Blue Life

By Sai Vallejos

 One of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country, Baguio is made for sightseeing. And for strolls and boat rides and gentle trots around the park. And for golf. Kennon Road, completed in 1905, opened Baguio to tourism.

The zigzagging path previews the scenic highlights of the city. Along the 32-kilometer highway are the Bridal Veil and Colorado waterfalls. Synonymous with Baguio is Burnham Park. Located in the heart of the city, the park’s features include a man-made lagoon ideal for boat rides, a skating rink, an athletic field and stadium, basketball and tennis courts, a biking zone, tree-and-flower lined promenades, and a plant market.

A popular golfing destination, the city takes pride in its Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay. What used to be the rest-and-recreation base of American military personnel, the Camp is being transformed into a world-class resort and is also Baguio’s biggest pine tree conservation area. Its newly refurbished 18-hole golf course rivals that of the Country Club which has pretty garden-patched cottages surrounding its fairways.

Ornate iron gates open to the Mansion House, the official summer residence of Philippine presidents. It offers tourists with great photo opportunities with its rectangular reflecting pool along a tree-lined walkway. It also houses a museum of presidential memorabilia. Near the Mansion House is Wright Park where neophyte riders can trot around an oval track guided by trainers who lead horses with a hand-held leash. At the Mines View Park, tourists can have a panoramic view of the old mines of Benguet. At the park entrance is a flea market for souvenir items.

Sitting on top of a hill in Upper Session Road is the twin-spire Baguio Cathedral, a city landmark. Another pilgrimage site is the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes which sits on top of Dominican Hill. Devotees prefer to climb the 252-step ascent than drive through a winding road to reach the shrine. Bell Church holds a religious service of mixed Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Christian dogmas but tourists come here to have their fortunes told.

Located on an elevated pine-forested ground is the Philippine Military Academy, the country’s foremost military learning institution. Its Saturday morning Parade in Review by cadets in full regalia never fails to attract visitors. Also within campus is a Military Museum. A cultural haven established by noted Baguio artist BenCab, Tam-awan Village recreates a typical ethnic village in the Cordilleras with authentic tribal homes uprooted from their original locations and re-set on similar terrain. There is also an art gallery-cum-coffee shop.

It has been said that there is only one kind of lucrative business in Baguio, and that is dining. This, of course, is overly exaggerated but then who can question this wisdom with the proliferation of food places offering all kinds of eats in this tiny city!

Star Cafe along Lower Session Road is noted for its excellent breads and pies and fine Chinese cuisine while the adjoining Dainty Restaurant has the best coffee in town and good noodles, too. For really great old-fashioned breakfasts, check out Casa Vallejo at the Upper Session Road. New Bonuan at the Happy Glen Loop, Jade Restaurant along Marcos Highway and Barrio Fiesta at the Upper Session Road are where you can partake of home-cooked native cooking.

Kalapaw Restaurant in Chuntug Street specializes in grilled squids and tuna jaws. Inn Rocio in Kisad Road dishes out Continental food, Mario’s Restaurant in Upper Session Road has good steaks, great Caesar’s Salad, and decadent cakes. And the artsy Cafe by the Ruins in Chuntug Street serves eclectic, seasonal dishes.

At the Hotel Monticello in Kennon Road, Hakuun Sanso Restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine while 50’s Diner specializes in traditional American staples. Rose Bowl Steak House and Restaurant in Harrison Road offers an international fare of Chinese, American and Filipino dishes. The local food chain Don Henrico’s has its beginnings at the Upper Session Road and serves yummy pastas and pizzas. (Source: The Philippine Department of Tourism)

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buying hammock?, banana hammcok!
By or

 May be the one of the ‘picture perfect’ summer holiday reminds us of swaying in the air and rocking in relaxation under the sun however, a Banana hammock allows this picture to be continued in other seasons too. Yes, this is what the specialties about this special range of hammocks banana hammock. A Banana hammock shuns the convention associated to lying and swinging in the hammock. A hammock till now was a way to recline and chill out with or without the family to bask in the warmth of the sun and coziness of family. With a Banana hammock people get opportunities of letting their hair down from a hammock despite sunshine or rainfall thanks to the weatherproof material it is made of.

While people using common traditional type of rope or cotton based hammocks had to unwind pleasure of swaying in the air with the departure of summer. Because those hammocks were susceptible to be torn and worn due to being wet by the downpour. But, with a Banana hammock, the enjoyment extends to other seasons as well. The Banana hammock is made from the material named Elltex. Being made of this material, the Banana hammock becomes easily weathered to harshness of weather and water too. Thats why, this hammock is extremely handy to let you swing and enjoy being wet in by the rain shower. Hence, whether it is the warm sun or cool monsoon, whatsoever beckons you to run outside come outside hanging a bag carrying Banana hammock.

Well, when you are already intrigued to buy a Banana hammock, consider following points -

1. The Banana hammock is fully weather and water proof

2. The Banana hammock can restore its texture and color being fade resistant

3. The Banana hammock is portable and can be wrapped in a banana shaped carrying bag.

4. The banana shaped carry bag too can withstand harshness and various forms of weather changes.

5. The Banana hammock can carry thinnest to chunkiest members of family due to its capability to take loads of up to 150 kg.

6. This Banana hammock in Brazilian inspired designs maintains level of comforts and super softness touch of cotton without being made of cotton. Elltex is polyester that gives feeling of cotton and features toughness to resist water and any weather without having risks of being torn.

The Banana hammock being available as striped in bright shades creates extreme joy of summertime as well as shower of monsoon. Get ready to swing in the shower as you did in the sunshine till now.

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Environmentally Friendly Flights Offered
By Roger Munns

 Many flight companies are offering to offset their CO2 emissions due to the emission worries caused by the airline industry. The companies implementing the system of carbon trading now offer this as an option when purchasing tickets. There are currently questions as to how many regular fliers know of this system and its purpose.

Carbon offsetting is a way to reduce the common greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the use of various fossil fuels. There are six greenhouse gases in total. Offsets are measured using a metric ton system. A single offset signifies the removal of an entire ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas. Several airlines offering this service allow consumers to view the estimated carbon pollution resulting from their travel.

Several airline companies are also enacting other measures to protect the environment. One popular procedure is to expand the general recycling procedures to encompass all materials, including paper, plastic, and aluminum. Several airlines have launched their own programs to contribute to environmental groups and their quest to clean up the world.

Other measures include programs to encourage fuel conservation and efficient resource management. The fleets themselves are being modernized and prepared for optimum fuel efficiency. Just by changing daily procedure to incorporate these environmentally friendly activities, one airline reports saving the equivalent of more than 200 million gallons of fuel in a single year.

Airports are also changing the standard fuel trucks to carts. These devices are stationed at the gates for the craft. There is a subsystem of hydrants connecting the carts throughout the airport. This eliminates further pollution that once came from the trucks.

There is some question to the validity of this attempt since the airline industry accounts for only around 2 percent of the greenhouse gases. The shipping industry accounts for 5 percent. Experts state much of the attention falls upon the airline industry due to the amount of travel a consumer does individually.

Europe has reported the system of offsetting as successful with hundreds of millions of tons eliminated. The European Union agrees upon where the credits are most needed before relinquishing. The first installment of 2007 covered thousands of companies and amounted to around half of all carbon and related emissions throughout Europe.

Experts agree that carbon prices will remain significant elements in the fight against pollution. The measures are believed to encourage more companies to adapt new technologies and replace outdated or less efficient materials. These procedures are not without problem or opponent.

The current costs of fuel have taken a toll on the program. Soaring prices have forced many plants to switch from natural gas to coal. The current estimates state that gas prices need to fall or carbon prices will go up to retain their effectiveness.

There are critics to the process of carbon offsetting as a means of protecting the environment. Many have pointed out that the current time frame extends only through the year 2012. The brevity of the outlook presents a difficult situation for realistic corporate long-term commitments.

The scheme of trading emissions was a practice designed by governments. It is believed that far more details should have been considered before implementing the actual strategies, as the current global fuel and economy issues have already hindered its success.

UK based company Tribune have travel guides for Europe, including Monaco, which hopes to go carbon neutral, details are via yourmonaco.com

They include details of each May’s Monaco Formula One and for the financial sector banking in Monaco

For new visitors to Monaco they also have street maps of Monte Carlo Monaco

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