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Matin-ao Spring, the Misplaced Paradise

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Banyan tree, locally known as balete or balite. It is considered that the tree are home to a variety of spirits just like diwata and engkanto and demon like creatures. Children are taught to not ever point a finger to a banyan tree especially if the tree is fully matured to avoid taunting the spirits that live within them. When I was a kid, I was also taught to say the words “tabi apo” which means “excuse me” each time I go by a banyan tree for me to avoid any harm. Offending the creatures in a banyan tree might lead to illness, suffering, misfortunes and also death.

This tree is very widespread alongside the banks of Matin-ao spring. They’re the primary source of water on the spring plus they play an important role in keeping the freshness and coolness of the water because of its roots. Matin-ao spring is located at Barangay Bangcud, Malaybalay City. It’s just a 30-minute drive from the city proper.

This spring was once become popular to local people as well as tourist. When we were kids, my loved ones will go picnic in this place nearly every weekend. It is in this place where my dad trained me and my younger brother how to swim. We’ve got our favoured swimming spot in where the source of water is only beside us. During those times, I noticed many locals enjoying theirselves in the freshness and coolness of the water. It is a common placefor simple family gatherings. The spring also is a good source of clean drinking water to the people of Bangcud.

Matin-ao spring lost its appeal years after it had been reported that this water is contaminated with parasitic worms or regularly recognized by the locals as “sisto” which cause the schistosomiasis disease. Folks are now are afraid to take a bath in the spring fearing that they can be infected with the dangerous disease. Another reason why the spring lost its popularitycould be the development of spring resorts in the southern part of the province. People would rather choose to do their swimming in those man-made swimming pools with chlorinated water.

After a long time, when I came to visit Matin-ao spring, I noticed that only few local people are swimming in the stream. Others are also doing their laundry washing near the supply of water. The surrounding is quite untidy and you can surely say the place isn’t well-maintained. You can no longer see different families having their gatherings alongside the banks. However it was now replaced with videoke bars with the drunken local folks singing to the top of their voices. The spot is indeed very noisy. The fresh and relaxing environment of Matin-ao spring is no longer there.

I still hope that the old attractiveness of Matin-ao spring will be recovered. It’s not yet too late. The banyan trees are still there standing proud. The cool and fresh water is still running deeply and waiting to be developed. It only requires a little fund for improvement to restore the actual beauty of Matin-ao spring. If the government is going to do an action in getting rid of those rumored parasitic worms, I’m sure Matin-ao spring will be again be a popular destination.

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Peak 10 Of Breckenridge Ski Resort

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The Super Falcon chair lift in Breckenridge, CO opened in 1985, this made peak 10 the third mountain to be opened at Breckenridge Ski Resort. Peak 10’s double black terrain is plentiful. All the extreme double diamond terrain is on the south side of the mountain. With great runs like mustang which offers moguls, trees and more. The top part of Mustang is relatively flat, but don’t be fooled. This flat part suddenly drops into the steep part of the mountain
Towards the end of the run, there is huge natural hit and the landing is perfect but be careful not to go to big or else you will land of the flat. After the hit make sure you get enough speed for the cat walk. If you snowboard, beware, the traverse to the lift can be exhausting. There are five other double black runs on the southside all are pretty similar to Mustang with steeps and mogels. Quiver, Elan, Trinity, Black Hawk and Darkrider will challenge even the most experienced skier.
If you’re riding the Southside don’t forget about the brilliant Cimmaron ski run. If you like speed with a lot of rollers, You’ll love Cimmaron. This ski run has a giant slalom feel to it with good reason. They actually hold world cup races on this run. Once you pick up speed with this run, you’ll have a much easier traverse at the bottom. The southside is the absolute best on a powder day, but I recommend you avoid the double black runs on sunny days.
The north side of peak 10 has less vertical than the south side, but the north side has two of the greatest tree or mogel runs in Corsair and the Burn. Corsair is a little steeper than the burn, and it also has a tighter trees, but if you want to get the most bang for the buck, try starting at corsair and traverse skiers right and I promise you a long fresh run. When you pull up to the corsair mogul run, go left into the trees and I promise it all opens up into an amazing powder field.
The Burn is just below Corsair and offers wide open tree runs with absolultely perfect spacing of the trees. If you keep going to the right side when coming down the Burn, your run will be much longer.
One more run worth mentioning is the Crystal . This runs straight down the middle under the Falcon Chair. This run is a great run for an intermediate skiers looking to take that next step towards being a more aggressive skier. As a warning and tip, if you happen to be riding Breckenridge on a Saturday or Sunday, the lift lines can get extremely long. So my advice to you is to tryout peak10 early in the morning and by 10:30am, you can go to other lifts on Peak 9 or Peak 8 and there won’t be much of a line.

Famagusta Area Of Cyprus The Hidden Resorts

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The Famagusta area of Cyprus covers a large part of the Islands East coast and includes the town of Paralimni. Originally the town of Famagusta itself would have lain at the heart of the district but alas it now lies in total dereliction. In fact it has been labeled a ghost town and not without good reason. In 1974 Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus and Famagusta town was where they halted that invasion. The once proud holiday resort portion of the town now lies partly enclosed within the buffer zone between the North and South. This area is patrolled by a United Nations peace keeping force and the larger part of Famagusta resort is now totally inaccessible. Tourist can however visit the Turkish side of the Island and see for themselves the crumbling ruins of this once prestigious holiday resort.

Close to the border with northern Cyprus is the village of Kapparis which at one time was the last stop on the main coastal road to Famagusta town. Over the years kapparis has grown into a thriving resort with bars, restaurants and supermarkets lining the main street. There has also been huge property development in the resort recently which in turn has led to an influx of holiday home buyers most of who are British. In fact Kapparis has earned itself the nickname “little Britain” in light of the many Brits who have settled there. It is also one of the few holiday resorts on the Islands West coast that stays open all year round. So if you love genuine fish and chips or a Chinese take away Kapparis is the ideal place to take your Cyprus holidays.

About two miles down the road is one of Famagusta’s gems, a sleepy little holiday resort called Pernera which nestles against the coast just below a small hill. You would be surprised how many people don’t even know that it’s there and pass straight by on the main road. The resort has plenty of great places to eat and it really is a great family resort. It’s got plenty to offer without being too brash which is probably why those who have discovered it return year after year. The safe sandy bays are perfect for bathing and the clear blue Mediterranean waters make them great for snorkeling. Most of the bars provide evening entertainment and there are some real nice restaurants that won’t charge you the earth either. If you are in the mood for finger food the Southern fried chicken is worth a visit and there’s even a pizza hut too.

Right next door to Pernera is her big sister Protaras with it’s long strip and huge beach. There are literally hundreds of bars and restaurants on the resort making it ideal for those who prefer a lively holiday. A visit to the fig tree bay area is highly recommended especially if you enjoy all kinds of water sports such as paracending and water skiing. You can even hire a powerboat by the hour and take to the high seas yourself. The choice of places to eat is nothing short of bewildering with just about every kind of cuisine on offer somewhere including the obligatory Macdonalds. The resort is modern and clean with everything you need in one place making it an ideal family resort.

Twenty minutes drive away is the largest resort in the Famagusta area, Agia Napa the party capital of Cyprus. If you want night life then Agia Napa is the place to be. It’s not just about partying until dawn though because the resort is also great for families and the beaches are magnificent. There’s a bustling harbor too that’s shared by modern pleasure cruisers and traditional fishing boats. If you turn up there early enough you could even buy some sea fresh fish for your dinner. The town itself has plenty to offer in the way of shops and restaurants of every kind. If you are feeling adventurous there is the famous Nissi beach area with it’s bungie jump crane and a whole lot more besides. Don’t forget that Agia Napa also boast one of the best water parks in Europe too where you can scare yourself witless on the giant water slides.

With some great resorts and the main town of Paralimni the Famagusta area of Cyprus has something for everyone. If you fancy a spot of retail therapy Paralimni town is a great place to shop with plenty of boutiques and even a Marks and Spencers. Afterwards you can relax in one of the trendy cafe bars dotted around the pretty town square or quench your thirst with a cool beer in one of the many tavernas. There are several large supermarkets that sell everything from tea bags to furniture and much more besides. Look out for the bakeries that are springing up all over the place. They are open 24 hours and sell all those essential items like bread and milk plus some calorie laden goodies for those with a sweet tooth. Enjoy your holidays and enjoy visiting the Famagusta area of Cyprus.

Kevin Moore lives half the year in Cyprus and writes regular articles about all things Cyprus including holidays and Cyprus property purchase. Check out his web site Cyprus Info Here

Red Sea Resorts In Egypt Welcome Increase In Visitors Taking Scuba Diving Holidays

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Red Sea resorts in Egypt are seeing an increase in visitors as divers begin flocking back to the region to enjoy their underwater adventures.

One of the top locations for scuba diving holidays is Dahab on the Sinai Peninsula and the coastal town is attracting many visitors who are keen to escape the countrys cities and political unrest.

Since the beginning of Egypts revolution last year, the country has seen a decline in tourists as many people avoided travelling during the violent protests that led to the overthrow of President Mubarak.

Mahmoud Aouda, a local dive instructor in Dahab said that work has declined over the last eighteen months despite the recent increase of holidaymakers.

We are still working and people are coming. The Red Sea attracts people from the whole world. Americans, Europeans, Asians are still coming. Work is still good, but not like before the Revolution. Work has slowed down at about 50 to 60 percent, he explained.

Dahab is one of leading scuba diving destinations alongside Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada, and the coastal town boasts clear ocean waters, fantastic diving sites such as the Canyon, and an array of marine species and stunning reefs that can be found close to the shoreline.

Frank Vahrenhorst, a scuba diving organiser at the H20 Dive Centre in Dahab, commented: Even the courses here are very nice to do here because the visibility is very good. Theres hardly any current and basically we have swimming pool like conditions and the marine life here is absolutely stunning.

While scuba diving in the Red Sea, divers can explore colourful coral reefs, sunken wrecks, and swim alongside exquisite marine creatures such as clownfish, lionfish, giant moray eels, barracuda, octopus, hermit crabs, dugongs, green turtles, dolphins and sharks.

Situated 600 km from Cairo, Dahab has always been a favourite destination for scuba diving holidays and the town is surrounded by stretches of golden sand beaches. The waters near Dahab are home to “The World’s Most Dangerous Diving Site”, The Blue Hole, and travellers from all over the world enjoy scuba diving adventures in the Sinai Peninsula every year.

One advantage to the decline in scuba diving visitors over the past year is that the regions delicate coral reef has had the opportunity to recover from human disturbance and as a result more fish can be spotted in the ocean waters.

Fixing A Broken Relationship

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Chances are you had a significant other that you recently broke up with. Now you are feeling all alone, depressed and at your wit’s end after realizing you have lost the person you love the most. Now you want that person to be back but you believe that the probability of fixing a broken relationship is slim to none. But don’t give up hope! Fixing a broken relationship and rekindling that old love may not be easy but it is possible. Below are some tips which may help you start fixing a broken relationship.

1.Usually, break-ups happen when both of the parties involved are angry. Decision making through rational thinking is completely obstructed by emotions. It helps to be calm and be back at your rational state before trying to start fixing a broken relationship. You can’t hurry things up. Fixing a broken relationship is a process. Although waiting for the right time to do things sucks, you have no choice but to wait so that your efforts can succeed. Remember, before you start fixing a broken relationship, it is advisable that you give your significant other the space they have always wanted. The reality of things is you are always hurting them and yourself, whether they are with or without you. It’s much better leaving them off alone so that you and your significant other could think things through.

2.Talking to your ex a week after your break up is a big no-no. Learn to respect each other’s feelings. Being clingy, needy and desperate for your ex may not be one of your normal traits and lessens your chance of fixing a broken relationship. Stop stalking to your ex and give them time to miss you. According to studies, it takes a minimum of 3 months before a person totally gets over something important that happened with their lives. By that time, you have accepted your break up, cleared the cloud of thoughts in your head and ready to pursue fixing a broken relationship. Never forget to ask your friend’s point of view before fixing a broken relationship. They got some unbiased advices to say.

3.You can start fixing a broken relationship with your ex by sending her a long, meaningful and straightforward written letter or email. As you both progress fixing a broken relationship, talk about the problems your relationship had in the past. Talk about the things you don’t like with each other and remember to be sensitive and respectful to each others’ feelings while doing it. And while fixing a broken relationship, it is important that you first talk as friends. Making up with an intimate behavior just sugar coats the problems from your past. After you are done fixing a broken relationship, you want to take things slow and make sure that your feelings towards each other are certain.

When fixing a broken relationship, learn from your mistakes. Relationships are filled with combined and mutual emotions between two people. Being understanding and sensitive towards your significant other is the key to a successful relationship. Also, when fixing a broken relationship, don’t lie. Just be yourself and tell the truth to avoid regrets in the end.