Dominican Republic

Cayo Levantado

Similar to Thailand, Dominican Republic has some of the best beaches in the world. There is something unique about the beaches such as the river valleys and the high forested mountains that make it a place worth visiting.

For instance, Cayo Levantado, referred to as "Bacardi Rum Island" in the '70s, is an island located on the east coast of Dominican Republic. The island is divided into two sections: the public beach and the private area which is where the hotel is located.The reason this island is beneficial to visitors is because it has strips of beautiful white sand, crystal clear water and there are trails on the island that can be hiked. There is plenty of nature to enjoy on this island. 

Not to mention, the Dominican Republic has many other positive traits to offer vacationers which includes the people, culture, the adventures and activities. In terms of activities, there are numerous exciting ventures to choose from which include going in speed boats, snorkeling, partying on the mountains, hiking, horseback riding and live entertainment (dancing and men juggling fire sticks). I am sure that the pictures I have seen of men throwing up large sticks with fire on them is nothing compared to witnessing it in real life. I've convinced myself that Dominican Republic is a place worth taking a vacation to. I can only hope I have convinced those who come across the blog too.

Khao Yai National Park in Thailand

Khao Yai National Park

There are plenty of places in Thailand that should not missed out on when traveling there.  Khao Yai National Park is one those places. If you are a fan of the outdoors - then this park is for you. Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's first established park. Not only is the scenery of the park beautiful, but the wildlife is incredible.

Some of the wildlife that is present in the park includes: elephants, tigers, geckos, apes, wild pigs, crocodiles, snakes and porcupines. Those are just a  few of the interesting animals that visitors could potentially come across. If you keep quiet, you just may see one of them.

 Also, it is important to add that the best way for a visitor to make their way to the park is in a vehicle if they are not prepared for a long hike.The most appropriate vehicle for this kind of trip is a jeep. There is one road that is accessible for vehicles throughout the park. 

Elephant in Khao Yai National Park

Thailand

Khao Phing Ka, Thailand

Thailand is a common destination that many people would love to have the opportunity to go to. I haven't heard one person that has travelled there say they wouldn't venture back. When I ask those who have travelled there how it was, the typical response is "amazing" or "I want to live there."  Personally, I want to learn as much as I can about it before I travel get the chance to travel there. A few reasons why it is considered one of the top places to travel is: it's affordable, beautiful beaches, the food is delicious, the city of Bangkok and the overall culture.

Those that do not like staying at a hostel are in luck if they carry a reasonable amount of money for their trip. This is because not only are the hotels nice - but most of them are under $20 for a night. Not bad at all compared to hotels in Canada. The dollar is worth a lot more in Thailand.

 Aside from the fact it is affordable, it has the best beaches in the world. Patong Beach on the island of Phuket, attracts a large night life crowd as there are plenty of shops and restaurants close by. The Full Moon party happens once a month in Thailand and Patong Beach is a great place to be when it happens. Everyone likes to make sure they are as bright as possible that night and dress up with uv paint on their body. Buckets of alcohol are served. Who wouldn't want to travel to Thailand and experience a party like this? More details about Thailand will be provided in my next blog post.

Full Moon Party

Dole Plantation

North Shore

In addition to our snorkeling adventure, one of the places we visited which I found interesting was the "Dole plantation" which is Hawaii's complete Pineapple experience. Ever since I went to Hawaii, I have developed a taste for pineapple. It tastes delicious and it's also healthy for you. The tour guides at the plantation offered our team an educational experience about: the history of the pineapple, the cultivation, the sugar industry, the agriculture and how to grow your own pineapple.

A small train took our team around one of the plantation's gardens where the pineapples were being grown. While on the train, the tour guide provided us with information about "North Shore" which is where Hawaii's quality pineapple is grown. Aside from the pineapple, there is also banana, sweetcorn, mango, coffee and cocoa grown on the North Shore.

When our tour was almost done, our team got to shop around in the Dole plantation store. After learning about how the pineapple is grown - we definitely weren't about to pass up an opportunity on purchasing it. Although I would have liked to purchase more items at the store, I ended up buying just one pineapple to share with the team. 

 Overall, my visit to the Dole Plantation was both educational and fun. The tour guides did an amazing job by providing us with interesting facts and maintaining our full attention. For those who are interested in travelling to Hawaii, this would be a worthwhile spot to gain insight on the life of a pineapple.

Pineapple at Dole Plantation

Snorkelling

Waikiki beach

It was finally time to go snorkelling after a few days of hitting the beach and eating at various restaurants. This was by far one of the best highlights of the trip and despite the fact it was a little rainy the day we went - it was well worth it. The bus drove us approximately an hour away from our hotel to Hanauma Bay. Before we could actually participate in snorkelling, we had to sit through a seminar which taught us: how to snorkel, the areas we should avoid and safety precautions that should be taken in case something should happen. I have always had a fear of sharks but always wanted to snorkeling so I decided it wouldn't hold me back.

Hanauma Bay

The video we watched highlighted the areas that sharks were most likely to be around, and that make me a little nervous. I stuck with a couple of my teammates while snorkeling and it took me a short while to get used to breathing through the snorkel under water. At first I found it difficult to swim around and avoid hitting rocks. However, what we go to experience and view under the water was well worth it. Plenty of colorful fish and amazing scenery. If you ever get the chance to go snorkelling - do not pass up the opportunity!