The Country Club Golf Course

How much golf do you play? Can you justify the cost of membership against the amount you spend on green fees every time you play a round at your country club golf course?

If you only play on Saturday mornings for instance, and the green fee is $25 your golf is costing you $1300 a year. Not much point then in forking out $2000 to become a member. Obviously though, looking at those figures, if you played twice a week you would be wise to take up the offer of country club golf membership.

While primarily considering joining the country club for its golf course, you will want to know if there is an in house league, how often competitions are held, is there a spa, swimming pool etc. If you are taking out a family membership you will want to know what facilities they have that will interest your partner and children while you are on the course.

There is also the status that comes with being a member of the local country club. Many a country club golf house is the hub of the local social calendar. It can be an important place to socialize and drum up business for your company and for your children to learn the correct etiquette. These are all things you will probably consider when deciding wether to become a full member or not.

Other benefits that might be on offer include member discounts in the pro shop(up to 20% at some clubs), preferred tee off times and discount green fees if you bring any none members to the club for a round of golf.

Some country clubs offer a monthly membership which can be a good idea if you are new to the area and want to try several golf courses before deciding on which country club you will be joining.

Many country clubs now have property available within their borders. These homes are designed with the retirement couples in mind and often come with country club golf membership, or at the very least, a discount. One such club is the Pinewild Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina. As well as golf it offers tennis, swimming and a lake for fishing. What a way to spend your remaining days!

This type of country club has been hugely popular for some time now in Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal. Thousands of people from England and other northern European countries take early retirement and move there for the sunnier climate and superb country club golf.

Make Water Lively!

When the waves splash on the beach, I can see droplets of water flying in the air. When the waves crash against the walls of the coastline, you see droplets of water flying in air. I have tried to take the photos of waves before and this is what I have found out. If I took a photo of the waves without the droplets of water flying all around as it crashed against the wall of the coastline, the picture failed to bring out the liveliness of the water. Similarly, if I took photo of the waves before they reach the beach, they do not appear that lively. How did I know that? This is because I took a number of shots at the waves. And the only one that stands out is when the front wave hits the beach with splashing effects.

You can conduct a simple experiment to see for yourself. Go to a swimming pool. Watch as people jump into the pool. When a person jumps into a pool, droplets of water splash around the surrounding. This is like making the water alive. When a person is swimming especially in butterfly style, you will notice that the droplets of water fly into the air and splash all around the swimmer. These flying droplets of water make it appears lively and full of energy.

Basically, you can make water lively in a photo by creating the splashing effects. However, this may not be appropriate in a case of a pond. Since there are no waves in ponds, it is not natural to have splashing effect. Throw a stone into a pond and observe. If you are trying to capture the impact of the stone when it hits the pond, then the splashing effect is applicable. But if you just want to capture the stillness of the pond, then you need what I termed as the ripple effect. You can see ripple of water created by the impact of the stone into the water. This is only possible because of the stillness of the pond.

Well, how to create the splashing effect or ripple effect artificially? Well, you can do so by creating disturbance to the water surface. Maybe you can throw a stone into a pond. Maybe you can throw a basin of water into the swimming pool or the sea.

In short, the simple idea that I will like to share with you is:
Make water lively by creating the splashing or ripple effects.

Have an exquisite stay at Fortune Select Royal Palms Chennai

Fortune Park Hotels has opened convenient & budget hotels in Chennai. It is a part of Fortune’s Select category of hotels & is likely to become the preferred choice for the discerning traveler. Fortune Select Palms offers an excellent range of guest facilities & services tailored to make business travel that much easier. It offers holiday packages also. This hotel offers low price rooms to the travelers. Fortune Hotels have also introduced Fortune Drive to welcome the visitors to the Fortune city. Care is taken as to the amenities provided in the car gives the guest a feel of comfort & ease. So one can enjoy the Fortune Drive while one checks-in at the Hotel. There are many site seeing places here, which visitors can enjoy like Fort St. George, Marina Beach, St. Mary’s Church, Kapaleswarar temple, Parthasarthi temple. Chennai is known for its classical dance like Bharatnatyam. One can hang out at beaches.

Location: Fortune Select Royal Palms located at a distance of 17 km from the Airport & 14 km from the railway station.

Accommodation: It has 129 well appointed spacious rooms in the categories of Standard Room, Fortune Club Rooms & Suites. In the first phase 66 rooms are opened furnished with all modern amenities. There are 7 banquet halls with modern conferencing facilities & a well-equipped Business Centre.This imparts it a category of good business hotel in Chennai.

Facilities: Fortune Select Palms gives the best hotel services in chennai:-

Wi-Fi connectivity
Swimming pool
Mini bar
24 hrs. Room service
Electronic safe
Tea/ coffee maker
Banquet & Conferencing facilities
Zodiac-24 hrs. Astral coffee shop

For more information visit http://www.fortunehotels.in

Turkish Marmaris Travel

This sweet resort town located on a peninsula where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, is surrounded by a pine-wooded landscape. It has a harbor sheltered with lush foothills and long sun-drenched beaches surrounding its bay.

The ancient city of Phykos existed where Marmaris is located now. There are various Grecian ruins nearby , as well as fascinating Lycian tombs. There are few remains apart from those of the small 16th. century fortress, an old bridge and a Caravanserai.

Today Marmaris is a charming seaside resort with an endless stream of boats to and from the harbor carrying visitors to the neighboring shores. In June every year the Art and Tourism Festival is held.

There are a lot of touristic and historical sites near Marmaris. The ancient city Loryma (Aziziye) is located at the tip of the Bozburun Peninsula but little of it is still standing. Cedreae (Sedir), also known as Cleopatra island lies in the Gulf of Gokova. Besides going to these places, you can take also day trips to Cennet Adasi (Paradise Island); is linked to the mainland by a causeway, was known as Nimera in ancient times and the remains of a monastery can still be seen. Icmeler; named for its famous springs whose water was to be good for the digestive system.

Carvanserai; this stone-built Ottoman construction was built in 1545 and has one large and 7 small rooms. It is still standing and used as shops selling souvenirs and touristic goods. Ibrahimaga Mosque; constructed in 1298, the mosque is notable for its large dome.

Tomb of Sariana; another Ottoman construction, the tomb honors a saintly lady who, according to history came to the aid of Kanuni Sultan Suleyman's hungry troops with jug after jug of milk. She also predicted victory for the Sultan in his expedition to Rhodes.

Besides having possibility to do all water sports in Marmaris, you can enjoy riding until 02:00 a.m. There could be riding in the forest, special riding trips and lessons could be arranged.

Sites to Visit and Environment

Caunus-King Tombs Through seven centuries of active life, under the Persians, the Greeks and the Romans, Caunus was one of the leading towns of ancient Caria. It was always known as an unhealthy place and whether it was abandoned because of the mosquitoes that plagued it or because of the sifting of the harbor is not clear.

Dalyan and the famous "Turtle beach" It is one of the few places in the Mediterranean where giant loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs.

Datca A favorite with yachtsmen, Datca is a pretty, sleepy town with one modern hotel and several pensions and the attraction of being virtually surrounded by the sea.

Knidos This ancient city may be reached by sea from Datca, where a few boat men offer facility, or at the end of a 90 minute bone shaking drive off the main road a short way outside the town. Yacht tours are also available.

The Lord of the Rings: Finding Middle Earth in New Zealand

The Lord of the Rings story has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world. New Zealand has been lucky enough to be involved in this global phenomena thanks to Peter Jackson's critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. The wide-open spaces, diverse landscapes and spectacular scenery of New Zealand were the best place to film the movies, allowing New Zealanders to showcase their country and create a growing Lord of the Rings tourism industry.

The Lord of the Rings back-story

When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the original Lord of the Rings novels between 1937 and 1949, he would have had no idea of the huge impact they would have on future generations throughout the world. The stories have had a massive influence on pop culture and you come across many Lord of the Rings references in songs, movies and other literature.

Tolkien had earlier written a book called The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings novels followed as sequels and continued the epic fantasy theme and have since been reprinted into over 30 languages, making it one of the most popular franchises of the 20th century.

The Lord of the Rings story is based around human like creatures such as Elves, Hobbits, Wizards, Dwarves, Orcs and Men. They live in a sprawling world named Middle Earth, home to mysterious beings, magical rings, the devious Gollum, huge battles, the dark realm of Mordor and much, much more.

Part of the success of the Lord of the Rings can be put down to its complexity and Tolkien's endless work in developing a credible and highly detailed back-story. This back-story is brilliantly revealed as the story progresses, filling in important details and creating a living and breathing world with a rich history in the minds of readers.

Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy

After several acclaimed but moderately successful feature films, New Zealand's Peter Jackson diverted his attention to a new project, one that would consume many years of his life and eventually turn him into a star and one of Hollywood's most sought after directors.

Jackson always had a desire to make an updated film of the Lord of the Rings and often wondered why it hadn't been done earlier. After years of negotiating and revised scripts, Jackson and New Line Cinemas finally agreed to film and release the Lord of the Rings is a trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of The King. Filmed entirely in New Zealand, the films proved to be financial gold mine for both parties with the combined profits of the movies, video games and related merchandise easily heading in to the billions of dollars.

The movies were released to much critical acclaim and while some purists felt that Jackson deviated too far from the book, most agreed that it was both faithful to the book and a spectacular motion picture. The three movies combined for 17 Academy Awards with The Return of the King being the most successful, earning 11 of these, including Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Jackson.

The movies created a huge windfall for New Zealand in terms of publicity, tourism, the movie making industry and the creation of Weta Workshops as a leading special effects design studio. Wellington was even chosen as the destination for the premiere of the final chapter of the trilogy, The Return of the King.

Finding Middle Earth in New Zealand

With the Lord of the Rings thrusting New Zealand's spectacular scenery in to the limelight, it was inevitable that a demand to see it up close and personal would be created. Labelling itself as "Middle Earth", New Zealand's tourism industry gained a much-appreciated boost thanks to thousands of travellers taking part in tours and scenic trips. Immersing themselves in various film locations, ardent Lord of the Rings fans and casual travellers alike could enjoy the wide open spaces of New Zealand knowing that these were where the movies plot twists, dramatic scenes and great battles took place.

Filming took place throughout the country, with areas surrounding Wellington, the lower North Island and Christchurch receiving the most attention. The Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps and Mt Potts high country station serve as particularly beautiful and inspiring areas to see various Lord of the Rings film locations such as Edoras, Helms Deep and the Misty Mountains. All are accessible with tour groups and you'll have the opportunity to meet new friends with similar interests along the way.

J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings story has affected the lives of millions of individuals around the world and none more so than here in New Zealand. His epic tale of courage and honour has not only inspired readers but also helped Peter Jackson create his own masterpiece, opening up a whole new generation to Tolkien's wonderful story. New Zealand's film industry has been taken to a new level with the burgeoning local industry talent allowing other blockbuster films such as the Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong to also be filmed in the country. The benefits spread further into tourism and related areas with many overseas visitors coming to experience New Zealand's special link with the Lord of the Rings.

New 2007 Flights For European Club Capital

Clubbers from around Europe, and especially from the UK, descend upon Ibiza in the summer months for a week - and sometimes two - of non stop partying.

Ibiza runs second only to the UK's main cities of London, Manchester and Liverpool in terms of popularity for clubbers, and some of the Ibiza clubs are as well known as any in the UK.

Demand for flights to Ibiza has been high enough in recent years for a low cost airline to start two new services from the UK to Ibiza, which should see the number of tourists on the island rise this year.

The two new routes are from Edinburgh in Scotland twice weekly, and London's Luton Airport with both routes offering a daily service.

Announcing the new routes, a spokesman for the airline said that the famous Ibiza club season gets going at the end of June, and is still the best place to party in Europe. For the quiet life, head inland to the north coast of the island, where you find some of Spain's most beautiful landscape rolling into the Mediterranean.

Talking about Ibiza's neighbouring island and equally well known holiday destination Majorca, where they have been offering a low cost service for some years, the airline said of Majorca's capital, Palma, that it is the elegant and cosmopolitan capital of Majorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, and is known for its beaches, climate, cultural and traditional influences. The warm climate of Palma makes it a popular destination, with something for everyone.

As well as Majorca and Ibiza, the airline also offers a service to the third Balearic Island, Menorca.

'Of the three Balearic Islands, Menorca is known as the quiet one, the type of island where you take your family on holiday if there aren't any mid to late teens who need entertaining, which would be more suited to Majorca. Ibiza is well known in Europe as a clubbing destination.' Say one travel guide for Menorca and Majorca.

Menorca villas are often let out to holidaymakers, with the season generally running from May to end September.

As part of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has welcomed many visitors back to live full time on the island. Menorca property has proved popular too, for those looking for a gentler pace of life than big sister Mallorca.

Property prices in Mallorca are similar to Menorca property, with a range of apartments and villas in both rural and town locations, and with twenty golf courses plenty of golf course developments too on Mallorca.

Menorca has just the one golf course, recently extended to eighteen holes, and is located in Son Park, which has a choice of hotels, apartments and villas for holiday makers.

The three Balearic Islands of Menorca, Majorca and Ibiza might be close to each other, but they are all different in character and the type of tourist they typically attract.

A surprise is that the amount of time spent on Ibiza by each tourist is longer than on Menorca and Majorca - destroying the myth that Ibiza is primarily for long weekends or short trips for a couple of nights in the club.

The findings by the Balearics Tourist Authority show that after Ibiza, Menorca visitors stay on average for 11 days, with Majorca just behind. And the same pattern emerges for spending per day, with Ibiza top, Majorca second, and Majorca last.

The amount spent by Ibiza tourists averaged 94 Euros a day - a huge contribution to the island's economy, which could be furthered with the new routes from Edinburgh and London.

Full moon partying - Thai style

The Samui - neighbouring island of Koh Pha Ngan has long been a haven for party-goers from around the globe, with the now world-famous Full Moon parties kicking up a storm each month. Fancy joining thousands of hedonists watch the sun rise in a beautiful bay to a background of thumping dance beats and bongo drums? Here’s the low-down on the art to full mooning Thai style.

Arriving at Thong Sala Pier from the mainland or neighbouring islands, party-fiends are hustled into the back of pick-up trucks for the heart-stopping journey to Hat Rin. If you are lucky, negotiating these sharp bends at high speeds will be the only close call with trouble you have here. Expect a police check en-route if you are arriving on the eve of the party, and have your ID/passport at the ready.

If you haven’t arrived at least a few days before the Full Moon Party, finding a place to stay will likely involve a walk to the western side of the Hat Rin cape, a sort of unappealing overflow for tie dye clad ravers. Many prefer to stay on Samui and come over for the evening.

Many opt for no accommodation, preferring to spend their baht on booze and other thrills. This is a real option for those coming from Samui, but don’t cancel out the possibility that you will find yourself snoozing in the shrubbery around the bungalows set back from the beach in an effort to kill time before your return ferry.

Glorified in the 2000 Hollywood blockbuster The Beach, many tourists come to the Koh pha Ngan full moon party expecting to see Leonardo Di Caprico and have the time of their lives. After all, how could all-night entertainment at a stunning beach setting fail to impress? Add to this thousands of gorgeous men and women all on holiday and looking for a good time, and bingo! You have the party of the century, or do you?

“It was a let down. I came to hear cutting-edge dance music and was confronted with over intoxicated youths juggling fire”, said Angela, a 25-year-old surveyor from London. She continued, “Full Moon parties may have been rocking in the early 1990s, but they’ve past their sell by date”.

Well past their sell-by date in some people’s books, the days of recreational drugs passing freely among intrepid full mooners who had to do more than just buy an all-inclusive ferry ticket from Samui to get here are gone. Nowadays, the police stroll among the nearly 10,000 party-goers looking to nab any old greasy haired hippie who dares to spark up a joint in between applying day-glow paint. What happened to the chilled out Thai vibe?

Today, full mooning Thai style requires partiers to have a different set of skills than mooners of decades past. It is not all about expanding your mind with hallucinogenic properties anymore. The heightened police presence makes it unwise to consider consuming anything but a couple of shared buckets of Sang Som, coke and Red Bull. Keeping an eye on your wallet is also wise and leaving nothing of value in your bungalow even wiser. That’s what Koh Pha Ngan is like these days.

Despite the greater police presence, the Full Moon Party is a prime spot for meeting weirdos, drug addicts and those who look like they’ve been away from home so long they’ve forgotten their names. Steer clear of undesirables and don’t walk back to your bungalow alone. Perhaps equally important is the warning not to go swimming. With most of the male mooners preferring to pee in the sea than use the smelly and crowded club toilets, you’re more likely to get a mouthful of urine than have a pleasurable cooling off session as you watch the sun rise.

Regardless of the drawbacks, the Koh Pha Ngan full moon party can be a fun experience for many. “We had an awesome time”, exclaimed Andy Brucks from Melbourne. “The DJs played heaps of hot tunes and the atmosphere was electric. When the sun came up, the party started all over again”, he added.

Plenty of party epicures enjoy this event, many returning year after year to Koh Pha Ngan, or monthly in some cases. The freedom to wear what you want and shuffle from bar to club in between intermittent splashing in the Gulf’s waters is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for some, and a nightmare for others.

The art of full mooning is difficult to define. While the party has moved on from its humble beginnings, the spirit of all-night revelry on the tip of a secluded Thai island is still alive and kicking among the painted faces, skimpy bikini-clad ladies, fire-eaters and outrageous costumes. It’s a lot different from nearby Samui, that’s for sure.

Saigon - The City Spas

If you're on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo or Osaka, the plane is probably full. Observe your fellow passengers and you'll note that, along with the usual crowd of businessmen in suits, there are scores of Japanese women toting overstuffed carry-on bags. Thanks to Japanese press reports about Ho Chi Minh City's great shopping bargains, the city has become a hot destination for young Japanese women eager to shop, sightsee and relax.

Relax in Ho Chi Minh City? While the city may seem anything but peaceful, some local entrepreneurs saw an opportunity in the chaos. They reasoned that after a hard day of shopping and touring, visitors were in desperate need of rejuvenation. What was missing was a spa.

Women only

With its high ceilings, polished wood trim and glittering chandelier, the front room of the Saigon Spa resembles the lobby of a swank boutique hotel. Upon entering, guests are met by young women in Chinese-style cotton blouses and skirts, who usher them into an airy waiting room where they are served cups of scented herbal tea that is said to stimulate blood circulation. From there, customers can proceed to the herbal saunas, a Jacuzzi strewn with rose petals, or various screened massage rooms. The place smells divine.

"We use more than 10 kinds of fresh herbs in the Jacuzzi that we buy from the market," says Miyuki Wada, Saigon Spa's manager. "The Japanese boss went to s traditional sauna in Cambodia and was inspired to operate in this way."

Customers can choose to be massaged with ginger oil or lemongrass, have themselves slathered in Deal Sea mud, or coated in fresh papaya pulp. Many customers - 80 percent of whom are Japanese - opt for the works the Blissful Day package takes six hours, costs US$110, and involves a shower and herbal steam bath, a body scrub, a Dead Sea mud wrap, an aromatherapy massage, a dip in the b=herbal spa, a collagen facial treatment, a manicure and pedicure, foot reflexology, a paraffin hand treatment and a snack.

Catering only to women, this Japanese-Vietnamese joint venture opened in February 2002.

Secret Garden

Spa Tropic opened a month later, in March 2002. Run by Thuy Do, a Vietnamese-American woman, this spa is both smaller and more low-key than the Saigon Spa. Set in an old French villa down a small lane off busy Hai Ba Trung Street, it feels like a well-kept secret. "It's a nice surprise for people who do find it," says Ms. Thuy. International expats and Japanese tourists comprise most of the clientele.

With its white alls and simple furnishings, Spa Tropic has a spare, Zen-like vibe, complete with a tint Japanese-style garden. "I chose a villa to give it character and make it distinctly Vietnamese", says Ms. Thuy. "I wanted a fresh, contemporary and clean look."

Customers don loose clothes and lie on futons on the floor for their massages, choosing between deep-tissue Swedish massage and a more vigorous style of Thai - inspired Shiatsu. An hour-long massage costs US$22.

All of the aromatherapy and massage oils are imported, although Ms. Thuy plans to incorporate some traditional Vietnamese medicinal plants into her treatments. One new body scrub employs powdered rau ma - a herb typically steeped to make a cooling drink - mixed with soy milk to cool, soothe and exfoliate the skin. This scrub is followed by a light massage with lemongrass and kafir-lime oils.

Beauty Cures

The newest beauty spot in town is Qi Saigon, a large spa near the airport that uses products from the Label Qi, an offshoot of the Japanese cosmetics firm Shiseido. "It's the same company but more luxurious," explains manager Mai Thu Phuong. Ms. Phuong estimates that 70 percent of Qi's customers are Japanese.

With 100 staff and separate floors for men and women, Qi Saigon is the city's biggest spa. The ground floor features a hair salon while the top floor houses a bar. In contrast to the old-fashioned Asian vibe of its competitors, Qi is sleekly modern. Pale pink decor, curved walls, glass blocks, mirrors and polished chrome equipment give customers the sense that they're patients in an upscale medical clinic.

The emphasis here is on skin treatments. Along with massages, Qi offers facial treatments said to reduce the effects of aging, whiten the skin, and reduce acne. Hour-long facials cost US$33 to US$63.

While Japanese visitors and expats now account for most of these spa's customers, it's only a matter of time before this trend catches on among stressed-out Vietnamese urbanites. "High-income Vietnamese are exploring different options, but many still focus on beauty instead of health and relaxation", reports Ms. Thuy of Saigon Tropic. As the pressures of urban life continue to take their toll, it's not just tired tourists who'll be willing to splurge on spa treatments. After all, a few blissful hours of being pampered can feel like a mini vacation.

Vietnam Travel

Spread over more than nine hectares, the resort is perfectly suited to its environment. Statues of Cham dancing girls, carved stone panels, and clay water jars reminded us that we were in the territory of the former Cham kingdom, which flourished in central Vietnam from the second to 15th centuries. Like the Cham towers scattered throughout this region, the resort was decorated in soft shades of red and brown.

Most of the statues in the resort were made by Dang Nang Tho, a master potter from Bau Truc village. Inspired by ancient Cham designs, Mr. Tho uses local materials to create unique sculptures. Like the statues, the rooms combined traditional motifs with modern touches. While we checked into a small villa, some adventurous guests chose to sleep in tents. Following a swim and walk on the while sand, we joined a party grilling fresh seafood over a campfire on the beach.

The sunset transformed the waves into a tapestry of colors: pale blue, green, indigo. Starting out to sea I saw a flock of

Mai fish leaping above waves, as if to welcome me to Ninh Chu Beach.

Come dark, the atmosphere was romantic. The lights from the Sakaya Restaurant were reflected on the sea, while the clay lanterns that lined the resort's paths gave the scene a cozy glow. We sat near the sea and ate fresh prawns and sashimi, washed down with wine. The lights of the squid fishing boats sparkled offshore, forming a glittering string on the horizon.

Listed as a three-star resort, when finished, Den Gion will feature 100 rooms, 36 bungalows and a campground big enough to hold 40 tents. While many visitors will be content to spend their time swimming and sunbathing, various interesting day trips are available.

Day trips
Ninh Chu Beach is surrounded by historic and scene sites - perfect for excursions should you tire of sea and surf.

Vinh Hy Bay
Visitors to Vinh Hy bay can explore the culture of the Raglai people, visit an ancient Viet fishing village, and feast on fresh seafood.

Po Klong Gairai Tower
Delicated to King Porome (1627-1651), this tower is the site of the annual Kate festival, which attracts thousands of worshippers.

Bau Truc Village
Using local clay and outdoor kilns, potters from Bau Truc village have been making jars and pots for centuries.

Ngoan Muc Pass
Ngoan Muc pass provides travelers with stunning views over Phan rang and its environs.

My Nghiep Village
East of national Highway 1A, the Cham village of My Nghiep still produces traditional Cham brocade. Visitors may watch the women working at their looms.

Nam Cuong Sand Dune
Located near the Cham village of Tuan Tu, this immense and dune is the site of various festivals. Visitors coming during Muslim holy month or Ramadan will witness colorful celebrations.

How To Choose Your Best Travel Destination

If you are planning to take a vacation, be sure to know what you really like to do, this will make your trip more meaningful. Mostly, travelers go for a trip that their friends recommend, but is it what they really want? It's never too early to plan and know what your heart desires.

It's nice to ask yourself these questions before starting to plan your vacation; do I want to relax? Do I want adventure or a learning experience? Do I want to get away from my job? Once you know the answers to these questions, then you are ready to plan your trip.

Vacations are needed for our emotional, physical and mental balance. Vacations give a person a chance to relax, renew his energy, and free him from his daily routine. Vacations could be far away or close to home. Wherever the vacation may be, it does the same thing. It is the satisfaction that is more important than the destination.

Generally, there are some different types of travel according to activities involved. Here are some of them:

1. Responsible Travel. Traveling doesn't always have to be self-serving. With responsible travel, one could have enjoyment as much as respecting the local environment and the people.

2. Rediscovering nature. Rediscovering travel is all about nature and everything in it. It revitalizes the soul while smelling and feeling nature.

3. Tribal cultures. In today's world of high technology, it is wise to experience the simpler life of the tribal people who live close to nature in the same way for the past thousands of years.

4. Responsible Diving. Diving not only let travelers appreciate what is down the sea but also making the traveler more aware of the conservation effort.

The country one is planning to travel to also leaves a great mark on the traveler's diary. Here are some of the most popular destinations today:

1. Thailand. Thailand is also known as Siam. It is an Asian country bounded by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Behind the back draft of Thailand's jungles of bamboo, rubber trees and vines are the Five-star hotels of modern conveniences. In some parts of the country, elephants are still being use to lift timbers and buffalos are still being use in farming.

2. China. China is now the second largest country and fastest growing economy in the world. Most parts of China are still unexplored by tourist; however, the eastern portion is now popular to western tourist. First class hotels now offer highest class of amenities and dozens are still being built/

3. Italy. Italy is a boot-like shape country bounded by Switzerland, Austria, France, and Slovenia. The main attraction of Italy is St. Peter's Square where the Pope resides.

4. Caribbean. Caribbean is an archipelago of islands, 2000 square miles across. Most of the islands are plateaus and eruptions of underlying mountain systems. It has nice beaches of crushed coral and white or pink sand and the water at the shore is a deep blue.

The success of any vacation will not depend by how much the traveler spent or its destination. It is how the traveler enjoyed it and how he was able to achieve his primary goal of "getting away from it all."

Ethnic & Religious Holidays

The United States is a nation of many religions and ethnic groups. Many of these have feast days, holy days or special customs related to their religion or to their nation of origin.

People of both the Jewish and Moslem faiths, for example, observe all of their traditional holy days, with employers showing consideration by allowing them to take days off so they can observe their traditions.

Some customs which hark back to traditions of other countries lend a great deal of color to American life. The celebration of Mardi Gras - the day before the Christian season of Lent begins in late winter - is a tradition in New Orleans, a major southern city located in the state of Louisiana. The celebration, marked by a huge parade and much feasting, grew out of old French traditions, since Louisiana was once part of France's New World empire.

In various places, other ethnic groups sponsor parades or other events of great interest, adding pageantry and merriment to American life. Just a few examples:

St. Patrick's Day in the United States is a time of celebration for people of Irish descent and their friends. One of the biggest celebrations takes place in New York City, where a parade is held on the Irish patron saint's feast, March 17.

In areas where Americans of Chinese descent live, and especially in the Chinatown sections of New York City and San Francisco, California, people sponsor traditional Chinese New Year's celebrations with feasts, parades and fireworks.

African Americans have begun to observe Kwanzaa, a holiday based on the African celebration of the first harvest of the year, December 26 through January 1. Developed in 1966, by a black studies professor at California State University, Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa celebrates the unity and development of the African community. Founded upon the "Nguzo Saba," or the seven principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith, Kwanzaa encourages African Americans to think about their African roots in addition to their present-day life in America. African Americans will exchange gifts as rewards for their achievements; and they will light the "Mishumaa Saba" or seven candles to remind them of the seven principles which unite them.

There Is Something Special About A Tokyo Tour

From the beginning of its rich history (including its early history when it was under the name "Edo"), Tokyo has been the site of many incredible innovations. This is one reason why you may be enchanted by the sights and sounds of a Tokyo tour. Down to this day, Tokyo has remained one of the most unique cities in the world.

Unique Things You May See On A Tokyo Tour

Sure, there are the "common" sites to see, places to visit and landmarks to photographs when you go on a Tokyo tour. These are not uncommon on a vacation to any country, however, when visiting Tokyo, chances are extremely high that you will be exposed to unbelievable, eye opening events and venues that are completely unique to Tokyo. These experiences simply cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.

To demonstrate how unique of a city Tokyo is, all one needs to do is look at the recent unveiling of a robot domestic helper. Yes, a robot domestic helper. This "creature" was devised by a Tokyo based company with the hopes that it will eventually develop the complex motor skills required to perform domestic tasks effectively. Understandably, you may consider this to be a bizarre concept, something right out of a science fiction novel (or even an old episode of THE JETSONS). However, it is very real and can be seen on display in Tokyo this very day.

Unique and interesting events such as the "robot unveiling" are somewhat commonplace in Japan as the country is the epicenter of technological and electronic advancements in the world. For most of us, such scientific achievements may seem unimaginable. Nevertheless, you will encounter them on display if you participate in a Tokyo tour designed to highlight such uniqueness.

What Makes a Tokyo Tour Special

The aspect that makes a Tokyo tour special is not the fact that one is visiting a city that has never seen before. Visiting a new country inherently involves a sense of excitement and wonder, and it is no different with visiting Tokyo. The uniqueness of a Tokyo tour takes on an added dimension since the city is in a constant state of evolvement while at the same time mixing the traditions of the past with great leaps forward into the future.

A Tokyo tour will be a tour thatyou will never forget and is a unique experience that would be impossible to duplicate anywhere else in the world.

Penang: Where Culture And History Lives On

What better complement to sun-drenched sandy beaches and swaying palm trees than locally made batik, you might ask. So it's only natural and inevitable that Penang island, being a world-famous tourist destination, has a thriving batik industry in manufacturing, exporting and retailing.

Shops and stalls carrying batik items are too numerous to mention but they can be found along the Batu Ferringhi tourist belt, Penang Road, Campbell Street and KOMTAR to name a few. Most souvenir and clothing shops will stock at least several batik items.One of the most popular batik retailers in George Town is Sam's Batik House, located on Penang Road. Founded in 1982 by Shamdas Bhaktani, the business has since been taken over by his two sons Monohar and Prem. Monohar's wife Rachel manages the store and is a source of information on batik items.

It goes without saying that batik has long been part of the Malaysian national culture. Its versatile nature and esthetically pleasing designs make it the ideal material for a variety of things, men's shirts, sarongs, women's kaftans, aprons, slippers, picture frames, gift boxes, paintings, bed spreads and even wall and furniture coverings. As a fashion item, batik will not look out-of-place in any casual, formal or high fashion wear. In fact, most official functions in Malaysia allow the wearing of batik in place of the more somber coat and tie. The cabin-crew staff of Malaysia's national carrier have always worn batik as their uniforms, even from the days when it was known as MSA (Malaysia-Singapore Airlines). Although batik has never gone out of fashion in Malaysia, it has seen a recent upswing in popularity, due largely to the efforts of the country's First Lady, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood.

Her passion for all things batik took shape in a campaign called "Batik, Crafted for the World" which aims to spotlight Malaysian produced batik products via promotions and activities.

Penang Batik has come to be used as a generic term which refers to the process of dyeing fabric by making use of a resist technique; covering areas of cloth with a dye-resistant substance to prevent them absorbing colors. The technique is thought to be over a thousand years old and historical evidence demonstrates that cloth decorated with this resist technique was in use in the early centuries AD in Africa, the Middle East and in several places in Asia.

Although most Penang batik fabric is now decorated and tailored by machine, there still remains a considerable market for high-quality, hand-made batik.

Buying and Selling Bell Helicopters

Anyone who is even remotely associated with the aircraft industry is likely to have heard about the Bell helicopters. This is one name which has thoroughly enjoyed its share of popularity for a time longer than any other of its like. Bell Helicopter Textron, as the full name goes, is one of the biggest helicopter and tilt-rotor manufacturers in the world. This Bell division of Textron, Inc. produces copters both for civil and defense purposes. And since 1946-47, Bell has produced over 30,000 helicopters. Bell helicopters are widely purchased and sold across the world. Therefore, many marketers have set up their helicopter businesses centering Bell. Here goes a quick peek into the purchase and sale of these.

It all started when Arthur Young, a gifted helicopter inventor, caught Larry Bell’s attention. Now Larry Bell was a reputed entrepreneur, who founded the Bell Aircraft Corporation. When Bell saw Young’s talents, he soon teamed up with him in 1941 and thereafter Bell never looked back. What was already gaining popularity as an estimable aircraft manufacturer started getting attention as a good helicopter maker as well. By 1951, Bell was flying high on the wings of success, creating history worldwide. Once Bell Aircraft Corporation earned a fair name as a trusted helicopter builder, it set up its helicopter division headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

So a name as reliable as its products surely has a high value when it comes to buying and selling helicopters. For one thing, the helicopter business has its own challenges. A lot of market research and evaluation go into fixing the best deal. If you are to buy or sell a helicopter, you may find yourself groping where to start. To make the task easy, there are many marketing agents who are ready to serve all your helicopter needs. Some of them particularly specialize in the purchase and sale of Bell helicopters. They do all the necessary market study, assess the selling condition of your helicopter, suggest a price for it and then distribute the information across the globe with their networking. Getting the right buyer is only a matter of some time then!

In case you wish to buy a helicopter or switch to a new Bell model, these agencies would provide you with the relevant details and specifications. If there is a Bell helicopter for sale somewhere in the world, chances are that the entire product information regarding that would rest with the agent. You would know if it has any damage history, how many hours it has flown, availability time et al. Not just that, they also showcase pictures of those from all angles to make your decision-making easier. You just need to choose the one you think best fits your requirement and the job’s done.

Bell keeps coming up with newer models. And people often sell older models to check out the latest. Therefore, the number of used helicopters under the Bell name is also higher. That may be one reason why the purchase and sell of Bell helicopters, in particular, never ceases.

Top 5 Myths About China

Over 20 percent of the world's population are Chinese, and by economic standards, China's ascent is only just beginning. The Chinese nation, culture, economy, and language are going to get more and more important in the world during your lifetime.
But how much do you currently know about modern China?

What you learned at school about China, and what you read in the newspapers or see on the TV news may not be true any more.

Have a look at the following generalisations about China and see if you ever heard or believed something similar. Can you open your mind and change your preconceptions about China?

Misconception 1.
*China is an ancient culture*

What? Of course Chinese culture is ancient! One of the world's oldest actually. Yes, but what's modern China all about? China nowadays is a vibrant modern society, with unique pop culture, fashions, arts, tastes, and habits. Chinese people are proud of their heritage, and there is always an awareness of "old China" inside people's habits and tastes. But the real China of today is a fast-moving modern place: the old continues to give way to the new, and and Chinese people are all looking to their future, not resting on the laurels of the past.

Misconception 2.
*China is backward and poor*

By 2050 it's estimated that 50% of China's population will live in the cities, and this is where the focus of national policy is at the moment. Chinese cities are being built up at an astounding rate: every city in China is currently a dazzling scene of infrastructure change - new roads and flyovers, new skyscrapers, new stadiums, new hotels and resorts, and of course new massive ostentatious government buildings. The word "developing" has come to have connotations of 'third world', but in the developing cities of China you can only marvel at the pace of improvement all around.

If you travel to the countryside in China, you certainly might have the impression of a 'developing nation': people are still farming the land using pre-industrial-revolution tools and techniques, and people's lifestyles certainly couldn't be described as cosmopolitan. However, what you may not see is that these people's children may well be smart professionals in the city, sending home ever increasing paychecks to their family. Chinese people are ultimately loyal to their parents, and will routinely save and send home large proportions of their salaries. Even if the youth who move to the Chinese cities aren't managers or entrepreneurs, city salaries for even basic jobs are enough in comparative terms to make everyone happy. Everywhere you go in the Chinese countryside, you can see previously lowly families buying cars and building new houses. So the wealth of the cities will filter to rural areas through private channels, regardless of the urban-focused investment policies of the government.

Misconception 3.
*Chinese people eat Chinese food.*

Yes, of course Chinese people eat Chinese food! But do you even know what Chinese food is?

Forget what you think you know from your local "Chinese" takeaway. Unless you've spent several years living in mainland China, it's unlikely you have even a clue about Chinese cuisine. The variety is mind-boggling and almost certainly unrivalled in any other country. Expatriates in China will all tell you that every day they are still trying new dishes, even after living there for years. (And since we're on the topic of mythbusting, sorry to be politically incorrect, but actually you can find dog meat restaurants everywhere in southern China and people really enjoy eating it in the winter. On the other hand, in case you are getting a bit worried now, dog is a pricey speciality so it's impossible that you will ever receive a meat dish which is dog meat unless you explicitly ordered it!!)

Modern Chinese people in the cities also eat pizza, burgers, spaghetti, sandwiches, chocolate, and all sorts of real international cuisines, not only junk food. Visitors to China who can't use chopsticks, or have a phobia of rice, will have absolutely no problem feeding themselves! (But if you visit China, please be a little more imaginative than to go straight to one of the hundreds of Starbucks springing up in every city.)

Misconception 4.
*China is a communist country.*

Politically, China is still a one-party state and the Chinese people do not elect their leaders. How much does this matter? For a start, China was never the same style of 'communist' government that we associate with Soviet Russia. And the days of Mao are loooong gone!

Government in China nowadays is actually much less centralised than in most other countries, with an amazing amount of power in the hands of provincial or city-level governing bodies. These local governments are increasingly competing with each other to improve and enrich their domains, and the effect is a lot more positive than controversy-hunting western journalists' usual portrayals.

Are the Chinese people oppressed? Hardly! Chinese society is, any observer would be forced to admit, remarkably free and progressive. In point of fact, most Chinese people couldn't be described as particularly agitated about "freedom" or political change, being more concerned about getting a piece of the GDP pie and improving their lives and their children's lives. The political sentiment which most Chinese people share is a desire for stability, safety, and prosperity - and basically anyone would have to admit the government in Beijing is currently doing a really good job at that regardless of any abstract criticisms of their "communist" political identity.

Economically, what is China? People always laugh at the phrase "capitalism with Chinese characteristics" but it's true it's hard to find any description or comparative model for the Chinese system these days. In many ways the Chinese are more capitalist at the moment than anyone else, perhaps because the system has lagged behind in regulating and taxing the explosion of private commerce in the last twenty years. The name "The Wild East" has a certain truth about it at the moment, but things are getting more standardised, the RMB (Chinese Yuan - the currency) is now open to trading, and of course China is in the WTO now. Expect the China pages of your newspaper to get ever more prominent as businesses and governments wake up more to the economic power of the Chinese market.

Misconception 5.
*China is closed and difficult to visit.*

Anyone from almost any country in the world can easily obtain a Chinese travel visa from a travel agent and book a flight to any of China's growing list of international airports. Once in China you can go and stay where you want. It's just as easy as visiting any other country. The only reason your travel agency isn't packed with brochures about visiting China is because those travel companies just don't get it yet... Don't worry - the travel agency will soon wake up!

"Yes, but Chinese people don't speak English!" Pssst - can you think of any other popular world travel destinations where the local people, maybe, possibly don't speak English as their first language? Seriously, in the cities a lot of people can help out clueless travellers, and even if you're trying to be independent or adventurous, you'll find Chinese people friendly, tolerant, and generally not scary at all.

In terms of other traveller fears about safety, security, and cleanliness, China is already in the top tier of countries in the world to live in or travel to. Frequent travellers to China will back this up: even in the inner cities of China, you can walk around as a highly visible foreigner, and although you may be stared at, you will never feel in any danger or discomfort. (Unless you expected a 'normal' western style toilet - oh dear! - but that's an experience you'll have to find out by visiting China yourself!)

*CONCLUSION*

Wake up and smell the tea! You need to visit China and experience it yourself: there is no way you will break through the misconceptions and prejudices about China from your armchair.

business, flights tickets, holiday packages, budget hotels in Vijayawada India

Vijaywada is known as the city that never sleeps. It is the abode of Kanak Durga, Goddess of power, riches, & benevolence The city is a base for visiting the Buddhist sites located around Vijaywada like Amravati, Gudivada, Ghantasala & so on. The number of canals criss-crossing the city gives it a Venetian look. From Vijayawada the towns of Kuchipudi, Mangalagiri & Kondapilli are accessible which are famous for dance, Temple & handicrafts respectively.There are many exciting places to visit. You can visit Bhavani Island, which is a fantastic picnic spot for holiday – lovers. Other tourist attractions around the city includes VMC Sibar Disneyland Leisure Spots, Bhavani Island Leisure Spots, Gandhi Hill, Monuments, Hazrat Bal Mosque Pilgrim Centres, Kanaka Durga Temple Pilgrim Centres, Kondapalli Fort Monuments, Mogalarajapuram Caves, Prakasam Barrage Leisure Spots, Rajiv Gandhi Park Leisure Spots, Gunadala Pilgrim Centres, and Victoria Jubilee Museum.

Enjoy all this while having a comfortable stay at Fortune Hotels in Vijaywada.Fortune Murli Park in Vijayawada has quickly become the city’s most happening hotel. It is a convenient base for business travelers. This fortune murli park has the facilityonline hotels reservation in Vijayawada for the convenience of the travelers.

Location: It is 20 kms. from the airport & 3 kms. from the railway station.

Accommodation: It has 70 rooms including 44 deluxe rooms, 18 Clubrooms, 6 Junior Suites. The hotel has 5 well-equipped banquet halls & seminar rooms, which can accommodate upto 1000 guests.

Facilities: business and budget hotels in Vijayawada gives the best services:

24 hrs. room service
Mini bar
Central air-conditioning
Tea/coffee maker in each room
Doctor on call
Electronic Safe
Baby sitting

Filipinos Eye Mt. Everest Again

Filipino mountain climbers proved their mettle to the world in May 2006 when they reached the summit of Mt. Everest for the very first time. It was a major triumph for the Republic of the Philippines especially after getting comments that Filipinos won’t be able to make to the top because of a very dangerous situation. But then again, Filipinos are a tough breed and will do anything to achieve their dreams.

This confidence and strong desire to fulfill their goals are what made Filipinos victorious in the recent years in a variety of fields such as theater, singing, dancing, boxing and now, mountain climbing. This very huge achievement of the Filipino Mt. Everest Expedition made all citizens of the Philippines very proud of their mountain-climbing countrymen – Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata and Romeo Garduce. All eyes were glued to the television each day for updates since the start of their climb to the world’s tallest mountain until they reached the peak, descended back to camp and headed back home to their native land. The overwhelming support of Filipinos truly boosted the morale of the three climbers and their team.

Leo Oracion was the first Filipino to reach the top of the 8,848-meter tall Mt. Everest on May 17 and as per tradition, planted the Philippine flag. He was followed by Pastor Emata on May 18 and Romeo Garduce the following day. Of the three, Emata was considered the fastest climber to go up the mountain’s peak on that triumphant day in seven hours and 49 minutes.

The successful climb of the three Filipino men to Mt. Everest has inspired other climbers in the country wishing to conquer the famous mountain. In fact, this coming May 2007, three more Filipinos are scaling Mt. Everest but this time, they’re not men but women. They are Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon and Janet Belarmino, all Coast Guard officers. The three, with the rank of seawoman first class, will join the Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition to be led by Oracion and Emata on a so-called “unity climb” that will cover the north and south sides of the mountain. The three women made it to the team after a careful selection among more than a hundred mountain climbers. With high hopes, they are seen to become the first ASEAN women to reach Everest’s peak. Dayondon and Wenceslao actually made their own record-breaking accomplishment in June 2006 when they became the first Filipino women to scale Mt. McKinley in Denali Park in Alaska, considered the tallest mountain in North American and perhaps, the coldest.

This year’s unity climb scheduled in May will have two groups climbing from the different points at the base of Mt. Everest and eventually meeting at the peak. One group will start from the north in Tibet along the Rongvuk Glacier while the other group will climb from the south in Nepal passing through the Khumbu Glacier. Several climbers have attempted this type of climb but failed. The second climb of Filipinos to the world’s tallest summit will be done in time with the Chinese expedition which will bring the Olympic torch to the peak of Mt. Everest in a bid to promote the Beijing Olympics set in the year 2008.

The City of the Etan Volcano

Catania is a renowned port and Sicilyas second largest city. The city is overshadowed by the Etna Mount, the volcano that often has betrayed the trust of the local people, sending forth great flows of lava, on one occasion down into the town itself. Reminders of its presence is the dark colour of most of the monuments and buildings in town. Some of them have painted plaster to look like lava.

Even though much of the city to day is in decay, its church museums and art treasures, and Roman ruins make it a rewarding place to go.

It has also been a victim of earthquakes. In 1669 the worst eruption in Catanias history occurred when Etna buried much of the city under lava that literally ran through the streets. Catania had hardly recovered when a massive earthquake levelled much of the city in 1693.

It is among Italian hottest cities with a summer temperature that can exceed 40 degrees.

Marella Ferrera was born in Catania and is the most successful womens clothing designer to emerge from Sicily. She's known for fashions that makes women look like goddesses or lionesses.

The picturesque Pescheria, the historical market that spreads out around Piazza Pardo is a must to go. There are fresh fish stalls, and also dried fruit, bottles of extra virgin olive oil and red wine made on the foothills of Mount Etna, bags of dried pulses for tasty, local recipe soups and lots more too.

Catania is famous for its legendary night life. Legendary to the extent that it has the right to speak about its movida. One of the most popular meeting places is the Scalinata Alessi, a staircase in the centre of the university area of the city. Via Crociferi, is where there are lots of bars, pubs and clubs. Now there are about 120 of them, that are always crowded and lively. It is a university city that attracts students from all over the south of Italy, and they and the cities viveur inhabitants make Cataniaas night life so interesting that it seems natural to stay out until dawn.

Catania celebrates Sant Agata, the cities patron saint, each year with three days of festivities on the 3, 4 and 5 February. The festival ends with a fireworks display.

Casa di Verga is a memorial to Sicilys national poet, Giovanni Verga, who lived and wrote here for many years. Verga was a firebrand who wrote with poignancy about the plight of underpaid workers during the Industrial Revolution.

The Evolution Of GPS Vehicle Tracking Applications

GPS vehicle tracking has been in existence for some time, at least since the late 1970's. Many trade names have been associated with it such as Lojack and LoTrans. These were early applications created particularly for the inventory and tracking of service vehicles, fire and police department vehicles. They depended upon the World War II LORAN (Long-range Radio Aid Navigation) system. These earlier systems provided a centralized office with the geographic location of vehicle fleets and were a great deterrent to vehicular theft. They however provided no geographic intelligence to the driver of the vehicle.

The present day vehicle tracking is accomplished by using GPS, which is a popularized name for Global Navigation Satellite System. It provides the driver with a highly accurate map, portrayed on a small screen incorporated into the GPS receiver. Here the driver can monitor their present location, plan the best route and obtain an estimate of time to arrival. The Global Navigation Satellite System was developed by the United States and the Soviet Union created its GLONASS during the Cold War to accurately guide their extensive ICBM and SLBM inventories. Later it was used as a backup guidance system for both nations' nuclear submarine fleets.

The current GPS tracking used in vehicles comes to us, in civilianized form courtesy of President Ronald Regan. It was after the tragedy of airline flight KAL 007 that President Regan made it available for civilian use. GPS vehicle tracking allows an uncorrected location accuracy of 3 square meters. The ability for civilian transponders to receive the p coded military GPS signal occurred after President Clinton authorized its' release in 1996. Today you are able to know within feet and inches the location of your vehicle while on the move.

A GPS vehicle tracking device is composed of three parts; the space segment which is composed of 30 geosynchronous satellites orbiting along six (6) planes, the control segment which is composed of six (6) land based monitoring stations and the user segment which is a radio receiver capable of calculating its precise position from comparing multiple radio signals from the satellites. The satellite signal is the output of a satellite's location in coded latitude and longitude and the time. By comparing the signals of many satellites and comparing the time of reception, the receiver can determine its exact location. This calculation is a result of a mathematical process called trilateration.

Today there are smart business applications for the use of GPS vehicle tracking device. One of its applications is in the taxi business. Two separate firms in the United States (Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia) and one in London, England have used it to improve on their dispatch capability. The dispatcher has a Geographic Information System workstation computer that includes a radio transceiver. This provides them with a map of the city and shows the active location of all taxis. It also shows the dispatcher which taxis are working and those that aren't.

When a call is received, the dispatcher logs the client into the database or the system automatically locates the caller's cell phone location or if the client calls using a wired phone system. This later feature prevents crank calls or dangerous situations in which the end aim is the robbery of the taxi driver. The dispatcher can manually assign an available driver or the system can automatically assign. This application of GPS vehicle tracking device has resulted in more than 50% increase in business, a significant reduction in waiting time for customers and a dramatic increase in profitability.