Pattaya Paradise - Thailand

Located in the Chonburi province of Thailand is the amazing, Pattaya paradise, that has become a famous destination for tourists from world over. The golden sands, warm weather and the thrilling night life beckon people to enjoy their holidays in midst of exotic settings. The Agogo bars, discos, karaoke bars, night clubs, restaurants and massage parlours attract large proportion of young tourists to this, oldest Thai tourist spot to enjoy the sensual night life, it has to offer. For the families with kids, attractions like Pattaya Water Park, Underwater world, Ripley?s Believe it or not museum and the Elephant Park provide an enjoyable experience.

The Pattaya paradise attracts lot of nature lovers by organizing its world famous crocodile show at 70 acre farm. The Elephant village provides inquisitive visitor, the glimpse of the way elephants skills are used to haul logs and the way in which they were used in battlefields. The tourists can also enjoy the jungle trek on the back of the Elephant. People looking for sun, sand and water can spend quality time on the Jomtein, Naklua and North Pattaya beach. The golden sand of the beach and the bright sunshine draw out large number of people to enjoy sunbathing and other beach activities.

The Pattaya paradise provides a good glimpse of rich Thai culture inform of temple complex of the Watyansangwaram. This temple is major tourist attraction as it sheds light about the history and religion of this country. The dominating presence of the largest Buddha image of the world, carved out in the mountain is a jewel in crown of Pattaya Paradise. The image of the Buddha that is 130 meters tall and 70 meters wide is carved in to the mountain by laser. The carving is laid in gold. The Sanctuary of Truth is another monument that showcases and celebrates the Eastern Philosophy and the ancient vision of Earth, through decorations and sculpture. This majestic wooden building stands 105 meters high and is spread over 3200 square meters.

The other major attraction like the Pattaya Water Park offers the visitors the facility of watching the entire Pattaya city and the coastline in the comfort of revolving restaurant located at the top of 240 meters tower. At the same time they can delight their taste buds with mouthwatering Thai cuisine. The water park provides the thrills of whirlpools, water slides and swimming pools, far away from the hazards of jet-ski and motor boats. The clean water and the tranquil atmosphere attracts tourist to relax and soothe their nerves. The Pattaya paradise has a recreation park known as Suan Nong Noonch, designed in form of traditional Thai village. The orchid nursery, world famous botanical garden, a mini zoo and cultural shows are the main features of the park. The park draws a lot of visitors, who seek to know more about the Thai culture and ecology.

For adventure lovers, this place promises to set their pulse, racing. The 50meters bungee jump located in midst of tropical settings near the Jomtein beach provide ten seconds of pure thrilling plunge, that one is sure to remember for long time to come. The Ripley believe it of not museum offer four programs that are sure to scare wits out and reawaken the senses. Truly, the Pattaya Paradise provides the visitors a unique and wonderful experience that they will cherish for long time to come.

Tenerife - Mount Teide

Tenerife offers a huge number and variety of daytime attractions. Buses here are plentiful and cheap or for the more adventurous there are camel, donkey and jeep safaris. Or travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned hire car to explore the island which provides everything from golf and go-karting to volcanoes, huge lava formations and Peruvian-style pyramids.

Top of your list - and certainly the "high" point of your holiday - must be a trip up Mount Teide, the world's third highest volcano and Spain's tallest peak.
The 3,718 metre-high volcano is the island's most dramatic feature. It stands at the heart of Las Cañadas Natural Park - a protected zone, 17 kilometers wide, with lava formations, steep cliffs, vertical walls and volcanic rocks.

Some visitors have complained that organised tours to Mount Teide allowed them too little time to really appreciate its splendour. So you may prefer to make your own way there and take the cable car to the top. You'll rise up through the clouds to marvel at the gigantic crater measuring 20 kilometres in diameter. This is one of the few places on earth where the sea can be seen from the top of such a high mountain.
The island has numerous volcanoes, including Chinyero which last erupted only 90 years ago.
At Icod de los Vinos, on the west coast, you can visit the Cueva del Viento (Cave of the Wind) which is the largest volcanic cavity in the world. This is also the place to see the ancient and mythological dragon trees (Los Dragos) which have thrived on the island since before the last Ice Age. Some of the trees you'll see today are 800 years old.

In the south of the island in the Valley of Guimar there are the six mysterious Chacona pyramids - similar to those found in Mexico and Peru - built from angular blocks quarried from lava flows.
Puerto de la Cruz is one of Tenerife's most popular tourist destinations - an attractive Canarian town with quaint streets, historic buildings and some top visitor attractions including the Lido de Martinez complex and Loro park.
The Lido is a beautifully laid out complex of seven pools and fountains with palm-shaded terraces and lava rockeries spread over a total of seven acres.
At the popular Loro Park, just outside Puerto de la Cruz, you'll be able to enjoy a wealth of animal attractions including parrots and penguins, dolphin shows, sea lions, gorillas, an aquarium and jaguars.
Tenerife Zoo and the Eagles Park (Parque Las Aguilas) are both within easy reach of Los Christianos and Playa de las Americas. The zoo has a monkey park and an adjacent camel breeding centre.

Try to fit in a trip over to the small island of Gomera, to the south west of Tenerife. Take the ferry or hydrofoil from Los Christianos and lose yourself in the natural wonders of the Parque Nacional de Garajonay.
An ancient laurel forest lies at the heart of this 10,000-acre national park where a magical mist is created by the cool Atlantic trade winds clashing with warmer breezes. Little light penetrates the canopy of this dense forest where the trees are swathed in moss and lichen.

Roman Ruins in Vilamoura, Algarve Portugal

The Algarve region in southern Portugal is Europe’s burgeoning golf destination, with 35 courses and more in the pipeline. Serviced by an international airport in its chief city, Faro, the area is embraced by Europeans for its warm Mediterranean climate and 155km of south-facing coastline.

Many visitors choose to stay in the modern holiday area of Vilamoura, built around Portugal’s largest leisure marina. Water lovers will enjoy Vilamoura’s sandy beaches and big-game fishing, while shopping arcades with designer boutiques, restaurants and cafes are popular alternative daytime attractions. Vilamoura’s bars, clubs and casino flourish at night. Nearby are carefully preserved Roman ruins, unearthed during construction work in the 1960s.

The ruins at Cerro da Vila are of a rustic villa surrounded by fertile fields and supplied with water from a damn built two kilometres away.

Part of the Ossonoba territory, the villa was originally inhabited during the first half of the first century AD. Its location encouraged the use of marine resources and trade, as shown by the existence of a port.
As from the second century – more specifically in the third – the residential area gained imposing dimensions. Water was a constant feature, pouring from spouts and statues into the garden lake, which was the central space that the entire house revolved around. The house itself comprised a large room for receptions and summer meals, the bedrooms, the kitchen, and service sections, including a cryptoporticum.
The walls were covered in stucco and had brightly painted frescoes showing floral and geometrical motifs. The floor was decorated with multicoloured mosaics. Sculptures of gods and men decorated the interior spaces, combining to form a magnificent whole of colour and carved stone.
Little is known about the local economy, but several workshops with water tanks suggest either that fish was processed there or, more probably, that cloth was dyed. The discovery of large numbers of imported goods – anchors, lamps, pottery and glass – proves that Cerro da Vila was part of the Roman Empire’s trade network.

The lords of Cerro da Vila were buried in mausoleums with a columbarium, a crypt with small lateral niches that held the urns containing their ashes. At a later date, a vast cemetery grew up with proper burial spaces, although this has only been partially excavated.

A group of silos from the Islamic period, built inside the Roman houses, reveals that the buildings were continuously occupied. In order to upgrade the site and open it to the public, a museum with a monographic exhibition on the site has been built. A brief guide has also been published to accompany the exhibition. Surveys of the port area and studies on the mosaics and the architecture of the villa will also be carried out.

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Visitors Reception Museum with information on the archaeological site Signposted route Parking

Open Summer (May to October) Morning: 10:00-13:00 Afternoon: 16:00-21:00 Winter (November to April) Morning: 9:30-12:30 Afternoon: 14:00-18:00

Admission Paid entry Special rates for young people and the elderly Access Part of the Vilamoura tourist complex Further information Direcção Regional de Faro do IPPAR Phone: +351 289 803 633 Fax: +351 289 803 631 E-mail: drf.ippar@ippar.pt Museum Phone: +351 289 312 153 Fax: +351 289 302 783 IPPAR Phone: +351 213 614 200 Fax: +351 213 628 472 E-mail ippar@ippar.pt

Welcome to Silent Ideas Holiday Destinations

Silent Ideas is a great new way to find out about some great holiday destinations around the world. I have lived abroad for more than 20 years and have traveled extensively around the globe discovering some new and great destinations.

Please join in and make this an interesting blog for all to enjoy.

My name is Gerard and currently I live in Portugal on the beautiful Algarve for the last 7 years. The Algarve has its own micro climate and has mild winters and warm hot summers, with over 100 miles of beautiful beaches for you to choose from.

Across the Algarve you have a choice of great marinas, casinos, nightlife, theme parks to choose from as well as some of the best wildlife and protected parks.

Portuguese is the official language with English is widely spoken as well as Spanish, French and German.

Main tourism is golf with almost 50 courses to choose from, followed by people searching for the sun. Portugal is a very safe place to live compared to other destinations with very little crime, so makes a great destination to come and visit.