Taylore Vance asked:


Are you tried of the same old vacation activity?

The young family members will love you for some of these helpful resources for travel and adventure. Put excitement back into your life.

There is something for everyone.

Mark Miller reports from Malibu, Calif., that mudslide surfing is the latest adventure craze sport. Miller is a writer for the Weekly World News known for weird sports and travel hot spots.

These mudsliding enthusiasts network to find fast-moving landslides that generally occur during periods of intense rainfall or rapid snowmelt.

“They usually start on steep hillsides as shallow landslides that liquefy and accelerate to speeds that are typically about 10 miles per hour, but can exceed 35 miles per hour. The consistency of mudslides ranges from watery mud to thick, rocky mud that can carry large items such as boulders, trees and cars. Lately, however, they’ve been carrying something new — surfers!” reports Miller

“Mudslide surfing is the greatest sport ever!” gushed mudslide surfing enthusiast Matthew ‘Wild Dog’ Davar, who lives on a hill above Malibu. “On rainy days I used to have to stay inside. Not anymore. Now, I can’t wait till it rains. I just set foot out my front door and I’m good to go!”

They have specially laminated fiberglass boards reinforced with hardened steel sheets built to stand up to the mudslides. These boards must travel over dangerous debris, such as, snapped trees, downed power lines and destroyed homes.

Other obstacles they have to avoid are fire crews and volunteers searching for people buried under huge avalanches of rubble and sun-baked mud.

“But what sport doesn’t have its downside?” asked Davar. “When I’m riding that mudflow, in complete control of my board, whipping past emergency vehicles and panicked people screaming and crying that they’ve lost everything — well, that kind of adventure is worth the little inconveniences.”

When I was a kid we played on the newly constructed freeway bridges before the road were completed. There were four of us who would jump off a twelve foot tall bridge and bury up to the waste in mud. Mother never did find our how we got so muddy.

How do you find your next adventure?

Plan something very unusual and give your family a treat. How about a South Pacific vacation for family fun and a great way to enjoy a tropical holiday?

If all else fails to intrigue the young family members try mudslide surfing like Davar does in Malibu.

Are you interested in a family adventure, outdoor retreats, unique vacations, surfing, mountain climbing, river rafting, or a boating adventure? I found hundreds of choices at both these two sites: and http://www.aboating.com and http://www.dixieretreat.com Do you want a family or a solo adventure. The ultimate site to find details and suggestions for your next trip is: http://www.aadventuresz.com. And for TV reality survival reality adventures I like this one: http://www.panamala.com

Relax! Get Away With A Vacation Cruise I’ve found two interesting websites dedicated to adventure travel and cruises with great linking resources to hundreds of small private getaways. Check out these wonderful sites: http://www.travelxy.com and http://www.ahcruise.com. You can cruise the Nile, Bahamas or Panama. I found cheap tickets, links, articles and a new forum to share your good or not-so-good travel experiences.

Some offer free advice and travel coupons. There are many priceless adventures and too many to name here. Just check out some of the resources. Remember to bookmark the ones you want to find again.

Looking for the best unique private adventure for the man in the family. Try this resource: http://www.ulovehunting.com and http://www.afishingpage.com/ .

I’m heading to Panama for a two week vacation where I will visit Panama City with friends and family since I used to live there. I have a weekend flight to Bocas del Torro and reservations at a B&B that is completely built over the water. It is a little wooden two story house with four rooms for rent. The dining room is open air. Your have to go by boat taxi to get there. The taxi costs $2.00. It is so quiet at night that you can hear the water slapping the wood posts and you can almost hear the cangrejos (crabs) fighting over their food on the beach nearby.

Happy adventures!

Swati Saxena asked:


Trekking Adventure in India

Trekking is the most preferred adventure sport in India, a land endowed with snow-bound peaks, crystal glaciers, rolling meadows, jagged rock faces, scenic valleys, meandering rivers, cascading waterfalls, dense forests and hospitable people with a rich culture, a country bestowed with many trekking alleys. For those fascinated by the unexplored, the hills offer breath taking adventurous trekking routes. Trekking tour in India is the best way acquaint with any land, its people, its culture and traditions. The Indian mountain ranges promise breathtaking and exciting trekking trips. In almost every part of India, there are innumerable trekking adventure options expecting the trekkers. One may find some trekking routes in India soft, while others may turn out to be arduous. In the expanse of the vast wonderland of India, trekking avenues provide infinite opportunities for exploration and discovery among trekkers.

Trekking adventure in India is an unforgettable experience as it not only let you to experience the unexplored trails made by nature, but also brings the trekker directly in touch with the country and its people and helps to appreciate the mountain environment. There are trails, which ascend steeply, and paths, which go around local villages, passing through forests of rhododendron which gives way to fragrant stands of Juniper and conifers. It is this very splendor that captivates and invites the spiritual joy that trekkers have found to be alluring.

The Indian Himalayas are an adventure travelers’ paradise, a natural incommensurable playground. Himalayas affords trekkers with special interests such as Flora and Fauna, photography, geology or anthropology et al. Trekking have immense possibility of stretching the trekkers walking hours into an even more rich experience. The rugged beauty of these lofty mountains attracts travelers and tourists from all over the world. Garhwal and Kumaon regions, Chamba, Manali, Ladakh and Leh, Zanskar, Lahaul- Spiti, Kullu, Kangara, Darjeeling and Yuksam in Sikkim offer interesting trekking routes to the tourists.

Trekking in India is all about setting oneself a challenging pace, to enjoy the landscape of wild flowers, grand scenery, local people, breaking up when you please, conversing and dancing, forgetting all worldly troubles and losing your mind and soul to forging new, uncomplicated memories. The serenity and purity of the environment can be best enjoyed by trekking. Undoubtedly trekking the flourishing hills of the Himalayas will fill your heart with limitless joy and provide you the unmatched peace of mind. Hence India is a prime travel destination not only for those in search of spiritualism but also for the adventurer enthusiasts who have an ardent desire to unravel the unexplored.

The serenity and chastity of the environment can be best enjoyed by trekking at your own pace. There is not a shadow of doubt that trekking the verdant hills of the Himalayas will fill your heart with limitless joy and provide you the unmatched peace of mind. Hence India is a prime travel destination not only for those in search of spiritualism but also for the adventure enthusiasts who have an ardent desire to unravel the unexplored.

You may need permits and licenses in sensitive trekking areas where security is at stake. Pack your bags and gather your equipments: rucksack, sleeping bags, wind and waterproof jacket, a tent etc. and get going to confront the treks discovering the bountiful nature and absorbing in the rapture of mystical ecstasy.

Trekking is the most preferred adventure sport in India, a land endowed with snow-bound peaks, crystal glaciers, rolling meadows, jagged rock faces, scenic valleys, meandering rivers, cascading waterfalls, dense forests and hospitable people with a rich culture, a country bestowed with many trekking alleys. For those fascinated by the unexplored, the hills offer breath taking adventurous trekking routes. Trekking tour in India is the best way acquaint with any land, its people, its culture and traditions. The Indian mountain ranges promise breathtaking and exciting trekking trips. In almost every part of India, there are innumerable trekking adventure options expecting the trekkers. One may find some trekking routes in India soft, while others may turn out to be arduous. In the expanse of the vast wonderland of India, trekking avenues provide infinite opportunities for exploration and discovery among trekkers.

Trekking adventure in India is an unforgettable experience as it not only let you to experience the unexplored trails made by nature, but also brings the trekker directly in touch with the country and its people and helps to appreciate the mountain environment. There are trails, which ascend steeply, and paths, which go around local villages, passing through forests of rhododendron which gives way to fragrant stands of Juniper and conifers. It is this very splendor that captivates and invites the spiritual joy that trekkers have found to be alluring.

The Indian Himalayas are an adventure travelers’ paradise, a natural incommensurable playground. Himalayas affords trekkers with special

Tommy Ford asked:

The best step to marry a Russian mail order bride is to join free online dating services. Getting to know Russian girls for dating is easy because they are ready to meet you, Western men. If you are a Western men who seek Russian girls for marriage, then register at these free dating sites. Some are free and some is paid services. Some popular Russian singles services have thousands of single girls looking for marriage. They either registered their personal ads themselves and some are registered by the online dating agencies. Anyway, you can search Russian brides at these dating personals services. There are some Russian brides online currently so you can chat with them right away. Most of these mail order brides speak and write English a little bit, but not fluently. However, they will learn English when they come to America or any other Western country.

There are many dating agencies on the Internet which provide the convenient way for Western men to seek Russian women. Like I mentioned above, there are free dating sites and paid services. These paid services are not expensive. They also have language translators who need to translate English to Russian language. Russian mail order brides are different from singles online. International brides who get married with Western men are called mail order brides. Russian mail order brides are women from Russia who come to America or Canada by marrying American men or Canadian men. The means of getting married is by online dating agencies. If you know a friend who can hook you up with a Russian lady, then you do not need to join these dating websites. If you do not know friends, then the best way to get a Russian bride is to seek her at online dating services.

Mail order brides from Russia is easy to get married. Do you know why? because they do not want to get married with Russian men so they register themselves to dating agencies with hope to find foreign men, American guys or others. Free dating services provide the means for both, Russian brides and American men, seek with each other. These services are not the same as online dates. They are different. Seeking dates online is not the same as Russian mail order bride services. After you know a Russian woman from any free dating agency, then you chat with her, talk to her, and you have to travel to Russia for a face to face meeting.

The rule is that you should not chat with only one girl and spend about 15 hours on the plane, traveling to Russia to see her. You must chat with at least two girls. You travel there to meet with both and select the best one to get married with. You should not get married with a female at the first time you come there to see her. After seeing her there, come back to America, then think about your decision, then make your decision. It is extremely important for this big thing in your life. See at least two women over there, then select one to get married with. Think about this way, girls do not meet you only. A Russian girl may meet some American men to have more chance. She thinks the same as you do. She is not sure that you will come back to marry her.

It is better to join free Russian dating services for starting. There are so many free dating sites out there to help Western men to seek Russian brides. Seeking online brides on Net is easy and simple. Do not wait. Take action now. Being single is not good at all. Join these free Russian dating services and meet that special soul mate of your dream.

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Li Ming Wong asked:


Many people get time off over the holidays, and they want to make the most of that time. There are plenty of places where you can spend the holidays enjoying a lovely vacation. Disneyland and Disney World are among the busiest places on holidays, including Christmas day. People of all ages find the magic kingdoms to be a delightful place to make memories for the holidays with their entire family.

Since Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, many people find themselves with a four or five day weekend over that period of time. Going to Las Vegas is a great place to spend this holiday as it is always alive with action 24 hours per day. You will also find plenty of restaurants in Las Vegas that offer you the best Thanksgiving Day meal you have ever been a part of.

Las Vegas is also one of the most popular locations for New Years Eve. The entire strip is shut down from traffic and people are dancing, drinking, and having a good time in the streets. Many people compare it to the activities taking place in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

Spring break is a very popular holiday for the high school and college crowds. They often choose to spend that time at various beaches including those in Florida and California. Hotels are over run with these people having parties all night long and then spending their days at the beach.

Most of these beaches host fabulous activities during spring break to make sure people keep coming back year after year. Live music, dances, and various contests are just a sample of the different contests you can enter. Since spring break falls differently for various schools, these beaches are often full from the second week of March until the very end of the month.

Surprising someone you love with a fun vacation to another country or a part of the world they have always wanted to see is a great way to share the holidays. Imagine waking up Christmas morning in Spain or Paris instead of at home. There are plenty of great places that you can see during the holidays so don’t limit your options.

The down side to traveling to popular vacation spots for the holidays is that they are in demand. That means you will likely pay more to visit them during that time of year than normal. You will also need to make your reservations early or you will find that all the flights or the hotels have sold out and you won’t be able to spend the holidays there.

Take a look at various vacation package deals to help you save as much money as possible when you take a vacation over the holidays. Most package deals for travel include your airfare, hotel accommodations, and a rental car if you want one. You can also choose to add tickets for shows or events you want to take part in.

Once you have decided where you want to spend the holidays, you can start comparing prices. Find out what your local travel agent can offer you and surf the internet on your own. Don’t forget to look in the travel section of the newspaper or to take advantage of advertisements you get in the mail. For many people the ability to be able to take a vacation over the holidays will depend on the price they are able to get the trip for.

There will also be more people to deal with at that particular vacation spot over the holidays in most instances. If you don’t like being a part of a large crowd or you hate to wait in line, you will want to prepare yourself for these issues while vacationing over the holidays. This way you can focus on having a great time instead of getting stressed out over such issues that you have no control over.

Cathy Pareto asked:

Much attention has been given to the rise in the price of gold in recent weeks, leading investors to wonder, what are the current factors driving gold?  The easy answer to that question is –fear. We have already witnessed an eight year bull run in gold, but many believe that it’s bull run is far from over.  What is gold’s role in the credit crisis? Is buying the metal a better investment than investing in gold mining companies?  Is it too late to cash in on the growth?

Before we can answer these questions, let us first review what role a gold investment might play in your portfolio.  Investors buy gold for a number of reasons, including:  

To hedge against inflation. To hedge against a declining dollar. As a safe haven in times of geopolitical and financial market instability. As a store of value. As a portfolio diversifier.

Falling under the precious metals asset class, gold is a monetary metal whose price is determined by various factors.  Among these factors are: inflation, fluctuations in the dollar and U.S. stocks, currency-related crises, interest rate volatility, global geopolitical tensions and increases or decreases in the prices of other commodities.

In the credit crunch of deflation, gold and currencies are hoarded and the purchasing power of both rises.  But, gold also thrives in inflationary environments.  That is because of gold’s unique property with a dual role as both money and a commodity.  Think of gold as money, and money is hoarded in deflation so gold naturally tends to go up.  The point here is

that gold does well during extreme economic environments.  Let’s dissect some of the benefits of owning gold in the paragraphs that follow.

Inflation

As inflation goes up, the price of gold goes up.  Since the end of World War II, the five years in which U.S. Inflation was at its highest were 1946, 1974, 1975, 1979, and 1980. During those five years, the average real return on stocks, as measured by the Dow, was -12.33%; the average real return on gold was 130.4%. The environment in the 1970′s was not unlike the

environment today.  The common denominators in both periods are huge budget deficits, loose monetary policy, soaring oil prices (2008) and the open-ended costs of war (Vietnam vs. Iraq/Afghanistan).

Store of Value

According to the World Gold Council, gold has maintained its value in terms of real purchasing power in the very long run in the US, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. Despite price fluctuations gold has consistently reverted to its historic purchasing power parity with other commodities and intermediate products.  Gold is tangible, it’s a physical asset that

brings a sense of comfort when intangible assets, like stocks, are evaporating. But, while they do maintain a store of value, it is worth noting that gold, like stocks and other investments, is also subject to price fluctuations.

Safe Haven

Many investors are diversifying away from traditional equities and into gold because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the financial markets.  Gold has long been considered a safe haven, or “crisis commodity”.  Of course, as investors flock to safety investors the price of gold is pushed even higher.  Historically, as people begin to distrust their paper assets (ie. Currency), this positively influences the price of gold too, as we’ll discuss in the next paragraph.

Currency Hedge

Not all citizens have full faith in their local currency, at times, this might even include the U.S. Dollar.   So, what do they do?  They buy hard assets like gold (a tangible and physical item or object of worth).  Although it’s no secret that U.S. Dollar is world’s reserve currency and the main medium for global trade, the U.S. Dollar, like the Euro, Yen or other global currency,

is really nothing more than paper, or fiat money.  Fiat money is money that is intrinsically useless and is used only as a medium of exchange.  There is no physical asset that backs the U.S. Dollar today (or other global currencies for that matter) since its gold backing was stripped in 1971. But since gold is purchased using your local currency, in this case the dollar, then any decline in the value of the dollar causes the price of gold to rise.

Diversification

While all the other rationales for owning gold are viable, perhaps the most important reason to consider gold in your portfolio is for its diversification benefits.  Gold, like many other commodities, typically has an inverse relationship to the market.  Assets with perfect negative correlation to other assets in a portfolio help investors hedge away their risks, in effect

they reduce volatility while enhancing performance.  Gold and other tangible assets have historically had a very low correlation to stocks and bonds.  Because the price of gold increases in response to events that erode the value of traditional paper investments like stocks and bonds, it’s worth considering a fair allocation to this asset as part of a

diversified plan.  The “right” allocation will depend upon your specific circumstances and risk tolerance, but a good gauge might be between 3% to 8%.

Owning Gold

The gold market is highly liquid and there are many ways that investors can own gold.  The most traditional way of owning gold is via gold bullion like gold bars and coins.  When buying the physical asset, many people buy gold coins, considering the potentially higher storage costs or risks associated with owning gold bars.  Gold coins can be easily purchased directly from the U.S. Mint or from authorized dealers and precious metals firms.  Depending on where you purchase the coins and the current demand levels, you may have to pay a premium (above the current spot price of gold) to acquire the coins.  

Another way to access gold is through futures contracts or products like gold ETF’s (ie. Ticker: GLD) which offer investors a relatively cost efficient and secure way to access the gold market. A Gold ETF is an exchange traded fund with gold being the principle and only commodity being traded.  Gold ETFs are listed and traded on the stock exchange and investors get units for their holding in the gold ETF. The returns on gold ETFs are more or less same as that of the spot price of physical gold. It’s worth noting that the IRS treats gold as a collectible for long-term capital gains tax purposes, therefore, gains recognized by individuals from the sale of gold ETF’s are subject to a capital gains rate of 28% if held for more than a year.

Finally, investors can also consider having gold exposure through gold mining stocks and funds.  Some argue that this is more tax and cost effective, in that, there are no storage fees, theft concerns and gold mining stocks also benefit from lower capital gains rates.  On the flip side, owning stocks in a mining company is really not the same as owning the actual gold.  

In closing, gold’s recent rise is really no surprise given the recent financial uncertainty in the global markets.  As fear and investor trepidation permeate the markets, investors look to physical assets to help them preserve their wealth.  Times of crisis help fuel the demand for gold and, arguably, the easy access allotted by gold funds or ETF’s has further pushed up

gold’s price in recent years. To a certain extent, the demand for gold, mostly by investment funds, is feeding on itself.   

While some analysts suggest that the price of gold is being inflated by a flood of new investment money (implying it might be overvalued), others predict even further price growth down the road.  Either way, the argument can be made that gold offers sufficient benefits (inflation protection, currency hedge, portfolio diversifier) to warrant at least some representation in your collection of assets.

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