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<channel>
	<title>NookNan Travel of the World</title>
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	<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog</link>
	<description>Travel of the World information for you</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:25 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>The History of Langebaan</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/the-history-of-langebaan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/the-history-of-langebaan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel and Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accommodation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lagoon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[langebaan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Municipal Buildings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[south africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[west coast]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=678</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Langebaan Lagoon was formed by the rising and falling of sea  levels during pre-historic times. This is unlike most lagoons which form  where fresh water rivers enter the sea (like Milnerton lagoon). As a  result, Langebaan Lagoon is a purely salt water lagoon.
As far  back as 500 000 years ago, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Langebaan Lagoon was formed by the rising and falling of sea  levels during pre-historic times. This is unlike most lagoons which form  where fresh water rivers enter the sea (like Milnerton lagoon). As a  result, Langebaan Lagoon is a purely salt water lagoon.</p>
<p>As far  back as 500 000 years ago, early Homo sapiens were probably present in  the area, living in groups and hunting small game, displacing  carnivores, such as lions, from their kills and gathering plant foods.  They made fire as protection and for cooking and probably made simple  shelters from branches. They probably used animal skins for warmth and  clothing. They made wooden and stone tools.</p>
<p>The town&#8217;s European  history began about 400 years back. In the 1600&#8217;s, the Dutch East India  Company used Saldanha Bay&#8217;s calm waters as a repair location for their  sailing ships. The French used Schaapeneiland (situated a stone&#8217;s throw  from Langebaan beach) as a storage place for whale oil and seal hides  (they called it &#8220;Isle ? la Biche&#8221;). More recently, the whaling station  was situated at Donkergat and is still visible from the town. A reminder  of Langebaan&#8217;s whaling history is the harpoon gun outside the Municipal  Buildings.</p>
<p>The Langebaan Lagoon was formed by the rising and  falling of sea levels during pre-historic times. This is unlike most  lagoons which form where fresh water rivers enter the sea (like  Milnerton lagoon). As a result, Langebaan Lagoon is a purely salt water  lagoon.</p>
<p>As far back as 500 000 years ago, early Homo sapiens were  probably present in the area, living in groups and hunting small game,  displacing carnivores, such as lions, from their kills and gathering  plant foods. They made fire as protection and for cooking and probably  made simple shelters from branches. They probably used animal skins for  warmth and clothing. They made wooden and stone tools.</p>
<p>The town&#8217;s  European history began about 400 years back. In the 1600&#8217;s, the Dutch  East India Company used Saldanha Bay&#8217;s calm waters as a repair location  for their sailing ships. The French used Schaapeneiland (situated a  stone&#8217;s throw from Langebaan beach) as a storage place for whale oil and  seal hides (they called it &#8220;Isle ? la Biche&#8221;). More recently, the  whaling station was situated at Donkergat and is still visible from the  town. A reminder of Langebaan&#8217;s whaling history is the harpoon gun  outside the Municipal Buildings.</p>
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		<title>10 Tips On How To Pack Your Suitcase For Your Trip To Europe</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/10-tips-on-how-to-pack-your-suitcase-for-your-trip-to-europe/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/10-tips-on-how-to-pack-your-suitcase-for-your-trip-to-europe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel and Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[10 Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[suitcase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trip to Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=676</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When packing for a trip to Europe you need to consider the weather,  as well as the activities you are planning to participate in.
One  important thing to keep in mind for all air travel (not only to Europe)  is not to over-pack. Most carriers allow only 20 kilo or 45 lb if [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When packing for a trip to Europe you need to consider the weather,  as well as the activities you are planning to participate in.</p>
<p>One  important thing to keep in mind for all air travel (not only to Europe)  is not to over-pack. Most carriers allow only 20 kilo or 45 lb if you?re  traveling economy. Furthermore you want to travel as light as possible  in case you have to drag your luggage around with you.</p>
<p>I travel  for business and private reasons at least 30 times a year and here are  my most important recommendations:</p>
<p>1. Don?t pack last minute.<br />
This will give you the chance to buy some things you need before your  departure.</p>
<p>2. Start with the things you need for every vacation<br />
Toiletries, underwear, socks, medicine. Always take sunscreen: As a  working person you probably spend most of your time indoors and aren?t  used to the sun.</p>
<p>3. Chose your main colors<br />
In order to be able to combine all the pieces, try to stick to three  main colors. Black and white are always two of my main colors, because  they go wit everything. Add your favorite color like red, pink, green or  blue.</p>
<p>4. Chose the basic everyday outfits<br />
For short journeys (up to one week) pack one complete outfit for every  day. For longer journeys, take one complete outfit for every day of the  first week. Afterwards you?ll have to repeat clothes or go to a laundry.</p>
<p>You?ll  probably spend most of your time outdoors and walking around, visiting  the different sights. Therefore your basic outfit could consist in jeans  and T-shirt.  Don?t forget to pack a set of underwear and socks for  each day.</p>
<p>5. Pack to evening outfits<br />
If you plan to go to a fancy restaurant, the opera or a discotheque,  you?ll need an evening outfit. Don?t take more than two or three of them  and make them simple yet stunning: black pants/skirts and a glamorous  top.</p>
<p>6. Don?t forget bad weather gear<br />
Always take at least two sweaters, if the weather gets cold.  An  umbrella or rain jacket will be suitable as well.</p>
<p>7. What about  sports?<br />
Never go anywhere without a bathing suit! It?s so tiny and you never  know when you can use it. Maybe the weather is really hot and you want  to go to the beach (at a lake) or the weather is really bad and you want  to enjoy tropical feeling in an indoors swimming pool.</p>
<p>8. Chose  three pairs of shoes<br />
Take one or two comfortable shoes or sneakers for the everyday  activities and one nice pair for the evening and maybe some really  glitzy high heels for the occasional night life event.</p>
<p>9. Take as  little jewelry as possible<br />
Carrying your fine jewelry all across the world and taking it in and  out the hotel safe might make yourself a target for theft. Don?t ruin  your vacation! Chose some basic pieces of jewelry and travel with those.</p>
<p>10.  Spread out all clothes to consider onto your bed<br />
Once everything is spread out on your bed, start packing your suitcase.  Count the number of pieces and ask yourself:</p>
<p>Do I really need 20  T-shirts for a 2 week vacation? Then start putting half of the pieces  back into the closet. This way you make sure you pack only what is  necessary.</p>
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		<title>The Best-Kept Secret of Garmisch</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/germany/the-best-kept-secret-of-garmisch/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/germany/the-best-kept-secret-of-garmisch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Germany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Garmisch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gorge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hiking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[limestone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[olympic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Partnachklamm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=674</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Garmisch, Germany boasts of many things ? the breathtaking Bavarian  Alps, perfectly-carved wooden houses with flowerboxes that spill over  with color, the delicate edelweiss alpine blossoms, mouth-watering  schnitzel, stout German beer, and a myriad of talented local craftsmen.   But did you know that at the edge of this quaint, picture-perfect [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Garmisch, Germany boasts of many things ? the breathtaking Bavarian  Alps, perfectly-carved wooden houses with flowerboxes that spill over  with color, the delicate edelweiss alpine blossoms, mouth-watering  schnitzel, stout German beer, and a myriad of talented local craftsmen.   But did you know that at the edge of this quaint, picture-perfect town  lies a violent display of Mother Nature?  Known in German as the  ?Partnachklamm?, it hides behind the old Olympic Stadium and attracts  hundreds of hikers each year.</p>
<p>So what exactly is the  Partnachklamm?  In a nutshell, it?s a struggle to the death ? a  knock-down, drag-out brawl between the Partnach River and a limestone  gorge.  The river peacefully runs through the trees until it hits the  262-foot tall gorge.  From there the river?s personality turns to fury  as it slams into the rock walls, throwing its temper tantrum for over  2,300 feet before calming down again and continuing to flow through the  Bavarian countryside.  Visitors follow a carved-out rock path from the  entrance to the gorge and up a gradual incline to experience firsthand  what nature is capable of.  Don?t forget your raincoat, though!  You may  be able to avoid the mist from the tumbling cascades but the spray from  the waterfalls above will most definitely christen you!</p>
<p>There are  several ways to experience the Partnachklamm, each holding its own  delight for the visitor.  Late spring through summer will provide a  green backdrop on the limestone rocks while the chilly alpine waters  almost deafen its company.  In colder months, the gorge becomes an  enchanting world of icicles and snow.  Check first before showing up  during the winter, though?too much snow and ice will force the gorge to  close for safety reasons.  It?s also possible to visit during the day or  the night ? daytime offers better views while the warming sunbeams  force their way through the foliage.  After dark, torch-lit tours are  offered, giving the gorge a mystical quality.  Regardless of season or  time of day, once you?ve made your way through this hidden natural  treasure, continue up the mountain for a robust hike and then relax at  the Forsthaus Graseck?s restaurant.  The food is excellent and the views  are breathtaking.  While indulging in their cuisine, ponder how you?ll  get back down ? take the same path through the gorge or a restful  two-minute ride down in the cable car.  Either way, a trip to the  Partnachklamm is well worth it!</p>
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		<title>The Oxford Street Wonder</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/england/the-oxford-street-wonder/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/england/the-oxford-street-wonder/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Circus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[furnishing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oxford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Street Wonder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tottenham]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=671</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Oxford Street, located in the City of Westminster, existed from Roman  times until the 17th century primarily as a westwards route out of the  City of London towards Oxford, hence its name. Today, Oxford Street is  one of the busiest shopping districts and the world?s largest shopping  street, having more than [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Oxford Street, located in the City of Westminster, existed from Roman  times until the 17th century primarily as a westwards route out of the  City of London towards Oxford, hence its name. Today, Oxford Street is  one of the busiest shopping districts and the world?s largest shopping  street, having more than 300 shops that attract annually around 200  million of consumers.</p>
<p>The development of Oxford Street as a prime  shopping area began at the start of 20th century, when the first  furnishing specialists, Waring &amp; Gillow, opened its doors in 1906.  In recent years, Oxford Street represents the heart of London?s West End  shopping, running for approximately a mile and a half from Marble Arch  at the north east corner of Hyde Park, through Oxford Circus to St  Giles? Circus, at the intersection with Charing Cross Road and Tottenham  Court Road. Opposite to the Tottenham?s tube station, the recently  refurnished, ?The Tottenham? pub claims to be the only pub on the whole  Oxford Street. But, with numerous clothes shops, record shops, like the  famous Virgin Megastore and the HMV unit, which is the largest music  store at 50,000 square feet, multiple computer games shops and  department stores, including Selfridges, Oxford Street is an ideal  location for those on leisure travel and time to browse through its  colorful shopping windows. But although the street has multiple stores  for one to choose from, these are not the most fashionable or the most  expensive in the city of London. For those interested in other principal  shopping areas, Knightsbridge is an excellent choice, especially  because it is there where the famous Harrods department store is  located.</p>
<p>Famous for its celebrity launches and promotions, Oxford  Street becomes the focal point during the Christmas period because of  the wonderful Christmas lighting tradition that began in 1959. Decorated  with thousands of festive lights Oxford Street celebrates the Christmas  spirit at a heavily publicized ?turning-on? ceremony in mid-to-late  November, when a chosen celebrity flicks a switch that illuminates the  rays of light that go on until January 6.</p>
<p>Plans have been  announced in 2005 for what could be an audacious new move to change  Oxford Street from its current traffic clogged state into a pedestrian  paradise. Proposals to end the gridlock feature closing the street  entirely to all traffic, even buses and build a new monorail stretching  from one end to the other to transport people along. Critics however  have pointed out that a monorail simply caters for shoppers too lazy to  walk down the entire length of the street and that this is already well  served by tube which would simply require improved accessibility to  existing stations and perhaps a new station half way up the street.</p>
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		<title>Travel to India</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/travel-to-india/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/travel-to-india/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel and Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[India holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[India tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rajasthan tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[taj mahal tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel to India]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildlife tours]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=669</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[India is a vast country with many tourist places. With millions of  tourists per year from different countries, India can be considered as  one of the most fascinating tourist attraction in the world for its  history, heritage, culture, sightseeing and peoples. Travel attractions  includes -
a) Rajasthan tour ? In terms of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>India is a vast country with many tourist places. With millions of  tourists per year from different countries, India can be considered as  one of the most fascinating tourist attraction in the world for its  history, heritage, culture, sightseeing and peoples. Travel attractions  includes -</p>
<p>a) <strong>Rajasthan tour</strong> ? In terms of area,  Rajasthan, located in West India, is the largest state of India. With  stunning forts, palaces and monuments, Rajasthan is the most preferred  vibrant desert destination of many tourists. Some of palaces and havelis  are now converted into hotels and resorts for visitor?s royal stay.  Popular attractions are Hawa Mahal, Amber fort, Jaisalmer fort, Jal  Mahal, camel safari, camel fairs, Palace on wheels and much more.</p>
<p>b)  <strong>Pilgrimage tours</strong> &#8211; India is a country with many  religions and culture and home to many pilgrim sites like rishikesh,  haridwar, varanasi, golden temple amritsar with Buddhist pilgrim  destinations. You can enjoy the beautifully and artistically designed  temples here, which are not only places of worship but also marvels of  architecture.</p>
<p>c) <strong>Wildlife tours</strong> &#8211; India is a  country with over 500 animal sanctuaries and 80 national parks offering a  stunning array of wildlife. Get in touch with the wild side of nature  with a visit to some of the famous wildlife reserves in India.  Bandhavgarh and Kanha sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh; Sariska and  Ranthambore in Rajasthan and Corbett Park and Dudhwa in Uttar Pradesh  are some of the country?s best known tiger reserves. Enjoy trekking and  safari tours with exciting wildlife destinations of India.</p>
<p>d) <strong>Ayurvedic  and Yoga tours</strong> &#8211; India has many ayurvedic colleges, hospitals  and health resorts with idyllic surroundings providing ayurvedic  treatments and recreational holidays. Get ayurvedic treatment tours at  popular <strong>ayurveda centres in Kerala</strong>, South India for  refreshing your body.</p>
<p>e) <strong>South India tours</strong> &#8211;  South India is a sprawling region that comes packed with overwhelming  depths of culture, religion, festivals and food. Popular with all  tourists to India. Visit all south india temples, monuments, beaches,  wildlife, Kerala delight with luxury resorts stay.</p>
<p>f) <strong>Architectural  tours</strong> &#8211; See amazing architecture and heritage of India with  sightseeing of south India temples, Taj Mahal in Agra, Jantar Mantar in  New Delhi, majestic forts, carved temples, decorated havelis of  Rajasthan and more architectural wonders.</p>
<p>g) <strong>Taj Mahal  tours</strong> &#8211; Enjoy the special tour of Taj Mahal, <strong>a monument of  love</strong> located in North India in Agra city and built by the Mughal  emperor Shahjahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal which is  famous all around the world and counts in the world?s seven wonders.</p>
<p>Travel  to India for the exciting holidays and ultimate travel experiences.</p>
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		<title>Visiting Cork in Ireland</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/ireland/visiting-cork-in-ireland/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/ireland/visiting-cork-in-ireland/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ireland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blarney Stone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cork car hire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ireland tours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel iterniary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[visit cork]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=667</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For any visitor that comes to Ireland, Cork should always be on ones  travel iterniary as a place to visit. Being Irelands largest county,  Cork is located in the South West of Ireland and offers many different  attractions for visitors of all ages.  If you are keen on Irish history  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For any visitor that comes to Ireland, Cork should always be on ones  travel iterniary as a place to visit. Being Irelands largest county,  Cork is located in the South West of Ireland and offers many different  attractions for visitors of all ages.  If you are keen on Irish history  then Cork has many historic sites to visit and to learn of times that  have past. Such historic places include the Blarney Castle, where you  can kiss the Blarney Stone for Good Luck but other places include the  stone circles of Bohonagh, the famous Abbeystrewery and the tombs of  Labbacalle.</p>
<p>In 2005 Cork was awarded the European captial of  Culture which comes as no surprise for those who have experienced the  culture of Cork first hand and seen that Music, Dance, theatre and film  play a huge role within the city of Cork. You can be sure when visiting  the city of Cork there are always things to do and see, whatever your  interests are and there is no better way to getting around than using a  car rental.</p>
<p>If you are someone who loves sports then you will not  be disappointed when seeing sporting games being played in the area.  Cork have some very strong GAA teams and have won many trophies over the  years but the area of Cork also takes pride with some of the greatest  golfing greens in Ireland and the best Salmon and trout fishing to be  found in the area.</p>
<p>The best way of site seeing in Cork would be to  hire a car either in the City Centre or Cork Airport, giving you more  options of places to visit in such a wonderful county.</p>
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		<title>South Africa &#8211; What You Need to Know</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/south-africa-what-you-need-to-know/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/south-africa-what-you-need-to-know/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel and Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[British Colonies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cape Colony]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[country]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[population]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[south africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transvaal]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=665</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[South Africa was once divided into two British Colonies, namely the  Colony of Natal and the Cape Colony, and two &#8220;Boer&#8221; Afrikaner Republics,  namely the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The Union of South  Africa was formed in 1910 after 8 years of negotiations after the  Anglo-Boer War of 1899 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>South Africa was once divided into two British Colonies, namely the  Colony of Natal and the Cape Colony, and two &#8220;Boer&#8221; Afrikaner Republics,  namely the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The Union of South  Africa was formed in 1910 after 8 years of negotiations after the  Anglo-Boer War of 1899 &#8211; 1902. The Republic of South Africa as it is  today was form in 1961, which covers the southern tip of Africa and an  area of 1,2 million square kilometers.</p>
<p>The country was divided  into 9 provinces (states) in 1994 when we had our first democratic  elections and Mr. Nelson Mandela became president. The provinces are:  Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Natal,  Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo and Gauteng. Each province has its own  capital and the country has three capital cities, namely Pretoria the  administrative capital, Bloemfontein the judicial capital and Cape Town  the legislative capital.</p>
<p>The population is about 45,3 million  people and is made up of 13 different groups, namely the Zulu, Xhosa,  Shangaan, Ndebele, Swazi, Pedi, South Sotho, Tswana, Venda, Khoisan,  Coloured, Asian and White. To mix things up even more, we have 11  official languages of which English is the most commonly spoken.  Afrikaans is mainly spoken between your white and coloured people and it  is derived from Dutch, German and French.</p>
<p>South Africa has 6  neighbouring countries, namely Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland,  Lesotho and unfortunately poor old Zimbabwe. Its 2700-kilometer  coastline includes four of Africa&#8217;s largest harbours &#8211; Durban and  Richards Bay along the Indian Ocean and Cape Town and Saldanha Bay along  the Atlantic Ocean.</p>
<p>South Africa has a moderate climate with  three rainfall regions, the majority of the country has summer rainfall,  the South Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate with winter rain and  a very small area along the south eastern coastline know as the &#8220;Garden  Route&#8221; has all year round rainfall. Summer is basically from October to  April and winter is June, July and August.</p>
<p>South Africa has a two  tier government, a national government with a democratically elected  president and each province has its own provincial legislature. Since  the political change of 1994 the South African society has made great  strides towards a democratic, socially more equitable and economically  more globally competitive country. It has, in fact, become a leader in  many spheres of international north-south relations. Recent growth of  the South African economy is largely based on the tourism sector, a  gradually diversifying and increasingly competitive manufacturing  sector, value-adding beneficiation of mineral and agricultural raw  materials and a sophisticated trading, financial and professional  services sector. Internationally South Africa can be ranked amongst  &#8220;upper middle income countries&#8221; like Chile, Portugal, Korea, Malaysia,  Turkey, Brazil and Poland.</p>
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		<title>Self Enlightenment While Diving in Fiji</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/self-enlightenment-while-diving-in-fiji/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/travel-and-leisure/self-enlightenment-while-diving-in-fiji/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel and Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Enlightenment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fiji]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[scuba]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=663</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all understand the significance of agility to grow a successful  business. But how agile are we really and how can agility in our  personal life help us grow in our business life?
A near-drowning  experience when I was a child left me wary of swimming and totally  unwilling to go deeper [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We all understand the significance of agility to grow a successful  business. But how agile are we really and how can agility in our  personal life help us grow in our business life?</p>
<p>A near-drowning  experience when I was a child left me wary of swimming and totally  unwilling to go deeper than snorkeling along the water&#8217;s surface on a  trip to Fiji.</p>
<p>Before Tom and I went to Fiji, he had already been  scuba diving many times during the preceding five years. I&#8217;d heard his  fun stories, but I knew he still occasionally experienced anxiety due to  a long-ago diving incident. Tom, the daredevil, with all his diving  experience, having anxiety? That made it even harder for me to decide to  go for it. The only way I would venture out on the dive boat was with  the promise to myself that I could choose not to go into the water.</p>
<p>Upon  arrival at the reef, the first thing the dive master talked about was  sharks. &#8220;This is their world. They&#8217;re in control. Don&#8217;t approach or move  toward them. Respect them. Respect their space.&#8221; Actually, sharks  didn&#8217;t scare me at all. I was too afraid of the water to worry about  sharks. First I had to get into the water. Then I&#8217;d think about sharks.</p>
<p>Several  years earlier on Maui I had tried to learn to dive. On that first  attempt Tom, my 14-year-old nephew Matt and I started our lessons in the  pool. As soon as the water closed over my face mask and I struggled  with the weight of the tank and BCD vest that threatened to drown me, I  climbed out of the pool and didn&#8217;t look back. Within the safety of the  shore, I enjoyed a massage instead. While they took to the ocean like  fish, exploring coral reefs, shipwrecks and the limitless variety of sea  life, I clung to my beach chair with my self-help book.</p>
<p>On later  vacations Tom and I worked out a compromise. He would dive, then return  to snorkel with me. Although not much of a swimmer, I was a great  flailer. I snorkeled in the shallows, where I could stand up when I  tired from flailing or needed to adjust my mask. Yoga practice had  prepared me for proper breathing and body control, and over time my  confidence grew. So did the quality of my flailing. To this day my  nephew calls me shark bait.</p>
<p>Back to Fiji: I watched a young girl  with a mental disability go out doggedly every day learning to dive,  while I stayed safely on the surface, afraid to leave my shallow comfort  zone for the deeper unknown. I wondered who had the greater disability,  she or I. Hers was real, mine only imagined. Who was more agile?</p>
<p>Every  afternoon, Tom regaled me with stories of turtles, lionfish, hammerhead  sharks and the vibrant coral he saw on his dives while I continued  flailing about in the shallows. But each day I snorkeled into deeper and  deeper water until finally, on day four of my vacation, I built up the  confidence to approach the edge of a 300-foot wall. Looking into its  depths I was suddenly no longer content to observe from the surface. My  curiosity engaged, I longed to dive deep and envelope myself in the dark  wonders below. I resolved to try diving again.</p>
<p>My first dive was  in a shallow bay. I clung to the bottom, pulling up sand and sea grass  at 15 feet down. Easy. Being close to the bottom gave me security and  perspective, and the small success encouraged me to go for more.</p>
<p>On  the second dive I dove longer and deeper to 25 feet. On my third dive,  we boated to a sandy ledge that led to the 300-foot wall I was ready to  explore. The boat rocked on five-foot swells. Tom and the dive master  rolled off the side of the boat backwards ? the standard diver&#8217;s  show-off entry. When the dive master instructed me to do the same, I  said, &#8220;No way!&#8221; and headed down the narrow stepladder designed for deck  shoes, not fins. No easy feat. Tom said it was typical of me to take the  hard way down. Stepping from the ladder, I slid beneath the surface.</p>
<p>After  the initial roller coaster ride associated with equalizing my ears and  my anxiety, we swam along the shallow bottom to the precipice and slowly  dropped into the 300-foot abyss. Surprisingly, the stability and quiet  of being underwater was a wonderful respite from the swells that bounced  the boat on the surface. Anyway, it does no good to scream underwater.</p>
<p>I  was grateful that my beginner&#8217;s depth was limited to 45 feet, but  swimming along the side of the wall I was still clearly in another  world, with nothing under my fins but darkness.</p>
<p>Soon I was keenly  observing the sea life; coral heads, bulbs, fans and thousands of fish,  all sizes and temperaments, from the diminutive clown fish bravely  defending his anemone home, to the shy 35-pound sweetlips, who  disappeared into his coral cavern at the first sight of us. My dive  master floated serenely behind me, arms crossed, conserving breath and  energy. Only his fins were moving, even when the menacing 10-foot reef  sharks swam past us.</p>
<p>As my breathing became more relaxed and  quiet, I began to hear the sounds of the sea life. Midway, Tom joined  me, held my hand in celebration, and I lost all sense of time, depth ?  and my childhood fear. While I&#8217;ll never be a fish in the water, I was  now enjoying their world. Even more, I was enjoying my newfound agility.</p>
<p><strong><span id="more-663"></span>Challenge  a Fixed Viewpoint</strong></p>
<p>Where would I be if I hadn&#8217;t challenged my fear  of water? Probably where I am now, but with less confidence. I believe  the happiest people are those who are always growing and stretching. The  only way to grow is to question, challenge, probe for new answers and  be agile enough to try new things.</p>
<p>In a career, you grow or you  die professionally. Most of us are willing to stretch when it comes to  our careers. It&#8217;s expected. You strive for a bigger paycheck, a bigger  promotion, more influence or more power. Why don&#8217;t we do the same in our  personal lives? One always affects the other.</p>
<p>In life, as in your  career, when you neglect growth, the passion inside you cools. Plan not  only for a bigger house or an updated vehicle, but for inner growth.  Try to reinvent yourself on a regular basis. You don&#8217;t want to wake up  five years from now and greet the same person in the mirror. You want to  see a woman who has transcended her former boundaries. Refusing to grow  and stretch keeps you locked in a box of your own making, just as not  taking that dive might have kept me out of the deep underwater world for  the rest of my life. We set up our own failure when we believe those  insidious mantras, &#8220;I can&#8217;t?I don&#8217;t?I wasn&#8217;t trained for that.&#8221;</p>
<p>A  woman in one of our seminars who was struggling with the fast-paced  training became upset because she couldn&#8217;t record the program. I offered  to let her leave the seminar that day and take with her the DVD program  to study at home at her own pace.</p>
<p>She refused the offer. Instead,  she sat on the front row the entire six days talking to herself,  escalating her frustration and not listening to a word of the seminar.  At the end of the program, she was one of only a few women who failed  the certification examination. Ninety-five percent of the class passed.  She had sabotaged herself by self-talk. Perceiving her condition to be  less than perfect, she created, then reinforced, those perceived  conditions. Even if the class seemed overwhelming, she could have  dramatically improved her experience by challenging her fixed viewpoint.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s  not to say we should shut our eyes to problems. Agility comes in  recognizing what&#8217;s not working and fixing it. But there&#8217;s a difference  between complaining or stirring up unrest and pointing out a situation  that needs to be changed. When employees come to me with a complaint, I  say, &#8220;Don&#8217;t criticize ? strategize and offer an alternative.&#8221; I don&#8217;t  expect the perfect solution, but I do expect a suggestion.</p>
<p>I  didn&#8217;t always own a sizeable company. I grew up selling Avon, working at  Burger King and then working as a nurse. Owning a growing company  constantly challenges my viewpoints and has taught me this attitude:  &#8220;Wherever you are, make the most of it by questioning, probing and  challenging fixed viewpoints.&#8221; Add a sense of wonder and curiosity. The  more you open up to the amazing world around you, the more agility you  will have.</p>
<p>I could easily have enjoyed Fiji without flexing my  agility beyond snorkeling, but after I challenged my viewpoint, Fiji  became an unforgettable, life-changing experience. Inside every woman is  the agility to be anything she wants to be and to do everything her  passionate vision demands.</p>
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		<title>The New York City Mystique is for Real</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/usa/the-new-york-city-mystique-is-for-real/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/usa/the-new-york-city-mystique-is-for-real/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New York]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[city]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hauser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mystique]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new yorkk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vacation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[visit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=661</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was born on the lower East side of Manhattan a few decades back. I  moved out west in my twenties and have returned a few times. This past  summer I got to spend some leisurely time showing my new bride the  sights. As a first timer, she was obviously impressed by [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was born on the lower East side of Manhattan a few decades back. I  moved out west in my twenties and have returned a few times. This past  summer I got to spend some leisurely time showing my new bride the  sights. As a first timer, she was obviously impressed by the shear  grandeur and scope of this vital and bustling city. The height of  buildings that block the sky is one of the first things she noticed. It  was about then that I decided to look at the Big Apple through her  fledgling eyes and revisit an old friend.</p>
<p>We stayed at a hotel not  far from Macy?s and Herald Square at 35th street. We could easily walk  to the Empire State Building, which still retains it?s magic and allure  made famous in many a movie. At the observation deck, I could have sworn  I saw Tom Hanks retrieve a lost teddy bear. The views are awesome and  the whole art-deco lobby is clean and wonderfully unique. We made our  way to Rockefeller Center and enjoyed a taping of the ?Today Show? in  progress. The walk along Fifth avenue is decadent and a window-shoppers  dream. Reaching Schwartz?s Toy Store, once again I visualized TH dancing  on the keyboard on the second floor amid life-sized stuffed jungle  animals.</p>
<p>We had already ducked into the Trump Tower and was taken  by the opulent entryway. We then peered at the diamonds in the displays  of Harry Winston and the renovation of the old Plaza Hotel into a condo  project. Across the way was Central Park, boarded by an endless line of  horse-drawn carriages waiting for lovers and tourists. Just inside the  grassy knoll, they were filming a movie and we had to make a detour. Of  course, it?s NY and they are always filming something.</p>
<p>The next  day, the excitement continued at the Guggenheim Museum, a wonder of  architectural ingenuity and the big dog: The Museum of Art, with it?s  jaw-dropping Van Gogh originals and too many others to mention. We got  to see the ?Imagine? tribute to Lennon and Nero Wolf?s plaque outside  his building, which was fictitious but fun. We ended with a trip through  Macy?s and hung around Times Square to absorb the ambiance and picture  Dick Clark counting down the New Year. We left via Penn Station and  caught our breath. It was only 3 days in town, but we had eaten NY  pizza, deli pastrami sandwiches and mastered the subway system. Quite an  accomplishment.</p>
<p>As we took our train out of town, we vowed to  return to have a dog at Coney Island, visit the Statue of Liberty, The  Museum of Natural History, explore more of Central Park and probably  take a full week to capture all we missed. I was content that I could  act as tour guide and point out the sights, but realized the wondrous  diversity and culture that the City affords the tourist. Having been  around the world,  I can still honestly say that New York has something  for everyone and should not be missed. Plan a trip in the spring or  fall, if possible. We hit a cool spell for June, but the off-seasons are  quite special. You won?t regret a moment, I promise.</p>
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		<title>Bath England &#8211; A Must-See On Your European Trip</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/england/bath-england-a-must-see-on-your-european-trip/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/england/bath-england-a-must-see-on-your-european-trip/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bath England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bath spa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[city of Bath]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[european]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[European Trip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Georgian architecture]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=659</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Georgian city of Bath England is the most-visited place in the UK  after London.  Each year it attracts about two million visitors from  all over the world.  What is it about this small town, which you can  easily walk across in less than a day, which is so attractive [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Georgian city of Bath England is the most-visited place in the UK  after London.  Each year it attracts about two million visitors from  all over the world.  What is it about this small town, which you can  easily walk across in less than a day, which is so attractive to so many  people?</p>
<p>Let?s start with the obvious ? it is well-known that Bath  still has a staggering array of Georgian architecture from its building  boom in the 18th century.  There are also Victorian, Edwardian and  modern houses and commercial buildings, but the Georgian centre is  astonishingly intact despite the so-called ?Sack of Bath? in the late  1960?s and 70?s which saw Georgian streets demolished to make way for  new developments.</p>
<p>Walking around the honey-toned streets and  crescents of Bath, you can really sense the past, and get an  understanding of how people lived in those long-ago times in a way that  is simply not possible in other contemporary towns.</p>
<p>Certain  significant sites are reputed to have been designed and constructed  according to the ancient principles of sacred geometry.  Maybe this  accounts for the sense of calm and well-being which descends as you  wander from Queen Square up Gay Street to the Circus, and then along to  the Royal Crescent.</p>
<p>Bath is a green city, in that trees and hills  can be seen on the horizon from virtually anywhere in the city.  In  addition, there are many leafy parks within easy walking reach of the  city centre in which to sit and listen to the rustle of the leaves,  enjoy the sunshine and watch passers-by as they walk their dogs, carry  home shopping or eat their picnics.</p>
<p>The location of Bath England  is a favourable one ? within a 90 minute train ride of London and close  to busy neighbouring Bristol and to the M4 and M5 motorways with quick  access to the South West and the Midlands.  The coasts of Somerset and  Dorset are close enough for a day-trip to the sea, as are the pretty  villages of the Cotswolds, the hills of South Wales and the ancient  towns of southern England such as Winchester and Salisbury.  Less scenic  but significant for employment is the M4 ?Corridor? to which many  hi-tech and communications companies have been attracted in an English  version of Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>The city of Bath England is well-known  as a festival city ? there are events going on here all year round.  The  world-famous Bath International Music Festival takes place for 2 weeks  each year in late spring, and attracts top musicians and orchestras, as  well as national radio broadcasters.  The Festival of Literature has  grown quickly in stature since its inception in the 1990?s and boasts  best-selling authors from all genres.  There is an atmospheric Christmas  market held in the shadow of Bath Abbey each December, a half-marathon,  food festivals and sporting events.</p>
<p>Add to this a diverse  collection of some of the country?s best independent shops, top-quality  restaurants serving food of every kind and every nationality, plus a  clutch of pubs which have earned Bath the title of ?real ale capital?  and you begin to understand the pull this little city has for people  within the UK, where it is a favourite weekend destination, and  worldwide.</p>
<p>The icing on the cake has now finally been added with  the recent opening of Thermae Bath Spa.  The controversial project with  all its delays and overspending is now complete, and once again visitors  and residents are able to bathe in the natural hot spring waters which  rise through the earth here.  Spa bookings are much higher than  predicted and local hotels are reporting brisk business due to interest  in the spa.  Come along and see for yourself why Bath England has been  famous for health and hospitality for over 300 years!</p>
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		<title>Mirage Las Vegas Is Ready To Bare It All</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/usa/mirage-las-vegas-is-ready-to-bare-it-all/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/usa/mirage-las-vegas-is-ready-to-bare-it-all/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Las Vegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hotel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[luxury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mirage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=657</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas recently introduced their  new exclusive adult alternative pool area, Bare. This European-style  (topless) pool provides all the comforts of ultimate luxury. Bare offers  only the best for all their client?le with many complementary perks.  Picture yourself draped over a chaise lounge, in sheer [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas recently introduced their  new exclusive adult alternative pool area, Bare. This European-style  (topless) pool provides all the comforts of ultimate luxury. Bare offers  only the best for all their client?le with many complementary perks.  Picture yourself draped over a chaise lounge, in sheer sun worshiping  bliss when a rather attractive server approaches and offers  complementary tasty treats like frozen fruit, mini fruit smoothies and  Popsicles. Just to be sure you stay cool under the Las Vegas sun,  refreshing Evian misting bottles are provided as well as iced towels,  rolled and chilled in flavored water, no less.</p>
<p>To enhance your  experience, DJ-spun music keeps the fun alive. If all this isn?t enough  to lose yourself in this exotic pool haven, dolphins, yes actual  dolphins, are swimming and playing just a few short feet away. Never  under estimate the limits Las Vegas will go to please you!</p>
<p>With  the end of summer rapidly approaching, pamper yourself with the ultimate  Bare experience. Nothing can wrap up the summer like being treated like  a VIP, sunning away those tan lines while relaxing on a day bed and  sipping on your mojito and nibbling on exotic fresh fruit. If you?re up  for a unique pool experience, this adult-only pool is the place for you.</p>
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		<title>Life in Mexico: Why Retire Here ?</title>
		<link>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/mexico/life-in-mexico-why-retire-here/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nooknan.com/blog/mexico/life-in-mexico-why-retire-here/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NookNan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Mexico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pension]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retiree]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spanish]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nooknan.com/blog/?p=655</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year, more and more people choose to spend their retirement  years in Mexico. Some only live for a month or two south of the border  while others pull up stakes in the USA and make the move permanent.
Why  choose Mexico? Why not just stay in the old hometown where everything  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every year, more and more people choose to spend their retirement  years in Mexico. Some only live for a month or two south of the border  while others pull up stakes in the USA and make the move permanent.</p>
<p>Why  choose Mexico? Why not just stay in the old hometown where everything  is familiar?</p>
<p>Retirees choose Mexico as a place to live for several  reasons.</p>
<p>Some want a new challenge in their lives after years of  the daily grind. Learning a new language, experiencing a new culture,  and meeting new people keep the mind active and give you a new  perspective on life.</p>
<p>Many want a break from harsh winters or  blistering summers so they spend a few months in Mexico and the rest of  the year in the States. Mexico provides a wide variety of climates so  everyone can find the perfect locale to match his wishes. If you want to  escape cold, snow, and ice during the winter, Mexico&#8217;s beaches await  your pleasure. If you want to leave hot, humid summers behind, Mexico&#8217;s  mountains provide a cool respite.</p>
<p>Yet others choose to spend time  in Mexico for financial reasons. With the skyrocketing cost of living in  the USA, many retirees discover their Social Security benefits,  pensions, and investment incomes (if they are fortunate to have them)  cannot support them in the States. More and more retirees find they have  to work, at least part time, after they &#8220;retire&#8221; to meet expenses. This  prompts many to look for a less costly place to live.</p>
<p>Almost  everything in Mexico is less expensive than in the USA. Unless you want  to live in a pricey resort area (and even there, you can find bargains)  or only buy imported products, you will see your retirement funds  stretching much further in Mexico. Some people find it is possible to  live on 25-50% less than the amount they need in the USA.</p>
<p>Finally,  some retirees dream of living in a foreign country but don&#8217;t want to be  too far away from friends and family in the States. What better place  is there than Mexico? International airports abound in Mexico so you can  return home in just a few hours. Many retirees find they see their  friends and family more often after they move to Mexico because their  new, exotic location is a desirable vacation spot.</p>
<p>If you want a  new life after retirement; a life that is affordable, interesting, and  fun; why not give Mexico a try?</p>
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