IE Blog
While a Madagascar tour is a great nature travel experience, there are other things to see and do there as well, and checking out some of the man-made sites can mix things up on a trip to the African island. In the heart of the oldest part of Madagascar's capital city, Antananarivo, there is a royal palace complex, called Rova. There, you can see the ruins of the Queen's Palace, the Palace of Andafiavaratra and the Rova Palace of Justice, as well as the Royal village's cathedrals and residences.
The Queen's Palace, built in the mid-1800s, was originally made of wood, but Queen Ranavalona II had the entire palace encased in stone in 1867 by French architect James Cameron. However, the building, which is also called the Manjakamiadana, was almost entirely consumed by a fire in 1995. All that remains in one wall, but a project began in 2006 to restore the building to its former glory - this time out of cement instead of wood. By 2008, the remaining wall had been restored and much of the interior had been rebuilt, and the site was reopened to the public briefly in 2010, but closed once again to complete the project.
Visitors may not be able to go inside the Manjakamiadana, but they can still see the palace from outside, and there are plenty of other historical sites that travelers can check out in the Rova complex. The Andafiavaratra Palace doubles as a museum where many artifacts rescued from the Queen's Palace are on display. This national monument was once home to Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, the man under whom Madagascar was united in the late 19th century.
Surrounding the Andafiavaratra Palace is the Andohalo borough, filled with traditional colonial homes and cathedrals. Strolling down the cobblestone streets, it's easy to imagine life in Madagascar for early British settlers.
When you visit Madagascar, a tour of Antananarivo's old city and Rova palace complex is a great way to learn about the history of the African island and get a first-hand account of its colonization. The Manjakamiadana palace ruins are a sight to behold, and visitors can see its artifacts displayed in the nearby Andafiavaratra palace museum. Visiting the Rova is a great way for nature travel enthusiasts to add a different flavor to their vacations.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
- carlton.smith's blog
You might also like:
Discover “Colossal” Greek Beauty on Lindos
Nestled in the Aegean Sea along with its other Dodecanese archipelago counterparts, Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, tends to outshine the other islands of Greece with its beauty and cultural significance.
Lindos is situated on the Northern side of Rhodes with buildings that are formed along a steep cliff formation. Among them is what is possibly one of the most important buildings in Greek history - the Lindos acropolis. According to Business Today Egypt, this acropolis is the only one left other than its counterpart in Athens.
The island has been inhabited since the Stone Age, according to RhodesGuide.org. Cretans were the first settlers there, and the Phoenicians and Dorians are said to have come prior to the Trojan War. After the war, the island began to develop rapidly - this development can now be seen in the ancient revels across the land mass. According to the news source, antiquity painting and sculpture were highly developed on Rhodes, so visitors can see remarkable works like Colossus, a bronze statue of the god Helios which is considered the most important sculpted work of the "Rhodian School."
The acropolis of Lindos is one of the ancient wonders that those on a Turkey and Greece cruise should take the time to explore. Most of the ruins date back to the Hellenistic era, and despite fire damage and the rebuilding of many temples and other buildings, an observant visitor would likely be able to see the earliest features, according to GreekLandscapes.com. In addition, reaching the top of the hilly town offers one-of-a-kind views over the Aegean Sea.
The medieval era also left its mark on Lindos. Knights built an impressive wall around the entire acropolis plateau and created the Palace of Knights, which is located at the top of a staircase leading to the acropolis. Both can still be seen by visitors today as they traverse the only staircase that has ever served as an access point to the structure.
The harbors of Lindos made it a unique and important defensive and commercial feature for Rhodes. Inhabitants have been using it as such for years, capitalizing on seafaring and trading activies to make up for the fact that the land there is not fertile. Today, visitors can also enjoy the harbors, as they offer gorgeous, warm beaches.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
Jaipur, India's Pink City, Is a Sight Like No Other
Are you looking for a colorful addition to your India tour? Then you'll definitely want to pay a visit to the stunning city of Jaipur. It was once the capital of India, and as such the architecture and structure of the city are reminiscent of royalty. Jaipur is also often referred to as the Pink City because many of the buildings and monuments are painted a brilliant pink color in honor of a long-standing royal tradition.
The Lonely Planet reports that back in 1876 every building in the old city was painted pink by order of Maharaja Singh. This was the Maharaja's way of expressing hospitality to the Prince of Wales, who later came to be known as King Edward VII. The tradition continued and today the city of Jaipur is filled with many rose-tinted buildings, from houses to palaces.
Most of the pink structures are located in the City Palace complex, which encompasses a number of beautiful palaces, pavilions and temples - most of which are painted in bright colors, especially pink. Even before you enter the complex, it is difficult to miss its beauty. The Jaleb Chowka and Tripolia Gates hint at the majestic sights that await visitors on the other side. The exteriors are impressive, but the quality of the interior of these structures can definitely compete.
The Hawa Mahal is one of the painted buildings that you will not want to miss. It was built nearly 100 years before Maharaja Singh decided to change the exterior color, but the palace would be a breathtaking sight no matter what hue it was. The main five-story facade of the building is covered in ornately decorated windows with unique lattice patterns, and the entire structure is a gorgeous display of traditional Indian architecture.
Each structure is beautiful in its own right, inside and out, and travelers embarking on IE's India tour will not want to miss the opportunity to check out at least one of the ornate buildings. The brilliant color of the buildings, the intricate designs and work that went into creating such unrivaled beauty make spending some time in Jaipur a must on your India travel itinerary.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
You might also like:
Panama's Three-toed Sloths Not as “Slow” as They Seem
Birds, amphibians and reptiles are all exciting aspects of nature travel, but larger mammals like the three-toed sloth make for an especially memorable sight, especially for families traveling with children.
However, the three-toed sloth, which can be seen in the rain forests on a Panama tour or aboard an Amazon River cruise, is not only interesting to amateur nature explorers. The sloth is unique in that it cannot regulate its own body temperature, restricting its range to hot, humid habitats, according to the World Wildlife Fund. This characteristic has caused the sloth to become endangered and in need of protection.
In addition, despite its reputation as the world's slowest mammal, this sloth has plenty of interesting habits and traits that show its ability to adapt to its environment. For instance, its slow speed causes it to grow algae in its fuzzy coat, which helps it to blend into the canopy of the rain forest where it spends most of its time - in fact, they even mate and give birth while hanging in trees, according to National Geographic.
The three "toes" for which this sloth gets its name are also an interesting study of Darwin's theory - these strong claws give them a powerful grip that supports their hanging habits.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
You might also like:
Birders Can Follow Monkeys to See the Greater Ani in the Amazon
Venturing into Caro Lake on International Expeditions’ Amazon River tour, visitors are likely to spot some of the 13 species of primates that call this region home. Looking closely after the monkeys, however, offers an interesting opportunity for birders. Trailing behind are often flocks of greater ani, a distinctive black bird.
These birds feed primarily on insects, making monkeys a good foraging partner. As the mammals move and search for food, they stir up a feast for the greater ani. According to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, the birds forage from forest understory to canopy, most frequently in midstory along the water, offering adequate opportunities to view.
Look for a large black cuckoo with an especially long, black tail. Plumage is similar between sexes — glossy black with slight bronze-green edging on the back. The beak has a large ridge on the top. Greater ani swallow small vertebrates whole, but strike caterpillars against their perch to remove its insides before swallowing.
They are the most social members of the cuckoo family, traveling in flocks and even nesting communally. The birds are widespread and stable across the Amazon area.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Amazon Travel News section.
You might also like:
Discover Distinct Amphibians in Borneo
Colorful, spindly-legged and elusive is how many scientists might describe the Sambas stream toad, or Borneo rainbow toad. Although its existence was recorded through an illustration nearly 90 years ago, the toad has managed to evade photographers, artists - virtually all humans - since 1924. Until recently. In June, conservationists managed to take the first photographs of this amphibian, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The endangered toad was found during a "global search for lost amphibians" by Conservation International. Three of the Borneo rainbow toads were located in a tree at night after a team had searched for them for months in remote forests.
"Thrilling discoveries like this beautiful toad, and the critical importance of amphibians to healthy ecosystems, are what fuel us to keep searching for lost species," Dr. Indraneil Das told the news source. Das led the team from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) that found the toads. "They remind us that nature still holds precious secrets which we are still uncovering, which is why targeted protection and conservation is so important," Das added.
According to Scientific Computing, Das and his team decided to search for the toad last August, amid fears worldwide that it may be extinct. The group found the animals on three separate trees in the Penrissen mountain range in Boreno. The toads measured up to two inches each, they reported, and included an adult male, an adult female and a juvenile, the news source reports.
While those experiencing nature travel in Borneo may not get a chance to see these elusive endangered species, there are plenty of other amphibians there that will be in plain sight. According to FrogsofBorneo.org, there are at least eight families of frogs in the tropical southeast Asian island.
The family of firebellied toads, or bombinatoridae, only includes eight species worldwide. One, the B. kalimantanensis, can be found in Borneo. This toad has an archaic appearance and anatomy but shows adaptive skills for life in streams. The true toads, or bufonidae family, comprise 31 species on Borneo. These amphibians can be found in the lowlands, generally, though some may ascend the highlands. One species, Ansonia fuliginea, boasts the highest elevational distribution of all Bornean frogs, rising higher than 3,000 meters.
Travelers on a Borneo tour may spot a file-eared tree frog, also known as the polypedates otilophus in the rhacophoridae family. This large, pale brown frog dwells near breeding ponds and can grow up to four inches long.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
Lycian Tombs Embody Spirit of Ancient Society
Turkey's Turquoise Coast is a beautiful sight to see, and the area's historical significance makes this a must see on your Greece and Turkey cruise itinerary. The ancient Lycian civilization that once populated this region of Turkey is one of the most fascinating of its time, and many monuments, tombs and other structures carved into limestone hills and cliffs are still standing.
Travel enthusiasts and history buffs alike will enjoy International Expeditions' Turkey and Greece cruise. You travel along the Turquoise Coast and take in the sight of the sparkling blue sea before the cruise heads up the Dalyan River. Along the coast are tall cliffs and peppered into the rocky sides are some of the most elaborate ancient carved tombs from Lycian times — and they are sure to boggle the mind. These are the most intricately-designed and largest tombs built by the ancient civilization.
The Turquoise Coast region of Turkey was once home to the Lycian people, who were sandwiched between the ancient Greeks and Eastern people. This exposure to vastly different civilizations led the Lycians to develop a unique culture that can be seen clearly in ancient art and architecture.
Their civilization was the last in the region to be overtaken by the Roman Empire, and many of their monuments are still standing throughout the area, including tombs that showcase the Lycians' devotion to ancestral worship. Archeologists speculate that Lycians carved their tombs into rocks because they represented the strength of the gods, a belief that likely trickled down from the ancient civilzations that predated the Lycians. The tombs were also engraved with symbols and images such as lions, which were used as royal symbols and often incorporated into their tomb designs.
The tombs also stand out against other civilizations' funeral traditions because of where they were built. The Lycians believed that the souls of the deceased traveled to the afterlife with the help of a winged creature. Historians speculate this is why their tombs were built into cliffs and along the coast, but they were also located very near inhabited areas. Ancient Greeks separated the dead from the living, but the Lycians built their tombs right in the cities, in a similar fashion to ancient Eastern practice.
The ancient tombs that line the harbors of the Turquoise Coast and the cliffs along Turkey's Dalyan River make it easy to see how ancient Greek and Asian civilizations influenced the Lycians' unique culture. The sight of such well-preserved examples of the ancient society is more than enough to take your breath away, or at least have you reaching for your camera as you cruise down the Dalyan River.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
You might also like:
Sample Traditional Indonesian Food in Borneo's Sarawak
While the nature travel experiences of a Borneo tour are unrivaled, the culinary experiences there might rank just as high.
Traditional Indonesian food is found throughout Kuching, the capital of the largest state of Borneo. However, the state of Sarawak has its own unique cuisine that should not be missed!
Local delicacies such as kolo mee, Sarawak laksa, kueh chap and tomato sauce keuy teow are a few entrees that visitors to this city may find on the menu. Kolo mee contains traditional yellow egg noodles with minced pork or beef that’s been marinated in fish and soy sauce and then mixed with veggies, vinager, garlic, pepper powder and corn or potato flour. Sarawak laksa is made from a base of sambal Bbelacan with sour tamarind, garlic, galangal, lemongrass and coconut milk, topped with bean sprouts, chicken strips, shrimp, omelette strips and fresh coriander.
Other options you might want to sample during a night out at a local restaurant during your Borneo tour include a bowl of kueh chap. Kueh chap ismade succulent by its squarish, flat and flimsy noodles that are served with dried tauhu and generous amounts of pork — lean and fatty cuts of meat as well as other organs that are accented with a hard boiled egg.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
The Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt, has long-been known as the final resting place of Egypt’s rulers, and is where famed Pharaoh Tutankhamen was unearthed in 1922. Now another remarkable discovery has been made in the valley. The Associated Press reports that Swiss and Egyptian archeologists discovered the tomb of female singer Nehmes Bastet, who may have been some what of a pop star during her time. Mansour Boraiq, one of the top officials of Luxor's Antiquities Ministry, told the AP that "it is the only tomb of a woman not related to the ancient Egyptian royal families ever found in the Valley of the Kings."
The inscription on Nehmes Bastet's tomb indicates that she was a temple singer during the 22nd Dynasty (945-712 B.C.). Hers is not the only non-royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings, but the others in the region belong to notable males from Egyptian history. This discovery reveals that in the later years of pharaonic Egypt, those other than royalty were given elaborate burials as well, although Bastet's tomb was far less decorated and ornate than those of pharaohs.
This discovery is a prime example of how little we know about ancient Egypt, and new artifacts are being unearthed all the time. Travelers on IE’s Wings Over the Nile tour get a firsthand look at the Valley of the Kings during their Egypt tour.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries, visit our Nile Cruise section.
You might also like:
Scientists Discover World's Smallest Frogs in Papua New Guinea
Perhaps the fact that the Paedophryne genus is made up of four of the 10 smallest frog species in the world is the reason it took scientists so long to discover two of them. The Paedrophryne amauensis and swiftorum, both found in Papua New Guinea, are the making headlines as the smallest frogs in the world. Discovery News reports that the amauensis is a mere 7.7 millimeters long and the swiftorum comes in at just over 8 mm.
"It was particularly difficult to locate Paedophryne amauensis due to its diminutive size and the males' high-pitched insect-like mating call," scientist Chris Austin from Louisiana State University, who discovered the tiny creatures, told Discovery News. It was once thought that diminutive frogs such as these newly-catalogued amphibians were only genetic oddities, but the discovery of more miniature frogs has many scientists convinced that they could well be a "previously unrecognized ecological guild."
If you are thinking about a Papua New Guinea tour for your next adventure, be sure to mind where you're going and tread lightly, as these little frogs love to spend their time hidden on the rainforest floor.
For the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries., visit our Travel News section.
- 1 of 37
- ››
