Family Vacation

November continues to be the low season for the Great White Sharks and it is the month for us to close down our operation and to go on a much needed holiday.

We are leaving Cape Town early in the morning and headed up the famous Garden Route, to Wilderness.

The Garden Route is a captivating world of lakes, rivers, estuaries and beaches gently unfolding against a backdrop of lush forest and lofty mountains. We stayed at the Wilderness National Park at Ebb and Flow camp in log cabins. What I liked so much about the area is that there are loads of activities for the family, from the beach, walks, birding, canoeing and more. I think next time we will definitely plan on staying for longer. For more info contact Wilderness National Park on Tel +27 (0)44 877 1197 or try Shark Cage Diving

Whist there we also took a train ride on South Africa’s only scheduled steam train, the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe train. It was a lovely train ride, through some beautiful country side as well as alongside the ocean. The train departs from the Transport Museum in George (well worth a visit to see all the olden day trains and cars), and ended up in Mosselbay at the Diaz Museum.

We also went to Addo Elephant National Park, where we did a bit of camping. I was really worried about camping with a little baby and a toddler, but rest assured, everything went just fine. We saw loads of animals: Zebra, Buffalo, Kudu, Warthogs, Hartebeest, Jackal, Ostrich, monkeys and many more animals, and of course…loads of Elephants. The bird life there was spectacular too. For more info contact Addo Elephant Park on +27 (0)12 428 9111

Then we headed inland to cross the Baviaanskloof. This area is truly spectacular. Declared a National Heritage site, the area comprises of approximately 270 000 ha. of unspoiled, rugged mountainous terrain. The vegetation also changes dramatically from thick bush, to fynbos and then semi desert scrubland. You will definitely need a 4×4 to cross the kloof and some of the bends in the mountain pass are not for the fainthearted. The scenery is truly breathtaking. We stayed at a working farm (sheep, veggies, Angora goats) for the evening and had a very peaceful braai under the stars. Shark Cage Diving

Then we headed of to Montegu. Montegu is one of my favorite areas because of the hot springs there. The village is quaint and the area is well known for its wine route. We did some wine tasting of course and stayed at another farm just outside the area.

We came home to a very windy Cape Town, and as I write this, it is still a gale force wind outside. We have had to cancel a week’s worth of shark trips now, and I am hoping the weather dies down before our film shoot that is starting tomorrow.

Well, there was no shark news to report, but I hope you enjoyed this newsletter about our travels. Next month we head of to Botswana and so the journey continues……Shark Cage Diving

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When it comes to Jewish Vacation, Kosher Resorts are extremely popular to the members of the Jewish and Samaritan communities. These kosher resorts are filled with guests that are devotees who wish to celebrate and make the most of the various Kosher Holiday and festivals.

Kosher Travel, of course, have different kosher tours that are filled with programs that are in keeping with the Jewish tradition and practices. In addition to that, the tours that the kosher resorts offer are adventurous and educational, making your kosher vacation even more fun!

Kosher Travel bring you to the most untouched and beautiful travel destinations that the world has to offer. There are tours that take you to some of the most famous and marvelous places in the United States like Wyoming where a Wild West experience is offered. There are some tours, on the other hand, that take you to some of the most remote and exotic places outside the United States. Some of these places are Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, the Mediterranean and more. Different activities are offered in these various places. You can go whitewater rafting, explore volcanoes, get lost in rain forests, horseback riding, river cruising, diving, snorkeling and other beach adventure activities (which, depending on the location of the Kosher Resorts, include close encounters with nautical animals like dolphins). These excursions are conducted by professional tour guides who narrate educational information and stories about the places that you visit. This gives you the opportunity to open your eyes to the grandeur and appreciate the beauty of the land that you are walking around on.

While Kosher Travel offer adventurous physical activities, Kosher Resorts, wherever they are located in the world, offer indoor activities and facilities that all follow the Jewish tradition. For instance, during Passover, the first two nights in a kosher resort are spent with Seders. Aside from keeping the Jewish tradition, the Seders also serve the purpose of having all visitors or participants acquainted as they share the meals together, before they all go forth for an adventurous trip on the coming days. During Rosh Hashana, on the other hand, Shabbat services are held in Kosher Resorts. That gives the observant Jews the chance to be able to do their daily obligations to say their prayers during their Kosher Travel.

Observing traditional Jewish practices, especially during Kosher Holiday, Kosher Resorts promise that they give a great deal of importance in kosher food as a major part of every participant’s kosher tour. Kosher Resorts make an observant lifestyle and an exciting travel experience with good food co-exist by combining kosher tours with the destination’s local authentic cuisine. Glatt kosher meals are a guarantee. Everything that is served on your table has gone through a team of inspectors to make sure that the food has passed Glatt kosher standards. All the ingredients necessary to prepare sumptuous meals are strictly examined to be sure the kosher resorts serve nothing but Glatt kosher meals of the highest quality.

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Few things generate the level of bonding and healing for a family as a Grand Canyon hike down to the Colorado River and back out. There are three reasons why it is so effective, and it’s OK if you don’t have the physical fitness to do it, or if you have small kids – I have some answers for you!

Grand canyon tours

First, the reasons why a hiking trip into the Grand Canyon is so valuable for families. The primary reason is that the Grand Canyon is an incredibly special place: a canyon eroded by hundreds of millions of years of running water and blowing wind. It’s literally a 4000 foot deep chasm sliced down the middle of a vast plateau with a wild and phenomenal scenic river thundering through the bottom of it. Desert flowers, wildlife, waterfalls, springs, rapids, and views that astound even the most cynical of people define a Canyon experience completely. It’s very difficult to not look out at the Canyon from the rim after spending 3 or 4 days at the river and not feel total gratitude for being alive in that moment. And that gratitude is the life blood of family bonding.

Grand canyon hikes

Second, small groups of people living in the wilderness is the basic environment that human beings evolved for the vast majority of the past 70,000 years. It feels right, and it creates the space for emotions and more difficult feelings to be worked with openly. In other words, it opens up communication avenues.

Third, hiking the Canyon is an achievement. Families, like any other teams, are happier when they are winning and are less happy when they are not winning. A hike into the Canyon is an achievement for the family. It isn’t easy, it is challenging, and that’s one of the reasons it’s so beneficial.

Grand canyon treks

If you aren’t physically fit enough to take on a Grand Canyon hike, then I’ve got some solutions. First, you may be fit enough to hike without a pack, and if you are, then there are mule services to carry your gear down and back up, so you don’t have to do it. The mules are also a great solution for families with young children. Another solution is to book the trip several months out and start training – if you aren’t in shape for it, then get into shape and make it a mechanism for being healthier. If neither of those solutions will work, then another option is to do a Grand Canyon rafting trip with day hikes from the bottom.

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Tips for safe shark cage diving

Doest the thought of going into a cage down into the dark, unknown terrain of the ocean to watch sharks swimming around you, fright you till your knees are weak? This is perfectly understandable that the very thought frightens you, but there is no reason that the safety of actually going shark cage diving should concern you. The shark cage diving industry is strictly regulated and no shark cage diver is allowed to take divers out on to the ocean without the required license. The crew is professionally trained and they are only allowed to operate the boat with the required equipment for Shark Cage Diving and facilities.

But it is important not to choose just any shark cage diver operator; first do your research and consider the following few things:

• Find out how long the shark diving operator has been in business. The longer they have been taking people out to shark cage diving, the more you can be assured that they are equipped to handle any type of emergency that might occur out on the ocean.
• Research what the company’s reputation is like. The best way to go around this is Google the company and find out what their Internet presence is like as well as the content they provide about shark cage diving. Do they have a habit of cancelling appointments or has there even been reported a mishap event? Shark Cage Diving

• Where are they located and if something might happen, find out if they are close to help. Luckily, what makes shark cage diving in Cape Town so popular all round the world is because of its accessibility and close proximity to land. Most of the shark cage diving operators in Cape Town are situated close and amongst a lot of activity.
• Enquire what kind of equipment they use. Most of the operators will have a boat and a cage, but you need to find how big the cages are, how old they are and what kind of amenities they offer on board of the boat. Are their wetsuits in good quality and do they offer enough wet suits for your size party?
• Find out what are the terms and conditions concerning photography on board. Some shark diving operators will handle the photography, on behalf of the passengers, whereas other operators provide a spot where you can take photos. Enquire if you are allowed to take your own underwater camera with you when going into the cage.
• Research the rates of shark cage diving operators, that way you can determine if they are affordable and competitive in relation to the rest of the industry. Most shark cage diving trips averagely cost R1300 per person.

Once you have taken the above into account, done your research and selected a shark cage diving operator, you are ready to read the below.

Shark Cage Diving

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What do you like to do on family holidays? Go to the beach or spend a week in the country? Or do you enjoy camping or visiting relatives. Whatever you enjoy, family holidays are an opportunity for everyone in the family to get reacquainted and spend quality time together. It’s opportunity for parents to really talk with their kids and find out what’s going on in their lives. It’s vital to keep the communication lines open, and a family holiday is the ideal chance to do that. Enjoying a good relationship with their parents is one of the most vital factors in keeping teens out of trouble.

Research has shown that when families take holidays together, they are more likely to eat meals together and are less likely to argue. They do not watch as much television because they are involved in doing things together. Kids even report that their parents seem to behave differently while on vacation.

While family holidays are a good opportunity to connect with your kids, communication problems that are already there will not automatically disappear. Especially with teenagers it is vital to listen and be flexible. Find out what the kids would like to do and eat and plan accordingly. While even teenagers need boundaries, it is vital for parents to try to avoid needless confrontation. Explain why you make the decisions you do and show them positive attention.

Kids will appreciate being included in vacation plans. There’s a good chance they will opt for a theme park or the beach if those are among the options. Often it works well for a teenager to take a special friend along on family holidays. While this might increase the parents’ load, the teen is likely to really appreciate it. Also, sometimes it works well for kids to go on holidays with their grandparents instead of their parents. Often there is a special relationship here that can help kids open up and communicate about their worries.

While on family holidays, if teens are uncooperative or behave improperly, try to deal with the problem in private. Teens are very aware of embarrassmant and it is needlessly mean to exploit this sensitivity. In fact, you might explain to the kids how their behavior embarrasses you, and they in turn might work harder at getting along and acting appropriately.

Kids will be happier on family vacations if they have snacks, drinks, and entertainment. Few kids enjoy a long ride in the car! Try to offer individual CD players or hand-held video games, and don’t forget to take plenty of bathroom stops. Sometimes kids enjoy the ride more if they can help you follow the map. This is an educational activity for them as well. By following these suggestions, your family holidays can make a happy memory.

A shared interest always helps parent- child communication. Whatever the age of your kids they’ll love to have their faces painted. So why not learn how to create some face painting designs
Easy face painting
Face paintings
halloween face painting ideas
You’ll be especially popular when it comes to themed birthday parties and, of course, Halloween.

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Malaysia Vacations for Everyone

I am a Malaysian and I invite you to make Malaysia your destination of choice for your next vacation. If you want to relax by the beach, trek the jungle, shoot the rapids, climb mountains, parasail, windsurf, scuba dive, snorkel or do any other such things, think Malaysia. If you wish to vacation where East meets West, think Malaysia. Malaysia has it all. Skycrapers such as the Petronas Twin Towers, state-of-the-art facilities, world class accommodation, international and local entertainment, global and regional brands are all found in Malaysia. At the same time, lush rainforests among the oldest in the world, exotic plants and intriguing animals, majestic mountain ranges and iridescent and pristine seas that hug miles of unspoiled beaches all find their home in Malaysia.

Is it expensive? Not at all! A vacation in Malaysia is very affordable compared to many other countries in the same region. $1 is approximately RM3.30 and one can vacation in Malaysia for literally a few dollars a day. Backpacker lodges and motels are aplenty all offering the thrifty traveler very reasonable accommodation at affordable prices. Other countries in the region may be cheaper but offer so much less in terms of places of interest, things to do, entertainment spots and recreational facilities.

If you are seeking a quality vacation with a difference, I will share with you what is in store for you in Malaysia.

If you are the adventurous type, try climbing to the peak of Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia. At 4096 m (about 13, 350 ft) high, it stands head and shoulders above all other peaks in the Crocker Range. It is the highest mountain in South-East Asia. But the unique thing is that its summit is just below the snow-belt and that means anyone even without specialist training or equipment can climb to its peak as long as you are fit enough.

Did you know that the very first series of ‘Survivor’ was shot entirely at Pulau Tiga, a tiny island part of Sabah? Then there are the Mulu Caves in Sarawak, the largest cave chamber in the world. Walking into its interior is an experience like no other. In Malaysia, you can find the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia. It measures about 1 m (about 3.3 ft) in diameter! Catch a glimpse of the Proboscis monkey, the species of monkey with the largest and most prominent nose of all or scuba dive into some of nature’s most beautiful coral-laden waters swarming with colorful sea creatures you have never seen in Redang, Perhentian or Sipadan Islands. Try eating the durian, a thorny fruit with a distinct taste and smell. The durian is called the King of Fruits by the locals. Some say it’s the smelliest fruit in the world!

If you are the city-loving type, enjoy the sights and sounds of metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city. Mega shopping malls that sell international brands of goods and services, street bazaars that promote local products and souvenirs and roadside vendors that sell trinkets are all found here. Be entertained at Malaysia’s world-class entertainment spots such as Genting the City of Entertainment. Genting Highlands also houses Malaysia’s premier casino where you can try your hand at all sorts of games of chance.

For the culturally inclined, you can catch fascinating cultural dances, traditional occupations such as basket weaving, kite flying, top spinning competitions, batik (a local style of cloth and design) printing, traditional music and plenty more. Buy locally made handicraft of all kinds as a remembrance of your visit. Muzium Negara is the national museum of Malaysia. It houses a plethora of artifacts, displays and exhibitions that detail the history, tradition, culture and lifestyle of Malaysia.

If you want to learn about the history of Malaysia, there is no better place to visit than Malacca. The state of Malacca is where the earliest settlers to Malaysia first arrived. In Malacca you can still see remnants of previous colonial powers that ruled Malaysia centuries ago. The remains of the famous fort A Formosa built by the Portugese in the 16th Century still stands, as do the Stadhuys, unique brick-red buildings built by the Dutch about a hundred years later.

All these wonderful experiences await you in Malaysia. Whatever you would like to experience or enjoy, come to Malaysia and discover it for yourself.

For the useful checklist for packing for vacation - read here.

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Taking A Paddleboat Cruise

In May my husband and I took a wonderful steamboat trip on the Colombia River, 1,240 miles long, and Snake River, 1,038 miles long, aboard the American West’s Empress of the North. This is the first time we had ever done a “niche” type cruise and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Yes, the clientele tends to be older, but, what a shame that the younger mature adults are missing out on all this fun. It is steam boating in the true sense of the word. The paddlewheel turns as you leisurely make your way up and down the rivers and through the many dams that have been erected since the time of Lewis and Clarke. The ship is patterned after the river boats that plied the waters of Alaska, Oregon and Washington over 100 years ago and has a distinctly Russian flavor.

On the particular adventure that we took it was to follow the path of the Lewis and Clarke expedition so it was historical as well as fun. We boarded the Empress of the North in Portland, Oregon with no mishaps just a bit of a long wait. However, they did supply entertainment and refreshments while they prepared the ship for us. Once aboard we were escorted to a lovely stateroom that was right out of the riverboat era. There was a TV but we never used it since the real entertainment was the trip and the excursions which were included in the price of the cruise. The rooms reminded you of the river boat era but were very much up to modern standards.

Just a little tidbit: The “Portland Penny” is how Portland got its name narrowly missing being called Boston. The partners Lovejoy and Pettygrove who had filed the claim staking the territory needed to come up with a name for the quickly expanding territory. Lovejoy being from Boston, Massachusetts was adamant that this would be the name, while Pettygrove equally adamant wanted it to be called Portland after his beloved Portland, Maine. Hence the “Portland Penny” when Pettygrove won two out of the three tosses.

The artwork on the Empress was truly impressive. There were beautiful Russian artifacts and amazing pictures of the gold rush and life in the Northwest during the 1800’s. I spent a lot of time just going up and down the four hallways perusing the artwork. (Every floor has a different theme). Our first night out of Portland we were invited to cocktails and hors d’oeurves at the Paddlewheel lounge which is in the back of the boat and has windows overlooking the paddle wheel. We were still busy getting situated so we grabbed a cocktail and took it back to our room to get organized. Dinner was in the Romanov Dining room and the atmosphere really was one of a riverboat. The food was very good served by a courteous and fun American crew. Dinner lasted about an hour to an hour and a half and then it was off to the Golden Nugget showroom to watch the Pat O’Neal and the River Boat Jazz band play great Dixieland Music. Well, if you weren’t into it by then you never were going to be. What fun and you are sharing it with only 200 other passengers. After the show you could stay in the Showroom for dancing or go to the Paddlewheel Lounge for the duo of Kari & Jerry who were not only very good but extremely friendly.

Of course, you are in a new place everyday and everyday brings a new exciting, educational and different excursion. Our first day out we where cruising the Columbia River Gorge taking in the breathtaking vistas, granite cliffs and waterfalls from which the Cascade Mountains takes it’s name.

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip and would recommend to other adults, this not a ship for children.

For extra tips about medicine, accounting and yoga and stress relief read the quoted resources.

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April was a very good shark month for us. The red tide that was so bad in False Bay cleared up nicely. The sharks where very active at Seal Island, and with the good visibility returning, and good sea and weather conditions, shark cage diving once again became a possible. From around mid April, we where shark cage diving on a daily basis. (When I say we, I am talking about Rob and the crew. Me, I get to stay at home and make sure “behind the scene” is running smoothly).

The trips where booked almost every day in April, and there where shark sightings on each trip, which is very good. As mentioned the shark cage diving really picked up from around mid April, as the great white sharks tended to become more and more active around the boat. Shark Cage Diving

Mid April also saw the start of the great white sharks breaching. This behaviour is unique to False Bay, and is what makes False Bay so different. It really is an awesome sight to see a shark fly out of the sea. It just takes your breath away. Time and time we get comments like “that was the best thing I have ever seen in my life”. You will not leave without a new found respect for these super predators. We also had some sporadic hits on our seal decoy. This will pick up and will become a regular thing, come June and July.

There where a lot of good sightings of common Dolphins.

The Pelagic trips also went well. Many of our guests choose to do a combination trip of Great white and Pelagic sharks. This is a fabulous way of really experiencing the sharks. On the pelagic trips we dived a lot with the Blue Sharks, and yellow fin tuna, but the sightings of the Mako Sharks was very slow indeed.

Rob was very busy with film shoots in April. Tygres Productions, (they make a lot of the Animal Planet Shows), came again this year, to film the great whites. Even though they came too early for good breaching behaviour, they did get a lot of very nice footage. Shark Cage Diving

The shark activity has risen, and it was so exciting to have more sharks back at the Island. It seems like they have come early this year. Again the sightings have fluctuated, but so far, there has not been one trip that has not encountered great whites. The most so far being 7, yes 7 sharks for March. That was an amazing trip, as the bay was nice and clear and clean, and the sea was as flat as glass.

On one trip, when the red tide had abated, a school of common dolphins +- 50 came right up to the boat and stayed for a good while. Dolphins are always such a nice treat, and there is something so special about them.

Well, that about sums up April. I know that this shark diary update came very late, but I promise that May’s update will be on time, and packed with exciting news.

Take care all you shark lovers out there. Shark Cage Diving

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One of the most unforgettable moments in our life is to go for vacation and travel especially in places of our dream to visit. However, this does not happen oftentimes because we usually spend lots of money during travel– like air fare.

The good thing is, with the Internet, it is now quite easy to find discounted air fare which is offered by lots of airline companies. Whether you will search for “cheap flights to canada ”, “extremely cheap airfare tickets” or “cheap international air tickets ”, you will surely find information in the internet about this as many airline companies are moviing online for promotions.

If you are not that aware of the sites that give this offer, you can search them through the help of search engines. All you need to do is to type keywords like ““cheap flights to europe” , “cheap airfare to europe”, or “cheap international fares” and it will generates number of websites which are ranked according to the relevance of the information to your search. You can check them one by one.

Here are more information about cheap airfare you may want to know:

Sources of cheap airfare are not confined to airlines alone. While you can call up airlines and ask them if they have cheap airfare, you can also acquire for the same information through sources such as the Internet. Airfare sources are varied and vast and it is up to you to find the source that is significant.

Talking about multiple stops, these are an excellent way to save costs on air tickets. Multiple stops include you stopping at a number of places along the way before you get to your destination. Multiple stop flights generally cost less than direct flights.

A lot of fare tariffs usually have a thirty-day maximum stay restriction. To cut costs, pay for a ticket that indicates that you will be staying less than thirty days. If you stay not less than thirty days in your destined area, your ticket will cost more.

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On that note we received devastating news about 3 weeks ago that 3 tiger sharks were caught and killed by a commercial fisherman off Aliwal Shoal on the Natal South Coast. This was later confirmed that in fact 8 tiger sharks were killed. Aliwal shoal has become a very famous spot for divers from around the world to dive with tiger sharks. I know that operators were regularly seeing about 20 tiger sharks that they could identify. With 8 sharks now removed it severely impacts on the tiger shark population in that area. Shark Cage Diving

Ironically it is legal to catch and kill 10 tiger sharks per person per day but because the fisherman landed the carcasses in a marine protected reserve he may be charged.

The operators in the area have tried for many years to get MCM to protect tigers sharks and bull/Zambezi shark but to no avail. MCM are simply not interested to protect this valuable resource and seem happier to see these animals to be fished and sold for a pittance. This latest incident goes to show how important it is to protect a living marine resource and how non-consumptive use through eco tourism is the way forward. A petition for this cause has been set up. To help please go to www.aoca.org.za.

A TRAGIC INCIDENT

It always amazes me how the sharks make it so difficult for us to help them. Only a few days after the tiger sharks were killed on Aliwal Shoal a diver in the Bahamas was tragically killed due to a suspected bull shark bite during a shark feed dive. I would suggest reading the following link on wetpixel.com. This seems to give the most accurate account of the event. http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/bahamas-shark-bite-aboard-shear-water-official-thread/ .

Most times in order to actually spend time in the water with sharks one has to have a bait in the water to keep them interested in staying in close proximity. Shark diving is also one of the fastest growing marine based activities and this is not hard to understand as it is a very special and exciting experience to share the same environment with a shark. Shark Cage Diving

From a conservation point of view it is very important for people to see sharks as it is difficult to be passionate about something that you do not see. Even after this accident I believe 100% that it is safe to dive with sharks in a baited situation as long as logical safety laws are followed at all times. Chris & I have very stringent rules that we follow and as such I have personally never felt threatened in the water with sharks and neither has Chris. We are of course aware that we are in the sharks’ environment and we respect these predators at all times. Any indication that the shark/s is not comfortable with us is an indication that we must get out of the water. I hope that this latest incident will not cause too much damage to shark perception as well as shark diving. There are far bigger issues with regards to marine conservation that need our attention.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS

We have also started to have a few sightings of great white sharks at Seal Island. It is still historically low season but I will definitely keep you all informed if the season should start early.

On that note our bookings for the white shark season are filling up fast so if any of you are thinking of coming over to Cape Town for the sharks you need to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

NEW BOOKING OFFICE

And finally we are very excited to have opened our new booking office and merchandise store in Simonstown. We are located on the Main Road opposite the Pier so please stop by and visit us if you are in the area.

We have a variety of images on Photos of The Month so we hope that you all enjoy viewing them!

Until next month. Shark Cage Diving

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