Saltwater Fly Fishing 101

Fly fishing in itself can be intimidating for the uninitiated.
Watching a fly fisher while holding a spin rod can feel
humbling. The whole world of fly fishing looks complicated,
daunting, unfriendly and expensive. But is also alluring, and
sooner or later if you like to fish, you may very well take the
plunge, and begin to learn. To experiment, and hopefully to
catch a fish., And before long you might begin to think of
yourself as a fly angler. Gain confidence, skill and knowledge.
Try new fly fishing experiences, and learn new techniques, flies
and buy even more gear. And on and on it goes, as learning about
fly fishing is a non-ending path.

Well, let’s go one step further shall we? Saltwater fly fishing is the epitome of
everything said in the previous paragraph and more. Even for the
season fly fishing trout angler, saltwater fly fishing looks
like an impossible task, to say the least. For one thing the
ocean is well huge, enormous, and might as well be unending.
Even the most competent caster can only cover a ridiculously
minute portion of the area why would one even bother. When
scanning a river or lake, one can have an educated guess about
where the fish will lie. But the ocean? Where they can be
anywhere can’t they, and then you have the whole business of the
tide to learn. It isn’t seasonal, it is daily. And then we have
the myriad of flies to learn about all over again. It took years
to learn about trout flies, and it is still ongoing, one must
really start all over again?? Ugh!

Yes it is daunting, but remember when you first learned about
fly fishing in general. Or frankly any new hobby or topic. It is
all daunting at first. Learning is daunting, but becomes easier,
as the new area of interest is unveiled slowly. A little
knowledge to start, to hang later more detailed knowledge on is
the most crucial. So let’s start with just a little knowledge.

If you are in an area where saltwater fly fishing is well
practiced, you are in an easier position to obtain such
knowledge, by asking fly shop owners, and fly fisher’s, and by
observation you can begin to get a feel for what it is all
about. But much of the world’s saltwater fly fishing
opportunities are virtually unexplored.

So let’s see what we can do to break this down. Like fishing
lakes and big rivers, you have only look at the territory you
can actually cover with your fly rod. And pretty much ignore the
rest. For saltwater fly fishing that territory is the 60 feet or
so next to shore. The easiest way to explore this area is by
foot at low tide, when you can actually see the underwater
terrain. You can first invest in a chart or survey map, to help
you narrow down areas that might have rocky outcroppings leading
into deeper pools or channels. If you have loads of free time,
this can become an enjoyable activity of exploration all in
itself. Look for activity of fish, and habitats that might hold
fish and their food. One nice thing here, is that fish are fish
are fish, and they all require the same thing. Security, food,
places to lie, if you know how to read habitat in rivers or
lakes you can easily adapt that skill to oceans, and bays.

Once you have your spots located, you will also need some
gear,. If you have some 8 wt gear or larger, you can least begin
to get your feet wet. As for flies, well start with the basics,
the classics, Deceiver’s, Clouser’s, will give you the best
opportunity to catch a fish. And you have begun to add that
crucial beginning of knowledge onto which you will hang new
knowledge as you become more versed in this field of fly
fishing. Be sure and check future editions of Big Y Fly Fishing
Ezine for more in depth articles.

Ebay Started Our Family RV Camping Adventures

There was a time that I never would have pictured myself camping, let alone purchasing my first travel trailer on Ebay. But after a number of circumstances falling into place, that is just where I found myself in 2005, spending late nights on Ebay scouring the RV travel trailer listings.

And so the camping adventure began…

We don’t exactly live in the camping capital of the world and when my family and I decided to purchase a travel trailer, we were in for quite an education. We did what I suspect most people would do, and started scanning the local classifieds, picked up the trader magazines, etc. All to no avail. Everything we looked at locally was either way overpriced or uninhabitable. Mind you, we weren’t looking for a mansion on wheels, but we wanted to at least make sure that we could tow it to our driveway without falling apart.

So, that little voice inside said, Ebay! But I was a little hesitant at first because this was a large ticket item and there were the logistics of transport to consider as well. But hey, it doesn’t cost a dime to look, so off we went to search Ebay.

Luckily, I have an uncle who is basically a camping and RV guru in his own right, so I can’t quite claim that I did this single handedly, but for the most part, it took about two weeks before I clicked on an auction that would forever change our family’s vacation adventures.

We ultimately found our “perfect” trailer, but not after swapping many emails and more photos beyond what was in the listing. But along the way, Ebay did more for us than just match us up with a seller. It matched us up with two wonderful human beings that were just as happy to have found us as buyers as we were to find them as sellers.

After the auction was complete, we arranged a pickup date that was a few weeks away – perfectly fine with the sellers because they wanted to get our new toy ready for us. Little did we know, how far these two people went to make our purchase smooth and enjoyable.

As the two weeks elapsed, the emails turned to camping advice, trials and tribulations and the wishes from the sellers that we would have as many fond camping memories as they did. Knowing that we were complete novices, these two people went so far above and beyond a seller’s obligations, that they could give lessons in good service after the sale. They covered questions we didn’t even know we had!

So the big day came and we took off on our road trip to go get out new baby. It was a 7 hour drive, so we also made arrangement to stay at a local hotel – which our new friends recommended based upon the ease of parking our new trailer there overnight for the first time. And until that point, being car travelers, the size of a parking lot was certainly never a concern when we booked our hotels.

When we arrived, the trailer was everything we thought it would be and more. One of those rare times that the photos didn’t even do it justice. And the hospitality the sellers extended was awesome. They even had dinner waiting for us! So after our long trip and a very tasty dinner, we were taken through all the basics of hookup, awning setup, electronics, maintenance, upkeep and more! It was so refreshing to find others who go the extra mile and we were so clueless going in, they don’t even know how easy they made the whole transaction on us.

So as we swap campfire stories from campground to campground, we will always have such fond memories of our largest Ebay purchase yet. And what a story to tell!

Stephanie Mulac is a Motivational Coach and owner of http://www.90PercentAttitude.com, a website dedicated to helping Marketing Professionals Make Money With Websites on the Internet by developing a positive, winning attitude and providing online encouragement to others who don’t have a support system in their lives. For additional camping information, visit http://www.RVCampingTips.com.

Bug Huntress QA Lab announces of extending its BugHuntress Test Suit functionality for Palm OS 3.0-5

Bug Huntress QA Lab announces of extending its BugHuntress Test
Suit functionality for Palm OS 3.0-5.4 Kharkiv, Ukraine -
October 4, 2005 - Bug Huntress QA Lab, the leading software
testing company for testing applications for PDA’s and smart
phones being the originator and of the pioneering BugHuntress
Test Suite which is an automated testing system for PDA
applications, announces its BugHuntress Test Suite functionality
extension for application testing on Palm OS compatible
handhelds and emulators, working on Palm OS 3.0-5.4.

Bug Huntress Team feels proud to remind of its BugHuntress Test
Suite automated testing system which is a client-server system
with Windows server that enables testing both on Palm OS devices
and their emulators by comparing the result with reference
values at control points. PC and Palm parts of BugHuntress Test
Suite interact through COM-port, by using USB-bus and via TCP/IP
protocol. Automated testing is performed using special
scenarios, scripts and control points (e.g. screen CRC, controls
states, databases states, etc.) which basically represent
software test plan written in Java-script with BHTS commands.
The system’s flexibility allows to script any test plan and
easily carry out functional, output and stress testing. Test
Suite is especially convenient for regressive testing, when
changes to program code are continually made throughout software
lifecycle. Some useful application’s features are: capability to
control reference sums comparison, capability to take
screenshots during test execution and compare them with the
reference ones, handy results logging.

The overwhelming advantage of the enhanced BugHuntress Test
Suite if compared to proximate products for embedded systems
with sophisticated human interfaces is its ability to build in
between the Palm OS and the application being tested and
intercept the wider variety of events on the system level. It
needs not to emulate system pressing on buttons but intercepts
events within the system.

Now the enhanced version of BugHuntress Test Suite supports the
all the above OSes. It also now supports WinCE and Symbian
platforms.

About Bug Huntress QA Lab The company was founded in 1998 as an
independent software development and software testing company.
Wide experience in QA gained by the team and high demand on
testing services transformed the QA department into a new
brand-Bug Huntress QA Lab (www.bughuntress.com). Bug Huntress QA
Lab in cooperation with its QArea owner-company has developed a
variety of cross-platform software solutions for business,
security, healthcare and gaming industry.

http://www.bughuntress.com

info@bughuntress.com

More Yellowstone Wolves Leak into Idaho

Ed Bangs is coordinator for wolf recovery for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This is what he said about current wolf populations around and in Yellowstone National Park: I’m eating crow. I never though we’d get that high.

I don’t know why Ed Bangs is surprised at the current wolf populations. The ranchers told him that before they turned the first mating pair loose in Yellowstone Park.

I’m proud to say that we have more wolves in Idaho than they do in Montana and Wyoming. Eat your heart out Wyoming. Eat your heart out Montana.

According to the article in our local rag, we have 512 wolves in Idaho. (That is the size of the RAM you need in your computer if you run more than one program at a time or you play games, etc. RAM in this case is not an animal. Wolves don’t kill this kind of ram.)

Wyoming and Montana have about the same number of wolves and the total is about that of Idaho. I’ve decided that we need to round up some of our wolves and ship 84 to Wyoming and 84 to Montana. Then way we will all have the same number of wolves, more or less.

Montana and Idaho have plans accepted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the management of wolves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not like Wyoming’s plan, which was probably Shoot all of those pesky critters. I think our plan in Idaho is Shoot all those pesky critters but don’t say that to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I’m not sure what is in these plans but Idaho and Montana are now monitoring and managing there wolf populations.

I do know how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife is handling the problem. It’s standard federal government procedure. When the federal government creates a problem they can’t solve, they turn it back to the states to pay for the cleanup.

Wolves are sexy critters and have pups by the zillions. They teach these pups to hunt and they don’t care how many dear, elk, sheep, colts, or calves it takes to teach them.

They don’t eat everything they kill. The ravens and coyotes have to clean up after them when they are teaching their pups to hunt.

I know the above is true because I lived in Arizona for six years and the early Arizona histories said so.

Our hunters are mad as hell at the wolves here in Idaho. They are killing too many elk to suit the hunters. The hunters, who do not need elk for food, are competing with the wolves that need the elk for food. The hunters don’t see it that way. They want lots of elk to shoot at. The more the better.

I asked some local ranchers what they think about wolves. Here are their reports:

Rancher Jack: Every zoo should have one.

Rancher Bill: Just make sure they keep him on leash tied to a tree where he can watch Old Faithful.

Rancher Sally: The mistake was they released breeding pairs. They should have only released bachelors.

Rancher Ted: The only good wolf is a dead wolf.

Rancher Pete: What we need to manage is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rancher “Mad Dog” Fred: Well, I can’t tell you what Fred said. I don’t like profanity.

I know that some of you would like to see a wolf or two. I suggest that you go to Teton National Park and watch them hunt on the National Elk Refuge. Take your skis and snow shoes. You will have to be there in the wintertime.

John T. Jones, Ph.D. (tjbooks@hotmail.com, a retired VP of R&D for Lenox China, is author of detective & western novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic Industry Magazine. He is Executive Representative of IWS sellers of Tyler Hicks wealth-success books and kits. He also sells TopFlight flagpoles. He calls himself “Taylor Jones, the hack writer.”

More info: http://www.tjbooks.com

Business web site: http://www.aaaflagpoles.com

RV Emergency Weather Planning 101

I love the freedom of the open road. There is nothing like exploring the back roads in your RV. You can go where you want and when you want, in your house on wheels, and because of this, often times you find yourself in a new destination everyday. Something that many RVers do not take into consideration with this freedom to roam is the weather conditions where you are traveling to or spending the night. RV’s are great, but they are not safe in severe weather like lightning and thunderstorms with high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes.

When you are at home, you usually know what the weather forecast is from the newspaper, radio or television. When you travel three or four hundred miles a day in your RV the weather conditions can change several times. Many times when you stop for the night somewhere all you want to do is get some rest. The weather is the last thing on your mind. The problem with this is severe weather can occur without much warning, and if you are caught in it, it can be disastrous.

So, what do we do, what’s the plan? PLAN is the key word here. RVers need to have an emergency plan in case of a severe storm. For starters, have you ever heard of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio or NWR? The NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service Office. They broadcast National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day. Alerts inform people if they need to take some type of action in order to protect themselves, such as “seeking shelter” or “to evacuate an area immediately!” What does this mean to RVers? It means if you owned a battery operated weather radio receiver you could monitor weather conditions no matter where you are!

Every RVer should own a weather radio receiver. Receivers are available at most retail stores that sell electronic equipment. Prices can range anywhere from $25 to $200 depending on the quality of the receiver and its features. I personally own two weather radio receivers. My Midland WR-300 works off AC power or four AA batteries when the power is out. It has an alert feature that alarms when the National Weather Service issues severe weather announcements or emergency information. I also have a portable handheld Midland 40 channel CB, with a 10-weather channel receiver. It works off six AA rechargeable batteries or any 12-volt receptacle. It is well worth the investment to know what type of weather to expect when traveling or camping in your RV. When we are at home, we use the weather radio receiver in the house. For more information on the NOAA Weather Radio visit their website at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/

OK, the first step to our emergency weather plan is to get a weather radio receiver if you don’t already have one, and to always monitor it when you use your RV. The next step is to develop an emergency evacuation plan, to use in the event of severe weather. When you arrive at a campground, ask at the check-in desk about an emergency plan in case of a severe storm such as a tornado, or a thunderstorm with high winds. If they don’t have a plan you need to make your own. Locate a structure that is safer than your RV, like a bathhouse or the campground office. Always stay on the lowest level possible and away from doors and windows. Brief everybody with you on the emergency plan. Explain to children how to respond to different disasters and the dangers of severe weather, fires, and other emergencies. Instruct children on emergency exits. Instruct them on how and when to call 911. Make sure everybody knows exactly what his or her job is in case of severe weather. Monitor the weather radio for emergency information. Emergency weather watches and warnings are for counties and towns, so always check a map for the county or town where you are staying.

Have an emergency supply kit made up and easily accessible. The kit should contain flashlights, batteries, rain ponchos, a portable weather radio, first aid kit, non- perishable packaged or canned food and a manual can opener, blankets, prescription and non-prescription drugs, pet supplies, bottled water and any special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members.

To learn more about how to prepare for and react to different types of severe weather take a moment to visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov/.

Remember, RV’s are not safe in severe weather! This includes severe thunderstorms with high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes. Learn about different types of weather hazards, get a weather radio if you don’t have one, create a plan with your family, practice and maintain the plan. Now go RVing and have fun.

Happy Camping,
Mark

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America’s most highly regarded series of DVD’s, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Mark Polk is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. In addition to owning and operating RV Education 101, (based in North Carolina) since 1999, Polk also has a very extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management. Polk has a degree in Industrial Management Technology and his 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager. http://www.rveducation101.com/

Amazing Trek Across TIbet!

Today Bookpleasures and Sketchandtravel are pleased to have as our guest, Brandon Wilson, author of Yak Butter Blues.

In 1992, Brandon and his wife Cheryl travelled 40 days from early October to the end of November in 1992 over 1000 kilometers travelling along the ancient pilgrimage route across Tibet. Evidently, they were one of the first Western couples to trek this ancient route alongside, by the way, a horse they named Sadhu.

Good day Brandon and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

Norm: Brandon, could you tell our readers something about yourself and your wife Cheryl, and why did you want to trek across Tibet and did you ever had any fears prior to your journey?

Brandon: Tashi delek, Norm! We had been travelling for years as budget travelers, traveling light, with only a backpack to sustain us for months on end. In the process, we’d made our requisite trip around the world for a year and had seen many of civilization’s greatest achievements. We’d also traveled overland across Africa for nine months (which is the subject of my book to be released in 2005, Dead Men Don’t Leave Tips.) So, we were ready for a more intense experience something more in line with that of the great explorers.

Our decision to attempt to trek from Lhasa, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal sprung from the notion that this was the ultimate adventure. Everyone grew up with the legend of a Shangri-La, that fanciful place from James Hilton’s Lost Horizon. The more that I read about Tibet, the more I was fascinated by its remoteness, inaccessibility, and its exotic reputation.

Then, as luck would have it, we were told several times that this trek had never been done by a Western couple and that it was “impossible!” That ultimately sealed our fate.

As far as “fears” prior to the journey, first, I had real concerns that we wouldn’t be allowed into Tibet as independent travelers, since the border had been closed to them for many years. A Chinese organized group tour was simply out of the question for us.

Then, although we were assured the trip was “impossible” due to lack of food, water, accommodations, and maps, personally I was more worried about the weather. Knowing the severity of weather conditions in the Himalayas, would we be able to reach the lower altitudes of Nepal in time before the roads closed, stranding us until May’s thaw?

Finally, I must admit that I was also wary about the reaction of Uzi-toting Chinese soldiers along the way, as well as the various cadres of bureaucrats unused to dealing with outsiders. Guess I’d prefer to deal with nature any day, rather than the vagaries of human nature.

Norm: What were the most harrowing experiences you encountered during your journey?

Brandon: It’s a toss-up. This entire journey was chock-full of uncertainty. The spectre of running out of food and water was a daily concern. Where would we stay? Would our bodies be able to physically able to make 1000 kilometers at 12-17,000 foot altitude for 40 days?

But I’d have to say that the most singularly harrowing experience we had was being shot at by Chinese soldiers as we overlooked Mt. Everest from a hilltop in Tingri. What do you do?

As second runner-up, I’d nominate that morning where we awoke to a blinding blizzard and realized that we still needed to press on.

Norm: What impressed you most of all about the trip?

Brandon: First, we were impressed by the unexpected generosity of the Tibetan people. Originally we packed a tent, stove and fuel for the trek, expecting to be totally on our own along the way. However, after our first night spent camping in a potato patch, we were taken-in by local villagers who shared their meager possessions, including yak butter tea and a warm spot around their fire. We really grew to look forward to these human exchanges, even though we had to rely on clumsy sign-language and a limited phrasebook to communicate. Fortunately, we started to run into former monks who’d received training in Nepal and still spoke limited English.

Through talking to them, we became better informed about the hardships of living in Tibet today under the Chinese Communist occupation. We learned that Tibetans are prevented from making pilgrimages along the same route that we trekked into Nepal, as they’ve done for centuries.

So the trip for us became more than just an “adventure” trek. It became a political statement. If we could make their trek as pilgrims, we’d show to the Chinese that it could be done, even by Westerners, without disrupting the geo-political balance of power.

In fact, on the trek’s conclusion, we presented a set of prayer flags to the king of Nepal’s personal representative at the palace with the hope that the king would fly them as a symbol of solidarity with the Tibetan Buddhists.

Finally, we were impressed by the unwavering faith shown by many of the Tibetans. At night, in the dark stillness of their homes, we shared photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with them that we had secreted into the country. Gingerly holding the photo, they touched it to the foreheads of the members of their family, blessing them. Then drawing back several layers of curtains, they reverently placed it in their private altar beside other statues and holy instruments.

After over 40 years of oppression and death, could we still be so patient or retain so much faith?

Norm: If you had to do it all over again in 2004, would you still jump at the opportunity? As a follow up, would you advise anyone else to follow in your footsteps and what are the possible dangers they may encounter today?

Brandon: Frankly, no. This trek is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From what I’ve read since then, and I receive Tibetan news every day now, the country has vastly changed especially Lhasa. As inundated as it was then with Chinese settlers, solders and foreign culture, it is even more so today. Now, they’re in the process of completing a railroad line into Lhasa from western China, so the transformation will be accelerating, the assimilation complete. The world saw the same effect in Inner Mongolia and Manchuria with the arrival of the railroad.

With that said, I’d love to return, perhaps to the more remote Mustang region this time, far removed from the propaganda tours. Of course this is assuming I would be granted a visa. Writing this book has certainly made that possibility more remote&

However, I would advise readers to explore any part of the world that interests them by walking. There is nothing so satisfying as discovering a culture one-step-at-a-time. This is a traditional way of exploration which creates total immersion in a culture: its food, history, art, architecture, people, language and nature. I like to think of it as a walking meditation, too. You place your body on “auto-pilot” and travel outside, while traveling within.

If readers are interested in this rewarding mode of travel, they can check out several options on my WEB SITE where I have free “how-to” articles about walking some of Europe’s most spectacular pilgrimage routes, along with web links for more information.

Walking across Tibet was the beginning of this, my latest passion.

Norm: How would you describe the relationship with your wife after the trip? Reading the book, I noticed there were some tense moments between you both during the adventure.

Brandon: I really admire Cheryl’s courage and willingness to take a chance. Traveling with daily hardship, uncertainty, and often life-threatening situations, will put any relationship to the test. Fortunately ours survived and this experience provided an even stronger foundation. If we could survive that, why, we could survive anything.

Norm: Did you keep a daily journal while you were travelling?

Brandon: Of course. It was sometimes hard to find the energy or time at the end of one of these 14-hours days to sit down and write. But I wanted this account of our journey to be real, raw, and authenticnot some romanticized notion of adventure travel. To capture that essence (while the blisters were still fresh) was vital. Time heals all wounds, as they say, and if you wait to write about it all later you lose much of the minutiae of the moment until it becomes merely a Disney version of your memorywithout the dancing hippos, of course.

Norm: After you returned home, did you write any magazine articles about your adventure or did you lecture anywhere about it?

Brandon: I wrote magazine and newspaper articles about the experience, and would have liked to lecture about the journey and situation in Tibet. Living in Hawaii, there’s always a logistical problem and cost of traveling outside the islands.

Now that the book is published, if there’s great enough interest throughout North America, I would welcome the chance to talk to groups about this life-changing experience and about the Tibet we grew to appreciate.

Norm: Why did you choose the title Yak Butter Blues for your book?

Brandon: Well, as a global citizen, I was so disturbed by seeing the destruction of this ancient culture; the dismantling of temples, the corruption of monastic life; the re-education of a population where the children are prevented from learning Tibetan in schools; the removal of Tibetan food and clothing from the stores, plus the mass settlement of Han Chinese into Tibet causing Tibetans to become a minority in their country.

It is reaching the point where yak butter tea, that nourishing food that has traditionally fed and sustained a people throughout the centuries will soon be all that remains of an enlightened culture, while all the world looks away. These are the “Yak Butter Blues.”

(Besides, I liked the kind of Kerouac-ian ring to it!)

Norm: Did you ever hear any news about your horse Sadhu you left behind?

Brandon: The Internet is an amazing tool. Although we wrote to his new owner, the fellow who ran the Kathmandu guesthouse, shortly after our return home, we never heard back from him. Just recently, I “Googled” the hostel and was able to reach his brother.

Sadly, Sadhu, our old friend, passed away a couple of years ago at a very ripe old age. He spent his last years in a luxury resort, but will always be remembered by us as the only Tibetan we could bring to freedom.

Norm: Have you kept in contact with anyone you may have met during your trip?

Brandon: Unfortunately not. We sent copies of some of the photos we took along the journey to families we’d met, as our way of thanking them. That’s all.

Norm: How long did it take you to write the book?

Brandon: The first draft of the book was written in a few months. After that, it was revised through several drafts. Then I added the most current news on Tibet I could find, sorted through photos, and incorporated some of the simple truths which were initially planted in the mountains of Tibet and blossomed along more recent pilgrimage treks.

Norm: How are you going to market the book?

Brandon: Ah, the ultimate question! I consider this, in many ways, an extention of the journey. Perhaps, in retrospect, it is just as difficult with over 100,000 books released each year.

We’re reaching out to supporters of a free Tibet, colleges and universities, libraries, adventure travelers, trekking and outdoor organizations, newspapers, international adventure magazines, Buddhist and dharma groups, Indians & Nepalese, and independent bookstores to help get the word out. Much of this has been started and we use the Internet a lot to let people know about our web site.

The national reviews so far have been excellent and I’m awaiting others from abroad. Yak Butter Blues is currently listed on Internet bookseller sites from Europe to North America to Japan and Australia/New Zealand.

I’m also writing and sending articles to related sites and creating links, especially to the vast, displaced Tibetan community, as it is their story as much as our own.

Since book promotion these days ultimately rests with the author, I’m participating in book signings and interviews to further develop interest. As I said, if I find there’s a great enough interest in presentations, I might be tempted to put together some sort of North American tour. Whatja think?

Finally, after all those small moments along the trail where we felt like we owed our survival to some mysterious force, we have learned to “have faith,” to trust that we were meant to have this journey and that I was meant to write this book.

I can only trust that once again we will be blessed and that our audience will find us along life’s trail.

Meanwhile, if readers would like a first-hand look at our journey, complete with a sample chapter, maps, photos, Tibetan music and Tibet/Trekking/Peace links, please drop into my WEB SITE. Then take a moment to sign our guest book, email me, tell your friends, or post a review at Amazon.com. Namaste!

Thanks Brandon and I wish you good luck in all of your future endeavours. _________________________________________________________________

Norm Goldman is editor of bookpleasures.com and sketchandtravel.com.
Norm is also a regular contributor to many book reviewing sites and travel sites.

Norm and his artist wife, Lily are a unique couple in that they meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.
You can learn more about them from their site http://www.sketchandtravel.com.

Norm and Lily are always open to receive invitations to write and paint about romantic destinations in the New England states, New York state and Florida.

Active Pursuits in the Caribbean for the Sports Minded Traveler

Imagine sitting on the beach sipping a cold tropical beverage, listening to the sounds of the surf gently lapping at the perfect sugar-sand coast, as all concept of time and obligation slowly slip away. If this sounds like a waste of vacation time to you, and you want to spend your Caribbean experience enjoying more active pursuits, then have no fear; many of the Caribbean Islands offer more than just a day at the beach and picturesque sunsets.

Lively travelers visiting the Caribbean can fill their days with plenty of invigorating activities. Try the popular sports of tennis and golf if you enjoy a little friendly competition. There are watersports and underwater exploration for those who want to get their feet wet. And nature-friendly eco-oriented endeavors allow you to become one with the great outdoors. All you have to do is decide which activity interests you the most, and you’re ready for all kinds of adventures during your visit to the beautiful and exciting Caribbean.

Tennis and Golf

Many Caribbean hotels and resorts offer tennis and golf packages to accommodate sports-minded travelers. A lot of the major resorts in the region have tennis courts on location that are available to their guests and by reservations for those who aren’t staying at the hotel. Often, hotels with tennis courts will offer tennis instruction for various fees, so even if you’re a beginner player, you can still enjoy some great tennis action on your vacation in the Caribbean.

If you’re in the Caribbean at the right time, or you do a little planning in advance, you may be able to catch a professional tennis tournament during your stay. If you want to spend the daytime hours relaxing and soaking up some sun, a lot of hotels have lighted courts, so you can hit the courts at night, which may also be more comfortable than playing in the hot Caribbean sun. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a little extra for the luxury of lighting.

To make sure you get some much-coveted court time in the Caribbean, check with your hotel or with resorts near where you’ll be staying to see if they have courts available, if the courts are illuminated, and how much it costs to play. There are several islands in the Caribbean where vacationers can go to find great tennis courts and facilities, including the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, which feature resorts that provide special tennis packages and top-notch facilities.

Golf is also a popular pursuit for many vacationer traveling to the Caribbean. Golf can be relaxing as well as provide exciting competition. The weather in the Caribbean is perfect for enjoying a round of golf almost any time of year, and many of the region’s courses are located in beautiful breathtaking settings among majestic mountains and tropical greenery. Vacationers can find great golf courses throughout the Caribbean, but especially on the larger islands. The majority of courses are available to visitors and offer equipment for rental as well as golf lessons for various fees. The costs of golfing on particular greens will vary from course to course, and can range from extremely pricey to budget play, so check ahead with the course or golf resort.

Golfers will be able to find greens in the Caribbean that were designed by world renowned golfers and expert course designers. You can find exciting golf courses and golf resorts on many Caribbean islands with some of the best being in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Aquatic Activities

While staying in the Caribbean, you’ll be surrounded by the beautiful azure Caribbean Sea and sparkling Atlantic Ocean, so you’ll have access to a wide array of watersports and other aquatic endeavors, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing, just to name a few.

Travelers from all over the world visit the Caribbean to enjoy offshore activities in the region’s warm, clear, blue waters. Below the Caribbean waters is a wondrous world of colorful and exotic ocean wildlife including brilliant fish and coral. Because of its fascinating underwater habitats, the Caribbean features some of the most popular dive destinations in the world, and is home to various resorts and hotels that focus especially on the diving aspect of visiting the Caribbean by offering special dive package.

Dive resorts and many hotels offer their guests equipment rental for scuba diving and snorkeling, and even provide scuba diving lessons and certification, because you must have a license and some instruction in order to get the most out of your diving experience.

Coral reefs, old shipwrecks, volcanic vents, and underwater formations are great places for divers to explore, and can be an exciting experience for vacationers of all ages. The cost of your dive or snorkeling excursion will vary according to the kind of dive you take, when you go, and what kind of certification you want to get. Travelers can find great dive spots all over the Caribbean, but especially on the Cayman and Virgin Islands.

Other aquatic pursuits that vacationers can enjoy while visiting the Caribbean include watersports like windsurfing, which has become extremely popular in the region in recent years. Fishing is also a popular activity for many who visit the Caribbean, which has a countless number of fish species dwelling beneath the surface of the crystal blue waters. Also, there is kayaking, parasailing, water rafting, and many other ways to enjoy the waves of the salty Caribbean.

Eco-Oriented Endeavors

For many vacationers, a visit to the Caribbean is the perfect opportunity to get back to nature. Many islands in the region boast lush landscapes and are home to a variety of exotic animal species. Eco-oriented travelers can experience nature in the Caribbean in a number of ways, such as through hiking, camping, and mountain biking. To find out more information about outdoor excursions and nature-related activities, the best place to start is your hotel information desk, which may be able to provide you with maps of the island, the names and numbers of rental companies where you can get camping equipment and mountain bikes, and information on local guides that you can hire to show you around island trails.

Hiking is good exercise and can be a great way to see parts of islands that can’t be reached by car. Vacationers can choose from several levels of hiking difficulty, from leisurely strolls to brisk uphill hikes and more strenuous treks. Mountain biking is also another way to get off the beaten path and see areas of the island you couldn’t see by staying in the city limits. Take a trip up the side of a volcano, visit a cascading waterfall, or do some exotic birdwatching. The Caribbean offers all kinds of ecological possibilities.

Travelers who want to be active on their Caribbean vacation won’t be at a loss for things to do in this amazing region of the world, which is rich in various sports and activities. You’re sure to have an unforgettable experience in the Caribbean.

Danielle Mitchell writes for http://Caribbean-Guide.info, http://DominicanRepublic-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.

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Adventure in Leh Ladakh, India

Ladakh offers adventurous trekking trips.This is setup between two of the world’s greatest mountain ranges, Himalayan and the Karakoram. This valley banned firstly because of the enemy and then for its strategic geographic position.The attraction here for the tourists are snow clad peaks,translucent lakes, barren terrain etc. The best season to go on trekking in Ladakh expeditions in this region is between July
and September.

The main obstruction in the trekking at Ladakh is due to cold waves and snow. Thus, special clothing are required for trekking in this region. Pullovers and anorak should be kept handy, a pair of walking shoes with strong rubber or synthetic soles for grip, thick cotton socks, good sleeping bag, a waterproof tent, a good quality water cantor, flash light with sufficient batteries, a sun-hat, first-aid and a pair of good quality sunglasses are essential gear for going on a trek, and all should be back packed in a good quality rucksack.

Apart from this, according to the time and budget the tourist offices at Leh, Kargil or Padum can design trekking programs for the people but the right and easiest way to go on trek is through a travel agency, which will take care of all arrangements including camping gear, provisions, portage, staff and all other matters. It is advisable to have each & every essential thing with from the base camp.

Ladakh Adventure Treks- some adventure treks of ladakh are given bellow:

Darcha Lamayuru Trek
Markha Valley Trek
Ladakh Zanskar Trek
The Rupshu Valley Trek
Indus Valley Trek
Lamayuru Alchi Trek
Stok Kangri Trek
Ladakh Monastery
Lamayuru Padum Trek
Southern Zanskar Trek
Nubra Valley Trekk

To know more about India Ladakh Trekking you can find complete information here : http://www.trekkinginladakh.com/

Tejrin Raghav