European Brown Bear Tours

Although the polar, grizzly and kodiak bears are better known than most, there are plenty of fantastic bear-watching opportunities available in Europe. European brown bear tours are available throughout the continent, offering holiday makers the chance to view one of the continent's most legendary and misunderstood animals - but where are the best places to go on bear tours?

The largest populations

The Eurasian brown bear used to be found across the whole of Europe. The species was driven out of Britain and Ireland well over a millennium ago, but it has continued to thrive on the continent. Large populations live east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, making their home in the Siberian forests. Bear tours to this area tend to be more difficult to arrange, due to the vastness of the territory and the transitory nature of bear populations.

Scandinavian populations

One of the best regions for bear tours is Baltoscandia: bear tours to this area are well organised, allowing visitors to stay close to the Finland/Russia border. The area is a true wilderness, and in the summer months large groups of bears can be watched from specially constructed bear-hides. Scandinavia, and the area around the Baltic Sea, has seen an increase in bear numbers in recent years, thanks largely to ongoing conservation efforts, and bear tours are a great way to support these efforts while getting to enjoy the creatures in their natural habitat. There are reported to be around 2,000 bears in Sweden, 1,200 in Finland, 700 in Estonia and 70 in Norway.

Bears elsewhere

There are opportunities for tours in other parts of the continent, allowing you to experience bears in a variety of climates. The population of bears in the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian mountains are both very small, with the French authorities importing bears from Slovenia in an attempt to bolster the numbers. In Italy, there are small populations of bears in the Abruzzi and Trentino regions.

There are larger populations in Romania, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, while smaller groups are found in Albania, Greece, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine. Researchers divide these populations into two groups: the Balkan group, comprised of around 3,000 individual bears, and the Carpathian group, numbering over 5,000 bears.

Bear tour opportunities

Across much of Europe there are great opportunities for seeing bears on tours. Despite relatively healthy numbers, European brown bears are still at risk, being driven in to smaller and smaller isolated patches. As their habitat is destroyed, and unwanted human to bear contact becomes a justification for governments to hand out hunting licences, there is a greater need for us to protect these magnificent creatures: properly organised and responsible tours are a fantastic way of doing this.

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Airport Express Line - Delhi

Are you still languishing in traffic and obsessing that horn button of yours while losing your temper at that silly call center driver? Or has missing your flight become commonplace? Delhi walas do not fear. The Delhi Metro or should I say DAMEPL (Delhi Metro Express Pvt. Limited) has recently unveiled the spanking new Airport Express Line. But the question that remains is if it is the first class experience it claims to be or is it a white elephant? Read on to know more.

How it started

The Tendering process for this project started in September 2007 after which on Jan 23, 2008, Reliance Infrastructure and the CAF consortium was awarded a 30 year contract. Although originally this project was scheduled to complete around India's Commonwealth Games, teething troubles in shifting Airport operations to the new terminal T3 delayed the opening of the Airport Express line to February 23 2011.

Features of the Delhi Metro Airport Express Line

The Airport Express Line has been designed with a high measure of comfort and high speed safety. Also since the Spanish firm CAF has also designed similar airport express lines in Hong Kong and London, travelers from those regions might have a sense of Dj vu. It's nice to see that DAMEPL hasn't stinted on features and has included amenities like lifts, escalators, baggage trolleys, porter services, wheelchair and lots more. Also the passenger cabins boast of adequate space for your bulky suitcases and also have a dedicated baggage compartment should you need more baggage space.

Passenger Coaches of the Airport Express - A class apart

After stepping into one of the spanking new Airport Line coaches, you feel transported into a foreign country as you leave behind Delhi's heat, smoke, dust and noise. Decked with fancy LCD screens which give information on your flights, comfortable seating arrangements, ample luggage space and air-conditioned coaches zipping @105 km/h make it apparently clear that this isn't your normal commuter's metro. All in all it's like luxury high speed travel at the fraction of the price.

Coach Technology

The rolling stock (fancy name for trains) for the Delhi Metro Airport Express line boasts of some innovative and high technology engineering. Built by Spanish experts CAF with a special emphasis on making the coaches silent, everything from flooring, insulated walls and windows have been engineered so that they are as silent as possible. Even the wheels have added lubrication to make the trains silent and comfortable. Also the trains are built so that they can be operated without a driver. This driverless technology (also known as ATO, Automated Train Operation) allows the train to be operated without a driver and allows the train to accelerate, brake, adjust speed or stop on its own. We don't know about you, but somehow an automated train in our environment (with all the metro stoppages) doesn't seem a good idea. So as of now, there is a driver as a failsafe or manual override so that he/she can take over in case the situation demands.

Check In @ Airport Express Line Stations

3 stations along the Airport Express line namely the New Delhi Station, Shivaji Stadium and the Dhaula Kuan stations will be offering the check in facility which will enable you to bypass check in hassles at the airport. The flip side with this feature is that most of the airlines have yet to set up check in counters and that Baggage check ins are only available in the New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium station. So ultimately at least for now, you will be stuck at using the Airport for check ins. However given a few months into operation and as the Airlines negotiate with DAMEPL; the counters should be operational soon. How soon though is anyone's guess.

Ticket Price of the Airport Express

The good news is that ticket prices for now are being discounted. The lowest fare is Rs 20 and the highest fare is Rs 100. After the discount offer expires, the lowest fare will be @Rs20 and highest fare Rs 180. For more details have a look at the airport express line fare chart. Now if only DAMEPL would extend that discount...

Delhi Metro Express Line Timings

The Airport Express Line's first train leaves at 6 am and the last train leaves at 10pm from both the stations at New Delhi railway station and at the Dwarka Station. However there might be further revisions from time to time based on the passenger load on the Airport Express line and other external factors. So the wise thing to do would be to check out the official website for the latest updated timings for the Airport Express.

Additional Services Available

The Airport Express line offers a few cool value added services like taxi services, porter services and trolley services. You get an airport taxi service or dial a Delhi car rental at 011-30802080 in case you need one for your further journey. If your bags are too heavy to life, you can get a porter for Rs 50. Baggage trolley services are absolutely free

Washrooms or restroom facility

With the paucity of restrooms in India, it's good to know should you need to take a leak or freshen up, you can do that in comfort in spotlessly clean toilets.

Things the Airport Express line could improve

So by now you must be pretty blown away with Delhi's Airport express line's amazing facilities, high speed trains and spectacular stations. But the question is, are there any flies in the ointment? Unfortunately there are quite a few areas where the Express line can improve leaps and bounds. We have listed things that we noticed needed improvement as follows

Although the connectivity to T3 is spot on with a passenger walkway, connectivity to Terminal 1D (where most low cost airlines are present) is patchy with passengers having to take a taxi or bus from the Airport Metro station. Yes there is a shuttle bus facility to Terminal 1D, however if you are a visitor, you can't use itIf you are using the regular airport and changing over at the New Delhi Station for the Airport Link, you will have to buy another ticket for using the Airport Express line. We think that there should be one ticket that should work for both Delhi Metro and the Airport Express line which would save passengers a whole lot of time along with being convenientIncomplete stations look like construction wrecks and spoil the Airport Express line experience. But with time this will improve as the stations near construction.A major downside of the Airport Express Link service is that it's hours of operation are from 8am to 10 pm. Keeping in mind most international passenger arrive in the wee hours of the night or early morning, this service will be absolutely useless to them.Security is manned by CISF who do become very jumpy in case you choose to photograph the stations and the train. The Delhi Metro Airport Express Line officials maintain that photography is banned along the Airport Express line; however there is no signage which says so anywhere.

Keeping everything in mind the usefulness of the Airport Express Line cannot be disputed. However, it will have significant challenges in terms of how it can handle large ridership volumes, natural disasters and more importantly the threat of terrorism and security. Also it misses out on a significant chunk of international travelers who arrive late night or early morning. Time will tell how successful the Airport Express line will be. For now with people raving about the world class Express line's cost savings, speed and comfort, it seems to be the king of Delhi's public transportation system and the Delhi Metro's crown jewel.

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Catalunya, Spain Has It All, From Barcelona's Vibrant Culture to the Stunning Coasts of Costa Brava

Catalunya has a culture of its own most evident in its language, catal?n, deriving from Latin as the Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese languages do. Catalu?a's culture is one of the oldest and richest of the European Mediterranean. The presence of Catalan merchants in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages was pivotal in the creation of trade routes that stretched from Sardinia and Sicily to Constantinople. The magnitude and wealth of medieval Catalonia is very much still palpable in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona, the capital of the region and the second leading city in Spain after Madrid. Catalonia and in particular Barcelona became and still is an important industrial center that led to the emergence of a wealthy middle class willing to spend their money on the beautification of their city giving way to the birth of Catalan modernism. Modernist architects expressed themselves in different ways; some wanted to revive Romanesque architecture while others looked to the French neo-Gothicism and modern styles of Germany and Austria. The goal was to create a modern art based on Catalan traditions mixed with the use of new materials as seen the works of Gaud? with La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Parc Guell or Dom?ch and Montaner with el Palau de Musica Catalana and the Hospital of San Joan all of which represent the tourist image of Barcelona along with the cheerful Paseo de La Ramblas and colorful Mercado de la Boquer?a. An image updated in 1992 when Barcelona was host to the Olympic Games, the nomination sparked an ambitious urban plan resulting in a large scale restoration making Barcelona one of the most visited cities in Spain and for a long time the leader of the cultural vanguard.

Barcelona for the most part is the image of Catalunya in the world but Catalonia is more than just Barcelona, Gerona or Girona in catal?n is a beautiful historic city with an extraordinary Cathedral and Jewish Quarter, el Call. The city of Tarragona preserves its rich Roman heritage with a magnificent amphitheater, forum and Aqueduct along with the Old quarter and the cathedral. The city is open to the sea and the views from el Balc?n del Mediterraneo are magnificent. South of Tarragona is the natural park of Delta del Ebro, an extraordinary haven for thousands of birds, including a large breeding colony of flamingos. L?rida or Lleida in catal?n is less charming than the aforementioned cities but its province in addition to being an excellent producer of fruits and vegetables has one of the most famous ski resorts in Spain, Baqueira-Beret, located in el Valle de Ar?n in the Pyrenees, very popular among Spanish skiers including King Juan Carlos and his family. Not far is the National Park of Aigues Tortes and Lago San Maurici some of the most striking mountain landscapes in Spain.

Catalunya has excellent beaches all along the Costa Brava in Girona and Costa Dorada in Tarragona. Fishing ports are abundant such as Palam?s, Cambrils, Sitges picturesque towns and the origin of excellent seafood dishes. The cuisine in Catalu?a is extraordinary, around the coast travelers can enjoy outstanding rice dishes and unforgettable suquet de peix (seafood soup) while towards the interior of the region dishes are heartier rabbit with snails, escalibada (check out my food recipes if you want to learn how to make it), or peus de porc amb rovillons (pig's trotters stuffed with mushroom sauce). The Catalan region produces first-class wines like those from the appellations of Pened?s, Priorat and Alella as well as magnificent olive oils such as those from Siurana, however, the star of Catalonia is cava the delectable Catalan champagne. Bon viatge!

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Safari Holidays With the Big 5 - Lions

Of all the Big 5 game animals in South Africa, it might be the lion that reigns over the others when it comes to striking the most distinctive figure. Known through many varied depictions in popular culture and fable as the 'King of the Beasts', the lion is definitely a draw for many visitors looking to get up close and see these incredible animals in the wild on their safari holidays. Whether it's the thrill of getting as close as you safely can to such dangerous animals, or a more scholarly or conservation-oriented interest, the lions of Southern Africa are definitely not to be missed.

Hunting

Lions earned their place on the Big 5 list due to the difficulty in hunting them, and they demonstrate their own hunting prowess in their position as the apex predators of the African savannas and grasslands. Lions don't typically hunt humans - good news for your safari holidays! - but their romantic allure as kingly figures of the animal world is emphasised by their capacity to threaten humans, on occasion. Amongst a group (or pride) of lions, it is the lionesses who do most of the hunting, working together in co-ordinated groups to stalk their prey. This teamwork also allows them to defend their kills from other competing predators such as hyenas.

The Mane Thing

The highly distinctive feature of male lions is their mane, and it's the easiest way to spot a lion while on your safari holidays. Having featured in depictions of the animal since the times of cave paintings from the Palaeolithic period, it has become one of the most widely recognised symbols in human culture. Manes make the lion appear larger, providing an excellent intimidation tactic for them to use in ritual confrontations with other lions, and in fending off scavenging hyenas from their kills. On your safari holidays the mane can be an excellent clue as to the condition of the lion - a general rule of thumb is that the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion.

Rest and Play

You're likely to see lions at rest on your safari holidays, as they are inactive and resting for around 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk, with a period of socialising and grooming before hunting in the night. Feeding is often competitive, as members of the pride try to consume as much food as possible.

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Tantrum-Free Vacations: 5 Creative Tips to Keep Your Sanity While Traveling With Your Children

Tantrum-free vacations: 5 creative tips to keep your sanity, travel with your children, and have a fun vacation, really!

You want to spend your vacation at a spa resort, your husband's idea of a good time is a weekend at the golf course, and your kids can't wait to test out the latest hot rides at the amusement park. Is there such a thing as a family vacation that makes everyone happy or are you destined to hearing the children grumbling from behind their DS, "are we there yet" while you're refereeing their arguments from the front seat?

No matter what age your children are, from tots to teens, vacations can easily become hijacked by whining, pouting, and full out screaming from kids and spouses too. So how can you have a tantrum-free vacation, keep your sanity while traveling with your children, and actually have a fun time?

Try these 5 sanity saving tantrum-free traveling tips:

1. Pick vacations that will have something each family member can enjoy. No, you don't have to sacrifice grown-up time to enjoy a happy family vacation. Choose a location that will have something for everyone, such as a family friendly cruise with kid themed activities and lots of adult amenities or the family resort with the water park that suits mom's desire to shop and dad's golfing needs. If you have more than one child share some special " vacation alone time" with each child, where they can spend time with mommy or daddy doing an activity they choose.

2. Many children have a difficult time with transitioning, going from one thing to the next, and for some children a vacation is overstimulating. They may have a difficult time with loud noises, new experiences, or may be sensitive to moving from one place to another. Often tantrums or meltdowns are a child's way of expressing that they are overwhelmed. A little preparation can help with the transitions. Share with your child images of where you are going and talk about what they will see and experience. They can even begin a scrapbook with images of their vacation before they leave and complete it when they return, so they have a feeling of control over the experience. Pack a few things in your child's travel backpack that will help your child with transitioning and waiting, such as favorite music on their mp3, favorite DVDs, a new coloring book, or a new toy. Remember to always pack snacks and juice or water; a hungry kid is a cranky kid (and that goes for adults too).

3. Adults need fun too. Hire a babysitter for a night on the town and you will model to your children the importance of taking care of your relationship. Ask the concierge about the babysitting services the hotel provides or recommends, or you can google babysitting agencies. Make sure that the sitters are screened for background checks, and that they are CPR and First Aid certified, then take some time to dance the night away. Also, book adjoining rooms for older children so you can have some alone adult fun time too.

4. Head off the meltdowns and tantrums at the pass. As a parent you notice the signs that a melt down is brewing. It could be whining, or attempts to agitate their siblings, and you know that these are the early warning signs that the tantrum storm is coming. Take a minute and breathe before you respond. Children pick-up on your emotional state and mirror it via the phenomena of mirror neurons meaning if they are agitated then you are likely to mirror their emotional response, which only amplifies their tantrum. Research suggests taking a deep breath allows you to increase the flow of oxygen to your brain, whereby you'll approach the situation from a calm and rational place, rather than reactive response. Take a breath, let your child know you understand how they feel, and then calmly talk with your child.

5. Take a break. Sometimes there is just so much that your child can experience in one day before they become overwhelmed. Create some downtime each day where they can just play in the pool or chill with their tunes. Be realistic for the developmental age of your child, and just how much activity is too much, and you will minimize exhaustion tantrums.

Vacations can be fun filled for the whole family when you use these sanity saving tantrum-free traveling tips.

Want more information on how to help your child manage their frustrations visit http://www.thecreativityqueen.com/ and download the free audio teleseminar: "Secrets Your Kids Really Don't Want You to Know: A Child Art Therapist Tells All" (*except for the confidential stuff).

Dr. Laura JJ Dessauer, ATR-BC, LCAT, the founder of the Creativity Queen, LLC, is a Board Certified Creative Arts Therapist and Certified Parent and Teen Coach. Laura brings over 23 years of experience working with families, children and teens in over 21 school districts. The Creativity Queen, LLC, Winner of SCORE Small Business of the Year, offers individual art therapy sessions and creative problem solving programs for both children and adults. Want more tools and practical creative strategies that work? Visit http://thecreativityqueen.com/ and get instant access to our FREE audio mini-course: Secrets Your Kids Really Don't Want You to Know: A Child Art Therapist Tells All. (*except for the confidential stuff)

Copyright Creativity Queen, LLC

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Dessauer

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Most Useful Apps for Haulage Companies

If you work for, or are considering working for, haulage companies, there's a good chance that you love driving. The freedom of the open road, the solitude of long journeys, the ability to escape the office - these are all things that make working for haulage companies so enjoyable.

However, technology has had a huge impact on all our lives over the last few years, and drivers too have found that technology can have a large effect on their jobs. One of the biggest areas where this has occurred is with mobile applications for smartphones. But can such apps really make life easier for drivers working for haulage companies?

Find Your Way Around

One of the best types of app that you can take advantage of if you work for haulage companies is a GPS app. You don't actually have to purchase a new GPS unit: if you've got a smartphone then you can download an app that allows you to find your way around just as easily. There are a number of good apps to choose from, ranging from the more expensive professional sat nav apps such as TomTom, Navigon and CoPilot, to the free map applications which perform a similar but more basic function. With one of these apps you'll never get lost again.

Parking Problems?

Parking can be an issue for anyone involved with haulage companies, and surely one of the biggest fears for drivers is that they will forget where they have parked. However, you can prevent this frustrating possibility by downloading an app such as iCar Park. This allows you to record the location of your vehicle with just a tap of a button, and the app will then direct you back to your vehicle. This is great for using in unfamiliar areas, making it ideal for jobs which take you to new places. Another app which does a similar job is G-Park.

Save Money on the Road

Gas Buddy is an app which could prove to be very popular with people working for haulage companies. It allows you to find petrol stations based on their location and prices, and it then directs you to your chosen station from your current location. This could prove to be invaluable as it could save you lots of money on fuel as well as making life easier when you are driving in new areas.

Take Advantage of Apps

Apps for mobile phones are making life easier for drivers working for haulage companies. If you work for a haulage firm and you own a smartphone, it may be worth investing in a few good apps as they could improve the experience for you whilst you are working.

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Safari Holidays With the Big 5 - Elephants

Perhaps no animal better symbolises the romance of safari holidays in Southern Africa than the elephant; these gentle giants are very distinctive sights. The largest living land mammals, elephants are also recognisable from their large ears, tusks and prehensile trunks, making it little wonder they capture the imagination of travellers the world over. Elephants are renowned for the power of their memories; you may recall the phrase 'an elephant never forgets'! Surprisingly enough, modern science has shown that elephants have some of the most developed brains and neocortexes of any living animal. This appears to have been known to ancient scholars, however - Aristotle once wrote that the elephant was 'the beast which passeth all others in wit and mind."

Pack Your Trunk

The most important and versatile appendage these animals, the trunk is used in a variety of situations during the life of an African elephant. It boasts two finger-like projections at its tip to aid the elephant in grasping small objects, or with sensitive movements. The trunk of an elephant is said to be sensitive enough to pick up a single blade of grass, and strong enough to rip a limb from a tree - and you may witness both while observing these creatures on your safari holidays.

The trunk is also used for drinking - elephants can suck up to 14 litres of water at a time into their trunks, and then blow it into their mouths, or spray it over their bodies while bathing. Elephants familiar with each other will twine and clasp their trunks in a similar greeting to a handshake, and use the trunk while play-wrestling, or to defend themselves from real threats. An elephant also relies on its trunk for its sense of smell, and you may see elephants on your safari holidays using their trunks in the style of a periscope to sniff out the scents of friends and food sources.

Tusks

Though they may appear quite frightening on a muscular elephant, an elephant's tusks are used for to dig for water and roots, to debark trees when elephants want to eat the bark, and to move trees and branches when clearing a path. Though it may not be immediately apparent on your safari holidays, an elephant's tusks never stop growing during the course of their lifetime. Another fascinating fact is that elephants can be right-or-left tusked, in the same fashion a human can be right-or-left handed. The dominant tusk, called the master tusk, can usually be spotted as it will be shorter, and generally a little more rounded from the wear of an elephant's everyday use.

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