Banff National Park

Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885, in the Canadian Rockies. The park, located 120 kilometres (80 mi) west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses 6,641 square kilometres of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes. The Icefields Parkway extends from Lake Louise, connecting to Jasper National Park in the north.

Provincial forests and Yoho National Park are neighbours to the west, while Kootenay National Park is located to the south and Kananaskis Country to the southeast. The main commercial centre of the park is the town of Banff, in the Bow River valley. The Canadian Pacific Railway was instrumental in Banff's early years, building the Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise, and attracting tourists through extensive advertising. In the early 20th century, roads were built in Banff, at times by war internees, and through Great Depression-era public works projects. Since the 1960s, park accommodations have been open all year, with annual tourism visits to Banff increasing to over 5 million in the 1990s.

Millions more pass through the park on the Trans-Canada Highway. As Banff is one of the world's most visited national parks, the health of its ecosystem has been threatened. In the mid-1990s, Parks Canada responded by initiating a two-year study, which resulted in management recommendations, and new policies that aim to preserve ecological integrity.

Seattle Civic Auditorium

I found a similar postcard online and the back of the postcard contains detailed information about the auditorium.

Seattle Civic Auditorium

(now Marion Oliver McCaw Hall)

Construction Date: 1925-1928
Cost: $1,115,000

Seattle has constructed a Civic Auditorium, Exposition Hall and Recreation Field as a three-fold civic development, on a centrally located 12-acre site, bounded by Third and Fourth Avenues North, Harrison and Mercer Streets. The Auditorium, fronting on Third Avenue, is 194 feet by 274 feet in size, and comfortably seats 7,700 persons. Of these 5,000 are taken care of on the main floor and 2,700 in the balcony. It has a total of 40,000 square feet of utility space. The main floor is flat and of maple.

In 1959 construction began to transform the aging Civic Auditorium into a 3,100-seat Opera House in preparation for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The remodeled hall was a fan-shaped room, with two balconies, seating about 3,100 persons.

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall is the latest incarnation of what was once Seattle’s Civic Auditorium (1928) which was then gutted and rebuilt as the Seattle Center Opera House for the World’s Fair in 1962.

Life in the USA

The Mood in the USATimes are tough.

We are facing an economic crisis that is the worst in over 7 years. Our stock market is in shambles. Our banks are near collapse, and our housing industry is burnt out.Yet, the mood in the USA is optimistic! It is not a wild, carefree optimism. It is more a guarded, wait-and-see optimism. Having Barak Obama as our new president is a big part of that optimism.

At the end of eight years, nearly everyone became disenchanted with George Bush and his failed policies. It was time for a change, so we elected an agent for change. Obama is an idealist, who campaigned on a message of hope. After eight years of divisive politics that pitted friend against neighbor, Obama has pledged to bring us back together as one unified nation. This is the type of leadership that we have been craving in the USA for many years. Now we have it.

Despite the rough economic times, the majority of the people in the USA now have hope. They know that we must endure a period of tough life, but they look forward to better days. Even the conservatives that voted against Obama are looking to him for improvement to our way of life. Everyone realizes that our president is taking over at a very difficult time, and they know that his job will be very difficult, but they are all wishing him success.If you come to the USA for a visit, you can find some excellent bargains.

Many of the hotels and tourist attractions are only half full. The price of gasoline is low. Transportation costs are down. Tourist attractions are offering special deals in order to attract more visitors. You might be pleasantly suprised to find a very positive attitude from the people in the USA. Even though unemployment rates are high, and the business activity is depressed, most people are still very optimistic. They will welcome you into their communities. They will appreciate your business support, and will share their optimistic views with you.

Be a farmer in Yangshuo

Be a farmer in YangshuoTour Code: GLYS-4 Duration: 4days/3 nights Route: Guilin ,YangshuoAttractions: Li River, Yangshuo Schedule:Day 1　Welcome to picturesque GuiLin.The tour guide will pick you up at the GuiLin International Airport and transfer you to the hotel. Day 2　Place & Transport: :GuilinItinerary: Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Piled Silk Hill (Folded Brocade Hill)Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch- Elephant Trunk Hill: At the confluence of Li River and Peach Blossom River in the southwest city of Guilin.It is a state-level 4A scenery spot.

The Water Moon Cave is close to the Li River. The water flows through it and the cave looks like a moon floating in the water. The stone drooped into the water just like an elephant drinking the water of the Li River.- Reed Flute Cave: Known as 'the Palace of Natural Arts' ,this large and well-presented cave structure has some remarkable formations. Make sure you have some small change for the children who sell one yuan of a flutes .If you've got nothing less than a dollar you'll end up with their whole stock.- Piled Silk Hill (Folded Brocade Hill): It is in the center of GuiLin,a state-level 4A scenic spot. The traversed stone blocks piled one after another just like the colorful folded silk, that's the name of the hill came into being.Day3　Place & Transport: Guilin to YangshuoToday's Activities: Li River CruiseMeals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch- Li River Cruise: A cruise along the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo is an unforgettable experience.

When you immerse yourself in the stunning scenery, there's something interesting to see at almost every bend in the river. Between spectacular limestone peaks you'll see graceful bamboo groves, farmers tending rice paddies, and lumbering water buffaloes pulling carts or cooling off in the river. You may see fishermen gliding along on their narrow bamboo rafts, and if luckily you might see the cormorants knew for catching fish. The boats leave from various wharves, according to river height at different times of the year, and you'll be transferred to the appropriate pier for an unforgettable trip downriver to the lovely old town of Yangshuo.Day4　Place & Transport: Yangshuo to Guilin( Depart from GuiLin,Flight not included)Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Guilin), Yangshuo Moon Mountain, Yangshuo Big Banyan Tree, Biking in Beautiful YangshuoMeals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch- Yangshuo Moon Mountain: Moon Cave is named for its giant archway (about 50 meters, 980steps).10km to the west of Yangshuo.

A forty-five minute ascent on steps up this distinctively shaped hill is rewarded by fabulous views of surrounding peaks and paddy fields.(PS:Don't forget to prepare mineral water for you,avoid taking unnecessary trouble.)- Yangshuo Big Banyan Tree: Big Banyan Tree,7.5km away from south of Yangshuo, is one of the main scenic attractions of Yangshuo County. It is said that the banyan was planted in the Jin Dynasty and is famous for its age and towering beauty. The banyan tree is now 17 meters high, 7.1 meters around the trunk, and covers an area of 1000 square meters.- Biking in Beautiful Yangshuo: Experience the hustle & bustle of the Yangshou traffic for 5 minutes before you escape onto the country roads, lanes and tracks of the distinctive and beautiful Yangshou countryside. Biking through the paddy field and orchards that surround the famous mountains will give a fascinating insight into life in rural China. Centuries old farming methods sit side by side with mobile phones and satellite dishes.Cost per Person in US$ No.of Travellers Deluxe Class Single room SupplementComfortable Class Single room Supplement

1 pax ＄754 -- ＄561 -- 2-5 pax ＄429 ＄ ＄334 ＄ 6-9 pax ＄322 ＄ ＄237 ＄10&up paxPlease contact us for more discount Price includes:* Daily private escorted tours with all entrance fees in the itinerary.* All meals as specified in the itinerary "B" stands for western breakfast, "L" for Chinese Lunch. "D" for Chinese dinner in local Chinese restaurant.* Service of English speaking tour guide during all transfers and sightseeing* Local transfers by company vehicle.* Hotel accommodation based on twin share and All local tax.Price excludes:* City transfers in China, for instance, airline tickets or train tickets*Insurance and All optional programs;*Meals: Any meals which are not specified with "B", "L", or "D";*Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff.Pick up point & time:Drop off point & time:* Airport or train station upon request* Airport or train station upon request* Upon your arrival* Upon your departurePS* The above quotatin is available for summer time, from April 01 to November 30, Special Holidays are not included. We offer more discount in winter time* Meal Code: (B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner )* Hotels in the above package:CityDeluxe ClassComfortable ClassGuiLinGuilin Bravo HotelGuilin Osmanthus HotelYangshuoParadise Resort HotelAiyuan Hotel.

Beijing-the capital of China

As the capital of China, Beijing is one of the world's truly imposing cities, with a 3,000-year history and 15.3 million people (2005). Covering 16,808 square kilometers in area, it is the political, cultural and economic center of the People’s Republic. Situated in northeast China, Beijing adjoins the Inner Mongolian Highland to the northwest and the Great Northern Plain to the south. Five rivers run through the city, connecting it to the eastern Bohai Sea.Administratively, the Beijing municipality equals the status of a province, reporting directly to the central government.

Beijing, a dynamic city where the old and new intermingle, remains a magnet for visitors from inside and outside China.Rich in history, Beijing has been China’s primary capital for more than seven centuries. China’s imperial past and political present meet at Tiananmen square, where the Forbidden City palace of the emperors gives way to the Great Hall of the People congress building and the mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong.

The old city walls have been replaced by ring roads, and many of the old residential districts of alleys and courtyard houses have been turned into high-rise hotels, office buildings, and department stores.Beijing is a city of broad boulevards, now full of traffic and pulsating to the rhythms of commerce and entertainment. Museums and parks abound, including the Palace Museum of the Forbidden City and Beihai Park in the center of town. Nearby, the China Fine Arts Museum (Zhongguo meishuguan) exhibits the work of contemporary artists. China’s ancient past and recent history are on view at the Museum of Chinese History and Chinese Revolution at Tiananmen. Antiques, crafts, and books can be found at Liulichang, an old antique market district remodeled in the 1980’s to reflect the style of the old city.Some of the spirit of Old Beijing is also preserved at Qianmen, south of Tiananmen, with stores that date to the early 20th century and beyond, including the Tongrentang Traditional Medicine Shop, first established in 1669. Beijing Opera performances and acrobatic troupes keep those traditional entertainment forms vital, while contemporary musicclubs and discos thrive in an era of liberalization and prosperity.

Hong Kong Wetland Park Tour

Hong Kong Wetland Park - butterflies

Hong Kong Wetland Park

The Hong Kong Wetland Park is a world-class ecotourism facility and home to a stunning array of wildlife including birds, dragonflies, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, butterflies and fish. The tour begins with a guided walk around the mangrove boardwalks and bird hides to get close up to some of the inhabitants. At the Visitor Centre, enjoy more splendid views of migratory birds in the surrounding Mai Po Marshes, designated as Wetlands of International Importance. Time permitting, check out the Centre's interactive exhibits and learn more about nature, ecology and conservation.Hong Kong Wetland ParkThe tour also goes to the village of Lau Fau Shan at Deep Bay, which is very popular with seafood lovers. On the main street, a number of stalls offer a range of live seafood and preserved oysters ready for cooking in nearby seafood restaurants. Along the waterfront, you can see oyster farmers at work tending to their oyster beds. This is a nice spot to enjoy some of Hong Kong's coastal scenery.

Ocean Park Tour (Half Day/Full Day)

perform at Ocean Theatre Ocean Park - cable-car ride

Ocean Park - dolphins

Ocean Park never fails to impress. The outdoor escalator system is the second largest in the world and the cable-car ride to the headland provides unparalleled panoramic views of the south side of Hong Kong Island's Riviera-like coastline and some of the 260 outlying islands of Hong Kong.

Other highlights include: four giant pandas, An An, Jia Jia, Ying Ying and Le Le; Pacific Pier, Dinosaurs - Now and Then; Amazing Amazon; the Atoll Reef, the world's largest reef aquarium; and the Sea Jelly Spectacular, featuring more than 1,000 sea jellies of all sizes from all over the world. A shark aquarium has an 11.5-metre-long underwater viewing tunnel.

Dolphins and sea lions perform at Ocean Theatre.The 72-metre-tall Ocean Park Tower gives visitors a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape, while thrill-seekers shouldn't miss the massive Dragon roller coaster, the Abyss Turbo Drop and the Mine Train roller coaster. Enjoy splendid flora and fauna in the aviary and the Butterfly House, and let the children go wild at Kids' World, where an array of games, shows and rides will captivate them with hours of fun.Everyone will enjoy Whiskers' Wild Ride, an exciting simulated tour of Ocean Park by land, sea and air. You won't believe it until you see it and experience the thrill yourself!

Ocean Park - cable-car ride Ocean Park - dolphins perform at Ocean TheatreTour DetailsTour NameOcean Park AdventureItineraryOcean Park and Jewellery factory in Aberdeen LanguageEnglishDeparture TimeDaily morning (Actual pick-up time will be given at the time of reservation.)DurationApprox 4 hours or 7 hours* This is a half day escorted tour, however, passengers may stay behind to explore more features in the Ocean Park.

Return transfer could be arranged with your tour escort to pick up the afternoon coach at a specified time.Tour PriceAdult : HK$380Child (3-11 years) : HK$240Booking- Tour Operator- Hotel Tour Desk- HKTB Visitor Centres Organised bySplendid Tours & Travel Ltd AddressThe Lobby, 2nd Level, Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers 20 Nathan RoadDistrictTsim Sha Tsui, KowloonPhone+852 2316 2151Fax+852 2312 2031E-mailinfo@splendid.hkHomepagehttp://www.splendid.hkTour NameOcean Park TourItineraryOcean Park and Jewellery factory in AberdeenLanguageEnglish supplemented by MandarinDeparture TimeDaily morningPick-up PointsHotel pick-up from 8am - 8:50am.(Actual pick-up time will be given at the time of reservation.) DurationApprox 8 hoursTour PriceAdult : HK$330Child (3-11 years) : HK$260 Booking-Tour Operator-Hotel Tour Desk-HKTB Visitor CentresOrganised byGray Line Tours of HK LtdAddressRm 501, Cheong Hing Building 72 Nathan Road DistrictTsim Sha Tsui, KowloonPhone+852 2723 1808+852 2368 7111Fax+852 2721 9029+852 2721 9651E-mailsales@grayline.com.hkHomepagehttp://www.grayline.com.hkTour NameOcean Park TourItineraryOcean Park and Jewellery factoryLanguageEnglish / MandarinDeparture TimeDaily morningPick-up PointsSelected hotel lobbyApprox 8am - 9am (Actual pick-up time will be given at the time of reservation.)DurationApprox 10 hoursTour PriceAdult : HK$320Child (3-11 years) : HK$240Infant (under 3 years) : Free of charge* minimum 2 peopleBookingBookings & Enquiries: +852 2544 5656Organised byAble & Promotion Tours LtdAddressRoom B, 6/F, Southgate Commercial Centre 29 Granville RoadDistrictTsim Sha Tsui, KowloonPhone+852 2544 5656E-mailenquiry@able-tours.comHomepagehttp://www.able-tours.come-Newsletter

Indian model

An Indian model displays diamond jewellery in a shop in Calcutta, capital of eastern Indian state West Bengal, Sept. 19, 2007. Indian diamond trade generates over 4 billion U.S. dollars in exports every year.

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE

Tower Bridge, London - UK

Night View from Tour Montparnasse, Paris.

Las Vegas

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE

Setting Sun on the Family Farm

Another day and more shit to shovel! I took a rest day yesterday and walked around town taking pictures. Nakom Phanome really is a beautiful city and they take great pride in their walkways on the Mekong. That post is for another day as well as the alien bug encounter we had the last few days.. Today we had to haul shit to the family’s other fields about 3 miles away which entailed putting road tires on the tractor. Once we finished up for the day the brothers wanted to take me net fishing , which was great because I was all about doing some swimming.The water was cool and just what I needed after a long day in the fields. As for the fishing, well, we didn’t catch anything and after trying three different bodies of water we settled into the largest of the man made ponds and started searching for fresh water mussels. After an hour and with the sun finally gone from the sky we counted 3 dozen mussels as our take and we headed back to the family home for a well deserved meal…which included the mussels.I was amazed that after dinner Uncle, who is an auxillary policeman, got dressed and headed out for a night of work after working the fields for 10 hours.I think I’m going to need a vacation from this vacation soon…The internet here is excruciatingly slow today so not many pictures but hopefully it will be better tomorrow because I really want to post a lot of pictures of the walkways on the Mekong.

Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort

As of June 2001 the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort welcomes guests to this 10 acres tropical paradise.

Located on secluded white sandy beaches fringed with palms, the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort offers 14 Beach Bungalows and 16 Over Water Bungalows.

All bungalows, designed in Polynesian style, are very spacious (600 sq. ft.) and are equipped with a fan, mini bar, coffee / tea making facilities, direct dial phone, safe, television and private verandah.

The Over Water Bungalows include a glass section of the floor from which you can enjoy the spectacular underwater life of the lagoon. The bedroom opens to a spacious deck with chaise-lounges, but there is no access to the lagoon from the deck.

The bar and restaurant are located poolside and provide an idyllic setting to observe the tropical scenery, while in the evening romantic candlelight dinners take place under the shimmering stars above.

Many excursions and activities are offered to make the best of this heavenly location :

- snorkeling (mask and fins provided free)

- canoes and kayaks,

- sunset cruises,

- fishing,

- scuba diving,

- visits of the village and the fish parks, etc..

There are is no other hotel or dwellings nearby, and the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort offers the ultimate blend of exclusive hideaway, elegant informality and Polynesian hospitality.

The Island of Tikehau

Tikehau, one of the most beautiful atolls in Polynesia, forms an almost unbroken circle 16 miles across, creating a unique ecosystem with the highest preponderance of fish of all the atolls.
This oval shaped atoll some 185 miles to the northwest of Tahiti, about 7 miles north of Rangiroa, has a large pass and a series of islets, the largest of which at the south west of the atoll, half a mile wide, is inhabited.The charming village of Tuherahera, swathed in flowers, is situated on the south end of this large motu which also has two other villages : Tuheiava, a fishing area with many "fish parks" that supply the markets of Tahiti, and Maiaia on the other large motu on the northeast that is a traditional copra producer. This atoll offers the wonderful opportunity to discover the traditional Tuamotu way of life.The beauty and abundance of its fauna account for the popularity of scuba diving especially in the Tuheiava pass, where the manta rays' dance alternates with the parade of barracudas, tunas, multicolored coral fish, and the ubiquitous reef sharks.One of the most beautiful atolls in Polynesia also is home to many bird colonies that have sought refuge in the small islands scattered in the lagoon.

The Island of Rangiroa

Rangiroa, with its 42 mile long by 16 mile wide turquoise lagoon, is the largest atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago and the second largest in the world.

Only an hour's flight from Tahiti, Rangiroa offers sunshine, white coral beaches and an immense playground for water sports and activities.

Lagoon excursions include amazing snorkeling through the pass amongst thousands of colorful fish of all shapes and sizes together with 3 or 4 varieties of sharks. They elegantly - and harmlessly - cruise by, but close enough to make the heart beat just a little faster. A must do

Also available is line or drag fishing as well as motor boat outings to visit Tiputa village, various remote motu islets, the bird sanctuary on Motu Paio and the famous "Blue Lagoon" of Toeo'o. Picnics are sometimes included. The hotel can arrange these excursions.

Rangiroa lagoon and the pass are also world famous for unsurpassed scuba diving which is available with professional diving centers on the island as well as on premises at the Kia ora Resort. No advance booking is necessary.
The only hotel/resort is the Kia Ora Resort located near the village, between the lagoon passes. It is a beautiful but low-key 5 star hotel with all the amenities and service expected from a deluxe property.

Across the lagoon, on a remote islet you will discover the delightful Kia Ora Sauvage with only 5 beach bungalows hidden under the trees and coconut palms. This is the ultimate South Seas fantasy!

The Island of Manihi

Manihi is an atoll 312 miles northeast of Tahiti in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Its clear lagoon, which is 3 1/2 miles wide by l9 miles long, has a deep navigable pass through the reef. It is here, in the purest, blue-green waters of the lagoon of this remote atoll, that the South Seas "gem," the rare black pearl, was first farmed. Manihi is still the center of black pearl farming, and a visit to one of many black pearl farms sprinkled arround the lagoon is a must.
Mast of the population of 400 live in Turipaoa village alongside the pass. Activities are naturally centered around the lagoon, and no matter where you stay, your hosts will arrange boat trips to show you around the lagoon, visiting the fish parks and pearl farms, with picnics on a motus and line or spear fishing.
The only hotel on the island is the lovely 5 stars Manihi Pearl Resort which offers deluxe overwater bungalows as well as beach bungalows. Snorkeling is outstanding right under the bungalows, and a professionnal dive operator offers fascinating diving or snorkeling excursions amongst sharks and manta rays in the pass or the outer reef.

Summit day

At dinner the previous day, Juma had "briefed" us as to what would happen that night. We were expecting to start towards the peak at around 12am...however, Juma told the group (whilst I was asleep in my tent) that as I was so slow, he would walk alone with me starting off at 11.30am and the others would catch me up. When Rob told me of the plan, I instantly and resolutely refused to go with Juma. Rob and I had planned to walk together for moral support and I couldn't believe that the one thing that might have got me to the top was being denied me. Apparently Juma feared that Rob would get too cold walking with me and wouldn't listen even when Rob assured him he'd be fine. However, after a very emotional night, I had convinced myself that I would give it a try, even though I knew in my heart that my exhausted body still wasn't strong enough. Then at about 10pm Rob woke with an explosive headache and nausea and realised that his chance of reaching the summit was fading away. He had been behaving oddly all evening...overexcited, talking utter rubbish...acting as if he were drunk. We had assumed that was just Rob...we were used to seeing him like that but as not a drop of Kilimanjaro beer had passed his lips in days, in retrospect, these were signs of AMS. Once Rob accepted that there was no way he could attempt the summit in this state, we made a pact that we would stay together and come back to attempt the mountain another time. We were awoken by the sun rising over Mawenzi peak...we should have seen this from the summit, but it was still beautiful from our tent. Disappointed as we both were at not making it all the way, we knew we had made the correct decision when both Alex and Laura experienced excrutiating altitude sickness at the summit. Laura had told us horror stories of people admitted to the Medical Centre where she had worked, including some fatalities and we just decided that our health was too important to take the risk. After all, the mountain would always be here long after we no longer were.

The afternoon

Possibly the steepest climb of the day was the ascent path to the next campsite where the 7 day trekkers would stay tonight. If I had stayed here and rested for the extra night, I think the following day I could have made the summit attempt with no real problems, however, as we had opted for the 6 day trek, we had a brief rest here, only to attempt the bleakest leg of the day 4 climb. The path out of the campsite was steep, winding and dull. We couldn't see any scenery (we should have been able to see the peak, but after lunch it was entirely shrouded in cloud) and once again there seemed to be no end to it. After climbing slowly upwards for an hour we reached a rest stop and Alex told me that according to his guide book, the summit attempt we would make tonight would be just like we had just done for the past hour...but would instead last for 6 and a half hours! Again, I wasn't convinced I could do that...I was feeling drained, exhausted and demotivated and all I wanted was to arrive at the campsite so I could rest before tonight. But it would be some hours before I made it. The familiar pattern continued across barren and ugly terrain: I would push myself on towards what I imagined to be the top of a slope, before an even steeper slope would present itself and I wouldn't have the energy to carry on. I would sit on a rock alone feeling exhausted and defeated...and there was no-one else to give me any encouragement, just me. Finally, Juma realised that I was beginning to become irreversably motionless and started to get angry with me. Sullen and unwilling, I dragged myself to my feet and continued somehow in a daze stumbling across rocks towards the campsite, barely able to put one foot in front of the other. At some point Juma took my daypack from me and I finally arrived at our tent and collapsed inside with the nagging knowledge that in just a few short hours we would be attempting the summit.

Final descent

Once again I got lost behind the group pretty quickly, and after a couple of hours I was in a lot of pain in my knees and hips. Into the bargain, my patience with Juma and his radio was wearing seriously thin. Juma had taken to walking about 4 inches behind me with his radio blaring, occasionally treading on the heels of my boots and grabbing at my rucksack every time he thought I was about to fall over (which I hadn't ever showing any sign of doing in all the time I'd spent walking with him!) About halfway down, Juma met a porter friend of his and the two of them spent the remainder of what should have been a wonderful, relaxing walk down the mountain through beautiful rainforest terrain shouting loudly at each other in Swahili. As we finally neared the bottom I saw Rob walking back up the mountain to find me! A welcome sight. But no matter what had gone wrong for me on this trip, I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

The day we had all been dreading!

I awoke feeling a whole lot better than I had the night before, but still I had very little appetite. The fourth day was rumoured in the camp to be one of pain and suffering...and in retrospect, I can't say that I disagree. For me it was a dull and unenjoyable walk up lots of very, very steep paths terminating in complete physical exhaustion...but I'm sure there are things I could have done differently. The first challenge though was Barranco Wall: our ticket out of the valley we had camped in the night before. It was, as the name suggests, a wall...or vertical cliff face with a zig zag path winding across the face. There was some scrambling involved, but I quite enjoyed that bit...it made me feel like I was really climbing! However, there were so many people attempting to climb the wall, and heavily laden porters trying to pass them that a traffic jam had formed early in the morning and didn't look likely to clear. The fun of the initial climb soon gave way in the heat of the day to weariness as the monotonous rock face seemed never ending. It was demoralising that each time you felt you had reached the top of the wall, you turned the corner to see the tiny figures of other people climbing high up ahead of you, seemingly hours away. Every time I saw a sight like that my heart sank. Had I been expecting it, maybe I'd have felt differently? By lunchtime we had reached a rest stop, and the next demoralising fact was that we would now decend the other side of the valley before going back up a very straight, very steep, dusty track. I was reminded of the scene in the film Ice Cold In Alex where they crank the jeep up the sand dune in reverse using the starting handle...tiny fractional steps would get me there using as little energy as possible. it seemed to work, and I figured out what Juma had been trying to tell me when he said "pole pole"...he meant go slowly, but don't stop!

Arriving at Machame Gate

We were all feeling a bit apprehensive in the Land Cruiser on the morning of the climb, Me, Rob, Alex and Laura. We felt a bit like we were waiting in the queue to ride a roller coaster...a mixture of anticipation, fear and excitement. This is what our trip has been about...and here we were! So close now. While our luggage was being weighed we queued up to register at reception...we hadn't expected this kind of bureaucracy , but we would get used to it. This would be the drill at each camp...signing our name, passport number, number in party, tour company, guides name...We eventually set off up the mountain at around 11am. Laura raced off at her own preferred pace (she has no idea what pole pole means) followed by Rob and Alex, and I trailed behind at my pre-determined snails pace designed to get me there whilst conserving energy. I walked with one of our porters, Esiah, who chatted to me as we walked. His English was limited, but better than my Swahili. He told me about his wife and 3 year old daughter. He climbs this mountain about once a month to supplement his farmers income and has been doing this for 5 years. What an incredible way to earn a living! It took me 4 hours to reach the campsite, which was far quicker than our guide had told us...I wasn't tired and I was feeling fairly proud of myself. The only people who had passed me, despite my slow and laborious crawl, had been porters who would speed past, heavily laden with awkward looking packages tied up with string and balanced on their heads. I was about the ninth person to arrive at the campsite and our tents weren't even up yet! After a surprisingly tasty and wholesome meal, we stood outside our tents and watched the stars before curling up in our sleeping bags and sleeping for what seemed like years.

The doubts creep in

At breakfast I felt a bit queasy again and had very little appetite. I didn't manage to eat much and felt pretty ill as we set off. We had been told that today would be a cold climb so we would need gloves, balaclavas, fleece and down jacket, but the morning climb was in full sun. This meant carrying all the rest of the kit, which I had tried to avoid doing so far. Again, I quickly fell behind and Juma stayed with me all the while playing his little transistor radio (the Clouds FM breakfast show) and it was starting to grate on me. The others had all agreed to meet where the path forks as we were due to take the path around the lava tower and Juma needed to show us which way to go. This particular leg of the journey was designed to help us deal with the high altitude as we would ascend to 4600 metres before descending about 1000 metres to sleep at the lower altitude. The climb up was pretty tough though... not because of the climb, but because of the headache which pounded through my head like nothing before it had ever done! I sat on a rock with my head in my hands and wondered if I could make another day, let alone the summit! A fellow climber patted me on the shoulder and gave me the strength to carry on a bit further. As we crossed a ridge the wind whipped across making me reach for my balaclava to fend off the cold, and still I kept walking. "How far?" I asked Juma..."Oh, it's quite far...I don't think you see your friends today" he said, not too reassuringly. I could see the fork ahead of us and I have never felt so happy in my life as when I saw Rob coming down the hill to meet me, give me a hug and tell me that everything was ok.

The going gets tougher

We left the camp in good spirits after a surprisingly comfortable night's sleep. The tent had been covered in ice when we woke and the camp looked like Christmas morning! The climb ahead of us towards the peak looked daunting to me...hundreds of tiny little figures were visible climbing higher and higher up a seemingly never ending and very steep slope. Plus, we were now out of the shade of the trees and the sun got hotter and hotter as the day progressed. I was initially stuck behind a group of people going far slower than I wanted to climb, but to pass them I had to go faster than I intended. Our guide, who I hadn't really met the previous day, had decided to walk with me as I was the slowest person in the group. At this point I felt quite grateful...I just walked at my own pace. However, when I stopped, he seemed to get a bit irritated with me. "Pole pole!" he kept saying! "Slowly slowly!" I was a bit confused, because I wasn't even walking at all at the time. It hadn't dawned on me what he meant yet...so I carried on, stopping for numerous breaks along the way, taking photographs and generally enjoying the view. As we got to the steeper sections, the guide, Juma, pulled me up by my hand almost as if I were a child in his care. I was determined to enjoy myself so I didn't take offence. As the day progressed, I felt hungry, but although we passed many other climbers eating lunch, Juma said we wouldn't stop and that the campsite wasn't far. 45 minutes later, I sat on a rock in protest and opened my lunch. I needed sustenance, even though I wasn't actually hungry and felt a bit queasy. I managed to eat a banana before we carried on. We finally made it to the campsite about 10 minutes after Rob and Alex (although they had stopped for a 45 minute lunch break) I was starting to have doubts about our guide. Shira camp was beautifully eerie...rocky terrain, almost moon-like, in the shadow of the peak on one side and overlooking the clouds below us and Mount Meru in the distance.

The afternoon

Rob took me up to the rest point to drink, eat some food (what little I could manage as I was still feeling queasy) and he and Alex assured me that I wasn't alone in feeling like this. The altitude was starting to affect people and some had given up already and gone back down. I was still here though. This afternoon was apparently descent, so we had come as high as we would go today. I rested a while before we walked on, descending as we passed the lava tower, which was unfortunately covered mostly by clouds. Juma was angry that Laura hadn't waited for us as she had promised, but none of the rest of us were surprised by this as she hates nothing more than standing still! I enjoyed the walk this afternoon, and I was so pleased to be walking with Rob and Alex again that I even forgot to be irritated by Juma as he held onto the loop on the top of my back pack to stop me falling. I joked to Rob that I was like a baby on reigns! We arrived into Barranco camp at about 2pm...Laura was already there and the tents were pitched. As soon as we arrived at the campsite I was hit with a crippling headache and couldn't stand up anymore. Rob inflated my thermarest and helped me into my sleeping bag, then he lay stroking my hair and telling me I'd be fine until I fell asleep and allowed my body the chance to acclimatise to the weird changes in altitude it had experienced that day.

Kibo's Caldera

Kibo center remained an active volcano long after both Shira and Mawenzi became extinct. The last gush of lava from the Kibo cone created the Kibo caldera, inner crater and ash pit you see today.When you come up to Gilmans, the majesty of the surrounding glaciers will probably hold all your attention. Try to spend a moment and look around and into the caldera. The huge and deep caldera is sure to impress! Kibo peak was once 5900m (about 450,000 years ago) and shrank to it's present height of 5895m due to a series of volcanic eruptions that shaped the entire mountain. It's crater tells the tale of how the shira plateau, the jagged mawenzi peak and the volcanic saddle were sculpted over a period of thousands of years.And of course, take plenty of pics! I took only one (@Gilmans) and it didnt come out very great.

Dubai Home

Dubai is to the Middle East what Hong Kong is to Asia: a capitalist boom town buzzing with activity. Most visitors to the region stop here for at least a day to browse the shops, eat in the restaurants and soak up the atmosphere of a city that oozes wealth and a general air of self-satisfied confidence. Nestled between the languid Southern Gulf waters and sweeping desert, cosmopolitan Dubai is blessed by a superb year-round climate, and with its numerous opulent hotels, towering attractions, peerless shopping, stunning entertainment and commercial opportunities, makes Dubai an ideal destination for the traveller enjoying a luxury vacation or business trip.Dubai's cityscape is undergoing dramatic redevelopment, with a number of record-breaking projects - including the planet's tallest five-star deluxe hotel (the Burj al-Arab), largest man-made marina (Dubai Marina) and largest man-made island (Palm Islands) - in progress. The Dubai Waterfront project is set to add 500 miles of man-made waterfront filled with canals and hotel-rich islands: a development the size of Manhattan! Vast investment in luxury golf and entertainment resorts - such as Dubailand and Dubai Golf City - means the city is set for even more dramatic growth as a prestige destination, and Dubai's strategic Middle East location has made it popular as an international convention city.Recognised as one of Asia's premier shopping cities, Dubai's tax-free shopping attracts visitors with its range of quality goods, notably gold and jewelry, electrical items and stylish fashions from Europe. The city's fine department stores, malls, boutiques and souks are complemented by a first-rate airport shopping centre and even retail festivals - adding a dash more entertainment to an already heady retail scene. Dubai is a world-class venue for many top sporting events: the Dubai Desert Classic Golf Tournament, the Dubai Tennis Championships, Sevens Rugby Union tournament, Emirates off-shore Power Boat Grand Prix, and the UAE Desert Motorsport Challenge amongst them. Perhaps the city's blue riband sporting event is the world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup - a thrilling night time spectacle contested at the Nad Al Sheba track that attracts the finest thoroughbreds from around the globe. Amongst Dubai's foremost outdoor attractions are its breathtaking golf courses: layouts such as Creek Golf & Yacht Club and the Emirates Golf Club set a memorable challenge. Take a desert safari or try the unusual desert pastime of ice skating at the rink in the Galleria shopping mall.With its surfeit of great restaurants, bars, live music venues and nightclubs, Dubai offers full-on evening entertainment, after which you can retire to truly luxurious accommodation. Dubai offers over 400 luxury hotels, meeting the needs of the most discerning guests. Many of the world's most prominent hotel chains operate star-class hotels in the Emirates, among them being the seven-star Burj Al Arab. Even the standard facilities are exceptional with swimming pools, tennis courts and fully equipped health centres coming as standard. Top hotels generally offer a choice of fine restaurants, with several waterfront hotels having excellent beaches and extensive watersports facilities

Overview Iran (Islamic Republic Of)

Iran is located in the Middle East, bounded by Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, Iraq and Turkey. The centre and east of the country is largely barren desert with mountainous regions in the west. Tehran, the capital, is essentially a busy and modern city, but the best of the old has been preserved.As one of the first countries to be occupied by the early Islamic armies which came out of Arabia in the seventh century, Iran has a rich and detailed history. The antique sights of Persia, one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, can be witnessed alongside bustling metropolises and vast mountain ranges. Several bazaars are just as old and Iran is the destination for those in search of the most expensive rugs and carpets in the world. Iran has maintained a distinct cultural identity within the Islamic world by retaining its own language and adhering to the Shi'a interpretation of Islam. As a unique Islamic Republic, Iran is ruled by both supreme leaders and elected presidents.
Irpedia (Tourism Industry Association of Iran)Unit 9, 27 Khansari Alley, Somayyeh Street, Tehran, IranTel: (21) 8834 5269.Website: http://www.irpedia.com/Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the UK16 Prince's Gate, London SW7 1PT, UK Tel: (020) 7225 3000. Website: http://www.iran-embassy.org.uk/ Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.Iranian Consulate in the UK50 Kensington Court, Kensington High Street, London W8 5DB, UK Tel: (020) 7937 5225. Website: http://www.iran-embassy.org.uk/ Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1230.Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations622 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: (212) 687 2020. Website: www.un.int/iranInterests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the USAc/o The Embassy of Pakistan, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA Tel: (202) 965 4990. Website: http://www.daftar.org/
LocationMiddle East.TimeGMT + 3.5.Area1,648,043 sq km (636,313 sq miles).Population65.4 million (CIA estimate 2007).Population Density39.7 per sq km.CapitalTehran. Population: 7.2 million (UN estimate 2003).GeographyIran is located in the Middle East, bordered to the north by Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea, the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan, the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and the west by Iraq and Turkey. The centre and east of the country are largely barren undulating desert, punctured by qanats (irrigation canals) and green oases, but there are mountainous regions in the west along the Turkish and Iraqi borders and in the north where the Elburz Mountains rise steeply from a fertile belt around the Caspian Sea.GovernmentIslamic Republic since 1979.Head of StateSupreme Leader (Rahbar-e Moazam) Ayatollah Ali Khameni since 1989.Head of GovernmentPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since June 2005.Recent HistoryPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was Tehran's ultra-conservative mayor before winning a run-off vote in elections in June 2005, becoming Iran's first non-cleric president for 24 years. The conservatives also won decisively in the general election of March 2008.Despite promising an administration of ‘peace and moderation', Iran has continued its nuclear programme. The president caused controversy early into his presidency over his comments that Israel should be ‘wiped off the map' and that the Holocaust was a ‘myth'.US president George W Bush declared Iran part of the ‘axis of evil' in 2002. Washington has accused Tehran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons and to sabotage US efforts in Iraq. Iran is building its first atomic power station with Russian help but it maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.LanguagePersian (Farsi) and Persian dialects are the most widely spoken language, used by 58% of the population. Turkic and Turkic dialects and Kurdish are also used. Arabic is spoken by 1% in Khuzestan in the southwest, and Turkish in the northwest around Tabriz. English, French and (to a lesser extent) German are spoken by many businesspeople and officials.ReligionOf the 98% Muslim population, 89% are Shi'a and 9% are Sunni. The remaining 2% consists of Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian and Baha'i faiths.Electricity230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the round two-pin type.Social ConventionsFeelings about certain countries (such as the USA and the UK) run high, so the visitor should avoid contentious subjects. The Westernisation of the Iranian way of life has been arrested since the fall of the Shah, and Koranic law exercises a much more traditional influence over much of the populace. In general, Western influences are now discouraged. Handshaking is customary, but not with members of the opposite sex. It must be remembered that intimate relations between non-Muslim men and Muslim women is illegal, and may incur imprisonment. Visitors should address hosts by their surname or title. Iranians are very hospitable and like to entertain. It is also customary to be offered tea, and guests are expected to accept such offers of hospitality. Because of Islamic customs, dress should be conservative and discreet, especially women’s. This has been especially enforced of late; women should cover their heads when in the public sphere, wear loose-fitted clothing, and ensure that their arms and legs are also concealed. Businesspeople are expected to wear a suit and more formal attire is also needed in smart dining rooms and for important social functions. During Ramadan, smoking, eating and drinking in public are prohibited between sunrise and sunset; however, facilities are always available in major hotels.

Dead Sea Guide Overview

Straddling the border between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the Earth's surface. If you head there from Amman, don't nod off: The view as you descend from the hills toward the sea is quite striking. The mineral content of this 45-mi-/75-km-long and 6-mi-/10-km-wide saltwater lake tops out at 33%.The Dead Sea should be seen (and stepped into) at least once in every person's life—it's impossible to sink—but some mild words of caution are in order: Don't shave shortly before swimming (the high salt content will leave you with an excruciatingly painful experience), and take some eyedrops along (getting even a tiny drop of the thick water in your eye is painful). Also try to make sure there are shower facilities or a freshwater stream in which to rinse off nearby—otherwise, the sea's minerals will leave an uncomfortable crust on your skin.Near the northern end of the Dead Sea are several spa and beach resorts, including the lovely Movenpick Resort and the luxurious Kempinski Hotel Ishatar, which was inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Visitors who are not guests of the resort can generally take advantage of the health and beauty treatments at the spas if they purchase a day membership. For centuries, people have traveled to the Dead Sea to enjoy its beauty as well as its healing properties. Many people go there for relief from chronic ailments such as dermatological problems, asthma, arthritis, circulatory issues and hypertension. The composition of the Dead Sea contains contains high levels of magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium, making it rich in life-enhancing minerals.A bit inland from the sea, in a beautiful oasis, are thermal springs (including a waterfall) at Hammamat Ma'in.Also nearby is Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which archaeologists believe to be the site where John the Baptist lived and preached, and where he baptized Jesus. The ruins of a Byzantine church were built on what early Christians identified as the spot where Jesus left his robes. Elsewhere, you can visit the Baptist's Spring, which may have been John's cave where he sheltered, and several other churches and baptism pools. Nearby is Jebal Mar Elias, a small hill referred to in the Bible as Hermon, where the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire.About midway along the sea's shore is the Mujib Reserve. This protected area encompassing a gorge, mountains and valleys boasts an impressive biodiversity of both plants and wildlife. It also has two marked hiking trails and a campsite. At the southern end of the sea, not far south of Wadi Mujib, is the site identified as Lot's Cave, where the biblical figure was said to have taken refuge after escaping from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. A Byzantine church built over the cave entrance has been excavated and is open to the public. A shell-shaped museum has been built 984 ft/300 m from the entrance to Lot's Cave. North of Lot's Cave are the sites of what are believed to be the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which show signs that they were indeed destroyed by fire.Try to see the sunset at the Dead Sea at least once—it's worth it. The Dead Sea is 25 mi/40 km southwest of Amman.

Travel to South Pole Station

During the day on Thursday, everything progressed as planned to allow eight of us destined for the AGAP-South field camp to move up to South Pole Station to let our bodies adjust to high altitude conditions. What needed to happen on Thursday were two Twin Otter ferry flights of people between South Pole and AGAP-South to free up space at South Pole Station for the eight of us still in McMurdo. By late afternoon this was complete, and our LC-130 was scheduled to depart for the South Pole at 8:30 pm.We boarded the plane early, happy that we were going to leave a little early, but about 10 minutes after the pilots started the engines, they shut them down because they were concerned about a vibration in one of the engines. The mechanics got to work immediately, and within about 25 minutes, the propellers were starting to turn again. This time the pilots were happy with everything, and we prepared to leave. I was allowed to sit in the cockpit behind the pilot, copilot, and flight engineer, and next to the navigator. The takeoff on a snow runway with a turbo-prop plane is much longer and slower than on a normal runway, but it is very smooth. First the nose ski lifts up and then as the end of the skiway approaches, the plane slowly lifts off the snow surface. It was fun to be in the cockpit for takeoff and the climb over the local mountains in the McMurdo area. The flight took about 3 hours and we landed at the South Pole about 15 minutes before midnight. The temperatures are cold (-27C), the wind is blowing at about 15 mph, and the elevation here is 9306 feet. Because the atmosphere over the poles is thinner, the atmospheric pressure is particularly low here for this elevation – about 685 mb. This is the equivalent of 10,400 feet in other places such as Kansas. I’ve come from sea level to this high elevation in three hours, so my body has to make some major adjustments and I have been taking a drug called Diamox to help it make this adjustment a little more smoothly. My first job here at this early hour is to make my bed, which I find a struggle at this altitude. My main job for the next 3 days will be adjusting to this elevation.

ROYAL EGYPTIAN 2009

Day 1, Depart USA

Depart on your flight to Egypt, land of history and wonder.

Day 2 - 4, Cairo, Egypt

Three nights in cosmopolitan Cairo, the melting pot of ancient and modern Egyptian civilizations. Two full days of private sightseeing in and around Cairo with your own Egyptologist, to include the pyramids and solar boat at Giza, the Citadel and Sultan Hassan Mosque, the Egyptian Museum and mummies room, Old Cairo and the Khan el Khalili market.MARRIOTT, CAIRO

Day 5 - 8, Nile Cruise

A short flight up the Nile and board your Nile cruise ship. This floating hotel will be your home and transport for the next four nights, accessing a number of the antiquities and historical venues built along the Nile.

The traditional sights include a short ride in a felucca - a traditional local sail boat - a visit to the High Dam and quarry at Aswan, the Philae Temples at Angilkia Island (while in Aswan), the twin Ptolomaic temples at Kom Ombo and the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Arriving in Luxor (Thebes), the highlight for many is the visit to the Valley of Kings and Queens, on the east bank. Additional sights include the Temple of Dair-El-Bahari built for Queen Hatchepsut, the only female pharaoh, the Colossi of Memnon and the stupendous west bank sites at Luxor and Karnak (the largest temple complex ever built by man. The Hypostyle Hall is considered one of the world's great architectural masterpieces).RIVER TOSCA, NILE RIVER

Day 9, Cairo

Disembark your cruise ship and board your flight back to Cairo, where you can relax in a dayroom and enjoy dinner before boarding your international flight.FAIRMONT HELIOPOLIS, CAIRODay 10, Arrive USAFilled with wonder and a new perspective.

Dog-sled rides

The Call of the Wild." "White Fang." The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. You've read the books, you've seen the movie, you know about the 1,100-mile across Alaska's bush country.
Now you want to do it for yourself.Dog-sled rides give visitors a taste of Last Frontier life and legend. And even in the snowless months of summer, dog-sled rides are available -- on glaciers.Helicopters ferry visitors into the mountains, where glaciers provide year-round ice and snow. Teams of huskies and their handlers already on the glacier demonstrate the features of the sleds and escort the visitors on a safe trail.Don't worry about lugging your winter coat -- the tour company provides warm parkas and boots.Riding where it's warmMushers keep their teams in good shape all summer by having them pull four-wheel all-terrain vehicles or wheel-mounted sleds. Some mushers -- including Iditarod mushers -- offer rides to the public.These rides are located along the road system.Where to find ridesGlacier dog-sled tours are available in the summer at Juneau, Skagway and Seward. Look for helicopter traffic.Maybe I don't want to ride but I want to see the dogs anywayMany mushers living in the Susitna Valley and on the Kenai Peninsula open their dog lots to visitors in the summer. Watch for signs along the Sterling (1) and Seward (9) highways on the peninsula and along the Parks Highway (3) between Wasilla and Fairbanks.A popular sled-dog demonstration is given each day at the Denali Park headquarters. There's no charge.Another demonstration is part of the Discovery riverboat tour in Fairbanks.Winter mushingWinter dog-sled excursions are also available at lodges in the Susitna River Valley, north of Anchorage, and around Denali National Park and the Alaska Range.