Summer Maternity Swimwear and Swimsuits by Amy Jarman

Just because you are pregnant, does not mean you have to shy away from the beach or pool. It also does not mean you have to hide behind big tee shirts as you watch your family in the water. Today there are many flattering and sexy maternity swimwear styles on the market that can perfectly compliment your evolving shape as you step out on the beach or in the pool. Here are some recommendations based upon your body type and personal style choice:

Halter Maternity Swimsuits

Embrace your enhanced cleavage with a well made halter swimsuit in a fun color combination or pattern. The magic of halters is that they can be tied to achieve the perfect fit and accommodate a changing shape. They also give you a pretty and feminine silhouette while flattering both your shoulders and bust and giving you an overall slimming appearance. Prego Maternity has a number of fun and pretty patterns out this summer. A great one is their Aqua Trim Tie Halter in an aqua and chocolate polka dot pattern that pops. This suit comes with contrast chocolate brown bottoms that fit under the belly and match the chocolate trim tie and polka dots in the top. If you prefer a black contrast halter swimsuit, take a look at Prego Maternity's Roxy Dot Tie Halter which is made in a similar style but also with a front black tie and a hip and retro pattern of bold geometric white dot clusters integrated with aqua and yellow against a black backdrop and with black bellow the belly bottoms.

If like the halter style, but find yourself needing more room in the hip and bottom area, then try out the adjustable tie style bottoms with the halter top. The Black Dot Tie Halter and Aqua Dot Tie Halter by Prego are the same style suit in different patterns - The Black Dot pattern is white dots on a black backdrop with tie black bottoms and the Aqua Dot pattern is aqua and chocolate dots on white with tie chocolate bottoms. These styles are very popular with expecting women as the bottoms fit even lower below the belly than the standard halter bottoms and the side tie sashes can be adjusted to fit throughout your whole pregnancy.

Tank Maternity Swimsuits

If you need a bit more bust support or are looking to do some serious lap swimming, many women find they are more comfortable in a supportive tank suit with adjustable straps. The Prego Maternity Ring-Kini offers wide supportive straps with rings accenting a pretty V neck and under the belly bottoms. This suit comes in both a solid aqua top with chocolate bottoms and solid black on both top and bottoms. If you are looking for a fun beachy patterned suit, take a look at the Prego Maternity Mad Hatter Tie Tankini that has both bottom ties and a matching string tie in the top along with tank straps. The Mad Hatter Pattern is a festive floral pattern in both pinkish orange combo on white with orange bottoms and an aqua green combo on white with aqua bottoms.

Strapless Minis Maternity Swimwear

If you looking to totally cover your belly, bottom and hips but want to look sexy at the same time, there is no better style than the mini. The mini allows you to show a little more skin on the top with the strapless design while hiding your middle section and simultaneously complimenting your curves. Prego's minis comes in solid black, brown, olive and mocha as well as patterns. Check out their Black Dot Strapless Mini which is white dots set against a black backdrop on both top and bottoms, the same pattern as the Black Dot Tie Halter. Another fun pattern is the Tiki Strapless Mini with a white Hawaiian Floral pattern on red. This suit is both festive and sexy with taste. If more understated and subtle is your style, the Bali Strapless Mini is a great choice. The Bali pattern is a latte brown on cream with an intricate paisley like design that is super sexy. Most minis come with a removable halter string that can be attached around the neck for a little extra security for lap swimming. All of Prego's suits come with a lightly padded bra for a super flattering look both in and out of the water.

So, go ahead and step out on the pool or beach in a suit that suits your personal style and compliments your shape. Remember don't try to squeeze into a pre-pregnancy suit after your first month or two of pregnancy because you will only be uncomfortable and constricted all over. Go ahead and invest in a well made maternity suit that allows you to enjoy your pregnancy in style and that will last you all summer long.

Island of the Gods, Bali: A Traveler's paradise by Rituraj Mishra

Amazingly beautiful, Bali looks like carved out of a painter's brush-strokes. The mesmerizing culture fused with the sandy beaches and the volcanic mountains gives Bali its unique identity. No doubt that Bali is Indonesia's hottest destination! Travelers from around the world flock to Bali to catch a glimpse of its colorful culture. Encapsulated in enigma, Bali's soul lies deep rooted in religion, which is expressed through Balinese dance forms preserved over centuries. The tradition flows not only through the soul stirring dance forms, but beautiful paintings and even decorative weaving. Bali is a fairly large island spanning 144 kilometers from east to west and 80 kilometers from north to south and so, offers decent sightseeing opportunities. A trip to Kintamani Volcano will give you decent view of the countryside in Bali. On your way to the volcano, you can visit the mysterious 11th century Elephant Caves Temple. Bali is a pocket of Hindu religion in Indonesia, and the city features around 20,000 temples. However, the nine directional temples or Kayangan Jagat are the important ones to be considered. Also, there are some world-class amusement parks and several Hot Water Springs in Bali which you surely won't want to miss. As for beaches, Kuta Beach is the most famous beach in Bali and a favorite among tourists for its beautiful sunsets. Bali has some decent scuba diving hotspots like Amed, Nusa Dua, and Tulamben which provide a close peek at the beautiful soft coral reefs and marine creatures. Bali is also known as surfer's paradise due to the exotic surfing beaches it has. Bali is also fast gaining reputation as a sought after golfing destination due to its three top class 18-hole championship golf courses. Still pondering what to do, then there’s paragliding for you to glide over Bali’s spectacular coastline. There is still another kind of adventure which might light up your eyes and that's exploring the island on a bicycle. What's more, it's the easiest! Cycle dealers are easy to find and you can opt either to buy or take one on rent. If cycling around the picturesque island tires you down, it's about time for some relaxation! Bali has some amazing spas which offer the traditional Balinese massage which is usually done with oil which is not without some immense health benefits. Recreation habitually follows relaxation and what more can be more beautiful than the Balinese dance forms, barong or “lion dance” and the spectacular “monkey dance” known as Kekak. It’s sure to put you in a kind of trance. Searching for hotels in Bali is the easiest part. Bali caters to all types of visitors on varying budgets. Traditional, as Bali is, it offers you a host of choices as far as hotels and resorts are concerned and you'll find all the modern facilities to ensure a luxurious stay. There are also fabulous resorts in Bali which are nothing less than amazing and you might like to consider from the luxury resorts in Newport and Rhodes Island. The best way to explore Bali is rental cars and that way, it takes around 3 days to cover most of the tourist destinations. Metered taxis and bemos (mini vans) are the other ways to move around Bali.

Beautiful Bali by Kristina

Beautiful Bali

Once celebrated as an island paradise edged with beaches and known for its vibrant culture, Bali's reputation was damaged by the 2002 and 2005 bombings in which many Western tourists lost their lives. Bali is still officially a danger area but this shouldn't deter you from visiting what is still a fantastic island. Indonesia's only Hindu state, Bali has long been a favourite for holidaymakers from around the world thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and friendly locals.

Most people start their Bali experience in Kuta, the island's main resort. Kuta's streets are packed with shops, restaurants and tourists - you'll either love it or you'll hate it. Nearby Legian is slightly calmer and more upmarket, while the suburb of Oberoi is home to a swathe of popular eateries and bars. Kuta beach is frequented by surfers and can get busy in high season. If you decide to stay in Kuta there are plenty of guest houses, hotels and hostels. Jimbaran Beach a little way down the coast is renowned for its beachfront seafood restaurants where you can enjoy freshly caught snapper and squid as the sun sets.

Bali's capital city Denpasar is unremarkable and not particularly lovely. The town of Ubud about an hour inland from Kuta is a better choice. Best known for its arts and crafts, Ubud is a great place to escape from the bustle of the more touristy coast. Visit the Neka Gallery or Agung Rai Gallery to experience Balinese art at its best, then take in a traditional dance show in the evening. The Ubud monkey forest is great fun. Buy a bunch of bananas to feed the macaques, but make sure you don't look them in the eye - cute as they may look, they can turn nasty if confronted! From Ubud you can hire bikes to trek through the paddy fields outside the town.

Indonesia's volcanic geography is most evident in the central north of Bali, where Mount Agung (the mother mountain) and Batur rise up from the jungle. If you don't mind an early start and a brisk hike, get up before dawn to climb Batur. The view from the summit at sunrise is stunning - you can even see over to Mount Rinjani on the neighbouring island of Lombok. More adventurous walkers can trek around the crater of the volcano. The climb is relatively easy but its best to hire a local guide who will take you up for a small fee.

The western side of the island is home to the Bali Barat National Park which has over 200 species of birds and plants. The small resort of Lovina is a great base for exploring this part of Bali. Deer Island has great scuba diving and snorkelling.

Balinese food is best enjoyed in one of the many 'warungs' - small local restaurants which serve traditional fare like nasi goreng, a rice and meat dish. Try the national brew batavia arrack, a milky liqueur made from sugar cane - definitely an acquired taste.

There are no direct cheap flights to Bali from the UK, but check out FlightComparison.co.uk for connecting flights to Singapore.

Exploring Bali Island by KilasBerita.com

Bali is part of Indonesia country and is subject to Indonesian Laws. Bali is the island that located in 8 to 9 degress south of equator between Java Island in the West and Lombok Island in the East. From Java Island, Bali can be reached less than 30 minutes or only two kilometers. Flying time from Jakarta is about 1.5 hours, from Singapore is about 2.5 hours and from Australia is about 3 hours. Bali is the island that recognized as beautiful place, call with name The Gods Island. There are lush tropical forests, pristine crater lakes, fast flowing rivers and deep ravines, picturesque rice terraces, and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens. The beaches in the South consist of white sand, beaches in other parts of the island are covered with gray or black volcanic sand.

As island that located in tropical area, Bali given with many various tropical plant. You'll see huge banyan trees in villages and temple grounds, tamarind trees in the North, clove trees in the highlands, acacia trees, flame trees, and mangroves in the South. For flowers, you can find them in many location with many variety. You'll find jasmine, orchid, water lili and many frangipanies. You must knowing that frangipanies is the popular flower in Bali. They used as decoratins in temples and statues. Frangipanies are also used during prayers, for dancer crown decorations and even put in the ear. For wildlife, elephants and tigers don't exist anymore, they extincted since early this century. But there are so many activities in wildlife area. Bali have various species of monkeys, civets, deers and more than 300 species of birds.

Bali is place that combined the friendly people, uniqe culture, the natural attractions, the large variety of local lifestyle and more. Bali has a special characters of religi with mystic and magics. You can explore the cultural heritage start from the visible thing, there are over 20,000 temples and palaces with many colorful festifals and ceremonies. You can enjoyed the local drama, music and dance. You can find one of the uniqe ritual dance that call Kecak Dance. Kecak Dance is very impressive with its circular chorus of sometimes over 100 bare chested male singer. And for another attraction you will see Fire Dance, Ramayana Dance, Legong Dance and many more.

In Bali you can do more great activities. You can do the water sports like swimming, snorkeling, boat rides, water ski, surfing, and more. You can do all of that activities in Tanjung Benoa, Kuta Beach or Sanur Beach. If you bored with beach and water activities, you can change your destination tours. Now you must try the nature tour. There are Lake Batur in Kintamani village, the high location, is about 5,000 feet above the sea. Another places that you can visit is Besakih Temple that popular name is The "Mother Temple". You can visit to the Bedugul, Sangeh, Ulun Danu, Tana Lot and many more.

For handicraft you can visit the artisan villages of Batubulan for stone carving, Celuk for silver and gold jewelry, Mas with famous wood carving and Pengosekan for painting. You can also visit Art Market Sukowati and bargain for all kinds of handicraft and apparel. For the most art gallery, you can enjoyed Ubud, that growing with numerous art galleries and shop offering paintings, wood carvings, textiles and all kinds of souvenirs. (kilasberita.com)

Restaurants in Bali -- The best places to eat in the most popular Bali destinations by Matt Verbaan

The restaurants in Bali offer culinary treats from all over the world: Balinese, Indonesian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, European…you name it!

To make it a bit easier for you to choose from the many restaurants I have listed my favourite restaurants in the most popular destinations in Bali: Kuta, Sanur, Ubud and Lovina.

Kuta -- Tekor Bali Beachside Restaurant and Café Well actually this restaurant is not officially located in Kuta, but if you are staying there it is really close by. The Tekor Bali Restaurant is located in Legian, at Double Six with view over the beach and the terrific ocean.

We have become regulars of this seafood restaurant because the chef is able to create all kinds of dishes with the fresh fish that is caught that very same day. When glancing through the menu you can see that they have taken different influences from all around the world and combined it into one tasty dish. It is delicious…

For non-seafood lovers there is a lot to choose from as well: from Italian to a good juicy steak. So everybody is able to enjoy the ocean breeze while having a high quality meal for a really reasonable price.

Sanur -- Piccadilly Circus Don’t be taken back by its name, like we were the first time we saw it. I still don’t know why the owner named it after the famous square in London but either way…the food is definitely worth many return visits.

The restaurant serves all kinds of food, from Balinese or grilled seafood to delicious Italian pasta and pizza with home made sauce. The seafood spaghetti is one of the best, just as their seafood kebab. The dishes are beautifully displayed on the plates and the portions are more than average. So expect to have a full stomach when you leave…

Besides food they serve a large selection of cocktails at the open air bar and on most nights there is live music. Definitely a great place to spend more time there after a delicious dinner.

Ubud -- Café Wayan It’s hard to choose which one our favourite restaurant is in Ubud, because there are just too many. So therefore I recommend the restaurant that not only has good food but a great setting as well. Café Wayan is located on the busy Monkey Forest Road, but once you enter you will find yourself in the middle of a beautiful garden.

Throughout the garden there are places to sit. Some areas are perfect for large groups, while others are more secluded and romantic with pillows to sit on.

Their menu offers a wide range of food from all over the world, so whatever you feel like they will probably serve it. The café is also popular for their cakes such as the thick and smooth carrot cake or the death by chocolate. Well the last one doesn’t need a lot of explaining, right?

Lovina -- Warung Bintang Bali This is one of those restaurants where there are always people eating, while in other restaurants it’s still quite. Not surprisingly, considering their large menu with delicious Balinese, Western and seafood dishes. The location is also one of the best as you can eat while admiring the gorgeous sunsets of Lovina.

Be prepared to have a hard time choosing from the menu, because all the dishes sound so good. I highly recommend the nasi campur which is rice served with all kinds of dishes on the side. Here they serve it with grilled tuna, vegetable curry and sate.

Go to the Bintang Bali restaurant with an empty stomach because the dishes are huge and you will probably not be able to stop until the plate is empty…it’s that good!

The natural beauty of Bali's only national park by Matt Verbaan

National Park West-Bali (Taman Nasional Bali Barat) was founded in 1941 to preserve the rare white Balinese starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) and other indigenous species.

Unfortunately the Balinese tiger has been extinct since the 1930's so for this species the founding of the park came too late.

The park covers 190 sq km of the western tip of Bali and includes 50 sq km of the marine park in the north-west. If you're lucky you might see black monkeys, macaques, squirrels, iguanas, green snakes (some venomous), leaf monkeys, sambar, wild pigs, mouse, pythons and buffaloes in primary forest.

In the marine park you can find mangroves with several fish species and coral reefs in front of the peninsula Prapat Agung and the island Menjangan. Moreover there's a bird reserve on the islands in the bay of Gilimanuk.

It is forbidden to fish or to take away coral near the park's coastline.

The goal of the National Park is the sustainable use of the park. The National Park keeps a close eye on the farmers from the surrounding villages who would like to log one of the many trees in the park.

Other areas around the park such as coconut and eucalyptus plantations were enclosed in the new boundaries of the park in 1984 and these are new developed to become primary forest again.

The long term approach of the park is eco-tourism with emphasis on individual travellers instead of bus loads with tourists. This will increase your change of seeing real wildlife instead of making it a walk in the park.

The park's headquarters are located in Cekik, near Gilimanuk. Here but also in Labuhan Lalang you can get permits for the park. When you pick up your permits the park will also appoint you a guide who will take you on your hikes through the park.

When you feel like sleeping over in the park you have to bring your own sleeping bag, mosquito net, water and food. Don't forget to bring some good hiking shoes and water-proof jackets. Cooking is in the open air on a camp fire.

There are simple cottages around the park where you can spend the night.

Hiking in the national park is really something for nature lovers and for those who love to dive or snorkel Menjangan island is the place to be. In Labuhan Lalang you can find one of the park's post from where you can rent boats to deer island.

The island of Menjangan is home to the Javanese deer but also the white Balinese starling. It is said that only a hundred white Balinese starling still exist in the wild. The rangers do not encourage you to take hikes throughout the park since there are many species of venomous snakes.

When you feel like diving around the island bring your own gear and oxygen bottles. There are several dive operators in Sanur, Kuta, Lovina and Amed that organize diving trips to this beautiful island and its amazing underwater world.

Popular Tropical Vacation Spots in the World by Tong Lin

There's nothing like lying on a sandy beach under a bright blue sky when you look for an exotic location for a vacation. This is why most people choose to visit the Tropics, where they can experience the sun, warmth and culture for two or three weeks a year. The Caribbean is not the only place in the world where you can find tropical islands, as there are tropical vacation spots all over the world.

Bali Island is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Indonesia. It is also one of the top ten destinations in Asia. Here you will find some of the best resorts in the world with great value for the money that you spend. You can choose to stay in an oceanfront villa where you are only steps away from the beach. If you want to spend time alone, you also have the option of staying in a secluded resort.

Hainan Island, in China, has often been called Asia's Hawaii. Here you have white sandy beaches and year round tropical weather, which ranges from 16º to 30º. The tourist season runs from October to March. The international airport on this island has daily flight to all the major airports in the country, so there is no problem with being able to book a holiday in one of the resorts here.

Hawaii is another preferred destination for vacationers. The surf, sand and sun all add up to a holiday that you will remember for a lifetime. The scenery is awesome and the sunsets just take your breath away. The islands were the birthplace of surfing and when you visit you can engage in the sport or be a spectator from the beach. Explore hidden coves, swim with the dolphins or climb to the summit of a volcano.

Some of the best island vacation locations are in the Caribbean. All of the islands are geared up for tourists with accommodations to suit all budgets. Each island is different and offers a unique experience for visitors. These islands were once colonies of European countries and therefore you get the feeling that you are touring Europe when you visit because of the flavors that remain from these earlier times.

Whichever of the tropical islands in the world you wish to visit, you can easily make all your reservations online. The all-inclusive packages provide you with everything you need in comfort because you have your accommodations, meals and drinks included in the price you pay. You do have it all paid in advance, as well, which means you only have to bring your spending money with you.

The resorts in the tropical islands are almost like self-contained communities where there are facilities for all kinds of activities - swimming, tennis, golf - and of course there is a spa and fitness facilities. You can also arrange to take in some sightseeing of the area you visit and it is possible that the resort may even be able to arrange this for you.