Athens Attica Islands - Kythera Antikythera
Enchanted waterfalls, serene magical beaches, remnants of medieval times, knights and castles and a zillion more temptations. The greatest live of your life now playing in Kythera and Antikythera!

By: athensatticalive

Read this article:

Athens Attica Islands - Kythera

Athens Attica Islands - Troezene, Poros Methana
A feast of senses, unsurpassed views, dormant volcanoes, unforgettable sunsets and a zillion more pleasures. The greatest live of your life now playing in Poros, Methana and Troezen.

By: athensatticalive

See original here:

Athens Attica Islands - Troezene, Poros

BEIJING - China is to carry out a geographical survey of islands in the East China Sea at the center of a bitter dispute with Japan, state media said Tuesday.

The survey of the Diaoyu islands -- known as Senkakus in Japan, which controls them -- was part of a program to map China's "territorial islands and reefs," the Xinhua news agency said, citing a state geographical agency.

The maritime dispute, which has simmered off and on for years, intensified last year when the Japanese government nationalized islands in the small chain it did not already own, triggering anger and demonstrations in China.

The protests were allowed to take place by the Communist authorities in Beijing, who use nationalism to bolster their claims to legitimacy, particularly regarding Japan, which occupied parts of China in the 20th century.

The mapping exercise was part of China's efforts to "safeguard its maritime rights and interests", Xinhua said, without saying when it would take place or making clear whether it would involve activities on land, as opposed to sea-based surveying.

Excerpt from:

China to survey islands disputed with Japan — Xinhua

LORETO, Mexico, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --With whale watching season just around the corner, Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, the newest member of Villa Group Resorts, is responding to increased client requests by introducing an exhilarating three-night package built around the amazing whale watching and marine life opportunities available in the Sea of Cortez and on the Baja Peninsula for only $695 USD per person.

When it's time for whale watching, guests will enjoy a scenic drive across Baja Peninsula to Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side where they will be led on a guided whale watching excursion by some of the region's most knowledgeable guides. Magdalena Bay is the perfect spot for whales, which travel nearly 4,000 miles on an arduous journey from Alaska to get to majestic Magdalena Bay. Some say that like guests who travel to the Islands of Loreto, Baja, Mexico, the whales come back each year for the food, the climate and simply the magic of the region.

Before heading out on the excursion, guests will enjoy a light breakfast, and afterwards they will be treated to a delicious, local lunch in Lopez Mateos, a tiny authentic fishing village. During the excursion, guests can expect to see grey whales while aboard a panga open-air boat. They will interact with the whales and learn about their lifestyle and habits while watching them jump, play and float near the boat. Normally the just born baby whales are more curious and playful, making the experience even more unforgettable.

"Whale watching excursions are one of our most popular activities at the resort," says Owen Perry, owner and president, Villa Group. "Guests love to touch and play with the grey whales while in the open-air panga boats surrounded by some of the most beautiful and clear water in the world. It's truly a transformative experience."

Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto's Whale Watching Package includes three nights for two adults in a deluxe ocean view room at the resort and three days of exciting adventures. The first day includes a guided tour of Loreto City and the Mission of "Nuestra Senora de Loreto." The second day is the trip to Magdalena Bay for a guided whale watching excursion. And the third day gives guests the thrill of a guided, open-air panga ride where they will see dolphins and all of the natural beauty that the region has to offer.

Whale watching excursions are offered at Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto through March 2013. The whales are often closest to shore and the most active in February.

Complete and customizable packages including accommodations, whale tours, dolphin tours, taxes, gratuities and other features are available through the resort reservations department. And for visitors to the Islands of Loreto, Baja, Mexico, whale watching day tours are available for $120 USD per person.

For more information or to book a package, guests should visit http://www.villadelpalmarloreto.com or call toll-free USA 866-209-0726, toll-free CAN 855-440-5590.

ABOUT VILLA DEL PALMAR AT THE ISLANDS OF LORETOBaja's First Million Star Resort Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto is a self-contained destination resort on the Sea of Cortez, off the eastern coast of the Baja peninsula overlooking Danzante Island (one of five in the region). It features 181 new, spacious, beautifully appointed one, two and three bedroom villas with balconies, stunning ocean views, mountain views, outstanding restaurants, an attentive English-speaking staff, four swimming pools, beautiful beaches and a mild and warm climate year-round.

Guests can enjoy scuba and snorkeling tours in the protected Marine Park within the five prominent Loreto Islands, horseback riding, swimming, world-class fishing (catch a Dorado and bring it home to have a Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto chef prepare it for you), paddle boarding, kayaking, whale watching and mountain biking. With complimentary shuttle service, guests can explore the historic town at the Islands of Loreto and visit the 1697 mission that made the town famous. The area is also known for its wildlife, including the 900 species of fish off the coast and in an area that has been declared a World Heritage Site. Hotel perks include a spa and fitness center, massages, salsa dance lessons and movie nights for children.

Continued here:

Villa Del Palmar At The Islands Of Loreto Introduces New Once-in-a-Lifetime Whale Watching Package

AFP January16,2013,12:00amTWN

The announcement came as Japanese fighter jets were scrambled in response to a Chinese state-owned Y-12 plane flying close to but not inside the islands' airspace, according to Tokyo's defense ministry.

Separately, official Chinese media reported that Beijing's armed forces have been instructed this year to train for battle, while a Tokyo official said U.S. and Japanese fighter jets carried out joint air exercises.

This week's tensions come after Japan's hawkish Shinzo Abe won a landslide election victory following campaign promises to re-invigorate Tokyo's security alliance with Washington and take a more robust line against Beijing.

The dispute over the islands, known as Diaoyu in Beijing and Senkaku by Tokyo, which controls them, has simmered on and off for years but intensified in 2012 when Japan nationalized those it did not already own, triggering anger and demonstrations in China.

China has repeatedly sent maritime surveillance ships to the area and carried out naval exercises, and both Tokyo and Beijing have scrambled fighter jets to the area in recent weeks in a further escalation.

Commentators say Beijing wants to prove that Japan does not have effective control over the chain to draw Tokyo into concessions.

The cartographic survey was part of a program to map China's territorial islands and reefs and safeguard its maritime rights and interests, the official Xinhua news agency said, without saying when it would take place.

It did not make clear whether it would involve activities on land or be purely sea-based, but quoted Zhang Huifeng, of China's National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, acknowledging there could be difficulties.

There are some difficulties in landing on some islands to survey, and in surveying and mapping the surrounding sea area of the islands, because some countries infringed and occupied these islands of China, he said.

Read more here:

China to survey disputed E. China Sea islands: Xinhua

Beijing, Jan 15 (IANS) China is to survey the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea as part of a programme of mapping its territorial islands and reefs, it was revealed Tuesday.

According to a document issued in a press conference by the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, the first stage of the island surveying and mapping was launched in 2009 and has finished the monitoring of islands located within 100 km of the coastline, Xinhua reported.

The second stage will cover islands including the Diaoyu Islands, the document said, adding that this programme is part of China's efforts to safeguard its maritime rights and interests.

China, as of the end of 2012, had completed the identifying and precise positioning of about 6,400 islands and more than 4,900 island maps of three different scales.

The islands are called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. The row over the islands, which are presently controlled by Japan, has left ties between Tokyo and Beijing highly tense, BBC reported.

-

Continued here:

China mulls Diaoyu Islands mapping

CAYMAN ENTERPRISE CITY, Cayman Islands, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Latitude19 Technology announces the launch of the first open Internet Payment Gateway on the Cayman Islands. Built in partnership with the Level 1 PCI Validated service provider and leading software developer Auric Systems International, Latitude19 Technology offers the e-commerce merchant the flexibility and affordability of processing card-not-present business in a tax-friendly jurisdiction.

The Latitude19 Technology payment gateway ensures data security, performance, scalability, and ease of use by utilizing state-of-the-art hardware and software technology. The merchant will reduce their PCI scope and costs due to the unique tokenization approach, having the flexibility of integration with best-of-breed e-commerce solution.

Processing Internet credit card transactions with Latitude19 Technology will help the merchants meet their international business goals of cost containment, secure processing, and global growth. Latitude19 Technology's payment gateway expertise extends beyond the borders of simply processing e-commerce transactions. Leverage L19's expertise in:

To learn more about Latitude19 Technology's expertise in international Internet payment gateway processing go to: http://www.l19tech.com

"Latitude19 Technology International Internet Payment Gateway leveraged Auric's extensive software development and PCI expertise to design and build the international payment gateway to L19's requirements," stated Auric Systems International CEO Ray Cote.

"Our experience with Auric Software Development was outstanding. I was confident throughout the process that whatever issues would arise Auric would address them and provide us with a solution to those issues. Auric has provided Latitude19 with a platform to grow and adapt to meet the ever-expanding business requirements associated with payment processing," stated Founder/President Tim Moore.

About Latitude19 Technology:

Latitude19 Technology is a Cayman Islands Internet payment gateway solution provider. The merchant will benefit from the "open" payment gateway design in areas of faster credit card transaction processing speed, cardholder security, and investment protection. http://www.l19tech.com

About Auric Systems International: Auric Systems International pioneered card-not-present payment software. Auric software moves billions of dollars for merchants - securely, affordably and elegantly. Payment Processing Simplified

Media Contact Information:

Read the original here:

Latitude19 Technology Brings First Open Internet Payment Gateway to Cayman Islands, Enabling e-Commerce Merchants ...

Beijing is to carry out a geographical survey of islands in the East China Sea, state media said on Tuesday, the latest salvo in an increasingly tense dispute with Tokyo over the uninhabited territory.

The announcement came as Japanese fighter jets were scrambled in response to a Chinese state-owned Y-12 plane flying close to -- but not inside -- the islands' airspace, according to Tokyo's defence ministry.

Separately, official Chinese media reported that Beijing's armed forces have been instructed this year to train for battle, while a Tokyo official said US and Japanese fighter jets carried out joint air exercises.

This week's tensions come after Japan's hawkish Shinzo Abe won a landslide election victory following campaign promises to re-invigorate Tokyo's security alliance with Washington and take a more robust line against Beijing.

The dispute over the islands, known as Diaoyu in Beijing and Senkaku by Tokyo, which controls them, has simmered on and off for years but intensified in 2012 when Japan nationalised those it did not already own, triggering anger and demonstrations in China.

The protests were allowed to take place by the Communist authorities in Beijing, who use nationalism to bolster their claims to legitimacy, particularly regarding Japan, which occupied parts of China in the 20th century.

China has repeatedly sent maritime surveillance ships to the area and carried out naval exercises, and both Tokyo and Beijing have scrambled fighter jets to the area in recent weeks in a further escalation.

Commentators say Beijing wants to prove that Japan does not have effective control over the chain to draw Tokyo into concessions.

The cartographic survey was part of a programme to map China's "territorial islands and reefs" and safeguard its "maritime rights and interests", the official Xinhua news agency said, without saying when it would take place.

It did not make clear whether it would involve activities on land or be purely sea-based, but quoted Zhang Huifeng, of China's National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, acknowledging there could be "difficulties".

View post:

China to survey islands disputed with Japan