ECUADOR - Life at its Purest!

Did you know that one in ten known species in the world is found in the Ecuadorian Amazon? It's because its Amazon region is lovingly preserved thus, unforgettably beautiful.

Its Amazon region has 6 provinces divided into two; - Upper Amazon and Lower Amazon.

Ecuador provides the richest and easiest access to the magnificent tropical rain forest of the Amazon in all South America.

Due to its huge protected areas of the rain forest, indigenous ethnic tribes exist and still observe their original traditions and distinct customs. But visitors are still made to feel at home whether they mingle with the tribe people or relaxing in the comfort of five-star hotels or lodgings.

I Need a Kitchen SInk!

Thank goodness for this site that I saw today. I am still currently renovating my house in the Philippines and the interior aspects aren't yet done. I am actually looking for good quality stainless steel sinks that would perfectly work in my kitchen and the 2 bathrooms up and down.
I requested my engineer and architect to let them check that they should be a stainless steel sink.

I'm thinking of buying this kind considering the good quality and the price. I will be going to the Philippines 3 months from now, so I guess I need to probably order here and just send the items from here as soon as possible.

Ahhh...this is making me excited! Can't wait to see my new house soon! :).

Winter Driving Tips

A few months more and winter will be here. So, here are some helpful tips to ease your winter journey:

Be sure you are well-familiarized with your vehicle. Be sure to adjust the morrors, and know how to operate the heater, defroster and wipers.

If weather is really bad, wait out. It's extremely difficult to drive on snow and ice-covered roads. Wait til roads are clear.

Be aware that stopping takes longer. A 16-feet truck requires up to 3 times more distance to stop on a slick road than on a dry road. Larger trucks require even greater stopping distances.

Clear your vehicle of snow and ice before you take to the road. Clear all mirrors, windows, headlights and tail lights. Remove any excess snow from the vehicles hood and roof.

Always know your blind spots.

Let antilock brakes do the job. There's no need to pump this multiple times, as is the case with brakes in older cars.

Watch your speed, and slow down on slick roads.

Be sure to pack your essential items such as drinks, snacks, blankets for warmth, - and more importantly a fully charged cell phone in the event that you will be stuck on weather delays. Get a good rest before you take to the highway.

Yucatan - a Mexican Experience

I haven't been to this place yet, but I would love to go see this place someday :).

The State of Yucatan is only 3 hours from Cancun, located on the famous Yucatan Peninsula.

Today, tourists can experience the fascinating history with its charming villages, dazzling cities and world-renowned archaeological sites. There are abundant remains from the Mayan world found in Yucatan. it boasts over 2,000 archaeological sites of which only 20 have been excavated and restored.

The perfect place to begin exploration of Yucatan is in the capital city of Merida - also known as the White City for its prestine beauty, vitality and external allure. It is rich in colonial architecture, stately and seren tree-lined avenues, vibrant night life and world-class cuisine.

Explore the remains of this ancient civilization.

Affordable Vacation Rentals

Let's face it! Everyone deserves a much needed vacation, don't you think? If you love winter and enjoy skiing, then you shouldn't let this offer pass.
It's probably time for you to check your lodging before the peak season comes. Why not check on Frisco Colorado lodging? I'm sure you'll gonna love this place due to its easy accessibility to all the ski areas you will love. Aside from that, you can get at least between 30% - 60% discount on their nightly rates when you choose to stay there for this year.
On the other hand, you wouldn't run out of options in choosing your place. There is the Breckenridge vacation rentals located in Frisco, Colorado where in you can get to have wide variety of choices for your rooms, locations and price. You can browse the complete list of all the properties and easily locate the perfect rental property for your vacation.
Breckenridge rental homes are surely the perfect place to stay where you will experience to live in a world class ski destination. Cool, isn't it? There are lots of things and activities to see and do in Breckenridge aside from skiing. Who says winter is boring? Experience what Breckenridge has to offer...your winter experience would be worth the fun! :).

Planning A Castle Wedding in the US?

Here are some castles worth considering if you're planning for a castle wedding in the US.

• Oheka Castle (Huntington, NY) - a long island chateau with grand ballroom, sweeping staircase and elaborate grounds.
• Castle McCulloch (Jamestown, NC) - it has medieval tapestries, 70-foot tower, drawbridge and moat.
• Castle farms (Charlevoix, MI) - the place is surrounded by formal gardens with magestic stone hall, soaring tower, and charming gazebo.
• Castle Green (Pasadena, CA) - it has a marble ballroom with palm trees on the landscapes. it's a Spanish colonial castle-inspired.
• Cherokee Ranch & Castle (Sedalia, CO) - this ranch is a Scottish-style castle inspired with rocky mountains serving as a breathtaking backdrop for weddings.
  

From big city to small town living

Guest post written by Lucas Granger

When I left Manhattan for a quiet town in Indiana that I thought would be my little writer’s haven, I was used to being able to walk and see or buy anything that I wanted at any time of the day or night. However, I learned pretty quickly that that definitely wouldn’t be the case here in my new (perhaps temporary) home.

A few weeks after my arrival, I started getting more than a few day’s worth of groceries since I had the luxury of driving a car to the grocery store now. But one thing I did suffer from was the inability to pick up others’ wireless signals. I thought that this would do at least until I got settled into my new place and got around to getting an internet connection.

But I almost immediately ordered the first dial-up internet service available before switching over to wildblue satellite in Indiana out of frustration. I couldn’t believe how my satellite internet compared to dial-up and was able to correspond with my editors and agent at the speed I was accustomed to again.

What To Wear When Touring Safari

Are you ready on your safari tour?
You must know what colors are to avoid. Red colors are hated by lions; military fatigues look fraudulent; avoid hair gels, perfumes or aftershaves as they are bothersome to animals; and avoid shiny baubles as it might catch a leopard's roving eye.

Take concern on luggage weight you might be carrying. Hippo Creek Safaris for example, limits luggage to 35 lbs., while Premier Tours camping safaris allow only 26 lbs.

What to pack:

• a Kelty duffle (measures 30 inches, but weighs 1 lb.) that has basic pieces that are both snappy and sound;
• a Polartec fleece and long pants for chilly mornings, pair of khaki pants or shorts for men, and a tank top to layer under a linen button-down, for women.
• Teva sandals is ideal for a stroll through African bushes so heavy hiking boots are not really needed.
• Black slacks, driving shoes, a trusty linen button-down, and a silver necklace or scarf is recommended. No skirts as there are many malaria-carrying mosquitoes around at night.

Have fun!

Getting Ready For Summer Fun

Getting ready for summer fun.

Thanks for the post from Rashad Townsend

I just finished booking our summer vacation, just a couple more weeks and we will be on a romantic getaway in Cancun. I am so glad we were able to do it all online with hughes satellite . Personally, I love the convenience of online shopping, especially when I need to compare prices. Who isn't on a budget? We were able to check out the different five star hotels and compare amenities and prices, plus we could see all the different suites that were offered. The hotel we finally decided on has an awesome view of the Mexican Caribbean.

We had a great time just looking at all the places we could stay and at all the different activities we could choose from. I am looking forward to learning to scuba dive We also have a list of nightclubs and restaurants that we want to try from recommendation we found online. I am so glad we switched from dial-up to satellite internet in Arkansas. I don't think we could have planned this trip using the old slow dial-up.

We were able to get some really good airfare and hotel rates as well. I think if you really do you homework, the travel deals online are unbeatable. If the trip is half as much fun as the planning was, we will be in good shape.

Dealing With Trip's Worst-Case Scenarios For Your Lodging

Scenario: Weather (flooding, hurricane, etc.) wreaks havoc. If you see water or wind damage, ask the agency's representative to check it out, and arrange alternative lodging. The villa's owner insurance should cover the flooding, so don't clean it up yourself.

Scenario: Sudden cancellation due to personal reasons. Notify the agency by phone and in writing as soon as possible. Be honest about your circumstances. Your chances for a refund are better if they are able to rebook the villa.

Scenario: Your villa is burglarized. Inform your local rental contact right away and file a statement with the police. Some homeowners insurance policies cover theft of your belongings, so follow any instructions so you can get reimbursed.

Scenario: Your bill has charges you didn't anticipate. Let the agent itemized everything that are to be paid. Other services such as internet, phone, AC, pool heating, and drivers are often NOT included. Finally, if anything seems suspicious, ask for proof of charges.

Steps to Successful Villa Rental

Picking the right vacation house can be more complicated than ever. It can mean hassles or ending up in a place you never wanted to. Want to know some tips to help you ensure your villa vacation would be smooth and hassle-free from start to end? The following below might help:

First, know what to expect. There can be down sides to making yourself at home such as doing the dishes yourself or changing light bulbs can be part of it, even for high-end properties.

Second, travel with like-minded friends. Although travelling with companions is fun, unexpected issues can still arise. An example would be doing the bedroom selection in advance. Establishing some strategies might help such as picking numbers from a hat; apply different price points to different rooms, or yield to the person who books the villa.

Third, book early, or last minute. Villa rental companies would mostly prefer locking your dates 10-14 months ahead of time, but at times booking until the last minute can be beneficial as well.

Fourth, call upon the expert. You'll probably likely to have a smoother stay when you go through an established agency rather than finding rentals advertised through craigslist, urbo dot com, or a local newspaper. Determine whether a rental agency is of highest quality by looking at the size of the agency (smaller is better because they can take care of you personally), look at the quality of properties listed and the lenght of the company in service.

Fifth, ask the obvious questions. Common inquiries such as does the villa come with sheets and towels, is it childproofed? is it quiet? Are the owners around or not? etc...

Next, get everything in writing. Agreement or contracts can have hidden costs, - taxes, departure fees, heating and AC charges, etc. Make sure you read the policy contracts and make sure that there should be an explanation what happens when things really go wrong.

And finally, buy travel insurance. This would help you when certain medical emergencies or unforeseen conflicts suddenly come along the way...you'll never know!

Tour the Bahamas!

This is one of my target for a future trip ;). Of course, when we say Bahamas, obviously it is cruising on the sea. Not a surprise because it's the only best way to see much of Bahamas.
They say yachting is a great thing to do there by which 3 cruising grounds are many's favorites.

The Abacos Islands: It's protected from the Atlantic with barrier of cays with calm waters. The best way to see it would be to charter boats. Marsh Harbour is functional which offers sailboats with or without captains and crew. One day rentals can go as much as $350 - $630.

The Berry Islands: This island has 30 sq. miles, an ideal place to hunt mahi-mahi and bonefish. Start your adventure from Great Harbour Cay at the main island which has a large port and a small airport. As usual, the only best way to explore the island is through boat rentals in which many boat rentals company offer them at the island. Don't miss visiting Hoffman's Cay where daredevils leap 20 ft. into a deep blue swimming hole. You can as well enter the water through steps down to a striated grotto.

The Exuma Islands: - is composed of hundred of small islands with 120-mile length. There is a 10-mile long port called Elizabeth Harbour in which most yachts stop there. You might want to sign up for full day tours as well with Exuma Cays Adventure. Then, be sure to stop by to visit Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park which is 176 sq. miles of pristine ocean, reef and cays at the top of the chain.

Have fun! :)

Know the Fantasy Islands in Bahamas - Part 2

Musha Cay (Exumas) - equipped with five fancy cottages with lots of boats for jetting to other surrounding islands. Most guests arrive via a private jet, and the resort can only be rented to a single group. Did you know that famous magician David Copperfield bought this cluster of islands in 2006 after he claims its watery surrounds had age-defying properties? Hhhmmmm...interesting!

One and only Ocean Club (Nassau) - has mansiony digs, perfect lawns and tons of orchids...more than the human population! It has a 4-bedroom villa which costs $10,500 a night, with a minimum stay of 3 days...whew! And take note. You might as well see Michael Jordan, an avid fan of the Ocean Club Golf Course.

Pink Sands (Harbour Island) - has 25 chic beachfront cottages shaded by banyan trees. They say this island is "the see-and-be-seen" place. Cottages have private walkways to the beach and have sun decks. It's once owned by Island Records' bigwig Chris Blackwell.

Royal Plantation Island at Fowl Cay (Exumas) - has 50 acres of 6 villas being managed by butlers, golf carts and motorboats. This place is frequented by many honeymooners and romantics who can set up from Sandals, - a Fowl Cay's owner. Dining serves a 5-course dinner nightly with free-flowing cocktails for $100.

Know the Fantasy Islands in Bahamas - Part 1

Cape Santa Maria (Long Island) - with white sand and emerald waters, this island is 4 miles of shore. It has relaxed but plush bungalows. An ideal place to scuba dive and snorkel in the hotel's private marina. A dinner for 2 here is $130 which includes a glass of wine for each ;).

The Cove (Paradise Island) - this is a resort within a resort that has 600 high-rise suites.

Kamalame Cay (Andros) - a private island resort which has 96-acres, with a sparkling white beach and with plantation-style cottages.

Little Whale Cay (Berry Islands) - the island has almost 100 acres of tropical birds and infinity pools with 3 eco-luxe pads and a private landing strip. Don't miss watching the flamingos that strut around the area. There is a 12-member staff including a masseur and personal chef that can take care of you.

Puerto Rico - Island with a Million Destinations

Puerto Rico possesses unique landscape and history of attractions. It boasts being the home to some of the world's best white-sand beaches and surfing areas in Porta del Sol. In there, you can do more fun activities like biking, bird watching, diving, fishing or hiking.

Puerto Rico is also known for its world-class golf courses accomodation, - making it known to be the golfing paradise of the caribbean. And when it comes to dining and romance, there's more to it! This country has an unusual density of restaurants with exotic flavors to local cuisine. Eating and drinking goes hand in hand here, because Puerto Rico is famous for its rum quality.

Talking about wedding and honeymoons, it is always a destination of choice. At least 34% of American honeymoons take place in the Caribbean, wherein Puerto Rico currently has a 3.8% slice of the U.S. wedding market. There are still more to discover in Puerto Rico. You be the witness!

The Newseum Experience

February 27, 2010 - Newseum, Washington D.C.

They say it's the most interactive museum in the world, Newseum is located along Pennsylvania Avenue with 14 major galleries and 15 theaters that will immerse you with the world's greatest news stories.
Newseum has everything for you to see with its 6 levels. Huge!...and lots of exhibits about all kinds of media in the world of news.
Right at the entrance is where you would get the day's headlines. Inside the museum, you'll see photo galleries, theaters where you get to watch various documentaries, a 3D theater, the interactive newsroom, digital news, big screen theaters, special exhibits and more.
Once you reach the top level, you can proceed out to the terrace and take in a majestic view of the Capitol.

Of course, if boredom starts to set in, I suggest you go to level 2 - the interactive newsroom. Don't you know that in here, you can be a TV reporter? Try the fun :).

Have fun news tripping! :)

Investing Gold

For many centuries, buying gold is one of the best ways to preserve one's financial wealth. Today, many people are still fascinated by its magic because of its proven ability to diversify investments.
They say that when you buy gold bullion, it is considered to be a unique investment. It's a way of safeguarding your savings and protecting you against inflation and yet you can still take control of your money.
Don't worry if you are not (yet) an expert in doing the entire process because the United States Gold Bureau is a trusted gold authority that is always ready to assist you through the ins and outs of the gold market. So that when you will be equipped with the proper knowledge about gold investment, you would enable yourself to further increase your wealth. That is what the US Gold Bureau is all about :).

Family-Friendly Vacation to Bahamas

Bahamas is ideal for various types of family-vacation. Depending on what type of family you belong, you can still enjoy the Bahamas.

For the sporty family: - If you and the group enjoys swimming, playing outdoors, or anything that works up a sweat, go hit the Small Hope Bay Lodge at Andro's This resort is hidden in acres of Andros pine and mangroves. They say this resort is a world-class diving destination, and ideal for kids to do their scuba diving. Cottages are made up of simple, coral rocks anchored by a lodge with batik-covered daybeds, and with a bar inspiringly designed from the hull of an old sailboat...take note! They have no phones or TV. But you won't get bored because of many activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, nature trails, diving and shelling.

For the laid back family: - You would love Hope town on Elbow Cay, a small island which will be a short ferry ride from Great Abaco. You can book at Hope Town Harbour Lodge; ferry will drop you off right at the hotel's pier. The place can be best explored on foot or bike and is closed to motor vehicles, so kids can run freely. Hit the Harbour's Edge at night where kids can scarf down conch fritters before going off for a board game fun, while adults can watch the beautiful sunset.

For the multi-generational family: The teens, your sister and her toddler, your grandma tagging along...etc. The group's perfect place will be Grand Bahama. The beach side is dominated by Our Lucaya complex, with 2 resorts, 4 pools and 13 restaurants linked by paths. Older generations can be booked at Reef Village which has their own private beach. Our Lucaya is a bit Disney-like, great for kids and teens. You can try booking at Pelican Bay Hotel at the marinaside if you love reading and movies. Try day trip tours to explore the island more with Grand Bahama Nature Tours.

National Museum of Crime & Punishment

February 26, 2010

The trip going to the museum was 5 minutes but took us 15 minutes to find a public parking.
Just a reminder: If you are visiting DC during weekdays, better yet board the Metro. If it's a trip to see attractions, plan your itinerary. Most of the tourist sites are close to each other and in walking distances. So, boarding the train should be lesser hassles.

There are 3 floors inside the museum with more than 100 interactive exhibits. There are tons of artifact displays as well. If you're an avid CSI fan, this museum is a must see.
There are 5 main galleries you will see as you go through.

• A Notorious History of Crime - here, you will be taken back to historical crimes during the medieval times up to the present modern crimes. Interactive exhibits are available in this area. You might wanna try testing your Wild West shooting skills, as what I did :).

• Punishment: The Consequence of Crime - No matter how you do it, crime doesn't pay! What you'll about to see in this area is a full-scale model police station. Here, you can try interactive exhibits such as doing fingerprints, police line up and lie detector test. Take the challenge.
• Crime Fighting - witness and discover about the training of law enforcement heroes, their technology and equipment they use to keep you safe. Try the simulators, - an FBI shooting range and a try ride on a high-speed police motorcycle ;).
  
  
  
• CSI Experience - watch out CSI fans!..this would be your area. Learn all about forensic science techniques in solving a crime.
• America's Most Wanted Studio - this level is the actual TV set of "America's Most Wanted" hosted by John Walsh. it's fun trying the interactives like "Profiled by John Walsh." Here, you can see a video of John Walsh profiling you as a fugitive through green-screen technology. Don't worry, it's just a spoof! :). Then, challenge yourself with the fingerprint cross matching at the Cross Match Technologies station.

It was all but fun, fun, fun!!!

Washington DC Experience

February 25-27, 2010

I was able to find a good hotel close to the Philippine embassy in Washington DC online. We had an early reservation a week ahead so we just drove there Thursday night (Feb. 25) since it was only an hour drive.
Rush hours are really the bad thing in DC. We were caught up in the midst of it, but we managed to get to the hotel on time.
The hotel was a few meters walking distance to the Philippine embassy, the main purpose why we set up this trip...business transaction. (passport renewal).

Thank God, I was done after less than an hour, so we went back to the hotel and set up our visiting itineraries for the day :).