Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:53:05 GMT

Going to Hawaii Without Leaving Your Bathroom!

I have been introduced to the skincare/body care line, Pure Hapa for a while. However, it was primarily a body care line of luscious body treatments, creams, scrubs made from tropical ingredients and fragrances that make one's mouth water and you smell delish. There are even spa gift sets that definitely make this a worthwhile website to check out.



Well Above Average's blogger, Stella, talks about her latest test drive from Pure Hapa which includes some skincare products - a new cleanser that sounds divine and a couple other products that were already part of the line. This is one of those MUST HAVE lines - based on what I have tried and what Stella says.. The cleanser is going to be on my must try list too simply because I love the way she describes the fragrance.

You should give this line a try- for gifting, for men and even for yourself. It's definitely worth the time - and it's cheaper than a trip to Hawaii!! Posted by: Stevie Wilson      Read more     Source

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:23:45 GMT

Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands

The forests of southeastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands are dominated by coastal Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii. In old-growth forests, it can become one of the tallest trees in the world. However, much of the land here has been logged, so few giants remain: “On the east side of the island there is a long history of timber harvesting. The forested area is principally second or third growth stands comprised of Douglas-fir, with minor amounts of red alder, western red cedar, western hemlock, grand fir, and western white pine. A substantial portion of this area is private forest land. Crown lands are relatively small, and fragmented on the east coast.” (source: South Island Forest District).

The tallest Pseudotsuga menziesii measures nearly 100 meters (~325 ft) in height, and can be found in Coos County, Oregon. If you're familiar with Cathedral Grove in the central region of Vancouver Island, the tallest of the Douglas-firs in that area measure approximately 75m (~250 ft), by way of comparison. I'm not an expert at estimating tree heights, but I think I'm safe to say that most second-growth Douglas-fir in this area measure under 40m (~125 ft). I should note, also, that the annual incremental increase in height declines rapidly in Douglas-fir after individuals reach 10-20 years 50-60 years (see comments below re: correction) of age – growing to 75m in height takes a far longer span of time than doubling the time required for an individual tree to reach 37.5m. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:07:41 GMT

Destination Japan

This is a smart ambient advertisement campaign undertaken by Langley Travel, a travel agency, to promote its ski holiday destination at Niseko in Japan. Langley Travel is popularly known as the skiers travel agency in Scandinavia. Maintaining its reputation, the company arranges magnificent ski holidays at those places, which are exotic and extremely rare Scandinavian skiers such as Africa, Siberia, Iran and so on. This ambient campaign was aimed at the target group aware of Langley Travels spectacular ski holiday of the coming season, which was scheduled to be held in Niseko.

The advertisers decided to mail small travel bags containing two sticks, which apparently gave impression of a synthesis of chopstick and ski, to its targeted audience. The targeted audiences were skiers that have already traveled with the travel firm. The campaign was certainly enticing and compelling for those who are really interested in this adventure sport. The campaign was created by GOSS, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Via Ads of the World Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:41:43 GMT

Google Tech Talks: Merlin Mann, Inbox Zero

Via Google Video - Quoted - Via Google Video , a well known productivity guru and creator of the popular 43 folders website .... all » will talk about Getting Things Done, the importance of getting your inbox to zero, and strategies for dealing with high volume email. Posted by: Zinzi      Read more     Source

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:05:18 GMT

Is a Big Earthquake Approaching Africa?

Is a big quake approaching? This question, these days, is surely sending a chill down the spine of each Kenyan and Tanzanian. It was on July 12, tremors had their jerks felt mildly across the cities, with very few being able to realize it.

But, what followed a week later, are a couple of good jolts, forcing people flee their offices in downtown Nairobi. The tremors then were gone altogether! But, it is not that the chapter closed but left scientists confused and unsure of what led to this earthquake swarm!

Though no much damage is caused by the earthquakes, the fear of the future lingers. To the inhabitants, what is fearful is the query

Is it just a cautionary of a forthcoming devastation?

But, the scientists seem to be left pondering on something more

Was it fault activity along the Rift Valley, where the African tectonic plate is stretching? Or was it Ol Doinyo Lengai, a Tanzanian volcano that sits near the swarm’s epicenter?

Though the government officials have concluded the blames on the theory that rumbling in Ol Doinyo Lengai meaning Mountain of God, the fears of an imminent massive eruption does not seem to fade away.

This is triggering the several hundred people living on its slopes to evacuate, with the Tanzanian government already warned tourists to stay away. After all, the African plate, covering the entire continent is in the middle of tectonic change.

Image Posted by: Irani      Read more     Source

July 23, 2007, 5:49 PM CT

Cubi Accommodations in the Netherlands

For those with limited budgets but are not really willing to give up the comforts offered by standard hotel rooms, Qbic Hotels may be the answer to your budget traveler's prayers.

With hotels located in Maastricht, Amsterdam and Antwerp, Qbic Hotels offer travelers the comfort of extra long handmade Hästens beds, bathroom elements designed by no less than Philippe Starke, entertainment system which includes LCD TVs (something which you definitely can not expect from a budget hotel!), hi-speed internet and dining/work area.

Sounds expensive, doesn't it. Well, it's not. Rates start at only €39.

Now, what is the catch? Well, if you look at the picture above, rooms look like that, with color variations. They are comfortable and functional but they sure as hell do look a lot like one of those neon-lit "shops" that line Amsterdam's red-light district.

BUT for what they are offering, I am sure that all that neon color will not bother you as much as, say, getting a cockroach as your roommate in that cheap hostel.

One important reminder: Since Qbic hotels operate the way budget airlines do, you still need to book in advance to get a good rate......... Posted by: Melissa Atienza-Petri       Read more         Source

July 15, 2007, 9:37 AM CT

Lapping up the Swedish wilderness

Snowbound and frigidly cold for most of the year, the brief arrival of summer transforms the mountains of Northern Sweden into a trekker's paradise. Overlooked by most foreign tourists in favour of mountain playgrounds further south, such as the Alps, this isolated corner of Europe offers a wilderness experience par excellence.

Huge rucksacks crammed full with a week's provisions jockey for space in the crowded compartment of the overnight train heading north out of Stockholm. It will take nearly twenty hours to reach our destination. Tall tales of thumb-sized mosquitoes, bear encounters and treacherous river crossings are excitedly exchanged. Meanwhile, progressing ever further north, communities become few and far between, separated by vast swathes of seemingly impenetrable forest. The horizon ahead glows orange in the land of the midnight sun.

The next day we alight at Abisko - the starting-point of the Kungsleden, Sweden's premier trekking trail that threads its way south for 450 kilometres. Blankets of stunted birch forest cloak the lower slopes of the mountains while their rounded summits, still snow-clad, glimmer brightly. The air feels cool and fresh, the rustle of leaves and the sound of gushing water replace the clamour of the city, and the immense space knows no bounds. We have arrived in a different land......... Posted by: JoAnn      Read more         Source

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:44:17 GMT

World's Highest tennis court

Via Burj al Arab - Located at the top of 7 star hotel - Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Posted by: Zinzi      Read more     Source

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:46:52 GMT

Travel Photography

Source:www.jimippolito.com

People travel at all times of the year but of course, the summer, which is when many people travel for their vacations, is by far the most popular time.

Travel photography is a bit different in that most of the time you're dealing with subjects with which you are not familiar. Because of this there are some different rules and approaches that you should be aware of to get the most out of your digital camera.

Some of the tips you will learn are geared towards cameras with interchangeable lenses, or DSLRs, but even if you don't have one, they still present good advice, especially if a DSLR is in your future.

Check out these excellent travel photography tips here.

Today's picture is from a trip I made last November to Utah's Zion National Park. The camera used was a Kodak P880.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere. Posted by: jim      Read more     Source

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:39:59 GMT

See Places Before You Go There

Upload your travel videos to Lonely Planet.tv. Lonely Planet and Reality Digital have come together to give you a site where you can upload your travel videos and see the travel videos of other people.

Say you want to visit somewhere you've never been and you want to see what it's like first. You can come to Lonely Planet and look up the place you're going to visit and see videos other people have taken while they were there. Then when you get back from your trip you can upload your own videos.

To see videos of a location you click on the map and it takes you to videos of that area. The more videos you upload the better this site will get. So start uploading. Posted by: Linda Roeder      Read more     Source