1. Advices from ISO Staff members
Colombia
If you want to go to South America there are many places you can visit. In Colombia
the most popular and most beautiful place to go is Cartagena, the old walled city
and fortress repelled invaders and pirates in its early days. Now it welcomes visitors
to its colonial charm, energetic nightlife, beaches and nearby attractions. You
can also visit the National Coffee Park in Quindio, there you will learn everything
about coffee while enjoying the landscape and fantastic food.
For more adventurous people there is the Amazon where you can enjoy the diversity
of the rain forest plants and animals and navigate through the Amazon River.
India
What makes India an ideal destination for all types of people is the sheer diversity
of its culture, landscapes, people and places. That is why it is very likely that
you would wish to combine different themes, so that you can have a variety of experiences,
which all help you to discover the vast conglomerate that is India.
Considering summer - beaches would make a nice vacation spot. Apart from Goa –
the most famous beach state in India - there are other fabulous places to visit.
The Konkan coast to the North of Kerala and the Malabar Coast of Kerala is made
up of hundreds of miles of sand and dotted with tiny fishing villages, which you
can visit during your vacation, and are ideal getaways to peaceful, unspoilt beaches.
All along the coast you can experience the local culture and relish delicious seafood,
freshly caught and prepared to suit your taste.
Israel
Israel, being the center for the three religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism,
is unusual in the diversity of its community. The “welcoming” and concern
attitude of the Israelis might be mistaken as “invading your space”
and aggressiveness. But do not be fooled, it is all about the Middle Eastern warm
hospitality. The mixture of the different cultures influenced Israel in a way that
you can find in some cities like Jerusalem and Haifa, an equally blended population
of Eastern Europeans, Arabs, North Africans and Israelis.
Being slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey, touring Israel is relatively
simple and can be done easily by public transportation or by car. An ideal trip
that can take less than 10 days is going from the green mountains of northern Israel,
through Tel-Aviv ("New York city" of Israel) and Jerusalem in the center. Stopping
for a quick dip in the Dead Sea (famous for its rich mineral water) and a swim in
the Red Sea, where you can see the Jordanian city Aqabah just across the water,
down east.
Philippines
My advice for students that are interested on visiting the Philippines would be:
- Get enough information on the area of the Philippines that you will be visiting.
A useful website is: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/index.asp
- Make sure to go with a guide or better yet, a friend that knows the area where you
are going. That way you won’t get lost or get duped by opportunistic locals
that are after your money.
- There are many western influenced types of food (such as McDonald's, Wendy’s,
etc…). Have an open mind about trying authentic Filipino cooking as well.
- Don’t just stay in the metropolitan area of the Philippines or the capital
city, Manila. Try visiting and exploring the other regions and islands. Highly recommended
for the nature lovers and those who prefer beach and other water activities.
- A very crucial thing to bring with you wherever you go is a sun block and remember
to drink plenty of fluids. The Philippines is after all a tropical island.
United States
United States is a true "melting pot" of cultures and people: Indians, Irish, Italian,
Asian, Mexican, African, British, Greek, and Scandinavian...every race is represented,
all religions are practiced.
You can go from Las Vegas, a glitter and so-called "entertainment capital of the
world", located in the middle of the desert, hours from the nearest town to the
beaches of California, Rocky Mountains cut through the west offering clean air,
jagged peaks, hiking, wildlife and some of the best skiing in the world. Hawaii
is also part of the US, a garden paradise in the heart of the Pacific Ocean with
its own history of kings and volcanoes and language more like Japanese than English.
Places like the Grand Canyon in Arizona and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota are just
two of the most popular sites that draw visitors each year.
Do not be discouraged! Rather then thinking, "I will never see it all! Why bother?"
realize that even a lifetime of travel will not reveal all of this nation's treasures.
Instead, think of those places you've always wanted to see and start with them.
For more information about these and other countries you may visit the following
web sites:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook,
http://www.graphicmaps.com/aatlas/world.htm.
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