Archive for » December, 2009 «

Living, Working and Staying In Bristol
Thursday, December 31st, 2009 / koneill

Long before the years of the Merchant Venturers, the city of Bristol has been a indispensable and thriving center of business, not just as the gateway to theSouth but to international trade with a enormous and busy docks complex at Portbury and Avonmouth, close to Bristol, importing 1000’s of automobiles daily, 12 million tons of cargo employing more or less 5000 employees.  For this reason it has always been easy to find cars for sale in Bristol.

Bristol has always been plunged in History from the days of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and before, to the beginning test flight of Concorde technology at its best, adapting and surviving through good times and bad, withstanding the test of time encompassing ingenuity, dedication and passionateness symbolised by the evolution of the latest Bristol Space Planes project.

The recent recession has hit Bristol just as tough as any urban center around the earth but in Bristol and the west country, organizations have joined together to exchange ideas and offer help and assistance to any business enterprise fighting the recession.  You can find many of these Bristol businesses in any good Bristol business directory.

You can find numerous different extensive guide to Bristol|guide Bristol online with Bristol business directories, jobs in Bristol, Bristol properties for sale and community pages.  These sorts of website allow people to get connected with other people living in the region.  Whether they are looking to find someone special with dating in Bristol or to try and arrange to eat at Bristol restaurants with a helpful Bristol restaurant guide.

Bristol also has a brilliant music and arts scene with venues like the Colston Hall, Hippodrome and the charity St George’s concert hall. There are umpteen nightspots and small gigs taking place every night of the week. Last, but not least, the Old Vic Theatre Company and the very active Theatre School.  As a result of all these events taking place, many people from outside the city come to find hotels to stay in Bristol.  There are a tremendous range of Bristol hotels to opt from and they will meet most people’s budgets.

Shopping in the city of Bristol has just got more electric with the starting of the Cabot Shopping centre in the middle of Broadmead, including the top names in designer shops and eating places with parking for simply one pound an hour. With everything that Bristol has to offer up it would be a terrific idea for anyone to come and visit the urban center.

 

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What are the options for booking your holidays
Thursday, December 31st, 2009 / koneill

When selecting your luxury holidays who will be offering you the best deals? The critics of the travel agent frequently say packaging your own vacation saves you cash and this is what you must do but in today’s unstable world is your money safe? Should you pay more to an agent for peace of mind? Should you book your holidays without delay with an independent operator and cut out the middle man? There are so many choices to consider about, so what do you do? As with lots things in life there are recommends with a powerful debate in favor of all of the options, so who should you listen to? I believe the conclusion will be different depending on your point of view, how much cash is too much to risk?

Every main street generally has one or more of the many chains of travel agents and sometimes a local independent agent each of which seem to be going out of business very quickly. The issue with both these options are reasonably straight forward, if you book your holiday with the multiple that’s in turn owned by the tour operator, then certainly suggestions will be biased to their companies products and not necessarily finding you the client the hottest deal.

The second option being the independent travel agent but being based in the high st and burdened by the price of costly shop leases and ludicrous business rates, are they in the best position to offer you the largest deductions on your luxury holidays? Again the answer needs to be likely not. Holiday booking on the internet is certainly the growing trend but how do you know if you are getting the best deal available? A lot of people recommend that it is best to deal directly with the tour operator because this will reduce the fees as the operator does not have to pay an agent commission. The issue is without trawling through all of the lots of tour operators how does one know you are working with the one which has the best luxury vacation offers. You do not.

You can naturally book your luxury holidays independently as recommended before. So you go on and start on the hunt for the different parts of your vacations online and inevitably find that packaging them together saves you a little cash but at the price of money protection.

So whether you hanker after a Luxury Vietnam Travel package, Sandakan Travel to take part in the Orangutan Tours or simply a luxury beach holiday. Choose the option that sits well with your own peace of mind.

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Best Car Rental Deals
Monday, December 28th, 2009 / koneill

Advance planning is the first step in getting a good car rental deal. Planning will give you an idea of how much you can spend and a chance to look at the available options and compare them.

Car rentals normally use daily charges for their rates so you need to be clear on how long you intend to rent the car for. For longer periods like two or three days you could get a cover charge that’s lower than the daily rate for the whole period combined. What I am saying is that renting a car for seven days on a daily rate charge would cost more than getting a cover charge for the entire 7 days.

You also need to work out how much you are prepared to spend on renting a car. So you will be able to choose the correct size car and one that will save on fuel costs. You might not have been aware but car rental rates are not fixed. Depending on the day of the week and the time of the year they will be different. Obviously weekends and holiday times and seasons will have higher rates than the normal periods.

So you can schedule your trip with this in mind, if you are not restricted on the dates that you want to travel or can travel you will be able to get a good deal. Some car hire agencies belong to national associations like AA, if you are member you might qualify for a discount Take some time to compare the different agencies it will save you money.

If you have hired a car before do not make the mistake of thinking that all car rental registrations are standard. Go through the lease agreement in detail. Each company has its own set of guidelines that it abides by. make sure that you are clear on what is contained in your lease agreement.You will be able to get some good car rental deals from any of the following local dealers:

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Itik Itik: Philippine Folk Dance That Imitate Ducks Gestures
Monday, December 28th, 2009 / koneill

If most Philippine dances are originally patterned after the European dances during the time of the Spanish regime, some dances have evolved from an already known Philippine dance. One such example is your Itik itik- one of the popular dances in the Philippines.

According to one story about the origins of the dance, there was this young woman named Kanang and she was considered as the best dancer and performer in the province of Surigao del Norte. And at one baptismal function, the performer was asked to dance the Sibay- another significant native dance and at the middle of her performance she began making her own steps. The steps imitated that of the movements of the ‘itik’. The ‘itik’ is a duck and her actions during the said presentation are like those by the animal- shifting steps and there were splashes of water on its back while attracting its mate. And while the steps were original and strange, the spectators were mesmerized and soon they began copying and mimicking the moves.

According to records, the dance came not only from Surigao del Norte but in the Visayas region as a whole also. in the other version of the story about the roots of the dance, it was said that this dance has originated from the dance ‘Sibay‘ which was then danced to the tune of the ‘Dejado’ music. The ‘Sibay’ is a popular bird dance in the Visayan Islands. This was confirmed by Reynaldo Gamboa Alejanadro and he added that the Visayan Island where the dance originated was Samar. Reynaldo Gamboa Alejandro is considered as the Philippine dance authority. This information was also backed up by a book that was written in 1668 by Fr. Ignacio Alzina who is a Jesuit missionary to Samar.

In that book, the Jesuit missionary explained a dance that copied the bird that was famous in Samar and the ‘Sabay’. In the same book, the missionary said that the dance imitated the flying birds. Therefore, how accurately is the dance executed by the dancer? As it was mentioned the steps of the dance resembled the movements of the wading and the flying ducks or the ‘itiks’. The dancers here copy the swaying gait of the waddling feet and also ape the intense energy of the close-cropped flapping wings.

There are around six separate foot sequences that the dancer is expected to perform and these series of foot movements form part of the dance steps. Right now, there are modern versions of this dance and this can be seen in many parts of the country.

The present and the modern version of the dance are from the following areas;

. Carmen
. Lanuza
. Cantillan
. Carrascal

These are all towns in Surigao del Norte. Though this version of the dance from Surigao del Norte was a thing of beauty and very popular, there are other versions of the dance that have sprouted in other parts of the archipelago. Other than the original ‘Itik ittik’ Surigaonon, there were other versions of the dance and these dances can be found in the Visayas. The other versions of the dance can be seen in Sibomga, Cebu and in Tibiao, Antique. The dance is currently performed during special events or during the country’s ‘Linggo ng Wika’ which is a celebration of the country’s language during August. The dance forms part of the culture of the country and considered to be one of the dances that help shaped the Filipino culture in terms of dance and identity. At present, the word ‘Itik itik’ has been utilized as a name for one small celebration in Metropolitan Manila. There is an ‘Itik itik’ festival which is a week-long festival that culminates every last Sunday of February and the festival is hosted by Barangay Kalawaan in Pasig, City.

At the center of the festivities are the ducks- duck races, biggest duck contest, duck catching, swimming contest, best cooking, dancing and a parade in honor of the barangay’s patroness, St. Martha. For the locals, the she is the patroness of the duck-raisers. And more importantly the name of the festival raises the profile and the prominences of the name ‘Itik itik‘ as people are reminded of one important dance in Philippine culture, even though the dance is not specifically performed in the festivities.

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There Are Many Activities You Can Enjoy During Your Lake Tahoe Stay
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 / koneill

Brought to you by free car insurance quote.

Lake Tahoe has a lot to offer to tourists. You have to remember that the winter Olympics was once done here and this was the setting of some television shows and movies. Given its ideal location, you can enjoy a Lake Tahoe Getaway regardless of when you decide to come here. 

Since it is already December, one thing that a lot of people will be doing is skiing. Right now, there are over a dozen ski resorts in Lake Tahoe. A majority if these just opened in the last week of November and these will open until April or May of next year. 

You can learn how to ski and go down the slopes if you are an experienced skier. Another option is to replace those skis with a snowboard or tube which could be just as fun when you are in the snow. 

If you decide to come here next summer, most resorts there have equipment you can borrow. These include a water ski, parasail, kayak and sail boat. You can also do some snorkeling since there are beaches nearby and a cruise that offers dinner once a week. 

For those who want take a tour by air, you can enjoy a helicopter tour or a hot air balloon ride. Such trips can only get off the ground assuming that there is good weather otherwise the trip will have to be rescheduled. The helicopter tour to and from the airport will be an hour. The hot air balloon ride lasts about 4 hours. 

There are also guided tours provided on land. You can go with a guide as you go hiking along a trail or ride a carriage that is pulled by a beautiful 2,000 pound Blond Belgium horse. As you are riding, the tour guide will give you a brief lesson in Tahoe history. Sadly this tour is not available right now since it only operates from May to October. 

Although you won’t be able to see that much if you are cruising, you will be surrounded by the breathtaking view of the mountains and trees. You will get to see Emerald Bay, the Fannette Island, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Vikingsholm Castle which the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen offers when you take a 2 hour sightseeing cruise. 

Throughout the year, various races, competitions, dances and events are done. Already planned for next is the NBC Sports 2009 American Century Celebrity Golf Championship. Although the date has not yet been formalized yet but it could fall in July, you can expect big names like Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, the NFL’s Ben Roethlisberger, Billy Joe Tolliver, Jerry Rice and Tony Romo, NHL great Jeremy Roenick, and from Hollywood, John O’Hurley, Kevin Nealon and Ray Romano are expected to attend. 

So you don’t miss out in any of the festivities, do some research online and try to include this as part of your itinerary when you decide to have a Lake Tahoe Vacation. You may not always participate in it but at least you can actually watch it. 

Reservations for your Lake Tahoe Holiday can be done through your travel agent or by yourself. It is going to be fun and exciting so make the most of it when you decide to come to town!

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Travelling with children on safari holidays free activity download
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 / koneill

When nature meets us – our experience with Elephants while on safari in Africa

My wife and I love Africa and we couldn’t resist the temptation to visit our friends in Africa and visit the continent, when Juliette was nearly two years old we travelled from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania both the mainland and Zanzibar.

We had a splendid safari and actually had no trouble with finding food for our daughter or cots in the hotels etc. In fact the whole trip was just perfect. We were very careful to use mosquito nets, to cover her with a strong mosquito repellent and in fact she was not bitten once in the whole trip.

So if you are thinking of travelling to Africa with your family but are worried whether your children will enjoy the safari and whether they will be safe, we hope you will be encouraged with our personal experiences. Juliette has been on many safaris since a very young age and we have many friends who have children that have grown up in the safari lodges so the answer is a simple one, yes children are fine in the wild conditions.

Children tend to love the wildlife and a safari is usually a wonderful experience for children of all ages. It can get a bit long and hot for children so we have some suggestions for you;

  • take with you some animal spotting safari games
  • learn the Swahili names for the animals which will help the children build a relationship with your driver and should provide fun.
  • You can download “safari games” free from the web and this will keep them busy.  We have a FREE children’s activity pack which you can view or download and print free of charge and includes a safari animal check list with Swahili animal names, plus some other fun stuff.

One dramatic episode that we had that I would like to mention because it could be useful for other parents travelling with young children while on safari…
We went on a night drive in Zambia in an open vehicle with other guests from the lodge.This was so exciting and turned out to be one of the most amazing we have ever done. We found a young leopard and soon we were right in the centre of a herd of buffalo that was being ambushed by four female lions. We could see that the lions missed their prey. Our daughter in all the bewilderment began crying, within seconds the lions who usually regard vehicles as just part of the landscape started to see the vehicle as a possible prey, like a small animal in distress. Fortunately our guide acknowledged the change in mood and drove us away quickly to safety with a pack of lions following us.

Because the food in safari lodges are flexible you won’t have any problems with children’s food. There won’t be any problems keeping the children amused, this will be a new and thrilling experience where they will be introduced to different cultures and maybe poverty, the experience of Africa may possibly play an important role in the education of your children.

Common sense is if the parents are sensible and make the children abide by the safari rules no danger will come to the children. To help your children get the most out of the safari we suggest that you sit down and explain to them how different Africa is, where there is danger around. There is no need to overemphasize but camp rules are there for your protection and must be followed, because if they are not, the consequences can be serious. For very young children I propose you pick your camp carefully and make sure your travel advisor knows you are travelling with children so they can find the most suitable for children. We can guide you on this from personal understanding as we have been on many safaris with our children. We also have a lot of information for going on safari & travelling in Africa

It is recommended that young children should not be vaccinated and are excused in most countries for yellow fever but truthfully I don’t feel this should be of concern. It is an uncommon disease which you wouldn’t come across in a safari lodge. Your focus of concern should be malaria which is a problem all over the tropics. The locals catch it frequently and it is frequently judged no worse than an attack of flu. Although dangerous depending on the strain, the answer is prevention. Young children cannot take malaria tablets but please get advice from your doctor. Don’t forget to apply mosquito repellent profusely all over them, cover their arms and legs before the sunsets and make certain that the children sleep under mosquito nets. If you take these safety measures you can reduce the risk of malaria to almost zero.

Don’t be scared about taking your children to Africa,  it is a wonderful experience for them and we have been back with Juliette many times, but do cover them up well and no safaris in open vehicles for very small children

Note: The above information is advice given on the basis of the author’s experience at the time of writing and the author cannot take responsibility for any traveller choosing to take the advise above. Travellers should speak to their GP and take advice from the relevant authorities before travelling.

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Crazy Complaints from British Holiday Makers
Sunday, December 27th, 2009 / koneill

You may recall reports of some of the downright bizarre complaints made by British holiday makers to their holiday reps. These include a complaint from a woman about the fish in the sea startling her children and another who blamed the hotel for her pregnancy after she and her partner had been provided with a double bed instead of two singles.

It looks like Brits abroad just can’t stop complaining. Holiday representatives in Benidorm have reported receiving a constant stream of complaints from British tourists many of whom appeared to be unhappy that they were abroad.

One older, retired man complained that the ‘Spaniards are everywhere you go, you just can’t get away from them’.Even after he’d been reminded of the fact that he was in Spain he moaned on saying that the least they could do was speak English.

There was even a complaint that all the road signs were in Spanish and others who complained that all the restaurant menus were in Spanish.

Food and drink are a constant sources of unhappiness amongst British tourists. One person memorably complained that the seafood platter was ‘too fishy’ and another complained that the Sangria was too strong and had led to him chatting up a fellow hotel guest, upsetting his wife.

The sun and heat are another source of constant moans and grumbles. Lots of British holiday makers appear to think that its the tour companies responsibility to ensure that they use sunblock. Holiday reps are often faced with complaints from people who have let themselves become burned on their first day in the hot Spanish sun.

But one holiday maker complained that the sun rose too early in Spain and another grumbled that the sunlight was too bright and it hurt her children’s eyes.

And one lady complained that the swimwear worn by fellow female holiday makers was too revealing and that her husband had done nothing but stare at women ever since they’d arrived.

So what is the strangest holiday complaint you’ve heard?

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When travelling always be certain that you have the right travel insurance. If you travel on business you will want an appropriate business travel insurance policy and if you’re off on an adventure holiday be certain that you are covered with some adventure travel insurance.

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Problems of Cat Travelling
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 / koneill

Travelling with Offspring is difficult enough, lots of groundwork required, even if you do that well, it can still go wrong and be stressed out. However for many, it is even more stress full travelling with your beloved pet.
I have often voyaged with my cats, but I can only advise it when it is totally needed. Only when I cannot find a cat sitter for me at home. It is complicated relying on your friends and family, particularly for dog walking. You often feel terrible about burdening them, what are they thinking about you, especially if it is not a reciprocal arrangement, where you do not do the same for them. It is far better if you are using a skilled such as a London Pet Sitter, as they are at all times available. But if none of these choices are available, how do I travel with cats?
Cats are animals of routine and love their own normal home. Certain cats like travelling more than others, but commonly it upsets them. What must I do to keep this to a minimum? Some tips to make the journey the least traumatic for cats as feasible, whilst keeping kitty as safe as possible, the highest priority.
Preparebefore departing your home, stock up on a few important goods to make the trip successful for you and your cat. Ensure your cat has a collar with an ID label, so if he is separated from you, he can be found and returned to you later. My cats are micro chipped, but I still do this, even when they are at home, am I paranoid? At all times have a lead with you, in case you need it while travelling, but don’t connect it to your cat’s collar until you need to. Have a cat travel box to keep your cat in while in the car. This is for her and your safety, it might be nice to have kitty, but his freedom could cause an accident, or if there is an accident, unlike you with your seat belts, he won’t be constrained. Make sure that the cat travel carrier is secured. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
I recommend as larger cat box as you can fit into your car, ideally with a cushion or oversized cat bed inside to give the cat something to take a nap in. Depending on your car and where you are putting the cat carrier, you may need a separate fan for the box. If the trip is long, kitty will tire and finally get some sleep at some point. If there is space in the carrier, placing a cardboard box in there as well is a good idea. Cats love boxes, so having one will give him something to hide in when upset.
Make sure you have your cats preferred food and water. Ideally a small lidded food bowl and water bowl to give your cat when stopping at a rest stop. You want to keep the cat healthy, so stop every hour or so to give some water. A litter tray is also needed for long trips. The crate should be covered on all sides except the one facing you. If it isn’t, you can use a blanket. This will help stop your cat becoming frightened by the passing cars and noises.
It will settle your cat if you can talk to him during the trip. If you are by yourself, have him on the front seat, facing you. At least now with mobile phones, people don’t think you are weird talking to your self, anyway who cares what they think, they are less important than my cat.
Following this will hopefully give you and your cat a wonderful holiday!

 

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Welsh Castles (Part 2)
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 / koneill

Carrying on with the list of the best castles in Wales is the next selection of Castles that you should visit if you are on one of those family days out.

Gwydir Castle

This castle is located in the really nice area of Snowdonia and was built by a man known as Howell Coermore in 1365. Coetmore was the commander of the longbow men at the Battle Of Poiters. The castle was originally home to the Wynn baronets who were descendants of the Kings and Princes of Gwynedd.

Meredith Wynn was a strong supporter of King henry VII and after the War Of The Roses he started to rebuild the castle. This castle was touched upon again until the 1540's and after this was left until 1828.

In 1989 the prince of wales opened the newly refurbished dining room from the 1640s.

Caerphilly Castle

The castle was buitl ver close to a site in which the Romans had built a fort in on 1268. This castle actually covers a huge thirty acres of land making it the largest castle in Wales. This castle was only built to show the Anglo-Normans power and it did this as no person would go anywhere near it.

When a force of a thousand men tried to take the castle in the 14th century it was almost taken but it managed to survive the beating and carried on. The castles defences were somehow still intact.

The 15th century saw the castle kept in reasonable condition with no real refurbishments happening until the late 1700’s.

If you are into your history or are interested in either of these castles then why not take one of those UK family holidays UK to go and check them out. Some of the castles here can be very interesting to go around and although a tour may seem like a dull option it is usually the best way to do things.

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Holiday Parks this Half Term
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 / koneill

It seems like only 5 minutes ago we were talking about the summer holidays and how you were going to fill them but here comes another holiday for the school children. This means another week were you have to find something for them to do but fear not as there are plenty of options available by simply opting for a visit to a holiday park.

Holiday parks are the perfect choice for a family holiday this half term. They provide a mix of activities and shows for people of all ages that are sure to keep the kids entertained and you suitably relaxed. Often the problem with a family holiday is that there is not enough for children to do which, in turn, makes things harder for the parents as the children will naturally come to them for things to do.

At holiday parks, children are not just put into one age bracket as older children will want to do more exciting and tasking activities than younger children will. This is why there are 3 different groups, 0-4 years old, 5-12 years old and Teens. This means that the activities can be tailored to the liking of a certain age rather can categorising all young people under one section.

Children can get quite picky when they get older so holiday parks have a range of activities to keep them entertained including football coaching where they can learn some silky skills, dance classes where they can learn some silky moves and a fantastic water park where they can just go crazy and have a wild time.

For the younger ones there are activities and shows that incorporate some of the popular cartoon characters such as Bob the Builder and Barney. This keeps their interest and they are guaranteed to have a great time as they sing and dance along to their favourite tunes from the cartoons. Of course the fun is not only for the young ones as there are a range of activities for the grown-ups with adventure hiking, go-karting and beach sports available. If you fancy relaxing then there is a fantastic Spa available too.

At the end of October there is Halloween themed evenings to enjoy where things get spooky and there are plenty of shows from the countries leading entertainers to enjoy too so there will never be a shortage of activities for you and your family to enjoy.

Check out the cheap uk breaks at one of the family holiday resorts to get a halloween or bonfire night themed family holiday for all the family

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