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If you want to keep secretes, kill everybody who knows. The same could be said if you want to ruin a good thing tell somebody about it. If you want the whole world to know feature it in a movie. The islands of the Koh Phi Phi island group in southern Thailand were featured in the movie The Beach. If you are not familiar with the story line, some young travelers discover this fantastic spot in Thailand and decide to make their version of utopia and keep it secrete at all costs, had they been successful this would still be a small island group that few but the most hardy backpackers would visit.
When the movie The Beach was made here there were not many that knew about this beautiful island group of Stonehenge like monoliths that stick out of the pond like waters of the Andaman Sea. Clad in deep jungle greenery they have a forbidding yet enticing aura about them. The white sand beaches look like everyone's picture of tropical paradise with palm trees thick at the top with green pods of coconuts waiting to drop their sweet milk for thirsty travelers.
Today the thirsty travelers come in the form of herds of young backpackers which jam the center of the dog bone shaped main island at night milling in streams propelled by the ever present urban thump. By day these hordes descend on the beaches and lay in clumps of self basting & baking kids. Bars, stores, coffee shops, travel agents, discos even a very popular 7-11 feed the needs of these adventure seekers many of whom sport bandages and crutches from spills and thrills of rock climbing, cliff jumping and jungle expeditions to find water falls.
The waters around Koh Phi Phi are not safe not because of the animals in the water but because of the poor water treatment Streptococcus a particular nasty skin eating bug is around and other ailments as well so it pays to take care of even the smallest scratches here so that you don't end up in the emergency room having pieces of skin cut out.
The other thing to watch out for is your wallet as they are firm believers in price fixing from internet to scuba diving they have some of the highest prices in Thailand and they do not negotiate at all if you are a bargain seeker give this place a wide berth. Cheap hotels in every sense of the term are priced like 3 star hotels else where we did not see any places that delivered value to price with the exceptions of The Phi Phi Hotel which was quoting off season rates seemed to be the only hotel that had a clue.
In the period before the islands here became famous this was a great place to come and hang out for weeks at a time, today however it is another paradise lost.
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Have your ever returned from a much anticipated and well-deserved vacation feeling let down and exhausted? Oftentimes, our choices in vacation spots put us at the epicenter of everything we are trying to escape. For your getaway, consider one of these remote locations that will let you truly get away from it all.
Bald Head Island, NC
Located two miles off the coast of southeastern North Carolina, for vacationers, Bald Head Island holds the promise of peace and relaxation. The island is named for its 110-foot tall, 5-foot thick brick and plaster lighthouse. No longer active, Old Baldy has stood as a faithful sentinel since 1817. Because the island is only accessible by private boat or ferry, it is seldom crowded. Its main modes of transportation are golf cart, bicycle, and flip flops. A true island, Bald Head is located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River where it enters the Atlantic Ocean. An escape to Bald Head will enable you to explore its pristine beaches and maritime forest, as did early Native Americans, European settlers, and Spanish sailors.
Since Bald Head's is located in a subtropical climate, visitors can experience all it offers year round. Enjoy quiet walks, shell hunting, limitless water sports, and golf. A climb to the top of Old Baldy for unparalleled views is a must. Choose from a stay in a quaint beach house, oceanfront cottage, or bed and breakfast. A few specialty shops are on the island, as well as a small grocery store, marina, and several restaurants. Should you need a break from island life, the historic village of Southport is a short boat ride away. With a charming historic district, shops, and eateries, Southport is an excellent choice for a day trip.
Lancaster County, PA
Often referred to as Pennsylvania-Dutch country, Lancaster County has long been a favorite vacation spot. Historic river towns, quaint villages, and lush Pennsylvania countryside hold appeal year round. After you have toured the Amish countryside, clattered over a few covered bridges and had your fill of Amish specialties, it's time to put your laptop and smart phone away, because you won't need them on your working farm vacation. In Lancaster County, agritourism is a trend that has really taken off. Pennsylvania boasts over 20 such working farms and they are an ideal place to escape the stress of city life.
From a full country breakfast on an organic farm, accommodations in a stone bed and breakfast or a full-scale dairy operation with your own cabin, the choice is up to you. There are also gentlemen's farms, where guests pursue pastimes such as hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. The wonderful thing about a farm holiday is that you get plenty of fresh air and exercise, plus the self-satisfaction of a job well done. Don't worry - there is still plenty of time for relaxation and exploring the beautiful countryside, after the chores are finished!
Ojo Caliente, New Mexico
If rejuvenation and total relaxation is what you seek, look to the tiny community of Ojo Caliente, NM. Located amidst scenic desert plateaus, mesas, and stunning mountain ranges, people have come here to experience the healing waters of its hot springs for centuries. In spite of its remote location, during the 15th century it was home to thousands of indigenous people and also discovered by Spanish conquistadors during their search for the Fountain of Youth. Today it is home to around one thousand residents and the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Spa. Since "spa" is an acronym for "salus per aquas," which means "health through water," Ojo Caliente is the perfect vacation spot for physical and mental renewal.
Its small town sprang up when the facility opened in 1868 as the country's first natural health spa. It was a frequent stop for frontiersmen and scouts making their way west. Visitors to the spa can experience full scale pampering and choose between several mineral pools, a mud pool, several types of therapeutic massage, and yoga. There are excellent accommodations on site as well as an inn in the small town. Although there are only a few restaurants, they have received favorable reviews. Shopping in Ojo Caliente is a unique experience where visitors can find healing crystals, herbal remedies, and handmade jewelry. Four mild seasons and the opportunity for skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and river rafting also make this New Mexico gem an ideal spot for a trip.
Pahoa, Hawaii
For a unique island getaway, consider escaping to Pahoa, Hawaii. Do not expect high-rise luxury hotels or upscale shopping and dining venues. Pahoa represents rural "Old Hawaii," and retains its Victorian charm. Rich farmland made it the tropical flower-anthurium and papaya capital of the world in the 1960's. Considered by many to be a "New Age" center, it is located just inland in the rainforest region, on the southeastern edge of the Big Island of Hawaii. Explore Pahoa's quaint downtown, which thanks to its old-fashioned storefronts and wooden walk ways is reminiscent of the Victorian era Old West. Locally owned shops and cafes line the streets and the village is dotted with a few health food stores and yoga centers.
Accommodations range from lushly landscaped rainforest bungalows to charming bed and breakfasts and the crown jewel of Pahoa, the Village Inn, which has served guests since 1910. Diversions include treks to nearby orchid farms, several black sand beaches, and the Lava Tree State Park. For the truly adventurous, there's the Hedonisia Eco-Hostel and Rainforest Farm. Volunteers and tourists from around the world rotate in and out to live and work for a minimum of fifteen hours a week in exchange for rustic, yet charming accommodations. If this sounds like your dream vacation, pour yourself a cup of rich Kona coffee, have some pineapple upside down cake and start planning your trip to paradise!
Anaconda, Montana
Welcome to Big Sky Country! A vacation to this neck of the woods means setting your own pace and enjoying all the natural wonders that southwestern Montana has to offer. A great place to do just that is Anaconda, Montana, whose motto is "Where Main Street Meets the Mountains". Visitors can tour Anaconda's lovely historic district on a vintage red bus, wander through its quaint antique shops, and sample local favorites at several cafes and restaurants. Accommodations here include small, family owned hotels, a number of bed and breakfasts, plus the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, which is just 12 miles away.
An outdoor enthusiast's dream, Anaconda offers year round activities from alpine sports to golf to fishing and hunting. Nature lovers will love the scenic hiking trails, mountain vistas, and opportunities to see birds of prey, Canada Geese, Bighorn Sheep, and mountain goats. Day trips to the surrounding area offer rock hounding sites, ghost towns, and gold mines. For a tourist destination far from the stresses of endless commuting and big city hustle and bustle, you cannot beat Anaconda.
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The US mainland receives numerous farm exports from the islands of Hawaii. In 2008, Hawaii cattle exports topped the charts, followed by nursery exports, then sugar/molasses and finally seed exports. A lesser-known export from Hawaii includes coffee, more specifically, Kona coffee. In fact, Hawaii is the only US state that produces the most coffee.
According to the USDA, Hawaii coffee production for the 2009-2010 season is estimated at 8.00 million pounds (parchment basis). It is also reported that this estimated amount is down 8% from the previous year due to dry weather in Kona, insect damage and volcanic smoke.
Kona is located on the Big Island of Hawaii in the famous Kona Coffee Belt. The Big Island offers the most acreage of coffee farming although there is also acreage on other islands such as Kauai, Oahu and Maui. There are approximately 600 coffee farms on the Big Island. Most of the Kona production is prime or better. It is mainly cultivated and harvested by hand and the belt offers superior growing conditions for the beans.
Hawaii's coffee industry has actually been in existence since the 1800's. According to the Hawaii Coffee Association, coffee trees arrived in Hawaii in the early 1800s on a British warship. The trees originally came from Brazil. The industry has experienced ups and downs due to insects and economics, but in the last 10 years, it has really expanded. There are numerous farms that have become tourist attractions with tours of the plantations and operations to learn coffee how coffee is grown and prepared, from seed to cup.
The growing and cultivating of Kona coffee starts with the growing phase. The Kona coffee plant will begin to produce small white flowers usually in January. Those flowers will become coffee berries that start out green and then transform to red cherries in the fall. The red cherries are then harvested, or picked. The coffee pulper takes the husks off so there is only the pulp, which is stored for fermentation and then dried. There is a grading phase whereby the parchment is removed and then the coffee is sorted by size and density. Finally, the coffee is roasted and ready to be packaged!
Coffee from Hawaii is becoming more and more common but more often than not, coffee sold with Hawaiian beans are merely blends. Some blends only contain 10% Hawaiian beans. Consumers must read the labels to determine the percentage of Hawaiian vs. other coffee beans. There are coffees with 100% Hawaiian coffee, or more specifically Kona coffee that may be a bit more expensive.
Coffee, including coffee from Hawaii, is believed to have some health benefits. Coffee is a great source of antioxidants which prevents or slows oxidative damage to our bodies. Coffee drinkers also have a lowered risk of developing certain illnesses such as diabetes or Parkinson's. Coffee can also stimulate the brain & nervous system while also providing relief from headaches.
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