10 Famous Ways to Go on the Best Sightseeing Tours

Here are a few valuable points to assist you in planning the best sightseeing adventure. Time to tour! Almost every tourist destination has sightseeing potentials. It not only adds to the appeal of that place, but also provides quite an insight about the place. Counted amongst must do's, here are 10 famous ways to go on the best sightseeing tours.

1. Consider a good tour operator who has a range of sightseeing tours catering to your needs and budget. Select the one, which best suits you.

2. Select a good guide who is well acquainted with the place and who can communicate well with you.

3. Select a clear day with mild weather so the visibility is clear and you can enjoy the tour.

4. Carry sun block as you may need it as most the sightseeing tours are outdoors.

5. In many places, one can see most of the sightseeing hot spots with a single pass. Get it in advance or ask your tour operator to arrange it.

6. Carry necessary accessories like binoculars, camera etc. with you.

7. Different places have different travel mode, which are great for sightseeing. Opt for the best mode for sightseeing.

8. At times, you may need multiple tickets for seeing different places. Ask your tour operator or your guide to arrange them before hand as to avoid unnecessary hassle and confusion.

9. If you are on a group sightseeing tour, know the time and place to assemble at the sightseeing places to make sure that you are not left out.

10. Try to avoid a group where there are too many people for sightseeing, as you may not get what the guide is explaining.

11. If there are elder people or kids with you, take special care for their needs. You can carry a folding chair for the elders in case they want to rest awhile. If you are taking children with you, keep them under supervision.

Veron Ho is the owner of Travel Haven, a travel agency totally dedicated to organising creative and luxury packages. Join Travel Haven Email Club at http://www.TheTravelHavenOnline.com and receive a COMPLIMENTARY Destination Travel Guide of your choice.

Frequent Traveler? How to Add Extra Pages to Your Passport

You will need to add passport pages to your US passport if you fall under either of these two categories: (1) you have less than two to four pages left in your passport, or (2) you are a frequent traveler in need of a new passport book. If you fall under one of the two, then you'll likely want to know how to add passport pages to your current passport. Read on and we'll show you exactly how to do it.

If you have two to four passport pages remaining in your US passport, then you'll need to apply for additional pages right away. But why hurry? You need to act quickly especially if you're planning on traveling soon since routine passport processing takes four to six weeks to complete. So it pays to accomplish this early so you can get them soon.

To request for additional pages, your passport must first of all be valid. If it is still valid, fill in Form DS-4085. Then you will have to mail your completed DS-4085 along with your current passport to the address specified in the form.

If you're going through the routine passport processing, then you don't have to pay for anything to have additional pages. However, you can have the process expedited if you need to travel in two to four weeks' time, which will require additional fees. Expedited passports are faster to process, and you can get your passport in around two to three weeks.

Now let's talk about frequent travelers. If you are a frequent traveler, then chances are you use up your passport pages faster than most people. When applying for more pages, you'll need to go through a different procedure.

To request new passport pages, you need to send a signed letter requesting one. Along with this letter should be the completed DS-82 form. Filling in this form will allow you to send your passport application by mail. But in instances where are you ineligible to apply by mail, you'll need to complete the DS-11 form. When using the DS-11, you will submit this form in person, along with your letter to the passport office.

Should you decide to send your passport application by mail, choose a tracked method of delivery. This will help ensure that the addressee receives your application. All modern couriers now offer this type of delivery. Aside from that, ensure that your documents are secure by placing them in a secure envelope. Look for an envelope that isn't easily damaged so it remains in good condition until it arrives at the passport office.

It can't be easier to request for additional passport pages. First of all, you would need to determine under which of the two categories you fall. Be aware that there are different procedures you need to follow if you are an applicant with less than two to four passport pages left, as well as when you are a frequent traveler. Now you know how to add passport pages to your US passport.

How to Tell a Good Travel Agent When You See One

You and your spouse have decided to go on a vacation. You've always wanted to get really away, and a trip to the relatives just doesn't cut it any more. How do you plan your trip?

You could go online and dig around for travel tips (which you're doing right now, unless this article is in a physical magazine). You will find more information online than you can possibly use--and some will be contradictory. How do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Every place will say it's the best place to visit. Everyone will claim to have the best discount. No one will tell you the gotchas. (Some places do have negative comments, but how do you know if the comments aren't just sour grapes?) What if price X changes while you're looking at price Y? What about hidden costs, problems you might not think of, secret discounts you don't know about, and pitfalls in processing your documents? Many dangers lurk in planning travel beyond your usual haunts. And don't forget--all that research takes time. What's your time worth?

You might visit a travel agent. Travel agents have a reputation for being expensive. After all, they have offices and all those fancy travel books and posters. As it happens, those ads and brochures are supplied by the cruise lines and travel companies. They pay the agents, too, normally. If an agent needs to charge you for a service, they will tell you up front. if you're in a travel club, you can expect the agent to reduce or eliminate the commission, and have a ready supply of club discounts, further reducing the price. Ask yourself: What's a travel agent's knowledge and experience worth? They know the ropes, the pitfalls, the tricks of the trade; they have access to all the discounts, and they'll save you time and stress--after you get to know a travel agent, one phone call can take care of everything.

Of course, you have the same problem picking a travel agent as you do making travel decisions online: Who's good? For that matter, what is good in a travel agent? And how can you tell?

Here are a few ways to take the measure of a travel agent.

• Are you connected to the agent? (This rule is good when you consider hiring a realtor or a funeral director, too.) If you know someone in the travel industry, they are more likely to want to give you exceptional service. After all, they see you socially. Maybe you knoe where they live. Good travel agents can be relatives, acquaintances, friends, and friends of friends.
• Is the person well traveled? If they have been to where you want to go, all the better, but travel experience of any sort seasons a person. A travel agent who has personally been around the block a few times is a font of wisdom and advice.
• Is the person detail oriented? Not necessarily neat (that is a good thing), but notice whether they find your file immediately. They should know where everything is and not have to hunt for things. You don't want an absent-minded professor for a travel agent. You never (okay, hardly ever) see a good travel agent surprised by something, and they keep their promises about when they'll have something for you. They are ready when you show up after that first, introductory meeting.
• Is the agent you're working with responsive? Do they answer phone calls and emails promptly? This is a must. Even if all they can say is that they need more time, they don't make you wait for a reply.
• Are they cost efficient? You can tell this by the number of choices they present you with. A lazy travel agent won't research multiple options, won't hunt for the best price, won't spend any more time than necessary working up your vacation. You see them look up one thing and give you a price. A good agent will hunt down good deals, think of options (a nearby nice location that costs less, for example) that you didn't consider, check with several wholesalers. Good agents give you a lot to choose from.

A good travel agent can handle a lot of that before-vacation hassle, and make your next trip more enjoyable while it's happening.

Sometimes the best travel agent is one who works for you, not the travel companies. Travel clubs and travel consolidators buy in volume and trim commissions; both techniques save you money. Here's a club and its associated consolidator: Serenity Travel Newark.com and Destination Vacations International

Finding a Great Caravan Park

Staying in a caravan for a holiday is becoming increasingly popular for couples, families and friends. So if you fancy spending time in one, you will want to know where to find the perfect park for you.

The internet is an excellent way to find a suitable park, especially the best ones around. So if you want to get a head start in your search just type the words "Caravan Park" prefaced by your location in your browser, e.g., 'Yorkshire caravan parks' and up will pop of host of websites belonging to all kinds of parks - both large and small.

In order to assist people in finding a caravan park in a location which is either close to them, or in an area where they would like to stay, many websites publish lists in geographical order, sometimes throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. You may also find parks listed across the English Channel in France as well as other locations throughout Europe. Some websites also publish aerial maps of their various locations, giving you a better idea of the area you may choose stay in

So what makes a park "great", as opposed to just pleasant or quite good? Firstly there are the facilities in the caravans themselves. Today's units are a far cry from the traditional cramped little caravans that were popular many years ago. Nowadays the vans come complete with luxury items, fully fitted kitchens, showers and can be anything up to sixty feet long. They really are a home from home which is of course one reason why these kind of holidays are becoming so popular once again.

Other factors that serve to make a caravan park deserve the term "great"is the provision of entertainment, be it organised, proximity to a beach, golf, water sports, cycling, indoor entertainment and children's play area, to name just a few.

Location is also very important. The seaside with a beautiful beach, or a beautiful countryside venue, are likely ingredients for popular parks. As well as pleasant surroundings, they will also be near to interesting places to visit, be they quaint country towns or seaside resorts.

And, if you enjoy your holiday so much you can choose to own your own holiday home as most parks will have a choice of luxury new and used static caravans for sale. If they don't have the particular one you desire, the park may help you find it. Price is always important, and the park will hopefully charge a very economical price for the static caravan you wish to purchase. You will also have to pay ground rent, so check the contact details on their website, and ask how much you are likely to have to pay.

So in order to find a great park for your caravan holiday, check out the internet to find out what is on offer.

Sand-Le-Mere is one of the most popular yorkshire caravan parks and is located on the east coast. Sand-Le-Mere is family owned and considered to be one the UK's most popular and beautiful holiday and residential caravan parks.

Whale Watching in West Cork

Over the last number of years West Cork has recorded over 12 different species and as a result has become a popular destination for people who enjoy whale watching.

During the 1990's the Irish Government declared the coastal waters of Ireland a whale and dolphin sanctuary and each year Ireland attracts more and more whale and dolphin watching enthusiasts from all corners of the world.

Whale watching in Ireland has definitely taken off and in particular in Cork, this is due to the many species that call West Cork their home over half the year. During the month of May the Minke Whales arrive off the Irish coast followed by the Fin Whales who traditionally arrive in June or July. Both species stay through the months of August and into the autumn and early winter months, because of this, Cork provides some fantastic opportunities to view these large marine mammals along its stunning coast. The Humpback Whales traditionally arrive during the month of August or during the early autumn months but are not as predictable as the visitors before them.

Catching a glimpse of these magnificent mammals is certainly the highlight of any whale-watching excursion, there are also some fantastic opportunities to see some Bottlenose Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins and porpoises that arrive to the coast during the summer months. Throughout the year the following species can also be seen on the West Cork shore: Killer Whales, Basking Sharks, Long-finned Pilot Whales, Atlantic White Sided Dolphins and White Beaked Dolphins.

Seals are also another common sighting and there are two species that you are sure to see on the coast of West Cork, they are the Atlantic Grey Seal and the Common Seal. The Seals are a very common sight in the Baltimore area in particular.

Whale watching boat trips are a common sight in Cork and offer an ideal opportunity to view these wonderful mammals up close, whilst touring the spectacular unspoilt Cork coastline. Cork is famous for its natural rugged beauty and spectacular peninsulas, such as the remote Beara Peninsula, Mizen Head Peninsulas and Sheep's Head Peninsula.

West Cork is a popular tourist destination with much to see and do, from its rugged landscapes, colourful villages and towns peppered along its coastline, to amazing wildlife, its people and much much more, a visit to West Cork is a must.

West Cork also attracts a thriving population of common and uncommon seabirds and is a very popular destination for bird watching. Only this year an Ivory Gull from Arctic Russia was sighted 60 miles offshore in Baltimore Harbour and stayed for a week!

Whale watching is an absolutely fantastic experience and if you have not tried it already then you really must. What better place to conduct such a wonderful experience than in the spectacular surroundings of West Cork.

Breda Quirke writes for GoIreland.com - Ireland's leading travel and accommodation website.

Check out GoIreland.com for everything you need to know before you visit Ireland. GoIreland.com has low prices for quality approved hotel, B&B, guesthouse and self catering accommodation all over the country.

Looking for hotels in Cork? Browse GoIreland.com's Cork hotels page now for great value prices!

All Inclusive Travel Deals - Getting the Dream Vacation You Have Always Wanted!

Are you looking for the best way to travel and the only way to make sure you get what you want on your vacation? Do you want to make sure that your next vacation is what you have always dreamed of? There are ways to get what you want with all inclusive travel deals. Here are some tips to help you when you book your next trip.

First, when you use the total package in your traveling you will not have to worry about a thing. You can travel to the ends of the earth and find some incredible resorts to stay at that will give you all the extras included in your five star package. This is the best way to travel and you will agree once you travel this way once.

Second, with all inclusive travel deals you will be able to get a great deal that will include all the things you need. This is all the way down to your food, drink, entertainment, and all the things that you need in order to have the time of your life. Using all inclusive travel deals is the only way to go and you will understand that once you take your trip.

Last, you will be able to relax and have no worries on your trip. You can get all the things you want, have the fun times you want and enjoy the company you are keeping if you get a total package deal and you are able to stay at one of the finest resorts in the world. You can do this with many companies including Sandals & Beaches.

Click Here to discover all the benefits to traveling to a Sandals All Inclusive Resort!

Where Would I Go For an Island Vacation?

I have decided that I am going to have an island vacation!

I'm not worried about what I could do there as I know I can people-watch, lounge, swim, dive, kayak, sail, eat, drink, shop, fish, gamble or do nothing at all!

How do I pick between the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or the Pacific?

I have heard that the Mediterranean is not just a place but a state of mind. Its hot dry summers make it perfect for lying on beaches or lying in the deep blue waters. The warm weather matches the hospitality of the locals.

Why a Caribbean vacation? For the beaches and sea, the history of the islands, the unique mixture of Caribbean, British, Dutch, Spanish and African cultures. Diving, surfing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing and snorkeling. Even sitting on the beach is better in the Caribbean!

Why would I want to go to the Pacific? Aren't they the most amazing islands in the world? There are few tourists and even fewer monster hotels. The Pacific Islanders have a fascinating culture. Some islands are so small they are only a beach and a coral reef. Other islands are so large that they have hundreds of different languages.

If I were to go to the Mediterranean, I would avoid the middle of Summer. Its the peak session, its very hot and full of tourists. If I was going to go in August, I would make sure to book far in advance. I prefer Fall or late Spring, it is still warm, everything is open but everywhere is less crowded. Early Spring is a good time to visit the more southern parts of the Mediterranean as well as larger islands like Crete. I have found that even in the middle of Winter, the weather is still mild. The only problem with Winter is that its the low season, most of the attractions are shut.

If the Caribbean was my pick, going in the most popular time of December to April might put me off. Its the coldest part of Winter in the US and Europe so everyone would be taking advantage of it being the driest time in the Caribbean. The prices are lower in the off-season, between May and November, but I would have to be aware of hurricanes.

If the Pacific topped my list, I would have to remember the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. Summer is between December and April - which is the hottest and most humid time to be near the Equator but the best time to visit places like New Zealand and southern Australia. May to September is Winter, but it is the best time to visit the islands nearer the Equator and northern Australia. The weather is cooler and less humid so there is less rainstorms, this is why it is also the peak season.

What about a resort island? A complete package with activities, pools, restaurants, shopping or even gambling. What about an island unspoilt by development? I could handle an empty island. There are over 700 islands in the Bahamas, they can't all be full?

I could go on about how it depends on the time of the year, how much time I want to spend traveling to get there, peak or off-peak seasons and what I would do there. But really, I am going to book an island vacation package now!

Martin wishes he was having an island vacation right now! If only he could decide where to go.....

Island Vacation Packages

Great Caribbean vacation deals

The Gains From Funny Travelling

In the old days, anyone who embarks on a journey is sure to get a dose of stories to get by. One always looks forward to traveling because of the stories and also because traveling sometimes makes people experience the things that they never imagined nor expected. Sadly, traveling these days is just stress and silence. Stress from travelling makes people weary, impatient and even forgetful of the concept of fun. Experiences that are enjoyable like funny travel slowly become taboos that no traveler can ever experience. Before this nightmare has become reality, we should examine our attitude towards traveling. It is an activity that is made and practiced supposedly for fun. Being well travelled used to be a good connotation of fun and enjoyment. If only people know the benefits of being happy and joyful towards everything that we do, then maybe there will be no boring and dull moments in life.

If people are having fun, there would be the sound of laughter all around. Laughter is a full expression of happiness and fun. But laughter is not simply a sound that happy people make; it has a far greater benefit on the people's well being. In traveling, the usual reasons for having a laugh are some old and memorable travel jokes. As studies show, these jokes are more than just silliness. It can make the travelers' minds clear and give us a feeling of well being. A good laugh can make distressing emotions dissolve. There is no room for sadness, anxiety and madness when people are laughing. Laughter is also a strong mood motivator and body energy enhancer. Travelers who had funny travel stories made fun out of the ordinary things around them for inspiration and motivation. The laughs can make the whole travel less stressful and consuming. People are more energized and diligent after laughing. This gives happy travelers a plus point in terms of productivity and focus. Laughter can also make peoples' perspectives shift from a pessimistic view of the world to a light hearted and optimistic view. Travelers will see less threatening things and see more of the lessons that traveling teaches.

A humorous travel is less likely to end up burdened with too many problems. Humor makes problem solving easier and faster. Those who incorporate humor in looking at problems make the people more creative in finding solutions. In a trip, the traveler who has a sense of humor can make even the most unbearable situations light. Humor widens one's horizons as well as increases people's ability to solve problems. It opens venues for more creativity and fun in solving the problem.

There are no absolute lists of funny travel tips. There is no telling what adventure the next wrong turn would bring. There will be no despair in travelling if the travelers recognize the opportunities that is brought by the mishaps that are happening. Through many funny travel stories, people would eventually realize that fun is a vital factor of a good and worthwhile travel.

Drew Mohebbi gives you the best tips on how to make your travel fun and memorable, if you want to know more about travel jokes and fun log on to http://www.triphap.com.

Enjoying the Road - RV Memory Foam Mattresses

Everybody loves to take a vacation. Who doesn't? The chance to get out there and see what the world has to offer tugs at everyone's heart. The only question that you have to ask yourself when you go is how to make the trip the most enjoyable that you can.

Now, there are people out there that really love camping the old school way, with tents and sleeping bags (or less). If that floats your boat, more power to you. I've got plenty of friends that absolutely love camping like that and wouldn't do it any other way. Myself, I'm more of a camp-in-comfort person. I love getting away from the normal, day-to-day stresses and relaxing, but I don't like leaving behind all modern conveniences to do so. What's the point of having them if you can't enjoy them more than usual while on vacation?

Running around the country in a R.V. is fun. You get all the benefits and privacy of being home and don't have to pay a dime for overpriced hotels or seedy motels that haven't updated in decades. But what's the point of getting a R.V. if you can't even sleep in comfort? Let's face it, space in a R.V. is at a premium. You have make the most of what you have while using the least amount possible. So if you were going to go on cross country trip (or even just a quick jaunt a couple hours away), I'd recommend looking into R.V. memory foam mattresses.

R.V. memory foam mattresses are simply your standard memory foam mattress cut down to accommodate the space available in a R.V. Nothing more or less complicated than that. Granted, they are pricier than than a standard mattress, but if you're going to be on the road, you might as well follow the R.V. philosophy: make the most of what you have while using the least amount possible.

You always have to think strategically when you're outfitting your R.V. for a good haul. Factors such as the number of people going, whether it's just you and your spouse or the whole family, how long you're planning on being on the road for, how much you want to eat out or eat in, and even how much time you plan on being in the R.V. itself all have to be considered. When you're aiming to camp in comfort (or just travel in comfort for that matter), you need to have things planned out. Doing things on the fly may sound fun and spontaneous, but my experience has always been that they wind up costing more money and taking up more of your time than they would otherwise.

The last factor to keep in mind in any vacation or trip is how to make it as least stressful as possible. Myself, I've always found that getting enough rest has been essential to doing so. R.V. memory foam mattresses have always served me well and given me the comfort and rest that I've needed to actually enjoy my vacations and keep them from turning into a nightmare.

Michael Russell is a retailer specializing in luxury pillows and other ways to making sleep a dream at Sweet Dream Sleep. If you're interested in improving your night's rest, check out his web site at http://www.SweetDreamSleep.com.

How a Short Holiday Can Be Just As Refreshing As a Week Holiday

Everyone loves a holiday but does everyone have the time and money to have one? Do you feel stressed at the thought of packing and coming home to a ton of work?

Well there is an answer. Think about a coastal town near by or perhaps a hinterland country or even a city, what ever takes your fancy.

Think about having some hot baths, nice dinners, walks along the beach and a lazy breakfast.

Have you ever thought of taking a few nights to go to a favourite destination near by?

The purpose of getting away is not having to do what you normally do at home like cooking, making the bed, getting up and going to work etc.

A few days means less work to do when you get back, an easier way of getting a sitter if you need one for the kids and much less organizing in all.

When you have a few relaxing days off it can feel like a wonderful refreshing weeks holiday. The best thing about this is that it can be very affordable and most apartments or hotels are doing great deals on short breaks away often throwing in free breakfasts or kids eat free deals.

Better still why not have up to four short breaks a year instead of waiting one whole stressful year for a week or two if you are lucky.

If its a couples getaway think about a nice hotel and having some relaxing spa treatments of which you may not do if you were going on holidays for a week or more.

Reconnect with yourself today and consider a short break to reinvent your holiday thinking.

Making the Most of the Nighttime on a Luxury Holiday

A luxury holiday can be referred to a holiday full of opulence, comfort, and sumptuousness. It is a not a normal holiday that is passed in leisure, sitting in your home, taking rest, reading a book, or sleeping. Rather, a luxury holidays signifies a holiday that is spent having fun and entertainment. It can involve visiting different wonderful areas of the world. Opposed to a simple holiday, a luxury holiday offers you a variety of lively activities and modes of amusement. It becomes memorable due to the different experiences you undergo.

All around the world, many countries provide a variety of good opportunities to the people, who love to spend their holidays in a luxurious way. The fun-lovers go and enjoy their leisure time at many spots around the globe. These resorts offer a wide variety of activities and facilities for the tourists, so that they can do justice with their time and money, and go back home with precious and lovely memories.

Nighttime casts a unique charm on a person when he goes to a resort for spending his holiday, especially the summer holidays. Thus, special nighttime activities are presented by the holiday resorts. These activities can include nighttime clubs, music, nighttime theatres, nighttime roaming, games, shopping, and much more.

When you visit Dubai to spend your holiday there, it offers a variety of opportunities to you. At nighttime, Dubai gives a tremendous manifestation of its scenery to the holidaymakers. The whole city seems to be lighting like stars. It is right to say that 'Dubai sleeps in the day time, while it wakes up at night'.

That is why the tourists prefer nighttime activities there. Some go out for shopping in the grand super stores, sunk in the flood of light, while some select the sightseeing. A number of the visitors visit nighttime clubs. Dubai has a large number of clubs, pubs, bars, sports bars, etc. These clubs and bars present a variety of music and dances. Hence, you can pass your nighttime in these clubs and bars in a tremendous way.

Apart from it, the desert in Dubai is also magic casting, especially at the nighttime, offering the best opportunity to the visitors for overnight camping. It is one of the best ways to make the nighttime of your luxury holiday excellent and memorable for you. This could be a unique experience for you.

However, in the desert you may not be facilitated by a multiplicity of eatables, dances, music, etc, yet you will have distinctive experiences there; tasting Arabian cuisines, listening to traditional music, belly dances, and most of all, instead of sleeping in the luxurious bedroom of Burj Al Arab, sleeping under the open sky under the roof of glittering stars. This whole experience will prove to be a wonderful memory in your life.

Similarly, other countries and states like Spain, Florida, and many more, offer a great package for nighttime activities. People can select any place from all over the world, and make their luxury holiday evergreen.

Louis Jones is a travel guide. Learn how to make most of Luxury holidays while staying at Le Touessrok in a limited budget.

Terrorism and Travel

Pre September 11 terrorism was an issue which didn't overly concern Americans. It was something that happened in faraway places to people they did not know. In fact this was much the same for most western societies. Unfortunately in today's world this could not be further from the truth. If you travel beyond the borders of the USA or the UK in any direction you are stepping into the cross fire of a battle that involves thousands of people in dozens of countries.

The answer to this problem is not to refrain from travelling abroad. No, far from it, as this is in itself a victory for the terrorist. The solution lies in broadening your security awareness of the issue and adapting prudent travel habits. The single most important element in reducing your exposure to terrorism is for you to take active security and/or close protection precautions. Like most criminal minds, a terrorist will pray on the easiest targets. We have to harden the target and stop making their job easy.

IDENTIFY THE DANGER

Terrorism defined is an act of violence or the threat of violence with the purpose of generating fear. While all countries have suffered as victims, Americans remain the number one target choice.

According to Andy Lightbody (an emerging authority on terrorism), since 1983 over 400 Americans have been killed by terrorist actions abroad and over 600 injured. These figures are deceptive as they do not take into consideration the hundreds of victims who have escaped physical injury but retain the psychological scars of terror. The FBI reports that the total number of terrorist bombings world-wide reported in 1986 alone, totalled more than 700. It is an increasing security problem with a frightening growth potential which all close protection officers should be aware of.

Security Tip: Prior to the end of the last Millennium if we removed the obvious trouble zone of Lebanon, we found that six countries dominated two-thirds of the recent terrorist attacks, namely Columbia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Spain and Belgium. However fast forward to current day and the shift has moved to war zone areas like Iraq and Afghanistan. However terrorist attacks are increasing in many other global destinations. Security and close protection officers are advised to conduct rigorous threat assessments prior to close protection operation deployment to these areas.

The terrorist of today is not the disorganised lunatic that you may envision. Many are from upper and middle class backgrounds, who for a variety of reason have been recruited into a fast-paced world of violent causes. They are organised to a high degree that would be admired by the very establishment they oppose. While some terrorists have mercenary motives and others exhibit signs of raving insanity, the majority of terrorists are dedicated crusaders willing to give his or her life, as well as yours, for their cause. With extensive media coverage, terrorism against Americans has become an effective way to gain public attention in a world theatre. These tactics are deplorable, but unfortunately successful and efficient. Simply stated, terrorism does work, hence the need for security and close protection officers to understand the security information outlined in this terrorism and travel article part 1.

PREPARATION AND THE MINDSET OF PREVENTION

By acknowledging the fact that you or your security close protection VIP client could be a target of terrorism, that indeed it could happen to you, puts you well on your way into the mindset of prevention. Although you do not want to be fearful, you cannot be overly cautious. You need to remain in that perceptive middle ground between complacency and paranoia. This middle ground is the ground taken by many security, bodyguards and close protection officers.

Security Tip: Undertaking specialised security close protection training will place you in the higher ground of professional paranoia which is occupied by many of the world-class close protection specialists.

As you plan your vacation or business trip abroad, begin the process of intelligence gathering. Unfortunately, you may find an appalling lack of unbiased security information available to the general public as to the actual situation in the country to which you are travelling. Learn as much as you can about your destination through personal and security sources, follow the media and keep current with the political changes of the region. Clearly identify the potential risks of travelling in that country. Make your plans to avoid large events in your host country such as national celebrations and anniversaries, military displays or air shows. Such events are often the target of violent protest against the government increasing your risk and the potential risk to your security close protection client of becoming an incidental casualty.

An excellent source of security information for professional bodyguards is our own State Department. They are not a travel agency and they will provide you with a candid assessment of the risk factor in any particular zone of the world. They can also inform you of any upcoming events in your destination country which you should plan on avoiding. For an authoritative report on conditions abroad, call them at 202-6475225.

Some of your higher risk times, especially when conducting a security close protection operation will be in the airport before and after departure and on the plane itself. Because military, law enforcement and security personnel are specifically targeted by terrorists, do not carry your badge or other security I.D. in your wallet on the plane. If you must bring it for work purposes, pack it in your luggage. If you are on family vacation, it is best to leave all such identification at home. Clean out your wallet of all unnecessary information, telephone numbers and notes. Do leave in pictures of family and children as. hijackers have been known to be more lenient on families.

If you are hijacked, your passport will definitely be taken. If you are a frequent traveller, get a new passport as a multitude of visa entries will betray the fact that you are acting in an official capacity. If you visit Israel - ask them to stamp your visa on a separate piece of paper that does not need to be carried in your passport. The Israelis will readily agree as that government is painfully aware of the injuries inflicted upon their citizens and allies. Make a photocopy of the first page of your passport and your visas and keep this in your checked luggage. It will help you get a replacement passport quicker at your destination should your passport be confiscated or stolen.

Security Tip: In your carry-on bag, pack at least a six-day supply of any medication that you require on a daily basis. This small precaution will safeguard your health in the event of a hijacking. Do not carry your ground itinerary with your travel tickets as this alerts a terrorist to where you are going next. Do not carry controversial reading such as Playboy, Penthouse, or even Cosmopolitan. Many terrorist groups find this type of publication highly offensive and it will provoke them to unnecessary anger.

Leave a detailed itinerary of your travel plans with a contact person in the States. Make sure they know exactly where you will be, how you are getting there and how to contact you. it is, also, a good idea to leave with them a photo copy of your passport, credit cards and traveller's checks numbers.

For executive travel arrangements consider consulting security cleared travel sgency. a company who makes travel arrangements and consultations for corporations and individuals who carry a high risk factor and must keep terrorism in mind. They are usually staffed with experienced and intelligent personnel, sensitive to your travelling requirements.

Copyright (c) 2009 Dr Mark Yates

Dr. Mark D. Yates The British American Security Expert has conducted high risk security operations in 42 countries for government, military special forces, Intelligence & security agencies. He is a published author & 5 major TV documentaries have been broadcast about him. Want to claim his FREE 52 security tips then visit him at http://www.asecurityonestopshop.co.uk or e-mail him at drmarkdyates@aol.com

5 Ways to Keep Out of Trouble When Traveling Abroad

When you are traveling in another country it can be real easy to get yourself into trouble. When you don't know the language and don't understand the laws, you can get into some pretty unpleasant situations. If you remember these tips and pay attention to our recommendations you can save yourself a lot of headaches.

1. Make sure you have a signed and valid passport in you possession at all times. Most countries will require that you carry an identification card or passport with you. A bank card or voter registration card won't make it and your driver license is not going to be satisfactory in most countries. Be sure your passport is current and signed and is still going to be valid for six months after you return home.
2. Be sure to check with the Department of State for any adverse conditions that may exist in the country you will be visiting. If any travel advisories have been issued for the place you are visiting they can be found at passport agencies, US embassies and consulates, and through most airline offices.
3. Be sure to check up on the laws of the country you will be visiting. US laws don't apply in most foreign countries and sometimes the customs in your destination country may be very restrictive. This is one place where the services of a competent travel agent may come in very handy. They can inform you of any unusual laws that you should be aware of in the country where you are vacationing.
4. If you plan to stay longer than 2 weeks in a foreign country be sure to register with the US consulate. They can help if someone back home needs to get in touch with you and they can also be helpful if you don't show up when the time comes for you to return home.
5. It will always be to your advantage if you can blend into a crowd rather than stand out like a beacon. There will always be someone looking for that special target that could provide an easy mark for a robbery or even an assault. If you find it is essential to be the so called "American Tourist" and stand out from the others then try not to carry a bunch of cash or jewelry with you. That will make you an easy target for a pickpocket and they can be found in any large city and in any country.

Traveling abroad is a normally a wonderful experience and with just a few precautions that experience will be one that is cherished for years to come. It will always be to your advantage to be less noticeable and a little reserved. With reservation will come more respect and enjoyment of your travel experience.

Jere Moline is a travel writer and has enjoyed the cultures of many countries throughout the world. For up to date advice about travleing abroad be sure to stop by our web site at http://www.discounttraveltoday.com.

The Great Benefits and Experiences For Travel Nursing

Every person wants to travel to different places to enjoy meeting other people in different nationalities and looking for wonderful views and tourist spots in a country or state. But travelling alone is not possible for all because one needs to work first to gain income and savings which will be used for travelling. There is a field in nursing industry where you can both work to have income and at the same time enjoy the travelling to different places.

Travel nursing is another field in nursing where it is becoming in demand because of the opportunity of nurses to travel. Because of the shortage problems in nurses both in Canada and United States, they can solve it through sending more nurses to places where there is a need especially in hospitals that seriously need the services of more nurses.

The nursing industry gives both the hospitals and nurses lot of benefits. The nurses can look and choose the best company that would provide them the right salary and other medical allowances together with the benefits that the company offered. All the expenses like the expenses for the travel back and forth are being covered by the company. Allotted allowances will be given for meals, lodging and rental of boarding houses. The salaries are based on the working experiences of the nurse in the field of health care and any other medical field and usually being paid of by hour. Travelling nurses are being paid higher and about twenty percent (20%) more as compared to nurses that serve as staffs in the same hospitals.

The hospitals also benefits from having travelling nurses because they are experiencing the shortage of manpower in their medical fields. The hired travelling nurses are used to fill in the needed services in some fields where nurses are lacking of. With the benefits the hospital gained from hiring travel nurses, the process for searching the right nurses are also hard for them.

Travel nurses are widely in demand to hospitals in some places but some hospital doctors are complaining for their performances. They have some skills that a nurse must have but lack on the familiarities on the facilities in the hospitals and the treasured culture of the citizens.

Travel Nursing as the Best Field or the Worst Career for Nurses?

Travel nursing is a very popular profession for nurses because it can also easily attract both the fresh graduates and the long time nurses in entering this career. Better benefits are offered to this profession and they are oftentimes given higher salary rate and the most is for letting them to travel without worrying the cost and even enjoying the new places while they are working. With all these benefits that the travel nurses receive, some nurses describe this a the worst profession or field for them.

Travel nurses are sometimes believed to be similar to a truck driver because they may both see new and wonderful places as they travel but they are unable to experience the things that they really wanted to do. They cannot spend the whole day in beaches and make fun because their job is calling them. You cannot prolong your stay in a place or you cannot go to other places where you wanted most.

Positive and even negative points are expected in any career or profession. This is also observed in travel nursing wherein there are also some negative points that usually the reason why there are many nurses that do not pursue this profession. In this career, most of your time and service are badly needed by the hospitals. Sometimes, viewing of wonderful sight is only experienced when you need to move to another place where travel time is very limited.

The main purpose of the travelling nurses is not for making fun and enjoying travel but mainly for helping people who mostly need them and assisting doctors and co-nurse professionals for treating the patients. Travel nurses are the sole responsible to their patients during travelling to places that sometimes are long and very difficult journeys. The families of the patients trusted you for taking care and always looking after to their sick family member. They also have reasons why they need their family member who is ill to travel to some places like looking for the best facility for treatment.

The Great Benefits and Experiences for Travel Nursing

Travelling nurses gives you the benefit to travel especially if you really love to go to other places and also the salaries that they will pay you are higher than the usual nurse in hospitals. This is the reason why many nurses are searching for companies that offers this kind of profession.

The benefits that listed below makes travel nursing very popular to nurses.

• Travel nurses will be given free boarding and sometimes in luxurious houses.

• Health insurances are also given to travel nurses and it is for free.

• Higher salaries and more benefits they will receive upon pursuing this profession.

• Working in some hospitals and sometimes you can be assigned in the finest hospitals in the nation

• Learning more to new techniques and keeping up to date to the latest apparatuses and trends in nursing

Requirements are also needed to acquire for a travel nursing. Work experience of at least a year to the field that you will do while travelling is one of the requirements that is needed. You must adapt easily or flexible enough for some drastic changes of places that you will be travelling because some places are implementing different policies and they have their own procedures. Since orientations are very limited, you make sure that you hit the ground running.

Most of the travelling nurses often feel that these benefits are more than the negative points that they have encountered and will encounter for travelling. Just be flexible and always be prepared and you will experience both incredible and wonderful good experiences that you must achieve as a travel nurse.

For More Information See: How to How to start a nursing agency, visit startanursinghome.com.

Stockpiling Wealth and Health

You will often read discussions on this website about stockpiling wealth and stockpiling health. Let's talk about what that means and why we want to do that. The number one reason I publish my website and live by the principles I discuss is quality of life. Not just safeguarding my quality of life but regularly improving it is very important to me. If you are interested in why just visit my website.

In my opinion your overall health and your overall economic situation determine the lion's share of your quality of life. Quality of life means enjoying life. You and your family are happy, your material needs are met, you don't suffer from constant health distress, and you are in a position to regularly improve your lifestyle. If you aren't sure you're moving in the right direction think about yourself and the family members you are responsible for and ask "Do we currently have fewer health problems, less stress, more options in dealing with challenges, and a more affluent lifestyle than we did 5 years ago?"

Ensuring that you are living a better overall lifestyle 5 years from now actually starts right now with positive healthy behaviors and effective economic decision making. When you make these behaviors part of your current lifestyle you will see small positive changes fairly quickly. Over time you will see dramatic, life-enriching changes for you and your family. Certainly you will agree that the problems and challenges you could face due to poor health or a poor economic situation will result in a less than optimal quality of life for you and your family. So let's review 10 ways to measurably improve your lifestyle just a few years from now. In each category I have listed one of my favorite examples.

Water

There are so many reasons why water should be the cornerstone of your healthy lifestyle. An important reason for me is that a lack of water is the number one reason for daytime fatigue. The reason is that you are dehydrated. So many people don't recognize dehydration. They gauge it by thirst. You don't have to be thirsty to be dehydrated. If you are tired or sluggish there is a good chance you are not getting enough water and you are not working toward your goals at 100%.

Expense prevention and management

So many times I have seen people get in financial trouble because they didn't prepare for problems. Think about it - things such as home repair, health care, and car repair can end up being huge bills if little problems are left unattended. I have a story on my website about a time I was too lazy to blow the leaves out of my gutters. For years all the tree debris built up until eventually the damage from backed up rain water cost me several thousand dollars. Ben Franklin said it best = an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Spend a little bit of money and effort now to avoid potential financial disaster in the future.

Healthy food choices

Whole grains provide stable energy and act like little scrub brushes cleaning your arteries. The cleaner those arteries are the more fresh blood is flowing through your body providing energy creating nutrients and flushing away energy robbing waste materials. Energy equals effective work. Work equals positive results.

Start with a clean slate - don't owe anyone anything

Think about a day at work or around the house when you were on your feet all day long. At the end of the day you get to sit down and the sensation of "taking a load off your feet" feels great. You will experience the same feeling when you pay off your debt and start over with a clean slate. Not owing anyone any money is a terrific feeling and jump starts your efforts in living a financially sound lifestyle.

Exercise

Exercise doesn't necessarily have to be strenuous to be beneficial. Moving your body makes your blood pump harder and pushes fresh oxygen through your body to your cells. That feeds your cells and will produce more energy for you throughout the day.

Be ready to take advantage of opportunities

Just like problems opportunities are sure to come your way. The thing with both problems and opportunities is that just like your mother in law neither give you much of an advanced notice of when they are going to arrive at your doorstep! Your best plan of action is to budget for opportunities. I will give you an example. I know that I will eventually need to put new tires on my car. I don't have to buy them today but I put money aside every 2 weeks in my "tire fund". I have a general idea of when I will need to buy new tires but because I have been putting money aside in advance I am ready to take advantage of any great deals on tires that come my way. The last time I bought tires I was in a position to wait for the best deal and ended up paying $90 less then the best estimate I had received only 2 weeks earlier.

Environment

Your environment can have either positive or negative affects in either the short term or long term on your physical or mental health. Your environment can affect your mood. As much as you can you should make your environment conform to your desires. That gives you a motivating mental boost that give you more energy throughout the day. Energy equals effective work. Work equals positive results.

Buy assets not liabilities

How can you tell the difference between an asset and a liability? Assets are generally boring. Liabilities are generally fun. Assets are things you buy that 1) fill a need and then 2) produce additional money in your budget through income or expense savings. The purchase of high efficiency light bulbs is an asset because they solve your need for light and produce cost savings over traditional lighting. Those savings are the "found money" that allow us to buy liabilities. Liabilities produce no income and are usually just a cost. An extra night at the beach produces no income and will cost more money therefore it is a liability.

Vitamins

Often times we do not get the optimum amount of nutrients either because there is not enough healthy variety in our diet or the foods we eat are too processed. Supplements make up for deficiencies in your diet. Whether you get your nutrition from supplements or completely through diet remember that vitamins allow your body to heal and work more effectively.

Interest

There is a fairly easy rule to remember when it comes to interest - earn it don't pay it. Arrange your budget and your financial plan so that you are buying things that pay interest and budgeting enough cash to pay for things outright and not on credit. One thing to remember is to keep your credit rating high and squeaky clean so that if you do need to pay interest you are in a position to demand a better rate.

For more ways to enjoy a better quality of life visit BowmansMoneyCollege.com

Mike Bowman
BowmansMoneyCollege.com

Things You Should Know When Traveling With Your Pet

If you are a pet owner, chances are at one point or another you will find yourself traveling with your pet. Whether you are simply going on vacation or moving to a new place, you need to make sure that you make your travel arrangements carefully so your pet experiences as little stress as possible.

Of course, your pet becoming stressed is not the only thing you need to worry about when traveling. Depending upon your mode of travel, there are various other things that you will need to take care of as well to ensure that your pet is able to travel with you with no complications.

Traveling with Your Pet by Air

Whether you plan to travel with your dog or travel with your cat, most of the pet air travel guidelines are the same and need to be met accordingly or you may not be able to get your pet on the plane. Each airline will generally have their own pet air travel guidelines that must be met, but there are some guidelines that are universal.

When flying with your pet, it must not only be up to date on all of it's vaccinations, but you will also need to obtain a Certificate of Health from your veterinarian. Without this certificate, flying with your pet is impossible and you will not be able to get on the plane with the pet. The Certificate of Health can usually be obtained from your veterinarian within 10 days from your travel date.

You will also need to have a pet carrier that is approved by the airline. If you plan to travel with your dog and your dog is large, your pet will more than likely have to go in the cargo area in a special crate that has airline approval. If you are going to travel with your cat, or with a small dog, a special crate or carrier is still necessary but many times you can board the plane with your pet. If in doubt, contact the airline to ask for complete details about their pet air travel guidelines so that you can make sure that flying with your pet goes off without a hitch.

Traveling with Your Pet by Vehicle

If you are taking a road trip, traveling with your pet by vehicle is of course much easier than flying with your pet. There are still however, some special considerations that you should make. There are more risks of pet travel when you travel by car because it is much easier for your pet to get away from you and the trip is often much longer which is more stressful on your furry friend.

If you have room in your vehicle, you should of course keep your animal contained within a carrier or crate for their own safety. If you are going to travel with your dog and the appropriate size crate you need does not fit in the vehicle, purchase a quality doggy seat belt that will keep the dog in place and prevent it from roaming about the car.

Whether your are traveling with your pet by air, car or other means of transportation, always make sure to have their vaccination papers on hand in case something happens and you need to prove that your pet's vaccinations are current. It is also wise to carry an extra collar, leash and identification tag with you in case the ones they are wearing and using become lost. And finally, if you are concerned about traveling with your pet due to the stress they may experience, contact your veterinarian to discuss a prescription sedative that can help to keep them calm and stress-free.

Traveling with your pet may be challenging, but if you research and follow all of the pet traveling guidelines, you can make the trip less stressful for you and your loving buddy. Happy trails from Globalpetvillage.

Global Pet Village is a worldwide family friendly community for pets and those who care about pets. Our goal is to provide an environment where pet owners can come together and exchange information, pictures, videos, diaries, common interests and useful ideas about their pets.

Naturally Get Taller Using These Height Increasing Techniques

By following these techniques, along with selecting a solid height program, you will be on your way to seeing results.

One of the best ways to promote growth is through exercising. This is especially critical when you are still going through puberty. Regardless of your age, if you are not consistently exercising you risk becoming overweight along with a list of other health related issues. Being overweight puts unnecessary stress on your bones affecting your bone health for the future.

Exercising is another excellent way to naturally get taller. It releases height growth hormones which help to stimulate much of the growth spurts you experience during puberty. Even though much of your growth takes place when you are younger, exercising as an adult is still effective.

Exercising consistently will slim your body down producing lean muscle mass. Here's a word of caution: You can naturally get taller if you know which exercises to do and how to do them. Be aware of the various supplements and pills, claiming you can not grow taller through exercise. This is simply not true. It's about doing a variety of effective techniques including exercising that will help you see results.

Your diet also plays an important role in gaining height. Calcium is an essential nutrient that promotes bone health. If you are not taking in enough calcium, you are at risk for weakening your bones especially as you grow older. When you are not getting enough calcium, your body automatically makes up for it, by storing it on its own.

This weakens your bones and is very harmful. Try adding protein, amino acids and other vitamins and minerals to help promote good bone health. Taking care of your bones now can prevent you from growing shorter as you age. As we grow older, our bones tend to weaken and even shrink. This can put you at risk for osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

Learn how to naturally get taller? Increase your height by 2-3 inches in 6 weeks by going to naturally get taller for more information.

There is No Nursing Shortage

An interesting conversation took place recently between a 45 year nursing veteran and her family. The topic of the day was the nursing shortage and the veteran nurse surprised all by announcing, “There is no nursing shortage, there is a hospital nursing shortage.”

She went on to explain that in the home health and non-institutional nursing fields, there is an adequate supply of nurses willing to work for employers who respect and value their services. According to this nurse who had worked in hospitals for much of her career, the problem today is that hospitals and other institutions see nurses and other professionals as replaceable rather than precious.

“No nurse my age is going to work for some young supervisor who believes that you manage people by threatening them or their license. There are too many jobs out there to deal with that nonsense.”

This veteran nurse struck on the key factor in any employee shortage, the relationship between employer and employee. Two contrasting examples of the value of the employer/employee relationship demonstrate the promise and peril facing healthcare in the future.

Steeley Corporation:

One of the two largest employers in a north Florida community, Steeley Corporation had once been one of the two most reliable employers in the region. Steeley Corporation was the unrivaled market leader in their niche and pay at Steeley Corporation was second only to pay at the paper mill. Steeley Corporation management was exclusively hand picked individuals who had proven their willingness to follow any order given by the company president. Steeley Corporation management believed in an authoritarian management model and the lack of other good paying jobs ensured that employees remained despite the poor employer/employee relationships.

As the economy of the area shifted from manufacturing to tourism, Steeley Corporation began to suffer financial difficulties. Convinced that the company could be profitable again if the employees would stand with the organization, mandatory overtime and shortened breaks were instituted to “save jobs.” Employees unwilling or unable to work past the end of shift were terminated and management further retaliated by giving poor references. As the company spiraled downward, payroll checks began to bounce and managers began threatening licensed employees with “reports to the state.” Employee resignations skyrocketed and families began leaving the community. Finally, the company collapsed and disappeared overnight. In the aftermath, hundreds of employees were owed millions of dollars.

Intuit

The early days of the “dot-com” craze were characterized by a many great ideas that would flounder for years until rediscovered by a bigger company. Small software houses would create a fantastic product, but without the funds to run a start-up business, these products would either disappear or be purchased by larger companies. Microsoft was the biggest buyer of such innovative technology. It was into this environment that a small company with an electronic checkbook was born. Intuit began in a garage and grew quickly on money borrowed by the founders.

The brightest days for Intuit were quickly followed by sudden financial darkness. As larger software developers entered the “personal finance” market, Intuit found itself in financial trouble. The company founders made the employees an extraordinary offer based on the value they placed on the employees and the relationship with each as a person. The employees were offered an opportunity to work for partial ownership of the company. Those who chose this option would become shareholders with the potential of making millions if the company survived to be a publicly traded company. Employees who could not afford to forego being paid received a guarantee that their job would be available if they chose to return when the company was again solvent.

Intuit management had cultivated caring relationships based on mutual respect with each employee. There was no “management by intimidation” at Intuit and the company was rewarded when financial disaster loomed large on their horizon. Most key company employees opted to stay, unpaid, in exchange for ownership. A small group of employees were unable to forego an income. Intuit management guaranteed their jobs and honored these guarantees when these employees returned. Over time, Intuit became the dominate personal and business finance software manufactured, even staving off a take over attempt by Microsoft.

Healthcare has become a split marketplace with institutional care (hospitals and nursing homes) separated from non-institutional care. Nurses are gravitating to non-institutional care despite lower pay because of the factors that Intuit and others have come to appreciate. Employees care more about the relationships than the money. Veteran nurses remember being respected and appreciated for long hours and selfless dedication. It was not expected or required, it was given freely and accepted graciously. Even in a “materialistic society” people want to be loved and cared for, respected and valued.

There is no nursing shortage, there is a relationship shortage.

Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez is co-founder of Disaster Life Support of North America, Inc., a national provider of Disaster Preparation, Planning, Response and Recovery education. Through his consulting firm High Alert, LLC., he serves on expert panels for pandemic preparedness and healthcare surge planning with Congressional and Cabinet Members. Board certified in multiple medical specialties, Dr. Ramirez is Founding Chairperson of the American Board of Disaster Medicine and a Senior Physician-Federal Medical Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. Cited in 24 textbooks with numerous published articles, he is co-creator of C5RITICAL and author of Mastery Against Adversity. Dr. Ramirez invites comments at: http://www.disaster-blog.com

Swine Flu Tip - Don't Be Your Own Petri Dish

There are a number of things you can do to reduce your chances of getting the flu. At the top of this list is maintaining a healthy digestive tract. While the flu is a respiratory infection, it always incubates in your digestive tract before moving to your lungs. A healthy GI tract can reduce the likelihood of viral replication as well as getting your immune system into gear to deal with the problem.

The whole flu process gets going by breathing it in and then swallowing, or coming into contact and then touching your face and eventually swallowing the virus. From there it goes to your digestive tract - where your first line of defense is death by hydrochloric acid. This is not a good time to be on any acid-suppressing medication - which is clearly known to double your chances of getting whatever flu comes around.

A great deal of immune system activity is constantly going on in and around your digestive tract. Half of your lymph system is located around your digestive tract to deal with "foreigner issues." You actually have more foreign cells in your digestive tract than cells that make up your body. Your relationship with these non-self entities plays a large role in your immune competence.

For example, if you have too much Candida albicans and too much of a hostile bacteria, these issues have already strained immune function within your gut. In many cases these foreign gangs of thugs are communicating to your front line troops and telling them not to work properly. This makes it more likely that some other type of problem, such as the new Swine flu, can get a toehold in your digestive tract and begin multiplying.

During a potential pandemic you should avoid all junk food, snacking on sugar, excess alcohol, or anything else that interferes with your digestive processes. It is a top priority to maintain your digestive tract in excellent working condition.

Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, Inc, is a Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist and a world renowned natural health expert. Richards is the first to explain the relevance of leptin and its link to solving obesity.

For a fully referenced article: Click Here.

Getting in Shape After 50 - Easier Than You May Think

You're over 50. No sense talking to you about what happens when you get older. You're there. You've been around the block; been there, done that.

Now you're thinking you'll get in shape but when you come home after a long day you're too tired. Excuses have become your specialty. Sure, once you were in shape but that was when you had no troubles, or fewer troubles. Maybe you were never in shape. You'd like to be but you don't know where to start.

There is some good news but you have to turn off the TV. That insidious box is stealing your life away. Before you know it, you'll be dead and all you'll be sorry. Turn the life sucking, brain vaporizing thing off. You may need a week or two to decide. That's OK but make the decision. Does it mean you'll never turn the silly thing on again? No, of course not. But it does mean it gets last priority. LAST priority. We'll pretend you made the decision to pull the plug and move onto the next decision. It's about your attitude. It sucks. I know, you're 50 years old or maybe even worse, 60. Could it be you're 70? Egads.

Who cares? Nobody but you. If you were looking and feeling like Jack Lalanne you'd be proud of your old age. It all starts with a great attitude; not a good attitude, a great attitude. Some of you take solace in being like Garfield and his dark depressed humor. I think he's funny too. But, when it comes to getting into shape, I'll kick his little cat ass every time.

So we'll make believe again. You turned off the TV and you made the decision to get fit. Your attitude is not great yet but you're willing to work on it. It will get better. Who feels great when their body is falling apart?

What are your goals? Is your goal to lose 50 lbs.? Maybe your goal is too get off insulin or blood pressure medicine. Whatever your goal is, write it down. Write it down. When do you want to reach your goal? Remember you didn't put the weight on in a week, so don't expect to take it off in a week. Figure losing about a pound a week if you're doing it right. Doing it right means losing the fat but keeping the muscle. Kabish? Since muscle weighs three times more than fat, it ain't going to be that easy to lose 50 lbs, right? That's all right. If your blood sugar is down and your pressure along with it, and you're fitting into those 36 to 38s, then you're doing all right. Nonetheless, we all like the scale to lighten up a little, y'know.

Ok, so if we're going to lose 50 lbs. and it takes a week a pound your goal statement should look something like this: "I am losing 50 pounds by April 30, 2010."

Now you can rest. Yeah, right. Now you can get to work to make this happen. Forget about every "try this, try that" solution out there. Here's your plan. Exercise more and eat less. Exercise more and eat less.

The details should flush out something like this. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper. Drink 8 glasses of water throughout the day. Eat your fruits in the morning and veggies in the afternoon. Walk 1 hour at least 4 times a week. Now, here's the tough part. Get a partner. I walk with my daughter. With 16 year old girls being what they are today, I don't expect you'll have much success. I started years ago so she's brainwashed by now. How about your spouse? You can talk....or not. After a few months you'll need a partner. Get one.

There's lots more but those are the basics.

Here's the wrap up: I live in health care whether I like it or not. I have been in the healthcare industry for 20 years first as a personal trainer who owned a fitness center and then as an owner of ten multi-disciplinary clinics. Now I market for home health companies, run an elder care foundation, own a PT company and run a training association for health care trainers. My head hurts. Let me tell you that your health care coverage is going to get worse, a lot worse. Your health care plan is going to start encouraging you a lot more aggressively to get into shape because health care costs are going through the roof. You better get in shape. Yeah, I know, it's funny how youre allergic to exercise and all that but it ain't too funny when your doctor tells you that you have diabetes or you better not get too upset because your blood pressure is so high that you'll risk a heart attack.

Get into shape. You'll love it and once you're half way there your family will love it to. Get off the couch, turn off the TV and start moving. One more thing, eat less , will you? Can't you control yourself?

You may have noticed that I repeated myself a lot during this article. I also give talks on Alzheimer's and if you're over 50 you're getting it. Get into shape and you'll grow more brain cells. You can thank me later.

God bless!
Bill Ranieri
321-626-9031

Bill Ranieri is the renaissance man of health and fitness. He has done just about everything from own multidisciplinary clinics to start personal training certification courses. He is a man of attitude, pure positive attitude. He believes that anything can be achieved with an unrelenting positive attitude. He currently owns a PT company, talks on Alzheimer's and other senior issues, runs a training association for health care trainers, writes articles and is an expert in health care marketing. Above all he loves fitness and thanks God everyday for his talents. If you want him to help you personally or professionally you may contact him at 321-626-9031 or e-mail him at waranieri@aol.com. First he will determine with you if he can help you. Then you'll talk price. If you're motivated, it's affordable!

Steroids - Help Or Harmful?

Steroids are fast catching up with antibiotics as the most abused class of drugs in your doctor's black bag. There is no doubt that the discovery of steroids over 50 years ago was a major advance in medicine, but a lifesaver?

The problem is, like antibiotics steroids appear to be a miracle 'cure'. Patients with crippling arthritis or asthma seem to be instantly better on steroids. The wheezing, the swelling, the pain goes away. Understandably the doctors turn to them fast, often first line of attack.

Antibiotics were once reserved for extreme emergency are now being used on the most trivial of conditions. Steroids are now handed out as readily as antibiotics even to babies, at the first sign of inflammation of any sort.

Steroids make up many over-the-counter skin drugs, and are considered the drug of choice for asthma, arthritis, and back problems, bowel problems and for all inflammations or allergic reactions.

Far from being a wonder drug 'cure all', steroids cannot cure one single condition. All they do is suppress your body's ability to express a normal response. In a few instances, this type of suppression will give the body a chance to heal itself. But more often, the effect is immediate, devastating and permanently damaging. Doctors are more commonly realizing how quickly damaging side effects can occur even after a short period of taking the drug.

Unlike antibiotics, steroids are all broad-spectrum, they don't simply affect the area of the body you wish to treat, but scatter their effects through every cell. This is turn may cause numerous side effects. For 30 years we have known that steroids can routinely cause over activity of adrenal hormones, which produces Cushing's disease, characterized by a fat abdomen and face. They can also cause muscle wasting, hyperglycaemia, water retention, insomnia, mood changes, osteoporosis, diabetes to list a few. Do you still want to use them?

Steroids in Children

For 30 years we've known that prolonged use of steroids for asthma and eczema retards growth in children and delays puberty. Studies have shown children even suffering from chronic arthritis, stunted growth and adrenal suppression.

Steroids may also affect a child's cognitive performance. Cataracts and glaucoma has been associated with oral steroids.

Bone density has been found to be lower with children the longer they stay on steroids. Even inhaled drugs for such as asthma are found to have adverse effects on bone metabolism and adrenal function. Steroids can cause the break down of bone joints, resulting with joint replacements.

Despite these dramatic effects on such crippling conditions, new research shows that some of these anti-inflammatory effects appear to wear off in time, leaving suffers worse off than before.

Highlighting a few effects steroids can cause, can possibly give readers an opportunity to think before they make the quick decision to pop to the doctors for a quick fix cure, as it can sometimes be more harmful than a cure?

Lucy Bridges Level 2 Coach at Dax Moy Personal Training Studios

Simple and Perfect Solutions For Excessive Head Sweating

Excessive head sweating is a very common disorder seen especially in children. One can often notice that some children wake up from sleep dripping with sweat from their head. This symptom is often overlooked and considered normal unless it starts giving problems. But keep in mind excessive sweating of any part is not common and it is indicative of some unknown ailment that triggers the some glands leading to its hyperactivity, which is expressed as sweating.

Why is excessive head sweating caused? Have you ever thought about it? If not, then it is high time that you divert your attention towards this matter. An unbalanced hormonal level in your body is the main cause of excessive head sweating. When the endocrine glands are affected, hormone regulation gets altered in the body which often leads hyperactivity of the glands. As a result, the some glands are triggered and excessive sweat is produced in the body. It is often a warning for you to consult a doctor and start the necessary treatment.

It is also caused when the person does not maintain proper hygienic conditions. Keep your hair clean and free of dirt by taking bath every day, will help you to decrease this problem. Thyroid is another gland that is responsible for controlling sweat production in the body. This is a diagnostic symptom of hypothyroidism caused due to altered levels of thyroid hormones.

Herbal remedies are also effective in the management of this ailment. They are completely natural and risk free and very effective. Surgeries are recommended nowadays by many professionals for excessive head sweating, but it a risk that is unnecessarily taken as it has no guarantee and often the nerves in the body are tampered. Relaxation techniques are useful in those persons who are under tremendous stress and strain and in some cases this is seen effective.

Excessive head sweating should not be overlooked and if you are a target of this illness get yourself checked up as soon as possible.

There are many methods to cure your overactive sweat glands. Excessive head sweating is totally curable, You just need to Use some Natural Methods to get rid of the problem. Take a look at Prevent Sweating and get relief from this problem forever. Take care of your health and live life longer.