Monthly Archives: November 2010

November 22nd, 2010

Lopburi, Thailand: Where Every Day is a Monkey Buffet

Posted by: flipkey|2 comments

Monkey BuffetEach year on the last Sunday of November, locals in the Thai province of Lopburi, 100 miles north of Bangkok, honor their long-tailed macaque monkey inhabitants with over 6,000 pounds of fresh fruit, vegetables, soda and even lollipops!

The feast, which is prepared by some of Bangkok’s top chefs, is a way for the community to express their gratitude to the monkey population that draws tourists from all over the world.

According to Thai citizens, this annual giving also provides an opportunity to accrue good karma, so bring along some of your own offerings to donate to the Monkey Buffet and reap the spiritual benefits of this unforgettable celebration!

Kala Wat ShrineIf you tire of watching monkeys gorge themselves, be sure to visit one of the province’s other popular tourist attractions. Among the most well known is Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, a giant palace complex encompassing almost too many structures to count.

Also worth a trip are the beautiful natural sites like the Wat Khao Wongkot, the region’s largest bat cave, and the local Bee Farm.

SunflowerWhile you are in the area, experience the world-famous Sunflower Fields. As luck would have it, the sunflowers are in full bloom each year beginning in November, so this makes the perfect companion destination to the Monkey Buffet. As a bonus, if you check out the Oasis Agro-Farm while the sunflowers are blooming, you can catch the farm’s ostriches lounging and grazing among the blossoms, which is always good for a photo-op.

You will likely encounter a number of mischievous monkeys throughout your travels, so be sure to save some of your buffet offerings to prevent the wild monkeys from taking something else of yours—like your hat, camera, or even jewelry. After all, for the monkeys in Lopburi, every day is Monkey Buffet day.

Categorized as: Just for Fun, Travel Tips, Trips Read more →
November 04th, 2010

Vacation Rentals: The Perfect Place to Say “I Do”

Posted by: Noelle|2 comments

Still haven’t found the perfect spot to say “I do”? Whether you are looking to have a destination wedding or to celebrate close to home, consider the increasingly popular trend of using a vacation rental as the venue for your dream wedding. Not only does it provide greater flexibility and a more intimate setting for your marriage ceremony, but using a vacation home is also very affordable. Here are some tips on what to look for in a home that you are considering for your special day:

Cottage WeddingPre-Wedding: In the days leading up to the wedding, family members who would otherwise be spread out across multiple states, countries, or even continents, are finally all together for the first time, anxiously awaiting the big day. Take advantage of this rare opportunity and allow both families to spend some quality time together in one vacation rental or split among several in the same area. Rock away on the front porch, gather around the living room fireplace, or cook up a storm in the kitchen all while sharing old memories and creating new ones.

“Most of our wedding party stayed in the house with us, and it was the central location of all festivities. Everyone else stayed within the Sunset Properties community and it was great. Everyone was within walking distance and the team at Sunset [was] amazing.”-Amy H from Atlanta, GA reviewing East Meets West

The Ceremony: Even if you don’t know the exact address of your wedding venue yet, you probably have a pretty clear picture of what this place should look like. Make your fantasies a reality –take the time to shop around until you finally find your magical mountaintop destination, your picturesque sculpture garden, or your fairytale castle. Make sure to ask home owners for more information about the size of their property, as this will help you gauge whether there is sufficient space for all of your guests to be a part of the momentous celebration.
Beach Wedding
“Once we arrived at the estate it was nothing but enchantment. With breath taking views, serene landscape and the tranquil sounds from the pool and ponds, it was nothing but relaxing from the minute we took out first breath. There is nowhere else in the world I would have rather had our wedding, than where we did” -Happily Mauied from Orange county, CA reviewing Luxury Ocean Front Estate Haiku Maui

The Reception: If you are considering having both the ceremony and the reception in the same place, do some research on wedding service providers in the surrounding area. At the very least you will need a florist, a caterer, and a DJ or band. Ensure that the house itself can handle all these services working and running their equipment at the same time –big kitchens to support the caterer and large patios or expansive landscapes on which to dance the night away are ideal!

“The backyard was big enough to comfortably accommodate for 100+ people with a tent, tables, chairs, dance floor, and buffet style eating. This house and it’s property helped make my wedding PERFECT!” – MrsJames2 from Myrtle Beach, SC reviewing Pharr House

Pool Reception

The After Party: See what the local nightlife has to offer for guests looking to party late into the night. For those ready to hit the hay, a vacation home with many bedrooms, especially those with multiple and larger sized beds, is perfect for accommodating your closest family and friends. There will undoubtedly be some overflow so find out whether there are enough hotels and inns in the area to lodge any remaining guests hoping to spend the night. Most importantly, don’t forget to reserve a romantic couples suite for the newly weds –homes offering a private guest cottage are perfect for you and your partner to spend the special night together!

“We were married here in July 2009 and had about 30 relatives and friends to stay for the week, as well as 70 others staying elsewhere nearby, it was the most warm and friendly experience we could ever have wished for, with great flexibility and a feeling that the chateau was ‘yours’ for the week.” -Sophmatt from London reviewing Chateau LaGorce

Begin exploring the endless possibilities –from waterfront to cliff side, vacation rentals can be found in locations all around the world and are available year-round! Get started by checking out the villas, beach houses, chalets, and mansions in these popular destination wedding locations:

• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica
• Chianti, Italy
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Hilton Head, South Carolina
• North Tahoe, California

Categorized as: Events To Travel For, Gatherings, Travel Tips, Trips, Weekend Getaways Read more →
November 02nd, 2010

Vacation Under the Stars: The Top 5 Spots for Stargazing

Posted by: AHowe|0 comments

Stargazing is among the oldest leisure activities. But as our civilization has grown, many of our cities have become too bright to properly admire the night sky. For the stargazing traveler, we’ve identified 5 towns that are far enough away from well-lit downtowns to afford stunning stargazing. Fortunately, taking in the night sky is a year-round opportunity; so pick a spot where you like the weather and just be sure to keep your head up after sunset.

South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the United States, is a spectacular stargazing locale. With views of deep blue water and pine-covered mountains, Lake Tahoe is the ideal location for constellation-hunting. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay State Park are particularly choice settings for amateur astronomy. Don’t miss Northstar-at-Tahoe’s stargazing tours, led by the president of the Nevada Science Coalition.

Lahaina, Hawaii
“Overall, the grounds were meticulously maintained, the pool was lovely, the views were great, and the star gazing at night is not to be missed!” -Laub Family from Fairfax Station, Virginia reviewing Kahana Village #36

The Milky Way and Jupiter’s bands are both visible from this beautiful, remote island town. 2,300 miles from the U.S. Mainland, Hawaii has the darkest skies in America. Before sunset, tour the beautiful countryside on the Sugar Cane Train, Hawaii’s only railroad. At nightfall, enjoy extraordinary stargazing from Maui’s black sand beaches.

Moab, Utah
The American Southwest is famous worldwide for stargazing, and for good reason: the pink Western sunsets melt into big-sky starlight. For exceptional sky views, visit two of America’s most renowned National Parks: Arches and Canyonlands. Moab also features several excellent Jeep-rental outfitters, so grab one and take in the classic John Ford Western backdrop while star-searching. During the day, continue to embrace the great outdoors: Moab is renowned for its mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, and skiing.

Taos, New Mexico
“We enjoyed the use of the hot tub while gazing up at the stars, and the view from the front porch is magnificent.” – Beth from Albuquerque reviewing Casita Perdido

Taos is almost 7,000 feet above sea level and sports fantastically clear skies that are nearly entirely free of pollution. Explore Carson National Forest and keep your gaze upward—you’ll catch superlative views of Venus, Mercury, and several constellations: Orion, Gemini, and Taurus. Hike Wheeler Peak, New Mexico’s highest peak, to bask in exceptional starlight.

Big Sky, Montana
All you need to know about Montana sky gazing is contained in Big Sky’s name. A very small town, Big Sky sports minimal light pollution and vapor-free skies. Check out dramatic Ousel Falls and look for Mars, which is outstanding in the Montana high country. Winter is your best bet; ski Big Sky’s uncrowded slopes by day and relax under the starry sky by night.

No matter where you end up, keep your eyes open while admiring the night’s beauty. You never know when you might get lucky and catch a glimpse of  a shooting star.

Categorized as: Flipkey Top 10 Read more →