The History of Supercars

With the invention of the car came the desire for speed. Cars quickly evolved from practical to sporty to satisfy the desires of those that wanted to race.

The first sports cars started to appear at the latter end of the 1940's. Ferrari, Lotus, Jaguar and Porsche all had sporting road car designs. When you think of today's supercars you think of sleek design, high speed, high power and even higher price tags and the sports cars of the 1940's were the first steps towards today's technological wonders.

Throughout the 1950's and early 1960's sports car performance progressed. 1954 saw the arrival of the Meredes 300 SL Gullwing - the first road car to top 150mph. It was capable of a top speed of 165mph and is now considered to be one of the all time classic road cars.

The Gullwing was first shown at the 1954 New York Motor Show and it wowed the public. It has distinctive 'gull wing' doors and was made from a lightweight aluminium body. The Gullwing had a 3 litre engine and 240bhp, and in its day was the fastest production car available.

1400 Gullwings were built between 1954 and 1957. The design was superceded by the open Roadster.

It was Ford that created what many people believe to be the first supercar. Their GT40 made its debut at the Nurburgring in 1964 but it wasn't until 1966 that Ford took their place in American racing history by finishing Le Mans in the top three positions, beating Ferrari. The GT40 has now won more prestigious races than any other road racing car in history.

The Lamborghini Miura made supercar history because it was the first production car to feature a mid-mounted engine (normally only seen on F1 cars). It looked radically different to any road car that had come before. The Miura was unveiled to the world in 1965 at the Turin Auto Show by Ferrucio Lamborghini himself and was named after Spanish fighting bulls due to the aggressive body styling.

In terms of pure speed, after the 150mph title was claimed, 200 mph was the next great speed barrier to try for. The prize for that went to the Ferrari F40 - the last car commissioned by Enzo Ferrari and revealed on Ferrari's 40th birthday.

The F40 was available between 1987 and 1992. Its top speed was 201mph and it managed 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds.

The F40 is rated by many as the greatest supercar of all

The price of an F40 reached in excess of half a million pounds during the late 1980's and even now is holding its price well.

The SSC Ultimate Aero TT (made by Shelby Supercars) is the world's fastest production car to date with a top speed of 257mph. The Guinness World record run clocked the car in at 255.8mph. The 2009 version can reach speeds of 270mph and is reported to accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds!

Modern technology has allowed the creation of some amazing cars. They have come a long way but are not yet at the peak of design so it remains to be seen what the cars of the future wow us with.

By Rebecca Twigg

For a chance to see some of the world's most coveted supercars visit Wilton House Supercars Day. For more about what you can do in Wiltshire, visit Inside Wiltshire.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Twigg

Ferrari - A Brief History

When people think of Ferrari, they likely envision a bright red, super-fast and highly sporty vehicle - with a hefty price tag to go along with it. While that imagery is likely correct in a lot of ways, many people do not know the history of Ferrari or how the car came about.

Ferrari is actually named after the owner; Enzo Ferrari. One of the most amazing and perhaps shocking revelation about Enzo is probably the fact that he worked for none other than Alfa Romero between the years of 1920 through 1929. Even though he stopped working for Alfa Romero around 1929, Enzo continued to race Alfas for another ten years, after he started his own racing company. It had been Enzo Ferrari's dream, since he was a lad of about twelve years old, to become a race car driver and here he had his chance.

When World War II broke out, racing lost some of its popularity due to the world issues and the concentration on survival and global happenings. During this time, Ferrari had left racing for Alfa Romero and had promised in an agreement to not use his own name (Enzo Ferrari) in connection with any races for a period of four years. Since this corresponded with WWII and racing was slowing down, this didn't seem to affect Ferrari so much at the time.

However, that didn't mean that Enzo stopped with his dream of racing and building cars. He continued to build cars and brought in legendary designers for his collections. Many of his race cars have inspired the 'road' version that customers bought then and today. Another interesting fact is that in 1951 one of the Ferrari designs actually beat out Alfa Romero which was definitely a high point in the Ferrari's industrious business.

Throughout the decades many influences changed parts of the Ferrari and racing. In the 1940s, the Ferrari was first imported into the United States by driver Luigi Chinetti. In 1950 only about 70-80 Ferraris were made in a year; however, that changed and grew to 300 just ten years later in 1960. Unfortunately, tragic struck Enzo in 1956 when Dino, his son, passed away at the tender age of 24 from muscular dystrophy. Dino had been a big part in helping to build the Ferrari's V6 engine.

In 1969 Enzo Ferrari decided to sell part of the company. Even though there were rumours that Ford was in line to buy some of the Ferrari shares, ultimately Fiat won out and had partial ownership. The Ferrari continued to thrive and become more and more popular, making another debut in the classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1988, at the age of 90, Enzo Ferrari passed away which left Fiat with 90 per cent of shares in Ferrari.

Imagine how different racing and cars would be now if Enzo Ferrari had not had his dream and lived it. Throughout several decades, he and others worked to create the fabulous Ferrari that it is today.

TreatMe.net offers a range of driving experience days including the chance to try your hand driving a Ferrari.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rubel_Zaman

Top 3 World Travel Spots

Our planet is bestowed with the most exotic natural landscapes. There is no country in the world which does not boast of some beautiful holiday spot. Man has been fortunate to be born in the laps of panoramic beauty. The entire topography of earth is so designed that the variations in geographical features make it just wonderful. The Himalayas of Asia, the Alps of Europe, the great Kalahari Desert of South Africa, or the islands of Hawaii; all of them contribute towards making our world magnificent.

If you are planning a vacation and still are confused about the destinations, then we have a suggestion for you. You can holiday in Europe as it continues to top the list of favorite holiday locations. Europe has rich culture along with some beautiful places. The cities are amalgamation of old and new cultures. They are perfect blends of two diverse eras. In Europe, you can visit places which may be very modern and hi-tech. You will be amazed to see these cities blooming under the best archaeological and historical monuments. Greece is one such location. It has rich historical background. It has got idyllic beaches where you can party to your heart's content. When in sober mood you can take a look at the ancient ruins.

Your vacation can never be complete without visiting Rome. Rome is known for its proximity to both the hills and the sea. It also has diverse scenery. It is considered to be one of the most romantic holiday spots. The newly-wedded couples love to spend their honeymoon there. The fresher and cooler hills are beckoning in the summer season, whereas; during winters you can spend the entire day on the lavish beaches. The warm sun and shimmering water would free you completely from all your winter blues. Rome is a must-see for all the people who love travelling.

If you are looking for a dream holiday, then Italy should be a part of your travel itinerary. Italy is known for its medieval architecture, large gardens, and beautiful landscapes. While in Italy, you can get in touch with any travel agency which conducts tours to various tourist destinations. These conducted tours are good as you get to see many places in short span of time. The places worth seeing in Italy are Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan, and Naples. You should spend some time in Tuscany.

Great vacations happen once-in-a-lifetime, so plan them well and enjoy the bounties of nature.

If you want more information on easy Italy tour then you can visit the author's website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Ben_Michael

World Travel - 100 Days Abroad

Kiwis call it "The Big OE". That's short for The Big Overseas Experience - which means: "If I'm gonna fly halfway around the world, I might as well stay awhile..." Normally, we Kiwis do our Big OE before we get married - or at least before we have kids. And usually it's a low-budget, back-packers style of trip.

Tania and I never got around to it. We'd blow all our vacation money on short (or local) trips and never have enough time or money left for the Big OE. But we love travelling and knew we'd get around to it one day. We realised it'd have to be when the kids were old enough to remember, but young enough not to impact schooling too much - so, 2005 at the earliest, 2009 at the latest. In early 2005 we put some money aside and started planning...In 2006 we - James, Tania, Sam (10) and Blake (7) headed off on The Big Trip.

This first article in a series of articles includes tips and information about the journey from New Zealand to Europe, our time in Greece and the first half of our days in Rome...

Long-haul flight (Auckland - Singapore - Athens in our case)

Be sure you book a flight that has TV screens in the seat in front of you, and use the airline website to find out what the in-flight TV system software is like. You can watch movies or TV programs, listen to music, or play games. Make sure you can pause, rewind, fast forward or stop what you are watching. Very important for when the kids want to talk or during the food service, or during announcements.

All during the flight we took homeopathic anti-jet-lag tablets; we think they made a difference so you could try them out if you find it hard to sleep and/or get comfortable while flying.

The transit lounge in Singapore has a small playground for the kids, with TV and chairs.

Most airlines won't wake you during the "mid-flight" meal service, so be sure one of you stays awake around that time.

Athens airport arrivals

We landed at 7am. It was 24 degrees (Celsius - about 75 F) already. So, be sure that you have light clothing on before you start the descent into Athens, as it's a nightmare trying to get a family in and out of the restrooms to change clothes once you land. Trust me, it's easier onboard!

There were no immigration forms to fill out in Athens at that time (2006). We just went straight to the passport people and they stamped our passports. No questions about how long we were staying or anything. We then just walked out. Very different to other places we've been to.

Athens train system

It took us about 15 mins to work out what to do and which platform we wanted, so allow yourself plenty of time. If you are rushed you'll get horribly flustered. Take it easy! All the signs are in Greek and English and the station announcements are as well.

Got kids? What's the first thing they spot? A McDonald's! Get your body in sync with local times as soon as possible: try to eat at the right local times.

Hotels

There are a few traps here:

Many hotel lifts (elevators) will barely fit you and your bags in. We only travelled with one carry-on bag each (seriously) and even that was a mission. Our hotel lift was about the size of a small wardrobe - say 1.5m x 1.5m - so if you have check-in luggage you could be up for 5-6 trips to get everything to your room.

Our room was a family room. It had a bathroom, a little alcove room for the kids and a bedroom for us. Not very big but lots of drawers and a cupboard. We had air conditioning which didn't seem to cope very well, a small fridge, which also didn't cope well, but no TV (it seemed to be missing).

Toilets: Athens plumbing is very old, and pre-dates the invention of toilet paper, apparently. So many Athenian bathrooms require that you wipe, then deposit your paper in the handy rubbish bin provided, not in the bowl. If you flush, and block the pipes, you'll regret it, so don't be tempted. Take a deep breath and comply with local custom!

The National Historical Museum

The National Historical Museum in Athens, focuses on the last couple of centuries, it has lots of ancient weapons - canons, guns and such like. It was EUR6 each in 2006 and the kids were free. Surprisingly, our kids had a good time, plus the aircon was excellent.

Smoking

The worst thing about Athens, for non-smokers, is all the smoking. They smoke everywhere. If you're lucky the restaurants have a no smoking area but it's not separate! The only place we went to where there was no smoking was McDonald's.

We discovered that a bottle of water was 0.50c and a large 1lt one was EUR1. You'll be grateful that water is reasonably cheap as you'll go through it really quick.

National Archaeological Museum

From Victoria station the National Archaeological Museum is about a 10 min walk. Hard going in the heat. It was EUR12 each in 2006 (kids free again) and it was air conditioned. It's a very interesting place. Lots of really ancient stuff. Pots, art, statues, tools, starting from about 6000BC. Even the kids found it interesting. Take a digital camera, we took about 300 photos.

There is a cafeteria, which doesn't have much choice and is expensive.

The Mall

There is a mall called, creatively, "The Mall". It's by the Olympic stadium. It's a 5-level shopping mall with a movie theatre (but not in English), lots of expensive shops and a food court, plus (hooray) Starbucks.

The Acropolis

We entered the Acropolis area through the Dionysus Theatre (which is not at the "main entrance", it's on the other side). It cost EUR12 each (kids free - this is good) and for that you get entry to the Theatre, the Acropolis and 4 other places. A bargain deal.

The theatre and the ruins around it are only a few metres above the entrance, and then up the big hill you go. It's a long, long way up. You'll pass the Herodes Atticus theatre which they still use in the summers.

After a long climb - 20-40 minutes depending on your fitness level, you reach the top. The steps are made of marble, the columns and ruins are as well. This is where the Parthenon is sitting looking very majestic (and big). They are restoring some areas. The views from the top are amazing during the day, and I'm sure would be great at night. We spent about an hour at the top and then went down to the actual Acropolis entrance where there is a snack shop and cool drinks.

Exit from the main entrance of the Acropolis and proceed through the Ancient Agora (where there was a marketplace from 6 century BC for 1200 years). From there it's a short walk to the Roman Forum and the Tower of Winds. This was the marketplace from 1st century AD until the 19th century.

The local cafes have fans that spray a fine mist of water out. Fantastic in the heat.

Kerameikos

Kerameikos is where the outer city walls used to be. It also was where they buried heroes and important people. It's in ruins of course but you can just imagine hiking in from nearby villages to visit the city of Athens, passing through the huge gates under the eye of the archers - spine-tingling history.

And nearby...

The Temple of Olympian Zeus only has about 15 pillars left standing out of about 45. It looks great though. Hadrian's Arch is just outside it.

A day at the beach

Check out the tram system. We got a tram from Syntagma Square, it took about ¾ hour to get to the nearby beach. If you don't have your own towels you can pay to use loungers (EUR5 each). Renting loungers is quite common on European beaches. It was quite dirty where we were (cigarette butts and rubbish on the sand). But the sea was clean.

Flight from Athens to Rome

Think domestic flight. With the common currency and EU there are none of the usual expectations of "international borders". Small planes, no passport control, no customs, no stamps in the passport to prove you were there. You just walk through like it's a domestic airport.

Train stations in Rome

Don't just grab the first ticket you see to your destination! The prices, and journeys, differ. We got a cheap ticket (EUR5 each, kids free, instead of EUR10 each) but we had to change trains part way to get to the Termini station (the central station). Once at Termini you'll switch to the metro to get to your hotel station.

Laundry

Beware of the hotel charges for laundry - our hotel wanted about EUR5 to wash one shirt, or pants, which would've worked out to be over EUR100 for one wash. I doubt the clothes were actually worth that much, it would have been cheaper to buy new clothes each week! We decided to use a Laundromat: there is one near the Termini.

It took us about an hour to wash and dry a week of clothes for the four of us in the huge commercial machines. Cost EUR12 for the whole lot.

Wandering about Rome - the sights

Trevi Fountain is a spectular sight; I highly recommend it. The custom is to throw in a coin, to ensure you return to Rome one day. So of course it's packed with other tourists, lobbing in their coins. Take lots of photos and throw in a coin or two (I wonder who cleans out the coins?).

Nearby the Pantheon contains the remains of old rulers. It was a temple, now it's a church. It has amazing pictures and carvings on the walls and ceiling.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is awesome. It is guarded by 2 staunch immobile guards and another one is wandering around talking to people. There are lots of steps and you're not allowed to sit on them. Every time someone sits down a security man will blow his whistle and wave them up. There is a lot of whistle blowing going on, because hot-and-bothered tourists don't read the signs.

Gelato

Like ice cream? You'll be happy then. There's gelato everywhere, and it's great. Lots of flavours to choose from. Each gelateria has some different flavours.

Vaticano

See the Castel Sant' Angelo and then walk to the Vatican City - starting with St Peter's Square - where there are lots of people, fountains, statues and St Peter's Basilica.

To enter the Basilica you first have to go through x-ray machines and then get past the 'clothes police'. They stop people who have their shoulders and knees uncovered. A lot of people get turned away, directed to buy shawls/scarves from a shop about 500m away - suspiciously convenient!

The Basilica is amazing and enormous. Alcoves everywhere, paintings on the walls and ceilings and gold trimmings on the walls and ceilings. There are tombs of Pope Innocent (I don't remember which number) and a couple of others. Altars are gold as well. We spent about an hour there taking lots of photos.

Take a camera, and a video camera - the Vatican tourist area is huge and you could spend a whole day in there easily, and take thousands of images, just to remember half of what you saw. In another article I'll tell you about the Sistine Chapel, the Tombs of the Popes and the Vatican Museum.

Colosseum via Palatine Hill

Head up to the Palatine Hill to get your tickets. You go there first because the queue to get into the Colosseum directly is enormous. The ticket queue at the Palatine hill had about 5 people in front of us when we went there (the ticket gets us into both places and the museum at the Palatino as well). Our kids were free because we come from NZ and I had my driver's license to prove it.

Walk around the ruins (on Palatine Hill) which was an old marketplace and then head into the museum - it's much cooler in there.

Getting into the Colosseum: There are 2 sets of x-ray machines. One for those who have to buy tickets and one for those (like you, if you went to Palatine Hill first) who already have them. Walk past the couple of hundred people waiting in line to buy their tickets and you're in.

The Colosseum is, well, colossal. It used to seat 50 000 people. You can see the area where they kept the lions and the gladiators before they were sent up to the arena to fight. If you've heard about Daniel and the Lions, or about Romans throwing people to the lions, this place will make you stop and think about what that might really have been like. The arena is so big and so well built that they used to flood it and stage naval battles!

Final thoughts

Rome is hot, like Athens, and there is not as much smoking there. They seem to have no-smoking rules with fines for those who do and bigger fines if you smoke near children or pregnant ladies. Most places are friendly and have someone who speaks English. Learn to say hello, goodbye, thank you and excuse me in Italian and get the hang of pronouncing your favourite gelato flavours as well.

One of the shop people commented that our Italian pronunciation was very good, so a hot tip if you're a Kiwi: the vowel sounds are the same as in Maori, so as long as you remember the emphasis is always on the second-to-last syllable, you'll do very well. In fact, try this: say a few dozen Maori place names with emphasis on the second-to-last syllable and listen to how Italian it sounds: Ha-WER-a, Wan-ga-NU-i, Cap-pu-CI-no... see what i mean?

I'll submit more articles over the coming weeks, with more tips and ideas from Rome, Venice, Padua, Pisa, France, Disney (including our Caribbean cruise), Florida and Hawaii.

James R Powell is a semi-retired business owner currently living in New Zealand. His online pseudonym is usually jamesviago. James is passionate about travel, Disney and coffee - he is currently working on a website for coffee lovers at http://www.how-do-i-make-coffee.com/ where you can learn how to make great coffee and what common mistakes to avoid.

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5 Best World Travel Exhibitions

There are many world travel exhibitions around the world each year which provide a superb platform for travel companies to promote their services and products, and below are some of the best.

WTF - World Travel Fair, Shanghai 
For the Chinese tourism industry, the World Travel Fair in Shanghai is one of the most influential exhibitions of the year. It provides a vital purchasing platform upon which companies from around the world can tap into the Chinese market by showcasing their products to Chinese tourism agencies as well as the Chinese public. This event attends to more than just leisure tourism, it is also concerned with honeymoons, health and medical travel.

Golf World Prague - Prague 
People from all over the world spend millions and possibly even billions of pounds on travelling around the globe to enjoy the different golf courses and resorts, and this event in Prague brings together golf resorts, companies who offer golf travel packages, buyers, airline companies and golf enthusiasts to promote and explore the industry and its continued growth. This is the premier event of its kind in the world.

KWTE, Mishref 
As a direct result of the oil industry the economy of Kuwait has grown significantly in recent years, which means there is an increasing market for outgoing tourism. At this exhibition in Kuwait tourism companies can promote their destinations, products and services to the local businesses and public who are exploring new avenues. The leading travel companies in Kuwait come to encourage growth in what is still a low uptake for incoming tourism to Kuwait.

WTM - World Travel Market, London 
The Excel Arena in London is a world class venue, and the World Travel Market London is certainly a world class event. The exhibition is held in high esteem by people in the travel industry around the world. It is a business to business event which brings companies from all aspects of the travel world together to network, share ideas and create lasting partnerships over a 4 day period. The opening day of the event is by exhibitor invitation only, but the following three days are open to travel professionals and include the popular events schedule which allows visitors to extend their knowledge with regards to the world travel market.

New York Times Travel Show, New York 
New York is one of the most glamorous and sought after travel destinations in the world, and it is no surprise that the travel show held at the Jacob J Kavits Convention Centre is a lively affair which attracts travel companies from all over. Visitors can discover the best travel destinations in the world, gain travel tips and enjoy cultural performances from international performers. It is worth noting that entrance for children is free.

Catherine writes about UK Exhibitions Stands and Exhibitions Stands Design.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Gliddon

The Splendor of World Travel and Protection Via Immunization

Worldwide travel is a hoot. If you haven't done it yet, you really should! Sure it can wind up costing tons of cash-but it really doesn't have to! No way, travel on a budget is totally possible and in some ways much more rewarding. For one thing, you are not artificially separated from the locals by expensive hotels and restaurants. There are bunch of things one must do before jetting off and visiting a certified travel clinic for an immunization or two is a great idea depending on where you are going.

Immunization is another word for vaccination and they are administered to combat and protect against any diseases that may be lingering in your country of destination. Diseases, you say? Yeah, but they're nothing to worry about-even if according to the World Health Organization there are at least six thousand rare diseases and over twelve thousand other categoriesof disease across the globe. Sure the numbers seem dire, but that shouldn't keep you from beginning to travel-one need only worry about contracting a microscopic percentage of existing diseases while traveling-and an immunization is available for each one.

Of course, we are being a tad light-hearted, but the facts are the facts, the world is a dangerous place, there's no way around this. Yet, even though one may need a little extra protection against disease via an immunization while traveling, this no excuse to sit home and never experience the world in a first-person manner. Once you begin to travel, chances are you will never stop. It can be like an addiction; an addiction to other cultures, wondrous sites, delicious food, and friendly foreigners. These things all coalesce to make world travel one of the highlights of any fulfilling lifetime.

So where to go? Is there a place on earth that is more dangerous in terms of indigenous disease than any other? Well, yes, that continent is probably the continent of Africa. Once again, however, with the help of a certified travel doctor and his immunization skills, one can behold the splendor of wild elephants at a watering hole bathing themselves with their spraying trunks or even take up residence with a tribe such as the Masai, whose Kenyan culture is fascinating and whose welcoming attitude is famous worldwide.

One of the most dangerous diseases-and one for which an immunization is surely needed-is yellow fever. Yellow fever is a potentially deadly disease still a threat in many areas of the world, not just Africa. A yellow fever immunization is recommended if one is planning to travel to Africa, Central and South America, and/or parts of Asia. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, thus making it difficult to halt its devastating path.

Other travel related diseases that have an immunization available are malaria, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis. The process of immunization is commonly administered by a single injection. A rabies immunization, however, is up to five shots (though this is the exception rather than the rule). Receiving a travel immunization is very safe and affordable, and significantly lowers the risk of catching any disease while abroad.

If currently in the NYC area and in need of a certified travel clinic NYC for an immunization or any other reason, please log onto TravelClinicNY.com for more information on one of the city's most respected healthcare facilities of its type. Dial 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment at this conveniently located midtown clinic and get more info on travel immunization nyc. While there you can expect discretion and affordability.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Slava_Fuzayloff

Travel Africa - A Wonderful Journey

An incredibly magical continent, Africa remains as one of the top travel destinations for tourists who enjoy the mix of nature and adventure. If you prefer a trip that is full of history, art and culture, then it is the place to go.

A melting pot of all things historical and cultural, Africa is wrapped in the arms of the Mediterranean Sea from the north. While in the northeast, you will find Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Sinai Peninsula. At the southeast part of Africa, there lies the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

So why travel in Africa? Africa stays true to its promise of nothing but the beauty of its rich flora and fauna. Tagged as the second largest continent in the world, the ecology in the land is very diverse and vegetation is abundant.

Aside from taking pride in its natural beauty, it also provides the perfect location for tourists from around the world to roam free. It has so much to offer in terms of visual arts (The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and the stone ruins of Great Zimbabwe, to name a few), music and sports. In fact, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, one of the biggest sporting events in the world, was held in South Africa.

If you wish to chase summers all year long, Africa is known for experiencing more than 300 sunny days per year. And as warm as the setting sun, Africans are warm and friendly too. Almost everyone knows how to speak English so it would be easy to go about everywhere, may it be for shopping, dining out and taking on an adventure.

For those who are eager to experience the authentic viewing of the African wildlife, make sure to visit Kruger National Park. Known as one of the oldest game reserves in Africa, it covers almost 8,000 square miles of land filled with various species of plants and animals. It is located in northeast South Africa.

The history of the continent is as rich as their culture. The place is home to Nelson Mandela, a hero against apartheid and an inspiration to everyone. You will also see a glimpse of a very young democracy in the eyes of the locals who have working hard each and every day to preserve it.

An equal mix of preservation and modernization, a contrast in lush greens and scorching deserts, an array of religious beliefs, relaxation and adventure all rolled in one place - just some of the many reasons why you should travel Africa.

Travel to Africa with Pillow, the best provider of tours to Egypt.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Iain_Duigan

Travel In Africa

The best time to travel in Africa depends on your interests. With its rich natural resources, you have a choice of which interest to pursue, whether it is viewing Africa's diverse wildlife, being treated to the spectacular sight of its feathered creatures or witnessing natural phenomena such as the great migration of wildebeest in the Serengeti. The sardine run on the wild coast of South Africa and the floral display in the West Coast are equally astounding if you schedule your trips around the time these spectacles are on display.

Generally, the best time to go on safari is during the African winter and South Africa's Kruger park may be the crown jewel. Animals are constantly on the move to find water to drink and food to eat. Also, the grass is dry and there is sparse vegetation, making game viewing so much easier. An African winter is mild but nights are considerably cooler. Traveling in Africa during this time would be more comfortable if you come prepared for it. Pack a sweater for those cool nights and make sure you have comfortable walking shoes. Sunscreen with high sun protection factors, lip balm and mosquito repellents should come in handy too.

South Africa

South Africa is best during the months of May to September which are winter months in this part of the world. The northern part of South Africa which includes Kruger is best during these winter months due o low mosquito numbers. Temperatures are mild with very little rainfall. Game viewing is also at its best. The southern portion of South Africa which includes Cape Town, Garden Route and Eastern Cape are best during the summer months which are from October to March. Namaqualand boasts of a floral display that transforms into a carpet of flowers from the middle of August to the middle of September. This is an attraction that draws lots of visitors around this time. Swimming is a year round activity because the winter is so mild with the exception of the higher parts of the country.

East Africa

September to November is spring in East Africa. It is a popular time for travel because it is summer in other parts of the world. Booking last minute travel to Africa won't do. You have to do it well in advance. If you plan on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro the best time for it is on September. Diving in Zanzibar or viewing the wildlife in the Serengeti is best from December to March. African summers are relatively cool at an average of 28 degrees Celsius but can dip to 15 degrees Celsius. Rains are uncommon but if they do occur, they don't last long. January to the middle of March are also good months for conquering the great Kilimanjaro. The long rains occur during fall but safaris still offer a wonderful experience. Lush greenery, abundant wildlife, less crowding and lower costs can make April to June the best time to go on a safari adventure. July to August are East Africa's winter months and this is when game viewing is at its best. A Kilimanjaro climb is also good during this season. But it's also the busiest time of the year as there are many tourists during this season.

The Islands Of Africa

Africa's islands are composed of Seychelles, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Maldives and Mauritius. December, January, July and August are Seychelles's busiest months. March to May and September to November may be off season but diving is at its best around this time. Madagascar experiences warm weather during April to October. Zanzibar is wet from March to May. Maldives is best during the dry season which is from December to April. Mauritius is best in summer which is from October to April.

It would be best to know when and where to go in Africa. Besides, it is surely an irresistibly exotic experience. This http://africanphotosafaris.org/travel-in-africa website will help you find the best spots where you can get unlimited fun under the sun!

You will probably be missing a lot if you won't take an African adventure. For more information log on to http://www.africanphotosafaris.org and learn more about African escapes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Russ_Tipton

Stretching - The Driving Force in Karate

Many karateka both past and present refer to stretching and flexibility training as an essential element of any karate training programme.

A karateka actively seeking self-enlightenment will say that his stretching and flexibility training is essential if you want to become a true karateka.

As a perquisite for the practice of karate which is after all is a combat training. Stretching brings the body's muscles, joints and tissues to a state of readiness and perfection so the karateka can not only control the movements of his hands and feet to maximum effect but also his breathing as well.

To this end, stretching utilises all the muscle groups in the body and is the driving force behind many of the techniques in karate that require strength and focus (kime).

Indeed, flexibility in your joints and muscles can add power and dynamic movement and also act as the anchor point for speed, stamina and balance.

What's more, training for flexibility can contain a large number of exercises. I know some practitioners of the martial arts and karate in particular; think that some of the old traditional styles stretching exercises are somewhat dangerous for your joints. However, some of the exercises have improved through modern understanding of how to do certain types of stretching exercise through bio-mechanics and kinesiology. But unfortunately, there still remain a few such exercises used in some dojos and as part of tradition even passed down to younger students.

So from your perspective, in order to understand how certain muscle groups react when you do a stretching exercise and how the muscles work in relation to each other, you must first learn to isolate and train each muscle group to achieve the maximum effeteness

Any stretching as with all forms of exercise you should build up slowly always putting more emphasis on correct technique rather than the number of reputations performed a common mistake is attempting to stretch too far too fast which can result in a pulled muscle or tendon. It's important to remember, to include stretching in your training schedule because the all-round benefits far outweigh any risk of injury. Plus, regular stretching practice can help prevent serious injury during a training session.

Dojo training should be used to develop the flexibility and in turn the strength needed in karate or any other martial art for that matter. The key to stretching is to isolate the various muscle groups and to take them through a safe range of movement gradually increasing the amount of stretch being performed.

Stretching and gaining a good standard of flexibility does require a lot of training but as long as you take your time and adopt safe up-to date practices then your efforts will be effective and help you to improve your techniques in the true spirit of karate. On top of that, you would have discovered why stretching is the driving force of karate-do.

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Comparing Taekwondo, Karate, Judo and JiuJitsu Uniforms

Chances are if you have ever looked into buying a martial arts uniform you have said to yourself, "How do I tell martial arts uniforms apart?" Especially, to the new martial arts student it can seem like they are all the same. However, there are huge variations in the different styles such as; Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, and of course Kung Fu.

The differences between a Taekwondo and a Kung Fu uniform are glaring and most people know what sets a Kung Fu uniform apart from the other styles. However, what sets a Taekwondo uniform apart from a Karate uniform? Or, what is the difference between a Judo Gi and a JiuJitsu Gi? This is what we are here to find out.

Taekwondo Uniforms 
The more non-traditional or sport style Taekwondo uniforms are easy to tell apart. They have a V-neck which makes it fit more like a shirt then a traditional wrap around style jacket. The v-neck jacket is very popular in the sport of Taekwondo. It fits very nice and comfortable with the benefit being that it won't begin to open up when you move around doing different techniques. With the traditional wrap around style jackets students are always re-adjusting them and pulling them back down underneath their belts which you don't have this problem with the v-neck style.

Another distinction which makes TKD uniforms easy are that although they are almost always primarily white some of them have a black collar which designates a higher ranking student, Master, GrandMaster. If you see someone with a black collared jacket you can pretty much assume that he or she is a black belt. There are also pants that have black stripes down the side of them that designate this higher ranking as well.

However, not all black belts will have this style so this isn't a given. The uniform for Taekwondo is also pretty light ranging from 6 oz. to 12 oz. when compared to other uniforms. Because Taekwondo doesn't focus on grappling, pushing, and pulling their opponents there is no need for a heavy duty fabric. This allows the Taekwondo students to get a way with a much lighter uniform.

Karate Uniforms 
First of all Karate does not utilize the v-neck jacket style like it's Taekwondo counterpart. They also use a larger array of colors for their uniforms. Karate uniforms can range from white, black, blue, pink, and red. The more traditional style Karate uniforms also have short sleeves so that the person wearing can have more upper body movement without the sleeve grabbing onto the arm. The Karate uniform also come in a variety of fabric weights. Some of the most basic uniforms start out with 4 oz. to 6 oz. with the heavier uniforms ranging up to 14 oz.

Judo & Jiujitsu Gi's 
Judo and Jiujitsu Gi's are very similar but are very different then the styles of Karate and Taekwondo. Since Judo as well as JiuJitsu are comprised of a highly physical style where your opponent pulls and twists on your gi it is necessary to have a heavier weight fabric to stand up to this rigor. JiuJitsu and Judo uniforms start out at 14 oz. and can go all the way up to 18 oz. and heavier. The stitching on the Judo gi is a critical element as well. With Judo gi's there are two different styles of stitching that you can choose from and they are; single weave gi and double weave. The double weave gi is usually much stronger, however, with the stitching today this is not simply the case with all manufacturers. So, if you are a beginning Judo or JiuJitsu student then you can simply purchase the single weave gi until you advance and move up in rank then invest in a higher quality gi.

There you have it the difference between the modern Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, and JiuJitsu uniforms. It is recommended to beginners to first buy a cheap uniform and then once you progress in belts you can decide to purchase a more expensive higher quality uniform. This will also give you chance to talk with other students and learn what they like and dislike about their uniforms and gi's and learn from them.

Todd Schankleighter is an independent content writer who specializes in the martial arts. Todd's passion is in the mixed martial arts as he is working for The MMA Zone as the online martial arts supplies store. Shop The MMA Zone for great prices on all your gear: http://www.themmazone.net/uniforms/taekwondo-uniforms.html!

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7 Weight Loss Myths Broken

With so much weight-loss information out there, it's hard to make sense of it all and distinguish fact from fiction. Here are a few common myths explained and clarified!

To loose weight I need to...

1. Cut the fat in my diet

Myth

Fat is essential to every diet and should consist of 15 to 30% of one's daily calorie intake. This being said, it is important to give your body the best fats (unsaturated fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated; including omega 3 and 6), limit the saturated fats (animal fat from meat and dairy) and avoid the trans-fats (in many baked pre-packaged goods). Fats are important for many functions in the human body, as every cell membrane in our body consist of them. They play an essential role in many bodily functions as well as being essential for absorbing lipid-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). The Mediterranean diet, world renowned for its health properties and healthy weight virtues is a perfect example of this. Fat consists of 25-35% of calorie intake, only 8% being saturated (dairy and meat), the rest coming from olive oil and other plant based sources.

2. Cut the carbohydrates

Myth

My defense of carbohydrates is continual! Why are they essential? Carbohydrates serve crucial functions in the human body. Among other things, they are your body's principal source of energy and the only source of energy for many important cells such as neurones and red blood cells. This being said, an over consumption of carbohydrates transforms itself into fat, which is why, on average, an adult's plate should consist of only 20% whole grains and or starchy vegetables, the rest being vegetables, fruits, protein and fat.

Most important of all is the type of carbohydrates you choose. The reasons this food group has a bad reputation is that chosen incorrectly they wreak havoc on your blood sugar and cause you to crave more food rather than fill you up and provide you with the nutrients and long-lasting energy you need.

Which ones are best? Choose complex carbohydrates like whole grains instead of 'white' or refined carbohydrates (white rice, white bread, white pasta... ).

3. Replace sugar with artificial sweeteners

Myth

You've heard that sugar makes you gain weight therefore you make sure to drink diet coke rather than the original, put sweetener in your coffee and feast on sugar-free cookies.

On top of the fact that there is not much research on the safety of artificial sweeteners, the consumption of aspartame and saccharine, like sugar, is very addictive, and they wreak havoc on our blood sugar, causing drops in energy that make us crave more food as a result. Ironically enough, diet drinks have also been linked to obesity and overeating.

There is a lot of research that links diet drinks to weight gain. The theory is that because the sugar-free drink contains no calories, its sweet taste sends a signal to the brain to expect food and calories, and because these are not arriving, the body starts craving food and more calories. Another explanation is that consuming high amounts of sugary substances dulls your taste buds and as a result, makes you crave more high calorie foods.

The ultimate solution to free yourself of this vicious cycle and loose weight, is to wean yourself off of sugar and sugar substitutes slowly. You can start the weaning process with Stevia, a safe and natural, no-calorie sweetener.

4. Eat less

Myth and reality

Reality: Portion control and snack control are two of the keys to maintaining a healthy body weight. The easiest way to control your portions this is to see your daily food consumption as a pie chart! On average, 60% of your plate should consist of vegetables and fruits; 20% from carbohydrates; and 20% from protein. This can be modified depending on your age, the season, your activity level and other factors.

Not making it to your next meal without a snack? Put an end to this snacking by:

• Increasing your consumption of satiable foods and decrease your refined carb consumption (white carbs). Satiable foods include those rich in fiber and healthy fats. Refined carbohydrates, including sweets will give you a quick burst of energy and then leave you tired and feeling hungry.
• Train your body not to eat outside of meals and put yourself on a fixed meal schedule. Notice that when you are jetlagged you are hungry at the times when you normally eat at home. This is because the body remembers that you usually eat at certain times at which point it prepares itself to digest. Getting yourself on a 3 meal a day with no snacks schedule should take about the same amount of time as getting over jetlag: a few days to a week. Most adults have a relatively sedentary lifestyle that does not require snacks if they've had decent satiable meals.

The myth part is that one should not starve him or herself. Consuming three meals per day and having only fruits or vegetables as occasional snacks, helps to avoid the feeling of being ravishingly hungry and making unsound food decisions while in a hypo-glycemic state. Meal skipping also slows your metabolism meaning that your body burns less energy throughout the day. Meal skipping also provides you with less energy to go for that jog or power walk which will burn calories and also increase your metabolism!

5. Do not eat 2 hours before going to bed or after 8 pm

Partly true

I am not big on rules, especially when they are aimed at everyone but let's see why this can partially hold true.

Our bodies have an energy stock to keep us going between meals called glycogen stock; it releases energy for 6-8 hours after your meal. Fasting for 12 hours between dinner and breakfast is an important weight loss tool for the simple reason that after the body has depleted its stock of glycogen it starts burning your stock of fat. If you are snacking in the evening, the body's glycogen stock is replenished and you are not giving a chance for your body to burn fat.

My revised version of this weight loss 'rule' which is also important for your health is to: fast for 12 hours between dinner and breakFAST.

6. Eat low calorie foods

Myth

Diet foods may cause overeating. Professor David Pierce explains that foods with low calorie content disrupt the body's ability to use taste to regulate caloric intake. (1)

In addition, diet foods contain more artificial flavors and products in order for the food's taste not to be compromised. Why is this bad? The health consequences of regular consumption of these products are uncertain and little long-term research has been done.

7. Drink a lot of water

Myth and reality

It is commonly recommended that people trying to loose weight increase their water consumption. This is mostly because thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Also, while you are drinking water you are not drinking calorie containing drinks such as juices, soft drinks, alcohol, etc. Water also helps your body eliminate toxins which are more present in your circulation when you start eating healthier. Removing these toxins contributes to your health. In terms of losing weight though, water does not contain any magical component which will help you achieve this.

References:

1. Smucker, Celeste M. 'Evidence shows diet soda is not a healthy weight loss product.' February 26, 2012 http://www.naturalnews.com/035070_diet_soda_weight_loss_aspartame.html#ixzz2CN7Qc2WS

For healthy recipes and health tips check out and for more information on choosing healthy fats go to: http://michellesavard.com/blog/

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Smart Eating And Weight Loss

The pounds have piled up; the pants are getting too tight. It is high time to start losing off the extra weight. Planning right from the beginning makes it easier to succeed in your weight loss plans.

Keep track of what you eat and the type of exercise you do every single day. Write everything down in your journal. This gets things organized and you will be better motivated to continue on.

Cooking your own meals let you have total control over what to put into your body. No more extra oily, salty or sweet food from cafes and restaurants to tempt you and make you stray from your diet. Get some good cookbooks promoting healthy weight loss recipes, some basic cookware and you are well on your way to healthy cooking. You might be pleasantly surprised at the results.

When shopping for groceries, be sure to check the calories count and list of ingredients listed on the food packages. Do not be misled by advertisements such as natural, sugar-free and non-fried. Look at the fine prints. Every little bit counts towards your weight loss goals.

Eat smaller portions at each meal. Invest in smaller size plates to make sure you are not tempted to eat more. Less food on a bigger plate might give you the impression that you are not eating enough and end up taking more food. Just make sure you are having well-balanced meals, even though smaller portions.

The occasional deviation from your diet is no big deal. Being too strict might lead to stress and this is not good for your weight loss plans. You might get so frustrated and just give up. Stress can also lead to binge eating.

Sticking to the same old food day in and day out can be boring and uninspiring. Try healthy food from around the world right at home. Some of them can be easy to cook in your home kitchen.

Eating your main meals in front of the TV, work table or computer screen is a typical bad habit among some of us. It is difficult to be eating healthily this way and besides it is bad for your digestion. If you must be munching on some food while working, munch on carrot sticks instead.

Poor food choices, unhealthy snacks and too much fast and processed food not only lead to an expanding waistline but also clogged arteries. Taking control of the way you eat can lead to positive weight loss and a healthy body.

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Weight Loss and Management

Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks in today's era is to lose weight and maintain the lost weight. With the sheer number of junk foods available and the unhealthy lifestyles people tend to adopt, following a healthy diet and exercise plan to lose weight can be difficult. However, the fact that maintaining a healthy weight is important during all phases of life, one should adopt a healthy lifestyle altogether.

Below are some of the best ways to lose the excessive amount of weight an individual might be carrying:

1. Eat the Right Kind of Food:

While it is difficult to throw away junk food from one's life completely, it is vital to do so for the overall weight loss cause. Giving up on junk food does not mean sacrificing on taste. Instead, it just focuses on substituting unhealthy and fattening foods with foods that are healthy and nutritious. For example, instead of consuming potato chips, chew on carrots. Substitute fattening sandwiches with delicious low calorie salads. To add a little flavor, an individual can also add spices on top of what is being eaten.

2. Learn to Eat in Small Portions:

One of the leading causes of weight gain is the excessive serving sizes of meals. Individuals fail to concentrate or think about the portion sizes of their meals. The oversized meals, which although are very fulfilling, contain a large number of calories that are damaging to health. The best way to solve this problem is by eating meals in smaller portions. Eating slowly without getting distracted and chewing food properly before swallowing it can also go a long way in helping a person lose weight. Most people tend to get distracted while eating due to multitasking.

3. Give Up on the Drinks:

Another major cause of weight gain is the sheer number of sugary drinks available to the masses. Although these drinks seem harmless and rather delicious, carbonated drinks contain a large number of calories which are very difficult to burn off. To avoid the calories from the unnecessary sugary drinks, an individual should drink a lot of water. Ideally, experts recommend the consumption of 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Not only does water keep the body hydrated, but it also keeps thirst under control and flushes out all the toxins from the body. Thus, there is a reason why water is called the source of life.

4. Get Proper Sleep:

With the advent of the social media and text messages, most individuals tend to stay up during the night and are unable to acquire proper sleep. Getting proper sleep helps boost the metabolism and also relieves the body of stress. These factors are both directly related to weight loss as a faster metabolism increases the digestion capabilities whereas stress is one of the major causes of over eating. Also, sleeping early at night ensures that late night snacking is avoided and this ultimately leads to the loss of excessive weight.

5. Perform Physical Activities:

The advent of video games has destroyed the urge to play physically active games. Most of the time individuals are hooked to their monitors or TV screens for hours without moving a single muscle. This is one of the major contributors to weight gain. Therefore, an individual should find a sport or exercise he/she likes and then perform it regularly to enhance the metabolism rate. There are a lot of activities out there (swimming, walking, jogging, etc.) that cater to almost all needs and physical activity helps burn fat efficiently by stimulating the body. Thus, by performing exercise regularly, a person can feel energetic and lose weight at the same time.

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2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 Review

With upgraded handling suspension, new upper and lower control arms, and structural rigidity, the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 is introduced along with embedded light aluminum trim. It is adorned with front and rear tabular preservative bars along with the modern front and rear coil over alarms.

Latest additions in the 2010 Viper SRT10 are the 14 inch larger brakes, and the vehicle is also installed with front and rear rotors fabricated by capillaries and Brembo 4 piston brake cooling ducts. The 2010 SRT10 gains new redesigned tires and is designed with the ABS regulating back, Michelin ZP sport tires, as well as with the sensors for tire pressure monitoring system loaded in the stems of valves. The engine using by this car is never changed from last model. By using leather accents or chrome finish, all the components or equipments in the car are given a classy touch. The instrument board in the vehicle contains analog speedometer, tachometer, temperature and coolant voltage control, and also devices that control temperature of oil.

The tires and rims are designed to rear sophisticated aluminum wheels and this will be the conventional feature in all fore-coming models. The seats are wrapped with smooth leather as well as with suede inserts to give high soothe to the passengers. This vehicle is offered in coupe and roadster models.

Plenty of advanced features are seen in the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10, which include GPS navigation system, ARC-Lite instrument panels, elective 6-spoke artificial aluminum wheels, as well as choice of wide range of exterior body colors.

You may also want to know more about the 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 and check out the latest Viper SRT10 reviews, pictures as well as specs.

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Dodge Viper History

The history of Dodge Viper goes way back to 1988 when a casual discussion between Robert A. Lutz, Chrysler President, and Tom Gale, the chief of design, too place. Lutz had the idea of trying to bring out a newer version of the Cobra.

Lutz wanted to bring out a sports car that was equipped with a modern engine, a new type of transmission, a great suspension designed that was supported by a computer and high quality tires. Although this new sports car would have all the benefits of modern technology, it was not going to be a car with high end gadgets or other high tech fittings. The car was meant to have a rear wheel drive with a lot of power.

The pair then thought of using the design that Chrysler's Pacifica design studio was mulling on. The studio was trying to figure out how to get a V8 engine into a convertible sports car. Then in 1985, Chrysler hit on a design that they thought was good and named it Izod.

However, it was Francois Castaing, who proved pivotal in the making of the Viper. Castaing was head of the Jeep and Truck Engineering Division in Chrysler. He was working on how put a V10 engine into a vehicle and then sell it to the consumers. It is then Lutz, Gale and Castaing hit on the idea of making a 1990s version of the Cobra.

So, Lutz along with Carroll Shelby sat down and conceptualized a car and that is how the Viper as we know it today was born.

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