Orchids have the reputation of being hard to grow in the West. Gardeners shy away from trying to grow them because they think that they are a problem to grow and because they are expensive. This is easily understood, but there is more to the story than that. The fact is that most countries have their own native orchid species, so it is not that difficult to grow orchids wherever you live, if you select the right variety.

The other side of the coin is that what most people in the West think of as orchids are orchids from exotic countries and they can be difficult to grow. I say a problem to grow, but that is not the whole story either. If you can make an environment similar to where the orchids come from, it need not be a problem at all.

A lot of the spectacular orchids are parasites, like mistletoe is a parasite plant in the temperate countries of the West. These orchids frequently grow on trees. In trees and on trees, that is. So, their natural environment is to become attached to the bark of a living tree or to become lodged in the fork of a branch.

The orchid will then draw its nutrients and water from the inside of its host much in the same way as does a flea or a bed bug. Another thing to be aware of is that if a plant lives under the canopy of a tree, it seldom, if ever, experiences direct sunlight. Wooded areas are also fairly humid. It is also worth mentioning that exotic plants usually come from warm or hot countries.

Therefore, if you can recreate these conditions of providing warmth, humidity and a host, growing exotic orchids should not become that much of a problem. And in truth, it is not, although in the West it might require a greenhouse.

Thailand is home to numerous parasitic orchids, most of which grow on trees in the forests, which are warm to hot and humid, but most people do not live in those conditions. Most Thais live in either open villages or cities where conditions are not favorable to growing jungle orchid species. However, most Thai gardeners do not need or even have greenhouses.

Instead, if a Thai gardener is interested in growing jungle orchid species, he or she will buy (or acquire) the root complex of a dead tree which also has a tree stump of, say, a metre attached. They will then move this tree stump in to a very shady place, say, under a shelter and grow their wild jungle orchids on that.

How is that done?, you may ask. Well, it is actually simplicity itself. First you get hold of a sample of the orchid and then you attach it to the stump with a ‘strap’ of something that will both allow the orchid to grow and to breathe. Most Thais use some of the fibres from inside a coconut.

The gardener will strap the baby orchid to the stump using the coconut matting as a band-aid with either staples or small nails. By the time the orchid has sunken its roots into the host, the matting will have rotted away, as will probably the staples.

The only thing left to do is to keep the tree and the baby flower well watered so that it can suck the remaining nutrients out of the dead tree. They will thrive for numerous years under these conditions and the tree stump will be a living flower pot, of sorts.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on numerous subjects, but is now involved with Loy Krathong. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Package Holidays to Thailand.

Vacation packages to Dominican Republic offer more choices than the usual sun n’ sand island holiday in the Caribbean. From spectacular coral reefs and beach resorts on two coasts to the languid old world charm of Santo Domingo and the jungles, mountains and national parks in between, the DR offers a whole array of dazzling destinations. But this also means that vacations here need a lot of careful planning.

There’s a lot to do and see on the half of Hispaniola that DR occupies with its wealth of attractions and destinations. It needs more than a week, and definitely more than a weekend to see it all. The standard practice is to choose one destination and explore all the nearby places and attractions.

For Western tourists and leisure seekers from across the Atlantic, the three main holiday destinations are Puerto Plata, Samana and Punta Cana. Each one offers a beautiful beach holiday, along with some unique attractions. For instance, the coast off the island’s eastern tip near Punta Cana and Bavaro has some great dive spots and shallow waters for scuba divers who want to explore the coral reef.

It also has 12 superb golf courses, many of them championship courses designed by legends like Jack Nicklaus and Nick Price. A package deal here would likely include access to at least one of the golf courses, if not a full-fledged golf vacation. It would also include scuba diving in the coral reef, for those interested.

Many of the resorts in Punta Cana are all inclusive. This means everything from restaurants offering different cuisines to spas and health clubs, swimming pools, beach access, golf, tennis and water sports. Not to mention luxurious ocean view suites and villas with well stocked mini-bars.

All that’s left to add to the package are air tickets and airport transfers. That said, visitors still end up spending money on shopping or the casinos and nightclubs. Another option would be to move a bit further up north, to the paradise on earth that is Samana.

There are hundreds of beaches fronting crystal clear turquoise waters, a beautiful bay and a coast famed for its humpback whales. Not to mention lush tropical forests, waterfalls, coral reef and national parks. All said and done, a very good way to get back in touch with nature, so a package deal in Samana would have to be a resort getaway for nature lovers.

Moving even further up the coast will take visitors to Puerto Plata. The airport is very convenient and the town itself is located close to others like Cabarete, so it’s possible to go around and see quite a lot of destinations. Puerto Plata also has some very nice and long stretches of beaches, so a package deal here would be a conventional beach holiday with some sight-seeing tours thrown in.

These are just a sampling of the possible Last minute vacations to Dominican Republic. There’s a lot more, including Santo Domingo cultural trips, an Isla Saona getaway with its mangrove lined lagoons, or a Pico Duarte mountain climbing expedition. It’s hard to just pick one and forget the rest, but… Maybe the tips provided here will help in choosing a destination based on the visitor’s likes and dislikes.

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If you are looking for a party, consider Oktoberfest. It is the biggest fair anywhere. That is, the one in Munich is. There are many Oktoberfests in many locations, but the Munich one is the biggest and many would say the best. Here’s some background on its history and what you can find there.

The first Oktoberfest was held on October 12, 1810 to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. It was much simpler than the fair as it is today. The main event was a horse race. It was so successful that they decided to do it again the next year, and so on.

Shortly after the tradition was established, the fair was expanded to include an agricultural show. Other events including parades and carnivals were added over time. There were only a few years when the fair didn’t happen. This was mainly due to wars, though there were several cholera epidemics that also stopped it.

Many people associate Oktoberfest with beer. This is a valid association. Special beer with a higher than normal alcohol content is brewed for the festival. Though there are some who will use the occasion as an opportunity to get drunk, for most the beer is just one part of a rich, complex experience.

The numerous beer tents are perhaps the most important attraction. They are very large, and they sell a lot of beer, but there is more to it than that. Each tent has food for sale, and they all specialize in different dishes, though it is true that there is a lot of sausage sold. The beer tents are free to enter, as is the fair. They are a great place to meet people and hang out.

Live music is a key part of the beer tent experience. One will hear a lot of old school Bavarian tunes, but rock bands are becoming more popular. Smoking in the tents is being discouraged and will soon be banned. There are noise limits during the day to try to make things more family friendly, but the party really gets going at night.

Traditional Bavarian clothing will be seen everywhere at the fair. The highest concentration is in the parades, but it is also spread around. Bavarian culture is dominant, but there are many visitors from all over Germany and other countries.

Besides the beer tents and the parades, there are many other attractions. A large number of carnival rides are available, as are special exhibitions and other events. The nearby city of Munich also provides many enticements for tourists.

Oktoberfest can be seen as a pilgrimage for people who like beer. Its attraction is particularly strong for Bavarians and almost as much for other Germans. For anyone, it can be the world’s largest party, a chance to eat, drink, and have fun.

Have a sneak peek at our super user’s guide to enjoying Oktoberfest Tours now in our comprehensive review of the exquisite Munich Beer Festival on http://www.paradiseparties.com/oktoberfest.asp