After I had received a general overview of the history of the Orlando area in the Orange County Regional History Center, I wanted to delve a little deeper into the social history of the Orlando area, and the Wells Built Museum of African American History and Culture was going to give me a more in-depth look into Orlando’s African American history.

To this day this area west of I-4 is primarily inhabited by African Americans and the difference in housing and facilities between this area and the downtown area is quite notable. As a matter of fact, the very name “Division Street” points to a distinct historical line of demarcation between black and white residential areas.

The origins of the Wells Built Museum date back to a prominent local African physician by the name of Dr. William Monroe Wells who started building the Well’s Built Hotel in 1926 to provide lodging to African Americans during an era of segregation when accommodations were not available to them in other areas of Central Florida.

Next door to the Wells’ Built was once the South Street Casino, a performance hall, which featured musicians that traveled the ‘Chitlin Circuit’ performing for audiences all over the country. The hotel opened with three storefronts on the first floor and hotel rooms on the second floor.

Dr. William Monroe Wells was one of Orlando’s first black physicians and came to the area in 1917. Born in Ft. Gaines, Georgia, in 1889, Dr. Wells completed his medical training at Meharry Medical College. During part of WWII, Dr. William Monroe Wells was the only African American physician in Orlando.

During segregation, white physicians did not treat African American patients. African American doctors, therefore, earned their money from people of their own race. He worked very hard to serve the growing African American population in Orlando. With the help of his assistant, Mrs. Josie Belle Jackson, Dr. Wells is known to have delivered over 5,000 babies in Orlando.

He treated patients who suffered from pneumonia, influenza, scarlet fever and other serious illnesses before drugs like penicillin were introduced. Many of Dr. Wells’ patients were extremely poor. He treated their illnesses though they many times could not afford to pay his fee. This allowed them to speak forcefully against poor conditions that existed in the African American community without fear of losing their livelihood.

Although African Americans were taxpayers like other residents of Orlando, they did not have access to recreational facilities, good schools, police protection, health care and other services that were provided to white citizens. This led him to build the South Street Casino and the hotel next door.

Dr. Wells booked bands and other big name entertainers to perform at the South Street Casino. Many famous performers that we know today played at South Street Casino within the Chitlin Circuit. A few examples of these performers are:

- Ray Charles
- B.B. King
- Louis Armstrong
- Guitar Slim
- Bo Diddley

African Americans came from all over the surrounding areas to Orlando to shop and take in performances of popular musicians at the South Street Casino. After the performances at the casino, the artists checked in at the historic Wells’ Built Hotel. In its heyday, the Wells’ Built provided lodging for clientele such as Pegleg Bates, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Campenella, Thurgood Marshall, and Jackie Robinson. The entertainers and athletes who frequented this establishment made it one of the most popular venues for African Americans in the South.

Today the museum features over 6,000 square feet of display space. It retains the original hotel facade, a guestroom featuring authentic furniture, beading and decorations of the 1930′s, and also bears an original interior wall reflecting important architectural elements and designs unique to the period. Exhibition material collected for display include: official hotel documents, an original Negro League baseball jersey, photographs, artifacts, books, multi-media exhibits, slave records and other items of historic significance.

Dr. Well’s home has been moved to the site of the Casino and will be restored and opened to the public. The Well’s Built Museum of African American Culture and History is located just west of I-4 near Church Street at 511 West South Street, Orlando 32801, tel. (407) 245-7535.

All roads lead to Rome, or so the saying goes. So if you like traveling, why not roam your way to Rome to see what it has to offer.

My first visit to Rome was in my teens, when I traveled there with my parents and my best friend from school. My parents were not particularly religious although they christened me at 11 months and apart from 2 visits to Sunday school, that was the beginning and end of my religious education.

Religious beliefs aside, I can honestly say that I was awe struck when I first went there. The greatest inspiration came to me by way of St Peters Basilica. As a teenager, I cannot express the wonder, amazement and perfection of the huge human statues and the absolutely beautiful art with the use of breathtaking color. Skies that looked so perfect, colors as I could only dream about using. Where did that talent come from? Obviously, Micheal Angelo’s art has it’s place in history along with the agonies he undoubtedly underwent to achieve such great work. What a gift to the world.

I was also quite captivated by the idea of the Trevi Fountain. My father told me of the tradition of throwing a coin into the fountain. Anyone throwing a coin into the fountain is guaranteed to return to Rome. I gleefully threw my coin and couldn’t wait to return. Many decades elapsed before I did indeed return to Rome, when I had begun to believe that the whole thing was a load of hokum pokum.

There are many other places to visit in Rome (e.g. The Sistine Chapel, The Parthenon, Spanish Steps, The Colosseum, The Ancient Ruins, etc) but I wanted to share the two places that particularly inspired me.

I would caution any graying man in his late forties from having his hair cut in Rome, if my fathers experience was any example. When he returned from his visit to the barber his hair was jet black – some mix up in language I assume. My friend and I spent the remainder of our 2 week holiday in Rome laughing uncontrollably. Much to the annoyance of my father.

When traveling in Asia make sure you try some of the tasty local cuisine. There are many exotic dishes to choose from but these are the ones we highly recommend:

Beef Rendang

As Indonesian and Malaysian citizens debate which country was the original inventor of this dish, delicious servings keep coming up in both countries. Slowly cooked in coconut milk, the variety of spices used are absorbed into the meat, enhancing the flavour. It’s commonly served with rice.

Pad Thai

Who would have thought noodles could taste so good? Try some from a street stall or cart in any Thai town. For around a dollar, you are unlikely to be disappointed. To eat the way the locals do, help yourself to the condiments available, by adding in some chilli, vinegar, sugar and maybe a bit of fish sauce and then mix it all up.

Bibimbap

Arguably Korea’s best dish, bibimbap mixes vegetables, meat and rice with some chilli sauce in a bowl. Dolsot bibimbap comes in a hot stone bowl, giving the rice a nice crispy texture. Make sure you stir it all up for a nice even result!

Peking Duck

One of the secrets that make Peking Duck so delicious is that ducks earmarked to become “Peking ducks” are specially raised and slaughtered with their final purpose in mind! A duck is a lot for one person to eat, so go along with a group and enjoy the fun. Chefs sometimes cut up the duck in front of diners. From there it’s self service, with each diner adding a little duck, hoisin or sweet bean sauce, and some thin spring onion strips to their own soft, tasty pancake which they wrap before eating.

Laksa

Popular in Malaysia and Singapore, there are several variants of this tasty soup. It usually contains noodles and tofu, possibly coconut milk and then a variety of seafood for that version, or chicken for the non seafood inclined. With so many variants, find a local stall and take the plunge!

Tempura

Batters on traditional fish and chips are usually tasty, but can be a bit too crunchy on occasion. How the Japanese manage to make their tempura batters so incredibly delicate and soft might just be a mystery to some fish and chip shop owners! Prawn tempura is a popular favourite, with fish being another option. A good range of vegetables including capsicum get the tempura treatment. Eggplant is a beauty! Whilst in Japan, look out for tempura lunch sets which can be great value, including not just tempura, but often rice, pickles and some miso soup.

Yum-Cha / Dim Sum

OK, the author doesn’t know all the names of those succulent little Chinese treats, tantalisingly brought around, trolley after trolley, but in any case, they are too numerous to name! With popular staples like spring rolls and pork dumplings, there’s something for those a little scared of the more exotic offerings. Point and pick selection ensures culinary heaven is just seconds away!

Cheap Travel Insurance might be able to help with the doctor’s bill, if one gets a bit too adventurous with chillis.

The Orchard Road in Singapore is truly a shopper’s paradise with a multitude of shops containing an exclusive range of items. Before commercial development prompted the huge influx of buildings the area was abundant with plantations and orchards and this resulted in the name Orchard Street.

During the 1860′s the road was occupied by many bungalows and private houses and towards the early 20th century the road was noted for its serene and elegant environment with many dazzling mansions. At present this venue has become a favorite destination among both locals and tourists for its diverse collection of shops, boutiques and restaurants. This central shopping area provides an unparrarel experience for everyone as most of the shopping malls have almost everything under one roof. It excels in terms of quality and quantity and never leaves shoppers disappointed.

The largest shopping mall in Orchard Road is Ngee Ann City which comprises upscale boutiques such as Louis Vuittion and Vacheron Constantin as well as Southeast Asia’s biggest bookstore, Books Kinokuniya. Wisma Atria is an excellent venue for the whole family as it is equipped with an aquarium and a massive food court with the capacity of 900 seats. Other malls include Pinoy Palace, Wheelock Place, The Paragon, Tang Plaza, Forum the Shopping Mall and Orchard Point. Many distinctive local dishes as well as French, American and Swiss cuisine are available at the array of restaurants at Orchard Road. Visitors can enjoy their favorite meals at this diverse range of restaurants which include Maison de Fontaine, Song of India, Mezza 9, Les Amis and Canele Patisserie Chocalaterie.

Orchard Road is also home to many graceful hotels such as the Orchard Hotel Singapore which consists of a range of elegant accommodation facilities as well as award winning cafes and restaurants. On the northern side of Orchard road is the Botanic Gardens and next to Emerald Hill you will find Cold Storage which is the oldest corporate establishment in the vicinity.

A trip to Singapore is not complete without a shopping interlude. Orchard road excels as the prime destination for a one of a kind shopping experience and Orchard Hotel Singapore is ideal to lounge in after an overwhelming day of shopping.

Are you planning on going on a cruise? Well if this is your very first time, you may not be very sure what to expect. Having a few tips to help you out can be very helpful to you. So, here are some important cruise travel tips to keep in mind when you go on a cruise.

Tip #1 – Have a Carry On Bag – The first one of cruise travel tips that you’ll need to remember if you’re going on a cruise is to make sure that you have a carry on bag. Once you get on the ship, you’ll want to visit your cabin but you can’t expect your baggage to show up for awhile. So, it’s a good idea to have a carry on that has some clothes and a few essential toiletries on hand.

Tip #2 – Get a Map of the Ship – Cruise ships are huge. You don’t want to get lost and a map can definitely be a huge help to you. Make sure you have the map and take a bit to look it over so that you’ll be able to more easily get around the ship.

Tip #3 – Walk to Where You’re Going – When you are going to dinner or you are going to a show on board, you may want to walk wherever you are going. You’ll find that the elevators are probably going to be full and often many people are trying to wait for an elevator and they may not be in a great mood. So, just go ahead and take a stroll and get a bit of exercise walking to wherever you need to go.

Tip #4 – Keep the Noise Down at Night – If you are out late at night, make sure that you keep the noise down. You don’t want to go around slamming the doors of your cabin, since it can wake many people around you up. So, have some courtesy and shut your doors as quietly as possible to avoid encounters with grumpy cruise mates.

Tip #5 – Avoid Wearing Expensive Jewelry – When you are on a cruise ship, don’t go around wearing your most expensive jewelry so everyone can see it. Of course there will be some formal dinners where you will want to look great, but leave the most expensive jewelry at home. You may become the victim or a thief if you go around flaunting expensive jewelry.

Tip #6 – Tip Generously, is the last one of the cruise travel tips listed here; When you are out there on a cruise, make sure that you tip generously whenever possible. Most of the people on the ship make very little money except for by your tips. So, make sure that you are kind enough and generous to give a great tip.

Finally, make your cruise travel memorable and all that you want it to be by doing a lot of planning before you travel.

You would think that with gas prices on the rise that RVs would not remain a popular travel choice. However, this is not the case. The number of recreational vehicle owners continues to rise. People who are retired are not the only ones buying either-families are buying them as well. The freedom and adventure of traveling in RVs will continue to make them a great way to travel.

Comfort

When you travel in RVs, you never have to worry about getting hotel or dinner reservations. The words “roughing it” and “camping” take on whole new definitions as well. You can simply drive to your favorite camping spot, park and you are ready to go. You will be able to sleep in a comfortable bed, cook on a stove (or in a microwave in some RVs) and even relax to your favorite CD under the stars.

Spontaneity

Although you may spend time planning your next adventure in an RV, traveling in RVs makes it much easier to be flexible in your travel plans. If you decide that you want to stay a little longer, or cut your visit short, you just do it. You don’t have to worry about an extra fee for changing your reservations, or worry about whether you will even be able to catch a different flight.

Cost Benefits of RVs

Although you may spend more money on fuel, you will save money on both food and lodging costs when you travel in a recreational vehicle. The convenience of traveling this way can also be seen as a “cost” savings.

Social Life

Recreational vehicle owners are a very social group and they like to meet others who share their travel interests. You can join one of the many recreational vehicle clubs available-or you can just start talking.

AUSTRIA

The world’s best music festivals. The world’s biggest and most famous music festival is the Salzburg Festival. Other important Austrian melomaniac delights include the Haydn Festival in Vienna and the International Chamber Music Festival. Tickets to the festivals are cheapest if you buy them in Austria. “Tickets for Events in Austria” is an information sheet which is available from Austrian National Tourist Office, tel. (212)944-6880; website: http://www.austria-tourism.at.

The world’s best horsemanship. The 400-year-old Spanish Riding School, located in the Hofburg, trains the noble white stallions that descend from the Spanish horses imported to Austria by Emperor Maximilian II in the 16th century. The horses dance to Viennese music, guided by expert riders wearing the traditional gold-buttoned brown uniform and gold-braided black hat. Performances are held at the school most Sunday mornings at 10:45 a.m. and occasional Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. from March to June and September to December. It’s difficult to get tickets; write six months in advance to the Spanische Reitschule, Hofburg, A-1010 Vienna, Austria; tel. (43)1-533-9031.

The most romantic hotel. Less than an hour from Vienna, the Schloss Durnstein, tel. (43)2-711-212, presides over a wide curve of the Danube River. Located deep in the wine district of Wachsu, this magnificent castle is surrounded by distinctive vine-clad hills, age-old ruins and timeless picturesque villages with one-lane streets. According to the legend, it was here that the imprisoned King Richard the Lionhearted was reunited with his faithful minstrel, who had sung his way across Europe searching for his master. Also intriguing is the wine cellar (which can accommodate 8,000 “buckets” of wine), the arch-crossed cobbled courtyard and the 33 rooms all with chandeliers fronting the Danube.

GERMANY

Heidelberg, the most romantic town. Heidelberg is the hub of German Romanticism. Schumann began his career as a Romantic composer in this pretty town and Goethe fell in love here. Heidelberg is also the oldest university town in Germany and the site of scenes from the movie and opera The Student Prince. The best place to ramble in Heidelberg is the Haupstrasse, which is lined with coffeehouses and little shops. Have a drink in one of the cafes beneath the rathaus. Or meander along Philosopher’s Walk, where Goethe and Hegel wandered. From the path you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the city and Heidelberg Castle. Don’t leave town without visiting the Electoral Palatinate Museum, where the 500,000-year-old jawbone of Heidelberg Man is kept.

Germany’s best fish market. The best fish market in Germany is held on Sunday mornings in Hamburg. This raucous but fun affair is located by the docks in Altona and begins at 5 a.m.

Worms: the strangest history. The city of Worms has a strange name and an even stranger history. It was named for a legendary giant worm with fangs and webbed feet that lived in the Rhine and demanded human sacrifices. Worms was the fifth-century capital of the legendary Nibelungs. The tribe left the area, according to legend, after the wicked Hagen slew their hero, Siegfried and threw their treasure into the river. A huge statue of Hagen commemorates the story. The town was destroyed in A.D. 436 by Attila the Hun. In the center of the town’s old section is the tall, spired Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, built in the 11th and 12th centuries. Worms has a huge statue of Martin Luther; the oldest synagogue in Germany, built in the 11th century and restored in 1961; and the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Tombstones date from the 11th century.

Hitler’s favorite hideout. The Kehlsteinhouse (also known as Eagle’s Nest), perched on a rocky crag above the town of Berchtesgaden, was Hitler’s favorite hideout. No wonder-the view from the hideaway-turned-restaurant is exhilarating. Anyone could develop delusions of grandeur here. Alpine peaks rise above cottony clouds at this level. The snow at their summits glistens in the sun. Below, a thick carpet of dark green pines stretches toward the valley. The road to Eagle’s Nest is so steep and dangerous that cars are not allowed to use it; you must take a special bus from the Obersalzberg-Hintereck parking lot. You can dine in the restaurant from mid-May through mid-October.

The world’s best passion play. Every 10 years, the world’s most moving passion play is performed in the shadows of the Alps in the little artisan town of Oberammergau. From May through September in years ending in zero, local amateur actors put aside their daily professions and devote themselves entirely to the play. Written in the 17th century, it enacts Christ’s suffering between the Last Supper and his death. Villagers have performed the play every 10 years since the 17th century, when they vowed they would perform the passion if the black plague ceased. It did and they have. The picturesque Passionsspielhaus (Passion play Theater) can be visited any time of the year. The immense open-air stage holds 700 actors and the theater’s wooden benches hold 5,200 people. You can see the elaborate costumes used during the passion play when you visit. Performances begin at 8:30 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m., with a two-hour break for lunch. The best hotel Oberammergau is the Alois Lang. This quiet place has rooms with private bathrooms and three good dining rooms.

The world’s best asparagus. Every spring, Germans go stalk-raving mad, gorging themselves on the country’s Weisser Spargel, or white asparagus. The German asparagus, introduced 2,000 years ago by the Romans, is plump and ivory white with delicate purple tips. It is prized among epicures, who come from around the world every April, May and June to the world’s asparagus mecca. Asparagus is especially big business in Finthen, near Mainz, where all 5,000 inhabitants are engaged in the cultivation of the white vegetable; in Lampertheim, between Worms and Mannheim, where every housewife grows the prized vegetable in her back yard; in Schrobenhausen, the center of the only area in southern Bavaria where asparagus is grown; and in Tettnang and Schwetzingen, known together as the asparagus capital of Germany.

When you have been on all those places that are posted in brochures or online search results, you sigh and think about the real adventure travel. The kind of travel that can really take on an adventurous turn that can get your adrenaline pumping and your risk taking abilities to another level. Adventure travel does not only involve going to places but performing adventurous activities in that destination. Think of traveling and extreme sports in one package – and usually for bolder individuals with minimal planning and lesser accommodation conveniences.

But of course, you should take into account how far you can go for risky activities and trips. Consider your physical and financial condition. Most people would argue that adventure travel is for the young and fit – but as the modern times have produced better health and longevity, older generation seem to catch up with the craze. It is no longer shocking to see grandma or grandpa skydiving in New Zealand or mid-forties couples hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro. These older generation seem to have better means to access to the most dangerous places any younger generation dare not tread because of pricey adventure tags.

Well, for the younger generation, they can take harsher risks in travel since they can readily recover with their fresh physique and lesser chronic diseases exposure. What they cannot afford in prices they make up with their resilience in getting the best deals of adventure travel. They can go backpacking in all of Europe with the help of people they became friends with online. These people help them out in getting the cheapest but decent accommodations in a country or state. Some young adventurers also happen to use their tech know-how in earning from their adventures like blogging and reviews from their travels. What they earn from their biz online they often use in furthering their travel into the most freshest and undiscovered places all over the globe.

But irregardless of age or budget, adventure travel has become a trend indeed against the boring day tours in African safaris with caged mobiles or the safe deep sea diving in the Australian Barrier Reefs. People have become more and more extreme in terms of activities from white water rafting in the grand rivers of Rio or para-sailing in some of the largest lakes in the world.

Adventure activities include skydiving, bungee jumping, skinny dipping in some of the most dangerous open seas, camping in the deepest jungles of Southern America, skiing over the most dangerous alps, and even purposely being left in the island for survivor-like experiences. The formula for adventure has now become equaled to risks.

Some less extreme adventures also seem to take on the cultural aspect of the travels. Some adventure travelers commune with the locals of their destinations just to know more about the place.

They also tend to actively participate in philanthropic efforts in some of the depressed areas in the globe. Awareness campaigns have been started by these travelers who witnessed first hand the life of the people in the area.

Truly, adventure travel is fast evolving into more than fun, excitement, and adrenaline into global connections and campaigns.

There are people with a spirit of adventure and taste for discovery who always dream of challenging the North Pole, the South Pole, Everest, etc. These people are true adventurists.

Regardless of your age or preference, breathtaking experiences and adventures await you all year round in Russia. From the volcanoes and geysers of Kamchatka, through the Siberian taiga to the mineral spas around the Black Sea coast. Russia has the longest rivers, biggest nature reserves, largest primeval forests, wildest areas, least visited wilderness, and the highest mountains in Europe lie in the Caucasus range with Mount Elbrus, overlooking the rest of Europe from a majestic peak of 29,029 ft. Rafting or skiing, hunting or fishing, jeep safari or snowcat skiing, heli-ski or paraplane, deer-sledge races and horse expeditions, diving or helicopter tours, Pole of Cold expedition or reindeer nomading in Kolyma, the adrenalin rush of mountain climbing or the wonders of nature – only you know what you are capable of. Cooking over an open fire, encounters with wildlife, traditional Russian sauna followed by a snow bath or a dip in an icy lake will give you memories for a lifetime. If you want trips that combine a range of activities from biking, hiking and rafting to sea kayaking, rock climbing and zip-lining, Russia is a place to go! Are you ready for your next challenge?

What will your next Russian adventure be? Here is the top 10 Adventure destinations in Russia.

1. Lake Baikal is the most famous of all nature wonders of Russia and often referred to as the pearl of Siberia. It is not only the deepest and oldest (25 million years) lake of the world, but also an excellent travel destination for those who want to spend their holiday in stunning surroundings of the Siberian wilderness. Lake Baikal offers hot springs, helicopter tours to remote wilderness areas, diving, off-road expeditions, hunting, fishing, mountain climbing, snowcat skiing, heli-skiing, rafting…(

2. Kamchatka was discovered by Russian Cossacks over 3 hundred years ago. However, even today Russians know very little about it, to say nothing about the rest of the world where most people have hardly heard of Kamchatka.This century the airplanes have made Kamchatka closer to Europe and America though not more available.
The Valley of Geysers is the only geyser field in Eurasia (apart from the Mutnovsky geyser field) and the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. This 6 km long basin with approximately ninety geysers and many hot springs is situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, predominantly on the left bank of the ever-deepening Geysernaya River, into which geothermal waters flow from a relatively young strato-volcano, Kikhpinych. It is part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which, in turn, is incorporated into the World Heritage Site “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”. Kamchatka is probably the only place where the saying “Bears walk on the streets of Russia” is true…

3. Chukotka is the easternmost region of Russia and of the whole Eurasian landmass. It is washed by waters of two oceans – the Arctic and the Pacific. A half of the territory lies beyond the Polar Circle. Almost the whole area is occupied with tundra. Coasts are reach of scenic bays, full of sea birds and mammals. Aborigine peoples – the Chukchis, the Eskimos (the Siberian Yupik) and other small local nationalities are mostly engaged in reindeer breeding or in hunting for sea mammals. Chukotka is still a restricted region of Russia that has had limited contact with the rest of the world. Every tourist, a Russian or a foreigner, must have a special permission to enter Chukotka. Few visitors and extremely low density of local population help to preserve unique landscapes, flora and fauna of the region.

4. Yakutia or the Republic of Sakha occupies most of the North-Eastern Siberia. Yakutia is the land of countless rivers and lakes, hundreds of glaciers and ice crusts. More than 40% of the territory lies beyond the Arctic Circle. The Pole of Cold for the Northern Hemisphere is situated in Yakutia. The Polar Nights in winter begin on the territory which is above the Arctic Circle. Some nights are lit up by the Aurora Borealis, the natural phenomenon that can only be observed along the latitudes occupied by this territory. In summer time the Polar Days begin. A day can last up to 20 hours along the latitude of Yakutsk, while farther North, the Sun never drops below the horizon. Expedition to the Pole of Cold, Oymyakon, was ranked by journal “GEO” in December 2007 as one of 50 most exotic trips of the world. Winter Yakutia – a perfect land for the reindeer sledding trips, that will put you through the exotic life of real Siberian nomad.

5. Altai is second to none in the beauty of its landscapes, and in diversity of its attractions. Deep in the heart of the Siberian wilderness, covered by impassable taiga forests and high mountain peaks, Altai is one of the top attractions of the Russian wilderness, and an incredible place for outdoor adventures from rafting, hiking and mountain climbing to fishing, horse-riding and many others. A flowery fragrance of Alpine meadows; grasses along the icy mountain streams;the famous Altai honey;the nomadic stone idols and Rerich’s trails; the settlements of the “old believers”, the Siberian shamans. Discover the high mountain glaciers, where during the summer snowfall is higher than in winter, deserted steppe, dense Siberian taiga, meet pastured camels on the valley floor and gather a basket of ripe cedar-cones amidst the lofty forests during your horseback riding tour across the Altai mountains.

6. Caucasus is an alpine country in the southernmost edge of the European part of Russia. The main mountain chain – the Greater Caucasus Range represents a natural border between Europe and Asia. Europe’s highest summit – Mount Elbrus (18,510 ft) lies just north of the main range, several kilometers into Europe. Southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range come down to the Black Sea. Caucasus is the land of breathtaking beauty and purity. Its snow peaks, pine forests, icy streams and glaciers attract thousands of climbers, mountain-skiers, adventurers and nature lovers from all over the world.

7. Karelia is a strikingly beautiful land of “midnight sun”, the land of white nights. Forests, lakes and rivers of Karelia give a perfect opportunity for development of different types of tourism: hunting, fishing, safari, rafting, e.t.c.Karelia offers various tours, during which you will pass historical monuments, deserted villages, self-made fords and fortifications of World War II.

8. The Urals marks the northern part of the border between Asian and European sections of the Eurasian continent. (Away from the “hustle and bustle” of cities and everyday cares – Away! If you like the scent of campfires and morning mists, forests and mountains and are physically healthy – one of our “classical mountain trekking” tours is for you! On our classical trekking tours we visit the most beautiful and attractive places in the Urals. Mountain lakes and meadows, scenic rocks, coniferous and mixed taiga, rocky rivers and streams, night bonfire – it is impossible to forget! The Urals is also famous for its archeological findings in Arkaim. Archeologists assume that it is the place where horse was tamed for the first time, the first battle two-wheel wagon was invented, the first metallurgic furnace was found, one of the most ancient civilizations appeared.

9. Sayany is a large mountainous country with the highest mountain ranges of Eastern Siberia. It consists of two large parts – the Eastern Sayan and the Western Sayan. Virgin Southern taiga with lush vegetation, wonderful scenery with mountain rivers, waterfalls and lakes attract and stagger tourists. It mostly presents an endless steppe almost without footprints of modern civilization, which grants space scenery with sharp crests of remote mountains. Tuva is full of archeological memorials of different centuries. Tourists can also deep into local ethnography: lifestyle of Russian old-believers, shaman ceremonies, throat singing, opportunity to live in a real Tuvan yurt and to imagine yourself an ancient nomad.

10. Primorye is the far south-eastern edge of Russia, washed with waters of the warm Japan Sea. Particular geographical position at the border of Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean grants unique nature and climate to this region. The most part of the territory is occupied by the Sikhote-Alin mountains, covered with virgin taiga. This is a great natural arboretum, which contains one the richest and most unusual temperate forests of the world. In this mixed zone between taiga and subtropics southern species such as Amur tiger and Himalayan bear cohabit with northern species such as brown bear and lynx. The sea coast attracts with beautiful exotic sceneries of bays and uninhabited isles, very reach of underwater life.

In its most basic state, a “RV” or recreational vehicle is a motor vehicle equipped with basic living requirements like bathroom, kitchen with a dining area and bedroom. One can get a converted bus or even a wagon ready with all such facilities. In ancient times, people used to utilize similar static compartments for basic living purposes, as the concept of proper home was not prevalent by then.

FOR TRAVELING SALESMEN

To start with, business professionals, especially traveling salesmen, who travel across different cities, have a great advantage with such vehicles. Minimum requirements for their needs include a working desk with computer or a laptop, a bathing section with few cooking arrangements and bedding area taken care of. A power generator is also equipped in the vehicle to ensure all electronic appliances work appropriately. There can be mobile offices running on the same vehicle, especially for specialized products and services. Here, we can have office compartments with a number of desks equipped with table lights, computer and seating arrangements for a minimum of two people. A snack bar would also be included with a wash room section. With these arrangements, traveling salesmen have been able to meet business objectives, save costs and still feel at home.

HOLIDAYS AND ADVENTURE LOVERS

In addition to the aforementioned, most people currently use the recreational vehicles for camping, traveling and adventure vacation. Most working class people plan their holidays with “RV” in the picture and then choose to go to the remote places around the country where they can find out or expedite new things. The motor home or camper van variant is best suited for such an activity. Especially, when the vacation is for some days and includes great adventure like mountaineering, camping, fishing or trekking. On this kind of trip, it is important to keep an additional back up stock for basic requirements like water, gas or petrol and food items. Emergency devices like fans, lights and power generators should also be included.

Recreational vehicles have an edge over the normal motor vehicles, for vacation and all other purposes. Although, these vehicles are expensive and costly to maintain, however they give true value for money. Considering today hectic life with great gadgets and machines around, one can always look for a different means of fun and excitement. Adventure sports at remote locations and traveling to different places has become easy with recreational vehicles, especially for families. Even the children would love to travel and expedite life on a motor home with every home requirement included. It is also a means of bonding within the family.

WORK TEAM BUILDING

For retreats, a number of organizations take their leadership teams out on such recreational vehicles as it is a great means of team building and development. People get to know each other better and further develop confidence amongst themselves.