Cambodian Taxis

Having spent two weeks in the relaxing beach town of Sihanoukville, I was getting bored and so were the three chaps traveling with me. It was time to head to the supposed chaos of Phnom Penh and eventually Angkor Wat. Despite the legendary reputation of Cambodian roads, the owner of our accommodations told us the road to Phnom Penh was smooth as glass. For twenty U.S. dollars, a local taxi would get all four of us to the city without incident.

Around noon, two Australians, an Englishman and myself crammed into a Toyota Camry with our backpacks and miscellaneous junk. Our driver was a good guy, smiling constantly. We did have a communication problem since he spoke about two words of English and we only spoke English. The road, however, was as smooth as promised and we congratulated ourselves on our stroke of luck.

For about an hour, we cruised through the placid Cambodian countryside. It was difficult to imagine the chaos that must have occurred when the Khmer Rouge was in power. There really wasn’t much to see beyond the occasional village. About half way through the trip, the lack of any sizeable towns became a concern.

In the proverbial middle of nowhere, our driver pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the car. Since we couldn’t verbally communicate, much finger pointing was undertaken. Were we lost? Did he want more money? Was he going on strike? What the heck was going on?

Eventually, we foreign idiots were able to decipher that the car was overheating. Lest you think us complete idiots, I must mention that the temperature gauge wasn’t working. Regardless, our driver popped the hood and our smooth trip came to a cracked end. Steam poured from a half-inch crack next to the radiator crap.

Road site assistance seemed an iffy prospect in the middle of Cambodia. I mean, you couldn’t really call your car insurance company.

Me: “Hi. My car is broken.”

Operator: “Okay, we will send someone out. Where are you?”

Me: “Um, somewhere in the middle of Cambodia.”

Operator: “…[hysterical laughter]… Click.”

The driver looked at us. We looked at him. Simultaneously, we all started laughing. What else could you do? We were in the middle of nowhere, the radiator was shot and it was 60 miles or so to Phnom Penh.

Looking back, I can tell you that Cambodian taxi drivers are a committed and creative group. We sat on the side of the road, contemplating the fact that we were about to have a much more authentic Cambodian experience then any of us had planned. Mysteriously, our driver had gone off into the brush on the side of the road. After a few minutes, he returned with a dark green leaf and a big smile.

Putting MacGyver to shame, he proceeded to patch the crack in the radiator using only the leaf and tube of superglue. We all moved back as he applied the superglue to the boiling hot radiator, but nothing went up in flames. After allowing for a suitable amount of time for drying/praying, all we needed was water.

Although admittedly not a car expert, I do know pouring cold water into the radiator of an overheating engine is a bad idea. MacGyver, err… our driver, didn’t bat an eye despite our extensive arm waving. With a big smile, the water went into the radiator as we watched in horror. The only question was what would happen first, the leaf patch bursting or the engine seizing up?

Well, you can guess how it turned out. Not only did we make it to Phnom Penh, we later learned the radiator had two other leaf patches on the bottom. The road had been smooth, but my nerves were still shot. One way or another, the roads of Cambodia will get you.

At least I have ample ammunition to mock MacGyver fans.

The village is situated at the southern foot of the Kitzbüheler Horn, about 100 kilometers (63 miles) from Innsbruck. The area around Kitzbühel has turned up archaeological evidence of human habitation as far back as the Bronze Age. During the time of the Roman Empire, it became a major crossroads for merchants and travelers. The first records of the village of Kitzbühel date back to 1271. The area didn’t become a tourist destination until 1902, when construction started on a major hotel. Franz Reisch organized the Association of Winter Sports and staged Kitzbühel’s first public ski race.

That’s the old news in Kitzbühel. Here’s what’s new: improvements in lifts and snowmaking facilities for the 2005/2006 season. Old T-bars are being replaced with a state-of-the-art chair lift equipped with child safety devices. Also new this season is the “Panoramabahn Kitzbüheler Alpen,” an eight-seat mono-cable circulating gondola. The resort is also increasing its snowmaking system. Work is underway on a new water reservoir. Man-made snow will cover the ice increasing the amount of terrain by 30 hectares and improving the condition of the snow at the Resterhöhe ski area.

Now, back to the basics – Kitzbühel offers over 145 kilometers (90 miles) of trails with 39 percent designated for beginners, 46 percent for intermediates, and 15 percent for advanced skiers. There are four main mountains: the Hahnenkamm, theKitzbüheler Horn, the Bichlalm, and Pass Thurn. While it is a great resort for intermediates, experts are not left out. They can test their skills on the famous World Cup Streif run (on Hahenkamm) and there is plenty of off-trail terrain to explore. Skiers can even have their speed clocked with radar on the Pengelstein. There are also steep trails around the Ehrenbachgraben bowl and also on the Rettenstein at Pass Thurn.

Kitzbühel is home to the popular Ski Safari circuit, marked by elephant symbols. The circuit allows skiers to explore the entire area between Hahnenkamm and Pass Thurn. A recently installed 3S (tri-cable) continuous loop cableway allows skiers to complete the circuit in both directions without taking off their skis. The Ski Safari covers 35 kilometers (22 miles) of runs.

Snowboarders are most likely to head for the Kitzbüheler Horn. In addition to free-riding terrain, there’s a half-pipe and funpark. There’s a boarder-cross near the Brunellenfeld lift with a 95-meter (312-foot) vertical drop and at least 14 obstacles. The Red Eagle Snowboard Academy in Kitzbühel is a great place to learn and perfect snowboarding skills.

The Kitzbühel area is a good choice for cross-country skiers. Kitzbühel offers 30 kilometers (19 miles) of groomed trails. With the trails of the surrounding towns added on, there is a total of 120 kilometers (75 miles) of groomed trails to explore. Snow hikers and snowshoers find over 100 kilometers (62 miles) of well-maintained hiking trails. Free guided hikes are available during the week as well as special torchlight and photography hikes.

Visitors enjoy other winter activities, as well. Tobogganing, indoor and outdoor ice skating, tubing, and sledding add to the fun. Riding in a horse-drawn sleigh is a romantic way to see the spectacular scenery surrounding Kitzbühel. There are a lot of things to see and do in Kitzbühel. In addition to shopping, visitors can tour several medieval churches. There are spas, the Cable Car Museum, a casino, art galleries, and an alpine zoo.

The village is filled with brightly painted houses, many dating back to medieval times. Visitors can browse through trendy shops and stop for coffee and pastry at one of the many cafés. The only hard part about dining out is deciding where to go. There are more than 100 restaurants in Kitzbühel. Food choices range from Tyrolean, Mexican, and Chinese to Italian, Swiss, and even American. Many great restaurants are found in the town’s four-star hotels.

Some people choose Kitzbühel just for its party atmosphere. Famous for its wild après-ski, the town draws the rich and famous from around the world. Bars and discos keep the fun alive all night. There are, however, quiet pubs for those looking for a more romantic evening.

Kitzbühel is preparing for its opening celebration, with special events planned for December 8 – 11, 2005. Whether you come to ski and snowboard, party or shop, Kitzbühel is the ultimate fun alpine resort.

Before the burning of the snowman there are parades and everyone rushes to get the best place to watch the horse drawn carts. All the women bring flowers to give to the men who march. There is music and laughter and a great sense of occasion and tradition. The Swiss love tradition. Everyone will be in the costume of their town or village. The old folks wil sit on benches and the children will run and laugh and admire the great shire horses as they pass.

At 6 o’clock the bells begin to toll all across the city. This, of old, was an indication that the work day was over. Now it means that the snowman is center stage. He sits atop of a huge bonfire beside the lake, surrounded by as many people as can crowd into the square. The bonfire is laced with fireworks and the head of the snowman is filled with them. As 6 o’clock rings out, the fire is lit and people raise their watches for mark the time. For, it is said, you can tell how quick the summer will come and how good a summer it will be by how long it takes the snowman to burn. Round the bonfire race men on horseback, endangering their lives as the snowman will fall across their path and the fire works will fly past them.

This year, 2006, could have been different. A few days before the festival, a group kidnapped the snowman and left a message that he would be paraded on the 1st of May. And that he was tired to placing his head on the line for capitalists. Thankfully, there is always a spare snowman to stand in for his missing brother. The Böögg will burn as ever at Bellevue as the bells toll 6 o’clock.

See http://www.mygloriousgifts.com/boogg.html for more information.

Wallow in Luxury in Tuscany Italy

The words ‘luxury’ and ‘farm’ might scare you away, firstly because everyone associates luxury with expensive and farm with very little comfort. Let me tell you of some fantastic places where I have been and you will see how this is much more gratifying than staying at a hotel in the city centre.

The Fattoria il Lago farmhouse is found about 40 kilometres north-east of Florence, just outside the small town of Dicomano, hidden away in the olive tree covered Tuscan hillsides. The extensive property houses three areas which are referred to as villages, each having apartment accommodations and an entirely different landscape to admire. The main lodging building is called La Villa and has a pleasurable view of the Dicomano Valley. Just a short walk away you find Lago village with its corresponding pool accompanied by a beautiful garden. The third area is the most quaint sleeping quarters called Macerato, embedded among all the hues of green possible. This kind of vacation rental is as comfortable and reposeful as the luxury villas, only that you are sharing a common ground with other tourists. When you get your Tuscany car rental, you should ask for a good map and maybe even ask them if they can give more explicit directions towards Dicomano being as the farmhouse is found off other country roads. Usually any holiday home in Tuscany offers the option of giving full directions when booking and also being picked up at nearby train or bus stations. You just have to let them know beforehand.

The 11th c. medieval monastery of San Lorenzo a Linari in Sovicille, south of Siena is one of those vacation rental places in Tuscany where you can have it all and still have your own breathing space, having your freedom from stress. This magnificent lodging is individual apartments tempting you with Tuscany tours such as viewing the hillside and mountains seated in a four-wheel drive vehicle, horse-back riding or an aerial view from a hot-air balloon. And if you do not want to miss out on the lovely beaches, there are excursions to the Mediterranean seashore, too.

Staying in Tuscany in the Chiantii area in the luxury villa estate called Villa de Dievole near the old town of Vagliali. As all villas used to belong to the Italian noble class, the exclusiveness and privacy is incomparable. The decoration in many has been respected in the restoration process, therefore you are living among many centuries of history. This 16th century villa has rooms and suites with a private guesthouse, too.

Without overtaxing one’s strength, your Tuscany Italy holiday tours can be choked full of emotions and peacefulness.

The world’s deserts are divided into four categories. Subtropical deserts which are the hottest, with parched terrain and rapid evaporation. Although cool coastal deserts are located within the same latitudes as subtropical deserts, the average temperature is much cooler because of frigid offshore ocean currents. Cold winter deserts are marked by stark temperature differences from season to season, ranging from 100° F (38° C) in the summer to 10° F (–12° C) in the winter. Polar Regions are also considered to be deserts because nearly all moisture in these areas is locked up in the form of ice.

ATACAMA DESERT: North of Chile

The Atacama Desert, in the north of Chile, is the driest place on earth. It stretches from the highlands of the Andean Altiplano over the golden sands of the Atacama Desert as far as the shores of the Pacific Ocean. This is the place for those in search of adventure with its breathtaking salt flats, geysers and Andean volcanos,

The desert is so dramatic that, at first sight, it appears never to have sustained any life. However, pink flamingoes together with Alpacas, Llamas, Vicunas and many other species of fauna and flora can be found living in perfect harmony in the many oases and lakes located in the area.

Travelling north, view the Atacama Salar, with its 300.000 hectares of territory, the oasis-town of San Pedro de Atacama, which is the tourist capital of the Chilean north, due to its natural wonders. The Moon Valley, with its geological rocks formations, the geysers of Tatio, altiplanic valleys and lakes (at 4.000 meters of altitude), canyons and the historic towns like Toconao that has all the houses constructed out of the local linarite stone. On the way is the breathtaking Atacama Salt Lake, which is over 1,000 kilometers long.

Besides, there is an argueological museum that was built by a Belgian priest, who gathered numerous arqueological vestiges, such as pottery and mummies, which are witnesses of the history in this region.These are museums which record man’s presence over the last 10,000 years besides this there is sea and long sandy beaches, relaxation and entertainment in casinos, restaurants and hotels, and above all the friendly hospitality of the Chilean people.

Weather: It gets cold once the sun goes down and during the day it can be extremely very hot.

Climate: The climate is magnificent throughout the year. During winter (June, July and August) the average daytime temperature varies between 9ºC (48ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF); days are very pleasant, inviting you to lay in the sun’s corridors. In summer (January, February and March) the average daytime temperature fluctuates between 13ºC (55ºF) and 25ºC (77ºF), reaching maximums of 32ºC (90ºF): a warmer climate inviting you to a good “siesta” before the evening explorations begin. Between January and March, the so called Altiplanic Winter comes with occasional showers.

The island by Anguilla comprises quiet and deluxe. It has more luxury hotels and comprises known to be the darling vacation spot as celebrities. The islands by Antigua and Barbuda are also identical nice and deluxe at the same clock allows complete closing off. The beaches are arrants white sand and nightlife, admitting casinos, banishes restaurants and banishes.

The island by Grenada comprises known because the Spice Island, and advocates other species per feather kilometer in the domain. The beaches are altogether isolated, and the island comprises ideal as loosening in the sun. By the most concerning places in the Caribbean islands by Guadeloupe visit on five briny islands. Guadeloupe comprises a concerning mix by tropic and French acculturations and conflate of acculturations in Confederacy Asia and Africa.

New Delhi

If you fly into Delhi, you will inevitably end up in New Delhi. This section of the city is very modern in relation to the rest of the country. Roads are wide and organized with something other than a chaos theme. You’ll actually be able to walk without feeling like a cow in a heard, which is very unique in India. On the other hand, New Delhi just doesn’t have that ancient Indian charm found in other cities. It’s a good place to get a hotel room, but you’ll need to venture into the city proper to get a taste of India.

Old Delhi

Old Delhi is where the action is if you really want to experience India. The streets are a chaotic mass of markets, overbuilt streets, signage that would make Las Vegas blush and monuments to the past. The best way to see Old Delhi is to catch an auto rickshaw to the Red Fort and then just start wandering around the bazaars and old markets. Hotels will try to rent you mopeds, but this isn’t advisable if you’re hitting Old Delhi. The chaos will overwhelm you and you definitely don’t want to run into a sacred cow.

Things to See

Regardless of where you head, Delhi has a plenty of attractions to keep you busy for a few weeks. The great pacifist, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated in Delhi and you can visit the location at Birla House as well as pay your respect at his black marble tomb. To contemplate this great man, you can follow up the visit with a stroll through the Lodi Gardens, which are peacefully overgrown.

Delhi is the home to forts, mosques and palaces galore. The Qutab Minor Complex is a good place to see Mughal architecture. Safdarjang’s Tomb is a poor mans Taj Mahal with the same basic structure. The Red Fort and India Gate are good places to take pictures.

When it comes to sports, India is mad about cricket. Kids can be seen playing it all over the place. If you’re looking to see the professionals, try the games at Coronation Dunbar.

Delhi is undoubtedly the most comfortable of the large cities in India. This comfort, however, comes with a price. One tends to get the feeling you aren’t seeing the real India. Delhi is a good place to visit, but make sure you see other locations in India.

Day Pampering In Northern California

If you’re stressed out and in need of some relaxation and therapeutic care, chances are you’re in need of a bit of pampering. Living in California can be a stressful situation, and there are times that you need nothing more than a massage or maybe a facial to combat those working blues. Luckily, there is most likely a day retreat in northern California to meet your needs.

The Oaks at Ojai destination health retreat, located in Ojai, California, is only twenty minutes away from downtown Ventura. This retreat offers many different treatments, including the yummy sounding Ojai Olive Oil Body Souffle. Along with the usual massages, wraps and facials, packages are also offered. These include the Head to Toe package and the Mind, Body package, both of which offer tons of relaxation and wellness treatments. Wellness and fitness consultations are also offered here, along with different services, such as makeup consultations. You can stay at this retreat or just use it as a day of bliss.

Another retreat in northern California is the California Skin Care and Day Spa in Newark, California. Located in the East Bay area, this day retreat offers massages, facials, and body wraps, but it also offers some more unique services. These include oxygen therapy, permanent make-up (tattoo) and eyelash extensions, to name a few. They also offer many spa packages, which include the Day in Paradise and Lavish in Romance (for couples) – these packages are even available as Internet specials!

Regardless of the retreat you choose, be sure to book any special treatments or packages in advance – often they request up to four weeks advance notice for certain services. Also be sure to confirm when your reservation is for the services. Just like any service, they may charge a fee if you don’t show up at your scheduled appointment time.

Women are the most problematic with body weight and sexy body require them to lose weight. If you are woman, good diet pills for women are diet pills made from various natural ingredients. Natural ingredients are safe for body because fewer side effects. It will improve metabolism and overall health so it is not only about appearance but also about your well-being. If you search for diet pills, make sure that it is all natural ingredients. Check it carefully because there are so many pills that claim natural but also use synthetic ingredient inside it.

All natural ingredients are good diet pills for women over the counter. Because it is safe to use, it sell freely on medicine counter. You don’t need doctor prescription for it. It is another benefit because you can save your money. So keep on your diet program and add natural diet pills on your program to get optimum result.

Budapest – A Tale of Three Cities

Over 2,000 years old, Budapest is a large city containing traces of the various forces that have ruled it over time. Romans, Turks, Goths and many others have conquered the city. Somehow, the various influences work in such a way as to make the city sparkle.

In a bit of trivia, Budapest was historically considered three cities. The three cities were Pest, Obuda and Buda. Although grouped together, the cities were naturally divided by the Danube River which forks in the middle of the city. In 1873, the three cities were combined into one and given the Budapest name.

Although Budapest has more attractions than could possible be covered in one article, here are a few must see locations.

Buda Castle

Sitting on top of a hill and towering over the Danube, the Buda Castle is stunning. Construction started under the guidance of King Bela IV in the 14th century and was expanded upon by later rulers. Medieval times, however, saw the castle burned, looted, demolished, bombed with cannon balls and ransacked. Each time, new rulers rebuilt.

Visiting Buda Castle is like stepping back into the heights of the renaissance. The Castle is adorned with red marble stairways, gothic facades, bastions and epic statutes overlooking the Danube. The fountains around the Castle simply can’t be described with words.

Spas

Budapest sits over a tectonic plate fault line, which usually is a bad thing. In this case, however, the location of the city corresponds with a plethora of hot mineral springs. Enterprising Hungarians have build spas on the springs and are open for business. The spas are “over the top” with an opera house feel. Floating around peacefully, one feels like European royalty.

If you are traveling to Europe, plan on devoting a week to Budapest. For those in love with Prague, one visit to Budapest may change your mind.