As we all know that travel with children never easy as you need extra attention and preparation as well as time to think about unexpected situation that may occur during the trip. This in order for you to make sure that your trip will go smoothly as possible. No matter where you are going to travel, it can be only attractions in your local state up to travel overseas, effective forward planning is really need to ensure that you and your children can return to home safely and happily.
One of the most important elements of travel preparation is to prepare bags and luggage for your trip, especially prepare kid’s bags which you have to put extra effort to prepare it as they may contain additional necessary gadgets for children.
Today, bag providers providing millions of kid’s bag colors and designs, which sometimes they have similar design to adult luggage but in smaller size. Therefore, parents may interest to buy bags for their kids that match to their bags to represent the unique of family. Apart from that today kids luggage have similar functions as for adult ones, such as they usually have roller wheel to enable children carry bags by themselves. Some brands has even provided kids luggage have wheels that are gender based, so you can make sure that your kid will has the luggage that suitable for them. This is also benefit for kids in terms of when they grow up and then they love to carry their own bags rather than watch their parents carrying luggage for them.
There are many types of kids bags to choose from, wide range of bags such as duffel bags, sport bags, backpacks with pockets for a radio or CD player are the most popular among them. For parents that have child who loves to read books or if your child has favorite toys and he/she wants to carry with them at all times. Parents should look for a backpack that will hold your child’s toys and/or books and also have attractive design to make them proud and happy when carrying.
The most favorite type of bags and designs among kids probably backpack that designed in animal doll on the backpack. This could give very good feeling for kids because it’s like their favorite animal is hugging them. Apart from using animal dolls, some bags providers may use other stuff that kids love, such as cartoon characters, sports themes, flowers, dance, music, and space on a backpack to attract kids. Also it would be even better if kids can have their name appeared on a backpack so they can proud to carry the bag without encouraging from parents. Some designs are specially made specific for gender, such as car-shape backpack special for boys and baby-shape backpack for girls. As you will also enjoy travel if your kids are able to carry their own bags with their favorite so your trip would be fun.
Here above is just initial basic guide suggest you about types of kids backpack available so you will be able to choose the suitable ones for your child. More than anything that you have to let them choose their own, when you are shopping so they will be proud to carry and happy throughout the trip.
If you are planning to take a vacation, be sure to know what you really like to do, this will make your trip more meaningful. Mostly, travelers go for a trip that their friends recommend, but is it what they really want? It's never too early to plan and know what your heart desires.
It's nice to ask yourself these questions before starting to plan your vacation; do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.
Vacations are needed for our emotional, physical and mental balance. Vacations give a person a chance to relax, renew his energy, and free him from his daily routine. Vacations could be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It is the satisfaction that is more important than the destination.
Generally, there are some different types of travel according to activities involved. Here are some of them:
1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn't always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.
2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while smelling and feeling nature.
3. Tribal cultures. In today's world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who live close to nature in the same way for the past thousands of years.
4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only let travelers appreciate what is down the sea but also making the traveler more aware of the conservation effort.
The country one is planning to travel to also leaves a great mark on the traveler's diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:
1. Thailand. Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand's jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalos are still being use in farming.
2. China. China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourist; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourist. First class hotels now offer highest class of amenities and dozens are still being built/
3. Italy. Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter's Square where the Pope resides.
4. Caribbean. Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. It has nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.
The success of any vacation will not depend by how much the traveler spent or its destination. It is how the traveler enjoyed it and how he was able to achieve his primary goal of "getting away from it all."
Many camping enthusiasts enjoy the comfort of canvas tents while they are out in the wilderness. The only thing that is certain about nature is that nothing is certain. Canvas tents are durable and can withstand rain and wind much better than standard tents. They are generally well constructed using quality materials and are simple to set up. This is especially beneficial to the most common purposes for canvas tents, which is shelter for hunting and fishing trips.
Canvas tents offer sturdy walls, floor and roofing. They are usually accompanied by metal bars to secure the tent on site. In this instance, you will definitely get what you pay for. Canvas tents offer heavy duty zippers and high walls and ceilings. They are designed for the most comfort in camping by offering wilderness buffs an opportunity to stand up, walk around, stretch out or even sit down in a chair and relax. The high ceilings provide additional comfort to campers while also providing extra headroom. This comes in very handy, especially for the taller individual.
When shopping for canvas tents, it's a good idea to decide on a budget before you start browsing. If you know how much money you can spend, then you will be better prepared to make a decision and will be less likely to overspend. After all, you will need to save some money for the additional camping supplies that you will want to take along for the trip. It's always a good idea to work out a reasonable budget anytime before you make a substantial investment. When shopping around, keep in mind that canvas tents are more expensive than other models and can be priced at several hundred dollars each. For a model with more features, they can cost as much as $1,000.00 or slightly more.
There are a few bonus features to look for in canvas tents, including the presence of a back door to allow more air to circulate during the warm summer months and a tent bag for convenient storage and transportation. If possible, purchase a white canvas tent because the white color reflects light inside much better than colored tents. Before making a final decision, you may want to consider the weight factor. Larger tents are much heavier and can be more difficult to set up but, if that's what you need, then go for it. If a smaller lightweight tent will work for you, then consider that option as well.
Canvas tents are more expensive, but they are a true investment. A quality product, with proper care and maintenance, should last for up to 20 years or more. Now, that's a lot of camping.
So you want to take your kids camping just like you did as a child with your parents of grandma or grandpa. Opps the camp ground they took you to is now condos on the lake .
Let assume you are new to camping but you have some experience as a child. You will need to become familiar with camping gear. If you have a friend that camps a lot you can go with them to learn the basics.
Ah go with a friend and show him he is smarter then me not a chance. For I would never hear the end of it.
The first thing you will need is some type of shelter for you and the kids.
Then you will need some thing to sleep in a sleeping bag and something to cook with. Pots and pans portable barbecue hey I know how to use that. Already you are on the road to your first camping trip.
What Gear Do I Need?
Most first timers start out with a tent. The first tent should not be to expensive but it should provide good shelter in the wind and rain. With all the models out there spend some time looking them over do not get one that requires a masters degree in engineering to set up. Stay to the basic needs as you get more experience the tent can be given to the kids as you will upgrade to a fancy one.
Remember you are camping on a budget no use in spending thousands of dollars for all the gear only to find the wife , kids, or your self hates camping. The tent should shield you from bugs sun and the rain.
More than 600 easy to do money saving tips in the 10-Minute Tech The Book.
There are bugs our here in the wilderness so be ware. The tent should have a good screen to keep the little varmints out and yet be easy for the kids to open.
The tent will be some place to sleep and store your cloths. If the weather turns bad them the kids can play or read in the tent under supervision. It is nice to sleep under the stars but you will have to get a tent sooner or later.
So choose one that has enough room for you and the family and all the gear you will want to put in the tent while you are out swimming. Your tent should cost between 100 to 200 dollars depending on the style you pick for your family
If you want to sleep in a tent or under the stars up should have some type of padding The ground is not comfortable to sleep on. You will find padded mats made from plastic with air bubbles, vinyl cover stuffed pads and the good old air mattress.
I prefer the air mattress as it also doubles for the family to float around on the lake. If you go with the air mattress remember you will need a pump to blow them up a large foot pump works best.
Sleeping bags
If you are like most people you will be camping in the summer and early fall so do not buy a sleeping bag rated for -20 weather this will just be extra money that could be use for some thing other thing you will want.
The light rectangular sleeping bag will do If you and your spouse want to sleep in the same sleeping bag just zip them together and you will have one large sleeping bag. Do not forget your pillows but if you do roll up your towels they can make not a bad pillow.
Be sure to have at least two ground tarps at least the size of the floor of your tent. Place on down on the ground then set your tent on it. The second one may be used as a shelter above the picnic table.
Campground Cooking
All of use love the smell of food cooking outside whether it is at the camp ground or in the backyard. If you barbecue a lot at home you all ready have the basic now how to camp cook. Most public camp grounds and private camp ground will have a picnic table and a cooking pit at each camp site.
Take a portable grill with you and you will feel right at home. Pick up a gas stove and a set of pots and pans and you are ready to be a camp chef, remember a coffee pot as the nearest coffee shop may be 20 or so miles away.
Depending on you level of cooking skills you will now be able to prepare meats as if you were at home.
When shopping for gear go to the local big box store as they will carry every thing you need. Some will have tents set up if so climb in ask yourself is this roomy and will every one fit in comfortable. along with all the stuff you will take with you.
If the tents are not set up mark out a piece of the floor at home with tape this will be the same size as the floor of the tent call a family meeting and get every body to lay in the tape lines you laid down is it the right size? If not reassess your needs.
That's it...you are that much closer to have a fun camping trip for all!
The state of Utah in the United States is home to lots of beautiful National Parks, & Bryce Canyon National Park ranks as three of the most magnificent & awe inspiring.
Bryce Canyon isn't a canyon. it is the spectacular edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, a place where intricately carved towers & archways of stone shimmer in a dazzling array of colour under the bright sun.
The rock in Bryce Canyon is composed of layer after layer of sediment deposits, deposited millions of years ago when the area was at the bottom of a lake. Now the Paria River has exposed the layers, allowing a detailed history of the lake to be determined.
15 million years ago the earth in this region began to shift, forming a series of plateaus. The Paunsaugunt is an extensive plateau, with the Paria River gradually eroding away the edge to form Bryce Canyon.
The Park itself was established in 1924, & was named after an early settler in the area, Ebenezer Bryce. they emigrated from Scotland, married a local girl then moved southwards in stages, building sawmills as they went.
In the mid 1870s they reached the Paria River, where they & his relatives settled for a number of years. It was at this time that Bryce made his immortal comment about Bryce Canyon - they called it "one hell of a place to lose a cow".
The area remained basically undiscovered by European tourists, the first guest houses only being constructed around the time when the park was officially established. 
Luckily this has led to Bryce Canyon being an area of largely unspoiled beauty, as well as the enormous scientific value of the historic information trapped in its pinnacles & spires.
The canyon is by no means a stagnant place - the rim recedes by an average of about a foot every 50 years, & in this ever changing scene it is water that plays the most vital role in the shaping & eventual destruction of the magnificent scenery.
Because the rock was laid down in layers, there is a variation in the hardness of the rock formed. When water runoff trickles across the rock, some areas erode rapidly whereas others hold firm.
This variation in erosion speed causes the formation of pinnacles, or "hoodoos" of stable rock. In some places the water seeps down through cracks & eats out holes beneath the surface. When the side rock erodes away, an archway is left behind.
Eventually the arch collapses, leaving one more pillars to join the rest. The ever changing vista of colours, spires, walls & archways is spectacular at any season, & the park is open all year round.
Here you can wander through the Queen's Garden, or gaze up at Queen Victoria herself surveying the 'flowers' in her garden. Some of the most awe inspiring lookouts are situated in this area, including Sunset Point & Inspiration Point - a must for any visitor.
In the warmer months there's lots of trails for the visitor to explore, ranging from easy strolls to hard hikes. Some of the best trails are located in the Bryce Amphitheatre, located near the entry to the park.
Summer months can cause temperatures in the base of the canyon to soar, so it is very important to be prepared for the heat, & over lots of water.
Walkers can also follow the Fairyland, Riggs Spring & Under-the-Rim trails, which are longer, but permit more opportunities to see the different elements of the park at close quarters.
For the energetic, it is possible to cross-country ski in a number of areas in the park, & on some trails it is possible to go snowshoeing instead of hiking.
In winter the roads are opened between snowfalls, allowing a different perspective of the park. Snow capped pinnacles stand out sharply against the background of white snow & dark green trees. The air is also cleaner, allowing visitors to see great distances.
If you require a slightly different view of the park, it is possible to explore the park in a 1930 limousine. Alternatively, you can rent a horse on an hourly basis to trek some of the better trails.
there is lots of interest to explore in the park, apart from the marvellous scenery of the 'silent city', as the hoodoos are sometimes called. The park also contains a large variety of plants & wildlife, including meadows & forests.
Some bears & mountain lions also enter the park occasionally, but are seldom seen by tourists.
Ground squirrels abound near the viewing areas, & their antics are to distract the visitor's eyes from the scenery. On quiet mornings & evenings it is also possible to see deer, elk & antelope grazing on the meadows.
Bryce Canyon is a hidden jewel, thoroughly deserving to be as widely known as its southern neighbour, the Grand Canyon. Include it on your itinerary, & you definitely won't be disappointed.
In fact, you may be completely overwhelmed by the fascinating & awe inspiring beauty of Bryce Canyon, like every other visitor.
Schon seit der Schulzeit war ich von Thailand und dessen Kultur fasziniert. Mein Traum war es schon immer mit Rucksack einfach mal einen Flug zu bestellen und ein Monat oder gegebenenfalls durch Thailand zu reisen.
Nach meinem Abi, nahm ich mir also ein Ticket mit einem Freund und in nur wenigen Tage befand ich mich in einem Flugzeug Richtung Thailand, oder besser gesagt Richtung Bangkok!
Bangkok sollte nicht mein Reiseziel sein, sondern meine Startpunkt meiner Thailand Reise. Allgemein wird Bangkok nur selten als Touristenstadt angesehen, sondern als Reise Mittelpunkt, von wo man in allen Ecken von Thailand oder gar Asien gute Transport Verbindung hat.
Nach einem Flug durch die halbe Welt, sind wir im Flughafen in Bangkok um 3 Uhr morgens angekommen, müde von der langen Reise, aufgeregt auf unser Abenteuer. Bevor man noch zu seinen Koffer kommt, begegnet man zum ersten Mal einen Thailänder an der Pass Kontrolle. Die Beamten sind sehr streng und sprechen ein schwer zu erkennendes English. Aber sobald man einen gültigen Passport mit Visa vorzeigen kann, gibt es keinerlei Probleme. Noch an der Passkontrolle wird man von Vorne und vom Profil von einer Mini Camera fotografiert und man nimmt Fingerabdrücke ab, alles in modernster Fassung! Schnell kommt man jedoch mit Taschen und Rucksack zum Taxi, (der auch nicht wirklich English sprechen kann aber immer wieder "okay" ausruft) und versucht in die Straßen Viertel " Khao San Strasse " zu kommen.
Die Fahrt dauerte lange, eine Stunde im Auto, und die Sonne stieg langsam auf. Durch die Provinzen von Bangkok sieht man noch in der Morgendämmerung um 4 Uhr morgens die ersten Schüler in Uniform und Rucksack durch die Strassen laufen. Auch waren schon Märkte offen und es wurde Gemüse und Früchten gekauft. Irgendwie schien Bangkok nicht mehr zu schlafen, trotz der Uhrzeit.
Angekommen in der Khao San Strasse, befanden wir uns plötzlich in Mitten von Bangkok, im Touristen Viertel, wo es angeblich nur von Hostels und billigeren Hotels wimmele. Doch als wir um kurz nach 5 ankamen, waren die Strassen leer, kein Menschenseele auf den Straßen. Doch Die Strassen machten keinen friedlichen Eindruck, sondern eher ein beengten Eindruck. Ein Gebäude klebte an dessen Nebengebäude, Jedes Fenster auf jeden Stock war mit bunten Zeichen und Schildern versehen. Die Strasse war zwar Menschenleer, doch trotzdem voll von Farben und Information. In diesem ganzen Chaos konnte man nicht mal wieder erkennen, wo sich ein Supermarkt befindet, wo sich ein Hostel befindet und in welcher Strasse man sich überhaupt befindet. Die Stille war dazu erschreckend. Wir entschieden uns schnell ein Hostel ausfindig zu machen und unser Schlaf nachzuholen. In unser Zimmer, mit Fenster auf Khao San, legten wir uns schlafen.
Doch schon nach eine Stunde wurden wir von einer Welle von Musik, Lärm, Geräuschen und Rufe geweckt. Schockiert standen wir vor dem Fenster und sahen eine Strasse, die nur von Menschen wimmelte. Khao San war überfüllt von Touristen, Thailänder, Geschäftsmänner, Kinder und Mönche. Der Lärm, der zu unserem Zimmer stieg, war ein Gemisch aus allen möglichen Sprachen, Thailändischer Musik, Gebete und mehr. Auf Khao San befand sich nun von Schritt zu Schritt ein Verkaufsstand nach dem anderen. Gerüche von gebratenem Essen, von Früchte und anderem stiegen in unsere Nase.
Mein erster Eindruck von Bangkok, war schockierend von der Menge von Farben, Menschen, Information, Gerüche, Smoke in der Luft, Autos etc. Ich stand unter einem richtigen Kultur Schock. Bangkok ist eine überfüllte lebendige Stadt, die mit nichts in Europa vergleichbar ist. Auf der anderen Seite fasziniert Bangkok einen jeden Menschen. Diese über 6 Millionen Einwohner Stadt ist voller Leben, Moderne und Kultur. Asien scheint wie ein Zauber auf uns Europäer, die neue Gerüchte, die neue Geschmäcke, die neue Gesichtern… Bangkok ist eine neue Welt und das in aller Größe!
We were driving around probably not too sure where to go. We must have been heading to Saigon when I saw this sign post on the right saying Dalat. I had heard the name. It was an old French hill station far to the north of Saigon. It had the good reputation of an agreable place to go. It brought to mind tales of one of the old British hill stations of the RAJ. Simla? Anyway my curiosity was roused and I asked PB if she had been there and she said no. I turned right and off we went.
We were able to come to these decisions without any discussion which was good. On the other hand we didn't know how far it was. It certainly wasn't near. We didn't know what the road was like. I am not giving distances. I would have to check them on a map. I had no map then. Anyway even with a map I would not have been much better off. A detailed military map was the last thing one wanted to be caught with and anything else was worse than useless. The conditions on some of the roads were appalling and it was not unknown to travel mile after mile on second gear. Traffic jams in Saigon were monstrous and in the country side a blown bridge could cause a bottle neck with traffic three lanes deep on either side and no way for any vehicle to get through to clear the bridge. Or for that matter just a blown bridge and not a soul about. To compare a journey then with whatever distance is marked on a map today has no bearing on the reality of the situation as it was then .
What perhaps was surprising was the fact that the Vietnamese continued to travel the roads. Their driving was appalling. Driving licenses could be bought. If you were a foreigner you were always wrong. You could, had to, buy your way out of any accident. I read that coach drivers drove at high speed in the hope that if they set a mine off their speed would carry the driver over safely and only blow the rear end off the bus. The accidents were horrific. The Viet Cong set up road blocks and took away whoever they considered an enemy. I remember reading that a French consul in the highlands had his car break down, got a lift on a passing bus, was taken by the Viet Cong at a road block and reportedly died in captivity. The French usually considered themselves above this war and therefore immune. It is possible that having known war for twenty five years when I arrived in 1965 the Vietnamese had developed a certain fatality to it
I switched the number plates of my car and then we continued through an area of rubber plantations. By the time we reached rolling grass covered hills it had begun to enter my somewhat sluggish mind that there was no traffic on the road. I also knew by now what no traffic meant. I hid my identity papers and threw away my X numbered plates. The few villages that there were seemed lacking in activity. Once we passed a lonely catholic priest on a motor scooter. The road climbed steadily and we talked a little. PB was from Hanoi. They had also had a house in the country and been relatively well off. Her father, a nationalist, had been taken away by the Viet Minh one night and never seen again. The family moved south after Vietnam was divided. There was an uncle, a colonel, who had been a province chief. I think all province chiefs were military, possibly with one exception to try to prove the country was not exactly a military dictatorship or something. He had been on the wrong side in one of the numerous coup d'états. There was another tragedy in her life, but it is not for me to talk about here. Every Vietnamese had his own share of tragedies linked to the war. Her English was excellent and she had this delightful habit of mixing her adverbs and adjectives up.
We decided I needed another identity. I suggested being a French catholic priest. I was often mistaken for one in the province where I worked. PB pointed out that her presence didn't lend credence to that. I suggested being a press reporter. We rejected that, but later I was to join an obscure press agency, get the necessary papers, and use that cover in my off duty time. I would also work as a freelance. We settled on my being a teacher. I was to become one at some future date. Once when we were driving in the delta, I think near My Tho, and had stopped to buy some pineapple from a young boy by the road he had remarked that I was English. He had a brother studying in England. I worked with, was paid by and had a lot of friends who were Americans, but alone in the countryside they were the last people I wanted to be associated with. The road started to climb again and still no traffic.
We now looked out on the most beautiful green I had ever seen. Below us there was wave after wave of all the shades imaginable, forest or jungle, I can't remember, but it was utterly lovely. Whatever shade of fear we were suffering from also disappeared. I think we had just put it away and pretended to ourselves it wasn't there. In any case we were committed now and it was too late to turn back. At one point I saw the backs of soldiers looking into the forest, and the sound of bursts of machine gun fire, and then nothing. Next we reached a high plateau with gently rolling hills covered with tea or coffee plantations. I should know which, but this is written after a forty year interval and although some of my memories are crystal clear as though they happened yesterday others are blends of colours and some only grey.
To digress. The old plantations had been owned by the French. I was to get to know a Vietnamese woman whose family owned one. I remember being given large bags of coffee grains freshly roasted, black and small, glistening with butter. The coffee in Vietnam was the Robusta variety. Very strong. It was usually drunk out of small glasses with lots of sugar but no milk. I used to drink far too much and my nerves suffered accordingly. The tea was drunk from large glasses, without sugar or milk, thank god. Outside Saigon at least it was usually free and accompanied whatever one was eating. On the rare occasions I stopped somewhere just to have a glass it was always given, so I usually bought a small cake or something. Anyway the water was usually of dubious quality and tea was safer.
We arrived at the civil airfield serving Dalat. Very small. No sign of any activity or any planes. I was to get used to, indeed to take part, in this Vietnamese habit, of going to an airfield for a flight and sit down and wait hopefully, looking up into the sky for hours for the sight of a plane. When no plane appeared that day they would go away and come back the next. The patience of the East. From here the road climbed steeply and the scenery changed again. One could have been in the Alps. The forest was now evergreen and there was a magnificent mountain off to our left. Unknown to us this was quite the most dangerous part of the journey and that mountain was full of tunnels infested with the Vietcong.
We finally arrived in Dalat. We had not seen a single motorised vehicle the whole journey, save for that lone catholic priest. I will deal with this town later when I was to get to know it much better. For us it was just a question of finding a hotel , a quick walk around, food and bed. The town maintained a rather French air. With my beard I easily fitted in. It was the one place in Vietnam where I was never exploited. There was no United States presence at all. In all my visits there I never saw more than one or two Americans. I do not want to criticise Americans in these articles. The problem was, the fighting aside, there was often an unfortunate relationship between the two peoples, both seeing the other's faults and never the qualities.
There was a curfew at eight o'clock. It was a town that had seen its heyday years before. Now it had the South Vietnamese military and police academies. It had the Couvent des Oiseaux. It was known for its vegetables which were sent by road to Saigon. Its girls had a lovely healthy glow to their cheeks. All of this for later. We spent a rather restless night. There were continual bursts of small arms fire throughout the night. Will I ever tell of any happy one's. There were many, but evidently not at the end of our excursions. We had to return the next day. I only ever had two days off unless arranged otherwise and as all my trips were unauthorised I preferred not to talk about them.
The following morning I filled the car up with petrol, lit my pipe and we began the return trip. It was a lovely day, the air fresh and pleasant but not another car on the road. We descended what I would call the alpine part of the journey, past that imposing mountain now on our right, to the small airfield. We then continued across the area of what must have been a high plateau of plantations. I took some photos of PB, I still have them, at one point we stopped so she could buy some meat, buffalo(?) off a montagnard woman we came across, but we only had notes and the montagnard would only accept coins. Descending through the lovely green forests PB slept beside me. I was brutally awoken myself when the car hit a pothole, struggled to regain control of it and then continued wide awake. I dread to think what would have been the result of even a minor accident.
The drive was eventless and we passed again through rolling hills of tall grassland. As we approached the rubber plantations we stopped for a coca cola at some village. I have always found it the most refreshing of drinks on such occasions and gives one the force to continue. Then, surprise, a column of South Vietnamese armour approached from the south. The first vehicles we had seen in two days. I don't know what the US advisors made of me quietly sitting at a table with PB. Actually they gave a most friendly smile. Perhaps not for me. Driving on we were stopped two or three times in the rubber plantations by Regional Force soldiers who wanted to be recompensed for guarding the road for us! I always kept a carton or two of cigarettes for that and usually two or three packets would suffice. Reaching the Baria Saigon road PB wanted to go to Saigon, so I had to drive there and then back to Van Kiep. I think I must have driven a good eighteen hours during those two days. I could hardly move a muscle when I got back.
Three days after our trip the Viet Cong attacked the road in six places and held control of it for five days. Some time later two Decca employees driving in a jeep from Phan Rang on the coast up to Dalat went missing. In 1971, the British Vice-Consul, a certain Adrian, one of those very rare but most likeable of people was around at my house in Saigon and he told me that he had been interviewing a Viet Cong defector who said they had been stopped at a road block, taken prisoner and died in captivity. One was British and one American. On the other hand in the same period fourteen unarmed US civilian personnel in a US truck under I think Korean army escort were all killed on the same road when their convoy was ambushed. One had to use one's judgement whether to be armed or not, and if possible what means to travel by. One should also pray not to have been born under an unlucky star.
Britain’s second biggest city after London is Birmingham. Birmingham is the cultural centre of the West Midlands and offers the casual visitor an enormous range of exciting opportunities and things to do. Offering an unsurpassed range of shops and shopping centres, and literally hundreds of activities and things to do, Birmingham is the ideal tourist destination; a city that is always guaranteed to keep you occupied.
As a city, Birmingham is packed with places to visit, enabling you to get a real taste of the city’s culture. Just a few of the places include:
Birmingham Cathedral: Built in 1725, this is one of the city’s most beautiful historic buildings, complete with four Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows.
The Royal Air Force Museum: Treat yourself to a stunning display of aviation history and witness over seventy aircraft situated within three separate wartime hangars. You’ll see Spitfires, Hurricanes, Vulcans and more.
Cadbury’s World: One of the country’s biggest and most popular museums. You’ll find out about the history of chocolate, and how it originated in South America, as well as seeing a genuine production line. Of course, a visit isn’t complete without sampling the produce…
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery: Witness a huge variety of exhibits that range from spooky Egyptian mummies to a wooden toy collection for the kids. Treat yourself to some culture and examine the largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings in the world.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens: An astonishing fifteen acres of beautiful gardens are available for exploration, as well as four glasshouses containing exotic plants.
When it comes to finding something to do, you’ll find that Birmingham has it covered. Some ideal places for pursuits include:
The Ackers: If your family’s into sport, then enjoy taking part in a variety of activities including climbing, canoeing, skiing, snowboarding and more. Occupying over seventy acres and located just two miles from the city centre, The Ackers couldn’t be more convenient.
Second City Canal Cruises: Enjoy cruising down the Birmingham canals and buy gifts from the souvenir shop.
The National Sea Life Centre: Witness over sixty displays of exotic marine life, and find yourself enthralled by the undersea world. See giant turtles, reef fish and sharks too.
Newbrook Farm Experience: Visit a working farm and keep an eye out for the many rare breeds of animals that include cattle, hens, pigs, ponies and goats.
Woodgate Valley Country Park: The perfect place for walkers, with mile upon mile of tracks to explore. There’s something for the kids too, with a farm, play area and a fun pony-trekking centre.
If you’re feeling hungry after touring Birmingham, you’ll discover that Birmingham is renowned for its culinary diversity – meaning that you’ll find the right meal, no matter what variety of food you’re looking for. Within the city, home-cooked traditional British food goes hand-in-hand with exotic cuisine from India and China, and all of Birmingham’s eateries are in easily accessible locations. Whichever end of the scale interests you – whether it is a simple takeaway or a slap-up three-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant – Birmingham has it covered. Here’s a small selection of the city’s eating-places:
City Café Birmingham: Service, style and ambience are on the menu at this top-rated restaurant that offers a la carte menus, a famous Sunday lunch buffer and a vegetarian garden. Enjoy a live Jazz band every Thursday evening.
Metro Bar & Grill: Free-range meats are the order of the day here, along with a comprehensive fish board that changes daily. Metro also serves a range of sandwiches and simple snack foods if you’re looking for something quick.
Peppers: Birmingham’s top-rated Indian restaurant has every kind of Indian dish imaginable, and you’ll be spoilt for choice when you see the menu. The restaurant’s ethos is value for money.
San Carlo Ristorante: Authentic Italian food is what this restaurant offers, with many of the ingredients imported directly from Italy. The chefs and the management bring real individuality to the menu.
Opus Restaurant: Seasonal and regional are the keywords for this eatery’s menu, which offers genuine British meals with the ingredients locally sourced.
When it comes to finding somewhere to stay in Birmingham, the only problem you’ll experience with Birmingham is the amount of options available – so many, in fact, that you’ll be spoilt for choice! Short breaks and long stays are catered for in hotels and guesthouses in the city centre or on the outskirts. Further, the prices range from the immediately affordable to more expensive and luxurious rooms. If you’re looking for an alternative, then you’ll find that Birmingham has plenty of options ranging from campsites to self-catering accommodation. There are also special packages available, such as the spa break, where you’ll find yourself pampered into luxury.
When you’ve finished exploring Birmingham by day, you’ll discover that the city comes alive at night with some of the coolest pubs and nightclubs around. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing sit down and drink, or want to party away the small hours, you’ll doubtlessly discover the ideal venue. The Nightingale Club, located in the heart of the city centre, has three levels incorporating numerous bars, discos, a restaurant and a games room. Meanwhile, The Jam House is a nightclub supported by music maestro Jools Holland, and holds up to 600 people. Alternatively, Rick’s Garden Café & Bar in Birmingham offers you the opportunity to enjoy Mediterranean cuisine under the stars.
The above information should give you some idea of just what Birmingham has to offer as a city. There’s something to keep you occupied whatever your interest, with a whole range of different cultural activities. If you’re traditional, you’ll enjoy visiting the city’s many museums and art galleries, and learning about Birmingham’s history. If you’re part of a family, you’ll discover attractions that have proved to be popular with thousands of children while in Birmingham. Eating, shopping, seeing and doing… all four bases are covered when you come to Birmingham.
Hotels in Birmingham
Birmingham NEC/Airport Premier Travel Inn
City Inn Birmingham
Campanile Hotel - Birmingham
Copthorne Hotel Birmingham
Birmingham Great Barr Hotel
Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport
The Norfolk Hotel
Portland Hotel
Ye Olde Station Guest House Birmingham, Shustoke
Days Inn Birmingham East
Britannia Hotel Birmingham
Macdonald Burlington Hotel
Best Western The Westley Hotel
Central Guest House
Express by Holiday Inn Birmingham Castle Bromwich
Heath Lodge Hotel
Express by Holiday Inn Birmingham NEC
Novotel Birmingham Airport
Hagley Court Hotel
Apollo Hotel
Corus hotel Birmingham South
Bridge House Hotel
Fairlawns At Aldridge(Best Western)
RAMADA BIRMINGHAM (FORMERLEY DAYS HOTEL)
Express by Holiday Inn Birmingham Oldbury M5, Jct.
Novotel Birmingham Centre
Paragon Hotel
Thistle Birmingham City
Birmingham Edgbaston
Jurys Inn Birmingham
Premier Apartments Birmingham
The Edgbaston Palace Hotel
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Most kids carry backpacks to school everyday, and pediatricians, physical therapists and parents are reporting increasing numbers of schoolchildren complaining of back, neck and shoulder pain, along with tingling or numbness in their arms and hands. This is being attributed to children carrying heavy loads of schoolbooks in backpacks and often not following backpack safety rules and using the bag improperly.
However don’t scrap your child’s backpack and run out to buy a sling bag, or briefcase type book bag. Evidence exists that says these are even more harmful than the backpack. So what is a parent to do? Backpacks if made correctly, worn properly not over packed and packed correctly, are fine. A back friendly bag will have wide padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist belt.
This takes care of most of the problems. The straps, on this type of bag, avoid the pinching of the shoulders by narrow unpadded straps on other backpacks. The waist belt and padded bag help to reduce the bouncing of the bag on the back. This reduces repetitive impact injury. Some backpacks even have a chest belt, and side straps to stabilize the load.
This type of backpack is obvious the better choice, because it uses the back and abdominal muscles, the two strongest muscle systems in the body, properly. A heavy backpack, incorrectly worn, can pull the child back, so the child leans forward to compensate for the pull. This can compress and possibly damage the vertebrae, causing back and neck pain.
This leaning forward also tends to cause the child to roll her shoulders inward. This with the forward lean can also compress the lungs and cause problems for asthmatic kids. The best backpacks are made of sturdy material, have padded wide shoulder straps, padded backs, waist and chest belts. These extra belts help to put some of the weight bearing on the legs and hips. You have the right backpack, now you have to make sure your child knows how to use it properly.
First teach her how to pack it properly, heavier items like textbooks should be placed closet to the back, don’t over-pack, and don’t pack anything you do not need for school, Now see that he lifts it properly, and that he uses both shoulder straps, the waist belt and any additional belts.. Before purchasing a backpack check on line for results of product testing and ratings, by reliable consumer protection groups, of any backpack you are considering.
Be aware that price is not always an indication of quality, nor does lower prices necessarily mean a poor product. You must do your homework. Also look on line for wholesale dealers in backpacks .We found a top brand backpack that has all the proper padding all the belts and a mini frame to help support the load for just a thirty dollars more than the average mid-range back pack.
More important than the price is that you get the right type of backpack, and that your child uses it because the best most expensive ergonomically sound backpack in the world, is worthless if she doesn’t follow the backpack safety rules.
Backpack in hand, you are ready to head to Europe for some fun and sun. Here is some advice for backpackers from someone who has done it multiple times and made the mistakes.
Advice For Backpackers Going To Europe
In my personal opinion, spending a few weeks or months backpacking in Europe should be a mandatory task for every person. Admittedly, it can’t really be called a task since you will love every minute of it. Having backpacked Europe more times than I can count, here are some of the lessons I learned which can help you.
The first piece of advice is to limit the number of things you take. Europe is not located on a far away planet. If you can buy it here, you can buy it there. This includes items such as soap, socks, toothpaste, disposable digital cameras and guidebooks. I guarantee that you will take too much junk with you. Don’t. One or two pairs of shoes, shorts, one pair of slacks [to get into museums and churches] and a couple shirts is all you need. If you need anything else, you can just buy it there.
There is a lot to see and do in Europe, so most people want to maximize their time. One way to do this is to travel and sleep at the same time. Yes, I am talking about the night trains. When moving from one location to another, try to take the latest train and sleep during the trip. You only have a set amount of time. Taking this approach will keep you from wasting valuable daylight hours on the road.
One of the key pieces of advice I can offer you is to use your common sense. If you wouldn’t walk down that alley or into that establishment at home, why the heck are you going to do it in Europe? Europe is very safe and the people are friendly. That being said, every location has its rough spots. Avoid them. Particularly in the Eastern European countries. Trust me on this one!
To maximize your experience, it is best to get off the beaten path. When you visit a city, spend at least a day in a town outside of the city limits. You will discover the real nature of the country. Tourists are fewer, so people tend to be interested in talking with you. There are always a group of older men sitting in a café. Join them and you will be laughing for hours. I did this in Austria and ended up speaking a week in a little village called Halstatt. One of the best times I ever had.
When it comes to tips backpackers and Europe, this final piece of advice is very important. Do not try to see everything. Stick to one country for two weeks, but no less than one week. This lets you get the most out of the visit.
Yes, there are other countries, but you will just have to come back again to see them. Poor you.
