Glimpses of life in the beautiful County Galway, Ireland, where I studied abroad for a semester.

Fuente imagen: Flickr (Our Camels)

There are two things Los Cabos is never short of: the most stunning sunsets and adventure. Ecotourism-lovers and insatiable adventure travel to this destination by thousands to discover the unique surroundings and have fun-packed days. Los Cabos truly offers it all when it comes to activities and attractions; in fact, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the wide array of options. Travel companies will offer you tours to do anything from snorkeling, and riding on horseback along the beaches, to swimming with dolphins! One of the most interesting tours you can take during your Los Cabos vacation, and probably one of the most exotic ones is the Tour Camel Quest.

Yes, you read correctly! Camels in Los Cabos. Most of the individuals of this species live in Africa, Sahel, Magreb, the Mid West, and South Asia, so most people would never imagine riding one in Mexico. However, since they unusual creatures can go up to 2 months without drinking water, they are incredibly well-suited for the desert climate of the intriguing Baja California Desert. So during your vacation in Los Cabos you can book a tour and experience the natural setting as if you where in Africa or the Mid West.

Live a fantastic adventure in the desert of Los Cabos with Tour Camel Quest Los Cabos, which allows you to jump on the back of a camel and travel through a fascinating oasis that is located within the Wild Canyon Park, a marvelous natural scenario with granite rocks, endemic palm species, and spectacular views to the Sea of Cortes. In the middle of the desert, surrounded by the spectacular canyon, this tour is the perfect way for you and your family to learn more about these friendly animals and the ecosystem of Los Cabos. During your trip you will have to sort out a series of challenges and fun games and activities with the help of your camel to arrive to the finish line. It is a guaranteed excitement-packed adventure for the entire family!

The tour usually lasts for about 3.5 hours and includes round-trip transportation, English speaking tour guides, introduction to your camels, a photo session with your new friends, 40 minutes of camel riding through the Canyon, all the necessary safety equipment and instruction, camel passport, snacks at the Arabian Tents, exotic tropical beverage tasting, and bottled water. For your tour, you should remember to bring with you: biodegradable sunscreen, tennis shoes, cool, comfortable clothing, hat or cap, sunglasses, extra cash for souvenirs or food, and of course your camera to capture every moment.  Keep in mind that this activity is not advisable for pregnant women and people with heart problems, fear of heights, pain neck, or back neck. The minimum age for participating in this tour is 4 years old.

This is your opportunity to discover the Wild Canyon Park in the most exciting and exotic way. All your family will be thrilled by the idea of interacting with the camels and you are sure to have a memorable experience. You can find additional Information about Tour Camel Quest Los Cabos at any tour company in Los Cabos, and while you are at it… book your place! You will not regret it.

Florencia Falco

Now you have experienced a fantastic time watching the chocolate fountain why not do a bit of gambling and be a component of what Las Vegas is very best known for? Head to Binion’s Gambling Hall and Lodge this area is legendary amid poke gamers and the new poker space is decked out in a pretty modern type so you can play as numerous games as you like in comfort even though things to do in las vegas you encounter great client services. Experience hungry right after all individuals game titles? You don’t have to go anywhere else there is a excellent steakhouse and deli for you to pick from but if you are far more of a buffet type of man or woman then don’t fear you can discover that listed here way too. There are so many game titles you can perform at Binion’s and these can all be played in fashion and in a pleasant and welcoming environment, get yourself to the Gambling hall and hotel and have a wonderful time.

When you go to Las Vegas you know you’re likely to be spoilt for option when it arrives to choosing exactly where you are going to continue to be, give oneself a head commence and consider a search at the Vegas resorts that provide you a deluxe continue to be at 1 of the very best-known getaway locations in the entire world.

Las Vegas is still America’s Playground and Sin Metropolis. The city is regarded as a heavy weight about entertaining and pleasure. It also retains a international pop cultural presence that nevertheless significantly exceeds its Asian counterpart, thanks to sports activities functions, movies, concert events, circuses, and big conventions to name a handful of. These, jointly with the gambling, get-togethers, and other activities, make sure that Las Vegas hotels will constantly have many visitors.

Even though many people will keep on to flock to the metropolis for the previously mentioned causes, there are some who would for one thing diverse. The Las Vegas region has a lot of websites you can enjoy that differ from the typical Strip expertise. From their accommodations, Las Vegas site visitors could examine up some of the following points of interest:

Atomic Testing Museum:

What a fantastic weekend for music in Decatur!    The Decatur Beach Party happens Friday, June 14th from 5 PM to 11 PM, featuring tons of sand and a Jimmy Buffet tribute band called A1A.   Then there’s the 3 day event at Eddies Attic Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights to benefit Poverty Is Real.

Not to be overlooked is our Sidewalk Saturday, June 15th from 3 to 6 PM around downtown Decatur and Oakhurst featuring a mix of artists, singers, musicians, dancers and performers who will entertain and delight all who happen by.   This week we’d like to feature Atlanta artist Corey Barksdale who will amaze you with his pop up painting.

Check out his amazing art performance on this YouTube video and come on out Saturday to see Corey work his magic and enjoy all the other roving artists and musicians.

By Diva Jenna Ujiye

I have always been one to enjoy being on the water and try to get out canoeing at least once a year. A few weeks ago I headed out on the Maitland River and set out for a weekend of canoeing and camping with a bunch of friends. I was fairly excited as last year the water was really low and we weren’t able to get out at all.

stretch of it! We started out at Belgrave Road and meandered the river for a few hours until we stopped right at Auburn. My boyfriend had rigged up our canoe with a motor, but the water was flowing fairly quick and we didn’t end up using it (luckily, as it just seemed totally silly!).

Now what I find is the major trick to canoeing and camping is the packing. You have to make sure you bring enough – but not too much – so your canoe is still comfortable. We were able to do this by dropping of the majority of our overnight needs at the camping site and just taking our lunch and extra clothing with us.

My favourite parts of the trip were as follows:

- Seeing the forest floor covered in our Ontario flower – the Trillium

- Watching a friend endlessly catch tiny little fish

- Stopping for lunch in an amazing picturesque setting

- Giggling while one of the canoes somehow filled with water and sank (of course all in good fun, they just emptied it and were good to go again without loosing anything)

If you are looking for more information about paddling in Huron, here is a link to the Huron County Fishing and paddling guide:
http://www.ontarioswestcoast.ca/?page_id=248

It’s time to answer that age old question “What does a New Brunswicker find long and hard?”. The answer of course is the Hartland Bridge, the world’s longest covered Bridge.

Spanning 391 meters, or longer than 3 CFL football fields, probably, this is the longest covered bridge on Earth and one of the longest 10,000 bridges on the planet altogether! Built in 1901 by the creatively named “Hartland Bridge Company” this bridge crosses the Saint John River forever connecting the people of Hartland, New Brunswick with the wild and formerly uncivilized population of Somerville.

There’s a lot of history to this bridge, before the bridge was officially opened Dr. Tabernac-Estey of Woodstock had to cross the bridge because one of the marital sheep in Somerville was becoming ill. The workers graciously placed planks down to allow the good doctor to cross over and history was made! Townsfolk suggested naming the Bridge the “Dr. Estey Bridge” but this was rejected as too original and fun by the puritanical inhabitants of Hartland. Also some Ontario couple got married on the bridge… that sure sounds like every bride’s dream wedding.

Some people may ask why a covered bridge? Why not a normal, open-concept bridge? Well there’s a good explanation to that.

So whether you like long bridges or are just a fan of bridgeology the town of Hartland has a little something for everybody. Try being like the locals and hold your breath the entire way across the bridge! Trust me, the Saint John River isn’t known for it’s clean smell!

BITB

Tel: tel:+82-33-335-1966

Opening Hours:
Time: 09:00-17:00
Last admission : 1hr before closing
* May-August: 09:00-18:00

Admission Fee:
Sheep Hay Feeding Experience
Adults: 3,500 won
Youths & Children (Ages 6-19): 3,000 won

How to Get There:
Take an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Hoenggye (횡계).
From Hoenggye Intercity Bus Terminal, take a taxi to the farm.

Website:
http://www.yangtte.co.kr/

The sheep ranch is a must to visit place at Gangwon-do. If you are driving or by taxi, you will alight at the car park and walk all the way up to the ranch which take you 15-20 minutes. The walk path is rather steep but is worth it once you reach the sheep ranch. Purchase your ticket at the counter and you are ready to enter into the green grass land and have a date with the sheep.

London, England

The idea is deceptively simple. Start on one end of a corn field and travel to the other end, dealing with obstacles and misdirections along the way. However it is not as simple as it sounds, making the cornfield maze challenging for folks of all ages. Your children might be intrigued with the fun of the chase, finding out how quickly they can get from one side to the end, while you might fancy taking your time, finding all the hints as you go along and figuring out the puzzle. Still other members of the family may strive for the prizes given for meeting the obstacles.

Corn amusements are frequently considered the best kids activities in PA, but you will have to go through one of these mazes to decide for yourself.

So the next time you’re looking for things to do in Lancaster, PA, consider visiting a cornfield maze. Enjoy the challenge of finding your way from one side to the finish line, revel in the hints and the deceptions and most importantly, get outdoors for a little fun exercise.

Cherry Crest Farm

When beer is cheaper than coca-cola… When vodka, tequilla, jagermaster, and all that (alcohols – spirits, champagne, wine, etc) slightly cheaper than back home… you know what time it is? Its time to PARTY!!!

Situated up north on the west coast of Malaysia, Langkawi is part of the state of Kedah. Locals said Langkawi is owned not by the government but Malaysia’s former Prime Minister- Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad. Oh, wow! Really?!

From Kuala Lumpur you can either take an airplane (Fireflyz/Berjaya Airways via Subang Airport or Air Asia via LCCT) or a bus to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis and then take a ferry to Langkawi. If you are in Penang Island, you may also take a ferry which gonna take a little bot more time.

There are plenty of things to do, places to visit in Langkawi. From beaches, waterfalls, night markets, eateries, cafes, bars, jet-skiing, paragliding, diving, snorkeling… you name it. Or just rent a scooter and drive around the island – don’t forget to buckle up your helmet and bring together map of Langkawi – you might want to stops somewhere!

You MUST go and visit the hanging bridge between two mountains at Langkawi Ecopark or people call it Cable Car. Cenang Beach might be popular among travelers/tourists because of it lively party atmosphere but if you really wanna lay down, sun bathing and experience the nicest beach in Langkawi, go to Tanjung Rhu – situated on the north part of Langkawi Island. The waterfalls in Langkawi are not that super WOW but Durian Perangin Waterfall worth a visit as the water is super refreshing and the surrounding really chill and calm. At night, backpackers normally jam-up Babylon Mat Lounge or Little Lylia’s at Cenang Beach area and when these beach bars close down at 1am, most of them will move either to Sunba or One Love.

When the first time I came to Langkawi back in 2003, not much happening there but now, they even have a mall with KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks! Oh my… *facepalm* Soon, Langkawi gonna be like Phuket, I believe so.

Collections are divided into geographical areas, including Asia, Europe and Africa, along with the Americas and Provence. Other exhibits include jewelry, fashions and musical instruments, as well as the ancient world, contemporary art and photography.

Several restaurants are onsite, so you can pause from your touring to enjoy an espresso or leisurely meal. Gift shops are also housed within the facility, permitting you to select a beautiful memento to commemorate your visit.

The Museum of Fine Arts is rated the top Boston attraction on Trip Advisor, so you’ll want to make sure it’s on your list of places to see. Visit our website and book your spot today.

For a little boy who is just seventeen months old, he surprised me with his complete lack of fear. I suppose his frame of reference isn’t to a series of 1980s box office hit movies though. In fact, when it comes to sharks, he doesn’t have a frame of reference.

The only other aquarium the Little Mister has been to was the little one down the road from our house when we lived on the other side of the world. At Wellington’s Marine Education Centre, he splashed his hands in the touch tanks, he opened his eyes wide when he saw the octopus, and he tapped on the glass at the seahorses. But he didn’t see sharks.

So, the sharks were the big hit when we visited the London Aquarium yesterday. We were incredibly lucky to be treated to a review trip to the attraction, and the Little Mister definitely made the most of it.

Getting to the venue was an adventure in itself. With a contingency bag of cars, books and biscuits, we got on the tube and settled ourselves in for a train ride. Each time we pulled up at a station or saw another train heading in the opposite direction, the rest of the carriage was treated to squeals of delight. Thankfully there weren’t any line changes involved. And thankfully my dad came with us for the journey – because when we got to Waterloo, we discovered we had to negotiate about 15 steps and then an escalator before getting to street level. Definitely a two-adult station when you’re nearly eight months pregnant and your toddler is in a buggy.

But within a few minutes from the station, in the shadow of the London Eye and across the river from Westminster, was our destination. In the depths of grand old County Hall, was the aquarium.

Just walking over that massive tank with the sharks gliding through the water beneath us was enough to make my Little Mister point excitedly at this new environment he found himself in. His most-used phrase, “there, there, there”, and his most-used gesture, his pointing finger, were used repeatedly in over-drive mode for the next 90 minutes.

The aquarium is split over three levels, and while I had worried that much of the attraction would be lost on my toddler, I think he was old enough to get plenty out of it. We had plans for the afternoon, but otherwise, we would have headed out for lunch and returned there for another chance to explore later in the day – there really is that much to see.

Once inside, a massive tank of stingray greets the little people at eye level. Mine loved climbing up against the glass and pressing his face against the almost-smiling face of an enormous ray. Clearly he didn’t get the significance of me telling him they were the closest living relation to sharks. Nope, he just pressed his face more firmly into the glass.

Guitar sharks, sand tiger sharks and blacktip reef sharks put on an impressive display as we moved further into the aquarium. Housed in a truly enormous tank, they swam around seemingly oblivious to the children transfixed by them. Again, it doesn’t matter how short you are – you can easily see the creatures on display. The Little Mister loved pointing them out as they swam into view above him, and he loved following them along the glass with his fingers as they criss-crossed around the tank.

We were also treated to an up-close encounter with a stunning green sea turtle and a Cuban crocodile who pressed herself against the tank to say hello and stay awhile before slinking away from view. The Little Mister was a little too little to make the most of the touch pond, but for those children around us that could reach into the water, they seemed to be having fun. Most of the tanks though had little ledges he was happy to climb up onto to get the perfect view.

We took our time wandering through the rainforest area, gazing at seahorses, piranhas and clownfish; and then a final reward before we left was a spectacular performance by the Gentoo Penguins. These beautiful Antarctic creatures demonstrated their diving skills and seemed to show off in the water for us while others preened themselves on the ice. Again, my child was mesmerised.

For a little seventeen-month-old, the aquarium was purely about discovering new creatures and having fun. We definitely achieved that. The Little Mister will now, I am sure, look at his picture books of sea animals with a glimpse of recognition for the fish that he saw. I was slightly worried he would be overwhelmed, or a little scared of the dark or frightened by the large school groups. In fact, he wasn’t at all. He was too busy being enthralled.

The Little Mister got a lot out of his visit, but I think he would have done so even if he had been a few months younger. For those children that were a little older, there was even more on offer. The thrill of being able to recognise the creatures in their activity book, the delight of asking questions of the helpful and child-friendly staff around the centre, the experience of learning about the marine environment – the older they get, the more they would get from the aquarium I am sure.

The venue is a treasure trove in a pocket of the city where there is already plenty to explore. But for kids growing up, like my Little Mister, in a pretty urban environment, it is invaluable. To learn about the sea, to know its creatures, and to understand they must be protected – these are simple things we must ensure our children do. Getting them to explore these creatures for themselves and allowing them such personal experiences with marine life is a delight – and well worth the entrance fee that enables you to spend a whole day exploring.

 I visited the Sea Life London Aquarium with the Little Mister for free in exchange for writing an honest review. All images and editorial copy is mine, and all opinions are my own.

The basics:

Closest tube: Waterloo or Westminster. Also accessible by bus and rail.

Accessibility: Buggy and wheelchair friendly with lift access to all floors. Tanks visible at the level of little people.

Ticket prices: From £18.63

Find out more:
http://www.visitsealife.com/London/

Military Park is the site of many festivals and special events in downtown Indianapolis.

By Taylor Newell
Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.

http://indydt.com/

New nightlife on the Georgia Street boardwalk

Making their debut this summer, the Friday Block Parties on Georgia Street take place from 5 – 8 p.m. June through August for friends to gather and kick off the weekend. Come enjoy live tunes and the Boardwalk Beer Garden as these free Friday festivals become a regular feature of the Downtown party scene! Get dinner from your favorite restaurant or bring your own snacks.

For more information visit the new Georgia Street website at www.georgiastreetindy.com.

Downtown gets festive in June

Family-friendly outdoor festivals take the forefront in June with the return of many annual Downtown favorites. Circle City Pride Parade & Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary June 8 on the American Legion Mall. Now in its 48th year, Christ Church Cathedral Women’s Strawberry Festival returns to Monument Circle June 13. Volunteers will serve an estimated six tons of strawberries and 18,000 homemade shortcakes in support of local, national and international not-for-profit outreach groups. PBS Kids in the Park takes over Military Park June 15, giving kids the chance to meet many of their favorite PBS Kids characters such as Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George.

Other big June festivals include Vintage Indiana at Military Park June 1, the Talbot Street Art Fair June 8 & 9, El Dia de la Familia at Military Park June 9 and the 21st Annual Indian Market and Festival at Military Park June 22 & 23. To see the lineup of Downtown summer festivals, visit www.indydt.com/summerfestivals.cfm.

Take in the sounds of summer

Summer concerts are officially here and marquee names and local artists alike will bring Downtown to life in June. The Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park hosts an exciting June lineup as outdoor summer concerts command Downtown’s biggest outdoor venue: Kendrick Lamar performs June 6, Peter Frampton and Robert Cray June 19 and O.A.R. June 29.

Across town at Old National Centre, fans of all genres of music can catch big names such as Brian McKnight June 16, Young Jeezy June 21 and Fall Out Boy June 29 among many others. At Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs June 14 and Hillsong United June 19. Cap off your evening with some live tunes at local venues including The Rathskeller, Groovin’ in the Garden at Easley Winery or Zoolapalooza and Animals and All That Jazz at the Indianapolis Zoo. For a complete list of Downtown summer concerts big and small, visit www.indydt.com/summerconcerts.cfm.

Catch the Fever and join the Tribe!

The Indianapolis Indians are off to a great start once again this season and lead the International League with a 35-19 record! The Tribe has a busy June ahead with 18 home games, each game paired with one of many great promotions. Home stands this month are June 4 – 11 and June 21 – July 1.

The world champion Indiana Fever opened their season on May 24 and play five home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in June, with special promotions such as Lucas Oil Family Nights presented by The Indianapolis Star on June 8 and 22, Catch Friday Fever on June 28 and others.

The high school boys baseball season wraps up June 14 and 15 at Victory Field as the IHSAA Boys State Baseball Finals take the field at the nation’s top Triple-A ballpark. One game will be played Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and the other three will be Saturday starting at 1 p.m. with the 4A championship beginning at 7 p.m.

Summer flowers have arrived!

New, colorful summer flowers are being planted throughout Downtown. Drought-tolerant annuals in a summer mix of purple, pink, red and yellow will energize Downtown with a floral palette that includes bronze leaf yellow cannas, Lucky Lantana Rose, bronze leaf/pink flowering big begonias, Dragon Wing pink begonias and Purple Queen setcreasea. Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. plants more than 12,000 summer annuals in 223 Downtown planters. Indianapolis has been recognized as having one of the cleanest Downtown’s in the U.S. and beautiful flowers play a large role in maintaining our vibrant Downtown. Visit www.indydt.com/beautcal.cfm for more information.

Go “out” to eat

Outdoor dining in Downtown Indy is at its best in beautiful June weather as sidewalk cafes across Downtown welcome guests for the summer. Imbibe with friends for a post-work happy hour at one of the outdoor cafes along the Georgia Street boardwalk at The Pub Indianapolis, Tilted Kilt, Harry & Izzy’s or Hooters. Grab lunch or dinner while taking in the fresh air along the newly-completed Indianapolis Cultural Trail at venues with outdoor options such as La Margarita Fountain Square, The Libertine along Washington Street or the plaza at Indianapolis City Market. Visit www.indydt.com/sidewalkcafes.cfm for a complete list of Downtown restaurants and bars offering outdoor dining and drinking.

For more information, visit
http://indydt.com/
, or call 317-237-2222.

The paradox of education is precisely this – that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.
- James A. Baldwin

I am currently battling an age old problem. “Get an education young lady” they said, “and the doors shall be thrown wide for you.” So I did.

“Be the top of your class and the avenues are even greater.” they said. And so I did- even sacrificing personal time to study, focus, and succeed.

Now here I am out in the world still, only with my credentials behind me and lo and behold, “they” have other excuses about why I am not right for those jobs or positions which engage my passion.

There is hope in this lesson. There is success in this dark tunnel. The ends which I have struggled for will come to pass with patience, diligence, and persistence. If you are on this roller coaster with me, remember this; someone will see the potential you carry and someone will reach out to you and offer you that chance you are looking for. Giving up is not an option.

Last Saturday began much like every other weekend – with my boyfriend and I sitting around eating waffles in our jimjams, and debating what to do whilst waiting for vintage episodes of The Simpsons to come on.  Excitingly, it soon became apparent that this wasn’t like every other weekend, as we had actually found a reason to leave the house!  I’m totally a list-maker, though unfortunately, not well-organised enough to keep them all in one location.  One of the many lists I have is on Google Maps, and includes various attractions around Britain I want to visit.  We’ve already been to most of the caves within an easy drive from London, but Reigate Caves were ones we hadn’t visited, due to them only being open 5 days a year.  I happened to check their website for the next open day, not really expecting it to be any time soon, only to find out it was that very Saturday!  With a destination sorted, we hopped in the car, Reigate bound.

The Reigate Caves consist of three separate caves (which aren’t actually caves as such, but old sand mines, which is fairly typical of “caves” in the Weald): Baron’s Cave, which is under the old Castle grounds, and the Tunnel Road Caves, which are opposite each other under (appropriately enough) Tunnel Road.  It was £3 for Tunnel Road Caves, and another £2 for Baron’s Cave, both of which included a guided tour.  The whole enterprise is run by the Wealden Cave Society, who honestly seemed like delightful people.  We began with a tour of the Western Caverns, led by a guide who was seriously pretty great.

He was very laid back, to the point where he would just start talking whenever he got to a point of interest in the cave, whether or not the group was with him.  I thought that was fantastic, because why should everyone have to wait for stragglers?  That way, if people with children wanted to hang back, and didn’t really care about the tour, the rest of us didn’t have to wait for them to catch up.  There was a second guide to bring up the rear, to ensure the stragglers didn’t get completely lost, and help answer questions.  The main guide also reminded me a bit of Chris Packham (they had the same w’s for r’s speech thing going on), which I think is part of why I liked him so much, since I adore Chris Packham, (and agree with him that pandas are completely overrated).  He was clearly very passionate and knowledgeable about the caves, which I always like to see (people with slightly eccentric interests, that is, as I have many of those myself).

The caves are currently owned by a gun club, who normally have target practice in the caves, though obviously not when the tours are going on.  Therefore, the caves were littered with spent casings, and we weren’t allowed to take pictures of the target areas.  I’m no fan of guns (perhaps surprising coming from an American), so I felt slightly uneasy at the start, until it became apparent that no one was going to emerge from a hidey-hole and start shooting at us.  Otherwise, I’d say the dominant feature of the caves was sand, which was apparently also scattered with bits of broken glass, so it’s probably not the best place to wear open toed shoes.

The caves have what is an extensive, yet strangely poorly documented history.  Obviously, their main use was as a source of sand, which was used for glass making, ink blotting, and to soak up spillage on local pub floors, which I’m told is what gave rise to the local saying, “happy as a sand boy,” (which I must start using) as the sand boys would get a free drink at each pub they delivered sand to, thus ending up plastered by the end of the day.  During WWI, they were used to store explosives, which likely would have resulted in the complete annihilation of Reigate had any of them actually gone off. During WWII, the townspeople used it as a bomb shelter, which I also have to question the efficacy of, as sand isn’t the sturdiest material, but thankfully, it was never put to the test.  It seems like mostly what people did in them was carve things into the walls, judging by the enormous amount of graffiti (which included an excellent war-era caricature of Hitler, which I was unable to get a picture of).

Me and some face graffiti

Being man-made, the caves had reasonably high ceilings, so might have more appeal for claustrophobics than the average cave. Though there was a large skull carved into one of the walls, which might manage to freak someone out if the caves themselves hadn’t.  I reckon the tour lasted about 35-45 minutes, after which we entered the Eastern Caverns, which were self-guided (though naturally, required hard hats).

HAA!

The Eastern Caverns detailed more of the history of the caves with the use of posters (though our guide had already covered most of it during the tour), and featured things like a recreation of a bomb shelter (complete with scary sound effects), a Cold War room, and a men’s urinal trough.  I think it was meant to be more of a “spooky” experience, as they had fake bats hanging throughout for children to count, and little signs with a ghost on them, which is of course exactly my cup of tea (Earl Grey, two sugars and a splash of milk).  It even had authentic smells (as did the stairs leading down to Tunnel Road, come to think of it) thanks to a paraffin lamp, which also had the effect of making the air authentically smoky.

Finally (after procuring a cookie sandwich from a local bakery, as there was no ice creamery on the high street.  Get on that, Reigate!), we hiked up the hill to Baron’s Cave, following the directional bat signs.  We were given lamps this time, in lieu of hard hats, and caught up with a group who had just begun the guided tour.  This guide was rather dour compared to the first one, but he was still informative (and was quite stern with an exceptionally bratty child, which I appreciated).  Baron’s Cave was originally constructed in the 11th century as part of Reigate Castle, and was probably used primarily as a wine cellar, and alternate exit from the castle.  It is also rumoured to have been the meeting spot for the barons on their way to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta (hence the name), which is pretty cool.

As such, although it was much smaller than the other caves, it had even older graffiti, including carvings of a horse and cow.  Most of the stuff we saw was from the 18th century, although much of it goes back even further, but has been covered over by newer carvings.  Other than the graffiti, the main attractions were a staircase that once led to a pyramid on the castle grounds, but now leads to nothing (though the pyramid is still there, and you can go up and see it!), the wine cellar room, and a random T-Rex.

You can just see him hiding in the back. Rawr!

I’m happy we discovered the open day in time to go, because the Reigate Caves were a very nice experience.  I’m rating them as 4/5, and certainly better than Chislehurst Caves.  I think the fact that the Cave Society run the tours help turn it into a quality experience, as they clearly have a vested interest in all things underground.  The only other open days this year are the 13th July, 10th August, and 14th September, so I’d definitely recommend heading down to Reigate on one of them to take in the cavey goodness.

Here are some great deals you can find this summer, Want to take the kids to a movie? That sounds really expensive, soda, popcorn, tickets. OH MY…Never fear. Wehrenberg has free family movies on Wednesdays and Thursdays through August at 10:00 A.M. Also, if refreshments are sounding expensive they have a kid’s combo popcorn and soda for only $5.00. However, there will be no movies during the week of fourth of July. 

How about the Magic House in Kirkwood? Sounds expensive at $9.00+ dollars per person over a year old…but they have free family nights the third Friday of every month from 5:30-9:00. No more than two adults and four children per group. The next one is on June 21st, then July 19th, August 16th. For families who want to focus a little more on fitness and fun the Magic House also has Centene Fitness Fun Friday’s. Each month is a new monthly challenge and your kids can print off a fitness sheet to turn in for free admission. The first 100 families to register each month will receive a free backpack filled with different health related items. Cool, huh?

Of course, we have downtown and Forest Park. Catch a free show at the Muny, visit the Arch Museum, the Riverfront, Kiener Plaza, City Garden, Art Museum, Zoo, and did you know that not only is the Science Center free, but they too have free movies? Typically the first Friday of the month at 10:00pm they have a free showing of a different movie for free at the Omnimax. 

Suson park in South County is free and has some barnyard animals to check out. Jefferson Barracks is a great place for a nature walk in the trails. Another thing to consider, your local library. They have family nights with movies, different free classes for kids, adults, and teens. Story times, crafts, and even teen video game nights. This is not only good for the kids to help them to socialize with new people but to give you a bit of a break. 

Now, if you have a little money to spend, you can send the kids (5-12) to your local YMCA for a kid’s night out. It is $12.00 a child but they get three hours of swim, play, dancing, movies, sports, and whatever else may interest them. 

If you are frustrated when your teen sitting in front of the television and you want them to be more active, consider what I did with my 14 year old. Sign them up to learn some valuable job skills and make them feel important by volunteering. They can volunteer at the Magic House (a minimum of 30 hours total) starting at age 13. They get on the job training and my son loves it.

Another volunteer opportunity for kids starting at 15 is the Saint Louis Zoo. They learn cashiering, stocking, and various other real world skills. 

Another fun opportunity for your child to volunteer is starting at age 12, the World Aquarium at the City Museum. They maintain the aquariums and attractions while learning about the sea-life and can then educate visitors. 

If they love books, your local library will accept volunteers starting at age 13. 

Volunteering builds character, prepares them for the working world, teaches them how to work in a group, discipline, and make new friends. Typically they volunteer in four hour intervals per shift. They can volunteer one or more days per week during the summer, and still during the school year as long as it is not a school day. 

I don’t know about you, but summer camps are expensive, and let’s face it..we all want a vacation or to go to someplace fun this summer. Maybe you can’t afford it, like me, but you can find a ton of free or virtually free activities in this city. With all places that are free and public, I suggest you go as early as possible for the best parking. Oh and on a side note, you know those paid areas of the zoo, such as the children’s zoo, stingray cove, sealion sound? The first hour the zoo is open these attractions are free. Another option is a membership or a safari pass that is $10.00 per person to give you all day access to all those attractions. So have fun this summer, stay cool, drink lots of water, and explore with your family. 

Miami

Miami Sunshine

The Fairchild Tropical Garden is located in the south of Coconut Grove. It is a botanical garden with more than thirty hectares where we will find a wide collection of plants belonging to the rainforest. The Bayside port complex is located in downtown Miami. From this complex we can take boat trips to the entire coastline of the city. The Little Havana is a popular destination in Miami where the streets take us to Havana lifestyle as it is the area where the largest number of Cuban migrants who have come to this city in the United States live. We visit the Walk of Fame located at Calle Ocho, Cine Teatro Tower, and its various restaurants where you can taste the most typical Cuban cuisine such as the Cuban sandwich, the mojito, old clothes and the masses of pork.

Miami sunset

Miami Cloudy Skyline

The Bass Museum of Art is a museum that was opened in the late twentieth century when Bass artists made a donation of a collection of art in this city. Currently, the collection includes more than three thousand works of art among which the works of Botticelli. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens are located in South Miami. This mansion built in the early twentieth century features unique designs of gardens and neoclassical in its more than four hectares. Brickell Village is popular for its wide range of shops and restaurants. Located in the 9th and 10th Avenue Miami, Brickell Village has more than twenty thousand square meters where we find jewelers, cafes, designer shops, bars, spas and gyms among others.

Miami skyline as seen from Watson Island.

Miami Night Skyline

Lincoln Road Mall is an outdoor pedestrian walkway where you will find restaurants, cinemas, shops and art galleries. At night we can see street performer’s presentations. Finally there’s Miami Beach. Throughout Miami Beach you will find white sandy beaches, the most popular of the city where you can enjoy water sports such as diving, sailing, windsurfing and water skiing. This area extends from Lincoln Road Mall to 87th Street.

Miami Beach Spring Break

Miami photos: skippys1229, Louis Fornaro, Michael Steighner, Flavio Leone, ResQgeek, minkstr, Mayday Relay.

If walls could talk, what a tale the inner lining of the caves would tell! The caverns have an interesting history, as gunpowder was manufactured here during the Civil War and the location served as a speakeasy during Prohibition. Today, it provides a unique venue for concerts.

It isn’t every day that you get an opportunity to see the wonders hidden beneath the surface of the earth. Truly, this is one of the area’s foremost attractions. Visit our website and book your spot today.

I was having a conversation with someone, who shall be known as Z, and I passed a remark, “That is not like you to do that.” The answer I got in return was simply, “I had no idea why I did that either. I suppose it is the power of love.”

That remark led to the inspiration of this post: Is love such a powerful feeling that it has the ability to change people? Note that I used the word “feeling” and not “object” or “tool” to describe ‘Love’ because it can only be felt, but not seen or touched. You cannot fight this feeling. When it comes, it comes. If it does not, then my apologies, you will just have to wait till the day when someone will finally come and sweep you off your feet.

Those who are more scientifically knowledgeable than others will now proceed to rebut what I have just said and declare that love is not a feeling, but an emotion triggered by one of the synapses in the brain and it is something that can be controlled and willed. Well, I will not bother to argue or dispute that theory. To each his own, right? Let us move on.

Oxford dictionary defines love as “A strong feeling of affection and sexual attraction for someone,” and if you were to type ‘Love’ in the Wikipedia search bar, the results will baffle you. Contrary to what we believe, there is actually more than one basis of love.

For instance, biological basis tend to view love as a mammalian drive, much like hunger or thirst. The experience of love is then divided into three partly overlapping stages: lust, attraction, and attachment. Lust is the feeling of sexual desire; romantic attraction determines what partners mates find attractive and pursue, conserving time and energy by choosing; and attachment involves sharing a home, parental duties, mutual defense, and in humans involves feelings of safety and security. Three distinct neural circuitries, including neurotransmitters, and three behavioral patterns, are associated with these three romantic styles.

Another example would be love on a psychological basis. Psychology depicts love as a cognitive and social phenomenon. Psychologist Robert Sternberg formulated a triangular theory of love and argued that love has three different components: intimacy, commitment, and passion. Intimacy is a form in which two people share confidences and various details of their personal lives, and is usually shown in friendships and romantic love affairs. Commitment, on the other hand, is the expectation that the relationship is permanent. The last and most common form of love is sexual attraction and passion. Passionate love is shown in infatuation as well as romantic love. All forms of love are viewed as varying combinations of these three components. Non-love does not include any of these components. Liking only includes intimacy. Infatuated love only includes passion. Empty love only includes commitment. Romantic love includes both intimacy and passion. Companionate love includes intimacy and commitment. Fatuous love includes passion and commitment. Lastly, consummate love includes all three. The theories mentioned above are summarized in the picture below.

Of course, everyone in the universe aim to achieve the epitome of psychological love, which is consummate love. It is tiring having to maintain a relationship with someone based on empty love or non-love. We know that commitment is not really going to hold anyone back from leaving; it is usually the responsibilities in a relationship that tie people back, i.e. children from a marriage. Ask those couples who have been married for 20 years. 7 in 10 would tell you they do not even remember why they married their partner. Ask again why they are still together; the answer would be the same across the board: “because of the kids.”

With the continuous evolution and modernization of society, even after 20 – 30 years of marriage with children is now no longer enough to keep relationships going. Let us take Vladimir Putin as an example. He was married to his wife for 30 years, and suddenly, the couple announced 5 days ago that they were going their separate ways because “they have been leading separate lives for a long time now.” Unknowingly after reading that line, you will start to wonder, if a couple who were married for 30 years have decided to call it quits, then what would make it work now? Was there no love in the relationship to begin with? Because from my point of view, if you love someone, you will fight and try till you are dead to keep that relationship going, because that person is someone you love, someone whom you are willing to spend the rest of your life with. The only reason why you would even start or enter a relationship with someone is because you foresee a future with them, and because you feel something for them.

To date, I can never understand why most married couples are so bitter with each other. Did you not wed each other because you were sure you loved each other and that you would live in conjugal bliss and grow old together? Shouldn’t the power of love enable you to overcome all obstacles and make all things work out?

I cannot say divorce is not an option because for certain couples who cannot stand the sight of their partner and wish to kill each other every single day; then I suppose it is best for them to go their separate ways lest one ends up killing the other.

But really, after all that digressing, let us go back to the main topic. What IS Love? I am not claiming to be a professional in love or someone who has done extensive research on it. What I am going to say next is purely based on my own experiences and feelings (may not be much, but that is all I know).

Personally, I feel that loving someone means being there for them when they need you, listening (by listening, I really mean listening and not attempt to give them 101 solutions unless they ask for it) to their grouses when they are sad / angry, cheering them up when they feel down or demoralized. It is also being their anchor, their unwavering pillar of support. To be there to support their dreams and goals no matter how unrealistic it might sound to you. But of course, with all things, there needs to be a limit. For instance, if his life goal is to be a chef, then give him the essential encouragement needed (even if they cannot cook to save their lives). However, if it was their childhood dream to be wizard, then you probably will have to gently bring them back down to earth. They also need to know that you’ve got their back even if the whole world is against them.

To me, it also means making them happy, at all cost. Loving someone does not mean you have to be with them to be happy. You can still love them from afar, making sure that they are happy. Because at the end of the day, all that matters is their happiness. Even if it means watching them being happy with someone else, I am willing to bear the pain for that to happen.

I read an article on Facebook, a letter from a dad to his daughter. In the letter, he told her that he was appalled with the things the internet is teaching girls to get / keep the boys’ attention. And I fully agree with him. I do not believe in changing for a guy, or for anyone for that matter. Love is not striving for perfection; nor is it changing someone’s character entirely to become your ideal partner. If that’s the case, then the person whom you have changed would not be the same person you have fallen in love with at the beginning, no?

I believe love is accepting one’s perfections and embracing their imperfections, because that makes them who they are. Everyone wants a perfect partner, but we all know that is highly impossible to achieve, save for those really lucky ones. Once you are able to understand that love means accepting the other half’s imperfections, you will be able to see everything else in a different light. Suddenly, that constant snoring at night does not irk you anymore; because it is common knowledge that snoring occurs when there’s constriction of the windpipe. It is just that because you have been together with someone for so long, somehow, everything that they do naturally pisses you off. Another example, let’s say, maybe he has a weird way of scratching his head, just tell yourself that it is something he grew up with, and he spend the better half of his life doing that before he met you. Do not expect him to start scratching normally just because he met you. Everyone has their own imperfections, yourself included. If you are not able to change for someone, do not expect them you change for you.

As time passes, you will slowly begin to realize that the both of you will start moulding to each other’s needs. Because that is what love does; it makes you happy, it unwittingly changes you because you subconsciously wish to become a better person for the one you love, and not because you were forced to. See the difference? Forcing someone to change is not love. That is.. training a pet (in my own words). If someone willingly changes for you, then he or she is a keeper, because you know that they love you, and they would gladly do that for you.

That was what happened to me, and to Z. We both fell in love, and we both changed. I daresay I am a different person from 2 years ago, thinking back, I changed so much for him, because I wanted to be better for him. I started to keep my hair long, I became more feminine, I stopped swearing as much in public and I started behaving more demurely. These were all done unconsciously. The same thing occurred with Z. Z is.. a unique character. And that day, I noticed Z was playing along the partner. Z’s partner is a little childish at times, but Z obliges. And I have never seen Z obliged until recently, which was why I passed that remark.

After 1,800 words on my rubbish theories, I hereby conclude that the power of love is indeed great, that is, if you are TRULY in love, and not infatuated with any other hot person that comes your way or just sex-deprived. There are many people who think they are in love, or they have found “The One”. But honestly, if you cannot even stand their weird quirks, then I’m sorry to say that is definitely not “The One.” Then you might ask, how do we know if it is “The One” then? Well, in response to that question, it all boils down to your gut. Okay, I know gut feelings are not exactly very reliable, but that’s the closest explanation I can give. I mean, there are people who met, dated for 3 months, got married and lived happily ever after because they know that they are meant for each other. And they are also people who met, dated for donkey number of years, planned a grand wedding, and the groom / bride runs away because he / she woke up one day and realised that they were wrong all along.

These things do happen, and if it happened to you, please accept my apologies for digging up those bad memories. But that is the only way we will ever learn.

After proof reading this post, I realized it is not constrained to just “the power of love”. It actually includes marriage and everything else from the top of my head. But I’m too lazy to edit the content anymore and the title is just so fitting.. Admit it. When you first saw the title plus the whole time while you were reading this post, the song “The Power of Love” sung by Celine Dion has been playing at the back of your head as if it was the theme song of this post.

With that, I shall not deprive you any further. Please enjoy the MV of the song that I have pulled off YouTube. (You can hit play and read the post all over again. I really don’t mind. )

It goes up, down and all around,

Makes you laugh and scream,

Yet its course is bound.

It has many surprises,

That’ll make you laugh or cry,

Many of which,

May end in goodbyes.

It brings the unexpected,

But makes it worth while,

Because in the end,

You have no choice but smile.

Change may be a result,

And it can be good or bad,

Some will make you happy,

While others make you sad.

Many go along,

Just for the ride,

While others go on,

With something to hide.

Do not let others take control,

Of the one thing you hold dear,

As when the end comes,

Is it you that is really here?