Underrated Islands in Oz

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I have to commit it - if there is no pictures accompanying the words, I don't have the paitient to continue. So for the last post, I want to introduce an article talking about some "virgin" lands in Oz.



The writer gave us 7 destinations. And I am picking the key words from the writer to show you general idea.




The Tiwi Islands, NT - north Darwin, aboriginal, local arts, AFL wanna see more?

Montague Island, NSW - Narooma, eco-ventures, penguins wanna see more?

King Island, Tasmania - Bass Strait, lighthouses, lagoons, cheese wanna see more?

French Island, Victoria - Philip Island, tranquil, organic, bushwalk, IIama trekking wanna see more?

Southern Reef Islands, Queensland - Lady Elliot Island, low-key, wilderness, camping overnight wanna see more?  wanna see much more?

The Houtman-Abrolhos Islands, WA - Geraldton, no accommodation, wildlife wonderland wanna see more?

Christmas Island, Indian Ocean Territorie - Tampa, almighty furore, whale-shark diving, red crabs wanna see more?



Besides the informative contents, the layout of this article is ispiring. The picture at the top is amazing. I think nobody can reject a trip to an island like that.


There is a quote, backgrounded by greenish gray, selecting the most enchanting words from the writer, which can give a direct impression on readers what this article is about.


Under this quote, there is a section called "More about Beaches" which provides more information that readers may want to know. The words used are very persuasive, like "The top 1- beach houses in Victoria" etc.


Generally, this is a good article, and I was hooked by those islands.



Places I have to see before I die

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This is a slide show called "Places to see before you die". 10 pictures, 10 pieces of description. I was so intrigued into the title when I first saw it.

So before I opened the link, I was thinking those beautiful resorts on those famous beach, like Tahiti which is definitely THE place I have to go before I die. 

The first picture popping out was two gorillas, a mother and her child in her arms, in Uganda wild forest. To be hoest, this was my expectation at all!

However, the description was an amazing one - A challenging trek through thick African Jungle makes the awe-inspiring reward of finding oneself in the copany of a family of roaming gorillas all the more special. 

I kept clicking until I came to this stunning one - Angel Falls in Venezuela, a picture was posted at the top. The view was exactly the same as the dreamy fall in "Up", one of my favorite films. I didn't know there is a real one in this world. Maybe it's too early to say this, but my bucket list is added one more.

The 9th picture is Lhasa, one of the purest places I have been to. I flied there some years ago before the train could reach the place.

But I do suggest everybody who is planning to go there that you'd better take the train, because the view along the way must be the most breathtaking one in your entire life. Plus it is very comfortable to get used to the highland climate slowly. You don't want to pass out the moment you step outside the plane exit.

I think there is a limitation to this slide show. Since most of the destinations are not the hottest ones and readers may be unfamiliar with them, the poster should insert a map of the world which spots those destinations on it. It will give readers a clear clue where on earth these places are.



Trip Planning

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This semester is coming to its end, and I'm planning a trip to somewhere during the holiday with my friends. Somewhere? Of course, GOLD COAST! Every time I think about it, I can't stop myself cheering.

"Calm down," my friend says. Alright, before heading there, we'd better do some work first.

I googled the travel tips to gold coast and found these two websites. Different styles, but pretty much same information.

This is the first website I found called Gold Coast Australia Travel Tips.com. To me it looks like a private blog. So I think maybe I can find more interesting and personal tips in this site.

As you can see, the home page of this site includes a brief self-introduction of the blogger with some random pictures at the top. But the most attractive section is the "Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions". Every question is linkable to its answer.

Since I'm a little bit worried about the weather there in the late Oct, I click on the question no.4 - Best Time to Visit The Gold Coast Questions & Answers and here is the page I get:

To be honest, the page's layout is disappointing. I have a hard time to tell which part is the answer and which part is ads. And then I finally find the body, I get this:



Oh, why don't  the blogger just answer the question? I think the best way to do this, especially when the target readers are trip planners who want the information to be clear, quick, and direct, is giving the straight answer and leave all those additional information after it. Like this one:

Finally I get what I want from a travel tips website.



Why We Travel

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Why we travel? Is it you are on your honeymoon trip or invited by your friends to visit their new home? What a travel can leave you?

My answer to this question is THE PHOTO. Photo that I can't take if I've never been to that place, photo that I can't take if I am not in that mood, and photo that I can't take if I've never met those people.

Travel is wonderful. Sometimes, one photo and a few lines of comment from yourself can take you go back to that place again. That's what the original story tells - why we travel? One little picture can give you the answer. 

The background color is black, wonderful for pictures show, and there are no advertisements. Photo on the left, words on the right. Each picture is a window to tell a story and the story begins with why we travel explained on the right-side comments.

I like story No. 4 best. You can tell that the photo was taken from outside of the van's windshield while still moving. It's a very special and beautiful angle to picture a van running on the quiet country road with sun set and golden skyline in the background.

The traveller said: "We spent our time camping and traveling and meeting people from all over the world like we did in our 20s. Keep in mind we are both in our 40s now."

"Travel is freedom, and the smallest things become an adventure. It's a departure from the everyday that reminds you that there is a huge world out there worth exploring."

I took that photo at the beginning. I was on my graduation trip with my best friends. I have forgotten where we lived, what we ate or who we met.

But I can always remember what we felt when we were sitting besides the sea in the midnight with sea breeze touching our shoulders and the sound of waves singing for us. That photo just illustrates all I can remember for this trip.