The state of Alabama is located in the southern region of the United States of America. It shares its borders with Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. The capital of Alabama is Montgomery and is well known from films and songs by the name of Sweet Home Alabama.

Alabama is the 22nd state in the USA with around 3% of the state’s total area as water. About 60% of the land is made up of plains directing towards the world famous Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Alabama currently ranks 23^rd state for population. The State homes five Native American tribes the Creek, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw and Seminole. Their cultures and traditions are still being preached even to this day.

It was within Alabama that The Civil Rights Movement started over 50 years ago by Rosa Parks, who sadly passed away late 2005. The Movement, led by the renowned Reverend Martin Luther King, Junior, confronted and caused the downfall of all segregation laws that deprived Afro-Americans the same rights as any other fellow countrymen. Today, the United States is a nation that treats all human beings as equal, with the first appointment of a black President.

The State has numerous places of tourist interest. These comprise of the Rosa Parks Museum, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church (the place where Martin Luther King Junior, preached the famous ‘I have a dream’ speech), and The Civil Rights Memorial.

Alabama has produced several world known people. A few of them are singer Hank Williams, actor Dean Jones, author Nellee Harper Lee, comedian Paula Poundstone, world famous musician Nat “King” Cole, singer Lionel Ritchie, pop group The Commodores, boxer Joe Louis and athlete Jesse Owens.

Alabama is a modern state with a vibrant economy based largely on retail and wholesale trade, real estate, services, insurance, construction, transportation and electrical equipment. Its agricultural productivity consists of poultry, cattle, cotton, forest products, eggs, nursery stock, soybeans and peanuts.

Alabama is a heaven on earth with its diverse wildlife that includes Eastern wild turkey, white-tailed deer and several other species that are distinctive to the region. Its landscape is stunning, with the scenic Appalachian Mountains in the North and white sanded beaches that lie near Gulf Coast.

With a number of shopping malls, Alabama offers unbelievable opportunities for shopping. There are amazing outdoor activity facilities that include hunting expeditions, biking trails and some of the world’s best known golf courses.

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center holds one of the Apollo spacecraft as well as a 363-foot Saturn V Rocket that takes you back to the pioneering works that happened during the 1950s, which ultimately put man on the moon in 1969.

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery is a literary satisfaction. It hosts a colorful range of classical and contemporary theatrical performances all year round. It is the 6th largest Shakespeare Theater and attracts more than 200,000 visitors every year.

Hong Kong is one of the biggest cities and brings a lot of tourists from around the world to see its cultural grounds. According to the Hong Kong Government, the number of tourists that took a vacation in Hong Kong in 2005 reached over 10.5 million. Countries such as Australia, Canada, French, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korean, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States, all contribute for the tourist growth for Hong Kong every year. Here are some great tips for you if you decide to visit the great city Hong Kong.

1. Identity and Safety

Tourists must carry valid passport during their stay in Hong Kong. Hong Kong had a very low crime rate, but due to the large population it is suggested not to take a large sum of cash around with you, most shops accepts credit cards. Expensive belongs should be put away in safes at your accommodation. There are plenty of policemen on the streets incase you encountered any problems.

2. Telephone Service

All local telephone calls are free except from the public telephones which charges HK$1 per 5 minutes. Hong Kong’s emergency number is 999 and it is free to call even in public telephone.

3. Drinking Water

The drinking water in Hong Kong reaches World Health Organization standard. However, it may not be to what you are used to and could pick up an illness from it, we would recommend that you buy drinking water from the local supermarket.

4. Taxi

All taxis only take cash but they can print an invoice out if you require one. It is easier to catch the taxi in the taxi stop or outside the hotel. Many of the taxi drivers can understand basic English. The charging table is clearly shown on the inner side of the doors so you can check it before you pay.

5. Tram

The tram service started in 1904 and is the oldest transportation system in Hong Kong. It is the only service that runs from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan plus another route to Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island. The tram runs from 6:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and is the cheapest transportation in Hong Kong.

6. Star Ferry

The scenic harbor of Hong Kong is world famous, especially at night. There is a spectacular light show every night that you have to see, it starts at 8:00 p.m. and is by the commercial buildings. The Star Ferry has been serving people in Hong Kong harbor for more than 100 years, and at a cost of around HK$3 per ride you can see why, you can take the ferry from central to Tsim Sha Tsui at 8:00 p.m. and enjoy the light show from there.

7. Hong Kong Airport

The most convenient route to the Hong Kong International Airport is by using the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) which takes about 23 minutes from Central. It passes through the stations of Kowloon, Olympic, Tsing Yi, and is every ten minutes. Other than the MTR, you can take the Airport Bus which starts from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. it covers most parts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from major hotels.