10 posts tagged “travel”

I've seen beautiful fast cars but I was amazed when I saw news about police cars.  I can't imagine how nice the police cars are now from different countries.  Check this out.

 

• Lamborghini Police Cars in London

 

      The boys in blue no longer use BMW 535d patrol cars but instead they will be driving a four-wheel-drive and an Italian 6.5-litre V12 which is good for 211 mph and 0-62 mph in 3.4 seconds.

 

 

• Germany: Brabus CLS Rocket

 

 

      This handsome car has 730hp from a twin turbo V12 and a top-speed of 225.19 mph.  Currently, it is said to be the world's fastest legal sedan.

 

• Germany: Porsche 911 Carrera

 

      The extensively modified Porsche 911 Carrera S by TechArt as a police car has 6 cylinder engine and 500 hp.  It has over 186 mph and sprinting to 60 mph capability in just 4.6 seconds.

 

 

• Austria: Porsche 911

 

      Austrian police gets to drive this £65,000 supercar that can do up to 177 mph. 

 

 

• Italy: Lamborghini Gallardo

 

      This beauty was donated by Lamborghini to the Italian Police last 2004.  Its top speed is 190 mph and is powered by a 5 liter V10 with 500 hp.  Italian Police actually purchased another one costing $166,000 after a year.

 

• USA: Dodge Viper

 

      Vipers are not made for comfort and technology but it is a combination of classic sports car, hot rods and muscle cars as well making it brutal and rude cars.

 

• USA: Corvette C6

 

      The sixth and most current generation of Chevrolet Corvette introduced last 2005.  Has 6 liter LS2 V8 producing 400 hp.

 

 

• USA: Hummer H2

      A 700 hp Hummer is powered by 7 liter supercharged V8 just for the Sheriff of Texas.

 

 

• UK: Lotus Exige

 
      A high performance and very lightweight car accelerates from 0 to 60 faster than V8 cars.  This only uses around 5 liters every 100 km.

 

 

• Holland: Spyker C8 Spyder

       A 406 hp V8 with a maximum speed of 186 mph has Lamborghini doors.  An aluminum hand built, mid-engined sports car.  It has aerodynamic effect and an electrically operated single hinge titling doors.

 

 

• Lotus Esprit S4 of England

      A 3.5 liter V8 car with engine in the middle and drive channeled to the rear wheels that provides the forward momentum.  Esprit Lotus Police car is too good to overlook making it look like a publicity stunt to promote sales.

 

 

• Mitsubishi Evo VIII

      This is the deadliest and sharpest driving tool used by Police in UK.  It has a 2 liter turbo engine with 275 bhp and bizarre system called the Super Active Yaw Control from Japan technology keeping it stable, grippy and balanced through the corners.

 

 

• Holden VE Commodore

      Released last 2007 and became the Wheels Car of the Year.  It has 3.6 liter with V6 engine.  It is also called the Chevrolet Lumina.

 

 

            Don't you want to ride these cool cars then why not apply to be a police!  I would love to see myself riding these cars even if I was at the back seat.

Assuming we all know the dangers of undercooked meat, tobacco, raw sea foods, and gun barrels in your mouth.  Tempting as it is but should we really put these things in our mouth?  Chefs, food scientists, nutritionists, and dentists advices us NOT to be very comfortable in eating these kind of foods; here are some list of things you shouldn't be putting in your mouth.

• Dried Apricots     

      There's really nothing wrong in eating these dried up fruit as long as you chew it thoroughly unless you want to get an intestinal blockage.  Dried apricot tends to reconstitute in your stomach when swallowed whole, and this may result to an emergency surgery.  A case of a woman swallowing a whole dried apricot was reported in the British Medical Journal.

• Prime Rib
  

      Yum!  But do you know that a king-cut prime rib contains 982 calories and 78 grams of fats?

  Well, it does, the tenderized fat is the reason why the meat just seems to melt in the mouth.

• Mixed Salad Greens
  

      Make sure that you wash the green salad you bought in the store.  Don't trust the labels telling you it's pre-washed.  Most of the outbreaks in food borne illnesses came from unwashed foods.  Bacteria and E.Coli tends to thrive in lettuce as well as in eggs, fish, and meats.

• The First Chip
  

      The first chip can trigger the person to over eat.  The feeling of satisfaction is never met, mostly in stressed person.  It gives a psychological effect on the person, making them eat more and more.

• Over Easy Two Eggs
  

      Salmonella poisoning may result by eating raw chicken eggs, as well as undercooked eggs.  Runny white eggs are the most dangerous part of an uncooked egg.  It's better to eat a thoroughly cooked egg.

• Liver
  

      Like other organ meats, liver contains high cholesterol and fats, and livers may also contain residues of chemicals and hormones fed to the livestock.  A polar-bear's liver can be lethal since it has toxic levels of Vitamin A.

• Pencils and Pens
  

      We sometimes chew on our pens or pencils absentmindedly, but what we don't know is we are causing tiny stress fractures to our teeth by doing such.

• Fried Insects
  

     

Besides from it looking gruesome, this may also cause some stomach upsets.  You wouldn't know where these insects came from and what they ate.  Putting yourself in a very high risk possibility for intestinal problems.  People tend to be adventurous and risky when traveling; these exotic food eaters get satisfaction from eating these kinds of foods.  Fried insects like grasshopper are very popular in Bangkok.  I've seen a lot of it when I had my vacation in Bangkok but I never dared to try it.

•  Frozen Margarita
  

      A mixture of frozen alcohol, sugar, and salt is bad for your liver, arteries, blood sugar, heart, digestion, and energy level.  It can lower your blood sugar making you eat more.

• Studs
  

      Tongue studs can be dangerous since our tongue is laced with networks of blood vessels and nerves.  Once you hit a blood vessel and it starts bleeding, this can be a cause of infection.  Studs can also chip off your teeth and impairs speech ability.

• Ice
  

      Ice makes you teeth crack because it is crystal, so as to your tooth enamel.  Colliding of two crystals will cause the cracking of your teeth eventually.

For those people interested in going to festivities like I do, here are some festivities in Barbados you shouldn't miss.

• Holetown Festival
  

      This is a week long celebration of Barbados for its anniversary.  This festivity celebrates the first

settlement in Holetown last February 1627.  The festivity started February 17 and ended February 24, 2008.  I guess this is one celebration we will have to look forward to next year.  But don't worry there are still more festivities we can look forward to.
 

• Holders Season
  

      This festivity features a collection of music including classical, opera, jazz, Latin and Caribbean.  The celebration started last February 23 and will end on March 15 of 2008.  It will be held at the Holders Plantation House.  So if you are a music lover, don't miss it!

 

• Amistad's Atlantic Freedom Tour
  

  Freedom tour

      Celebrated on March 28 to April 5 of 2008, this shows when Freedom Schooner Amistad lands in Barbados for the historical recognition of the Atlantic Slave Trade's abolition's 200th anniversary.

• Oistin Fish Festival
  

     

This is a two day festivity celebrates the local fishermen's contribution to the island.  The Oistin Fishing Village holds this annual celebration traditionally during Easter weekend, which would be March 22 to March 24 this year.  They will have competitions such as fish boning, boat racing,crab racing, and the most popular fishing.

 

• Barbados Gospelfest     
  

  Gospelfest

      It is a popular festivity done each year that gospel artists wouldn't miss.  The Artists from United States, UK, and Caribbean are always present during this celebration which will be held from May 19 to May 26 of this year.
 

• Celtic Festival           

     

This is again a celebration for music lovers, a two week festivity for Celtic Music Lovers.  This year, it would be held on May 2008 and it features Welsh Choir and the Scottish Folk dancers.

 

The 2008 all-star weekend held in New Orleans just recently is one of the most important events the town has held as it is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, event that was held there since the town was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  The spectacle's success was remarkable, letting tourists know that New Orleans has been reborn.

 

The festivities started with the Rookie Challenge, sponsored by T-Mobile.  The game featured fancy

passes, spectacular dunks, and athletic feats that the younger generation boasts.  But among these great plays, one Daniel "Boobie" Gibson from the Cleveland Cavaliers, with his deadly three-point accuracy, stood tall among other rookies and sophomores.  He led the sophomores to victory with 33 points, all of them coming from beyond the arc.

 

The next day, the all-star weekend continued, and the 2008 Haier Shooting Stars started the night off, and what a way to do so, as the San Antonio team, consisting of Spurs forward Tim Duncan, Silver Stars guard Becky Hammond, and NBA Legend David Robinson, overcame the odds and won the event, despite it being an event that requires good shooting from the perimeter (both Duncan and Robinson were known for their inside presence).

 

The Playstation Skills Challenge was the second event of the night, and continued the string of upsets, as Miami Heat star Dwayne Wade, the event's 2-time defending champion, bowed out of the competition early on, leaving Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams and New Orleans' own Chris Paul fighting for the championship.  Even though the crowd was clearly behind the hometown boy, and Paul being the better man stats-wise, that didn't stop the Jazz guard from having a date with destiny, as he defeated  Paul in the finals, beating the record for the fastest time lapsed in the event while doing so.

 

But just when people thought this would be a night of upsets, the Foot Locker 3-point shootout featured Toronto Raptors shooter Jason Kapono's dominance in the event.  He breezed through the eliminations, leading the competitors with 20 points, next to both Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki and Daniel Gibson's 17.  Nowitzki surprisingly faltered in the final round, and while Gibson managed to get a respectable score, both were humbled by Kapono's amazing shooting streak, and the champion successfully defended his title with a score of 25, tying the all-time record for the most points in a three-point shootout event that was held by Chicago's Craig Hodges.

 

Ending the night was the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest that featured Toronto rookie Jamario Moon, Memphis sophomore Rudy Gay, 7-foot-tall Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Defending Champion Gerald Green of the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Despite being the tallest of all the competitors, Howard showed tremendous leaping ability, which the announcers mentioned all the time that the NBA has never seen anyone so tall with the high leaping ability like Howard possesses.  After he successfully nailed an astonishing left-handed tomahawk follow-up dunk which sounds quite easy on paper, but the thing is he bounced it off the backboard, and by back I meant the back of the backboard; everyone was already predicting a win for Howard, and they're right.  And while his first dunk raised the roof of the joint, the second and third ones blew it away.  No doubt that he was the clear-cut champion of one of the best slam dunk events of all time.
 

The last night of the weekend featured the main attraction, the 2008 NBA All-star game, featuring the leagues brightest stars today, showcasing their amazing talents; and it showed during the first 3

quarters of the game, including Howard and Cavaliers star LeBron James sharing eye-popping alley-oop passes to one another.  But in the final 10 minutes of the game, the competition got stiffer, and the heat was on.  The East led throughout the game, but the West clawed their way back.  But the West fell short when James drove home with a jam over Nowitzki that not only drew tremendous applause from fans, players and coaches alike, but also served as the nail in the coffin for the game. And it's just fitting that with the East's victory over the West, the Cavs' forward received the award as All-Star MVP, showing everyone that he was the star among stars that night.
 

The 2008 all-star weekend was so great a spectacle to pass up.  I wish I was there to witness it firsthand, and was envious to everyone that actually watched it live.  I was in  Chicago at Sutton Place Hotel attending a very important meeting that weekend.  But there's always next year, and I'll see to it that I can book tickets early.

     

        
           I have things I usually bring with me that I can't live without. I've been a fan of new technologies, and everything is constantly improving.  The scientists invent these gadgets to make our lives so much easier.  They make everything in smaller package but with all the necessary features that a person might need.  It all depends on every individual needs.

 

            Now we can even fit everything in a bag - from a telephone to a mobile phone, a radio to an mp3 player, and analog camera into digital camera.  I, myself can’t live without certain things in my bag.  I always see to it that I have everything available when I need it.  Here are some of the gadgets I always have with me.  I call them my "travel buddies".
 

Ø      Credit Card and ATM Card

 

I find that bringing ATM and Credit cards much safer than bringing a big amount of money with you.  Credit card is very convenient to use and it is very accessible when ever we need it.  You can use your major credit cards to shop anywhere in the world.  It also provides an easier way to track your expenses.

 

Ø      Cellular Phone

 

            I just bought this amazing phone, the Sony Ericsson K850i cyber shot; it is a true digital still camera with a 5-mega pixel power.  What amazes me most about this phone is the automatic lens cover, with auto-focus so you don't have to worry about the sharpness of the picture, and it also has xenon flash for poor lighting conditions.  You can even print the pictures directly from the phone, no need to transfer it to your computer.  I just plug it in any printer and pick the picture to be printed and BOOM!, I have my picture printed.  You can even have a quick and easy access to the internet.  With my new phone I am able to do video calls, audio and video streaming, internet surfing, and email on the go, who could even ask for more?  I don't even have to bring my laptop with me, making my life much easier.

 

            Also watch out for these phones, Sony Ericsson C702, Samsung Soul U900, Nokia N96, Giga-byte MS820, and Android OS SDK.  Let me give you a bit of information about these phones.  Maybe one of these phones would be compatible to you.

 

·        Sony Ericsson C702

     

      This phone has face focus function.  The C702 will automatically detect and focus on the face when the view finder detects it.  With this feature, you don't have to worry that you not being in the picture.  It also has a built-in A-GPS which guides you to your destination.  It actually leads you to where ever you want to go.  Hmm, maybe I should get one too, so I won't get lost when I travel.  Instead of asking around where to find a certain place, I'll be able to track it myself - pretty clever!

 

·        Samsung Soul U900

 

      Same as Sony Ericsson C702, this 5 mega-pixel camera phone also has a face detection function.  You can enjoy super-fast internet access with its 7.2 Mbps High Speed Downlink Packet Access browser.  This phone is perfect for people who love to listen to music because of its music library navigation feature and a digital power amplifier.  The digital power amplifier actually uses special switching circuits that will minimize the voltage that is dropped in the output semiconductor devices, giving you a higher efficiency.

 

·        Nokia N96

 

      This Nokia phone has a built in DVB-H receiver for digital TV signals in Europe and Asia, and a kickstand for desktop viewing.  It is truly an optimized TV and video phone.

 

·        Giga-byte MS820

         

              

      It is a 3.5G smartphone at 3GSM, and it has a TV and a GPS feature.  The motion-sensing G-sensor and UI feature manages the phone's activity which is based on your activity.      

 

Ø      Digital Camera

 

      Not that I don't enjoy the camera feature on my phone but of course to take a better picture, one has to own a digital camera.  Since I travel a lot, I take lots of pictures as

souvenirs.  I have the newest edition of Casio's EXILIM, the EX-V7, which is best for travelers like me.  Because it is very slim and exceptionally portable, has a very powerful zoom lens and it's also great looking too.  With those features, it's so easy for me take quality pictures anywhere without any hassle.  This 7 mega-pixel digital camera has the four blur reduction technology of Casio that mechanically compensates for any camera shake.  Then automatically analyzes the velocity and vector of a moving object setting the appropriate ISO sensitivity and a faster shutter speed.  What actually eliminates the blur is the electronic camera shake compensation function.  These features are actually great for me since I like to capture beautiful scenery even when I am in a moving vehicle.

 

Ø      Play Station Portable

 

The newest version of PSP was made to be slimmer and lighter making it much easier to bring.  You can have access to your games anywhere you are, as well as an internet browser, and you can also store videos.

 

The fact that I love video games, PSP gives me the option of getting to bring my favorite games while I'm on the go.  And since I get bored easily, if I'm not listening to music, I'm most certainly playing my game.

 

Ø      iPod

 

This was actually designed for music lovers like me at first.  Then after awhile many variations of iPod came out.  There is the iPod classic, the high-end touch screen iPod touch, iPod Nano, the screenless iPod shuffle, and the iPod mini.

 

I personally have the 32-gig iPod touch; I preferred this one because of its great features.  It is Wi-fi capable with Safari and Apple browsers.  This is the first iPod generation to have wireless access to iTunes Store.  It can even detect the last 10 songs that were played in Starbucks café within the vicinity.  Pretty cool!

 

Since I am a music lover and all, it is great for me.  I don't just get to listen to my favorite songs; I can also watch movies and catch up on my favorite TV shows.  With my iPod Touch, I need not worry.

 

            How about you? What are the travel buddies you can't live without?

           

            I was so amazed when I went to South Carolina last weekend.  I never thought that there

could be such a beautiful place in that state.  I was breathless and speechless when I was proven wrong by my friends.  I was arguing that there could never be a place that I would love as much as I love the Caribbean.  I was incorrect.

            My friends dragged me to Charleston of South Carolina because I didn't want to believe them.  They told me "You should experience it, if you don't want to believe us then might as well come and see it for yourself".  And so I did.  To my surprise, I

was blown away by the beautiful architectural artistry of the cities wall-to-wall mansions.  They had cobbled stone streets, ancient cemetery, and iron gates. 

            We even spent time on the beach of Kiawah to watch the moon rise.  It was quite an experience.  We stayed at the Orient-Express Hotel ; the rooms are all so stylish and some rooms are like the ancient Charleston mansions.  During the daytime activities, we went to the beach.  And enjoyed kayaking, fishing, and watching the dolphins play around.  At the end of our tour, we got satisfied from the relaxing Spa treatment.

            A lot of us usually get lost when we go to a different country.  We usually hire a cab to take us to our destination; but let's face it; it's not at all cheap.  I've looked up some of the traveling services available in Korea.  Hope this helps you when you visit Korea.

• Domestic Flights     

      I learned that Asiana Airlines and Korean Air handle domestic flights.  A domestic destination usually just takes about an hour from Seoul.  They use Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport for the domestic travels.  It is one way to travel easier from one city of Korea to another. 

• Local and City Bus Services     

     

Traveling using the local and city bus is the least expensive way to go around the city or to the towns of Korea.  They have this intercity bus network that connects all cities and towns of the country.  It is quite easy to use since the buses running from the city to the suburban cities are numbered according to their route.  The fare ranges from $0.52 to $1.57 in US dollars or 500 to 1,500 won.

• Long Distance Express Buses     

      Unlike the local bus that has a regular stops within the cities; the long distance express buses has a certain stop that goes directly to your destination.  This has more expensive deluxe bus seats, where you can have an access to a mobile phone and an ability to watch movies.  The deluxe bus only has three seats.  But don't worry, they also have the regular bus which is less expensive, this bus has four seats side by side.  The long distance express bus connects you from one major city to another major city.

• Railway Services
  

      They have this KORAIL (as what the Koreans call it), short for Korea Railroad.  KORAIL

operates three kinds of trains, the super-express, express, and the local.  It is interconnected in a nationwide network of cities.  The super-express train connects Seoul to the cities of Busan, East Daegu, Mokpo, Iksan, and Gwangju.  But for most famous destinations in Korea, it can be reached thru a single or direct transfer using the express train.  The local trains are the ones that have the frequent stops from within the cities.
 

• Subway Services
  

      As for all the countries, the subway is the most convenient and easiest way to travel.  The

subway of Korea offers the safest, easiest, fastest, most comfortable means of transportation from the main cities of Korea.  From Seoul it is linked to the other intercity or satellite cities in Korea.  The train takes about 2 to 3 minutes of interval during the peak hours and 4 to 6 minutes in non-peak hours.  The fare takes only about 900 won or $0.94 US dollars.

• Ferry Services
  

      This is one way to travel where you can appreciate the beauty of Korea.  It's the most pleasant way to see Korea.  It will take you from one island to another; the routes are from Busan to Jeju-do Island, Pohang and  Ulleungdo Island, and  Mokpo and Hongdo Island.

          

I am planning to a trip to Singapore next week.  I am wondering what I should expect to see in Singapore.  And so I tried to check it out using the internet.  And I am so amazed that Singapore can be unique as they are.  They have so many cultures, arts, architecture which I enjoy the most seeing, and cuisine.  I heard that Singapore has a friendly neighborhood, "the most welcoming people they met" as how they describe them. 

A variation of nationalities are said to be found in Singapore; Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasians are usually found to inhabit this country.  That is why they are called the Garden City or

Instant Asia.  They have 60 international airlines, and a new convenient way to travel using the Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit from their airport to their islands.  I also learned that they have public transportations like buses and taxis.  I even learned that smoking in public places is against their law.  And for first time offenders, they have to pay $1000 Singaporean dollar.  Whew, it's good thing I am not a smoker.  I was told to bring summer clothes since it is warm in Singapore.  So I decided to bring just my shirts and jeans.  At least now I know that I don't have to bring my bulky jackets with me.

       

            I've visited a lot of countries already.  And you can't just enter their grounds without abiding by their laws or the regulations that they require.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of diseases we can acquire while traveling.  That's the main reason why the government of that certain country would require you to get vaccination; it's for your own good and their country's.  Like for the person who loves to travel to tropical countries, they would need to get vaccinations against hepatitis, yellow fever, polio, diphtheria, typhoid fever, and a lot more other diseases.           

            First, obtain information about the country you plan to visit, and check what vaccine they would require.  Also, consider the risk of exposure; for example, if you are not going to

the rural places and don't expect to get exposed to the disease, then maybe you don't have to get the vaccine.  But of course, if you really want to be sure, might as well get it than be sorry afterwards.  Although preventive medicine has been proven to be successful, still it is not 100% sure you won't acquire a disease when you get vaccinated.  At least you took the liberty of being precautious in preventing a disease.

            Prevention is not only thru vaccination but also by educating yourself to how a disease is being acquired.  Polio, hepatitis A and typhoid can be avoided by eating uncontaminated food and drinking clean water.  These days immunization is not that mandatory, yellow fever vaccine is only required if you are traveling to South America, Africa, and Asia.  Set up an appointment with your doctor at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to your travel since the effectiveness of these vaccines require a certain period of time before it gets activated.  For pregnant woman, make sure that you get checked by your obstetrician before traveling, and if a necessary immunization is

required let your physician know about it.

             Let me give you some of the popular destinations that might require you to get vaccinations.

·        Australia - although this country does not have yellow fever risk, the government still require the person entering their country to get yellow fever vaccination if you are from a country that has yellow fever or if you are passing by a country that has one.  They would require a proof you've obtained a vaccination.

·        Canada - they require the routine vaccinations, such as MMR vaccine, DPT vaccine, and the other childhood vaccines.  Also, vaccination against hepatitis B.

·        China - routine vaccination is also required, Hepatitis A and B vaccines, typhoid for those who might get exposed to infected food and drink, rabies, Japanese encephalitis,

·        Egypt - same as in China, they require routine vaccination, Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, and polio.

·        France - routine vaccination, hepatitis B for people who might get exposed with blood or body fluids, person who have sexual contact with local population, and rabies for people who plan to go to nature trips.

·        Guam - again, routine vaccination, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid vaccine.

·        Hong Kong - since this country has been exposed to SAR, then you would need to have the routine vaccinations, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and Japanese encephalitis.

 
            There are actually a lot more preventive medicine you should be educated on.  My advice is get checked and get shots or boosts for your own protection.

I have traveled a lot when I was young.  My parents love to travel, as far as I could remember, we have been traveling every single opportunity we can get.  I can say that I grew up on the road.  And I have adapted that passion for traveling from my parents.  I travel almost anywhere I like, whether I am alone, or with my friends, relatives or my family.  I never pass on a chance to have a vacation.

I try to get the best travel deals that I can.  Vacation packages are much cheaper, convenient, and

easier to get.  And it is more fun to travel with someone, better than traveling alone.  Take it from me, I've done it so many times and it is no fun.  But sometimes I have no choice but to go alone since not all people like to travel as much as I do or some of my friends are not available during the time I have a chance to take a trip.  Don't get me wrong, traveling alone can also be fun.  You get to meet other people, go places you've never been, you know sometimes your companion don't want to go to a certain place since they have been there before and they don't want to waste their time going to the same place.