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ECUADOR
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Travel on the edge
Reach new heights of luxury in Ecuador.
Alausi Ecuador
With the help of a $350 million upgrade, the 54 passenger Tren Crucero, built in the late 1800s, has been restored to its previous glory, including its steam engine and four luxury carriages.
The four day trip covers nearly 480 kilometres between Guayaquil, near the Pacific coast and Quito. You’ll overnight in hacienda
style hotels, visit village markets and wind through river carved valleys before reaching the Chimborazo volcano, Ecuador’s highest mountain, at over 3,650 metres. But the journey’s real highlight is the spectacular pass in the Alausi Mountains called Devil’s Nose. With its 535 metre decent the train sometimes travels reverse in order to navigate hair raising switchbacks. From $1600 per person including three meals daily. www.trenecuador.com. - TERRY WARD
AUSTRALIA
Gold Coast gets a Chinatown
Currently under construction, the $6.8 million Chinatown precinct is an integral part of
the revitalisation of Southport as an international CBD for the Gold Coast. Chinatown is being developed in
partnership with the community, private sector and government. It will offer an authentic Asian experience and create a
unique destination on the
light rail corridor in the heart
of Southport. The precinct is
already encouraging Chinese and
Asian investment, reinforcing the
city as a place to live, do business
and be entertained. Chinatown will
be a destination for the Gold Coast to celebrate its diversity through culture,
people and food and will be an exciting mix
of restaurants, festivals and boutique shopping. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au
ENDLESS VACATION 3