There's a secret spot in Ireland. And the locals don't want you to know it exists.

   I found it by chance. The Irish are world-famous for being a friendly nation and yet you hesitate as you climb to the top of a hill and see a fisherman storing his tools, the dog good-naturedly circling his feet. The camera comes out. The scene is so in line with the postcard Ireland you remember seeing pinned to the wall. Walking closer you drop the camera until you're close enough to simply watch and listen. The water gently touches his boat. His tools hit the dock(码头),making ringing noises.

   The dog has discovered you sitting so quietly on the hill and although he's been playing in the water he knows no sense of politeness and runs toward you-only a slight delay in his step as his owner shouts out a command. It slows his progress toward you,but only slightly. That dog is about to give you the wettest and hairiest hug you've had in weeks.

   The dog has opened the door to conversation now and as the dog leads you to the fisherman you glance toward the sound of an approaching car, his wife, here to pick him up and transport his catch back into town. The immediate polite conversations unfold—I'm an obvious American and don't deny it, they're curious as to why such a healthy and pretty young lady such as myself is wandering the cold hills in such a remote area of Ireland. “Single are ya? Well why in the world are ya traveling by yerself, you'll never meet a man that way?’’ demands the wife. She's a tough customer and can't understand my answer “because I enjoy it, "evidenced by her long-suffering sigh and a muttering(喃喃自语)about “young people”.

   There's a secret spot in Ireland, and I'm not going to tell you where it is. I'm not going to tell where it is because I know there're other Irish towns out there just like it-all laced with joy of simplicity.

At Bristol Zoo Gardens you can enjoy an amazing world of animals, all within our award-winning 12 acre gardens. With over 400 species and 9 animal houses under cover, it’s one of the best days out in Bristol whatever the weather. We suggest you allow 2-5 hours for your visit to really take in everything we have to offer.

   By visiting Bristol Zoo you will be directly contributing to the conservation of endangered species and habitats. Admission prices at Bristol Zoo include a 10% voluntary donation to help support our conservation projects.

   With so many things to do in Bristol Zoo, it is really one of the top attractions in Bristol and the South West.

  Adopting an animal

  Help us look after your favorite animal by becoming an animal adopter; it makes a fantastic gift for any age!

  Choose from 10 of our favorite animals to adopt, which costs just £45. Adopt them in a matter of minutes online.

  Opening hours

  We’re open every day from 9:00 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. in peak season, and close at 5:00 p. m. during off-peak periods. The Zoo is closed on Christmas Day. Last entry to the Zoo is an hour before closing time and animal houses close half an hour before closing time.

   Traveling by bus

   Our bus service is operating every 30 minutes on Sundays and public holidays only. The service will enable guests to travel to the Zoo or anywhere along the route. The service is FREE to Bristol Zoo members-all you need to do is to bring your membership card.

    We encourage all of our guests to use public transport when coming to the Zoo.

 Design your own adventure spent at IZEˈs Blue Creek Field Station by choosing 2 activities per day from the list below.

   Short Cave Hike

   2-hour activity where you will be exposed to the ultimate tropical rainforest experience. At every turn along the trail a novel experience awaits. Perhaps itˈs a trail of leaf cutter ants or a delicate tree snake. You will follow your Maya Guides up a steep tending to the entrance of one of the most spectacular(壮观的) limestone（石灰岩）caves in Belize.

   Ethnobotany Walk

   3-hour activity where you will explore the medicinal and cookery uses of the local herbs, plants and trees. The Mayans were masters at using the jungleˈs natural resources for their medical needs. You will learn about the vines that store drinking water and other remarkable remedies(疗法) that nature offers. You will get a first hand look at the crops the Maya harvest such as cocoa, mango,rice, beans, etc.

   Hokeb Ha Cave Hike

   Spend time in one of the most spectacular limestone caves in Belize. The name of this cave means "where the water enters the earth." Stalactites(钟乳石) hang from the ceiling, and colonies of bats live in the darkest gaps. Be on the lookout for Mayan artifacts over 1000 years old.

   Iguana Hike

   2-4 hour activity where you will swim and hike along the clear blue river as you look for lizards in the high trees. Can you identify which species? Is it the spectacular dinosaur looking green lizards? Belize is home to many of the 3,800 species of lizards in the world!

Like any great city in the world, it is impossible to cover the greatest sites of Beijing in one day. If possible, do this on a weekend and mix with other tourists. Itˈs a small price to pay for the experience of being among Chinese, many of whom are not tourists.

Any visit to Beijing is incomplete without a hike on the Great Wall. However, the Wall is thousands of miles long and the Beijing section constitutes only a small part, despite the most touristy part. The general choice is Badaling, but I recommend Juyong Pass, which is less crowded but no less impressive. Depending on your health and preference, you can climb very steep steps or have a walk on the relatively flat areas. There are numerous locations for great photo opportunities. On a clear day, your eyes can reach the most remote beacon(烽火) tower.

A side trip to the Ming Tombs will take you into the underground palaces where 13 of the Ming Dynasty emperors were laid to rest. Only two of them are open to the public anyway at present. A sampling of Dingling, which is the tomb of the 10th emperor and his two empresses, should be enough.

The Olympic Green is an area Lying north of the Fourth Ring Road. The Forest Park to its north is twice the size of our Central Park in New York. But if you are on a tight schedule, the Birdˈs Nest and the Water Cube offer the best concentration of must-see sights.

Inside Beijing, the Lama Temple, though not a typical site of worship for most Chinese, has a unique attraction. It is a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism(佛教). Buddhism is a major religion in China, with millions of temples dotting the nationˈs landscape.

The Temple of Heaven is where emperors used to hold ceremonies to pray to heaven, from which they thought their power came. Local Chinese find their enjoyment from group singing, dancing, tai chi and all kinds of recreation on a weekend morning.

There’s a secret spot in Ireland. And the locals don’t want you to know it exists.

I found it by chance. The Irish are world-famous for being a friendly nation and yet you hesitate as you climb to the top of a hill and see a fisherman storing his tools, the dog good-naturedly circling his feet. The camera comes out. The scene is so in line with the postcard Ireland you remember seeing pinned to the wall. Walking closer you drop the camera until youˈ re close enough to simply watch and listen. The water gently touches his boat. His tools hit the dock (码头）, making ringing noises.

The dog has discovered you sitting so quietly on the hill and although heˈ s been playing in the water he knows no sense of politeness and runs toward you — only a slight delay in his step as his owner shouts out a command. It slows his progress toward you, but only slightly. That dog is about to give you the wettest and hairiest hug youˈ ve had in weeks.

The dog has opened the door to conversation now and as the dog leads you to the fisherman you glance toward the sound of an approaching car，his wife，here to pick him up and transport his catch back into town. The immediate polite conversations unfold — Iˈ m an obvious American and donˈ t deny it，theyˈ re curious as to why such a healthy and pretty young lady such as myself is wandering the cold hills in such a remote area of Ireland. “ Single are ya? Well why in the world are ya traveling by yourself, you’ 11 never meet a man that way?” demands the wife. She’s a tough customer and can’t understand my answer “because I enjoy it,” evidenced by her long-suffering sigh and a muttering (喃喃自语）about “young people” .

There’s a secret spot in Ireland，and I，m not going to tell you where it is. I’m not going to tell where it is because I know thereˈ re other Irish towns out there just like it — all laced with joy of simplicity.

 In the early 1990s, Horace Burgess bought some wooded land on the outskirts of Crossville, Tennessee. One of the bigger trees, next to a dirt road, caught his eye. He decided to build the world's largest tree house in its branches.

   After spending a couple of years on the project, he ran out of money and enthusiasm. However, he didn't give it up completely. Eleven years of labor later, Horace almost had what he originally wanted: the largest tree house in the world. It spreads across not one, but seven big trees that grow through its floors and out of its windows. It rises 100 feet into the sky. Built without blueprints, Horace guesses that it covers around 10,000 square feet.

   News of Horace's project spread quickly among local churches. Even before he had finished, people began showing up to see the house from time to time, but Horace has never had the heart to turn them away. Horace was rarely around; he still worked full-time as a landscaper. Children, even some older people were climbing up the tree house, walking along its walls. The constant steps of running feet on distant floors, and the cries of “Where are you? I'm over here! Follow my voice!” made it seem more like a fun house than a tree house. But Horace was worried about unseen crashes during their visit. “Is everybody all right?” he had to ask. When he saw a visitor in a precarious spot he shouted, “You realize that if you do fall, you will die”.

   Visitors have done far worse to the tree house than they have to themselves. Since Horace stopped new construction in 2004, nearly every “square foot of the structure has been damaged. Horace feels that people act like eight-year-olds. Although the floors are covered with leaves, the tree house is built solid ---- like a real house ---- so visitors often don' t realize that they're several stories in the air with birds singing in the trees above their heads.

   “It's only started, really,” Horace said about the tree house. “I want to go back and finish what it looks like in my head.”

   Four Must-See Route 66( 66号公路) Attractions

The United States is full of odd roadside attractions. Route 66 is home to some of the oldest and most known attractions of them all. Here are four attractions you should see along the Mother Road:

    (1) Paul Bunyan and a Hot Dog

    Route 66 travelers pass by many fiberglass giants(巨人 ) right along the road. These giants were a popular form of advertising in the 1960s. Many of them stood in front of service stations. They held car parts, such as mufflers. The collection of Route 66 giants became known as  "Muffler Men". Businesses hoped the strange statues would get travelers' attention.

    The first fiberglass giant was a "Paul Bunyan" figure, built in the early 1960s. It's said that Paul Bunyan is a famous wood worker.

     (2) Crown Candy Kitchen and Jamaica Ray

   Crown Candy Kitchen has been serving Route 66 travelers from the very beginning. It is just a few short blocks from the 66 path through St. Louis,Missouri. The family-run soda fountain shop opened more than 100 years ago, and has been making candies and meals ever since.

    On weekends, people sometimes wait in line for a table at Crown Candy for over an hour. Luckily there is free entertainment right outside. Jamaica Ray, a local folk artist, creates unusual sculptures.

     (4)The World's Largest Rocking Chair

     Fanning, Missouri, is home to one of the strangest Route 66 attractions. Just off the road sits an almost 13-meter-tall rocking chair. The structure was completed in 2008 0n the first of April, or April Fool's Day.

     At one time the chair actually rocked. But officials decided it had to be still to be safe for ever. People are not permitted to climb the chair. We think, however, that it probably happens once in a while when no one is watching.

    (5) Big Texan's Steak Challenge

   Few places better represent the common expression "Everything's Bigger in Texas" than the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Since 1960,it has appealed to travelers with big appetites and a big love of beef.

   It is hard to miss the huge yellow restaurant-or the giant cow statue that sits out front. The cow advertises Big Texan's special deal, and what has made this steak ranch famous: a "free" 72-ounce(英两 )or 2-kilogram steak. There is one trick: the steak is only free if you can eat the entire thing in one hour.

   A special table is in the middle of the restaurant for the daring diners who accept the challenge. Since 1990, more than 9,000 diners have eaten the entire 2-kilogram steak.

Driving a car through Spain to see the country’s sights often gives you the greatest flexibility. Follow Spain’s local laws and customs to ensure safe car transportation and to avoid getting fined.

  International driving permits

  Apply for an International Driving Permit six months before you plan to travel to Spain if you intend to drive on your own. Take the application, your current driver’s license and two 2-inch-by-2-inch color photographs of yourself to the nearest AAA office for processing.

 Auto insurance

  In most cases, your residential auto insurance in your country doesn’t cover your auto usage when it is in Spain. You may need to add on coverage to protect you while driving in Spain. Most rental companies include auto insurance in your rental fee. Pre-book your car rentals before you arrive in Spain in order to get the best deals.

  Road conditions

  In major cities such asBarcelonaand Madrid, drivers often drive more aggressively. The roads themselves are generally well-kept in the cities, but quality may suffer in rural areas where you may find phtholes(坑洞) or missing road sighs. In rural areas, you may see farm animals such as cows walking freely on the road. Exercise caution to avoid hurting animals and damaging your car.

  Laws

 Always wear your seat belt. Do not use a cell phone while operating your automobile. The police in Spain have the ability to require fine payments on the spot and can also issue you a payment receipt from within their car. This helps them collect fees from tourists who may leave the country without paying.

 Traffic lights

 Many Spanish roads have two types of traffic lights: Those for intersections(交叉点)and those governing pedestrian(行人) crosswalks. Follow the nearest traffic light and be prepared to stop even if you are not approaching a major intersection.

 I’ve often wondered if I might do more good as a travel agent rather than as a psychologist. It seems that I have been more dramatically affected by certain kinds of travel experiences than I ever have.

My trip to Iceland is a fine example of that. The plan was to spend two days in a remote mountain hut in Iceland. I was working on a photographic book about winter in Iceland and needed to capture images of this amazing region of high mountain peaks, smoky volcanoes, and lakes with floating icebergs.

The moment after we arrived, the weather turned extreme making visibility impossible. It snowed so much and the wind blew so hard that we couldn’t leave the tiny hut. To stay warm, we walked around in circles much of the day inside the tiny hut. We tried to call for help but the radio did not work. Day after day, we watched our supplies of food and fuel grow dangerously short. We got acute cabin fever (幽居病) and started going for walks and ski expeditions outside. Even when the weather finally broke, nobody came to get us even though it was three days beyond our scheduled pickup. By the time the rescue team came to pull us out, we had all given up hope.

From then on, the world looks different to me, as does my life. It would have taken me years of psychotherapy to get to the same point.

Almost everyone has a story to tell, and interestingly, most of these experiences were not altogether pleasant at the time. In fact, it appears that the most constructive life-changing journeys were those that involved some sorts of awful and uncomfortable events that forced the person to develop new resources, increase confidence, and solve problems in new ways.