Archive for October, 2011

Travel Tips

With eco-tourism now more mainstream, it is much easier than you might think to reduce your carbon footprint. Below are some simple green traveller tips to help make your travels more eco-friendly.

1. Prepare Before You Go

Unplug all of your electrical appliances from the wall and put up a ‘No Junk Mail’ sign on your mailbox.

2. Pack Light

The lighter the baggage, the less fuel the aircraft uses and therefore, fewer emissions are created.

3. Reusable Water Bottle

To save alot of energy, water and plastic, make sure you purchase a quality water bottle that can be used numerous times.

4. Pack Your Own Toiletries

Rather than using the pre-packaged soaps and conditioners provided, bring your own from home. If you do use the hotel toiletries, make sure you take them with you to re-use again during your travels or at home.

5. Turn Down The Air Conditioning

By making the temperature setting on your air conditioner a few degrees lower, you can save a lot of energy and you probably won’t even notice a difference.

6. Walking or Cycling Tours

Choose to explore on foot or bike, rather than by car, to cut fuel emissions. If you must drive, pick a smaller, more fuel efficient car.

7. Re-Use Towels and Linen

To help reduce the amount of water and electricity a hotel uses to wash the laundry, you can opt to re-use your towels and linen.

8. Solar Powered Battery Charger

Bring rechargable batteries for your camera or iPod and pack a solar powered battery charger.

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Holidays & Events

History, holidays/events, personalities, birthstones and flowers

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October is the 10th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It has 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, October is an autumn month, in the Southern Hemisphere it is a spring month.

October takes its name from octo (eight) because it was the eight month in the old Roman calendar which began with March.

In the north temperate zone, October is the time of the pleasant period that in the United States is called Indian summer.

Historical Events

October 1, 331 BC – Alexander the Great defeated Darius III in the Battle of Gaugamela

October 2, 1889 – First pan American Conference held in Washington

October 8, 1871 – Chicago fire began

October 12, 1492 – Christopher Columbus discovered America

October 21, 1805 – Nelson defeated Napoleon’s fleet at Trafalgar

October 24, 1945 – United Nations was organized

October 28, 1636 – Harvard College was founded

October 28, 1886 – Statue of Liberty was dedicated

Birthstone or gemstone: Opal

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The gemstone Opal is said to have the power to predict illness. This is because the opal responds to heat. If you’re sick your temperature increases before signs of illness appear. The increased body heat causes the opal to loose its shine, leaving it dull and lacking color. It is also thought that this elegant gemstone will crack if it is worn by someone who was not born in October.

Flowers: Calendula

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Personalities/Celebrities born on this month

October 1, 1924 – Jimmy Carter, 39th US President, was born

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October 2, 1869 – Mohandas Gandhi was born

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October 2, 1971 – Tiffany, American Singer, was born

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October 2, 1945 – Don Mclean, American songwriter, was born

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October 4, 1822 – Rutherford Hayes, 19th US President, was born

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October 5, 1830 – Chester A. Arthur, 21st US President, was born

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October 10, 1813 – Giuseppe Verdi, Italian opera composer, was born

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October 12, 1935 – Luciano Pavarotti, Italian tenor, was born (d. 2007)

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October 14, 1890 – Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th US President, was born

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October 16, 1758 – Noah Webster, dictionary editor, was born

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October 23, 1954 – Ang Lee, Taiwanese-born director, was born

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October 25, 1881 – Pablo Picasso, Spanish painter and sculptor, born

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October 27, 1858 – Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US President, was born

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October 28, 1967 – Julia Roberts, American actress, was born

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October 29, 1971 – Winona Ryder, American actress, was born

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October 30, 1735 – John Adams, 2nd US President, was born

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Holidays from around the world

Filipino American History Month in the US

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

World Blindness Awareness Month

Thanksgiving Day in Canada

October 1, (1949) – National Day of the People’s Republic of China

October 1, (1960) – Independence Day of Cyprus

October 1, (1960) – Independence of Nigeria

October 1, (1975) – Independence of Tuvalu

October 5 – International World Teacher’s Day

Second Monday – Columbus Day, a US federal holiday

October 16 – World Food Day

October 21 – Apple Day

October 24 – United Nations Day

October 31 – Halloween

Related articles

The Month of September, History, Holidays, and Famous Personalities

The Month of August: History, Holidays and Famous Personalities

The Month of July: History, Holidays and Famous Personalities

The Month of June: History, Holidays and Famous Personalities

The Month of May: History, Holidays and Famous Personalities

Travel Tips

Planning your travel is the first and foremost activity before a scheduled trip whether it is for business or personal purposes. Careful planning will save you from forgetting something (imagine the stress when it happens), and for unexpected buying of necessary things which is usually costly at destinations. Here are some tips on planning, and a list of essential things to bring :

Write it down. There is no better way to start planning than making a list of things to do and things to bring. This will guide us through the whole preparation process.

Travel lightly. Every traveler do not want to be bothered about carrying a burden of luggage, so make it a goal to pack all things as lightly as possible.

Things for Carry-On Bag

For carry-on bag, it is advisable to have a large outsize zippered compartments as well as multiple compartments inside.

Airline tickets, passport, visa, tour vouchers, travel insurance (give copies of your travel insurance and itinerary to any of your relatives or trusted person in case of emergency), a list of contact details ( or have it saved in your mobile) of your accommodation, relatives, or any business contacts at destination.

Valuables such cash, credit cards, traveler’s checks, keys, and jewelry. Other valuables such as camera or if you opt to bring a notebook computer.

Basic personal things and toiletries such as toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup and lipstick (for women), comb or brush, tissue, sunglasses or eyeglasses, contact lenses (with case and solution), mobile phone, religious items (if the traveler used to carry these items), small writing pad and pen.

Handy personal books or other reading material to keep you occupied while waiting on line or for any flight delays.

Bring some cookies or chocolates to keep your energy until the airline in-flight meals are served.

Essential Things for Luggage

Essential toiletries. Bring small containers of your toiletries and take only as much as you need. Zip-lock plastic bags are useful for small things and compressing the items.

On clothing, bring enough underwear and socks up to the last day of the trip. Choose clothes that are neutral colors, and can easily mix and match. Carry a light trench coat so you can still manage to bring your carry-on bags.

Bring two pair of shoes. Wear one and pack one. Traveling usually takes a lot of walking so make sure that you have a good pair of walking shoes to fully enjoy your trip.

For men : a travel electric shaver

For women: cosmetics kit and other beauty regimen products that might not be available at destination place.

For overseas trip, check the country voltage in advance. It is always safe to bring a 110/220 volt power converters.

An emergency medical kit that contains basic medicines for a cold remedy, upset-stomach, band-aids, and liniment oil to warm the body.

Always check airline luggage policies to avoid hassles at the airport.

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Hotels

If you’re seeking a typical vacation hotel then it might be quite difficult to locate such a place in Dubai. But if you want to find something that’s a little out of the ordinary then Dubai hotels may be just what you are looking for.

Dubai is an extraordinary hotel paradise that provides dramatic views, rich cultural experiences, and awe-inspiring hotels which would give you memories that last a lifetime. There are numerous hotels in Dubai to choose from for persons with all different budgets, interests, and tastes.

 As the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai runs the gamut on hotels. With ultra modern architecture, trendy fashion districts and a very happening nightlife, you could select from numerous hotels in Dubai which could put you right in the middle of the action or you can choose a hotel that can provide you some peace and quiet.

In order to give you a sense of being away from the hustle and bustle of this fast paced world, numerous hotels of Dubai are set right on the beautiful beaches. Usually, these are the most comfortable hotels providing you plenty of chance so as to be pampered and treated like royalty.

However, the hotels in the city center are just as deluxe and are more affordable. No matter whether you want to lounge on the beach, relax at the spa or be a walk away from the nightlife you have many options to choose from.

There are numerous Dubai hotels which are considered to be top rated, not just in Dubai, but in the world. They offer outstanding service and yet you could get some great deals there as well.

Its one among the reasons the tourism is so popular in Dubai since whether you want to live the pampered life or find a budget friendly hotel you could literally find it all. Numerous typical Dubai hotels are rated four or five starts, and even the three star hotels can rival any five star hotels in the Western World.

The only 7-star hotel in Dubai, the Burj al- Arab is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. It is an all-suite hotel which is one of the finest that the world has to offer. Having private check in and numerous in-house butlers at your beck and call you would receive 24-hour attention that’s geared specifically to your high lifestyle.

However, if you need something more moderately priced you always choose a hotel which still offers luxurious service sans the high price like the Le Meridien Dubai (I have seen rates as low as 9) or the Hilton Dubai (as low as 5).

If you need just a comfortable clean room to sleep in you can choose from the Gulf Pearl Hotel or the Panorama Hotel which both offer great service at cost effective prices.

There are more and more hotels under construction and there’ll always be, so there are quite the alternatives when it comes to finding a place to stay. Keep in mind that if you get a Dubai hotel on the Jumeirah Beach Strip you are going to pay more money, since most hotels range about 0 per night, but you can get amazing service at the same time.

However, no matter what your income you can definitely find something to suit your taste and price range. Also consider a Dubai hotel apartment to experience something new.

Most of the hotels are within an easy drive from the airport and are very conveniently located around shopping, nightlife, and historic monuments. The customer service at majority of the hotels are beyond what you ever expect.

And no matter where you go you are just within a short drive of the beaches and restaurants. Most hotels also have restaurants inside so you will not even have to drive if you want to get something quick to eat.

Tourism is really important to the Dubai economy so it really caters to the visitors. Whether you select a budget friendly Dubai hotel or an opulent paradise you would certainly not be disappointed.

The Dubai City Information portal is filled with quality information about Dubai that comes from the authors’ own experiences in Dubai. Learn about what to do in Dubai, the best Dubai hotels and restaurants in Dubai, where to sightsee, how to get a job in Dubai and much more.Visit Dubai Information Site to learn more about Dubai.

Beach Vacation

Greek Island Vacation

What is a Greek Island Vacation? It’s an experience
that combines the finest European adventures. Culture,
history, food blended with a heat scorching, sand
grazing beach vacation.

Optimistic POVs

Throughout the years, the Greek Islands have kept
their village feel, slow, and charming pace of life.
Most of the islands have complete, well-suited
atmosphere that tourists find relaxing while absorbing
themselves in the passionate history and character of
Greece.

Planning a vacation in Greece is not tight on the
budget because it is one of the cheapest countries to
travel in Europe. Reasonable food and accommodation
costs can be found at almost any place you stay in.

The Best Time to Take a Trip to the Greek Islands

Summer heat in Greece invite people from different
parts of the globe and it can be intense! The crowds
can be extreme this time of the year. On the other
hand, winter may be met with few travelers because
restaurants and hotels close this time of the year.
However, vacation packages still cater visitors with
winter sports activities. April, May (spring) and
September (autumn) can be regarded as the best time to
spend your holidays at Greece and the Greek Islands.

The Top 4 popular Greek Island vacation destinations
include:

Splendid Santorini

The best place in Athens is Santorini. Check out the
black volcanic sand at Kamari Beach and Perissa Beach.
Enjoy the historical villages of Akroti and Pyrgos.
Indulge and unwind in the volcanic hot springs that is
just one boat away!

Santorini is one of the best places to spend a
romantic evening. Decide on one of the dozens of
restaurant available at a near distance. Watch the sun
set on the Aegean Sea while enjoying your drink and
meal together. Hotels offer great views of the ocean
all to set a romantic ambience for you and your
special someone. It feels like you’ve just been part
of a wonderful fairytale!

Truly, Santorini will be one of those places in your
travels that you will never forget. No other word can
best describe it – it is just stunningly beautiful.

Infamous Mykonos

Party fanatics will surely enjoy Mykonos. The best
time to visit Mykonos will be in May or September.
Dubbed as the “party-central” of Greek Islands,
numerous restaurants, bars and even cruise ships fill
the locale most especially during high seasons of
tourism. It is not surprising to feel that you are
almost sharing the area with half of the citizens of
Europe!

Historic Crete

Captivating history, memorable villages and towns, and
fine beaches – that’s Crete.

Base yourself in Chania and spend time in charming Old
Town. Dining and accommodation options are available
with incredible character to add to that memorable
Greek Island Vacation.

Pleasant Paros

Paros is worth a couple of days stay. A few minutes
isn’t enough as you experience its relaxed pace and
its great beaches. Strolling along the hills and
coastline after visiting the picturesque village of
Naoussa is a great way to unwind. Greek Island
Vacation Tips

Greek Time is Chill Out Time. Relax, give yourself
time to mingle and get around. Loose yourself to the
carefree lifestyle of the Greeks.

Protect yourself and pack sunscreen. You’re in for a
heat-scorching summer (and even spring) in Greece.

Eating late. Greeks are known for 10pm dinners. Choose
whether you dine late or early. Greek cuisine is to
die for!

Greek Ferries. Sailing through the Greek Islands is
more economical with Greek Ferries. Service is good
and fares are reasonable. All you have to do is pick
an island!

Pack your suitcases! Jumpstart your summer and spend
your vacation in Greece!