The Roaring Fork Valley - Colorado

Pristine. Elegant. Primeval. Exciting. Breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. All of these and more have been used to attempt to describe the Roaring Fork Valley, that area that encompasses Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs. Some define these as world-class ski towns, and while that's true, it's also so much more! Some have focused on that the Valley is home to a literal who's who of the artist community. Legends such as the late John Denver, Mariah Carey, John Summers, Kevin Kostner and many more have all made this unbelievably beautiful town their home. In a place where the median price of a home is just over 1.5 million dollars, such big names are to be expected, but the big point is WHY they live there when they could live anywhere in the world, and that is simply because there is no place else quite like it.

Like most ski towns in North America, these came of humble origins. Silver mines were behind their founding, but when the incentives to explore for silver went away, the men and women who'd come to love the land stayed on to create a far more precious treasure by cherishing the land they so loved. Though each has its own unique story, the details fade away into insignificance as the common tale emerges: There's just something so pure and refreshing, so clean and alive about these mountains that you can't imagine ever wanting to leave.

Today's Roaring Fork Valley is far more cosmopolitan than those early settlers would ever have imagined. Who would have thought that a sweet hideaway nestled in the middle of the Rockies would one day become home to the Aspen Institute and have celebrated world leaders attending meetings there, or that such big stars would elect to live somewhere other than Hollywood? But Aspen has indeed become an international cultural center as well, without giving in one bit to the quint small-town "Aspenglow" feel that made the place so famous.

World-class museums and artisan's galleries, legendary performers sharing their gifts on the Wheeler Opera House stage, The Aspen Music Festival and School, Historical Society, Center for Environmental Studies, all that and much more... and yes, some of the best skiing on the entire North American continent. All that and much more are found in this most unusual and exquisite of mountain paradises.

Whether you're enjoying fishing, golfing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, canoing, hiking, rock climbing, cross country or downhill skiing, no matter what activity you're engaged in, summer or winter, the Roaring Fork Valley is simply the best! You can experience a hot air balloon ride, go back into the mountains by 4x4 or horseback, see a riot of colors laying their tapestry over the mountains in the fall... Learn to make stained glass, or enjoy homemade beer from a local micro-brewery. Snowboard or improve your guitar playing, enjoy an avant-garde film or a luxury spa. Where else can you find so many things to do in such an incredibly postcard-perfect place? The Roaring Fork Valley truly is an indescribably rich treasure, and each of these and many more gems are there for the taking when you visit. Come for a week, or a lifetime. Just ask those who live there, or the vacationers who return year after year. In all the world, there is no finer place.

© 2007 RightNow Communications

Jet Lag Symptoms Are A Part Of Life For Frequent Fliers

Overcoming jet lag is not too difficult for those of us who jet off around the world infrequently, perhaps once or twice a year on holiday or for the occasional business trip, but for aircrews and regular long-haul fliers, jet lag can bring in its wake a number of health problems which can become virtually permanent.

Long haul travelers will be familiar with the disruption to their sleep pattern and the insomnia that can result from a long trip, as well as such things as irritability, changes in mood, gastro-intestinal problems and difficulty in processing information. But, for the very frequent flyer these, normally transient symptoms, become a part of everyday life and are often joined by menstrual cycle problems for women and even by short-term psychiatric disturbances for some people.

The major factors in influencing the degree of jet lag experienced, apart from the frequency of travel, are the distances involved, the direction of travel and your age.

If you are regularly traveling across just two or three time zones then any affects are likely to very mild. However, once you start crossing more than three time zones, and particularly when you get up to frequently traveling across six or more time zones, symptoms begin to increase markedly.

Jet lag symptoms are also more marked when you are traveling east and tend to affect you less when flying west. If you are traveling from London to Singapore on holiday for example you will experience more jet lag on arrival in Singapore at the start of your holiday than you will in London when you return.

As a general rule when traveling east you can expect jet lag to last for several days and a good guide is roughly two thirds of the number of time zones crossed. For example, if you cross six time zones you can expect jet lag to affect you for up to four days. Traveling west jetlag can be expected to last for about half this time.

Age is also a significant factor when it comes to jet lag and, as you get older, you will find that you are increasingly affected by jet lag.

There is no such thing as a true jet lag cure but there is a great deal that can be done to help to reduce the symptoms of jet lag.

A Night in Paradise in Maasai Mara

When is the last time you visited a place that touched your soul? A place that strife life out of the 21st century complexities and encourage you to rethink your priorities. A place that enriches you with new and radically different cultural experience, where time is gauged by sunrise and sunset and untouched vistas stretch far into the distance.where, while you sleep elephants, warthog and hippos stroll close to your tent. Where days are spent discovering the herds which roam free and the predators which stalk them. Evenings around a camp-fire and gourmet dinners by candle-light, before retiring to a comfortable bed in a spacious and luxurious tent to the sound of the African night as a distant roar of a lion bring a perfect day on safaris to an end. No electricity, cell phone and no tethering to the heretic rush of life all this tailored to take you to the simple rhythms of nature.WELLCOME TO GOVERNORS CAMPS-MAASAI MARA.

The Governors camps are luxurious tented camp situated in the heart of the best game viewing areas and spectacular scenery that form the Mara ecosystem. The BBC has repeatedly chosen the Governors camps for the filming of their Big Cat Diary series showing the daily life and drama of lions, cheetah and Leopard.

Game drives at Governors are by comfortable 4 wheel drive vehicles, Walking Safaris with expert guide for a close encounter with nature or a dawn drift by a hot air balloon over the winding river Mara.
The Governors Camps Consist of:


1. The Governors Camp


Nested in the forest on a site originally reserved exclusively for the colonial Governor of Kenya. Half the tents look over the rolling golden grasslands of Africa's Great Plains, with views of herds of elephants, zebra and gazelles: the rest line the bank of the Mara River. The decked bar is right on the water's elge.the perfect spot to watch the wallowing hippos or crocodile guarding its nest.


2. Little Governors Camps


Intimate in Character the little Governors has just Seventeen tents tucked around a large watering hole that teems with animals and birdlife. Beyond the deep drop of the ololo Ridge melts into the vast African Sky. Getting here is an adventure in itself, crossing the Mara River by boat, then walking beneath the canopy of indigenous forest trees.


3. Governors IL Moran Camp.


The river glides slowly past this spacious and luxurious camp. From every veranda you may see furtile bushbucks on the banks, crocodile dozing on the sandbanks, families of hippos in shallows. At the end of the day, guest can enjoy a hot bath in the luxurious en-suite bathroom, then sink into a huge knotted olive-wood bed in preparation for another day of excitement and pleasure.
4. Governors Private Camp:


This camp offers the opportunity to safari in the style of days goneby-in your own exclusive camp.Upto sixteen people, one family or group, have a beautiful bend of the Mara River entily to themselves. Here animals come to drink, and elephants brings their calves for a playful dip. The forest around the camp is home to many beautiful birds, from rare trogans and turacos to nesting hornbills.


5. Loldia House:


Away from Mara on the shoes of Lake Naivasha is Loldia House .Here visited will experience the life of Kenya's earliest settlers on one of the country's oldest farms. By foot or horseback, guest can explore the farm's 8,000 acres amongst herds of wild antelope and zebras, and tour the beautifully tended gardens that reach right on the edge of the lake.


6. Mfangano Island Camp.


Lapped by the waters of Lake Victoria, Mfangano Island camp is an oasis of tranguility.It is set in beautiful gardens in secluded bay, where fish eagles nest and cormorant sun themselves on the giant buolders.During the day, compare your fishing skills to those of peerless fish eagle. Stay for the night in rooms build in traditional local style and watch the burning African sun sink from the sky.

Exchange Holiday Homes

All you need to participate in home exchange is a home! You need not have to compare values of the house or search for a swapping partner in the case of a home similar to yours. It just requires identifying a home where you and your family can stay comfortably in the destination you wish to visit. You need to search for a person or a family with whom you would be comfortable exchanging your home with, for a short period of time. In home exchange, you would be taking care of other family's home, as well as enjoying the country while they would be doing the same from your home.

People who have traveled places would know that the most expensive part of traveling is paying hotel bills. In many cases, vacations cannot last for long mainly because of the sky high accommodation expenses. Holiday home exchange is one of the most simple and intelligent ways to cut down on accommodation expenses. It is an equal trade for both the families and enables both to enjoy the advantages of a home while traveling to another country. However, many people are unaware of the benefits of home exchanges.

Home exchanges have become very popular in major cities in the United Kingdom as it allows you to benefit from time-share. Mostly, people participating in home exchanges prefer to involve their friends or neighbors to entertain their visitors, by providing the home exchange visitors with information regarding the local sightseeing attractions. The idea of home exchange interests a number of families and individual travelers. Many families with children try to swap houses with families who have children of the similar age group. It saves time and energy that is often exhausted in carting around a number of toys and equipment. The individual traveler often finds house swapping a great way of relaxing in the comforts of a home after a tiring day of sightseeing and can spend more time to get to know the area better.

Many retired travelers make great home exchanges, as they are a bit more flexible with dates and the duration of the home exchange period. By far, airfare is considered to be the only major expense on a vacation while swapping homes. Arrangements for exchanging the use of vehicles should also be made to add to the convenience of travelers. In case pets are involved, you may be able to make some arrangements to save on boarding fees, provided your home exchange partner is ready to take care of your pet.

Even home insurance companies favor home exchanges. Such exchanges are often referred to as holiday villa exchanges and make it safer than leaving your home unoccupied for an extended period of time. It is essential to ensure that your insurance policy covers your visitors stay in your home, before you agree to a home exchange. Try to exchange pictures, calls and get to know your visitors, to avoid the fear of letting strangers into your home. Moreover, you can also ask for references to get further reassurance. When exchanging homes it is imperative that you are at ease with doing so. This way you get to enjoy your vacation without worrying about leaving your home and your possessions in the hands of complete strangers.

Many people enjoy vacations with home exchanges. However, some problems might arise among partners who fail to meet one another's expectations. Though, homes exchanges are a great opportunity to enjoy a new house with a range of amenities, it is important that the home swapping partner should be comfortable with each other. Therefore, it is better to get to know the swapping partner to avoid any regret.

San Carlos de Bariloche – South-American Switzerland

San Carlos de Bariloche is a captivating Argentine city, located between the high Andes and the plains of Patagonia. This place is sometimes called an Argentine or a South-American Switzerland thanks to astonishing beauty of its lakes and forests, purity and transparency of air, architecture and delicious chocolate produced here. It is really hard to describe the beauty of the Andes: silent thousand-year-old woods, mirror lakes with greenery coming down to them, granite mountain peaks and blue glacier glades... And in the south, Fire Land and Ushuaia open the doors to boundless and mysterious Antarctic.

Bariloche is one of the most famous cities in this region. In 1931in order to attract more tourists it was decided to establish one of the country's biggest national parks here. The plan worked out: for six months every year, Bariloche is turned into a lively resort with a unique Alpine atmosphere.

Summer attracts crowds of tourists here, who love walking along lush forests, observing picturesque glaciers and mountains. In wintertime, well-off lovers of mountain sports come to the city from all over South America, ride on the Andes' slopes and fill local restaurants in the evenings. However, other seasons which are traditionally considered to be dull, might turn out to be even more colourful ones: in spring the valleys next to the lake are full of flowers and greenery while in autumn the colour of the forests changes into red, orange, hazel and yellow.

The city is located on the picturesque shore of the Nahuel Huapi lake and is surrounded with notched brown mountains. Look into the distance, and you will see Tronador mountain– the highest peak in the region (3 554 meters high).

Active tourism and sports are not the only things to do here as there are also numerous attractions found on this territory. Among the things that might interest you are: Templo Mayor and El Centro Civico complex (created of cypress, larch and tuff stone), Capilla de San Eduardo, national monument and a cathedral Catedral de Bariloche, a monument to Julio A. Roca (the person who was in the head of forces during the desert war that almost lead to extirpation of the Indian tribes), Post Office building which is now an exhibition hall, municipality building with huge tower clock, City tourist centre, rich Patagonia Museum and Sarmiento library, Nahuel Huapi Estancia where a house of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's hideout is found. The other attractions are Nahuel Huapi National Park, Los Arrayanes National Park, arrayana forest and El Boliche Viejo where general store was located.

Patagonia Museum will introduce you to the history of this region from the days when Indians lived here, smeared with fat from head to food not to feel cold, and up to the arrival of the white explorers and military expeditions.

The very "salt" of each stay is a visit to arrayana forest – the myrtle grove. Places where these trees grow could be counted on the fingers of one's hand: Spain, Chile, Columbis. But even there they are rare to see, while in Bariloche they occupy 12 hectares of land.

Accommodation In Duxford

Duxford is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, some ten miles south of Cambridge. Duxford gives its name to RAF Duxford, a former Royal Air Force airfield that was used as a sector station during the Battle of Britain. Duxford Aerodrome was the home of Douglas Bader's Big Wing during that battle. Duxford airfield later became a fighter airfield for the United States Army Air Forces, it is now the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

Given the locality and majour tourist pull of the war museum there isn't a huge range of accommodation in Duxford itself. Most visitors tend to stay in the nearby city of Cambridge. This is fine if you don't mind the husstle and busstle of the busy tourist town and you have access to your own means of transport.

If however you are just coming for a weekend trip to the museum you might want to escape all that and enjoy the tranquility and accessibilty of Duxford itself. If that is the case then the best known place to stay is the Duxford Lodge Hotel.

The Duxford Lodge Hotel is just 20 minutes from Stansted airport and only two minutes to the Imperial War Museum. Surrounded by beautifully kept and secluded gardens the hotel really is the place to get away from it all. All the rooms are furnished to the highest standards and the hotel now also offer wireless access to all their guests, making it ideal for business visitors, as well as tourists.

To find accommodation in Duxford follow the link below.

Accommodation in Duxford