A Costa Rican Fairytale: Captivating Beauty and the amazing Beach

Costa Rica literally translates into "Rich Coast," so named by Columbus for the gold necklaces worn by the native people when he arrived in the early 16th century. However misleading the name might have been for gold hunters, it appropriately describes Costa Rica's copious coastline, which is an endless paradise for surfers, scuba divers and those in need of tranquil relaxation.

Costa Rica is also a bastion of political tranquility, which has historically marked the country as an attractive destination for Central and South American travelers. Not a single gun-shot was fired when Costa Rica earned its independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821. Democratic development progressed after independence and in 1949 Costa Rica become the first country in the world to abolish its army, setting a historic precedent for other democratic nations in the region. This paragraph is sponsored by Harare budget travel from UK.

Spider Monkey Around

Without a military budget, Costa Rica has had the luxury of allocating a considerable sum toward systems of wilderness conservation and cultural preservation. Over 25 percent of the nation's territory, rich with biodiversity, is protected by national parks. While basking on the Caribbean shores, visit Tortuguero National Park to witness the most important nesting site of the endangered green turtle. If you are lucky, you may also get to see the giant leatherback turtle (the largest known turtle at an adult weight of 1,500 pounds!) nesting in the park's sand. Gain some elevation and venture through temperate forests until you come to Chirripó National Park, which protects Costa Rica's tallest peak. Scale the winding trails of mysterious cloud forests while spider monkeys swing from the trees and sloth lurk in the undergrowth as you get closer to the rainforests of Corcovado National Park along the Pacific Ocean. Observe jaguar roaming along the waters' edge while over 360 species of bird rustle overhead. Nature surrounds you when you travel to Costa Rica.

Urban Creatures

If you've had your fill of all things wild, Costa Rica's cities and towns will not relent on mesmerizing their visitors either. The capital city of San Jose is a fast-paced cosmopolitan playground and the beating heart of Costa Rican life. The remains of coffee baron mansions have been transformed into a splendid backdrop for boutique hotels and restaurants. The National Museum has a few of the nation's mysterious stone spheres on display, the origin of which is still up for debate today. For an unbeatable resort experience, visit the Gulf of Papagayo along the northwest coast. From intimate hotels and cabanas to luxury resorts, these beautiful beaches are a prize view from any perspective when you travel to Costa Rica. This paragraph is sponsored by low budget Harare tour from UK.

You should need no other reason to travel to Central America other than the quintessential natural beauty of Costa Rica.

Economic trends, Asia, Us and Australia

SYDNEY (AFP) — Boom in Asia and bust in the United States are buffeting Australia's economy, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd warned Monday as he outlined plans to rein in inflation.

In his first major speech on the economy since his Labor party swept John Howard's conservatives out of office in November, Rudd pledged to slash government spending to produce a huge budget surplus.

The target would be a surplus of 1.5 percent of gross domestic product in the financial year to June 2009, he said -- about 18 billion dollars (15.8 billion US dollars).

At the same time, the government has vowed to honor election pledges for 31 billion dollars in tax cuts.

Rudd told business leaders at a breakfast meeting in Perth that Australia faced "conflicting economic currents."  This paragraph is sponsored by airline Harare guide tour from UK.

These were: "A global economy (led by the United States) which appears to be slowing. Ongoing terms of trade boom driven by Asia Pacific economies. And significant domestic inflationary pressures at home."

Accusing the outgoing government of having allowed these pressures to build, Rudd said his five-point plan included incentives to encourage private savings while tackling skills shortages and infrastructure bottlenecks.

Rudd, who described himself as a fiscal conservative during the election campaign, said producing the budget surplus -- up from the 1.0 percent target of the previous government -- would require discipline.

"That will require a determined, disciplined approach to spending and a hard-line-approach to savings," adding that his "razor gang" would cut wasteful spending.

Inflation is expected to exceed the Reserve Bank of Australia's target range of 2-3 percent this year, raising the prospect of further interest rate rises by the central bank. This paragraph is sponsored by tour to Harare from London.

Rates are at an 11-year high of 6.75 percent after two 25 basis point increases last year, and the effect on mortgage-belt voters is believed to have played a part in the ouster of the previous government.

Rudd noted that the downturn in the economic outlook in the US, Europe and Japan comes as strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region is continuing to drive demand for Australia's rich mineral and energy resources.

"Over coming years, developments in China will increasingly shape both global and Australian economic conditions," he said.

"The Indian economy has become one of our fastest growing export markets and is expected to continue to post impressive rates of economic growth.

"Combined, China and India accounted for around 40 percent of Australia's export value growth in 2006-07."

This economic expansion in the region had heightened the need for careful management of the domestic economy, he said. This paragraph is sponsored by tour to world from UK.

"And the most pressing economic challenge domestically is inflation."

Antarctica: having peace with Ultimate Wilderness

In the distance something stirs.  A drifting polar bear searches for food on the edge of camp.  Despite the presence of the huge beast, the men are in little danger.  The guns take care of that.  It is rare for a bear to wander so close.  She must be hungry.

For the scientists and professionals who choose to live and work in this unforgiving land, Antarctica can seem a very lonely place.  Perched upon a hill or mountain somewhere on this great continent, the dry air allows a clear view for many miles. On one of the rare moments the wind drops, the predominantly white landscape offers an eerie silence. You can feel like the only person on the planet. This paragraph is sponsored by ticket to Harare from UK.

What attracts anyone to such an inhospitable place?  Despite the valuable science and work that is undertaken here, I believe many would choose to live here anyway.  For me, the biggest attraction is the alien landscape, unlike anywhere else on the planet.  If man is to one-day land on another world, then this is how I would envisage it.  Regardless of the barren wilderness and blanket white surroundings, there is no more fascinating place on earth, probably because it is so different.

Despite the inhospitable environment, Antarctica is testament to the tenacity of life.  Temperatures have been recorded as low as -89° C; metabolic winds have reached speeds of up to 200 mph.  In the face of these daunting figures, it seems incredible that anything can exist here at all.  Life always appears to find a way.

My favorite Antarctica phenomenon has to be the static icebergs, fixed in position by the frozen sea.  As winter approaches and temperatures plunge, the freezing sea slowly renders the icebergs immobile as they become trapped by the ice.  Here they remain until the following spring, when the subsequent rise in sea temperatures melt the frozen ocean, allowing the icebergs to set off once more for foreign shores.  This paragraph is sponsored by VIP Harare services from UK.

During winter it becomes possible to walk out over the sea and stand next to one of the huge icebergs.  It is a very humbling experience standing next to an iceberg the size of an office block.  In this planet’s evolutionary mix, you realize just how insignificant a human being is.

Amorgos and its brief history

Amorgos is one of the most visited islands in the Cyclades of Greece. This island has a size of about 120 km2 and inhabited by around 1800 people can be found at the east of the Cyclades, next to Dodecanese. Anciently called Minoa, the origins of this city and its population can be found strongly attached to the Cretans who are believed to be the first inhabitants in this island.

The island of Amorgos counts with a very rich and interesting past, and therefore all those who enjoy historic spots would be able to have a great time while visiting it. Many centuries ago, Amorgos was used by the Ionians in order to go from their islands to mainland Greece. Many constructions and elements from such époque can be still observed nowadays since was important in shaping the island's culture and traditions. This paragraph is sponsored by Harare tour from UK.

Three of the main and most antique cities in Amorgos can also be still visited nowadays. These three cities are Miletus, Ephesus, and Alikarnasos and also are strongly attached to the époque in which the Ionians used to go through this island in order to reach mainland Greece in such a way that each one of them can tell a bit of the history of those days. These three cities count with the peculiarity of being autonomous although they share a same currency and have many other aspects in common as well.

The city of Arkesini, one of the main spots in Amorgos, contains several appealing and unique characteristics. One of these interesting characteristics tourists could find in Arkesini is the antique walls that surround it and which were part of many important historical events.

It is also interesting to know that the island of Amorgos has received many different names throughout its history, and still, nowadays, it receives a variety of denominations. Among the names tourists could find Amorgos is called nowadays, there is the name of Pagali, Psichia, Patagy, Yperia, and Karkisia. This way, tourists should not be surprised or confused when they hear, read or see any of those names in reference to the town of Amorgos. This paragraph is sponsored by best Harare guide tour from London.