The Art of Mountain Walking

Effective mountain walking may mean relearning how to walk, and includes the correct technique reinforced by experience. There are several techniques which may be used, but they all have the same goal. Safe movement over difficult terrain, with the least expenditure of energy to arrive at a destination in good condition. Let's go over a few of the principles to be borne in mind.

You should centre your weight directly over your feet at all times (whenever practically possible). Place you foot flat on the ground to obtain as much sole-ground contact as possible. Place your foot on the uphill side of grass tussocks and other level spots to avoid twisting the ankle and straining the achilles tendon ( something to be avoided in my personal experience, achilles injuries are very painfull and can take weeks to heal). You should rest between steps by straightening the knee after each step. Take small steps at a slow pace. Try to avoid steep angles of ascent or descent, taking advantage of any indentation in the ground.

When in a group a tempo (number of steps a minute) should be set according to the pace at which the group is moving. Since physical differences will mean that the tempos of two people moving at the same speed will not be the same, an interval of three to five paces should be kept between individuals. This allows each person to adjust their stride for changes of slope or terrain, enhancing their tempo, pace, and rhythm. Those at the end of the file will benefit from this interval, since the accordian effect will be lessened.

Terrain, weather, and light conditions affect the rate of climb. The more adverse the conditions, the slower the pace. Moving too fast, even under ideal conditions, results in early fatigue, requiring more rest halts, resulting in loss of climbing time. You can only move as fast as your legs will allow. The key is rest, good nutrition, proper conditioning and acclimatization, as well as the will to climb.

Breaks, though necessary, should be kept to a mimimum. When taking a rest, boot laces should be loosened and the body ventilated (through layer dressing). At the end of a days climb, a good rest will revive tired muscles.

The rest step, as described above, is used for steep climbing, though not exactly elegant, this slow, steady, halting rest step keeps the pace slow and rhythmic. This is much more efficient than bursts of speed, which are rapidly exhausting and require longer recovery.

There is much to cover in mountain walking, and for that reason I intend to make it a short series of articles. Look out for part two with more techniques for different terrain.

by: Chris Haycock

Depok Beach in Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, I really liked this city, apart from being rich in the culture, when we to the beach then, we could enjoy the big wave there. The Depok coast, 20 minutes before arriving at Parangtritis, we could come across the Depok Beach.

In fact this coast was famous for the fishermen who looked for the fish. That was seen with the number of tents around the beach that indeed was provided by the inhabitants who settled close to the beach for the visitors who wanted to enjoy the lunch while enjoying the beauty of sea scenery. We only bought the catch fish of the fishermen, and a great number of the services to cook the fish that was bought and eaten in places that were hired out by them.

If we enjoyed the Depok Beach in the morning, don't attempt to take off sandals because the small crab often ran in all directions there. We could also see the sun rose in this Coast.

How To Find Cheap Holidays To Spain

by: Terry Roberts

Are you thinking of visiting Spain but are put off by what you’ve heard from your friends about the expense of a holiday there? It’s true that often people think of a holiday to a Mediterranean country such as Spain as a very expensive and difficult trip to plan. This is simply not true. There is a good selection of cheap holidays to Spain that include airfare, hotels and even car rentals or tours once you arrive.

Looking for one of the many cheap holidays to Spain is simple if you have access to a computer and the internet. Many of the online booking companies offer discount packages if you travel slightly off season, which may mean planning your vacation either just in front or just behind the peak tourist season.

In Spain the peak vacation times are the summer months of June to September, but the warm weather often extends well past September and even in April and May. In fact, you may find that a holiday outside the peak periods is in fact much more enjoyable – and bearable. After all, it’s no fun at all walking around cities like Seville, Cordoba or Granada in the boiling heat of a July or August midday.

Planning your vacation just off the main tourist times will usually give you cheaper flights, cheaper hotels and a lot less people around. Another option is to take last minute flights that have not sold, often these flights are a fraction of the price but do require a lot of flexibility.

Staying in hostels is a great way to have cheap holidays to Spain but many hostels have requirements on age and time that you can stay. Sticking to independent hotels rather than the larger chain hotels can also provide slightly decreased costs, plus it allows you to really experience the culture of the area. Another option is to stay in one place that has a good low daily rate and simply travel using rental cars, buses or even the train on day trips to see the surrounding areas.

One of the best ways to decrease the costs of a trip to Spain is to stay just slightly off the beaten path. Many of the smaller towns around the larger cities have wonderful accommodations at a fraction of the price. Meals, food and drink are often much more reasonable in smaller areas than in the big cities.

A rail pass is a relatively inexpensive way to get around the country and saves the traveler from having to navigate the roads and deal with a rental car. Rail or train travel is popular and inexpensive throughout Europe and the rail passes can be used outside of Spain, making them a good cost saving idea for cheap holidays in Spain.

As you can see, there are many ways you can look into to reduce the price of your holidays in Spain. The main thing is to actually get there and soak in the sun, the joie de vivre of the people, the delicious food – or whatever else attracts you!

Going On Vacations With A Personal Loan?

by: Melissa Kellett

The possibility to use a loan for going on vacations raises many questions. Which loan should I apply for? What terms or conditions are more convenient? Are vacations worthy enough as a loan purpose? Where do I find a lender?

Are Vacations Worthy Of A Loan?

One may think that taking a loan for going on vacations is an unnecessary expense. However, the truth is that a time off is essential not only for your body but for your mind too. This is a scientific fact of which not only workers but also, managers and the government are convinced. The ILO (International Labor Organization) is clear about the subject: Vacations are a Right.

Given that vacations are a right and a need, what you have to analyze is whether you are resorting to a loan due to a temporary or long term lack of cash. If you just could not save enough money but your income will let you repay the loan without sacrifices, then there is no question about it, a Personal loan can be the solution for paying for vacations.

However, if your income is not going to let you repay the loan without making sacrifices what you need to analyze is weather the other expenses you will have to cut in order to repay the loan are more essential than a well deserved annual break or not. Vacations are a necessity but there are other needs of a more essential nature. As long as you do not cut on these ones, the use of a loan for paying for vacations is justified.

Which Loan And On What Terms?

Since going on vacations is a personal purpose, any loan oriented to satisfy personal purposes is good for this aim. The options are varied: You can request a personal unsecured loan, a personal secured loan (which can be secured by many different assets including vehicles) or a home equity loan (secured on the equity on your home).

The three types will accomplish the purpose of financing your vacations. However, only the last one will provide the cheapest source of finance. Nevertheless, Which loan type best suits your needs depends on the amount of money you need, the interest rate you are willing to pay, whether you are willing to risk repossession or not and whether you actually own a property or vehicle to use as collateral.

Unsecured Loans have higher interest rates but no risk of repossession. They are the best choice for small amounts of money and the only option for those who do not own their car and home. If you already have some money and you just need some extra cash to complete the costs’ amount, an unsecured loan is the smartest choice. Secured Loans on the other side come with the risk of repossession but charge less interest and have more flexible repayment programs.

Where Do I Find The Lender?

The answer to this question is simple: Online. By searching the net you will find that there are lots of lenders offering personal loans and many of them have offers specially tailored for those who plan to use the money for going on vacations.

The usual advice is to shop around for lenders, requesting loan quotes, bargaining with them and selecting your lender after comparing what all of them have to offer. Take special attention to APR, Fees and Costs as some lenders will offer lower APR loans but the loan fees and costs might turn the loan more expensive than one with a higher APR.

Ayurveda Honeymoon Tour Packages

Ayurveda honeymoon tour packages are the latest craze among young tourists visiting Kerala. Honeymoon with Ayurveda packages receive tourists to a one of a kind travel experience, where they experience abundance and fullness of life.

Welcome to a land where the lifestyle of people is their best defense against diseases, a land so blissfully blessed by nature and a land where you can keep your peace of mind while staying away from mental turbulences, tensions and worries.

Newly weds or people looking to refill their life with youthfulness, and people keeping a youthful charm in their minds can come to Kerala to an Ayurveda honeymoon tour. Ayurvedic packages for honeymoon tour are so unique and new that it is not copied anywhere else.

Ayurveda package honeymoon tours mostly include a stay in a luxurious Ayurvedic cottage or in a luxurious houseboat, where the couple receives Ayurvedic healthy diet, medicated oil massage and directions for a healthy life. Visitors take home golden words of healthy, blissful living. Receive advice on everything from healthy lifestyle, food habits, daily yoga practice, meditation and requirement of keeping minds happy, fresh and lively.

Not many Ayurvedic resorts in Kerala offer specialized Ayurveda honeymoon tour programs. The resorts in Kerala that offer Ayurvedic honeymoon trips provide world class living environment, usually in a calm, serene location. Visitors to Kerala utilizing Ayurvedic honeymoon packages also closely watch preparation of healthy food.

Honeymoon Ayurveda packages also come with plenty of opportunity to explore serene backwaters, hill stations, beaches, cardamom hills, tea plantations, coffee plantations, wildlife, boating, trekking, and fishing among many lively locations and activities.

Ayurveda honeymoon packages are both thrilling experience and is the where you will be more dedicated to your health, happiness and enjoying life meaningfully. Ayurveda honeymoon packages can be rightly called holistic healthy Ayurveda yoga tour programs.

Come to Kerala, the land blessed so abundantly by God with blissful environment, and the science of life called Ayurveda. Come and take away all your heart can take and prepare to return to this land so often.

by: Dev Sri

happy holiday...

Yapz... you are in your next holiday now
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