Gypsy Camp Blog

We Serve Every day News About Life, Religion, Culture and History

Ecuador For Gay Tour Destinations

Written by Howie Holben on Mar 18th, 2010 | Filed under: Spirituality

Although a small country, Ecuador boasts a wide array of geographic and cultural diversity, including a variety of indigenous groups with distinctive cultures and languages. From snow-capped volcanoes and rainforests to tropical shorelines, Ecuador has varying landscapes and climates, making it wonderful for gay tours or exciting adventures a great idea any time of the year.

While the Galapagos Islands are perhaps the most frequently visited attraction in Ecuador, the mainland is also filled with numerous activities and sightseeing opportunities that ensure gay tours to Ecuador will be exciting, fulfilling and memorable. Whether you seek an outdoor adventure, a spiritual journey or gay travel that consists of exploring the LGBT community in Quito, trekking through the rainforest and spending lazy afternoons on the beach, you will surely see why so many travelers return to this popular tourist destination year after year.

Travelers will find that Quito is largely the center of LGBT life and has the most visible community. This is particularly true in the La Mariscal neighborhood, which is the location of the Quito Pride celebration each year in June, as well as the district where LGBT-friendly clubs, bars, cafs and other establishments can be found. This bohemian neighborhood is a popular afternoon hangout and is the place to go for a night on the town on Fridays and Saturdays.

Aside from La Mariscal, this city that sits at 9,200 feet above sea level, yet still lower than the nearby Pichincha volcano that rises to 13,000 feet, has much to offer, including streets lined with cafs, art galleries and shops, and a historic district that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local attractions include the Capilla del Hombre Guayasamin, the Museo de la Ciudad, the Centro de Arte Contemporaneo and the many stalls of handicrafts in the Parque el Ejido.

Since the late 1990s, legal rights have expanded in Ecuador with protections that make gay vacations to this beautiful country safer and more enjoyable. However, discretion in public is still a good idea in many places, particularly due to the high level of machismo the still permeates the culture. Those who are considering gay vacations to Ecuador may want to take advantage of pre-arranged gay tours, which allow for a higher level of security and a focus on fun, while travel professionals manage logistical aspects of the voyage and ensure that you will not miss out on some of the most appealing cultural, historic and natural attractions that Ecuador has to offer.

This will allow you to focus on enjoying your Ecuador trip, while professionals manage the logistics of the journey and make sure you do not miss out on the most enticing natural, cultural and historic attractions.

Thoughts about Ecuador written by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys list of gay guides is amazing. Their gay travel in 2010 is well rounded.


Discover the Sights and Sounds of Cambodia

Written by Jimmy Bou on Mar 14th, 2010 | Filed under: Culture

Cambodia houses many tourist attractions which can draw anyone’s attention towards its north-western province, Battambang, in particular to Batambang city. It does not take an expert eye to observe the unique French features in Battambang city’s structures especially in Buddha temples, on the other some French shops offering some rather highly unique items also remind us of the French influence. Battambang city is a perfect place to relax your nerves as the city offers serenity and harmony on top of the lovely countryside.

The Royal Palace of Cambodia standing in the capital city, Phnom Penh, is a very popular location among tourists. Phnom Penh has a special feature that it is located at an area where three rivers meet. The Royal Palace is considered to be a structure containing many priceless artifacts and treasures, while it’s located along side the river Tonle Sap adds to the grandeur of the famous building. The Royal Palace holds ‘The Throne Room’ which only hints towards the highly traditional ceremonial life led by the Kings, on the other hand, ‘The Napoleon Room’ is a distinct evidence of the immense level of French influence on the Cambodian culture. Despite all the attractions, the ‘Silver Pagoda’ catches everyone’s attention as it holds a truly amazing Buddhist statue made of solid gold, moreover, it is adorned with magnificent gems including diamonds. A visit to Silver Pagoda is part of every tourist’s schedule because of the magnificent Buddha gold statue. Apart from the too-good-to-be-true statue placed in ‘Silver pagoda’ the whole Palace has countless little Buddha figurines also made of gold.

You can always visit Phnom Penh’s markets to get to purchase some items having historical significance, meanwhile breathtaking gold and silver jewelry offered there also acts as a major attractive force for tourists. As a tourist you will get value for your money in the Cambodian markets, as ancient coins, high-quality clothing, beautiful artworks and delicious traditional food can make up your tour to Cambodia a resounding success.

Spectacular frescoes decorating the Palace’s walls very accurately depict the epic Ramayana, while you can also set your eyes on works of art both pre-Angkor and post-Angkor in the beautiful National Museum made of red brick.

In your trip to Cambodia you should also visit ‘Angkor’ which was the capital city of the Khmer Empire and is regarded as a center of Hinduism in the region because of its magnificent temples. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are two of the most famous tourist attractions in the city; meanwhile, the highly decorated gates of two temples in Bayon and Prohm are also worth visiting. Despite the fact that the city hasn’t retained its old glory and grandeur, it still has a touch of mystery and you will be fascinated by its sights and places.

Sihanoukville is a port and is quickly developing as a beach resort for tourists. The beach has to offer a lot to tourists as you can spend time swimming, scuba diving or getting a tan under the beautiful sun. Boats are available for tourists to venture further into the waters and have a closer look at the magnificent types of fish and sea creatures, while many tourists also enjoy making trips to close by islands.

Find out more about Cambodian entertainment like Khmer movies and Khmer dubbed at www.KhmerAccess.com


What Is The Importance Of International Program For Students?

Written by Adriana Noton on Mar 11th, 2010 | Filed under: Culture

In high school, students are given opportunities that will shape who they are and help them to become the very best. One of those programs is the international program for students. This is a program that allows high school aged kids to go to another country and attend school for a semester. While some students want to do this, many parents want to know of the importance of international program for students. Let us help you to understand.

One of the first things that high school students gain from this sort of experience is that they are able to look at the place in which they live and find why they love it so much. They get to see how other places differ. This way they recognize all the great things they have.

One of the major things they will learn first hand is the governmental systems. Each government system is different. Some are different for the good. Others are different for the worse. They can see these and they also get to see how these governments affect the people in which they govern.

They get to see the differences in the school system. While some school systems are great, there are some that are really not on top of the game. They do not benefit those students who have to learn with this system. They get to see how those students thrive and survive.

International students at an independent high school are immersed with a new culture. They learn to speak as the natives speak. They go to different events that they might or might not know much about. They will be a part of this culture and are expected to assimilate as best as possible. This can be a great challenge, but as they learn to adjust they get to have an open mind about things.

They will learn to accept other cultures. This is something that we don’t teach our children enough of. They are taught to see the negatives in people and not the positives. With doing this program at a preparatory school, they have a chance in which they can see both. Not every society is bad. You can learn a few things from other cultures and this is how they can learn to do so.

They are on their own so they have to keep their head above water. They have a host family, but the host family is not there to raise them. They are there to give them food and shelter and act as the person that they go to when it comes to legal matters and such, but they are put into this situation where they have to learn everything and make it on their own.

Above all, they get to see and go someplace which many people miss the chance on. They are put in a one on one learning situation. They will learn how to do things differently. They will interact with people that they never thought they would have the chance to interact with. That is what this program is all about. It’s giving student the opportunity to stand up for their country, but to learn from another.

Attending the best Toronto private schools is greatly beneficial to students later in life, especially regarding prospective scholarships. Alternatively, your education may also be enriched through an efficient and practical Toronto prep school.