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Australia didn’t make the grade in the Lonely Planet’s new popular Best in Travel guide, although the south-west of Western Australia won a spot in the top 10 regions worldwide.
The travel bible named New Zealand on the basis of the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
The authors said the last time they checked, “the land of Maori and hobbits certainly didn’t need repairing”.
The annual guide, which drew on the knowledge of Lonely Planet’s staff, named the country’s most inspiring activities as flying over Fiordland, kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park and paragliding over Queenstown – all South Island activities.
But the North Island’s Tongariro National Park, prized for its iconic one-day crossing hike, also rated a mention.
Other countries named in the top 10 were El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Portugal, Suriname and the USA.
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1. World Naked Bike Ride, London UK.
World Naked Bike Ride
Held annually since 2004, bike riders from all around the world celebrate cycling in the nude. Nude cyclists bared their bods to stand up for what they believe in, with messages painted on their bodies.If you plan to participate next year, one traveller advises, “Remember the sunscreen…those saddles will be hot, hot, hot, so cover them up before alighting, people!”
2. World Record Skinny Dip
World Record Skinny Dip
More than 12,000 people stripped off and gathered in pools across the US to form the “largest number of people skinny dipping at once,” now a category in the Guinness Book of World Records. All participants were required to don their full birthday suits, and word has it they plan to strip down again next year in hopes of beating the record again.
3. Nude Beach Olympics, Maslin Beach, Australia
Nude Beach Olympics
The Nude Olympics take place on Australia’s sunny Maslin Beach, where the games are a celebration of the town’s status as first official nude beach in the country. A three-legged race is included among the events.
4. Running of the Nudes,Pamplona, Spain.
Running of the Nudes
The “Running of the Nudes” protests the cruelty of bullfighting, with participants showing some skin in hopes that one day Pamplona’s bulls won’t have to, donning plastic bull horns, red scarves, and little else, and running the half-mile Pamplona course.”I was shocked but entertained because everything was jiggling around and flopping around, if you know what I mean,” one traveller said.
Burning Man Babes
The annual Burning Man project is a self-proclaimed haven of self-expression, creativity and community that draws 50,000 people to the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. Participants often take advantage of the free-spirited attitude by getting nude.
1. Haulover Beach Park, Florida, USA
Haulover Beach
With more than a million visitors annually, Haulover Beach Park in Florida is known for being a busy, family-friendly area with the option to experience a laid-back naturist environment, plus it is close to the steamy South Beach nightlife.
2. Wreck Beach, Canada. 
Views and five miles of sand, Wreck beach is Canada’s first and largest clothing-optional beach. “Wreck Beach is a magical place where I can strip off my layers of clothes and judgments, troubles and insecurities, and become one with the earth,” a traveller said.
3. Paradise Beach, Mykynos, Greece.
Paradise Beach
A party atmosphere and amazing scenery make this Greek beach a favourite amongst clothing-optional travellers.
4. Orient Beach, St.Maarten, Caribbean
Orient Beach
Coral reefs keep the water calm, and also make for unbelievable snorkeling at this St.Maarten,
Caribbean, beach. Just watch out for the sea urchins.
5. Black’s Beach, California USA.
Black’s Beach
Black’s has a history of sunbathers who let it all hang out. Surfers also enjoy this Californian beach, where they can ride the sometimes-dangerous waves naked. “This is simply a stunning beach…all of us found Black’s Beach to be a very comfortable place to shed our clothes and inhibitions,” a traveller said.
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Samos beaches
Overlooked by most tourists, Samos is a small, lush island only a few miles off the Turkish coast, soothed by the warm lap of the Aegean sea. Most people reach Samos via ferry from Turkey. Boats depart daily from the busy port of Kusadasi, bringing day-trippers onto the boardwalk in Samos town, also known as Vathy. For a few hot hours, tourists throng the cafes: German couples fanning themselves or young Greeks arguing over iced coffee. Most of these groups enjoy dinner and a stroll on the boardwalk, then depart back to Turkey before dark. It is in the evening, when Samos empties, that the island reveals its quiet, idyllic character.
We watched sunset over the calm, gray-blue sea while white-hulled fishing boats idled offshore. Vathy is built at the inlet of a large bay, with forests rising up on all sides, and white and blue homes running steeply up to the base of the hills. That evening, we enjoyed Greek dolmas (grape leaves stuffed with fragrant rice) and a glass of Samos’ famous sweet red wine.
Beaches are easily reachable by public bus from Vathy. The village of Kokkari, only 10km from Vathy, has become a popular windsurfing destination, and offers access to several beaches. On the Western side of the island, Potámi beach draws tourists and locals alike from Karlovassi, a large nearby town. The Western coast is generally considered the most unspoiled, but intrepid beach-hunters can find pebbled, palm-fringed beaches all along Samos’ coastline.
A highway winds around the island with spectacular views of the sea, and many tourists rent motorcycles to tour the island. In the bay at Pythagorio, the birthplace of mathematician Pythagoras, boats dock in the swaying blue bay. Built on an ancient city, Pythagorio now serves as Samos’ major tourist destination and the site of several archeological sites. A 19th century castle overlooks the bay, and a monastery, restored with a lack of artistic vision, sits on the shady hills above Pythagorio. Sadly, the nearby ruin of Ireon, the mythical birthplace of Hera, looks fairly unimpressive, though it once ranked as a major sanctuary. The best place to learn about the ancient history of this area is in the Samos Archeological Museum in Vathy (open Tues-Sun, 3 euro).
The town of Monolates hides itself far up in the Samian hills. This artistic community is a haven for craftspeople who sell glazed pottery, woven products, metalwork, and paintings out of their workshops. Most tourists hire taxis to Monolates; for the more adventurous, a walking trail rises 3,000 feet from the beach through forest, vineyard, and olive groves.
Monolates looks like the Greece of the movies, with narrow, winding streets and white-washed homes. In a courtyard covered with trellises of grapevines, we ate fava beans, spiced olives, tea made from Samos’ mountain herbs, and yogurt with fresh honey. Our lunch came with a price: it made us miss the last bus back to Vathy. But on Samos, the pace of life is slow and easy, so we decided to act like locals, and ordered another tea.
Written by Caitlin Dwyer http://www.europeupclose.com/author/caitlin-dwyer/
I planned my itinerary before I left. I found a great deal on a Euro pass Train ticket to go from Athens to Amsterdam. The 5 day pass allowed me to travel by Train (with sleeper for the long trips) to any destination for say a day, get of and spend as much time as I required before leaving to the Next City. It took me 3 weeks of Travel to use the 5 day pass and It included my ferry from Greece to Italy. Unlimited travel on the entire network of the following 21 countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
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By Helene Colliopoulou in Athens, Greece
GREEK President Carolos Papoulias ramped up pressure on Britain to return priceless statues from antiquity taken over 200 years ago as the new Acropolis Museum was opened in Athens.
The Greek leader reiterated his country’s longstanding call for the return of the Elgin Marbles at the solemn ceremony on Saturday to inaugurate the giant €130 million ($226.11 million) glass and concrete building.
“Today the whole world can see the most important sculptures of the Parthenon assembled, but some are missing; it’s time to heal the wounds of the monument with the return of the marbles which belong to it,” Mr Papoulias said.
The Government says the museum, which dominates downtown Athens under the Parthenon temple, is the physical embodiment of a campaign dating back to 1983.
“It’s our identity and our pride,” Mr Papoulias said of the new museum.
The museum, which had its origins in British jibes that Greece would have nowhere to display what are known in London as the Elgin Marbles if ever they were returned, was designed to host the reunited artworks.
Greek Culture Minister Antonis Samaras said during a special advance opening for the media that the new museum space “now demolishes that excuse”.
About half of the Parthenon Marbles – fifth-century Greek sculptures, inscriptions and architectural columns from the Parthenon and other buildings on the symbolic Acropolis hill – are intact in the museum.
Of the remainder, most are held in London’s British Museum after they were hacked away in the early 1800s on the orders of a British aristocrat and diplomat, Lord Elgin, under a deal with the ruling Ottoman Empire.
Heads of state and government and cultural emissaries from 30 countries, including UN heritage chief Koichiro Matsuura and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, attended the gala opening, albeit five years late – it was originally due to open around the Athens Olympic Games.
The event was staged by Dimitris Papaioannou, the creator of the Athens Olympics opening ceremony, as a celebration of Greek antiquity and broadcast on public television.
The Government also invited British Museum officials despite their refusal to return the marbles.
Greece in turn rejected an offer to “loan” them back, which Athens said would confer ownership rights it denies.
Stepping up Greece’s campaign, Mr Samaras appealed to “everyone around the world who believes in the values and ideas that emerged on the slopes of the Acropolis to join our quest to bring the missing Parthenon marbles home”.
He said their “abduction” and “enforced exile” was “not only an injustice to us Greeks but to everyone in the world, the English included, because they were made to be seen in sequence and in total”.
That was “something that cannot happen as long as half of them are held hostage in the British Museum”, he added.
An international campaigning group said on Friday that the 2012 London Olympics would represent the perfect moment to send the relics home, given the origins of the games in ancient Greece.
The objects were purchased by the British Parliament from Lord Elgin in 1816 and then presented to the British Museum.
Designed by celebrated Franco-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, the three-level Athens building offers panoramic views of the stone citadel and showcases sculptures from the golden age of Athenian democracy.
Set out over a total area of 14,000 square metres, it harnesses natural light to show off more than 350 artefacts and sculptures that were previously held in a small museum atop the Acropolis.
The museum opens to the public today, and officials said full-house signs have already gone up through to Tuesday following Internet reservations, with 11,000 advance tickets sold in total.
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Surf N’ Sun : Surfers Paradise, Australia.
With a swimming pool and open courtyard, the Surf N’ Sun packs the young, the wild, and the alcoholic. Bar Crawls take place every night and the hostel offers punch and free club entry. Boxes of goon start flowing late afternoon when people come back from the beach.
The Clown and Bard : Prague, Czech Republic
With a 36 person dorm room, this place is always hopping. There’s a bar downstairs with a two for three happy hour beginning a pillow lounge, the Flying Pig is the spot for those looking to channel their inner Bob Marley. There’s a constant cloud of smoke seeping out into streets at all hours of the day and night. Don’t worry if you run out- there are two coffeeshops across the street!
Base features a downstairs club that pumps out music every night. You won’t get any sleep as the music filters up the floors and entices you to come down and party until dawn. The young and the restless fill the dance floor after drinking pitchers of beer and cheap, colorful shots. There’s usually theme and karaoke nights that let you embarrass your self all night long.
Loki : Cusco, Peru
Located in a 450 year old building, Loki is known throughout South America for its parties. With regular events, an open lounge, and theme nights, I wouldn’t expect any sleep here either. The bar is regularly packed so tight, you’ll be practically grinding against your neighbor.
#11 Happy Guesthouse : Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Why: Located by the lake in Phnom Penh, #11 Happy Guesthouse features a huge patio, two big screen TVs, a pool table, and one dollar beers. Always packed, this hostel is filled with the party seekers who spend their days sightseeing and night drinking beer before heading to the infamous Heart of Darkness.
St. Christopher’s Inn : London, England
A bar, karaoke, cheap drinks, and a license to go until 4am all means that this hostel is bursting with partygoers and one the busiest in London. After you drink it down, you can take it off at the rooftop hot tub. People here know where the action is and if you play your cards right, it just might be your room.
Located in the center of Las Ramblas, Kabul has a very open second floor where all parties happen. Happy hour officially begins at 7, which is usually a few hours after everyone wakes up. With a reputation for partying, this place keeps drawing those who start partying at 2 a.m. and sleep until 2 p.m. This place gives new meaning to the term “late night.” I was called a quitter for sleeping at 5 a.m.
The Rising Cock : Lagos, Portugal
The Rising Cock is infamous for its parties and it’s well deserved. Two things happen at the Rising Cock: drinking and drinking.
Start your day with the hostel’s booze cruise on which the majority of people get naked, and then keep the partying going with drinking games at the hostel. If you can’t handle 24 hour partying, this hostel is not for you.
The Pink Palace : Corfu, Greece
The Pink Palace is one of the world’s most famous party hostels in the world and with good reason: toga parties, cheap shots of ouzo, happy hours, and theme nights. After a day at the beach (which is just minutes away) or their booze cruise, you’ll be spending the night dancing at their club, Palladium, until the sun comes up. The hostel has over 300 beds- there’s a good chance, you might not end up in yours!
The Treehouse : Ko Chang, Thailand
Every night is a bucket night at the Treehouse, and it’s the perfect blend of a relaxed hippy vibe and partying with a very active dance floor and a lot drinking. This place has all the ambiance you need and you don’t have to stay there to party there. People trickle in from all over to have fun, making this a hotspot on Lonely Beach.
The Yellow Location : Rome, Italy
With a bar downstairs and semi-nightly pub crawls, it’s pretty easy to meet people at the Yellow. It’s not a huge hostel either making the close quarters also convenient for meeting fellow travelers.
Ostello Archi Rossi : Florence, Italy
This place has been popular for a long time as evident by the walls covered by the names of past guests. A big courtyard and common dining area keep people mingling and drinking vino rossi. There are some clubs down the street and, when they close, you can move back to the courtyard to keep the party going. The rooms are a little away from the action so you can actually get some sleep if you want.
Known for its partying, Wombats rarely sees anyone over 25. With an ultra-chic bar, everyone breaks out their best attire and pickup skills here. Cheap drinks keep travelers mingling all night long. If you can’t meet anyone here, you can’t meet anyone anywhere.
The Jazz on South Beach : Miami, Florida USA
Located right near the beach, The Jazz on South Beach has an excellent bar that hosts the bold and beautiful of South Beach. This is the place to stay if you’re looking to be seen in South Beach.
Carnival Court : Capetown, South Africa
There’s no chance of a good night’s sleep at Carnival Court. Located near a lot of bars (there’s also a bar in the hostel), this place is a hangover waiting to happen. It’s wild here and everyone is looking to break a new drinking record. The staff will point you in the direction of the parties but you just might have trouble walking there as the fun here starts well before the sun goes down.
Millhouse Hostel : Buenos Aires, Argentina
The music is on 24-hours a day at the Millhouse and the atmosphere is extremely social! Each night has a different activity such as dance party, karaoke night, and tango lessons. Definitely a hostel for those that want non-stop fun and excitement right at home! Most commonly heard line: “Were those moans from the porno shop next store or did you get lucky last night?”
Auckland Central Backpackers Auckland, New Zealand
Located right down town, this hostel draws upon the fact its part of the Base chain. That means all the craziness of Melbourne spills over with people getting down and dirty all night long. It will give you another reason to keep staying longer in Auckland.
India House : New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
A funky converted house that was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the India House features eccentric local characters and travelers who just can’t leave. Maybe it’s Bourbon St. Maybe it’s the jazz. Maybe it’s the beer vending machine in the kitchen. Whatever it is, people here know how to have a good time.
Tina’s Backpackers : Caye Caulker, Belize
Located right on the beach, Tina’s Backpackers keeps people in close quarters. Everyone here is into island living – sun by day, drink by night. Though the crowd tends to be a bit older (30ish), you wouldn’t know it by the way people party here. It is way off the beaten path but it’s worth it.
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Traveling in Greece was a great experience for me recently. The Homeland of my parents. I was brought up in Australia and the chance to visit was one I have cherished since. I had a great time with all the many Relatives I had only seen in photos over the years. Meeting all my my cousins was inspirational, I noticed they were very much like me but raised in a totally different Country and Sports Culture. Dimitris and Zi ZI were the Soccer stars, Andreas the Sculls Rower, Costas the Wrestler. All their Houses were full of Medals and Trophies they had won in their various sports. Just like my place I remarked ! All my trophies were for Australian Rules Football. I heard all the old stories from various Uncles about my Grandfathers and what they endured during times of War, Famine, and Civil unrest. They came out of all these challenges stronger and resilient Men. That month I spent in Greece had a profound affect on my Psyche. My Greek spirit came alive amongst the land of my ancestors.
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Summer vacation in Santorini, Kamari Beach. And some driving around the island as well.
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