tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33000416295453025882024-03-12T16:22:16.522-07:00Vacation Travelrajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-39350762572652518442009-08-04T05:35:00.000-07:002009-08-04T05:36:21.042-07:00Avoid Capital Gains Taxes Forever<div style="text-align: justify;">You can potentially avoid paying taxes forever by continuing to exchange your properties.<br /><br />When you get down to your final property, just don’t sell it, and it won’t get taxed.<br /><br />Or you can just move into the property and finally sell it as a personal residence to avoid paying taxes on the capital gain.<br /><br />There are several different strategies and combinations that you can use.<br /><br />Planning is very important, and it is always good to have a backup plan just in case you need to sell the property and pay on the capital gain and depreciation recapture, or if you get hit with alternative minimum tax, which is likely.<br /><br />source: http://www.trexglobal.com/property-management/category/real-estate-tax-tips<br /><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-27500484384598718402009-08-03T05:13:00.000-07:002009-08-03T05:15:06.290-07:00Five misconceptions about property taxes<strong class="large"></strong><p><strong class="large"></strong><em>1. You can appeal property taxes.</em> No. You can appeal your assessment, not your taxes. You annually receive your assessment the first week of January and must appeal by January 31.</p> <p><em>2. An appeal will change the market value.</em> The market value may not correlate to the assessed value. BC Assessment typically assesses properties as of the previous July 1. A REALTOR® valuing a home now – 11 months later – may find the market has changed, the home has had an addition or the street has been re-zoned, all of which affect value.</p> <p><em>3. If you just bought a home, the previous owners are liable for taxes.</em> No. When you buy a property you become liable for all outstanding taxes.</p> <p><em>4. New home owners can claim the Home Owner Grant.</em> No. New home owners cannot claim the Home Owner Grant if the seller paid the taxes or if the new home owner claimed a grant on another property.</p> <p><em>5. You haven’t claimed your Home Owner Grant for a few years and you want to claim it all now.</em> You’re out of luck. You can claim the grant amount only for the previous year.</p><p>source: http://chuthisrealestate.blogspot.com/<br /></p><p><br /></p>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-70628263123264808752009-08-01T02:19:00.000-07:002009-08-01T02:21:31.504-07:00A new book shows you how to walk away with cash in foreclosure<div style="text-align: justify;">An unemployed single mom in Georgia stayed in home foreclosing home for more than 18 months. A lady aged 65 year with only social security income saved her home from foreclosure with no need to make any mortgage payment. An angry and frustrated homeowner lost his home and large amount of home equity and destroyed his credit due to his uncontrollable emotions and ignorance.Those are the real stories or examples you can find in a newly released book entitled “How to Save Your Home & Credit, Stay Payment Free & Get Cash Legally from Mortgage Foreclosure”, which is available online at Barnes & Noble, amazon.com, BookaMillion, Biblio, AbeBooks, and several other websites.Millions of American homeowners unfortunately lost their homes that could have been saved due to the lack of understanding the foreclosure laws, borrowers’ rights and available options, based on John Wen, the author and also an investor specialized in real estate foreclosures, tax foreclosures and default mortgage notes.<br /><br />In the book, the author demonstrated 8 options for you to save your home, including loan modifications using Obama Foreclosure Prevention program, other government programs, and reverse mortgage. He also showed you 4 ways to delay or stop foreclosure proceedings to buy you time to save your home or credit, or to stay payment free. He explained 7 ways for you to walk away with cash legally if home foreclosure is inevitable. Unfortunately, majority of homeowners facing foreclosures do not know this. The author wants to help those homeowners through this book.<br /><br />This year, more half millions Americans lost their jobs each month and they will get trouble to make their mortgage payment and will be facing home foreclosures. Even worse, reset of the ARM and option ARM will peak in 2010 and millions of borrowers may have trouble in making the mortgage due the huge increase in their monthly payment caused by the interest reset.<br /><br />”With this book, millions of those homeowners can save their homes, or stay in their homes for months and even more than a year if they do not have any income, or least work away with hundreds or more than thousand dollars if their home are to be foreclosed”. The author said.<br /><br />”In order for homeowners to understand the complicated foreclosure laws and processes, difference ways to save their homes, I have provided step by step guide with examples to take the right actions. I also showed them on how to deal their own emotions to avoid costly mistakes and how to communicate with lenders to pave the road to the success in the foreclosure fighting.” John added.<br /><br />The book is published by Gates Global Publishing LLC. It has 264 pages and 9 Chapters. It also gives you tips on how to write a good hardship letter with examples. A good hardship letter is a must in work with your lender to stop foreclosure.<br /><br />source: http://besthomesellingtips.com/2009/05/18/a-new-book-shows-you-how-to-walk-away-with-cash-in-foreclosure/<br /><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-27231771171568780552009-07-30T23:27:00.001-07:002009-07-30T23:27:44.324-07:00Real Estate and Vacation Rental Internet Marketing Tips for Today’s Economy<div style="text-align: justify;">Many of our top clients in the real estate and vacation rental industries are analyzing and adjusting their internet marketing plans and budgets. In tough economic times, it’s no secret that cuts are expected across the board – and online marketing is no exception.<br /><br />As we focus on aligning marketing budgets with online marketing strategies for 2009, we are tasked to find efficiencies in our marketing plans in order to cut costs and identify the most productive online marketing channels. It’s our job to advise our clients to spend their marketing dollars where they will generate the greatest ROI.<br /><br />While we may be biased, we believe that investing in your digital marketing media should be your highest priority today. Not only is online media more affordable and efficient, it is also very trackable and true ROI for each online marketing campaign can be assessed with just a few clicks with the aid of a comprehensive Google Analytics setup...<br /><br />source: http://www.bluetentmarketing.com/blog/<br /><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-77131681898607515292009-07-30T02:20:00.000-07:002009-07-30T02:21:40.520-07:00Spring Lawn Preparation<div style="text-align: justify;">Now that the wintry weather is gone and the colorful blooms are back, it’s time to think about spring cleaning. But while you’re washing windows, scrubbing walls and dusting corners inside the house, don’t forget about rolling up those sleeves and giving the outside a once-over, too.<br /><br />Spending some time in the backyard as soon as spring rolls around can really pay off. “Winter can leave a lawn in pretty tough shape,” says backyard expert Michael Miller, president of backyard tool manufacturer Hound Dog Products. “But there are lots of little things you can do to help spruce up your backyard when the weather starts to turn warmer. By digging in to cleanup in early spring, you’ll be ahead of the game, and your neighbors will be playing catch-up all year long.”<br /><br />Miller offers seven tips that the professionals use to ensure a successful backyard spring cleanup effort -- and to help your home’s outside sparkle and shine as vibrantly as the inside.<br /><br /><br />source: http://www.homeownernet.com/articles/springlawnprep.html<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-10735916334717817702009-07-29T00:20:00.000-07:002009-07-29T00:21:49.091-07:00The Importance of Tracking Expenses<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="post-author"></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="post-content"> <p><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-10421" src="http://www.queercents.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/examing-money-150x134.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="134" /><br /></p><p>The other day I helped a friend establish a budget. We did what most people do and set up categories that were <strong>meaningful</strong> to him and filled in either known or estimated monthly amounts. Few were known. Most were estimated. The end result gave him a <strong>much clearer view of his financial picture</strong> but I also emphasized to him that budgets are a work-in-progress. Some changes one way or another in his life could considerably affect his bottom line (read amount he can save!).</p> <p>It is the work-in-progress aspect that I believe gets lost if the well-intentioned budgeter does not track <strong><em>actual</em></strong> expenses. I do not expect my friend to track expenses. The whole concept of budgeting is new to him and it would overwhelm his artistic sensibilities to take on this next step too soon. But for the rest of us who already budget conscious, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to track <strong>real</strong> expenses against <strong>projected</strong> (or target) expenses......</p><p>source: http://www.queercents.com/2009/07/28/the-importance-of-tracking-expenses/<br /></p></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-10972383527344664532009-07-21T02:43:00.000-07:002009-07-21T02:45:39.816-07:00Tips for your travel<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">If you plan on documenting your next trip online to share with family, friends, and strangers alike, a recent article — <a href="http://blogher.org/node/8212"><i>How to Make Me Read Your Blog. Or Not.</i></a> — by Pam Mandel of Nerds Eye View might be of interest.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <blockquote><p>“Even though I have absolutely no editorial cred other than my reading habits, I’m going to scribble a brief rundown of what catches my eye and what makes me click away.”</p></blockquote> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Turns out that, editorial cred or not, Pam gives good advice for keeping a compelling <span id="high_2" class="searchterm2">travel</span>ogue:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li>Make it physically readable, for starters. I can’t read pink text on a yellow background, for example. And sometimes, wow, there is so much going on that I can barely find the text. Which leads me to… </li><li>Minimize the design toys, please. Everyone wants a custom blog, but if you don’t really know what you’re doing, you just end up with noise. There are lots of perfectly acceptable templates to use, it’s not a crime to use them, especially if you’re a good writer. I want to read you, not hire you as a designer. </li><li>Reading itineraries is really boring, unless they’re mine. I skip right over blogs that list where the writer went without telling me anything about happened there. These things get hidden in entries - first we went to the Museum, then the park, then we took the subway back to the old part of the city…. Meh. Doesn’t tell me anything. What did you do, see, eat there? </li><li>Turns out I do want to see a picture of you, who knew? I love the surprise of seeing that some big dude in a Hawaiian shirt and a silly hat is wriitng culturally sensitve stories about visiting holy sites. Or some hard core outdoors climber is a woman of a “certain age.” </li><li>Speaking of pictures, bring ‘em. It’s nice when there are thumbnails in the posts, or a single photo up top, and then, after reading, I can go click through to an album. I don’t care for it when people use a linear blog format for photoblogs, however, there are better ways to present photos only. If you’re keeping a photoblog, use a tool that’s designed for it, not one that’s designed for text. </li><li>In general - though not always - I tend to breeze past Live Journal and My Space blogs. Sorry, but mostly, I’m not seeing compelling reading in those implementations, or they’re too noisy to read. </li><li>Negativity can be okay as long as it’s not cultural imperialism. “Oh my god, I ate the most disgusting thing ever!” is all right as long as it’s followed by a description of what the thing was and how it’s a local specialty and you had the nerve to try it. Props to you for being adventurous. Just don’t diss the locals, man. </li><li>Too much introspection? “I was thinking about my friends back home and how they were so not having this experience that was totally changing me and everything is different now…” Click. Next please. I get that travel can equal huge transformation, but I’d so much rather read about how that transformation is being experienced. Is that too woo woo to make sense? Maybe. Maybe you get what I mean. Ditto for irony and ubercoolness. What’s the point in <span class="searchterm2">travel</span>ing if you’re going to be all inside your own head or distant from what’s happening in front of you? </li><li>Gimme the details! I absolutely want to read about how the waiter looked like he was wearing his Grandmother’s wig, that hair could so not have been real, or how the train station smelled of cigarettes and pee and oddly, roses. Good <span class="searchterm2">travel</span> writing doesn’t miss the little things sitting in the corners in the background. </li><li>Take me with you. This is difficult to define and quantify, but good <span class="searchterm2">travel</span> writng makes the reader feel like they’re on the trip too. Put me in the car, on the bus, next to you on the plane. I really want to be there, so take me with you. No, seriously, take me with you. I can be ready to go in, like, 20 minutes. </li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">Thanks Pam!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-51522061781262261062009-07-17T00:30:00.001-07:002009-07-17T00:30:36.594-07:00Marketing for iPhone Applications<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">We’ve recently received several requests for help in marketing iPhone Applications. Because we provide a lot of Search Engine Marketing (SEM) services in a variety of industries, many of the companies that contacted us assumed that the strategies we traditionally employ would work for iPhone apps. Does Apple provide a way to pay to have an app listed or featured more prominently on the iTunes site, similar to Google Adwords? Should I have a website, blog, twitter about it?</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">It’s difficult to give a definitive answer, but here’s what we’re seeing so far. Creating a viral buzz throughout the iPhone community is tough. iPhone users find the most popular apps through iTunes, but also learn of new apps through reviews, forums and blogs through traditional online searches. A search for iPhone apps on Facebook reveals over 500 listings, and who knows what the absolute number is. What seems to be the most efficient is an organic approach that consistently and effectively approaches as many review sites, blogs and social media outlets as is possible, while tracking the activity of your downloads.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-43740694288614241832009-07-15T01:26:00.000-07:002009-07-15T01:27:11.232-07:005 Vital Travel Tips for Seniors<div style="text-align: justify;">Some people consider traveling a pain, some think it’s a pleasure, and some others consider it as their passion. Traveling needn’t be fun just for the youth. If you think you are past the age to enjoy the pleasures of traveling, then you need to rethink your perspective. It just takes a little bit of planning and preparation to make holidaying stress-free and fun-filled. Internet for seniors can be very informative when they head out on a vacation to unknown places. Seniors will find valuable tips online, apart from the ones mentioned below.<br /><br />1.Choose the Right Travel Agent<br /><br />Many travel agencies specialize in organizing trips for seniors. Go and check out what each has to offer in terms of special facilities for seniors. Make sure you communicate everything you need clearly. Experienced travel agents will make sure your travel is smooth.<br /><br />2.Plan Early<br /><br />Reserving airline tickets and hotel rooms should be done with plenty of time to spare to avoid any confusion. This way, your agent can accommodate you in hotels that are specifically equipped to assist seniors.<br /><br />3.Research about your Travel Destination before you head there<br /><br />It’s important to know about the culture and food of the place you are travelling to, along with details on important sightseeing locations. If you’re traveling abroad, it’s imperative to learn about the culture and food, and pick up important phrases of the local language. Computer for seniors helps in gathering travel information through easy internet surfing options.<br /><br />4.Plan for a Group Trip<br /><br />It’s the safest way for seniors to travel. More is not just merrier, but the support system is also stronger. So, rope in as many friends or family as you can.<br /><br />5.Seniors have to be Medically Fit to Travel<br /><br />There should be no planning before your doctor gives you a thumbs-up on your travel plans. Medical and travel insurance is a must, especially if you’re getting out of the country. While you’re traveling, you’ll need to carry ample amount of prescription and emergency medications. Make sure you have your doctor’s name and contact number with you at all times.<br /><br />Make it a point to scan through your tour itinerary and insist on changes if it’s too hectic. Going on sightseeing or adventurous trips all-day and everyday is just not practical. Request your agents to intersperse travel and leisure equally. After all, holidaying is all about chilling out and unwinding.<br /><br />http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/5-vital-travel-tips-for-seniors-733469.html </div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-21065047067175230552009-07-14T00:51:00.000-07:002009-07-14T00:52:23.923-07:00Local Celebrities Share Their Love<div style="text-align: justify;" class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p>Calling all fans of the 50th State. In the special Hawaii coverage in the July issue of<em> Condé Nast Traveler, </em>we asked some of our favorite tastemakers and personalities associated with Hawaii to tell us what they love most about the islands. Read on, than use the comments link to share some of your favorite memories of Hawaii.</p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Josh_Holloway of Lost" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c5a2653ef0115719adc69970b" src="http://concierge.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5a2653ef0115719adc69970b-800wi" style="float: left;" title="Josh_Holloway of Lost" border="0" /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Josh Holloway</span>, the much-loved Sawyer on <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost,</span> shares his Hawaiian secret: "One of the best things you can experience on Oahu is to swim with dolphins in the wild. Dolphin Excursions will take you out into the calm waters of the island's west side, where you'll be able to swim with pods as they play in shallow bays."</p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><img alt="Emilie_De Ravin of Lost" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c5a2653ef0115719adcb0970b" src="http://concierge.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5a2653ef0115719adcb0970b-800wi" style="float: left;" title="Emilie_De Ravin of Lost" border="0" /><br />Emilie De Ravin</span>, Josh's co-star on <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost</span>, says she considers "the Kahala Hotel on Oahu paradise in paradise, an elegant sanctuary that combines the best of nature with the joys of modern life." [808-739-8888; doubles, $475-$716].<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div> <div class="entry-more"> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Carrie Ann Inaba" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c5a2653ef0115719add24970b" src="http://concierge.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5a2653ef0115719add24970b-800wi" style="float: left;" title="Carrie Ann Inaba" border="0" /> Carrie Ann Inaba</span>, the always-sunny judge of <span style="font-style: italic;">Dancing With the Stars</span>, was born and raised in Honolulu. "I have two favorite beaches," she says of Hapuna Beach State Park on the Big Island and Sandy's in Honolulu. "But the most magical place in Hawaii is Molokai's Kalaupapa National Historical Park, where Father Damien cared for quarantined Hawaiians suffering from leprosy. There is a certain something about this whole island, probably due to the incredible amount of love that was shared among those who lived here during such difficult times."</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><img alt="Carlos Santana" class="at-xid-6a00d8341c5a2653ef011570a5b9f5970c" src="http://concierge.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c5a2653ef011570a5b9f5970c-800wi" style="float: left;" title="Carlos Santana" border="0" /> Carlos Santana</span> recommends visiting the town of Paia on Maui. "It's a small gem of a place that embodies the essence of aloha spirit up on the north shore of the island. It feels like it hasn't changed since the sugar plantation days."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For more insight, read our July issue feature where some our favorite celebrities--either born or living on the islands--tell us <span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer;">what they love most</span> what they love most about their home in Hawaii. </div> </div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-58704135106360663032009-07-13T03:04:00.000-07:002009-07-13T03:07:43.707-07:00What's So Special About Ginger?<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />In preparing snacks for soccer camp this morning, I was struck with a thought about one of the components:<br />"Why are Ginger Snaps the only cookies that are 'snaps'?"<br /><br />There are no Oatmeal Snaps or Vanilla Snaps. For that matter, why are some cookies 'wafers' and others are not? Is there a government Cookie Board of Standards that ensures proper application of the wafer designation based on ingredients, weight, density or some other obscure combination of factors?<br /><br />Why does ginger ale, a staple of child home remedies for nausea, sun stroke and general weepiness, get to be the only soda pop available that is an 'ale'? Why not Cola Ale or Black Cherry Ale. And why is Root Beer a 'beer' since there is no brewing or fermentation involved in it's production. If I was feeling old-timey at the supermarket and asked for a bottle of sarsaparilla would the manager call Security?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-76263840226657729452009-07-10T00:27:00.000-07:002009-07-10T00:28:48.840-07:00Secrets of Hawaii - Hawaii Blow Hole Diver<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Aloha to all our Hawaii visitors,<br />Yes, the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon is special, unique and fascinating but wait till you have watched our today's you tube video. It will take your breath away, just like the surfing of Hawaii monster wave video, which we posted recently on 'Hawaii Special Tweets'.<br /><br />Twitter is still a big secret to me with all the possibilities to connect with like-minded bloggers and twitterers. I am on the steady alert for those Hawaii tweets, which our Best Hawaii vacation visitors might love to read or see. Here is one youtube Hawaii tweet which I came across from @Aimforawesome just last week on Twitter. To tell you the least, it is more than aweome. It's about Hawaii blow holes, a secret not many Hawaii visitors know about, unless they visit the special area and location where the blowhole location is.<br /><br />However, this is not 'just' one of the many blow hole videos from the Hawaiian islands. It's about a blow hole diver. Yes, you read right. Blow hole Diver it is! Somebody diving into this narrow blow hole with the strongest ocean current you can imagine. Here is what the guy who posted the blow hole diver video on youtube said with it. This makes it even more mysterious, spectacular and absolutely unique:<br /><br />"I walked up to look over the edge of a blow hole, forty plus feet deep. The ocean comes in and out of it through a keyhole cut into the cliff side. A local guy sees me, walks up and out on a rock ledge-claps his hands twice, makes a prayer, and times his jump with an incoming wave. At first I'm not sure where he's at and then he shows up on the ocean side of the sea cave, swims back in and waits for a surge to catch a rock to climb up and out like a spider man."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The video was taken at the blow hole at South Point of Hawaii Big Island in June 2009. To tell you the truth Keoki and I have never been there in all our many years of living in Hawaii. My online research also showed that each year people even die for their curiosity to see the blow hole action close-by. As ocean surf on a beach is not predictable, the same applies to the blow activity, which can easily blow as high as 30ft at winter surf and get visitors by surprise. We recommend for your safety to view the Hawaiian blow holes from a safe distance or lookout.<br /><br /><br />If our youtube blow hole diver video does not satisfy your fascination with Hawaii blow hole videos, I found 25 video clips of Hawaii blow holes on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island on Ocean Footage like the famous Halona Blowhole on Oahu, Sandy Beach blow hole on Maui, Spouting Horn on Kauai or South Point Blow Hole on the Big Island. BTW, blow holes developed on the volcanic Hawaii islands by lava tubes running into the ocean and at high surf ocean water is forced through the tube and pushing it out to the top with great pressure, sometimes up to thirty feet high. I found an interesting article about Hawaii blow holes on this Hawaii website.<br /><br /><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-48685138603558437732009-07-09T00:29:00.001-07:002009-07-09T00:29:54.856-07:00Back in Capri<div style="text-align: justify;">Back in Capri and it is just as beautiful as I remember. Not changed at all. Actually, not changed much. Some things are still different. Less people in restaurants - economic slowdown has had its say, but not to big extent. La Piazzetta, the main square, is still full of people on Saturday night - elegant couples, even children styled up to the toes. Limoncello glasses, looks, conversations, warm summer wind, Capri night....We are staying with my friend again at hotel Weber Ambassador, close to Marina Piccola beach. Lovely beach hotel with balconies overlooking the sea and the famous Faraglioni rocks..A little mix-up with rooms on our arrival, but luckily it was solved quickly....We arrived on the 4th of July, just in time to admire the incredibly beautiful fireworks over the sea in the honor of American Independence Day. After two flights and countless other means of transport, had hoped to have a little sleep, but don't have any regrets - golden, pink, blue etc lights over the sea were breathtakingly beautiful. Had a good dinner in Capri center at the restaurant called Longano. The food is excellent, especially frutti di mare, seafood..My personal favorite - risotto alla pescatora - was still there and tasted just as good :) It is a simple place with very quick service, one of the lowest prices in Capri and as I already told, with a very good food. Not a cosy restaurant where you would sit for hours, but nice little trattoria to have a nice meal. The other night we went to another restaurant, Da Gemma, which again offered an excellent selection of seafood and - which is a rare practice in Capri - buffet, from where you could choose various seafood and oven-cooked local specialities according to your own taste. Lovely family-owned restaurant with a beautiful seaview. One of the best in the island. But at the moment it is dinner time in Capri. So in a minute I will dress up and we are going with my friend again to La Piazzetta to enjoy our evening....More news will be coming shortly :) </div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-15186342160639505862009-07-08T00:44:00.000-07:002009-07-08T00:45:32.665-07:005 Summer Travel Tips for Italy<div style="text-align: justify;" id="bodytext1" class="fontresize10"> <p>We're smack dab in the middle of the peak travel season for Italy (don't ask me where the year went, I've been asking myself that since February), and so I thought it might be a good idea to pull together some of my favorite travel tips for Italy for those of you lucky enough to be making a trip to The Boot this summer.</p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" id="bodytext2" class="fontresize10"> <p>Of course, although some of these tips may be related to summer travel, most of them are going to be valuable at any time of year - so even if you happen to find this article long after the summer is over, I think you'll find plenty of great Italy travel information here to help you plan your trip and have the best vacation in Italy you can.</p> <h4>1. What to Pack for a Summer Trip to Italy</h4> <p><img id="324" class="imgRight" src="http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/contents/full/2009/07/07/324.jpg" alt="" width="300" />Even if your Italian vacation doesn't take you to Milan, you're still visiting one of the most fashionable countries on earth - so taking care with what you're packing isn't a bad idea. Sure, you can throw a few random things into a bag, wear the same stuff you wear at home, and generally look frumpy and still have a great trip. But if you want to (a) attempt to fit in at all, or (b) not look so much like a tourist, then it's a good idea to think a little bit before you pack.</p> <p>To be perfectly honest, it's tough to give out general tips aboutwhat to wear in Italy - fashions change almost by the nanosecond, it seems, so what I say is hot right now will undoubtedly be "so last year" in about five minutes. But there are some things I'm pretty confident about telling people when they ask me what to pack for Italy.</p> <p>While you might wear khaki or denim shorts, a tank top or T-shirt, flip-flops and maybe even a baseball cap all summer long, almost none of those things would be items I'd suggest you bring with you to Italy. Yes, long (mostly knee-length and fitted) denim shorts seem to finally be making a place for themselves in Italian wardrobes, and slinky leather sandals were all the rage in early June - but baggy shorts and rubber flip-flops? That, my friends, is beach attire - and nothing more.</p> <p>I wrote some general tips about what to wear in Italy in summer last year, and looking back through them they still hold true. Perhaps the best one (if I do say so myself) is that there <em>is</em> such a thing as "too casual." The Italians truly dress for most occasions, even if that "occasion" is just going to the market.</p> <p>One important note is that no matter what you decide to pack, remember that if you want to go into most of the churches in Italy you'll need to make sure your shoulders, knees, and midriffs are covered. You really don't want to be the people walking through St. Peter's Basilica in paper coverall pants you had to buy from the vendor at the last minute. Trust me.</p> <h4>2. Get Museum Tickets & Transport Passes in Advance</h4> <p><img id="325" class="imgRight" src="http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/contents/full/2009/07/07/325.jpg" alt="" width="300" />Much of Italy is crowded year-round, and the more touristy cities - like Florence, Venice, and Rome - feel like they're absolutely bursting at the seams in the high season. So whenever you can cut down on the time you might otherwise spend waiting in line at a ticket window, it's a good idea to do that. One easy way is by picking up whatever tickets and passes you can online and in advance. Of course, not all museums have online ticket sales, and not every traveler knows exactly when they'll be in certain cities, but if you can get at least some of this stuff in advance you'll thank yourself later.</p> <p>If you can plan your travels to the day, then you'll be pleased to know you can avoid waiting in line at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice by booking an entry time online - and it's completely free. Getting advance tickets to the Uffizi in Florence isn't free, but it'll save you the hassle of waiting sometimes 6+ hours in line. And if you absolutely can't be bothered with booking ahead, in Florence at least there's still a chance you can get last-minute reservations at this Uffizi ticket booth. But don't say I didn't warn you about the lines if you decide to take a chance.</p> <p>When it comes to transportation, there's no excuse not to look into getting discount transport cards ahead of time, because they're not tied to a particular day. And if you're going to be in a city for a few days, they can save you both money and the hassle of repeatedly trying to find a place to buy a bus or metro ticket. There are, for example, lots of Venice discount cards, some of which include some attractions with the transportation part. And some of the cards even come cheaper if you buy them online instead of waiting until you get to Venice. There are similar transportation passes in Rome which come in 3-day or 1-week increments.</p> <p>Wherever you're planning to go in Italy, ask around to find out what tickets and transportation cards you can secure before you leave home, and then walk smugly by the poor sods waiting in line at the museum or trying to figure out what the bus ticket seller is saying to them.</p> <h4>3. Expect (And Prepare For) Heat</h4> <p><img id="326" class="imgRight" src="http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/contents/full/2009/07/07/326.jpg" alt="" width="300" />The weather in Italy is, like the weather almost everywhere, sort of unpredictable. There are days of glorious sunshine in March, sweltering days in May, and overcast and rainy days in the height of summer. But you don't have to pack for every possible weather condition if you're paying attention to the long-range forecasts before you leave. Sure, they'll vary a bit once you get there, but they'll give you an idea of whether you can leave the mini-umbrella at home.</p> <p>Summers in Italy have been getting hotter for the last several years, as is the case around much of Europe. One friend in Milan told me recently that they basically get two weeks of Spring these days before they seem to jump straight into August. Preparing for high temperatures and high humidity means more than just remembering to pack your sandals and tank tops, though - it also means planning your daily itinerary so that you aren't stuck outside in the worst part of the day.</p> <p>No matter where you are in Italy, try to plan your day so that you're either enjoying a leisurely lunch (followed by an even more leisurely nap) at midday or exploring the cool interior of a church or museum. All those enormous stone churches come in handy - not only are they full of unexpected art discoveries, they also have natural air conditioning! Oh, and if you're in Rome, be sure to pay attention to my Rome survival tips about the city's fantastic drinking fountains. They're a life-saver in the heat of a Roman summer.</p> <h4>4. Know What Days Things are Closed</h4> <p><img id="327" class="imgRight" src="http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/contents/full/2009/07/07/327.jpg" alt="" width="300" />You've got a to-do list in every Italian city you're planning to visit, right? Those sights that you absolutely, positively <em>cannot miss</em> or you'd go home feeling like you didn't really see Italy? Well, imagine that you're on your last day in Naples, which happens to be a Tuesday, and you've saved the National Archaeological Museum for that day as sort of the icing on the cake.</p> <p>That's when you arrive at the museum's front door and realize that it's closed on Tuesday.</p> <p>There's plenty of romance to the idea of just winging it when you travel, but unless you don't care about missing out on some attractions because they're closed on your only day to see them it pays to do just a smidge of research in advance. Really, if you look up nothing else, find a list of what's closed when in every city you want to visit. Good guidebooks should have such a list, or - if you wait until you arrive - stop at the tourist information office first thing when you get to a new city and they should be able to tell you.</p> <p>And if you're one of those travelers who doesn't want to sift through the massive list of what tourists <em>could</em> do in a place and wants instead to just be told what the <em>best</em> things to do in a place are, then you'll appreciate the articles I did with my suggestions for the top ten things to do in several Italian cities. But you'll still need to find out which of those things is closed on Mondays.</p> <h4>5. Learn the Language - of Gelato</h4> <p><img id="328" class="imgRight" src="http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/contents/full/2009/07/07/328.jpg" alt="" width="300" />I'm not a hard-core foodie, but I definitely make food a focus when I travel - especially when I'm in Italy. And even if you don't know your rigatoni from your ravioli, there's no reason you can't become a connoisseur of at least one Italian specialty - gelato. In a hot Italian summer, it just might be the only thing that gets you through the day.</p> <p>Gelato isn't simply the Italian word for ice cream, although it's obviously very similar. Gelato is made with milk instead of cream, and the flavors tend to be richer and more intense. It's something you'll find all over Italy, and it's cheap enough to be an everyday treat - I highly recommend eating gelato a couple times every day, in fact. But because not all gelato is created equal, I also recommend following these rules to finding good gelato in Italy. There's no point in wasting precious calories (not to mention money) on bad gelato.</p> <p>In most places, getting gelato is going to be pretty straightforward - but sometimes the order of what you do when is backwards from what you'll expect. In other words, sometimes you pay first for the size of the cup or cone you're getting, then you decide what flavors you want, and only then do you ask the nice person behind the counter to get your gelato. To avoid any kind of error that would postpone your dessert intake, you might want to review my article about how to order gelato in Italy first.</p> <p>Even more important than learning the order of the steps involved with ordering gelato, however, is the language of gelato itself. I may recommend that people learn a few polite words of the Italian language before a trip to Italy in order to exchange even the simplest pleasantries, but in general I don't think you need to really study Italian before you go. Except, that is, when it comes to gelato.</p> <p>The flavors that Italian gelato makers have come up with over the years are often pretty impressive, and if you're lucky to be visiting a gelateria with a chef who likes to experiment then you may find that even my list ofItalian gelato flavors is inadequate. But it's a good starting point, and should serve you well in most places.</p> <h4>Don't forget to write!</h4> <p>This is by no means the ultimate list of tips for traveling in Italy - that would take a lifetime to create, and just as long to read or live by. My goal here wasn't to hold your hand through the planning process or dictate your trip to you. My goal was simply to give you a few things to think about as you're planning your travels that you might not have thought about before.</p> <p>Having said that, the only thing I like more than traveling in Italy is talking about Italy - which you can see evidence of on the Italy travel guide I write. And I'm more than happy to answer questions if you have them, so feel free to browse through the stuff I've already written on WhyGo Italy and then - if you don't find what you're looking for - send me a note.</p> <p>And above all else, have a wonderful time in Italy!</p> </div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-83437423883063616682009-07-07T01:00:00.000-07:002009-07-07T01:02:41.888-07:00Summer Vacation Survival Guide<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="post-title entry-title"> </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="post-body entry-content"> <p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAvcRo038eJKx1lmC7dnv3GRxAzMzixBSh91zSe7QW7L9k1oW83gRg-6qgTMVXp32EOg7hxTOKvor7MrISgNayJeNwpRA41RbUk1f6wAvnm0Idvh1Ncb4SYK8HVx5ptdBWPibwz7dGsk/s1600-h/P1010741.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAvcRo038eJKx1lmC7dnv3GRxAzMzixBSh91zSe7QW7L9k1oW83gRg-6qgTMVXp32EOg7hxTOKvor7MrISgNayJeNwpRA41RbUk1f6wAvnm0Idvh1Ncb4SYK8HVx5ptdBWPibwz7dGsk/s400/P1010741.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348294393186700226" border="0" /></a><br />Like most of the country, we are now on Summer vacation. It's a fun time to be a kid, but it can be a challenging time to be a parent.<br /><br />Here are some tips to keep the schedule manageable and maximize your summer fun:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Make a Family Calendar</span>: Try writing down weekly activities like dance rehearsal and wrestling practice, but also some of the fun activities you want to do regularly. Do you want to go to the pool a couple of times a week? Put it on the schedule. Write names next to the adults responsible for each activity. That way, Dad or Mom or Uncle Gerald become the go-to person to make the activity happen. Also include contact phone numbers for coaches, camps, or other contact people for each activity. Having all the info in a single place will make things easier when all doesn't go as planned.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Put Down-Time in the Schedule</span>: While you're so busy writing down all the obligations, be sure to set aside time for family day or movie night. On Saturday afternoon, write "Mommy's Nap - Do Not Disturb." Claim your downtime. You deserve it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plan an Adventure</span>: We like to have a conversation about adventure plans with our children at the beginning of the summer. We let them make one adventure wish that we work to make come true in the most creative way we can. One year, my 3 year old son's adventure wish was to ride a rocket to the Moon. So, we went to the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium while we were on vacation in New Hampshire. He got to ride a Space Shuttle simulator and touch moon rocks. The day ended with him sporting a planetarium T-shirt that said MOON and carrying a Curious George Rides a Rocket board book. Wish Granted.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looking for an adventure activity? </span>Try:<br /></p><ul><li>climbing walls</li><li>the zoo</li><li>the beach/tide pools</li><li>museums</li><li>botanical gardens (ours has a great butterfly house!)</li><li>the aquarium</li><li>petting zoos</li><li>farms/orchards</li><li>water parks</li><li>county/state fairs<br /></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plan Outdoor Fun: </span>I always laugh when I see my children ignoring 25 brightly colored plastic toys so they can play with rocks and sticks and mud. We try to spend outdoor time every day, just for them to have backyard adventures. But we also use hikes, canoe trips, and camping as a way to get away from the busy everyday and have peaceful time as a family. There is something wonderful about getting away from the phone and computer, the playstation and television, even electric light. We find it renews us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Keep an Activity Bin: </span>This is especially important for rainy days. Our art supplies, play doh, lacing/sewing games, and board games come out on days when going outside is not an option. I know many parents like to just give their children extra screen time on rainy days, but it's nice to have low-tech options that can help keep their minds active.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Encourage Pretend Play: </span>Never throw away a big appliance box. Let your children make a sailing ship or a puppet theatre with it instead. It can be fun to give the kids space and supplies to create something of their own. If you support them through the planning stages and help with tools, you'll be surprised what they can come up with.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Keep Reading in the Game Plan: </span>When I was growing up, our family used "Reading Hour" as our daily downtime. We went on a library trip every week or two and kept a ready supply of books available. After lunch, instead of naps, we had quiet reading time for 30-60 minutes. It kept our minds active and our imaginations engaged. Sometimes Mom would ask questions about what we were reading. It was always fun to talk to her about exciting stories.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't Leave School too far Behind: </span>For my own children, I have added to the Reading Hour concept. I offer math workbooks and writing paper during down time. Surprisingly, they choose those activities about half the time. I also encourage my older children to keep a Summer Journal to write about their feelings and adventures. They even illustrate the stories in their journals. By the end of the summer, it really is stunning to see how many skills they have retained as a result.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Put your Kids to Work: </span>If your children are too young for a summer job, they can still help around the house. We encourage ours to help with household chores like vacuuming, dusting, setting and clearing the table, cooking, and bathroom cleaning. They know that we are a family, and we are all responsible for keeping our home. So, just like we play as a team, we work as a team.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Maintain Friendships: </span>Plan play dates with friends from school or trade babysitting with other moms. It can be fun to meet at the park or the pool and let your child's little herd of friends go wild while you stand on the sidelines to watch. Keeping in touch with friends can help your child not feel so isolated during the summer months, too. So, when summer ends and school begins again, their relationships are still strong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Relax and Have Fun: </span>It really is the key to a great summer. Do your best to let go and just enjoy being together. So, let go and laugh a lot. It feels great.<br /><br />Good luck and have a wonderful summer! Today, we're off for a play day with my children's cousins. The weather will be HOT, so water play is a given. There's nothing quite like spending a hot day with cool fun.<br /><br />p. s. -- When all else fails, bring out the Popsicles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">- Midwest Mom<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-49025458861345911142009-07-05T23:15:00.000-07:002009-07-05T23:17:54.761-07:00NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY-THE LIVE BUTTERFLY PAVILION<div style="text-align: justify;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Live Butterfly Pavilion</span> is located at the second floor of the National Museum of Natural History. You can take a stroll among live butterflies and plants. Ticket is $ 6.00 for adult. This is the place where I experienced with butterflies fluttering close to you that you can touch them. Pity, there is a "no touch policy".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES </span>1<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmecL_SLNeLu8FqbURUo9cX612Y80A-trSmvzoJCSjMO1wjYvNRWgw9xEm2C24CghbK3td8-2F5xq0_c0o5iszLeOCeusd2Hn6ZEPsWmp44VnKao_gKarsxsBKe2Ocq18XCFno0Q0QoBaO/s1600-h/natural+museum+013.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmecL_SLNeLu8FqbURUo9cX612Y80A-trSmvzoJCSjMO1wjYvNRWgw9xEm2C24CghbK3td8-2F5xq0_c0o5iszLeOCeusd2Hn6ZEPsWmp44VnKao_gKarsxsBKe2Ocq18XCFno0Q0QoBaO/s400/natural+museum+013.jpg" alt="picture of butterfly" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236536248766001250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Black with coral spots<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES </span>2<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuEa51d5MmcpsMbqakAGrxf_gNCFSq4HWDhoCfWjEnCEJwtIW8CKpDpPrOrCkywCoobyDq5L3_v78X5r6RPiUddNQ-k2ltH3Z7Lq_Vq0jRTt3qQH8_EYOlzOCjGuDglWlb5SelNsOV0VQ/s1600-h/yellow+on+yellow.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuEa51d5MmcpsMbqakAGrxf_gNCFSq4HWDhoCfWjEnCEJwtIW8CKpDpPrOrCkywCoobyDq5L3_v78X5r6RPiUddNQ-k2ltH3Z7Lq_Vq0jRTt3qQH8_EYOlzOCjGuDglWlb5SelNsOV0VQ/s400/yellow+on+yellow.jpg" alt="butterfly" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236536558109351874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yellow on yellow<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES 3</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9iPKv6Ff3tfP1L4QIf_8u8_rCA6n0Exsc_ilMzAwe0Ja3FuGda8sjX5gA0vSXNrImXBwsJpIFvQIQQcZEjNa-9D9ZfvIS_SCLsn3ADONAKzwx8lS5virwoTH5bOy-8O8zW2NlKXaWrCV/s1600-h/leafbutterfly.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9iPKv6Ff3tfP1L4QIf_8u8_rCA6n0Exsc_ilMzAwe0Ja3FuGda8sjX5gA0vSXNrImXBwsJpIFvQIQQcZEjNa-9D9ZfvIS_SCLsn3ADONAKzwx8lS5virwoTH5bOy-8O8zW2NlKXaWrCV/s400/leafbutterfly.jpg" alt="butterfly" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236537773920885330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />monarch butterfly?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES 4</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC0DoKwo2MNVX__5aTMvoveNy4pbHCKIQVn8wzjTcMjZSxB_zr73grI3hnokp4gvJRdrZh6EsCTbsdF2bp06CJWF5CKSj6LPYBBGERtljZPo2KZGvHs6CySVHQ2cSZ3H-Y0VMPi0C_361/s1600-h/natural+museum+009.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC0DoKwo2MNVX__5aTMvoveNy4pbHCKIQVn8wzjTcMjZSxB_zr73grI3hnokp4gvJRdrZh6EsCTbsdF2bp06CJWF5CKSj6LPYBBGERtljZPo2KZGvHs6CySVHQ2cSZ3H-Y0VMPi0C_361/s400/natural+museum+009.jpg" alt="butterfly" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236190640005435586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dang, this butterfly is showing off.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES 5</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXZaMvvBm3mrSqf2ZiR8ygmAzDRLmi7W4p2imcWKjqU3pa1JS94YZ5qJuj9WcYkKBbAlARN-WUIC0yDBmiv3Ku-9mSDXyzGl5vxj4YZM_WVF5f6-2QBL9WcTXBL9w18CiPqAfVhAn8NCG/s1600-h/natural+museum+011.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXZaMvvBm3mrSqf2ZiR8ygmAzDRLmi7W4p2imcWKjqU3pa1JS94YZ5qJuj9WcYkKBbAlARN-WUIC0yDBmiv3Ku-9mSDXyzGl5vxj4YZM_WVF5f6-2QBL9WcTXBL9w18CiPqAfVhAn8NCG/s400/natural+museum+011.jpg" alt="butterfly" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236538543514765794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Buckeye on Yellow<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES 6</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7gfftEHxLXQDBI8tNzrDKib00ZVYUXN3ewNFrwGLswJQxOr_r0Lp2cYABQIfNYSde726tgWxnX_63BuTIkJsUTsBofItv1WtNZseaazXrAuti66c-8GSxfEify90o56t1Z7lzRkK3Jrx/s1600-h/natural+museum+018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7gfftEHxLXQDBI8tNzrDKib00ZVYUXN3ewNFrwGLswJQxOr_r0Lp2cYABQIfNYSde726tgWxnX_63BuTIkJsUTsBofItv1WtNZseaazXrAuti66c-8GSxfEify90o56t1Z7lzRkK3Jrx/s400/natural+museum+018.jpg" alt="butterfly" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236540072748669234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Butterfly drinking?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztNUQVkkHh6_PftWVkNxpRvC9Uo0cQduh-RtJN_vog8nd3MJrAkIkgIJqo0PT9sOqjTwgQsPATazLz5LJKwREKVS9_7Kk8jXBO-BjKl60haOJRAJDaP0Ew952HiftMm4_a3BJp-QaNWtZ/s1600-h/natural+museum+008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztNUQVkkHh6_PftWVkNxpRvC9Uo0cQduh-RtJN_vog8nd3MJrAkIkgIJqo0PT9sOqjTwgQsPATazLz5LJKwREKVS9_7Kk8jXBO-BjKl60haOJRAJDaP0Ew952HiftMm4_a3BJp-QaNWtZ/s400/natural+museum+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236540999068179282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Black on Orange<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIVE BUTTERFLIES 8</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLDn-8coKLZeS5MDCYSRYQ1-DLyTxM-NGmt8TgdrimH6izbjdRSAJDOAs4_fkrVAa8tBlRXIKSvl1oMCCHIjwFDA0wlf_LEMQqx6EP4bAhY5j9-sSo4siF1Wo5GSOJkoZQVCC4_bLG5GW/s1600-h/black+on+green.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLDn-8coKLZeS5MDCYSRYQ1-DLyTxM-NGmt8TgdrimH6izbjdRSAJDOAs4_fkrVAa8tBlRXIKSvl1oMCCHIjwFDA0wlf_LEMQqx6EP4bAhY5j9-sSo4siF1Wo5GSOJkoZQVCC4_bLG5GW/s400/black+on+green.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236541711081086434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Black on green</div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-64951460962468215352009-07-04T02:21:00.001-07:002009-07-04T02:21:43.679-07:00Tips for Estimating the Cost of a Summer Vacation<div style="text-align: justify;">Due to the poor economy, many Americans are foregoing their annual summer vacations or at least significantly cutting back. If you are on a budget, but still want to plan a good summer vacation, you should take three steps. They involve determining how much money you have available to spend, estimating the cost of your trip, and cutting corners when needed. Out of these three steps, estimating the cost of your summer vacation is the most important, but it can also be the most difficult. Continue reading on for a few helpful tips.<br /><br />Estimate the cost of everything. Your goal is to plan a summer vacation you can afford. To do that, you must know how much you can expect to spend. Are you driving or flying? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Estimate the cost of travel. Where do you intend to stay? Unless staying with friends and family, estimate the cost of a hotel or resort. You want to account for each dollar you are likely to spend. If you will buy souvenirs, estimate the cost of them. If you attend to pay for activities and attractions, estimate their costs. Since you need to eat, estimate the cost of food, snacks, and drinks.<br /><br />Do more than just a general estimate; create a detailed one. For example, you may think “I can spend $50 to eat on the first day of my trip.” This is good, but created a detailed list. Start with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. A good example is to plan to spend $5 for breakfast at a <span class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">fast </span><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">food</span></span><span style="position: relative;" id="preLoadWrap0"><div style="position: absolute; z-index: 4000; top: -32px; left: -18px; display: none;" id="preLoadLayer0"><img style="border: 0px none ;" src="http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif" /></div></span></span> establishment, $15 dollar for lunch at a casual restaurant, $5 for snacks a local <span class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">convenience </span><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">store</span></span><span style="position: relative;" id="preLoadWrap1"><div style="position: absolute; z-index: 4000; top: -32px; left: -18px; display: none;" id="preLoadLayer1"><img style="border: 0px none ;" src="http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif" /></div></span></span>, and $25 for dinner at a nice sit-down restaurant. This approach is best as it later allows you to cut corners. If your estimates have you going over your vacation budget, forgo the dinner at a <span class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">fancy </span><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">restaurant</span></span><span style="position: relative;" id="preLoadWrap2"><div style="position: absolute; z-index: 4000; top: -32px; left: -18px; display: none;" id="preLoadLayer2"><img style="border: 0px none ;" src="http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif" /></div></span></span>. Reduce the cost from $25 down to $12 by opting for a casual restaurant instead.<br /><br />Use the internet to help you estimate the cost of your trip. As previously stated, you want to know how much you can expect to spend. This will help you determine if you can truly afford your dream vacation. It is easy to estimate the cost of air travel or hotels. Use the internet and request a free quote. As for attractions, activities, and food, use the internet as a guide. Visit a few websites for nearby restaurants and attractions. What are their average costs? Use them as a guide.<br /><br />Overestimate. Using the internet makes it easier to estimate the cost of a summer vacation, but rarely are you 100% on. For that reason, always overestimate. If you come across a cute restaurant online that charges an average of $12 a meal, roundup to $15. This will help account for an unexpected price increase. Overestimating is better than underestimating. If you underestimate the cost of your trip, you may be left broke on the last two days. How will you eat now? With overestimating, the worst is you will have extra cash in your pocket. Splurge on a nice <span class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">meal</span></span><span style="position: relative;" id="preLoadWrap3"><div style="position: absolute; z-index: 4000; top: -32px; left: -18px; display: none;" id="preLoadLayer3"><img style="border: 0px none ;" src="http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif" /></div></span></span>, buy a few extra souvenirs, or save the money.<br /><br />Don’t forget about free things. The best way to save money on a summer vacation is to take advantage of anything that is free. For example, your hotel may have free donuts or bagels available for guests. A warm breakfast is nice, but why pass up something for free? At the very least, intend on <span class="kLink" style="text-decoration: underline ! important; position: static;"><span style="color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static;color:blue;" ><span class="kLink" style="border-bottom: 1px solid blue; color: blue ! important; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",Verdana,Arial,Sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 12.6167px; position: static; background-color: transparent;">eating</span></span><span style="position: relative;" id="preLoadWrap4"><div style="position: absolute; z-index: 4000; top: -32px; left: -18px; display: none;" id="preLoadLayer4"><img style="border: 0px none ;" src="http://kona.kontera.com/javascript/lib/imgs/grey_loader.gif" /></div></span></span> breakfast at your hotel half of the trip. By doing so, you have no costs to estimate as it is free. Do the same with activities and attractions. Use the internet to research those with low or no admission fees.<br /><br />As a recap, if you are vacationing with limited financial resources, create a budget. Determine much money you have to spend, estimate the cost of your vacation, and compare the two. If your dream vacation is too expensive based on your estimates, work on cutting costs.</div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-31838289067677991432009-07-03T02:14:00.001-07:002009-07-03T02:14:49.303-07:00Sightseeing and Things to Do in Scandinavia and Russia<h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="post-title entry-title"> </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="post-body entry-content"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300312885323503346" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 179px; height: 200px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTH_SHoHT_TMI3PdCsdt0o_VdXemqKiVbFmJmW_BPHZp9NsJ6IwalowY-aMUr6c0CWiNQPxSRV7DIvjDpktY1pqd9-f2BckC6_ny4DXoLcHxDEBGV0blEWrCKj-SXvn4PAuH9_eNeU_lI/s200/st_basils-cathedral-7.jpg" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Two Weeks in Scandinavia and Russia</span></strong> <p><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><strong></strong></span> </p><p><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><strong>Denmark</strong></span></p><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Copenhagen</span></em></strong> </p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tivoli</span> Garden</span></li><li>Renaissance Stock Exchange</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Amalienborg</span> Palace</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Christianborg</span></li><li>Danish Parliament</li><li>Little Mermaid</li><li>Overnight cruise to Oslo</li></ul><p><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><strong>Norway</strong></span></p><p><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><strong>Oslo</strong></span></em><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Vigeland</span> Sculpture Park</span></li><li>Viking Ship Museum</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Holmencollen</span> Ski Jump</li><li>14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> Century Fortress</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Akershus</span> Castle</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Tiki</span> museum</li><li>Broadcasting House</li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Bergen</span></em></strong><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">View of Bergen city from top by travelling in Mt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Floyen</span> Funicular Tram </span></li><li>Fish-a UNESCO world heritage site</li><li>Flower market</li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Gudvagen</span>, Flam, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Laerdal</span></span></em></strong><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sogne</span> Fjord- the biggest Fjord</span></li><li>Fjord cruise from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Gudvangen</span> to Flam</li><li>Take Alpine Train from Flam to Myrdal and back to Flam</li><li>Arrive at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Laderal</span></li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Sweden</span></strong><br /></p><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Karlstad</span></span></em></strong><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Enjoy scenic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">journe</span> from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Laderal</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Karldtad</span></span></li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Stockholm</span></em></strong><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Enjoy travel on the scenic route of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Karlstad</span></span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Souvenir shopping on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Drottninggatan</span>- Stockholm's beautiful walking street</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Townhall</span></span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Royal Palace</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Vasa</span> Ship Museum</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Waterfront</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Overnight cruise to Helsinki</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Proceed to St <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Petersburg</span></span></li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Russia</span></strong><br /></p><p><em><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">St <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Petersburg</span></span></strong></em><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Hermitage Museum</span></li><li>Winter Palace</li><li>Peter and Paul Fortress</li><li>St <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Isaacs</span> Cathedral</li><li>Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood</li><li>Statue of Peter the Great</li><li>Russian Ballet Show</li><li>Neva river Boat Ride</li><li>Walk along Nevsky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Prospekt</span> and Catherine Palace at Pushkin</li><li>Overnight train journey to Moscow</li></ul><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Moscow</span></em></strong><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Red Square</span></li><li>St Basil's Cathedral</li><li>Lenin's tomb</li><li>Great Russian Circus</li><li>Kremlin Walls</li><li>Czar's Bell</li><li>Czar's Cannon</li><li>Cathedral Square</li><li>Palace of Congresses</li><li>Armory Chamber of Russian czar</li><li>Metro Stations</li></ul><p><strong><span style="font-size: 130%; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Finland</span></strong><br /></p><p><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Helsinki</span></em></strong><br /></p><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Modern <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Finlandia</span> Hall</span></li><li>Sibelius Monument</li><li>Lutheran cathedral</li><li>Unique Church in the Rock</li><li>Market Square</li></ul></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-13807152003521100132009-07-02T06:22:00.000-07:002009-07-02T06:25:26.267-07:00General Travel Tips Make Smart Prepare For Your Honeymoon<h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="post-title entry-title"> </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="post-body entry-content"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb9-wGtXnNKQGSdr8ohPImZfullBn3MtKW6i2hY5OAOSWIcY_tPivzDOj7v4XjEgERg7bfDD6DaDVjkZgPXntjfqPkU6eDHM2GFdQq-IA__1OGRAmnlrr2GriJLq5_7NKdNadFmZEhlKx/s1600-h/weddingandhoneymoon.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256471858117521570" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="Honeymoon Tips" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpb9-wGtXnNKQGSdr8ohPImZfullBn3MtKW6i2hY5OAOSWIcY_tPivzDOj7v4XjEgERg7bfDD6DaDVjkZgPXntjfqPkU6eDHM2GFdQq-IA__1OGRAmnlrr2GriJLq5_7NKdNadFmZEhlKx/s320/weddingandhoneymoon.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Some might say it would not be the right time for travelling or honeymoon, since we’re all now facing the world’s economic problems which might shaking our livings and give us more pressures. But believe me; escaping from these loadings in-mind with some distances holiday is always give you more energy. Especially when this is the celebration for your wedding, it might be really important for this special ceremony.<br /><br />However, for this kind of hard time, it’s better to look for ways to save money on your honeymoon expenses. Where can you find that? Here are the useful tips to help you to make a smart prepare for your honeymoon;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>1. Plan everything early.</strong> You certainly will get lower prices if you can prepare everything before at least a couple of months ahead. Something likes advance booking for your airline tickets and </span><span style="font-family:arial;">hotel bookings</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> will always cheaper when there aren’t many people looking for the same seat.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>2. Go off-season.</strong> This always works. Traveling during non-peak periods is one of the easiest ways to save money. In some occasions, you might be able to cut your cost almost in half for doing that.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>3. Gather your friends with you.</strong> The simple concept is that the more you booked the more power for bargaining. Group booking is another way of reducing your travel expenses. So if you don’t mind, invite your close friends and their lovers to joy your honeymoon trip. Beside, this would also give you some memories to talk about in your group.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>4. Study on your honeymoon destination.</strong> There are many ways to do that. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Google search</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> is very helpful. It can give you many ideas and information on the location where you can go. This will prevent you from wasting times and money on your lost. Or maybe, you can simply subscribe to blogs to grab ideas from the others experiences. These people always give good reviews and guides.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>5. Keep an eye on currency.</strong> Make sure you're prepared for using a different currency. Check the exchange rates from your local back before you leave and think about how much currency you will need. It's good to have some small bills when you get off the plane for tips at the airport, payments for taxis, or tips at the hotel.<br /><br />As a summary, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">plan your trip</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> in advance can only give advantages. So, if you do have a plan for wedding, have a think about your honeymoon trip in the early stage and everything will be great and fun for your once-in-lifetime moment. </span></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-10938039564112351622009-07-01T01:27:00.002-07:002009-07-01T01:28:23.692-07:00Travelling Tips General Tips<div style="text-align: justify;"><a style="font-family: arial;" name="tip01"><strong>General Tips </strong></a> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Request for a copy of your tour itinerary on arrival. </li><li>Note departure times of tours and flights. </li><li>Use vehicles that are licensed to carry tourists (with Bas Persiaran permit printed on vehicle). </li><li>Encourage drivers to stop engines when vehicles and boats are parked. </li><li>Conserve electricity and water. </li><li>Carry your identity papers or a copy of these papers with you. </li><li>All tours must be guided by local Malaysian licensed guides who hold either a blue, green, pink or yellow badge. </li><li>Dress sensibly. </li><li>Drink plenty of liquids. </li><li>Use biodegradable products. Bring biodegradable insect repellent (Citronella). </li><li>Take off shoes before entering a house. </li><li>Be careful not to introduce any plants or animals into the environment. Introduced species can destroy ecosystems. </li><li>Do not collect your own `souvenirs' from the rainforest. </li><li>Abide by local regulations. </li><li>Support the local economy by buying locally made goods and foodstuff but do not buy items from endangered species. </li><li>Encourage or participate in the local conservation project such as tree planting to replace patches of trees illegally logged, or perhaps help a local charity. </li><li>Notify your guide if you are having a problem. </li><li>Provide your feedback upon completion of tour. </li><li>Share your experiences with your family, friends and community when you return home. </li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a style="font-family: arial;" name="tip02"><strong>Marine </strong></a> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Use coastal and river boats that are not overloaded (below 12 passengers) and wear a life jacket. </li><li>Keep pollutants out of waterways. Do not dump any objects or waste over the side of a boat, even if you think that it is biodegradable. </li><li>Encourage drivers to stop engines when vehicles and boats are parked. </li><li>On wildlife river tours, follow the directions of the guide when you are being seated in the boat. </li><li>Respect the integrity of coral reefs. Do not touch, stand on, or break off pieces of coral. Damaged reefs can take years or even decades to regenerate. </li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a style="font-family: arial;" name="tip03"><strong>Jungle Trekking </strong></a> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Stay on the trail to minimize damage to the surrounding area. </li><li>Use pre-existing campsites for camping where possible. </li><li>Reflect on the biodiversity of your new surroundings and how they differ from what you are accustomed to. </li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a style="font-family: arial;" name="tip04"><strong>Cultural </strong></a> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Ask permission if you want to take photographs of local people. </li><li>Respect the sensitivities of local people…There are accepted dress codes at certain places including places of worship. </li><li>Appreciate and protect cultural heritage. Avoid touching rock or cave art, carvings, and monuments. </li><li>Respect differences in culture. It is important to recognize that while different, other thought patterns and ideas of time are equally valid as your own. </li><li>Take time to listen to people who are willing to share. Ask them questions and learn about their culture. </li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a style="font-family: arial;" name="tip05"><strong>Wildlife </strong></a> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>On wildlife river tours, follow the directions of the guide when you are being seated in the boat. </li><li>Do not disturb, harass or feed wildlife. Do not leave personal belongings unattended in locations with wildlife. </li><li>Avoid touching animals or handling bird eggs or baby birds. </li><li>Never come between a mother and her young. This will put both you and the animals in danger. </li><li>Reflect on the biodiversity of your new surroundings and how they differ from what you are accustomed to. </li><li>Wear attire in natural colours and avoid substances with perfumes </li><li>Be patient when viewing wildlife and give the animals plenty of space. </li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"> <a style="font-family: arial;" name="tip06"><strong>Equipment Care/ Photography </strong></a> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Use ASA 400 film </li><li>Bring a spare battery </li><li>Don't leave your camera lying in the sun </li><li>Use soft cloth to wipe lenses. </li><li>Clean your camera at least once a day </li><li>Bring a monopod if you have one </li><li>Use a sand bag to steady the camera while in boats and vehicles.</li></ol>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-4587706040678236342009-07-01T01:27:00.001-07:002009-07-01T01:27:35.133-07:00DZ Nature Resort - Ulu Kimanis<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Dz Nature Resort located just 60 minutes from the capital city Kota Kinabalu and the International Airport. This perfect getaway nature resort consist of several types of air-conditioned accommodation from chalets to a bungalow, each with breathtaking views.<br /><br />DZ Nature Resort has many activities for its visitors, both young and old, offering its natural diversity at its best, to you!<br />1. 3-hours Trail Guided Jungle Trekking<br />2. Scenic and Serene Waterfall Gardens<br />3. Camping Adventures<br />4. Garden Picnics<br />5. Tour Packages<br />6. Diving Packages<br />and much more fun filled adventures!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2DrXTpGkjn9xGGbKV3jjWpNbLyx5hEUO1l1vKZLH_dYZn1GbpDFIS3jH60inihtw1khYedpHreknrEVrHVyKzAkPM_rG6Rp0qTQQFM1kzgRd52gL4ghKD_ZK5ANox9utZL9qI5PyLw4/s1600-h/Image624.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2DrXTpGkjn9xGGbKV3jjWpNbLyx5hEUO1l1vKZLH_dYZn1GbpDFIS3jH60inihtw1khYedpHreknrEVrHVyKzAkPM_rG6Rp0qTQQFM1kzgRd52gL4ghKD_ZK5ANox9utZL9qI5PyLw4/s200/Image624.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762786584304370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQgHvRbaPI42IftKM6Wfng3_ftLwMuuBeMq_pYP32ymEkfpNsSnNWFP-KIjAbI-xdTFoRj3NwfMLJftjxQdIQ9_NSRB9f1g-Z18rB4Q9DM_GzxeVI5w1m8OQWIjJXaWgaOLS523PePOA/s1600-h/Image708.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQgHvRbaPI42IftKM6Wfng3_ftLwMuuBeMq_pYP32ymEkfpNsSnNWFP-KIjAbI-xdTFoRj3NwfMLJftjxQdIQ9_NSRB9f1g-Z18rB4Q9DM_GzxeVI5w1m8OQWIjJXaWgaOLS523PePOA/s200/Image708.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762790974193410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf04G156hLCApYBaKK1lf9l7TGxVVUvgoJSQW7GVIUG8PZ00iB7MEDnUPBT9fkwRsH8z7sFNaWSiHPoCAuS-qIqsPx3Ymk5-bIgNdie92ngMfYliPoKgStnworTF82s8xkqFFGeuB8Hs/s1600-h/Image614.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizf04G156hLCApYBaKK1lf9l7TGxVVUvgoJSQW7GVIUG8PZ00iB7MEDnUPBT9fkwRsH8z7sFNaWSiHPoCAuS-qIqsPx3Ymk5-bIgNdie92ngMfYliPoKgStnworTF82s8xkqFFGeuB8Hs/s200/Image614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762785393764466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlgSN0hVW5UxQMCp1JzlsYrmAlzMEy54GwZWNzNMHHuzL7AfAZ6QakLf_vTgDMEgQ_ouoZMy1fekR-P_DmAPxllcNTcPLis-CdLTq0QGo3omhxLXzkxguifMr5J7dHjLWd-uaHC5Fq14/s1600-h/Image596.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlgSN0hVW5UxQMCp1JzlsYrmAlzMEy54GwZWNzNMHHuzL7AfAZ6QakLf_vTgDMEgQ_ouoZMy1fekR-P_DmAPxllcNTcPLis-CdLTq0QGo3omhxLXzkxguifMr5J7dHjLWd-uaHC5Fq14/s200/Image596.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762552424062530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxih8w6F5_RJfq41zol8GgQukPi8bprmkzgDzdDy2fTtQWR2quymYOp846RcpTqnc_Q7zKNmXd6RGVOwIzq-YvTz4ADULwXzDd5fYQvH-WAXAXjSynNt7CVMJaqxj8Q82ScGibbgCb6o/s1600-h/Image527.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxih8w6F5_RJfq41zol8GgQukPi8bprmkzgDzdDy2fTtQWR2quymYOp846RcpTqnc_Q7zKNmXd6RGVOwIzq-YvTz4ADULwXzDd5fYQvH-WAXAXjSynNt7CVMJaqxj8Q82ScGibbgCb6o/s200/Image527.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762544825430530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIjwleCNRLsfZzCHAzPk7C2iN6ZFdWuQSECEg3DRbRrHyh7nsJojqcaR8PkeDpZbAswwzooTguSTK-9xT_To7MbISKARjSDa2AqwHphG7zU-bIbPxahCl1iAKM40cNOHYyWKc9GOehlc/s1600-h/Image613.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIjwleCNRLsfZzCHAzPk7C2iN6ZFdWuQSECEg3DRbRrHyh7nsJojqcaR8PkeDpZbAswwzooTguSTK-9xT_To7MbISKARjSDa2AqwHphG7zU-bIbPxahCl1iAKM40cNOHYyWKc9GOehlc/s200/Image613.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762784926240754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdqLUgQdMXwno40zohGwhiAXrnW4briZkF8VUionYusW9G0tg3JRWMyZO6y59e3LXKOVGKNTrof4g1l7t0pmRRP-ttB_Yoo9ig0-Lag3AN7a8zfySBxSmTGS04LsUy_ONvneIGNMkekQ/s1600-h/Image597.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdqLUgQdMXwno40zohGwhiAXrnW4briZkF8VUionYusW9G0tg3JRWMyZO6y59e3LXKOVGKNTrof4g1l7t0pmRRP-ttB_Yoo9ig0-Lag3AN7a8zfySBxSmTGS04LsUy_ONvneIGNMkekQ/s200/Image597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762554927455570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0E2CAh3t6mPr4PDnW8vgInHFlAazNFBxmhJJ2Fdj2_Ri33jtTG2DfVQoaLKYhHsAHUzLZO0OKDSpzzX7T2iZXlf-Dmnc94OulICkheG6XPxXGRgSfRN-KWxrnjWOJpGQun4GPH586fM/s1600-h/Image578.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0E2CAh3t6mPr4PDnW8vgInHFlAazNFBxmhJJ2Fdj2_Ri33jtTG2DfVQoaLKYhHsAHUzLZO0OKDSpzzX7T2iZXlf-Dmnc94OulICkheG6XPxXGRgSfRN-KWxrnjWOJpGQun4GPH586fM/s200/Image578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762549833441138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl0faRLHHqvs6w7n-DCRZiz3Q7370-L_2qS62fWcDntxPAwfnwCwu9AyszvFFnB884mjNK8-sY8Q7K3Dir3QCveTsCko4CLiXfgW20FLTQ1KdOL-X33CMspni-BNRHyjA2Wadh3mRvL0/s1600-h/Image516.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl0faRLHHqvs6w7n-DCRZiz3Q7370-L_2qS62fWcDntxPAwfnwCwu9AyszvFFnB884mjNK8-sY8Q7K3Dir3QCveTsCko4CLiXfgW20FLTQ1KdOL-X33CMspni-BNRHyjA2Wadh3mRvL0/s200/Image516.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762545082720562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvD3dNttxg624NJOoQ5-wSUTTCjPi5_iJF5Gg5saHZMqq5gtYBJq7crtKKmXthSrwot52gB16tI3drXDqY7gSgOwIg0he-fcAwKEPe6QJsZdfGwRSA-1iXHYsgLTCwgQMSdAs2z8XbO0/s1600-h/Image435.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvD3dNttxg624NJOoQ5-wSUTTCjPi5_iJF5Gg5saHZMqq5gtYBJq7crtKKmXthSrwot52gB16tI3drXDqY7gSgOwIg0he-fcAwKEPe6QJsZdfGwRSA-1iXHYsgLTCwgQMSdAs2z8XbO0/s200/Image435.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762344430887122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DF8na_0Pko6nMrRuzP8fvRgxpQdQ6WBkckD8iB8rC-Oyigr7cJlfuTBrUlLIIXXEcXsJUaMD2xWEC_W17ZkoG87yViVJr5y4wxHRfCxK41OAaI0AEYsn8sHjVZPWTFVte5KVtQ02H2M/s1600-h/Image498.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DF8na_0Pko6nMrRuzP8fvRgxpQdQ6WBkckD8iB8rC-Oyigr7cJlfuTBrUlLIIXXEcXsJUaMD2xWEC_W17ZkoG87yViVJr5y4wxHRfCxK41OAaI0AEYsn8sHjVZPWTFVte5KVtQ02H2M/s200/Image498.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762350128726882" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflNw56uvOawxsxN8ek_9bV-rnOAwwJFQQI7ipFGPl9_rnS5JP7ykwY-K42-TECln_-TxVVqLLJLjpn3Ki7cWNvJvhii_r4G3JuYJbGp0-sNF2IAXuf7NJrOC9RsMgOahxUzAKtXlwxPU/s1600-h/Image437.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflNw56uvOawxsxN8ek_9bV-rnOAwwJFQQI7ipFGPl9_rnS5JP7ykwY-K42-TECln_-TxVVqLLJLjpn3Ki7cWNvJvhii_r4G3JuYJbGp0-sNF2IAXuf7NJrOC9RsMgOahxUzAKtXlwxPU/s200/Image437.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762350194464546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JijUesmRbPLz8HCO53viDxwBBoHvzIcWJmaL_Yf_DYIF93JRn1N2vF3G87c8yz6Bsr9Rt4nwawAINrf2OKBoL8ugPpbTDkZi_M9-yClbQ5H-DqDJ9JVd2lj0R1UOgPkoO-TZtoBRUW0/s1600-h/Image425.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JijUesmRbPLz8HCO53viDxwBBoHvzIcWJmaL_Yf_DYIF93JRn1N2vF3G87c8yz6Bsr9Rt4nwawAINrf2OKBoL8ugPpbTDkZi_M9-yClbQ5H-DqDJ9JVd2lj0R1UOgPkoO-TZtoBRUW0/s200/Image425.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762346428172258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2HrLI3gH6q_2PccIdhebUuG_YAxkXsGFBSh6z7loRnu8tIfCfp9YdsqpqJRXigsEjNG-Xf09yzbv18Tm8y6Udppwt3u4URiZZOjp-0FGxW2RcmnKsr3PSWikXfCzzWtMs-YHUjBi5Y4/s1600-h/Image511.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2HrLI3gH6q_2PccIdhebUuG_YAxkXsGFBSh6z7loRnu8tIfCfp9YdsqpqJRXigsEjNG-Xf09yzbv18Tm8y6Udppwt3u4URiZZOjp-0FGxW2RcmnKsr3PSWikXfCzzWtMs-YHUjBi5Y4/s200/Image511.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334762355200807474" border="0" /></a><br /></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-85206781135854947622009-07-01T01:23:00.000-07:002009-07-01T01:25:04.174-07:00Virtual Tour<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="mag">The high altitude, clear air and easy access by mountain railway makes the Jungfraujoch one of Switzerland’s most attractive destinations, as well as an ideal location for scientific work such as meteorology. The Jungfraujoch has a 4148 meter peak, 24 km long Aletsh Glacier, Europe’s highest elevation post office and the Jungfraujoch Railway Station, which reaches an altitude of 345 m.</span><br /><span class="mag"><center></center></span><span class="mag"></span><span class="mag"><center></center></span><br /><span class="mag"><center></center><p>The Jungfrau (young maiden) mountain range includes the almost vertical Eiger, the Monch and the Jungfrau. In 2001 UNESCO named the Jungfraujoch a World Natural Heritage site, the first such designation in the Alpine region.</p><p>The Jungfrau Region south of Interlaken is perhaps the most dramatic and memorable mountain scenery in Switzerland, due to the quantity and sheer scale of the three giant peaks – the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau – rising side by side to 4000m. The Jungfrau is the highest at 4148m and the mountain trains culminate at the Jungfraujoch, just below the peak, at the highest train station in Europe.</p><p>Stretching south from the Jungfraujoch is the Aletsch Glacier, Europe’s largest valley glacier. From the Jungfraujoch viewing platform you can also look north and on a clear day you can see as far as the Black Forest in Germany.</p><p>The Research Station and Sphinx Laboratory at Jungfraujoch run the Foundation with the purpose of making possible scientific research that must be carried out at high altitudes or in high alpine climates.</p><p>The plateau at Jungfraujoch, just outside the <u>ice palace</u>, is a superb spot to view the northern Alps.</p></span></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-20864392572045320342009-06-29T22:21:00.000-07:002009-06-29T22:24:44.841-07:00Kokrobite Beach Vacation<h3 style="text-align: justify;" class="post-title entry-title"> </h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="post-body entry-content"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGoWrE08tueOsMfUhIiT6R21fYw7xSlNjzKsfM-rFi_wi6oJ29nhGFwvaXwmi5uX9u3Z7_Waspck2KAwHvwntoXgOmSos5nBC1dxA3acvoCGQey_V77SOpLNQPdMS9YQEBqu-fGxphi8/s1600-h/IMG_1630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGoWrE08tueOsMfUhIiT6R21fYw7xSlNjzKsfM-rFi_wi6oJ29nhGFwvaXwmi5uX9u3Z7_Waspck2KAwHvwntoXgOmSos5nBC1dxA3acvoCGQey_V77SOpLNQPdMS9YQEBqu-fGxphi8/s320/IMG_1630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300831946974115826" border="0" /></a> There's a beach just west of Accra called Kokrobite <img id="snap_com_shot_link_icon" class="snap_preview_icon" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt ! important; padding: 1px 0pt 0pt; max-height: 2000px; max-width: 2000px; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: "trebuchet ms",arial,helvetica,sans-serif; float: none; position: static; left: auto; top: auto; line-height: normal; background-image: url(http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.87/theme/silver/palette.gif); background-color: transparent; visibility: visible; width: 14px; height: 12px; background-position: -1142px 0pt; background-repeat: no-repeat; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; display: inline;" src="http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.87/t.gif" /> that seems so far from my everyday life of metro-boulot-dodo<img id="snap_com_shot_link_icon" class="snap_preview_icon" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt ! important; padding: 1px 0pt 0pt; max-height: 2000px; max-width: 2000px; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: "trebuchet ms",arial,helvetica,sans-serif; float: none; position: static; left: auto; top: auto; line-height: normal; background-image: url(http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.87/theme/silver/palette.gif); background-color: transparent; visibility: visible; width: 14px; height: 12px; background-position: -1128px 0pt; background-repeat: no-repeat; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; display: inline;" src="http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.87/t.gif" />, but in geographical terms is not. This is where I spent this past weekend.<br /><br />Kokrobite(some native English-speakers spell it Kokrobitey to underline the correct pronunciation, including the "e") is situated one hour from Tema, 30 minutes from Accra on a good day with little traffic around Mallam junction leading out west from Accra. This backpackers hide-out is complete with cheap accommodation (can wholly recommend Bah'doosh where I stayed this time), Rastafarians, palm trees, cold beer and a beautiful and crowded beach with a glittering and wavy ocean.<br /><br />Everytime I go, I bring only a pair of flip-flops, a piece of African print that can make a dress or a wrap or a towel or a headgear, a flowy white cotton top to avoid sunburn and my colorful patchwork trousers (bought in Kokrobite last year)- all of which goes with a bikini and some beads around the wrists.<br /><br />My husband and I also take a long the books we never get to read. In the mornings we have breakfast in the shade reading together, something that is terribly nerdy, I know, but just screams vacation to me. Swedish celebrity blogger Alexandra Pascalidou<img id="snap_com_shot_link_icon" class="snap_preview_icon" style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt ! important; padding: 1px 0pt 0pt; max-height: 2000px; max-width: 2000px; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: "trebuchet ms",arial,helvetica,sans-serif; float: none; position: static; left: auto; top: auto; line-height: normal; background-image: url(http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.87/theme/silver/palette.gif); background-color: transparent; visibility: visible; width: 14px; height: 12px; background-position: -1128px 0pt; background-repeat: no-repeat; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; display: inline;" src="http://i.ixnp.com/images/v3.87/t.gif" /> has made beach life her everyday life in Thailand for a couple of months. It should be possible to do the same in Ghana.<br /><br />Some people might have ulterior and somewhat more "smokey" reasons to come to Kokrobite, but as for me I just find it relaxing without any additives. It is like I took a plane to vacation land. But I didn't. Did I say this place is an hour away from home?</div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-70202822799301207392009-06-29T02:26:00.000-07:002009-06-29T02:31:11.718-07:002009 Hawaii Kona Ironman visitors information<div style="text-align: justify;">Aloha Best Hawaii vacation blog visitors,<br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">What's on our mind today? Let's talk Hawaii Ironman and here is why. It's a short 3 months to Hawaii's biggest event: the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Ford World Championship. The 2009 Hawaii Ironman takes place on Saturday October 10th in Kailua Kona. Kona attracts for the Big Island Ironman event thousands of visitors and athletes from all over the world. Last year's 2008 Ironman Triathlon recorded 1731 athletes at the start. What's new for this 2009 Kona Ironman?<br /></div><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRfs9egdb-GBuGeiWnEIJRCQHwuKCTtp_7htB1Ve_VuFLjvr7woRZFj311kWlW_f8v3YUeWEgEqKWN9fOtMvFIoUoTKpEPWprcw3jo_lrvhpy9Lp0XkXo3PR6pKqYs9XG1VMBACv_0PWK/s320/Ironman3.jpg" alt="Ironman visitors waiting at Kona Pier for start" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351329996985208978" border="0" /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Hawaii Kona Ironman Visitors Information<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">1. Book your Kona accommodation early<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div><div style="text-align: justify;">Remember our most recent blog post about 'Will Hawaii foreclosures help your dream of living in Hawaii?' We mentioned there that one Hawaii town is hit especially hard by foreclosures. The town is Kona. The foreclosures of many Kona condos which were used in the past as vacation rentals will limit the availability of Ironman accommodations. Kona condos, especially those in Alii Dr, are in high demand because they are self-catering and offer the best training conditions for the triathletes participating in the Ironman. Visitors love this location as well because it's in walking distance to the Kona Pier, the start and finish of the Ironman.<br /></div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">2. Early bird Kona Ironman specials?<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div><div style="text-align: justify;">Your best chance of finding an 'early bird' special for your stay in Kona for this year's 2009 Hawaii Triathlon World Championship is when you book NOW. Generally, Kona vacation rental hosts charge double the rates for the Ironman week. If you are early enough with your inquiry, Kona hosts might be still willing to cut you a special deal. If you don't mind a little bit driving from Kona Captain Cook Kealakekua area to downtown Kona, your chances for an affordable vacation rental are even better.<br /></div><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AmxBrE5uuSmRypdGUInc4oNUe4vznQ0XRZzSPLWSP76gkOLqnW_40x5eEbbRiuoPTkcJXRY07Youl0Vu5e8I084wMxOMhMcTVnE7dixgVUTN_mKxqDj2nIo93RjWtNawbbeOu4ynt3Ss/s320/Ironman4.jpg" alt="Kona Ironman athletes biking" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351330554407877890" border="0" /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">3. Share a Kona vacation home with friends or family<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div> </div> <div><div style="text-align: justify;">This way your Kona visit won't stretch your budget beyond your limits. In addition, you can stay at a more luxury Kona home - maybe with a pool and jacuzzi - which you can afford by sharing the rental fees. You are hanging out with your friends anyway, so why not stay at one place?! The Kona Ironman is a huge social event. Feel the excitement of the cheering crowds and become part of it.<br /></div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">4. Plan your Big Island activities<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div> </div> <div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Big Island offers some of the biggest Hawaii attractions, many beyond the ordinary. Don't leave the Island of Hawaii without having visited our live volcano in Hawaii Volcano National Park or snow-covered Mauna Kea Summit for a spectacular stargazing night. These are once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Make your plans for exploring the Big Island ahead of your arrival in Kona Hawaii. Your Kona vacation week is over in a wink of an eye. So get the most out of your Kona Ironman visit.<br /></div><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrPaS5B607AHdWYWcbvd1zJHu3OPZrLHWVw5HCY9pS3h67TJQYTT1bI1uBGG06STzUuOXNMuRJBybfyJuYYNr9YuFYu0dguj6Zwqhcj8N68n-Y1WGBM9l1bBm6Z3U-TGQuRScb9wdn-5X/s320/Ironman1.jpg" alt="Finish line Kona Ironman photo 2005" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351332746114936802" border="0" /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">If you have visited the Hawaii Kona Ironman in the past or have anything to share with our blog visitors about Kona or the Ironman, please, leave a comment right here. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations </div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3300041629545302588.post-46807559599612624682009-06-25T22:44:00.000-07:002009-06-26T02:20:54.467-07:00Guest Editorial<div style="text-align: center;"><pre id="line1"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></pre><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78TcOAEM0MG4A21X7udkqjV7V5wk2hpaOG6Qwt4Su5gt3mYgkldpVNGyTZmrRDOR__rFVN-_pSCzDD_eeVJYKWU4Rn_kqnPrVGtX52OTvwalP1FbfqV00mJtViUq1ED9utk3Xrz8c4k6P/s1600-h/monkey+travel+writer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78TcOAEM0MG4A21X7udkqjV7V5wk2hpaOG6Qwt4Su5gt3mYgkldpVNGyTZmrRDOR__rFVN-_pSCzDD_eeVJYKWU4Rn_kqnPrVGtX52OTvwalP1FbfqV00mJtViUq1ED9utk3Xrz8c4k6P/s320/monkey+travel+writer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351508409916322546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And here's an editorial from a former Moon travel guidebook writer:<br /><br /><strong>OUTSOURCING MOON</strong><br /><strong>by X-Moon, Delhi bureau</strong><br /><br />Bill Newlin has announced that he is outsourcing all guidebook writing to a company based in Bangalore, India. Further questioning reveals that this company is in fact a plantation where monkeys have been trained to climb trees and twist off coconuts. With the recent rapid decline in world coconut production, unemployed monkeys have been ingeniously retrained by the Bangalore plantation owners to modify content for Moon guidebooks.<br /><br />There are estimated to be 2,000 monkeys typing away on 2,000 typewriters.<br /><br />They are divided into huts by continent: North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe.<br /><br />"The maps have proved problematic," said Bill, "but otherwise, the gibberish is adequate for most travel needs. It's an ideal match for Moon because we pay them peanuts." Bill also mentioned that he is pleased that the monkeys will not dispute the format of the material. They apparently do not go berserk if print-size is drastically reduced, or the work is printed on paper so thin you can see through it. They tend to go berserk, however, if the peanut supply dwindles.<br /><br />Bill spoke further: "The disconnect we were having with the human writers was causing a lot of aggravation in our editorial offices. What the chimps do is take older editions and change one word on each page, which then passes for the new edition. That's all we need really. Most of our readers don't give a fig about content anyway. What they need is the security blanket of some sort of guidebook to hold. And that's what we give them."<br /><br />Next on the horizon, Newlin is thinking seriously about outsourcing cover designs to elephants in northern Thailand. "I have heard that they are quite capable artists and very adept with their trunks. Of course, the cost of feeding them is far higher than the monkeys, but still well below human designer rates, even those of starving artists in garrets." Newlin is currently looking into cheaper sources of feed for the mammoth designers, in order to cut costs.<br /><br /><br /></div></div>rajhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225664738535997533noreply@blogger.com0