Sailing, diving, fishing and relaxing are the main activities for visitors to the 155 islands of this Indian Ocean archipelago. Mahé, Praslin and La Digue are the most popular islands. Mahé boasts 65 silver beaches, plus an array of restaurants, cafés, bars and casinos in the tiny capital, Victoria. The Seychelles are home to UNESCO-designated sites, coral atoll Aldabra and Vallée de Mai, called the Garden of Eden. Creole is the main language, but English and French are widely spoken.

Antananarivo, thankfully shortened to Tana by tourists and locals alike, is the bustling capital of Madagascar.

Built on hillsides and ridges and ringed with rice paddies, Tana is an interesting place to spend a few days either at the beginning or end of your holiday. As it is also the location of the country’s major international airport, most visitors will find themselves at least passing through the city.

Founded in 1610 after a Malagasy king conquered several villages in the area, it was named Antananarivo (town of 1000) because a garrison of 1000 men were left behind to defend the newly gained territory.

A palace (Rova) was built on the highest hill and in such a prominent position that it could be seen for tens of kilometres in just about any direction. Despite the modern version burning down in suspicious circumstances during the 1990s, the shell of the Rova remains the most dominant and recognised feature of the city today and it is a must see for any newcomers to the Malagasy capital.

Antananarivo is a great city to explore by foot, but be warned that its streets and many stairways are steep and demanding and the continual advances of beggars or street vendors can grow tiresome.

Khao San Road

My friend Kate had a dog who was so afraid of fireworks, he'd crawl up on your lap and cower during every display. This would have been fine, except that he was an Australian Shepherd and weighed 80 pounds. Oof.

Secretly, I'm scared of all things flammable and loud, so I'm perfectly safe from firework disasters. If you're braver than I am, you should read this. It's part of my "All Fun, No Hurties" approach to the holiday.

I know about nine people who will be totally excited about this piece. None of them are children, which is good, as these projects shouldn't be untaken without supervision. (The bad news? Most of my firecracker-loving pals could probably also use supervision.)

Or at least for 150,000 miles. My first tip to you is to get those creepy metal fatigue noises checked out before the wheels come off. You're welcome.

But let's just say your clunker isn't drivable. How can you get rid of the beast? Donate it to charity. Just make sure you're honest about the condition of the car.

There's been a lot of talk about CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System.) One thing most people don't realize is that you're not eligible if your car isn't drivable. So your old gas guzzler that still drives? Good for the program. My wheel-less wonder? Not so much.

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Raipur is a fast developing capital of Chhattisgarh State Besides the growing commercial and industrial centers in Raipur, wildlife sanctuaries lie on a standstill It is because of the city’s contribution and conservation of their predominant species...