My share about travel, picnic, and tourism

Going Holiday for Your Family Health

2011-05-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

Vacation or going adventure is the most awaited time of each person for a holiday, although many things can be done from a simple start to a holiday that takes a high cost.

But it did not matter as long as we focus on positive aspects of the holiday, especially for health. Researchers have demonstrated the holiday was highly recommended by doctors as having an influence on health improvement. Here's a holiday for health benefits:

Living longer
A study of 749 women aged 45-64 years in America shows both housewives and working women who take vacations have increased significantly in the decline in heart attacks. The housewife who took a vacation once every six years or less had almost twice the risk of heart attack compared to a vacation of two or more per year.

Keeping brain cells
James Sands of the South Coast of the Institute for Applied Gerontology studied 112 women aged 65-92 and found there is a relationship between the routines of life that many of the decline in intellectual function. Although there is a positive relationship between the holidays with intellectual function.

Increase life satisfaction
Linda hoopes and John Lounsbury, Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee researchers surveyed 128 employees before and after the holiday. They found there is an increase in life satisfaction after the holidays.

Reduces tension
External stress and life events both in the workplace or home can make a person feel happy or stressed. Symptoms include feeling tired, do not have the drive, not interested in doing something, not enthusiastic, and even fear. Researchers from the Department of Psychology, University of Tel Aviv. Mina Westman and Eden Dove found in 76 depressed employees decreased significantly during the holidays.

Improve family life
Reported in An experiment in leisure (Science Journal, 1968), WJ Kaiser analyzes the responses of 390 employees of the steel mills that make a holiday for 13 weeks. He found the holiday turned out to provide benefits to family life. The workers reportedly more interested in and share activities with your spouse and their children.

There is something that contains elements of treatment out of the daily routine and enjoy a different environment. Every holiday has a unique advantage. Even for some one-week vacation package that is set to have a durable advantage. Sometimes a journey is an exploration of the struggle and the people change the way they view themselves and their difficult circumstances at home.

Benefits of picnic and enjoy a holiday at weekend

2011-05-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

There was a time and there is a period of weak spirit. At the time of the spirit activities such as lax or spirit of work decreased, in fact taking a break from routine activities required. When the spirit is his job, there is also a weak time resting.

Picnic or holiday break proved to be an alternative that many have a positive effect on our bodies. Vacation can make our minds clear that impact on creativity, more quickly create new ideas and solutions when we return routine activity.

When a family is often faced the problem of the holiday or picnic was encouraged by religion, which would be a means of "charging" the harmony and friendship among the members of the string family. Even so my brother, do not let our holiday exceeds levels necessary or excessive.

Perhaps the only positive effects do not last long vacation, usually a maximum manfaaat holiday can only be enjoyed during the two weeks since returning. But we should not underestimate the holidays. Because the holiday is highly correlated with physical and mental health. People who take the time for a vacation has more life satisfaction, less depression and mindset more clearly than that is not concerned with the holidays. So, let's picnic and enjoy a holiday weekend.

Holidays in Hong Kong Disneyland

2011-01-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

Holidays have become important factors for the workers. With the holidays we can refresh the body and mind after we tired of working. Especially the people who reside and settle in another country. In Hong Kong is actually no shortage of interesting place to vacation or just refreshing. One of them is Hong Kong Disneyland, which had been opened since September 12, 2005 yesterday.

This place is much visited by tourists from Asian countries, especially during major feast days such as Chinese New Year, Easter Day, New Year's Day, Christmas, etc.. When the big day is usually also held special events like the parade of Disney.

Although crowded, but Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest Disneyland in the world. Hong Kong Disneyland is divided into 4 sections, namely:

1. Main Street USA
2. Adventureland
3. Fantasyland
4. Tomorrow Land
5. Jungle Demon
6. Haunted Trail Adventure

In this region also memounyai two hotel buildings namely the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is a classy luxury and Disney's Hollywood Hotel, a classy standard. Regarding his own entry ticket available in various kategori.One-Day Tickets and Annual Passes. One-Day Ticket Prices Tickets for adults are HK $ 350 *, children aged 3-11 years is HK $ 250 *, the elderly aged 65 and older is HK $ 170 *.

How Do Go?
To go to this place practically easy because it is close to Hong Kong International Air Port. a little far from town, but a vehicle to travel to get there is not difficult and can be reached by a special bus, ship or MTR.

The most easy, look for the MTR and get off at Sunny Bay Station. From here, take the MTR to Disneyland Resort Station special. Price from Causeway Bay to Disneyland Resort Station Station around HK $ 5.23.

Tips if you want to vacation here, you should go on a typical day arena at the feasts of Hong Kong and China or day of week, Disneyland is going to be very solid, queuing for a long permainanpun. At the entrance of each game, there is a machine for such a reservation ticket to shorten the time you line up, how to use the detail to ask the staff in place to log in every game. How interesting it! :)

Buffalo Sate Nusantara in Indonesia

2010-12-19T02:01:00.000-08:00

One of the typical culinary Kudus city, in addition to the Kudus Soto, Lentog, porridge, rice is the Satay Pindang Buffalo. I do not know if in other areas there sate using buffalo meat. Buffalo Sate of this archipelago is one of the famous satay seller in Ghost, the seller is a second generation of the legendary buffalo satay seller in the Kudus of Buffalo Satay Pak Jastro. Why the name change, because the Satay Jastro name is still used by the second wife of the pack this Jastro.
Actually, this buffalo satay skewers are not as commonly used raw meat that were burned, but the meat like beef jerky made in advance of crushed and seasoned and cooked first, then in put on the satay.

Going to Bali Indonesian attract

2009-01-28T16:27:00.000-08:00

Before you going to Bali for a travel or journeys, important to see this article:

Unlike most of Muslim-majority Indonesia, about 93.18% of Bali's population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, formed as a combination of existing local beliefs and Hindu influences from mainland Southeast Asia and South Asia. Minority religions include Islam (4.79%), Christianity (1.38%), and Buddhism (0.64%). These figures do not include immigrants from other parts of Indonesia.

Balinese Hinduism is a heterogeneous amalgam in which gods and demigods are worshipped together with Buddhist heroes, the spirits of ancestors, indigenous agricultural deities and also with places considered sacred. Religion as it is practiced in Bali is a composite belief system that embraces not only theology, philosophy, and mythology, but ancestor worship, animism and magic. It pervades nearly every aspect of traditional life.

Balinese Hinduism has roots in Indian Hinduism and in Buddhism, and adopted the animistic traditions of the indigenous people, who inhabited the island around the first millennium BCE. This influence strengthened the belief that the gods and goddesses are present in all things. Every element of nature, therefore, possesses its own power, which reflects the power of the gods. A rock, tree, dagger, or woven cloth is a potential home for spirits whose energy can be directed for good or evil. Balinese Hinduism is deeply interwoven with art and ritual, and is less closely preoccupied with scripture, law, and belief than Islam in Indonesia. Ritualizing states of self-control are a notable feature of religious expression among the people, who for this reason have become famous for their graceful and decorous behavior.

Bali is renowned for its diverse and sophisticated art forms, such as painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handcrafts, and performing arts. Balinese percussion orchestra music, known as gamelan, is highly developed and varied. Balinese dances portray stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana but with heavy Balinese influence. Famous Balinese dances include pendet, legong, baris, topeng, barong, and kecak (the monkey dance).

The Hindu New Year, Nyepi, is celebrated in the spring by a day of silence. On this day everyone stays at home and tourists are encouraged to remain in their hotels. But the day before that large, colorful sculptures of ogoh-ogoh monsters are paraded and finally burned in the evening to drive away evil spirits. Other festivals throughout the year are specified by the Balinese pawukon calendrical system.

National education programs, mass media and tourism continue to change Balinese culture. Immigration from other parts of Indonesia, especially Java, is changing the ethnic composition of Bali's population.

The Balinese eat with their right hand, as the left is impure, a common belief throughout Indonesia. The Balinese do not hand or receive things with their left hand and would not wave at anyone with their left hand.

Now you can know what is the religion most in Bali and culture of it. enjoy your travel or journeys.

Waterfall Tourism Indonesian

2009-01-02T03:26:00.000-08:00

1. Nine Level Waterfall , North Bengkulu
Curug (waterfall) Level Nine tourism is still a mainstay of North Bengkulu regency, Bengkulu province which many tourists visit both domestic and foreign.
"This tourism is to become one of the favorite tourist who visited in Bengkulu, as unique and has a uniqueness," said the Head Office of Tourism Bengkulu province, Edi Nevian in Bengkulu, Sunday.
The uniqueness of the waterfall, the water that flows from the top of the hill formed nine levels, is very different from the waterfall in the water that falls straight from top to bottom.
According to Edi, waterfalls falling levels there are only formed in North Bengkulu, Bengkulu.
Interestingly, the respective levels also formed several waterfalls, giving the spectacular natural scenery, said Edi.
Curug nine Terjun water level, is located in the area of natural forest protection, ideal tourists visited the lover of nature and fun adventure in the outdoors.
In the forest area around the waterfall, he said, there are many rare fauna and flora.
Location tourism that is unique, in Padang Jaya village, with a distance about 120 km from the Airport Fatmawati, Bengkulu City.
To go to that location, the road has been built that can be passed by four-wheel drive vehicle. For tourists who want to enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding provided a guide.

2. Batanta Waterfall, Papua
Batanta waterfall is one of the objects in Papua and the excellent tourism at Raja Ampat Islands.
After spending the time to dive into oceans, expedition team intends to see the beauty of nature in the various islands in the Raja Ampat. One aim is to visit waterfalls Batanta.
After breakfast, the team entered the direct speed boat that will deliver to the destination. After about 30 minutes across the sea, speed boat arrived in a village near the estuary Arefi in the coastal area of Pulau Batanta.
James, our guide, the boat slowly entered the river to the hinterland. On the left and right along the river is only visible through mangroves. Suddenly, a crocodile hiding behind the root of mangroves along the river.

3. Madakaripura - Probolinggo Jawa Timur
Mount Bromo tourist area appeared to save a location and a unique tour captivating. Location not far from the sea sand Bromo, only about 45 minutes to Probolinggo direction (to the North). His name is waterfall Madakaripura. According to the local name is taken from the story of the yore, it seems Patih the end of the Gajah Mada hayatnya with bersemedi in this tejun water. This story is supported with a statue of Gajah Mada in the parking lot area. To reach the tour is not too difficult. Visits should be done if we are going to Bromo Probolinggo direction because of the direction of the trip or while on the Bromo and conducted morning.

4. Curug waterfall Cimahi
Water, one of the basic elements of life, have the effect of calm. Waterfall combined with the lush beauty of nature nan will leave you spellbound. Located in the Cisarua village, about 10 kilometers from Cimahi, or about 1 hour from the city of Bandung, Curug (in Sundanese language means "waterfall") Cimahi according to them, those who want to enjoy the natural atmosphere, but only have a little time to travel. Waterfall at 85 meters this is the spectacular scenery.
How to Achieve This Region
With rent a car.
Using the transport to the city of Cimahi-Lembang or Cimahi

Adventure travel to Grand Canyon

2008-09-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Grand Canyon contains 129 vegetation communities, and the composition and distribution of plant species is influenced by climate, geomorphology and geology. There are approximately 1,737 known species of vascular plants, 167 species of fungi, 64 species of moss and 195 species of lichen found in Grand Canyon National Park. This variety is largely due to the 8,000 foot elevation change from the river up to the highest point on the North Rim. Grand Canyon boasts a dozen endemic plants (known only within the Park's boundaries) while only ten percent of the Park's flora is exotic. Sixty-three plants found here have been given special status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"the one great sight which every American should see."Theodore Roosevelt .
And there is no better way to experience it than on foot, at a pace that invites exploration and awakens the senses. This imaginative adventure captures the splendor of the Grand Canyon's South Rim and its most revered tributary, Havasu Canyon--an isolated oasis of aquamarine waterfalls.

Adventure travel package that theworldoutdoors.com offer to us:

Day 1

Grand Canyon. From our rendezvous in Flagstaff, we drive to the South Rim. Filled with anticipation, we walk to the canyon's edge. There, spread out for endless miles, is an ever-changing, colorful 5,000-foot-deep chasm. The canyon's immensity is awesome, its boldness overwhelming.

Day 2

Grand Canyon. Up early, we catch a spectacular sunrise before descending into the heart of the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail. Experience the inspiring depth and timeless beauty of the Grand Canyon when you journey below the rim and take in the views from Cedar Ridge and Skeleton Point.

Days 3-4

Grand Canyon-Havasu Canyon. Through a visual timetable of geologic formations, we continue on the historic Hermit Trail. We then depart for a three-day exploration of Havasu Canyon. Pack animals transport our gear, so we only have to carry a daypack to our remote Native American lodge in Supai village.

Days 5-6

Havasu Canyon-Flagstaff. Havasu Canyon is an oasis of a clear running stream, lush vegetation and spectacular waterfalls. Enjoy a refreshing swim and revel in this Shangri-la-like setting, or continue downstream as the trail beckons. Bidding farewell to this canyon paradise, we hike back up to Haualapai Hilltop and a shuttle back to Flagstaff.

Have a nice adventure or travel to Grand Canyon. :)

3 amazing location for rainforest adventure

2008-09-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

There is 3 locations or country that have a widely rainforest for adventure. Brazil, Indonesia, and Republic Congo have a plenty of forest that include in rainforest. Especially Brazil with Amazon forest, or Indonesia with Kalimantan Island.

1. Brazil
Brazil holds about one-third of the world's remaining rainforests, including a majority of the Amazon rainforest. It is also overwhelmingly the most biodiverse country on Earth, with more than 56,000 described species of plants, 1,700 species of birds, 695 amphibians, 578 mammals, and 651 reptiles. Can you imagine how amazing to adventure in here!

picture of rainforest Brazil

2. Indonesia
Some 10 percent of the world's remaining tropical forest is found in Indonesia, which has a total forest area of more than 225,000,000 acres. Of this, 61 percent is lowland evergreen broadleaf rainforest. 429 described species of of birds is onli found in Indonesia rainforest. If you wanna see unique birds in you adventure, c'mon go to my country. :)

picture of rainforest Indonesia

3. Republic Congo

Stretching across central Africa, the rainforest of the Congo basin is the second largest on Earth; only the Amazon is larger. Around two-thirds of the region's intact forest is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but it also covers amazing areas of Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo.

Millions of people across the region depend on the forest for food, medicine and shelter, and the cultures of many communities are founded on their relationship with the forest. No less than two-thirds of the DRC's 60 million people rely on the forest in one way or another.

The wealth of biodiversity is also immense. Forest elephants roam the area as do three species of great ape: gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos. Animals and birds such as okapi and the Congo peacock are found nowhere else. And, as with all large forest areas, the Congo plays a vital role in regulating climate, both locally and globally.

Have a nice adventure! :D

Travel Guide to Japan

2008-06-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

These is favorit places in Japan that you should know before you start a traveling:

Kyoto

Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face.

Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's capital and the country's largest city.

Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis (to) rather than a prefecture (ken). The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards (ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.

The 23 city wards (ku) are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents.

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities.

With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.

Nagoya

With over two million inhabitants, Nagoya is Japan's fourth most populated city. It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the principal city of the Nobi plain, one of Honshu's three large plains and industrial centers.

Nagoya developed as the castle town of the Owari, one of the three branches of the ruling Tokugawa family during the Edo Period. Much of the city, including most of its historic buildings, were destroyed in the air raids of 1945.

Osaka

With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries.

Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.

In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo).

Yokohama
With a population of over three million people, Yokohama is Japan's second largest city. It is located less than 30 minutes south of Tokyo by train, and is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867), during which Japan isolated herself from the rest of the world, Western nations forced the country to open its ports to foreign trade. In 1859, Yokohama's port became one of the first ports to be openend, and Yokohama quickly grew from a small fishing village into one of Japan's major cities.

Until today, the Yamate residential area retains a Western touch and houses many foreign residents, while Yokohama's Chinatown is one of the world's largest. source:japan-guide.com

all about Borobudur

2008-06-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

Borobudur is a ninth century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome is located at the center of the top platform, and is surrounded by seventy-two Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. The journey for pilgrims begins at the base of the monument and follows a path circumambulating the monument while ascending to the top through the three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely, Kamadhatu (the world of desire); Rupadhatu (the world of forms); and Arupadhatu (the world of formless). During the journey, the monument guides the pilgrims through a system of stairways and corridors with 1,460 narrative relief panels on the wall and the balustrades.

Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Raffles, the British ruler of Java. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations. The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage, where once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.

There is no written record of who built Borobudur or of its intended purpose. The construction time has been estimated by comparison between carved reliefs on the temple's hidden foot and the inscriptions commonly used in royal charters during the eight and ninth centuries. Borobudur was likely founded around 800 AD. This corresponds to the period between 760–830 AD, the peak of the Sailendra dynasty in central Java,, when it was under the influence of the Srivijayan Empire. The construction has been estimated to have taken 75 years and been completed during the reign of Samaratungga in 825.

There is confusion between Hindu and Buddhist rulers in Java around that time. The Sailendras were known as ardent followers of Lord Buddha, though stone inscriptions found at Sojomerto suggest they may have been Hindus. It was during this time that many Hindu and Buddhist monuments were built on the plains and mountain around the Kedu Plain. The Buddhist monuments, including Borobudur, were erected around the same time as the Hindu Shiva Prambanan temple compound. In 732 AD, the Shivaite King Sanjaya commissioned a Hindu Shiva lingga sanctuary to be built on the Ukir hill, only 10 km (6.2 miles) east of Borobudur.

Construction of Buddhist temples, including Borobudur, at that time was possible because Sanjaya's immediate successor, Rakai Panangkaran, granted his permission to the Buddhist followers to build such temples. In fact, to show his respect, Panangkaran gave the village of Kalasan to the Buddhist community, as is written in the Kalasan Charter dated 778 AD. This has led some archaeologists to believe that there was never serious conflict concerning religion in Java as it was possible for a Hindu king to patronize the establishment of a Buddhist monument; or for a Buddhist king to act likewise. However, it is likely that there were two rival royal dynasties in Java at the time—the Buddhist Sailendra and the Saivite Sanjaya—in which the latter triumphed over their rival in the 856 battle on the Ratubaka plateau. This confusion also exists regarding the Lara Jonggrang temple at the Prambanan complex, which was believed that it was erected by the victor Rakai Pikatan as the Sanjaya dynasty's reply to Borobudur, but others suggest that there was a climate of peaceful coexistence where Sailendra involvement exists in Lara Jonggrang. source: wikipedia.com

History of Colosseum

2008-06-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

The Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial shows as well as a variety of other events. The shows, called munera, were always given by individuals rather than the state. They had a strong religious element but were also demonstration of power and family prestige, and were immensely popular with the population. Another popular type of show was the animal hunt, or venatio. This utilised a great variety of wild beasts, mainly imported from Africa, and included creatures such as rhinoceros, hippos, elephants, giraffes, lions, panthers, leopards, crocodiles and ostriches. Battles and hunts were often staged amid elaborate sets with movable trees and buildings. Such events were occasionally on a huge scale; Trajan is said to have celebrated his victories in Dacia in 107 with contests involving 11,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators over the course of 123 days.

During the early days of the Colosseum, ancient writers recorded that the building was used for naumachiae (more properly known as navalia proelia) or simulated sea battles. Accounts of the inaugural games held by Titus in AD 80 describe it being filled with water for a display of specially trained swimming horses and bulls. There is also an account of a re-enactment of a famous sea battle between the Corcyrean (Corfiot) Greeks and the Corinthians. This has been the subject of some debate among historians; although providing the water would not have been a problem, it is unclear how the arena could have been waterproofed, nor would there have been enough space in the arena for the warships to move around. It has been suggested that the reports either have the location wrong, or that the Colosseum originally featured a wide floodable channel down its central axis (which would later have been replaced by the hypogeum).

Sylvae or recreations of natural scenes were also held in the arena. Painters, technicians and architects would construct a simulation of a forest with real trees and bushes planted in the arena's floor. Animals would be introduced to populate the scene for the delight of the crowd. Such scenes might be used simply to display a natural environment for the urban population, or could otherwise be used as the backdrop for hunts or dramas depicting episodes from mythology. They were also occasionally used for executions in which the hero of the story — played by a condemned person — was killed in one of various gruesome but mythologically authentic ways, such as being mauled by beasts or burned to death.

The Colosseum today is now a major tourist attraction in Rome with thousands of tourists each year paying to view the interior arena, though entrance for EU citizens is partially subsidised, and under-18 and over-65 EU citizens' entrances are free. There is now a museum dedicated to Eros located in the upper floor of the outer wall of the building. Part of the arena floor has been re-floored.

The Colosseum is also the site of Roman Catholic ceremonies in the 20th and 21st centuries. For instance, Pope John Paul II would perform his new form of the Stations of the Cross called the Scriptural Way of the Cross (which calls for more meditation) at the Colloseum on Good Fridays. From:wikipedia.com

Daitsuki Hotel in Italy

2008-06-10T07:27:00.000-07:00

Aleph, A Boscolo Luxury Hotel

The Aleph, A Boscolo Luxury Hotel, is an excentric property created by gifted architect Adam D. Tihany, who becomes a modern-day Virgil as he leads you on an amazing journey filled with heavenly places and sinful delights in his very personal interpretation of Dante's Divine Comedy: the Aleph.

In this intriguing hotel near Via Veneto in the heart of Rome, the concepts of heaven and hell have been given an unexpected twist.

You will find true paradise in the luxurious spa below, and surrender to the tempting treats served above, where hell is represented by Sin restaurant and Angelo Bar.

Hotel Grand Palatino

The Grand Hotel Palatino is situated in the historical centre of Rome, not far from the Colosseum and the Fori Imperiali and close to the main shopping areas and the Termini railway station.

The accommodations are equipped with all modern amenities and will welcome you in a cosy and intimate environment. The hotel features a number of facilities: two restaurants, a lounge bar, a congress centre with 4 conference rooms, same-day laundry service, room service from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and several Internet points in the hall.

Hotel Forum

The elegant and exclusive Forum hotel is situated in the very heart of the Eternal City, between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum, directly facing the remains of the Nerva Forum and Augusto Forum and just a short walk from many of Rome's major attractions and places of interest.

The property features luxurious interiors and spectacular surroundings, a lovely panoramic rooftop garden restaurant, where guests can admire an amazing view of the Roman Forum, Palatine and Capitoline Hill, elegantly-furnished and comfortable rooms, spacious lounges, parking, and meeting facilities.

Famous former guests of the hotel include Brigitte Bardot, Rock Hudson and the Dalai Lama.

Hotel Britannia

The hotel Britannia is situated in a very central and quiet position, opposite the Opera House, close to the railway station Termini and well connected to all the main monuments and attractions of Rome.

The structure is a beautiful building, elegantly furnished in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

The hotel offers an American bar, a breakfast room and private parking area.

Furthermore the hotel can provide and arrange with dry cleaning, baby sitting, theater, train and flight tickets, guided tours and visits to museums as well as day trips.

I hope you like too. From: en.venere.com

The Romanticism Travel of Lago di Como Italy

2008-06-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

here's just something about Lake Como. Perhaps it's simply because it laps gently against Bellaggio, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Or perhaps it's the cobblestone streets or the view of the glittering water from breathtaking terraces and cliffs.

It's located a mere half hour from Milan, but it seems more like you've crossed the world. The frantic pace of Milan is quickly forgotten here, where the people are as mellow and calm as the landscape.

But Lake Como is more than views. It's a place where you can lose yourself in the beauty and old-world charm that surround you in every espadrilled step. And, if you go at the right time, you can immerse yourself in an entirely different personality, completely appropriate for the surprisingly Mediterranean scene.

To the north of the Lake you'll find Como's sole island, Isola Comacina. The weekend after June 24, take the ferry over to the island to celebrate St. John's Day. The celebration consists of a mass within the ruins of the S. Eufemia basilica, followed by a procession, party and fireworks where all who participate are rather elaborately costumed.

To the south, you'll find Bellaggio, 'la perla del lago,' (the pearl of the lake.) This is a town filled with colorful, hidden corridors, cobblestone streets and amazing homes and villas lining the ridge of the lake. You'll find plenty of shade here, but a ride on a boat docked just minutes from all accommodations will allow you to relax and bask happily as the sun rays coddle you gently as you rock gracefully in the warm waters of Lago di Como. This is especially peaceful at sunset, when you can watch the sun fall and meld into a haze before the sharp rise of night.

One of the best ways to explore Lake Como is by bicycle. The easy lakeside terrain allows an average of 25 miles per day, allowing you to stop along the way to sample real Italian ice cream (try Trese, located on the east side of Bellagio, for a real treat). Or, if you're looking for a more challenging ride and hike, climb the imperical Mont Generoso, which is a difficult but extremely rewarding climb. The views lend themselves to an afternoon or evening of romance, but be warned: You're not going to find food where you're hiking. My suggestion is to pack a lunch or dinner with groceries from local markets in Bellaggio or Varenna and picnic above the water.

If you stop in Varenna to pick up food, look around: This is an area infamous for the public displays of affection by its lovers. The ferries come and go from Varenna's local beach, bringing and taking people away but leaving plenty of time for quiet reflection. After the sunset (where you'll find the beach filled with couples madly in love), take a stroll down the passerella (the lakeside walkway). There, you'll find the path dotted with couples whispering passionately and lovingly as they scurry along, stopping occasionally for a grope and a desperate kiss.

Whether you're looking for peace and quiet or romance and a party, Lake Como as something for you. Daily activities also include minor water sports and travels along the old roads in cable cars. If you're looking to escape it all, Lake Como can accommodate you. from: travel-italy.com, twip.org

Cookies Catching in France

2008-06-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

This photo is from a “fancy” bakery’s window display in Wimereux, a dingy yet upscale beach town in the north of France - because cookies are starting to pop up here and there. It’s disorienting. Why? While these are cute, they aren’t necessarily enticing and who would choose cookies over French pastries…which RULE?

Not knocking cookies. It’s just that I can just make any ole cookie at home, and we are in France afterall and France has amazing pastries! Why buy a cookie when you can get a Paris Brest or Mille feuille or Tarte au n’importe quoi or Mousse au chocolat or lots of other mouth watering delicate pastries? Cookies, no matter how tasty, just seem so basic. I guess they’re la tendance / the trend - and trendy things seem better. But they aren’t. Necessarily.

Philippe Olivier Cheese

2008-06-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself walking down rue Thiers in the heart of Boulogne-sur-mer (northern France) and don’t happen to see Philippe Olivier’s famous cheese shop, you will surely smell it. I’m not gonna lie: it stinks, and we were just there yesterday so imagine what summer smells like! Philippe Olivier knows cheese and his family has been in business for 101 years, 4 generations of fromagers. The list of awards they’ve won cannot fit on the longest scroll in France. it’s a true cheese lover’s paradise and a must visit when in the area.

My Favorite Cute Boutique France

2008-06-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

These is picture of Cute boutique in French, Les Ch’ti (pronounced SHTEE) from the very north of France.

source: wired.com

Misery with Air Travel

2008-06-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

Long lines. Frequent delays. Disrobing for security while your flight completes final boarding. Here's why your plane trip is ridden with misery.

Ticket Counter
Expensive? If anything, flying doesn't cost enough: The average domestic fare in spring 2007 was $326. That's $50 less than a decade ago, after adjusting for inflation. During the same period, fuel costs nearly tripled. To stay in business, major carriers have aped the strategies of budget operators like Southwest. Largely gone are the free meals, blankets, and pillows. The savings have been passed along as lower ticket prices — at the price of your comfort.

Security Line
September 11 changed flying forever, and would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid changed it again. The so-called liquid terror plot in the UK made it a trifecta. As a result, the list of prohibited and permitted items is mystifying. Gel shoe inserts, snow globes, or a 6-ounce bottle of spray deodorant? No way. Corkscrews, cigarette lighters, and 6.5-inch screwdrivers? No problem. Meanwhile, security delays vary drastically from airport to airport. The average wait time in Los Angeles on Monday at 8 am is just four to 11 minutes; at Atlanta's main checkpoint, it's up to 26.

Tarmac
A storm in a hub city like Chicago can quickly bog down the entire system. As a result, more than a quarter of US flights were stuck on the tarmac last year. In the peak summer season, that number reached almost 30 percent. A tip: If you book online (and who doesn't?), you may be able to select your flight based on its on-time performance. United's Web site, for example, displays statistics for each flight when you make reservations. The industry on-time average is 73.5 percent.

Baggage
As many as 80 million bags are checked every month, yet only 7.25 out of every 1,000 travelers complain of mishandled luggage — not bad. But in 2006 it was 6.45, and 10 years ago it was 4.88. If they're not reunited with their owners, many lost bags are sent to the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, where their contents are sold to the public.

Gate
Airlines fill planes by overbooking and hoping some people don't show up. But more than half a million passengers were bumped from flights in the first nine months of 2007. While many opted out for free round-trips or other perks, 52,000 were "denied boarding" involuntarily. That may not seem like a lot, but it's up nearly 20 percent from a decade ago.

Control Tower
US airports are swamped. Last year, some 64 million takeoffs and landings were managed by a mere 14,874 air traffic controllers, a quarter of whom were new hires or trainees. Many of those cannot work alone. And despite the new blood, much of the current workforce is expected to retire within a decade.

Airplane Cabin
Nearly 800 million passengers flew on US airlines in 2007, up 31 percent from 2003. But while airports have never been busier, there are actually fewer planes in operation; in 2006, US carriers operated 13 percent fewer aircraft than in 2000. So how do they accommodate everyone? Welcome to the sardine can. Airlines have boosted cabin capacity by slashing legroom — the average coach seat today provides less than 32 inches, down from 35 in years past. On top of that, planes are flying fuller: Historically, 65 to 70 percent of seats were filled; today it's nearly 80 percent. Don't expect things to improve any time soon: The FAA forecasts that we'll have 1 billion passengers in the air by 2015.

Radar
The 50-year-old radar-based flight-tracking system is responsible for many of today's problems because it limits how closely planes can fly to one another. A new GPS-based system called NextGen will broadcast precise positions between aircraft for the first time, giving pilots more control over flight tracking and letting many more flights share the same airspace safely. It's scheduled to come online by 2025 and cost as much as $22 billion. In Alaska, where a similar system is already in place for small planes, the accident rate has dropped by 40 percent. Source: wired.com

Tip: Stay Plugged In While Traveling

2008-06-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the first question: what gear should you bring? Furthermore, how do you keep it powered up and safe from harm and/or theft?

For full details on what you need to make sure all your gadgets have plenty (and the right kind) of electricity, check out our Stay Plugged In While Traveling guide. Once you have your power adapters in order, it's worth asking which devices you should bring and which ones you can get by without.
Laptops

The laptop is tempting, and in many cases a must-have, especially if your destination is a conference or meet-up. But if you're just traveling for pleasure, a good internet cafe is all you need. Going "topless" also spares you the added weight and hassle of lugging a computer around.

If you do have to bring your beloved portable, PACK A CABLE LOCK. This gives quite a piece of mind if you want to leave your hotel room for a dinner without having to worry that your hardware is gonna be missing when you get back.

The availability of internet cafes abroad varies, but generally speaking, they are not hard to come by unless you get well off the beaten tourist path. Do some searching and see what those who have already been to where you are going have found.

Tip: Mac users take note, you will almost always find Windows PCs in internet cafes.

Tip: A number of internet cafes have started banning USB sticks, which ruins your ability to Carry Your Desktop Anywhere with Portable Apps. The practice isn't widespread enough to preclude carrying a USB stick, but you may encounter a few spots where your thumb drive is frowned upon. On the plus side, more and more have Firefox installed.

Tip: Bring a USB stick that is cheap, waterproof and encrypted. Remember that no self-respecting geek would ever get stuck behind a restrictive firewall so be sure to set up your home computer to allow encrypted proxying.

If you do bring a laptop, consider using public Wi-fi networks. Wififreespot maintains a directory of free Wi-fi networks around the world. Partners in Free Wi-Fi also has some good listings.

If you venture off the beaten path at all, don't expect wireless networks to be waiting -- There's no nerd Nirvana in central Laos just yet.
Digital Cameras

Naturally, you want to document the fact that you've made it abroad and let you friends and family back home keep up with what you're doing.

A digital camera is a must. So are spare memory cards and spare batteries, particularly if your camera uses an expensive and hard-to-find lithium variety.

Tip: Pick up some CD-Rs for backing up your images. If you don't have a laptop with you, make your backups at an internet cafe. Not only do CD backups let you clear out your memory card, they also aren't affected by x-rays at the airport. X-ray machines around the world are often much stronger than those in U.S. terminals. Memory card don't get scrambled often, but it does happen, and optical media has definite advantage.

Tip: If you don't have one already, get a Flickr account. You can easily upload your photos from most internet cafes or your own laptop via Wi-fi.

Tip: Spare yourself the bother of carrying around a card reader and make sure to bring the USB cable for the camera. This lets you get rid of an additional piece of equipment and still lets you dump the pics off the camera when you make those back-ups to optical media or dumps to the laptop.
Phones

Generally speaking, most modern tri-band GSM phones will work just about anywhere in the world. In fact, you may find data service to be light years ahead of what you're used to in the States (The same goes for internet speed, particularly in Asia).

However, your home service provider will likely charge pretty outrageous rates while you're abroad. A much cheaper way to go about it is unlock your phone and buy local SIM cards in your destination country. The availability of SIM cards varies greatly by country, but disposable SIM cards are the norm outside the U.S. SIM cards are often available at kiosks in the airport.

And even calling home may be cheaper on a local SIM card than paying the roaming rates your home carrier will charge. For more info on how to use and navigate the cell phone networks of the world, have a look at this informative guide.

In the same vein of carrying the USB cable to transfer your pics off the digi-cam, chances are your phone will use the same cable to charge. Now you can just plug everything into your laptop to charge instead of carrying spare power inverters and such.

Tip: If you store your contacts and other data on your SIM card's memory, you'll lose that information when you pop in the new SIM. Read through your phone's manual before you leave and figure out how to store your contact data on the phone memory, rather than the SIM card.
iPhones

Obviously, iPhone users are out of luck here -- the iPhone is tied down to AT&T, and you can't just pop in another SIM card without some hacking. If you don't want to hack on your phone you have two choices: buy a different phone for travel, or pay AT&T's roaming rates while you're abroad. If neither of those appeal to you, you can still bring your iPhone and leave it in airplane mode. Features like the calculator for currency converter and other useful apps will still work.

The latest iPhone software updates will let you turn data roaming on and off so you can rely entirely on Wi-FI transfers. Look under Settings > General > Network > Data Roaming.

You can also disable the setting which automatically checks for new e-mail, the source of many a phone-bill-induced headache. Go to Settings > Mail >Auto-Check and select "manual."

AT&T has more information for wandering iPhone users at its site.

If AT&T's prices don't bother you, Apple has a list of travel-specific web apps to use. Also, expect to see a number of native travel apps once the iPhone 2.0 update arrives. from:howto.wired.com

Extreme Hiking or Travel Indonesia

2008-06-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

In my country there are many mountain that can make your adrenalin up. You can easy visit to that places and feel the challenges.

4. Bromo mountain
Most wonderful mountain in east java.

3. Rinjani montain
Number 2 of highest volcanic mountains in Indonesia with 3.726m above sea level.

2. Semeru Mountain
3.676m above sea level make this vulcanic mountain is the highest mountain in Jawa island.

1. Jayawijaya mountain

Best views if you travel in Africa

2008-06-07T09:16:00.000-07:00

Africa is known with saharas, wild animals, and nature habitats. These a few picture that you will see if you travelling to Africa:

Travel Africa 1

Travel Africa 2

Travel Africa 3

Travel Africa 4

Travel Africa 5

Travel Africa 6

Travel Africa 7

Travel Africa 8

Travel Africa 9

Travel Africa 10

Travel Africa 11

Travel Africa 13

Enjoy you travel!Picture from: flickr.com

5 best place to skate

2008-06-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

These is 5 best places to skate in California:

1. Etnies Skatepark Lake Forest, California

Location: Lake Forest Drive and the 261 Toll Road
Address: 20028 Lake Forest Drive

A 40,000 Square Foot cement skatpark with something for everybody. Big Street course, a pool and a big flow section for the transition lovers.

2. Costa Mesa Skatepark Costa Mesa, California

Location: Arlington Drive and the 55 Freeway.
Directions: 405 to 55 South
Exit Baker Go Right
Bristol Street Go Left
Newport Blvd Go Right
Arlington Drive Go Right
Costa Mesa Skateboard Park is located inside Tewinkle Park.
This is a great skatepark. It has a small bowl that is very fun about 4 feet tall, a big bowl with a big long face wall and a good street course. The best part about this park is its layout. You don’t have boards shooting into the big bowl as your about to drop in from some kid that ate it on the street course.

3 YMCA Magdalena Ecke Skatepark Encinitas, California

Location: 200 Saxony Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
Check out our updated street course! In addition to our multiple ledges, rails, boxes, and mini ramps, we added a new four stairs designed for both beginners and experts.
Looking to go big? Drop in on our 120’ vert used at the 2003 X-Games.
We have two of the best cement pools in the country. One is a backyard style kidney pool the other is a multi-tiered clover bowl. Both pools have smooth transitions, flawless coping, and perfect tile.
For the beginners, mini land is the perfect place to learn. With gradual transitions and smaller ramps, mini land will help you learn proper techniques and maneuvers.

4. Vans Skatepark Orange California

Location: 20 City Blvd W, Orange, CA 92868
The skatepark for the most part has a good vibe and has a solid mix of both street, transition, and vertical skateboarding. Highlights of the park include a remake of the Upland Pipeline Skate Park Combi-Bowl, an X-Games style vert ramp, a 2’ mini –ramp, a 5’ to 6’ mini-ramp with deathbox, a large tranny/street style skate plaza, a mini tranny/street style plaza, and an outdoor old school type skate area with large cement banks and a pyramid.

5. Chino Skatepark Chino, California

Location: 14225 Central Ave, Chino, CA 91710
Features of the skatepark include a 3 leaf clover bowl with tile and pool coping, a 9′ square bowl, a huge endless flow section with banks and bowls ranging from 4′ to 7′, and a decent banked street section. This is one of those skateparks you will want to skate again and again. The skatepark is layed out well and the lines are endless. From:skateboardingmagazine.com

Travelling with motorcycle is really fun

2008-06-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

If you have a lovely motorcycle in your home, try to travelling with that around tourism or fresh place in your country. It sould be fun! Do you think so? Before your trip, check your fitness and prepare your motorcycle. Make sure your boddy is fit because a long trip need a lot of energy. Prepare your motor especially on primary parts such as fuel, oil, brake, and rem.

I hope your travel became a great holiday!

7 amazing lake on the earth

2008-06-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

These is 7 amazing lake on the earth, see it...!

1. Lake Baikal

Also known as the “blue eye of Siberia”, lake Baikal is located in Southern Siberia near R near the Russo-Mongolian border. Famous for being the deepest lake in the world with a maximum depth of 5,369 feet it holds a volume of water larger than that of all the great lakes combined.

Lake Baikal is a great eco-system where more than 1,700 species of flora and fauna live; two thirds of them only to be found here. Completely surrounded by steep mountains and dense forests, the lake has an estimated age of 25-30 million years, making it one of the most ancient lakes in geological history.

However, this enormous water formation may harbor a mystery of immense proportions: a gigantic animal, either of sturgeon-like appearance or a rogue sea serpent; Baikal’s very own Loch Ness Monster. No one can tell for sure if the legend is true or not, but the creature exists in people’s minds and haunts their thoughts.

2. Tanganyika Lake

Divided between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (45%), Tanzania (41%) and Zambia, Tanganyika is the deepest fresh water lake in Africa and the second in the world with a maximum depth of 4,823 feet. The lake was “mistakenly” discovered in 1858 by two British explorers, Richard Burton and John Speke, in their quest to find the Nile’s source.

3. Caspian Sea

Between the southern areas of the Russian Federation and northern Iran, lies the largest enclosed body of water on Earth. It’s an endorheic lake with salty water (salinity of approximately 1.2%) that was landlocked due to continental drift 5.5 million years ago. An ancient remnant of the Tethys Ocean, (just like the Black Sea or the Mediterranean Sea) it is the third deepest lake in the world going down to 3,363 feet.

Fauna in the Caspian basin is very rich: great numbers of sturgeon (that’s where you get the great caviar), the Caspian seal and some fish endemic to the Caspian Sea like the Kkturn (Caspian white fish), Caspian roach, Caspian bream and an array of rare species of salmon only to be found in that area.

The Caspian Sea is very rich in energy resources like oil and gas deposits, which have been tapped since the 10th century. These days, the oil in the Caspian basin is supposed to be worth $12 trillion.

4. Lake Vostok

Out of the 140 sub-glacial lakes on earth, Vostok is the largest and the deepest, with a maximum depth of 2,950 feet. Beneath Russia’s Vostok Station, 13,000 feet under the surface of the central Antarctic ice sheet, may be the most unspoiled lake on Earth. British and Russian scientists only discovered it in 1996.

The average water temperature is -3 °C and the reason why it is still liquid below freezing is the high pressure from the weight of the ice above it.

5. O’Higgins/San Martín Lake

Located in Patagonia, between the Aysén Region and the Santa Cruz Province, the lake is called O’Higgins in Chile and San Martin in Argentina. It is the deepest lake in the Americas with a maximum depth of 2,742 feet (measured near the O’Higgins Glacier). The lake is very irregular consisting of eight well-defined arms with milky light-blue water coming from the suspended rock flour.

The lake is named after South American heroes José de San Martín of Argentina and Bernardo O’Higgins of Chile, who fought together for the liberation of Chile.

6. Lake Malawi

Also known as Lake Nyasa, Lake Malawi is the most southern lake in the East African Rift valley system, located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. At 2,316 feet deep, it’s the second deepest lake in Africa and thanks to the tropical waters it has more fish species than any other lake on Earth.

Researchers have studied sediments from core samples of Lake Malawi, which revealed that 100,000 years ago, water levels dropped to about 2,000 feet, turning the land around the lake into semi-desert and arid scrubland habitat. According to some, this may be why early man fled from Africa to colonize other parts of the world.

7. Lake Toba

Lake Toba (Indonesian: Danau Toba) is a lake, 100 km long and 30 km wide, and 505 m. (1,666 ft.) at its deepest point, in the middle of the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a surface elevation of about 900 m (3,000 feet), stretching from [show location on an interactive map] 2.88° N 98.52° E to [show location on an interactive map] 2.35° N 99.1° E. It is the largest volcanic lake in the world. source: digg.com, wikipedia.com

Amazing Taj Mahal

2008-06-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an "elegy in marble" or some say an expression of a "dream." Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan's real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.

Its central dome is fifty-eight feet in diameter and rises to a height of 213 feet. It is flanked by four subsidiary domed chambers. The four graceful, slender minarets are 162.5 feet each. The entire mausoleum (inside as well as outside) is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy using precious gems such as agate and jasper. The main archways, chiseled with passages from the Holy Qur’an and the bold scroll work of flowery pattern, give a captivating charm to its beauty. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration.

The mausoleum is a part of a vast complex comprising of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque (to the left), a guest house (to the right), and several other palatial buildings. The Taj is at the farthest end of this complex, with the river Jamuna behind it. The large garden contains four reflecting pools dividing it at the center. Each of these four sections is further subdivided into four sections and then each into yet another four sections. Like the Taj, the garden elements serve like Arabesque, standing on their own and also constituting the whole.

Myths

Ever since its construction, the building has been the source of an admiration transcending culture and geography, and so personal and emotional responses to the building have consistently eclipsed scholastic appraisals of the monument.
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, one of the first European visitors to the Taj Mahal

A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a mausoleum to be built in black marble across the Yamuna river. The idea originates from fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. It was suggested that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before it could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river in Moonlight Garden, Mahtab Bagh, seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found that they were discolored white stones that had turned black.[26] A more credible theory for the origins of the black mausoleum was demonstrated in 2006 by archeologists who resconstructed part of the pool in the Moonlight Garden. A dark reflection of the white mausoleum could clearly be seen, befitting Shah Jahan's obsession with symmetry and the positioning of the pool itself.

No evidence exists for claims that describe, often in horrific detail, the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan supposedly inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb. Some stories claim that those involved in construction signed contracts committing themselves to have no part in any similar design. Similar claims are made for many famous buildings. No evidence exists for claims that Lord William Bentinck, governor of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.

In 2000, India's Supreme Court dismissed P.N. Oak's petition to declare that a Hindu king built the Taj Mahal. Oak claimed that origins of the Taj, together with other historic structures in the country currently ascribed to Muslim sultans pre-date Muslim occupation of India and thus, have a Hindu origin. A more poetic story relates that once a year, during the rainy season, a single drop of water falls on the cenotaph, as inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's description of the tomb as "one tear-drop...upon the cheek of time". Another myth suggests that beating the silhouette of the finial will cause water to come forth. To this day, officials find broken bangles surrounding the silhouette. source: http://www.erols.com/zenithco/tajmahal.html, wikipedia.com

6 tips how to enjoying a travel with children

2008-06-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

If you worry about some plans for travelling with family to other country or city, these some tips to make you travel enjoyable and fun:

1. Booking the tikects a weeks before the boarding.

2. Bought some favorit toys your children, its to make your children busy with that.

3. Give some soft candy to make their ear not disturb by sound of vehicle.

4. Prepare an extra cloth for your children.

5. Give they an extra time for find a friend.

6. Invite their friends to travelling with your family.

20 Tip Travel with your dog

2008-06-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

If you wanna enjoying travel with your dog, this is 2 tips that can make your travel more enjoyable:

You may want to consider a permanent form of ID (such as a microchip or tattoo) that can increase the likelihood of reuniting you with your dog if it gets lost far from home.
Carry recent pictures of your dog with you. If you are accidentally separated, these pictures will help local authorities find your dog.
Take the phone number of your veterinarian and any special medication your dog needs. Some dogs can't adjust to abrupt changes in diet, so pack your dog's regular food, bowls and a cooler of water.
If you think you might need to board your dog at some point during your travels, be sure to bring your dog's complete vaccination records.
Start your trip with a healthy pet. Check in with your veterinarian at least one week before you begin your trip to be sure your pet is healthy and all vaccinations are current. Your vet can also alert you to any special problems that may exist in the area you are planning to visit.
Be sure to pack all the paperwork. Be sure to have a current health certificate, license and proof of all vaccinations. I also bring along my vet's phone numberÑI've found it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to call my vet with a non-emergency concern than to try to find a local vet who doesn't know my dogs.
Have your pet wear identification at all times.
Your pet's I.D. tags should include your name, address, and phone number, and if you are staying somewhere for a while, add a local phone number where you can be reached in case you are separated from your pooch. Pack a recent photo of your dog too, just in case.
Make sure your dog is travel-worthy. Not all dogs are natural-born travelers. It's best to get your dog accustomed to riding in a car at a very young age, but even older dogs can adapt. Take them on short trips (10-15 minutes) to the store or to a park for a game of fetch. Make it fun and part of your usual routine. Gradually lengthen the drives so your dog is in the car for a few hours. Try very hard to avoid having your dog's first car adventure be a trip to the vet! keep your dog cool and comfortable. If you are traveling by car, always keep a car window open so your pet has fresh air and when you park, try to find a nice patch of shade and don't leave your dog in the car unattended for long periods of time.
Plan ahead for all travel accommodations. This is especially important during peak travel times when motels, hotels, and campgrounds fill up quickly. Many accommodations do not accept pets and some that do have only a limited number of rooms available to pet owners. If you are planning to fly with your pet, you should make reservations at least 3 months prior to your journey since many airlines limit the number of pets flying on each plane (both in the cabin and in the hold).
Make sure your dog is well-trained before taking her/him on the road. Please be sure your dog has learned the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and quiet before you embark on a trip of any length. This is necessary for your dog's safety and for your own sanity.
Keep your dog leashed whenever possible. Many places require this anyway, but keeping your pet on a leash is the best way to prevent runaway dogs. In fact, even before you get your dog out of the car, it's best put him on a leash so he doesn't leap out of the vehicle ahead of you and dash off to investigate some tantalizing aroma.
Clean up after your dog, please! No one actually likes this task but it is necessary. The more people pick up after their dogs, the more welcome all dogs will in public places. Tip: I always travel with a 4-1 mix of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle to remove traces of any indoor accidents or lingering doggy smell.
Try to create a traveling environment that is as close to "home" as possible. This means trying to feed your dog the same food at the same time you feed her at home. Also if your pet sleeps in a crate at home, bring it along. If he doesn't have a crate, bring an old blanket or large towel to create a designated pet area in your sleeping quarters. "Taking your dog with you provides you with a great conversational ice-breaker," says Hunsicker. "When you travel with your dog, the journey often becomes more important than the destination."
Bag Balm or Vaseline. These are good for soothing dog paws after hiking in the country or on city streets. Beware of hot pavement, which can injure your dogs paws.
Bring a crate. Folding crates are most convenient, although some folks prefer airline crates for certain situations. Even if your dog behaves beautifully at home, he may be nervous in a new place and cause damage. Another advantage of a crate is that the dog typically will feel more secure in it. If you have not used a crate before, gradually accustom your dog to the crate at home, well before your trip. See the Tips on the PAW website about using crates. For cats, use carriers.
Practice crating your dog before leaving on your trip. Crate at family members house, then at a friends house, then other places, so your dog learns to be calm when youre visiting other places.A few cities and counties in the U.S. have dog breed restrictions, such as those aimed at pit bulls, Rottweilers and other breeds, so check before you visit a destination. Usually, you can do this by doing a web search with a combination of key words such as the breed name and city or county.
If you are traveling across the nation's borders, you typically need a health certificate, so make plans in advance of your trip.
A few places may require proof of a rabies vaccination within the past 12 months, so check with the health department at your destination city. You can usually get the info by doing a web search.
When traveling, bring along Rescue Remedy, which is a Bach flower essence available in most health food stores. This gentle, natural stress reducing liquid can often help both people and animals recover from injury, fright, illness, travel fatigue and irritation. Put a drop in your water bottle and in their water. To help prevent travel sickness, a common dosage is four drops in the mouth about ten hours before the trip, repeating every four hours as needed. For stressed or injured animals, rub a drop on their ear or put a drop on the towel in their crate or carrier. Flower essences can be used along with conventional medicines.

Hindus Ceremonial of Nyepi Day

2008-06-01T07:13:00.001-07:00

Bali will celebrate the first day of Saka Year 1930 in the Year 2008 on March 7th. Just like every Nyepi Day in the past, every gate including airport will be closed to celebrate the only perhaps in the world “Day of Silence”.

The Balinese Hindu believes that before entering the new year we should in the state of meditation for self introspections and to achieve this should be supported by a silence environment. Not only meditation but it should also devout through fasting all day and no movement outside the house compound, and to switch off fire or light for 24 hours (00.01am - 00.01am next day). A group of local security force (in every village) or “pecalang” will make sure no one out to the road and patrol all day and only permit vehicle for emergency situation.

This silence condition also will have to be supported by everyone who lives and stay in the island including tourist.

A special celebration a day before the Nyepi Day is the Ogoh-Ogoh parade. The Ogoh-Ogoh is a big puppet in the form of moster, the symbol of evil. This ceremony is to purify the villages from the evil spirit for the starting year of Saka. There are, however some people use this ceremony with alcohol drink all night which will be either a hard day for the Police to give maximum security for the community. From: www.dee-bali.com.

Ngaben traditionally cremation In Bali

2008-06-01T07:04:00.001-07:00

Balinese Religion is based on respect for and worship of God and ancestor. It is believed that after death, the body must be dissolved and returned to its original elements. Ngaben, the Balinese word for cremation is a purification rite which frees the spirit from its temporary earthly house and facilitates its journey to its next existence.

The Lembu where the body placed and cremated.

It is a custom and part of a tradition in Bali when someone dies, the whole villager (where one was lives) will help with the preparation for the cremation. The dead body is laid out in a special part of the house to be bathed and prepared. The night before the cremation, holy water will be collected from some main temple and used in preparation of the body and during the cremation. The entire villager (but especially for family and relatives) will participate on the day of the cremation ceremony. Before the body cremated at the cemetary, it will be placed into a wadah, after at the cemetary, and then they body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin which is then placed inside a form of a lembu (cow) which believes to be the vehicle of the spirits, made of paper and light wood. It will be carried to the village cremation site (usually in the village cemetery) in a procession. The ultimate procession is to burn the Wadah, using fire from a holy source.

When all the procession has done the ashes are placed in the sea, and it is the final separation of the soul from the body.

From: www.dee-bali.com

Myth of Reog and Warok Ponorogo

2008-06-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

The East Javanese town of Ponorogo, nestled in a remote valley between two extinct volcanoes, has long had a reputation throughout the island for the magical powers and sexual potency of its inhabitants. It has a long history of violent and radical politics, with a well-established tradition of rebellion. Two figures central to this image are the warok and gemblak. The term warok is said to originate from the Javanese words uwal and rokan meaning to be free from forced labour.Due to their martial and magical abilities, the warok were often advisers and strong men for the local ruler, and hence free from the obligations of ordinary villagers. Another popular interpretation suggests that the term originates from the Arabic word waro'a, meaning an ascetic, or one who practises mysticism. Onghokham draws attention to the influence of warok and jago (men of prowess] as leaders in village political life.The warok was rarely part of the official government, and thus played a somewhat ambiguous role, residing in the margins of social and political life. On the one hand his standing amongst villagers made his support crucial for any aspiring ruler and he often acted as an agent for higher authorities. At the same time, however, his unofficial status also made him a potentially dangerous adversary and troublemaker. The warok was a power broker, an intermediary between higher and lower powers, in the concrete and cosmological sense. His authority was intensely personal, depending on mastery of invulnerability, silat [martial arts], magic, and religious knowledge, as well as the fear and admiration with which villagers regarded him.

The warok tradition finds its roots in a mythology of rebellion. According to one popular historical account, the warok tradition began with Ki Ageng Kutu, the court poet of the last king of the Majapahit kingdom, Bra Kertabumi, in the fifteenth century. Angered at the political influence of Kertabumi's Chinese consort, and the king's endemic corruption, which he saw as a sign that the kingdom would soon come to an end, Ki Ageng Kutu deserted him, establishing a parguron [school for the study of esoteric knowledge] where he taught local young men invulnerability magic, martial arts, and ilmu kasampurnaan ['science of perfection'] in the hope that it would form the basis for a revival of the Majapahit kingdom. Students of Ki Ageng Kutu were known as warok. As a devoted adherent of Tantrayana Buddhism Ageng Kutu believed that spiritual strength could only be achieved through the negation of physical desires. Warok were said to follow a strict regime of ascetic discipline, one of the parguron's rules being that they were forbidden to have sexual intercourse with women. This prohibition was predicated on the belief that the resulting loss of sperm would deplete their supernatural powers. To aid them in their endeavour, each warok enlisted the aid of a young boy known as a gemblak who acted as a 'substitute' woman. Realising, however, that his small band of warok could never defeat the forces of Kertabumi in an armed struggle, Ki Ageng Kutu used performing arts to propagate his political message amongst the local population and thus build a movement of popular resistance. The dance drama that he created, known as reog, satirised king Bra Kertabumi and his court. A spectacular tiger mask known as a singabarong, the lord of the jungle, symbolised Kertabumi, whilst the fan-like peacock perched on its head represented his Chinese consort and the influence that she wielded over him. The effeminate jatilan [hobby-horse] dancers known as gemblak satirised the weakness of Majapahit's army, which contrasted dramatically with the very real strength of the warok who wielded the singobarong mask, weighing over 50kg, by a wooden strut held between his teeth. The hideous red faced clown Bujannganong represented Ki Ageng Kutu himself, his sexually provocative and acrobatic dance movements making a mockery of the affected refinement of royalty.

Traditional warok costumes can be bought in local markets and clothing stores along with other warok regalia such as akar bahar [a bracelet made from black coral] and walking sticks. Festivals such as Grebeg Suro see many young Ponorogo men become 'a warok for a day.' According to one renowned warok the authentic warok tradition of Ki Ageng Kutu still survives but is now 'invisible,' in the sense that warok are no longer socially identifiable. As he put it, 'those who go around now calling themselves "warok" are in reality warokan.' Perhaps what he is suggesting is that as soon as the warok is named, represented or mediated, he is no longer a 'genuine warok,' a warok sejati. The integrity of the tradition is maintained through a kind of occultation, by refusing to engage in the spectacle of 'traditional culture.' This tactic of 'invulnerability' finds precedent with the followers of Ki Ageng Kutu who, faced with the outlawing of their parguron and the recuperation of reog by the state, retreated into the realms of esotericism and secrecy. The state, through its invention of an 'authentic' warok tradition seeks to 'recover the horizons of its power by containing that which would appear otherwise.'

source: intersections.anu.edu.au

Malang Tempo Doeloe Festival

2008-06-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

This festival events once in every year. Theme of Malang Tempoe Doeloe is from history of Malang City at 1945. Added at May, in this festival you can also see a lot of nature culture of Malang City. Youll find proletar market, historical stage, dances in East Java. It to be nice you visit our city! :D

Quebec City celebrates 400th birthday with festival

2008-06-01T06:21:00.001-07:00

QUEBEC CITY — On July 3, 1608, French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded a fur-trading post on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.

That fur-trading post is now one of the oldest cities in North America. And this summer, Quebec City celebrates four centuries of French heritage with a series of exhibits, festivals and performances.

Events include a fireworks extravaganza that is being called the biggest ever in Canada, to be held at midnight on July 3 on the St. Lawrence; and a free outdoor concert for 100,000 people on Aug. 22 in the city's biggest park, Plains of Abraham, headlined by French-Canadian superstar Celine Dion.

Also on the 400th anniversary schedule this summer:

-Image Mill: Images from Quebec's history will be projected nightly on a giant screen in the Old Port, June 20-Aug. 24. Organizers say they hope to earn a spot in the record books for creating the largest multimedia projection ever.

-Rencontres: A musical about Champlain and the founding of Quebec will be presented outside the Quebec national assembly July 3, 4 and 5.

-Street performers: Acrobats, jugglers, stilt-walkers and others will perform.

-Film and song: A film created for the anniversary, "Infiniment Quebec," premieres July 2 at the Agora, an outdoor amphitheatre in the Old Port. Quebec's Symphony Orchestra plays music from the film before a second showing July 3. A public sing-along of 20 popular Quebecois songs, with lyrics projected on giant screens, will be held July 15.

-The Walking Road: A nighttime show under a full moon in Baie de Beauport, Aug. 15, includes acrobatics, performances with fire and water, multimedia projections, electronic and world beat music.

-Cirque du soleil: A special show created for the 400th anniversary will be held Oct. 17, 18 and 19.

Quebec City's anniversary headquarters, Espace 400e (pronounced quatre-centieme, meaning 400th), will be open at the Louise Basin in the Old Port, June 3-Sept. 28. In the main pavilion, "Passagers/Passengers," a multimedia exhibition, celebrates the 5 million immigrants who passed through or settled in Quebec City since its founding. Espace 400e will also host the Ephemeral Gardens, 11 original gardens by designers from Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Many annual events have added programs in honour of the anniversary, including the Summer Festival, which will feature Linkin Park among others, and the Musee de la civilisation de Quebec, which has added exhibits on "Gold in the Americas," "Urbanopolis" and an outdoor participatory environmental installation, "The Visionaries Garden."

The Musee National des Beaux-Arts du Quebec is hosting "The Louvre in Quebec - The Arts and Life," with 271 pieces from the Paris museum beginning June 5. The Opera de Quebec will host "Operalia," an international singing competition directed by Placido Domingo, and a new version of the musical "Les Miserables" will run at the Theatre Capitole.

Indian culture and history will be interpreted in programs offered by the First Nations of Quebec and Canada, including an outdoor drama, "Kiugwe: The Great Meeting," presented in Wendake, July 18-Sept. 7. (Wendake is a section of Quebec City where the Huron-Wendat tribes live.)

Special events aside, if you're visiting Quebec City this summer, be sure to spend an afternoon exploring the narrow cobblestone streets of Vieux Quebec, or Old Quebec, which today is crowded with cafes, open-air boutiques, and small stone houses with brightly painted shutters. Most buildings in the historic district are from the 19th century, but older architecture includes an Ursuline convent founded in 1639, and the Restaurant Aux Anciens Canadiens at 34 rue Saint-Louis, located in a house built in the 1670s.

The city is still surrounded by fortification walls dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, with cannons along the ramparts. UNESCO declared the area a World Heritage site in 1985, citing it as a good example of a "fortified colonial city" and "the only North American city to have preserved its ramparts, together with the numerous bastions, gates and defensive works."

The name Quebec comes from an Algonquin Indian word that means "where the river narrows." A statue of Champlain is located on a terraced promenade that offers spectacular views of the St. Lawrence.

The streetscapes of the old city are dominated by the Chateau Frontenac, which looks like a medieval castle with stone turrets and gables. It's actually a luxury hotel, now part of the Fairmont chain. It opened its doors in 1893 near where Champlain's fort (later the governor's mansion) was erected in 1620. Archeological work is under way at the site, and this summer the public can observe the excavation underground.

If you have an extra day, nearby places worth visiting include Montmorency Falls Park and the charming island of Ile d'Orleans. Take a cable-car ride up to the top of the waterfalls, then walk down a scenic route that includes a suspension bridge above the falls. On Ile d'Orleans, drive the Chemin Royal road and enjoy the scenery. You'll find picturesque harbours, old-fashioned farmhouses and historic churches. Stop for lunch or a treat at a bakery or sweets shop, and don't miss the strawberries sold from roadside stands a little later in the season.

source: canadianpress.google.com

OLD PORT FESTIVAL !! Im coming

2008-06-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Big Easy at OLD PORT FESTIVAL, of course this event is vey attracting and enjoyable.

A day of fun will include- bands, kids rides and activities, exotic petting zoo, rock climbing, Maine artists and crafts people, good food, and more!!

Festival Flowers in India

2008-05-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

Festival with rare show of exotic varieties of flowers, orchids and other plants native to Sikkim, a north east state. Held every summer during the peak flowering season, this is a spectacular event attracting people from all over India..

The tiny state of Sikkim, famous for its flora which is in full bloom during March-May has around 600 species of orchids flower, 240 species of trees and ferns flower, 150 varieties of gladioli, 46 types of rhododendrons along with a variety of magnolias and many other foliage plants. The main displays in the flower show are orchids, gladioli, roses, cacti, alpine plants, creepers, climbers, ferns, herbs etc. Experts in the various fields hold seminars and lectures.

A food festival with Sikkimese delicacies is organised during the show. River rafting and Yak Safari are added attractions.

In May, most of Sikkim's horticultural delights are at their best. Gangtok goes to town and shows them off with a huge outdoor flower festival, with food and entertainment thrown in for good measure.

Sikkim boasts 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees and 240 species of ferns, 150 kinds of gladioli flower, 46 varieties of the world-famous rhododendrons flower, varied species of magnolias and many other foliage plants. During the month of May, they are in full bloom and experts gather to hold lectures and seminars. Most of the action festival takes place near the Governor's Residence at White Hall.

source: www.festivalsofindia.in

Hot Japanese Girl / Woman With Kimono

2008-05-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

The kimono is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" referred to all types of clothing, but it has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length garment.

Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes that fall to the ankle, with collars and wide, full-length sleeves. Kimono are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial)and secured by a wide belt called an obi, which is usually tied at the back. Kimono are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).

Today, kimono are most often worn by hot women or girl, and on special occasions. Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called furisode, which have floor-length sleeves, on special occasions. A few older women not for girl and even fewer men still wear kimono on a daily basis. Men wear kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese dress whenever appearing in public. They commonly wear the kind of casual Japanese attire that is referred to as yukata, which is of plain unlined cotton.

Kimono hobbyists is hot in Japan can take courses on how to put on and wear kimono. Classes cover selecting seasonally and event-appropriate patterns and fabrics, matching the kimono undergarments and accessories to the kimono, layering the undergarments according to subtle meanings, selecting and tying obi, and other topics. There are also clubs devoted to kimono culture, such as Kimono de Ginza.

Kimono can be expensive. A woman's or girl kimono may easily exceed US$10,000; a complete kimono outfit, with kimono, undergarments, obi, ties, socks, sandals and accessories, can exceed US$20,000. A single obi may cost several thousand dollars. However, most kimono owned by kimono hobbyists or by practitioners of traditional arts are far less expensive. Enterprising people make their own kimono and undergarments by following a standard pattern, or by recycling older kimono. Cheaper and machine-made fabrics can substitute for the traditional hand-dyed silk. There is also a thriving business in Japan for second-hand kimono, which can cost as little as ¥500. Women's obi, however, mostly remain an expensive item. Although simple patterned or plain colored ones can cost as low as ¥1,500, even a used obi can cost hundreds of dollars, and experienced craftsmanship is required to make them. Men's obi, even those made from silk, tend to be much less expensive, because they are narrower, shorter and less decorative than those worn by hot women or girl.

Source: wikipedia.com

Baseball in the world

2008-05-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

Baseball is largely known as America's pastime, but has a fan base in several other countries as well. The history of baseball in Canada has remained closely linked with that of the sport in the United States. As early as 1877, a professional league, the International Association, featured teams from both countries. While baseball is widely played in Canada, and many minor league teams have been based in the country, the American major leagues did not include a Canadian club until 1969, when the Montreal Expos joined the National League as an expansion team. In 1977, the expansion Toronto Blue Jays joined the American League. The Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993, the first and still the only club from outside the United States to do so. In 2004, Major League Baseball relocated the Expos to Washington, D.C., where the team is now known as the Nationals.

The first formal baseball league outside of the United States and Canada was founded in 1878 in Cuba, which maintains a rich baseball tradition and whose national team has been one of the world's strongest since international play began in the late 1930s. Professional baseball leagues began to form in other countries between the world wars, including the Netherlands (formed in 1922), Australia (1934), Japan (1936), and Puerto Rico (1938). After World War II, professional leagues were founded in Italy (1948) and in many Latin American nations, most prominently Venezuela (1945), Mexico (1945), and the Dominican Republic (1951). In Asia, Korea (1982), Taiwan (1990), and China (2003) all have professional leagues.

Many European countries have pro leagues as well, the most successful beside the Dutch being the Italian league founded in 1948. Compared to those in Asia and Latin America, the various European leagues and the one in Australia historically have had no more than niche appeal. Recently, the sport has begun to grow in popularity in those nations, most notably in Australia, which won a surprise silver medal in the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2007, the Israel Baseball League, featuring six teams, was launched. Competition between national teams, such as in the Baseball World Cup and the Olympic baseball tournament, has been administered by the International Baseball Federation since its formation in 1938. As of 2004, the organization has 112 member countries.

Since the early 1970s, the annual Caribbean Series has matched the league-winning clubs from Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. The Confédération Européene de Baseball (European Baseball Confederation), founded in 1953, organizes a number of competitions between clubs from different countries as well as national squads. The inaugural World Baseball Classic, held in March 2006, had a much higher profile than previous tournaments featuring national teams, owing to the participation for the first time of a significant number of players from Major League Baseball.

The 117th meeting of the International Olympic Committee, held in Singapore in July 2005, voted not to hold baseball and softball tournaments at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, but they will remain Olympic sports during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and will be put to vote again for each succeeding Summer Olympics. The elimination of baseball and softball from the 2012 Olympic program enabled the IOC to consider adding two different sports to the program, but no other sport received the majority vote required for inclusion. While baseball's lack of substantial appeal in much of the world was a factor; more important is the unwillingness of Major League Baseball to have a break during the Games so that its players can participate, something that the National Hockey League now does during the Winter Olympic Games. Because of the seasonal nature of baseball and the high priority its fans place on the integrity of major-league statistics from one season to the next, it would be more difficult to accommodate such a break in Major League Baseball.
Source: wikipedia.com

Wondeful month with festival rose

2008-05-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

This june is started with a lot of festival rose. I cant wait to round of this country just to see it. Some schedule for rose festival that i have from : www.oregonlive.com and www.portlandobserver.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 30

Rose Cup Races: More than 400 drivers from the United States and Canada compete in various classes at Portland International Raceway, West Delta Park. Gates open 7 a.m. through Sunday, culminating with the Rose Cup race at 1:40 p.m. Sunday. Daily tickets and three-day passes on sale via Ticketmaster, 224-4400. Continues through June 1. Details: www.rosecup.com

SATURDAY, MAY 31

Key Bank Starlight Run: The largest fun run in Oregon, with more than 4,000 runners expected this year. Dress up and win prizes for best costume. Run (3.1 miles) starts at Lincoln High School, Southwest 16th Avenue and Salmon Street. Registration 6:30 p.m. Entry fee: $12-$29. Costume judging: 7:15 p.m. Race starts at 8 p.m. Details: www.starlightrun.com

Naval Fleet: Vessels from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Maritime Forces arrive from around the world. Ships moor along Tom McCall Waterfront Park's harbor wall from the Steel Bridge to Waterfront Village. Tours available daily; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; free. Continues through June 8. Details: www.rosefestival.org/events/fleet

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

26th Annual Rose Art Show: 2008 Rose Festival Art Competition. Artist reception: 1-4 p.m. Sun. Oregon Society of Artists, 2185 S.W. Park Place. Continues through June 27. Details: 228-0706; www.oregonsocietyofartists.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

Lloyd Center/Portland Rose Society Spring Rose Show: The 120th annual event is the country's oldest and largest rose show. 1-9 p.m., continues Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Lloyd Center Ice Rink. Tickets $3; available at Ticketmaster. Details: www.portlandrosesociety.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

Concert at the Park: A variety of musical acts for the entire family. Headlining the show will be the Rose Festival One More Time Around Again Marching Band. 7 p.m. at PGE Park, reserved seating; $12-$15. Ticketmaster; 224-4400.

Royal Rosarian Knighting Ceremony: 10 a.m., Rose Garden Amphitheatre, Washington Park. Details: www.royalrosarians.org

2008 Festival of Flowers: Presented by Hoffman Construction Co., this year's design, Urban Meadow, will be on display at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Flower display: 6 a.m.-midnight June 6-18. Flower sale: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 19-22. Continues through June 22. Details: 223-1613; www.pioneercourthousesquare.org

Mock's Crest Productions presents Gilbert & Sullivan's classic, "Pirates of Penzance": 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Mago Hunt Theater, University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd. Continues through June 29. Details: 943-7287

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Queen's Coronation presented by Pacific Power: The Rose Festival queen will be announced Saturday morning in Memorial Coliseum just before the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade. 8:30 a.m., Tickets $30; www.rosefestival.org

"From One Rose" Motion Picture: At the Historic Hollywood Theatre, the Portland Rose Festival will host a screening of its Centennial Motion Picture, "From One Rose." A cinematic journey through the life of a woman born at the turn of the century in Portland who grows up with the Rose Festival. 7 p.m. Tickets $10. Details: 281-4215; www.hollywoodtheatre.org

Regence Grand Floral Walk: The four-mile fitness walk's route is also the route of the Grand Floral Parade. The walk begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Coliseum. Registration fee: $10-$15; limited to 2,000 participants. Details: www.grandfloralwalk.com

Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association Dragon Boat Race: Nearly 100 teams will compete throughout the day in races held on the Willamette River in boats provided through the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association. Races held at the south end of Tom McCall Waterfront Park along Southwest Naito Parkway. Continues through Sunday. Details: www.pksca.com

Bi-Mart X-Treme Air Dogs: Northwest Challenge Busch Beer Outdoor Series at Oaks Park in Sellwood. Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., continues Sunday. Register before June 3; $20 fee. Details: 541-689-3612; www.northwestchallenge.com

Grand Floral Parade Float Viewing: Visit the float display on Southwest Naito Parkway adjacent to the Waterfront Village to view a closer look at this year's floats. 2-5 p.m., continues Sunday.

Funny cat. my pets since childhood

2008-05-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Since childhood i prefer to have a cat for my pet. This is my first cat that i have, his name is mujib and funny cat. His character is very agresive but just in mommet that he want something to eat. But he is my daitsuki cat in the world!

This is my second cat that i adoption to be my pet. Very funny and he is very smart cat. My memory with this cat is unforgotten. Freedy i love you!

This is my sisters cat. Most scary cat in my life....but nice pet to secure our home. Do you think so?

10 tips travelling

2008-05-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

10 tips for travelling:

If traveling to a humid climate put a dryer sheet in your suitcase to keep you clothes smelling fresh.
When traveling by air, avoid taking a nap during the descent and landing. This will help with the pressure change and avoid temporary plugged ears. Stay awake and yawn or chew gum.
Beware of cheap cruise excursions provided by local sources compared to those offered by the cruise lines excursions desks. You may end up stranded - or at the least taken advantage of. The cruise lines vouch for the companies they contract with, and you are much safer using one recommended by the cruise line or a company your travel agent recommends.
Only drink bottled water in foreign countries. All water contains different sets of microbes and mineral deposits, even in the US. If you aren't used to a country's drinking water, then you may get sick just because it is different. Be safe, buy bottled water cheap at the supermarket.
Eliminate having to pack shaving cream by using a shaving brush, and work a lather from the hand soap. It works like a charm.
Attention women! Instead of packing tubes, jars, or plastic bottles of creams try a contact lens case. You can use both sides, one for eye cream, the other for concealers or products that require dabs for application.
If suffering from a headache during traveling, try massaging lavender aromotherepy oil where the pain is - it works wonders! Aveda makes a great travel size called "Blue Oil Balancing Concentrate".
Make friends with the regular bus drivers around your hotel. They're better equipped to make suggestions than most concierges, and are very familiar with local customs/secrets. A good public bus driver can make an entire vacation!
Bags within bags. Pack empty duffel bags or soft backpacks (ones that are easy to roll up) into your suitcase. They make great beach bags or excursion bags. Then if you buy more than fits in your suitcase you can always use them as extra luggage on your return flight.
When travelling with your family and bring more than one suitcase distribute all family members clothes equally through each suitcase.

History of The Great Wall China

2008-05-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

The Chinese were already familiar with the techniques of wall-building by the time of the Spring and Autumn Period, which began around the 7th century BC. During the Warring States Period from the 5th century BC to 221 BC, the states of Qi, Yan and Zhao all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly by stamping earth and gravel between board frames. Qin Shi Huang conquered all opposing states and unified China in 221 BC, establishing the Qin Dynasty. Intending to impose centralized rule and prevent the resurgence of feudal lords, he ordered the destruction of the wall sections that divided his empire along the former state borders. To protect the empire against intrusions by the Xiongnu people from the north, he ordered the building of a new wall to connect the remaining fortifications along the empire's new northern frontier. Transporting the large quantity of materials required for construction was difficult, so builders always tried to use local resources. Stones from the mountains were used over mountain ranges, while rammed earth was used for construction in the plains. There are no surviving historical records indicating the exact length and course of the Qin Dynasty walls. Most of the ancient walls have eroded away over the centuries, and very few sections remain today. Later, the Han, Sui, Northern and Jin dynasties all repaired, rebuilt, or expanded sections of the Great Wall at great cost to defend themselves against northern invaders.

The Great Wall concept was revived again during the Ming Dynasty following the Ming army's defeat by the Oirats in the Battle of Tumu in 1449. The Ming had failed to gain a clear upper-hand over the Manchurian and Mongolian tribes after successive battles, and the long-drawn conflict was taking a toll on the empire. The Ming adopted a new strategy to keep the nomadic tribes out by constructing walls along the northern border of China. Acknowledging the Mongol control established in the Ordos Desert, the wall followed the desert's southern edge instead of incorporating the bend of the Huang He.
Photograph of the Great Wall in 1907
Photograph of the Great Wall in 1907

Unlike the earlier Qin fortifications, the Ming construction was stronger and more elaborate due to the use of bricks and stone instead of rammed earth. As Mongol raids continued periodically over the years, the Ming devoted considerable resources to repair and reinforce the walls. Sections near the Ming capital of Beijing were especially strong.

From: wikipedia.com
Image:The Great wall - by Bernard Goldbach.jpg

Beautiful Niagara Waterfall

2008-05-29T23:05:00.000-07:00

Niagara Falls (waterfall), waterfall in east central North America, located on the Niagara River, in western New York and southeastern Ontario. Niagara Falls consists of two cataracts: the Horseshoe, or Canadian, Falls (57 m/187 ft high), on the Canadian side of the river, and the American Falls (55 m/182 ft high), on the United States side. The waterfalls are separated by Goat Island, New York. The crestline of the crescent-shaped Horseshoe Falls, which carries about nine times more water than the U.S. cataract, is about 670 m (about 2,200 ft) long, and the fairly straight crest of the American Falls measures 328 m (1,075 ft). A small section of the American Falls near Goat Island is also known as Bridal Veil Falls.

Niagara Falls was formed about 12,000 years ago, when glaciers retreated north, allowing water from Lake Erie to flow over the Niagara Escarpment, a ridge that extends in an arc across the northern Great Lakes region, from Wisconsin to New York. Erosion slowly pushed the waterfall about 11 km (about 7 mi) upstream, forming the Niagara Gorge. Before large water-diversion projects were built in the 1950s and 1960s, Horseshoe Falls was receding at a rate of more than 1 m (3 ft) per year. With reduced flows slowing erosion, it will take about 30 years for the falls to recede the distance it once did in a year. In 1954 a considerable portion of the American Falls broke off, creating a large talus, or rock slope, at the base of the cataract. In order to study ways of preventing further rockfalls and to remove some of the talus, the American Falls was successfully “shut off” for several months in 1969 by a dam that was constructed between the U.S. mainland and Goat Island.

Niagara Falls is a great tourist attraction, luring millions of visitors each year. The falls may be viewed from parks located on either side of the river, from observation towers, from boats, from Goat Island, and from the Rainbow Bridge, located a short distance downstream. Visitors also may enter the Cave of the Winds, situated behind a curtain of falling water near the base of the American Falls.

Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer, probably visited Niagara Falls in 1613. Father Louis Hennepin, a Flemish monk, is known to have visited the waterfall in 1678; he later published an eyewitness description of it.

Source: encarta.msn.com

Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy

2008-05-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply The Tower of Pisa (La Torre di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and it is the third structure by time in Pisa's Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square).

Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction. The height of the tower is 55.86 m (183.27 ft) from the ground on the lowest side and

56.70 m (186.02 ft) on the highest side. The width of the walls at the base is 4.09 m(13.42 ft) and at the top 2.48 m (8.14 ft). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes. Thetower has 296 or 294 steps ;the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facingstaircase. The tower leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees. This means that the top of the tower is 3.9 meters from where it would stand if the tower were perfectly vertical.

Kuta Bali

2008-05-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

Kuta is a town in southern Bali, Indonesia. A former fishing village, it was one of the first towns on Bali to see substantial tourist development, and as a beach resort remains one of Indonesia's major tourist destinations. It is known internationally for its long sandy beach, varied accommodation, many restaurants and bars, and substantial Australian population. It is located near Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport.

Kuta was the site of the October 12, 2002 Bali bombing (202 killed) and the October 1, 2005 Bali bombing (26 killed).

Kuta is now the center of an extensive tourist-oriented urban area that merges into the neighboring towns. Legian, to the north, is the commercial hub of Kuta and the site of many restaurants and entertainment spots. Most of the area's big beachfront hotels are in the southern section of Tuban.

Legian and Seminyak are northern extensions of Kuta along Jl. Legian and Jl. Basangkasa. They are somewhat quieter suburbs with cottage-style accommodations, where many of the expat crowd live. Also to the north are Petitenget, Berawa, Canggu, and Seseh - new and quieter continuations of Kuta's beach. They are easy to reach through Abian Timbul or Denpasar and Kerobokan. Several large hotels are located in this area: the Oberoi Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, the Intan Bali Village, the Legian in Petitenget, the Dewata Beach and the Bali Sani Suites in Berawa.

To the south, Kuta Beach extends beyond the airport into Jimbaran. Other nearby towns and villages include Seseh (6.4 nm), Denpasar (4.5 nm), Ujung (1.8 nm), Pesanggaran (2.0 nm), Kedunganan (2.9 nm) and Tuban (1.0 nm).

The Balinese Provincial Government have taken the view that the preservation of the Balinese culture, natural resources and wildlife are of primary importance in the development of the island. To this end they have limited tourist development to the peninsula on the extreme southern aspect of the island; Kuta beach is on the western side of this peninsula and Sanur is on the east. To the north of the peninsula no new tourist development is supposedly permitted.

Source: Wikipedia.com

Kailua beach in Hawaii

2008-05-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Kailua is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It lies in the Koʻolaupoko District of Oʻahu on the windward coast at Kailua Bay. It is in the judicial district and the ahupua'a named Ko'olaupoko. It is 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Honolulu - over Nu'uanu Pali, the tallest mountain peak in the Ko'olau mountain range.
In the Hawaiian language Kailua means "two seas," or "two currents," a contraction of the words kai (meaning sea or sea water) and ʻelua (meaning two); it is so named because of the two lagoons in the district or the two currents which run through Kailua Bay.

Kailua is primarily a residential community, with a centralized commercial district along Kailua Road. It has a compact, easy-to-shop business district surrounded by mostly single-family homes. By 1992 50,000 residents encompassed a central urban core with surrounding residential areas.

Places of note in Kailua include Kailua Beach Park (photo at right), Lanikai Beach, Kawai Nui Marsh, and Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi.

Beach
Kailua Beach has been repeatedly ranked among the best beaches worldwide. It was ranked as #1 U.S. beach in 1998 by coastal expert Dr. Stephen Leatherman, and then "retired" from subsequent consideration.
It is a crescent-shaped, about 2 miles (3.2 km) in length and 50-150 feet wide. The ocean bottom fronting the beach slopes gently to overhead depths without any coral heads. Light to medium waves support surfing and body surfing.
The steady trade winds make Kailua Beach one of the world’s preeminent windsurfing and kite boarding destinations. Robbie Naish, regarded by most observers as the windsurfing's greatest champion, grew up at Kailua Beach.

From: Wikipedia.com

Sanur Beach

2008-05-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Sanur beach from air.

Sanur beach at night

Sanur beach at morning

As the main tourist destination, Bali is popular throughout the world. There
are lots of people come to this island every year and plan to come again the
next year. Bali is very popular with its beaches such as Sanur beach, Legian
beach, Kuta beach and Nusa Dua beach. Sanur beach is perfect for the water
activities including canoeing, swimming, kayaking and the perfect place to see
the beautiful sunrise. Come to Bali and enjoy the beaches in Bali!

Sourse: kebali.blogspot.com

Bali Island

2008-05-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.

Sanur.
On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past.

Kuta and Legian
Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca.

Jimbaran
Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.

Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.

Soka Beach
Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach.

Medewi Beach
Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach.

Lovina Beach
Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.

Source: www.indo.com

Egyptian pyramid

2008-05-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids — huge structures built of brick or stone, some of which are among the largest man-made constructions. Most of them took about 27 years to build. In Ancient Egyptian, a pyramid was referred to as mer, which was also their word for the country of Egypt itself, showing how intrinsic the structures were to the culture.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. Until Lincoln Cathedral was built in 1300 A.D., it was the tallest building in the world. The base is over 52,600 square meters in area. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the only one of the seven to survive into modern times. The Ancient Egyptians capped the peaks of their pyramids with gold and covered their faces with polished white limestone, though many of the stones used for the purpose have fallen or been removed for other structures.

Hiking at Kilimanjaro

2008-05-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

Kilimanjaro with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania. Depending on definition, Kilimanjaro may be considered as having anywhere from the tallest to the fourth tallest free-standing mountain rise[2] in the world,[3] rising 4,600 m (15,100 ft) from its base, and is additionally the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 meters (19,340 ft), providing a dramatic view from the surrounding plains.

The highest point on Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Peak, on the volcano Kibo 5,895 metres (19,341 ft). The top of Kibo is a 1.5 mile wide crater. As the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak is one of the Seven Summits. The summit was first reached by the Marangu army scout Yohanas Kinyala Lauwo, German Hans Meyer and Austrian Ludwig Purtscheller, on October 6, 1889. Two other peaks are also extinct volcanoes: Mawenzi (5,149 m, 16,890 ft), the third highest peak in Africa (after Mount Kenya) and Shira (3,962 m, 13,000 ft). Yohanas' Notch is named after Lauwo.

Due to Kilimanjaro's equatorial location and high elevation, almost every climate type on earth is represented, including a year-round snow-topped summit.

I think will be nice if we try to hiking at Kilimanjaro!

SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.COM

National Treasures in Japan Country

2008-05-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the government of Japan designates the most famous of the nation's cultural properties as National Treasures (国宝: kokuhō). Examples of the types of works that receive this designation are

* Buildings such as castles, temples, shrines
* Paintings, scrolls, sutras, and works of calligraphy
* Statues in stone, bronze, wood, lacquer or other materials
* Crafts, such as pottery, lacquer ware, carvings, metals, netsuke, swords and textiles
* Archeological and historical artifacts, including burial objects, documents, and letters
* People, called "Living National Treasures (人間国宝: ningen kokuhō)"

Many of Japan's national treasures are in museums such as the national museums in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara. The prefectural and city governments also operate public museums, and these and private museums also house national treasures. Many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, castles and similar installations also open their buildings and grounds to the public, and some have museums as well. The Imperial Household of Japan holds many national treasures. Kyoto boasts about one in five national treasures.

Living National Treasure is an informal designation for a person whom the government has recognized as exemplary in carrying on Japanese traditions. Performing artists in genres including noh, bunraku, and kabuki, and artists and artisans in traditional crafts, have received this distinction.

Source: Wikipedia.com

Ikaho Onsen

2008-05-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Ikaho Onsen is one of the four most famous hot spring resorts of Gunma Prefecture. Its thermal waters are characterized by a high concentration of iron.

Located at the eastern slopes of Mount Haruna, an active volcano, Ikaho is best known for its stone stairs, which lead up through the town center and are lined by ryokan, old fashioned game arcades and shops.

Ten minutes outside of Ikaho stands Mizusawa Kannon, a popular temple, well known for the udon noodles sold at restaurants along its approach. Mount Haruna with its beautiful caldera lake can also be easily combined with a visit to Ikaho.

Attractions
Source: japan-guide.com

BIG-BIG Sumo

2008-05-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, several guests descended upon Japan and sent me scrambling for many days worth of fun and exciting sightseeing itineraries. My greatest planning and scheduling success was a day at the Tokyo Grand Sumo tournament.

The challenge to seeing sumo is getting a hold of tickets. For foreigners who don't have a decent command of Japanese, this can seem a daunting task. The official sumo website provides detailed information in English on ticketing and pricing, but warns that the telephone lines and box office will accept Japanese inquiries only.

To avoid showcasing my deeply flawed Japanese, I tried a Lawson's convenience store. A note on the official grand sumo home page states that tickets can be purchased at Lawson's. I had ignored this at first, not quite understanding how a convenience store would help me see sumo. In fact, many convenience stores have an ATM-like ticketing service machine. It only took ten minutes to get six tickets to the opening day of the May Grand Sumo

Our day of sumo was a really fantastic experience and I encourage anyone in town for a grand sumo tournament to attend (a complete schedule is listed in English on the official homepage found below). A ticket gives you entrance to the whole day of matches. For us, this began at 8am. Not really understanding very much about the sport, we eagerly made our way across the city at the crack of dawn, only to find the stadium....... nearly empty.

Of course, there were several proud mothers and focused coaches gathered around the dohyo (sumo 'ring' where the match is held). But our group made up almost the only spectators. Those early morning matches are comprised of the lowest ranked sumo competitors; those just beginning their sumo careers. These are often very young looking, slim boys who don't fit the general stereotype image of a sumo.

As the day continues, the competitors get progressively higher in rank until between four and six in the evening. At this time, the stadium is packed, the atmosphere is charged and the best wrestlers appear for their matches.

In total, I spent about nine hours watching sumo that day. Besides the fast-paced bouts and the crowd-watching opportunities afforded by the other spectators, there are many things for the visitor to appreciate. Chanko nabe, the tasty and nutritious 'sumo stew' eaten by wrestlers was available for only 200 yen a bowl from the stadium cafe. Gift shops and souvenir stalls were set up in the Kokugikan (stadium building) and walking around offered the chance to glimpse some of the wrestlers headed to their matches.

One of the most entertaining parts of the day took place when my band of sumo watchers left the Kokugikan to stock up on snacks from the convenience store. Outside the sumo stadium was a spectacle in its own right. A crowd was gathered around the entrance watching and cheering for the sumo champions and highly ranked wrestles who arrived later in the day. Kids ran after them seeking autographs and pictures. Best of all, sumo wrestlers were wandering around the restaurants and convenience stores alongside us, stocking up on water, snacks, and even enjoying a bowl of gyudon from the Yoshinoya.

Nihon Sumo Kyokai The offical Grand Sumo home page in English
fROM: japan-guide.com
Sumo is a fascinating way to spend a day in Japan. It offers quite a look into traditional dress and shinto practices as well as being a great spectacle in terms of crowd watching. Never one for combative sports such as wrestling or boxing, I found the ritualized stretching, short bouts and detailed list of official moves really engaging. Everyone in my party really enjoyed all nine hours at the Kokugikan. I think sumo has a few new followers.

Japan Tourism

2008-05-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

Tourism in Japan comprises both a vibrant domestic sector and over eight million entries each year by foreigners. Today, sites such as Nikko World Historical Site, various attractions in Tokyo (see Tourism in Tokyo) and Kyoto, Mount Fuji, world-class ski resorts such as Niseko in Hokkaidō, Okinawa, as well as aspects of tourism including the shinkansen and well-developed hotel and onsen network are enjoyed by natives and foreigners alike.

History of Tourism

The exact origins of early traditions of visits to picturesque sites are lost to history, but perhaps one of the most famous early sight-seeing excursions was Matsuo Basho's 1689 trip to the then "far north" of Japan, which occurred not long after Hayashi Razan categorized the Three Views of Japan in 1643. During the feudal era of Japan, from ~1600 to the Meiji Restoration in 1867, travel was regulated within the country through the use of shukuba or post stations, towns in which travelers had to present appropriate documentation. Despite these restrictions, porter stations and horse stables, as well as places for lodging and food were available on well-traveled routes. During this time, Japan was a closed country to foreigners, so little to none foreign tourism existed in Japan.

Following the Meiji Restoration and the building of a national railroad network across Japan, tourism became more of an affordable prospect for domestic citizens and visitors from foreign countries could enter Japan legally. As early as 1887, government officials recognized the need for an organized system of attracting foreign tourists; the Kihinkai (貴賓会, Kihinkai?), which aimed to coordinate the various players in the tourism, was established that year with Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi's blessing. Its early leaders included Shibusawa Eiichi and Ekida Takashi. Another major milestone in the development of the tourism industry in Japan was the 1907 passage of the Hotel Development Law, as a result of which the Railways Ministry began to construct publicly-owned hotels all throughout Japan.

Tourism Today

Tourism today remains a vital part of the Japanese economy and society. Schoolchildren in many middle schools see the highlight of their years as a visit to Tokyo Disneyland or perhaps Tokyo Tower in the city. High school students may visit Okinawa or Hokkaidō. The extensive rail network together with domestic flights sometimes in planes with modifications to favor the relatively short distances involved in intra-Japan travel allows efficient and speedy transport from many points within the country.
Source: wikipedia.com

Yakushima Island

2008-05-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Yakushima is a subtropical island off the southern coast of Kyushu and part of Kagoshima Prefecture. It is covered by an extensive cedar forest that contains some of Japan's oldest living trees. Trees more than 1000 years old are affectionately called yakusugi (a combination of Yakushima and the Japanese word for cedar, sugi), the most ancient of which may be over 7000 years old.

The island's cedar forests were logged extensively throughout history. Their most common use was to make cedar shingles during the Edo Period. Today the forests are a national park and some areas were declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1993.

Yakushima has become a destination for people who love nature and the outdoors, with lots of hiking, camping and nature watching all around the island. However there are many hotels and restaurants along the island's well developed coast, so you can rough it during the day yet spend your nights in comfort.

source: japan-guide.com

Hanami and sakura blossoms

2008-05-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Hanami (花見, Hanami? literally "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, especially cherry blossoms (桜 or 櫻 sakura). The practice of Hanami is more than a thousand years old, and is still very popular in Japan today. It takes place in the Spring, contrary to the custom of Momijigari (紅葉狩り), which is celebrated in the Autumn. The blossoms only last for a week or two, usually from March to April, and they are followed by the media and waited for by most of the Japanese people. Full life and bloom (満開 mankai) usually comes about one week after the opening of the first blossoms (開花 kaika).

Another week later, the blooming peak is over and the blossoms are falling from the trees. A more ancient form of hanami also exists in Japan, which is enjoying the plum blossoms (梅 ume) instead. This kind of hanami is popular among older people, because they are more calm than the sakura parties, which usually involve younger people and can sometimes be very crowded and noisy. It is important to note that the Japanese call this, not only "hanami" but also ohanami (お花見), adding an "o" in front, literally meaning "to view the flower blossoms". Nice life!

picnic in apple garden Malang City

2008-05-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Have you been eat some apples directly from the tree?
In Malang, exactly at Kota Batu there is alot of apple garden. If you came to this garden, plan your picnic while eat some fresh apples from tree.

Its FUN!

Metode belajar bersama alam

2008-05-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

Di era yang serba modern dan instan sekarang, teknik belajar bersama alam sangat digemari oleh masyarakat perkotaan. Maklum dengan suasana pendidikan di daerah metropolitan yang serba cepat dan sesak, belajar terkesan hanya sekedar sebagai pemenuhan kewajiban individu. Sehingga meninggalkan unsur yang sangat penting dari belajar yaitu rasa asyik atau senang ketika menjalaninya.

Metode belajar bersama alam memang sudah dikenal sejak dulu oleh para pakar pendidikan. Akhir ini banyak instansi pendidikan seperti sekolah, lembaga bimbingan belajar, training center yang menawarkan metode ini. Karena sangat efektif untuk merangsang peserta belajar untuk lebih aktif dalam interaksi belajar. Dengan suasana alam yang alami dan fresh akan sangat mendukung kondisi peserta/siswa tetap pada kondisi prima. Biasanya kegiatan ini dilaksanakan pada liburan semester atau liburan yang lainnya.

Lokasi pun haruslah dipilih yang masih alami seperti puncak perbukitan, pantai, taman, atau tempat wisata yang ada di sekitar lingkungan sekolah.

Traveling in Surabaya, why not?

2008-05-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Surabaya is one of central city in Indonesia. Located in Propinsi Jawa Timur, Surabaya known with many interisting place used to spend holiday or traveling. There is some place that you must go there and enjoy the culture.

Hero Monument

Governor Suryo Statue

Tourist Information Center at Balai Pemuda

Reog Dance

Street painter

See you in Surabaya....!

Wisata ke Kenjeran Surabaya

2008-05-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

Bagi anda yang berasal dari kota Surabaya atau dari propinsi Jawa Timur pasti sudah mendengar tempat wisata Kenjeran. Tempat wisata ini terlatak sebelah utara timur kota Surabaya atau di daerah pantai utara. Sekarang Kenjeran berbenah sehingga menjadi salah satu obyek wisata yang bisa diandalkan oleh masyarakat Surabaya.Dengan udara pantai yang sejuk, kita bisa menikmati pesona laut dengan berjalan kaki atau berkuda di taman yang telah disediakan oleh Pantai Ria Kenjeran. juga bermain layang-layang dengan bebas disini karena angin pantai yang mendukung untuk permainan ini. Sehingga akan sangat menyenangkan membawa keluarga untuk berlibur di Pantai Ria Kenjeran ini.

Pantai Ria Kenjeran juga sering mengadakan acara-acara pada hari-hari tertentu (sabtu/minggu) yang sangat menarik sehingga sayang sekali jika terlewatkan begitu saja. Diantaranya adalah drag race di park-sirkuit, pacuan kuda, pertunjukan barongsay di saat bulan purnama, permainan layang-layang dan sebagainya.

Most beautiful place in Indonesia

2008-05-03T00:53:00.000-07:00

This is most beatiful place in my country. Bali island with a lot of beach, traditional culture, and interisting more.
This some picture of Bali Island. See it~! >_<

Kuta beach

Sanur beach

Holiday in Bale Kambang

2008-05-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

Bale Kambang is one of best place to spent holiday in Malang East Java. I've go there last year with my best friend. We go there by motorcycle honda 70. The trip is really fun, because we can also see a lot of naturally picture in the road. We very enjoy with sense in Bale Kambang. Fresh air, white sand also candi is very entertaining to me.
I spend most of my time with white sand.

Bale Kambang is fun!

Liburan Ke Gunung Bromo

2008-05-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

Liburan terindah di Bromo

Liburan Desember 2007 yang lalu saya bersama teman-teman kos punya gawean tuk jalan-jalan ke gunung Bromo. Bromo yang letaknya tidak jauh dari tempat kosku di Malang, kira-kira kurang lebih 60 km.

Perjalan pun kami tempuh mulai jam 4 sore sampai 7 petang dengan berkendaraan motor. Kemudian kami sampai di lautan pasir salah satu kawasan Bromo di waktu malam yang petang. Karena kurang persiapan, kami harus menginap di bawah langit di atas bumi alias mbeber kloso (artinya tidur diatas tikar). Dinginnya udara malam sampai menembus tulang apalagi di tengah gurun pasir. Kamipun menggigil secara berjamaah. Dingiiin....!

Kira-kira waktu hampir mendekati shubuh kami bergegas untuk mendaki gunung Bromo. Dengan semangat 45 kami berusaha melewati batuan terjal dan anak tangga yang jumlah sekitar 3000 buah. Akhirnya perjuangan kami tidak sia-sia. Di waktu yang tepat ketika matahari menunjukkan kegagahannya kami berada di puncak Bromo.

Pemandangan yang terindah yang baru saya lihat selama hidup. Kelembutan sinar matahari yang terselimuti awan membuat kami ingin berlama-lama didalamnya. Menajubkan! Subhanallah! Itulah kata yang pertama muncul di hati ini.

Pengalaman yang menarikkan bukan? Bagi anda yang belum ke sana, saya merekomendasikan agar segera kemas koper...langsung ke Bromo dengan keluarga atau sahabat-sahabat anda. Rasakan keajaiban salah satu tempat wisata dunia yang dimiliki Indonesia.

beautifully sempu island in indonesia

2008-04-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

sempu island located in malang east java, indonesia. Is one of my favorite place in east java. With natural place and blue water also the sky....i hope that i can go there with sahabat88, kaitokid724, transmorfosis, and winsolu. you can also try to drive a few of canoe in there.

more fun if i can share our picture in there.

lets start to view sempu island and sendang biru beach

pics from dhias.net, privatebrian.com

thanks for your visit