Kyoto , Japan Asia’s World Heritage Site

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Connell

Introduction:

Kyoto is a major town situated in the main section of the isle of Honshu, Asia. It has a inhabitants near to 1.5 thousand. Kyoto was the main town of Asia for over 1,000 years and still continues to be its social and traditional center. It is one of the world’s great places and a place that everyone should check out at least once in their moves.

Location:

Situated in the Kansai position, 226 kilometers south west of the capital, Kyoto is protected in a position with organic hills enhancing protectively around it. The town middle is very easy to get around, thanks to a simple instructs and system (just two practice lines) and its selections system, motivated by conventional feng shui. A start is Higashiyama in the southeast of the town, home to a cornucopia of lifestyle enjoyment from temples and shrines to specialist shops. Kyoto places on top of a huge organic oxygen desk that provides the town with sufficient oxygen carried gaps. Due to large-scale urbanization, the amount of rainfall drop losing into the desk is decreasing and carried gaps across the area are dehydrating at an increasing amount.

Weather:

Kyoto has a moist subtropical environment (Köppen Cfa), presenting reasonable periodic difference in heat range and rainfall. Summertime are hot and moist, but winter seasons are relatively cold with periodic snow. Kyoto’s rainfall season starts around the middle of July and continues until the end of July, producing to a hot and warm latter half of the summer. Kyoto, along with most of the Hawaiian shore and main areas of Asia is vulnerable to typhoons during Sept and Oct.

Culture:

Culture is an image of its society. The culture of Kyoto is amazing and engaging. It informs us about individuals of the position, their lifestyle and their values. Monitoring the culture of Kyoto gives you a reasonable concept about the customs and methods that are still followed by the residents. The celebrations, the activities, the destinations, all indicate the culture of Kyoto in one way or the other. The residents have a relatively great quality of life and are quite well-off in inclusion to being helpful towards visitors and courteous. Interaction with the senior citizens, though, might be a little challenging as they mostly talk their local terminology. The attractive, knowledgeable in the British terminology, is more helpful.

Transportation:

Airport : Kyoto does not have its individual worldwide airport. The closest worldwide entrance is Kansai International Airport, 73 moments away by the quickest practice. Most household flight tickets area at Osaka’s Itami Airport, one time away by bus.

Railway:

Most guests reach JR Kyoto Place by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Seattle, Couple of time and 14 moments away. For relationships to close by places, you can also take the individual Hankyu or Keihan collections to Osaka, or the Kintetsu range to Nara.

Bus:

The bus system is the only realistic way of attaining many destinations. Most town vehicles have a set stand up of ¥220, but you can also purchase a one day successfully pass (¥500 for grownups and 250 yen for the kids under 12) with which you can drive a large number of times within a one day period. The day goes can come from the bus motorists or from the bus details middle just outside the Kyoto Place. This is especially useful if you plan on going to many different neat places to see within Kyoto. You can also buy a mixed endless practice and bus successfully pass for ¥1200. Unlike most Japanese people vehicles, Kyoto’s vehicles have reports and digital symptoms in British. The public transportation company posts a very useful flyer known as Bus Navi. It contains a path map for the bus collections to most destinations and stand up details. You can make it up at the details middle right before the main station where you will also discover an English/Japanese computer international airport to assist you to choose the right path and prevent for your designed location.

Cycling :

Cycling is a very important type of personal transportation in the area. The location and range of the area are such that the area may be traveled the world on a bike. Bicycle theft is not common, but finding permitted bike vehicle vehicle parking locations can be an issue. Motorbikes sitting in non-permitted locations are impounded

Economy:

Tourism also types a large platform of Kyoto’s economic system. The town’s social heritages are regularly frequented by school categories from across Asia, and many international visitors also stop in Kyoto. In 2014, the town govt declared that a history number of visitors had frequented Kyoto, and it was selected as the world’s best town by U.S. travel journal Traditional Japanese people designs are also significant market of Kyoto, most of which are run by craftsmen in small vegetation. Kyoto’s kimono weavers are particularly well known, and the town is still leading middle of kimono production. Such companies, brilliant in past hundreds of years, have dropped recently as sales of conventional products stuck.

Travelling duration:

Kyoto is possibly a year-round location, although the environment is extreme: summer time are oppressively moist and hot with regular rainfall, and winter is amazingly cold, with periodic snow. Spring and fall are the most average and delightful times of season in terms of the fantastic cherry flower (around beginning April) and the fantastic red changing of the results in (early November). This, however, is when Kyoto is at its most popular. Those eager to avoid the crowd should try beginning fall or late springtime. Public vacations, such as Fantastic Week and New Year are also best prevented, due to crowd of holidaymakers and many places being shut.

Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

There are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto.But I discover only few list, which are the most worthwhile and fascinating to visit.

Byodo-in temple:

The main area of Byodo-in temple was designed to replicate Buddha’s structure in heaven, and the temple is indeed otherworldly. Its elegant collections and heated shades give the building the overall look of a spectacular fowl growing its pizza. It is famously known as the “Phoenix Hall,” and when seen with its representation on the large lake right in front, it almost seems to be sliding above our planet. This perspective is one of the most popular moments in Asia, and is duplicated on back of the 10 yen money.

Daigo-ji Temple

Daigoji is an important temple of the Shingon sect of Japanese people Buddhism and a specific world culture site. The large forehead complicated appears south east of main Kyoto and contains an whole mountainside. The main forehead reasons are found at the bottom of the hill and are linked via a climbing pathway to several more forehead structures around the peak. It is popular for its five tale pagoda and spectacular cherry flowers in springtime and fall leaves in fall.

Saiho-ji Temple :

Saiho-ji temple is as known as the “Moss Temple” for its amazing moss lawn, the lawn here is a wonderful invisible world carpeted by lavish green moss. The awesome heart-shaped lawn was set out in 1339 and has a calming pond. If we want to admission to the forehead and lawn needs a reservation in advance.

Nijo-jo Castle

Nijo castle was integrated 1603 as the Kyoto property of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Interval (1603-1867). His grand son Iemitsu finished the castle’s structure structures 23 decades later and further extended the castle with the addition of a five tale castle keep. After the Tokugawa Shogunate dropped in 1867, Nijo castle was used as an imperial structure for a while before being contributed to the town and started out up to people as a ancient website. Its structure structures are probably the best enduring types of castle structure of Japan’s feudal era, and the castle was specific a UNESCO globe culture website in 1994.

To-ji Temple

To-ji temple is a large historical temple located to the southern of Kyoto Place that provided as one of the caretaker temples of historical Kyoto. In southeast the garden appears the Goju-no-to, a large wood made five tale pagoda, the biggest in Asia at 57 meters (187 ft) high. Check out Japan’s most popular flea market organized on its peaceful reasons to pick up a well used Japanese people memorabilia such as a kimono or vintage.

Tenryu-ji Temple

Tenryuji is the most significant temple in Kyoto’s Arashiyama region. It was placed first among the town’s five great Zen temples, and is now authorized as a world culture site. Tenryuji was designed in 1339 by the judgment shogun Ashikaga Takauji. Takauji devoted the forehead to Emperor Go-Daigo, who had just approved away. Tenryuji’s lawn live through the hundreds of years in its unique form. Designed by the popular lawn developer Muso Soseki, who also designed the landscapes of Kokedera and other essential wats or temples, the wonderful scenery lawn features a main lake enclosed by stones, maple plants and the wooded Arashiyama hills.

Ryoan-ji Temple

Ryoanji temple is as known as of Japan’s most popular rock garden , which draws thousands of guests every day. It is also renowned for its Zen rock garden As for the reputation of Ryoanji’s popular stone lawn, the reality is less certain. The garden’s time frame of development is unidentified and there are a number of rumors regarding its developer. The lawn includes an oblong story of stones enclosed by low earthen surfaces, with 15 stones set out in small categories on areas of moss. A fascinating function of the garden’s style is that from any standpoint at least one of the stones is always invisible from the audience.

Ginkaku-ji Temple

Ginkaku-ji temple (The silver pavilion) is a sophisticated temple set in wonderful reasons at the feet of Kyoto’s southern hills. Its reasons are an excellent example of Japanese people scenery structure. Whether one is looking at the getting beside the exclusive sand lawn with its 2-metre silver spool, or strolling the path and capturing glimpses of the Pavilion from different outlook factors, one is regularly aware of the charming information which shift the center. Initially developed as a pension apartment for the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436-1490) in the Muromachi Period (1338 – 1573), Ginkaku-ji Forehead was made on its sis temple Kinkaku-ji temple (the Fantastic Pavilion). Yet Ginkaku-ji temple was never coated with silver, and the primary temple developing continues to be an unpainted brown–and in its way, indicates the Japanese people concept that something simply can be wonderful.

Kinkaku-ji Temple Kinkaku-ji Temple

Kinkaku-ji temple, is as well-known as the “Golden Pavilion” is one of the best known site in Asia. It is really a amazing site with the Zen Temple’s top two surfaces entirely surrounded in amazing silver foliage. The representation of the glowing silver in the representation lake around the property is truly amazing.nothing is as representational of Kyoto as Kinkaku-ji’s fantastic golden reflection across the rippled the top of it before it. Not even the crowd of visitors — and they come by the countless numbers — can take away from Kinkaku-ji’s unquestionable elegance. The present silver leaf-coated renovation was revealed in 1955, 5 years after the 14th-century unique was torched by one of the temple’s priests.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizudera is one of the most recognized or temples of Asia. It was established in 780 on the site of the Otowa Fountain in the forest mountains eastern of Kyoto, and originates its name from the fall’s genuine rich waters. The forehead was initially associated with the Hosso sect, one of most well-known educational institutions within Japanese people Buddhism, but established its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the forehead was included with the record of UNESCO globe culture websites.

See more https://meditnor.org/2017/03/07/taj-mahal-unesco-world-heritage-site/

Health and Fitness

How To Lose Weight Fast

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Connell

Are you tired of dragging extra pounds? The best way to lose weight sustainably is to regularly follow a low calorie diet. If you are only looking to get rid of a few pounds quickly, you can achieve your short-term goals by applying one of the many common tricks and weight-loss methods. We invite you to continue reading to find out more about the issue.

method 1

Exercise to lose weight

1. Spend time to do physical exercises.

Indeed, when you start, these exercises allow you to develop your muscles. In addition, they form an essential component of any long-term weight loss plan. Regardless of your workload, if you want to lose weight effectively, you will have to strive to find the time necessary to do sports daily. How quickly you lose weight may also depend on simple exercises, like going to the store to walk instead of drive there.

Turn your household chores into physical exercise. Take the stairs regularly, take out the dog three times a day, dust off your furniture, sweep and mop the floor vigorously.
Increase the frequency of your walks. Prefer the stairs to the escalators, and park your car as far as possible from the shops.
Practice a hobby that allows you to move even if it is not really a physical exercise. You can burn calories by doing activities such as gardening, building small projects, working on your car or playing with animals.

2. Try a physical training program. If you want to lose weight quickly in anticipation of a particular event, and you are not afraid of regaining weight later, you can try an accelerated training program. Many women’s health magazines and even sports halls offer programs of this type designed for visible weight loss after only a few days of training.

3. Be realistic by choosing your exercises before starting a new program. If you are hoping to lose weight sustainably, you will need to do more than an accelerated slimming program. The best way to do this is to choose exercises you already know and appreciate. If you do not like running, do not choose to race your main exercise. Compared to an exercise you enjoy, you will need much more courage every day to train you. Therefore, try different exercises in order to choose the ones you really like, such as swimming, cycling or even Zumba.

Remember that games such as volleyball, tennis and even discoplane can help you burn calories. These are also fun and collective exercises that you will probably enjoy on a daily basis.

4. Try a cardiovascular training. Medically, it is best to combine cardiovascular exercises and resistance training. Cardiovascular exercises will help you lose weight faster. When choosing, especially think of high performance exercises like aerobics and basic training programs, that is to say with a moderate to high intensity programs .

Some cardiovascular movements can help you lose fat quickly, because the weight and strength of the workout can induce your metabolism to work more efficiently.

5. Have an interesting drive .

The variety of exercises is paramount to keep your motivations and keep you healthy. When you do a daily exercise program, you increase the risk of an accident. In addition, you will probably be bored, and your exercises will become less interesting. So if you frequent a gym, do not hesitate to change devices, or practice group sessions and training include some resistance training in your program .

Practice moderate aerobic movements. Incorporate into your workouts a fast-paced walk, cycling, exercises with cardiovascular equipment or swimming. Thus, you will burn calories while keeping your heart healthy.
Try the dumbbells. Whether you are a man or a woman, resistance training with dumbbells can help you get a lasting benefit by developing your musculature and boosting your metabolism. Slimming methods that combine aerobics with exercises with dumbbells can burn appreciable amounts of fat.

6. Choose exercises that work your entire body.

So, the different muscle groups will be put to use, and you will burn more calories. It’s like when you do multidisciplinary school exercises. Consider combining a resistance training with another such attempt to lift small weights with your arms while you run or you cycle.

Rest for at least 24 to 48 hours between strength training sessions on the same muscle group. For example, work your biceps and abdominal muscles by alternating daily sessions, and refrain from exercising for two days a week.

7. Get enough rest .

Thus, you will be in shape during the day, and you will probably eat less. In addition, you will reduce the risk of an accident during your training. In fact, lack of sleep is linked to an inability to lose weight. Therefore, a good night’s sleep can help you lose weight.

method 2

Diets to Lose Weight Quickly

1. Make a fruit juice cure .

This method is the Hollywood diet name . There are several kinds of fruit juice cures. However, the main idea is to consume only juices prepared from raw fruits and vegetables. The treatment will help your body get rid of toxins and lose weight by making you more alert and healthier .

Most cures last from one to three days, and some last up to seven days. You can buy a box containing detoxifying products at a health food store or on the Internet. You can also use your own centrifuge.
Be sure to incorporate several vegetables into your cleansing diet. Fruit juice contains a lot of sugar, and if you drink it in large quantities, you risk gaining weight instead of losing it.
Among the well-known US products include “Cooler Cleanse,” “Blue Print” and “Life Juice”.

2. Apply the “master cleanse” regime.

This diet, also called lemon diet, includes lemonade lemonade with cayenne pepper, water and maple syrup, salt water and a laxative herbal medicines. The diet lasts for 16 days. The first three days are devoted to familiarizing yourself with the diet by eating only fresh fruits and vegetables. During the next 10 days, the food is only in liquid form. Finally, the last three days are utilized to gradually return to normal diet.

Know that this diet is considered more like a detox than a weight loss diet. It is only followed for short-term weight loss.

3. Try the water diet.

It is about drinking about eight cups of cold water a day at regular intervals. Drink one before each meal to decrease your appetite. By doing so, you will limit the portions of food you eat during each meal. You will not be hungry and you will decrease your calorie intake.

Remember that your meal will not be limited to drink a glass of water only because such a diet can be dangerous if it lasts long. Your body needs food to stay healthy and maintain a strong metabolism. If you drink only water for two or three days, you risk gaining more weight when you resume a normal diet, because the functioning of your metabolism has been exceedingly slow.

4. Try fasting.

In this regime, one takes into account the constitution of the human body which allows us to make bombance and to resist the famine. Thus, simply recreate a famine situation for losing weight. In this diet, it means taking only 500 calories if you are a woman, or 600 calories if you are a man, and this for two days a week. During these days of fasting, you will have to eat only vegetables, seeds, legumes and fruit.

This diet does not exempt you from your training sessions during fasting days and other days as well.
Before following this diet, begin by fasting for half a day to see your body’s reaction.

method 3

Carry out a feeding program

1. Calculate the calories you need.

Knowing the minimum number of calories your body needs to function properly will help you make your own diet plan in order to lose weight quickly and sustainably. Your calorie requirements depend on your age, gender, number of activities and intensity. You can use an online calculator to determine the daily intake of calories you need .

You can also determine your daily amount of food by contacting a dietician or doctor. It will help you clarify your goals, your particular dietary needs and how to improve your plan.
Establish a feeding plan. Choose healthy, balanced meals consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, good fats and lean protein. A typical meal should consist of 50% vegetables or fruits and 50% complete seeds or lean protein.
To start losing weight today, you can examine the “DASH” diet against high blood pressure or the “TLC” diet that lowers the bad cholesterol level. Other plans might suit you, like the regime “Mayo Clinic” diet recommended by the British organization “Weight Watcher” or the regime “Volumetrics” also known under the name of energy density. Do an online search for information on diets and foods that will help you achieve your diet plan.

2. Eat foods that reduce your appetite.

Taking balanced meals, you will be able to reduce your calorie intake and decrease your appetite . Therefore, you will not risk undermining your slimming plan by eating a lot. Some foods have the property of giving you a feeling of satiety for a long time. Try adding the following foods to your diet:

grapefruit,
The gruel,
apples,
eggs,
ginger,
the dried fruit,
Leafy vegetables,
potatoes,
The dark chocolate,
Spicy foods.

3. Keep a food journal.

Note for a full week the approximate quantities of meals, snacks and drinks you consume. This method will help you to know your diet and stay healthy. If possible, record the number of calories for each meal or snack you eat.

Do not forget to include coffee blends, condiments and other products that go into your daily diet

4. Consider the factors that trigger your urge to eat.

These factors are activities that prompt you to snack. For some people, it is about watching a movie at night, or late watching to revise. If you know your factors, you will be able to make arrangements, like having on hand a sufficient amount of healthy snacks.

If you do not buy unhealthy foods for your snacks, you will greatly reduce the risk of sabotaging your diet.

5. Pay attention to your food intake .

Indicate appropriate amounts of these rations in your diet plan. For example, a healthy snack of dried almonds and cranberries can bring you a lot of calories if you do not pay attention to quantities. Moreover, the preparation of predetermined rations can help you avoid overeating, and familiarize you with your snacks.

The consumption of snacks with very high taste can last longer and better meet your desires. A small bar of dark chocolate is delicious, it takes a while to melt and is enough to satisfy you. On the other hand, milk chocolate bars would barely satisfy your desire. A candy meets your desire immediately and makes you forget the food. A dark beer can satisfy you, although it is not very drinkable, and probably you will not take just one.
Make a list of the ingredients needed to prepare your meals, and keep your list when shopping. By reviewing the flyers distributed by supermarkets, you will probably have ideas, and you will save money by buying items and seasonal products.

6. Do not skip meals.

When you take a good breakfast, you will increase your metabolism, you will be in better shape and you will resist better the desire to have a calorie-laden snack later. Plan to take a small snack or a meal every two or four hours to keep your metabolism active. By eating at regular intervals, you will maintain a constant level of sugar in the blood, and you will reduce bad calories or deviations from your nutrition plan.

7. Resist the temptation to draw from the shelves of your convenience store.

Do not use soft drinks, cookies, ice creams, pizzas and other foods loaded with fats and highly processed. Thus, you will reduce your chances of buying products not recommended for health. If you do not see these products, they will not tempt you

8. Intelligently replace the very caloric products you love.

You can choose to consume a recommended health product to replace another one that you prefer, but that contains a lot of sugars and fats. Replacing processed foods high in calories by other healthier, you increase your chances of losing weight faster.

Consider following a vegetarian diet for a few days a week. By replacing meat with nutritious foods such as beans, tofu or lentils, you can significantly reduce your daily calories while adding several nutrients to your diet.
Take delicious fruit for dessert instead of a processed biscuit or cake.
For snacks, replace chips and sweet bars with nutritious foods that contain little fat and calories. Try combining cheese sticks and a handful of grapes, spreading crackers with peanut butter, or plunge red pepper into a few tablespoons of hummus.
Try to consume vinegar or lemon juice instead of your ranch sauce or your blue cheese vinaigrette.
Prepare your dishes by replacing the butter with a spoonful of olive oil

9. Refrain from drinking sugary drinks.

Drink water, tea, black coffee or Seltzer water instead of drinking soft drinks, energy drinks, flavored coffee or martinis. Reducing the intake of calories by substitution is often much easier than you think. For example, a large cream coffee in the morning can bring you 500 calories. Knowing that a pound of body fat lost or won is equivalent to about 3500 calories, you understand the value of replacement by a white coffee black coffee to lose a pound a week .

To avoid taking hundreds more calories per day, consider drinking water instead of taking a soft drink, coffee, alcohol, juice or milk. By increasing your water intake, you will help your body to assimilate the food you are taking. In addition, you will be fit, and you will get the most out of your physical exercises.
If, for a week, you drink water instead of your other drinks, you will definitely lose weight faster, and you will see a dramatic improvement in your strength and even your appearance.

Travel and Leisure

Taj-Mahal , UNESCO World Heritage Site

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Connell

Located in Agra in northern India, this is an immense white marble funerary mausoleum built between 1631 and 1648 by order of emperor Sha Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, who died giving birth to her fourteen child.

How to go to Agra?

Agra is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, about 200 km from Delhi.

Plane: Approximately one hour flight from Delhi via Kingfisher Airlines and Air India Regional , both making the Delhi – Agra Jaipur tourist triangle. This is not the cheapest option and expect to delay.

Train: many trains connect Agra from the big cities of he country, but if you go there in December – January it is possible that the journey is very long due to the reduced visibility. Indeed at this period Agra and Delhi are covered by fog and the trains have to roll slowly for more security , but in normal time the train puts between 2th and 5^th . From New Delhi the two best trains are the Bhopal Shatabdi Express and the Taj Express.

The main railway station is called Agra Cantt and is located in the south –west of the Taj and Agra Fort. From the train station you can take a taxi or rickshaw to a hotel (150 rupees/ 50 rupees).

If you arrive from the east of the country you may arrive at Agra Fort Station .

By Bus: about 4 to 5 hours from Delhi , with two bus stations in Agra: Idgah Bus Stand and ISBT (inter state bus terminal).

To move to Agra you will have to negotiate with taxi and rickshaw drivers, they may also take you to their cousin’s workshop to buy carpets or other , as they get a commission, so tell them Although you are not interested in shopping.

If you are several the most economical is to hire a taxi by the day by agreeing before on the total price and the place you want go.

Where to sleep and eat?

Note: in Agra beware of monkeys at hang around and do not hesitate to snoop in the rooms in the rooms and poke a stuff (be careful if you have a plastic on the street).

Sleeping : You will find plenty of guesthouses and other hotel around the Taj Mahal, for all prices. The most ex pensive offer a view of the Taj so ask the question before. If your hotel does not have internet you will find internet cafes without problem in Agra.

Generally the hotels near the Taj are of poor quality . It is up to you to see where you prefer to stay according to your feeling. Any way you will spend more time on the roofs spying on what is happening at the street level and admiring the Taj in the distance.

Eating : Same, full of restaurants, either in the guesthouse where you stay either next door, and prices increase more or less depending on the view of the Taj. Go where there are people.

How much does it cost?

The entry of the Taj Mahal costs 750 Rupees and gives only one entrance, if you go out and want to re-enter it will have to repay 750 rupees.

It is also possible to visit the Taj Mahal during the full moon, but the visit lasts only half an hour, between 20:30 and midnight, and you have to book your ticket one day in advance. Groups are 50 people maximum.

You can also hire an official guide for 900 rupees for a half day tour of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Un official guides will offer their services for less expensive but will probably want to take you to buy rugs at their cousin after the visit . Some can tell you that the guide service is included in the entrance fee, which is wrong.

When to go?

The Taj open from 6 am to 7 pm every day except Friday. The best is to go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid tourists and heat.
If you go between September and April you will avoid the heat of summer which can rise up to 45 degree C.
Better to ask your hotel at what time the sun rises to avoid having to wait several hours in the dark unnecessarily.
In winter ( December – February) do not bother to get up early to see the sun rise as there is a lot of mist in the morning. You may also be cold in some guesthouses and hotels, especially since it is very wet.
Basically, the best time to visit Taj is September/November and end February / March.

Discover the Taj Mahal and the other sites of Agra:

A few things to know before visiting the Taj:

Do not forget to ask for protections for your shoes at the ticket office at the entrance .
You will not be able to enter with a bag so leave your belongings at the hotel and just pick up your camera. There are lockers to the wicket where you can leave your bag but they are small , so be sure to leave everything at the hotel .
It is forbidden to take food in the Taj Mahal.
It is forbidden to make noise and take pictures in the mausoleum.
Laptops / smart phone are allowed.
The tripods for camera are forbidden
Dress modestly : do not forget that this is a tomb, with mosques located inside the site.v e to zoom)
It is also possible to admire the Taj Mahal from several other places : either on the other side of the Yamuna river, no need to pay ! The best is to go there at sunset; From the fort of Agra ( you have to zoom ) and finally , the best, from the cafes and hotels located on the roofs of the buildings around the Taj.

The Taj Mahal:

For all the architectural I invite you to go to the UNESCO site.

To put it simply , the Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum built on a pink sandstone basement and surrounded by a garden with canals and fountains. It is about a hundred meters wide and 56 meters high and encrusted with semi – precious stones . Passages of the quran are also inscribed on it , which one does not necessarily see at first glance.

Several interesting facts about the Taj Mahal:

It was built between 1631 and 1648 ( 17 years old). The mosque, guest pavilion and main entrance to the south as well as the outer courtyard and its cloisters were later added and completed in 1653 .
It was built by Emperor Sha Jahan in memory for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal , who died giving birth to her 14^th child!
It is built entirely of marble of the finest quality from Rajasthan in India, China , Sri Lanka, Arabia , Tibet and Afghanistan.
Its architecture is a fusion of Persian, Islamic and Central Asian style.
1100 elephants were used to transport the materials needed foe its construction, and 22000 workers worked to build it.
It is said that the craftsmen and experienced workers who designed the Taj had their hands cut off so as not to repeat such a work (of nothing).
The four minarets at each corner of the Taj Mahal are 40 meters high and are divided into three parts with a balcony at the top.
They are constructed so as to collapse on the outside in the event of an earthquake.
The pollution, due to in particular to the 1700 factories around Agra causes the Taj Mahal to become more and more yellow.
According to the time of day and also according to the light of the moon it appears of different colors.
It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
A second Taj Mahal in black marble had to be built opposite it but its construction was canceled because of the wars between the emperor and his sons.
It is visited by about 3 to 4 million people per year including 200,000 from different countries .
The Taj Mahal was built on the banks of the Yamuna River.
Geologists think that the Taj-Mahal is “sinking” because of its not solid foundations .
Some historians believe that it was an Italian, Geronimo Veroneo, who designed the Taj- Mahal and not the architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
The construction of the Taj Mahal cost 32 million rupees at the time, or about one billion euros at the present time.
*Many precious stones were torn from the walls during wars and looting , but also by the British during the Indian rebellion in 1857.

Technology and Gadgets

Alternatives To Microsoft Picture Manager

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Connell

We all know that Microsoft Picture Manager is a very powerful tool for image management, either professionally or simply amateurishly, but fortunately there are several equally powerful alternatives. In today’s post we will explore the most popular alternatives to Microsoft Picture Manager.

Top 5 alternatives to Microsoft Picture Manager

Let’s start with the alternative software listing to Picture Manager so that you can leave behind the Microsoft app, and start using other alternatives equal or better.

1. PhotoScape

PhotoScape is interesting viewer, organizer and also affordable image editor whatever your level of knowledge. It really has everything you need to be able to manipulate photos on your computer and its results for everyday use are very attractive.

2. Photo Pos Pro

Photo Pos Pro is an interesting graphic editor specialized mainly in photographs and with which you can retouch any image until satiety. In Photo Pos Pro you will also find a variety of tools, as well as filters and effects with which you can correct and improve your creations.

3. Paint.NET

If you need something more powerful than Microsoft Paint, but not as complex as Photoshop, Paint.NET is what you are looking for.

This interesting photo editor so well designed, offers a wide variety of powerful tools and options that you are sure to find only in the big programs.

Paint.NET gives you the possibility of simultaneously editing several images (large or small), allows you to work in layers, save a history of changes (versions) that you have done so that you can undo them easily, and As if that were not enough, includes a large variety of drawing tools (such as brushes and geometric shapes).

4. Google Photos

Google Photos, or just Photos, is the new Google image gallery (formerly Picasa). You can make a backup in the cloud of all your photos, apply curious effects and organize your entire gallery automatically, as if by magic.

Google Photos would be replacing the Photos section that was installed next to Google+. Before it also had many pretty interesting functions, but it is now when it has made a jump of quite quality.

5. VSO Image Resizer

It is another of the alternatives that we bring for you, in this case, the tool additionally to the handling of the images, offers a powerful and advanced graphic engine that allows to make resize or resize in a fast and efficient way.

Its installation is extremely simple and its use quite intuitive, so virtually any user with basic computer skills can operate without any problem

Technology and Gadgets

Nokia 3310 will be back in the market

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Connell

It is no secret that the mobile phone division of Nokia has sailed through many turbulent waters since leaving the market on October 23, 2014, when Microsoft announced that it would end the mark.

It should be recalled that of the 20 best-selling cell phones in history, 13 of these have the name of this prestigious Finnish firm, whose piece of the phone market was approximately 50 percent in 2007, when Steve Jobs first introduced The legendary and pioneering iPhone.

The Nokia 3310 sold something like 126 million units and was launched there in 2000. It sold a little less than its predecessor, the remembered model 3210, whose astonishing mark was about 160 million units sold.

In just about six years, Nokia’s dominant position was literally reduced to rubble. By the year 2013, its share of the mobile phone market was less than a staggering 5 percent. Nokia was later sold to Microsoft in September 2013.

Bill Gates’ company paid about $ 7.175 billion. The relationship of these large companies looked quite promising. The giant of Silicon Valley with the experience of a company totally expert in the manufacture of cell phones, would do with all its patents and between both would take the name of both Nokia and the operating system for mobile Windows Phone directly to the Olympus of the nascent market of the Smartphones.

But unfortunately the relationship did not work and officially signed the commercial divorce in the month of May last year, after three years of continuous financial losses. For example in 2015, cuts of up to $ 7.5 billion and $ 7,800 layoffs were determined. At the beginning of 2016, Microsoft reduced another $ 950 million dollars from the business and ended with the dismissal of about 1,850 employees, most of Finland.

Microsoft ended up selling Nokia’s brand entirely to HDM, which is a new company founded by former Nokia employees. The manufacture, distribution and sale of all products was in the hands of Foxconn, the same company of Chinese origin that joins the famous iPhone. The cost of this transaction was about $ 350 million dollars.

Officially the return was already announced. Nokia returned to the scene with four new phones, three of which will be smart (the Nokia 3, Nokia and Nokia 6) and one of them, let’s say not so much.

Featured

10 Tips To Cheer Yourself Up

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Connell

At the end of winter when the body lacks vitamins and sunlight, it is difficult to be constantly on our toes and hide his bad mood. Fortunately, psychologists have been given 10 recommendations that improve mood and help you to look at ordinary things look completely different.

1) To always be in vitality you need to learn to control yourself. Do not take offense at trifles and quarrels with loved ones. It is also important to be able to forgive people that help get rid of the negative and vengeful feelings, which destroy human inside.

2) In the world must look with humor. Man must go out of any situation with a smile, even if it is abused or badly hurt. It is necessary to say to yourself, “This is all nonsense, and will soon pass!”. If you believe in this setting, then soon all the negative thoughts really leave.

3) Do not shut down the four walls and offended by the whole world. Psychologists have found that a group of friends and a man on the street will be easier to transfer the unpleasant moments that excite him.

4) It is important to bring something new in my life to set the mood. You do not have to buy a ticket to the other side of the world, to give up work or family. Novelty may be, as in the change of a hobby, and a change in the style of clothing. New high heel shoes make their possessor to straighten his back and catch yourself the views of interested men. The attention surrounding the great uplifting.

5) In modern intensive life, it is important to be able to relax. To do this, there are many techniques and methods. For example, to type a bubble bath, light aroma, play soft music and soak in warm water for half an hour. Mood also is able to pick up a lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, orange and bergamot tea.

6) Vitality improves swimming lessons. Psychologists have proved that water helps to relax the body and improve mood. Furthermore, in the pool is reduced the risk of injury, in contrast to other physical activities.

10 tips to improve your relationship

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Connell

A long-lasting relationship can retain much of the charm of the early days, to achieve it requires creativity, overcome laziness and comfortable routines. Ten recommendations are to keep the emotion and the illusion alive.

1. Every day in plan of conquest

To assume that the game has already been won and that there is no need to do anything else to conquer the other is the first step towards the deterioration of the relationship. Remembering the strategies most useful at the beginning of the relationship and applying them, as well as new actions based on the knowledge of the couple, will keep the spark and emotion and prevent the other or self become something as obvious as Living room sofa.

2. To have a life of their own

When all the experiences you have are lived as a couple, there comes a point where there is nothing new to talk about. Having your own friends, individual interests, independent activities of the couple, is convenient for both the person and the relationship: oxygen, gives topics of conversation, propitiates new activities, new friends, in short, enrich the everyday.

3. Modify routines

Routines prevail because they are comfortable, but they can become automatic and therefore lose emotion. Breaking them up is easier than you think. It is giving space to spontaneity, daring to make proposals out of the ordinary and change comfort by action. For example, take advantage of a sunny day in the week and find yourself somewhere in the city after work to chat while night falls.

4. Interested in what the other does

The hobbies, tastes, interests and knowledge of the other, can contribute much to the universe itself. There will always be an angle of what the other does, which can generate curiosity in the couple. It’s not just saying “I do not like football” but trying to understand why he likes the other. With this attitude prejudices are overcome and horizons are broadened. In addition, spaces are created for sharing.

5. Have exclusive moments to share between two

When there are children in between, there is little room to share as a couple. Grandparents, uncles, the family in general, can be a great help to have a few moments alone. Also in everyday life you can reserve some spaces to live as a couple: when they have already bedded the children or early, before they get up. The fact is never forget that the other, other than being “the father or the mother of my children, is my partner.”

6. A good sexual relationship

Biology influences sexuality, but also the psychology of both. Daily stress and fatigue are not the best companions for a relationship. Laughter, on the other hand, distenses and allows a more tranquil approach. Finding or creating appropriate (also emotional) environments and avoiding “automatic” encounters are good ways to maintain a dynamic and exciting relationship. Preparing the food together, without hurry and announcing it in advance so that both are in the same tonic, is a good way to get ready for sex.

7. Always be a challenge

Eduardo Punset, Spanish scientist, says that one of the fundamental factors of Homo sapiens to be happy is to have a challenge, something that has to be achieved. What is believed already achieved loses interest. The concept of unconditionally in the couple is dangerous and promotes irresponsible attitudes and actions: “You will be there, whatever you do”. When both people are clear that they have to “earn” each other day, they do their best and do their best to keep the relationship going.

8. Make caresses a novelty

In caresses the instinctive and rational coexist. Tenderness, solidarity, support, are feelings that are expressed many times more clearly and forcefully with a hug or a squeeze, than with words. The caresses have a therapeutic effect, reduce stress, relax and create an irreplaceable link. Its positive effect is for both the giver and the receiver. It can be caressed with the tips of the fingers or with the whole hand, with the back or with a simple set of fingers. There are hundreds of ways to explore and express feelings to each other.

9. Be buddies

Rather than being a couple, it is important that you both be friends. Life can not only become obligations and responsibilities. They are building a life and a future in common, but also need spaces of relaxation, leisure, fun and mischief. Being small buddies creates a very strong and rewarding bond.

10. Avoid being the “typical” in anything

Getting rid of stereotypes or avoiding them is a way of maintaining “identity.” Each one builds his day and his life in his own way. It is easy to do it according to the pre-established recipes of society (the cantaletra, the mournful and indifferent gentleman in front of the domestic …), but it is more enriching and rewarding to do it according to the formula itself.

A couple relationship is like a plant that must be cultivated day by day. Details and patience with each other are the basis for a loving relationship to work and endure over time. Following the above tips you can improve your relationship in such a way that harmony and happiness visit your heart again. Learn and practice them

Education

10 methods to review, memorize and learn effectively

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Connell

In learning situations, cramming is denounced and all teachers advise their students to re-read their lesson in the evening to better memorize. But for students, the questions remain the same:

 How to reread effectively?
 How to avoid cramming ?
 How to memorize durably?
 What are the effective methods to revise ?
 How to learn otherwise?

The students sometimes say, “The teachers tell us to reread our lessons in the evening, but I do not care. It gets me drunk, so I spend three hours and I remember anything anyway! “. Of course, few people explain HOW to re-read their lessons and review effectively! In the end, many see apprehensions as a boring, compulsory, tasteless task: in short, the big chore … In these conditions, without pleasure or interest and even less project, how these children (and teenagers ) Can they learn? How to find ways to tell the brain that the information read, written, consulted and learned is important, that it has value, long-term interest … and that it deserves to be retained ?

10 methods to review, memorize and learn effectively

Kids learning — review, memorize and learn

Talking about information to someone else

One way to signal important information to the brain is to talk about it, to play the teacher yourself. It may also involve asking questions about the subject in order to deepen it. I wrote an article about the art of (asking) questions to learn: Let us teach children to ask questions .

Flash cards

Flash cards are cards whose front and back side indicate two related information, often the question and answer (for example, 7 × 9 on the front and 63 on the back, an image and its translation into a foreign language). Self-making flash-cards to self-test reinforces the learning process. To learn more about flash cards, you can read this article: Memory technology and working method, flash cards.

Creating mental images and stories

Linking a word or phrase to an image makes it easier to remember. The ideal is even to invent a story from a list of words to memorize. In his book Object if Memoire , Helene Weber tells a story to remember the names of the planets in order: A superb SUN has near him a small thermometer with MERCURE. The sun is so hot that the thermometer bursts and the small balls of liquid metal roll in front of you. Curious and amused, a young woman you imagine beautiful, voluptuous and releasing a sweet perfume comes towards you. And what is the name of this pretty goddess? VENUS ! Venus plays, plays with the marbles of mercury. It takes shape in front of you and finally throws in the distance one of the marbles of mercury which lands with a resounding “boum” in the middle of your garden: on TERRE. But the marble is light and your garden, it bounces in that of your neighbor. Your neighbor is small, angry and snarling. And who is the god of war? MARCH. Mars is ready to jump on you to overcome you. But it is stopped in its impetus by a giant so great and powerful that it makes the whole earth tremble around you. You look up at this giant who is also your best friend: a lock of his hair slips on his forehead, forming the “J” of JUPITER: the king of the gods. On the T-shirt of Jupiter you can see the word SUN, which forms the beginning of the names of three planets: SATURNE, URANUS and NEPTUNE. Jupiter laughed out loud. At his feet runs Walt Disney’s little dog: PLUTO (N). Mathieu Protin delivers in his videos his tricks and tricks to retain the multiplication tables based on imagination and humorous stories. I invite you to read this article to understand the principle: The 4 keys to effective memorization: to be tested with your children .

Illustrate with concrete examples, pictograms or diagrams :

An included information is more easily memorized since it is explainable with its own words. But to understand an information, one must be able to illustrate it with phrases examples, pictos or diagrams.

Sample Phrases :

The girl of 5 ° to whom I helped me had to memorize a list of 5 words per heart, of which “deciduous”. She was able to recite the definition to me almost by heart, but I felt that she had not understood its meaning. I then asked her for an example of the use of this word and after a long hesitation, she replied: “outdated ham is obsolete. So I took the definition with her, I gave her an example I thought without imposing it on her if she preferred to find another one and she ended by saying to me: “But in fact, Means fashion past. “Bingo, the click was made! Illustration Pictos:

There is a village close to my home where there is a zoo known for its emblem: a gorilla that was raised almost as a child by the owners. I met a person who lived in that village, and to remind me of where she lived, I drew it next to her name written … and whenever I think of that person, I imagine A little gorilla in my head :-).

“A scheme is worth a thousand words. ” Always with my pupil of 5 °, we worked on the notion of global warming. However, I found that it was difficult to learn the definition of greenhouse gases. So I questioned her about the course and what the teacher had said. Answer: “Nothing, she just told us to copy the definition of the book. In order to start from her mental representations, I asked her to express in a diagram what her greenhouse gases were for her. From this scheme (which nevertheless represented a nuclear power plant as the sole source of climatic warming …), we went through the great floods in New York and New Orleans, the Fukushima tsunami, the possible disappearance of Seychelles, by electric cars before arriving at a correct pattern.

The sketch

I invite you to read this article to understand how to integrate pictograms and diagrams when taking note in class or when memorizing lessons: Sketchnote: a graphic and visual note taking to test with students.

The sketch can be introduced in class by teachers as a tool for presenting a lesson and / or as a note-taking tool for students.

The lapbook

A lapbook is a kind of booklet decorated and personalized that takes elements around a concept studied, in the form of drawings, paintings, writings, images, collages and graphics of all kinds.

The objective is to summarize information on a topic and to organize them with mobile means: flaps, pockets, wheels, pull tabs, flaps, envelopes, posts it … At each shape and each Is a concept.

The lapbooks are colored for a more pleasant to consult and a better organization of the elements.

More information for the steps of realization of a lapbook in this article: The lapbook, a learning and revision medium playful and effective .

Transform the lesson into a Mind Map

Rereading a lesson does not mean “just” rereading but also transforming it in a personal way to integrate and understand it. Passing a lesson in the form of a Mind Map is an effective means of proofreading because it requires selecting important information, thinking about the layout of the branches of the mental map, synthesizing information in keyword form, Illustration pictos.

Mind map of open questions – workshop of positive pedagogy (La fabrique à bonheurs)

You will find a complete description of the Mind Maps (or mental maps) and the methodology to build them on this link: Mind Mapping®

The watering technique

What is the most effective way to water a lawn? Water it for 90 minutes once a week or three times 30 minutes? It is the same for learning: it is better to prefer short and spaced sessions than long intensive sessions. The energy of the brain is then so mobilized to remain concentrated that there is not enough energy left for the process of memorization.

Wait two or three days before returning to the information

Some studies have even shown that it is more effective to return to a lesson several days after the first mention in class.One could thus dispense with this famous assertion: “Read again your lessons that evening! And wait two or three days.

Associate words to learn by heart to noises, places or movements

Contextual cues can help memorize. As demonstrated in the workshop of positive pedagogy that I followed, specialization (or technique of the loci) uses the memory of places and allows to learn with its body and its head:

 The information is deposited somewhere spatially,
 We mentally associate the word with the place,
 Each information (or verse of a poetry, for example) is placed in a room of the house or attached to an object: the child sets in motion to actually deposit the information,
 At each recitation or memorization, the learner redo the path in order by mentally reviewing the word associated with each place and says it aloud,
 At the moment of the restitution, the child can mentally visualize the part or the object and its movements.
In addition, I advise you this article: 14 indispensable tools to learn .

The ideal intervals for revising according to the time remaining before the evaluation

In a 2008 study of 1,300 students at the University of California, scientists determined optimal intervals for learning information. If the assessment is within a week, it is best to schedule two sessions with a one or two-day interval. For example, for an evaluation Friday, studying Monday and revising Thursday would be the best solution.

The role of sleep

The brain processes and structures information overnight.

Neuroscientists insist on the role played by sleep in this phase of repetition and consolidation. They argue that after a period of learning, a period of sleep, even short, improves

 Memory
 the generalization
 The discovery of patterns

Improving sleep can be a very effective intervention to remedy learning problems.

Featured

Essential health checks for men in their thirties

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Connell

For those men in their thirties who are fit and healthy, you may be forgiven for feeling you are invincible. Unfortunately, that is certainly not the case. There is a range of health checks that thirty-somethings should be getting done on a regular basis to ward off the real threat of infection and disease. Here are a list of essential checks you should undertake.

Image Credit

Testicular cancer

According to Cancer Research UK, the most prevalent type of cancer to affect men aged between 15 and 49 is testicular cancer, with 2,200 men diagnosed in the UK each year. Although testicular cancer is a particular threat to men in their 30s, it also has one of the highest survival rates, proving early detection is key to overcoming the disease and living a normal life.

Normally, pain is not a symptom that presents in testicular cancer so regular self-examination is important. It’s advised men check their testicles at least once a month. Using your index finger and thumb, feel for any abnormalities such as pea-shaped lumps. See your GP if you’re concerned – http://www.mensfitness.com/training/check-ups-every-guy-needs.

STI test

Figures from Public Health England show there were over 400,000 new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2015. Many more people are unaware they have an STI, so sexually active adults, especially between the ages of 16 and 40, should get tested once a year. Sexual health sites such as https://www.checkurself.org.uk/order-a-test-kit/ and https://www.bexleysexualhealth.org/ offer free STI testing kits in London and further afield and make it easy for anyone concerned about an STI
Diabetes

If you’re carrying a bit of excess weight around your stomach you could be increasing your risk of developing diabetes. It’s believed a quarter of people who have the disease have not yet been diagnosed. Catching diabetes early is key to managing the symptoms in later life. A simple blood test will be able to tell you if you’re at risk.

Cholesterol

If you smoke, eat a high-fat diet and prefer a night on the sofa than a workout in the gym then you may want to check your cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol can cause heart disease leading to potential heart attacks and strokes. Again, a simple blood test will be able to tell if you need to make some lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol.

House and Home

How to prepare homemade flavors

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Connell

It is always pleasant to give our home a touch of aroma that shows our good state of mind and to help us eliminate bad smells.

Whether in the room, the kitchen, bathrooms, study, in a drawer or anywhere, natural flavors help us keep a cool and pleasant aroma.

Fragrance liquid:

They are the ones that we can spray with atomizer. Its aroma diffuses with the air and can be used anywhere in the house. To prepare them we need:

2 pieces of citrus fruit
Oranges or lemons split into quarters
2 sprigs of rosemary
1 liter of water
1 tablespoon of glycerin
1 teaspoon of alcohol
15 drops of essential oil

The procedure is easy: in a pot is put to boil for 10 minutes to simmer the fruits and rosemary; Are allowed to cool and strain, at which point glycerin and alcohol are added and emptied into the bottle. So you can stay, or add 15 drops of essential oil; The eucalyptus can be ideal for when someone is gagged at home.

Diffused with bamboo wands:

If in addition to aromatizing we want to decorate some space, this diffuser will be very useful. It only takes:

1 bottle of narrow neck where 7 or 8 bamboo wands fit
¼ cup safflower oil
1 teaspoon of alcohol
15 drops of essential oil

All liquids are emptied into the bottle and then the bamboo wands are inserted. After 24 hours, they are turned over so that they are completely impregnated and this process is repeated every week. If desired, a few drops of vegetable dye may be added to paint the liquid.

Flavoring gel:

Ideal for bathing. In a cup of boiling water dissolve 85 grm of grenetin and 4 tablespoons of salt, mix to dissolve the grenetina and add a cup of cold water and 20 drops of essential oil. It is emptied into a clear bottle and cooled until it cools. If desired, you can add flowers, leaves or any decorative element, as well as a few drops of vegetable coloring.

Citrus in the refrigerator:

To avoid bad odors in the refrigerator, we can split an orange in half and remove all the pulp from the peel, which must be filled to the fourth part with salt of grain. A simple natural remedy that also smells great.

Potpourri for closets, drawers and car:

It only takes:

Petals of aromatic flowers
Cinnamon sticks
rosemary
basil
Some cloves
nutmeg
Wood chip
essential oil

The first thing to do is to allow the fresh elements to dry on absorbent paper in a cool, dry place; It is then stored in a re seal able bag or container that can be sealed and the essential oil that is preferred to the mixture is added before sealing the container. Leave it to stand for 4 to 6 weeks in a dry and dark place and then remove it and empty it in a decorative jar or in bags of very thin cloth. When you lose the aroma, simply add a few drops of essence and stir to reactivate the aroma particles.

With these simple ideas your whole house will keep a scent with the special touch that only you can give.