Travel By Photo - Key West Island, Florida

My new toy really got me crazy for the past week. All my leisure has been spent on photo shooting, camera setting, feature testing, trying hard to learn more on photography by reading photo magazine and also surfing net for beautiful photo shots by other experts (regretfully little on blogging ). While searching for great photos, I found this great shot from a great city which I have missed out so far and it is Key West Island in the southernmost part of Florida, US. Key West is a vacation destination for energetic and sporty travelers who love watersport and offshore fishing.  

This island is only about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide. Despite its relatively small size, Key West Island is so fascinating that 1st time visitors who come here could never imagine that so much things could be done here; From land activities of historical site seeing, wandering about aquarium, museum, shopping mall to water activities of scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking and fishing. Key West Fishing is especially interesting to me where offshore fishing guarantees for successful returns with an abundance of fish such as marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, wahoo, cobia, and king mackerel if you know their names.

Having tropical weather all year round with very little rainfall, any time of the year is perfect for a vacation on this very special island. For me, blue sky and bright sun certainly interests me most. Sunset cruise is also the main tourists attraction where vacation travelers could admire the beautiful sunset on board with a drink and relax while looking out for dolphins, turtles, and sea birds. There are also celebrations being held regularily at Mallory Square where cruise are docked and Duval Street where is home for famous dining and fashion outlets.

From photos that I extracted from other Key West information websites, it shows that Key West is the perfect place to take lots of photos with my new toy(I’m so crazy about photo taking nowadays albeit quantities are more than quality ). I’m so tempted to visit there perhaps as a feeder trip to my dream vacation to Miami’s South Beach, one day! - Travel Feeder.

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Better known as the Temple of Holy Water, Pura Tirta Empul is one of the Top most popular temple in Bali, Indonesia. Founded in AD 962, the temple has few pools with crystal clear underground water gushing through the bottom of the ponds. It is the local hinduism belief that this holy water from the god could wash away sins, sickness, bad luck of its followers.

The Holy Water temple is located in Tampak Siring, near the famous wood-carving town of UBUD. We went there during our day-trip in Bali, on our way to Kintamani. Nowadays, most tourists are prefered to visit Besakih Temple (The most significant Hindu Temple in Bali) instead so there were not many tourists when we reached there (or maybe we were late after spending too much time bargaining for a wood sculpture in Ubud ).

After paying a nominal entrance fees of about Rp5,000 (should be around that, can’t remember the exact figure.. ), we stepped into the big couryard and there is an open hall in front of us where supposingly a rest place for the followers. There were only 3 guys sitting in there and were the tour guides.

One of them approached us and took us around. He took us to a ‘donation’ counter where we were given a ’sarong’ or body scarf, on loan off course, before we could step into their holy place behind the courtyard. You should donate some monies here to the dedicated box on the counter.

Inside the holy compound, there is one big pond where you could see ‘holy’ water gushing through the base of the pond though it was full of water plants and green alga or kelp.

Beside it, there are also 2 bathing ponds with elevated spouts along the pond showering whoever wants to take a holy bath there with holy water.

We only washed our hands and face briefly with the holy water.

We took some photos of the place and also being took by the tour guide ‘cum’ photographer! Yes, he insisted to take photos for us and kept praising himself for such a great shot he took! What do you think? For me, he looked like a professional photographer at least, by the way he posed and took photos

Then was the serious moment…. He took us into their private compound where is supposingly strictly for the followers only… the praying courtyard…. and he stayed outside.

Once we came out, he took a few photos of us again….

There was another pood outside of the courtyard without the holywater but with a cafe next to it. We took a photo of the exquisite twin shrines and split gate, common in most temples in Bali. Before we leave, we struggled for a while before we decided to tip this ‘professional’ tour guide Rp20,000. (Yes, even more than the entrance fees…)

Strangely at first to me why they led us out through the exit at the other side and I realised shortly it was because there wanted us to pass through those 30+ stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs of Bali. Unfortunately, we bought some…. (even worse to know later that elsewhere were selling 30% cheaper! But at least we learnt the lesson well…)

Temple of Holy Water, Pura Tirta Empul perhaps is one of the smaller Hindu temple in Bali but it is still a popular religious destination for many tourists and is an important place for the local followers to wash off their bad fortune. - Travel Feeder. 

Some might not have heard about Sea Isle City before, me either. I got to know this island city from the recent tropical storm disaster (Hana) that hit most of the South Eastern part of USA’s Atlantic Ocean’s coastline, started worst in Haiti and weakening towards North Carolina, without hitting Sea Isle City. Sea Isle City is one of the most popular family travel destination in Cape May County, New Jersey of United States. It is located  along the Atlantic Ocean, east of USA and not water. Though it is widely considered as an island city, Sea Isle actually shares its land on Ludlam Island with neighbor, Strathmere.

With more than 30% of residents being Irish ancestry, Sea Isle City is a beach town with most of its housing used for vacation rentals and second homes. It has a 1.5 mile beachfront promenade and several arcades, shops, restaurants and bars in the center of town. Visitors from all over the world come here for its serene environment. You can stay in one of those beach front bangalows, relaxing under the beautiful sun while kids are having fun on the beach and enjoying sun setting at the same time. It is just a perfect holiday destination for families. For those who are adventurous can even drive down to the nearby Atlantic casinos for some luck try!

If you are wondering any city rentals Sea Isle travel agency could help arranging accomodation in Sea Isle, FREDA Real Estate Agency located in Landis Avenue of Sea Isle City is one of the trusted company in the city. It serves Sea Isle City Rentals and Sale needs since 1955. For those who are interested to visit Sea Isle for a family vacation, you can rent either a resort chalet, condo or townhouse for a period in the city. For your information, many of the properties there are actually second homes to expariates. You can log on to Freda’s website for more information. If you have any other family travel destination to share with other travelers, do let me know by commenting this post. Cheers! - Travel Feeder.

First of all, thanks for your participation in commenting and reading my last post about one little travel quiz: Where in the world the photo was shot? I’m now announcing the Winner: MARK H !!!! …. Uhmmm…. Not exactly the correct answer but it’s very close to it, at least it is the correct part of the world, Queensland, Australia.

The actual answer for the quiz and our travel destination for today is: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane. Lone Pine is actually famous for its world’s first and largest Koala bear sanctuary since 1927. Lorikeet feeding is only part of the wildlife activities you can have there everyday at 10am and 3pm. Visitors are coming as a day trip from Gold Coast or Brisbane (Lone Pine location map).

You can experience the life with the Aussie wildlife in the sanctuary such as feeding the colourful Lorikeet, holding a snake, cuddling a koala, watching the sheep dog show, hand feeding the Kangaroo, listening to the laugh of Kookaburra bird, feeding the don’t know what kind of turkey and many more.

Hey! Feeding the Koala without permission is prohibited.

There are over 130 koalas in the sanctuary, either it’s the northern or southern koala. They look sleepy to me…but cuddling one is definitely nice.

These are the more energetic group of young koala playing on the man-made ‘playground’.

BEWARE OF YOUR FINGERS! The sanctuary is actually huge with so many ‘don’t-know-the-name’ wildlives ‘walking’ around….

Kangaroo sanctuary is another attractive feature of Lone Pine as it’s the trademark for Aussie! ‘Come on baby, let me feed you a little nectar…’

Finally there’re the colourful Rainbow Lorikeet’s I showed you in the quiz before. Lorikeet is part of the parrot’s family and is beat known for its distinctive loud screech and green, blue, yellow and red feathers. They usually live in groups and can fly for long distances at great speeds in search of food. In summer, you will also see lorikeets taking a bath at Lone Pine’s water fountain.

You could also notice all sorts of different bird species that pay a visit to Lone Pine beautiful natural surroundings. Open daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm, you need to pay AUD22.00 (AUD17 for children) for visiting Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (special koala cuddling photo not included which shall cost AUD15.00). “Wow! Not cheap mate!” “SHHHHH….. don’t shout, you will scare off the habitants…” For me, I think for a whole day trip at Lone Pine, capturing so many Aussie wildlives especially koala and kangaroo, the price is reasonable. If you like this story, you may subscribe to Travel Feeder’s RSS Feed for FREE updates - Travel Feeder.