GALAPAGOS, ECUADOR

Reason to visit

Three years after their inclusion on the World Heritage in Danger list, the Galapagos Islands have emerged on the other end, having made significant headway against the threats of "invasive species, unbridled tourism, and over fishing." However, the same isolation that made the islands a "living museum and showcase of evolution" also makes them intrinsically vulnerable to the environmental pressures of tourism and the constant threat of invasive species.

Best known for unique animal life, such as the land iguana and giant tortoise, the Galapagos are a point of pilgrimage for wildlife lovers. But our presence changes the landscape: In the islands' relatively short history of human settlement, it's estimated that about five percent of the Galapagos' species have become extinct. It will take the continued efforts of Ecuador's government to preserve the Pacific archipelago that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

The location

The islands are located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 973 km (525 nmi; 605 mi) off the west coast of South America. The closest land mass is that of mainland Ecuador, the country to which they belong, 926 km/500 nmi to the east.

The islands are found at the coordinates 1°40'N–1°36'S, 89°16'–92°01'W. Straddling the equator, islands in the chain are located in both the northern and southern hemispheres, with Volcán Wolf and Volcán Ecuador on Isla Isabela being directly on the equator. Española Island, the southernmostislet of the archipelago, and Darwin Island, the northernmost one, are spread out over a distance of 220 km (137 mi). The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) considers them wholly within the South Pacific Ocean, however.^[3] The Galápagos Archipelago consists of 7,880 km²(3,040 sq mi) of land spread over 45,000 km² (17,000 sq mi) of ocean. The largest of the islands, Isabela, measures 2,250 sq mi/5,827 km^2[4] and makes up close to three-quarters of the total land area of the Galápagos. Volcán Wolf on Isabela is the highest point, with an elevation of 1,707 m (5,600 ft) above sea level.

The group consists of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. The islands are located at the Galapagos Triple Junction. The archipelago is located on the Nazca Plate (a tectonic plate), which is moving east/southeast, diving under the South American Plate at a rate of about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) per year.^[5] It is also atop the Galapagos hotspot, a place where the Earth's crust is being melted from below by a mantle plume, creating volcanoes. The first islands formed here at least 8 million and possibly up to 90 million years ago.^[6]

While the older islands have disappeared below the sea as they moved away from the mantle plume, the youngest islands, Isabela and Fernandina, are still being formed, with the most recent volcanic eruption in April 2009 where lava from the volcanic island Fernandina started flowing both towards the island's shoreline and into the centre caldera.

Ways to get there

First destination is go to mainland Ecuador. Whether you’re traveling from the United States, Europe or anywhere else, you should book an international flight to Guayaquil or Ecuador’s capital, Quito. 
The Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil (GYE) receives flights from U.S. cities of Miami and New York, European cities of Amsterdam and Madrid, and major cities of Central and South America.
Mariscal Sucre International Airport of Quito (UIO) receives flights from the U.S. via Atlanta, Houston, Miami, and New York; from Europe via Madrid and Amsterdam; and from many major cities in Central and Southern America. You should expect to arrive in Ecuador at least two days before your Galapagos Cruise begins and catch your international flight home at least two days after your stay in the Galapagos.

Once you have your flight to mainland Ecuador, getting to the Galapagos Islands is easy. Located nearly 1,000 km (600 miles) off of Ecuador’s coast, the best way to travel is by plane, as traveling by boat can take at least three days. Whether from Quito or Guayaquil, there are several flights daily that take passengers to the archipelago. You can land on Baltra Island or in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island. TAME and AEROGAL are two airlines that operate these routes. LAN will soon have flights to the Galapagos as well. If you are flying from Quito, you will most likely have a short stop in Guayaquil on your way to the islands.

Reserve your Galapagos tour before you purchase flight tickets to ensure correct dates. Check with your Galapagos cruise or tour company for advice on booking your flight to the Galapagos including optimal arrival times to the Islands according to cruise plans.

Things to do

a) Sail around the archipelago on a luxurious catamaran.

b) Relax on the stunning beaches of Isabela Island.

c) Snorkel with sea lions, turtles and schools of rainbow coloured fish.

d) Stare eye-to-eye at a scaly but serene land iguana.

e) Visit the fascinating Charles Darwin Research Centre on Santa Cruz.

f) Hike to the second largest caldera in the world on the Sierra Negra volcano.

g) Visit Tortuga Bay, home to thousands of marine iguanas.

h) Explore the primitive pirate caves on charming Floreana, the least developed of the inhabited islands.

i) See giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

j) Go bird watching on a remote, uninhabited island.

What's most remarkable about Galápagos's wildlife is how little they fear humans -- and why would they, since they've never had to worry about predators. Young sea lions will show off their best moves as you snorkel among them; mockingbirds will peck at your shoelaces; the blue-footed boobie will perform its famous two-stepped mating dance right under your nose.

An astounding number of unique species thrive on these 19 small volcanic islands (plus about 40 islets); boat travel is

essential to view them all. At the Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, visitors can get an up-close view of the gentle giant tortoises. 

Santiago's rocky tide pools are home to rare fur sea lions and many beautiful heron species; Española has albatrosses and blue-footed boobies; in Fernandina there are vivid marine iguanas and flightless cormorants; Isabela is home to Galápagos's penguins (the world's only tropical penguins); Genovesa has frigate birds and red-footed boobies.

CARTERET ISLAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Reason to visit 

Rising sea levels are eating away at the Carteret Islands, and their inhabitants' way of life. Neil Tweedie and Roland Hancock spent a week learning about the world's first climate change refugees. Rising seas, caused by global warming, have for the first time washed an inhabited island off the face of the Earth. The obliteration of Lohachara island, in India's part of the Sundarbans where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal, marks the moment when one of the most apocalyptic predictions of environmentalists and climate scientists has started coming true. According to the EPA, global sea level has risen by eight inches since 1870. This change is already affecting many low lying islands that have had to adapt. Some populations are moving to higher areas, or are trying to buy land from other countries to migrate its citizens, and some have even developed new ways of farming to protect their agriculture.

2007 estimates from the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change's most conservative estimates suggest that global sea level will reach increase 8 to 16 inches above 1990 levels by 2090. The National Academy of Sciences predictions from 2009 suggest that by 2100, sea level could increase by anywhere from 16 inches to 56 inches, depending how the Earth responds to changing climate.

The location

The location is too small and cannot seen through on map. It is in Papua New Guinea islands located 86 km (53 mi) north-east of Bougainville in the South Pacific. The atoll has a scattering of low-lying islands called Han, Jangain, Yesila, Yolasa and Piul, in a horseshoe shape stretching 30 km (19 mi) in north-south direction, with a total land area of 0.6 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of 1.5 m (5 ft) above sea level.

The group is made up of islands collectively named after the British navigator Philip Carteret, who was the first European to discover them, arriving in the sloop Swallow in 1767. As of 2005, about one thousand people live on the islands. Han is the most significant island, with the others being small islets around the lagoon. The main settlement is at Weteili on Han island. The island is near the edge of the large geologic formation called the Ontong Java Plateau.

Ways to get there

The only ways to get Carteret Island is with water transportation such as ship, boats and so on. The island are too small and does not have other transportation services on the island. It can be the one of the undeveloped place in the earth. 

Things to do 

We cannot found any place that have many activities to do as in the developed country. One of the reason we visit Carteret Island  is due to the undeveloped of the place and the people on the island are waiting for us to save them. These easy-going and peaceful people have lived on these islands for thousands of years. They have developed a strong culture with dances, music, games, local shell money, navigation, fishing,  and agriculture. They have interacted with their environment and each other in a sustainable and peaceful way. Their island is an integral part of who they are. We can enjoy the unpolluted air and beach at Carteret Island with the friendly islanders. 

BANGKOK, THAILAND

Reason to Visit 

Bangkok is also one of the world’s most popular exotic destinations, but also one of the places that could disappear due to global warming. The city is already sinking due to its too heavy urbanization on its too soft underground as well as the excessive pumping of groundwater. The location also makes the city exposed to floods, especially in the monsoon season. All these factors could send Bangkok underwater before the end of this century.

The location

Bangkok is located in Central Thailand, stretching from 13.45 N to 100.35 E. With an overall area of 1,569 sq km, it is the 68th largest province of the country. The most prominent geographical characteristic of the place is the Chao Phraya River that flows for 372 km, caressing the length of city. The presence of Chao Phraya is also the main reason behind the extensive canals (both natural and artificial) and passages that interlace the various districts of the place. Due to the canals and waterways, Bangkok has earned the epithet of 'Venice of the East'.

As previously mentioned; the many canals and water passages of Bangkok, along with Chao Phraya, highly contribute to the beauty of the place. However, there are many hitches or disadvantages that these various ducts and inland waterways pose. Due to their presence and the city's low altitude - of mere 2m (6.5 ft) above the sea level, Bangkok becomes susceptible to severe floods. Occasionally, after heavy rainfall, the water in canals and the river spills and floods the banks.

Even though Bangkok ranks 68th among the 74 provinces of Thailand, in terms of its size, it nevertheless has the highest population and the greatest population density in the whole country. The place is encompassed by Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan in the south, Nakhon Pathom in the west, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok in the north and Chachoengsao in the east. Most of the nearby provinces find inclusion in the metropolitan area of Bangkok. The shoreline extends for a length of 4.4 km.

Ways to get there

Bangkok is well connected by air to the rest of the world and there are two airports in the city. The Suvarnabhumi Airport is located 25 kilometres east of Bangkok and the Don Mueang Airport located 24 kilometres to the north. Most international and domestic airlines operate at the Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is linked to the city by buses, taxis, and Airport Rail Link, a high-speed train service into downtown Bangkok.

Bangkok is well connected by rail to the rest of Thailand and to neighbouring countries like Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. The main railway station of Bangkok is the Hua Lamphong Railway Station where trains from neighbouring countries and other parts of Thailand operate. The Thornburi Train Station (formerly known as Bangkok Noi Station) serves for local or nearby travel.

Buses to and from other parts of Thailand including Pattaya, Krabi, Phuket and Ko Samui and also to neighbouring countries operate in Bangkok. There are three major bus terminals in Bangkok; the Northern Bus Terminal, also known as Mo Chit, the Eastern Bus Terminal, also known as Ekkamai and the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai. A word of advice; book your bus tickets directly at one of the three public bus terminals and avoid travel agents and private buses, which are not the most reliable.

Things to do

a)Cruise the "Venice of the East"

Visitors often regard boating as their most rewarding city experience, even though the ‘Venice of the East’ label barely applies any longer, since most Bangkok canals have been lost to road-building. Yet khlongs still thread through the Thonburi west bank and branch into the plantations of Nonthaburi, stretching on throughout Thailand’s Central Plains, connecting rivers, rice farms, towns, temples and floating markets (see Floating markets beside).

Exploring the waterways requires some strategy. The rule to bear in mind is that the longer you spend, the greater the value and rewards. A half-day enables you to see the mostly urban canals of Thonburi, now heavily scarred by concrete flood barriers, because this delta instinctively wants to overflow. A full day takes you upriver and into a rustic canalscape barely modernised – though riparian lifestyles are changing fast.

b) Wat Suthat

Brahmanism predated the arrival of Buddhism in Thailand and its rituals were eventually integrated into the dominant religion. Wat Suthat is the headquarters of the Brahman priests who perform the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in May. Begun by Rama I (King Phraphutthayotfa; r 1782–1809) and completed in later reigns, Wat Suthat boasts a wí·hăhn with gilded bronze Buddha images (including Phra Si Sakayamuni, one of the largest surviving Sukhothai bronzes) and incredibly expansive Jataka (stories of the Buddha's previous lives) murals. The wát also holds the rank of Rachavoramahavihan, the highest royal-temple grade; the ashes of Rama VIII (Ananda Mahidol, the current king's deceased older brother) are contained in the base of the main Buddha image in the wí·hăhn .

Wat Suthat's priests also perform rites at two nearby Hindu shrines: Thewa Sathaan (Deva Sathan), which contains images of Shiva and Ganesh; and the smaller Saan Jao Phitsanu (Vishnu Shrine), dedicated to Vishnu.

The spindly red arch in the front of the temple is Sao Ching-Cha (Giant Swing), as much a symbol of Bangkok as Wat Phra Kaew. The swing formerly hosted a spectacular Brahman festival in honour of Shiva, in which participants would swing in ever-higher arcs in an effort to reach a bag of gold suspended from a 15m bamboo pole. Many died trying and the ritual was discontinued during the reign of Rama VII (King Prajadhipok; r 1925–35). In 2007 the decaying swing was ceremoniously replaced with the current model, made from six specially chosen teak logs from Phrae Province in northern Thailand.

The temple is within walking distance of the klorng boats' terminus at Tha Phan Fah.

c)The Train Market (Maeklong Train Market)

Passenger trains pass through this risky market 8 times a day for almost 30 years….located in the smallest province in Thailand, Samutsongkram, only an hour drive away from Bangkok (on the way to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market), you will get a breath-taking experience that you will never forget!!! 

t’s a real way of thai lifestyle…very unique for tourists , but it’s just a common fresh market for Thais in the area..You will get to see (and smell!)  a great variety of goods, vegetables, fruits, meat, unusual stuffs, fish, frogs, tuna, shark, mussels, fresh lives, dried seafood, sweets, curry, flowers sold along the way…Only 300 meters long  on the real train tracks..you will be entertained with the real atmosphere of  local businesses going on…some friendly and moody vendors..thai shoppers who don’t really care even when the train’s approaching…They just wanna shop till the last minute the train comes! Some lost tourists who don’t know which direction or how further to go…or some strangers who don’t really know that they are walking on the active train tracks!

d) Massage

Most people who visit Thailand have a to-do list of things that they want to experience, and Thai massage is always very close to the top of that list – it’s right up there with temples, pad Thai and elephant rides. With so many massage options available to visitors, it can be difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for. Unlike Western massage styles, the Thai massage focuses on pressure points. Treatment often begins with the feet and gradually moves upwards towards the head. Rhythmic compressions and manoeuvres are methods employed in order to relax and realign energies in the body. Varying amounts of pressure are applied to energy lines along the body in accordance with the Ayurvedic principles of balancing one's energy.

You can’t really walk down a street in Bangkok without coming across a massage shop, they really are as ubiquitous as 7-11. The massage shops are usually spread over several floors. On the ground floor you will find a row of chairs and footstalls where you will sit if you request a foot massage. Upstairs will be a series of mattresses separated by curtains that are used for Thai massage, and you get to put on some fancy pyjamas that make you look like a 19th century labourer, so the massage therapist can bend and stretch your limbs easily. Because there are so many in the city, it would be impossible to pick out a selection of the very best, so it’s more a case of common sense. Often smaller hotels will be able to make recommendations too. Most massage shops will speak basic English and prices will be advertised outside the shop; on average it costs 200 baht for an hour’s Thai massage.

Most of the hotels in Thailand are provided massage services too, but it is more expensive than the local massage shops.