Aug
30
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Filed Under Environment | Comments Off
Robert Abrom asked:
All over the world various species of animals, insects, and plants are being slowly wiped out. Some may argue that it is the natural order of things, but human involvement has certainly exasperated the issue, causing untold amounts of damage to the worlds ecosystems. All of the world, that is, except for the Arctic Circle and Alaska.
The Arctic is home to many different species of birds, bears, fish, and other animals. Much of the Arctic is still unspoiled, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) intends to keep it that way. This organization and reserve sees the value in unspoiled landscapes and thriving wildlife.
The ANWR reserve spans over nineteen million acres, and within its boundaries there are over 500 different species of recognizable wildlife, and many more that have yet to be discovered. Some of the world’s most succulent fish find their way in and out of this reserve, and many native tribes continue to live here.
Life, Untainted
Life continues to exist and thrive without human intervention. In fact, it could be said that the biggest attraction of the ANWR is the continuation of life cycles before the recent intervention of man. The wildlife continues to raise their young, hunt and forage, and evolve in peace.
This situation is particularly unique due to the climate of northern Alaska and the Arctic Circle- the extreme temperatures and high amounts of snow have kept humans and animals alike from setting up camp. However, with recent oil projects starting up in Alaska, the ANWR’s role will become more important than ever as it strives to maintain the unspoiled solitude that the wildlife has enjoyed for thousands of years.
The results of this untainted lifestyle are easy to see: the fish are healthier and larger, the land animals graze in packs, and the hunters stalk without fear of reprisal. There is no pollution, no noise, and no intervention. Just nature doing what it was always intended to do.
See the Refuge
Close your eyes for a moment and picture the sun setting over the hills. A stream runs through the valley that you are standing in, and the few remaining rays of sunlight reflect off of the water, giving it a golden edge. A flock of Geese fly overhead, their call echoing unchallenged throughout the landscape. A few Moose stand at the base of the stream, drinking the golden water. You sense peace, and feel as if the world has all but disappeared, if only for a few fleeting moments.
You can open your eyes. Nowhere else in the world will you be able to see or experience something as tranquil and serene. Tourists are able to see certain areas of the ANWR and experience some of the magic themselves. But remember, life here is how it was meant to be, you may find that you won’t want to leave.
DANIEL
All over the world various species of animals, insects, and plants are being slowly wiped out. Some may argue that it is the natural order of things, but human involvement has certainly exasperated the issue, causing untold amounts of damage to the worlds ecosystems. All of the world, that is, except for the Arctic Circle and Alaska.
The Arctic is home to many different species of birds, bears, fish, and other animals. Much of the Arctic is still unspoiled, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) intends to keep it that way. This organization and reserve sees the value in unspoiled landscapes and thriving wildlife.
The ANWR reserve spans over nineteen million acres, and within its boundaries there are over 500 different species of recognizable wildlife, and many more that have yet to be discovered. Some of the world’s most succulent fish find their way in and out of this reserve, and many native tribes continue to live here.
___________________________________________________________________
Life, Untainted
Life continues to exist and thrive without human intervention. In fact, it could be said that the biggest attraction of the ANWR is the continuation of life cycles before the recent intervention of man. The wildlife continues to raise their young, hunt and forage, and evolve in peace.
This situation is particularly unique due to the climate of northern Alaska and the Arctic Circle- the extreme temperatures and high amounts of snow have kept humans and animals alike from setting up camp. However, with recent oil projects starting up in Alaska, the ANWR’s role will become more important than ever as it strives to maintain the unspoiled solitude that the wildlife has enjoyed for thousands of years.
The results of this untainted lifestyle are easy to see: the fish are healthier and larger, the land animals graze in packs, and the hunters stalk without fear of reprisal. There is no pollution, no noise, and no intervention. Just nature doing what it was always intended to do.
See the Refuge
Close your eyes for a moment and picture the sun setting over the hills. A stream runs through the valley that you are standing in, and the few remaining rays of sunlight reflect off of the water, giving it a golden edge. A flock of Geese fly overhead, their call echoing unchallenged throughout the landscape. A few Moose stand at the base of the stream, drinking the golden water. You sense peace, and feel as if the world has all but disappeared, if only for a few fleeting moments.
You can open your eyes. Nowhere else in the world will you be able to see or experience something as tranquil and serene. Tourists are able to see certain areas of the ANWR and experience some of the magic themselves. But remember, life here is how it was meant to be, you may find that you won’t want to leave.
DANIEL
Aug
29
Our Exciting Safari Adventure to Pafuri Camp, Kruger National Park
Filed Under Destinations | Comments Off
Claire Dinnie asked:
It is our wish through our Travel Advisory to share with you our experiences, feelings and thoughts we have at our chosen properties we visit every month, however after returning to Cape Town after our Pafuri Camp long weekend, a new definition needs to be added to fully appreciate this property. However, before we get to this definition, let’s look at what this unique, wilderness destination offers…
The Makuleke peoples ancestral homeland, a diversity of exceptional scenic beauty, bird life of unrivalled value all wrapped up in the most remote, wildest and far flung vestige of the Kruger National Park. However, before we explore this heritage, it is necessary to understand the company behind Pafuri Camp. Wilderness Safaris have for over a quarter of a century strived to protect pristine wilderness areas and the flora and fauna - or biodiversity - that they support. They believe that in protecting these areas, and including the local communities in this process, they will make a difference to Africa and ultimately the world. In short, they believe that the world’s wilderness areas will save humankind. A heady mixture of theory mixed with workable reality. Global warming, carbon emissions mingled with a singular disregard for Mother Nature have turned full circle at Wilderness Safaris. Folks who through their personal experience have a fierce conviction that we can make the difference, can counter the effects of modern living and through a partnership with Mother Nature, create utopia. Imagine if you would meeting a consummate hospitality team combined with trained conservationists. Now we were to experience the result.
Our Cessna Caravan (12 seater) gently alighted the hard topped runway and came to a stop close to two safari vehicles. As we disembarked, the warm embrace of the African sun engulfed us. Our ranger Callum Sargeant welcomed us to Pafuri. Claire & and I were afforded our own ranger and incumbent vehicle, an exceptional welcome. A short initiation drive from the airstrip to camp sowed the seed of game drives to come. Perched on the raised banks of the Luvuvhu River, shaded by giant ebony & nyala berry trees, we were greeted by management and their smiling team members. After a brief review of the main areas, Claire & I were taken through to our tent. Now, for those of you who link the word tent with a piece of canvas, uncomfortable conditions and limiting amenities, our tent is juxtaposed to this conjecture! Positioned on a raised platform overlooking the gently flowing Luvuvhu River, our tent was superbly appointed in fitting colours. A full en suite bathroom and outside shower complemented our home for the next three days. Spacious and open to the elements through zip fastening flaps that allowed for expansive viewing of our surroundings.
An African safari is a careful mix of game activities (game tracking in vehicles as well as interpretive game walks), relaxation and eating. At Pafuri Camp we thrived on all fronts! A key component of a successful safari experience is to be found in your ranger. His/her experience and ability to relate to their guests at an appropriate level and their innate passion for their calling is key. In Callum we found just this! With seven divergent biomes present within their 24,000 Hectare concession and over 400 bird species this is a birders paradise. Larger mammals also proliferate. During one game drive we witnessed a 30 strong breeding herd of elephants in serene peace ambling along the river bed, we stood on the raised river bank some 300 meters from them admiring the orderly manner these gentle giants intermingled, socialized and protected their young. Then, all hell broke loose. Three bulls approached the herd with the singular purpose of mating with the young females. The peace was shattered as one male chased a female across the river bed, sounds of trumpeting, shrill and dominating filled the air, we stood transfixed as he attempted to mount her only for her to reject his advances and trot off to the safety of the nearby wooded river bank.
As if this was not sufficient safari material, we came within two meters of a bull elephant in musth (a period where he will be actively pursuing a female to cover, witnessed by a secretion from glands between his eye and ears). We witnessed the affinity Callum has developed with Mother Nature during this encounter. Driving along what they called ‘The Gauntlet’, we came across this bull elephant. During this period, very much like their human counterparts, their behavior can be a little unpredictable and as the safety of both animal and guest lies firmly in his hands, Claire & I witnessed the exceptional manner in which Callum offered our ele respect, mingled this with his knowledge and yet provided us with a close encounter allowing us to not only hear, smell and communicate with the animal but in complete safety as well.
Peregrine Falcon, Bateleur & Martial Eagles, the sighting of Fish Eagles close to our tent all contributed to an exceptional safari aspect at Pafuri Camp. We also experienced a game walk in the presence of a herd of buffalo. Noted to be one of the most dangerous animals, again, unpredictable and should we come across dagga boys (older single males who have been kicked out of the herd), the knowledge & experience of our ranger comes to the fore. It did once again as Callum and a colleague showed respect and suitable caution as we skirted the herd in their full view and knowledge of our presence.
Two other highlights need to be shared with you. On our first game drive, Callum took us through to Crooks Corner, an apt name for the confluence of three countries and an era of lawlessness of a bygone era. Crooks Corner is a piece of land on the Limpopo River where South Africa, Zimbabwe & Mozambique meet. Crooks would high tail it from one country to Crooks Corner where the country boundaries at the time were a little blurred. Safe in the knowledge that the authorities would not want an altercation of international proportions, the crooks would often taunt their chasers from the safety of this place. So successful was this haven that it became known as Crooks Corner. Today it forms an amazing view from where the Luvuvhu River joins the Limpopo, the river that separates South Africa from Zimbabwe. Our last afternoon/evening game drive took in the scenic Lanner Gorge overlooking the Luvuvhu River. It is difficult to verbalise an African sunset in this region, even more so when perched a few hundred meters above the valley, the setting sun behind and our erudite ranger sharing his dreams with us…
You can imagine that Claire & I are fully into our safari experience, so what is there for us to do outside these eight hours per day? Well, how about the choice of two pools to absorb the sun around, a tad chilled for prolonged swimming but with views over the Luvuvhu River, sounds of Mother Nature going about her day and attentive staff to ensure drinks are to hand, what else could we need… I have experienced in excess of 200 game drives during my ten years in this business and have become possibly a little hardened to camps where the service, cuisine and overall experience is not up to scratch. The team at Pafuri however brought me to a higher level in this regard. A strong team ethic in the hands of their GM Hanèl De Wet, her interactive colleagues who ensured guest felt completely at home. They effortlessly intermingled, shared stories and provided an excellent level of care & concern for their guests.
You will never starve at Pafuri Camp! Nic their chef is a delight to see coming towards us, full of smiles and ‘what can we do for you today’, he took Claire’s wheat intolerance request to heart and provided ample alternatives that even had me ‘converted’. Attention to detail will set the best camps aside from the rest. There are twenty tents at Pafuri, fourteen suitable for double occupancy and six family tents accommodating up to two adults plus two children. Balance this capacity against over forty staff members and you have a high ratio of staff to guests. Combine this with the level of training, passion for what they are responsible for and blend this with their incredible respect for their location and you have what was for us, a unique and very special African wilderness experience.
As our return flight rose into the hot afternoon sky, we looked down on our Africa with heavy hearts. We both realised that we had just experienced something not just special but enlightening, we had shared meaningful time and space with folks with the same passion & enthusiasm as ourselves in their back yard. Climbing higher into the deep azure, it would be fair to say that Claire & I had been privileged to meet such gifted colleagues, to have witnessed such awesome events within Mother Nature. I started this article by saying a new definition is needed to encapsulate Pafuri Camp and it has to be ‘definitive’. The ultimate, perfect, classic wilderness property we have experienced, this simple.
Next month we visit the Welgevonden Reserve taking in three divergent properties and sharing with you our findings.
Happy Travels!
TOBY
It is our wish through our Travel Advisory to share with you our experiences, feelings and thoughts we have at our chosen properties we visit every month, however after returning to Cape Town after our Pafuri Camp long weekend, a new definition needs to be added to fully appreciate this property. However, before we get to this definition, let’s look at what this unique, wilderness destination offers…
The Makuleke peoples ancestral homeland, a diversity of exceptional scenic beauty, bird life of unrivalled value all wrapped up in the most remote, wildest and far flung vestige of the Kruger National Park. However, before we explore this heritage, it is necessary to understand the company behind Pafuri Camp. Wilderness Safaris have for over a quarter of a century strived to protect pristine wilderness areas and the flora and fauna - or biodiversity - that they support. They believe that in protecting these areas, and including the local communities in this process, they will make a difference to Africa and ultimately the world. In short, they believe that the world’s wilderness areas will save humankind. A heady mixture of theory mixed with workable reality. Global warming, carbon emissions mingled with a singular disregard for Mother Nature have turned full circle at Wilderness Safaris. Folks who through their personal experience have a fierce conviction that we can make the difference, can counter the effects of modern living and through a partnership with Mother Nature, create utopia. Imagine if you would meeting a consummate hospitality team combined with trained conservationists. Now we were to experience the result.
Our Cessna Caravan (12 seater) gently alighted the hard topped runway and came to a stop close to two safari vehicles. As we disembarked, the warm embrace of the African sun engulfed us. Our ranger Callum Sargeant welcomed us to Pafuri. Claire & and I were afforded our own ranger and incumbent vehicle, an exceptional welcome. A short initiation drive from the airstrip to camp sowed the seed of game drives to come. Perched on the raised banks of the Luvuvhu River, shaded by giant ebony & nyala berry trees, we were greeted by management and their smiling team members. After a brief review of the main areas, Claire & I were taken through to our tent. Now, for those of you who link the word tent with a piece of canvas, uncomfortable conditions and limiting amenities, our tent is juxtaposed to this conjecture! Positioned on a raised platform overlooking the gently flowing Luvuvhu River, our tent was superbly appointed in fitting colours. A full en suite bathroom and outside shower complemented our home for the next three days. Spacious and open to the elements through zip fastening flaps that allowed for expansive viewing of our surroundings.
An African safari is a careful mix of game activities (game tracking in vehicles as well as interpretive game walks), relaxation and eating. At Pafuri Camp we thrived on all fronts! A key component of a successful safari experience is to be found in your ranger. His/her experience and ability to relate to their guests at an appropriate level and their innate passion for their calling is key. In Callum we found just this! With seven divergent biomes present within their 24,000 Hectare concession and over 400 bird species this is a birders paradise. Larger mammals also proliferate. During one game drive we witnessed a 30 strong breeding herd of elephants in serene peace ambling along the river bed, we stood on the raised river bank some 300 meters from them admiring the orderly manner these gentle giants intermingled, socialized and protected their young. Then, all hell broke loose. Three bulls approached the herd with the singular purpose of mating with the young females. The peace was shattered as one male chased a female across the river bed, sounds of trumpeting, shrill and dominating filled the air, we stood transfixed as he attempted to mount her only for her to reject his advances and trot off to the safety of the nearby wooded river bank.
As if this was not sufficient safari material, we came within two meters of a bull elephant in musth (a period where he will be actively pursuing a female to cover, witnessed by a secretion from glands between his eye and ears). We witnessed the affinity Callum has developed with Mother Nature during this encounter. Driving along what they called ‘The Gauntlet’, we came across this bull elephant. During this period, very much like their human counterparts, their behavior can be a little unpredictable and as the safety of both animal and guest lies firmly in his hands, Claire & I witnessed the exceptional manner in which Callum offered our ele respect, mingled this with his knowledge and yet provided us with a close encounter allowing us to not only hear, smell and communicate with the animal but in complete safety as well.
___________________________________________________________________
Peregrine Falcon, Bateleur & Martial Eagles, the sighting of Fish Eagles close to our tent all contributed to an exceptional safari aspect at Pafuri Camp. We also experienced a game walk in the presence of a herd of buffalo. Noted to be one of the most dangerous animals, again, unpredictable and should we come across dagga boys (older single males who have been kicked out of the herd), the knowledge & experience of our ranger comes to the fore. It did once again as Callum and a colleague showed respect and suitable caution as we skirted the herd in their full view and knowledge of our presence.
Two other highlights need to be shared with you. On our first game drive, Callum took us through to Crooks Corner, an apt name for the confluence of three countries and an era of lawlessness of a bygone era. Crooks Corner is a piece of land on the Limpopo River where South Africa, Zimbabwe & Mozambique meet. Crooks would high tail it from one country to Crooks Corner where the country boundaries at the time were a little blurred. Safe in the knowledge that the authorities would not want an altercation of international proportions, the crooks would often taunt their chasers from the safety of this place. So successful was this haven that it became known as Crooks Corner. Today it forms an amazing view from where the Luvuvhu River joins the Limpopo, the river that separates South Africa from Zimbabwe. Our last afternoon/evening game drive took in the scenic Lanner Gorge overlooking the Luvuvhu River. It is difficult to verbalise an African sunset in this region, even more so when perched a few hundred meters above the valley, the setting sun behind and our erudite ranger sharing his dreams with us…
You can imagine that Claire & I are fully into our safari experience, so what is there for us to do outside these eight hours per day? Well, how about the choice of two pools to absorb the sun around, a tad chilled for prolonged swimming but with views over the Luvuvhu River, sounds of Mother Nature going about her day and attentive staff to ensure drinks are to hand, what else could we need… I have experienced in excess of 200 game drives during my ten years in this business and have become possibly a little hardened to camps where the service, cuisine and overall experience is not up to scratch. The team at Pafuri however brought me to a higher level in this regard. A strong team ethic in the hands of their GM Hanèl De Wet, her interactive colleagues who ensured guest felt completely at home. They effortlessly intermingled, shared stories and provided an excellent level of care & concern for their guests.
You will never starve at Pafuri Camp! Nic their chef is a delight to see coming towards us, full of smiles and ‘what can we do for you today’, he took Claire’s wheat intolerance request to heart and provided ample alternatives that even had me ‘converted’. Attention to detail will set the best camps aside from the rest. There are twenty tents at Pafuri, fourteen suitable for double occupancy and six family tents accommodating up to two adults plus two children. Balance this capacity against over forty staff members and you have a high ratio of staff to guests. Combine this with the level of training, passion for what they are responsible for and blend this with their incredible respect for their location and you have what was for us, a unique and very special African wilderness experience.
As our return flight rose into the hot afternoon sky, we looked down on our Africa with heavy hearts. We both realised that we had just experienced something not just special but enlightening, we had shared meaningful time and space with folks with the same passion & enthusiasm as ourselves in their back yard. Climbing higher into the deep azure, it would be fair to say that Claire & I had been privileged to meet such gifted colleagues, to have witnessed such awesome events within Mother Nature. I started this article by saying a new definition is needed to encapsulate Pafuri Camp and it has to be ‘definitive’. The ultimate, perfect, classic wilderness property we have experienced, this simple.
Next month we visit the Welgevonden Reserve taking in three divergent properties and sharing with you our findings.
Happy Travels!
TOBY
Aug
29
Boat Bottom Paint, Helps Win Sailboat Races
Filed Under Equipment | Comments Off
Harvey Chichester asked:
In 2007 I raced my Ranger 23 Tall Rig, on the St. Croix only to find that I could not seem to break 4 knots. I posted a complaint on the MSN Ranger web site asking why I was loosing races and could not achieve any significant speed.
I had lots of tips about sails etc. but a few Ranger 23 members asked if my hull was clean. Even though I had scrubbed the boat hull with a long handled brush during the season. When I took the boat out at the end of the season I found it hard remove fibbers growths on the shady bottom of the boat creating a thin mat over much of the vary bottom of the hull.
In the spring of 2008 I sanded my boat bottom, keel and rudder and applied VC 17 to the port side and Smooth Sailing Antifouling non-stick to the Starboard side of the boat bottom, keel, and rudder.
This year I raced with speeds up to 7.1 knots, and took a second in the Hudson to Prescot to Hudson race, even beating several J 80’s.
When I took the boat out at the end of the season this is what I found.
Both sides of the boat bottom, keel and rudder had a thin layer of dead slime to about a 1/32 of an inch. Except along the bottom 6 inches of the keel. Bottom silt and sand had scrubbed the keel the few time during the season that I ran aground.
The Port side (VC 17) had a lot of blue (my original bottom paint) showing through, and virtually gone on the rudder. The starboard side of the boat with the Smooth Sailing Antifouling, non-stick was still copper colored over about 90 % of the surfaces.
Both sides had some areas that had never been coated where the trailer cradle wheels were and also a few long lines along the bottom that had ropes holding the boat to the trailer that I was afraid to remove so coated around. Those areas remained fiber free.
I had left a two foot long bare area on the bottom of the port side where I had a strip of Smooth Sailing, a gap with the old blue bottom paint never coated and a small area of a Urethane Teflon coating in white. In this area the Smooth Sailing Antifouling was still strong and untouched. There were fibers growing on the old blue bottom paint, and the Urethane Teflon coating had no fibers but did not rinse off fast like the copper bottom VC 17 or the Smooth Sailing Antifouling. With the slime covering the Urethane Teflon did come off when I wiped it with my finger.
Looks like in 2009 I will be putting on two coats of Smooth Sailing Antifouling copper on my Ranger bottom, keel and rudder. This boat bottom paint is found at
http://www.boat-bottom-paint.com
and my testing shows it to out performed the Interlux VC-17 copper Teflon product. I plan on washing my boat bottom ever two months during the sailing season, and I plan to take some first places over the season.
TODD
In 2007 I raced my Ranger 23 Tall Rig, on the St. Croix only to find that I could not seem to break 4 knots. I posted a complaint on the MSN Ranger web site asking why I was loosing races and could not achieve any significant speed.
I had lots of tips about sails etc. but a few Ranger 23 members asked if my hull was clean. Even though I had scrubbed the boat hull with a long handled brush during the season. When I took the boat out at the end of the season I found it hard remove fibbers growths on the shady bottom of the boat creating a thin mat over much of the vary bottom of the hull.
In the spring of 2008 I sanded my boat bottom, keel and rudder and applied VC 17 to the port side and Smooth Sailing Antifouling non-stick to the Starboard side of the boat bottom, keel, and rudder.
This year I raced with speeds up to 7.1 knots, and took a second in the Hudson to Prescot to Hudson race, even beating several J 80’s.
___________________________________________________________________
When I took the boat out at the end of the season this is what I found.
Both sides of the boat bottom, keel and rudder had a thin layer of dead slime to about a 1/32 of an inch. Except along the bottom 6 inches of the keel. Bottom silt and sand had scrubbed the keel the few time during the season that I ran aground.
The Port side (VC 17) had a lot of blue (my original bottom paint) showing through, and virtually gone on the rudder. The starboard side of the boat with the Smooth Sailing Antifouling, non-stick was still copper colored over about 90 % of the surfaces.
Both sides had some areas that had never been coated where the trailer cradle wheels were and also a few long lines along the bottom that had ropes holding the boat to the trailer that I was afraid to remove so coated around. Those areas remained fiber free.
I had left a two foot long bare area on the bottom of the port side where I had a strip of Smooth Sailing, a gap with the old blue bottom paint never coated and a small area of a Urethane Teflon coating in white. In this area the Smooth Sailing Antifouling was still strong and untouched. There were fibers growing on the old blue bottom paint, and the Urethane Teflon coating had no fibers but did not rinse off fast like the copper bottom VC 17 or the Smooth Sailing Antifouling. With the slime covering the Urethane Teflon did come off when I wiped it with my finger.
Looks like in 2009 I will be putting on two coats of Smooth Sailing Antifouling copper on my Ranger bottom, keel and rudder. This boat bottom paint is found at
http://www.boat-bottom-paint.com
and my testing shows it to out performed the Interlux VC-17 copper Teflon product. I plan on washing my boat bottom ever two months during the sailing season, and I plan to take some first places over the season.
TODD
Aug
29
Wildlife tour India: Unveil the exuberant and astonishing Wildlife of India
Filed Under Hotels | Comments Off
rajendra sharma asked:
Wildlife tour India takes you on a breathtaking journey through some of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and world heritage sites, which are home to numerous big and small creatures having made this part of the earth their habitat for thousands of years. There are close to over four hundred wildlife sanctuaries and about eighty national parks in India, and it will indeed be an eye-opening experience for you to get acquainted with some of the most fascinating species living in the midst of an amazing and mesmerizing natural setting.
The land of India is dotted with some of the most beautiful wild life sanctuaries housing some unique animal and bird species. Wildlife tour India gives you an opportunity to experience first hand the habitat of Asiatic lions in the Gir National Park in Saurashtra region, Royal Bengal tigers in Sunderbans in Bengal, the unique one-horned rhinoceros on the swampy floodplains of Brahmaputra river, the Indian elephant in the north-eastern part of the country, blue-eyed white tigers in Nandan Kanan of Orissa, snow leopard in Nanda Devi National Park in the Himalayan range, the black buck found exclusively in India in a number of wildlife reserves all across northern and western parts of the country. The wildlife of India presents a sharp contrast of brutal aggression and sheer grace. While some of the wildlife sanctuaries in India like Corbett and Sunderbans are home to the lethal king cobra, the most poisonous snake in the world with the power to kill one elephant with its single bite, the open forests in the entire Indian peninsula presents the beautiful sight of the ornamental Indian Peacock, the National Bird of India.
India is also the land of a number of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks included in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Some of the prominent ones, which you can visit in the wildlife tour India package are Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in the Northeastern state of Assam, Sunderbans National Park in the Gangetic delta of Bengal, Keoladeo National Park in the state of Rajasthan and the spectacular Nanda Devi National Park in the Himalayan foothills.
The wildlife tour India presents a variety of tour packages for different regions of the country taking you on one of the most memorable and enjoyable experience of a lifetime. Whether it is a bird watching tour, the elephant safari tour, tiger and bird tour, south India wildlife tour or the wildlife adventure tour, which you can select from a number of different options that wildlife tour India brings to you, it will certainly be one of the most pleasant trips you may have undertaken in your life. The wildlife of India has a diversity that is unmatched in the world, and it is a treat to watch its sheer beauty and splendor.
JEFFERY
Wildlife tour India takes you on a breathtaking journey through some of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and world heritage sites, which are home to numerous big and small creatures having made this part of the earth their habitat for thousands of years. There are close to over four hundred wildlife sanctuaries and about eighty national parks in India, and it will indeed be an eye-opening experience for you to get acquainted with some of the most fascinating species living in the midst of an amazing and mesmerizing natural setting.
The land of India is dotted with some of the most beautiful wild life sanctuaries housing some unique animal and bird species. Wildlife tour India gives you an opportunity to experience first hand the habitat of Asiatic lions in the Gir National Park in Saurashtra region, Royal Bengal tigers in Sunderbans in Bengal, the unique one-horned rhinoceros on the swampy floodplains of Brahmaputra river, the Indian elephant in the north-eastern part of the country, blue-eyed white tigers in Nandan Kanan of Orissa, snow leopard in Nanda Devi National Park in the Himalayan range, the black buck found exclusively in India in a number of wildlife reserves all across northern and western parts of the country. The wildlife of India presents a sharp contrast of brutal aggression and sheer grace. While some of the wildlife sanctuaries in India like Corbett and Sunderbans are home to the lethal king cobra, the most poisonous snake in the world with the power to kill one elephant with its single bite, the open forests in the entire Indian peninsula presents the beautiful sight of the ornamental Indian Peacock, the National Bird of India.
India is also the land of a number of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks included in the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Some of the prominent ones, which you can visit in the wildlife tour India package are Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in the Northeastern state of Assam, Sunderbans National Park in the Gangetic delta of Bengal, Keoladeo National Park in the state of Rajasthan and the spectacular Nanda Devi National Park in the Himalayan foothills.
The wildlife tour India presents a variety of tour packages for different regions of the country taking you on one of the most memorable and enjoyable experience of a lifetime. Whether it is a bird watching tour, the elephant safari tour, tiger and bird tour, south India wildlife tour or the wildlife adventure tour, which you can select from a number of different options that wildlife tour India brings to you, it will certainly be one of the most pleasant trips you may have undertaken in your life. The wildlife of India has a diversity that is unmatched in the world, and it is a treat to watch its sheer beauty and splendor.
JEFFERY
Aug
27
Wildlife Photography: Natural Light for Great Wildlife Photos
Filed Under Art And Entertainment | Comments Off
Andrew Goodall asked:
Wildlife photography requires a combination of camera skills, timing and patience. One essential aspect is often forgotten: knowing how to use the light to get the best results from your wildlife photos.
To take a top-class wildlife photograph, you need to know your animal; where to find it, how to approach it without scaring it away, and how to know the precise moment to press the button to capture the character of the subject. Often a wildlife photographer will spend hours trying to get a good shot. What a shame, then, if all that effort is wasted by taking your photo in bad light.
As a nature photographer, I have learned that the ideal light for a photo can vary depending on the subject. Landscape photos are usually best photographed in sunny weather, early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the contrast is low and the light is soft and colouful. On the hand, rainforest photography is usually best in the middle of the day, in cloudy weather to eliminate extremes of light and shade. To understand the best lighting for wildlife photography, you can take a lesson from both landscape and rainforest photography.
To get the best light for a wildlife photo, you are really looking to minimize contrast, and to eliminate shadows from important areas; most importantly across the face of the animal.
If you take your photos in the middle of a sunny day, you are bound to encounter shadows in all the wrong places. Bright light is likely to overexpose parts of the subject, while the face and the underside of the animal could be lost in heavy shadow. The result will be unattractive, and lacking in much of the detail that should give character to your photo.
There is nothing wrong with taking your wildlife photos on a sunny day. Just remember the lesson from landscape photography and seek to take your photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon. At these times the subject is illuminated from a more horizontal angle, so the full face of the animal is well-lit; you are less likely to have shadows over the eyes and other important features. If there are shadows, they will be much softer because the contrast is much lower when the sun is low in the sky.
The light at these times is also much more colourful, with the golden hues you associate with sunrise and sunset. This is a classic technique for improving landscapes, but it can be just as effective for wildlife. The warmth of the light can create an intimacy in your pictures that is completely lost in the harsh light of midday.
The second approach is to follow the rule of rainforest photography, and take your photos in overcast weather. This allows you to catch your subject in very even, low-contrast light.
I find cloudy days particularly useful for animals with glossy surfaces. Frogs, for example, have damp, shiny skin that reflects a lot of light. In glary conditions a green frog may appear mostly grey or silver in a photo. On a cloudy day the same frog will be shown in its true colours.
Birds can often appear more colourful on a cloudy day, for the very same reason. The sun shining on glossy feathers can create a lot of reflection, robbing the photo of its natural colour. It may seem the opposite of what you would expect, but the dull light of a cloudy day can actually produce the truest colours in a bright wildlife subject.
One final question you may ask: should you use a flash to illuminate a wildlife photo? My answer to that is a definite “NO.” Flash photography bathes the subject in white light, coming from directly in front of the subject. It may illuminate the subject, but at the same time rob it of the natural play of light and shade that makes a good photo so appealing.
Some wildlife photography experts use multiple flashes to brightly illuminate a subject from every possible angle. This approach can work very well, but remember; these are experts in flash photography. If you are at the beginner stage, I recommend learning to work with natural light. When you get the hang of it, I guarantee you will be happy with the results.
LYNN
Wildlife photography requires a combination of camera skills, timing and patience. One essential aspect is often forgotten: knowing how to use the light to get the best results from your wildlife photos.
To take a top-class wildlife photograph, you need to know your animal; where to find it, how to approach it without scaring it away, and how to know the precise moment to press the button to capture the character of the subject. Often a wildlife photographer will spend hours trying to get a good shot. What a shame, then, if all that effort is wasted by taking your photo in bad light.
As a nature photographer, I have learned that the ideal light for a photo can vary depending on the subject. Landscape photos are usually best photographed in sunny weather, early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the contrast is low and the light is soft and colouful. On the hand, rainforest photography is usually best in the middle of the day, in cloudy weather to eliminate extremes of light and shade. To understand the best lighting for wildlife photography, you can take a lesson from both landscape and rainforest photography.
To get the best light for a wildlife photo, you are really looking to minimize contrast, and to eliminate shadows from important areas; most importantly across the face of the animal.
If you take your photos in the middle of a sunny day, you are bound to encounter shadows in all the wrong places. Bright light is likely to overexpose parts of the subject, while the face and the underside of the animal could be lost in heavy shadow. The result will be unattractive, and lacking in much of the detail that should give character to your photo.
There is nothing wrong with taking your wildlife photos on a sunny day. Just remember the lesson from landscape photography and seek to take your photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon. At these times the subject is illuminated from a more horizontal angle, so the full face of the animal is well-lit; you are less likely to have shadows over the eyes and other important features. If there are shadows, they will be much softer because the contrast is much lower when the sun is low in the sky.
The light at these times is also much more colourful, with the golden hues you associate with sunrise and sunset. This is a classic technique for improving landscapes, but it can be just as effective for wildlife. The warmth of the light can create an intimacy in your pictures that is completely lost in the harsh light of midday.
The second approach is to follow the rule of rainforest photography, and take your photos in overcast weather. This allows you to catch your subject in very even, low-contrast light.
I find cloudy days particularly useful for animals with glossy surfaces. Frogs, for example, have damp, shiny skin that reflects a lot of light. In glary conditions a green frog may appear mostly grey or silver in a photo. On a cloudy day the same frog will be shown in its true colours.
Birds can often appear more colourful on a cloudy day, for the very same reason. The sun shining on glossy feathers can create a lot of reflection, robbing the photo of its natural colour. It may seem the opposite of what you would expect, but the dull light of a cloudy day can actually produce the truest colours in a bright wildlife subject.
One final question you may ask: should you use a flash to illuminate a wildlife photo? My answer to that is a definite “NO.” Flash photography bathes the subject in white light, coming from directly in front of the subject. It may illuminate the subject, but at the same time rob it of the natural play of light and shade that makes a good photo so appealing.
Some wildlife photography experts use multiple flashes to brightly illuminate a subject from every possible angle. This approach can work very well, but remember; these are experts in flash photography. If you are at the beginner stage, I recommend learning to work with natural light. When you get the hang of it, I guarantee you will be happy with the results.
LYNN
Aug
27
Rajasthan Wildlife Tour
Filed Under Travel | Comments Off
rahul asked:
Rajasthan wildlife tour is one of the most exotic tours to Rajasthan as this Indian state is endowed with myriad treasures- desert in one side and greeneries on the other side. The fertile lands and hills of Rajasthan house two national parks-Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve and one bird sanctuary namely Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo Ghana National park. Well-designed Rajasthan tours always include the wildlife sanctuaries of the state yet a complete wildlife tour is a more fascinating one.
Booking a Rajasthan Tours Package, wildlife enthusiasts can explore all the national parks of the state. Here a brief description of the parks:
Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan is one of the most visited wildlife parks in India. The main attractions of Ranthambore National Park are its tiger and bird population. The main faunas of Ranthambore are Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Rufoustailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Coomon Yellow Bats, Desert Cats, Fivestriped Palm Squirrels, Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Foxes, Indian Gerbilles, Indian Mole Rats, Indian Porcupines, Longeared Hedgehogs, Ratels, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Civets and Common mongoose. Various species of reptiles are also found in this park.
Dotted on the valleys of the mountains of Aravali, Sariska Tiger Reserve is a world known wildlife destination in Alwar district of Rajasthan and a must visit on one’s Rajasthan tour. This park is an erstwhile hunting ground of the Maharajas. The wild animals of the park are Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger. A good population of Sambar, Chitel, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur are also found in this park. Rhesus Monkeys are found in large numbers around Talvriksh. The birdlife includes Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Tree Pie, Golden backed Wood Pecker, Crested Serpent Eagle and the Great Indian Horned Owl.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the most renowned bird sanctuaries in the world. Bharatpur birdlife is very rich. Officially known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, this is home to various species of aquatic birds. One will sure spot here Egrets, Siberian Cranes, migratory Water Fowl and other species of birds.
As a part of Rajasthan wildlife tour itinerary tourist can explore other heritage cities of this colorful state. Rajasthan tour is always fascinating-be it a wildlife or heritage.
DONNELL
Rajasthan wildlife tour is one of the most exotic tours to Rajasthan as this Indian state is endowed with myriad treasures- desert in one side and greeneries on the other side. The fertile lands and hills of Rajasthan house two national parks-Ranthambore National Park and Sariska Tiger Reserve and one bird sanctuary namely Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary or Keoladeo Ghana National park. Well-designed Rajasthan tours always include the wildlife sanctuaries of the state yet a complete wildlife tour is a more fascinating one.
Booking a Rajasthan Tours Package, wildlife enthusiasts can explore all the national parks of the state. Here a brief description of the parks:
Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan is one of the most visited wildlife parks in India. The main attractions of Ranthambore National Park are its tiger and bird population. The main faunas of Ranthambore are Tigers, Leopards, Striped Hyenas, Sambar deer, Chital, Nilgai, Common or Hanuman langurs, Macaques, Jackals, Jungle cats, Caracals, Sloth bears, Black bucks, Rufoustailed Hare, Indian Wild Boar, Chinkara, Common Palm Civets or Toddy cat, Coomon Yellow Bats, Desert Cats, Fivestriped Palm Squirrels, Indian False Vampires, Indian Flying Foxes, Indian Foxes, Indian Gerbilles, Indian Mole Rats, Indian Porcupines, Longeared Hedgehogs, Ratels, Small Indian Mongoose, Small Indian Civets and Common mongoose. Various species of reptiles are also found in this park.
Dotted on the valleys of the mountains of Aravali, Sariska Tiger Reserve is a world known wildlife destination in Alwar district of Rajasthan and a must visit on one’s Rajasthan tour. This park is an erstwhile hunting ground of the Maharajas. The wild animals of the park are Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger. A good population of Sambar, Chitel, Nilgai, Chausingha, Wild Boar and Langur are also found in this park. Rhesus Monkeys are found in large numbers around Talvriksh. The birdlife includes Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Tree Pie, Golden backed Wood Pecker, Crested Serpent Eagle and the Great Indian Horned Owl.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the most renowned bird sanctuaries in the world. Bharatpur birdlife is very rich. Officially known as Keoladeo Ghana National Park, this is home to various species of aquatic birds. One will sure spot here Egrets, Siberian Cranes, migratory Water Fowl and other species of birds.
As a part of Rajasthan wildlife tour itinerary tourist can explore other heritage cities of this colorful state. Rajasthan tour is always fascinating-be it a wildlife or heritage.
DONNELL
Aug
25
Betting Trends : Opening Fixtures of the SPL 2009/10
Filed Under Soccer | Comments Off
Javan McCabe asked:
A look into the opening day fixtures in the Scottish Premier League 2009/10 season and the betting trends from the opening matches from the past ten seasons with an overall prediction across several markets.
Hamilton have been omitted from the trend analysis due to the small number of seasons they have participated in the SPL over the past ten seasons.
15th AUGUST 2009
Aberdeen v Celtic
Aberdeen’s last six openers have had two or less goals in them.
Aberdeen haven’t won an opening match since 2002.
83% of Aberdeen’s last six matches have ended with an even number of goals.
Celtic haven’t lost on the opening day in the past ten seasons.
Since 2002 Celtic have had this sequence WDWDWDW
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals would be a good bet as would a draw.
Dundee Utd v Hearts
Dundee Utd have won 20% of their opening fixtures.
Hearts have won 83% of their last six opening fixtures.
PREDICTION : If unable to lay a Dundee Utd win, dutch a Hearts win together with the draw.
Hibernian v St Mirren
Hibernian’s last five matches on the opening day have ended with two goals or less.
75% of St Mirren’s openers have ended with two goals or less.
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals
Kilmarnock v Hamilton
Kilmarnock don’t have any noticeable trends.
PREDICTION : Skip it
Rangers v Falkirk
Rangers have never lost an opening game in the past ten seasons.
70% of Rangers’ opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
50% of Falkirk’s opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
St Johnstone v Motherwell
With thirteen attempts between them, only once have these two managed to win on the first day. 77% of these matches have ended up with two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
WINFRED
A look into the opening day fixtures in the Scottish Premier League 2009/10 season and the betting trends from the opening matches from the past ten seasons with an overall prediction across several markets.
Hamilton have been omitted from the trend analysis due to the small number of seasons they have participated in the SPL over the past ten seasons.
15th AUGUST 2009
Aberdeen v Celtic
Aberdeen’s last six openers have had two or less goals in them.
Aberdeen haven’t won an opening match since 2002.
83% of Aberdeen’s last six matches have ended with an even number of goals.
Celtic haven’t lost on the opening day in the past ten seasons.
Since 2002 Celtic have had this sequence WDWDWDW
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals would be a good bet as would a draw.
Dundee Utd v Hearts
Dundee Utd have won 20% of their opening fixtures.
Hearts have won 83% of their last six opening fixtures.
PREDICTION : If unable to lay a Dundee Utd win, dutch a Hearts win together with the draw.
Hibernian v St Mirren
Hibernian’s last five matches on the opening day have ended with two goals or less.
75% of St Mirren’s openers have ended with two goals or less.
PREDICTION : Under 2.5 goals
Kilmarnock v Hamilton
Kilmarnock don’t have any noticeable trends.
PREDICTION : Skip it
Rangers v Falkirk
Rangers have never lost an opening game in the past ten seasons.
70% of Rangers’ opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
50% of Falkirk’s opening fixtures result in two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
St Johnstone v Motherwell
With thirteen attempts between them, only once have these two managed to win on the first day. 77% of these matches have ended up with two goals or more.
PREDICTION : Over 2.5 goals
WINFRED
Aug
24
Champions League - Second Round Preview
Filed Under Online Gambling | Comments Off
David Walker asked:
The 21-22 February will see the 16 remaining teams in the Champions League battle it out for a place in the coveted final held on 17 May in Paris. The second round fixtures have been decided so here is a run down of who is left in the competition and their chances of progressing to the quarter finals:
Inter Milan vs Ajax Inter qualified comfortably from Group H as winners and have a favourable match against Ajax. The Dutch side qualified as runners up of Group A without too much trouble. Inter are overwhelming favourites to qualify for the quarter finals and striker Adriano, with four goals so far in this competition, poses the main threat. Manchester City. Verdict: Inter to qualify at 2/5.
AC Milan vs Bayern Munich Milan stuttered through the first round, with just three wins in six matches, before eventually topping the group ahead of PSV Eindoven. Andriy Shevchenko is the tournament’s most dangerous striker with six goals. However, Bayern Munich should not be underestimated. They dumped out Arsenal at this stage last season and were only edged out by a single goal against Chelsea in the quarter finals. Verdict: AC Milan to qualify at 4/6.
Liverpool vs Benfica The Reds take on the team who dumped Manchester United out of the Cup and are firm favourites to progress to the quarter finals. Liverpool were unbeaten and hadn’t conceded a goal in 11 league and Cup games until Sao Paulo denied them the World Club Championship on 18 December. Benfica’s 2-1 win over Manchester United was a shock result, but one they are unlikely to reproduce. Ronald Koeman’s side are only sixth in their domestic league and are likely to see their interest in the Champions League come to an end at this stage of the competition. Verdict: Liverpool to qualify at 4/9.
Barcelona vs Chelsea This was the most “anticipated” draw in terms of a replay of last season’s second phase encounter. Barcelona have won 13 games straight in La Liga, while Chelsea have topped the Premiership since August, losing just one match, against Manchester United, all season. Barcelona have also been unstoppable in Europe, winning five out of the six group. Despite the unquestionable talent at his disposal, Jose Mourinho may find his Chelsea team outgunned this time around. Verdict: Barcelona to qualify at 5/6.
Lyon vs PSV Eindoven Lyon are a team not to be underestimated in this season’s Champions League and won their group ahead of the glamorous Real Madrid. John Carew is Lyon’s top goalscorer with four goals while Juninho has laid on three assists. PSV will have their backers but Lyon remained undefeated in the group stage and should edge this encounter. Verdict: Lyon to qualify at 1/2.
Villarreal vs Rangers An upset could be on the cards in this encounter with Rangers a large price to qualify ahead of Spaniards Villarreal. Under-fire Rangers boss Alex McLeish may be ridiculously off-the-pace in the Scottish Premier, but he has got it right in Europe and Rangers have become the first side north of the border to venture this far in the competition. Villarreal scored just three times in six group stage matches. Verdict: Rangers to qualify at 5/2.
Real Madrid vs Arsenal This is the first time the two have clashed in Champions League and the bookmakers are having difficulty separating them. The Gunners won their five opening matches in the group stage before an experimental line-up drew 0-0 with Ajax in the final round of fixtures. Real Madrid have plenty of attacking power in their line up but are suspect at the back which could be to Arsenal’s advantage. Verdict: Arsenal to qualify at 10/11.
Juventus vs Werder Bremen Juventus stormed through the group stage, winning five out of six matches, with David Trezeguet scoring four goals. The “Old Lady” have already beaten and lost to German opposition in the competition this season, with two 2-1 results against giants Bayern Munich in the group stage. Werder Bremen are at their best at home, demonstrated in the 5-1 demolition of Panathinaikos and 4-3 victory over Udinese. Verdict: Juventus to qualify at 4/11.
ERIN
The 21-22 February will see the 16 remaining teams in the Champions League battle it out for a place in the coveted final held on 17 May in Paris. The second round fixtures have been decided so here is a run down of who is left in the competition and their chances of progressing to the quarter finals:
Inter Milan vs Ajax Inter qualified comfortably from Group H as winners and have a favourable match against Ajax. The Dutch side qualified as runners up of Group A without too much trouble. Inter are overwhelming favourites to qualify for the quarter finals and striker Adriano, with four goals so far in this competition, poses the main threat. Manchester City. Verdict: Inter to qualify at 2/5.
AC Milan vs Bayern Munich Milan stuttered through the first round, with just three wins in six matches, before eventually topping the group ahead of PSV Eindoven. Andriy Shevchenko is the tournament’s most dangerous striker with six goals. However, Bayern Munich should not be underestimated. They dumped out Arsenal at this stage last season and were only edged out by a single goal against Chelsea in the quarter finals. Verdict: AC Milan to qualify at 4/6.
Liverpool vs Benfica The Reds take on the team who dumped Manchester United out of the Cup and are firm favourites to progress to the quarter finals. Liverpool were unbeaten and hadn’t conceded a goal in 11 league and Cup games until Sao Paulo denied them the World Club Championship on 18 December. Benfica’s 2-1 win over Manchester United was a shock result, but one they are unlikely to reproduce. Ronald Koeman’s side are only sixth in their domestic league and are likely to see their interest in the Champions League come to an end at this stage of the competition. Verdict: Liverpool to qualify at 4/9.
Barcelona vs Chelsea This was the most “anticipated” draw in terms of a replay of last season’s second phase encounter. Barcelona have won 13 games straight in La Liga, while Chelsea have topped the Premiership since August, losing just one match, against Manchester United, all season. Barcelona have also been unstoppable in Europe, winning five out of the six group. Despite the unquestionable talent at his disposal, Jose Mourinho may find his Chelsea team outgunned this time around. Verdict: Barcelona to qualify at 5/6.
Lyon vs PSV Eindoven Lyon are a team not to be underestimated in this season’s Champions League and won their group ahead of the glamorous Real Madrid. John Carew is Lyon’s top goalscorer with four goals while Juninho has laid on three assists. PSV will have their backers but Lyon remained undefeated in the group stage and should edge this encounter. Verdict: Lyon to qualify at 1/2.
Villarreal vs Rangers An upset could be on the cards in this encounter with Rangers a large price to qualify ahead of Spaniards Villarreal. Under-fire Rangers boss Alex McLeish may be ridiculously off-the-pace in the Scottish Premier, but he has got it right in Europe and Rangers have become the first side north of the border to venture this far in the competition. Villarreal scored just three times in six group stage matches. Verdict: Rangers to qualify at 5/2.
Real Madrid vs Arsenal This is the first time the two have clashed in Champions League and the bookmakers are having difficulty separating them. The Gunners won their five opening matches in the group stage before an experimental line-up drew 0-0 with Ajax in the final round of fixtures. Real Madrid have plenty of attacking power in their line up but are suspect at the back which could be to Arsenal’s advantage. Verdict: Arsenal to qualify at 10/11.
Juventus vs Werder Bremen Juventus stormed through the group stage, winning five out of six matches, with David Trezeguet scoring four goals. The “Old Lady” have already beaten and lost to German opposition in the competition this season, with two 2-1 results against giants Bayern Munich in the group stage. Werder Bremen are at their best at home, demonstrated in the 5-1 demolition of Panathinaikos and 4-3 victory over Udinese. Verdict: Juventus to qualify at 4/11.
ERIN
Aug
24
How to Get the Most Out of Your Polaris Power Plant With a Polaris Exhaust Upgrade
Filed Under Motorcycles | Comments Off
Kimberly Green asked:
Upgrading your exhaust can give you far superior performance
What’s missing? You’ve taken your Ranger RZR and you’ve basically torn it apart and added as much horsepower that you can afford. Maybe you’ve ported, polished or even taken the engine .30 over. You’ve added an improved electronics package while going high tech with every added component that you could find. You topped it off with fuel injection capable of feeding your new beats appetite, Your machine looks good and you have a build sheet that would impress a Baja pro racer but when you fire that monster up you get less than desirable horsepower output on the dyno or on the track and in worse case you get miss firing and unstable performance.
What’s missing? Polaris exhaust Well, when the fuel injection was installed was the monster given a bigger throat to breathe with? More horsepower means you’ll need more fuel and finally; one of the most commonly overlooked necessities of properly working horsepower is the ability to breathe. No one forgets the slap on the K&N filter kit but in most cases the beast is not given adequate exhaust. Not only are exhaust gases poisonous to us, they are poisonous to your Ranger too. If the higher levels of spent fuel are not removed from the engine it will rob your motor of horsepower that you’ve spent a lot of money building.
A lot of people look at an exhaust as cosmetic or to enhance the throaty sound that is desirable in larger displacement engines. These attributes have their merit but the fundamental necessity for an exhaust is to clear out the unnecessary gas from your engine and to create backpressure. Just going to the local store to build an exhaust is costly, time consuming and generally unproductive time spent. Every application is different and unless you are going to a specialty store for your parts the chances of you getting an exhaust set up for your Ranger is unlikely.
Having an exhaust custom built is better but it is the most expensive method since they are generally custom fabricated to fit your application. It also means longer downtime as it takes longer to get these exhausts manufactured. You’re also stuck with local shops unless you are good at tracing your needs or you can afford to ship your Ranger to your fabricator.
When it comes to cost, ease and having a correct fitting exhaust going to the experts at Polaris for their custom fit exhausts will prove to be the best solution for a person trying to get the most horsepower out of their upgrades. The Polaris Ranger exhaust boasts a 15% horsepower gain at the engine and has been race tested in Baja to ensure maximum performance. You owe it to your beast to give it a louder voice and a better throat to breathe!
MAJOR
Upgrading your exhaust can give you far superior performance
What’s missing? You’ve taken your Ranger RZR and you’ve basically torn it apart and added as much horsepower that you can afford. Maybe you’ve ported, polished or even taken the engine .30 over. You’ve added an improved electronics package while going high tech with every added component that you could find. You topped it off with fuel injection capable of feeding your new beats appetite, Your machine looks good and you have a build sheet that would impress a Baja pro racer but when you fire that monster up you get less than desirable horsepower output on the dyno or on the track and in worse case you get miss firing and unstable performance.
What’s missing? Polaris exhaust Well, when the fuel injection was installed was the monster given a bigger throat to breathe with? More horsepower means you’ll need more fuel and finally; one of the most commonly overlooked necessities of properly working horsepower is the ability to breathe. No one forgets the slap on the K&N filter kit but in most cases the beast is not given adequate exhaust. Not only are exhaust gases poisonous to us, they are poisonous to your Ranger too. If the higher levels of spent fuel are not removed from the engine it will rob your motor of horsepower that you’ve spent a lot of money building.
A lot of people look at an exhaust as cosmetic or to enhance the throaty sound that is desirable in larger displacement engines. These attributes have their merit but the fundamental necessity for an exhaust is to clear out the unnecessary gas from your engine and to create backpressure. Just going to the local store to build an exhaust is costly, time consuming and generally unproductive time spent. Every application is different and unless you are going to a specialty store for your parts the chances of you getting an exhaust set up for your Ranger is unlikely.
Having an exhaust custom built is better but it is the most expensive method since they are generally custom fabricated to fit your application. It also means longer downtime as it takes longer to get these exhausts manufactured. You’re also stuck with local shops unless you are good at tracing your needs or you can afford to ship your Ranger to your fabricator.
When it comes to cost, ease and having a correct fitting exhaust going to the experts at Polaris for their custom fit exhausts will prove to be the best solution for a person trying to get the most horsepower out of their upgrades. The Polaris Ranger exhaust boasts a 15% horsepower gain at the engine and has been race tested in Baja to ensure maximum performance. You owe it to your beast to give it a louder voice and a better throat to breathe!
MAJOR
Aug
23
New Jersey Devils Tickets
Filed Under Hockey | Comments Off
Macie asked:
ersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Devils have the honor of winning the Stanley Cup three times, in 1995, 2000, and 2003. The club was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1974. After only two seasons, it moved to Denver, Colorado and then settled in New Jersey in 1982. The Devils have earned a playoff spot in each of the last nine seasons, and in 17 of the last 19 seasons under current general manager Lou Lamoriello. The Devils have played their home games at the Continental Airlines Arena since their move to New Jersey. The team is expected to move to the Prudential Center in 2007. Pruddential center is under construction in the city of Newark. The New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers are their main rivals. The Atlantic Division title is won either by the Devils or Flyers every season since 1995. The teams in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. were added in the NHL in 1974. Since the Kansas City metropolitan area includes portions of Missouri and Kansas, the Kansas City franchise was to be called the Mohawks. However, there were objections from the Chicago Black Hawks. The team was renamed the Scouts after a statue in the city. The Scouts took the ice for the first time in Toronto on October 9, 1974. They lost 6-2 to the Maple Leafs. The Scouts had to wait nine games before making their home debut because a rodeo was being held in Kansas City’s brand-new Kemper Arena. The Scouts won only 27 of 160 games. They failed to make the playoffs in either season in Kansas City. The team began to suffer from the economic downturn in the Midwest. The Scouts sold just 2,000 of 8,000 season tickets for their second season.They were almost $1 million in debt. These on- and off-ice disappointments led the franchise moved to Denver and was renamed the Colorado Rockies. In Colorado, the team made a fresh start by winning its first game 4-2 over Toronto. They picked up momentum and appeared to be a possible playoff contender. But things collapsed in February, and the Rockies finished the 1976-77 season with a record of 20-46-14. On May 27, 1982, the team was purchased by John McMullen, New Jersey shipping tycoon. The team would now be playing right in the middle of the New York New Jersey Connecticut tri-state area. It has been home to the three-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders, as well as the New York Rangers. On June 30, 1982, the team was renamed the New Jersey Devils. The Devils’ first game ended in a 3-3 tie to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team tasted their first win, a 3-2 victory, in New Jersey when they defeated their new trans-Hudson rivals, the New York Rangers. The team finished with a 17-49-14 record. This record put them three points above last place in the Patrick Division. The 1987-88 Devils garnered the first winning record in the franchise’s 13-year history. On the final day of the regular season, they were tied with their nemesis, the Rangers, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points, the Devils had one more win, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The following season, the Devils once again slipped below .500 and missed the playoffs. Despite the setback, the team returned to the Eastern Conference Finals during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. They were able to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two. They swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings and were successful in winning New Jersey’s first-ever Stanley Cup, and the first professional sports championship in the state’s history. Claude Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. The Devils established an NHL record by posting 11 road victories in one playoff season. The Devils reached the top again in 1999-00 and were successful in winning the Stanley Cup for the second time. They defeated the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games. A highlight of the Devils’ second championship run was their come-from-behind victory in the conference finals. They trailed the Philadelphia Flyers three games to one, but rebounded to win the series. This was both the first time in Devils playoff history and in NHL Conference Finals history that a 3-1 deficit was surmounted. Team captain Scott Stevens was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Devils won their first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers four games to none on April 29, 2006. They were successful in extending their winning streak to fifteen games and marking the first time the Devils defeated their cross-river rival in a playoff series. For more information about New Jersey Devils Tickets visit: http://www.ticketluck.com/sports-tickets/New-Jersey-Devils/index.php
SAMUEL
ersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Devils have the honor of winning the Stanley Cup three times, in 1995, 2000, and 2003. The club was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1974. After only two seasons, it moved to Denver, Colorado and then settled in New Jersey in 1982. The Devils have earned a playoff spot in each of the last nine seasons, and in 17 of the last 19 seasons under current general manager Lou Lamoriello. The Devils have played their home games at the Continental Airlines Arena since their move to New Jersey. The team is expected to move to the Prudential Center in 2007. Pruddential center is under construction in the city of Newark. The New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers are their main rivals. The Atlantic Division title is won either by the Devils or Flyers every season since 1995. The teams in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. were added in the NHL in 1974. Since the Kansas City metropolitan area includes portions of Missouri and Kansas, the Kansas City franchise was to be called the Mohawks. However, there were objections from the Chicago Black Hawks. The team was renamed the Scouts after a statue in the city. The Scouts took the ice for the first time in Toronto on October 9, 1974. They lost 6-2 to the Maple Leafs. The Scouts had to wait nine games before making their home debut because a rodeo was being held in Kansas City’s brand-new Kemper Arena. The Scouts won only 27 of 160 games. They failed to make the playoffs in either season in Kansas City. The team began to suffer from the economic downturn in the Midwest. The Scouts sold just 2,000 of 8,000 season tickets for their second season.They were almost $1 million in debt. These on- and off-ice disappointments led the franchise moved to Denver and was renamed the Colorado Rockies. In Colorado, the team made a fresh start by winning its first game 4-2 over Toronto. They picked up momentum and appeared to be a possible playoff contender. But things collapsed in February, and the Rockies finished the 1976-77 season with a record of 20-46-14. On May 27, 1982, the team was purchased by John McMullen, New Jersey shipping tycoon. The team would now be playing right in the middle of the New York New Jersey Connecticut tri-state area. It has been home to the three-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders, as well as the New York Rangers. On June 30, 1982, the team was renamed the New Jersey Devils. The Devils’ first game ended in a 3-3 tie to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team tasted their first win, a 3-2 victory, in New Jersey when they defeated their new trans-Hudson rivals, the New York Rangers. The team finished with a 17-49-14 record. This record put them three points above last place in the Patrick Division. The 1987-88 Devils garnered the first winning record in the franchise’s 13-year history. On the final day of the regular season, they were tied with their nemesis, the Rangers, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points, the Devils had one more win, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The following season, the Devils once again slipped below .500 and missed the playoffs. Despite the setback, the team returned to the Eastern Conference Finals during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. They were able to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two. They swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings and were successful in winning New Jersey’s first-ever Stanley Cup, and the first professional sports championship in the state’s history. Claude Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. The Devils established an NHL record by posting 11 road victories in one playoff season. The Devils reached the top again in 1999-00 and were successful in winning the Stanley Cup for the second time. They defeated the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games. A highlight of the Devils’ second championship run was their come-from-behind victory in the conference finals. They trailed the Philadelphia Flyers three games to one, but rebounded to win the series. This was both the first time in Devils playoff history and in NHL Conference Finals history that a 3-1 deficit was surmounted. Team captain Scott Stevens was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Devils won their first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers four games to none on April 29, 2006. They were successful in extending their winning streak to fifteen games and marking the first time the Devils defeated their cross-river rival in a playoff series. For more information about New Jersey Devils Tickets visit: http://www.ticketluck.com/sports-tickets/New-Jersey-Devils/index.php
SAMUEL