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Found Nemo, now looking for Dory
Trip Start Apr 16, 2004
51Trip End Aug 31, 2008
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Maybe I'm a little excited for this upcoming holiday, but maybe I'm a bit more than a little excited. It seems that recently my holidays are composed of completely new experiences, which probably is a good recipe for mental and physical stimulation. Firstly, the pain (oh the pain) and the minor victories of learning to snowboard. Next new skill (if you could call it that for me) introduced to me by Peter, mountain biking... and then of course coming up on the weekend is scuba diving. Yes, I can swim... yes, I have sort of snorkeled before but not enough to exclude the "sort of" from this sentence, and yes, I don't like the idea of being underwater for a time longer than about 20 seconds... or rather, make it about 5 seconds, so am a little concerned that I might feel a bit claustrophobic in the whole sexy wetsuit and also with being underwater for an extensive amount of time, but I'm sure I'll stick it out to discover again that this activity is going to be incredible.
Unfortunately, my joy for acquiring a year long Schengen visa does not extend to my trip to Egypt as it required me getting a separate travel visa, however this one did not cost me the world as for once, South Africa is exempt from paying the visa fees, and also the process of obtaining the visa was much more easier.
Flights, accommodation and diving course booked... all that needs doing is packing and then we're off!! Seriously can't wait!! I guess the next entry will be an update of the whole week in Dahab.
5 May 2007 - Saturday
Backpacks on, we head out for an early morning start down the A4 to Syon Lane train station. Our trip train and flights to Sharm El Sheik went smoother than well-oiled clockwork. Looking out the plane window nearing on landing all that was visible to us was sand, sea, and extremely rocky mountains jutting out of the earth. Clearly this was longer the green, muddy island of England. With our backpacks on we tried locating our transfer to Dahab. We read and re-read our instructions as well as who to check for our pick up but alas, we were left to fend for ourselves and make our own way. An Egyptian man, Mahmoud, kindly assisted us while waiting for his own Russian tourists to arrive. After bundling just Peter and myself into a relatively large minibus, we were off with our driver, Esam, at the steering wheel.
First a quick stop in Sharm El Sheik to draw some Egyptian Pounds (EL) and then off for our hour long drive. We left the greenery and oasis of Sharm and head straight for the the mountains. By the time we were on the road, it was rather late, the sun was starting to set. Our visibility was somewhat limited to what seemed like sand, stone, and the occasional thorn tree. I still do not entirely understand on what any form of plant could survive on in the desert, particularly this one where there was absolutely no humidity despite being on the edge of the sea.
After passing a couple of road blocks, and providing the officials with a drink, we continued our drive through the foot of the mountains. Not long on our arrival in Egypt and I soon came to realise that we were indeed in Africa. On the open roads all vehicles, including our taxi, were happy to drive where ever it suited him as long as there was no obstructing oncoming traffic. To determine the existence of any oncoming vehicles wasn't particularly the easiest of tasks either as they all seem to drive around at night with only their fog lights on. Occasionally even those were off, and you'd come across a car or a truck that seemed to have come from the movie 'The Fast and The Furious' (though a bit more run down) with luminous blue, green and red lights attached all around. On coming around any bends our driver, Esam, however did endeavour to flash his brights to inform any potential oncoming traffic that we were there. Also strange was that despite there being not being many roads turning onto or off the main road, all vehicles put their indicators on when going into any bend, and not only when they were to turn off the main road. Esam, also thought it was great to flash all oncoming vehicles about three times over for good measure... No-one has yet managed to explain any of the Egyptian driving habits to me despite the fact that most of it seems rather pointless, why don't they just put their lights on? It's not like it takes additional petrol or anything, besides, petrol only costs about �0.13/litre. Oh well...
On arriving in Dahab, we struggled extensively to locate our accommodation, the Bedouin Moon hotel. I guess this was partially due to the lack of communication as on our "arrival", we looked up to discover that we were about to be dropped off outside a shop called Bedouina. Not quite what we had in mind. After some goat, people and truck dodging and extensive instructions on directions from the locals we eventually were offloaded at the Bedouin Moon Hotel. We had arrived!!! We were warmly welcomed by Tito, the hotel manager (I think), who also sorted out our fare as we had already paid the hotel in advance. He was sincerely apologetic over our transfer not arriving and informed us that our dinner would be on the house.
The Bedouin Moon hotel surpassed all expectation. The lighting around the whole hotel, particularly in the back garden, and around the pool was stunning. Baskets and ceramic containers covering the lights created a very romantic and special setting. Also, the mountain behind the hotel was lit up in a similar fashion as Table Mountain, but obviously this one was nothing but rock and sand. Still a beautiful effect. Our room overlooked the Red Sea, where we could sea across to the mountains of Saudi Arabia.
With evening temperatures well into the twenties, we immediately changed into our t-shirts and short, and headed to the pool to indulge in a delicious barbecue dinner, before sleeping like rocks.
6 May 2007 - Sunday
Dahab, as we were to discover, means 'Gold' in Arabic, and is at the foot of the Sinai mountains. It's about 100km north of Sharm El Sheikh. It is somewhat smaller, and thus maintains a bit more of it's local, laid back atmosphere and feel than Sharm which is rather commercialised and almost entirely geared up for new tourists, with extensive new developments popping up. Dahab is definitely what we were looking for.
- View across the Gulf of Aqaba. Saudi Arabian mountains visible in the distance
Beckoned by relentless flies, we rose early to enjoy a freshly prepared omelette and some other Egyptian foods. We then headed over to the Reef 2000 setup alongside the hotel. We were introduced to Jo-Jo, whom I presume runs the diving facility, and also to Mark who would be our dive instructor for the PADI Open Water diving course. Also, we were introduced to Rowan, Mark's sidekick for the course, who spent most of the time under water basically levitating around us looking like a meditating Rastafarian with his decorated dreadlocks and all. Picture the jellyfish from 'A Sharks' Tale'. Anyways, we were shown where all the air cannisters along with the Nitrox cannisters were kept and refilled, where all the diving equipment was kept and stored, and then headed straight into our course.
To start off we spent the first hour or so watching videos covering the first two sections of the dive course. Following this and some instruction on setting up our BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) and connecting our air tanks etc, we were kitted up with our necessary equipment and headed down to Lighthouse Bay (the main part of Dahab) to do our first confined diving training.
Our base for the following two days was to be the Bedouin Son's restaurant, located right at the edge of the water, giving us easy and fast access in and out of the sea. As with many of the restaurants, it had a very spacious atmosphere. No windows necessary as it only rains about once a year, and also, there seems to be no theft of which to worry about, so everything was very safe. Even when leaving our bags and possessions while diving. Seating was on the ground around a table against railings with pillows provided for backrests. Really laid back and relaxed.
Mark first accompanied another girl on an introductory diving course while we were left to our own devices of drinking coffee and reading through the first couple of chapters of the course material. After a lunch of banana and chocolate pancakes we kitted up in the 40-degree temperature. While everyone usually took but a minute or few to get into their wet suits, I needed some extra assistance in getting into the outfit. Jo-Jo clearly thought that getting into an outfit that didn't provide much room for an ass, particularly when I've got one, wasn't going to be too much of a hassle. Well, she was wrong, by the time I managed to get myself zipped up, I had already worked up a couple of litres of sweat. So, in a well heated wet suit and with about 25kg of equipment on my back I was more than keen on getting into the water. The initial cooling off was always just so good. the water temperature seemed to stay at round about 23 degrees Celsius, but definitely provided relief to increasing land heat.
With my limited knowledge on scuba diving, my biggest concern was not whether I'd survive the under water breathing, that my mask would come off, that any of my equipment would fail, or any of the other potential unexpected situations underwater, but that I wouldn't be able to equalise the pressure on my ears while changing depths. When flying, I'd always just yawned which seemed to do the trick, but this was slightly different. After some skill learning with Mark in the shallows we eventually did a bit of a dive around the corals where I was able to test my ability to equalise my ears. It took two days before I could finally figure out how to go about this. After that, all the other skill exercises seemed to go quite well. Peter and I were the only two in the group for the course, thus we managed to set the pace at which we were to learn. Despite not having had his Open Water diving license before, Peter had already done quite a bit of diving with his dad and friends, so knew most of what to expect and how etc. We did manage to make good progress during the day doing our first two confined dives in the shallows of the Red Sea.
Along with seeing clown fish, parrot fish and various other species of fish, the one that I did find rather fascinating was the sole. That is one really odd looking fish and it's amazing how they've evolved into the form that they currently are in, one eye having grown through to the other side, and now they basiclly live on their side, which is sort of now the bottom. Their mouths seemed to have remained the same however, and it seems like they're eating sideways when they do eat. What made them start evolving like this anyway?
On our return to Bedouin Moon we rinsed down our kit before spending some time at the pool. The setting of all of this was just beautiful. We then ordered some calamari and red snapper before settling into bed after our first day of hard work.
7 May 2007 - Monday
Flies, flies, flies... there is nothing in this world that annoys me more than FLIES!!! Flies that wake buzz you awake first thing in the morning, flies that sit on your food, flies that just won't go away flies... Hate them all!!! Mosquitos are way ahead in my book of insect popularity, by a long way... Anyways, enough about that.
So, flies about, and fresh honey pancakes eaten, we were again off to Lighthouse Bay to continue with our diving course. We completed another confined dive before going through some skills in the open water. After some more pancakes for lunch, just before our second open water dive, we spotted some dolphins playing out in the bay. This seemed like a good opportunity to head out and try and catch up with them, so we hurriedly kitted up and started swimming. I can't say that we were too streamlined, thus quite a bit of difficulty in effort and mobility in making distance. Unfortunately, by the time we neared their original spot, they'd already started heading off, and if we were to keep up, I'm sure we'd have ended up on the Saudi Arabian shores before long. Would've been great to catch up with them, but I guess it was not to be on this occasion. We then slowly headed back before continuing with our training.
I had quite a bit of trouble equalising my ears throughout the day's dive, and by the end of the day I was happy to sell my right ear to any black market willing to buy. I was in complete pain. I think it was my own stupidity though as when ascending in the water and when my ears felt 'uncomfortable', I'd still blow and apply pressure from the inside out, which is obviously wrong. I should be relieving the air pressure on the inside. Fortunately, made it through the day with only painful, and not entirely burst eardrums.
We booked in for the mountain dinner organised by Reef 2000, which included the camel ride to the dining site. Firstly, to confirm that it is completely true, camels stink, and they stink bad!! But other than that, they have the most gentle of eyes and have a very calm, submissive manner about them. I think they say that camels are the ships of the desert, and well, this was definitely the case for my camel, Elwan. Not too long into the darkness of the evening and I was feeling some motion sickness setting in due the lack of visibility of the ground 20 miles below me and also of the surroundings, but alas, there was not turning back. Our guides (some pretty young boys) led us through and up the mountains to our dinner location before trying to get our camels to hunch back down. Peter seemed to have a really easy trip throughout, but when Elwan was requested to kneel, he completely objected and it took about 5 minutes of cursing and swearing by the camel boy and a lot of braying by the camel before, to my relief, it finally gave in and let me get off.
Carpets were laid out on the ground surrounding the campfire. We were firstly served some Bedouin tea, and then helped ourselves to a fire cooked dinner. After some lengthy star gazing and lazing about, we were finally ready to catch a lift down with our Sudanese driver, Meester Adam who had been claiming to have been drinking a good amount of "Vitamin B12" throughout the evening. This also translated to a sturdy amount of Vodka. Thankfully Peter accompanied him in the front seat to maintain a certain level of control. Meester Adam who was of the firm belief that besides being behind the steering wheel did not really need to drive us home as his jeep would take care of us all and do the deed itself. Needless to say, the dear ol' jeep needed a bit more coaxing than that. We started heading down the valley not by following any defined road but by free will of the truck. On more than one occasion Meester Adam came really close to destroying the bottom of his jeep driving over a fair share of large rocks. Avoiding a couple of 'dongas' also proved somewhat challenging. The trip lasted an eternal 7 minutes, and we were all more than grateful to escape the confines of the back of the truck. Feet on the ground, I finally felt safe enought to breathe again. How come I seem to be blessed with erratic drivers on much of these holidays abroad?
8 May 2007 - Tuesday
Again on the back of our truck but this time with ournow driver, Yasser, who hadn't been drinking "Vitamin B12" the night before. We didn't head down to Lighthouse Bay as per usual, but instead to the Moray Gardens dive site, near Happy Life Village. Here we made the Full Moon restaurant our home base for the day. Moray Gardens is located about 20 minutes drive south of Dahab. The setting again so calm and beautiful, with Bedouin style restaurants where all the divers seem to gather before and after their dives.
Moray Gardens is located between the Golden Blocks and Three Pools dive sites. Here we did two dives. Our dives were broken up with a lunch and our final exam in between. I'm happy to say both Peter and I passed with flying colours. Mark really was a good instructor though, so a lot of credit definitely must go to him. The good news for this day was that despite me being extremely nervous about my ears again, I think I managed to sort those out and gain a better understanding of pressurising them when I needed to. So came off uninjured and qualified at the end of the day - whoo hoo!!
9 May 2007 - Wednesday
Having completed our PADI Open Water diving course in three days we had the option of going straight into the Advanced Diving course or to stop there. We decided that in terms of training we had done enough and that it would be great if we could join the boat going out to Gabr El Bint (which translates to 'Grave of the Girl', and to do some diving for the pure enjoyment thereof. This was the best diving yet.
We set out really early on Wednesday morning, ourselves and kit aboard we took about a half an hour to an hour to get to our final destination where we anchored ourselves and went down with Mark for the first of three dives. The sea life was incredible!! On our second dive we went across to the Gabr El Bint lagoon. With these two dives we managed again to see butterfly fish, clown fish, parrotfish, a few huge puffer fish, a crocodile fish along with many others. The crocodile fish was rather different. I didn't even know that something like that existed. You can easily tell where the name comes from when you see the close resemblence to it and a crocodile. There were goldfish in abundance, and clams to no end! If I knew the name of all the fish I definitely would go on listing them here but assume I may start sounding boring.
I very much enjoyed coming across the octopus. While we were watching him, he crawled out from under the coral to sit and watch us back. It was rather strange in that I couldn't quite tell who was taking more interest in who. He sat there like an old man smoking his pipe while time slowly ticked away.
The clown fish also showed a lot of personality, particularly when they had young to protect. They didn't seem to have any fear and would come out right up to you from within the anemone to distract you from the rest of the clown fish there. They were always great to observe.
We took a long break aboard the boat, which included a lunch break and a lot of lazing. After heating up some, I decided to do some snorkeling on the reefs and cool off a bit. The water was so warm I managed to spend about half an hour in the water without feeling any form of a chill.
Following lunch, we then headed off to do our third and final dive for the day, a drift dive (though not much current around). There weren't too many fish on this dive, but a good opportunity to observe the coral a bit more closely. We had high hopes of coming across some Manta Rays, but were not fortunate enough to see those or any sea turtles, we did come across some Baracuda though.
10 May 2007 - Thursday
Woke up early and packed, ready to head off for our day trip to Mount Sinai and our visit to St Catherine's Monastery, only to be informed that our trip had been cancelled due to too few people signing up. If they'd had let us known that if we had paid �4 extra each they'd have taken us through we definitely would have, but this was not communicated to us until it was too late. Quite a disappointment as we knew that the monastery would be closed on Friday thus limiting our options.
Oh well, we were not to worry too much as this provided us time to laze around by the pool, order some lunch and fit in a much needed massage. After Peter's hour on the table and my half-hour, we caught a taxi through to Lighthouse Bay to enjoy some strolling by the shops and beach. We also rescheduled our Mount Sinai trip for Friday night, leaving at 11pm and returning at 12:00pm on Saturday morning. At least we were going to get a chance to do our trip.
We eventually stationed ourselves at a small enclosed bar taking advantage of happy hour. We then moved on to Tota, a ship-shaped restaurant, for some pizza and calamari, followed by some pool playing.
11 May 2007 - Friday
We woke up to some serious winds coming across from the sea. The electricity had cut out and thus the fact that the air conditioning wasn't working was quite apparent from the increasing room temperature. This was the first day that there was any form of wind and it was definitely welcomed, providing much relief from the heat. The sea was not its usual mirror self, but was actually producing some waves. Though these couldn't particularly be considered to be extreme in the least, this at least provided us with a bit more of an oceanic sound, and also for the first time gave off a bit more of a sea smell.
As this day was again free for us to do as we pleased, we decided again to head on down to Lighthouse Bay, but not by our usual means of transport, the taxi. We decided instead to take a bit of a walk along the shore as being in the sun while the wind was blowing wasn't too bad. As we walked passed the run-down buildings and rocky shores, we came across many Egyptians lying a few feet from the sea wrapped up from head to toe in their blankets. This did look rather comfortable, and also the thought that the wind was keeping away many flies also made the practise seem rather appealing.
Something Peter mentioned earlier on our trip became quite apparent. It's amazing how mathematically precise the ancient Egyptians could build the pyramids, but that all the recently constructed buildings and walls seemed to be at some sort of a slant. Nothing was straight or properly aligned. We came across some British people doing some building on their own places, and realised that if you as a non-qualified builder did your own building, you were probably just as, if not more likely to build a reliable and sturdy structure than the Egyptian builders, unless of course all the building was a "home-made" job anyways.
Anyhow, so another lazy day poised at Bedouin Son's taking turns reading our one book, watching the children play in the water and also on occasions joining them.
We finished off our day with buying a couple of paintings and then heading back to Bedouin Moon for a semi early evening to wake up at 11pm for our much awaited trip to Mount Sinai.
We woke, we waited, we went back to bed... Our transfer never pitched!!! This was Africa for you. I was highly disappointed as this was one of two things I wanted to do on this holiday. But I guess there isn't much you can do when the clock is ticking, your time is up and you're to head off back to the UK in a couple of hours time.
Back to bed, grumpy.
12 May 2007 - Saturday
Early the following morning we headed back to the Safari Company to tell them exactly what we thought of their planning and organising and to get our money back.
Since Mt. Sinai was no longer an option we thought we'd book a snorkeling trip for two hours and take a trip to the infamous Blue hole, obviously not booked with the same company.
The amazing thing about the Blue hole is that it is located right on the shore and drops to a depth of 120m. There were a few memorial stones cemented into the rocks in memory of people who'd lost their lives diving in the Blue hole. Quite scary really.
I'm sure that diving in the Blue hole provides a much better experience but snorkeling didn't quite meet up to our expectations of a place that is so talked about. Firstly, it is rather polluted with rubbish and it's overpopulated with divers and snorkelers. The abundance of jellyfish, though they don't sting, did make me somewhat nervous. We'd definitely seen more fish at all our previous other dive sites.
After some snorkeling we headed on back to our hotel to thank everyone for an awesome holiday, and catch our transfer back to Sharm El Sheik.
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You may have read in the honeybee press about an EU study into colony losses and honeybee health. My apiary is 1 of the 200 that has been selected in England & Wales. I have written about it and included a video clip of a Bee Inspector, inspecting. You may find it interesting: EU Pilot Surveillance Programme for Honeybee Health. I will receive some results in the next few months and a further two inspections next year.
Are there any studies like this happening in the States?

subset: commoncrawl


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The Lackey Group LLC
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APCNews 132 – Take Back the Tech 2010! Africa digital migration - 11/22/10
APCNews – November 22 2010 – Year XI Issue 132
The news service on ICTs for social justice and sustainable development
African countries are committed to migrating to digital broadcasting by June 2015. It will be a costly process for both for governments and citizens, and right now it is not really clear what the benefits will be or where the resources to make the transition will come from. A new initiative from APC and Balancing Act is producing the data and tools required to make informed decisions about the migration and the balance of costs and benefits. It's the first of two new initiatives started by APC recently. The second "Internet rights are human rights" builds on our long-standing work to secure freedom of expression of those who are most vulnerable: human rights defenders that are working online to put an end to violence and repression. And Take Back the Tech! The campaign, that is part of the Sixteen Days of Gender Activism, starts on November 25 – join us by getting creative with technology to end violence against women!
Take Back the Tech! 2010 Explore technology! Defend women's rights!
KUALA LUMPUR (APC WNSP for APC) – The UN estimates that 95% of aggressive behaviour, harassment, abusive language and degrading images in online spaces are aimed at women. As more and more women go online using computers and mobile phones, many are silenced through acts of violence, sexism and censorship. From November 25 to December 10 Take Back The Tech! (www.takebackthetech.net) calls on women and men to take control of technology to protect the right to freedom of expression and information. Join the movement and get creative!
Internet rights are human rights
OXFORD (KB for APC) – Restricting free expression, association and the free flow of information on the internet has become a global trend and its intensity and impact is greatest in countries lacking a culture of democracy or strong human rights regimes. People who speak out against repression risk their own freedom and safety and the sites that carry their online denouncements are often censored or banned. A new APC project "Internet rights are human rights" starting in November 2010 builds on our long-standing work including our Internet Rights Charter aims to secure freedom of expression of those who are most vulnerable: human rights defenders that are working to put an end violence and repression.
Digital broadcast migration in West Africa: What's the dividend?
JOHANNESBURG (Russell Southwood for APCNews) – Nollywood is bigger than Hollywood — Nigeria produces a massive 200 films a month— yet 80-90% of content on most African TV stations comes from other continents. As African nations plan to move to digital broadcasting by 2015 it's time for serious shifts to be made. APC and Balancing Act launch a new initiative to lower the costs and maximise the benefits of migration for citizens and governments.
About the project: http://www.apc.org/en/node/11405/
Take Back the Tech!
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Commando Kids
- Starts at: 10:00am Thursday 6 August 2009
- Finishes at: 5:00pm Thursday 6 August 2009
- Location: Fort Nelson
- Suitable for: Children
- Event type: Children's Activity
During the Summer Holidays Fort Nelson have Fun Days specially designed for children.
06 August 2009
Children's event – Commando Kids
Calling all young recruits! Learn commando skills including a junior assault course, radio controlled tank driving, foam dart firing range and more!
Entry to the Fort is FREE
Do something different and bring the kids for a great day out!


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This project received 18 bids from talented freelancers with an average bid price of $512 USD.Get free quotes for a project like this
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You can't help but fall in love with a country that measures its success in units of Happiness, scrawls phalluses on every available wall and prefers white-gloved cops to traffic lights.
Welcome to Bhutan! A tiny Himalayan Kingdom where things are done differently (and awesomely) in equal measure. By law, 60% of the whole country is protected national forest, and it actually emits more carbon that it uses, which makes Bhutan tours perfect for trekkers, monastery-lovers, Buddhist pilgrims and the merely curious. Our local guides will lead you up to the Tiger's Nest, introduce you to monks in the prayer halls of Gangte Goemba and show you where to find Paro's hottest Ema datshi (chili novices, watch your step).
Our Bhutan trips
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Distinctive and remote, Bhutan offers beauty, history and adventure by the bucketload....
18 Days From $7,280
Bhutan is the little secret of Asia. Overshadowed and nestled between China and India,...
15 Days From $6,033
Discover the monasteries and tea plantations of the Himalayas. From Kolkota in India to...
Bhutan tour reviews
Our Bhutan trips score an average of 5 out of 5 based on 4 reviews in the last year.
Bhutan Discovered, April 2017
ian sterling
We needed our visa document to enter the Tiger Nest. The guide did have this document but because some people were faster and other were slower. When I got there, I did not have the visa document but one of the other traveler had it and that how I was able to get in. After a while the guide did come with the slower travelers and I did go up again with him to get the guided tour of the Tiger nest. I did see some people suffered from Altitude sickness. Maybe if travelers are not use to high altitude then they should get some climbs in before they go on the Bhutan tour and climb the Tiger nest. I saw three people that were affected by the altitude. I did learn from one of the other travelers that you needed the visa documents to enter the Tiger nest and it was listed
Review submitted 10 May 2017
Kolkata to Paro Overland, February 2017
Mary Mangat
This was a very interesting combination of single people from different countries which turned out to be so much fun, informative, and uplifting. Our guide did a fantastic job making sure all were included and cared for.
Review submitted 16 Mar 2017
Articles on Bhutan
Oct 13, 2016
10 epic destinations to make you feel small
These are the moments we live for as travellers – finding those spectacular place...
Jul 12, 2016
Is this the coolest Bhutan travel video ever?
Dreamy colour washes, simple aesthetics and static camera angles – this isn't your...
May 24, 2016
Bhutan flight guide: how to get to Paro without...
Unfortunately, despite coining Gross Domestic Happiness and living traffic-light...
Jan 10, 2016
6 reasons Bhutan might be the world's most...
Lots of nature? Check. An official happiness index? Check. Zero traffic lights?...
Bhutan travel highlights
Experience Bhutanese art and culture in the museums of Thimphu
Be transported to another world on the streets of peaceful Paro
Be awestruck by panoramic views of the Bhutan Himalaya
Transport in Bhutan
Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun.
Depending on which trip you're on while in Bhutan, you may find yourself travelling by:
Getting around in Bhutan can be difficult due to the elements and lack of sealed roads. So when you're not hiking, expect to travel in a minibus.
Accommodation in Bhutan
Travelling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.
When travelling with us in Bhutan you may find yourself staying in a:
Simple Hotel
Intrepid prefers smaller character-filled hotels then hotel chains. When staying in Bhutan, enjoy staying in small hotels and guesthouses owned and run by friendly locals.
Bhutan holiday information
At a glance
Best time to visit Bhutan
Culture and customs
Eating and drinking
Geography and environment
History and government
Top Picks
Festivals and events
Health and safety
Further reading
Handy links
Bhutan travel FAQs
All nationalities require a visa for entry to Bhutan, except Indian nationals holding a valid Indian passport. Visas must be obtained in advance.
We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself.
You must provide Intrepid at the time of booking with your full name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport number & date of issue / expiry, plus a scanned copy of your passport, your email address and a contact number for you when you are in Bhutan.
If you have not booked flights to Bhutan with Intrepid, we will also require your flight details to finalise the visa process.
Intrepid will then forward you the scanned copy of your Bhutan Group visa shortly prior to your trip start date.
You must show the copy of your Bhutan Group visa at the check-in for your flight to Bhutan and on arrival at the immigration in Bhutan where you will have your Bhutan visa stamped into your passport.
Travel in Bhutan is strictly controlled and to do any independent travel outside of a group tour is extremely difficult and expensive to arrange. We provide a group visa for travellers on our tours in Bhutan, which stipulates that all travellers must arrive and depart on the same days that our tour program starts and finishes. For this reason we are generally not able to provide additional accommodation outside of our tour dates and advise all travellers to book flights in and out of Bhutan that correspond with the start and finish day of the tour. In the rare case that no flights are available and you need to arrive earlier or depart later we are only able to book additional accommodation for you in conjunction with a special individual visa which can add around AUD1000 to the cost of your tour, to be paid at the time of booking.
Tipping isn't compulsory in Bhutan, but many people who work in tourism are accustomed to receiving tips so it's wise to set aside a small amount to show your appreciation for drivers, cooks and other service workers.
You will be able to find some internet cafes in Thimphu and Paro. Most large hotels also have internet access. As expected, rural and remote areas will have limited to no internet access.
You will be able to use your mobile phone in some of Bhutan's cities, although more remote areas may not have network coverage. Ensure you have global roaming activated with your mobile carrier before you leave home if you wish to use your mobile while in Bhutan.
You will have to adjust to different standards of hygiene and sanitation while in Bhutan. The standard toilet is of the squat variety and this may take some getting used to, although western style, flushable toilets can be found in large hotels and some tourist areas.
Due to Bhutan's unique tourism regulations, meals are included for all travel within Bhutan. Use local currency to buy small items like snacks and soft drinks and use US dollars to buy larger items like souvenirs. Expect to pay:
Prayer flags = US$1
Hand made coin purse = US$5-10
Gofur (wooden bowl) = US$10-15
Ceremonial mask = US$20-40
Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Bhutan. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found, some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.
International credit cards are not widely accepted in Bhutan. Some souvenir shops may have credit card facilities; however, credit cards aren't generally accepted elsewhere. Be prepared by carrying enough cash to cover your purchases.
ATMs are very rare in Bhutan. Be sure to carry enough cash to cover your purchases as you won't be able to rely on ATM or credit card access.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
- 2 Jan Winter Solstice (Nyilo)
- 28 Jan Traditional Day of Offerings
- 21 Feb Birth Anniversary of Fifth King HM Jigme (Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck)
- 22 Feb Birth Anniversary of Fifth King HM Jigme (Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck)
- 23 Feb Birth Anniversary of Fifth King HM Jigme (Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck)
- 27 Feb Losar (New Year) Year of the Fire Female Bird
- 28 Feb Losar (New Year) Year of the Fire Female Bird
- 2 May Birth Anniversary of Third King HM Jigme (Dorje Wangchuck)
- 5 May Shabdrung Kuchoe
- 9 Jun Lord Buddha's Parinirvana
- 3 Jul Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
- 27 Jul First Sermon of Lord Buddha
- 23 Sep Blessed Rainy Day
- 26 Sep Thimphu Tshechu (Thimphu Only)
- 30 Sep Dashain (Nepali Festival)
- 30 Sep Thimphu Tshechu (Thimphu Only)
- 1 Oct Thimphu Tshechu (Thimphu Only)
- 2 Oct Thimphu Tshechu (Thimphu Only)
- 1 Nov Coronation of Fifth King HM Jigme (Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck)
- 10 Nov Descending Day of Lord Buddha
- 11 Nov Birth Anniversary of Fourth King Jigme (Singye Wangchuck / Constitution Day)
- 17 Dec National Day
Please note these dates are for 2017. For a current list of public holidays in Bhutan go to: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/bhutan/public-holidays
Responsible Travel
Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.
Top responsible travel tips for Bhutan
- Be considerate of Bhutan's customs, traditions, religion and culture.
- Dress modestly and respectfully. Shoulders to knees should be covered, especially when entering places of worship.
- For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water instead.
- Always dispose of litter thoughtfully.
- Don't light up! Tobacco products are banned in Bhutan, so avoid bringing them into the country as penalties apply and smoking in public is not accepted.
- Learn some local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple greetings will help break the ice.
- Shop for locally made products. Supporting local artisans helps keep traditional crafts alive.
- Refrain from supporting businesses that exploit or abuse endangered animals.
- Please ask and receive permission before taking photos of people, including children.
- Religious iconography is everywhere in Bhutan in the form of stupas, mani stones, shrines and temples. Always show respect for these religious objects by avoiding sitting or posing in front of them.
- Show respect for Bhutan's current and former king when conversing with local people.
- As a sign of respect, place a small donation in the donation box while visiting monasteries.


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Blue Man Group
Redefine entertainment with Blue Man Group, a curiously captivating mash-up of unique live music, unexpected humor, and lots of paint!
Save up to $15 versus gate prices!
Experience the mystery, the humor, the euphoria and the indescribable celebration of art, technology, and music that is Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando® Resort. It combines science and laughter, and makes for an explosive evening of entertainment.
All seats are located in the Orchestra section; ticket assignment are based upon availability. The entire Blue Man Group theater is considered "stadium style" seating and is very similar to a movie theater.
1 hour and 45 minutes
Show times
Varies by day: 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM and/or 9 PM
Regular Parking: $20
Preferred Parking: $30
Strobe lights are used during 2 portions of the show (strobe lights may cause epileptic seizures). If you are sensitive to strobes but wish to attend the show, please alert the house manager when you arrive, so he or she can arrange to alert you to leave the theater before the strobes begin. Admission to Universal Orlando is not included in the price of your show ticket. This show is not recommended for children 2 and younger.
Blue Man Group Box Office28.470894 -81.466958
Terms & Conditions
This Activity can be changed or cancelled without penalty at any time prior to 48 hours before the scheduled start of this Activity. Otherwise the product is 100% non-refundable and non-transferable.
All customers/participants are required to sign liability waivers before participating in this activity.


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Malware via Social Engineering
The other customer fell for it. The scammer convinced her that he was from Microsoft, and that her PC was hacked. So she turned it on and went to the website he directed her to, and he established a remote session using showmypc. He then told her all her files were corrupt, and scared her by showing event log entries. Then he wanted her to go to Western Union send him $25. She refused and he hid her desktop icons, and hung up. She thought she lost everything and called me in a tearful panic.
She's all cleaned up now, and better educated about phone scams I hope.
Those of you who support end users, do you get calls like this?
I've seen videos posted by other forum members of pentesters using similar SE techniques to trick corporate users who should know better, pretending to be the Help Desk, or similar. Do you find that these sort of methods work better / faster than vulnerability scanning and exploitation? Or do you do both, and report the technical issues and the SE issues?


text: Trending Now Preview 01:33 The Real Housewives of Potomac Ashley Has an Epic Stand Off With Hubby Michael Over OZ S2/EP8: You're not my partner, you're my f— ing parent. - Ashley Darby Preview 01:35 The Real Housewives of Potomac Karen and Gizelle Double Date S2/EP8: Gizelle Bryant gets quite a lesson in love from Dr. Black Bill Gates... Preview 00:30 The Real Housewives of New York City Next on RHONY: It Will Only Get Worse S9/EP9: The ladies continue to warn Luann D'Agostino and Ramona Singer and Bethenny Frankel have it out. Preview 01:58 The Real Housewives of New York City Bethenny Is in Hell S9/EP9: Everyone thinks Bethenny Frankel has moved on from her divorce, but they don't know the full story. Preview 00:51 Southern Charm Next on Southern Charm: Will Kathryn Think This Is an Ambush? S4/EP9: Whitney surprises Kathryn at lunch... Digital Original 01:18 The Real Housewives of Potomac Get to Know Gizelle Bryant's Date Kevin The RHOP mom is single and ready to mingle this season. Preview 01:34 Southern Charm Craig and Austen Go Golfing S4/EP9: And Austen opens up about Chelsea. Show Highlight 01:56 The Real Housewives of Potomac Juan Dixon's Shocking Confession to Producer S2/EP7: Robyn Dixon's husband Juan pulls a producer aside to drop a huge bomb about his relationship. Editor's Picks Digital Original Going Off the Menu Graham Elliot Uncovers the Secrets of LA's Underground Food Scene Digital Original Throwback Bravo Relive Your Favorite Bravo Moments Look back at some of the most mystical and macabre moments in Bravo history. Digital Original The Upgrade How to Take Million Dollar Luxury Trips Every Year Using Miles Let me introduce myself. I'm Ben Schlappig, the blogger behind One Mile at a Time. Digital Original First Fails Snooki and JWoww's Biggest Roadtrip Fail Includes a Topless Blender Who could ever tire of the antics of Snooki and JWoww? No one, ever. Jersey Shore revival, please. Digital Original Furry, Fierce, and Fabulous Watch These Dogs Get Glam Makeovers They say that love is blind, and the scorned lovers at the center of our new series Digital Original The Last Thing Watch Bravolebs Play Our Hilarious New Game The #RHOA fashionista is still splurging on this big-ticket item. Digital Original Tipsy by Bravo Make Cocktails Like a Pro Welcome to Feast Week! Digital Original After Hours The Origin Story of Erika Jayne Have you ever wanted to party with Bravolebs?


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Improving Sleep: A guide to a good night's rest
When you wake up in the morning, are you refreshed and ready to go, or groggy and grumpy? For many people, the second scenario is all too common. This report describes the latest in sleep research, including information about the numerous health conditions…Learn More »


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Schools try to stay on top of trouble by monitoring social media
Mid-Missouri school officials want to prevent incidents by looking for signs through social media
COLUMBIA, Mo. - A school district in Los Angeles is paying a firm more than $40,000 to monitor its students' social media posts. They want the company to be on the lookout for things like cyberbullying, threats against the schools, or suicidal intentions. According to reports, there have been two occasions where potential incidents were prevented.
ABC 17 News checked in with two of the largest school districts in Mid-Missouri to see if school districts are doing anything similar or would be looking into doing this.
Columbia Public School officials said they're currently paying a company to look into what's being said on social media. It's not specifically looking at what students are saying, but it's one of the services the company provides.
Columbia and Jefferson City school officials said their schools are no different than almost every other school in the nation.
"It is a way of life, it is how they communicate and so they need to have a better understanding of the power of the words that they choose," Columbia Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said.
Baumstark said they pay an out-of-state company about $2,000 per year not only to keep up with school news discussed in the community, but also what is being discussed by their students regarding school. She said if they do end up getting notified, they will investigate it internally and decide if law enforcement needs to be involved.
But Jefferson City school officials said they rely solely on what is seen, heard or read by local residents when it comes to monitoring social media.
Both Columbia and Jefferson City school officials said they spend time with students and talk to them about implications of what's done on social media. They also want to be on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.
"It really is about the power of a bystander and that's one of the things, even through what we've done with our social norming behavior campaigns, it's all about the power of the bystander," Baumstark said.
Baumstark said they've even started Twitter handles for each high school for students to report mischievous activity.


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Mountain Area Democrats
United Methodist Church
3757 Ponderosa Drive
Evergreen Colorado 80439
9:00 - 11:00 am
We will hosting Tom Mauser who's son was killed in Columbine in 1999. Tom has written a fascinating book chronicling that event and the years following. Please join us in welcoming Tom to Evergreen.


text: Here are some pictures from my first vintage bicycle build. It all started with a 1963 Schwinn Jaguar frame I picked up about six weeks ago. I decided that I wanted to build a cool rat rod motorized bicycle, board track racer. Built not bought! I've designed, engineered, and fabricated this from scratch minus the vintage Schwinn parts. My goal is to use as many vintage parts as possible. All the motor mounts and metal fabrication is done from scratch. I'm an engineer so I made a 3D CAD model / assembly of my build before I cut any metal. So here are some pictures of my CAD work and then the beginnings of the build. I'll update this post with more pictures as the design progresses. I'm designing around a 97cc, four stroke, flathead motor. Accordining to my calculations it should go around 31.7 mph at 4,200 rpm. Dowie


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Emmit Smith presented the trophy and Hakeem Nicks made SB MVP. It was pretty cool, somehow the Colts made it to the Super Bowl.
<Other season highlights>
1.) Traded Bradshaw and a third rounder to the Ravens for a first round pick
2.) Wilson broke the single season rushing record and single game rushing record
3.) JPP broke the single season sack record with like 26 sacks
4.) I mapped Arnold Schwarzenegger's face onto my coach so he was our first year coach https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...11813048_n.jpg
And now I'm eyeying this MLB in the draft, going to keep reloading the draft until I get him. I'm probably going to also go for a CB in the first round..
This game is so cool how it eyes draft picks with story lines and even has them have off field issues that get them benched.
I'll post some of the high lights I recorded, it's pretty amusing and I played it on All-Madden with custom sliders recommended to me from a forum.


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Discontinued Product
This product has been discontinued but we have many more products. Click here to see more.
Decobreeze DBF0518 $150.00
12" Providence Table Top Fan
+ FREE Shipping
Sorry, the manufacturer is no longer producing this product.
List Price: $187.50
+ FREE Shipping
This product has been Discontinued
Description & Highlights
Decobreeze 12" Providence Table Top Fan
Bring home princely elegance, with the Decobreeze Providence Table Top Fan (DBF0518) . This stylish fan brings you a classic spiral pattern along its stem all the way to the base, giving out a mystifying feel. The color of the fan does not get any classier. The clean white-finish will makes the fan look great even among the most superior decor.
The fan has a whisper-quiet 30 watt motor. The fan has three speeds that you can choose from, with the low speed running at 900 RPM, medium speed at 1100 RPM, and the high speed at a breezy 1280 RPM. The fan makes no noise and its poly-resin construction makes it a durable, long-lasting part of any home.
Functional Fan:This decorative fan is highly functional and comes with 3-level speed adjustment
Intricate Design:The intricate design on the body gives it a timeless look
Powerful Motor:The 30 watt powerful motor ensures whisper quiet performance
- Model: DBF0518Two Modes: Stationary and oscillating
- Brand: DecobreezeWhisper quiet motor ensures quiet cooling
- Compact, portable and lightweightNumber of blades: 4
- Three speed settings for controlled coolingWarranty: 1-year limited
- Height: 30.5"
- Width: 12"
- Depth: 12"


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forum: Everything else
Pages: 1 … 1666 1667 1668 1669 1670 … 1683 | Home » Everything else » What are you doing right this minute ????
#16671 Wed 25 Jul 12 9:08pm
- Forum champ Occupation museum guide in Tallinn Seaplane Hangars
- From Tallinn, Estonia
- Member since Tue 16 Mar 10
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
christian_halfm wrote:
Luvmegrub wrote:
christian_halfm wrote:
Life is taking a direction, I don't like. I may need to start all over again.
My personality is making things difficult for me. It's so diificult to leave my shell and just talk and do things. I'm somehow trapped inside of me.
Can you talk to us Christian? Maybe we aren't professionals but always willing to listen.
Are you cooking? I love baking so that always helps me in times of stress.
I'm not sure how to put it yet. I don't even no the full scope yet.
Yes, cooking used to help me, but at the moment even that doesn't always work. It's just too hard, when a person you love seems to hate you and you even think you deserve it. After all I'm a very strange person. Then I have the feeling that others around me are having a very negative impression about me.
I have felt like that most of my life, but I know I think much worse of myself than others do. "Hate" is never a permanent state of mind. It is more like an inflammation of feelings, when someone is bloated and in pain and cannot think straight.
but thankfully I have gotten over every slump. it is not that complaining somewhere, even over a forum, wouldnt help. at least some places....
you should go running too. it is like flying and it helps when you feel troubled. 'I am not much help. cause my head is full of different things right now. but I really have been there y�know. I dont know what I would have done if I didnt even have anyone to tell. just get everything off your chest. watcha kdrama, go to a festival, write the longest letter you ever wrote.
#16672 Wed 25 Jul 12 9:14pm
- Forum champ Occupation museum guide in Tallinn Seaplane Hangars
- From Tallinn, Estonia
- Member since Tue 16 Mar 10
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
I am going to the festival (Viljandi Folk Music Festival) the 20th and I am so... gaah I cant even express it, I am so excited my hands are shaking and I wanna cry cause all those people, old friends, people from 20 years ago, and I am so old suddenly, yet nothing has changed, nothing! and the expectations - concerts, dancing, late night music sessions, coming home at 6 am, getting lost in your own back yard, omg. I cant wait. strawberries with whipped cream and blueberry soup with curd dumplings. and saturday evening thunder. my personal woodstock and roskilde and ruisrock and everything. and old book fair.
and swimming after beach folk music aerobics.
waah. is tomorrow here yet? teepee and runic songs. and wise people and workshops and rupert the indian. and ants.
#16673 Wed 25 Jul 12 10:50pm
Miss GlutenFree
- Member Occupation Admin Officer & Mum
- From Queensland, Australia
- Member since Sun 14 Mar 10
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
Hi all, Christian it sounds like your stuck in a rut at the moment mate. Not sure if this will help but find that one tiny thing that does put a smile on your dial and make it the highlight of your day. Could be having a coffee, reading a good book, relaxing on a chair outside at sunset... all the little things we seem to overlook.
I am again pumping coffee into me before work. Had my long day yesterday and was shattered afterwards. Still trying to get motivation to pack up my house.. I've got 3weeks so am doing it bit by bit.
#16674 Thu 26 Jul 12 9:11am
- Member Occupation Sometimes I would like to know myself (or like to change it).
- From Germany
- Member since Thu 17 Mar 11
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
Thank you all! You are so nice! I will see what the future will bring!
#16675 Thu 26 Jul 12 11:04am
- Forum champ
- Member since Fri 19 Nov 10
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
#16676 Thu 26 Jul 12 11:35am
- Forum champ Occupation Why is the Rum always gone???!
- From out to lunch
- Member since Sat 07 Jan 06
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
enjoying the tail end of a thunderstorm. It has been so long since we have had any significant rain.. Hopefully things will start to turn green again, all the brown dried up lawns were depressing.
Only a fool argues with a skunk, a mule or a cook. { cowboy saying}
#16677 Fri 27 Jul 12 5:03am
- Forum champ
- From Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Member since Thu 23 Oct 08
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
Sitting here waiting for one daughter and 2 parrots to vacate the bathroom.
Yes the parrots are having a shower, it is going to be an early spring.
Once that's done going to have some lunch. Such an exciting life I lead.
#16678 Mon 30 Jul 12 8:16pm
- Forum champ Occupation museum guide in Tallinn Seaplane Hangars
- From Tallinn, Estonia
- Member since Tue 16 Mar 10
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
treating the sun allergy. I was stuuuuuupid. I did not take the allergy medicine with me to the festival and got a sunburn and now I am going mad. but I guess that festival was worth it. but my hands and arms ache and are sooooo itchy. argghhh tie me up I must not stcratch them.
#16679 Tue 31 Jul 12 6:55am
- Forum champ Occupation Project Manager
- From Limassol, Cyprus
- Member since Tue 19 Dec 06
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
Chilling before heading off to work. It's a big difference working in a company that has plenty to do and being fully in control of what I do. The downside is that I don't get so much time to hang out in here as much as I used to, but hey, I get lunch at lunch time provided by the company - lots of fresh healthy choices too.
#16680 Sat 18 Aug 12 3:12am
- Forum super champ
- From Melbourne Australia
- Member since Sun 12 Apr 09
Re: What are you doing right this minute ????
Wanting to organise paperwork, catch up emails, knit and clean the kitchen: but I haven't enough oomph (or concentration) so I am playing around here instead!


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My name is Ayden Khai Davis ! Nicki Minaj is a big idol and a big part or my life ! She had helped me get through thins NO other artist has ever helped me get through ! I dare anyone to challenge me to see you knows more Nicki Minaj verses and songs then me! I know Every Song, On every album, every Ft. and Every Verse! I have seen all her picures in magazines and I have seen almost all of her interviews!
Create a playlist at MixPod.com
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 6:10 PM
I love you Onika Maraj


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Apple Updates Processors & Prices of MacBook Pro with Retina DisplayCUPERTINO, California—February 13, 2013—Apple is making the MacBook Pro with Retina display faster and more affordable with updated processors and lower starting prices. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now starts at £1,249 inc VAT for 128GB of flash, and £1,449 inc VAT for a new 2.6 GHz processor and 256GB of flash. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now features a faster 2.4 GHz quad-core processor, and the top-of-the-line 15-inch notebook comes with a new 2.7 GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of memory. Apple today also announced that the 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of flash has a new lower price of £1,199 inc VAT.
The MacBook Pro with Retina display features the world's highest resolution notebook display. Whether you're reading emails, writing text, editing home movies in HD or retouching professional photography, everything appears vibrant, detailed and sharp, delivering an unrivaled viewing experience. The MacBook Pro with Retina display features flash storage that is up to four times faster than traditional notebook hard drives, and delivers improved reliability, instant-on responsiveness and up to 30 days of standby time.
Pricing & Availability
The updated MacBook Pro with Retina display and MacBook Air models are available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com/uk), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers. Pricing details, technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/uk/macbook-pro and www.apple.com/uk/macbookair.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
Press Contact:
Juriaan Bosman
020 7184 1308
© 2013 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, MacBook Pro, Retina and MacBook Air are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Apple Media Helpline 020 8278 1440 email@example.com


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I posted a thread on insulating and sealing hive tops in the beekeeping section. But this is a new product I tried so I am posting it here as well.. Hope you get some info. from it. Here is the link to the other thread:
One last method of sealing hive tops..This one is new to me and the jury is still out on the finish and durability.
Here is the product:
My migratory covers are not very watertight. I needed something different to seal them..paint was just not cutting it. Here is a typical cover I get from Mann Lake.
You can see why this product would appeal to me. It says it fills in cracks, etc etc. So heres the results.
I had to apply at least three coats to fill in this crack. It looks good here wet, but when it dried it shrunk and a third coat was necessary. So much for less labor intensive than other methods:
wet texture almost dissappears when dry.
Here it is when dried. (These were new plywood tops):
I had hoped this product would also seal the exposed edge of the plywood top, but it also took time to work the product into the cracks. It has the consistancy of thin cement. You'd be better off filling the cracks with putty or silicone before painting.
So a third coat will be applied and it should have the texture they promised two coats would provide.
I do like it, if it is really as durable as they say. But Not too sure I would make any more of them. One gallon put two coats on 12 tops. It costs about the same per gallon as paint and is latex which means easy clean up.
For my next batch of telescoping tops, I will go back to my old method of staining or burning, sealing the exposed plywood edge with clear silocone and two coats of spar urethane.
It holds up well in my wet climate and is actually less time consuming than the above product.


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Movie Review: Gangster Squad
A secret squad of upright, two-fisted LAPD officers gets assigned to crush Mickey Cohen, California's vicious mob kingpin of the '40s, in Gangster Squad. Plus, Emma Stone's in it.
Director: Ruben Fleischer
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Village Roadshow Pictures
A secret squad of upright, two-fisted LAPD officers gets assigned to crush Mickey Cohen, California's vicious mob kingpin of the '40s, in Gangster Squad.
Based on screenwriter (and former homicide detective) Will Beall's adaptation of Paul Lieberman's much better 2012 nonfiction book, the Ruben Fleischer-directed movie conjures up images of great old-time gangster flicks that once starred genuine tough guys like James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson and Paul Muni. This one's not even close, though. In fact, it's a cartoonish, heavily fantasized shoot-'em-up that is all pinstripe suits, slicked-back hair and 'tude but zero substance.
In it, the brand spanking new LAPD chief, played by Nick Nolte, recruits a pack of cops like war hero Josh Brolin, ladies' man Ryan Gosling, surveillance ace Giovanni Ribisi, rookie Michael Peña, old-time buckaroo Robert Patrick and ambitious beat officer Anthony Mackie. Their mission is to stop criminals running the drug, sex and extortion game from taking over post-World War II Los Angeles. That means bringing down Cohen, played by Sean Penn like a snarling, charmless, one-note mad dog while wearing prosthetic makeup that looks straight out of Dick Tracy 2.
Cohen's looking to corner the bookmaking market, but he's also doing the town with his latest sad, sultry, dangerous dame, played unconvincingly by Emma Stone. Despite cool and sexy production design, spiffy costumes and hair, let alone CGI, meant to evoke Hollywood clubs, streets, houses and the vibe of the '40s, Gangster Squad has a tin ear.
The movie is packed with terrific actors, but their roles are paper thin and one dimensional—the whole movie seems to be geared only to the next gunfight, explosion or crescendo. Nothing sticks, nothing matters. Okay, so maybe nobody expected Gangster Squad to be in the league of, say, Chinatown or L.A. Confidential, but even on the level of pure, bullet-spattered fun, this thing is so vaporous that it slides out of memory even while you're watching it.


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Boulder, CO – August 12, 2008
Webroot, a leading provider of security solutions for the consumer, enterprise and SMB markets, today announced the appointment of Steve Holton as Senior Vice President (SVP) of North American Sales and Field Operations. Holton has extensive experience in the SaaS and security sectors and will play a vital role in accelerating adoption of Webroot's security software as a service (SaaS) products.
"Over 60 percent of mid-sized companies in North America will be adopting SaaS-based solutions this year and Webroot is well-positioned to provide our leading security SaaS solutions in North America and all major international markets," said Mike Irwin, COO, Webroot. "Given the market dynamics and Steve's success with rapidly increasing sales in the security SaaS arena, we feel he will be a great addition to our team and a major contributor to our growth strategies."
Holton has a proven track record of driving record sales numbers for both startups and larger established companies. Holton most recently was SVP and General Manager, Managed Services (SaaS), for Entrust Inc. where he oversaw all global sales for Entrust's security SaaS products and North American sales for all software products. Within one year, Holton's SaaS sales team increased bookings by 40 percent and recorded its best quarterly sales performance in six years. During his tenure, Entrust booked a record number of transactions and new customers and took customer renewal rates to 98 percent.
Prior to Entrust, Holton spent nearly five years as Vice President of North America Sales at RightNow Technologies (NASDAQ:RNOW). Holton built and executed a scaleable go-to-market plan and SaaS sales machine that helped grow RightNow from a start-up company into a global leader for on-demand CRM software. Holton was instrumental in RightNow Technology's successful IPO and rapid revenue rise from a $2M to $65M concern.
Holton holds a master of business administration from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University.
©2017 Webroot Inc. All rights reserved. Webroot, SecureAnywhere, and Webroot SecureAnywhere are trademarks or registered trademarks of Webroot Inc. in the United States and other countries.


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Benin: Where mobile users carry 3, 4, even 5 SIM cards to make a call
Par LC pour APCNews
CALGARY, Canada, 28 May 2009
In 1997, the people of Benin were definitely ready for the arrival of cellular phones, referred to as GSMs in the area (GSM stands for Global System for Mobile communication, a specific mobile standard). The fixed telephone was not widely adopted due to a lack of bandwidth and of technology adequate enough to allow the volume of connections necessary to serve Benin. The portable cellular phone was thus the perfect solution and Beninese consumers quickly jumped on this new product. Taking advantage of this new economic opportunity, the top government officials and businessmen of the country established close relationships that were characterised by ambiguous contracts and illicit activities, allowing the creation of several GSM operators. The five current operators that emerged from the Post and Telecommunications Bureau's "Benin Telecom" are : Libercom, Telcel Benin (that became Moove Bénin), Areeba that subsequently became MTN; BB Com and finally, Globacom.
Certainly the government permitted the creation of all these operators. But how could all these operators enter and remain in this saturated market? The answer is simple: friends of the Kérékou regime did not have to pay for operating licenses, and at CFA 700 (USD 1.50) per communication and CFA 40,000 (USD 85.00) per SIM card, the GSM operators dominated the telecommunications market and Beninese consumers were incapable of exercising their purchasing power.
Given the choice between bad and worse, what choice did the consumers really have? To promote sales, the operators had to find a strategy to incite Beninese consumers. First, the price of SIM cards was lowered – from CFA 40,000 (USD 85.00)to 35,000 (USD 75.00) to 30, 000 (USD 64.00), and so on – the most expensive SIM card now costs about 2000 (USD 4.25) francs. But how to choose an operator? The GSM operators had to come up with a marketing strategy: offering reduced prices for calls made on their own network. Each network offered (and continues to offer) different services and packages on their own networks so that today people can get discounts of up to 95% (by MTN Zone). It is therefore not surprising that the Beninese people have up to five different SIM cards.
Connected but not interconnected
With so many cards, the Beninese are certainly able to communicate among themselves, but how connected are they really, if they must constantly switch SIM cards? Forever switching SIM cards complicates what should be a simple process, and though some Beninese use a phone that permits the use of two SIM cards simultaneously, most go back and forth between cards. With so much demand for telecommunications, the question becomes: "Why then, are GSM operators still not interconnected?" According to Barnabé Affougnon, secretary general of the non-governmental organization (NGO) ORIDEV, director of the CréACTION Agency and telecommunications specialist in Benin, it is a complicated issue to interconnect networks and provide lower prices to the public. He explains that it simply does not serve the interests of the operators, for the interconnection of networks destroys competition and represents a loss in profits. Not only this, but it is also a question of priorities, he states: "The state simply does not make it a priority."
However, since the arrival of the new President of the Republic of Benin Yani Boni, there has been "tremendous progress" in the telecommunications sector, starting with the standardisation (or almost) of the price of the short message service (SMS) or text message, which now costs about CFA 50 (USD 0.11) per SMS. This is a promising first step. Until 2005, the Republic of Benin was one of the few countries not to have a Post office and telecommunications regulatory authority (PTRA). The new government therefore put in place a transitional authority to assume the role of police, who so far has done a phenomenal job in regulating the sector and cleaning it up. Studies conducted by the new authority have also shown how the Beninese consumer had been abused. First, the regulatory body highlighted the need to respect air time charges by putting an end to rounding up (for example, they charged for 2 minutes instead of 1:15). Then the price of SIM cards was standardised, dropping from CFA 30,000 (while they cost CFA 2,000 in neighbouring countries) and are now available at very affordable prices. However, despite these improvements, there are still serious gaps at the institutional (legal status of regulatory bodies), constitutional and legislative (past-dated and obsolete laws) levels, says Affougnon, and, the government still exerts too much influence over an authority that should be autonomous. For their part, consumer groups remain divided.
Certainly there have been opportunities in the telecommunications sector in Benin, especially in relation to GSMs, and mobile communication is now more affordable than ever. But there is still much work to be done, especially when it comes to the internet. Northern Benin has a fibre optic infrastructure, yet the country does not benefit from it. The SAT 3 fibre optic cable, which is being damaged by overuse in the north, passes through nothern Benin and connects the country's neighbours Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso, who all have a very good transfer rate. These countries therefore benefit from a service that the Beninese themselves do not have access to. But there is hope: the internet, although slow (512 megabits), has seen a dramatic drop in price with the new government. Four or five years ago, the internet was truly a luxury reserved for the elite, at the cost of CFA 5000 (USD 11.00) per hour, whereas today it costs only CFA 300 (USD 0.65) per hour: "It was painful!" exclaims Affougnon, who is also the owner of a cyber café in Cotonou.
Towards the standardisation of telecommunications
Although telecommunications reform in Benin is but in its infancy, it is important to ensure its continuation: "We must educate the population. They [the Beninese] must learn how they can benefit from ICTs," urges Affougnon. But this will not be easy. "We must sensitise policy-makers, but in so doing the state risks losing money," he explains, using the example of Skype, an internet telephony provider that uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP). If the bulk of the population started to use Skype, what would happen to the demand for cell phones?
As there is no group in place to educate the public, it must suffer silently and remains subject to government decisions. But the 2011 electoral campaign has already begun and the current government would do well to ensure that people be freed from the current stronghold of GSMs. In this way, they could certainly sway the electorate.
Note: This article is part of APC's Communication for influence in Central, East and West Africa (CICEWA project, which is meant to promote advocacy for the affordable access to ICTs for all and is based on researched carried out in Benin by Mr. Barnabé Geraldo Affougnon. CICEWA seeks to identify the political obstacles to extending affordable access to ICT infrastructure in Africa and to advocate for their removal in order to create a sound platform for sub-regional connectivity in East, West and Central Africa.
Photo by Whiteafrican. Used with permission under the Creative Commons 2.0 License.
Cambodia shares simialar story
In conclusion, it is not only a problem in Benin but in Cambodia as well.
The concept of free market is only in the paper, practically the lack of law or some important actions from the government allows such wrong doing to continue and suffer their people.
We have around ten telephone operators in the country, as a free market, but communication across different providers make it like a pain for their users. It is easy to call within one network, but to call across a different network you have to dial so many times until the connection can be bridged, or in some of the peak hours you cannot connect across the network at all. This wrong doing allow a telephone operator with more users to dominate the market and keep the price high. This problem in Cambodia does not only exist in this year but probably since the last 5 to 7 years ago. Some people have 2 or 3 or 5 SIM cards as they want to be reached easily by which operator called in from their callers or they follow good beneficial Grand dictionnaire de l'Office québécois. ">promotionfrom those phone operators. One may have at least one or two main numbers.
We only know that the government is working on the Telecom law and such problem can be solved by using the law. But I believe that a government with an interest of their people in their heart can surely find an immediate action to discontinue such wrong doing by the Telecom operators. "We cannot do it because we don't have the Telecom law is purely an excuse".
And that is probably why a developing country is still poor because with little economic power their people have they still pay a high fee for using the ICT infrastructure. People from developing countries pay a higher fee to access to the ICT infrastructure than people from developed countries, and even with a lower quality of ICT infrastructure and services.
The reason behind so many SIM cards
The reason behind so many SIM cards, is that they are needed to connect with each other. The networks are not interconnected and the prices are much cheaper within the same network; therefore, rather than pay sky high prices, people change SIM cards to contact someone within the same network and get the best deal.