The pygmy seahorse was only recently discovered for the first time after a specimen of a gorgonian fan was bought in for research by a scientist scuba diving in Indonesia. The pygmy seahorse is the smallest seahorse species in the world growing only up to 2 centimeters, and it’s highly cunning in blending in with its surroundings. Large bulbous tubercles cover the species’ body which resembles the soft coral polyps of the host gorgonian fan making it extremely difficult to spot in its natural environment.

What is perhaps most fascinating about the Pygmy Seahorses is the way they have taken on the characteristics of so many other species of both marine and terrestrial life. Whilst it has the head of a horse, its tail is much like a monkey’s, which it uses to wrap around its host. Pygmy seahorses incubate its eggs in its pouch like marsupials; it has outer skeleton like insects, and it can move it’s eyes like chameleons.

During courting behavior the male will attach itself to her hitching post and then proceed to vibrate his dorsal fin to attract her attention. She then extends her egg tube and will pass them into his pouch. The male seahorse then holds the eggs during pregnancy and is one of the only species of its kind to carry out birth. Pygmy seahorses are thought to feed on the same zooplankton as their host polyps although very little is known about their life cycle thereafter.

Pygmy seahorses are found all over the world, but are especially widespread in the western pacific, specifically Indonesia, Papua, Fiji, and the Philippines. Those diving in Indonesia are increasingly on the look out for this rare species which is increasingly growing in popularity amongst the diving community since its first discovery. Observe the animal in its natural environment yourself for you to fully appreciate its grandeur.

The holidays can be very busy but they are often a time when people travel to see family and friends or to go on their vacation. Following these basic tips will help make sure you have a good time when you travel during this time of year. Being prepared for things to go wrong is the first step in minimizing the damages and getting on with your holiday travel plans.

Make sure you have all of your tickets and confirmation numbers in a specific place. It is a good idea to make a copy of the information as well as the contact number for your tickets and place it in another location. This way if you lose the originals you will have all the necessary information to take care of it. You should call about a week before your travel dates to make sure your reservation is still valid for all modes of transportations and your accommodations.

It is common for flights, trains, and buses to get delayed over the holidays due to security issues, weather, and trying to meet the needs of the volumes of people using such modes of transportation over the holidays. Make sure you have plenty of money, food, drinks, and necessities to get you through these delays. They can range from a couple of hours to a few days. If you will be traveling a long distance you should consider bringing along activities to pass the time, especially if you are traveling with children.

If you take prescription medications you need to make sure you have them clearly labeled. You may get questioned about them if they aren’t in the bottle you picked them up at from the pharmacy. It is a good idea to have a written note from your doctor regarding the medication as well. Makes sure you have enough of it for the entire holiday including any delays that may occur.

Lost baggage is one of the biggest problems when people travel, and it happens most during the holidays because of how busy everyone is. While you really can’t prevent your luggage from getting lost, you can do your best to make sure you have all you need in the mean time. Ensure each person traveling has clothing in all of the luggages instead of making one luggage for each person. This way everyone will have a chance to have some items should a bag or two get lost in the shuffle.

Clearly identify your baggage so that you will be sure to get yours upon reaching your destination. Almost all baggages look the same and most people are in a hurry when they travel on vacation. Tie a colorful ribbon or colored tape on your baggage if you have the styles and colors that are common. If you travel very often you should consider a unique looking luggage that will stand out.

Traveling during the holidays needs to be as smooth as possible to ensure you will enjoy your trip. By taking the time to follow these tips you can help make that happen. There are plenty of horror stories out there about people not being able to get to their destination for the holidays or they didn’t have the items they needed upon arriving. Don’t open the door for your vacation travel to fit into this grim category.

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Consider Medan North Sumatra as a travel destination. It has the largest crater lake in the world situated in North Sumatra Indonesia known as Danau Toba. Visit www.MedanKu.com to download Medan city guide, budget travel guide and see more pictures and videos of Medan Indonesia.

Asia occupies a quarter of the earth’s land mass, it spans a lot of time zones. Having a single travel guide for all of Asia is virtually impossible. Asia like any other continent of the world, has many great places to visit, here are basic travel tips for a few of the most happening countries in Asia.

Vietnam

The country’s recommended tourist places are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, they are both modernized. All tourists in Vietnam, except Thai and Philippine Nationals need a tourist Visa before entering the Country. Health wise, Malaria is common in Vietnam, it would be advisable to bring along with you anti-mosquito lotions to prevent being bit.

Thailand

Thais are very religious and very loyal to the monarchy. You would often see pictures of the king around the cities, never make fun of him. The Thai also consider the head as the highest part of the body, whether spiritual or physical. Refrain from touching anybody in the head, and try not to point at anything with your foot.

Malaysia

It’s best to bring light and cool clothing in Malaysia. You will find food stalls in the cities selling the local food, “teh tarik” a creamed tea, and “roti canai” a type of pancake, are a must eat when get a chance to see them. Malaysia has many religions, you would usually see, a variety of Christian churches, Muslim Mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples may be present in each city.

Philippines

The Philippine has 7,107 islands and islets; beaches are the main tourist spots in the country. There are several museums and Historical Landmarks in Manila, the country’s capital.Boracay Island is the boast of the country which has nice pure white sand beaches. You’ll find a “tiangge”, which is like a bazaar with stalls that sell many things, in most parts of the country, even inside malls. Tiagges are a good place to find souvenirs as well as cheap goods.

Indonesia

Aside from the usual prohibition of narcotics and deadly weapons, Radio cassette Players are banned in the Island of Bali, which is a prime tourist spot in Indonesia. Objects with Chinese writings were prohibited in Bali. ( This has now been changed since 2000 ) Consider traveling to Sumatra Lake Toba , the largest crater lake in the world in Medan North Sumatra Indonesia. It has the most breath taking view for a natural crater lake.

To learn more about Medan Sumatera Utara visit www.MedanKu.com to download Medan city guide, budget travel guide and see more pictures and videos of Medan Indonesia.

General Tips

Each country in Asia has its own currency, although up-end establishments will accept dollars, there are very few of these around. It is best to have your money changed at the local bank. Some hotels may offer money changing, but usually at a lower exchange rate.

Pickpockets are present in most tourist spots, so be careful of your belongings. Separate money from checks and credit cards, have two sets if possible so that you won’t be left helpless if you are being pickpocketed.

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So many people travel for important holidays that you may be quite disappointed with the cost of it. There are great ways you can save money though whether you are traveling by plane, train, or bus to get to your destination for the holidays. It is essential that you book your travel arrangements early. You don’t want to be stuck without a way to get where you want to be for the holidays due to everything being sold out. You also want to take some time to compare prices.

You will find some travel dates should simply be avoided around the holidays. This will allow you to avoid crowds which often equal substantial delays. You will also be able to get the same travel arrangements at a lower price just by carefully calculating the best times to travel.

You may not think that Valentine’s Day is a top travel holiday but it is. It is very important for people to be able to spend this holiday together. Since Presidents Day is very close to Valentine’s Day many people are able to take a long weekend. Avoid traveling during this Monday holiday and you will save money. Instead fly out in the next few days and then stay for a couple of days after Valentine’s Day instead of before.

Spring break takes place for about three weeks in March depending on which schools students are attending. If you plan to travel for spring break you need to plan it very carefully to maximize your time and to get good prices. Many colleges allow people to complete their final exams early. Try to do this and travel on a Wednesday or Thursday. Avoid peak days such as Friday and Saturday. You also want to come back on week days as they will be lower volume dates for travel.

Many people fly to see their parents for Mother’s Day and for Father’s Day. These are important holidays that take place on a Sunday in May and then on a Sunday in June. Traveling on the actual day will save you money over flying out on the Friday or Saturday before. This way you can arrive on their special day and hang out for several days. Your return trip should be for one of the weekdays after the holiday instead of on the weekend.

Thanksgiving is a common holiday that people travel for. Since it always falls on a Thursday, most people get an extended weekend so they can go visit for a few days or take a vacation. The peak of this vacation for travel takes place on the day before Thanksgiving. However, if you are willing to travel on Thanksgiving Day you can avoid the crowds. You will also find you save up to 50% of the price of getting there just by waiting less than 24 hours.

Most people return from their Thanks Giving vacation on the Sunday following the holiday. Try to avoid this day as well and return on the following Monday. Most employers want some people to be in the office on the Wednesday before so offer to do it in exchange for having the following Monday off.

Christmas is another peak holiday travel season, and you will find the fares get much higher the nearer it gets to the actual Christmas Day. Try to travel before the 19th in order to take advantage of the best possible fares. If you won’t be able to stay through New Year’s then choose a day in the middle of the week after Christmas. These are often slower days than the weekends and you will get better prices.

Avoid travel on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day as they are two of the most popular travel dates of the year. Fares are more than often double what they normally cost so you will save yourself plenty of money and delays if you can work around them when you travel for the vacations.

For those interested in traveling to Danau Toba , the largest crater lake in the world in Medan North Sumatra Indonesia, remember to avoid traveling during the festive months of Idul Fitri, Ceng Beng and School Holidays. These are the times where many will be traveling to and from Medan Indonesia.

Visit www.MedanKu.com to download Medan city guide, budget travel guide and see more pictures and videos of Medan Sumatra Indonesia

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