Australia May Close Uluru to Climbers

 

Is climbing Ayers Rock on your bucket list? Should it even be on a bucket list? Debate is raging in Australia about whether to close the Red Rock to climbing tourists altogether.

Tourists looking to climb the Big Red Rock of Australia may soon have to put away their hiking shoes, as the Australian government considers closing the site to adventure-seeking climbers.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, juts out of the rusty coloured earth close to the Red Centre of Australia in Northern Territory, and, along with the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is one of Australia’s most recognized symbols. But while you can do a heart-stopping climb along the steely edge of the bridge, access to climbing Uluru could be halted for tourists within the next two years.

Technically, climbing Uluru is currently not prohibited, although it has long been debatable whether youshould climb the site.

The 348-metre-high rock and surrounding land is sacred to the Anangu people, who have been the traditional landowners of this area for tens of thousands of years. Uluru was returned to the Anangu in 1985 by the Australian government and then leased back to the National Parks agency for 99 years. But while it may be on park property, the Anangu request visitors respect their laws and cultures and not climb Uluru. Also, since 1958, 36 people have died while attempting to climb the iconic sandstone monolith.

It raises questions between the push and pull between cultural sensitivity and tourism. Let’s be clear: Uluru isn’t a Disneyfied version of a mountain climb. The rock, a World Heritage site, is surrounded by desert, trees and a low rising cultural centre that blends into its surroundings.

In 2010, environmental minister Peter Garrett (former lead singer of Midnight Oil) approved a 10-year plan to close climbing access to Uluru, “for visitor’s safety, cultural and environmental reasons.” And many people have already chosen to reject climbing the site: a recent survey shows the number of climbers has plummeted in the last two decades—from 74% in 1990 to the 20% threshold in 2012.

Now that fewer visitors are assending Uluru, will Parks Australia implement their plan to close the rock altogether to climbers?

“You can’t go climb on top of the Vatican, you can’t go climb on top of the Buddhist temples,” Vince Forrester, an elder of the Mutitjulu community and one of the rock’s traditional custodians, recently told ABC News. “Obviously you have to respect our religious attachment to the land too, so we’re saying please do not climb Uluru.”

Meanwhile, kicking any cultural sensitivity aside, Greg Hunt, an Australian environmental spokesperson, was quoted as saying, “Big Brother is coming to Uluru to slam the gate closed on an Australian tourism icon, the climb.”

Although climbing Uluru is actively discouraged by the Anangu and the number of visitors making the climb is dwindling significantly, last month Jetstar opened up direct flights from Sydney to Ayres Rock, making Uluru even more accessible to tourists. In addition, over half the local tour operators offer climbs to visitors.

According to Parks Australia, tourism operators would be fully consulted and alternative activities in place before Uluru is closed for climbing.

But not all Australians agree with closing down access to the rock. “Uluru is a national icon and major tourist destination that belongs to all Australians,” said one tourist. “It’s a bloody long way to go if you can’t enjoy the challenge and/or exhilaration of getting to the top.”

Meanwhile, the Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre makes it clear to visitors what Uluru means to the indigenous people and how it should be treated:

That’s a really important sacred thing that you are climbing… You shouldn’t climb. It’s not the real thing about this place.

And maybe that makes you a bit sad. But anyway that’s what we have to say. We are obliged by Tjukurpa to say. And all the tourists will brighten up and say, ‘Oh I see. This is the right way. This is the thing that’s right. This is the proper way: no climbing.

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/australia-may-close-uluru-to-climbers/

Military Training Snafu Drops Bombs on Great Barrier Reef

A joint training exercise between the U.S. and Australian militaries resulted in four unarmed bombs being dropped on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The bombs weren’t intended for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. They were supposed to have been dropped on the bombing range on Townshend Island during a joint exercise performed by the Australian and U.S. militaries. Instead, four unarmed bombs had to be jettisoned by an American fighter jet and were dropped into the sensitive, World-Heritage-designated waters surrounding Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

According to a report from CBS News, the incident occurred during a three-week joint training exercise called Talisman Saber that takes place every two years and involves approximately 28,000 members of the American and Australian forces.

The practice bombs were the payload of two fighter jets from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and had to be jettisoned after the pilots received a message from the ground that the bomb range was clear and the mission had to be aborted. The planes were low on fuel and could not land with the bombs, which weighed a total of 1.8 metric tonnes, on board.

In an emergency decision, the bombs were dropped in the waters near the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland. The bombs were jettisoned into 50 metres of water in the hope they would not damage the vulnerable coral that the Great Barrier Reef is known for.

As they were not armed, the bombs did not explode. Nevertheless, the incident has sparked outrage among Australia’s politicians and environmentalists, who are in disbelief that the exercise was allowed in such an environmentally sensitive area, and that the decision was made to drop the bombs in a protected area that is precious for its 1,800-mile stretch of coral reef and the diverse marine life that lives in the ecosystem surrounding it.

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/military-training-snafu-drops-bombs-on-great-barrier-reef/

Ancient Pyramid in Peru Demolished By Real Estate Developers

A 4,000-year-old, 20-foot pyramid, the oldest archaeological site near Lima, Peru, has been destroyed.

A 4,000-year-old, 20-foot pyramid, the oldest archaeological site near Lima, Peru, has been destroyed.

Real estate developers used heavy machinery to level the ruins at the El Paraiso site over the weekend. The deputy minister of cultural patrimony, Rafael Varon, told reporters his agency has filed criminal complaints against the companies involved as well as taken steps to seize their equipment. According to Varon, workers tried to destroy three other pyramids at the site before witnesses stepped in to stop them.

Nobody from either of the two companies, Alisol and Provelanz, could be reached for comment.

The director of an excavation project at El Paraiso, Marco Guilen, explained the extent of the loss: “We are not going to be able to know in what ways it was constructed, what materials were used in it and how the society in that part of the pyramid behaved.”

The site predated the rise of the Inca Empire that was encountered by the Spanish. “[These people] have committed irreparable damage to a page of Peruvian history,” Guilen said.

According to reports, the pyramids were located in an unguarded agricultural field, but are now being watched by police.

This isn’t the first time major archaeological sites and structures have been demolished. In May road builders in Belize destroyed a 2,300-year-old Mayan pyramid in order to use the crushed rock for a new highway.

These devastating blows to archeologists’ and historians’ efforts to preserve and learn from the beautiful relics of our ancient history seem all too easily executed for developers with nothing but profit and efficiency in mind.

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/ancient-pyramid-in-peru-demolished-by-real-estate-developers/

Lost Pyramids Discovered on Google Earth

Using Google Earth and antique maps, an amateur archaeologist claims she has discovered pyramids buried in the sands of Egypt’s Nile basin. If she’s right, these “new” pyramids could be even larger than the Great Pyramid at Giza.

If you’ve been lucky enough to visit the Great Pyramid of Giza, you probably thought you were visiting the largest pyramid in Egypt. Turns out, you might have been wrong.

Last year, Angela Micol, an amateur researcher, identified some unusual groupings of sand mounds along the Nile basin and theorized that they were lost pyramids. Micol is a self-described “anomolist” who usesGoogle Earth to search for archaeological clues and ruins.

If this find is genuine, the pyramids hidden within these mounds may prove to be far greater than those on the Giza Plateau. According to Micol, one of the sites has a 620-foot-wide triangular plateau—close to three times the size of the Great Pyramid at Giza. Micol’s finds are also much further south than the over 130 known pyramids in Egypt—most of which are located near Cairo.

Micol, who is not a trained Egyptologist or archaeologist, discovered the sites—near the city of Abu Sidum and the Fayum Oasis—from her home in the U.S. after combining a decade’s worth of Google Earth images of Egypt.

Initially, her work was dismissed by the scientific community, which asserted that such mounds were typical desert formations.

But the sites discovered by Micol also appeared to be identified as pyramids on antique maps owned by Egyptian diplomats Medhat Kamal El-Kady and his wife Haidy Farouk Abdel-Hamid.

And now, Discovery News has reported that a ground survey of one site, using these maps, satellite images and on-the-ground tools and techniques shows that Micol may just be right. The site 12 miles from the city of Abu Sidhum has cavities and shafts indicative of pyramids.

Source: Daily Mail Online

Historical and scientific documents also suggest the pyramids were deliberately buried—and according to Mohamed Aly Soliman, who lead the expedition at Abu Sidhum, the layers of earth in the mound are not naturally occurring. Another amateur archaeologist, Soliman told Discovery News that he believes some ancient structure was deliberately buried beneath the mound.

It turns out that Micol is not the first to suggest these mounds may be pyramids. Napolean Bonaparte’s engineer created one of the maps of the second site near Fayum Oasis that identifies the mounds as pyramids. And the researchers also report that past archaeologists have tried to dig into the mounds, only to hit upon stone.

It wouldn’t be the first time a stunning archaeological site was buried by sand in the deserts of Egypt. The great temples at Abu Simbel in southern Egypt started losing the battle against the sand in 6 BCE and were only rediscovered in the early 1800s.

And despite what the skeptics say, Google Earth isn’t just an amateur’s research tool. American Egyptologist and archaeologist Dr. Sarah Parcak uses satellite imagery in her work.

Micol has set up a crowd funding campaign to finance an expedition to the sites she discovered, under the name of the Satellite Archaeology Foundation; she told Discovery News she plans to take a team of U.S. researchers to Egypt to prove her find, once she gets the money.

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/lost-pyramids-discovered-on-google-earth/?utm_source=Travel+Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Outbrain

Royal baby name: The history behind George Alexander Louis

The world finally knows how to address the latest addition to the British royal family: HRH Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.

The baby boy is third in line to the throne, after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William. When he becomes king he will be known as George VII. Here's some of the history behind the young prince's three names:

Royal Baby: What's next?

George

Photos: Other famous Georges

"George" -- the front-runner before the announcement, according to many UK bookmakers -- was the name of Queen Elizabeth's father, George VI, who reigned from 1936 until his death in 1952. He assumed the throne on the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. His life was depicted in the Oscar-winning movie "The King's Speech."

Photos: First look at the royal baby

The royal aunt and uncle

Excited crowds welcome royal baby boy

George I, born in Germany, became king in 1714. He was followed by a line of kings with the same name, including George III, who was known for his bouts of insanity.

The name is also a patriotic choice for many in the UK: Saint George, patron saint of England, is known for his legendary defeat of a dragon in the third century. His feast day is celebrated on April 23, (the date also associated with the birth of William Shakespeare, England's most revered writer).

Despite its royal connections, George has humble origins, derived as it is from the Greek name "georgios" meaning "earth worker" or "farmer."

Other historical Georges: composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), first president of the United States George Washington (1732-1799), and the Pacific explorer George Vancouver (1757-1798). Authors Mary Anne Evans and Eric Arthur Blair also chose George as their pen names: George Eliot (1819-1880) and George Orwell (1903-1950) respectively.

Alexander

This gallant title means "defender of men," from the Latin form of the Greek name "Alexandros." Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.), better known as Alexander the Great, courageously ruled and conquered many parts of the world before his untimely death at age 32.

The name "Alexander" is a feature of the Dutch royal family: Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne after the abdication of his mother Queen Beatrice earlier this year.

Other historical Alexanders: English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744), American statesman Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), Scottish-Canadian explorer Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820), Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) and Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), the Scottish-born inventor of the telephone.

Louis

The name "Louis" originates from the English and French interpretations of the German name Ludwig, which can be interpreted as "renowned warrior."

Louis was the first name of Lord Mountbatten, uncle of George's great-grandfather Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and mentor to Prince Charles. He was killed by the IRA while holidaying in Ireland in 1979.

No British monarch has been named Louis, but it is very popular across the English Channel in France, where 18 kings have taken the name from 814 onward. Louis XIV, the Sun King, reigned from 1643 until 1715 and was hailed by many as the greatest monarch of his age because of the growth in French power and the opulence of his court, which included the Palace of Versailles.

Louis XVI was the king of France from 1774 until 1792, when he was found guilty of treason after the revolution and executed in 1793.

Other historical figures named Louis: French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895); Métis leader Louis Riel (1844-1885), who led a rebellion against Canada; and Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), who wrote "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/24/world/europe/royal-names-history/index.html?sr=fb072413georgealexanderlouis630p

Go barefoot or go home: 15 best islands you've never heard of

Bali? Been there.

Virgin Islands? Done that. Twice.

While many well known islands inhabit prominent spots on the average bucket list, there's another group of outposts that only the truly island-savvy know about.

These under-the-radar islands have sea views and ocean breezes, but are blessedly lacking in crowds, fabricated attractions and recreation "ambassadors" leading the Macarena.

These are 15 little known islands that time, Club Med and maybe even your favorite guide forgot.

1. Aitutaki, Cook Islands

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7 amazing private island rentals

Visit the motu (it means "little island") where "Survivor: Cook Islands" was filmed and you'll find an idyllic island.

One of 15 in Aitutaki, it sits in a stunning 8-by-10-mile coral lagoon shimmering with hundreds of shades of blue.

At low tide, you can walk so far out on a sandbar that your friends might mistake you for an errant sea bird.

Aitutaki has a nine-hole golf course (stray balls sometimes land in the lagoon or the airport runway) and a selection of upscale resorts, including Pacific Resort and Aitutaki Escape where you can get a memorable massage and where a chef will prepare an amazing three-course meal.

With its crystal clear lagoon, archetypical tropical scenery and New Zealand savoir faire (the Cook Islands is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand), Aitutaki is a place anyone would volunteer to "survive."

Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Amuri, Aitutaki, Cook Islands, +682 31720; rates from $626 per couple

2. Utila, Honduras

This little paradise is only 11 kilometers long, but it has 60 dive sites, 18-meter whale sharks (don't worry, they're vegetarian) and some of the cheapest scuba prices in the Caribbean.

For as little as $140 per night, you can get your own deserted island, complete with a fully furnished two-bedroom house.

Most of the 2,500 locals live near Eastern Harbor, a tiny village with nothing but locally owned hotels, restaurants and dive shops.

Water Cay, one of many "caylitos" that make up Utila's collection of tiny islands, hosts Sun Jam, a two-day music and dancing fiesta the first weekend of August.

Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras; for Sandy Cay, Little Cay or another private-island rental, check the official Utila website or call +504 3298 6832; private islands from $140 per night

3. Marettimo, Italy

The whitewashed houses, colorful fishing villages and year-round mile climate feel almost African, but this beauty is in Italy, in the Egadi Islands, just an hour by boat from Sicily.

There are no cars on the island -- that means no carbon fumes, no gunning motors, no taxi drivers honking for you to step it up.

What Marettimo specializes in is peacefulness.

Marettimo Residence, Via Telegrafo, Isola di Marettimo, Italy; +39 (0)923 923 202; rooms starting at seven nights for $466

Tsarabanjina Island: Three beaches, 25 villas, one great vacation.

4. Tsarabanjina Island, Madagascar

Hard to pronounce, let alone get to, this island northwest of Madagascar is where Joanna Lumley was "cast away" for 10 days in 1994 filming a BBC documentary called "Girl Friday."

Although she spent half her time in a cave nicknamed "The Albert Hall," this remote island now has an exclusive resort, the only one in the Mitsio archipelago.

Constance Tsarabanjina has 25 villas to go with its three white sand beaches and, if you pack a magnifying glass, you might spot the world's tiniest chameleon. Fully grown, it barely exceeds one centimeter.

Constance Hotels & Resorts, Poste de Flacq, Mauritius, Indian Ocean; +230 402 2999; rates upon request

5. Mou Waho Island, New Zealand

It's an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island in an ocean.

Near the center of pristine alpine Lake Wanaka, on New Zealand's southern island, Mou Waho is a glacial remnant of the last Ice Age.

Once a stopover for steamers and log rafts, this island has a trek to the top of Tyrwhitt Peak and Arethusa Pool, a nice spot for ambitious picnickers.

Co-owned by ex-Antarctic ice diver Chris Riley, Eco Wanaka Adventures offers tours to this unique island that serves as home to several threatened species.

Eco Wanaka Adventures, Wanaka, New Zealand; + 64 3 443 2869; day trips start at $284

6. Magdalen Islands, Quebec, Canada

If Cape Cod's golden beaches and Ireland's green hills had a love child, it might look like Magdalen Islands, a getaway for Montrealers.

Each of this Gulf of Saint Lawrence archipelago's dozen or so islands has its own history and dialect, but they're all connected with an efficient road system that takes in sweeping dunes, ochre cliffs and pastel-colored homes.

Beaches are everywhere and the islands' many inns and restaurants know what to do with fresh-caught lobster, scallops, crab and fish.

Tourisme Îles de la Madeleine, 128 chemin Principal, Cap-aux-Meules, Québec, Canada; +418 986 2245.

7. Saba, Dutch Caribbean

Known as the "Unspoiled Queen," Saba, in a rather ironic twist, is a favorite with the LGBT community.

Same-sex marriage is legal here and its director of tourism is openly gay.

With 1,800 residents, four villages and only a small harbor, the volcanic island (Mount Scenery is still capable of erupting) near St. Martin is the smallest municipality of the Netherlands and the only one that speaks English and uses the American dollar as its official currency.

Saba has the shortest commercial runway in the world and its one main road, built nine years before there was even a car, was masterminded by a local who defied Dutch and Swiss engineers who said it couldn't be done. Josephus Lambert Hassell started building in 1938 with five friends after taking a correspondence course in engineering.

Saba, Dutch Caribbean tourism office

Quilalea: Humans welcome, but only recently.

8. Quilalea, Mozambique

This 86-acre private island sits in the middle of a protected Indian Ocean marine sanctuary.

Until 2011, when Christopher and Stella Bettany built nine coral and thatch villas, its only residents were nesting sea turtles and a sizable menagerie of wildlife.

Azura at Quilalea eco-resort offers a clifftop spa, a trail leading to dense baobab groves and sailing trips on traditional Mozambican dhows.

Azura at Quilalea; +27 (11) 791 0519; $25,000 per night for the whole island

9. XXXX Island, Australia

Man caves out. Man islands in.

The reason XXXX island is little known is because it's still in diapers.

It was only hatched a year or so ago when beverage company Lion, which owns the XXXX Gold brand, leased the 15-acre property, acquired naming rights (the island used to be called Pumpkin Island) and started holding promotional competitions.

The island is now the ultimate beer paradise, with a pool table, darts, a golf course (OK, it has one hole), Xbox room, rods and tackle, a bar showing nonstop sports and huts with names like The Locker Room and the House of Rock.

You can't rent those huts, but you can win vacations here along with three of your closest buddies.

Contest winners started showing up in late 2012 for coming up with such creative schemes as beer butlers, football goals set in the ocean, a spray sunscreen booth, tree houses with fireman poles and a "loo with a view," a glassed-in bathroom overlooking the ocean.

Off the Capricorn Coast, Great Barrier Reef, Australia; free if you win one of many contests sponsored by XXXX Island

10. Guana Island, British Virgin Islands

This private island has seven baby power beaches, 850 acres and one tiny resort.

As the owners like to say, "It's the Caribbean before it went public."

After being inhabited for 45 years by sugarcane-growing Quakers, Guana was purchased by a couple from Massachusetts who built six stone cottages and invited artists and intellectuals who stayed for months at a time.

Even now, the maximum number of guests is 32, which means everyone is on first-name basis with management -- were the island to be divvied up, everyone would have an average of 30 acres to themselves.

Well, to themselves and flora and fauna that scientists claim is more extensive than on any island its size, anywhere.

Thanks to several long-term restoration programs, Guana is home to such endangered species as Caribbean Roseate flamingos, stout iguanas, red-legged tortoises and the crestfallen travelers which, we're happy to report are birds, not humans.

Guana Island; guests fly to BVI's Beef Island where they're met and taken to the island by boat; all-inclusive rates start at $695 per night for double occupancy

11. Sovalye Island, Turkey

Castle ruins on Sovalye (pronounced SHUH-VAH-LEE-AY) lend credence to the rumor that renegade knights-turned-pirates used this tiny island as a base during the Middle Ages.

Homes, an old city wall, churches and a Roman cistern from the Byzantine period that slid into the sea during numerous earthquakes are scattered throughout the island.

Scented pine and carob forests are a 15-minute boat ride from the port of Fethiye and once you're there everything's undertaken on foot -- no big chore as it takes 45 minutes to walk from end to end of the picturesque coastline.

The 12-room Ece Boutique Hotel offers a private waterfront, restaurant perfect for taking in the sunset and views of the sea from every room. The only other restaurant on Sovalye is owned by Metin Duru, a former filmmaker who puts out quite a spread for less than $10.

Sovalye tourism

Andros: Sometimes you need a break from the fun.

12. Andros, Bahamas

You may have been to Nassau to gamble with 3 million other casino-goers.

But have you partied with Chickcharnee, the half-man, half-bird that protects the largest (at 5,956 square kilometers) of Bahama's 700 islands?

Or Lusca, the dragon-like sea monster that lurks in the watery depths of Andros' many blue holes?

This island with a veritable melting pot of cultures also has the world's oldest dive shop, the Western hemisphere's second largest coral reef and locals who make waterproof straw baskets, batik and other crafts.

Small Hope Bay Resort; +242 368 2014; all-inclusive rates from $260 per day

13. Song Saa, Cambodia

In the untouched Koh Rong Archipelago, Song Saa is actually two islands, Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, joined by a bridge.

Just 35 minutes by boat from the port of Sihanoukville, its 27 villas resemble a chic Cambodian fishing village -- they were constructed from salvaged timber

Before the Australian owners started building, they put $500,000 into starting a conservation reserve protecting the island's seahorses and turtles. Four staff conservationists can guide you into the island's still deserted oases of virgin rainforests and tropical reefs.

Song Saa Private Island; +855 236 860 360; all-inclusive rates from $668 per person per night.

14. Piel Island, Lake District Coast, Cumbria, UK

On the tip of the Furness Peninsula, 50-acre Piel Island has a king, a castle and a pub.

About 500 years ago, this island, once an abbey for Savignac monks, was the launch pad for an invasion against Henry VII's army.

Peasant Lambert Simnel, posing as Edward VI, tried to regain the throne for avid Yorkists, but the fact that he was a mere 10 years old should have been a clear sign to the 3,000 German and Irish mercenaries who joined him in battle that ignominious defeat was inevitable.

The castle is little more than a stone ruin, but the pub, called The Ship Inn, serves a mean meal of line-caught fish, fresh game and meat either raised on Piel or brought in from nearby Cumbrian farms.

As for the King -- he's crowned in an elaborate ceremony involving a very old throne, a helmet, a sword and alcohol being poured over his head -- is the landlord of the Ship Inn and, according to the registry dating to 1856, is required to be "a free drinker and smoker and lover of the female sex."

Any guest who sits in the Throne Chair is required by Piel Island Law to buy everyone in the pub a drink.

Piel Island; +07516 453 784; Ship Inn rooms from $60 per night.

15. Navarino Island, Chile

In fierce competition with Ushuaia for title of "end of the world," Navarino is remote, wild and beautiful.

It's a holy grail for adventurous backpackers, who go for a five-day circuit through dramatic landscapes of Chilean fjords, glaciers, unspoiled forests and towering granite needles that's little changed since Charles Darwin hiked here in 1832.

Today, Navarino is mainly inhabited by sailors from the Chilean Navy, crab and octopus fisherman, the mestizo descendants of the Yagan, and more than 40,000 beavers imported from Canada in the 1940s.

It's just north of Cape Horn and the place where the Atlantic and Pacific meet, spectacularly.

Next stop: Antarctica.

Navarino, Chile; +56 61 621136

http://us.cnn.com/2013/07/07/travel/best-islands-15/?iref=obinsite

Flight Attendant Accused of Smuggling Rats in her Underwear

A Long Island flight attendant is suing American Airlines after she claims she was falsely accused of carrying rats on board a flight… in her pants.

We’ve heard of passengers smuggling live animals onto airplanes, like that guy who carried rare monkeys in his pants and that other guy whose snake got loose on a plane (unfortunately, Samuel L. Jackson did not come to save the day), but this is the first we’ve heard of a flight attendant sneaking an animal to the skies.

But Louann Giambattista, a flight attendant with American Airlines, has been accused of just that. More specifically, of smuggling her pet rats onto planes by hiding them in her underwear.

According to the New York Post, Giambattista is accused of carrying rats on board on several occasions; one pilot claims he saw a bulge in her pocket and believed it to be a live pet, while another flight attendant said she believes she saw Giambattista feeding a rat on a flight from St. Martin to Miami.

Giambattista was searched upon landing in Florida, but no furry friends were found. Regardless, she claims a flag was placed on her passport and she was blacklisted and subject to searches every time she passed through customs. She is now suing the airline, claiming the incident gave her “debilitating anxiety” and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/07/flight-attendant-accused-of-smuggling-rats-in-her-underwear/?utm_source=Travel+Feed&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Outbrain

World's 100 best beaches

100. Falassarna Beach, Crete, Greece

Best thing about the sand at Falassarna? There's so much of it there's little chance of playing beach-mat overlap with strangers. This slice of coast takes in five consecutive beaches, the middle ones being most popular, the ones on the ends better for solitary sun lovers.

Highlight: On the first Saturday of August, thousands descend for Crete's biggest beach party.

99. Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland

99. Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland

A beach for walkers and beach athletes. The two miles of Portstewart Strand are exceptionally well maintained, perhaps a little too meticulously, with every activity (swimming, horseback riding, walking, surfing) ascribed a dedicated zone.

Highlights: Dunes, 6,000 years old and 100 feet high, dominate the area and support lots of wildlife.

98. Pigeon Point, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago

Pigeon Point is a literal representation of the Caribbean beach ideal, right down to the charming old lady who sells sour-sop ice cream by the pound.

Highlight: The thatched-roofed jetty, possibly the most photographed jetty in the world.

97. Coffee Bay, Wild Coast, South Africa

97. Coffee Bay, Wild Coast, South Africa

With cliffs that plummet and green hills that roll into the turbulent waters of the Indian Ocean, this is one moody beach. Hole In The Wall (five miles up the road from Coffee Bay) is a spectacular rock just out to sea at the mouth of the Mpako River.

Good to know: The best way to see this beautiful stretch of coastline is to walk it.

Also on CNN: Southern Africa's best boutique safari reserves

96. Ifaty Beach, Madagascar

This is no five-star resort beach. Shade is provided by drooping palm trees, not striped umbrellas, and fishermen's houses, clumsily put together with natural materials, line the shore. But that's why we love Ifaty, on the southwest coast of Madagascar. It's flanked by a coral reef that you can snorkel around or explore from the surface in a colorful dugout canoe.

Good to know: Whales often visit in July and August.

95. Praia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

95. Praia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Often voted Brazil's best beach, Praia do Sancho is a bay on the island of Fernando de Noronha, facing the coast of Brazil rather than out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Highlight: Steep, rocky cliffs covered in vegetation form a backdrop to the clear waters that are accessible only via ladders attached to the cliff face or by boat.

94. Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

Volcanoes near this beach on the eastern edge of New Zealand's North Island develop large underground reservoirs of extremely hot water. Over time, this water escapes to the surface, cooling along the way, though still emerging at temperatures as hot as 147 F (64 C).

Highlight: The hot springs are accessible only at low tide; those with shovels can create ad hoc spas in the warm sand.

Also on CNN: The ultimate New Zealand road trip

93. Long Beach, Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Phu Quoc is fast becoming Vietnam's most popular new island destination. Market traders in conical hats hawk baguettes, ducks, flying lizards and other items rarely seen on the Thai side of the Gulf, while motorcycles ply red dirt roads to pearl farms and old-style fishing ports.

Highlight: Dominated by local families who rent motorcycles for $5 a day and bungalows for $20 per night, Long Beach reminds some of Thailand in the late 1980s.

92. Meads Bay, Anguilla

92. Meads Bay, Anguilla

Anguilla beaches don't do average. This speck in the Caribbean was front of the queue when the beach gods were passing out idyllic places to lounge. If you tire of the sugary sands and bathtub-warm water of Meads Bay, one of the island's longest beaches, there are several good restaurants and hotels nearby.

Highlight: Blanchards Beach Shack serves fantastic lobster rolls and a great mango colada.

91. Bottom Bay, Barbados

91. Bottom Bay, Barbados

One of the few beautiful beaches in Barbados to have escaped development overkill, Bottom Bay is enclosed by high coral cliffs, making it an almost undiscovered pocket of paradise.

Highlight: Turtles and whales can sometimes be spotted from the tops of the cliffs overlooking the ocean.

90. Paradise Beach, Rab, Croatia

90. Paradise Beach, Rab, Croatia

The Croatian island of Rab claims to be the birthplace of modern skinny-dipping.

In 1936, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson obtained permission from city authorities to bathe naked in the inlet of Kandalora, and people have been doing the same on the island's beaches ever since.

Highlight: The sea remains shallow even half a kilometer out, making it an ideal place for novice swimmers.

89. Lover's Beach, Baja California Sur, Mexico

A semi-hidden cove best accessed by boat, Lover's Beach was once popular with pirates, now with photographers.

Be aware: The beach is small and the sea can get rough, so this isn't a place to stay for long. You should pre-arrange return transport to town, as come 4 p.m., boats are scarce.

88. Byron Bay, Australia

88. Byron Bay, Australia

Pubs, cafes and bookshops host buskers, musicians, artists and drift-ins who walk the streets barefoot and bleary eyed. There's a lingering scent of the Flower Power generation, while surfers wait for perfect waves.

Highlight: Every year, the Byron Bay Bluesfest attracts some of the biggest names in world music, and with it, thousands of Sydneysiders.

Also on CNN: Australia's most terrifying tourist trails

87. Arashi Beach, Aruba

The California Lighthouse keeps ships away from this northwestern tip of Aruba, but it also acts as a beacon for beach bums looking for natural shores. Head for it, and you'll hit Arashi Beach's unspoiled sands (there are only a few palapas).

Highlight: Snorkeling. A 400-foot German freighter wreck lies just offshore.

86. An Bang Beach, Hoi An, Vietnam

Gentle waves, soft white sand. Recently An Bang Beach has picked up among expat tourists, which explains the Western-managed bars and restaurants.

Highlight: Many restaurants in the town specialize in the Viet imperial cuisine Hoi An is known for around the country.

85. Bandon, Oregon, United States

85. Bandon, Oregon, United States

It's got beauty -- the sun sets over the striking rock formations -- it's got good food -- a long growing season and influx of ambitious chefs. It also has a safari game park to the south and spectacular, seaside Bandon Dunes Golf Resort to the north.

Trivia: According to Native American folklore, the unusual formation of Face Rock represents the face of a princess who was drowned by an evil sea spirit.

84. Puka Beach, Boracay, Philippines

84. Puka Beach, Boracay, Philippines

Making a respectable claim to its "tropical paradise" reputation, Boracay has powdery beaches, water sports and spas. Puka Beach is named for its Puka shells, meaning the sand here is coarse.

Highlight: Puka is the second-longest beach on Boracay and relatively empty most times, with no resorts and a limited number of restaurants.

Also on CNN: The Philippines' best beaches and islands

83. Ffryes Beach, Antigua

Most of the time this place is empty, so those who come often have it to themselves. The beach livens up with locals on the weekends or when a cruise ship is in town.

Highlight: There's not much to do except enjoy the view (superb sunsets) and a drink at one of a handful of shack bars.

82. La Concha, Spain

82. La Concha, Spain

For a city beach, La Concha is lovely. It comes with a promenade, easy access, great restaurants and other city perks. It also has swimmable water.

Highlight: Tapas. Cafes and restaurants behind the sand offer some of the best small eats on this northern coast.

81. Las Salinas, Ibiza, Spain

Las Salinas, an iconic crescent of sand, is the most happening beach on the island. Music blasts from bars morning till night, attracting A-list celebs.

Highlight: The beach is also a magnet for nude sunbathers.

80. Cape Maclear, Malawi

80. Cape Maclear, Malawi

Cape Maclear sits on the edge of Lake Malawi, a lake so large it feels like an ocean. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beach, something of a hippie hangout, is linked to the town via a single dirt road lined with a handful of hostels and dive shops.

Highlight: Diving, snorkeling, kayaking -- the water is free from brine, and there are no sharks or jellyfish.

79. Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

79. Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

It can't be easy being a standout beach in a country of awesome beaches, but Unawatuna does it. Hanging off the southern tip of Sri Lanka, it stretches for more than a mile, and is marked by palm trees, thatch huts and a languid pace. Unfortunately, the area was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami, and the place hasn't yet returned to its pre-tsunami beauty.

Highlight: The laid-back, young-traveler atmosphere.

78. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Jeffreys Bay's legendary breaks attract top surfers to the annual Billabong Pro ASP World Tour surfing event. Nearby lagoons make ideal venues for boardsailing and canoeing. The Seekoei River Nature Reserve, a haven for rare birds, is nearby.

Highlight: Migrating whales pass by the bay to give birth every season.

Also on CNN: Africa's 10 best national parks

77. Vilanculos Beach, Mozambique

77. Vilanculos Beach, Mozambique

Lazy. Friendly. Scenic. Great swimming. Vilanculos is also one of the best diving destinations in the West Indian Ocean.

Highlight: The small coastal town of Vilanculos has thatched huts lining the streets, a friendly population and a plethora of laid-back bars and restaurants.

76. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico

76. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico

Many of Puerto Rico's beaches suffer from garbage-disposal problems. Not this one (though a rusting tank does make for one eye-catching piece of litter). Flamenco is a natural crescent of unblemished sand, with a camping site behind.

Highlight: A quarter-mile offshore a reef offers great diving and snorkeling sights.

75. Oludeniz, Turkey

75. Oludeniz Beach, Turkey

The name translates to "Dead Sea," but it's not the one you're thinking of. This beach's sheltered location amid mountain scenery keeps the water calm even during storms; cafes, shops and restaurants provide sustenance.

Highlight: Paragliding tours over wooded areas and mountains.

74. Capo Sant'Andrea, Elba, Italy

74. Capo Sant'Andrea, Elba, Italy

It's hard to imagine why Napoleon ever wanted to leave. At this inlet, the water is clear enough to see the seabed even in the deepest sections. Chestnut trees sweep right down to the coastline.

Highlight: The inlet's golden beaches are framed by softly sloping granite blocks -- natural sun beds that are taken over by sunbathers during summer.

Also on CNN: Beyond Rome and Florence: 12 alternative Italian destinations

73. Venice Beach, California, United States

This beachfront district is a SoCal institution and a freak show free-for-all. Qi gong masseurs, hair braiders, fortune-tellers and artists jostle along the 2½-mile Venice Boardwalk.

Highlight: Beachfront outdoor basketball courts -- competition can be fierce on weekends and early evenings.

72. Plage de Piémanson, France

72. Plage de Piémanson, France

For sheer scale, gloriously unspoiled wilderness and nude bathing, Plage de Piémanson ranks among the finest. Part of Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue, the obscure beach has tawny sand that stretches forever.

Highlight: To get here, you drive through colonies of pink flamingos and might spot Camargue horses, an ancient breed of white horse that roams wild in the reserve.

71. Laughing Bird Caye, Belize

Reaching barely a meter above sea level, this protected isle is less than a hectare in size, but offers one of the best day trips off the Belize coast. A huge amount of coral, bird and marine life call this place home, which is why so many visitors call it perfect.

Highlight: The laughing gulls after which the isle is named have moved on, but herons, blackbirds and pelicans can often be seen.

70. Punalu'u, Hawaii, United States

70. Punalu'u, Hawaii, United States

No sugary sands and idyllic swimming conditions, but you will find a dramatic black basalt shore and might spot green and hawksbill turtles, as well as dolphins and whale sharks, if you snorkel off this Big Island beach.

Highlight: Getting here involves a 20-minute trek through a wooded dirt trail, underlining the remote and undeveloped beach.

Also on CNN: 10 classic American experiences

69. Los Roques, Venezuela

69. Los Roques, Venezuela

OK, this isn't one beach, more like several hundred, but it's impossible to pick from the more than 350 islands in the Los Roques archipelago. Whichever island you're on, from the large Cayo Grande to the diminutive Gran Roque, you'll have blinding white sand and shallow, tropical waters just a few powdery footsteps away.

Highlight: The entire area is basically an enormous water sports arena -- divers, snorkelers, fishermen and shallow-water splashers will all find it hard to leave.

68. Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson, New Zealand

68. Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson, New Zealand

With golden sand and the most sunshine hours in New Zealand, Kaiteriteri Beach is at the top of New Zealand's South Island and the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.

Highlights: Penguins, seals and dolphins are common.

67. Belle Mare, Mauritius

The sunrise from the quiet beach of Belle Mare, on the east coast of Mauritius, is worth the wake-up call. Although known for its fine white sand, you're likely to find a secluded space along this barely developed stretch of beach.

Good to know: To turn the excitement levels up, Waterpark Leisure Village near Belle Mare offers giant chutes and slides.

Also on CNN: Mauritius -- The best Africa destination you know almost nothing about

66. Skagen Beach, Denmark

66. Skagen Beach, Denmark

The shore at Skagen, an artists' colony in the 19th century, is a 40-mile-long sand ribbon within a landscape of milky white dunes, fairytale forests and wind-blown beaches.

Highlight: If Skagen's waters are too cold for swimming there are other attractions -- an annual midsummer's eve bonfire on Skagen Sonderstrand, the Bolcheriet candy factory and Råbjerg Mile, the largest sand dune in northern Europe.

65. Isshiki Beach, Hayama, Japan

During the peak of summer, the beach's two crescents of sand buzz with windsurfers, kayakers and swimmers. Vendors erect wooden shacks housing bars, restaurants and shower units. The Blue Moon is a well known beach shack -- it hosts concerts on weekend evenings.

Highlight: Hayama's Imperial Villa, which faces Isshiki Beach, has been used by Japanese emperors since 1894 as a winter holiday house.

64. Radhanagar Beach, Andaman Islands, India

This popular but spacious beach largely escaped the effects of the 2004 tsunami that ruined many other beaches in the Indian Ocean. A tropical forest leans into crunchy sand, which slopes seamlessly into warm, calm water.

Highlight: At the western edge of the beach you'll find find a lagoon, often devoid of people.

63. Pulau Derawan, Indonesia

63. Pulau Derawan, Indonesia

Tourist accommodations are no-frills here, and that's what makes the place special. Most visitors will be able to spot turtles wading about on the island's spotless silvery beaches.

Highlight: The waters surrounding Derawan are known to be a home to manta rays and green turtles.

62. Haad Rin, Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand

Haad Rin's infamous full moon parties are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Mostly because once is enough. But outside the drunken, chemical-fueled parties the place has cheap alcohol, great food and a fun-loving crowd.

Also on CNN: Island hopping in Thailand

61. Essaouira, Morocco

The sprawling beach of Essaouira is like a spacious chill-out lounge for this laid-back Moroccan town. It attracts wind- and kite-surfers in summer, and surfers in winter. Around the bay away from the harbor is a castle that's said to have been the inspiration for Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand."

Good to know: Essaouira is beautiful at dusk. The harbor offers great snapshots looking back toward the old town.

60. Beidaihe, China

60. Beidaihe, China

Beidaihe has been pleasing China's upper crust for decades. A few hours from Beijing, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping hashed out national policies in private villas here. The area remains popular among Russian tourists -- a reminder of erstwhile Sino-Soviet ties.

Highlight: Beidaihe's restaurants offer simple pleasures, mostly good seafood and cold beer.

59. Na'ama Bay, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt

In the middle of Egypt's Red Sea coast, Na'ama Bay has diverse marine life, colorful corals visible from the surface of the water and great snorkeling from the beach in front of the Jolie Ville Hotel.

Highlight: With temperatures in the high 70s F (23-27 C) during November and December, and 10 hours of sunshine a day, this is the ideal place to take advantage of one of the many winter travel deals to Egypt on offer.

58. Akajima, Okinawa, Japan

58. Akajima, Okinawa, Japan

The islet of Akajima is popular among Japanese day-trippers during summer, but foreign travelers are a rare sight. It retains a sequestered charm even during peak season. The beaches are spotless, usually dotted with just a handful of surfers.

Highlight: Further inland, a quaint Ryukyuan heritage house is open to visitors.

Also on CNN: Where is Okinawa?

57. Abaka Bay, Haiti

The island of Ile a Vache in Haiti punches above its weight in the beach class division -- the eight-by-two-mile island is home to Akaba Bay, boasting some of the best photo ops in the Caribbean. Quality and good value accommodation line the sands.

Highlight: Abaka Bay Resort provides great views of the ocean, is one step from the beach and serves a mean conch dinner.

56. Diani Beach, Kenya

Twelve-plus miles of palm-fringed beach is kept pristine and clear of seaweed by the coral reef just offshore. It has become one of Kenya's most popular beaches. Supermarkets, hotels and monkeys have all become part of the experience.

Good to know: Want to learn to kite surf? Lessons are available here.

55. Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Thailand

55. Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Thailand

With Dali-esque limestone structures, hundreds of cliff-climbing routes and Tiffany-blue waters, Railay is the seasoned rock climber's dream. Stalactite-rimmed cliffs that tourists can jump from flank Phra Nang, the area's main beach.

Worth knowing: Although Railay is accessible only by longtail boat from Krabi and Ao Nang, it can get crowded during tourist seasons.

54. Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island, Canada

If perfection unnerves you, avoid Prince Edward Island. The island's most idyllic feature, Cavendish Beach has creamy sands flanked by sandstone cliffs and dunes, and has captured the imagination of writers and tourists alike.

Trivia: The area is famous for inspiring scenes in "Anne of Green Gables."

53. Little Corn beaches, Nicaragua

53. Little Corn beaches, Nicaragua

Low key, undeveloped and languid, Little Corn Island was, sometimes still is, a stop for pirates. These days it's more frequently used as a vacation spot for those looking for a few days of rustic, five-star-free living.

Worth knowing: A great spot for diving and snorkeling.

52. Southwestern Beach, Koh Rong, Cambodia

Koh Rong is one of the Gulf of Thailand's most gorgeous islands, and on its southwestern side there's a stretch of nearly three miles of untouched white sand that invariably seduces any who venture this way.

Highlight: The southernmost end of this beach features perfect snorkeling rocks with colorful rabbitfish, sergeant fish and parrot fish.

51. Panama City Beach, Florida, United States

51. Panama City Beach, Florida, United States

It's not the spring break capital of the world for no reason. Each year, more than 6 million college kids and sun seekers pour into Panama City Beach, lured by emerald waters, blinding white sand, colorful reefs, fishing and hard-core people-watching. And, OK, maybe a drink or two.

Highlights: Historic wrecks off Panama City Beach's shores make this a superb dive site. Goofy Golf, a mini-golf institution since 1959, has a kitschy, retro charm.

50. Porto da Barra, Salvador, Brazil

In many ways, Porto da Barra is to Salvador what Bondi is to Sydney and Venice Beach is to Los Angeles. Tiny fishing boats bring in the day's catch, there's beach volleyball and plenty to see at the Fisherman Colony Manguinhos, a traditional fish market in Buizos.

Highlight: It's one of the few beaches in Salvador that faces west, so you can catch great sunsets.

49. Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, Malaysia

49. Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, Malaysia

Most tourists on Langkawi flock to Pantai Cenang beach, but the quieter Tanjung Rhu has an earthy beauty and serene atmosphere. The long beach area is surrounded by ancient limestone caves, rippling waterways and dense mangroves.

Highlight: The Four Seasons Resort offers boat tours around the mangrove forests.

Also on CNN: 10 best islands for a Malaysia holiday

48. Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

48. Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

You have to pay a fee to get into this stunning beach, but boy is it worth it. Imagine a postcard of pure beach beauty, then Photoshop the blues to be even bluer and the yellow-white sand to be even softer and you have Trunk Bay.

Highlight: Snorkelers get a little treat with plaques embedded into the sea floor with information about what they're looking at.

47. Placenia Beach, Belize

47. Placencia Beach, Belize

Placencia has great beaches, but it's the adventures to be had that make this a top 100 beach destination. Jungle rivers, Mayan ruins and fantastic wildlife make this one a beach trip with various purposes.

Highlight: Monkeys, iguanas and the chance to kayak in a lagoon with manatees.

Also on CNN: Belize -- 7 of its most stunning islands

46. Natadola Beach, Fiji

46. Natadola Beach, Fiji

Probably Fiji's finest beach, Natadola Beach is one of the few places in the country that's good for swimming 24 hours a day. A luxury resort backs onto the beach and attracts vendors selling coconuts and beach fashion accessories, so you'll need to put distance between you and the resort if you like solitude.

Highlight: Horseback rides at sunset.

45. Patnem Beach, Goa, India

If the cacophony of flea markets and tourist raves at Anjuna beach aren't your thing, smaller neighbor Patnem is less claustrophobic, with cheaper beach huts.

Highlight: It's the perfect place to enjoy the sunset while congratulating yourself on ducking the Goan tourist radar.

44. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

44. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

For an iconic all-round great city beach you can't miss with Bondi. The wide curving crescent of white sand can get incredibly busy, but that's only because the surfing is gnarly, the sands are clean and the nearby eateries are fantastic.

Highlight: After a day in the sun you can chase down the day with a meal at Bondi Trattoria, one of the best Italian restaurants in the city.

43. Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Previously: a simple fishing village and dhow-building center. Now: one of Africa's most picturesque lines of coast, where palms amble onto a beach that dissolves gradually from spearmint blue into shades of deep turquoise.

Highlight: At sunset, white-sailed dhows leave from the boatyard, making for a great photo op.

42. D-Day beaches, Normandy, France

42. D-Day beaches, Normandy, France

On the morning of June 6, 1944, the largest amphibious operation in history took place on the beaches code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. The Normandy landings and subsequent Battle of Normandy eventually helped free Europe from Nazi occupation.

Highlight: In Caen, a nearby city that was heavily bombed during the D-Day invasion, a large museum commemorates peace.

41. Negril Beach, Jamaica

It's not as pristine as it was before the resort developers rolled in, but Negril's yawning expanse of shoreline, featured in "The Man With The Golden Gun," is a lively magnet for party-happy spring breakers as well as convenience-seeking families.

Highlight: Luxury resorts and beach sports.

40. Dominical Beach, Costa Rica

40. Dominical Beach, Costa Rica

Monster waves and lush forests, warm waters ideal for long, lazy swims -- people often stay longer at Domincal than they intended.

Highlight: Tortilla Flats offers great food and company. It's a surfer hotel, seaside restaurant and happening night spot rolled into one.

39. Canggu Beach, Bali, Indonesia

39. Canggu Beach, Bali, Indonesia

This surf-perfect coastline has everything from easy waves to serious breaks. The scene is unpretentious and the mood laid-back. The crowd is heavy with adventurous people who know Asia well.

Worth knowing: There's little nightlife here; instead, travelers kick back with themselves and locals.

Also on CNN: 40 of Indonesia's best dishes

38. Karekare, West Auckland, New Zealand

Karekare was immortalized in the 1993 film "The Piano." A grandiose sweep of black sand stretches before bush-clad hills. Karekare tends to be less touristy than nearby Piha. If you prefer a quieter beach, this is the one.

Highlight: Karekare is popular for its annual beach race day, in which local ponies and horses race to raise money for charity. Beach race day is usually held in early April.

37. West Bay Beach, Roatan, Honduras

The largest of the Honduran Bay Islands sits close to the world's second largest reef system -- the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. That means diverse marine life for snorkelers and divers, and diverse party life for after.

Highlight: The reef offers the chance to spot various species of turtles, fish, crocodiles and the world's largest population of manatees -- estimated at 1,000-1,500.

36. Bahia Solano, Colombia

Immobile boats rust where the river meets the ocean. Fishermen languidly cast nets over a huge bay. Fashion shops, vegetable markets, cafes and bars line a vibrant main street.

Highlight: Cheap hotels near the beach are a boon for budget travelers.

35. Balos Beach, Greece

35. Balos Beach, Greece

Cameras compulsory. Near Kissamos on Crete, Balos Beach is a lagoon of swirling colors -- pastel pinks, blues and turquoise. It can get crowded and microorganisms in the muddy shallows can cause unpleasant smells, but for postcard pictures it's one of Greece's best.

Highlight: For "dark tourists" there's a cave here that was the scene of a massacre in the 19th century.

34. Cayo Paraiso, Dominican Republic

If an Evian factory had been used to fill the ocean around this tiny island, the water wouldn't be any clearer.

Highlight: The sand bank is encircled and protected by a coral reef providing great snorkeling; the island has a few basic thatch huts for shade.

33. Margaret River, Australia

This western Australian town is blessed with a mild climate, baby powder beaches and gorgeous scenery. It also produces some of the country's finest wines.

The surf at Margaret River attracts serious boarders.

Highlight: Wine-tasting at Margaret River's 60-plus wineries is a favorite tourist activity.

Also on CNN: Going up Down Under -- Southern Hemisphere's tallest building

32. Navagio Beach, Greece

32. Navagio Beach, Greece

Navagio Beach, or Zakynthos Cove, or Smuggler's Bay, or Shipwreck Cove -- many names exist for this small inlet on the island of Zakynthos. All you need to know is it's gorgeous and the remains of an old ship, reportedly used to smuggle cigarettes before it met its briny demise in 1983, emerge zombie-like from the sand.

Worth knowing: To get here you need to get a taxi-boat from Porto Vromi, leaving every hour.

31. Playa Paraiso, Cayo Largo, Cuba

Cuba's finest beach island goes overkill on clear. Water like crystal, sand like sugar, most days there's barely a cloud to disrupt the electric smoothness of the sky.

Worth knowing: This "paradise beach" isn't as exposed as other beaches on the island. The weather is usually calm and the sea shallow.

30. Grand Anse, Grenada

30. Grand Anse, Grenada

Possibly Grenada's finest family beach -- foot-soothing sands, skin-comforting waters and soul-calming breezes -- Grand Anse is big enough to never get crowded and intimate enough to feel like your own.

Highlight: It's less than a 15-minute drive from the airport -- the perfect post-flight remedy.

29. Warwick Long Bay, Bermuda

You can spend hours here just watching the waves froth under the horizon over the coral-pink sand. If that gets irritatingly blissful there are great walking routes from here to Bermuda's southern beaches, offering secluded coves.

Worth knowing: It gets crowded in high season, so if your ideal beach experience is solitary and tranquil, it's best visited outside of May-September.

28. Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe, Thailand

Despite a buildup of accommodations in recent years, this is still arguably one of the most stunning beaches in Thailand. The range of rooms (from luxury to backpacker) and meal options add to the comfort factor.

Highlight: The whole island is small enough to circumnavigate on foot.

27. Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, United States

27. Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, United States

Mountains in the background, ocean in front and three miles of sand underfoot, Hanalei Bay on Kauai is a surfer's and paddle boarder's dream, with a reef to the right-hand side of the bay looking out to sea.

Worth knowing: Storms and poor weather can turn the strip into a formidable beast, with choppy ocean conditions and beach runoff that's best avoided.

Also on CNN: 8 best beer towns in the USA

26. Long Bay, Saint-Martin

Long Bay is a gentle giant, one of the longest beaches on the island. Though luxury villas and one luxury hotel sit close to the sand, they're unobtrusive.

Highlight: Near the La Samana hotel there's a great snorkeling spot, in a cove with a reef.

25. Sun Island Beach, Maldives

This diamond in the Indian Ocean is a favorite with celebrities and rich honeymooners drawn by the idea of sleeping over the water -- nearby resorts offer luxury bungalows on stilts.

Highlight: Nearby coral reefs attract thousands of tropical fish, snorkelers and divers.

25. Egremni Beach, Greece

24. Egremni Beach, Greece

Dramatic sunsets, electric-blue water, enough room for everyone: This long stretch of sand on the island of Lefkada has become one of Greece's most popular beach retreats since a road was built in the 1990s.

Worth knowing: Nudists often use the central stretch of beach.

23. Crane Beach, Barbados

Pinkish sands, no rocks or other feet-slicing things in the shallows -- this stretch of sunny Barbadian serenity can be accessed by a staircase or beachfront elevator from The Crane resort, making it as novel as it is beautiful.

Highlight: Gentle waves, perfect for boogie boarding.

22. Boulders Beach, Cape Town

22. Boulders Beach, Cape Town

Boulders Beach is home to 3,000 jackass penguins, which are often spotted waddling in and out of the sea. The best place to see the penguins is from a viewing boardwalk constructed on nearby Foxy Beach.

21. Juara Beach, Tioman Island, Malaysia

Less developed and less polished than Thailand, Tioman Island's Juara Beach brings an all-natural, quiet vibe to the beach experience. This isn't the place for parties or nightlife, unless you like your parties hushed and your nightlife nonhuman.

Worth knowing: Various travelers report sand flies on the beach.

20. Rarotonga, Cook Islands

20. Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Rarotonga is the youngest of the 15 islands in the Cook Islands chain, and hasn't eroded as much as its siblings. Its lush green center is encircled by a 20-mile shoreline of perfect white sand.

Highlight: The laid-back, musical culture of the islanders. What the place lacks in traffic lights (it has none) it makes up for in dancing and singing.

19. Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

Yes, "The Beach" was filmed here and it gets packed with tourists. But Maya Bay is too perfect to pass up. A white sand beach hugs steep limestone cliffs and coral reefs make it an excellent spot for snorkeling.

Worth knowing: To avoid the crowds, visit early in the morning or after 5 p.m.

18. Gardner Bay, Espanola Island, Ecuador

18. Gardner Bay, Espanola Island, Ecuador

You'll have to share this shoreline in the Galapagos Islands with nonhumans. Manta rays in the water, sea lions on the sand, albatross and blue-footed boobies all make the 10-12 hour boat trip here worthwhile.

Highlight: As fans of Darwin know, many species in the Galapagos are unique to the islands, such as the lava lizard, a red marine iguana found here on Espanola.

17. Nihiwatu Beach, Sumba, Indonesia

In some ways, the perfect beach. It's remote (an hour's flight from Bali then a 90-minute drive) with fine, clean sand, clear water, almost no people and amazing sunsets. It is home to the impressive Nihiwatu resort and is best outside wet season.

Highlight: For surfers, the incredible left-hand break. For everyone else, as dusk approaches, a chance to join local villagers as they scour a section of a nearby reef at low tide for octopus, crabs and seaweed.

16. Luskentyre Beach, Scotland

16. Luskentyre Beach, Scotland

You won't get much of a tan on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, but you'll get a memorable beach walk and lungs full of fresh air. The sand stretches long and wide, and the place is popular with hikers and nature lovers.

Highlights: Ponies may join you for a shoreline amble, while otters, seals, dolphins and eagles can be spotted in the area.

Also on CNN: 6 haunting battlefields of Scotland

15. The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

15. The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Huge boulders, some as long as 40 feet, give away the island's volcanic origins. There's a small fee to enter the beach -- it's part of the BVI's National Park -- but it's worth it once you're soaking up the sun on these naturally heated sun loungers.

Highlight: A rope and step trail leads through the boulders at The Baths to Devil's Bay.

14. El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

El Nido is the gateway to adventure, "the last frontier" of the Philippines, as it has been dubbed. Powder-fine beaches and gin-clear waters complement the stunning views of karst limestone formations, empty lagoons, marble cliffs, prehistoric caves and waterfalls.

Highlight: Surrounding waters contain more than 50 species of coral and attract whales, whale sharks, sea cows, manta rays, dolphins and endangered turtles.

13. Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

13. Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

Malaysia's Perhentian Islands are to beach bums what Kobe beef is to carnivores; once you've experienced it, nothing else quite matches up.

The two main islands are the backpacker-happy Pulau Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian Island), and Pulau Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian Island), which has slightly more expensive accommodations.

Highlight: The blue waters off Pulau Perhentian Kecil invariably contain turtles and small sharks.

12. Tulum, Mexico

12. Tulum, Mexico

At Tulum, you can swim in the shadow of ancient Mayan ruins. The area is home to a Mayan archeological ruin that teeters on the edge of a cliff. Beneath it, sand and jade green waters glisten.

Highlight: The Yucatan's turquoise cenotes and excellent diving are tourist draws. Everything from mega-resorts to thatched cabanas offering boutique accommodations are available.

11. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia

Whitehaven Beach is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park and has more than 2½ miles of sand that's 98% pure silica -- so clean it squeaks. Visitors have to register with a tour guide for access, and can stay only for a few hours.

Worth knowing: In 2010, the beach won CNN's Most Eco Friendly Beach award.

Watch out for jellyfish in summer.

10. Palaui Island, Cagayan Valley, Philippines

10. Palaui Island, Cagayan Valley, Philippines

Glorious white sands meet volcanic rocks and blue-green waters topside, while coral gardens and a rich marine reserve meet divers under the surface. Palaui is all about raw beauty. Treks to get there require battling thorny grass, muddy ground and a mangrove forest.

Good to know: With no resorts or hotels, Palaui has only two real options: camping under the stars or home stays.

Also on CNN: 36 hours in a Philippine bus -- Manila to La Union shore

9. Champagne Beach, Vanuatu

9. Champagne Beach, Vanuatu

The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu broke into the headlines a few years ago when the Happy Planet Index ranked it the happiest nation on Earth. With beaches like this, how could locals not be euphoric?

Highlight: The beach gets its name from a phenomenon witnessed by the first travelers to the region -- the shallow waters appear to fizz at low tide, as if the beach is swimming in bubbly. The effect is caused by gas escaping from volcanic rocks on the seafloor.

8. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti

8. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti

Bora Bora is like the Gwyneth Paltrow of beaches: a little too perfect to be believable. But the spell that this small island in French Polynesia has cast on probably every traveler ever to dip a toe into its soft sands or calm waters has yet to be broken. Bora Bora is a heavy tourist destination -- luxury resorts and budget bungalows dapple the white sand perimeter. But its best spot, Matira Beach, reminds you why places like this become popular in the first place.

Highlight: Visitors can feed sharks, hunt for black pearls, look through World War II memorabilia or just laze on the sand.

7. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

7. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

White sands, pink granite rock formations and green peaks make for one of Tasmania's most stunning coastal scenes. It's part of Freycinet National Park, northeast of Hobart.

Highlights: Hiking, snorkeling, kayaking and boating are popular pastimes, but so is lying on the beach admiring the scenery.

Also on CNN: Into the heart of the Tasmanian wilderness

6. Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island, Bahamas

6. Cabbage Beach, Paradise Island, Bahamas

An inappropriate name does nothing to spoil the flawless aesthetics of this lengthy strip of sand. The chair, umbrella, bracelet and Jet Ski touts might be a challenge to your good mood, but if you walk eastward away from the busy section you'll be able to take in one of the world's best beaches uninterrupted.

Worth knowing: There are strong undercurrents in the waters offshore.

5. Anse de Grande Saline, St. Barths

5. Anse de Grande Saline, St. Barths

Though nudity is technically banned on St. Barths, this is one of two beaches on the French Leeward Island that attracts naturists (perhaps due to its distance from developed areas). It can get windy and there's little shade, but the photo ops are magnificent.

Highlight: A marsh area behind the beach is a habitat for tropical birds.

4. Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles

4. Anse Source d'Argent, La Digue, Seychelles

This ribbon of sand on the Seychelles' third-largest island, La Dique, mixes salt-white and flamingo-pink sands to create one of the most photographed beaches in the world. A reef keeps the water calm for good snorkeling.

Highlight: Nearby restaurant Lanbousir offers local Creole dishes, including a tempting fruit-bat curry. DIY eaters can fix their own picnic with food from a supermarket just five minutes from the beach.

3. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

3. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

You need only hear the name of this beach to feel a little calmer. The pride of Provo Island is tourist heavy, but that's because it's one of the best (third best, we say) beaches in the world. Just offshore, a coral reef protects the beach and harbors marine life normally seen in Jacques Cousteau documentaries.

Highlight: This perfect, tranquil beach destination has few touts to disturb your lazing and abundant restaurants and resorts.

2. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy

2. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy

With blinding white cliffs, fluorescent blue waters, warm temperatures and dry-desert land, it's little wonder this place frequently tops favorite beach lists. Protected turtles lay eggs here and dolphins can be seen in the water.

Highlight: The nearby volcanic isle of Linosa, featuring a spectacular black and red Mars-like beach.

Also on CNN: How fashion is saving Italy's monuments

1. Grande Anse Beach, La Digue Island, Seychelles

1. Grande Anse Beach, La Digue Island, Seychelles

Secluded and easy to skip because it takes some effort to get here, Grand Anse on La Digue is the archetypal beach, the benchmark against which others must be judged. It's a must, especially if you're a surfer.

Worth knowing: The waves can be boisterous and there's not much shade.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/travel/100-best-beaches/index.html?hpt=tr_bn1