picFloatLeft
Raise money for charity with everyclick search
Search


Optimist TV

Optimism is a journey - uplifting, enriching and may just make you smile :-) play me

Ecolodges Indonesia welcomes the International Year of Biodiversity

Safeguarding irreplaceable natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss through small-scale ecotourism. ... Read more >>

Bangkok resumes normality although curfew is still in place

The situation in Bangkok has stabilized although curfew is still being imposed in the Thai capital and 23 other provinces for two more nights. ... Read more >>


Vampires to return to Britain

A British university is to hold a conference on Vampires in an effort to counterbalance the "Americanization" of the fictional genre....Read more >>

Sri Lanka is second in the National Geographic's 20 best

Sri Lanka is ranked second in the National Geographic's world's 20 best. In a list that encompasses some of the most exotic and exclusive getaway locations including Bali and Manhattan, Sri Lanka takes top spots. ...Read more >>

Prix Pictet 2009 Commission winner Ed Kashi documents Madagacar’s environmental issues

Madagascar is classified as one of the world's top three "hotspots" for biodiversity; yet it is also one of the poorest and most environmentally challenged countries in the world....Read more >>

Travel technology: Smartphones as local concierge and Wi-Fi modem at local rates

Travellers now can rent smartphones that function as local concierge and mobile W-Fi modems that charge at local rates....Read more >>

Discover Colombia evening at Royal Geographical Society with travel experts

On Wednesday 17 March the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) will be hosting Discovering Colombia, a unique travel evening offering first-time visitors to the country the opportunity to put their questions to the expert panel.
...Read more >>

Ecotourism: Year of the tiger puts big cat conservation in the spotlight

The Year of the Tiger has raised awareness towards the plight to protect tigers and the big cat family worldwide. ...Read more >>

World Wildlife Fund announced successes for 2009

WWF has reported a successful year in campaigning for the protection of wildlife and their habitats last year. ...Read more >>

Haiti earthquake: UN appeals for support of UN emergency fund

Following the earthquake in Haiti, the UN Foundation has pledged $1 million towards the most urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs....Read more >>

New Date Nights DC inspired by First Couple Barack and Michelle Obama

US capital city, Washington DC is promoting “Date Nights DC” in February 2010 to celebrate the Valentine month. A new “government-inspired” Department of Love and Relationships has been created, with well-known sex and relationship expert Dr Ruth ...Read more >>

Travel and dance into 2010

Happy New Year from Optimist World. To open the new chapter of 2010, our travel team would like to suggest a healthy, entertaining option to bust the sluggish holiday feeling and lose a few kilos from Christmas time. Yes, let's go dancing! ...Read more >>

Skiing and snowboarding returns to the UK

With Britain blanketed in snow, Scottish and English ski resorts are having a bumper season. ...Read more >>

Discovering South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula through wildlife and natural history tour

Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris adheres to the ‘leave only footprints, take only photos and memories' philosophy, so tour groups are small, between two and six people travel in luxury four wheel drive, air-conditioned vehicles. ...Read more >>

Isawthesea.com spends hotel booking commission to pay for the disabled’s breaks

An innovative not-for-profit hotel booking website, isawthesea.com, earns commission from each booking to help pay for the holiday of seriously ill children, the disabled and individuals living in poverty....Read more >>

Green community cycling hub Bikeworks won England Best New Social Enterprise

Cycling enterprise Bikeworks have won “Best New Social Enterprise” for England in the 2009 Social Enterprise Awards. The recognition places London a step closer to becoming a pro-active cycle city such as Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam....Read more >>

Marine and Coastal Access Act passed to create UK's designate marine conservation zones

After a decade of campaigning, the Marine Conservation Society welcomes the Marine and Coastal Access Act that was given the Royal Assent on 12th November....Read more >>

The Royal College of Pathologists advise travellers to ascend higher altitude slower and responsibly

Mountaineers were advised to choose safer climbing travel package at a special seminar to celebrate the National Pathology week on 5th November at the The Royal Geographical Society, London....Read more >>

Global financial crisis sees new travel trends and creativity in the face of adversity

The 30th World Travel Market held in London revealed predicted report on the impact of recession on travel industry, but also identify encouraging trends and new travel culture....Read more >>

Combe House Devon wins Johansen National 2010 award for Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality

A luxury rural boutique hotel, Combe House Devon, near Exeter has won the coveted Condé Nast Johansens UK and Ireland 2010 ‘Most Excellent Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality’ award for the hotel’s focus on sustainable projects over the past ten ye...Read more >>

A third of European travellers choose eco-friendly hotels

A recent survey conducted on consumers across Europe found that nearly a third would choose a known eco-friendly hotel if it were offered by an online booking system.
...Read more >>

The world celebrates 20th anniversary of The Fall of Berlin Wall

Today the eyes of the world are on Berlin. The year 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which had divided today’s capital of Germany right down the middle for more than 28 years. 
...Read more >>

Londoners to walk barefoot for peace in support of Central African war victims

Saturday 24th October will see hundreds of like-minded Londoners silently crossing the city during the Barefoot Peace Walk organized by International Refugee Trust (IRT)....Read more >>

British photographer Nadav Kander won prestigious Prix Pictet environmental sustainability awards

British-based photographer Nadav Kander has been announced as this year’s Prix Pictet photography prize winner, while American photographer Ed Kashi won a special photography commission to Madagascar....Read more >>

Pioneering Seychelles eco-retreat plants 100,000th tree

Frégate Island Private has been planting two new trees for every new guest arrival....Read more >>

The first safari operation in Namibia owned entirely by local communities

Conservancy Safaris in Kunene, Namibia will appeal to travellers who want to make their ecological footprint count, combining excellence with sustainable tourism.
...Read more >>

Bulgaria made honeymoon top ten spot

Bulgaria made a surprise entry as one of top ten spots for honeymoon, while romantic cities such as Venice and Paris didn’t make the list this year....Read more >>

Beirut steps out of war zone into tourist trap

Taking advantage of the quiet after four years of political upheaval, assassinations and war, visitors are flocking again to Lebanon....Read more >>

A journey into Turkish cultural heritage through fact and fiction

Archaeologists from the University of Toronto have uncovered a store of ancient cuneiform tablets dating to the Iron Age period between 1200 and 600 BC whilst working at the 2,700-year-old remains of an ancient Turkish temple that began as a holy Neo...Read more >>

Washington DC sets the stage for Dan Brown’s latest thriller The Lost Symbol

Best-selling author Dan Brown again casts the spotlight on power and intrigue in Washington, DC in his latest thriller, The Lost Symbol, which was released on 15th September....Read more >>

Eat this: Travellers today are more adventurous with food abroad

Deep, fried insects or Peruvian guinea pigs don’t engender the astonished gasps of revulsion they once did – in fact travellers today are almost keen to try; to see if it really does taste like chicken.
...Read more >>

Scream! Spooky tales and Halloween tours at ghostly Greenwich

Get scared this Halloween in Greenwich at haunted locations such as the Old Royal Naval College, Queen’s House, Greenwich Park and Greenwich Theatre.
...Read more >>

Discovering the green side of Lithuania

Lithuania is responding well to sustainable tourism. Only nineteen years after the country’s independence from the Soviet Union, its capital Vilnius, now stood as European Capital of Cu...Read more >>

Amsterdam leads the European smart city and design capital vision

Green, smart and chic are the new buzzwords for Amsterdam....Read more >>

Atlantic salmon returns to cleaner river Seine in Paris

After an absence of nearly a century, Atlantic salmon have returned to France's Seine River, with hundreds swimming past the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathedral this year alone, researchers told AFP....Read more >>

Travel industry sees the return of consumers’ confidence, says AITO study

The economic “green shoots” of recovery is not a rumour after all.
...Read more >>

Portable eco cabins introduced for stargazing in French countryside

Carré d’étoiles is a new concept of enjoying French countryside in a cube-shaped cabin surmounted by a large, transparent dome that lets occupants watch the sky from the cabin bed....Read more >>

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to celebrate 50th anniversary as America’s symbolic landscape

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is planning the celebration of its 50th anniversary throughout 2010 and 2011 as North America’s symbolic landscape of beauty and unique ecosystems.
...Read more >>

Prix Pictet 2009 environmental photography award announces “Earth” shortlist

Twelve outstanding international photographers from Canada to Congo are amongst the shortlist for the Prix Pictet award 2009, the world’s photography prize for environmental sustainability....Read more >>

Woohoo! Homer Simpson to co-pilot drivers using TomTom sat navs

America’s most popular Dad is to star on TomTom sat nav devices....Read more >>

On your bikes: Why now is the best time for women to get cycling

“There's no reason at all why you can't cycle in heels. It's easy! If heels still don't appeal, then just pop a pair in your panniers or bag and change out of your flats when you reach your destination.”...Read more >>

Europe’s top five performing cities are all German despite travel slowdown

There is no denying that the travel industry has been significantly impacted by the credit crunch and sharp decline of traffic since last year. All tourism destinations have been affected by the slump....Read more >>

New tree species from Ecuador named in honour of Sir David Attenborough

A new species of tree found only in Ecuador is named after natural historian and broadcasting icon, Sir David Attenborough....Read more >>

Travel Photographer of the Year 2009 award opens

Travel Photographer of the Year 2009, an international photography award competition run by photographers for photographers, is now open for entries until 22nd September....Read more >>

Hopenhagen launched by UN and global advertising think-tanks

The United Nations has joined forces with the International Advertising Association and a coalition of the world's leading advertising, marketing and media agencies to launch Hopenhagen – a movement empowering global citizens to engage in the Dece...Read more >>

Austrian village Längenfeld introduces pay-as-you-wish tourism

Austrian village, Längenfeld, has invited 200 visitors to stay for for three days during the first week of July and pay what they think their stay was worth when it’s time to leave....Read more >>

Green Love: Eco Dater launches online dating site for eco-friendly singles

EcoDater.com, an eco-friendly online dating site dedicated to green singles and members of the natural dating community  has been launched...Read more >>

No more Big Smoke: All London buses will be hybrid by 2012

Transport for London (TfL) will have 56 hybrid buses operating by the end of January 2009, establishing London as the home of the largest fleet of hybrid buses in the UK....Read more >>

Ethiopia to pioneer Africa’s largest wind farm project with help of French technology

Ethiopia has signed a €220 million deal with a French company to develop Africa's largest wind farm....Read more >>

Google, Yahoo and MSN are now travellers' first port of call for researching travel plans

66% of leisure travellers now use the internet to plan their travels compared to only 35% in 2005, according to National Travel MONITORSM latest survey....Read more >>

Iceland bounces back as a popular nature destination this summer

Iceland’s recent financial crisis has boosted its image as popular travel destination according to Eye for Image agency....Read more >>

Washington DC stars in Ben Stiller’s Night at the Museum film sequel

Washington, DC is the star this summer movie release of “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian”, the action-packed sequel to the 2006 hit starring Ben Stiller.
...Read more >>

Explore’s Top 10 unusual and tourist-free destinations list

For those who want to avoid the holiday stampede and visiting usual suspects, adventure travel specialist Explore has compiled a list of top 10 tourist free destinations....Read more >>

The Geotourism Challenge 2009 returns in search for responsible innovations

Ashoka's Changemakers partner with National Geographic and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to announce global online competitions -The Geotourism Challenge 2009 and Cultivating Innovation....Read more >>

Latest Amsterdam City Vibes guide reveal over 100 hip cultural hotspots

The latest Amsterdam City Vibes guide was released in March listing out over 100 cultural hotspots to explore....Read more >>

Mexican farmers introduced biodegradable non-stick chewing gum from the rainforest

Do you know that it takes 17 weeks to remove chewing gum from Oxford Street, but only 10 days for it to be covered again?...Read more >>

Pembrokeshire Fish Week Is A Plaice to Be This Summer

Thousands of seafood-lovers will be flocking to West Wales for the 10th birthday of Pembrokeshire Fish Week, between 27 June and 5 July....Read more >>

Salt Water Tears: Bangladesh water poverty highlighted at launch of Prix Pictet 2009

Munem Wasif’s revealing images of the scarcity of clean, safe water on the people of Bangladesh headlines the launch of Prix Pictet 2009....Read more >>

Stockholm and Hamburg awarded European Green Capital 2010 and 2011

Swedish capital, Stockholm, will be the first European Green Capital in 2010 with ambitious target of saying goodbye to fossils by 2050.
...Read more >>

Victory for India as two films bagged this year’s Oscars

India is in the spotlight after two films set in the country, Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinki, took home the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Documentary at the 2009 Academy Awards in Hollywood....Read more >>

The rise and rise of Istanbul, European Capital of Culture 2010

Indie film festival, European Capital of Culture 2010, UEFA Cup 2009… Istanbul has a lot going for it as a tourist destination. The Optimist discovers what the city has been up to so far.
...Read more >>

Windsor and the Royal Borough celebrates Henry VIII 500th anniversary

Windsor and the Royal Borough will be marking the 500th anniversary since Henry VIII ascended to the throne at just 17 years of age starting this April....Read more >>

Don’t feed the sharks: Key West Extreme Adventures introduce eco view-only shark tour

An eco way to appreciate sharks in Florida Keys waters has been introduced involving a view only tour and no-shark feeding....Read more >>

Nature on top of Israel tourism's list in March

Israel is promoting two nature festivals this March....Read more >>

Endangered cao vit gibbon population increases in Chinese-Vietnam border

The rare cao vit gibbon population has doubled in size according to census carried out in September 2007 by Flora & Fauna International (FFI) teams in China and Vietnam....Read more >>

Thirty Amsterdam’s private canal-side gardens will open to the public in June

The public will have the opportunity to see up to thirty spectacular canal-side private gardens in Amsterdam during the Open Garden Days.
...Read more >>

Beauty care company works with Rainforest Alliance to sustainably harvest Honduran Ojon oil

Ojon Corporation, a Canadian beauty care company within the Estée Lauder Companies, has enlisted the help of the Rainforest Alliance in working with indigenous groups producing natural beauty products. 
...Read more >>

Car-free Welsh streets under discussion to fight child obesity

Radical proposals to boost children’s health by creating car-free housing developments in Wales will be debated by Assembly Ministers, building contractors and architects....Read more >>

Obama instructs EPA to reconsider California’s emissions limit request

US President Barack Obama, who took office last week, would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider a request by California to impose its own strict limits on automobile carbon dioxide emissions.Read more >>

2009 Sahara Marathon in February to raise fund for Saharawi refugees

The 2009 Sahara Marathon will take place on February 23rd to raise fund for humanitarian efforts and awareness on the Saharawi refugees' plight in the Western Sahara. ...Read more >>

North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival encourages public to partake in British favourite past time

Walking is British no.1 recreational activity, environmental-friendly and the best way to improve health without hurting your pockets....Read more >>

Environmentalist David de Rothschild to sail 7,500-miles in a boat made of plastic bottles

British environmentalist, David de Rothschild, will embark on "Plastiki Voyage" – a 7,500-mile journey from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat made of plastic bottles – to raise awareness of waste management issues....Read more >>

Heavy snowfalls return to the Alps

Ski resorts across Europe have been blessed with more heavy snow after a relatively cold, dry spell over the past few weeks....Read more >>

Pedal power: 2009 sees dramatic rise in cycling holiday bookings

Cycling continues to be one of the hottest travel trends at home and abroad, thanks to the huge successes of Vélib in Paris and Bicing in Barcelona....Read more >>

2009 is a year for optimistic travellers

I scanned the past travel headlines as we are reaching the twilight of 2008; there were many gloomy stories – airlines going bust, soaring fuel price, economic downturn and climate change.
...Read more >>

Over 1000 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong Region since last decade

In the last decade, over 1000 new species, equal to two a week, have been discovered in the Greater Mekong Region of Southeast Asia, according to WWF’s report First Contact in the Greater Mekong....Read more >>

Capital of Eco Cool: Stockholm lives up to its trendy and green reputation

Stockholm is living up to its 'eco-cool' reputation by combining 21st century sustainable lifestyle concept with the traditional Swedish 'allemansrätten' or 'freedom of public access' philosophy....Read more >>


Search Travel

Browse Archive

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Most viewed stories

The situation in Bangkok has stabilized althoug...
Read more >>

Safeguarding irreplaceable natural wealth and r...
Read more >>