No one managed to answer last Fridays Trivia question, the answer was The Swiss Alps. Hopefully this week someone will know the answer!

Located in a National Park, this stunning Lake is said to be named after a princess. Surrounded by Mountains, world class lodges & restaurants, visitors can swim in the lake in warmer seasons or skate on the ice skating rink in the winter seasons.

Congratulations Marie! You answered last week’s trivia question correct via our blog. Found close to Rovaniemi Village, the Santa Claus Holiday Village offers visitors the chance to meet the famous man every day of the year and go home with a special gift from Santa himself. Good Luck with this weeks trivia question , which will be the last for 2011!

Hint: Extending across 5 countries , this land mass also contain man-made and natural lakes. It is also well known for the winter periods and skiing.

Great Work Barry! Your answer of the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun in Thailand was correct. The colour white was used to symbolize Lord Buddha’s purity and the white glass was used to represent the wisdom which Lord Buddha holds.

Hint: Situaed in the Northern Hemisphere of the world this place is known today for being home to one of the most famous icons in the world.

No one managed to answer last Fridays Trivia question, the answer was the beautiful Catherine Palace, located 25kms south east of St Petersburg in Russia. Hopefully this week someone will know the answer.

Hint:White in colour and representing Lord Buddha’s purity, this stunning temple recently was finished in 2008 and is known for representing both Buddhist and the Hindu religion. Also Located in one of the most popular tourist countries of the world.

Sadly no one managed to answer last week’s question. The answer was Mt. Gambia found right here in beautiful Australia. Lets see how you go this week, goodluck!

Hint: Found in Russia, this amazing palace features over 100Kgs of gold on the outside and statues on the roof. Rebuilt by Empress Elizabeth, what is the name of this stunning palace?

As the world starts to become more tolerant of other cultures beliefs and religions we see a lot of countries around the world taking part in festivals and celebrations which would normally not be on the countries holiday lists. This could be due to travel becoming more affordable and easier to embark on, or it could also be that more and more people throughout the world now have access to the vast array of videos , media, blogs displayed on the world wide web.

One country which you would rarely hear your family or friends say their travelling to is India. Situated on the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, India is known as being one of the most populated countries in the world. Gradually we have seen India transform form a developing country and slowly, awareness is catching on that India is the place to travel, with a fast growing economy and great culture there’s no longer an excuse to not visit the wonderful place.

Maybe you’re the type of person that wants to experience culture? Or maybe you’re the type of traveller who is after an adrenaline rush. Either way there is a great festival held annually in Indian in the month of March, which will give any traveller an experience they will never forget. The Festival known as Holi is the religious celebration held in spring throughout the world by the Hindu religion, and lasts up to 16 days.

The exact legend behind Holi is uncertain, it is said there was once an evil king named Hiranyakasipu and he had a son named Prince Prahlad. The Prince infuriated his father as he was considered Holy and would often worship Lord Vishnu instead of worshiping his father. The king is said to have tried to kill his son several ways but failed due to Lord Vishnu always saving the prince. The king eventually ordered his evil sister Holika who was immune from fire to lure his son and take him into blazing flames. It was said that because Holika was using her powers for evil, the gods stripped her of this gift and she perished in the flames. The Prince forgave his evil aunt Holika and celebration of good triumphing over evil began annually, thus the name Holi.

We also see a legend which involved young Krishna who envied his soul mates Radha’s fair complexion, Krishna is said to have gone and coloured Radha’s face with darker colours and today this legend shows the lovable prank of applying colours to love ones faces throughout Holi. This is where we see the fun of the Holi festival; throughout the celebration people throw coloured powders, water bombs and even use pichkari’s which are somewhat similar to water guns.

Locations for Holi

Marthura & Vrindavan
If you want to experience a traditional Holi visit Mathura and Vrindavan, which are approximately 2 hours south of New Delhi. The month before Holi you will see dancers from throughout India come and interpret the story of Krishna and Radha’s legend.

Jaipur
Approximately 4 hours drive south west of New Delhi lays Jaipur. During the Holi season Jaipur offers dancing, elephant beauty contests and parades, foreigners are also regularly seen at this Holi celebration.

New Delhi
To celebrate modern Holi at its best check out the Delhi Holi Cow festival. A celebration of colour, music and people the festival is held a short distance outside of the main city of Delhi. The festival is a mixture of locals, tourist and expats making it a safe place to partake in the celebrations.

Mumbai
If you would rather not partake in the festival but still be able to see and experience the culture check out Juhu Beach or Colaba. Both these locations will be safe if you are just going to watch the as this is a tourist location.

Tips for Celebration Holi in India
•If you are driving your hire car to a destination give yourself plenty of time to get there , there will be a lot of traffic – It would be best if you arrive at the destination a day or two before to avoid missing out

•Definitely avoid driving during Holi’s peak hours

•When driving during the 16 days of Holi celebrations it is highly recommended to keep your car windows closed – to avoid any powder , or coloured water accidently entering your car

•Due to Holi being one of the messiest festivals make sure to wear old clothing, it may be hard to remove certain colours.

•If buying coloured powder try and buy shades of reds – this is because the other colours have more chemicals, better yet try and find someone who is selling natural powder

•Make sure to apply coconut oil or moisturisers to your body to avoid the colours staining your skin.

•It is also best if you wear some kind of eye protection like sunglasses to avoid any mishaps with the coloured powder.

•It is highly recommended that women do not go out and celebrate Holi alone; this is due to safety concerns.

And the best tip of all… is to have fun! The festival is about celebrating culture, history, love and freedom, embrace the traditions and make sure to take lots of photos!!

Are you planning a journey through India? If so take a look at Auto Europe’s discounted prices on car hire from all major airports and cities.

No one managed to answer last week’s trivia question. The Correct Answer was Mt Fuji found in the south east of Japan, this 3776.24 metre volcano is possibly the most famous landmark in Japan. Hopefully this week we can find someone who will know the answer.

Hint: Situated in the southern hemisphere, this extinct volcanic crater is known for shifting colours during seasons.

Last week’s Trivia answer was Victoria Falls, located between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe this beautiful wonder spreads across 1708 metres of landscape. Congratulations to Lilly & Marie for having the correct answer! I’m sure someone will know this week’s answer or even be lucky enough to have a souvenir featuring this famous site .

Hint: One of the most recognised mountains in the world, this natural wonder is also hiding the fact that it is an active volcano. Located in a famous National Park, this mountain is considered sacred to locals and attracts thousands of visitors, artist and photographers each year.

It seems as though no one managed to answer the last week’s trivia question. The picture provided was of an alligator found in the subtropical wetlands of The Everglades, Florida. Hopefully someone will know the answer to this week’s trivia question.

Hint: Found in between countries Zambia and Zimbabwe this heritage site is known for being listed as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

With Holidays, long weekends and Christmas fast approaching it’s the time to start planning those getaways with the family. If only it was this stress-free. Alongside many flights sky rocketing in cost and the rest of the population deciding to travel on the exact same day as you, numerous flights become delayed and a lot of accommodation booked out – creating a sure sign that the escape you once dreamed of is no more.

These holidays why not organize a driving trip to a location throughout Australia, not only does it leave you and the family without the hassle of passports, checking in bags and international airports, but a driving tour can be just as exciting and adventurous, as a vacation overseas. With Australia providing us with a playground of famous attractions and theme parks to visit, our great country also caters for low cost budgets.

Below I have covered three locations in different states and next blog I will further cover the remaining states.

Canberra – ACT

3 – 4 hour’s drive from Sydney and providing plenty of opportunities to stop, refuel or even take a scenic route, it makes sense why many people choose to visit Canberra. Not only is the drive easy, the City of Canberra itself delivers an array of cool things to do and see. Auto Europe also provides Car Hire collection depots from all major cities and Airports in the Australia Capital Territory.

The most famous attraction to visit in Canberra is The Australian Parliament House. Only 7.5 Kilometres drive from Canberra Airport, Parliament House offers historic collections of memoirs from throughout the years of parliament, art collections and stunning landscapes surrounding the building. Make sure to stop by and have a photo at Capitol Hill.
North of Parliament House lays Questacon, situated on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin is a science house which offers visitors of all ages the chance to take part in experiments, discover and learn. For a small fee you can enter the fun world of Questacon daily.

Just 5 kilometres drive north of Questacon rests the Australian War Memorial. The War Memorial displays history from WWI, WWII, colonial history, ANZAC history and The Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. Free Guided tours are offered at the War Memorial and will have you leaving being much more aware of Australian War History and the conditions soldiers endured.

Approximate distances from Canberra city centre:

Sydney – 286 Kilometres (3 hours, 9 minutes)

Wollongong – 243 Kilometres (2 hours, 50 minutes)

Canberra Airport – 9.6 Kilometres (13 minutes)

Byron Bay – NSW

Located in far north NSW, Byron Bay is a great option for all ages to enjoy a beach holiday. If a beach holiday is not your idea of an escape, Byron still offers many more activities to see and do.
A great attraction to check out why around Byron is the Macadamia Castle; the charming park has been open for nearly 35 years and features an animal fun park, mini golf, train rides, daily entertainment and a café. Between Byron Bay and Ballina off the Pacific Highway this pleasant park is great for a day trip with the family.

Just West of Byron Bay sits Ballina’s Olympic Pool and water sides; it’s great if you don’t want to go to one of the many beaches in the area. Ballina’s Pools are open daily and have two exhilarating waterslides located in the Pools grounds. The grounds are supervised and also situated on the grounds is a great little kiosk.

For a rewarding day trip take off in your hire car 30 kilometres North West of Byron Bay, here sits Crystal Castle. Crystal Castle was originally hectares of land which now has been converted into a spiritual utopia of gardens, temples, and rooms. If you are visiting Byron Bay for a relaxing peaceful holiday Crystal Castle’s is a great place to rejuvenate relax and take in the stunning views around you.

If these attractions seem a bit pricy check out the Nightcap National Park and Minyoun Falls or the rock pools at Lennox Head. Either way Far North NSW has plenty to share.
Hire cars can be picked up at Ballina Airport upon arrival or at Byron Bay City office.

Approximate distances from Byron Bay city centre:

Gold Coast – 104 Kilometres (1 hour, 31minutes)

Ballina Airport – 31.5 Kilometres (34 minutes)

Sydney –864 Kilometres (11 hours, 21 minutes)

Mornington Peninsula – VIC

Located 1 hour south east of Melbourne’s CBD, the Mornington Peninsula holds a vast collection of activities targeted for all ages. Beautiful gardens, seaside views and stunning wineries are just a snippet of what the Peninsula has to offer visitors. Car hires can be collected at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport or at one of the many downtown city offices throughout Melbourne and the Peninsula.

Just a drive south of the Peninsula is Ashcombe Maze and lavender gardens, discover the amazing scenery with trees on the property being up to 100 years old. Each season the garden offers a unique portrait, with spring and summer being the most popular. Get lost amongst the hedge maze, stop and smell the roses or run through the woodland gardens and at the end make sure you stop by the souvenir shop.

The Mornington Peninsula is also famous for their vast range vineyards. When touring around in your hire car make sure to stop by Box Stallion Cellar door to experience the range of varietal wines. At the cellar door taste the variety of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and many more.

If you’re into golf take a day or two and use your car hire to experience the 18 different courses the peninsula provides such as Portsea, Mount Martha, Sorrento and RACV Cape Schanck resort.
If your holiday has a smaller budget, why not soak up the rays at one of the many beaches or bays on offer or take off and enjoy a free walk through the peninsula why enjoying the unique views, and natural flora and fauna.

Approximate distances from the Mornington Penisula city centre:

Melbourne – 73 Kilometres (1 hour,6 minutes)

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport – 99 Kilometres (1 hour,23 minutes)

St Kilda – 58 Kilometres (1 hour,8 minutes)

Always Remember to Stop, Revive , Survive

Take a Look at Auto Europe Australia’s latest Car Hire Specials!