Happy Birthday Stephanie

Happy Birthday Stephanie

Hope you have a great day

Love from Keith

A new Brady Bunch! Cynthia and John blend their families, June 28, 2009, at The Matthews House in Cary

Here’s a story of a lovely lady...

then one day when the lady met this fellow...

they knew this group must somehow form a family...

that’s the way they all became the Brady Bunch.

Cynthia and John (last name Brady) had known each other for a long while but their dogs actually got them together. Their dogs are their other two children and upon meeting, the two dogs became inseparable. One thing led to another and before you know it, all the other people in the two families became inseparable too.















They chose the wonderful Matthews House in Cary as the location for their wedding and what a perfect choice it was. The Matthews House is a beautifully appointed Greek Revival home and grounds in the historic heart of Cary, NC, and Nina Davis and her staff do an excellent job of making sure all goes well for their guests.

It was important to Cynthia and John that all their children play an important part in the wedding day. You could tell the children’s hearts were in everything they did and it was touching to see how important it was to them that they were included. And did they ever have great ideas during the rehearsal!

John, who it turns out has the heart of a poet, wrote a fun poem about them becoming the Brady Bunch, based on The Brady Bunch theme song that all of us know so well - and it was all I could do to keep from breaking into that catchy tune as I read his poem during the ceremony!

As a gesture of love to their children, they presented them all with a Family Medallion. Some were necklaces and some were rings and each was perfect for the age and gender of the child that received it. The design, with its interwoven circles within a larger circle, is a beautiful symbol of families blending together in love.

This was a night for family and friends, all of whom had gathered to shower this new family with their joy and best wishes. There were so many helping hands, including Cynthia’s good friend, Deanne, who did all the floral decorations for the tables and became a very capable wedding planner on the spot. And John’s handsome nephew who stood in as the DJ. One of the adorable young cousins was floating around the reception and stealing everyone’s hearts and I just couldn’t resist adding this great photo of her with Cynthia.

The evening was a special celebration of John and Cynthia’s love for each other, their love for their children, for their families and their friends. It was an honor for me to be a part of making it all happen for them.

And as they head off into the future, with their hopes and dreams riding high, I can visualize them all together in a car; four kids, two dogs and two widely smiling parents, singing their way into a happy life. I guess with a family like that you might need a bus... no wait, that’s another show.

___

Other wedding vendors on hand to help make the event a success;

Photography - Alicia Tegen - Alicia Tegen Photography

Bouquets - Lauren Joyner (contact information to follow soon)

Wedding Cake - Audra - Audra’s Cakes and Creations

___

A romantic wedding for Becky and Alan, June 27, 2009, at the Proximity Hotel, Greensboro

It was an absolutely perfect day for a romantic wedding. Becky and Alan’s first date had been on Valentine’s Day in 2006 and Alan had given her a dozen roses. (how gallant!) So for their wedding, there were red roses everywhere!

Becky and Alan chose The Proximity Hotel in Greensboro as their wedding location and the ceremony was held on the lush, green lawn with a beautiful pond in the background. As we began the ceremony, a light breeze came up and carried the harp music through the trees, creating the idyllic wedding setting many girls dream of all their lives.

The harp music was wonderfully provided by Carol Rauch, who lives in the Greensboro area and also travels portions of the state to perform at weddings. Although you can barely see her in this photo, she was a large part of making the wedding so perfect.

The colors for the day were (of course) rose red and white and were beautifully picked up throughout the day in the decorations, the red roses of the bouquets, the bridesmaid dresses, the cake... everywhere you looked. It was elegant in its simplicity and perfect for Becky and Alan.

Once inside for the reception, great fun awaited us with the DJ, Tony Williams, of A & A Disc Jockey Service, who kept the party hopping. While the food was being served, all of us at our table kept commenting about the great music that was being played so I finally went over to ask Tony who had put it all together. Becky and Alan had given him carte blanche to play whatever he wanted and what a great selection he had chosen! There were romantic ballads from the mid-20th century to the present, in no particular order, and all of them were perfectly woven together. Great job, Tony - I want a CD!

On hand to photograph the event was the team from Henderson Photography. They were all over the place with their cameras, taking traditional and not-so-traditional photos so it should be a nice mix. During the reception they were handing out cards to everyone with the link to their website to view the photos when they were online. Can’t wait to see them!

Alan and Becky, there are sure to be many more romantic Valentine’s Days in your future and I hope every one of them reminds you of how your romance began and the beautiful wedding that came as a result.

A dirty trick from AEG (O2 Arena) re MJ tickets

Well what do you know, further to my recent rant on the media coverage of the death of MJ and the potential fiasco with ticket refunds things have just gone from bad to worse!

It is well documented that AEG (O2 Arena) failed to get insurance to cover all 50 MJ shows at the O2 Arena. Reports seem to suggest that they could only manage to insurance to cover 10 of the dates.

Suddenly they come out with a very "generous" offer to fans. If you decide not to take your refund (and respond by August 14th) you will get a souvenir ticket instead. So AEG (O2 Arena) get to print a ticket for £10 and keep the additional £40+ per ticket. NICE MOVE and a great way of recouping some of the losses as a result of not being able to get full insurance. Some people seem to think that these tickets will gain value over years but at this moment in time, if everbody took one, there would be approximately 800,000 of them in circulation, hardly a limited edition rare run now is it?

Of course if you just bought one ticket at £50 - £75 then you might be able to write off the amount to get the little souvenir. I would imagine though that anybody who bought 2 or more would be less likely to see the souvenir ticket as an attractive proposition against a full refund.

What AEG (O2 Arena) should have done is given full ticket value refunds and then used the extortionate booking/admin fees to supply all purchaser with a souvenir ticket as well. Of course there is no money in that and so they will screw the purchasers over instead.

Totally outrageous, I am not impressed with their attitude at all. So here is my reworded statement from the O2 website that I quote last week:
"At this moment our thoughts are with Michael's children, family and friends. We will announce ticketing information in due course once we have worked out how we can maximise our profits and fleece those that are due for a refund in order to recoup the shortfall as a result of us knowlingly booking 50 dates when we could only get insurance to cover 10."

Will be interesting to see if they stick with this policy or it gets amended at some point.

Last.FM listening post

Here's last week's top picks music lovers!

Top weekly tracks:


Top weekly artists:


Overall top tracks:


Overall top artists:

Big hugs.............

......... to Hazel. I know things seem pretty bleak today the way things were stacking up against you but you can get through this. You are a strong person and you have lots of loving friends and family around you who will support you and help you no matter what happens.

......... to Stephanie who has been suffering from a severe adverse reaction to some of her drugs as part of her treatment for cancer. I know things were improving slightly when I spoke to dad earlier so I hope that all continues quickly and you make a full recovery ASAP.

Thinking of you both.

BIG HUGS

USAir 3802, 31,000 FEET IN THE SKY—On Friday, my Mom called me to say hello. She asked how things were going, as far as moving and everything, and how the weather was going. As the conversation started to wane, she asked me if Lisa was around. “Nah, still at work,” I replied.

“Oh, ok, well I just wanted to ask her what it’s like to be unemployed!”

I laughed, but I hadn’t even thought about that yet—Lisa’s last day at work was Friday, so she was technically unemployed now.* Friday night and Saturday morning would be spent packing and cleaning for the move out of Lincoln; once we left the apartment and turned in the key, though, we’d be jobless and homeless. Yay for security!

It took us, realistically, the entire week to prepare for this move. I spent one or two days cleaning out my closet, throwing away trash, packing clothes, repacking them (in those vacuum-seal packing bags), and shuffling around different items to keep my two allotted suitcases to 50 pounds or less. Another day was spent just returning items to the store and running different errands around town. By the time Friday rolled around, I’d had more than enough of this moving business.

Things were really bad for Lisa, with her spending most of the week battling the chest cold that I happily shared with her. Being that she was working the 9-5 every day, her evenings were spent coming home and packing up all her possessions in preparation for this weekend. Even though I think we both wished we had more time to prepare to leave Lincoln, it was a complete and utter blessing when we rolled out of town in our packed-to-the-brim Accord and drove off into our futures.

Ah yes, the car—how could I leave that out? Mostly, I’d guess, because I’ve spent the last 12 hours trying to block it out of my mind. Even with the trip home last weekend to get rid of a lot of our stuff, there were still so many items that Lisa and I pined to take with us. Many of the items we gladly gave up: 2 huge cardboard boxes of clothes, Vadalia’s dog crate (which we lovingly filled with no less than 200 clothes hangers), the trusty microwave I had toted along with me no less than 5 different “homes” in 2 years. Other items were more difficult, and even after friends stopped by to take many of our possessions (thanks Wael and Sarah!), there were lamps and sports equipment and tons of other things that we would have loved to keep if not for space and logistical constraints. Saturday morning, then, we lined up everything that we’d decided we would to attempt to bring with us in the living room and began the process of packing the car.

I recognize that I am prone to be hyperbolic at times. Perhaps it’s the self-conscious cynic inside me, but almost any time I say “It was the heaviest thing I’ve ever carried!” or “I was starving!”, I feel a bit silly for being so dramatic. Really? That 20-pound backpack is the heaviest thing you’ve ever held? Were you really starving? Really? With that being said, let me report this:

Had we brought attempted to squeeze one more item—a plastic Wal-Mart bag, a small shoe box, a sweater—into that vehicle, I can say with all certainty that it would have exploded. Seriously.

[Side story: two summers ago, when we moved Lisa from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Lincoln, Nebraska, I was bewildered by the way this woman was able to squeeze force an endless number of items into her Accord. Furniture, clothes, a dog crate: you name it, Lisa had packed it. All she had left in Chattanooga was one box of food she “kinda wanted to take” with her; everything else was in (including her puppy, who sat on the floorboard of the passenger’s seat). While it wasn’t comfortable at all, I was simply amazed by how Lisa was able to cram her entire life into that vehicle. Now flash forward to yesterday: This makes that look like a casual stroll through the woods.]

Between the back seat, the trunk, and the floorboards, Lisa again proved to be a greater packer than Bart Starr. But how full was it? Thanks for asking. My driver’s seat to the car was at its most upright position, scooted as close to the steering wheel as possible. Not only was leg space impossible, I had to steer the wheel with my elbows. Let’s do a little experiment:

1. Put your hands on your chest.
2. Move them two inches away from your body, keeping your elbows as close to your torso as possible.
3. Make fists like your holding a steering wheel.
4. Bring your knees up as close to your hands as possible.
5. Stop breathing regularly.
6. Pretend like you can't feel your legs.
7. Stay like that for 10 hours.
   

I promise you with every bit of my soul that this is not an exaggeration at all.

However, after nearly 13 hours, 5 states, and 2 time zones, a guy, a girl, and a 50-pound peeved-off puppy rolled into Indianapolis, exhausted, cramped, and ready for a good night of sleep. For Lisa, it was the beginning of her last fortnight at home as a single girl; for me, it was the day before I flew home to officially complete my reign as the Webb family dungeon (read: basement) master (read: borrower).

So here I am, sitting in an airplane, just a few days away from the end of an era. Often times, you hear about "the next chapter" (from people who don't themselves read, let alone write, books). In a way, I feel like this transformation is even greater; it's the end of one book and the beginning of another. I'm single, living at home, unemployed, and poor; soon, I'll be married, living on my own (in a foreign country, no less), teaching, and completely loaded comfortable.

The thing is, I'm psyched. I'm not worried. I'm thrilled. This week at home will be fun and relaxing, but it'll just be a layover. In just a matter of days, Lisa and I will set sail on our greatest adventure yet.

*I can’t say anything on that—I hadn’t been employed since the last week of May. Furthermore, I had no car, meaning that I would technically be referred to as a "drifter".

Lunch at Sophie's

Toni, Sam, Tristan and I went over to Sophie's to see her and mum and we enjoyed a very lovely roast dinner of chicken and beef, followed by chocolate puddings and strawberries.

It was nice to go over and see them both, spend some time chatting and chill out. Must have been fantastic for Toni not going near to a kitchen at all LOL

We were there for nearly 5 hours and had a really good time.

Sam's prom night at William de Ferrers school

Sam went to his prom night tonight and seemed to have a good time. That's it now, school all over and done with.

He went with his friend Tristan who was staying over and they both looked pretty good:

Sleep, sweet sleep!

Just had a wonderful 7.5 hours sleep as we got in at 07:45 after being out clubbing all night and were both completely shattered.

Club Antichrist 5th Anniversary Birthday Party

Toni and I got ourselves dolled up tonight (pics at some point) to hit Londinium and go to the Club Antichrist 5th Anniversary Birthday Party. It was a long night, we didn't leave SWF until 23:00 and arrived at the venue at 00:40. Just as we arrived we bumped into Cat and Mark (old friends from Evolution/Vendetta days) and had a chat and a wander. We then found Dren and Emma and spent some time with them. It was a great night, lots of dancing, talking to friends and watching all the wild and wonderful outfits that were on display.

I spent ages in the loo at one point talking to D Void, the owner of Antichrist, about a particular issue that you will all hear much more about very soon.

Dren and Emma had to leave early as Emma was in a lot of pain due to a bad back which was a damn shame but we will be seeing them again at the end of July.

Finished the night off with more dancing and people watching, it was a great night.

We left the venue with Cat and Mark at around 05:30 and were back home in SWF by about 07:45 where we promptly crashed out for a LONG sleep!

Jason Peters of the Philadelphia Eagles buys a 2010 Chevy Camaro for his mom

Most of you recognize the gentleman on the left as former University of Arkansas football player, and current Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Peters. Jason just bought a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS for his mother, Teledoe. We appreciate their business. The Sales Professionals, Stephen Czech and Grady Flannigan, both agree that Jason and Teledoe were very nice and a pleasure to work for. Congratulations Teledoe and GO EAGLES!

Valentines Day Backgrounds

Celebrate the month of love and romance with your lover to express feelings of love, affection and desire by not only placing these valentines day backgrounds but also exchange as gifts for other buddies. Share these free backgrounds of pink heart, black/red base and other collection.

Valentine's Day Desktop Wallpaper

Valentine's day is all about chocolates, red roses, hearts, couples, kisses, gifts, teddies and other stuff to make the day more romantic and loving for both man and woman who not only agree to keep their relationship forever but also add the spice of romance to live it up. Recharge your love life by setting any of these valentine's day desktop wallpaper for free.

The hype machine has started..........

.........let me start by preceding my rant by admitting that it is always said when people die. Some people, however, seem to get elevated way beyond what they really are.

If you are a total Jackson fan then please don't go reading this and then start hurling abusive comments at me, it's just my ramblings on things...............

Yes Michael Jackson has died and I do feel for his children, family and friends and fans.

The press however are just outrageous. Suddenly Michael Jackson has become a legend and an icon. Suddenly we are expected to forget how they have treated him over the years. What about the stories of baby juggling from hotel windows, the whole "wacko Jacko" image that they built up, the potentially sordid goings on at Neverland, not to mention his complete financial mismanagement....

IMO Jackson wrote some good tunes (but there were more bad than good) and he did appear to be a graet performer when he was firing on all cylinders but let's get a grip here people. It is incredible to think that 9/11 brought the internet to it's knees and now we are hearing that things are creaking since the death of Jackson, WTF? We have a TV on at work on Sky News and it has been Breaking News since the early hours of the morning that "Michael Jackson has died". No offence guys but this is NOT breaking news anymore! The last four hours has been dominated with stories from around the world about Jackson. I am really glad to see that the world has seemingly stabilised for this morning so that any other goings on are deemed as irrelevant next to the passing of a musical icon. Freddie Mercury didn't get anywhere near as much coverage as Jackson and yet to me he personified a true musical legend.

I also found it particularly distateful that the O2 Arena website (where Jackson was due to play FIFTY sold out nights) had the following message:
"At this moment our thoughts are with Michael's children, family and friends. We will announce ticketing information in due course."
It's great that they have a sympathetic message but what exactly is there to announce? Why delay the refund process? The gigs are cancelled and there is no reason for refunds to credit and debit cards to not be made automatically and immediately (except for the fact that the longer the process it takes the more money they can make in interest before refunding).

According to the BBC News website the Mandela Foundation says it regrets 'untimely passing' of Michael Jackson. What do they have to regret? Are they hiding something?

The news is out, Michael Jackson has sadly passed away, move along now people, there is nothing else to see here, maintain your vigils if you must, watch and listen to the tribute shows and buy the soon to be released greatest hits CD and DVD (come on, you kow it IS going to happens) and let's get back to real life...............

Oh, by the way, in case anyone else missed it amidst the "greater" news, Farrah Fawcett died yesterday, my thoughts go out to her children, friends, family and fans.

Skiing Adventure in India

If in a quest of real adventure, boost up that daring spirit in you and challenge the snow clad terrains while skiing in some awesome destinations in India. You will certainly ask for more sliding down the snowy slopes. The Himalayan ranges have been the hottest spot for skiing since times unknown. The lavish landscape and slopes of different heights make skiing in India more sweeping. Skiing time arrives in the India as soon as the green meadows and the trees dominating the landscape of various hill stations are carpeted by sheets of soft snow. Skiing is a winter sport so can be enjoyed only during winters ideally from January to March.

Various destinations for an exciting skiing expedition are:

- Himalayas
Gulmarg

- Uttranchal (Garwhal and Kumnaun )
Auli
Mundali
Munsiyari
Dayara Bugyal

- Himachal Pradesh
Kufri
Narkanda
Manali


The Himalayas serve as a home to several famous playgrounds for conducting winter sports. Gulmarg in Kashmir is the best and the most favorite spot for winter sports. Gulmarg has the only ski resort in Asia that is equipped with facilities for heli-skiing. The skiers here are lifted from the slopes of the peak of Affarwat. Auli is a major tourist interest destination in Uttaranchal. The credit for the popularity of the place goes to the mountain slopes of the place equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and the conditions for skiing are perfect at Auli.


Mundali offers an unforgettable panoramic view of the snow-capped Himalayas. This place has vast ski slopes on which you can enjoy skiing. Yet another region in Garwhal, Dayara Bugyal, provides excellent ski slopes rendering a charming view of the breathtakingly magnificent Himalayas. There is a small lake in the area that provides an excellent camping site. Munsyari is the center as well as the gateway of the Johar region. Munsyari, Kumaun, is the base of treks to Milam, Namik and Ralam glaciers. Khalia Top and Betulidhar are two high altitude places that offer excellent opportunities for skiing in Munsiyari.


In Himachal Pradesh Kufri is a famous centre for skiing Kufri. It is a major attraction for tourists from all parts of the world. To propagate skiing here a sports festival is held in Kufri in the month of February each year. The long ski routes in Narkanda are difficult for a beginner but the best for a professional. During the winter months, the whole of Narkanda serves as an excellent ski ground. The slopes of Narkanda appeal greatly to the adventure enthusiasts . Several skiing races are also held in Narkanda that make the sport even more interesting. Manali offers skiing opportunities for the professionals and beginners. It has excellent natural slopes which makes it favourite among ski lovers.


In your skiing expedition you can rent a snow board after presenting your credit card and photo ID proof. Your first experience as a skier will surely be fun-filled. Capture those memorable memories in a camera. Other things that you must carry include sunglasses, sun block cream, a hat, water-proof gloves and lip balm. At such a high altitude, the rays of the sun are very strong.

Be safe than sorry. While you indulge in snow skiing, you will have to make an effort to balance your weight on your feet. Do not ski flat-footed rather ski on your heels. As you bash into the lumps of snow, you should have strong legs in order to withstand the beating knocks received while you ski. Learn to handle your skiing equipments and deal with the high altitude related sickness. Try to protect yourself from snow blindness, frostbiting, and sun burning during your excursion.

The thrill of skiing over snow covered terrain remains ultimately unmatched. As the elements are defeated and unimaginable distances traversed, exhilaration swells up. In skiing the use of only the simplest form of implements serve to add to the adventure. So when are you planning to have a rosy-cheeked time swishing down the temperating slopes, an experience of a lifetime

Aparana Chauhan

Haridwar Travel Tourism (Uttaranchal)

Immerse yourself in the spiritual ambiance by choosing Haridwar as your next holiday destination, heavenly path to home of God and Goddess. Haridwar is one of the most famous pilgrimage destination in north India that holds the great historical significance. A trip to Haridwar gives you the chance to visit the ancient temples panoplied on the holy Ganga Ghats, Khumbh Mela and and ashrams replete with numerous Yoga and Mediation centers. In many ways Haridwar represents the very best and worst aspects of India, and sometimes it can be a little irresistible. However, the view of pilgrims doing their worship on the ghats (Har-Ki-Pauri) at the sunrise is probably one of the most delightful sights in the world.

We recommend you to visit the city between October to March, as the city can be scorchingly hot during the summer months.

Attractions of Haridwar :

Mansa Devi : Mansa devi is one of the most popular and sacred places in Haridwar. As the temple is located on the Bilwa Parvat, it is easily accessible by rope way or one needs to trek up to the top to reach the temple. The top of the hill provides you one of the most exhilarating views of the city of Haridwar.

Chandi Devi : The temple of Chandi Devi is built atop the Neel Parvat that is located on the other side of River Ganga. It was built by the King of Kashmir, Suchat Singh in the year 1929 AD.

Har Ki Pauri : Har Ki Pauri is one of the most sacred ghats in India. Its significance lies next to the holy Varanasi Ghats. It is also popular as the Brahmakund Ghat. Everyday in the evening a Maha Arti is performed on this ghat.

Sapt Rishi : Sapt Rishi is the name given to the place where Ganga divides itself into seven small streams.

Maya Devi : Maya Devi is one of the Shaktipeeths in India. According to the legends, when Lord Shiva was carrying his wife Sati, who had burnt herself to prove her purity to her husband, then the heart and naval of Sati had fallen at this place.

Among the other attractions of Haridwar comes the Daksha Mahadev Temple, Gurukul Kangri University, Neel Dhara Pakshi Vihar and Beauty Point, which are worth a visit. Haridwar also provides the gateway to the Chardham Yatra – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Apart from that Rishikesh, Mussoorie and Dehradun are easily accessible from Haridwar.


Aparana Chauhan

Commonwealth Games 2010 - Delhi India

Commonwealth Games 2010 are the major draw for the tourists coming on the tour to India. It is the for the first time that the commonwealth Games are going to held in India. And so the government of India is taking every possible initiative to bedeck Delhi at its best, so that India's name is glorified in golden letters in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

It is no doubt that the big event like, CWG (Commonwealth Games) is going to bestow life to the country's modus vivendi and give it a new outlook. Commencing from 3rd October in 2010, the the exquisite corsage of amazing sport events will continue upto 14th October 2010. The opening and closing ceremonies would take place in the serene and placid landscape of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Results For Commonwealth Games


* Shooters Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang have won India its first gold medal.

* India's Sukhen Dey and Srinivasa Rao won silver and bronze medals respectively in the 56kg class. Malaysia's Amirul Ibrahim won the gold.

* Ngangbam Soniya Chanu won silver

Commonwealth Games and India Tourism Industry: Commonwealth games 2010 are also expected to boost hospitality and tourism industry in India, which is definitely more important now after the horrifying terror attacks in the country last year. As per the estimates, the percentage of foreign arrival in the country will increase by 15 -20 percent, as compared to the last year growth of mere six percent. (So it could be around 2.5 million foreign tourists and 3.5 million domestic tourists that are likely to arrive in Delhi in 2010).

Travel Agents in India have come with the most attractive tour packages with the special discount offers to allure the foreign tourists. Tourists have already started the online reservation for the hotel booking and flight reservation in the country.

Venue for the Upcoming Commonwealth Games 2010 : (Games Village )Delhi – the capital city of India is the new venue for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. DDA (Delhi Development Authority) has come with the contemporary Games village, constructed near the famed Swaminarayan Akshardham temple.

Security for the Commonwealth Games : The government of India is strictly concerned about the security of the athletes and tourists, who will be reaching Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. Government is going to deploy a force of tourists police in and around Delhi, before the commencement of the games. Some of the neighboring states have already implemented this program, so security is absolutely no issue.

Countries participating in the Commonwealth Games : Currently there are 85 countries that aqe planning to participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games : -

Afghanistan ,Algeria ,Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda , Australia ,Bahamas, Bahrain ,Bhutan , Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada
Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, England, Eritrea, Falkland Islands
Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, India, Israel, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey
Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea Rodrigues, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Scotland, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore
Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, , Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Wales, Yemen, Zambia

2010 Commonwealth Games Schedules :
04/10/2010 Aquatics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis
05/10/2010 Aquatics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Rugby 7s, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting, Wrestling
06/10/2010 Aquatics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Rugby 7s, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting, Wrestling
07/10/2010 Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting, Wrestling 08/10/2010
Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting, Wrestling
09/10/2010 Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting
10/10/2010 Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting
11/10/2010 Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting
12/10/2010 Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Balls, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting, Weight Lifting
13/10/2010 Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Net Ball, Squash, Table Tennis, Shooting
14/10/2010 Closing Ceremony at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium

Sports of Commonwealth Games : Basket ball, athletics, aquatics (swimming, diving and synchronised swimming), lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, archery, badminton, billiards[citation needed] and snooker[citation needed], boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, ten-pin bowling[citation needed], triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

Major Highlights of the Commonwealth Games :
Tour to Taj Mahal
Free accommodation for athletes
Free Transportation for the athletes
Pollution free environment

Ticket Booking for the 2010 Commonwealth Games : There is great demand for booking ticket for 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Taj Mahal India Tourism

Hotel Booking for 2010 Commonwealth Games : If you are planning to be part of the upcoming Commonwealth games, than you must be wondering where to find a good accommodation near to it, so just chill.......there are numerous options available for the tourists coming on the tour to India next year.

For Hotel Reservation log on to : India Hotel Reservation


Tourists Tips for the Commonwealth Games :
- Please get your Visa's ready
- Book your tickets in advance (Flight reservation , hotel reservation)

Popular Tourists Attractions in Delhi : Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Qutb Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple, India Gate, Purana Qila (Old Fort), Delhi, Chandni Chowk, Delhi, Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhawan (President's House), Birla Mandir (Laxmi Narayan Temple), Akshardham Temple etc.

Aparana Chauhan

Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan

Rajasthan means 'abode of kings' and it truly reflects the loyal grandeur and historical charm. You will never forget your first experience of this most colorful city presented through its amazing forts and palaces. Adding to the heritage wealth of the state, these historical sites are the pool of contradictions,beautiful in each and every reflection. Displaying the rich historical legacy of Rajasthan, the forts and palaces are the epitome of the erstwhile rulers code of chivalry and laurels akin to that to that of medieval European knights.

The giant forts and opulent palaces dotting the sand-scape remind one of the mundane lifestyles of the Rajas and Maharajas and their flamboyant courts. Petrified with the visual attractions, the architecture of these precious monuments varies from Rajput to Mughal to European. Each of these monuments has a great history attached to its origin, that leaves you in the flight of fancy, reminding us of the royalty and courage. A trip to Rajasthan without a visit to these elegant forts and palaces of the state will be meaningless.

Popular Forts and Palaces in Rajasthan India

Jal Mahal
City Palace
Hawa Mahal
Jaisalmer Fort
Jantar Mantar
Lake Palace
Lal Garh
Nahargarh Fort
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Amber Fort
Junagarh Fort
Kumbhalgarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort
Mandawa Fort
Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur Deeg Palace

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Rishikesh River Rafting India Adventure

Tips for River Rafting In India - Rishikesh Travel

River Rafting is no doubt the most exciting adventure sport in India. You just cannot call your trip to India complete until you don't get the taste of Rishikesh river rafting in the writhing waters of Ganges. The river arouse the adventure spirit among the tourists and forces them to accept the challenges to prevail its wild rapids with their rafting acumen.

If nature's you call you can't go wrong by responding to the lure of the Ganges. The adventure of white water rafting calls for triumph over the bellicose river as it gushes past the magnificent mountains. It is mainly practiced in the in the upper reaches in the wild and white water, hitting the rapids like -The Wall, Black Money, Cross Fire and Three Blind Mice. If you are good rafter try your luck with some of the most exciting rapids that poses a serious challenge - Return To Sender, Roller-Coaster, Golf Course and Club House

For the long rafting trips you need the previous experience. If you want you can attend the rafting classes held by the rafting experts. These lectures will help you understand the inwardness of Rafting. Than, it also quench your queries and difficulties that you might face while taking the river rafting expedition.

Besides rafting you have the option of pitching you own tent or putting up at the organized campsites on the sandy banks of the Tons river. In the evening enjoy the campfire sharing the rafting experiences with your friends and family. Rishikesh is not just about rafting, here you get the chance to visit the old Ashrams where you get to learn more about Yoga and Meditation from the Yoga Gurus.


Apart from that take the small trekking trip to the nearby Garhwal Village. This two hour trip to the Garhwali villages will make aware o f the lifestyle of the Garhwalis. Climbing the Himalayan Hills and watching its rich and diverse natural landscape will spellbind you with its magnificent aura. You can easily spot the leopards, spotted deers and monkeys. You can also indulge into several beach sports like Body Surfing, Cliff Jumping and Beach Volleyball at our beach camps here.

Best Time to Go for River Rafting in India :
September to November and March to April are considered as the best to to plan out the white water rafting trip to Rishikesh. There are lot of tour operators conducting rafting excursion to Rishikesh varying in length from one day runs to extended camping rafting expeditions, but you need to get the advance booking done. You need not to carry the rafting equipments, you can here them from here.

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Water Sports India Beaches

Water Sports in India

India has proved itself a rewarding destination in terms of adventurous water sports. As the country is blessed with a huge coastline, the opportunities for exciting water sports are many. The exotic beaches and the turbulent rivers that India enjoys are a hub for these water sports. Many adventure enthusiasts from all over the world have flocked India to quench their thirst of adventurous water sports. The famous Indian destinations are frequented by the adventure sprees round the year. There is immense scope of water sports in India including some sports like kayaking, scuba diving windsurfing, canoing, water skiing, yachting and many more. Not just the sea beaches but the rapids on the slopes of mountains and large lakes also make a perfect site for these water sports.

Famous Water Sports of India

The exciting range of water sports in India is fantastic to experience. These adventurous expeditions are for the mighty hearts. Here mentioned are some of the famous water sports of India:

Windsurfing: If you are a sea lover and have a brave heart you may go for windsurfing where you find a fusion of sailing and surfing. The wind surfer requires to accommodate his balance to the changing directions of water and winds.

Scuba Diving: Much loved by the water sports lovers, Scuba diving gives you a chance to go deep into the sea and explore the marine life under the sea waters. The scuba divers can discover the amazing aquatic life like lobsters, coral heads, bright colored fish.

Snorkeling: It is an easier way to explore the underwater life. It feels so great to float like a fish under the sea water and have encounters with the undiscovered marine life. Even you can try snorkeling.

Water Skiing: The brave hearts love to ski in sea water. Water skiing can drench a water sport lover. You might find it similar to surfing as you need to balance on a ski board in skiing also. Water skiing is highly recommended to the adventure freaks.

Canoeing and Kayaking: Canoeing and Kayaking are much popular in India as the beaches of India offer excellent opportunities for it with quality kayaks and canoes.

Speed Boats: Do you wish to go for a thrilling ride at the speed of 30 – 40 miles per hour? This is possible by motor boats where at least 6 to 8 people can enjoy at the same time. It can also be used to visit breathtaking tourist destinations.

Water Scooters: Water scooters make fast paced rides and water skids possible. You can have immense pleasure and adventure in these water scooters.

Destinations for Water Sports in India

Goa: Goa is one of the hottest destination when it come sot adventurous beach sports. The thrilling water sports of Goa are much sought after by the travelers. The famous beaches of Goa host a number of water sports.

Tamil Nadu: The beaches of Tamil Nadu are loved by the sea lovers who want to have a memorable beach tour in India. The Covelong Beach in Chennai is specially known for the adventurous trips.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The exotic beaches of Andaman Nicobar islands are much famous as they host a variety of water sports. The adventure enthusiasts find a wide scope in the beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Lakshadweep: The beaches of Lakshawdweep are remarkable and the water sports present here are superb. The roller coaster of fun embraces the serene beaches of Lakshadweep. Do not think twice just pack your bags and get going on a memorable trip to these beaches.

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Beach Parties India Tourism

Indian Beach Parties

Beaches of India are a hotspot among travelers. These beaches are a destination for adventurous water sports and beach sports. Besides the other famous beach activities, another attraction of Indian beaches is the Beach Party. The beach parties in India are becoming gradually famous. It is the time when you unwind yourself. The party people have tremendous opportunities to shake a leg or soak themselves in ultimate ecstasy.

Beach Parties in Goa

One of the famous site for Indian beach parties is Goa where the sun of fun never sets. Goa beach parties are much famous round the globe. Many people who come to Goa have somewhere in their mind the exciting idea of partying in Goa beaches. It is a paradise for the party mongers as it forms a perfect place for the parties.

Goa is even famous for the trance parties where the spirit of parties live in the hearts of the visitors. Sipping the indigenous drinks of Goa like feni or other imported brands of liquor and tapping feet with the trance music of Goa is what makes Goa beach parties more remarkable and distinguished. This is the reason that the beaches are always flocked with tourists. This beautiful location is preferred by the party freaks as on one side they enjoy the Arabian Sea and on the other they have golden sands of Goa beaches.

These trance parties of Goa are a facet of Goan culture. Thanks to the arrival of hippies which introduced trance parties in Goa beaches in the 1960s. Accompanied by the techno beats of psychedelic trance, these parties are famous for being continued till the wee hours. Till date the night parties and the beach parties are famous.

Another exotic facet of the Goa party culture. The trance parties took root in Goa courtesy the hippies who arrived on the Goa beaches in the 1960s. Accompanied by the techno beats of psychedelic trance, the trance parties continued till the wee hours. Even though the hippie influx petered out in the 1990s, trance or raves are still very much a part of the nightlife in the Goa beaches. The trio of sun, sand and sea can do wonders in Goa where you have unforgettable tour memories.

Aparana Chauhan

Devilish Presley @ Riga

After some kebab van badness Toni, Sam and I went to Southend to the Riga bar to watch the mighty Devilish Presley. It was great to have a chat with Jacqui and Johnny again and also Brian (from Global Noise Attack).

Was also nice to see Steve there and have a quick catch up.

Toni and I having a chuckle!


THE VORONAS
First up were The Voronas, a local band peddling a fine blend of blues, swing and rockabilly. They were really good and the singer had a great voice and a compelling stage presence. Definitely one to watch out for and I'll be sure to try and see them live again.





See all the pics of The Voronas here: 250609TheVoronasRiga

DEVILISH PRESLEY
If you haven't yet come into contact with this duo then where have you been hiding? With four albums and loads of gigs under there belts what you get here is Devilish Presley at their finest, rocking the night away, enjoying themselves and showing what its all about, a great night out!
Johnny was in good form with lots of witty banter and came a cropper when he said that Otway was insane and did stuff on ladders and that we were unprepared as if we'd brought a ladder he would perform on it. In a bizarre twist one of the guys from the venue appeared with a ladder and rest was history!






See all the pics of Devilish Presley here: 0609DevilishPresleyRiga

How to annoy your neighbour!

My friend Mike has one of those irritating neighbours that complains for the sake of complaining and is a complete pain in the backside.

Mike likes his DIY and has been working on his shed which overlooks said neighbours garden.


He hasn't completed it yet but it is coming along nicely. I particular like the attention that he has paid to the custom made gable end decoration:


Wonder how long it will take him to notice!

And it Harm None, do What Thou Wilt

Bide the Wiccan laws ye must
In perfect love and perfect trust;
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,
An it harm none, do what ye will.
Lest in thy self-defense it be,
Ever mind the rule of three.
Follow this in mind and heart,
And merry meet, and merry part.

Goa Carnival - Famous Beach Festival

Beach Festivals in India :

Goa is a land of celebrations and festivals. The enthusiastic Goa celebrates a lot many festivals among which Goa Carnival is the most celebrated one. Exclusive to Goa, the Carnival is a time for frolic and merrymaking. Thanks to Portuguese who introduced this festival Goans in the 18th century. It is a time when Christians and Hindus, young and old all are engrossed in the festivities. With the advent of February, the preparations for the festival starts. The three day long festival makes Goa more lively and vivacious. The locals and the tourists all are attracted towards this festival of Goa.

Just before the austere days of Lent for 40 days, the people of Goa indulge in merrymaking through feasting and drinking. You get to see the big parades, processions, bands, and the melody of music, songs, musical instruments etc. Over the years, the carnival has become synonymous to the sparkling spirit of Goa. Though it was initiated as a local feast but it has changed a bit over the years. The striking floats and the pageantry make the carnival more distinguishable. It concludes with the red and black dance which is held by the Club National in Panajim.

Goa Carnival in its Historical Times

Many theories abound for explaining the origin of Goa Carnival. The word Carnival is a Latin word which means “giving up meat”. It indicates the relish with which meat dishes are eaten during the festivities before Lent. In its initial times, the festival was celebrated by Portuguese by throwing eggs, flour, oranges lemons mud and dirty water at each other with a spirit of fun. This act signify getting rid of old and dirty things before Lent.

Attractions of Goa Carnival

The festival falls on Sabato Gordo (Fat Saturday) when the festivities are enjoyed for whole three days and night. King Momo presides the feast and asks the subjects to be happy and leave their worries. This indicates the starting of the feast and merrymaking for three days. In th evening grand balls are organized. You could witness a riot of colors during the festival.

The festival involves music, masked dances, cross dressings, and mock battles which are called cocotes. Also another interesting event is when the youngsters raid their neighbor's kitchens with a trick or treat alternative. It is really amusing and is called assaltos. The ball in Red and Black dance culminates the festivities. A liberal use of feni peps up the spirit of Goa Carnival. The spectacular feast has become a center of attraction for many now.