#rocky mountain national par

[outdoortraveler]

During the summer of 1958 the Fern Lake Lodge in Rocky Mountain National Park was managed by budding folksinger Judy Collins, and her husband.

[esoutherngolf]

Poconos Golf Trip

Poconos Golf Trip About 90 miles north of Philadelphia and about the same distance west of Metropolitan New York City, you’ll find the ideal recreational area for year-round fun. Snuggled away in Northeastern Pennsylvania is the Poconos, a four-county collection of resorts and places to stay and play. Be it winter sports like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fun slopes to ski; autumn hunting and fishing while you enjoy the colorful transition of fall leaves; summer boating, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming the cool blue and pristine waterways throughout Carbon, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties; and golf at the 30 odd golf courses and resort clubs almost year-round. Earlier this summer, I took a group of golf writers on a cross-section trip of some of the best Poconos offers. We started at Terry LaGree’s artful design Jack Frost National Golf Club opened in 2007 in Blakeslee and has all the features you would want in a mountain course and none of the shortfalls. Here, you can embrace the Pocono Mountains with all its magnificent vistas and elevation changes. Unlike most mountain courses, Jack Frost National, at 7200 yards from the tips, provides wide fairways, easily identified target areas, few uneven lies, and no blind shots. Before our round, Director of Instruction Ryan Kearn gave us an overview of the course while we enjoyed a light lunch in the new outdoor bar and pavilion. No homes, just flora and fauna. The Jack Frost and Boulder Ski Resorts are nearby. To learn more or book a tee time, please visit www.JackFrostNational.com. We took a backroad ride through small villages and towns to our next destination, Woodloch Resort in Hawley, where we stayed in two lovely five-bedroom homes perfect for a buddies’ golf trip. Each bedroom had its own bathroom, and each house had a great room, dining room and huge kitchen to accommodate all our goodies and drinks. For someone who grew up near the Poconos in Allentown, Woodloch Resort was a complete surprise. thelodgeatwoodloch.com The sprawling resort has three separate facilities, covers 1200 acres and has something for everyone. The Lodge is a ‘Sanctuary for the Senses‘ adults-only spa where guests go to decompress and renew. The Pines is the family resort area where most of the activities are found, and the Springs is the 500-acre home development complete with a Rocky Roquemore championship country club golf course under the direction of Director of Golf John Pillar. The Resort has been owned by the Kiesendahl family for 65 years who insist on treating guests like family. Their attention to detail shows why the Resort is voted the No. 1 Family Resort for the third year in a row by USA Today. After a challenging round at Woodloch with deer following us around the course, we drove east to the “Granddaddy” of the Poconos, The Shawnee Inn. The historic Inn has been the home of an A. W. Tillinghast designed a golf course that plays along the Delaware River and continues onto an island with the river flowing on both sides after crossing a cart bridge. A visit to Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort is special with the Shawnee Island Course being the crown jewel of the property, where 24 of 27 holes are located on an island in the middle of the Delaware River. The parkland-style course is not the norm in the Poconos, but a nice change from the hills and valleys of the typical Pocono offerings. The historic Shawnee Inn has been entertaining and playing host to the who’s who of celebrities since the beginning of the 20th century. Jackie Gleason learned the game here; Arnold Palmer met Winnie here; Sam Snead spent time as the pro. The likes of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball, Perry Como, and many more came to the Shawnee Inn for recreation, fun and cool summer nights. shawneeinn.com The Shawnee continues to change with the times. The property has a craft brewery with outdoor seating and games for the whole family. Tom Doak completed a six-hole par 3 course to complement the championship course where Hale Irwin won his NCAA championship. Recently, the Shawnee owners bought Great Bear Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus masterpiece, in nearby East Stroudsburg to give the Inn a new stay-and-play package. Warm hospitality and cool temperatures are a sure bet, no matter where you decide to go. So, if you are sweltering in the city, take your game and family to the Poconos. You will love it! poconomountains.com/things-to-do/golf Read the full article

[entertainmentnerdly]

Double rainbow in Rocky Mountain National Park [OC] [3024x4032] via /r/EarthPorn https://ift.tt/2YgfBDl

[etyileiet]

COLORED BY THE GLOW OF THE SUNRISE by romling69

[bunkershotgolf]

Treat yourself to a Golf Trip in England’s Lake District

With the reopening of Linthwaite House in the Lake District on 31st July, it’s time to treat yourself to a golf trip in one of England’s most popular holiday destinations that promises plenty of space and fresh air in the great outdoors. 

Part of the Leeu Collection, the stunning hotel in Cumbria, England has teamed up with the nearby Windermere Golf Club to offer a ‘Golfing in the Lakes’ package that combines a two-night stay at the luxury property with 18 holes of golf for two at one of Cumbria’s most delightful and scenic golf courses, and a three-course set dinner at Michelin-starred Simon Rogan’s newest restaurant Henrock.

Whilst England’s largest National Park is best known for its spectacular walks around its numerous lakes and up mountains like Scafell Pike, it is also home to almost 40 golf courses making it the ideal destination to combine hiking with a round of golf or two, with both activities giving visitors the opportunity to soak up wonderful views of the surrounding landscape.

Less than a mile from Linthwaite House, the course at Windermere Golf Club offers panoramic views over Lake Windermere and across to the distant fells. Founded back in 1891, the layout was designed by George Lowe who – at the time – was the professional at Royal Lytham & St Annes (which has hosted 11 Open Championships), a course he also created. In true moorland style, each hole at Windermere follows the gently rolling and rugged character of the local terrain to create a layout that is both charming and demanding.

Though relatively short at 5,143 yards, this par 67 course presents golfers with a quite a challenge thanks to an array of blind tee shots, several elevation changes and numerous natural hazards such as rocky outcrops, abundant bracken and copses of trees that run alongside some of the fairways.

After the rigours of golf,  Linthwaite House provides a tranquil retreat and all the comforts of a five star hotel. The Conservatory, Bar and Terrace are the perfect place for a light meal or early evening drink, while admiring the breath-taking views over Windermere towards Coniston. Breakfast and dinner are served in Henrock which showcases natural, seasonal ingredients in a relaxed and elegant setting.  

That hotel stands in 14 acres of landscaped private gardens, which are dotted with arresting sculptures and offer a range of outdoor pursuits such as boating and fishing on the tarn (a small lake), boules, croquet and giant chess. At the end of the day, guests retire to one of the 36 luxurious, individually-designed bedrooms for a great night’s sleep in this peaceful bolthole.

Testifying to the quality of the hotel and its golf offer, Linthwaite House has been nominated in several of this year’s Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Awards including the Best Hotel for Golf category (winners will be announced in the Autumn).

Keen golfers may wish to try several of the other golf courses in the area, such as the Harry Colt parkland course at Ulverston just 15 miles away and the highly-regarded Silloth on Solway golf course, rated by Top 100 Golf Courses as the one number course in Cumbria, that is located on the coast about a 90-minute drive from Linthwaite House.

The ‘Golfing in the Lakes’ package includes two nights’ B&B accommodation, a three-course set meal in Henrock on one night and a round of golf for two at Windermere Golf Club (with scrumptious snacks to keep you going and return transfers to the club from Linthwaite House).  Rates start from £615 for two people sharing a double room; book online at https://leeucollection.com/UK  or email reservations@linthwaitehouse.com or call +44 (0) 15394 88600, quoting “Leeu Golf”.

[motosupply]

Zane Roberts with a Pro 250 win, Joe Wasson wraps up 2nd overall, and Mike Witkowski grabs second in XC2!

National Hare & Hound Round 9 Overview:

Location: Lucerne Valley, CA

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

-Beta Support rider Zane Roberts finished out the season with a win after sustaining a broken scapula only a few races prior to the event. Roberts ended the season 11 points behind the Pro 250 leader in 2nd place.

-Joe Wasson also finished out the season on the podium with a 2nd place Overall finish. Wasson battled the entire season for the lead while finishing just 15 points behind the OA leader.

-Chance Fullerton had a great performance at the final round finishing just shy of the Overall podium in 4th place. Fullerton's ability to adapt to the bigger Beta 430 RR Race Edition throughout the season, and his determination, showed in his results as he finished in 4th place Overall.

-Morgan Tanke had some bad luck in the final round resulting in a DNF. However, Tanke had a strong season with one win in the Women's Pro class and five 2nd place podiums resulting in a 2nd place finish for the 2019 National Hare & Hound series.

ZANE ROBERTS

Bike: 250 RR

"I was finally able to get things back on track this weekend at the final round of the National Hare & Hound series. I had some bad luck the past few races, so I was very happy to take a convincing win and end the season on a high note! I can't thank the whole Beta USA crew enough for helping make this a great season, and I'm excited for next year!"

JOE WASSON

Bike: 430 RR

"Round 9 was an awesome race! I knew going into it some miracles were going to have to happen for me to get the championship, but I still had a positive mindset! I got lined up on the start line and when the banner dropped we were off. 44 miles of virgin single track, rocks, and sand washes made for an awesome course. I was running third and made the pass for 2nd in the second loop. I could see the leaders dust, but I would have had to hang it all out there to get the win. It wasn't worth it because I still wouldn't have won the championship seeing how the points leader would have still been second, so I rode a smart race and had a blast!!!"

CHANCE FULLERTON

Bike: 430 RR

"The final round of National Hare & Hound went pretty well! After a horrible start, I charged to the front and ran 4th all day. I just couldn't make it to the lead group, but for my first year on a big bike I'll take it. I ended up only a couple points shy of 3rd in the championship! All in all I'm impressed with my overall riding. I can't wait to see how much more I have to improve. Thank you to everyone for the 2019 series!"

MORGAN TANKE

Bike: 250 RR

"Sunday was a tough day for me. I got off to a good start and was riding well. The course was very rocky and technical which I liked. I passed for second early into the first loop and held it going into loop 2. The technical sections of loop 2 gave me some breathing room between myself and the 3rd place rider and I was feeling good. Unfortunately my good day made a turn for the worse with about a mile to go. My motor seized up and I was dead in my tracks. After pushing my bike through the sand for a bit another racer came to the rescue and towed me to the finish, which unknowingly disqualified me due to a technicality. I'm extremely bummed that it ended up that way, but lucky I still managed a 2nd place in the championship for the team and I. I'm disappointed that my season ended this way, but I'm happy with how my first full season of desert racing went. I'm proud of what I've learned and accomplished and am excited for next year."

GNCC Round 12 Overview:

Location: Beckley, WV

Beta Factory Race Team Results:

-Mike Witkowski battled for the XC2 class lead for most of the day and ended taking home a 2nd place finish. Witkowski is currently in 3rd place for the series points standings 4 points behind 2nd place.

-Rachel Gutish finished just shy of the WXC podium in 4th place and is currently in 9th place for the series points standings.

MIKE WITKOWSKI

Bike: 250 RR

"The Mountaineer GNCC terrain was very rocky and hilly. The week prior I had rode at my local sand track getting my fitness up to par, but I didn't exactly have rocks to practice so I just went at it the best I could with a good mindset toward the race. My Beta 250 RR got off to a great start. I went into the woods in second, but quickly passed for first and tried to check out. Unfortunately, I didn't have all the hot lines picked out and was quickly passed. I sat back and learned from the leader taking in all the good lines. About three laps in, I found myself in contention for the win again. I took a pit stop on lap three and the leader didn't gas, so I had about 30 seconds to make up. I had a really good lap and kept the gap manageable until a lapped rider cleaned me out on a downhill. Ultimately it was a bad lap that caused the leader to break away even more. I settled for 2nd place and 9th overall for the day's end result. I think without that major crash, and a few mistakes, I could have cleaned up and would have been in the hunt for a win. We have one more race at the Ironman GNCC to make it happen!"

RACHEL GUTISH

Bike: 200 RR

"I got off to an excellent start at my last round of GNCC this season. I entered the woods in about fourth place, and by a few miles in had moved up into second. About three miles from the barrels I passed for the lead, and maintained it for several miles before dropping back into second. Lappers are a thing I have always struggled with, and as soon as we got into the thick of them on the third lap, I started to have quite a few problems. I dropped down into fourth place and was unable to make up any of the time I lost. With that being said, this is still the most competitive I have felt at a GNCC since I was injured. I have high hopes for next season! I am also looking forward to the rest of the EnduroCross series, where I am still in contention for the series title."

Photo by Kato

[minimotives]

First and foremost:

I am absolutely sorry for the last blog post that you may or may not have seen if you subscribe to this blog (It’s gone now).  I was not hacked but apparently James was.  Also, apparently he was set as a contributor to this blog.  So someone hacked into his account and published some sub-par English (like I have any room to complain!) post about something or another… I am sorry to be a cruddy email in your inbox though and thank you so much for those of you who let me know so I could handle it!  It has been fixed and I’ll do my very best to not let it happen again!

Quick Recap!

So, 13 months, to the day, is how long we were on the road.  And 39,998 miles (I’d like to just round that up bat I can’t do it).  In that time we were able to hit 45 national parks (all of them in the lower 48 excluding 4 island parks accessible only by boat or plane).  We can all, including Denver, say we’ve been to 48 of the 50 states.

I did technically take a computer but it was not easy to hook it up to the internet (I attached via phone).  Then, every time I did my computer wanted to update.  So any time I wanted to write a blog post I had to basically wait 2-4 hours and hope I remembered enough to scribble it down.  As you can see, I think I wrote about 6 blog posts the whole time we were out and that was from my phone (its not easy to blog via touch pad!).  I’m sorry for that but it was a lot more fun exploring the country!!  Hopefully, if you wanted you were able to find us on Instagram where I still updated.

We left in the middle of some hot and heavy tiny house discussions and it’s pretty much been tabled the whole time we were away.  We are very happy to be back thought to finish working through the nuances and hopefully make it easier to live tiny in Idaho at least!

Before That Happens Though:

We have to find a home base.  The thought of mooching off any family while we figure it out is not appealing.  We have great tenants in our ‘real’ house and have no ambition to kick them out just so we could live there a little while.  We can’t occupy the tiny house. Short term (or long term) rentals are astronomical in Boise right now. (Click here for a special link to Yahoo about our hometown)

This left us with one logical answer.  When James moved in to the tiny he never fully downsized.  He just kind of put his things in boxes and then built a basic, detached garage for his ‘real house’, then stored all of his stuff in there.  So we’re converting that garage into some temporary housing for our family of four!

Our Anniversary

We didn’t just end our trip 13 months to the day after take off, we also ended it one our anniversary.  Every year we take a family photo in front of our home as a snapshot of the year.  I am glad to get another picture with ‘Lil Beastie! (our camper).  Here are our anniversary photos to date, I wonder what next year’s will look like! ha!

We lead a pretty cool life, I am so glad I, on a whim, started taking these pictures!

Year six, can you believe we were on the same vacation as the picture taken one year earlier! 🙂

Year Five, new home on wheels for a while

Year four, no new family members!, yea!

Year three, Miles is just about done cooking!

Year two, surprise baby Hazel!

Year one, the day Denver came to live with us!

First date – who even gets this picture??

Now The Downsizing Begins Again!

James has been hardcore into the real downsizing efforts.  A year on the road has been pretty eye opening for both of us on what we really need (spoiler: less than what we currently own!).  Honestly, I have cleared the tiny house of several truck loads of stuff!  Our kids have grown up in a year and they really don’t need all the baby stuff we had.  James has gone through box upon box.  We’ve taken two truck loads to the dump, were planning a yard sale for anything else.  Whatever doesn’t sell will be donated to start a new life elsewhere.  Hazel and Miles have been going through all their stuff, they are excited to earn money from their toys AND plan on hosting a lemonade stand for cool refreshments.  I absolutely cannot believe the amount of STUFF we have accumulated in our tiny little places!

Building Anew!

After this weekend we really get going!  We will be adding a kitchen, a custom playhouse/fort for the kids, and doing all those little projects that take a garage to a home for a family of four and their dog!  I will try to do updates because its totally relevant to ‘tiny homes’ and living in small spaces.  Sometimes Instagram is just easier for me because it’s quicker (and can be done from my phone).  I will definitely update on the legalities once that conversation gets going too.  I am happy to be back and ready to rock this world again!  In the mean time here are some of my favorite pictures of our adventures!

Also, this is not the end of our travels, we absolutely plan to make it to those four parks we skipped and are already planning our trip to Alaska (my last state) for next summer followed by celebrating James’s 40th birthday next fall in Hawaii!  We should be able to see all these amazing National Parks before too long!

Oh, P.S.

Our cat is mad we are back.  Did you know we had a cat? It’s probably because I am a dog person ;-).

He misses his bachelors pad and all the fancy parties he used to throw! While we were away we had an RFID cat door programmed to his microchip so that he could enter and exit the house at will (but nothing else could).  We set up a camera pointed at his food so we could make sure he was alive and eating.  Any time the food got low we would order another bag from Amazon and have James’s sister or mom run over and fill his dish.  Pretty sure he enjoyed that set up a whole lot more than he enjoys our company!

The Pictures

Tetons NP

Washingtons Peninsula

Cascade NP

Mt. Rainier NP

The Oregon Coast

Crater Lake NP

Redwoods NP

Patricks Point, CA

Everglades NP

Bug watching, She is the best at finding lizards, frogs and catipilars

Bryce Canyon NP

Death Valley NP

Suguaro NP

Florida dog beach

Grand Canyon NP

Yosemite NP

California Free Camping

Zion NP

Zion Hike

Utah Farm

Mesa Verde NP

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP

The dop of the highest sand dune in North America, Great Sand dune NP

Petrified Forest/Painted Dessert NP

Painted Desert NP

Spring in Death Valley NP

Death Valley

Death Valley Dunes

Joshua Tree NP

Saguaro NP

White Sands NM

White Sands NM

Big Bend NP

One of MANY awesome aquariums (this one is in Mississippi)

Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans!

Cocoa Beach with Poppy

Furthest South Point in the US

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disneys Magic Kingdom

Florida

North Carolina

Playgrounds across America!

Mammoth Cave NP

Smokey Mountain NP

Random Virginia picture (such a pretty state!!)

Shanendoah NP

Shanandoah NP

West Virginia

Washington DC

Wild ponies!!

Birthday Boy in Maine

Furthest east point in the US

Denver could not contain himself around that much water!

thousand Island area in New York

Hot springs

Sibling bonding

Denver got a lot of this!

He learned to fake his first smile and I caught it on camera!

Sand dunes in Michigan

Teddy Roosevelt NP

National Grasslands

Idaho is kinda pretty too 🙂

Learning new tricks

Glacier NP

Teton NP

Mt. Rushmore

Badlands NP

Rocky Mountain NP

Happy Campers!

Colorado bonding

Great Salt Lake

Spiral Jetty, UT

Great Salt Lake

AND… We’re Back! First and foremost: I am absolutely sorry for the last blog post that you may or may not have seen if you subscribe to this blog (It's gone now). 

[denvermovingservices]

Why Moving to Denver is Your Best Choice?

Denver, Colorado known for its scenic views, cowboy past and craft beers is one of the most loved cities by people for relocation. Moving to Denver will make you experience exhilaration and relaxation par excellence. Are you relocating to Denver? Unsure if the city is good for you or not? Then check out the top five reasons why you will fall in love with living in Denver:

• Sunshine for 300 Days If you think Denver is a cold and snowy city, then you need to check your facts! You will be astonished to know that the city is blessed with an average 300 days of sunshine each year. Enjoy the shining sun for almost entire year!

• Comfortable Size of the City Although Denver with its more than 600,000 residents offers a feel of big city, but the city is free from overwhelming crowd offering you a comfortable stay. The city offers you with the right size for living and working and allows you to drive across the city in just about a half hour.

• Economically Strong City The average household income of Denver is over 15% higher than that of the national average. And this average offers a strong and impressive economy to the city, making it more sound economically for its residents.

• Blessed by the Mother Nature Denver is a city blessed by the Mother Nature with abundance of scenic views and natural bliss. There is the Rocky Mountain National Park and the Red Rocks where you can relish the beauty of nature to the fullest easily. If you love nature then Denver is surely a great option for you to relocate.

• A Dog Friendly City Denver is one of the top ten dog friendly cities in the US, so if you were worried whether your furry friend will like the city or not, then be sure that both of you will have a great time in the city!

Now if you are looking for some of the best neighborhoods in Denver that can offer you the life you are wishing for then check out some options below:

• Washington Park for enjoying lush green and beautiful nature.

• Uptown Denver known for its lovely architecture with an endless list of things to do, abundant green space and proximity to downtown Denver.

• Highlands, a popular neighborhood for Italian Americans and Hispanic families to settle down and it is also a loved spot for young professionals.

• Stapleton, known for its great community which is growing and getting commercialized each year.

• Cherry Creek, home to impressive nationally renowned shopping, delectable fine-dining restaurants and a well-known annual festival called the Cherry Creek Art’s Festival.

Whichever neighborhood you choose in Denver to relocate, make sure to hire the best residential movers in Denver CO to make the move hassle-free and seamless. You must get in touch with a reputable residential moving company in Denver, CO that possess years of experience in handling a variety of moves.

Conclusion: Denver Moving Services is a renowned moving company in Denver, CO that specializes in residential moving.

Source: https://residentialmovingcompanydenver.wordpress.com/2020/09/23/why-moving-to-denver-is-your-best-choice/

[esoutherngolf]

Poconos Golf: A Good Place to get a Taste of Mountain Golf

Poconos Golf: A Good Place to get a Taste of Mountain Golf Playing golf in the mountains isn’t our norm, but when the opportunity arose we jumped at it – and we’re glad we did. A good mix of golf is available on the Lehigh Valley Poconos Golf Trail and we experienced three very different types of courses with rounds at Jack Frost National, in Blakeslee; Woodloch Springs, in Hawley; and Shawnee, in Shawnee on the Delaware. We had roughly two-hour drives between Valley Forge and Jack Frost National; another two hours from Jack Frost to Woodloch Springs; and still another two hours from Woodloch to Shawnee. These were all over winding, rolling roads through small towns. They provided pleasant glimpses into the quaint, charming communities but the roads weren’t designed for speed. You had to take your time and enjoy the scenery. Jack Frost National was the most interesting of the three courses, Woodloch the most challenging and Shawnee the most historical. We’ll save Shawnee for last, just because it has the most interesting story to tell. JACK FROST NATIONAL: This layout, measuring 7,256 yards from the tips and spread over 200 acres, is championship caliber but few big events have been played there. “It’s hard to schedule them because we’re a busy place,’’ said director of instruction Ryan Kearn. “We do 218 rounds a day.’’ Most striking about the course are the changes in elevation, most evident between the par-5 ninth hole which plays uphill, and the par-3 eleventh, which is all downhill. No. 14 is the designated signature hole. The area has a ski hill in operation during winter months, but Kearn says there’s no overlap between the sports. The golf and ski facilities have different owners. “In each of the last three years closing day (for skiers) came the day before our opening day,’’ said Kearn. “Our course is interesting, fun, wide open with big greens and fairways and only one water hole.’’ The bar/dining area is covered but open air on the sides, a nice friendly place for socializing before and after play. Architect for Jack Frost National was Terry LaGree. He holds a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Wisconsin but is best known as the chief executive officer at Florida’s Black Diamond Ranch. He completed Jack Frost National in 2007. WOODLOCH SPRINGS: Rocky Roquemore designed this toughie in 1992. It’s only 6,579 yards from the back tees but there’s some demanding shots that can’t be avoided. Nos. 3 and 7 – the front nine par-5s – have three landing areas on the way to the greens that can’t be missed without costing strokes. Roquemore is a busy, internationally-known designer. He’s done courses in Portugal, France, Venezuela, Colombia and the Caribbean as well as across the United States. His best-known courses are probably the Magnolia, Lake Buena Vista and Palm at Florida’s Walt Disney World. His resume also includes Pine Meadow, a popular public course in Illinois. The Woodloch Springs playing experience, while challenging, offers some fine views and deer meander through the layout without showing any fear of the golfers. Woodloch Springs is a semi-private facility. There are two restaurants in the clubhouse of the country club, and The Grille provided outstanding dining during our visit. Outdoor music and a cookout is part of the off-course atmosphere at the Shawnee Inn. SHAWNEE: History abounds here at this Inn and golf resort that has 27 holes. The first 18 was the first design of the legendary architect A.W. Tillinghast, who went on to design such famous layouts as Winged Foot and Bethpage Black, in New York, and Baltusrol, in New Jersey. Tillinghast’s first course opened in 1910. Big tournaments were commonplace there then. Top tour players Fred McLeodand John McDermott, a two-time U.S. Open champion, won Shawnee Open tourneys in 1912 and 1913; Alexa Stirling captured the U.S. Women’s Amateur there in 1919 and Paul Runyan won a title match with Shawnee pro Sam Snead in the 1938 PGA Championship. In 1943 the resort was sold to singer/entertainer Fred Waring. Jackie Gleasonlearned to play golf there and Hale Irwin won an NCAA title at Shawnee before Karl Hope purchased the resort in 1974 and built a ski area with three-time Olympic gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy heading the operation on the slopes. Arnold Palmer met his first wife, Winnie, on the porch of the Shawnee Inn and golfers there over the years included Lucille Ball, Art Carney, Perry Como, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eddie Fisher, George Gobel and Ed Sullivan. Indiana architect Bill Diddel added a third nine to Tillinghast’s work in 1963 and Tom Doak created a nine-hole practice facility at the resort. A major bridge construction was underway when we visited. That’s significant because the course is divided by what director of marketing Jeromy Wo describes as “international waters.’’ The par-3 second hole on the Red nine plays over the Delaware River to an island that ends when golfers tee off on the No. 7 hole of the Blue nine and the holes come back to the mainland. Twenty-four of the 27 holes at Shawnee are on the island. “The island isn’t part of either Pennsylvania or New Jersey,’’ said Wo. The three nine-hole courses are basically flat, but very much fun. Shawnee isn’t all about golf, however. The 80-room Inn is old, but charming, and there’s vacation cottages and the Delaware Lodge also available for visitors. The resort has two pubs and a brewery. Spa Shawnee and Salon is a place to get pampered and unwind. There’s also river boating and rafting, an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, a beach along the Delaware River, biking and hiking trails and a playhouse. That’s a lot to digest, but Shawnee is a special place and I’m glad to have experienced it. PHOTO CREDIT: Joy Sarver Read the full article

[lemaupertus]

https://e3o.org/e3o/covid-19-la-promesse-prophylactique-et-therapeutique-du-remdesivir/

COVID-19 : La promesse prophylactique et thérapeutique du remdesivir

De nombreuses équipes travaillent à la la recherche d’un traitement antiviral efficace contre l’infection au nouveau coronavirus 2019, COVID-19 (ex 2019-nCoV). Une étude récente de virologues de Wuhan avait déjà documenté, dans la revue Cell Research, les promesses d’un médicament candidat, le remdesivir, développé au départ contre le virus Ebola. Cette nouvelle recherche de scientifiques du National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID/NIH), publiée dans les Actes de l’Académie des Sciences américaine (PNAS), conclut dans le même sens. Dans cette étude chez le macaque, le remdesivir prévient l’infection à un autre coronavirus, le MERS-CoV, s’il est administré avant exposition et réduit les symptômes en cas d’administration rapidement après l’infection.   C’est donc un début de confirmation de l’efficacité de cet antiviral, pour lutter contre l’épidémie de pneumonie qui à ce jour touche -selon le GISAID- près de 80.000 personnes et a entraîné plus de 1.500 décès. Car COVID-19 est reconnu comme étroitement apparenté au SRAS-CoV et au MERS-CoV et il semble probable qu’un traitement efficace contre ces 2 coronavirus le soit également contre le nouveau coronavirus. Quelques patients infectés à COVID-19 ont déjà reçu le remdesivir dans le cadre d’un protocole de recherche   Un antiviral tous azimuts ? Le remdesivir antiviral expérimental réussit ici à prévenir la maladie chez les macaques rhésus infectés par le coronavirus du syndrome respiratoire du Moyen-Orient (MERS-CoV) après avoir fait ses preuves, lors de précédents tests contre différents virus lors d’expériences en laboratoire. Il a été également démontré que le médicament traite efficacement des singes infectés par les virus Ebola et Nipah. Le remdesivir a également été étudié comme traitement de la maladie à virus Ebola chez l’Homme. Cette nouvelle phase de recherche, menée aux Laboratoires Rocky Mountain du NIAID à Hamilton, Montana a été menée chez 3 groupes d’animaux : traités au remdesivir 24 heures avant l’infection par MERS-CoV ; traités 12 heures après l’infection (proche du pic de réplication du MERS-CoV chez ces animaux) ; chez des animaux témoins non traités. Les animaux ont été suivis durant 6 jours. Les chercheurs constatent que : tous les animaux témoins présentent des signes de maladie respiratoire ; les animaux traités avant l’infection ne présentent aucun signe de maladie respiratoire et aucune lésion pulmonaire ; ils présentent des niveaux de réplication du virus dans les poumons significativement inférieurs à ceux des animaux témoins ; les animaux traités après l’infection se sont beaucoup mieux comportés que les animaux témoins : la maladie est beaucoup moins grave, les charges virales sont très inférieures dans les poumons et les dommages sont moins sévères.     Ces résultats jugés prometteurs soutiennent le lancement d’essais cliniques avec le remdesivir pour le traitement de l’infection à MERS-CoV et COVID-19. Plusieurs essais cliniques portant sur le remdesivir sont déjà en cours en Chine et quelques patients infectés à COVID-19 ont déjà reçu le candidat dans le cadre d’un protocole de recherche. A ce stade des recherches, les scientifiques ont bon espoir que le remdesivir puisse prévenir efficacement la maladie chez d’autres patients, en particulier chez les contacts des patients et les professionnels de santé.   Ils notent également que le médicament -produit par Gilead Sciences- pourrait aider les patients diagnostiqués avec COVID-19 s’il est administré peu de temps après le début des symptômes. Source: PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) February 13, 2020 DOI :10.1073/pnas.1922083117 Prophylactic and therapeutic remdesivir (GS-5734) treatment in the rhesus macaque model of MERS-CoV infection Lire aussi : 2019-nCoV : Les promesses de deux médicaments Plus sur le COVID-19 (ou 2019-nCoV) Équipe de rédaction Santélog Cet article COVID-19 : La promesse prophylactique et thérapeutique du remdesivir est apparu en premier sur Santé blog. ARTICLE COMPLET SUR : blog.santelog.com/2020/02…

[gregory-lejeune]

The Milky Way and meteor shower over Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado par Diana Robinson Via Flickr : The Milky Way and meteor shower over Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado

[lespetitspedestres]

On the road again!

Le jour tant attendu du départ est enfin arrivé. Josy a passé avec succès son contrôle technique, nous avons apporté quelques modifications à son aménagement intérieur, et nous avons vidé la maison de nos possessions que nous avons pris soin de ranger avec le sens de l’organisation que l’on nous connait. Bref, c’est repartit pour de nouvelles aventures dans :

Josy et les petits pédestres on the road again.

Les trois premiers jours de notre trip s’effectuent sur la route, où, toute la sainte journée nous ne cessons de rouler. La seule réelle pause que nous prenons se fait à Wellington où nous savourons une bière fraiche dans un bar au bord de l’eau, en attendant qu’arrive l’heure d’embarquer sur le ferry. Moment des plus agréables qui nous pousse à prévoir de repasser un ou deux jours à Wellington lorsque nous remonterons dans le nord.

Enfin, après un magnifique coucher de soleil sur le ferry et près de 1500 kilomètres de bitume de qualité kiwi avalés plus tard (et 1500 mètres cubes de pluie plus tard), nous voici dans la petite bourgade de Wanaka.

Cette ville située au bord d’un lac est le point de départ de nombreuses randonnées. C’est donc dès le lendemain de notre arrivée que nous décidons d’entreprendre l’ascension de la Rocky mountain. Nous ne sommes pas déçu par le spectacle qui s’offre à nos yeux à l’issue de cette montée extrêmement raide et qui dure plus d’une heure (oui ben ça va on se remet tout juste à la rando). Le panorama est grandiose avec une vue à 360° sur Wanaka, son lac, et les montagnes environnantes.  

La suite de la journée se déroule au bord du lac, allongé sur la plage, non loin d’un pack de bière.

Le lendemain, nous nous lançons à la conquête de Rob Royce glacier, une randonnée dont le départ se situe à une vingtaine de kilomètres de Wanaka. 

Après 3 heures de marche, nous ressentons encore le besoin de nous dépenser (c’est comme ça chez les grands sportifs) et partons donc pour une petite balade de 10 kilomètres à VTT dans le fond de la vallée.

 Le soir venu, nous consultons la météo et nous apercevons que les prévisions pour les prochains jours sont assez mauvaises sur Wanaka, mais étonnement bonnes dans les Milford. Ni une ni deux, nous sautons donc dans notre Josy et prenons la direction de cet endroit magique sur lequel s’abattent chaque année plus de 8 mètres de précipitations. Une fois sur place, les prévisions météo se confirment. Le temps est radieux et nous enchainons les randonnées.

Tout d’abord, nous rejoignons Key Summit, un sommet situé à l’une des extrémités de la Routeburn track, une randonnée de deux jours. Nous nous contentons, pour notre part de transporter notre tente sur ce sommet situé à une heure et demi de marche du parking.

Ici, nous sommes seuls au monde. Le secteur et balayé par les vents, et la nuit est disons… fraiche. Néanmoins, au petit matin, notre témérité est récompensée, puisque nous assistons à un levé de soleil magnifique. Ses chauds rayons viennent réchauffer nos corps et nos cœurs et révèlent à nos yeux les sommets enneigés qui semblent nous encerclés. En contrebas, dans la vallée, une mer de nuage recouvre doucement la forêt native. Une excellente idée de Chloé donc, même si nous avons parfois douté devant les températures glaciales de la nuit (on ne va pas mentir, on a très mal et très peu dormi).

Comme nous ne sommes pas des bourrins, nous nous rendons ensuite directement au départ de la Gertrude saddle track. Ici, pas vraiment de chemin, mais plutôt une direction à prendre, celle d’un col dont nous n’avions pas remarqué au début qu’il était enneigé. Après une ascension difficile du type « dré dans l’pentu », nous arrivons à hauteur d’une importante plaque de neige sur laquelle nous croisons des skieurs (oui oui). Ceux-ci nous recommandent d’être prudent car le manteau neigeux n’est pas des plus stables. Ne disposant pas de crampons pour achever notre ascension, nous finissons par faire demi -tour. Nous sommes déçus mais également heureux de ne pas avoir tenté de gravir le reste de la montagne, car, dès lors que nous parvenons en bas de la pente, une avalanche se déclare, suivie de nombreuses autres. Ouf !

Sur le chemin du retour nous faisons un petit arrêt dans les Milford où les montagnes abruptes se jettent dans un fjord aux eaux translucides, ainsi qu’au mirror lake, un lac qui offre un reflet splendide des montagnes environnantes lorsque sa surface n’est pas troublé (par des canards qui se battent par exemple).

Les milfords sous le soleil

Mirror lake: Ou est l’endroit ou est l’envers? ;)

Le soir même, nous partons pour  la petite ville de Te anau et son lac dont nous arpentons les rives en VTT dès le lendemain.

Nous rejoignons ensuite une zone un peu moins touristique du parc national de Milford appelée Doubtfull, et profitons d’une croisière d’une journée dans les fjords où nous pouvons admirer à loisir otaries, oiseaux et chutes d’eau impressionnantes. Une bonne journée de glandouille bien méritée après les nombreuses randos des derniers jours.

La croisière achevée, nous prenons la direction du Sud et parvenons à la région du Borland où nous passons une nuit au bord du lac… et sommes réveillé au petit matin par le bruit d’un hélicoptère. Mais que peut bien faire un hélicoptère sur un parking, loin de toute attraction touristique et à plusieurs kilomètres de l’exploitation agricole la plus proche ? La réponse est pourtant évidente. Il vient déposer des cadavres de vaches suspendus à une corde dans un petit bateau à moteur qui repart ensuite à travers le lac avec son chargement.

Réveil étrange donc, avant de rejoindre le départ de la rando du jour : une heure et demie de marche pour rejoindre un point de vue magique sur une bonne partie du massif. Mais ça, s’était avant. Avant que l’on ne se rende compte que la piste pour rejoindre le départ de la randonnée était fermé. Avant que l’on décide de tenter le coup en VTT et donc, avant que l’on ne se lance sur les 17 kilomètres de montée menant au point de vue. 17 kilomètres de côte à l’aller, 17 kilomètres de descente au retour. Nous mettons presque 2 heures et demi à rejoindre le sommet contre 35 minutes pour la redescente. Ceci dit, la descente sur la ligne de crête est vraiment sympa donc, pas de regrets.

Thibault, le gros bourrin qui porte son vélo juste pour pouvoir faire la descente

Voilà, après ce début de road trip sportif, nous repartons en direction du sud afin de visiter la région des Catlins. Mais ceci vous sera conté dans le prochain épisode.

[oneyearinreddeer]

4e billet

Je jure solennellement que je ne me plaindrais plus quand mon père regardera le foot.

Bonjour amis européens ! Je suis déjà de retour, pas que j’ai tant de choses à raconter mais j’aime toujours autant écrire. Que s’est- il passé depuis que je vous ai quitté ?

J’ai eu ma deuxième réunion rotary. Mon club joue un jeu qui s’appelle le 50/50 (fifty/fifty). Concrètement, vous devez acheter un ticket (ou plusieurs), l’argent revient à des associations diverses. Ensuite, on tire un numéro. Si votre numéro est tiré vous allez sur l’estrade et tirez une carte, si elle est verte c’est perdu. Si elle est noire, on vous pose une question. Si vous répondez juste, vous pouvez gagner une espèce de petite cagnotte qui peut monter très haut.

En tant qu’étudiant d’échange avec un accent rigolo, ils me donnent tous leur ticket. Le numéro gagnant m’a même refilé le sien pour m’offrir le plaisir de monter sur l’estrade. Calmez vous, j’ai perdu.

La prochaine fois (demain), je dois faire un petit discours sur mes jours canadiens. Comme vous pouvez le constater c’est pas l’inspiration qui me manque. Et j’adore parler de moi, c’est ma troisième activité préférée avec lire et regarder Dr House.

J’ai eu une dissertation en anglais, gonflée d’arrogance par mon savoir de l’année dernière, je me suis attelée à la tâche. Désillusion numéro 1 : avec le clavier QZERTY j’écris aussi vite que mon petit frère. Désillusion numéro 2 : les effets de style comme l’humour ou le style direct, qui sont mes effets de prédilections sont proscrits.

Le sujet concernait l’impact de nos ambitions sur les relations avec nos proches. Ô douce ironie.

J’ai reçu mon premier compliment en cours d’art et j’y ai vu là la preuve de l’existence de Dieu.

Je suis allée dans un parc national, à Rocky Mountain. C’était beau, il faisait froid et il s’y mit à pleuvoir du coup on a du rentrer vite. En soirée je suis allée dormir chez Malenah, mon amie finlandaise (c’est pas beau ?). Son père d’accueil est anglais et voir un match de foot (soccer), européen, bien de chez nous, m’a rendue toute chose.

Faut dire que le lendemain, je suis allée voir un match de foot CANADIEN. Les règles ? Faut courir de l’autre côté du terrain, si vous dépassez celle du fond vous faites un touchdown. Ce que j’aimais beaucoup parce que y’avait des feux d’artifice. Si vous voulez de véritables explications, renseignez vous sur wikipédia. 3H de match et j’ai pas été foutue de comprendre quelque chose.

Sinon, je suis ENCORE allée au centre commercial, j’ai ENCORE dépensé trop d’argent.

Je commence à avoir une routine. J’arrive à skyper, mais en général mes heures creuses sont vers 18h et il est un peu tard en Belgique à ce moment là. Disons que j’ai une femme forte assez insomniaque avec qui je m’amuse bien. Il vient de m’envoyer faire mes devoirs mais franchement... Pardonnez ma tête de dinde sur la photo mais on y voit le bonheur et c’est ça qu’on aime.

Méfaits accomplis

[andiewrite-s]

USING THE PHILIPPINES AS A SETTING: A GUIDE

╰☆╮ ever considered using the philippines as a setting? below is a quick slightly long guide of places in the philippines that you can use as a setting + local customs, culture, etc. that can help with writing!

✰ FIRST, WHERE IS THE PHILIPPINES?

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country compromising of seven thousand+ islands off the Western Pacific ocean. It has a rough estimated population of 103.3 million (as of 2016), and uses the Philippine peso as currency. The Philippines is seperated in to three main island groups, namely (1) Luzon, (2) Visayas and (3) Mindanao. Further, the Philippines has several regions of which provinces identify themselves as.

✰ LOCATIONS FOR A SETTING

MANILA. The Philippines' capital! The City of Manila is considered 'the most densely populated city proper in the world'. It can be found on the western edge of Luzon, and it sits on the Manila Bay, something that is considered one of the finest natural resources of Asia.

Manila is known for its eclectic mix of architecture that shows a wide range of styles spanning different historical and cultural periods. Architectural styles reflect American, Spanish, Chinese, and Malay influences.

Manila is a major center for commerce, banking and finance, retailing, transportation, tourism, real estate, new media as well as traditional media, advertising, legal services, accounting, insurance, theater, fashion, and the arts in the Philippines. Around 60,000 establishments operates in the city.

Manila is regarded as one of the best shopping destinations in Asia. Major shopping malls, department stores, markets, supermarkets and bazaars thrives within the city.

Major destinations include the historic Walled City of Intramuros, the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Manila Ocean Park, Binondo (Chinatown), Ermita, Malate, Manila Zoo, the National Museum Complex and Rizal Park.

BORACAY. One of the most well known tourist spots in the Philippines. Boracay is a small island that can be found off Visayas, and is famous for being one of the world's top destinations for relaxation. It's also a good place for tranquility and nightlife.

Leisure activities available on or near Boracay include horseback riding, scuba diving, diving helmet, snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, cliff diving, parasailing.

Boracay is the site of an 18-hole par 72 golf course designed by Graham Marsh. In addition, Boracay offers a wide range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

White Beach, the main tourism beach, is about four kilometers long and is lined with resorts, hotels, lodging houses, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses. Boracay has in excess of 350 beach resorts offering more than 2,000 rooms ranging in quality from five-star to budget accommodation.

PALAWAN ISLAND. Coming as a close second to Boracay, Palawan is another one of the country's well known tourist destinations. Palawan is governed as a highly urbanized city while also doubling as a place for tourism because of its numerous isles and islets.

Palawan's almost 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) of irregular coastline is lined with rocky coves and sugar-white sandy beaches. It also harbors a vast stretch of virgin forests that carpet its chain of mountain ranges. In terms of archipelagic internal waters, Palawan has the biggest marine resources that covers almost half of the Sulu Sea and a big chunk of the South China Sea.

Palawan, the only Philippine island cited, is rated by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers as the most beautiful island in the world and is also rated by the National Geographic Traveler magazine as the best island destination in East and Southeast Asia region in 2007, and the 13th best island in the world having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes. One of the most biodiverse (terrestrial and marine) islands in the Philippines... The island has had a Biosphere Reserve status since the early 1990s, showing local interest for conservation and sustainable development".

Some of Palawan's main attractions include Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Coron Reefs, Coron Bay, Busuanga, El Nido Marine Reserve Park, Malampaya Sound Land and Seascape Protected Area, Ursula Island, Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary and two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Tubbataha Reef Marine Park.

BAGUIO. Baguio is a highly urbanized city in Luzon that has been dubbed as the summer capital of the Philippines. The city has become the center of business, commerce, and education in northern Luzon.

Baguio is a melting pot of different peoples and cultures. Because of this, numerous investments and business opportunities are lured to the city. Baguio has a large retail industry, with shoppers coming to the city to take advantage of the diversity of competitively priced commercial products on sale. The city is also popular with bargain hunters. Various food and retail businesses run by local residents form a key part of Baguio's cultural landscape.

The city became a haven for many Filipino artists in the 1970s-1990s. Drawn by the cool climate and low cost of living, renown Filipino artists had relocated to the city. Even today, artists like painters and sculptors from all over the country are drawn to the Baguio Arts Festival which is held annually. Many Baguio artists used the context of cultural diversity to establish their work.

During the year end holidays some people from the lowlands prefer spending their vacation in Baguio, to experience cold temperatures they rarely have in their home provinces.

The Burnham Park, Mines View Park, Teacher's Camp, and Baguio Cathedral are among the top tourist sites in Baguio.

Baguio is a university town with 141,088 students out of the 301,926 population count done on the year 2007. It is the center of education in the entire North Luzon. There are eight major institutions of higher education in Baguio, and teachers from all over the country enroll in summer education courses at Teachers' Camp.

CEBU. Cebu is a first provincial income class island province of the Philippines located in Central Visayas, consisting of the main island itself and 167 surrounding islands and islets. Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City as the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in Visayas. In a decade it has transformed into a global hub for shipping, furniture-making, tourism, business processing services, and heavy industry.

"Ceboom", a portmanteau of Cebu and Boom, has been used to describe the province's economic development. With many beautiful islands, white sand beaches, luxury hotel and resorts, diving locations and heritage sites, high domestic and foreign tourist arrivals have fueled the tourism industry of Cebu. Cebu consistently gets a big share of tourist arrivals in the Philippines, and has become the tourist gateway to Central and Southern Philippines due to its central geographic location, accessibility and natural resources. The province also hosts various national and international conferences every year.

The city of Cebu is not just an awesome base and jump-off point to explore the Philippines, but it is a worthy destination in itself as well. You’ll get a sweet taste of Philippine history and art with its collection of historic monuments like Casa Gorordo, Fort San Pedro, Magellan’s Cross and the Lapu Lapu Monument. As an added plus, the city also has plenty of shopping malls, up-and-coming restaurants and interesting diversions.

Because of the Philippines' diversity, there are way more locations to consider as a setting than the ones I've listed! If none of the above locations suit your fancy, feel free to do research on the following gems:

ILOILO CITY, a city drenched in history and culture, teeming with intricate historic sites, like Molo Church, Plaza Libertad, Museo Iloilo and Jaro Cathedral + an unforgettable culinary experience.

NORTHERN SAMAR, where dramatic rock formations, cloistered coves, and untouched beaches await travelers; considered one of the most undervalued gems and places to visit in the Philippines.

BOHOL, which houses the 'Chocolate Hills', one of the country's most iconic sights + well-known for its eccentric wildlife (like the Philippine tarsiers), centuries-old churches, rivers and world-class white-sand beaches.

VIGAN, the country’s first and only UNECO World Heritage city. A delight for culture vultures and history junkies, Vigan is a unique and historic destination that will give you a wonderful glimpse of the intriguing colonial past and culture of the country.

BATANES, one of the dream places to visit in the Philippines for local travelers. Famed for its sheer natural beauty and distinct landscapes, this remote wonderland leaves its beholders in awe with its majestic lofty cliffs, rolling hills, boulder-lined shores and deep canyons. In addition, this paradisiacal place flaunts a myriad of sturdy and historic stone houses.

✰ CULTURE, CUSTOMS & OTHER TIDBITS

There are A LOT of aspects to the Filipino culture, but I'll try to touch some of the basics; things that I think will be relevant to consider when writing!

♡ HISTORY

The Philippines was colonized & occupied by several countries. It was first discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, who claimed the island for the king of spain; hence, PHILIPpines.

The Spanish colonization of the Philippines began in 1565. The British would eventually occupy Manila and Cavite in 1762 after declaring war on Spain. The end of the Spanish colonization would be in 1898, marking 333 years of being under Spanish rule due to Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War. The Philippines then became a territory of the United States.

But wait, there's more! Although the Philippine-American war would end in 1902, the Japanese invasion would occur forty years later. Manila, declared an open city to prevent its destruction, was occupied by the Japanese in 1942. This would eventually come to an end in 1945.

NOTE: The Philippines' history goes beyond its colonization; these include revolts, rebellions, dictatorship, etc.; that I just so happened to not have elaborated here. Even before colonizers came, the Philippines already had a rich, diverse culture of its own; I just so happened to briefly discuss the above because they would eventually have an impact on what is the more currently recognized Filipino culture.

♡ CULTURE

Philippine culture is a combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The Philippines exhibits aspects found in other Asian countries with a Malay heritage, yet its culture also displays a significant number of Spanish and American influences.

MUSIC. Setting aside the typical top hits one can hear on the radio, the Philippines has its own music scene, fondly referred to as Original Pilipino music, or OPM. OPM is composed of various genres and styles that are often a mixture of different Asian, Spanish, Latin American, American, and indigenous influences; don't be fooled, though, because the current state of OPM can range from indie, to pop, to old school tunes. Listen to some good 'ol OPM here.

CUISINE. The Philippines' cuisine is said to have Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences that have been adapted to local ingredients and the Filipino palate to create distinctively Filipino dishes. Rice is a staple; Filipinos do not eat with chopsticks and instead use Western cutlery. The traditional way of eating with the hands known as kamayan (using the washed right hand for bringing food to the mouth) is a distinct Filipino trend that is occasionally used in eating.

SPORTS. Various sports and pastimes are popular in the Philippines including basketball, boxing, cockfighting, volleyball, football (soccer), American football, both codes of Rugby football, badminton, karate, taekwondo, billiards, ten-pin bowling, chess, and sipa. Motocross, cycling, and mountaineering are also becoming popular. Basketball is played at both amateur and professional levels and is considered to be the most popular sport in the Philippines.

FILM & MEDIA. The Filipino art scene (in terms of film & media) is ever booming, albeit tricky to navigate. There are constant 'wars' between media stations as well as film genres. It was only in the mid 2010s that there was broader commercial success of films produced by independent studios, although 'indie films' are still struggling among mainstream media as of the current.

RELIGION. The Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations.

LANGUAGE. The main official languages of the Philippines are Filipino/Tagalog and English, but there are some 120 to 175 languages and dialects in the Philippines, depending on the method of classification. The indigenous scripts of the Philippines (such as the Kulitan, Tagbanwa and others) are used very little; instead, Filipino languages are today written in the Latin script because of the Spanish and American colonial experience. Baybayin however, one of the most well-known of the indigenous Filipino scripts, is used by the government in some applications such as on the Philippine Banknotes, where the word "Pilipino" is inscribed using the writing system. As well, the Arabic script is used in Muslim areas in some areas in southern Philippines.

♡ RANDOM TIDBITS

There are several modes of transportation in the Philippines. These include (but are not limited to): tricycles (a human-powered [or gravity-powered] three-wheeled vehicle), jeepneys, the kalesa (a horse-drawn calash; not so popular anymore), boats, or multicabs/pedicabs; and mainly for city settings like Manila, the Manila Light Rail Transit System, taxis, Grab, or Uber.

Most Filipinos are very religious. Religion is imbedded in to Filipinos at young ages, and more than a few hints of these can be traced to the Philippines' deep historical roots. Once again, Catholicism is a prominent religion; atheism/agnosticism is commonly negatively met, although modern times are proving to offer some change.

Things like LGBT+ & mental health used to carry heavy stigmas around the Philippines, but there are slow improvements. The Philippines' Pride March has been an anual event for a solid twenty two years now, and the senate has also recently approved a Mental Health Act. Millennials are more commonly accepting of said topics, although there are still a few elders who are averse to both (mainly, again, due to religion).

This doesn't apply for all, but is quite common: Filipinos are always late. Aside from the hellish traffic that occurs in most cityscapes (congested roads, construction, etc.), most Filipinos follow what is called 'Filipino time'. ("We're going to meet at 3:00PM? That's the only time I'm going to get ready!") This really is a horrible trend that a lot of Filipinos can't seem to kick.

Here's a couple of exchange rates to put in to perspective the current value of the Philippine Peso: as of 7/21/17, 1 Euro is 59.03 Philippine Peso; 1 USD is 50.71 Philippine Peso; 1 AED is 13.80 Philippine Peso; 1 South Korean Won is 0.045 Philippine Peso.

Filipinos have such a thing called as conyo. This is a term mainly associated with those from Manila, but it's made its way around some other cities as more of a joke than anything. The modern connotation of conyo can be considered interchanging Filipino/Tagalog and English in a single sentence, excessive use of "like" in sentences, and/or saying everything interrogatively; you can't tell if they're making a statement or actually asking a question. ("I'm, like, so pagod na, Bimb.")

Values play a huge role in Filipino culture. This usually goes unsaid, but a Filipino son/daughter is expected to respect his/her parents at all times; any form of rebellion (talking back, making faces, etc.) often leads to punishment. This respect extends to family friends, extended family; basically anyone who is older. Some Filipinos still retain conservative natures, which is why the concept of 'dating' is a bit of a blur for Filipino teenages.

Visit any Filipino marketplace and there's one thing you should pick up from Filipinos: haggling. Of course this doesn't apply to malls and other major establishments, but small scale business/tourists shops are often places where a hard-pressed Filipino can be found wrangling for a discount. Filipinos will bargain most anything for a few pesos off; this is jokingly considered as an art of the Philippines as a good number of Filipinos buyers have become skilled at it/Filipino sellers have become immune to it.

diveintotheunknown has a guide "How to write a FILIPINO (from Manila)" that you can check out HERE if you're in need of more information!

✰ REFERENCES

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New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/golf-clubs-fife-scotland/

Golf Clubs Around Fife

If you’re an avid golfer, Fife is the destination for you. Known as the Home of Golf, golf clubs are certainly not in short supply here so you’re guaranteed to find one – or more – to suit your taste and budget. Here’s a guide to the best golf clubs in Fife.

St Andrews St Andrews Links – Old Course As the oldest golf course in the world and commonly referred to as the ‘Cathedral of Golf’, the Old Course is one of the most historic and celebrated around the globe. Despite its grand international status with its iconic features Hell Bunker and the Swilcan Bridge, it remains a public golf course for everyone to enjoy.

St Andrews Links – New Course Nowadays the name is a bit of a misnomer – the New Course was designed by the ‘Keeper of the Green’, the legendary Old Tom Morris, back in 1895 – but this course offers much for golfers. More conventional and defined than the Old Course, some say that the New Course is a bigger test of your golfing skills, making it one of the best – and underrated – courses in the world.

Torrance Course Re-opened in 2009, the Torrance Course has hosted the Seniors European Tour Event six times since then and continues to provide an excellent golfing experience. Its design of large greens and deep revetted bunkers make it one of the more difficult courses on the circuit, meaning a good challenge for the more experienced golfer.

Kittocks Course Set against a spectacular coastal backdrop with panoramic views of the North Sea and the Eden Estuary, the Kittocks Course requires your nerves to be strong when playing this dramatic 18-hole course. It is designed with a blend of American and UK style, with two man-made lakes, two double greens and deep pot bunkers.

St Andrews Links

The Castle Course The Castle Course is the newest addition to St Andrews Links, but no less the worse for it. Opened in 2008 as the seventh course, it offers great views over the Grampian mountains, the North Sea and the Angus coast from its cliff-top positioning. Although its course is becoming very popular on the golfing circuit – its closing stretch is already a legend in its own right, with its dramatic last four holes – its clubhouse is also worth a visit, offering yet more stunning views.

Kingsbarns Golf For a round of traditional Scottish links golf, Kingsbarns Golf Links offers a fantastic experience. According to golf history, the game has been played at Kingsbarns since 1793, with a nine-hole course once existing where the current course is now situated. The current course has been here since the year 2000 and is celebrated as one of the best courses in the world, with its perfect terrain and lovely sea views from every hole.

Balgove Course A course designed specifically to cater for beginners, families and children, the Balgove Course gives you the perfect introduction to the game. With its wide fairways, undulating greens and shallow bunkers, it gives beginner and junior golfers the opportunity to get a feel for what they’ll find on other courses as their game develops. It is also the site of a number of junior golfing events throughout the year.

Leven

Leven Links One of the most traditional Links courses in Scotland, Leven Links is also one of the most beautiful, with plenty of bumps, ridges, flora and the Scoonie Burn which winds itself around the green. It’s well known for being one of the most renowned courses and, due to its proximity to the sea, it has a mild climate which makes it good for all year round golf.

Scoonie Golf Course Situated in a very picturesque setting, Scoonie Golf Course sits between farmland and hills to the north and the Forth estuary to the south. Originally opened as a 9-hole course, over the years it has been extended in such a way that it provides challenges for golfers with low handicaps while still being accessible to higher handicap players.

Tayport

Scotscraig Golf Club Another historic golf club, Scotscraig is an Open Final Qualifying Course and conveniently situated a short 15-minute drive from the Old Course at St Andrews. The course is a unique mix of heathland and links and has been host to a number of prestigious competitions.

Kirkcaldy

Dunnikier Park Located on the outskirts of Kirkcaldy just a 30-minute drive from St Andrews, Dunnikier Park has excellent facilities and a beautiful course suitable for all abilities. They have a variety of services including tailor-made packages to suit individual needs, including those golfers who are disabled. Crail

Craighead A Guinness Book record holder for most nationalities in an international competition, Craighead Links is a spectacular course with views of the sea from every hole. Built in the style of a traditional links course, the panoramic views stretch up to 100 miles due to the typical absence of trees, with the cliff-top course being designed by top golf course architect Gil Hanse.

Balcomie Designed by the master Old Tom Morris, Balcomie Links makes the most of its natural surroundings. It has the unusual combination of three par fives, six par threes and nine par fours, resulting in a difficult par of 69. Here you’ll take shots from cliff tops, over rocky bays and to greens which seem to be engulfed in gorse, all making for a unique golfing experience.

Cupar

Ladybank Golf Club A splendid course set among pine trees, silver birch and heather with a number of red squirrels gambolling about, Ladybank Golf Club is a premier course of two nine-hole loops. It was recently ranked number two in National Club Golfer’s Britain’s Top 100 Courses under £100, a fantastic accolade, for its great variety of challenges for all golfers.

Elmwood Golf A wonderful golf course for players of all levels, Elmwood Golf is noted for its wide range of facilities. Situated on the outskirts of Cupar against the stunning backdrop of the Tarvit and Lomond Hills, the club boasts an 18-hole pay and play course, a floodlit driving range and an extensive short game practice facility. Fife is the premier destination for golfers around the world and the golf clubs you’ll find here will not disappoint.

[thorupogstougaard-blog]

Bønder i storbyen...

Fanget i en krydsild af bankende bas, hjernetæskende skinger sang og skarpe lamper i et ellers dunkelt lokale, kunne vi ikke andet end at se os forundrede om. Til den ene side dansede en stor mand rundt, øjnene lukkede, fødderne skøjtende i et par sandaler. Til den anden side skrålede en venindegruppe inderligt med på sangen. Bag ved dem var en entusiatisk fyr ved at svinge endnu en pige rundt, så omkringstående risikerede både drinks og tånegle. Og hele tiden en skubben og masen, som folk strøg forbi med drinks og svømmende blikke.

Herb’s Hideout er barEN, hvis man vil have billige drinks og høre noget god livemusik. Så meget havde vi læst os til, da vi researchede på en god lørdag aften i Denver. Derfor var vi gået turen derud efter aftensmaden for at nå at høre de absolut sidste minutter af et lokalt bands første set midt i den smeltedigel, Herb’s viste sig at være.

Alt for gamle, alt for ædru og alt for fejlplacerede stod vi så dér og overvejede, hvor lang en pause, bandet mon ville holde.

Set i bakspejlet skulle vi måske have ladet være. Måske have kendt os selv godt nok til at vide, at der er nogle miljøer, vi trives bedre i end andre. Og så måske have holdt os til dem. Men nu havde vi bestemt os for, at vi ville til Denver, Colorado, og holde storbyweekend i varmen på et godt hotel efter lidt for mange kilometers traveture i stadig nye støvler.

Problemet var bare, at vi allerede vinkede farvel til afslapningen, da vi nærmede os millionbyen i tusmørket fredag aften. Fra små byer og uspolerede kig til bjerge og skove i flere dage var det noget af en omvæltning pludselig at skulle forholde sig til sekssporede motorveje, tæt trafik og et virvar af mennesker downtown, hvor vi checkede ind på et værelse på 10. sal. 

I stedet for bare at sove længe og give især Camillas hårdt prøvede ankler og fødder et hvil, endte vi med at gå over 10 kilometer i løbet af lørdagen for at se på butikker og seværdigheder og parker, og damen med de slidte fødder kastede sig også lige ud i både morgenløb og lange svømmeture i hotellets pool.

Så måske var det ikke så underligt, at trætheden for alvor meldte sig på det tætpakkede dansegulv på Herb’s. Vi er trods alt bønder begge to. Og stolte af det. Så meget, at vi begge to har sagt farvel til vores tilværelse i byerne og i stedet helt bevidst søger ud mod det åbne landskab og ser vores fremtid dér. For det er der, vi hører til. Noget, der for alvor gik op for os i den fulde halve time, vi ventede på bandet, mens folk kun blev fuldere omkring os, og vores normale sengetid gled længere og længere ned i fortiden.

Derfor gav vi op og traskede hjemad mod hotellet. Pludselig trætte ind til knoglerne begge to og lettede over, at vi søndag formiddag kunne forlade Denvers tætte gader.

Vi er ikke kørt så langt - kun til Boulder lige nord for Denver. Men langt nok. Her puster vi ud, har vi bestemt. Det er tiltrængt efter en fantastisk og hektisk og oplevelsesrig første etape af vores lille roadtrip. Så den står på badeferie i en dags tid endnu her på The Broker Inn (som ikke er blevet moderniseret siden 70′erne), før vi tirsdag kører op til Rocky Mountain National Park og trækker i vandrestøvlerne igen.