Archive for September, 2009
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Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, just off Canada’s Pacific coast, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Georgia. It is 460 km (286 mi) long and up to 80 km (50 mi) wide, a magnificent landscape of emerald forests, snow-capped mountains, flower-filled meadows, crystal-clear ice-cold lakes and rivers, and pristine coastline pounded by the Pacific Ocean. The island is paradise for outdoor pursuits enthusiasts, and it is one of the few places in the world where you can play golf and go skiing on the same day.
There are mountains down the centre of the island, the Vancouver Island Ranges, dividing it into the rugged and wet west coast and the drier east coast with a more rolling landscape. The highest point on the island is the Golden Hinde at 2,195 m (7,200 ft), lying within the Strathcona Provincial Park, and there are a few glaciers here, the largest of which is the Comox Glacier,
The west coast is rocky and mountainous, characterized by fjords, bays and inlets, while the. interior has many rivers and lakes, of which Kennedy Lake, northeast of Ucluelet, is the largest.
At the southern tip of the island is the elegant capital, Victoria, with its historic parliament, narrow streets dotted with cafes, pubs and colourful gardens, and boats floating lazily in the sparkling harbour. There is an abundance of sights to experience here, including the world-famous Butchart Botanical Gardens, with over a million plants. The gardens are divided into themed areas, such as Japanese or Italian, and each is a beautiful garden in its own right.
Activities available in this big outdoors include skiing, white-water rafting, caving, mountain biking, surfing, sailing, diving and snorkelling, bungy jumping and many other exciting pursuits. There are deep-sea fishing trips for halibut, salmon and chinook, whale-watching excursions or kayaking in the inlets of the Pacific Rim National Park.
Trekking and hiking through the wilderness is also popular here, and can be done on horse or on foot along the trails in the woods.
Wildlife viewing is becoming more and more popular, with black bears high on the wish-list, and ecotours by boat can
offer sightings of bald eagles, sea lions and sea otters.
For Tasmania holidays, Melbourne Holidays and the best flights, visit Flight Centre. Flight Centre have a range of holiday packages for all tastes and budgets.
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Pregnant? Congratulations! It is such an exciting time in your life to be expecting a child. There are so many thoughts running through your mind at the moment and one of them is probably how to know what size maternity clothes to buy.
Most pregnant women will start to out grow their normal clothes at around 12-14 weeks, so you will need to find some good maternity clothes that will fit you then and take you through your whole pregnancy. There is a huge range of maternity clothes out on the market these days so there is no need to feel frumpy while pregnant.
You don’t need to spend a fortune either there is a lot of very affordable and fashionable maternity clothes on the market. Even if you just invest in a few key pieces ie maternity jeans, tops, swimmers, work pants/skirt, feeding singlets and a party dress this should see you through your pregnancy comfortably. Don’t forget that you can always wear these key pieces for your subsequent pregnancies as well.
As a general rule you choose the same size of your normal clothes (before pregnancy size) in your maternity clothes (but as you know every make of clothing seems to have slightly different sizing guides).
All good maternity clothing should be shaped to cover your growing belly or have adjustable waists to allow for growth, it also has allowed for slight weight increases so the sizing is a bit bigger compared to your normal sizing. So generally your normal size before you were pregnant should be the size you will need to buy in maternity clothing. You may find that in some garments you will need to go up a dress size, but generally speaking you normal size should see you through.
Good luck with your pregnancy and the arrival of the little one!
Gayle Petrie is the owner of Gayle Petrie Maternity Wear, she has been dressing pregnant women for over 30 years.
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Thailand’s largest and arguably most popular island, Phuket, lies in the Andaman Sea, off the west coast of southern Thailand, and is a province in its own right. In December 2004 the island was devastated by the tsunami that hit so much of Asia, and many coastal resorts and villages suffered terribly.
Fortunately, Phuket is a wealthy province, and today, thanks to a major re-building programme, the island is back in business, and visitors are unlikely to see any noticeable damage.
Phuket is largely mountainous, its highest point being Mai Thao Sip Song at 529 m (1,745 ft), and much of it is forested. From the 16th century until relatively recently, tin mining was important to the economy, and the culture of the Chinese workers has informed that of Phuket.
Other influences include Portuguese and Islam — some 35 per cent of the population are Muslims. Phuket has been known as a holiday island since the 1980s, and its beaches sprout new resorts, restaurants and dive operations with every passing year.
Most of the best beaches — huge swathes of white sand, or little sheltered coves — are on the west coast, but those towards the northern tip are much less visited. Patong, the most popular, is very highly developed, and Phuket City is awash with tourists shopping and partying the night away.
The island’s interior is worth exploring, with rubber plantations, rice fields and fruit groves providing employment for islanders who live traditionally, a world away from the international tourism scene.
Khan Phra Thaeo National Park, just 20 kin (12.5 mi) from Phuket City, is a must — its hills and valleys are covered with tropical rainforest, and it contains a Lar gibbon rehabilitation centre. These charming creatures are endangered, and this project is important to their survival.
For family holidays or short breaks, visit Flight Centre. Flight Centre has a wide range of holiday packages including great value Tasmania holidays.
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