10 Interesting Facts About Rome, Italy

The modern city of Rome, as legend goes, was built on seven hills. A city that is accustomed to foreign influences, it is known for it architectural treasures. There is a lot more to Rome than we know. Here are some interesting facts to give you an insight into the Roman culture, its history and treasures.

1. The birth of the Eternal City, Rome, which was founded in 753BC, is celebrated every year by Romans on the 21st of April. Celebrations include fireworks, gladiator shows, traditional Roman banquets and parades.

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2. The Pantheon which was built in 27 B.C. by Marcus Agrippa is the only monument belonging to ancient Rome that still remains intact. What is even lesser known, is that it entombs Italy's king Vittorio Emanuele II, and his successor, Umberto I.

10 Interesting Facts About Rome, Italy

3. A park in Rome is named the "Park of the Monsters." Not because it is a haunted place but because it is full of grotesque figures like a crude Hercules slaying an Amazon and an ogre's face with a mouth so big that people can even walk through it!

4. The Baths of Caracalla although in a bad state now, were once in their prime days spread across 27 acres and could handle 1,600 bathers at any given time. Built in the 3rd century, they are the largest survivors of Rome's imperial era.

5. Rome has a museum which is entirely dedicated to pasta. The Pasta Museum is a one of its kind around the world and showcases different pasta-making machines, as well as paintings related to pasta by contemporary artists.

6. St Peter's Basilica inside Vatican City is the largest church ever constructed.

7. Rome's Coliseum, a huge amphitheatre which could seat 50,000 people is one among the Seven Wonders of the World.

8. The Monumental Cemetery of the Capuchin Brothers has used the bones of over 4,000 Capuchin monks, some skeletons fully intact, to create symbolic works of art in its series of chapels.

9. The Vatican Museums is a huge museum complex with over 1,000 museums and galleries like the Gallery of Tapestries and Etruscan and Egyptian Museums that are full of masterpieces collected by the successive popes. It is the world's largest museum complex.

10. St. Peter's Basilica was a structure that stood for almost 1,000 years until it neared collapse and was rebuilt by 1500s and 1600s. It is an overwhelming structure which displays the work of some of Italy's greatest artists like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Maderno.

10 Interesting Facts About Rome, Italy

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Rome apartments & accommodation rentals and Holiday and Vacation Rentals.

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Taking Guided Travel Tours

Do you like to see the sights in a new city along or would you rather have a travel guide, so that you can get all of the inside information? There are ways that you can combine guided travel with individual travel to make the most of your trip or vacation. One such destination where it is easy to do this is in Washington, D.C. This city offers bus tours around the city that will allow you to see all of the important sites and then you can decide which ones that you want and need to see up close and visit them the next day. The Smithsonian has to be seen up close and personal, but some of the monuments can be seen from the comfort of a bus. By combining the best of individual and guided travel, you can create a travel tour that will best fit your needs and your lifestyle. Learning about the landmarks through a guided travel tour can help you to learn some of those details that you might have otherwise missed.

San Francisco is another area that you can combine the best of guided and individual travel. There are some places that you will enjoy visiting on your own so that you can spend as much time as possible. These include Fisherman's Wharf and Pier39. Then you can take a little walk to visit the Aquarium of the Bay or you can take a guided tour of the San Francisco Bay. There are other places that you can visit on your own in San Francisco, including Ripley's, arcades, and even an antique carousel.

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In some places, you will learn more if you take a guided tour. Alcatraz is one of these places that you can choose to take a guided tour by earphone or by having a live tour guide with you. You could choose to visit the famous prison by yourself, as well, but you may miss some of the more interesting historical tidbits by doing this.

Taking Guided Travel Tours

Taking a guided tour of Chinatown is not something that you will want to miss. The tour will give you added details about the people and the culture that you might miss if you did the tour on your own.

You can take over thirty different guided tours where you walk around San Francisco. You can find a listing of free tours on www.sfcityguides.org.

Napa Valley is another place where you may want to take a tour. You can look at the vineyards alone, but there are guided tours that will give you tours of all the wine tasting rooms and vineyards. This can give you an inside look at wine country that you may not get otherwise.

Wherever you go, you can choose to take individual tours or guided tours or you can do a mix of both. It is up to your personal preferences and lifestyle. Have fun!

Taking Guided Travel Tours

Rob Carlton's long articles are found on different online sites linked to Benidorm today. You can find his work on temperature in Benidorm Spain at http://www.alicante-spain.com and various other sources for temperature in Benidorm Spain knowledge.

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Supplies For Your Custom Greenhouse

Gardening is among the leading hobbies just about everywhere in the world. The popularity of gardening with the aid of home greenhouse kits has caused an explosion of green house equipment and supplies designed for the hobby gardener. What was used only in commercial or institutional growing houses is now being used in the avid gardener's own custom built greenhouse as well. Many of these supplies can be costly and it is necessary that you realize what you will need when planning a custom hobby greenhouse.

Growing your own produce, fruit and vegetables all year-round is making the basic gardener consider a hobby greenhouse for low cost sustainability. Hobby greenhouses, whether it is a kit, a lean-to or a stand alone greenhouse, are all great ways to become a part of this vast emergence due to the high costs of living and the concern for organic products and healthy choices.

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Besides planning a place in your yard for your hobby greenhouse, the builder will guide your project through a professional and successful construction and installation process. Hobby, school and commercial greenhouses and greenhouse supplies are also items you will want to ask about in your planning stages.

Supplies For Your Custom Greenhouse

For example, if you live in colder climates, you will want certain types of heating systems and particular materials in the greenhouse to aid your plants in healthy growth year round.

Misting and fog systems are common greenhouse equipment that is used in southern greenhouses and hot climates. Misting systems aid to cool greenhouses with a fine mist that depresses air temperatures when it evaporates. Greenhouse supplies for misting and fogging come in many sizes and costs and your greenhouse builder will also help you decide the proper size and will order it directly through his various sources.

Greenhouses provide a controlled environment for plant life by the common use of venting. This is where the vents are built into the greenhouse roof, and allow the heat to rise, or the mist to ascend. This allows most vegetation or floral to grow at the control of the gardener.

Another utility for healthy agricultural growth is with hydroponics. Hydroponics are usually a steel or plastic piping that allows the root to grow while it feeds on the nutrients in a water solution. No soil is necessary and the beauty of this method is the fact that it rids all plants of soil based disease and is more cost effective in the long run. Hydroponic greenhouses are growing in numbers within southern greenhouse regions. The greenhouse builder or manufacturer can either supply the hydroponics or they will point you in the right direction for setting up your hydroponic greenhouse.

While a custom built greenhouse is a permanent greenhouse due to size and land restrictions, lean-to and stand alone small greenhouses are good solutions.

Lighting for greenhouses are another greenhouse supply that you may wish to also include. Greenhouse lighting artificial lights may be required if your growing area does not provide adequate light. Grow lights are great for helping plants maintain healthy growth. It can also aid the grower in sprouting and germination of the select plant of choice.

There are also other greenhouse supply options that are useful, such as plant hangars, sprinklers, misting wands, extra doors, shelving, and greenhouse shades that roll over the roof of the greenhouse to provide more adequate shade solutions. PVC fittings, even greenhouse insulation and benches are also very popular.

If you live in an region with a short growing season, the cool weather can overtake crops like tomatoes and peppers when these would be at their peak. With greenhouses, you extend your short season so you are able to delight in the ability to have fresh vegetables longer.

Mini greenhouses, or very small greenhouses range in non-enter to small walk in greenhouses the size of a small coat closet. They are a great way to ease into greenhouse gardening. These are also built by the custom greenhouse builder and you can order kits as well. The kits may be simple inferior products due to the materials used, but at least it could be a simple solution to a new beginning in greenhouse gardening.

Anyone can grow plants, but to grow plants well takes a little knowledge, skill and the right equipment. Each city and on line resources offer excellent information on starting a greenhouse garden. A greenhouse creates the perfect atmosphere for plants to flourish; so many people are building greenhouses on their properties, and stocking them with the right greenhouse supplies.

One last type of greenhouse structure to consider is the luxury greenhouse. These are very large solarium's and greenrooms, some with many stories and swimming pools, water fountains and foliage resembling that of a vacation hideaway. Again, ask your greenhouse builder for more information on building a luxury greenhouse and planning your custom greenhouse.

Supplies For Your Custom Greenhouse

Judy Stevens is an author. Steve Reno owns and operates Southern Greenhouses; a greenhouse manufacturing, building and design company. His website is at http://www.SouthernGreenhouses.com and he and his team have been building custom greenhouses for over 25 years. He is a "hands on" Greenhouse Guy and is available to walk you through every process of design and building your greenhouse. They also do greenhouse rebuilding, greenhouse maintenance and offer greenhouse supplies at cost. Feel free to go to his website and call him directly. He would love to talk to you about your greenhouse project.

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Ancient Greece Citizens

When we use the word "citizens" we are usually referring to a group of people who live in the same city, with a common origin, language, customs and laws. According to Plato, the ideal city should have no more than 5000 inhabitants, so that they would all know each other. But in 5th century Athens, things were somewhat different, with approximately 40,000 citizens, 20,000 metoici (resident aliens) and about 100,000 slaves. To these we must also add the women and children, who were never included in the numbers of inhabitants.

The male inhabitants of Athens were divided into three groups: citizens, metoici and slaves. Athenian citizens were only men 18 years of age and older whose forebears had been Athenians for three generations. These fortunate people enjoyed all the rights of free men and could be elected to all the offices of the State. The villager who arrived at dawn from Acharnes in order to take part in the daily draw for participation in some service, had the same possibility of being elected as the son of the old-time aristocrat. This ability to concern one's self with public matters naturally persupposed the existence of leisure time. Athenian citizens preferred not to work, but rather tried to be men of independent means, having others look after the cultivation of their lands and the administration of their property. Manual labour, even artistic creation, was considered by many to be degrading. Despite this, Socrates made a speech urging the poor people to work, even though he himself did precisely the opposite. The need for manpower was often covered by the thetes who were the poorest of the citizens and made their living as workers or as rural day-labourers. In this way, wealthier Athenians were absolutely free to occupy themselves with public matters, primarily with politics. But the poor citizens were obligated to present a certain minimum attendance at the Assembly, and for this reason the state had the foresight to provide some money for those who represented their tribe at sessions and trials, thus at least making good their lost earnings.

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All inhabitants paid the same taxes. In addition, the wealthy undertook sponsorships thus acquiring both the moral satisfaction of their contribution and the social prestige. They served in the army in accordance with their income: as knights with their own horse and a suitable retinue, or in the navy as captains of trirenes, which they themselves took care to man. The poor but proud thetes frequently preferred the harsh life of the oarsman, solely to show their identity as free equal citizens, even though the earnings were meagre. Wealthy, poor or destitute, Athenian citizens were all extremely proud of their origin, so proud that they never called their city "Athens" but the "city of the Athenians". Participating in the administration of the Polis was taken for granted for the citizen who voted, judged and, like all people with plenty of free time, took care to be informed about what was happening in the city. This dedication of the Athenians to public life made them obey the laws and worry about any possible breach of the law which would cause them to be downgraded through the loss of their citizen's rights.

Ancient Greece Citizens

One might say that the biographers of the Athenian citizens were Aristophanes, Plato, Xenophon and Plutarch, each from a different point of view. Much of what we know about the working classes is taken from peevish references in the comedies of Aristophanes, whose sharp tongue conceals nothing. He may have been making fun of the village lout, who went to the Agora reeking of garlic to hear a philosopher speak without realising it, but he also gave us information about each person's chances of acquiring knowledge. From the kindly villager Strepsiades in Clouds, we hear complaints about his wife, a woman from the capital city, who makes him wash and take off his comfortable but dirty clothes, and we realise that an unsuitable marriage has always been a disaster. Xenophon, also, was a practical man of the city who fought far away from his homeland, became acquainted with the people of other countries and developed the taste for a city open to all kinds of positive influences, even foreign. This breadth of mind may perhaps have been the natural destiny of a dynamic man who undertook to lead his fellow soldiers from distant Mesopotamia, through the highlands of Armenia, to the shores of the Black Sea, and finally home. Plutarch, too, who was born in Chaeronia in the first century AD, has left us invaluable information about public life and chiefly about certain famous Athenians whom he included in his Lives.

Plato, one of the most significant figures in the history of philosophy, was born of a father who came from the Kodros family, and a mother from that of Solon. He usually wrote in the form of a dialogue in which he himself did not appear, although he put his views into the mouth of Socrates, his teacher. Plato enlivened his social environment in which refined men went to symposia and exchanged views about philosophy or music. At the home of the enormously wealthy Kallias, for example, intellectuals speculated on whether virtue could be taught; they would spend their evenings with music from a lyre accompanying their conversation or perhaps with the occasional song. Although all had some musical training, no one would agree to play the flute, because to do so one had to disfigure one's face by puffing up one's cheeks to make sound. At the most famous supper in history, the participants selected eros (love) as the subject for the evening. This was the Symposium at which well-to-do Athenian citizens represented by aristocrats, men of learning, poets, politicians and philosophers joined together in a lively discussion. Together with Socrates, the invited guest, they also welcomed a poor barefoot man who was fortunate enough to be Socrates' pupil and follower. Each one spoke on the selected topic, expressing his views in a witty and pleasant way. At some point the handsome Alcibiades appeared, roaring drunk, leaning on a courtesan and garlanded with Attic pansies. Even though a great deal of wine was consumed, the discussion continued without exceeding the bounds of propriety, while other groups of revellers were constantly coming and going.

They all agreed that eros has the greatest power since it awakes in human beings abilities to distinguish themselves and that it also is a factor deterring unseemly behaviour, as one is afraid to lose face in the eyes of the beloved. Everybody distinguished the transient physical attraction of Aphrodite from the uncorrupted beauty of Urania who brings souls closer together, approaching perfection. They would say in jest that eros always looks young because by leaving, he avoids growing old; and perhaps he is always immortal because he lives, is lost and is reborn again. They concluded that what is important in love is quality, to whichever sex one's love is addressed, because eros is the purpose and not the object of desire. Such were the surroundings of the golden youth of Athens who, listening to such lofty discussions, would fall in love at will, admired physical beauty and the intellectual vigour of wise men with equal ardour, and whenever required, went into battle where they won awards for valour. Athenian citizens were people who could live in a democratic world with the subtlety of an aristocrat; they obliged Plato to say how praiseworthy was the man who could distinguish between the three gradations in the human personality: free speech, courage and base desires. The ideal citizen never allows the first two to be subjugated by the last.

The large number of metoici was a purely Athenian phenomenon, as xenophobic Sparta kept those who were not from its region at a distance. Athens on the contrary, was open to Greeks from other cities and even to foreigners who wished to live and work in Attica. The metoici had all the obligations of the Athenian citizen but enjoyed very few of his rights. They lived scattered over the townships, paid taxes and served in the army only as hoplites (footsoldiers). They were able to acquire goods and slaves, but were not permitted to own land. They could worship any gods they chose, but had no right to vote nor could they be elected to any important office, only to the lower ones, e.g. as heralds or contractors for public works. Most of them were artisans, merchants and a good number acted as bankers.

Since they constituted the productive class, many of them became wealthy and distinguished themselves through sponsorships, indeed some became legally accepted into the class of citizens. On the contrary, if a metoicos attempted to usurp the rights of the free citizen illegally, then he was downgraded to a slave. In trials, metoici always had to have the support of an Athenian citizen as guarantor and it is characteristic that if a metoicos killed a citizen, he was condemned to death, while if he murdered another metoicos, the punishment was only exile. The children of marriages between citizens and metoici were not considered to be Athenians unless they won general esteem through wealth or special acts. Many famous artists and philosophers in ancient Athens were metoici and it seems that they accepted their treatment as second-class citizens without protest. Generally, Athenian citizens treated metoici with the politeness of a host toward a welcome guest, up to the point where vested interests were affected, and above all the inherited tradition of the state.

Women, in the homes of both citizens of Athens and metoici, had absolutely no right to hold an opinion or to participate in public affairs. The Athenian imagination justified depriving women of their rights since the goddess Athena had won the contest for the naming of the city by just one female vote. It was then that the matriarchy was nearly set aside in favour of the warrior protectors, who never tolerated female initiatives, which is why women were punished by being excluded from any future important decision. This happened at the time of Kekrops who established marriage as a consolation, making it the primary goal in the life of Athenian women. And of course, marriage meant having children, which is why from birth to death, the female Athenian remained confined inside the home. Girls were married very young to a husband selected by their fathers, to whom they owed absolute obedience. They had to be fully familiar with housekeeping, command the respect of the household slaves and be imbued with a spirit of economy. If an educated slave happened to live in the house then there was a possibility that the girls would learn some reading and writing; but more frequently they were taught only music and dancing.

If a daughter happened to be the sole inheritor of the patriarchal fortune, she would be given in marriage to the closest relative on her father's side, even with a brother of the same father, but never one by the same mother, because the genuine blood line was regarded as being only from the side of the mother. In the event of a request for a divorce, the interested woman had to present herself to the Archon, a virtually heard-of procedure. But even if some desperate women dared, the possibilities of being heard were minimal. There is the example of Hipparete, wife of the incorrigible Alcibiades, who at some point, could no longer stand the incongruities of her marriage. The courageous lady took her application to the Archon, but Alcibiades was notified by his friends, and instead of being divorced, caught her and shut her up in the women's section of the house, without anyone objecting.

We have a good deal of information about Athenian women from Xenophon who wrote about a certain Isomachos, about 30 years old, who married an ignorant 15year-old girl and announced her duties to her: to cook, weave, oversee the slaves, avoid waste and above all to be obedient to her husband. Plutarch also spoke of the dignity of Athenian women and the modesty of their dress, as opposed to the athletic young Spartan women whom he referred to contemptuously because they wore short tunics that showed their thighs. But it was Aristophanes who castigated the dynamic women who dared to protest; his Lysistrata demonstrated the opinion of the ancient Athenians about where the power of women lies. In the Ecclesiazouses, he notes sarcastically that everything has always taken place behind closed doors, without disturbing the calm of ignorance and custom.

Perhaps the most succinct indication of the status of women in Athenian society was that of an orator who said that women fall into three categories: courtesans for the delight of the spirit, concubines for pleasure, and wives for the acquisition of legitimate children. It appears that things were so difficult for wives that Solon instituted a law demanding that Athenian men who happened to have property from their wives, visit them in their chambers at least three times a month in order to produce a male heir to carry on the family name. In the Symposium, Socrates noted that men have fewest conversations with their wives, and mentioned the name of a certain Nikiratos who was bound to his wife by true mutual love, a very rare occurrence. Plato, too, suggested that marriage based on love would be better; but this was for the ideal utopian "Republic" and not for the Asty of reality.

The instruments of pleasure, the hetaeres (courtesans), were of two types: the common ones who were called walkers and the special ones, who lived on the support of their rich patrons. Selected from childhood for their physical beauty, they were especially trained to be pleasing. They were the only women who could circulate freely and thus many of the courtesans had the opportunity to receive an education by listening to the various philosophers. In all symposium scenes, we can see young hetaeres. Orchistrides danced and the avlitrides played the flute and chatted with the carefree revellers whom they were entertaining, whose homes were supervised with the zeal of Cerberus by the dignified lady of the house, who always carried bunch of keys at her waist. The homes of the famous hetaeres were open to philosophers and artists, who would meet in a highly intellectual atmosphere; many of these women used their charms for diplomatic or spying purposes: situations as old as society. One famous hetaera was the beautiful, learned Aspasia from Miletus, who so influenced Pericles and so provoked the envy of the Athenians.

Representations on ceramics show us scenes from a very controversial phenomenon, pederasty, which was one outlet for the instincts in a society where women were confined to their apartments and were without interests or education. Another reason was that constant wars kept the male population far from home. The rise in pederasty coincided with the cult of the naked male body which we admire in the young kouroi. But also, in a society where the father, when he was not at war was busy with public matters, it was natural for a boy to seek guidance from some older friend of the same sex, creating a relationship between an experienced person and someone to whom he passes on his knowledge. It is noteworthy that the lovers were always very masculine and never appeared to be feminine or dressed in women's clothes. Plutarch said that when the young man's beard began to grow, that was the end of the relationship, which was socially acceptable.

It was noted earlier that Plato in his Symposium presented a unique analysis of the concept of eros, the beginning and end of which was intellectual unanimity. It is possible that at this very famous supper, Alcibiades in a jest created a jealous scene over Socrates, but he himself, whom Plato called the "image of eros" died in the arms of a famous courtesan Timandra, mother of the equally famous Corinthian Laida. Of the ten people present at the symposium, only two were conscious homosexuals: the host Agathon and his companion Pausanias. As for Socrates, he was presented there as paragon of abstinence, even though he had had too much to drink, and even though he was provoked shamelessly, because in any relationship, what was important was the mind and not the instincts. It seems that pederasty rarely turned into homosexuality. This male companionship was usually limited to teen-age. Moreover, the phenomenon was restricted after the 4th century, when the various presentations on pottery show the great majority of couples to be heterosexual. But let us leave the private life of the Athenians and talk about another social presence in the Polis, that of the slaves.

In order to expand their businesses, metoici bought ever more slaves. Thus a third group of inhabitants of Athens was created: people who had few hopes of improving either their own lot, that of their children or of their children's children. In Attica, slavery had begun in the mythical time of the Pelasgians. The construction workers brought in from elsewhere to build the first Athenian walls annoyed the women and children of the local people at the well from which they all drew water, and for this reason, the angry Athenians took them prisoner and began to use them as servants. According to Plato, true slaves had to be foreigners, mainly prisoners of war; he recommended that his fellow citizens avoid buying enslaved Greeks from other regions. The slave trade flourished in ancient Greece and we wonder how a wise man like Aristotle can refer to these unfortunate creatures as being like wild animals.

The largest slave market in Attica was in Sounion, obviously for the needs of the mines in Lavrion. The slaves who were bought and became metallevomenoi (mine workers) were the most unlucky because few of them lived very long, due to the hard work and appalling conditions. To this day, the Greek word ekmetallefsi means exploitation. Family slaves had a much better fate, even though they too were considered to be a type of property.

When someone bought a slave and took him home, the lady of the house made him sit at the family hearth and the other members of the family sprinkled him with nuts, giving him a name. From that moment on, the slave was an inseparable member of the family and had to participate in sacred rituals. If he had children, they belonged to the family and when he died, they buried him in the family grave. He had no rights, apart from the possibility of appealing to the altar in the Agora, and to request sanctuary if his life was unbearable. But he had to prove his case.

No Athenian citizen or metoicos considered himself to be worthy of respect without a few slaves. It is believed that every home had an average of about 10 slaves, who looked after the household tasks and also accompanied their masters in their public appearances. In wartime, slaves followed on foot, carrying their master's weapons or holding slingshots. In the event that a slave was educated, he served as a teacher of the young people of the family, passing on his knowledge to them and accompanying them to the higher schools and gymnasia. Information has come down to us that quite a few slaves were given their freedom, promoting them to the group of freemen, but the bonds with the family always remained very strong.

Looking at the various inhabitants of Athens, we are often surprised by their way of life and by their values which are frequently incomprehensible to people living today. But we have an enormous obligation to all of them for their contribution to the heritage they left behind: to the wealthy for the mind, to the workers for the art, to the women for maintaining the family, to the slaves for the endless free and creative hours enjoyed by their masters. Pragmatists and poets, merchants and philosophers, warriors and peacemakers, the ancient Athenians cultivated clear thought with their minds which, with boldness of inspiration and freedom of expression, made them the epitome of their age, and the founders of Western civilisation.

Ancient Greece Citizens

To learn more about Athens, the Greek Islands and the rest of Greece take a look at the useful Athens Guide and Greece Guide.

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Hong Kong Travel Guide - Favorite Tourist Spots in Hong Kong (Part 1)

Most of the tour groups will include these 3 places into the sightseeing itinerary - The Peak, Star Ferry and Temple Street Night Market.

Victoria's Peak is one of the most famous tourism spots and as well as local's favorite in Hong Kong. It is situated on the Hong Kong Island and it is also the highest spot on the island. Standing at the top of the Peak, you can embrace one of the best night views of Hong Kong and hence Hong Kong earned its fame and glory as the Pearl of the Orient.

City Guides And Information

The most common transport to access to the Peak will be the Peak Tram. You can purchase a tram ticket from the lower terminus, which is merely a 10 minutes walk from the J2 exit of the Central MTR (Mass Transit Railway) station, or Bus 15C from the Star Ferry, by cash or Octopus Card. You can also top up the ticket to gain access to the Sky Terrace, the highest point on the Peak, which allows you to have a 360 degrees view of the Hong Kong Island and even to some of the small islands around it.

Hong Kong Travel Guide - Favorite Tourist Spots in Hong Kong (Part 1)

Other than its spectacular views during the day and night, you can also have a great shopping experience at the Peak Galleria, where you can grab good bargains and great souvenirs. There are also many restaurants that serve various cuisines with great atmospheres and dining experiences.

The famous Madame Trussauds wax museums have one of its flagships on the Peak too. You can visit the museum and you can find wax figures of many famous local Hong Kong artistes as well as international stars.

Star Ferry is one of the most significant and representative landmarks of Hong Kong. Its ferries commute between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island since 1888. Though the road tunnels that are built beneath the harbor has brought an alternative way to shuttle between these two islands, many commuters still prefer to take the ferry.

It is also very popular among the tourists as they can take some leisure time off to see the great views at both sides of the banks. The only time where the ferry service is terminated is when typhoons hit Hong Kong. The cost of this transportation is very low, the upper deck's fare is HK.20 while the lower deck's fare cost merely HK.70.
This is one of the cheapest bargains you can get to see the panoramic views between the two banks.

The ferry has almost no traffic conditions to obstruct the traveling time, while the intervals are 10 only minutes apart. It is especially beautiful when you see the sun setting down behind the skyscrapers. The operating hours is between 7am to 11pm, just the best operating time for a typical Hong Kong resident.

Hong Kong is famous for its nightlife and Temple Street Night Market , situated in Yau Ma Tei, is one of the most popular night markets in Hong Kong. Locals spend their nights hanging out with friends there while tourists find it interesting as the night market sells a wide varieties of merchandise.

You can find souvenirs, shoes and bags to hand phone accessories, mostly replica watches and counterfeit products but in high quality, and even pirated CDs, DVDs and so on.

However, you must take extra precautions to your bags and valuables as the walking paths tend to be quite narrow and it is a great chance for the pickpockets especially when there are many people squeezing past each other all the time. The best way to watch out for your valuables are to put them in front of you rather than carrying on your back.

You can also easily find local food there, and these food stalls are known as the 'Dai Pai Dong'. They sell from local snacks to seafood and freshly cooked food. You can definitely experience being a local when you will find strangers sharing the same table as you and they are not at all shy to spit out the bones of the chicken just in front of you.

The other activity you have to take note of is the Cantonese Opera street performers. Cantonese opera has a long history way back in Hong Kong, known as 'Yuet Cok'. Each opera reveals a touching story and you will get to know the local culture and history through these operas.

Hong Kong Travel Guide - Favorite Tourist Spots in Hong Kong (Part 1)

Dr Gordon Tam is a native hongkonger. He provides factual travel guide about Hong Kong. Visit his Hong Kong Travel Guide website for more Hong Kong travel tips.

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How to Enjoy Panama City Beach - Coupons, Tips, and Free Stuff to Do

One of the great myths about Panama City Beach, Florida, is that as a party town it's just too pricey to take a normal vacation in - but the right Panama City Beach coupons and a few easy tricks will easily shatter that misconception.

Before we talk about the specifics, let's take a look at what PCB has to offer:

City Guides And Information

Spring Break: If you're the kind of person who wants to see Girls Gone Wild live and in person, plan a vacation to the Beach in the month of March. It's Spring Break that gave PCB it's rep as a party town, and for 1/12th of the year, it's absolutely true!

How to Enjoy Panama City Beach - Coupons, Tips, and Free Stuff to Do

Summer: With 27 miles of beaches to its name, PCB is easy to find whatever beach scene you're after: densely packed sunbathing beauties, or an isolated stretch of sand where you can relax in near solitude. But that's just the beginning. PCB brings the game with golfing, finishing, bungee jumping, parasailing, water parks, go-carts, and devastating shopping, eating, and lodging options.

Year-Round: Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Frank Brown Park. Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum. Club La Vela. Spinnaker. The shopping, eating, culture, and nightlife of Panama City Beach are worth the trip even in the middle of "winter".

So, how about these tricks and coupons for Panama City Beach?

Well, first let's look at a couple of the best FREE things to do in PCB:

Frank Brown Park: This massive two hundred acre park features baseball, soccer, basketball, football, tennis, a playground, picnicking space, a fishing pond, a pool, and miles of walking trails. There are often various games and tournaments going on to be watched, and of course it's almost always possible to find an open field to play in.

Dan Russel Pier: A huge concrete edifice jutting out into the sea, the pier is worth walking along just for the view, but the fishing is really the great attraction here.

Now, on to the star attractions:

Adventures At Sea: Pontoon boats. Parasailing. Jet skis. Banana boating. Sail boats. Chartered fishing. The options and fun at Adventures at Sea are amazing, and the available Panama City Beach coupons to make it all that much more valuable.

Shell Island Shuttle: Shell Island, home to the largest concentration of bottle-nosed dolphins in the world, is accessible from Panama City Beach's St. Andrew's State Park via the Shell Island Shuttle. But this boat does more than just ferry passengers back and forth - the adventurous can also rent a kayak or a snorkeling package from the shuttle to dramatically enhance their island experience - and the coupons make it easy on the wallet.

There are many more Panama City Beach coupons and suggestions for free things to do in Panama Beach City, so if you're planning a vacation - or already there and wondering what to do today - check us out!

How to Enjoy Panama City Beach - Coupons, Tips, and Free Stuff to Do

For more tips and information about panama city beach coupons please visit: coupons for panama city beach

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How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company

A new article on June 3, 2009 from MSN Money writer Michael Brush indicates that there is a third wave of foreclosures still to come from prime borrowers (i.e. those previously "safe-borrowers" with sound credit and fixed-rate mortgages) as a result of job losses thanks to the worsening economy ("Coming: A 3rd Wave of Foreclosures").

The article states that "In the first quarter, the percentage of these borrowers who were behind on their mortgages or in foreclosure had doubled from a year earlier, to nearly 6%" and goes on to say that "Credit Suisseanalyst Rod Dubitsky predicted last week that 8.1 million mortgages, or 16% of all mortgages, will go into foreclosure over the next four years. A weak economy, continued declines in home prices and rising delinquencies among prime borrowers all but ensure that foreclosures "will march steadily higher," he says." Not such great news for the economy, but good news indeed for entrepreneurs interested in starting a foreclosure cleanup business to clean and repair foreclosed homes for the banks.

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To put this in perspective, this means that there will be over 2 million foreclosures a year and more than ,025,000,000 up for grabs in money that will be spent on cleaning up these foreclosed properties (since the average bill is 00+ to clean up one of these properties).

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company

Let's take a look at how you can position yourself to capitalize on this coming foreclosure movement

Set Up Your Company Properly

If you want to be hired for cleanup or preservation work, you'll need to operate your business as a professional company. The good news is that you can set up a business quickly and inexpensively, and usually on your own. Many people decide to set up an LLC (Limited Liability Company) because of how quickly and easily it can be done but you'll want to check with your accountant or other business professional to select the type of business entity that's right for your personal situation.

If you do decide to start an LLC, you can usually find all of the documents you need online from your state's government website. Usually the branch you're looking for will be called the "Industrial Commission" or "Corporation Commission" or similar. Try typing in "start a business + ______ (your state)". Anything ending in ".gov" is usually a good place to start as it indicates a government site.

Once your business is set up, you'll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is like a SSN for your business. You can register for one online: type in "IRS" & "EIN" into a search engine to find the online registration link.

As soon as you have your EIN (which you can usually get immediately online), you can open up a business bank account for your company. This step is very, very important. In the excitement of things, many people get caught up in the day-to-day dealings of running a business and use their personal accounts to pay for business expenses. Not only does this present an accounting nightmare at the end of the year, but it could present problems for you with the IRS if you don't keep your personal and business finances separate.

Once you legally set up your business, you may be required to register your business with your county or city in order to get a business license to operate. You can start by calling City Hall or the Office of the County Clerk to inquire as to whether or not you need a city/county/state business license and if so, how to get one.

So to recap:

1. Legally set up your business
2. Get your EIN # and set up a business bank account
3. Apply for a business license
4. If you want to do preservation work, determine whether or not you need a contractors' license

Get Insurance

You absolutely must have a Commercial Liability Insurance policy and Workers' Compensation Insurance in order to run your business. Not only is insurance essential for protecting yourself from liability and protecting those that work for you in the event of a work-related injury, but many asset management companies will not do business with you if you do not meet their minimum insurance requirements.

Insurance will likely be one of your largest start-up costs, however, most insurance companies allow you to pay the premium on a monthly (rather than yearly) basis, which definitely makes this expense more affordable.

General Liability Insurance policies can cover the following: bodily injury, property damage, contractual liability, personal and advertising injury, professional liability (also known as Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance, this coverage protects you and your business from litigation caused by charges of professional neglect or failure to perform your professional duties), hired auto and non-auto liability and umbrella liability.

You'll want to speak directly with your insurance agent to get a better idea of the extent of the coverage provided by their particular policy and one that is best suited for your individual needs

Workers' Compensation Insurance is required in most states when you have W2 employees, and some states also require your insurance to cover your 1099 contractors also. Workers' Compensation ("Workers' Comp") covers your employees' medical and disability expenses related to work-related illness and on-the-job injuries.

In the states where you are not required to cover your 1099 contractors you would need them to provide proof that they carry their own Workers' Compensation insurance. Although tempting to shift the financial burden of maintaining a policy onto your 1099 contractors, in all reality, you are probably better off to take on the cost of all staff Workers' Compensation (all W2 employees and 1099 contractors). The reason is that it's difficult to find only independent contractors that have their own policy. In addition, this industry has such high turnover that if you put this restriction on your independent contractors, you'll waste valuable time and lost revenues trying to find replacements in a hurry.

Here's a great tip: sometimes you can get "pay-as-you-go" insurance where your workers' compensation insurance premiums are based on your actual payroll, rather than an estimated amount. This is great for companies that are just starting out or have a fluctuating workload. Type in "pay as you go workers comp" into a search engine for results in your area.

As a second tip, we've used Farmers Insurance for years and have always had excellent customer service and great rates. Just Google "Farmers Insurance" for an agent in your area.

Foreclosure Cleanup v.s. Property Preservation Services

As the name suggests as a Foreclosure Cleanup Company, you'll be cleaning out all of the junk in the house (also called a "trashout or a "junk out"), as well as cleaning the interior of the home. You may also be required to remove vehicles on the property. Usually foreclosure cleanup companies are also responsible for doing a basic landscape cleanup which includes hauling out any junk from the front/back yards, cutting the grass and trimming trees/bushes.

Cleaning up the property is the extent of services offered by a Foreclosure Cleanup Company, whereas a Property Preservation Company is also involved in the "securing" of the property and the "preserving" of the property.

Here are some of the services that a preservation company may offer (note that a Property Preservation Company will generally also offer cleanup services):

Securing the Property
o Initial vacant property inspection
o Lock changes
o Boarding of windows and doors
o Temporary roof repair
o Securing swimming pools

Preserving the Property
o Exterior Debris removal
o Abandoned vehicle removal (cars, boats, etc.)
o Interior Debris removal (junk-out)
o Hazardous waste removal
o Interior cleaning services including carpet cleaning
o Window washing/graffiti removal
o Window replacement
o Pool services (draining, acid washing, maintaining, etc.)
o Pest control services
o Yard maintenance/landscaping
o Snow removal
o Winterization
o Gutter cleaning
o Pressure washing
o Carpet removal & replacement
o Tile/Floor repairs
o Painting
o Sheetrock/drywall repairs
o Carpentry repairs
o Plumbing fixtures repairs & replacements
o Fire & mold remediation
o Fence repair

Here are a few things to consider when determining the extent of the services you want to offer:

A Contractors' License is generally not required for Foreclosure Cleanup Company but is likely required for preservation companies doing work over a certain dollar value (usually 0 - 00+). Sometimes this license can be obtained by attending a course and successfully passing a test whereas other states require previous, verifiable industry experience.

The insurance premiums tend to be higher on companies that offer preservation services as they are considered to be a "general contractor". However, the revenue potential is much higher as preservation services tend to run from a few thousand dollars upwards instead of 0 - 00 for each cleanout.

Usually what people do is start out initially offering just the foreclosure cleanup services and then when things pick up, they'll add preservation items to the list of services they offer. This let's them get their foot in the door without having to spend a whole lot of money upfront when setting up their company.

Source the Right Equipment & Tools

The great thing about starting a foreclosure cleanup company is that the initial expenses are quite low as much of the equipment and tools needed for cleaning foreclosures can likely be found in your own garage:

o Cleaning chemicals (i.e. all purpose cleaner, disinfectant, toilet bowl cleaner, window cleaner)
o Cleaning supplies (broom, mop, scrub pads)
o Vacuum cleaner
o Garbage bags and shovels
o Work gloves and disposable plastic gloves
o Lawn mowers & lawn tools
o Wheelbarrow

For the smaller items you don't have on hand, check your local dollar store. Their prices can't be beat and they usually have the same chemicals and cleaning supplies as the other retailers. Once you start doing some volume, consider shopping for your supplies at Sam's Club or Costco to keep your expenses low.

You can also find used equipment in great shape (such as vacuums) by going around to your local Saturday morning garage/yard sales. If you have a "Re-Use" center or a Salvation Army, you may consider checking there also as they often have vacuums and other small equipment or yard tools for sale.

For hauling junk, you'll need some sort of trailer and a vehicle large enough to pull it. If you don't have a truck and a trailer, you can always borrow a friend's truck and rent a trailer from U-Haul or just go ahead and rent a moving truck from U-Haul. (Remember though, that you'll be charged a daily rate plus a per-mile rate when you rent a moving truck whereas if you use your own truck and just rent the pull-trailer, you'll only incur the daily rental rate for the trailer.)

Sometimes you'll be required to clean a property that doesn't have electricity or water. In the event that there's no electricity, you'll need a generator to operate the vacuum cleaners and other electrical equipment. These can be rented at Lowe's or Home Depot and is a much better alternative to purchasing one outright unless you're going to use it on a regular basis (a new one will run you about 0+).
To save on expenses, it's best to rent equipment in the beginning.

Once you get up and going, it may be worth looking into purchasing equipment of your own. Check the online classifieds ads (such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Backpage) for used trailers, generators, etc. You should also check with U-Haul as they have been selling some of their excess trucks as of late.

Stay Safe on the Job

As a business owner, you're responsible for keeping your staff safe while working on the job. Working safely is paramount to the health of your staff and the reputation of your business (and also keeps your insurance premiums low). It's imperative that you review safety issues prior to allowing anyone to work on the job - you must provide both classroom and on-the-job safety training to all new hires.

Now, it doesn't have to be anything fancy; you can spend 20 - 30 minutes reviewing safety policies, safe working practices and answering any questions and then you'll be done! Make sure you have people sign in and out of the meeting and that you document that a safety meeting took place.

It's also very important that you become familiar with OSHA and Safety Standards as well as the health & safety hazards associated with this industry so that you can keep your staff safe, avoid accidents and costly fines. You can find the OSHA Pocket Guide to Construction Safety (it's a short and an easy read) at the main website (OSHA DOT gov) by searching for the report name.

Another way to protect your staff and your business is to make sure that you check references before you hire someone. Insist that they list non-related references (i.e. not mother, sister or best friend) and instead list references of previous employers or someone they know in a professional capacity. We also do drug testing and background checks - it might sound paranoid to some, but the safety of our staff, our customers' property and our company's reputation is far too important to risk not spending on a background check or drug test.

Price Your Services Right

In this industry, the lowest price always wins the bid (unless, of course, the lowest bidder has a terrible track record of not completing work and is utterly irresponsible and unprofessional, in which case the company has just committed "reputation-suicide" and will never be hired again). Lenders don't want to spend any more than they have to on these properties so you want to make sure you price your services comparable with the going market rates (but at the same time, priced so that you still make a great profit and don't leave any money on the table).

For cleaning out foreclosures, most banks expect to spend anywhere from 0 - 00 for a cleanout (trashout, interior clean and initial landscape cleanup), but it could be a bit more or a bit less, depending on your area. It's important to know that most lenders have prescribed "price caps" for the maximum amounts that they'll pay for services.

If you're also providing preservation services, a great site that we've used before to determine our prices for doing repairs is www.CostEstimator.com for getting the market rates for construction costs - you can get a free 30 day trial (no need to enter credit card - it really is free!). There are over 3,000 cost items adjusted for over 210 local, geographic regions to create your bid and you can add as many others as needed. If you want to sign up after the trial, it's only /month.

Market Your Services

It's true - "nothing happens until somebody sells something"... and you'll need to get out there and sell, sell, sell your business. Once you've done a few jobs, you'll find that word of mouth advertising and referrals will provide a large pool of new jobs for you, but in the meantime, you do need to do everything possible to let customers know you exist.

A large portion of work will come from the relationships that you build with Real Estate Agents ("Realtors") who list bank-owned homes (often referred to as REO listings). They are often given the task of bidding out the cleaning and repairs of new listings by the asset management company so you'll want to make sure the agents in your area know your company handles this type of work.

A great way to find out which Realtors in your area list REOs is to go online to the major bank's REO websites and "data mine" the contact information for the listing agents (name, email, phone numbers). It can be painstaking work, but definitely worth it.

Here's an example of a bank REO sites to get you started collecting Realtor information

WELLS FARGO (Properties managed by Premier Asset Services): pasreo.com/pasreo/images/pas_logo.jpg

NOTE: In order to access agent information, select the state and click search. Then, individually select each listing and click on "Print Property Report CVS". Each listing and corresponding information (such as agent name, phone # and email) will be created in an Excel spreadsheet. You can access the page

Remember to follow up with a phone call a few days later. Don't be shy about asking the Realtor if he/she has any jobs for you to bid, either - most of them are very accommodating and willing to give a new company the opportunity to provide estimates.

The other way jobs are bid out is through large Asset Management Companies (also referred to as Marketing & Management Companies, REO Field Service Companies and Property Management Companies). Essentially, the lender says, "ok - I have thousands of properties to get rid of. Here, national ABC Asset Management Company: clean, fix and sell these properties for us". And the national Asset Management Company will then subcontract out the work to local foreclosure cleanup and property preservation companies. In order to work for these companies, you usually need to sign up your company as a potential vendor. Many times this can be done online.

There are both positives and negatives associated with working for the larger companies. On the positive side, you will probably be given a few projects to work on at a time so you will be kept relatively busy. On the negative side, they usually want you to offer 'wholesale pricing' and don't pay until 30 - 60 days after you invoice them for the work. Working for one of these companies, however, will give you the experience you need to go after more work.

Other possible customers include wholesale property investors (groups of investors that purchase foreclosed homes at the auctions and then sell them to smaller investors at a wholesale price), investors, landlords, property management companies, Realtors and so on.

You should also consider attending your local networking events such as the Chamber of Commerce meetings and any local investor meetings in order to hand out your card and network with potential customers. The more you get out there, the better chance you'll have of securing some great, long-term customers!

This is definitely an exciting industry and a very profitable one for those of you who don't mind getting your hands a bit dirty! Good luck!

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company

Les Tyler has been happily and profitably cleaning out and fixing up REOs for over a year. She is the author of "Foreclosure Cleanup Cash", a 200+ page ebook/eprogram on How to Start A Foreclosure Cleanup and Property Preservation Company in 7 days or Less. She also writes a blog on REO cleanups & preservation available at http://www.ForeclosureCleanupCash.com

You can reach Les at info@ForeclosureCleanupCash.com

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Travel to Philippines - Captivating Capiz

Simple and peaceful. That's how the provincial government describes what life in Capiz is all about on its website. For travelers looking for a place to relax and unwind, this province in the Western Visayas region is a must-go destination.

Covering an area of 2,594.64 square kilometers, Capiz is subdivided into 16 municipalities and a city - Roxas. The province continues to be one of the major travel destinations in southern Philippines, thanks to its natural charm highlighted by a labyrinth of rolling hills, pristine beaches, unspoiled beaches, and isolated coves.

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Capiz is also a magnet for seafood lovers. Dubbed as the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines," the province provides guests with a wide selection of dishes made from its rich marine resources. Delectable delicacies are available everywhere from a simple restaurant to posh hotels and resorts.

Travel to Philippines - Captivating Capiz

With all these amazing attractions in the province, it is no wonder, then, that Capiz is among the recommended tourist stops in most Philippine travel guides. The following is a sampling of the scenic spots to visit in the province.

Agtalin Shrine

Get amazed by a gigantic statue of the Virgin Mary at the Agtalin Shrine. Located in the municipality of Pilar, the religious icon is considered the tallest in the country at 80 feet tall. The International Marian Research Institute listed the Agtalin Shrine as a premier pilgrimage site. It is believed that some faithful with incurable diseases were healed by praying at the shrine.

Baybay Beach

Baybay Beach is Capiz's version of elegant Boracay beaches. This gray-sand beach is a favorite weekend getaway of local residents and tourists alike in the province. Aside for being a popular swimming site, Baybay Beach is also a haven for food lovers. Various stalls selling unbelievably cheap grilled fish, squids, prawns, and other marine produce can be found near the beach.

Pilar Cave

Another must-see attraction in Capiz is Pilar Cave. This natural wonder is believed to be a burial site of local folks before the Spaniards conquered the Philippines in 1521. Ancient pots and other artifacts have been discovered in the cave. Capiz has four more popular caves such as the Suhoton Caves in Jamindan, Quipot Cave in Mambusao, Igang Cave in Maayon, and Suhot Cave in Dumalag.

Tucad Reef

Tucad Reef is a submarine islet of seashells and corals topped with layers of sand. Located some ten kilometers away from Pilar, this natural marvel can be reached through a pump boat ride or by walking during low tide. From its shallow and clear water, visitors can see a patchwork of shells and corals in various colors such as blue, green, red, and pink.

Aswang Festival

Capiz is known for the myth of aswang, a Filipino term for ghouls, monsters, and witches. Held days before the Halloween, the controversial but culturally important event seeks to change the public's negative notion towards the province as an aswang haven. Trade exhibits, cultural shows, and symposiums are staged during the festival.

A great way to conclude your Capiz vacation is to shop for various products such as lampshades, candle holders, necklaces, and wind chimes, made from Capiz shells. Already captivated by Capiz? Get your Philippine travel guide ready, call a travel agency to arrange your preferred accommodations and vacation packages, pack your bags, and head to Capiz.

Local Philippines is your travel buddy. We have information about the destinations, how to get there, what to do while in the area and more! Destinations in the beaches or in the mountains, destinations under water, destinations right at the middle of the urban hub, name it and Local Philippines will most likely feature it.

Travel to Philippines - Captivating Capiz

Allan Leandro Merin has been writing for a living since 2008. After leaving a career at a daily electronic newspaper, he joined a web development outsourcing company and linked up with Local Philippines, the most comprehensive online directory of Philippine destinations, events, and attractions.

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Ten Places to Visit in Dumaguete City

Dumaguete city is the biggest city in the Negros Oriental region. This city is also called the university town because there are many schools there. Many students from Mindanao and Visayas go there to study college. One of the most popular schools is Silliman University which also attracts many students from countries in Europe and students from Japan. The following are some interesting places to visit in Dumaguete.

1. Basay - This is also known as Punta Tambungon. This is a beach with many rocks and several corals. Many divers come here to see different corals and different species of aquatic animals.

City Guides And Information

2. Bais city - This is the place you go to if you want to see several dolphins swimming. People go here to swim with them or ride on a boat with their friends and follow the dolphins. There is a cruise offered by many travel companies that will take the tourists to the strait of Tañon. There is a specific place there where the dolphins usually hang out. This spot is in the narrow part between the waters of Cebu and Negros.

Ten Places to Visit in Dumaguete City

3. Filipino American Japanese Amity Shrine - This is in top of Sagbang. There is a special deck here where people can view the places below. This is the same place where many soldiers from the Allied forces battled with many soldiers of the Japanese army.

4. Looc Memorial Shrine - This can be found in Sibulan. This is a shrine that marked the encounter of guerrilla forces against the Japanese army. The people in Sibulan re-enact the even each year.

5. Saint Paul College Dumaguete - This school was built in 1904 by the Saint Paul de Chartres order. This is already a known landmark in the place. The people who established this school were seven nuns from Belgium. They founded this school in the former parish there near the church.

6. Silliman University - This is another famous school established in 1901. This school has thirty five hectares and it is near the city. This university has become a noted sanctuary for different species of birds. There are trees around the school that are very old already and are living witness to the changing times. The major structures there are known as Channon Hall, Oriental Hall, Occidental Hall and Guy Hall. These are the same places that the Japanese army used when they are planning their attacks during the Second World War.

7. Spanish Fortress - This is a fort built by the Spaniards on Tampocon's shore.

8. Cayaso Cave - This is a cave where tourists can have a spelunking activity . It has an river under. This cave is just one kilometer away from the municipal hall of the Poblacion town. The water in the river is very potable. Guests to this cave will enjoy watching the stalagmites and stalactites surrounding the whole cave forming several chambers.

9. Camp Mapot and Mountain Park - This is inside the city of Canlaon. This is a lush plateau standing five thousand feet. It was developed to become a camp that will promote health. It has several pine trees and springs. There are different plants and animals in the place. The temperature in this place is similar to the one usually experienced in Baguio city. This camp is actually apart of the park of Mountain Kanlaon which has been frequented by several mountain trekkers already.

10. Forest Camp - This is in the town of Valencia. Inside this camp are several cottages set in an environment with many plants. This place has been a favorite destination to hold excursions and family gatherings. The entrance for the kids is just forty pesos. The entrance fee for the adults costs sixty pesos. There are cottages which you can rent for one who night.

Ten Places to Visit in Dumaguete City

Peter Garant is writing travel guides for Dumaguete City and other high profile tourist destinations in the Philippines, his latest project is to complete a full Dumaguete hotel guide covering prices, locations and ratings.

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How to Get into The Air Force Academy

Getting into the Air Force Academy requires a commitment, and a difficult admission process. Your chances of getting into the Academy aren't good - fewer than one candidate in 50 gets admitted. What follows are the stumbling blocks that stop most candidate applications from succeeding, and how to address them.

We are assuming that you're reading this as a high school junior. If you're starting this process in your senior year, you're starting late, and may have to transfer into the Academy from another four year college.

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The first stumbling block is fitness. Each year, the Air Force Academy requires all cadets to do a times 1.5 mile run, and the generalized physical fitness test of pull ups, standing long jumps, sit ups and pushups, with a 600 meter run all in 15 minutes. In particular, this test has to be done in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is at high altitude. Unless you're doing athletics in high school, the odds that you'll pass this test the first time are pretty slim.

How to Get into The Air Force Academy

Related to this, the Academy looks for candidates who participate in team sports, and in athletics in general. This shows that a student is willing to work, work hard, and work within a team to achieve group goals, and to use controlled aggression to their own aims. Basketball, football, track, trap shooting and fencing are sports the Air Force grades high in candidate application processes.

Like any college admission program, academic performance is important. It's more than just having a straight A average. The difficulty of the classes you take matters as well. The Air Force puts more weight on the difficulty of the course load (taking calculus rather than refresher math, for instance) than it does on perfect GPA requirements. If you're weak academically, the time to find out about it is at the beginning of your junior year in high school, where you should focus on study habit improvement and boosting your GPA. GPA in the last two years of high school will count for more than your early GPA.

The Air Force puts lower weighting on standardized test scores. While most four-year colleges use standardized test scores to differentiate between students with near identical academic records, the Air Force treats them somewhat as a pass-fail test. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, while not a substitute for the SAT or ACT, is a good adjunct. Be sure to take it as well as the other tests.

The biggest filter for candidates trying to get into the Air Force Academy is character. Character can be difficult to determine objectively, so the Academy requires candidates to get letters of recommendation from their community leaders, and teachers, and employers, and the coordinators of any volunteer organizations they belong to. Focus on getting the best positive letters of recommendation you can get. When you write your admission essay, focus on events that showcase places where you exerted leadership, or showed strength of character. This is the place to shine if you're worried about your academic performance.

How to Get into The Air Force Academy

However one ex-cadet in the Air Force Academy has written a secret tell all guide on how to win appointments into the Air Force Academy!

To learn more about it and get the upper hand among all the rest of the students go to http://www.my-guild.com/AirForce

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