The Andean Highlands in Ecuador

One of the most visited area of Ecuador is the Andes, - a breath taking, multi-hued mountain paradise jam-packed with cultural and natural diversity that would keep visitors coming back.

If you want to do the scenic trip, be sure to hop aboard the "Train of the Middle of the World". If you love urban adventures and mountain thrills, is is your place.

You'll get to see Quito's panoramic view - the world's first city to be declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Quito is an ideal place for hiking, mountain climbing, biking, rafting and kayaking.

In the southern part is another colonial city called Cuenca, - another UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with its charming cobblestone streets and white washed red-tiled buildings, stately plazas and grand old churches.

Discount Vacation Packages in San Diego, CA

If you are planning for a well-deserved vacation, be sure it would be one that is worth it and full of fun. It should be much more worth it and well-cherished if you have to spend it with your loved ones, don't you agree?

Resort Vacation Packages in San Diego, CA might be the place for you, so you should check it out. It's hard to turn down an offer that is budget-friendly and yet you will be on a luxury lodging resort that has all the complete amenities you need. You should check the offered packages and you can get as low as $49.00 for two people, and take note; - you will be in a high end luxury resort villa with the complete amenities! Where else could you find such offer?

If you would instead prefer visiting specific attractions, they are close to Sea World, Legoland, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Knott's Berry Farm and Soak City, Theater, Golf and dining packages.
Take note, all package attractions are pretty much affordable so you won't be hurting your wallet :).

Now, that's what you call total fun! It would be a once in a lifetime offer because you will be enjoying the complete amenities.

Ecuador's Galapagos Island

Galapagos is a famous, isolated archipelago comprising 13 major islands, and more than 100 smaller islands and islets.

The islands are blessed with pleasant weather all year round in addition to some of the most hauntingly beautiful land and seascapes to be found anywhere.

Galapagos is a National Park, a marine reserve and a Natural Heritage site as well, - a protected place that has some of the highest levels of endemism (those species found nowhere else on earth).

In some designated areas, you can dive and snorkel and see the impressive aquatic species of the coral reefs, one of the world's greatest diving adventures.

Other activities to do for fun are cruising from mid-range vessels to first-class yachts and luxury catamarans.

My Guest's Post ;)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent, One of the Best Legal Dramas

Thanks for the post from Sylvester Campbell

This is one of my favorite legal dramas that I watch frequently, via my tv satellite service. This show is edgy and interesting. Just as the title suggests the show is about the reasoning behind a criminal's actions as opposed to just the criminal act itself. This is an ingenious way to write a show as it gives the viewer a more complete sense of the story. The show breaks down what the crime is, why it was committed and how the detectives were able to outsmart the criminal and apprehend them. Great writing always has a beginning, middle, and end. This show is exemplary in that area. The show is set in New York City, which allow the stories to be more versatile. My favorite character combo is Detective Goren and Detective Eames. Goren can be outrageous, however his excellent reasoning skills allow him to accurately read a suspect and ultimately get a confession out of them. For the intelligent viewer it's always fun to watch a character outwit someone through brain power versus brawn. Eames' character is soft and yet still strong, creating a balance between the two. Their dynamic makes the characters and their interactions more believable. Of the many crime/legal dramas on TV today Law & Order: Criminal Intent tops the list with its intelligent writing and true to life characters.

Washington National Cathedral (Part 1)

Washington D.C.

The cathedral has two main levels; - the Main Level (the Nave) and the Lower Level (the Crypt).
The Main Level consists of 28 spots and landmarks you should check out while the Lower Level consists of 7 sites worth seeing at.

Main Level (the Nave):

1. West Facade - the cathedral's iconographic story; - the mankind's creation to redemption starts here. All the arts here depicts themes of creation. If you notice the carved tympana above the 3 massive portals reflects the creation of day, the creation of mankind, and the creation of night. The 3 statues are Peter, Adam and Paul and the bronze gates shows scenes from the lines of Peter at the north portal, Abraham and Moses at the center portal and Paul at the south portal.
2. George Washington Bay - the heroic marble statue of the first president is a huge reflection in here. The windows abstract design reflects the search for freedom that led to the founding of our nation.
3. Maryland Bay - carved in its stone and in its stained glass, it shows the rich symbols of the state and its diverse religious heritage. The land of D.C. (District of Columbia) was once part of Maryland.
4. Folger Bay - the colorful windows depict the richness of the lands explored in the 1803 Lewis and Clark expedition to the American northwest.
5. Glover Bay - on the windows reflect the event which commemorated the promotion of plans for building the cathedral in1891, led by a group of men.
6. Warren Bay - this contains the symbols of law in memory of Charles Warren, lawyer and historian of the Supreme Court. Just above this is the Space Window that reflects the Apollo XI mission and holding a piece of moon rock brought back by its crew.
7. Woodrow Wilson Bay - the colorful window is titled "War and Peace". The stone and glass enriched with myriad images symbolizes events in the life of the 28th president of the USA who is buried here.
8. Lee-Jackson Bay - it contains the scenes from the lives of two civil war generals.
9. Mellon Bay- is behind its wrought iron gate that may be used for private prayer. On the column capitals are carvings relating to Andrew W. Mellon.
10. Baptistry - reflects symbols of artworks that represents baptism.

(to be continued on the next post)

Packing Business With DirectTV

Who says televisions are only for homes and private rooms? Nowadays, every business establishments such as hotel lobbies, office waiting rooms, hospitals, clinics, or any other commercial buildings, TV's are on.
It's no doubt that televisions are everywhere especially to places where people can easily encounter boredom in the area such as in waiting rooms in private offices or other areas. Obviously, TV's are giving a lot of entertainment to many people, as well as valuable information and news, that would keep our mind busy and aware. Indeed, televisions are our windows to the outside world!

So when it comes to putting your TV on business, go direct with DirectTV! How about putting direct tv for hospitals? Hospital lobbies for example can become quite boring while you wait for your appointment. So, just imagine when there is something that would cheer you up aside from your talkative mother-in-law beside you...LOL!

I should say it's always a good idea to put direct tv for lobby areas. If you are a practically-minded business person, a boring lobby without any TV is definitely not good. In this manner, you would always want your lobby to set the tone for the day, don't you?

Did you know that DirectTV has made their business increased to 90%? Obviously, for one good reason that it's no. 1 in customer satisfaction! :). So, give your business a kick with DirectTV for business.

If you are interested to do business with Dish network as well, with regards to business video-on-demand, IP streaming, etc...visit http://www.dishbusiness.com/index.shtml for more information.

Coping With Mesothelioma

Surviving Mesothelioma is not as easy as you think, particularly if you are diagnosed to have one. Thank God for a person like Paul Kraus, who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma Cancer but outlived his prognosis of one year.

Paul Kraus is the author of the book "Surviving Mesothelioma: A Patient's Guide" which is of course free. From the experience of the author himself, this book is about his practical advices and all about the information a cancer patient needs to have in order to know more about what survival behavior is all about.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It's a rare type of cancer in which cells in the mesothelium become cancerous.

If you are newly diagnosed as a mesothelioma patient, your free copy is available online. The copies are limited, so get it before it runs out.

Washington National Cathedral (The Visit)

Washington D.C.

This cathedral is famous due to its Gothic architectural style, built of Indiana limestone and considered to be the 6th largest church in the world. Its architecture has boss stones, ribbed vaulting, large windows with flying buttresses and uses pointed arches.
The architectural design is said to be unique because it is not copied from any other buildings. The building is cross-shaped with a long nave-a tenth of a mile-and two shorter transepts.

The art and architecture of the cathedral instruct and inspire through works in stained glass windows, stone, wrought iron, wood and fabrics. Those images and symbols of art reflections are designed to teach Christian beliefs, reveal the presence of God and pay tribute to our country's history and values.

From west to east of the cathedral is the story of redemption through faith.
The story of creation is reflected beginning at the west facade and west rose window, and this theme continues through clerestory windows, and ends with the sculpture of "Christ in Majesty" at the high altar.

The Pilgrim Observation Gallery can be accessible through elevators up for views over the city. Stairs lead down to the Cathedral store at the lower level. You can avail some food service at the store but limited.

Blue Sky Scrubs

Although I don't work in a hospital, some of my cousins are :). Many of them are nurses, so Iguess I should be recommending this site as well.
The Blue Sky Scrubs is a complete all line to shop for your hospital uniforms, - whether you're a doctor, nurse, surgeon, dentist and all other medical professionals that need one.

If you're planning to buy medical scrubs, why not try shopping online at Blue Sky Scrubs? Most of their products particularly nursing scrubs and designer surgical club hats are exclusively designed by them, so you won't find them in stores.

You no longer have to wonder where to buy medical scrubs especially when you're running out of time. At least, you don't even need to waste your time driving to the store to find and buy one, and yet you are being stuck in traffic!

Get them conveniently online!

Mt. Vernon Estate, Museums and Gardens (The Visit)

George Washington's Home Tour

May 21, 2010 - Alexandria, VA

If you are visiting the estate for the first time, and you're driving by car with GPS, the address might not show properly on it, making it confusing to follow the directions.
There is a google map linking to the exact address of Mt. Vernon, located on the general information menu on their website. Just google it and you'll be taken up there.

Since we were coming from Washington D.C., it was supposed to be a 30-minute drive going to the place, but gosh!...we were caught up in a traffic jam and so we reached the area after an hour and 30 minutes drive..Whew!

The only thing we were able to do was to visit the mansion which was the last batch of tour at 4PM. Well, better yet than nothing!

it's always good to be there early so you can see and enjoy things including visits to Washington's tom, the gardens, and many more activities.

Affordable Printer Inks

Tired of getting into hassles driving from store to store looking for printer cartridges ? Then, it's time to consider the convenience of shopping online while at the same time saves you money and can keep your budget uncompromised. When it comes to your best source of printer cartridges and/or ink refill kits, Printer-Cartridges.com should be your place to go. The company has been in business since 2002 and has been providing customers with their printer cartridge supplies with the highest quality products and yet at the lowest prices available. Printer-Cartridges.com is a one-stop shop for all your printer needs and ink refill kits as well. All of their refill kits and printer cartridges are backed by a full one-year guarantee, plus avail the free shipping service when you order $45.00 or more! Another good news is that you can be guaranteed to have same-day shipping to all orders placed from Monday to Friday before 5pm eastern time. You don't need to worry about your item being hard to find because they have an extensive product line meant to fit more than 300 various brands and printer models. You can also find other products like laser tone cartridges, tone refill kits, bulk inks and bulk toners. Just use their search feature on their homepage and you'll discover how extremely easy it is to find the item you need without having to get out from your home. Your shopping here is secure, so no need to worry about. Just keep in mind. When it comes to ink-jet cartridges, Printer-Cartridges.com has all makes and brands! :)

Shenandoah Valley's Beauty & Beyond

If you happened to be touring the lovely Shenandoah Valley, don't forget to check out the beautiful scenery underground, - the caverns!

Western Virginia has at least 4,000 known caves and many are open to the public. Touring Shenandoah Valley show cave is like taking yourself back 600 million years to when the movement of the continents began the creation of these windows into the netherworld beneath our feet.

The most popular is Luray Caverns, discovered in the 18th century. Designated as a national landmark, the caverns are the largest in the east, featuring a variety of named chambers such as Giant's Hill which is dominated by 10-story high golden columns.

The Grand Caverns is another famous one located near Grottoes. it's the nation's oldest show cave since 1806. Here, you can explore the Cathedral Hall, a vast underground room of 280 feet long and more than 70 feet high. It has drapery-like flow stone on the walls, and massive columns stretch from floor to ceiling.

All Inclusive Vacation at Breezes

Summer and beach lovers, (that would include me!), this could be the all inclusive vacation you are waiting for! Of course, a summer get away vacation could also be a big bonus of savings, don't you think? How about planning for a Caribbean vacation courtesy of Breezes Resorts and Spas? It's been a big dream for me to visit the Caribbean someday soon! :)...and when we do it's gonna be beach, summer, and sun with a lot of good food and great adventures. I have been checking out the all inclusive vacations of Breezes Resorts to get an idea about what I can expect in an all inclusive vacation. Breezes actually calls their packages super inclusive, which suggests it is probably one of the better all inclusive packages. They certainly would fill my wish for great food and adventure with unlimited food and snacks and drinks. But what about adventure? Well how about scuba diving off the coast of Venezuela or snorkeling on the coral reef? Or maybe climbing a rock wall or kayaking? There are just so many things to do waiting for you at the Breezes resorts. If you visit their website you will get details about each resort location. The earlier you book, the better your savings! Did you know that you can save up to 55% off for their super summer and fall sale? Just take note that this promo varies by resort, so you have to check their website for details. For the early booking bonus, you can save as much as 20-25% off for any booking for your 2011 stays. Just imagine having such a great choice in all inclusive resorts locations that are such good value, a once in a lifetime opportunity, don't you think? What more can I say?...Life's really a breeze at Breezes Resort and Spas!

Ecuador's Pacific Coast

Due to its spectacular and unspoiled coast, Ecuador has sugary beaches and quaint villages that line its Pacific Coast. It has 6 distinct provinces that made up the coastal region namely; - Esmeraldas, Manabi, Los Rios, Santa Elena, Guayas and El Oro.

Esmeraldas also known as "the Green province" is accessible only by canoe making it an ideal destination for unforgettable river safaris.

Manabi is a place ideal for whale watching, diving or relaxing on the beach with a cocktail :).

Guayas is the place of Ecuador's largest city and chief port in Guayaquil, where neighborhood is full of historical attractions and landmarks which are worth exploring.

You might want to check out Spondylus Route, which offers fascinating archaeological sites, as well as surfing, paragliding and many more for nature and adventure lovers.

Is Your Best Interest Taken By Heart?

Basing on the title of my post, I am talking about the trend on getting your eye care done. Do you feel taken cared of by medical professionals responsible for it?
Considering the health care dilemma that most people are facing today, - most health seekers are resorting to more affordable services that can fit into their budget.
Perhaps, many of you have heard about ZenniOptical; - an online store that offers affordable yet very high quality eyeglasses to customers who are in need.
But what happens when eye care professionals like opticians who usually gives PD (pupillary distance) for eyeglass fitment can be cold and/or harsh and choose not to do it because of some reasons only them would know?
If Zenni Optical doesn't do PD and thus relies to opticians (or whomever are allowed to do PD procedures) who don't want to do it because maybe some would feel they are being robbed of their entire responsibility from their professions, or think they hate competitions, I think that would be unfair!
In every case where companies and professionals offer health services in various settings and methods should be healthy professionals that should respect and recognize the idea of healthy competitions in the world of health, - financially or professionally wise.
Professionals who are licensed or allowed to do PD for health seekers who need one don't have any reason why they should not do it. Whether they charge a fee or free of charge, I think it should be no big deal. There are company rules to be followed, and let's stick to that.
Health seekers and medical professionals should have a mutual agreement and balance understanding on what the rules and policies are to be followed because health seekers would ultimately takes his decision in the end.

Washington National Cathedral - (The Visit)

May 21, 2010

It was a good thought after all to plan for this itinerary visit after I was done with my paper works submission at the Philippine embassy in Washington D.C.

The cathedral is just 5 minutes away from where I was, so it wasn't bad.

This church opens its doors to thousands of visitors and worshippers every year, mainly because of the cathedral's awesome architecture and arts. It's a church for national purposes that welcomes people of all faiths.

I was captivated by its huge architectural design both in and out. The audio tour was great!

If you don't want to miss every detail of information about the cathedral, - the audio tour is the best option. You'll learn every aspect about the cathedral :).
The audio tour is self-paced and costs $5.00 per person. It's only available when there are no special events or services that are taking place inside the main area.

Oh, and one more thing to be aware of...DON'T take photos when mass or worship service is being held. Otherwise, you can take photos on everywhere around the church. Just be sure you have a fully-charged camera.

I will be sharing a separate post on the cathedral which might be of two parts, so I can actually discuss the vast areas including its famous inspirational arts and architecture ;).

Vacation Get-Away at the Beach!

Where could you find a truly relaxing comfort, convenience and luxury but only at towers at myrtle beach!
There's nothing more the best vacation can give when you feel so carefree in an oceanfront scenery, don't you think?

Visit www.towersatnorthmyrtlebeach.com and check their various detailed accomodations with breathtaking window-views. You would surely enjoy many adventures and sights that would make your vacation long lasting and full of memories to cherish.

There are lots of activities worth doing and full of fun at myrtle beach. If you love the beach as well as the nature, then for sure this is your place. People who love to shop, and those who love to visit parks, museums, gardens or theaters will surely enjoy their vacation here as well.

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.