Thursday, March 31, 2011

Double up Your Orlando Vacation with Busch Gardens

There is always something new at Busch Gardens they are welcoming Baby Thomson's Gazelle. Busch Gardens’ hoof-stock care team is currently hand raising a baby female Thomson’s gazelle. The baby weighed just over four pounds at birth on February 25.

This baby will remain in the park’s back area until she is healthy enough to join the herd of Thomson’s gazelles on the 65-acre Serengeti Plain. Guests can view the herd from Nairobi Walkway and get close-up views of the animals on the Serengeti Express Railway.

When the calf refused to take milk from its mother, the park’s animal care team started bottle-feeding the baby. She is now receiving five bottle feedings each day and is weighed daily to monitor her health. At about four weeks old, she has already gained more than two pounds.

Thomson’s gazelles, also called “tommies,” are one of three migratory species that make up the vast Serengeti migration. Like the zebra and the wildebeest, the Tommie population can reach more than 500,000 per migration.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ranthambore National Park Hotels, Make Your Tour Special

Situated in the eastern part of Rajasthan, in the foot hills of Aravali and Vindhyan Plateau. Ranthambore National Park is one of the oldest natural reserves in India. This is the heaven for wild life lovers in India. The Maharajas of Jaipur has really made it royal and makes it one of the most exciting destinations in India. The rivers of Chambal in the South and Banas make the place more and more exciting. The beauty of the places has made many to come here every year and go mesmerized. Looking into the high number of people coming every year to visit the reserve a number of Resorts in Ranthambore are coming up. There are resorts of all sorts of budgets and they start from budget resorts.

The Luxury Resorts in Ranthambore is really great and these resorts are like the one which is going to make your journey a memorable one. The luxury resorts like Vanya Villa and Aman-I–Khas Resort in Ranthambore are the real ones for you. Sher Bagh and Dev Vilas are also special luxury resorts. These resorts play a very important role in making your holiday a memorable one. They make arrangements for campfire, bone fire as also safari trips. Various activities like the swimming and fishing is arranged by the resorts. They are the ultimate names for the luxury and comfort. The beauty of the trip lies in the facilities that they are going to provide you.

The Deluxe Resorts in Ranthambore is really the beautiful ones and these are the perfect one for you to stay within budget. The Tiger Den resorts, Ranthambore regency, the Pug Park are the deluxe resorts are also very high in value and advance booking is a must to get the best facilities availing. The beauty of the park is visible with these budget resorts arranging safari trips for you. The thrilling journey moves ahead with the thrilling journey to the abodes of the wild life preset in the Park.

The Budget Resorts in Ranthambore like the Ankur Resorts or Raj palace resorts the facilities are more or less the same but in budget pricing. So those who want to be within their budget and want to enjoy luxury must come here. The budget hotels and not at all like the cheap accommodations they are also filled with lots of facilities. So the next time when you come to India for a visit of Ranthambore decide your accommodation according to your budget.

Source: http://blog.ranthamborenationalpark-india.com/ranthambore-national-park-hotels-make-your-tour-special/

One Of The Top Luxury Phuket Resorts Is The Racha Koh Racha Yai

When we booked the Racha we were told it was one of the top luxury Phuket resorts, but having been there I am certain it is the tops of the luxury Phuket Resorts. I had been looking for cheap deals on Phuket Hotels, or a Phuket vacation package to a nice hotel, when literally by chance I came upon The Racha. The idea took my fancy immediately, and we made some more enquiries and booked to go.

We were very impressed when we arrived at Phuket airport where we were picked up by a huge Mercedes and taken to a special Racha lounge, where we checked in prior to a 30 minute or so boat ride to The Hotel. I must be slow on the uptake, because it was really only then that I realized The Racha is in fact on an island called Koh Racha Yai!! It is very worthwhile checking the arrival of your flight, and the departure of the boat, because we knew other guests who had to wait a couple of hours in the lounge, whilst more by accident than design we were there for only a few minutes.

As to the resort itself, it is certainly beautifully presented, a beautiful place on a beautiful beach. It's worth getting a villa up the hill, because there isn't any passing traffic, and it feels very private even when you are sitting outside, and the views are pretty good too!! The inside of the villa is very minimalistic, but I did enjoy the outside shower. The standards of cleanliness were superb, there always seemed to be staff arriving to clean up behind us, and always with a smile on their faces.

The infinity pool is quite amazing especially at dusk, and unlike other places we have been the photographs didn't do the resort justice. I had read complaints about the service, but in our experience it was faultless, and everything with a smile, nothing being too much trouble. We particularly enjoyed the breakfasts, with just about everything you can think of, I just wish guests wouldn't slyly slip rolls and cold meats into their beach bags to eat later. In a hotel of this quality that is not on.

Meals were expensive, however within a brisk five minute walk if you choose you can find cheap and lovely inexpensive local restaurants. The beach wasn't always deserted, and we Westerners tend to forget that all beaches in Thailand have public access. If you don't like it, and it never lasts more than a few hours, there are beautiful and secluded beaches not far away. All in all we had a great time, did nothing, but then again, there wasn't much to do anyway, and generally just unwound. Having not yet experienced other resorts in Phuket, they will have to be pretty good to be better than the Racha on Koh Racha Yai, definitely one of the top luxury Phuket resorts in my book anyway.

Busch Gardens Baby Cheetah


Busch Gardens’ newest resident is five weeks old! Here are his newest photos.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Sun and Fun splash in at Fantasy of Flight

It's spring break in Central Florida, especially for the pilots taking part in the 37th Annual SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland on March 29-April 3. Once again the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, located off of Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa, will host the "Splash-In" portion of the 37th Annual SUN 'n FUN International Fly-In & Expo on Thursday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests will be transported by shuttle to and from Fantasy of Flight and SUN 'n FUN headquarters at Lakeland Linder Field throughout the event.

The one-day event specifically celebrates seaplanes--planes that can take off or land on water--and other aircrafts known as amphibians, which have retractable wheels that enable them to function on water or land.

Fantasy of Flight's Lake Agnes will serve as a landing strip for the participating pilots. Visitors can meet the daring pilots and watch them maneuver their amazing amphibious planes from the sky to the surface of the water and back again, Other event highlights include water-based competitions such as spot landing, a "bomb drop" contest and slaloms with floatplanes and flying boats.

This all-day event is included in admission to Fantasy of Flight, which is $28.95 for adults and $14.95 for children, ages 6-15, plus 7 percent sales tax. SUN 'n FUN guests who do not wish to visit Fantasy of Flight will be charged $5 for parking and admission to "Splash-In." Visitors who do not wish to visit Fantasy of Flight, and are not SUN 'n FUN guests, may pay $10 for parking and admission to "Splash-In." For more Information, visit www.fantasyofflight.com.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Ranthambore Tour Perfect Ecstasy for wild Life Lovers

Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest natural reserves in India. This is located in Rajasthan and is around 130 km from the Capital of Rajasthan Jaipur. The reserve has attracted propel from all over the world like photographers, wild life lovers as also nature lovers. The beauty and thrill of the park lies in its Royal Bengal Tiger and birds, so even the bird watchers can enjoy here with ease. The beauty of the park lies in its reservation naturally also. You can call this a pure and virgin forest. So go for this and make your day come true. Ranthambore Tour Packages are easily available online and you cannot really miss this beautiful holiday destination once you are in India.

Looking into this high number of people coming here every year, a number of resorts and hotels in the area have come up. These resorts come in all sorts of budgets and are very much the real meaning of luxury. There are luxury resorts, deluxe resorts as also budget resorts and these resorts are the real meaning of making your trip go full with activity and fun. The Ranthambore Resorts are having all the facilities like swimming, camp fire and safari trips so going with them you will be able to enjoy the full luxury of wild life holiday. Vanya Vilas, Aman are the luxury resorts and Sher Bagh, Taj Sawai Modhpur Lodge are the deluxe lodges and tiger hill villa and ankur resorts are more economical.

The Hotels In Ranthambore are also available in all sorts of budgets. You will be able to book them in advance with the help of internet and they also give you facilities like the resorts. The Ranthambore Tour Packages are available throughout the year and a trip here completes your trip to wild life in India. The presence of beautiful flora is also found to be attracting people. Throughout the year high number of people visits this park and takes the sip of nature with joy and ecstasy. Do not forget to take an elephant safari trip here. You can also go for Canter Safari and elephant safari also.

Source: http://blog.ranthamborenationalpark-india.com/ranthambore-tour-perfect-ecstasy-for-wild-life-lovers/

The Unlucky Landis Hotel

The Landis Hotel, c. 1915. Sign beside the door reads "Chautauqua."  Image source
Reading about all the people who once owned the now-demolished Landis Hotel really makes me want to learn more about them. There are stories in every hotel, but something tells me the stories in this one are truly compelling – and sometimes sad.

Noble and Gertrude Woodworth, originally from Nova Scotia, came to Saskatchewan in 1917 to try their luck a farming in the Landis area. As suitable land was not immediately available, they decided to run the Landis Hotel for a year. Built in 1909 by contractors Lee, Hope and Meldrome, the hotel had been in a slump since the start of Prohibition in 1915. To make matters worse, the Spanish Flu hit the village of Landis in the fall of 1918. An emergency influenza hospital was set up in the Landis Hotel. 

Hotel at the end of Main Street, n.d. Image source

Landis Hotel, 1913. From The Landis Record (1980)
The flu epidemic started in the trenches at the end of the First World War in May 1918.  It spread across the Atlantic as troops returned to Canadian ports in the late spring and early summer, and reached Saskatchewan on October 1, 1918. Infected soldiers bound for home disembarked from troop trains in Regina and from there, the flu spread rapidly throughout the province.  

Almost 4,000 Saskatchewan people died during the first three months of the epidemic, and the largest number of deaths occurred in villages (12.6 people out of 1,000). Landis was not spared. It was thought that the flu was brought to the community by troupe of Chautauqua performers. (A Chautauqua was a travelling summer fair featuring music, drama and educational lectures, popular across North America during the Teens and Twenties.) So severe was the epidemic that literally every household in the village and surrounding district was stricken. The Landis Record reports that schools and businesses were closed, “and it was difficult to find enough able-bodied people to tend the sick.” Several people from Landis and area died. The wife of the United Church minister, Mrs. Trevor Williams, died at age 30, leaving behind a daughter who was only a few months old. Four members of the Geary family succumbed to the flu, including Ted Geary, his wife and son.

The next year, the Woodworths moved to a quarter section of land on the outskirts of Landis. Their two room shack, with no conveniences and with straw and manure banked up around the foundation to keep the place warm in winter, was likely a welcome change to the sadness the couple witnessed in the Landis Hotel in the fall of 1918.

Anna Haas (right) with her sister Clara.
From The Landis Record (1980)
Anna Haas ran the Landis Hotel from 1919 to 1921. Anna, the eldest daughter of Adam and Mariana Haas, had immigrated to Canada from Galicia in 1900 when she was only a few months old. The family originally homesteaded in the area of Gimli, Manitoba, on Lake Winnipeg.  In 1918, when Anna was 18 years old and working in the garment industry in Winnipeg, her parents and siblings moved to Landis. Perhaps the family thought the operation of the village hotel would be a good opportunity for Anna, for she arrived by passenger train shortly afterwards.  Anna’s younger siblings lived at the hotel while they attended school in town. They helped her with some of the lighter chores like carrying wood and washing dishes. In 1921, Anna decided to return to Winnipeg, and then to Edmonton, where she worked for the G.W.G. Garment Company. Anna was “stricken with a mental disorder” in 1928. She was committed to the Weyburn Mental Hospital where she lived for 50 years, dying at the hospital in 1978 at 78 years old. She is buried in the Landis cemetery.

John and Mary Ann "Grannie" MacLeod in front of the hotel, c. 1940.
From The Landis Record (1980)
John MacLeod his wife, Mary Ann, and their six children farmed near Lockwood, Saskatchewan for five years before taking over ownership of the Landis Hotel in 1923. The MacLeod family ran the hotel until 1961. John passed away in 1942, at which time his son Hector, who had been working in the hotel since 1930, bought the business. Mary Ann passed away in 1951. 

The following year, Hector converted the dining room of the hotel into a café, and hired Woo Sing Kee from Rosetown to run it. Mr. Sing, as he was known, had a wife in China, but Canada’s restrictive immigration laws prevented him from bringing her to join him in Saskatchewan. Instead, he brought young Raymond Kwan from China to help him out. Raymond attended school in Landis when he wasn’t working at the hotel cafe. After Raymond left, Mr. Sing had Wing Woo and Wah Woo working with him in the café. The Chinese Immigration Act was finally repealed in 1947, but it wasn’t until 1958 that Mr. Sing’s wife joined him in Landis. Mr. Sing died two years later, in 1960. His wife continued to live in the Landis Hotel, with Wing Woo and Wah Woo looking after her until her death in 1968.

The empty Landis Hotel, March 2006.  Joan Champ photo
By 2006, the hotel was abandoned and empty – open to vandals and the elements – a real safety hazard. Its wooden exterior had been covered over with stucco at some point, painted in bright colours. At the back there were several small additions to the original structure – sheds, lean-tos and even a dog house, with doors everywhere. Looking around the place, one could not help but say, “If only these walls could talk....” The Landis Hotel was torn down a couple of years later.

Rear of the Landis Hotel, 2007. Image source

Rear of the Landis Hotel, 2007. Image source

© Joan Champ, 2011


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Punchestown Festival Competition


Its only a couple of weeks away from the Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival, the highlight of the Irish sporting and social calendar. The special combination of thrilling sporting action, brilliant live entertainment, delicious food and drink, family fun, dazzling glamour is unequalled!

Thanks to Bewleys Hotel Newlands Cross you could be there!

We have some fantastic prizes to give away to some very lucky Facebook fans:
  • VIP pair of Reserved Enclosure Tickets to the Festival on Saturday 7th May and one nights B&B in Bewley's Hotel Newlands Cross for the lucky winner.

  • Also we have two pairs of General Admission tickets to the Festival on Saturday 7th May, along with one nights stay in Bewleys Hotel Newlands Cross to give away to two lucky runners up.
  •  
    Don't forget children under 14 GO FREE when accompanied by an adult on Saturday the 7th so we are offering a Family room to each, should the lucky winners need them.

    All you have to do to win one of these fantastic prizes is go to the Bewley's Hotels website and find the Facebook Competition Code on one of the Newlands Cross webpages.
    Once you have found this you then email: marketing@moranhotels.com with your name, contact details and the code.

    As always you must be a fan of Bewley's Hotels on Facebook to enter. Terms & Conditions apply.

    Don't forget to have your entries in by next Monday 4th of April to be in with a chance to win!!

    BEST OF LUCK!!!

    Punchestown Festival Competition


    Its only a couple of weeks away from the Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival, the highlight of the Irish sporting and social calendar. The special combination of thrilling sporting action, brilliant live entertainment, delicious food and drink, family fun, dazzling glamour is unequalled!

    Thanks to Bewleys Hotel Newlands Cross you could be there!

    We have some fantastic prizes to give away to some very lucky Facebook fans:
    • VIP pair of Reserved Enclosure Tickets to the Festival on Saturday 7th May and one nights B&B in Bewley's Hotel Newlands Cross for the lucky winner.

    • Also we have two pairs of General Admission tickets to the Festival on Saturday 7th May, along with one nights stay in Bewleys Hotel Newlands Cross to give away to two lucky runners up.
    •  
      Don't forget children under 14 GO FREE when accompanied by an adult on Saturday the 7th so we are offering a Family room to each, should the lucky winners need them.

      All you have to do to win one of these fantastic prizes is go to the Bewley's Hotels website and find the Facebook Competition Code on one of the Newlands Cross webpages.
      Once you have found this you then email: marketing@moranhotels.com with your name, contact details and the code.

      As always you must be a fan of Bewley's Hotels on Facebook to enter. Terms & Conditions apply.

      Don't forget to have your entries in by next Monday 4th of April to be in with a chance to win!!

      BEST OF LUCK!!!

      Nightlife around Amway Center

      With the opening of the Amway Center last fall, a bustling new nightlife district has extended from Church Street Station in downtown Orlando right up to the doors of the ultra-modern arena. The Amway Center has been credited for revitalizing the downtown business district, with restaurants and bars just a few steps away from the stadium, such as Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille, Kres Restaurant, Mojo Bar & Grill.

      Starting this week, the hip new restaurant and bar district around Orlando's dazzling new Amway Center will get just a little hipper. Draft Global Beer Lounge & Grill, located directly across from the new Amway Center, is an all-new restaurant-bar-lounge specializing in craft beers. Draft Global Beer Lounge & Grill will open its doors to the public Thursday, March 31 on West Church Street.

      For Orlando Magic fans who want to visit before or after a home game, or concert goers catching an event at the Amway Center, there are plenty of eateries ranging from casual sports bars to trendy restaurants. The Amway Center also offers its own wide selection on restaurants and bars—but only for customers with a ticket to the game or event.

      Sunday, March 27, 2011

      Resorts In Corbett Symbol of Ecstasy and Thrill

      Every year thousands of visitors from around the world come to fulfill their thrust for wildlife to the beautiful and thrilling reserve of Jim Corbett. Being located in the foothills of Himalayas this is one of the most exclusive holiday destination in India which can make you have your thrust for nature and wild life get complete pleasure. The presence of nature and wild life together is a combination that simply attracts people from every corner of the world. There is even beautiful river like Koshi and Ramganga flowing from inside the garden which makes it more attractive. Activities like fishing, angling and many other can be enjoyed here with love.

      Looking into this high number of people coming every year there has come up a number of resorts, lodges and hotels for their accommodation. Among them obviously resorts are the best options to get the thrill of the journey of the trip. The resorts are available in every budget. They are available in luxury, deluxe and budget way. There are around 80 resorts in the reserve out of which half of them are Luxury Resort in Corbett, and 30 are Deluxe Resorts in Corbett and rest are Budget resorts in Corbett. These resorts take full care of you if you so that you can enjoy the trip in full.

      Some Luxury Resorts in Corbett are Infinity Resort, Solluna Resort and Corbett highway. Other than these there is also Manu Maharani Resort, Country Inn Resort, Country Inn Resort and more which is also considered to be luxury. These resorts take complete care that you are able to enjoy the trip in full. They make it for sure that you are getting full fun and joy here. They arrange for special safari trips, camping and camp fire as also the bone fire facilities. They also give you special camping facilities. There are various online travel companies available with whom you will be able to make online booking.

      There is also Corbett Leisure Resort, Corbett River View Retreat and Ramganga Resort. They are also considered as Deluxe resort in Corbett. They also give you same kind of facilities like the luxury resorts. Other than this there are budget resorts like Corbett International and Cornett Kingdom. They are all great and attractive. So go for them and enjoy the jungle with great thrill.

      Source: http://blog.resortsincorbett.com/resorts-in-corbett-symbol-of-ecstasy-and-thrill/

      Hotel Fire Escapes

      Many hotels once had covered balconies on upper floors and front verandas. As they were made of wood, however, they eventually became fire hazards and had to be removed. In their places, fire escapes were constructed. Some, like the Hafford Hotel, just had a hefty, knotted rope anchored by a metal ring near a window, long enough to reach the ground. Others had variations on stairways and ladders such as these, shown in my photos.

      Commercial Hotel, Blaine Lake

      Invermay Hotel

      Royal Hotel, Weyburn

      Royal Hotel, Strasbourg

      Pennant Hotel

      King George Hotel, Melville, 2006

      King George Hotel, Melville, Feb. 17, 2010. Photo: Melville Advance
       “On the road, hotel fire exit locations were always implanted in my mind in the 50s after check-in.  I sometimes even checked to see if those doors really opened. ... There were guests, after lifting a couple too many in the beer parlour, who verified these escape routes." - Dave Anderson, To Get the Lights; A Memoir about Rural Electrification in Saskatchewan (2006)

      © Joan Champ 2011

      Business Bay Dubai


      Business Bay will be a new city within the city of Dubai, and will be created as a commercial and business cluster along the new extension of the famous Dubai Creek extending from Ras Al Khor to Sheikh Zayed Road, in the direct neighbourhood of DIFC and Old Town. Covering an area of 64 million sq ft the new initiative will feature facilities such as office and residential towers set in landscaped gardens interspersed with a network of roads, pathways ad fascinating canals. Indeed, Business Bay comprises 230 buildings, including Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. In addition to the existing business friendly rules and regulations, the ambience will add to the magnificence of the project and provide a highly conductive environment and infrastructure for businesses from around the world that wish to establish their local, regional, and international headquarters at Business Bay.

      Dubai's Business Bay is similar in nature to Manhattan or Ginza, which are the business centres for the cities of New York and Tokyo. The legendary Dubai Creek, an important aspect of Dubai's trading past that has shaped Dubai from a fishing and pearl diving center to an international port has been extended in view of its significance as a trade centre that harbours the stance of Dubai as the business hub of the region. Business Bay is a symbol of Dubai's progress as it embodies the crucial role the Creek played in Dubai's past as well as its future.

      The Business Bay area is a combination of residential and office towers which are designed by international price winning architects to the highest standards, and offering a lifestyle unimagined. However, Business Bay will be mainly composed by office towers offering high-tech working spaces. From the superb architectural style and design of each apartment to the breathtaking views just outside, life at Business Bay is intended for people that seek luxury in a vibrant community. Business Bay offers an exclusive lifestyle equipped with every amenity you need to make living a real pleasure, like designer boutiques, fine dining restaurants, and Spas.


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      Doctors to Prescribe Anger Management for Children

      Doctors in the England could soon be able to prescribe anger management classes for children with behavioural problems under a new 8.9 million pound government scheme. Under the plans the NHS could pay for anger management for difficult children along with a number of other services such as air conditioning for those with lung disease who struggle to keep cool during the hot summer months. The scheme will see the 8.9 million pounds allocated to 81 deprived areas in England under a framework to tackle inequalities.

      The framework also aims to encourage local councils and health services to find new ways of working together to prevent ill health amongst the community. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "For too long health has been seen simply in terms of hospitals and bed numbers. NHS stands for the National Health Service not the National Sickness Service and we want it to live up to its name. We need to radically change the culture of how we shape and deliver care - shifting focus from curing the sick to the proactive prevention of ill health, as well as tackling health inequalities.

      By giving GPs more flexibility in how they use NHS money and investing more in community based programmes, local services will be able to offer people a seamless service of care - whether in a hospital, in their home or in the community." Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly added: "By using this framework and working through Local Area Agreements local authorities and primary care trusts can begin to draw together the contributions of different services, leisure, transport, libraries and housing as well as across social, primary and community care to create the outcomes which lead to prosperous and healthier communities."

      However, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Patricia Hewitt must be living on a different planet. The NHS does not have enough money to fund operations, so how does she expect GPs to divert money for NHS treatments into preventative equipment or services? It further illustrates why public health budgets to fund preventative services should be ring-fenced. Joined-up health and social care is absolutely necessary but to break down the barriers we need direct payments that encompass social and healthcare following a single assessment."

      Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association's GPs committee welcomed the idea of preventing illness through tackling inequalities. But he said: "At a time of massive deficits in local NHS budgets, hospital closures and redundancy and unemployment for doctors, nurses and other health workers, it beggars belief that a government that has lost its way with the NHS wants the service to provide air conditioning and anger management classes. GPs already refer children with behavioural problems to specialist psychiatrists or psychologists, the problem is the shortage of NHS provision in these services. As for air con units - let's hope that in 12 months time the government is not berating GPs for over-prescribing them."

      Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "Providing air conditioning facilities during hot weather for people with lung disease can be helpful, as can community nursing support, timely weather forecasts and advice on pollution levels." Finally, Andrea Bilbow, of the National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service, said: "Anger management classes are an incredibly good idea. I hope they becomes a reality."

      Astros spring training at Osceola County Stadium

      The Houston Astros play their last home spring training game in Kissimmee for the 2011 season this Sunday, March 27 at 1:05 p.m. against the Detroit Tigers at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida, just a few minutes away from the Orlando attractions. Tickets prices are $24 for dugout box seats, $22 for outfield box seats, $20 for upper reserved seats and $15 for outfield reserve seats.

      Spring training games at Osceola County Stadium are a bit different than a game at a major league ballpark. As the smallest stadium in the Grapefruit League (the name given to all MLB teams that train in Florida) Osceola County Stadium is a more intimate setting. Fans can see their favorite players up close and personal; foul balls are usually tossed into the stands, and kids line up in front of the Astros dugout to have their baseballs signed after the game.

      Don't be surprised if you find baseball fans representing a wide variety of MLB and little league teams. Spring training draws tourists, snowbirds and locals alike. Another fringe benefit for children coming to a spring training game at Osceola County Stadium is having the opportunity to run around the bases after the game. It's just one of the many ways to enjoy spring in Central Florida.

      Saturday, March 26, 2011

      Govan Hotel: A Refuge for Weary Travellers

      "New up-to-date hotel, Govan, Sask.," c. 1908. Image source
      Govan’s first hotel, the Silver Plate, was built by a Mr. Sherriff in 1908. The large, four-storey wood-frame building, painted light yellow with dark brown trim, could accommodate about 40 guests. According to a 1908 issue of the Govan Prairie News, it was built.at a cost of $30,000 “under the most difficult conditions known to pioneer life.” 

      Every penny’s worth of material was drayed [hauled by wagon] over raw prairie for over 20 miles, much of it during weather that would freeze the proverbial monkey. Mr. Kinneard, the contractor, and the proprietors deserve unstinted praise for the undaunted energy lent to the project; and many years after all are beneath the prairie sod, the building will stand as a fitting monument to prairie life in Last Mountain Valley.

      The dining room could accommodate 100 guests, and was considered one of the most beautiful and spacious in the West at the time. “The halls, waiting rooms, and offices are airy and well furnished,” the 1908 Govan newspaper wrote. “The bar has but few equals, being massively constructed with mahogany effect, presided over by C. L. Dalton, who is adept at suiting every taste. All in all, the Silver Plate is a credit to the Hub, a decided acquisition to the town.”  

      The top storey of the hotel, with its dormer windows, was never finished. For a few years it served as a dormitory for bachelor homesteaders who wanted to live in town for the winter, but couldn’t afford to pay for a proper room. Snow sifted onto their fourth floor beds during the fierce Saskatchewan winters, no doubt making the men long for the comforts of home. 

      Guests from all across Canada stayed at the Silver Plate, as did hockey teams from Lanigan to Cupar. It had several amenities, including a tavern (of course), a barber shop, a pool room, and a bowling alley as well as a room for travelling salesmen to display their wares. The hotel dining room was extensively used for banquets and various celebrations.

      In 1957, the unused fourth floor was removed to save on fuel costs; a flat roof was constructed in its place. Three years later, in 1960, the Silver Plate was destroyed by fire under the ownership of Vance Pokletar. The "fitting monument to prairie life" did outlast its builders after all, but not by much. Shortly after the fire, Floyd Rattray and Peter Roland Jr. built a much more modest two-storey hotel on the site of the old Silver Plate, naming it the Govan Hotel. The wood-frame building had ten guest rooms upstairs, and a 78-seat beverage room and a 38-seat restaurant on the main floor. Peter and his brother Albert ran the hotel until 1966. After that, it changed hands numerous times. 

      Restaurant at the Govan Hotel, c. 1990.
      Jeremy Warren, reporter
      In 2009, retired Calgary businessman Jack Landry and his wife Charlie, bought the Govan Hotel, changing its name to the Govan Inn & Bar. After extensive renovations, the hotel’s grand opening was held in mid-June 2010. Saskatoon StarPhoenix reporter Jeremy Warren was the first guest at the hotel and wrote about his experience in a story entitled “Nothing to dislike about Govan” (July 3, 2010). “I arrived Thursday night and, after I sunk some change into the bar's jukebox, the couple handed me the keys to room No. 1,” Warren wrote. Landry told the young reporter that across Saskatchewan many small-town hotels and bars were closing their doors. When the bar in a neighbouring town closed recently, Landry said it felt like the whole town had shut down. “Bars are usually the only social centre in a small town,” he said. 

      Govan Inn & Restaurant, c. 2010. Image source
      Govan Restaurant, c. 2010. Image source
      Jack and Charlie Landry plan to restore the Govan bar to its former glory and social importance in the community. By the summer of 2010, the couple had redecorated the bar and renovated the guest rooms, complete with new beds. There was still work to do on the hotel’s exterior, however. “Outside, the trim is peeling and the inn's street-front siding has turned a dull peach, contrasting with yellow along the rest of the building,” Jeremy Warren noted. “A computer printout – ‘Govan Bar Now Open’ -- in a front-street window corner is the only hint that one can find a drink inside. It is open and it is home for Jack and Charlie.”

      View video of Govan's main street, February 2009, including the hotel (20 seconds in): YouTube link

      © Joan Champ 2011


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      What makes the Red Coconut NightClub Stand out in Orlando


      Looking for a nice nightclub in Orlando one of the spots is located in CityWalk®, Universal Studios The Red Coconut Club® where you can take in the stars on the balcony, mellow out at intimate tables inside, or mix with lively crowds around the bars.

      The décor is a little bit 1950s Vegas, a little bit Cuban, and a little bit Polynesian-tiki retro with vintage couches and bongo-shaped bar stools. You'll find three different bars spread across the club's two levels, featuring signature martinis and specialty drinks, an extensive wine list and VIP bottle service, and an assortment of gourmet appetizers.

      I am certain that you will love and enjoy this classy nightclub so get ready to dance the night to live music featuring The Herb Williams Band every Thursday through Saturday night. On all other evenings a DJ spins popular tunes into the wee hours of the night. Every Thursday is Ladies' night with free admission for ladies. Happy Hour is Sunday through Thursday from 8 pm to 10 pm, and Saturday from 6 pm to 9 pm.

      As for the food you have choices from delicious appetizers and finger foods which include the following Vegetarian Spring Rolls, Coconut Shrimp, Crab Rangoon, Three Cheese Chicken Quesadillas, Mini Beef Filets with fresh cilantro sauce, Sweet Potato Nachos, Tostones with Shrimp, Cheese and Fruit, Mediterranean Pit Pizza, and Orange Ginger Teriyaki Chicken. Appetizers can be combined with side items to create an gifentrée platter.

      The Red Coconut Club is open seven nights a week Sun - Thurs 8 pm to 2 am and Fri - Sat 6 pm to 2 am and the cost to enter is $7, tax included, after 9 pm or as part of the CityWalk Party Pass and admission is for only 21 years and older.

      Put on your best casual-chic attire get ready to dance the night away at The Red Coconut Club. If you have any special questions you can give them a call at 407-224-2425.

      Also take a peek at our Top 20 Orlando Nightlife, Bars and Entertainment

      Friday, March 25, 2011

      Gaylord Palms Easter Week Savings



      You can now save more when you extend your stay at the famous Gaylord Palms resort in Orlando Florida. Take advantage of their Easter Week Savings

      The longer you stay, the more you save!
      Plan your Easter week getaway to Gaylord Palms and save when you travel between
      Monday, April 18 and Monday, April 25, 2011.

      Stay 2 nights get 10% off* prevailing rates.
      Stay 3 nights get 15% off* prevailing rates.
      Stay 4 nights or more and get Good Friday for FREE!*

      Gaylord Hotel Reservations

      Thursday, March 24, 2011

      Visiting Boracay for the First Time

      Planning your first travel to a paradise like Boracay is a win-win in many ways. Whether you do it alone, with friends, or immediate family members, Boracay never fails to allure every individual to come to enjoy its voluptuous in nature.

      Work out your travel plan by booking your flight to Boracay. Before hand, check the Boracay weather on your target schedule. The best time to go to Boracay is during the months of November to May when rain is not present. The summer season helps maximize your stay and enjoy the luxury of basking in the sun of Boracay beach. It is important to check the Boracay weather forecast because sometimes the climate is unpredictable.

      Your budget also plays a crucial role in planning your trip. Budget can makes a lot of difference on your stay. However, there are so many Boracay hotels and resorts in the island. They vary in terms of amenities. Some offers budget tour package. Most of the package that is being offered is always a travel budget wise.

      Choosing a hotel tour package of any Boracay hotel is the best for your budgeted Boracay money. The hotel package includes a lot of freebies like airport transfer to their resort, drinks, and to some -foods are already included.

      The Boracay hotel tour package ranges according to your intended number of days stay and budget. This could also mean what kind of activities you will be planning or the places of destination included in an island hopping. The activities are endless. You can do the island hopping during the day, bar hopping at night, walk in the shoreline at dawn and food trip during lunch and shopping later.

      Boracay is a playground paradise. Outdoor activities that you may enjoy include Scuba diving, snorkeling, island hopping, jet skiing, wind surfing, golf, yachting, parasailing and so on and so forth. Boracay Island surely provides endless activities and ultimate fun to accommodate every foreign and local visitor. On the other hand, it is best to inquire every travel packages every Boracay hotel can offer.

      Hotels in Chardham Network, To Enjoy The Pilgrim Tour With Great Comfort.

      Char Dham Yatra is obviously one of the most exclusive journeys performed by around 2, 50000 Hindus every year. The beauty and serenity of the trip lies on the fact that the devotion is the main driving force for the trip. The journey of four abodes of God Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath makes a man loose all his life’s sin. They are all located in the beautiful locals and it’s a real visual treat to all who comes to get enthralled with their beauties. You will be starting your journey from Haridwar or Delhi and then move towards Gangotri first and then from Gangotri you will move to Yamunotri and then to Kedarnath and Badrinath. During this whole journey you will be crossing innumerous cities on the way. These cities are also pilgrimage destinations like the Uttarakshi, Joshimath and Rishikesh.

      These places are all located in the beautiful valleys of Himalayas and hence they are perfectly the one which can make you go mesmerized with their beauty. Hotels in Uttarkashi, which falls in the way of your journey to the Gangotri, are great and they provide world class accommodation to people coming here from all over the world. They are not only hygienic but also very clean and clear. The cozy stay over here wills energies you for the rest of the journey. The same is with the Hotels In Joshimath also same. They fall on the way of your journey to the Chardham and the beauty of the lustrous greens makes it the most exclusive destination for you. The presence of the hotels is very much aware of the high number of people coming to visit every year and they are ready to welcome this high number of people every year. They are even conscious of the facilities. The hotels are extremely hygienic and take proper care of all the guests.

      The Hotels In Rishikesh also needs special mention, as this is also famous for being a river rafting destination of India. And many a people come for a visit of Rishikesh only even when they are not visiting Joshimath. Other than this there are various other places like GuptaKashi which falls in your journey to attain moksha and are really good. So come and get the ecstasy of the nature’s beauty along with the best pilgrimage journey possible.

      Jim Corbett National Park Tour Delight You Always

      Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest and largest reserve in India. The stunning natural presence along with the Royal presence of wild life makes it most thrilling holiday destination in India. If you are a wild life lover you really cannot ignore this reserve while visiting India. The presence of Royal Bengal Tiger and 520 types of birds make it the heaven for wild life lovers and bird watchers. This is located in the Himalayan valleys which are undoubtedly blessed with and you can simply spill yourself into nature here. Dhikala Tiger Tour with Nainital valley is famous for its natural beauty and awesome presence of stunning natural beauty. A wide number of tourists go on coming here throughout the year. Looking into this a wide range of resorts and hotels has come up in the area and they are next name of luxury for you.

      That who love activity and wants to go for more and more adventure trips can come here and with Corbett Rishikesh Rafting Tour. Rishikesh rafting tour is a real trip for those who love to go for the unlimited thrill in the Ganges. You can do the Risikesh trip with the trip of the Jim Corbett Nature Reserve only. River rafting is a trip that gives complete thrill and ecstasy for adventure lovers. You will be able to book Corbett Rishikesh Rafting Tour easily online and enjoy the beauty of nature and thrill together.

      Those who love presence of wild life only knows the value of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the presence of them in India is indeed the main consideration while going for the Dhikala Tiger Tour with Nainital. The presence of more than 500 types of birds along with this makes a strict contrast and from around the world a number of people come every year to Jim Corbett national Park to have Corbett Bird Watching Tour. Those who love bird watching know it is really refreshing and gives a beautiful mental and physical balance to wild life lovers. Even it is told by them that the chirping of birds give them inspiration to life and refreshment of life.

      So the next time whenever you come to India you should have the trip to the Jim Corbett National Park, it is a must to make your thrust for nature and wild life love come and end.

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