Provence by Bike

Andy Levine, founder and president of DuVine Adventures, is offering the readers of Provence Post a great discount on two of his all-inclusive Provence bike tours this spring. Book before the end of January and he’ll knock $500 per couple off the price, plus he’ll throw in two Duvine bike jerseys. Choose either May 17th to 22nd or May 24th to 29th and mention Provence Post when you book.

The

Girl Scout

If you have a nice garden, patio, terrace or pool, Tricia Harris wants to know.

An Englishwoman living in Paradou since 2007, Tricia has a successful company that offers painting- and French class-holidays in Provence. And now she’s started a side business scouting locations for photo studios, ad agencies and magazines. “They’re not always looking for a ‘Homes and Gardens’ look,” she says, “but

Mokpo korean old town best tourist attractions

Mokpo (Mokpo-si) ( 木浦市) is a major port city in South Jeolla Province , South Korea ,surrounded by hills facing the sea on the southwestern tip of the Korean Peninsula with a population of about 260,000. From Mokpo there are ferries to Tadohae Haesang National Park, Chin-do, Hong-do and Shinan island . The cheapest ferries to Chejo island also depart from Mokpo and the is now a ferry to Shanghai . Mokpo is the hometown of President Kim Dae-jung, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001

Mokpo best tourist attractions and things to see in Mokpo including Park, Museum, Festival, Hall, and so many things here :

1. Yudal San park
A short climb gives a commanding view of the city with many pavalions . There are many scultures to be see here, If you wander off the main trails you can find old carving on the hilside . The building in front of the park is historical site #289, which used to be the Japanese consulate . There is a statue there of Yi-Sun-shin, who gazes at Nojok-bong hill. According to legend Yi-Sun-shin covered the hill with straw bags to imitate bags of rice to fool the invading Japanese army that he had more troops than there really were .
2. Yudal beach
3. Daebandong
4. Mokposisa
5. National Maritime Museum
Here you can see the remains of the yuan Dynasty junk ( which is quite large ) and the relics found with it, along with other items from Korean naval history
Take 111 Bus in front of Mokpo MBC, Hadang Geumho apartment, 25 minutes by taxi
6. Mokpo Natural History Museum
7. Mokpo Folklore Museum
8. Yongsan Dam and farming Museum
9. Regional Cultural Center Hyangto Munhwagwan
10. Namnong Memorial Hall
11. Mokpo Cultural Festival
Held every September or October since 1959, and it shows lives and spirits of Namdo people. During the festival, there are various kinds of events such as Play Festival, Music Festival, Jazz Concert


Yudal San Park in Mokpo



Mokpo Old Town view



Mokpo City



Downtown in Mokpo


Watch Mokpo Mugunghwa Hampyeong Station Start Up video here

Rhone Alone

La Madelène Rhône Wine Holidays tells me there are a few places left in their very-affordable three-day wine course, taught in English and focused on the best of the Southern Rhône. Classes are held in a 12th-century priory and include tastings, lunches (with great wines, bien sur!) and private visits to seven domaines. The course is offered on consecutive Tuesdays in February (3rd/10th/17th) or

Puff Adder Facts

Latin Name: Bitis arietans

Length: Up to 1 m.

Lifespan: Average 13 years.

Distribution: Found throughout Africa except for desert regions and mountaintops.

Food: Rats, mice, other small mammals, birds, frogs, toads and other snakes.

Reproduction:
Puff Adders are viviparous (give birth to live young), giving birth to 16 – 40 young, which are born in the late summer. The young are highly venomous upon hatching and are capable of inflicting a serious bite.
The Puff Adder holds the record for giving birth to the most amount young by any snake, 156!

Venom:
Their venom is Cytotoxic and highly dangerous. Once the venom enters the body, the body sends plasma (white blood cells) to the site of the bite to try and dilute the venom. With the venom being so potent, excess amounts of plasma sent cause the body tissues to swell up to the degree where the veins are compressed tightly up against the skin, resulting in loss of blood circulation. The area that swells up will often turns to a blackish-blue color with there being a lack of blood.
If not treated promptly, often amputations may necessary after about 4 hours.

Notes:
The Puff Adder is responsible for most of the serious snakebite incidents in Africa as it is the most common widespread venomous snake on the continent and often does not move when approached resulting in many people being bitten.
It is a rather sluggish moving snake but can strike very rapidly. From a coiled position too striking and then returning back to a coiled position takes just 0,24 of a second!
When approached they will often hiss and puff, hence the name “Puff Adder”.

Postcard from Châteauneuf

My friend Jancis Robinson, wine writer extraordinaire, is one of the most accomplished people I know. Not only is she the editor of the award-winning Oxford Companion to Wine and co-author, with Hugh Johnson, of The World Atlas of Wine (both standard references worldwide), she has written 20-plus other books, many of which have won major awards. Her column appears weekly in the Financial Times.

Provence on Paper

Some years ago, after finishing the book "French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France," I did something I’ve never done: I wrote a fan letter to Richard Goodman, the author. He and I went on to become friends and, because I admire his work so much, I asked him to pen something for The Provence Post, on any subject of his choosing. This is what he sent.

What I miss in most of the

Jeju Island best bars pubs casinos beach

Jeju Island (제주도) formerly Cheju Island, is an island off the southern coast of South Korea.Jeju Island, also known as the "Island of the Gods," is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and many Japanese. Scenic beaches, waterfalls, cliffs and caves lie in harmony, and the mild weather makes Jeju island an even more ideal tourist destination.

Although tourism is one of the main industries on the island, many of the hotels and other tourist areas are run by mainland companies, so much of the income never gets put back into the local economy. Also, since the attractions are geared towards tourists, many of the entrance fees can be hefty (although the locally owned and operated ones tend to be cheaper). Similar to Gyeongju and some other areas, local residents can enter most places for free or for a steeply discounted price.

Jeju has so many nightlife attractions. Bars,Pubs, and casino can be found easily in the city especially located in the "old city" near city hall. This is where the young college kids and Jeju-do's English teachers hang out.

Nightlife in Jeju, South Korea is abound with many options namely Bars&pubs in Jeju, Casinos in Jeju and nightclubs in Jeju. One of the high points of nightlife in Jeju is the wide array of bars&pubs in Jeju. Most of the bars and pubs here are operated by the luxurious super deluxe hotels and resorts in Jeju.

In Seogwipo, the nightlife is centered around the luxury hotels and resorts. The Jungmun Tourist Complex has a bunch of upscale hotel lounges and karaoke bars. Also, many major hotels have casinos.

Jeju Island has a beautiful beaches


Street in Jeju City

Watch Travel in Jeju Island Korea, Travel Hawaii in Korea (1박2일도 제주도의 아름다움에 놀라다) video here

Where to Eat in Avignon

Originally from Illinois, Kate Schertz has eaten her way around the world, a task facilitated by her former profession as an American diplomat. She studied cooking in France, Tuscany and Sicily and counts Turkish cuisine among her star feats. For the past 4.5 years, Kate has been living in Avignon, where she dines out frequently. We asked her to pass along some of her favorite addresses. Bon

Andong Korea city of Hahoe Masks

Andong is a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, South Korea. It is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Seoul. It is the largest city in the northern part of the province with a population of almost 185,000.

Andong is famous for its “Hahoe” masks and a picturesque folk village surrounded by a river, a mountain and a breathtaking pine tree forest. It also has a high concentration of people with the family name Ryu.

Andong has so many beautiful sites and places to attract the visitors. Don't forget to visit such famous sites like this :

1. The Korea National Tourism Office has a small Tourist Information Center at the Andong train station. It is staffed by volunteers and the level of English proficiency tends to be low, but they have several good guides to the area in English and Japanese, as well as Korean. Stop by and pick up one of their area maps.
2. Andong Dam- Built in 1976, the multi-purpose dam provides hydro-electric power and recreational areas for the surrounding areas.
3. Andong Folk Museum- Built to preserve the cultural assets endangered by the creation of Andong Dam, the museum contains over 3,700 items representing the Confucian culture of the Andong region.
4. Andong Folk Village- The village contains the Andong Folk Museum, as well as many reconstructed and relocated traditional buildings, many of which also function as restaurants.
5. Andong Market- Andong actually has numerous markets, as it functions as the central trading area for the surrounding areas. The locally produced cloth is especially famous.
6. Chebiwan Seokbul (Amitaba Buddha)- A 12+ meter high stone Buddha, with the body and head carved separately from different pieces of granite.
7. Hahoe Folk Village- The 600+ year old village is truly a living museum as the inhabitants have maintained the traditional way of life through the generations.
8. Hahoe Mask Museum- The museum contains over 200 Korean masks and 100 foreign masks, concentrating on the Hahoe Pyolshingut T'alnori, the famous mixture of entertainment and shamanistic ritual for which the Hahoe area is famous.
9. Pongjong-sa Temple- Dating from 672, this beautiful temple contains many cultural properties, including Keungnakcheon, Korea's oldest wooden building.
10. Shinsae-dong 7-story Pagoda- Built during the Shilla Dynasty, this 17 meter high pagoda is Korea's tallest and oldest brick pagoda.
11. Tosanseowon (Confucian Academy)- Established in 1574, it was the center of Confucian studies in the surrounding region for over 400 years, and is designated Historical Site.
12. Yonggye-ri Ginko Tree- Over 37 meters in height and 16 meters in width, this is one of Korea's oldest and largest trees, and it is reputed to "moan" whenever Korea is about to suffer misfortune.


Hahoe village of Andong


The Andong International Mask Dance Festival


Watch Andong city, Hahoe Folk Village Mask Dance video here

Oh Shoot!

James Desauvage grew up in England’s Lake District and moved to France at age 10. He worked in marketing and communication before making a career switch and opening his own web design and technology business, which is thriving. But a lifelong passion for photography recently blossomed and he’s now shooting professionally, doing weddings, parties, portraits and other jobs for clients of all types.