TOIP

Ever had the desire to fly? Stretching those arms and experiencing the gush of air as you free fall and enjoy a birds eye view. If you are game for it, sky dive. Sky diving is most popular adventure sport which is the closest experience humans can have to flying.

A typical sky diving experience involves exiting a aircraft at an altitude of 1000 to 4000 feet and enjoying a free fall for about a minute depending upon the altitude of drop and then activating the parachute to reduce the speed, control the directions and land slowly in about 5 to 7 minutes. If you are not a professional sky diver, you can still do a tandem sky dive attached at strong points to a master sky divers. All modern tandem sky diving system uses a drogue parachute shortly after exiting the plane which reduces the skydiver's terminal velocity and then deploy a large parachute to support the additional weight and guide to landing. 

Though anyone can sky dive, age, weight and other health restrictions depend on the operating company and the area of operation. A custom fit harness is a mandate before boarding the aircraft for the jump. Videographers or photographers will also dive along with you to capture those unforgettable moments. The price depends on the altitude of the jump, type of photography and the company operating it. For at-most safety always choose authorized operating company, experienced tandem master and quality equipments. Listening to the operator and clarifying all the doubts will make the experience more exhilarating.

Here is the list of World's Best Sky Dives:

1. Guam, Hawaii, USA - The small pacific island of Guam is one the best destination for sky diving. In addition to the adrenaline experience, the drop promises an unparalleled coast to coast view and blue sky.

2. Interlaken, Switzerland - Diving into a world of glaciers and snow capped mountains, the Swiss Alps sky diving in Switzerland is a must for all sky diving lovers

3. Australia and New Zealand - The adventure sports lover's haven, Australia and New Zealand has many best sites for sky diving. The aerial view of the Great barrier reef, World heritage rain forest, Golden sand beaches or Sky scrappers, one has many options to choose from.

4. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia - If you looking for diving into a active volcano, then Kamchatka sky dive over the Mutnovsky is where you should head to.

5. India - Sports authority of Gujarat is the only sky diving operator in India.

Did you know that you can avail 15% discount in the Domino's Pizza store near your college or even get a free breakfast? For any full-time student and at least 12 years of age, International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a must have to enjoy fantastic discounts and service at home and around the world.

ISIC card is the only internationally accepted proof of full time student status. It is endorsed by UNESCO and  The European Council on Culture and the Andean Community of Nations. The ISIC card is used by over 4.5 milion full-time students in 120 countries every year. It gives students access to tens of thousands of student services and benefits worldwide. While armed with ISIC card, students can use the discounts and save on travel, food, accommodation, shopping and entertainment. ISIC card also provide deals on benefits like basic sickness, student travel insurance abroad and cheap international phone calls. 

You can get the ISIC card online or at an approved travel agents in your city. The card costs about $22 and may vary from country to country. When applying for your ISIC card, the following documents need to be provided:

1. Copy of University or School Students ID card clearly dated  and indicating you are a full time student

2. A signed and dated letter from University or School, stating you are studying there full time

3. Age proof

4. A passport size photograph

The ISIC card is valid from the September to December the following year, no matter when you buy the card. 

For more information:

http://www.isic.org/ - The Official ISIC website

http://www.statravel.com  - STA Travel, the biggest student travel agency

If you are not a student any more but under the age of 26 then you can make use of International Youth Travel Card (IYTC).

The phenomenon which occurs after the long months of cold and darkness, when the summer emerges and the daylight is seen round the clock is called White Nights. St. Petersburg, the world's most northern city with a population over 1 million, stands at such a high latitude (59 degree 57` N) that the sun does not descend below the horizon enough for the sky to go dark. In fact the nights become so indistinguishable from the day that the authorities never need to turn on the city's streetlights. This is not a unique phenomenon to St. Petersburg, but no other northern city welcome the summer months with such a lively and artistic celebration.

The breathtaking city of St. Petersburg was constructed on some 100 islands formed by rivers, creeks, streams and natural canals that flow into the Baltic sea at the mouth of Neva River. The historic center of St. Petersburg is listed in UNESCO world heritage and the city boosts some of the beautiful museums, palaces, monasteries, cathedrals and bridges. The White Nights Festival is a stunning celebration of culture and life that is a must-see for any travel enthusiast. 

The festival is kicked off with the classical ballet, opera and orchestral performance, "Stars of the White Nights" at the world famous Mariinsky Theatre. During the festival, there are daily evening performances featuring some of the biggest names in the arts world. 

There are also carnivals to delight both the children and adults. The largest carnival is held in the suburb of Peterhof (45 mins train journey from St. Petersburg) where the historical figures and events are reinterpreted by costumed actors. Carnivals at the Catherine Palace and Pavlovsk suburb are also highly artistic. For music lovers, St. Petersburg's Palace Square becomes home to some of the international music world's biggest stars during the festival.

The culminating event of the festival is the Scarlet Sails celebration, which is a massive event to celebrate the end of the school year that is known for its spectacular fireworks display and a water show that features boats full of pirates battling on the Neva River. Musical acts and motorboat rowing races are also highlights of the celebration.

Tips:

1. St. Petersburg is busiest during the White Nights festival. Hence, book your tickets early.

2. For opera, ballet performance purchase the tickets online in advance http://www.mariinsky.ru/en/    

3. During the period, many bridges across Neva river are raised at night to let the ships pass, a spectacle you dont want to miss.

Planning a trip is not a simple task, it involves a lot of research. Here are links to the sites which will help in your travel plans.

For Visa information:

For all travel information: [Information regarding the destination, places to see, get in, get out hotels etc.]

http://www.thereareplaces.com/ 

http://www.timeout.com/

For Best time to travel:

http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com

For hotel booking:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ -for hotel reviews

For Flight information:

http://www.cleartrip.com 

http://www.expedia.com
http://www.kayak.com

http://www.attitudetravel.com/ - To find budget flights

For tours:

http://www.viator.com/

For travel deals:
www.dealbase.com
www.travelzoo.com
http://www.travelscream.com/

http://dealnews.com/Everything-Else/Travel-Entertainment-Deals-206.html

For Travel News & deals:
http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/

Other Sites:

http://www.seat61.com/ - Information on train and ship travels throughout the world

http://www.tourcaster.com/  - For audio guides to various cities and sites

Other useful site information are welcome.

The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is one of the iconic national park in Australian island of Tasmania. Covering an area of 1280 sq. km., the national park contains some of the spectacular scenery and it is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Area. The Park actually is two, Lake St. Clair on the south-east side is the main attraction and starting point for Tasmania's most famous walks including the famous The Overland Track. While Cradle Mountain on the northern end has some of the incredible scenery.

The jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomize the feel of a wild landscape, while ancient rain forest and alpine heath-lands, button-grass and stands of colorful deciduous beech provide a range of environments to explore. Icy streams cascading out of rugged mountains, stands of ancient pines mirrored in the still waters of glacial lakes and a wealth of wildlife ensure there is always something to captivate you. 

 Hiking is one of the major activity in the Park. Overland Track, a 80 km walk between Cradle Mountains and lake St Clair, is the most beautiful walking trail of the Park. There are guided tours for the walk, including stays at catered huts on the way and can be done in 6 days. If you are short of time, there are several small tracks.

Visit:

1. Avoid Winter months of June, July and August

2. During April, you can see the spectacular changing colors of the deciduous beech

1.Climb Mt Ossa, Tasmania’s highest mountain and visit the fairytale D'Alton, Fergusson and Hartnett waterfalls

2. Cruise along Lake St Clair, Tasmania’s deepest lake and a walk past highland lakes and rivers

3.  Explore magical myrtle forests and see a species of beech tree more than 60 million years old

4. Trek to the top of Cradle Mountain through button grass plains and herb meadows.  From the 1,545 meter summit, you can look out over Dove and Crater Lakes Crater Lake and see valleys, plateaus, heaths and forests stretching for around 80 kilometers

5. Watch out for Padmelons, Bennett's wallabies, wombats and possums

6. If you are interested in the natural history of the park, you can enjoy the displays and interpretation at the Visitor Center, which you will pass as you travel towards Dove Lake

Cradle Mountains (Northern End): Devonport, Deloraine or Launceston

Lake St. Clair (Southern End): Derwent Bridge on the Lyell Highways between Queenstown and Hobart.

Accommodation:  

Plenty of accommodations are available for the tourists of this park

1. Walkers are limited for environmental reasons so you’ll need to book with Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service in advance.

2. Feeding animals is strictly prohibited in the park and a large fine amount is imposed if caught feeding animals.

3. Climate in the region is unpredictable and wet weather is very common. Hence suitable gears is recommended.