camp can get camper vans that will sleep up to 6 people, and come ready with a microwave, gas stove, griller and refrigerator. Deluxe models will have double beds, toilet and shower in addition to the mini-kitchen. There are four-wheel-drives that would be suitable for more tough terrain. If you are traveling on a budget, there are economy compact cars and economy campers. There are also convertibles and luxury large cars, if you want to enjoy some luxury.

Driving in Australia can be different from other countries: driving on the left side of the road, observing the different speed limits (in kilometres) and regulations in the States to be visited, checking weather and road conditions before travel, letting police know of travel plans if driving in rural areas, making way for the road trains (a semi-truck hauling 3 large trailers), etc. The car hire company will usually provide you with thorough information on driving rules and regulations, supplies to take (most importantly, plenty of water), emergency processes, potential dangers such as wildlife and driving at night, as well as accommodations, routes and resources on the road. Study and preparation ahead will insure a successful and pleasurable car vacation in Australia.

Cypriot Delights

Cyprus is an island with strong greek traditions, but to most of us simply know it as a great hotspot, which has made it a very popular destination with tourists, with over 2.4 million visiting the republic. Cyprus basks is more than 330 clorious days of sun each year, which has given it the name The Island of the Sun. With plenty of travel agents providing Cyprus holidays and budget airlines including Monarch offering routes to Paphos and Larnaca, getting there is cheaper than ever.

Cyprus attracts tourists from all over the world, but the majority come from Europe. Affluent eastern Europeans and Russians have also joined the crowd in recent years. One of the main reasons why there is such a heavy presence of Brits in Cyprus is because of the positioning of the British Armed forces in the southern Greek part of the island. The UK retains a military base in order to have a gateway for forces to the Middle East. The impact of this on the surrounding area is that Cypriots have grown used to, and in turn, now cater for the Brits. From English being spoken everywhere you go, to driving on the left side of the road. No doubt the similarity to the UK makes us Brits feel more at home, but in a more favourable climate.

Much of olden Cyprus is giving away to culture that is more eclectic and less traditional. However, this side of Cyprus, that continues to attract millions of tourists year after year, is only one aspect of the island and is concentrated around the tourist hotspots of Paphos, Larnaca and Ayia Napa. Fortunately as you venture off the beaten track, your are soon reminded of the character that has made this island a popular destination for millennia.

A trip well worth taking is into Cyprus largest mountain range, the Troodos Mountains. In the heart of the mountains you will find the Kykkos monastery, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998. Housing art and exhibits on ancient Greece, the monastery has the twin function of being a museum for visitors and a practising monastery lived in by worshiping monks. Kykkos even has its own winery where the monks bottle and sell their wine. A daytrip to the Troodos Mountains can be a welcome change from the beach and with overnight accommodation available in many of the authentic villages dotted about; you might want to spend a few days here sampling another side of Cyprus.

Upcoming season mountaineer Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Chomolungma or Mount Everest

As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Mt Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. Bahadur Sherchan last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”

His first found him within 236 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. One year later, Andrew Brash, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Chomolungma or Mount Everest to finish what he had started.

They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. Further, he was all too aware of the potential dangers Mount Everest could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused Man from Nepal, 76, oldest mountaineer to scale the peak of Chomolungma They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”

“Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.

More than 3140 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.

Min Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of the Mount Everest. The Chinese were flying their airplanes over Everest and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Andrew Brash returned a hero to Calgarians. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on Mt Everest. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though the Mount Everest is shared by two countries. Now that Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. Min Bahadur Sherchan and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism.

Indeed, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Min Bahadur Sherchan with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. The 77-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Mount Everest. Sherchan just 11 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Andrew Brash noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. This season climber Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Chomolungma after reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro earlier this year.