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Top Natural Attractions to Explore in Africa

The African continent is the second largest in the world, encompassing 53 countries - with diverse terrains, climates and seeped in history and culture. An African overland tour is truly an adventure-seekers dream as overland travel presents the opportunity to explore the deepest darkest corners of the continent, with experiences that will stay etched into your heart and mind forever. If you are planning overseas adventure travels, make sure you make the most of all Africa has to offer - from the lakes to the wildlife to the world heritage sites. Listed below are some of the most noted features and places that are definitely recommended on any Africa overland tour.

Lakes and Waterfalls - Natural Wonders

Any African overland trip should include witnessing the splendour of at least one of the great lakes or soaking up the beauty of the cascading waterfalls and rivers. Some of the lakes and waterfalls that you can enjoy visiting on your African overland travels include:

o Lake Malawi (once known as Lake Nyasa) is the third largest freshwater lake in Africa. The lake's tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on Earth.

o Victoria Falls is a waterfall that is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Also known as Mosi oa Tunya, which translates to "The Smoke that Thunders", this dynamic cascading mass of water is definitely worth visiting on your Africa overland travels.

o Bujagali Falls is located just downstream from the source of the Nile and is a spectacular sight!

o Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes, located in Kenya. This natural phenomenon is famous for its pink-feathered inhabitants, the flamingos, which are a beautiful sight when flying en masse to and from the water. If you are planning overseas adventure travels - this lake is not to be missed.

Rivers - The Source of Life and Beauty

o The Nile River begins its 6700 km journey to the Mediterranean Sea - this magnificent river is full of historical fame and natural beauty and an ideal place to visit during an African overland trip.

o The Orange River is the longest river in South Africa and is a rich source of diamonds.

o Chobe River is a diverse habitat for wildlife - any visit will afford exciting game viewing as well as an array of bird species.

o The Okavango Delta in Botswana is the world's largest inland delta. When visiting this natural phenomenon on your overseas travel adventures, you will have the chance of seeing the elusive wildlife of this unique desert oasis.

Historical and World Heritage Sites

On any African overland trip - the best way to fully experience the places are to visit the historical sites that make up the rich history of the country itself. Some of the most notable include:

o Table Mountain and Robben Island in Cape Town.

o Cecil Rhodes' grave and Ancient Rock Paintings.

o Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe.

o One of Africa's greatest natural features, the East African Rift Valley.

o Zambezi Gorge - an ideal setting for exhilarating white water rafting!

o Stone Town in Zanzibar - famous for its spice markets, old slave forts and dungeons.

o Spitzkoppe Rock formations - known as the Matterhorn of Namibia. These rock formations are part of the Erongo Mt range, formed over 100 million years ago after the collapse of a gigantic volcano.

o Cango Calcite Caves - recognised as one of the worlds finest network of Calcite caves, formed over a million years of slow formation of Stalagmites and Stalactites. www.rockmeafrica.com

National Parks - A World of their Own

Internationally famed for its wildlife parks, any African overland adventure must feature a visit to at least one of the continent's many national parks, where you are sure to witness incredible natural sights and come into close proximity with incredible wildlife.

o Serengeti National Park, Tanzania famed for its annual migration of over one million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra.

o Etosha National Park, a semi-desert and one of the world's greatest wildlife viewing areas.

o Hells Gate National Park in the Rift Valley Province in Kenya.

o Chobe National Park in Botswana - boasting one of the largest game concentrations on the African continent.

o Mikumi National Park in Tanzania, covering an area of 3230 km2.

o Namib-Naukluft Park, a vast expanse of desert which contains some of the highest sand dunes in the world.

o Golden Gate National Park in the eastern Free State in South Africa.

o Royal Natal National Park, a dramatic region of the Drakensberg beneath the famous Amphitheatre - a massive wall of rock with over 4 kms of sheer cliff face.

o The Kruger National Park, famed for sightings of the Big Five and the most acclaimed game park in South Africa.

Animals

The African continent is home to such diverse animal species, which means that your African overland travel is sure to be a mixture of exciting game and wildlife viewing as you come into close contact with the animals in their natural habitat.

o Seals and whales on the Cape coast.

o Wildlife in the many national parks, including the likes of the Big Five - Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.

o Majestic Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda.

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Ingo Maurer Lighting - The Perfect Luminance for Your Interiors

When it comes to lighting up the interiors, hardly any contemporary designer has the capability to inculcate provocative designs and humor as a part of his working methodologies like the famous interior designer Ingo Maurer. Ingo Maurer lighting is characteristically different from the others for its unique form and structure. This designer collection basically deals with free forms and psychedelic patterns and unconventional symbols. Each piece of Ingo Maurer lighting is uniquely created with an odd but, fantastic selection of materials. The innovative approach to the concept of theme lamps has received international acclamation and admiration. Won't you love to decorate your interiors with such masterpieces too?

Ingo Maurer lighting is been responsible for illuminating thousands of interiors for over three decades. Energy efficient LED bulbs are used in their creation which is particularly helpful at time when it is speculated that under the Federal Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme green paper the cost of electricity is expected to rise by up to 16%. Include such fixtures to your home and let people admire your creative impulse in interior decoration while you save a lot of money on your electricity bills. www.deluxe-interior.com

Enjoy the chiaroscuro of light and darkness inside your home with interplay between form and function of light bulbs. But, to enhance its effects you must also decorate your appliances and furniture to the interiors in such a way so as to complement the light patterns in your home. The Ingo Maurer lighting is created with an exact philosophical calculus... each bend and curve in the design is accurately carved to tame the light energy to get the desired effect.

You just cannot buy genuine Ingo Maurer lighting from just anywhere. But, there are only a few online stores that deal with these rare pieces of art. It is highly advisable that you should buy this lighting from authentic stores that deal with designer lighting fittings. These stores generally offer these lamps at reasonable rates. In addition, one of the major benefits of buying from such stores is that you can avail those at greatly discounted rates. So, whether it is a contemporary collection for the drawing room or a chic lighting fitting for the bathroom, Ingo Maurer designer collection has all the types and lots more...

One of the best online stores where you can get truly magnificent collection of assorted Ingo Maurer lighting is interior-deluxe.com. Here, magnificence is guaranteed along with affordability.

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5 Fun Father's Day Ideas For The Dad Who Has Everything: Tickets, Stunt Kites And More

With Father's Day right around the corner, many Dad's are hoping that family and friends will skip the tie this year and go for something really new and different. Another option is to bring back some old memories with more traditional activities. Whether you create something personalized, give him delicious treats, take him to see his favorite team, or surprise him with quality time together when you buy kites for an afternoon of good, old fashioned fun, Dad will sure to feel loved and appreciated.

Personalized Gifts

While every father probably already has a tie, coffee mug, mouse pad, or calendar, giving these gifts personalized with his name and special photographs of family or friends is sure to make them big favorites. Today's computer technology makes it easy to create personalized gifts with family photos and custom designs.

Family Time

Between busy schedules, fragmented families, and differing interests, time can get away from fathers and their children before they know it. Creating a special time for just the two (or more) of you is an excellent way to tell Dad how much he is loved and appreciated. Stroll through an art gallery or museum and enjoy a special lunch, go for a flight over the neighborhood in an antique biplane, or head for the nearest park for a picnic, where you can fly a stunt kite, throw a football, or simply enjoy the day together.www.privatekite.com

Father & Son Stunt Kite Event

You can take the family outing idea one step further and surprise him this year with a stunt kite event. Buy kites for each of you and set out for the nearest beach, park, or open field to spend some quality time together, learning how to fly stunt kites and reconnecting with each other. This activity offers ample time for heartfelt conversation and playful banter and there are many budget-friendly options when you buy kites.

Yummy In The Tummy

They say that the way to every man's heart is through his stomach, and Dad is no exception. Gift baskets are an excellent way to provide him with a wide selection of yummy treats, if distance is a factor. Lunch, dinner, picnic, or a special barbecue in Dad's honor are winning choices for the Dad who has everything. Or, package all his favorites (nuts, chocolates, etc.) in special tins, Chinese take-out containers, or something completely different.

Sporting Event Tickets

Most fathers have at least one favorite sport. Make this Father's Day extra special by treating him to tickets to see his favorite team. Add coupons good for hot dogs and beer, a pennant, or even a team T-shirt or hoodie to wear to the game. Some stadiums will even make private messaging available on the scoreboard and many offer special Father's Day activities and events. Sports provide an enjoyable neutral ground where everyone can reconnect.

When you create or arrange this year's Father's Day gift or outing, he is sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness. Whether you opt for a personalized gift, an incredible edible, a trip to the ballpark, or surprise him with a stunt kite, Dad will surely know how much you care.

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Wallpaper - History, Types, Cleaning, and Removal

Wallpapers are also known as wall coverings. There are many different designs printed on the wallpapers, so you can buy wallpaper with the right style and color for whatever your home or office theme is.

Let us get to know more about the history of wallpapers.www.great-wallpaper.com How did they come about? Who invented them? Here are the timelines:

4000 B.C. Egyptian Papyrus was invented. Papyrus is the early form of paper.

200 B.C. Ancient China began using rice paper to decorate their walls by sticking or gluing them on their walls.

105 A.D Ts'ai Lun, a Chinese court official, invented papermaking.

8th Century Chinese prisoners with paper making skills worked under the Arabians. Papermaking spread throughout Middle East.

10th Century The Arabians began using wood and bamboo, creating a high quality paper.

12th Century Papermaking reached Europe.

1481 Louis XI of France ordered Jean Bourdichon to paint angels on blue background on 50 rolls of paper. King Louis XI had them ordered because he moves frequently from castle to castle. The rich society then began to commission artist to paint paper for their walls.

1599 Paperhangers guild was established in France.

1675 Jean-Michel Papillon started making block designs in matching and continuous patterns. He was considered the inventor of wallpapers. He is also a French Engraver.

1680 Flocked wallpapers came from Worcester.

18th Century Wallpaper products from London became popular. Expensive hand painted papers were all the rage because they imitate architectural designs. Wallpapers gained authority because they were less expensive. Popular designs were borders resembling tasseled braids or sway of fabric, and flocked papers that looked like a velvet cut.

1739 Wallpapers reached America. Plunket Fleeson began printing them in Philadelphia.

1778 Louis XVI issued a decree that wallpaper rolls should be about 34 feet in length.

1785 Christophe-Philippe Oberkampf of France invented the wallpaper printing machine. Nicholas Louis Robert of France invented a way to make endless roll of wallpaper.

1798 Alois Senefelder of Germany invented Lithography.

1800 French scenic papers printed on hand-carved blocks became popular.

1839 Charles Harold Potter of Potters and Ross printing firm in England invented a printing machine with four colors.

1850 Eight-color printing machine was invented.

1874 20-color printing machine was invented.

1879 Karl Keitsch of Austria invented Intaglio, a gravure printing.

1888 Ferdinand Shovel invented the wallpaper paste.

1890 In England, flexography printing was invented.

20th Century Wallpaper pasting machines appeared.

1936 A paste powder that was soluble in cold water appeared in the market.

WWII Ends Plastic resins which are stain resistant, durable, and washable appeared.

1974 The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers was established in the United States.

Late 1980's Wallpapers popularity died down because of Faux Painting.

Even though wallpapers were not as popular as it was before, modern people had begun to discover the beauty of wallpapers. There are now different types of wallpapers compared to before.

Vinyl Coated Wallpaper coated with acrylic vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. It is the most common type of wallpaper. They are easy to clean, easy to remove, and very durable. Ideal rooms are the kitchen and bathrooms.

Foil This type of wallpaper is very difficult to work with. It can show the wall imperfections and gets wrinkled easily. However, it adds brightness to any room because of its metallic surface.

Flock Great for decorative highlights and it gives off a formal ambience. They have patterns with velvet-like raised designs.

Grass Cloth Made up of weave of grasses. Not to be used on areas with high traffic and humidity. They are difficult to remove.

Fabric Made from textiles and they are not easy to clean. A special clear paste should be used in sticking it to a wall.

Embossed Easy to clean and hang. Hides wall imperfections. The textured paper can be painted.

When looking for wallpaper, you should also know how to clean them. Different materials have different ways of cleaning them. You should ask the manufacturer on their recommendations in cleaning their products.

However, dry cleaning is the safest cleaning method on any kind of wallpapers. Avoid using any moisture on wallpapers that are absorbent like paper and fabric. Some stores also sell a clay-like material to be used on wallpapers.

This clay-like cleaning material is good in absorbing soils from the walls. If you found a mold or mildew in the wallpaper, it is advised that the wallpaper be removed and replaced.

If you have removed the wallpaper, clean the walls first with water and chlorine solution. This is to kill any mold and mildew on your wall. Rinse it with clean water and let it dry before installing new wallpaper.

There are also different ways to remove wallpaper. As with cleaning, different material have different ways in removing them. Some materials are easy to remove, while some are very difficult to remove.

Water If the wallpaper is a simple paper, just brushing it with water can remove it off from your wall.

Chemicals A chemical wallpaper stripper can be found in most home improvement stores. It is mixed with warm water or warm water with vinegar. You must saturate the wallpaper as the mixture dissolves the wallpaper paste. When the paste is completely dissolved, you can remove it easily by stripping it off with a putty or drywall knife.

Steam A steaming machine is used to dissolve the glue or paste under the wallpaper. Extra caution is required as it can damage your drywall or plaster.

Some vinyl coated wallpapers are difficult to remove because they can't absorb moisture. You first need to scratch the surface to let any moisture in. However, some are fairly easy to strip.

Before you go and buy that new wallpaper or wall cover, be sure to know what type or style you wanted. And to ask the store for the cleaning tips on the wallpaper you just bought.

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Mass Media Literacy Reflections for Language Instructions

"You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself." Galileo Galilei

Mass media forms thrive today. As development show itself scientifically, students experience various media forms through technologies. These flourishing materials shouldn't be ignored; it is the role of ESL teachers to keep abreast with the present day coinciding language instructions to mass media forms as springboards of originally planned language tasks in attuning the interests of students that the real- world situation is constantly exposing them. There exist a one- to- one correspondence between technology and the mass media. As technology rises, mass media develops several forms that can be activated as operative materials in intellectually influencing interested individuals. To be able to discover these materials' educational potentials, teachers need to discover the essence of media literacy by evaluating their viability, themselves.www.stockmediacity.com

Environmental changes influence learners prompting creative teacher's initiative to employ innovation in constructing activities that cater to students' interests for the promotion of interactive classrooms. The creation of collaborative instructional setting replaces learners' tediousness and welcomes newly designed ideas that ensure knowledge absorption. This concept is not to absolutely replace mandated textbooks but expressing creativeness out of media forms may serve as tools to expand learning horizons of learners. Classrooms assist foundation learning not to mention that these aren't the only outright sources of learners' intelligence. With the breakthrough of technology currently, learners find the media in their homes. It is an educator's accountability to guide them that these aren't only meant for entertainment but could be extensions of learning while being amused. Thus, with the use of these media forms, English teachers may teach nonnative speakers through mass media as facilitators through any approach that they can hypothesize. However, such ingenious construction of instructional materials must be in conjunction with the curricula implemented by educational organizations where they are affiliated with. But using these materials need teachers' readiness to aptly prepare. It is timely and pertinent that teachers' readiness establish acceptable levels in order to maneuver learners didactically.

In here, the writer uses practical ways for teachers' to reflect on their awareness regarding mass media literacy through evaluating present or prior exposures demonstrated to mass media forms and multimedia tools, prior and current mass media and technology material knowledge, knowledge of instructional technology tools that facilitate media materials, inter-linkages of mass media materials to the curriculum being taught, reflecting mass media materials as viable springboards for instructions, identifying some significant indicators of media literacy integration in an instruction and possessing knowledge of integrated instruction- design components for teaching through media materials alongside exemplified example of a material derived from films.

Acquiring the rudiments of mass media as a way of promoting 21st century learning can lead to assimilated awareness known as media literacy. As operationally used in this article, media literacy's significance is to prepare educators to process varied learning styles through media forms by primarily gaining knowledge of them, understanding their contents, and analyzing their effects to learners as audience. It is perceived that through an intensive review regarding their significance and capabilities to challenge students' critical thinking, educators can employ these materials for instructions.

These media literacy reflections can be applied to any academic discipline but the writer's conception in here is geared through language instructions.

One of the means to appraise one's level of media literacy is through reflecting formulated questions that determine the extent of perception.

1. Assessing former exposures to mass media and multimedia materials

Teachers may practically evaluate their experiences on mass media in and outside the classrooms.

1. Have I read various print media materials in preparing teaching inputs? 2. Have I accustomed myself with authentic materials' principles and types? 3. Have I reviewed essential television programs /movies/videos/ documentaries, etc.? 4. Have I employed broadcast and print media materials? 5. Have I utilized print and broadcast advertisements as springboard? 6. Have I derived materials from print or broadcast media? 7. Have I obtained materials from sources I am familiar with? 8. Have I downloaded varied viable materials from the internet? 9. Have I given examples familiar to students' current social media environment? 10. Have I disseminated the significance of mass media in teaching? 11. Have I designed tasks out of materials from other social media? 12. Have I disseminated knowledge in media forms with the facilitation of technological tools? 13. Have I integrated language functions aside from language focus in my materials? 14. Have I achieved my teaching objectives through mass media and technological tools? 15. Have I anchored my lessons with themes from media- designed materials? 16. Have I considered the genre of materials? Is it a film, an advertisement, etc.? 17. Have I employed visibly useful materials in the conduct of language lessons? 18. Have I inculcated media and technology learning theories when using these materials? 19. Have I employed mass media and technology- related materials over the last five years? 20. Have I noticed contrasting ideas in a planned lesson that aren't suitable for the students? 21. Have I analyzed material backgrounds? Have they been connected to informative ideas?