Costa Rica Travel Packages

Located in southern Central America, Costa Rica is surrounded by three different bodies of water including the Panama Canal on the southeast, the Pacific Ocean on the southwest and west and the Caribbean Ocean on the east. Because of Costa Rica’s close proximity to several bodies of water, the country is an ideal stopping point for various cruise ships carrying throngs of adventurous vacationers. Depending on the area of Costa Rica you are in, the climate can differ dramatically. There are cool wet mountain ranges, rain forests, dry tropical forests, cloud forests, the very dry Pacific coast and the damp Caribbean coast. Because of Costa Rica’s diverse climate, the country is home to 850 species of birds, 205 species of mammals, 9,000 species of flowering plants, 1,200 species of orchids and 376 species of reptiles and amphibians. For a country that only measures 51,060 square kilometers, this is a wide variety of natural wildlife. Costa Rica strives to maintain the land’s natural beauty and wildlife by designating one sixth of the country to national parks and wildlife refuges. Costa Rica is also home to several active volcanoes. Arenal erupts daily every fifteen minutes or so. The locals welcome foreigners with open arms making Costa Rica one of the most desirable vacation and retirement spots in the world. It is for these and other reasons that a Costa Rica vacation cruise should be booked today. The memories will last a lifetime.

An Abundance of Outdoor Recreation: Costa Rica is big on water related activities. Wave riders travel from all over the world to test out their expertise in Costa Rica’s waters. Both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts offer up some notorious surfing. On the Atlantic Coast, Puerto Viejo’s Salsa Brava gets some great breaks during the winter months although this area is often crowded. On the Pacific side, Playa Hermosa is the most consistent place to catch some waves. If these areas are flat, no need to worry, snorkeling and kayaking are always an option. Wind surfers have nothing but praise for Lake Arenal. It is considered one of the world’s best wind surfing spots and on good days you can cruise over 25 miles across the lake. There might not be anything more romantic when you’re on vacation with the one you love than enjoying a horseback ride. Whether its on the beach or through a National Park, the experience is sure to be memorable. Other popular outdoor activities to be enjoyed while in Costa Rica include hiking, mountain biking, deep sea fishing, bungee jumping, sailing, bird watching and ballooning. More adventurous activities include repelling down through the center of waterfalls, canopy tours through the tropical trees and white water rafting.

A Mecca for Nature Lovers: Nature lovers should take advantage of Costa Rica’s numerous National Parks and refuges. Crocovado is both a rain forest and black sand beach. The Tabacon Hot Springs is nature’s equivalent to the Jacuzzi. Unwind near cascading waterfalls in the various pools and hot springs. A trip to the Monteverde Cloud Forest will almost guarantee a sighting of Costa Rica’s most famous bird, the Quetzal. The Rain Forest Aerial Tram is located out of San Jose, the country’s capital, and offers a guided canopy tour of the rain forest. Manuel Antonio Park is teeming with monkeys and other wildlife. The Tortuguera is Costa Rica’s most famous protected nesting area. If you are not a fan of outdoor activities, don’t worry, there is plenty else to do and see. The National Museum traces Costa Rica’s colorful history and culture. The museum was founded in 1887 and is located in San Jose. Patrons of the arts should try and catch one of the numerous performance put on at the National Theater. The National Theater offers classical music and opera performances in addition to others. Sarchi is located outside of San Jose and is a great place to visit and admire the country’s handicraft.

Visit www.mytraveltocostarica.com to receive a FREE Costa Rica vacation package quote.

Aventuras Elegantes, AVEL, S.A. We are an american and costa rican group. Aventuras Elegantes, AVEL, S.A., started operation in 1995 as a receptive tourism agency specialized in promoting Costa Rica as a tourist destination worldwide.

www.mytraveltocostarica.com

info@mytraveltocostarica.com

Are You Just “Going Through the Motions”?

It wasn’t a very big bush yet - only about a foot or so tall. It did have the promise of developing into something quite a bit larger. Now, I’m not too sure. We’ll just have to see. With a stubby two inch high, frayed trunk sticking up rather forlornly from a small bare patch of lawn, I’d say the chances for survival are about fifty-fifty.

I’m fairly sure it wasn’t my neighbor’s objective to intentionally commit bush murder. He seems like a pretty nice guy and not the type to purposefully do anything mean. Even to a little bush. The best I can tell from the mowing pattern, he just used a bit more of my lawn to turn his riding lawnmower than he originally intended. Or maybe he meant to use this part of my lawn as turning space and for some reason didn’t see the little bush. I don’t really know - and it’s not particularly important because after all, it was just a little bush. Poor little bush…

It does happen to the best of us though, doesn’t it? Sometimes we get distracted by life stuff and we mess something up or we just don’t do quite as good a job at whatever we were working on as we could have. Or - we find ourselves performing a task (maybe even our real job) that we don’t particularly enjoy or maybe didn’t want to do in the first place and we just sort of go through the motions to get it done. Fill the squares, write the memos, hammer the nails, wipe the counter, label the gadget, whomp the whanger, doink the frammitz, and put one more coat of paint on the damn porch railing. Just gettin’ by. Just goin’ through the motions.

With the little stuff of life - painting a porch railing, dusting the knick-knacks, mowing the yard - “gettin’ by” is generally OK. I need to toss in that “generally” because we all know that occasionally a significant other may have an entirely different perspective on the situation and feel compelled to make his or her feelings known. Sometimes even to everyone within a four block radius. “HAROLD! YOU GET THAT PAINT CAN AND GET YOUR BUTT BACK UP ON THAT PORCH AND DO THE JOB RIGHT THIS TIME!!!” Poor Harold…

It works the other way too sometimes, doesn’t it? Once in a while you’ll run onto a person who is absolutely, nit-picky particular about everything. The bushes have to be trimmed just so. The mirrors must be cleaned so there isn’t even a teeny-tiny hint of a streak or spot. A speck of dirt on the SUV is totally unacceptable. Every hair must be in place - and this is on the dog! Geesh folks… Loosen up. Get distracted once in a while. Get a life…

Ahem. Sorry about that. Where were we? OK, back to just gettin’ by. Ya know, if we find ourselves gettin’ by or just going through the motions doing the more important things in life, it would probably benefit us to consider making a few changes. Yes, I know. There are a lot of folks who seem to survive and hang onto their jobs even though we all know they are just cruising through the day. The customers are waited on, phone calls are made, forms are filled out, whangers are whomped and another 347 doogles are inserted into their appropriate place in the mimmers. Another day done. Another day closer to retirement.

People - is that all we want out of life? To just survive? Yeah, survival’s important but wouldn’t it be better to take it a step or two higher? To raise the bar another notch or two? Why be satisfied with “survival” when so much more is available with just a little more effort? Including the knowledge that we have done the very best job we could do - and the distinct possibility that we will be compensated in some way - sometime - for our additional efforts and our focus on the task at hand.

Life is too short - and too precious - to waste it just “going through the motions”. I suggest that it would be really, really beneficial if we all take a few minutes to consider making those changes we need to make - either in our jobs or within ourselves - so that we can feel motivated to do the very best job we can do - no matter what it is. I believe that every single one of us has the potential to perform at a much higher level. That we all have the potential to contribute in a very significant way to society, to those close to us and to our own well being. I wonder what we each can do if we really put our mind to it? I think it’s worth finding out. I think we owe it to ourselves to find out - don’t you?

Gene Simmons, through NuPathz.com, provides an easy reading self-help blog, articles, quotations, thoughts and links along with affordable self-help and self improvement books & materials - all designed to help folks find the road to a more enjoyable lifestyle, to pass on some of life’s “secrets for survival” in a chaotic world & offer a few smiles along the way. It’s a down-to-earth, simple approach to discovering a better life. You can visit Gene at http://www.nupathz.com/

How to Avoid Foreclosures

It’s amazing how many families lose their homes needlessly. When a family encounters financial problems and can’t keep their mortgage payments up to date, they could explain their situation to their lender or mortgage servicer and probably work out a special plan to resolve the problem. But in most cases they just let the problem worsen until their home is taken in foreclosure.

That’s the finding of a recent survey taken by Freddie Mac and Roper Public Affairs and Media, a noted market research firm. In over half of all home foreclosure cases the homeowners never contacted their lender about their problem, it was found. It was also noted in the survey responses that about 75 percent of the delinquent mortgage borrowers recall being contacted by their mortgage servicers. But most of them gave a variety of reasons for neglecting to follow-up with those servicers to discuss workout options. Mortgage servicers collect monthly housing payments on behalf of the lender or other owner of the mortgage.

“The results of the survey are a wake-up call to delinquent borrowers everywhere,” said a Freddie Mac vice president. “Its message is clear: when you get a phone call or letter from your servicer, don’t ignore it - act on it. Pick up the phone, call your servicer and talk to them about the possibility of forbearance or some other repayment alternative because it just may be your best chance to avoid foreclosure. Part of the problem, as shown in the survey responses, is that there’s a dangerous knowledge gap. People are definitely interested in the options available to them, but their awareness of those options is low.”

Copyright 2006 TheLowQuote

Jim Woodard Syndicated real estate columnist and feature writer
Mortgage / Real Estate Update Report

http://www.TheLowQuote.com

Looking for the Perfect Gift for Dad? Think Backwards

All Father’s Day Gifts Are Not Created Equal

For most of us, shopping for the perfect Father’s Day Gift can be a difficult, if not impossible
task. Father’s Day initiates the annual conundrum of what to buy the man who already has everything
he needs.

As a gift professional, I can assure you the last thing Dad wants or needs is another tie to
hang in the closet; and while the matching “World’s Greatest Dad” t-shirt and coffee mug was
a thoughtful gift, it doesn’t stick out in his mind for the right reasons. Finding the perfect
Father’s Day gift requires a little bit of effort and maybe a little bit of homework, but the
smile on Dad’s face when he opens the perfect gift is truly priceless.

Looking for the Perfect Gift for Dad? Think Backwards.
The perfect gift requires “reverse engineering.” In the gift business this means starting with the
recipients’ tastes, preferences and hobbies and working backwards towards the perfect gift. Instead
of finding the perfect gift and then trying to match it to the recipient, we start with the recipient
and work in reverse. Understanding this simple principal will instantaneously make you a better gift
buyer for any occasion.

When a regular client calls in frantically and says, “I need a gift for my Dad,” my first question
is always, “What can you tell me about him?” What kind of food does your father like? Is he big on
Barbequing? Does he love chocolate? Does he drink coffee? Does he love Italian food? Does he play
golf or fish? Is he a ‘Snack-a-holic?’ All these defining characteristics of Dad are paramount when
selecting the perfect gift. The more questions you can answer the better off you’ll be in making your
selection. When you get a gift that matches his preferences, your chances of him burying your gift in
the closet are significantly reduced.

A Good Father’s Day Gift versus the Perfect Father’s Day Gift
The difference between a “good gift” and the “perfect gift” is determined by how accurately you can
pinpoint Dad’s tastes, preferences and hobbies and then work backwards towards a gift that best fits
him. There really is no such thing as a bad gift. I believe all gifts are good at heart; but there
is a severe epidemic of giving Dad the wrong gift. And giving the wrong gift is exactly how a gift
goes bad!

A good gift is something that Dad sincerely appreciates. The perfect gift will stand out in his
mind for years!

Finding the perfect Father’s Day Gift might require you to talk to people around your Dad. Inquire
about any new hobbies or interests he has been pursuing and be sure to ask about things he’s thought
about, but hasn’t yet pursued. Whatever you decide to get Dad this year just follow our simple rules
and your gift will be a guaranteed success:

The Best Father’s Day Gifts are Properly Wrapped
Whether it is a power tool or a piece of fine jewelry, the perfect gift must be properly gift-wrapped.
In fact, I’ve seen a “good gift” transformed into a “perfect gift” with the proper presentation. (The
bag you get from the cashier does not count as gift-wrapping!) Personalized gift baskets for Father’s
Day are often a great choice because they are based on the recipient’s preferences, and are impeccably
packaged.

When it Comes to Gift Giving, Stick to Quality over Quantity
The perfect gift doesn’t have to be expensive, but it must fall within his realm of interests and it
should be of good quality. Successful gift givers always stick to the principal of “less is more.”
Get him what he would want even it means giving him less of it! For example, a chocolate lover might
politely accept a large box of chocolates from a grocery store, but one perfectly crafted with gourmet
chocolate would have a greater effect at a potentially equal cost.

It’s The Thought That Counts
When you take the extra time to “reverse engineer” the perfect gift, it clearly demonstrates to Dad
that you put time, effort and energy into your selection. It shows him that you really thought
about him, which is ultimately the true essence of gift giving.

Ryan Abood is President of GourmetGiftBaskets.com, an online purveyor of premium Father’s Day Gift Baskets (one of many perfect Father’s Day Gifts).

Picking Up Speed, And Accolades - Bridgestone / Firestone Is Back - And On Top Form!

Comebacks take strong leadership, bravery, unwavering commitment to quality, and to be blunt - quite a set… of tires that is. But more about their new tires in a moment…

Earlier this year I was able to spend some time with the folks from Bridgestone / Firestone Canada at their Mississauga head office here in Ontario. And to say that the office was buzzing would be a monumental understatement.

They were excited, and they had every right to be. Jim Schmidt (General Manager - Consumer Products Canada) proudly showed me their latest ‘prize’. Bridgestone / Firestone Canada Inc (BFCA) had recently been awarded first place ranking in the 2004 Canadian Customer Commitment Study conducted by J.D. Powers and Associates.

Rightly Proud Of Their New Rating

Canadian consumers listed the Firestone Service Centre operating under the retail names Firestone Tire + Automotive Centres and GCR Tire Centres, as number one in the category “Highest Overall Customer Satisfaction Among Service Providers.” Jim told me that in recognition of the award, BFCA had issued personal trophies to each of the 75 Firestone Tire + Automotive, and 43 GCR Tire Centres all across Canada.

During my visit I was fortunate to meet many great people, and rather than turning this article into a weak version of an ‘Oscar thank you speech’ I’ll mention just two more names: Michael Sigillito (Director of Canadian Consumer Tire Marketing) and Michele Amirault (Promotions Specialist) — “Thanks!”

The NEW Firestone Firehawk Family

Michele and Michael gave me the grand tour and patiently answered all my questions. I was even shown their latest addition to the Firestone Firehawk tire line: the Firestone Firehawk Wide Oval. There are three tires in the immediate family: Firehawk Wide Oval, Firehawk INDY 500 (with UNI-T) and the Firehawk Racing Slick. The Wide Oval is one very cool looking tire. Sure every tire looks good when they’re clean and black, but the Firehawk Wide Oval just seemed to have something special.

When I asked about the tire, Michele and Michael told me that the designers had drawn their inspiration from the retro days of muscle cars and machismo. I’d say the designers succeeded. Offering racing inspired performance, this ultra-high performance tire delivers superb traction and handling in wet and dry conditions. And did I mention it looks damn good too - somehow it just looks “right”.

And the Firehawk INDY 500 has an equally inspired heritage. Paying tribute to the performance of the original racing slick, this tire was adapted from some of the technology originally developed for professional drivers racing at speeds up to 200 mph. Again, this tire offers excellent handling in all conditions making this S- and T- speed rated tire ideal for all-season driving. Call me a classicist, but I like the white lettering and the sidewall design. Again, another tire that delivers.

UNI-T

Manufacturing their first class tires, BFCA utilises “The Ultimate Network Of Intelligent Tire Technology.” Otherwise known as UNI-T it includes CO-CS (Computer Optimized Component System) which optimizes tire tread design, casing shape, materials and construction based on performance. UNI-T also includes O-BEAD, these technologies allow for performance improvements between the tire and wheel interaction. And finally UNI-T makes use of LL-Carbon (Long Link). LL-Carbon reinforces and stabilizes the rubber - increasing wear resistance and helping reduce chipping, cracking and tearing.

Additional technology benefits of UNI-T included the use of Silica for improved traction in the wet. Specially designed pattern tread blocks to provide uniform contact pressure between the tire and the road surface - again improving handling in all conditions, and the reduction of irregular wear (think quieter ride.) Finally the spiral wrapping within the tire helps the tire hold its shape better and improves overall hi-speed capabilities.

Improving Confidence

Not one to shy away from making brave moves, BFCA offers some of the best tire warranty’s in the industry. The 30 Day Trial has to be one of them. A customer can purchase their choice of tires, have them installed and drive away. Any time within the next 30 days, if they ‘are not completely satisfied’ they may return the tires for a full refund of the purchase price. Now that’s a powerful guarantee! Add to that a 3 year limited warranty and it’s clear…

Bridgestone and Firestone are back, and offering products, services and guarantees like this, why would you choose any other tire manufacturer?

Author: http://www.JamesBurchill.com

Dallas Contracting Co., Inc. Completes Purchase and Removal of Used Equipment.

South Plainfield, New Jersey, February 2006 - Dallas Contracting
Co., Inc., (website: http://www.dallascontracting.com) a
specialized contractor providing demolition services, onsite
concrete aggregate crushing, equipment salvage and scrap metal
recycling to various industries, recently completed the purchase
and removal of a used Sonic Fellow Ultra Sonic 5 Bath Cleaner.

A client in Central New Jersey was moving their operations and
no longer needed their used Sonic Fellow Ultra Sonic 5 Bath
Cleaner. They contacted Dallas Contracting Co., Inc. (Dallas
Contracting) to possibly purchase and remove the used equipment.
After review of the condition of the equipment and possible
resale, Dallas Contracting decided to purchase the equipment.
The actual sale and removal of the equipment was done by
Environmental Aggregates and Surplus Equipment, LLC, which is a
subsidiary of Dallas Contracting.

The Sonic Fellow Ultra Sonic 5 Bath Cleaner is now being sold as
used equipment on Dallas’s website
http://www.dallascontracting.com

About Dallas Contracting Co., Inc.

Dallas Contracting Co., Inc. has been in business for 26 years,
is financially sound (D&B Rating of 3A2), is bondable, and works
on a nationwide basis. Dallas Contracting Co., Inc. offers a
turnkey approach to demolition, concrete recycling and
remediation projects by offering the following services under
one roof: Demolition, Onsite Concrete Aggregate Crushing and
Recycling, Environmental Remediation, Rigging, Brownfield
Redevelopment, Surplus and Used Equipment Sales, Interior
Demolition, Equipment Removals, Dismantlement, Equipment Salvage
and Scrap Metal Recycling.

Dallas Contracting Co. Inc. also sells used and surplus
equipment and inventory on their website at
http://www.dallascontracting.com

Contact:

Dallas Contracting Co., Inc. 1260 New Market Avenue South
Plainfield, New Jersey 07080 P: (908) 668-0600 F: (908) 668-0601
Contact: Damon Kozul, PE, CHMM Email:
dkozul@dallascontracting.com Website
http://www.dallascontracting.com

The Villa Life - Jamaica

So you’ve rented a villa for your Jamaica vacation. Now what?
Well if you’ve rented a luxury, staffed villa here’s what you
might expect: Your driver will meet you at the airport in a
comfortable, air-conditioned van. On the drive to your villa, he
will indicate points of interest along the road and provide
refreshments- if it is a long drive do not hesitate to request a
stop. Upon arrival at your villa you will be greeted by your
staff; they are your caretakers for the duration of your stay
and you should feel completely at ease making reasonable
requests of them. Get to know your head-of-house as he or she
will be your primary point of contact should you have any
questions about the villa and how it operates. Your cook will
handle grocery shopping and meal preparation. She will
prepurchase your first few meals plus pantry staples, then
finish the week’s shopping after meeting with you. A typical
grocery budget is US$210 per adult per week (more in some
villas) … less for children. This may vary up or down
depending on market prices and menus. If you wish to go to the
various markets with your cook, feel free to do so. Otherwise,
simply review with her your likes and dislikes and she will
handle everything while you stay at the villa and relax. At some
of the villa colonies, like Tryall, it is possible for your cook
to charge groceries to your account, which you then settle at
the end of your stay. At most of the independent villas, unless
you’ve arranged for a mealplan, your cook will request money for
shopping; she’ll bring you receipts and change. The day starts
while guests are still asleep. The cook quietly places pots of
steaming Jamaican coffee and platters of fresh fruit outside
your bedroom door or at the breakfast table. Full breakfast is
served when all guests are ready. A typical breakfast may
include fresh orange juice and several fruits, banana fritters
or plantain, eggs, bacon, pancakes or cereal. Light lunches are
usual in Jamaica, then for dinner your cook will prepare her own
mix of Jamaican specialties … including delicious homemade
soups and desserts, ackee and saltfish, jerk pork or chicken,
shrimp or curried goat. Lobster, too, when in season … she can
of course also serve traditional American fare as you request.
Warning: Jamaican cooks are excellent and portions are big. Your
chambermaid and laundress will care for every detail of your
bedroom and bath … providing a daily supply of fresh linens
and flowers and returning your neatly-folded laundry each
afternoon before turning down your bed each evening. The
gardener will maintain the pool and grounds immaculately each
day. Larger villas are staffed by a butler who serves, tends bar
and generally facilitates. Available on request are a masseuse,
children’s nanny and chauffeur. At the conclusion of your stay
it is customary to tip for good service. Villa staffs, like most
jobs in the service industry, rely on tips as part of their
overall compensation. Recommended gratuities tend to be around
10% of the villa rental in High Season ~ 15% of the villa rental
in Low Season (some villas have more specific guidelines). These
percentages apply to the entire staff, not to each individual
staff member. In each villa, you will find a gratuity guide
advising you how tips should be distributed among your staff
members based on their seniority- in some cases you can pay the
entire amount to the head of house or directly to the property
manager for distribution. Once you have experienced the villa
lifestyle, it is only natural to be intrigued by the prospect of
owning one of these extraordinary properties. Whether it is an
existing villa or a home site on which to build the vacation
house of your dreams Jamaica’s experienced real estate agents
will help you find it.

What are the advantages to staying in a villa over a hotel? The
only true privacy you get in a hotel is in your bedroom or
suite. In a villa everything belongs to you ~ the pool, the sun
beds, the terrace, the music, the TV ~ it is your home every
minute of the day. You will only see the people you wish to see.
Even your staff will become “invisible” if that is what you
want, appearing only at those times you ask them to serve you.
In a villa you decide everything from what you eat to the time
you eat it. And yet, despite having all these major advantages,
a villa vacation compares very favorably on price with a hotel.
Certain villas include temporary memberships in private clubs
such as Tryall, Round Hill and Wyndham Rose Hall that offer a
host of activities including golf, tennis and watersports. Those
actually located within a villa colony offer the best-of-both
worlds, with the complete privacy of a villa vacation and all
the amenities and social opportunities of a fine resort.

**for more information visit www.jam-boree.com,
Jamaica’s visitor website, the complete source for travel and
tourism information featuring hand-picked deals on vacation
packages, hotels, villas, flights and car rentals**

Why You Don’t Need to Count Calories On Your Low Carb Diet

One major upside of many low carb diets, such as Rob Faigin’s Natural Hormone Enhancement and The Atkins Diet, is that you do not need to reduce the
amount of calories you eat. In fact,
in many cases, you can increase or
maintain the amount of calories you
regularly consume and still rapidly
lose weight.

Carbohydrates are the only thing
you will have to monitor closely.
If you want to sustain regular
weight loss, you will need to
keep your carb consumption
well within the bounds of your
suggested prescription from
your doctor, dietitian, or
low carb diet plan.

As a low carb dieter, you won’t
need to monitor your protein
intake. If anything, you will want
ensure you are consuming enough.
Protein will complement your weight
loss–especially if you are following
some type of exercise regimen–by
building muscle, which allows
you to burn fat much faster.

If your muscles are sore after
your regular exercise regimen,
you should try to boost your protein
intake. Otherwise, you are probably
consuming enough–and this is not
something you need to worry about.

Another thing you should consider is
whether or not you are getting enough
exercise. Building muscle can seriously
expedite your weight loss, especially
when you are on a low carb, high protein diet.
If you haven’t started one already,
you should consider adding some
minor aerobic exercise–such as
walking 3-5 times each week–
and weight training–such
as squats and bench presses–to your
dietary plan, even if it isn’t required.

The last thing you need to consider
is your fat intake. While most low
carb diets don’t give any suggested
fat-calorie caps, they will tell you
to eat a “moderate” amount–and to
stick mainly to good fats.

This is pretty unspecific, but it here’s what
it means: there are some “good” fats, such
as the ones you can find in fish, nuts, and seeds.
These are healthy to eat, and you can find them
in foods with high protein content. Eat as much
of these as you want.

There are also some “bad” fats, such
as the ones you find in eggs, bacon,
sausage, and meats. Eat enough of
these to satiate your hunger and
prevent cravings, but don’t over-do it.

You may want to schedule regular doctor’s
appointments during your diet, so you can
monitor your cholesterol.

To reiterate: if you want to be successful
with a low carb diet, you should strictly
monitor your carbohydrate intake; however,
there are no strict rules on how much fat
or protein you should consume, so you wont
need to count calories before you eat
–in fact, in most cases, you will
know immediately whether or not you should
eat something. An exercise regimen, while not
necessary, could greatly expedite your
weight loss by taking advantage of your
diet’s high-protein content.

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.

Golf in Orlando: Playing Links-Style at the Royal St. Cloud - Unpretentious Golf at its Best

For a real links-style golf experience we discovered the Royal
St. Cloud Golf Links, located in St. Cloud, about 25 minutes
southeast of the Orlando airport or the Disney area. The Royal
St. Cloud Links greet you with a rolling layout of links-style
fairways, punctuated by classic links bunkers that feature names
such as Hell, Spectacles, Devil’s Pocket and Hoofprint. True to
its link heritage, every club in the bag will be utilized as the
terrain is naturally varied.

Unlike other Orlando golf courses, the Royal St. Cloud is free
of any residential developments and offers a pure golf
experience. The design features four sets of tees and from the
blue tee offers a championship length of 7,111 yards and a 74.6
rating, all on flawless fairways and silky-smooth Tifeagle
greens.

Its motto, as printed above the entrance to the club house is
“Original Golf Played Here”, and indeed the Royal St. Cloud
features original style golf at its unpretentious best. I had a
chance to talk to Bill Filson, the Director of Golf and since
2002 co-owner of this facility.

Bill has an extensive teaching background. He has personally
studied under some of the top-ranked teaching professionals and
brings 12 years of teaching experience that featured beginners
to PGA tour professionals. Bill has consistently been a
top-ranked PGA Professional. The Royal St. Cloud’s teaching
staff is complemented by Dave Rummels who brings 17 years of
valuable PGA Tour experience with him and can share advice from
the “Tour” with the students. Associate Professional, Doug
Holloway, has 16 years coaching experience.

At the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links the commitment to teaching the
game of golf commitment includes state-of-the art video
equipment and even a teaching tent for inclement weather.
Lessons, programs, and clinics are offered for every skill level
and requirement. Bill explained that they run very reasonably
priced children’s clinics at $7.00 per clinic and the club has
120 members in their junior program. Ladies can also learn the
sport without embarrassment in a relaxed, comfortable
environment. And with every family membership at the club kids
play for free.

Bill prides himself on offering one of the greatest values in
golf in the Orlando area. For the 2005-2006 season rates vary
from $46 to $48 from November 1 to January 10, and $64 from
January 11 to April 30, 2006. Discounted tee time rates are
available after 11 am or 12 pm respectively, 7 days/week. Bill
went on to say that the fees at the Royal St. Cloud are always
reasonable, and that he aims not to oversell his course, but to
exceed the visitors’ expectations.

In addition, he offers a very unique proposition: a 100%
money-back guarantee with no conditions if you didn’t enjoy your
playing experience at the Royal St. Clouds. He said in the
almost three years since he has run this course only 2 people
ever asked for a refund; a phenomenal achievement, considering
that several tens of thousands of rounds are played here every
year.

One of the very unique features of this course is the
handcrafted stonework which is evident in four bridges found
throughout the course that have been hand-built by one
individual brick by brick. Bill said that some of the bridges
are even a little bit crooked, just to give them more character.
The most famous stone bridge can be found on the 5th hole and
many of the British visitors to this golf course come here
specifically for this unique feature.

Bill explained that his golf course serves a value-based market
that is composed of local residents, snowbirds escaping the cold
northern winters, and British golfers, a very loyal crowd who
refer this facility to many of their friends back home.

The Royal St. Cloud Golf Links have been rated as one of the Top
5 Most Underrated Golf Courses in the Orlando area and they have
hosted the 2004 and 2005 British Junior Amateur. With its
wide-open fairways the course looks deceptively simple, however,
I experienced very quickly the unique challenges offered by the
Royal St. Cloud. Traditional links golf is played on the ground,
unfortunately I still managed to find water several times,
despite the generously open fairways.

Wood stork at the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links

The other feature I really enjoyed were a number of the ponds on
the back nine of the course that were playing host to a variety
of local wildlife and water birds. I particularly enjoyed
watching a very rare specimen of wood stork stalking the edges
of a pond for food, and a crane standing upright with stretched
out wings. The course had a very relaxed, casual and friendly
feel to it and we enjoyed a tasty hot dog after our game on the
beautiful patio outside the clubhouse as a way to cap off a very
enjoyable golf experience on a gorgeous day.

A crane stretches its wings

Driving Directions from the Disney Area: Royal St. Cloud Golf
Links is an easy 25 miles from the Disney area. (25-35 minute
approximate drive time) * Take Osceola Parkway to the Florida
Turnpike * Take Exit 244 to Hwy 192, turn left. * Go 4.6 miles
to Vermont Ave, turn right. * Take Vermont 2.1 miles to Creek
Woods Road, take a left. * Go only .7 miles to Michigan Ave,
take a right directly into the Golf Club.

Statistics Par 72 Yards Rating Slope Blue 7111 74.6 128 Gold
6680 72.2 125 Green 6083 69.2 115 Citrus 5531 66.6 111

For more information please visit Royal St. Cloud Golf Links
website or call them at (407) 891-7010.

How Correct Nutrition can Improve the Health of your Hair

It is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day. Beyond this, hair
loss can result from general nutrient deficiency. One of the
problems with nutrition and hair however is that we can’t
programme nutrients to do what we want - and hair growth is not
a priority so nutrients may be used up in other areas first.

B vitamins (especially B6, biotin and inositol) have all been
found to be important in hair growth, so a heavy duty B complex
is recommended. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they destroy B1
and other B vitamins. Other important nutrients are manganese,
magnesium, silica, kelp and vitamins C and E.

Stress worsens hair loss. It can reduce scalp blood flow, in
addition to interfering with digestion and absorption. If stress
is a consideration support the adrenals with vitamins B5 and C
or glandulars.

Healthy hair needs good circulation and blood supply. Standing
on your head - to raise body over head will boost circulation to
your scalp, but ONLY attempt this if you are very healthy and
fit! A more practical approach is an Indian head massage — it
increases blood flow and circulation in the scalp, helps
transport minerals to the scalp and is wonderfully relaxing.
Organic cider vinegar massaged into the scalp opens up the
pores. If you are actually losing hair from the root (as opposed
to brittle hair) then the cider vinegar can help unclog sebum
glands that sometime block causing the follicle to die off as
hair cannot get through.

Essential Fatty Acids promote healthy hair, and water obviously
is vital to avoid dehydration. Filtered or bottled water is best
- glass bottles preferable to plastic to avoid taking in
plasticisers.

Thinning, dry hair can be a sign of protein deficiency.
Increasing protein (possibly as protein shakes) can restore
vitality and sometimes colour. But if protein intake is good,
another possibility is low hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is
needed to digest protein. If you’re low in HCl, proteins are not
digested properly, so the minerals they contain are not
released. Mineral deficiencies could also be due to absorption
problems in the gut. A ‘leaky gut’ can result from food
intolerances, so if you suspect poor digestion, consider a food
intolerance test when other symptoms suggest this.

Zinc has, in some cases of alopecia, been found to restore
bodily hair growth as well as on the scalp. Iron is often
suggested after a study attributed hair loss in non-menopausal
women to lack of iron. Keratin - the hair protein - is
predominately sulphur - which is probably why biotin is so
useful as this is also predominately sulphur. MSM may be helpful
for the same reason.

High copper has been associated with hair loss especially in
women on HRT or who have taken the Pill. Good liver health will
help keep copper down. Mercury, lead and cadmium toxicity have
also been associated with hair loss.

Hair loss can also be due to hormonal imbalance especially
post-menopausally, or with polycystic ovary syndrome. (PCOS can
lead to elevated testosterone and hair loss). Herbal medicine
can help here — some PCOS clients have had good results from
taking saw palmetto and agnus castus. Horsetail (a good source
of silica) may also help, but a herbalist should be consulted if
you wish to take herbs.

Hormone imbalances promote copper retention. A thyroid self-test
may be useful as thyroid activity is reduced in the presence of
high copper. Calcium and copper often rise together. The balance
of copper and zinc together is a better guide to copper levels
than copper alone. Smoking and high consumption of chocolate,
white wine and coffee can tip it the wrong way. B3 and zinc are
good antagonists to copper. Essential fatty acids also help
hormonal balance.

So how do you assess you mineral status? Hair Mineral Analysis
can provide a detailed mineral analysis, plus personalised
supplement programme designed to address imbalances. Learn more
about Hair Mineral Analysis and discover how to how check your
levels of nutrient and toxic minerals on my website below.