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Gastric sleeve surgery is a form of bariatric surgery. This type of surgery is used on patients who are too obese to have invasive weight loss surgery. The surgery is also for patients who are unable to receive any type of gastric banding surgery.

Simply put, gastric sleeve surgery is like a stepping stone to the more invasive weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass surgery and duodenal switch surgery.

What happens during the procedure is that about 60 percent of the stomach is removed by a bariatric surgeon so that the stomach then takes the shape of a tube or sleeve, hence the name of the surgery.

What makes the surgery less invasive is that it is performed laparoscopically, meaning that the surgeon makes just a few small incisions instead of one big one. That allows for the patient to heal faster and feel less pain.

This surgery is often followed by a gastric bypass surgery within the next eight or so weeks following the gastric sleeve surgery.

Unfortunately, gastric sleeve surgery is relatively new in the realm of weight loss surgeries. It is hardly ever covered by weight loss surgery insurance and gastric sleeve cost upwards of $10,000.

Medical tourism Mexico offers a new kind of option when it comes for paying for these types of surgeries. Having surgery in countries outside of the United States are becoming increasingly more popular as patients discover that the doctors are have most likely been trained in the United States and the facilities are state of the art.

Medical tourism, as the term implies is also a great way to recover from these types of weight loss surgeries. Since recovery from gastric sleeve surgery can take a few weeks, it’s perfect to just sit on the beach and do the best you can in enjoying your recovery. Some may even choose to have their next round of surgery say gastric bypass, Mexico is a great option for accommodations of both the medical and tourism kind.

The only thing I didn’t like so much about extended visit in Johannesburg, Africa is the fact we were nowhere near the sea. Where I was born, in Hong Kong, I was used to the sea; being Hong Kong is an island surrounded by the South China Sea. Plus, I lived in Guam for a few years and that too is an island in the Pacific and I lived for even a longer period of time on the Mauritius island, which is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. So, I hope you can understand just how much I miss seeing the ocean.

In Johannesburg, the closest I ever came to any body of water was the Zoo Lake . It’s not even a natural lake, but a man-made lake. Across the the lake is a Zoo, but that didn’t make me feel any less homesick. Beyond the trees of the Zoo is the famous Hillbrow Tower; towering over the hospital. What is nice about the Zoo Lake is that it is for everyone, not only for people, but for dogs, ducks and geese. I do like how hilly the city of Johannesburg it, though. It reminded me of Central Park in New York.

Sunday mornings, after I parked the car on an hilly incline, I went rollerblading all over Zoo Lake. It’s a long way down the incline, but I held onto as many trees and poles while rolling past the many Luxury Hotels Johannesburg has built around the lake, until I finally made it to the park itself. When I reached the bottom the trees were absolutely amazing. It was the middle of autumn. I felt like I was watching a display of fireworks they were so beautiful.
I past a hot-dog stand when the seller yelled ‘halal’ at me, which thank God I knew what that meant. ‘Halal’ means it’s okay for Muslims to eat. Which is important being there’s a significant Hindu and Muslim population in South Africa.

The lake is no ocean, but it is absolutely beautiful. But being fall, the lake must be absolutely freezing because not even the ducks were swimming in it. I roller-skated on and saw families having picnics. I stopped to watch rower on the lake pass by me, the cold not effecting them in the least. Nor did the cold stop people from fishing. I roller-skated around the park a few times and each time the Zoo Lake revealed a little bit more of itself to me and inviting me to come back promising to reveal more. So, okay, yes, Johannesburg has no ocean, but it does have a magical body of water.

Kiefer Sutherland has turned himself in to New York police and has been charged with assault. The 24 star allegedly headbutted Proenza Schouler fashion designer Jack McCollough at a Met Costume Institute Gala after party on May 5. Sutherland reportedly flew into a rage with McCollough after he bumped into actress Brooke Shields at SoHo nightspot SubMercer.

The actor is said to have confronted the catwalk mogul and told him to apologise to the star. He is then alleged to have headbutted McCollough in the face, injuring his nose.

The actor arrived at the NYPD First Precinct on Thursday May 7th. He was handed a desk appearance ticket for a June 22 arraignment date. Sutherland is currently under a probation order in Los Angeles relating to a 2007 conviction for driving under the influence (DUI).

He spent 48 days in jail but could be sent back to prison if he is found to have violated the terms of his release by fighting with McCollough. Sutherland could be charged with misdemeanor assault.

Sutherland has had a history of alcohol abuse including, interestingly enough, the following:

* 1991 – Was Gary Oldman’s passenger when Oldman was arrested for drunk driving.
* 2002 – It was claimed that Sutherland would go straight to the same Los Angeles bar after filming on the hit TV show and drink the night away until closing time.
* 2003 – After an alcohol fueled session, exposed himself in a bar.
* 2004 – Was rushed to hospital to receive six stitches after his face was slashed during a Los Angeles bar fight.
* 2007 – Judge Stuart M. Rice sentenced Sutherland to five years probation, and insisted the star must complete an 118-month alcohol rehabilitation education program and attend weekly alcohol treatment therapy sessions for six months. Who knows in the future it could include long term alcohol rehab.

Catherine Lim is an extremely popular best selling author of Singapore. She is known and respected for her writings on Singapore society and traditional themes of Chinese Culture. She was born in 1942 in the Malaysian town of Kulim. She studied at the University of Malaya and graduate with her bachelor’s degree in 1963. In 1967 she immigrated to Singapore where she continued her education. She received her PhD in Applied Linguistics in 1988 from the National University of Singapore. Guests staying in the best Singapore hotels often make tours of local universities part of the sight seeing experience.

Lim academia career didn’t end with her PhD, she went on to study at both Columbia and the University of California Berkeley as a Fulbright Scholar. She had worked as a teacher and served as the project director for Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore. She became a specialist lecturer with the Regional English Language Center where she taught linguistics and literature. Lim was a gifted academic and was a talented writer. She was becoming extremely successful early in life.

In 1992 she made the decision to quite the professional route she was on and pursue writing full time. This is generally a risky venture and it takes true passion and trust in one’s intent to brave the struggles, rejections and uncertainty a writer’s life can bring. Lim did have previous publishing experience, and was not starting over or from scratch. In 1778 she had published a short story collection titled Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore. She also published a succeeding collection in 1980. Her first novel, The Serpent’s Tooth, was published in 1982. This was more than enough publishing success to get Lim started on her fulltime writing career. She has since written Following the Wrong God and The Bondmaid, among other works. Her career has been somewhat controversial and in 1994 she was publicly criticized by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong for her politically themed article The PAP and the people – A Great Affective Divide.

Dubai is a vibrant city and essential part of the United Arab Emirates. It has a diverse cultural orientation and a continuously developing arts scene. It has become extremely attractive to tourists and its location as well as major landmarks makes for a unique vacation. Guests staying a 4 star hotel Dubai enjoy the luxury accommodations almost as much as they do their adventurous experiences. The geography and scenic views are an essential aspect to the cultural and Dubai’s traditional architecture. These elements do not go unnoticed to a visitor, who can be surprised by the extreme temperatures.

Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf coast and is almost exactly at sea level. It is positioned in the middle of the Arabian Desert. It is interesting though in that the topography is slightly different than that of the southern portion of the UAE. The landscape is typically sandy desert patterned, and gravel is typical to the more southern areas. The sand is really rather visually pleasing, composed of crushed shell and coral, it is extremely fine, white and clean. To the east of the city, there are running lines of sand dunes which grow larger and become tinted red with iron oxide the further east one travels.

Surrounding the city the sandy desert supports occasional date palm trees and wild grass.
There is a creek that runs throughout the city from the northeast to the southwest. It is appropriately called Dubai Creek. The creek has been dredged deep enough so that it is able to accommodate the passage of large vessels. Much of southern Dubai is covered by vast areas of sand dunes. Some animals that are common to the desert area surrounding Dubai include the desert fox, falcon, striped hyena, and the Arabian oryx. All of these geographic elements contribute to a unique vacation for tourists who are not accustomed to desert life. In addition the Arabian Desert is much different than those found in the southwestern United States.

The ingredients used in Thailand have changed, have been influenced by the cultures that have immigrated into the country, for work in city businesses such as luxury Phuket hotels and restaurants, however the traditions surrounding meals has not changed. The chefs of India had used in their woks, Ghee. However recent Chinese influence has replace the use of ghee with coconut oil. Spices which at one time were overwhelming and sometimes, a bit overpowering, have been replaced with herbs such as fresh galanga and lemon grass. The use of herbs over spices has generally increased in all Thai dishes, such as the curry dishes, which had tended to be extremely hot, and are now just more flavorful. All chefs are concerned with and pay attention to the harmony of the flavors, and it follows that most restaurants throughout the country, will serve meals all at once, so that the variety of flavors in the soups, the appetizers and the main courses will compliment and enhance the flavors and that harmony.

It is considered proper, in Thailand, for dining to involve more than one person, it is a communal event. The more people dining together means more dishes, more of a variety of the textures and the flavors that is meant to be experienced. Soups, vegetables, fish, and salads are all shared. Individuals have their own plates of rice and then the rest is family style. In this way the variety of spicy dishes is proportionate to the number of bland dishes to avoid discomfort and to provide a bit of relief for the heat. The dishes are prepared with the utensils in mind. They are meant to be eaten with just a spoon and a fork. Knives are not part of the table settings when one dines in a Thai restaurant, as the food is cut into pieces which are already bite-sized. Deserts usually include shaved ice, or ice cream with a variety of fresh fruits such as melons, mangoes and papaya. Dining out in Thailand is a healthy and very tasty experience.

My luggage was lost and the Madras airport. The clerk at Air India accused me of not properly tagging my suitcase at the check-in counter when I was in Mumbai . I nicely advised the clerk the tags were properly attached and clearly marked with the destination of Madras. After filling out the proper forms and stressing out about that my stay in Madra was a brief one before I travelled on to Indonesia , I reluctantly made my way out of the airport past crowds of brightly dressed families carrying huge suitcases and boarded a group limo which will take us to our Hotels.

A couple of tour-mates urge me to use ‘positive energy.’ Was I that obviously stressed? Another said my suitcase had probably been stolen. I should call the police. Then a woman whom I barely understood, offered to lend me her clothes. Nice gesture, but she was half my height. Upon arrival at the Hotel Madras , I excused myself from the group, threw myself on the bed. Almost at once there began a series of lucid dreams . Dreams that made me think I was back in Paris with my tagged suitcase. One dream, I was walking rapidly through what appeared to be a maze were kids hassled me pleading for cash and candy. That was perplexing to me in the dream how Paris seemed just like India. At least, I thought, that didn’t stop tourist from coming to Paris. I then push my way past families with enormous suitcases and boxes and chickens. A lady wearing gold ornaments and vivid green saris that never came loose even when they soothed their loud crying babies. Smartly dressed men were ordering about the rambunctious children to get back in line, and they did!

I awoke the next morning with a message on my hotel phone from Srini, our tour leader, saying that I need to return to Madras airport and claim my suitcase. Just in time, I thought, and breathed a sigh of relief. And a weird sensation that when I step out of my hotel to hail a taxi to take me back to the airport that I just might run into a street that has a hint of the Eiffel Tower amid the chaos of motorized rickshaws , buses and taxis with squeaking brakes bent on knocking over anything in or out of sight.

The average wine drinker in England now consumes around 2,000 calories from booze alone each month, new figures show. Over a year this is equivalent to 38 extra roast beef dinners or almost 184 bags of crisps.

Two fifths (42 per cent) of women surveyed by the Government’s Know Your Limits campaign admitted they didn’t know that a glass of white wine has the same calorie content as a bag of crisps. Two large glasses of white wine not only put a woman over the recommended daily limit for alcohol consumption but – at approximately 370kcals – also provide her with nearly a fifth of her daily calorie allowance.

Similarly, two fifths of men (40 per cent) aren’t aware that a pint of lager has as many calories as a sausage roll. A beer-drinker knocking back just five pints a week would add a whopping 44,200 calories over a year, equivalent to 221 doughnuts.

But additional calories don’t just come from the alcohol consumed. More than one in three drinkers (37 per cent) admit they are likely to eat more than they usually would or ditch the healthy diet when drinking above their recommended daily limits.

Almost one in three (29 per cent) drinkers order crisps, nuts or pork scratchings to accompany their booze, while 19 per cent regularly opt for a takeaway to grab a pizza, burger, bag of chips or kebab when drinking more than two pints of beer or two glasses of wine.The new Know Your Limits figures also suggest that the ‘morning after’ sees us pack away yet more calories.

Almost two thirds of drinkers (62 per cent) who normally eat a bowl of cereal or muesli for breakfast ditch it in favour of less healthy breakfasts to help them through their hangover. To settle their stomachs after drinking more than the recommended daily limits, over a quarter (28 per cent) turn to a fry-up, bacon or sausage sandwich, or takeaway breakfast from a fast-food chain. Swapping a bowl of cereal for a fry-up can add an extra 450 calories, on top of the alcohol calories consumed the night before.

Experts suggest contacting an alcohol treatment center or alcohol rehab program for more information on alcohol abuse.

My friends just got back from Dubai and told me next time that I go I must do what’s called Wadi Bashing , an activity in Dubai known about by any adventure seeker worldwide. Wadis are a dry riverbed that follows the course of seasonal streams naturally carved out by flood waters flowing in and around rocky valleys. Wadi bashing is about riding through the wadi in a four-wheeled vehicle. Preferably a Land Rover or a Jeep Cherokee if one wants to be successful at Wadi Bashing.

The best season for Wadi Bashing is from October to April because most tourist can’t take the burning desert sun, but one does need to be careful about the possibilities of a flash flood. I’m not the adventuresome type, but something about this type of desert sport intrigued me. So, I book a room at the Luxury Hotels Dubai UAE six months in advance, not wanting to be the only one of my friends who hasn’t tried Wadi Bashing and not wanting to fry like a crispy-critter in the heat of summer desert. I’m pretty much of a wimp when it comes to four-wheeling, heat and desert. My friends know that I have these fears, but that doesn’t stop them from egging me on.

Wadi Bashing takes a lot of courage and an expertise in driving. It can take well over an hour or so of rough driving not only through the dry washes, but around rock pools, oases and ancient stone houses. It’s not easy to drive on sand, which my friends are experts at and will tease me to no end when they find out I booked an experienced driver because they rented their own four-wheel drive vehicles and went Wadi Bashing all on there own. I’m assuming that Wadi Bashing can be tough going because listening to my friends tell me the bashing isn’t when you hit the wadis, but when you top the dunes and that is a bone-shaking journey. I guess, as my friends tell me, it’s an experience that will last me a lifetime. I just hope I’ll have a lifetime after I go bashing.

Ever since I tasted the hot sauce served alongside my meal when I went Fine Dining at some Goa Spa Resorts and found that the hot sauce not only enhanced the food on my plate, but it didn’t give my tongue 3rd degree burns, I had to know why. I’ve been experimenting on my own how to make a killer hot sauce or a mild salsa that is tailor made for the dish with which I am serving to my dinner guests. I found that the pepper selection is all too important. Picking the correct pepper to use will not only determine how mild or hot your sauce will be, but can either overwhelm the dish you have prepared or bring out the best flavors of the dish you have prepared.

The popular Jalapenos is ideal for making a mild sauce, yes mild. It has a strong flavor with less of a kick than other peppers. The Jalapeno is typically green and about 1 and 1/2 inches long with a curved shape. Serranos peppers have a similar look as the as the jalapenos, but are twice as hot. I use this pepper for a hotter sauce for my more bland potato recipes. The Piquin pepper which looks like a small red berry have a unique flavor and are also very hot. The difficulty with using this pepper is finding enough to make a good sauce, but well worth the trouble if the dish you have prepared is a thick bean soup or even a meat stew. Now, the Habanero , is one of the most hottest peppers to use. This will burn your mouth. The Habanero looks all shriveled and is usually a bright orange or red. When I use the Habanero, I find cutting with pineapple juice reduces the heat, somewhat, not completely because the heat of the Habanero sauce is best served with any Mexican dish, like beef or chicken enchiladas, topped with sourcream. The recorded hottest pepper of the entire world is the Naga Jolokia, it is 2 to 3 times hotter than the standard Habanero and is 1 to 2 times hotter than the Red Savina which was considered the hottest pepper in the world before the discovery of the Naga Jolkia. I don’t think I will ever us either of them.

I recommend that you do your own experimenting and find out which hot sauce is best for your favorite dishes. Experimenting will give you a wonderful excuse to invite your friends over and use them as your personal guinea pigs. Hopefully, your experimenting with hot sauces, didn’t burn any mouths and your friends keep coming back for more.

Many have the idea that the deserts of South Africa, suggest an absence of life, of flora and fauna. The harsh climate and the seemingly desolate look of deserts bring many to that conclusion. But it is the wrong conclusion. Just the grassland areas alone can contain upwards of sixty different species of grass. One of the most splendid vacation options is to travel to this country, stay in one of the luxury hotels South Africa boasts in the major cities, and then get out of town on safari, and travel through any of the five regional habitats, the forest, the Karoo, the Grassland, the Savannah or the Fynbos. Each of these zones have distinctive plant life based on the conditions of the climate. And in which ever region one chooses to explore, there will be flowers. More than ten percent of the flowering species of plants in the world are located in South Africa. Just along the Peninsula of Cape Town, there are more species than the entire country of Great Britain.

The King Protea is the national flower of South Africa and is found throughout the region of Fynbros. The range in color is tremendous within the species, as well as with the Ericas, and the Leucadendrons, which bloom throughout the year. There are five hundred and fifty species of native orchids growing on the mountains of the country, as well as Pelargoniums and Irises. South Africa has contributed to the gardens of all those throughout the world, with the previously mentioned beauties as well as the incredible Arum Lilies. For those wondering about the perfect time to visit, to take in the color and the aroma of these wildflowers, that would be spring. On the Cape the sight is breathtaking, and even more so is the region surrounding Namaqualand. This is a rocky, hot, and dry desert throughout the year, but come spring-time, for a few short weeks, the ground is covered with dazzling carpets of color, Daisies and Gardenias add color and enchanting scents. These flowers in the Kalahari desert are just one of the many reasons to visit this incredible country of South Africa.

The Company Gardens of South Africa is located in the heart of the town, by any one of the incredible restaurants or boutique hotel. Capetown is home to the Company Garden, the largest park open to the public in the entire country. Located within the Garden are varieties of plant life, separated into their own sections, the Japanese garden and the garden of roses are two such examples. There is also an aviary which houses the beautiful birds indigenous to the region as well as fish ponds located throughout. This is one of the attractions of the city that should be on the schedule of every tourist and out of town visitor. The Garden is set between the House of Parliament and the residence of the President, the Tuynhuys, two buildings that are also worth looking through as the history of politics of South Africa are contained within these walls.

Strolling through the Gardens at mid-day, will bring one into contact with the many locals that take their lunches in the park. This is the perfect spot to relax during a busy day, as the air is fresh and the views of the Table Mountains are beautiful. There are avenues lined with trees, and many benches for those wanting to rest a bit and feed the squirrels that have taken up residence in the park. Many other interesting buildings are located in this area as well, among them are the Art Gallery of South Africa, the Museum of South Africa as well as the only Planetarium located in the city. This is the country’s oldest park and is connected in every way to the art and the culture of the people. There are a number of artists festivals that take place here each year, as well as the annual benefit concert for Human Rights. This park offers up many options that are located close to each other, and provide visitors with a comprehensive look at the people and the country of South Africa.

The South African Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Cape Town. Set amongst the boutiques and wine shops and the best Cape Town restaurants, the museum offers up more than entertainment. The history of the natural and cultural world of this country is exhibited and celebrated. Founded in 1925 by Lord Charles Somerset, this is one of the oldest and most conclusive scientific institutions in Africa. It is second only to the Royal Observatory which was founded five years previous. There are educational and research facilities located on the grounds, which offer tours and seminars to those interested. The entrance for the museum is located just off of Queen Victoria Street, conveniently situated between the House of Parliament and the Company Gardens. Both of which are equally interesting to those touring the region. All of these sites offer a look into, not only the material evidence of the culture, but into the earliest of human origins, the beginning of a culture and a nation.

Lord Somerset was a governor of South Africa, of English decent, and he was interested and devoted to the recording of the history of the country. What is catalogued and exhibited in this museum is the diversity of a nation. The collection of the museum is diverse as well, from one hundred year old artifacts to specimens discovered just weeks ago. Upon leaving the museum, the tourist takes with them a greater understanding of the country they are exploring. As well as the understanding of the way in which human culture affects, and is affected by, the natural world. The Planetarium is just as responsible for the greater dissemination of knowledge. This is the only planetarium connected to an historical museum throughout all of Africa, and the shows that are given here further illuminate the significance of the natural world, as well as being entertaining and exciting.

The South African Museum is the oldest of the the sub Saharan region of Africa. The collection housed here is not only meant for exhibition, but is designed to stimulate and educate as well as to entertain. As well as paintings and sculpture, artifacts from the the archaeological world and the natural world are displayed, such as the incredible rock art, displays which depict the reptiles and mammals of the Karoo, and the preserved fossil specimen of the now extinct species, Quagga. The only specimen of this species in the world is at this museum. Many travel to this area and find accommodations at the best hotels. South Africa has a rich cultural history and one that is immense, so it may be necessary to spend a few days wandering throughout the different sections of the museum. The history is diverse, and the specimen collection here represents that. The museum is located in a magnificent historical building which has been updated with modern architectural facilities. Showcased here is not just the history of the natural world, but the history of the people of this region of Africa.

The museum which was founded in 1925, has been adding to their collections for more than two hundred years. This is also the only South African museum which is connected to a planetarium. The shows at the planetarium change regularly and are definitely something not to be missed when touring the region. The collections in the archaeological realm vary from tools of the Stone Age, more than one hundred thousand years old, to fossils of fish and insects discovered one week ago. There are displays of clothing that was traditional during the last century, to those that are worn today. This museum is the key to understanding the history, and the present times, of the country. The cultural and biological elements that have contributed to the evolution of the African societies are illustrated throughout and will leave travelers and tourists with the understanding and the knowledge of the earth, of the country of Africa, and of her people.

Forget Orlando, there are other places on the map of Florida to catch rays of sun and get a perfect tan. Consider taking a trip to the Florida Keys on the USA map.

The Florida Keys includes Key West, Islamorada, and Key Largo. Marathon and Big Pine Key (The Lower Keys).

With a newfound interest in eco-friendly and green activities, The Florida Keys now offers green vacations for those interested in environmentally friendly vacations.

Their slogan is: “A Florida Keys Vacation Means a Green Vacation.” It is unique to the Keys are of the Florida map.

On a green tourism vacation in the Keys, you can visit and explore restoring Sea grass beds, the National Deer Refuge Center in the Lower Keys and the Marathon’s Dolphin Research Center.

The mission of their green tourism is this according to their website:(http://www.fla-keys.com/greentravel/)

The mission of the Monroe County (Florida Keys) Tourist Development Council is to set an overall direction for the Florida Keys tourism marketing effort in a manner that will assure long-term sustained growth in tourism revenues while also guaranteeing the sustainability and improvement of our product, including both our man-made and natural resources, and improvements to the quality of life of our residents.

A green vacation uses a lot of carpooling and public transportation to get tourists from one point to another is conservation style.

There is also green lodging. It is approved by the Florida Green Lodging program which was launched in March 2004. This service allows tourists to know what hotels are using eco-friendly practices on the map of Florida.

Try your hand on an eco-attraction as well in the Florida Keys. This includes things like catch-and-release fishing trips, or going to the botanical gardens.

Even if you think eco-tourism isn’t for you, it’s worth a try and there is no better place to test it out than on the expansive eco-friendly Florida Map.

Just off the coasts of the tip of South Africa, two oceans meet. These great oceans are the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. From this location, the city of Cape Town offers travelers total visual experiences of the marine life just off of the shores, most of those capable of being witnesses from the beach itself. From the windows of the best Cape Town hotels and apartments, one is able whale watch, with all the comforts of being on dry land. This is one of the best venues worldwide. Every year, the migration of the Southern Right Whales takes place off the coast. The females give birth and nurse their young in the waters just off shore beginning in August and continuing through the month of November. Of the seventy eight species of dolphins and whales throughout the world, thirty seven of those can be found in the waters off the coast of South Africa.

The migration of the great Humpback whales takes place from May to December every year. And the Bryde Whales are in the waters, a bit further out to sea, all year long. There are many spots along the coast of the Cape which provide the opportunity to witness these large animals, a few of them being Saldanha Bay, Elandsbaai, Cape Town, and Yzerfontein. There is a local paper that lists the schedules of the ‘whale events’ throughout the year called the “Whale Crier“. This gives those interested a heads up on the activities of the whales and the most current sightings reported. And in the town of Plettenberg there is a whale ‘hotline’ number that lists current sitings and the times when the whales are seen to be close to shore. The waters surrounding the coasts are now protected, so as to give these animals the environment that is so rightly their own, to bear their young and continue on with their natural migratory patterns.

Robben Island was a prison for almost four hundred years, located just a few miles outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Rulers were exiled here during the time of Apartheid, those troublemakers and outcasts such as Nelson Mandela, and the current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, the men who stood up and fought against Apartheid and racism. The prison has been a museum since 1997, and has now become the seemingly unlikely location, for the celebration and conservation of the heritage and history of the country. Tours are given daily, with transportation from the mainland provided first by Cape Town car rentals, and then a two hour ferry ride to the island. Robben Island has been a World Heritage Site since 1999. The island is home to many indigenous birds that now are protected in the nature reserves and sanctuaries, as well as the rabbits, bucks and other wildlife native to the island.

Originally, this prison was meant to isolate freedom fighters and destroy their morale. However, true to the spirit of South Africa, Nelson Mandela spent twenty-seven years on the island, and when released, became the first elected president. Suffice it to say, the man’s morale was not crushed. Oppression in the prison during the 1960′s was intense, however the prisoners were able to overcome that and organized programs for education, debates about the politics of the time, and sporting games and events. The prison life just put them into a position wherein it was necessary for them to assert their rights to be treated with dignity. Perhaps they gained more strength and drive by the fact that they were incarcerated and it became imperative to their survival to demand to be treated with equality, to be treated as human beings. The history of the now democratic country, owes much to these prisoners, as the seeds of freedom and democracy were sowed in the prison of Robben Island.

The Kistenbosch Botanical Garden that is just outside of the city of Cape Town is one of the eight National Gardens of South Africa. This was the first garden with the particular ethos of planting and cultivated only those plants indigenous to the region. The Garden is one of the most famous, not just in Africa, but in the world as well. The Garden is situated at the foot of Table Mountain and close to many of the luxury hotels South Africa has to offer to those wanting to spend some time in the city and at the Garden. For the Garden is more than just the Garden itself, as there are many hiking trails up through Table Mountain, as well as mountain bike paths and nature walks. And in the summer time, when the garden is ablaze with the blooming daisies, there is a series of outdoor concerts, the perfect time to sit outside and enjoy the landscape, the scenic mountains, the incredible sunsets, and the beautiful music of South African bands and musicians.

The South African summer season begins in December and runs through March, and on Sundays the Garden offers the Summer Sunset shows. The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra plays at least once a month, and some of the bands that have played previously are Plush, Watershed, Loyiso Balla, and the Rudimentals. The stage is located inside the garden, which lends to the entire experience. The setting is breathtaking, and the atmosphere is casual, relaxed and friendly. Many plan ahead and bring their own picnic baskets and lounge about the garden on the slopes and hills, eating, drinking, relaxing with friends and listening to the music. It is best to get to the amphitheater early so as to ensure a great spot, however, if the concert is sold out, many still enjoy the music, sitting outside the gate on the benches and tables in the Garden.

Family travel can be complicated if arrangements are not properly made. A vacation to Hawaii with the entire family in tow is easy with the right kind of research. There are many great Hawaii vacation deals that include airfare, hotel, tours, and activities catering to families with children. You can stay in a resort that specializes in fun activities on site, or book a campsite in one of the many parks on the Hawaiian islands. Cruise ship travel is another option, with many lines providing exactly what you need to keep the kids occupied and happy.

No matter what island you choose to stay on, there are so many things to do, no matter what your taste. Swimming, snorkeling, hiking, and horseback riding are just some of the wonderful ways you can spend time with your loved ones as you take in the beautiful sights all around. Hire a jeep and explore some of the winding trails leading to magnificent waterfalls and views of the surrounding isles. Or Hawaii cruises are another great option.

With museums and palaces to explore, Hawaii is also a very educational place to visit. Touring a live volcano and learning about the origins of each island will add to the wonder of your trip, keeping everyone stimulated and involved in the fascinating legends and stories.