Boating

Boating refers to travel on water in a boat for recreational purposes. Boats may be small or big, and travel may be in a river, lake, pond, seas and oceans. Boating is considered to be an activity of leisure and relaxation.

Naturally, boating is a popular activity in coastal states. Many native coastal folks earn their living using boats for fishing and touring. Many also own several boats that they rent out to tourists. The economies of several coastal lands including Florida, Maine, California, Bahamas and Hawaii depend on the volume of boating carried out in these areas.

There are different kinds of boats. Kayaks and canoes are popular in the northern seas. These are one-person boats suited for rough cold seas. Other types are bateaux, dinghies, ferries, gondolas, fishing and racing boats. For larger groups, there are catamarans and yachts.

People can boat by themselves, or they can avail of tours conducted by tourist companies. Tourist companies specialize in long boating expeditions called cruises. On cruises, people sail the high seas in large boats drinking, eating and partying together. Cruises are very popular on festive occasions such as New Year’s Eve and local boating festivals.

Boating f is a highly enjoyable activity and is often coupled with other forms of water recreation such as diving, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, etc. Boats that provide this type of recreation are large in order to accommodate all the necessary gear. During expeditions, boats often anchor at suitable spots so that people can jump in and enjoy.

Strict safety measures must be followed for people who go boating. There are usually Coast Guard and police boats patrolling the waters. It is compulsory for boaters to carry life-saving jackets, inflatable rubber floaters, rowboats, etc. Knowing how to swim is also to a boater’s advantage.Tour operators have to get their boats checked for safety standards and acquire a license. If they fail to do so, they are prohibited from sailing their boats. Cruises are obliged to hire a guide on board ship.

Gifts For Men

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas are just some occasions when gifts for men are required. There are hundreds of gifts out there, but men can be picky so do your homework and give him a gift that he’ll appreciate.

Electronic gadgets are big in a man’s life. He’d surely appreciate any one of a number of gadgets including cameras, DVD and MP3 players, camcorders, computers, electronic organizers, cell phones, stereos, etc. Sports items are another sure winner when thinking of a gift for the sports buff on your list. Instead of a football, give him tickets to his favorite team’s playoff game. Instead of a tennis racket, present him with tickets to Wimbledon. If these gifts are a little too much, a membership to a health club is thought. Home workout equipment is also an idea for those guys who like to exercise at home. If he’s a runner, an electronic pedometer, running shoes or a Walkman make an excellent gift.

If you’re shopping for a corporate gift for a co-worker or friend, pens, calculators, desk sets, briefcases and portfolios are always appreciated. And, if you don’t have a clue, there’s always the old standby – the gift certificate. It can either be specific to a certain store, or you can purchase them on the Internet or local malls that are good for hundreds of shops. You can also ask the male representatives of the store where you are shopping whether this or that gift would be a good one for a man, and if not, what would.

Ancient Egypt

The Egyptian civilization is one of the oldest in the world and dates back more than 6000 years. Early settlements were around the banks of the Nile river and irrigation formed the basis of this civilization.

In ancient Egypt, the most-powerful person was the ‘pharaoh’, who was both the political and religious leader. The duties of the pharaoh included collecting taxes, making laws and protecting the people from foreign invasions. People in ancient Egypt were involved in activities like farming and making crafts. Craftsmen formed one of the communities in ancient Egypt. These men were skilled and made beautiful and expensive objects for temples and pharaohs.

People built mud-brick homes and grew their own food. Additionally, they traded villages for goods that could not be produced. The ancient Egyptians were pious people and believed that worshipping different Gods and Goddesses would make their lives peaceful and harmonious.

Pyramids were built in Egypt as ‘tombs’ for the pharaohs and their queens. In addition, temples were built as a dedication to Gods and Goddesses, who were worshipped by the priests and the pharaohs. Egyptians practiced the art of ‘mummification’. It was believed that when a person died, his soul would leave him, thus, in order to re-unite the soul and the body, people were buried in pits in the desert. This method was gradually replaced with burying dead people in coffins to protect them from decaying. Mummification ensured that the dead bodies remained ‘life-like’.

One of the vital activities of the Egyptians was communication, in order to preserve information about religion and the government. Scripts were invented, one of which is known as the hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics involved using pictures to describe events and tell stories, and is one of the earliest forms of written communication.

Maine Travel Agencies

ravel agencies provide an excellent hassle-free holiday experience. They arrange for the travel arrangements, the hotels, sightseeing, and any other needs of the tourist. Maine is a large state, with plenty to do and see, and planning a trip alone can be a daunting task. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, there are many travel agencies that offer consulting and travel services suitable for all budgets.

Some of the major travel agencies provide different highlighted tours of the state, with many scenic attractions catering to all kinds to tourists. Travel Flair is one such agency providing customized vacation packages to the state. Based in Mission Viejo, California, Travel Flair offers a five- to six-day tour of the state including visits to natural attractions such as Acadia National Park, Lake Champlain, Plymouth Plantation, Catskills and Hudson River Valley. These attractions are available for about $180 to $200 a day. The travel agents are happy to assist traveling business executives with travel and hotel arrangements.

Accent Travels is one of the premiere travel agencies in Maine. They arrange vacation tours all through the state and encourage travelers with different itineraries to contact them. If possible, Accent Travel can work out deals with hotels and airlines. There are many other small-scale travel agencies strewn about the state. These agencies generally have a greater variety of tours available since they know the state in depth. The people of Maine also love to travel throughout the state, and one can find a good deal with these agencies almost any time of the year. Quest Travels, Windham, Sail Away Cruises and Travel, Westbrook, and Farmington Travels, Bangor are some of the reputed travel agencies popular for travel in and around Maine.

India Travel Tours

A rich cultural history, cosmopolitan and rural cities, and a diversified landscape characterize India. With its huge landmass, it is impossible to experience its natural treasures without a good travel package.

The eight days’ and seven nights’ journey in “Palace on Wheels” takes a traveler across Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (Delhi-Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Sawai Madhopur-Chittaurgarh-Udaipur-Bharatpur-Agra). The luxury train has deluxe cabins, wall-to-wall carpeting, a bar, two dining cars and personalized service. Scheduled to leave the station in April 2006, the tariff per person for seven nights is single occupancy $395.00; double occupancy, $295.00; and triple occupancy, $240.00. This is inclusive of meals, sightseeing tours in deluxe coaches, entrance fees for monuments, palaces cultural entertainment at Jaipur and Jaisalmer, boat ride to and from Lake Palace Hotel at Udaipur, Elephant ride at Jaipur, Camel ride at Jaisalmer and Rickshaw ride at Bharatpur.

CONTACT: E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel: 91-11-29812205.

“Ananda Wellness Bliss” (five nights, six days) is the ideal tour to detoxify in Ananda Spa amid the serene Himalayas. The package includes a detoxifying drink (ginger, lemon and honey in hot water); three spa cuisine meals, per night of stay, per person; transfers from Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun or Haridwar Railway Station; spa orientation; use of Hydrotherapy facilities (jacuzzi, steam, sauna, chill plunge pool, Kneipp Hydrotherapy foot bath and heated lap pool), yoga, Pranayama, and meditation; daily use of the Nutritional, Wellness and Lifestyle Library; Hydrotherapy Aromatic Bath; customized Body Exfoliation Therapy; and a customized Massage per day. Contact: Tel: 91-11-2689 9999; Fax: 2613 1066; E-mail: [email protected].

Thirty kilometers south of Trivandrum on the backwaters, “Poovar Island Resort-Kerala Backwaters” is ideal for honeymooners and detoxifying ayurveda treatments. This resort is accessible only by a fifteen-minute cruise from the Poovar jetty. The three-day package comes at a price of Rs. 12,999 (per room; land costs only), and includes two nights, three days accommodations, airport /station transfer, boat transfer, meals, and a sunset cruise on the backwater. Twin accommodation in a Floating Cottage comes at a steeper price of Rs. 19,999 (valid till March 31, 2006). Contact: Thomas Cook, Dr. DN Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001 India; Tel: 91-22-22048556; Fax: 91-22-22871069.

Security Cameras

With business, industry and commerce spreading at a rapid rate, there is a greater need to protect property and assets. For this purpose, security and surveillance cameras are often used. The use of these gadgets is no longer restricted to secret agents and undercover government agencies. Increase in demand has made security equipment affordable, so people are now using it to protect their businesses and houses. Security cameras are available in all shapes and sizes. Wired security cameras can be fitted in wall clocks, speakers and smoke detectors, while wireless security cameras are even more flexible and can be placed almost anywhere.

Internet wireless security cameras permit remote monitoring of video. The camera transfers signals through a wireless network router or LAN adapter to a particular IP address. These are commonly used to keep a constant watch on the premises or property when out of town or on vacation. Built in motion sensors may even send e-mail warnings in case of movement.

These power-driven cameras can, at times, be supported by small 9-volt batteries, which are enough to provide eight or more hours of energy. Even slightest movement in front of the camera activates the built-in motion sensors. When triggered, the camera begins to record video, take pictures for future viewing or send live videos to a computer.

Digital security cameras are widely used. These are small in size but are designed to record for long periods. These are popular as matter recorded can easily be edited or saved on a computer, which can be accessed at any time. This system also eliminates the need to manage recorded tapes, which can be sensitive to temperature and other factors, as well as space consuming. However, it is important to keep in mind that these cameras are not to be used for unethical activities and spying on other people as this is a punishable offense.

A popular use of these cameras is to monitor the behavior of nannies and babysitters when parents are away at work. This technology is also used to protect people’s homes and possessions against theft. Security cameras are available in all price ranges and can be used to combat security problems in most places.

Used Cheap Laptops

The used laptop market has been expanding for years. In its current state, there are hundreds of companies of various sizes offering used laptops at unbelievable prices. It seems like a buyers market out there, but before you buy one of these apparent bargains, you should ask yourself why are the laptops so cheap. Obviously, there must be a reason.

You may be inclined to doubt the quality of the product, but there are legitimate reasons for a laptop to be sold cheap. First, maybe the laptop has just become obsolete. Obsolete doesn’t mean it’s useless. When Apple came out with their MacBook, previous Apple PowerBooks became essentially obsolete. The PowerBooks technology had shifted so drastically that the majority of users were unloading their old laptops for the newer, better version. This means there were powerful laptops only a few months old that consumers were selling quickly so they could buy a new MacBook. Also, demand for PowerBooks was lower, because many shoppers wanted the top of the line, Intel-based notebooks. So, it was harder to sell PowerBooks and the prices dropped. So, if you see a cheap laptop, research the model and see if it was recently replaced by a much more advanced version.

Sometimes you will find cheap laptops that aren’t a value. This is because there are hidden drawbacks to their systems. A seller may not be disclosing a design flaw inherent with a model. Or maybe they know the system has a history of electrical problems, which was how they obtained it at such low cost. Further, these companies may be saving money by not offering you much of a guarantee, since they don’t have faith in the product themselves. Not guaranteeing a system will always bring its sale price down.

Used laptops should be a bargain. When you see something suspiciously cheap, research the prices of comparable notebooks and determine if any of the above scenarios may have occurred to bring down the price. If you want to get a good deal on a used laptop, you have to put in the time researching its history.

Bathing Suits

Bathing suits, also known as swimsuits, are worn for many purposes. Basically, for the general public, they are meant to avoid nudity or exposure when going for a swim or sun-bathing in public places like beaches and public swimming pools. Swimmers in a competition may wear them for thermal protection, and contestants in a beauty pageant, for displaying their bodies.

It is illegal to go swimming without a bathing suit in many parts of the United States, as it is considered to be a form of indecent exposure. There are special beaches and resorts reserved for people who wish to go nude while swimming. The number of nudist beaches has risen in recent years, and their popularity is still growing.

There are many types of bathing suits available for men, women and children. Men’s bathing suits may include shorts, trunks, board shorts, jammers, speedo-style briefs, thongs, or cut-off jeans. Women’s bathing suits mainly consist of one-piece swimsuits, bikinis, or thongs, with variants like monokinis, tankinis and string bikinis. Beaches mostly allow pants, underwear, or T-shirts to be used as make-shift bathing suits, but swimming pools seldom do so.

Special types of bathing suits or swimsuits, usually made from spandex, are generally worn by professional swimmers. They may wear full bodysuits, racer-back styles, jammers, and racing briefs for protection from drag, skin chaffing, stings and abrasion.

There are countless types, styles, designs and variants of bathing suits that have come up in recent years, and the number and popularity of certain styles are still growing.

Award Trophies

Trophies are souvenirs of victories. When they are given as awards they are called award trophies. Awards are often given to commemorate a certain level of excellence achieved by a person.

Award trophies include those given for cultural events, sporting events, corporate achievements, or heroic achievements, like those done by police and firemen. The Oscar is awarded to actors and actresses. Olympic trophies, Grand Slam trophies, World Cup trophies and PGA trophies are awarded for sporting excellence. Big companies award trophies of good service to employees, and heroic achievements are recognized publicly by awarding policemen and firemen for their meritorious service.

Award trophies for sporting excellence are popular. Olympic trophies are most coveted. Olympic games include horse riding, rowing and gymnastics. An Olympic award can enhance the career of any sportsman representing his country. Every four years the Olympic Games are hosted by different countries amidst great fanfare and celebration, to unite the world in the sporting spirit.

In tennis, there is a series of tournaments including Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Open, and the Italian Open. Tennis awards given to champions are revered in sporting history.

In football, the World Cup captures the imagination of the whole world. The team that wins and the individual players that shone through the tournament are etched in public memory. Cricket also has a World Cup, though it is restricted to the British Commonwealth countries in its popularity.

Award trophies are made of different metals, materials and designs. The wealthier tournaments have gold and silver trophies studded with precious stones, like diamonds. The others have cups and plaques made of crystal, metal, pewter, acrylic, wood, or even plastic. Human figures, especially sporting figures like baseball players or golfers, are popular, as well as birds or even bobble head figures.

Awards are achievements, and award trophies are mementoes of achievement to be cherished forever.

Track And Field

Track and Field as it is popularly known in American English, was originally known as Athletics. Athletics is a word y derived from the Greek word ‘althos.’ which means ‘contest.’ It consists of a collection of sports events that can be divided into running, throwing and jumping events. These sport events were the original Olympic sports that athletes participated in 776 BC.

Track and Field has various events that are open to males and females. Although you are not allowed to participate in events of the opposite gender, the events available are generally the same with some discrepancies. Some of the differences for women are a lower height in the hurdles and steeplechase barriers and the weight of objects for throwing events, such as shot, javelin and hammer.

Events that are available if you wish to participate in Track and Field are divided track, road running, race walking, and field events. These are further subdivided into throwing, jumping and composite events. Track events include sprints, middle distance, long distance, hurdling and relays. If you have a strong endurance, you can try road running or race walking, which are long distance events. If you are a strong athlete, you can participate in the shot put, hammer throw, javelin throw or the discus throws. If you are a strong leaper , the field jumping events consist of the high jump, long jump, pole vault, triple jump, standing high jump, standing long jump, standing pole vault, or standing triple jump. If you are a multi-talented athlete then you can join the composite events that are a combination of the different events.