Festivals around the world this June

siddlobo

29 May, 2009 16:26

The sun's shining, the parties are getting longer, the skirts are getting shorter and the fun is tuned up all the way. Here are some popular festivals from around the world this June.

Glastonbury Festival, UK
24th – 28th June
Glastonbury Festival is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world. This tented city offers entertainment to match everyone’s taste. From frenzied rock to more laid back jazz, whatever your choice of music, you can be sure there’s a tune that’ll be music to your ears.

June Bonfire Festival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
13th – 29th June
This is a New World twist on an old European tradition. The feasts of St. Anthony (13th June), St. John (24th June) and St. Peter (29th June) are celebrated with great pomp and tradition in the city. In streets, squares and public places, stalls are set out to resemble village market places and are decorated with streamers and lanterns. Fires are kindled in open spaces, mock country weddings are performed where couples follow the old tradition of leaping over flames. Eating, dancing, music, fireworks and festivities set against the backdrop of bonfires is the order of the day. (More)

Top 5 adventure activities in and around Dubai

siddlobo

25 May, 2009 18:54

Dubai has transformed itself from a barely inhabited desert to a top tourist destination. While the sun and the sea attract well heeled travelers looking for a chance to grill on the beach, the city has a number of exciting outdoor activities that are quite unique to the region. From camel riding to hot air ballooning, sand skiing to falconry, here are some thrilling options for the more actively inclined.

Desert Safari

This is an action packed adventure that includes dune bashing, camel riding, sand skiing and a number of other activities in one evening. As the name suggests, dune bashing is just that. Expect an adrenaline packed ride where your 4x4 crashes through dunes and kicks up a storm of sand around you. If you’re attempting your first camel ride, here’s a tip that’ll come in handy. Fight tooth and nail for the seat at the back. It’s far more comfortable and there’s a much lesser chance of falling off from here. Sand skiing is a new rage in Dubai. You basically get to the top of a dune and ‘ski’ down the dune. If you love skiing the traditional way, i.e. on snow, you’ll find this a pretty unique way of enjoying your favourite sport all year round. (More)

Fast facts on Swine Flu (type A H1N1 virus)

siddlobo

16 May, 2009 12:20

Read the news and chances are that you’ll find yourself staring at the photo of a pig or a swine flu victim. At the time this article is being written, 33 countries have reported more than 6,600 cases of swine flu worldwide, with less than 70 deaths in total. The figures are based on tallies provided by national governments and WHO. According to the global body's pandemic alert level, the world is at phase 5 — out of a possible 6 — meaning that a global outbreak is "imminent." Whether or not this happens, it’s good to brief ourselves on some of the basic facts about this pandemic. Here are some frequently asked questions as answered by CDC, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is swine flu?
Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, but most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus (an influenza type A H1N1 virus) was first isolated from a pig in 1930. (More)

Dubai’s real estate icons

siddlobo

12 May, 2009 10:27

Iconic, ostentatious, innovative, outrageous… love it or hate it, Dubai’s real estate developments have put the city on the world map. It’s estimated that 25% of the world’s cranes can be found in Dubai. A mere 20 years ago, this was a little known desert town - its centre marked by four buildings. Now, this buzzing city has been dubbed by a number of lofty nicknames- ‘Vegas on the Gulf’, ‘City of Gold’, ‘The Desert Miracle’ to name a few. While the economic downturn has caused a slowdown in its building frenzy, parts of the city still look like a massive construction site. This article takes a look at some of the most famous real estate developments in Dubai. (More)

How to Arrange Your Own Study Abroad Program (5/5)

audrey

06 May, 2009 18:14

This is the last article of a series of 5, explaining how to arrange your own study abroad program.

First article: Decide Where to Go

Second article: Determine When to Go

Third article: Language Problems and Programs

Fourth article: How to Pay for It

Practical Matters

After you've made the difficult decisions concerning where to conduct your study abroad program, when you want to go and have arranged to pay for it, it's time to get down to nuts and bolts of making the final arrangements to go. It's a good idea to keep a checklist and mark each task when it is completed. (More)