Akbuk is Perfect for Anyone Looking for Peace and Quiet

Akbuk is one of the most perfect holiday locations for anyone looking for a little peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings. The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking as the resort is set against a beautiful mountain backdrop and is surrounded by pine forests. The blue waters of the Aegean are beautifully clear, and the environment is renowned for being extremely healthy due to its low humidity and high oxygen levels.

Although it is a peaceful little resort, it still has all the amenities to offer holiday makers a trouble-free and enjoyable break. There is a good selection of local shops selling everything you need for day-to-day living, as well as a weekly market which is held every Friday, and which is great for purchasing super fresh and super cheap fruit and vegetables.

If you feel the need to visit larger shops then the resort of Altinkum is just 15 minutes’ drive up the road. Akbuk enjoys around 300 sunny days a year, and although temperatures can reach into the 40s during the summer months there is almost always a cooling breeze from the surrounding mountains.

Although it might be tempting to spend your whole time relaxing on one of the lovely beaches, it would be a shame not to explore the surrounding area as it is pretty interesting. There are numerous historical sites nearby including the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, Ephesus and The House of the Virgin Mary.

There are also lots of boat tours available from the harbour during the summer months so you will never be bored. In fact many people choose to return year after year, or even buy property here because they love it so much.

Why visit Altinkum?

There are such a huge number of resorts in Turkey to choose from, so why pick Altinkum? In fact there are many valid reasons for picking this resort. Firstly it is set in one of the most beautiful parts of the world but is conveniently close to Bodrum and Izmir international airports both of which have numerous budget priced flights from the UK.

The weather in Altinkum is extremely pleasant and it’s renowned for its high oxygen content making it perfect for anyone with asthma or other respiratory disorders. If you translate its name then you'll find it actually means Golden Sand which is a clue to the superb beaches here.

The resort has three main beaches and they are perfect for families and children as the beach gently shelves into the water. The beaches are also ideal for anyone who just wants to relax and take it easy, and there are always plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas available to rent for a reasonable price.

If you are easily bored by lying on a beach all day, then you'll also find a great selection of watersports which include banana boat rides, jet skis, windsurfing and the more sedate pedalos. It's one of those places where you can choose to do a lot or very little, so it's ideal for families or groups where everyone is looking for something different. There are plenty of bars and lively restaurants, but at the same time it's easy to find quieter spots where you can simply get away from it all and recharge your batteries.

Attractions on the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is a luxury upmarket destination which is renowned for its beautiful beaches and good year-round weather. It's fair to say many of the attractions on the islands are beach centred, but there are also a good choice of activities for those times when you feel like seeing a little more of the scenery.

One of the best-known beaches is Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman which is frequently named as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean. There are numerous beach bars and restaurants located here, and you'll find most of the resort hotels on the island are situated on this beach.

Perhaps the best-known attraction on Grand Cayman is Stingray City which is renowned for being one of the top places in the world for shallow dives and snorkelling. If you visit the spot then you'll have the chance to hand feed these amazing creatures as they are incredibly tame.

If you are looking for some of the best snorkelling and diving in the Caribbean then Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman is one of the best sites around. Cayman Brac also has some great dive sites and the opportunity to visit wrecks. It's also the least visited of the Cayman Islands, but has the most dramatic scenery and is great for anyone who likes walking, bird watching and of course diving.

Back on dry land another very popular attraction is Queen Elizabeth the second Botanic Park which is on Grand Cayman and displays the islands native flora and fauna and includes a lake area which is a natural habitat for the Cayman Blue Iguana.

Millennium Challenge Corporation Signs Five-Year, $66.2 Million Aid Agreement with Cape Verde

The Millennium Challenge Corporation has just signed a five-year agreement with Cape Verde which is worth $66.2 million. The money will be used to help reform the nation's sanitation, water and land management sectors, and will also be used to aid economic growth.

Some $41.1 million of the money will be used to help Cape Verde’s national regulatory institutions to become more financially sound and transparent. In addition money will be used to help utilities become commercial organisations and will improve the reach of sanitation and water services to households and businesses.

One of the problems faced by Cape Verde is the scarcity of water, and this latest project is expected to benefit around 278,000 people.

Another $17.3 million of the agreement is to be used to help improve the investment climate in the country for small investors. This will be achieved through strengthening the protection of land rights, decreasing land registration time and costs and refining the legal and institutional environment to make the process more transparent.

This isn't the first Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement, as the first $100 million agreement was signed in 2005 and completed in October 2010, and was extremely successful. The aim of that agreement was to help transform the economy into one led by private sector growth, and it focused on improving infrastructure so citizens had better access to jobs, social services and ports and airports.

The agreement also saw substantial improvements in Cape Verde’s agricultural sector, as well as reforms in its financial sector. There is no reason to think this latest agreement will not be just as successful.