Bells are ringing for Christmas time. It's time to spread joy and bring smiles to faces ! Christmas is celebrated in most countries in the world. Whether people believe in Santa Claus or not, they continue their traditional Christmas celebration. Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that marks the traditional birthdate of Jesus of Nazareth. Both children and adults enjoy sending post cards, singing songs, dancing around the Christmas trees and giving each other presents. They all wait for the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. He is the world`s best traveller and most popular person!

Santa Claus is real, and he is the best traveller in the world! Do you want to know where he is? Based on historical data and more than 50 years of NORAD tracking information, it proves that Santa is alive. NORAD is the bi-national U.S.-Canadian military organization responsible for the aerospace defence of the United States and Canada. Now people around the world can follow Santa`s movements in Christmas. Find out more about it and be convinced!

The Norwegians are still waiting for the snow to fall, especially in Oslo, but anyway the Christmas celebration has started. And of course the Santa Claus has already started to hand out presents. Both in Drøbak and Savalen in Norway, it`s said that the real Santa Claus live. Julenissen, as it`s called in Norway, has achieved international celebrity status. From his home in Drøbak, an idyllic maritime town 30 minutes south of Oslo, he receives visitors from all over the world. Julenissen serves as a symbol of modern Norwegian cultural values, and perhaps this is why he makes such a splendid ambassador for Norway throughout the world.

Nothing changes a country like a war. That which is history books for many nations, is a yesterday’s memory for this one. I realised that all of the things that struck me as unusual about El Salvador have to do with those 12 years.

Out of the way, with nothing extraordinary for the camera, and with a marred reputation, El Salvador remains one of the least travelled Latin American destinations. A perfect place to go off the beaten track?

This story continues from Part 1. We were very curious about the mysterious Geisha culture in Japan. One evening we took our way into The Gion geiko district (hanamachi) in Kyoto to find out more about the unique Geisha culture......

I and my friend were curious about the Geisha culture. It’s bounded with so many myths. We wondered whether there were possible to meet some of them. The word Geisha means "artist" in Japanese. The Geisha culture is associated with prostitution by people who don’t know so much about the culture, but it’s far more sophisticated that that.

Nobody celebrates like the Brazilians, especially not during the carnival in Rio. This big event takes place next year (2007) non-stop from 25 to 28 February. It’s a marathon party with enormous vibrations where the participants don’t sleep during the carnival. The highlight is the Sambodromo parade. Other highlights are the street processions and masquerade balls.

I am glad that the Peruan have preserved so well their weaving and textile traditions. I noticed the weavers’ great pride and strong passion for their craft. It was done by their heart. Of course they wanted to make business out of it, but it was something deeper than that. Their weacing and handycraft is vital in their society, and has its origon from family traditions and cultural heritage. The weavers in Peru use strong colours, but their expressions are even stronger!

For many travellers from around the world, the trolls in Norway capital main street Karl Johan`s gate, draw a lot of attention. I guess many wonder: what are the amazing creatures doing here? Are they guarding the Norwegians, or are they trying to scare away foreign visitors? By looking at their great smile, it`s more likely that the trolls are greeting nice visitors. But just to let you know: a troll is a fearsome member of a mythical anthropomorphic race from Norwegian folklore.

In Finland it isn't a better way to solve problems and conflicts than in a hot sauna. The Finnish European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's recently suggested that Turkey and Greek should be brought together for peace talk in a sauna. It's also a place where people do business and make friendship. As the Indians in northern America smoke peace pipe, the Finns make peace in saunas. It's their way of life.

Wether is summer or winter, the Finns like it hot. Sauna is thought to be beneficial physically for many reasons, such as increased blood circulation, flushing of impurities by sweating, raised pulse and metabolic rate. But it is also considered to have a number of emotional benefits as well, partly because of its ritual social aspect, especially when it comes to nudity. Most political issues are also solved in sauna. For the Finns the sauna is the most important place to meet and discuss things that`s really matters.

The dark sky turned suddenly into an inferno of twinkling lights in all colours and shapes. It sounded like thunder and lightning. The spectacular show decorated the dark sky to the fullest. The Maltese Fireworks Festival was held at the Grand Harbour in the capital Valletta on the 29th and 30th of April 2006. This event was a show-case and a prelude to what will occur in the coming months when the villages and towns of Malta and Gozo celebrate the feast of their patron saints.

Norwegians keep their tradition alive by celebrating Easter in the mountainsides. One of the best places for this occassion is definitely Kvamsfjellet near Vinstra in Gudbrandsdalen. By experience this region you can understand why Norway remains a wilderness outpost. Here around in amidst dark forests, moonlit mountain lakes, and mighty snow capped mountains, you will find the trolls. These amazing creatures were covered in the world famous Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen`s novel Peer Gynt. Take a thoroughly look and you will hopefully see against all logical belief, one of those mystical trolls.

In addition to admiring great temples as Angkor Wat, Bayon, Pre Khan, and Ta Prohmin at the Angkor site, I took a boat trip to the Vietnamese Floating Village near the town Siam Reap. I started from Phnom Kron where the boat docks, and floated out in Tonlé Sap Lake, a large lake about 100 kilometres long. It was amazing experience the pulsating life in this floating village, which is another wonder in Cambodia.