Dream Destinations – Bora Bora

Chris Boothman
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Dream Destinations – Bora Bora

The ultimate spot for relaxation around the world has to be Bora Bora located in the heart of French Polynesia. Of course, visiting this part of the world is incredibly expensive due to it’s luxurious stereotype and without doubt it clearly lives up to its expectations and reputation.

Here are my top 5 reasons that you have to splurge for this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the gorgeous island of Bora Bora.

Over-Water Huts

Four Seasons

If you don’t think those over-water bungalows look cool, then maybe Bora Bora isn’t for you but I think you would hard pressed to find anything else around the world that is as relaxing as this! I can just imagine laying in bed in one of these villas listening to the waves surrounding you and then being able to walk out of your bedroom door and dive into the ocean – pretty cool right! The above shot is taken from the Four Seasons Bora Bora resort.

Bora Bora Photo Lagoon

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The ultimate romantic spot in Bora Bora is also a photographers dream. Set in the heart of French Polynesia, this discovery excursion will help reveal the secrets of what made this lagoon so fabulous. A great way to see the local coral reefs and ocean life whilst at the same time capturing some amazing shots with your loved one.

Mount Otemanu

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Mount Otemanu is the highest point on Bora Bora and partners with Mt. Pahia to form an extinct volcano that is now a truly beautiful part of the skyline surrounding the gorgeous ocean landscape. A haven for wildlife and a photographers paradise especially if interested in birdlife, this looks to be a perfect spot to get out those hiking boots and go exploring in the wilderness.

Local Cuisine

cuisine

So many different cuisines to sample at the gorgeous hotels and resorts but surely the desserts are the most appealing when you see images such as the macaroon above!

Bora Bora Hotels

Four Seasons Bora Bora 2

There are so many amazing hotels to choose from in Bora Bora but they all have one thing in common – awesome swimming pools or ocean access! Imagine relaxing by the pool and then crashing under one of those canopies before sampling one of the delicious desserts. The more you think about this part of the world, the more you realize this is somewhere you have to go to just recharge your batteries and indulge in this natural beauty.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Dream Destinations – Argentina

Chris Boothman
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52
Dream Destinations – Argentina

What’s the first thing you think about when you hear the word Argentina? Well, unless you are a seasoned traveler you may be struggling to think about something unless you go with something like Evita or Diego Maradona.

I can honestly admit that I felt exactly this way before doing a little research on this beautiful country. Sure, I knew that Buenos Aires is the capital but I wanted to find out much more about what this South American gem has to offer.

Here are my top 5 recommended things that I would love to see when exploring Argentina.

Iguazu Falls

iguazu

Just look at the sight of the Iguazu Falls! Visible from both Argentina and Brazil, this is one attraction that I would to visit to take some awesome pictures. I know that Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls are probably covered more in the media but looking at pictures alone of Iguazu surely has to put this into the same category as those two. I will save my final judgement until I am able to visit these spectacular falls for myself.

Glaciar Perito Moreno

Glaciar Perito Moreno

Located at the southern tip of South America in the Los Glaciares National Park, the Glaciar Perito Moreno is one of only three Patagonian glaciers still growing. An impressive tourist attraction that attracts visitors from around the world, hiking around this glacier is certainly an appealing attraction when visiting Argentina.

Quebrada de Humahuaca

The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a valley situated in the spectacular valley of the Rio Grande. A beautiful, yet rugged landscape, this valley provides a great opportunity for backpackers to explore the apparent unknown as they wander through local villages, meeting new folks along the way and learning about a hidden culture in the Camino Inca.

Plaza de Mayo – Buenos Aires

Plaza de Mayo

Plaza de Mayo is the main square in central Buenos Aires. Hosting a series of historic landmarks and architectural genius, this square plays host to locals and tourists alike as a relaxing central point to explore the rest of the Argentinian capital.

La Boca – Buenos Aires

La Boca

La Boca is another neighborhood in Buenos Aires that has a particularly unique feel to it with the very colorful building fronts highlighting this part of Argentina. A very European flavor is present here with many Italians finding this as a perfect locale to settle. A hot spot for tourists because of the colorful housing and streets but also because this is a stereotypical hub for Argentinian tango dancers to practice their moves.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Pocket App – Product Review

Heather Boothman
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19

Have you ever wanted to read articles at a later time? Have you ever forgot about an article? How many of you have been traveling and found yourself without reading material?

Look no further than a great new app that I just came across – Pocket, the most convenient way to save media and review later. A cool feature is there is no need for internet connection when viewing articles through Pocket. It seems that I am always wanting to do research or read articles when I have no access to internet. The best part is this app is FREE!!

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I downloaded Pocket a few days ago and already I am a firm believer that this could be a life-saver on your travels. I have downloaded Pocket on my web browser to be able to save directly from the internet (a real simple process to add the icon to your Safari browser for Mac users). They also have an option to e-mail articles, I have a couple of contacts that send me articles and I can forward that article to Pocket and it will download directly to my reading list.

I have been really bad about buying a magazine and forgetting to bring it with me on trips, however with Pocket you can access the app across all mobile devices and not just iOS. This makes life so much easier and with magazines now having digital copies I can now start saving trees which of course is what we are all trying to achieve right?

These are some additional images from Pocket:

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I would strongly suggest downloading Pocket, within 4 days this has helped me get more organized and catch-up on our fellow travel bloggers!! If you are interested in downloading this app, you can find this on the iTunes site here.

Interview – Jonny Blair (Don’t Stop Living)

Chris Boothman
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4
Interview – Jonny Blair (Don’t Stop Living)

The latest member in our interview series of fellow travel bloggers features Jonny Blair from Don’t Stop Living. Jonny is a seasoned traveler and we are delighted that he is speaking with us today about his travel blog and philosophies on travel.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with Jonny using his various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to Jonny for taking time to interview with us!

Jonny Blair using the metro system in Pyongyang North Korea

Intro: I’m Jonny Blair a long term traveller from Bangor, Northern Ireland. I run a one man travel guide to all seven continents called Don’t Stop Living.

Website: Don’t Stop Living

Social Media: 

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

My favourite aspect of travelling is the fact that every day is different and there is no set routine. I decided to create my website as I had books and books and folders of handwritten notes and travel souvenirs that needed a platform for their output to the rest of the world.

How many continents have you visited? 

Seven

How many countries have you visited? 

30+

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

Very tough question. My favourite continent is Antarctica. My favourite countries are Northern Ireland, Taiwan, China, Uruguay, Bolivia and Iran. My favourite cities are London, Belfast, Montevideo, Chongqing and Sydney. The reasons just because I have had so many happy times in those places!

Exploring Amadiya in Iraq

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

Top of Mount Everest or the South Pole. They are the two hardest places on the planet to visit surely.

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Camera and Laptop.

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Walk.

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

A local restaurant.

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

I’m Jonny Blair, a travelling Northern Irishman. Since leaving my hometown a decade ago I have managed to visit over 80 countries and over 500 towns or cities across all 7 continents. Along the way I have worked in countless jobs!

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My current plans are to tour East Timor and more of China next then head to Brazil for the World Cup and reach my target milestone of 100 countries by the time I turn 35. As ever, all my stories will appear on my travel site “Don’t Stop Living”.

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