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By admin, September 21, 2009 12:12 pm

David Pierce
1922

When your toes turn purple and your eyelashes sprout icicles, you know it’s time to head south for the winter. The birds do it, so why shouldn’t you? Stop, now, before you break your back from shoveling one more pile of snow, and consider some exotic locales for winter getaways where the only mounds of white you’ll being seeing are of the hot, dry, and sandy variety.
Speaking of white, sandy beaches, a trip to Antigua, or its neighboring island Barbuda may be just what you need in order to restore feeling to your toes. Every water sport lover’s dream, the Caribbean nation boasts of at least 365 beaches surrounded by clear blue waters with an average temperature of 80 degrees. Trade your snow boots for fins, and snorkel through spectacular coral reefs, maybe even catching a glimpse of the wreck of the merchant ship Andes, which has rested on the bottom of Deep Bay since 1905. If you’d rather not get your feet wet, you can enjoy all that the charming capital St. John’s in the northern part of the island of Antigua has to offer. Purchase colorful local artwork while strolling down Market Street or fortify yourself with sweet black pineapple (which isn’t really black) and some local rum. Watch a spectacular sunset over English Harbour on the summit of Shirley Heights while tapping your feet to the rhythms of a steel band. If you would prefer to watch birds instead of people, then head north to the tiny island of Barbuda, which has only a single village of 1100 people but is famed for its frigate birds and huge rookery.
If Antigua’s cricket-playing and English-speaking ways bring up unpleasant memories of Britain’s colonial imperialism, perhaps its time to head to Rio de Janeiro for a little taste of the party-loving legacy of Portuguese imperialism in Brazil, the largest country in South America. Lying on the Bay of Guanabra, the city, which is most well-known for its pre-Lenten festival of wantonness, “Carnaval,?also prides itself on 75 miles of coastline. Do words like Ipanema or Copacabana ring a bell? Yep, they’re both in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilians in the city party hard and pray hard. After dancing all night at a samba club, look into the sky and enjoy the slightly surreal sight a 128 foot, 1,000 ton statue of Christ the Redeemer hovering over the city proudly at the top of Corcovado Peak.
If Rio’s religious version of the Statue of Liberty has you feeling faintly guilty for deserting your home country in the midst of winter, perhaps Perth, Australia will provide the English-speaking taste of home (with an exotic flair) that you need. Kick back and ride the waves in the Western Australia’s isolated capital, nestled between a blue, blue ocean and a dry, sandy desert. Getting there is half the adventure, consisting of a 4000 km car ride from Sydney or a long and winding train ride on the Indian Pacific. Explore the Swan River and the 400-hectare King’s Park in the south, magnificent nineteenth-century buildings constructed using convict labor in the city center, or perhaps travel north to swim with the dolphins at Monkey Mia.
If Perth leaves you feeling a little isolated, perhaps a trip to the modern island city of Singapore, with a population of approximately 4.5 million, will help alleviate your winter doldrums. With not one but four official languages-Chinese, Malay, Tamil, and English-the country offers a delightful blend of ethnic influences. Enjoy a bowl of hot noodles followed by your favorite curry. Buy a sari in Little India on a Sunday evening or sip on herbal tea in Chinatown. Or perhaps enjoy the sights on a cable-car ride to Sentosa Island, the sight of a thrilling amusement park.
If Sentosa Island puts you in mind of childhood yearnings for the Magic Kingdom, perhaps a trip to the sub-tropical Sunshine State may be just the cold remedy you are looking for. The Magic Kingdom isn’t the only amusement park in central Florida. Choose from the likes of Universal Studies, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens, or Cypress Gardens, all within a short drive of each other. Florida is all about the tourist industry, and travelers can find some great winter travel deals if they shop around. Wherever you decide to go this winter, don’t forget to pack sunscreen, a bathing suit, and your favorite book. Warmth and relaxation wait just a few thousand miles away.

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By admin, September 20, 2009 1:47 pm

Joy Cagil
1979

A few years ago, while we were in London, I insisted that we visit the Charing Cross Road since books act like magnets to me. Having no other option, my husband had to agree half-heartedly.
Charing Cross Road is a London street that runs north from Trafalgar Square to St Giles’ Circus and then becomes Tottenham Court Road. Charing Cross Road is not just any street with bookstores, it is the street of bookstores in London, as each town should have one, and if it does, that street gets visited by me to the exclusion of any other sight.
My first impression of the Charing Cross Road, somehow, has to do with the way London’s traffic lights work. This may be because I first noticed their odd behavior while we were in the cab on the way to Charing Cross Road. The lights were red, green, and yellow as in the US, but when the yellow light came up before it turned green, red light remained; so, we ended up staring at red and yellow lights together. Maybe that’s the way things are destined to work on Charing Cross, together…yet apart.
On Charing Cross Road, bookstores stand side by side like wallflowers at a dance wearing different colors. Above them, acting like their chaperones, are old brick buildings. Maybe these are separate edifices, but they look as if they are of one massive structure because their bricks appear to be in similar colors showing the same age and practically the exact wear and tear. As little as I understand from architecture, I think, the long rectangular windows with white tops and tiny sills point to the same style.
If you go to the Charing Cross Road take the tube. You’ll save a lot of money. We could have taken the tube very easily, yet for some trivial reason, we didn’t.
That day, when the black taxicab left us at one corner, the reddish brown Zwemmers’ beckoned us to its large window, boasting art, film, and photography books, but we wandered nextdoor, into the store painted in blue. This was Al Hoda, an Islamic bookstore with quite an impressive selection of books on art and architecture of the Islamic world, plus other books pertaining to Middle-eastern culture.
Next to Al Hoda was Smith and Sons, an old-fashioned pipe and cigar shop in red. We looked through its window and wondered why people would spend so much time and energy, carving fancy figures on elephant tusks just to smoke dangerous stuff from them.
Next was the store where graphic, web, and commercial design books were sold. After that came Shipley Specialist art books and then Silver Moon Women’s bookshop. I wondered why they would erect a separate women’s bookshop. Were we being talked down to as if in a harem or were we being revered? I opted to choose the latter idea, since the books inside were not too different from those at any other store.
After that, adjacent to a shop called “Any Amount of Books,” stood “Henry Pordes Books” with a large white sign covering its whole façade. Next to it stood a used book store “Charing Cross Road Bookshop.” By the way, “antiquarian” and “Second hand books” are the names given to used books. They don’t call them used books.
The most interesting shop to me was the “Scot Centre” selling everything Scottish from books to pipes to tartans. After the Scot Centre, another used book store curved into the Great Newport St. I know all this because I wrote down the names of these stores in my tiny pad. Seeing me do this, some people in those stores gave me their cards and promised a discount if I ordered from them. How is it possible to hassle on book prices?
Inside the Scot Centre, an elderly, knowledgeable gentleman volunteered to enlighten us about Charing Cross’s history. Charing Cross was one of 12 “Eleanor Crosses” erected at the end of the thirteenth century by the grieving Edward I when his wife Queen Eleanor of Castile died.
At each place where Queen Eleanor’s funeral’s procession stopped for the night, Edward built a memorial cross in her honor. Charing Cross was one of them.
Later, this cross was removed and replaced by the statue of Charles I. Much later, a replica of the cross was placed at the rail station. Since most of London was demolished either by fire or by Hitler’s bombers, many authentic looking structures or statues are only excellent replicas of what has been.
As to the name “Charing” there are many interpretations. The word could come from “cierring,” which means turning or bending, referring to the Thames River, but the most romantic one is “Chere Reine” meaning “Dear Queen.” Romantic? Yes, definitely so, for Charing Cross Road is a very romantic place, at least to a book lover like me.

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By admin, September 19, 2009 4:08 pm

Colin Hartness
180

Have you ever thought what it would be like to just relax quietly under the sun and at sea-no hustling or bustling, far away from the madding crowds in a casual attire and in clean air and just a small group of likeminded people as company? You are on a World Cruise- around the world, Australia and New Zealand, the Orient, South America, South Pacific, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean. The ships are equipped with spacious, well-furnished cabins with private facilities having a well-upholstered lounge, a library, good deck space and a small pool. The fares typically range from $70 to $130 a day and the world cruise is for duration from about four to ten weeks, but some are two to three weeks and some are longer.
With World Cruise, you cover 27 nations on five continents. You navigate through the French Polynesia, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, glacier carved fjords of New Zealand, enchanted China’s landscapes and the forbidden palaces. You pay a visit to bazaars in Hong Kong and the buddhas in Bangkok, the colonial and modern blend in Singapore. Enjoy exploring Delhi, Jaipur or the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tombs and temples under the ruling King times. The World Cruise even takes you to Antartica -the ultimate destination. It sure is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the grandeur of Rome, the glory of Rome through the warm waters of the equatorial Atlantic.
Taking the world cruise will be the most memorable vacation you have ever undertaken. You would cherish this experience for the rest of your life where you learn about history or diverse cultures the world over or simply unwind yourself. World cruises provide American customers a service of a lifetime-delicious meals, sightseeing, and entertainment combined with a relaxed friendly atmosphere-value for money as you may understand. Now you can sail in style and comfort- Volga river, Moscow canal, Volga/Baltic canal, the Svir River, the Rybinski Reservoir, Lake Ladoga, Lake Onega, and the Neva River. You will certainly be the envy of the Byzantine Emperors as you travel the legendary route between Scandinavia to Kiev and the Black Sea until you reach Dnieper River. Great works of art-’the Panorama of the Sevastopal Battle’ and you can also visit the room where Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin signed the Yalta Treaty in 1945.
Age is no constraint to take the World Cruise-whether you are 79 or reaching 80, you are welcome aboard. Of course, if you are under 13 the insurance companies might restrict your entry into the cruise. A month prior to departure, you will receive the boarding information along with the ticket package. You may receive a mailing list with port agent addresses with your ticket package-so you can be in touch with your family and friends while sailing. The only change you can expect is the change in the boarding date. However, you may not know the actual time of boarding until the day before or day of boarding.
Do not forget to carry cash, US currency only. Personal checks, traveler checks and credit cards are unacceptable. For you to undertake the world cruise emergency medical/evacuation is necessary. This covers you medically in foreign ports and allows you to avail medical treatment in case of illness. Mostly if you are over 65 years, it is obligatory to have a medical certificate within ninety days of sailing. You need not worry about canceling your trip due to covered reasons as you are covered for it too under trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

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By admin, September 18, 2009 5:59 pm

Chris Robertson
1374

Wherever you stay, traveling abroad can be a wondrous adventure. New sights, new sounds, new people, and perhaps even a new language add sparks to your vacation and provide you with experiences and memories that can last a lifetime.
Although many people choose to travel abroad with group tours or book hotels through a travel agency, others are increasingly choosing a more personal option: vacation rentals. Homeowners in places ranging from Europe to the Caribbean are offering either their primary or secondary residences as vacation rentals. Nestled within small towns or at the center of bustling metropolises, vacation rentals can provide a unique and more personal vacation experience.
When you book holiday homes in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, or the Caribbean, you spend your vacation surrounded by locals and immersed in the culture. Vacation rentals provide a refreshing contrast to more impersonal hotels, and give you more options for your holiday experience. With a vacation rental, you can buy your own groceries and cook at “home,” which will save money and give you greater flexibility. Vacation rentals can also serve as a “home base,” from which you can travel to outlying areas.
Vacation rentals also provide a broader range of options than more traditional accommodations. You can rent a house, a flat, a room, or even a castle or a barge! You can select from among vacation rentals with two bedrooms to more than nine bedrooms. You can also find accommodations with private pools or those that are wheelchair accessible.
Whether you choose holiday homes in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, or the Caribbean, it’s important to be prepared for traveling abroad. The U.S. Department of State offers these ten tips to U.S. citizens traveling abroad:
1. Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visas, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
2. Read the U.S. Department of State Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit.
3. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws.
4. Make two copies of your passport identification page. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen. Leave one copy at home with friends or relatives. Carry the other with you in a place separate from your passport.
5. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
6. Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas. Do not accept packages from strangers.
7. Prior to your departure, you should register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website. Registration will make your presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an emergency.
8. To avoid being a target of crime, try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards.
9. In order to avoid violating local laws, deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques.
10. If you get into trouble, contact the nearest U.S. embassy.

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By admin, September 17, 2009 8:17 pm

Dave Lympany
1974

York Region has a population of over 870,000 people and covers an area of over 1,750 square kilometres. Sitting between Peel Region in the West and Durham region in the east, York Region consists of the Cities of Markham and Vaughan, with the townships of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, King, Newmarket, Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville.
The two main population centers are the Cities of Markham and Vaughan. Both Cities have average populations with Markham being the largest in the Region with over 220,000. Markham is renowned for being the Hi Tech capital of Canada with several high profile corporate head offices making the city their home. The city is modern with excellent healthcare and schooling. Vaughan has one particular claim to fame in being directly north of Toronto, making them “above?the main city. This too is a rapidly expanding city with great facilities and plenty of new communities springing up.
The York Region is host to over 25,000 businesses which provide 400,000 jobs – a number that is growing by approximately 20,000 per year at current rates. With close proximity to the Pearson International airport and a young, well educated workforce, York Region is one of the fastest growing regions of the GTA and is very popular with Immigrants. The York Region Transit system connects most communities within the Region to each other and the Toronto GO Transit system to give a very effective public transport network.
The Region administers the Healthcare and Education following the Provincial guidelines. The York Region District School Board and the York Region Catholic District School Board are responsible for the day to day operations of the Region’s schools – all of which can be contacted via these sites.
The Town Of Aurora – With a population of over 43,000, the Town of Aurora is another rapidly expanding town. The population is young and has a high average income (compared to most Canadian towns) of around $110,000 per household. The housing is fairly expensive though with an average price of a single family detached home being over $370,000 two years ago!
There is a large variety of employers in the town and it is also commutable to the Toronto downtown core. This gives a low unemployment level of 4% in 2001 with the majority of employment in management/business, finance and sciences/technology. Manufacturing and retail are the other big areas of employment. To research all the businesses currently operating in the town go to the chamber of commerce site via the towns Economic Development Division page on the Town website.
The town itself is a historical place with plenty of old buildings with lots of character. With close proximity to both the big city of Toronto and the rural areas, Aurora provides excellent recreational opportunities to its residents. This ranges from parks, playgrounds and pedestrian trails to championship golf courses, fine dining and theatre. A full recreational program is offered in the Town which will soon be augmented by a new state of the art Recreation Centre.
The Town Of East Gwillimbury is a semi rural area located only half an hours drive from Toronto. Another historic area with settlement dating back to the 1700’s, the population is now over 20,000 and growing.
Again, East Gwillimbury has an excellent array of recreational facilities including arena’s, trails, play parks and over 135 acres of parkland. There are ice rinks, outdoor sports pitches, the usual golf courses and for the less active a 16 screen movie theatre.
There are a wide variety of employers in the town providing ample employment and the new GO Transit station gives good access to the city. The population also enjoys an above average household income.
The Town Of Georgina is the most northerly area of the York Region and is made up of several smaller communities. Situated on the South eastern shores of Lake Simcoe, the communities of Georgina have plenty of beaches and open space – especially with the area being known as “Getaway Country”.
The lake offers up year round recreation including swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing and ice fishing to name a few. On top of this the great outdoors is all around and the communities have good facilities. Some of the more prominent communities are Keswick, Sutton, Udora, Jacksons Point and Port Bolster.
Most employment seems to be in the local services and tourism sector though full research can be carried out through the chamber of commerce website.
The Township Of King is home to around 20,000 people and is a fairly rural area. Famous for the Holland Marsh – a fertile area that produces most of the Provinces fresh vegetables – most industry is based upon the support of agriculture. There are a lot of Horse breeders in the area along with livestock and dairy farms. There is some light industry and the Seneca College campus is located on the former Easton estate.
As with most Canadian towns, King has good sporting and leisure facilities including golf courses, trails, parks and 3 arena’s. Most facilities are pay as you use – more details can be found on the township website. The Township has a rich history dating back to the aboriginal peoples and then the western settlers in the late 1600’s. A museum is now dedicated to the area’s history and will be well worth a visit.
There are excellent transport links to Toronto and it’s only around 40 minutes to drive to Pearson International airport (south). A prosperous town, the average income back in 1996 was over 97,000 with an unemployment rate of 5%. In the 8 years since I can only see that the average income would rise to over $100,000 per household.
The Town Of Newmarket is another large town with a population of over 73,000 that is growing fairly quickly. Over 70% of the population are under 45 years old. With all the amenities you would expect for a big town, Newmarket is home to the York Region Administrative Headquarters, the Provincial Court and the District 1 Police HQ.
The Southlake regional health centre is a fully equipped modern hospital with plans for expansion. These combine to make local government the highest employer in the area. On top of this, the local business community is growing at over 3.5% each year with retail stores and manufacturing companies having a large presence. Use the links on the town site to go to the Chamber of Commerce site for the full listing of businesses.
For recreation purposes there is a full program of sports and activities with the new Ray Twinney Rec. centre having two arena’s and an indoor pool. There are several other arena’s, pools and rinks in the town as well as a youth centre with a fully equipped skatepark. All the usual outdoor activities are available in the area including hiking, cross country skiing and golf. For the less energetic, the Upper Canada Mall is an impressive 1 million square feet of shops which should pacify even the most hardy shopper!
House prices are reasonable for Ontario with the average in 2001 being $242,000 for a single family detached home. Being located close to Toronto brings obvious benefits with great transport links including the GTA GO Transit system. The York Region Transit system also operates in the town. Highway 404 will direct you to the downtown area of Toronto in around 30 minutes and Pearson International airport is only an hour away. Buttonville airport in nearby Markham is useful for lighter regional aircraft.
The Town Of Richmond Hill is one of the fastest growing large municipalities in Canada and has a population of over 158,000. Situated directly North of Toronto, (between Markham and Vaughan), Richmond Hill is ideally located for commuting and access to the city for recreation or onward travel. As with the other municipalities, Richmond Hill has the York Transit, Toronto Transit Commission and the GTA GO Transit networks providing great options for transport.
Richmond Hill is renowned for its world class high tech manufacturing and research companies with the lowest R&D taxes in the G7 group of countries. Major international IT companies like Lexmark and Compaq are headquartered here along with MGI software and Shaw Communications. The young population provide a well educated workforce and with the average cost of housing lower than most other areas of the GTA is a popular place to settle.
Recreational opportunities are plentiful with Lake Wilcox providing aqautic fun along with the Lois Hancy Wave Pool and over a hundred parks for jogging, cycling and hiking. Golfers are well catered for and there are movie theatres, the enormous central Library and the David Dunlop Observatory for the less active.
The Town Of Whitchurch-Stouffville is a collection of smaller communities and rural areas and was established in 1792. Located some 24 Km North of Toronto it is on the Eastern/Central side of York Region. There is a population of around 24,000 who enjoy pleasant countryside with farms and equestrian facilities along with the small urban centres.
The area has good transportation links with the York Region Transit and the GTA GO Transit networks. Only 30 minutes from Pearson and 15 to Buttonville airports means you can soon be on your travels.
The major employers are in the Business and personal services sector with the area experiencing a healthy 8.5% growth rate. Only 3% of the population remains unemployed.
A modern Hospital opened in 1990 and with good schools, a library and Museum there are plenty of facilities. The York-Durham heritage railway runs through the area with several stops and there are plenty of golf courses and recreational programs.
For more detailed information and great links please go to http://www.onestopimmigration-canada.com/york_region.html

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By admin, September 16, 2009 10:10 pm

Enestle Zimba
687

This is the ultimate, the finale of the campaign ;Visit Zambia 2005.& But again it’s the beginning of the more exciting times for Zambia safari.
What will happen?
An estimated 40,000 international visitors and safari enthusiasts will arrive in Livingstone, Zambia in November 2005. They will be here to commemorate a number of centenaries and the sighting of the Victoria Falls.
1 – Livingstone City was established in April 1905,
2 – The Victoria Falls Bridge was completed in April and commissioned in September 1905,
3 – The Seventh Day Adventist church was established in Zambia in April of 1905,
4 – The Jesuit Fathers of the Catholic church established two missionaries: Chikuni in Monze and Kasisi in Lusaka in August of 1905.
5 – The Baptist Church union was established in Zambia in August 1905.
6 – The day for the late Secretary General of the United Nations, Dag Hammerskjeold, who died in a plane crash at Ndola, Zambia on September 18, 1961.
7 – and the 150 years since Dr David Livingstone discovered the Victoria Falls.
Wow… and that’s quite a few centennials!
The Livingstone Events Organisation (LEO) has set up activities that will culminate into the grand finale of the ;Visit Zambia 2005& campaign on November 16, the day Dr Livingstone sighted the world wonder, the Victoria Falls, 150 years ago!
Zambia is taking special interest in this event. The world has been invited to celebrate with Zambian. The visitors will include the grand children and the great-grand children of Dr Livingstone. Now that’s a lot of ‘grands’ the ;Visit Zambia 2005& campaign will take on board.
So far two of Dr Livingstone’s great grand children Dr David Livingstone Wilson and Dierdre Nyasa Rolf Livingstone have accepted to come to Zambia.
According to the Livingstone Centenary Celebrations 2005, the 150 years anniversary celebrations of Dr Livingstone’s sighting of the Victoria Falls would be held on 15th and 16th November in Livingstone, a town closest to the Victoria Falls in Zambia.
Where is the safari carnival taking place in Africa? What is Zambia safari carnival celebration of a few centenaries and 150 years since the Victoria Falls was discovered…

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By admin, September 15, 2009 11:34 pm

DesertOnline.com
1287

Palm Springs, California is a two-hour drive approximately 100 miles east of the city of Los Angeles in beautiful Riverside County. First inhabited by the Cahill Indians, the name Palm Springs comes from the Indian phrase meaning “The Palm Of God’s Hand? By 1950, Palm Springs became a getaway resort for the rich and famous. As of the year 2,000, almost 43,000 people resided in this lush area. In the wintertime, this number jumps to almost 75,000 people, with around 27,000 people living in second vacation homes.
Palm Springs lies in the California Desert on the western edge of the Coachella Valley. At 487 feet above sea level and covering 96 square miles, it offers a beautiful view of the impressive Mt. San Jacinto. In addition to natural landmarks, the city offers it’s residents an almost endless number of activities including tennis courts, golf courses, an Olympic sized pool, a dog park, a water park, and trails of all kinds (including bike routes and horseback trails). Palm Springs even has a baseball stadium. Palm Springs is also noted for it’s vast city library and museums.
In addition to these activities, Palm Springs also offers visitors the chance to visit boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, restaurants, and night clubs.
Palm Springs has an unusually warm, dry climate. This is because it is surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains on the west, the Santa Rosa mountains on the south, and the Little San Bernadino mountains to the north. Although temperatures rise above 100 in the summer, you will still remain comfortable due to the low humidity.
One of the outstanding activities offered by Palm Springs is golf. Palm Springs offers over 30 different golf courses spread throughout it’s vast acreage. It attracts the most prestigious golfers in the world, including Jack Nicklaus. In fact, Palm Springs is the home of the PGA West Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course. This course is the home of the PGA ’s Tour Qualifying School. The course is names as one of Golf Magazine’s top 100 golf courses you can play. Other fabulous courses you can try out are the PGA West TCP Stadium Course, Silver Rock Resort (designed by Arnold Palmer), the Palm Desert Resort Country Club, and the Desert Princess Country Club. As you can see, Palm Springs hosts the best of the best when it comes to golf.
When you have had your fill of golf (or if golf is not your thing), Palm Springs offers a multitude of fun, unique activities for you to enjoy. If you feel like taking to the sky, you can enjoy a ride in a colorful hot air balloon, allowing you to view the beautiful vistas of California. For a little more excitement, you can ride in a classic biplane or warbird of the 20’s or 40’s. Imagine the thrill of aerobatic flying with a naval pilot at the controls.
If the sky isn’t your cup of tea, then you can take advantage of the Coachella Valley and the surrounding area. You may wish to take nature hikes in the valley, or take a ride on the breathtaking Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The tramway is a suspended cable car with a 15-minute ride across the valley each way. If you decide to stay on the ground, horse riding and jeep tours are available.
Palm Springs is a showplace retreat for people of all walks of life. It offers something for everyone, from visitors from other countries, to those just wanting to get away for a while. It offers breathtaking views, as well as the beauty of the city itself.

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By admin,

Aleister Q. Fleming
820

What is it about the classic doctor’s bag that people seem to love so much? Is it the utilitarian design? Is it the inherent functionality? Or is it something to do with nostalgic sentiment and a need to connect with the past?
Fashion designers and fashionistas everywhere seem to be quite taken with these bags. Many of the leading Italian fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Fendi are now producing bags inspired by the classic doctor’s bag. People just seem to love them!
If these bags strike your fancy, but spending hundreds of dollars on a handbag is not in your budget, there are a number of options available to you. Why not consider looking around your local antique market? Many a prized possession has been discovered in out-of-the-way antique markets.
As well, you might consider visiting the vintage clothing shops in your area. Be sure to speak with the shop keepers or their employees in these stores. Chances are, if they don’t have it, they can get it!
A quick internet search for these products will also yield plenty of results. There are a number of websites out there dedicated to handbags and other such products. If what you are truly looking for is a tried-and-true old school doctor’s bag, why not explore your options on E-Bay? There is no doubt you will find what you are looking for at the world’s biggest garage sale! Who knows? You might even pay next-to-nothing for it.
Apart from the classic leather doctor’s bag, these bags come in a variety of colors and materials. Bags made from vinyl, canvas, nylon, plastic are all over the marketplace. Then there are others that are made from exotic materials, such as alligator or ostrich leather. The choice of materials available for handbags is limited only by your imagination.
In my humble opinion there is no substitute for the classic leather doctor’s bag! There is just something wonderfully alluring about these bags. Is it the smell of the leather? Is it the weight of the bag? I just don’t know. I’ll have to give it some thought, and get back to you.

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By admin, September 14, 2009 3:39 am

Jonathan Tan
74
12:30:19

Don’t forget your vacation insurance before you take off for any travel.
I am very serious when it comes to insurance, I do not want to take any chances, I grew up in a family with my mother as a sole bread winner, my Dad passed away when I was 10 years old without any insurance. Life was very very difficult then.
So the same goes with vacation insurance too!
It can cost you an extra few thousands of dollars if the cruise or tour operator goes bankrupt, or if you need to shorten your vacation due to sickness or injury.
Quick Tip
The biggest myth would be that your normal health insurance covers you when you are away, or that since many travelers visit an area or region, access to medical care is easy or affordable.
Here’s a quick guide to understanding what a good vacation insurance should cover for any travel.
1. Travel Curtailment
If you or an immediate family member becomes seriously ill or is injured during the vacation most vacation insurance companies would reimburse you for the unused portion of the vacation.
2. Travel Cancellation
You would be reimbursed if the cruise line or tour operator goes out of business. It would also reimburse you if you have to cancel the vacation due to sickness, a death in the family or other calamity listed in the insurance policy.
Travel cancellation is very different from a Cancellation Waiver that many cruise and tour operators offer. Waivers are relatively inexpensive. They provide coverage if you have to cancel the trip, but they have many restrictions.
They must be purchased when you book the trip and will usually not cover you immediately before departure. Most importantly, waiver is not insurance.
2. Personal liability
Personal Liability is important in case of legal liability, arising out of one’s negligence in causing a third party injury (or death) and/or third party property damage.
Some traveler insurance companies even insure against the loss or theft of golfing equipment and laptops.
3. Luggage/Baggage/Flight Delay
This feature comes along with a “Time” excess, meaning that the traveler insurance companies only compensate when the delay exceeds a certain time frame. The limit for loss of luggage/baggage/flight varies, usually with a cap for individual items.
4. Emergency & Medical Assistance and Information Service
Look for those 24-hour services that offer information on visa requirements, foreign exchange, weather forecasts and medical advice et cetera.
Emergency evacuation is very helpful indeed for inexperienced travelers or travelers with medical conditions or for those who are traveling to more remote and less traveled places.
These service centers may also offer emergency assistance in the form of embassy, legal, interpreter and medical referrals.
Most vacation insurance policies would compensate a couple of hundred dollars for each day of hospitalization up to the maximum limit indicated in their respective packages.
This is solely to compensate the traveler for the number of days spent in a hospital overseas and should not be mistaken as hospital or medical reimbursement, which takes care of the hospital and ward charges.
4. Accidental Death insurance
Personal accident coverage, which is to compensate the insured for permanent or temporary disablement or death as a result of an accident.
2 Main Types of Vacation Insurance
Annual Policy
Most traveler insurance companies offer vacation insurance on annual basis as well as per trip basis. Annual policies cover unlimited trips made by the insured during the entire year provided that each trip does not exceed a certain number of days, usually 90 days.
No declaration is required.
For frequent flyers, this type of cover would be most ideal in terms of cost and convenience.
Family Vacation Insurance
Family packages are also designed to cater for immediate families traveling together. Definition of immediate families would mean you, your spouse and your children.
Family vacation insurance are usually priced lower premium than if individual insurance policies were to be taken up for the whole family.
Special Features ALERT!
Go for vacation insurance policies come with higher deductible and this translates into lower premium.
The worst case scenario is you may end up having to bear the first $40 or $50 of every claim that you make.
Deductible: (Also known as Excess in UK, NZ, AU) This is the amount that the insured must pay before the vacation insurance starts paying for your claim.
This may be an annual amount, an amount for the duration of the policy, or an amount for each incident. Choose the latter.
For those of you who intend to engage in water or winter sports during your vacation, it would be wise to take up your insurers who offer free coverage for such activities.
Some traveler insurance companies may charge an additional premium for this extension, so it is better to check this point before you effect your cover.
Unfortunately, the definition of water sports in the typical travel policy does not include scuba diving.
Not surprisingly, bungee jumping is excluded from most policies. Watch out for age limits imposed by some traveler insurance companies, meaning that persons exceeding a certain age are excluded from their coverage. But if you belong to this elderly group, fret not.
There are traveler insurance companies that do not impose any age limit and offer the same coverage at no additional premium loading.
A unique coverage that is being offered in the traveler insurance market is the “Car Rental Excess”. This feature takes care of the excess amount that the insured normally has to bear (under the motor policy taken up at car rental companies) in the event of damage to the rented vehicle while driving overseas.
Price of Vacation Insurance also known as Premium – Premium Computation
For “per-trip” policies, the premium payable hinges considerably on the number of days of travel, the country of destination and choice of plan.
For example, if you are from Europe, a vacation in USA warrants a much higher premium than a trip within Europe for the same number of days.
Some traveler insurance companies provide the option of higher limits of coverage at of course, a higher premium.
If price is of concern, it is advisable to keep on hand the premium schedule from a few traveler insurance companies for comparison before you activate your insurance before each trip.
Claim Procedure
I consider this the most important aspect of buying a vacation insurance.
All traveler insurance companies will require you to lodge your claims within a certain time frame. You would be required to complete and submit a claim form, which can be obtained from the traveler insurance company.
In almost all instances, your claims must be accompanied by relevant documents, such as medical receipts for medical reimbursement or hospital cash; a police report for loss of money or personal documents; an official letter from the airline in cases of flight or lugguage delay and loss of lugguage if within custody of the airline.
In all cases, call up and inform your traveler insurance company immediately for necessary advice.
There you are… now with a basic knowledge of vacation insurance, you are equipped to choose the best suited to your travel needs and you are all set to fly!

Comments (0)

By admin, September 13, 2009 5:29 am

Jakob Jelling
709

The Camargue is a very interesting French destination where visitors can find a wide variety of different activities to do and spots to meet. This area is located on the Mediterranean coast, and it is highly recommendable for those who enjoy water and beach related activities to visit it.
One of the main places visitors can meet while being at The Camargue is Camargue Parc Naturel or Camargue’s natural park. This park is of a great size and includs several different spots within its area. One of these areas is St. Maries de la Mer, a very interesting town offering several attractive spots to visit as well as amazing landscapes to observe. This town is famous due to its folkloric music which attracts people from all places all year around that come wishing to enjoy from close this unique art expression method.
In this area, visitors could also meet French ranches and observe how horses and bulls are bred in them. These ranches are locally known as manades always welcome visitors and allow them to observe from close this activity that is typical of The Comargue and its surroundings.
As it could be expected in an area famous by its natural park, the fauna and flora of it is very attractive and might be very interesting for visitors to observe. The Comargue contains several amazing ponds and plains, ideal for visitors to walk around and enjoy of the fresh air and beautiful natural environment while meeting them. The Launes Pond and the Port Gardian are examples of these natural spots which visitors should not miss.
There also are several other interesting places to meet and things to do while being at the Comargue. This area offers a great quantity of activities available to visitors, such as horseback riding, mountain biking, bull fights, races, sunbathing at beaches, practicing several different water sports, and going to discos, to theatres and to music shows as well. Among the places visitors should try to visit while being in this area there is the Baroncelli Museum, the Romanesque church, the Pioch Badet Tzigane Museum, Giraud and the Ornithological Park.