Spa Covers Going Green?

All this talk about going green, a big part of saving the environment is to not create more waste that will just end up clogging our land fills. Follow me on this for a minute... There are 10 million spa owners in the USA, and each one of them uses a typical rigid foam spa cover on their hot tub. For the sake of this demonstration each foam cover is only two inches thick and every spa is eight feet by eight feet. That would mean each spa cover contained about 10.666 cubic feet of foam per spa cover. For the rest of this example we will use 10.5 cubic feet per cover.

If each cover on every spa becomes saturated within two years and needs to be replaced that would mean that we would be adding 52.5 million cubic feet of waste to our landfills in just spa covers every year.
If it takes two and a half covers worth of foam to make up one cubic yard that translates to 4 million cubic yards of waste added to our land fills every two years just in spa covers.

If there are 11 million Cubic yards of stone in the Great Pyramid at Giza, we are adding enough foam to build a duplicate of it to our landfills just from used spa covers every six years conservatively. There are four and a half million cubic yards of concrete in Hoover Dam. We could build a two lane highway of discarded foam filled spa covers from Seattle Washington to Miami Florida every two years.

In case you have not noticed most foam filled spa covers are not two inches thick anymore. If all those old foam covers were four inches thick all these calculations would be double.
But we are just being conservative so we want to stick with two inches thick. If we ripped the covers in half and laid those pieces end to end we could circle the earth at the equator on used spa covers every two years.

Heck with parking lots, in a few years we could pave the entire planet with foam just from saturated foam spa covers from the USA alone.

So what is the solution? Well shop for a better spa cover. There are options available on the internet that your local spa dealer probably does not offer. You do not have to quit using your spa to save us. You just need to get a Spa Cover that does not use foam to insulate. There would be two major advantages to doing so. First the spa cover that did not use rigid foam to insulate would last longer. Since what always fails in the typical spa cover is the foam, either breaking or getting so saturated that you cannot lift it, a spa cover that did not use foam would tend to last longer.

Second, if the new type of spa cover does not use rigid foam it will also be a lot more friendly to the environment when it does come time to discard it. Less trash, less waste, less land fill, not that is what going green is all about.

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Culture Tips for Dubai Travelers

There is a lot of confusing and misleading information when it comes to what is and what is not culturally acceptable in Dubai. Dubai is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with over 100 nationalities living together in harmony. Millions of tourists flock to Dubai every year and the city is truly a cultural crossroads. The local population is quite small (estimated around 15%), but Emiratis in general are warm, welcoming, and very tolerant of foreign visitors and residents. In return, it is greatly appreciated if those who travel to Dubai take a little time to learn about the local customs and culture.

The UAE is a Muslim country. The culture is based on a deeply rooted belief in Islam and centers on the family. Mosques are dotted throughout the landscape of Dubai and five times a day the melodious prayer call or "adhan" will be heard. The official weekend is Friday, although government offices and certain multinational companies are also closed on Saturday. Mosques on Fridays around noon will be overflowing as worshippers gather to listen to a sermon. On Fridays most stores open around 2PM although certain large retail outlets such as Carrefour and most large grocery stores are open as normal. Arabic is the official language; however English is widely spoken by almost everyone and all the street signs are in both English and Arabic.

There is no specific dress code in Dubai, and you will see both ends of the spectrum from women who cover themselves from head to toe to those who choose to barely cover themselves at all. At the beach women are welcome to wear bikinis and men can don swimming shorts. Away from the beach it is more culturally acceptable for men to avoid wearing shorts or going shirtless and for women to avoid mini-skirts, midriff baring tops, and shorts. T-shirts or blouses and mid-length skirts or Capri pants for women are considered quite appropriate. Muslim women from the Gulf States typically dress in a long black robe known as the "abaya". The "abaya" itself is not an Islamic requirement, but rather a cultural custom. Islam requires ladies to cover their heads and to wear long loose clothes covering their arms and legs. Gulf men wear a loose, typically white robe called a "dishdasha" along with a white or red checkered headdress known as the "gutra". The gutra is held in place with a black cord called an "agal".

Arabs are one of the most hospitable people in the world, but visitors still should take note of a few cultural musts when interacting with locals. It is best to ask permission of local women before taking their photograph and most likely you will be told no. Visitors should also be aware that some Muslim women and men will avoid shaking hands with members of the opposite sex as per Islamic tradition. This should not be taken as an offense and it is simply best to wait and see if the other person extends their hand in greeting first. Local men will typically greet other local men by touching noses or kissing cheeks. Public displays of affection between members of the opposite sex are highly frowned upon, although you will see men (typically Asian expats) holding hands with other men when walking. This is a cultural norm and merely an expression of friendship. If you are invited to enjoy a coffee, tea or traditional meal with a local family there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. Before entering a home shoes should be removed. When sitting, take care to avoid pointing the soles of your feet in anyone's direction as this is considered rude in Arab Muslim culture. Food and drink (and there will be a lot of it!) should be taken with one's right hand, as the left hand is reserved for "unclean" practices such as washing after using the bathroom. Your host will most likely keep offering you more and more food and drink. It is acceptable to take a second helping but not necessarily a third or fourth! You will have to be persistent and it might take a bit of polite "back and forth" between you and your host before your host acknowledges that you are actually finished!

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Muslims and non-Muslims in Dubai are expected (by law) to refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public. A bit of discretion and respect for the host culture is really all that is called for. If a visitor accidentally makes a mistake and eats, drinks, or smokes in public, the worst that is likely to happen is that someone will gently remind you of the time of year and ask you to stop. Although most restaurants will be closed during the day (or offering take-away only), many malls now have food outlets that are screened off from the public and open during the day in Ramadan for non-Muslims. It is also perfectly acceptable for non-Muslims to eat and drink in the privacy of their homes or hotel rooms during the day. Most hotel restaurants will remain open (with screened-off areas) for hotel guests and grocery stores also remain open all day long. It is greatly appreciated during Ramadan if women are a bit more conservative in their dress - simply avoiding short skirts or sleeveless tops. All live musical and dance performances are suspended during Ramadan but pubs will open after sunset. Time seems to move a little slower during Ramadan and by law Muslim employees have shortened work days. In general visitors do need to be more culturally sensitive during the Holy Month, but after the breaking of the fast each day the city comes alive and it is an ideal time to visit if you are looking to experience cultural flavor.

While Dubai is most famous for its shopping, visitors should take advantage of their trip to the United Arab Emirates to also learn about the local culture. The Dubai Museum, built in an old traditional fort, is a must-see for all ages and includes exhibits of weapons, national costumes, and displays of the desert as well as the pearl diving industry on which Dubai was originally founded. The Heritage and Diving Village features displays of Dubai's maritime past and includes quaint shops and restaurants. Finally, The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding offers cultural awareness programs, recruiting young UAE nationals to speak to visitors and residents about Dubai culture and history, as well as offering other activities throughout the year including mosque tours and Arabic classes.

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All About Hawaii Vacations

Hawaii is one of the beautiful cities of the world. Natural beauty of this city is really very stunning and attractive. You will really feel relaxing and happy after visit this beautiful city. That’s why, it highly recommended to you that you must visit this city at least once in your lifetime, you won't regret it. The climate in this city is also very delightful and pleasant. Hawaii is a very popular vacation spot. The scenery and its people will make sure that your vacation is unforgettable. To make it a truly memorable experience however, you need to stay in one of the many Hawaii resorts.

You will really enjoy sun filled beaches, lush rain forests, tropical birds, care free walks and rejuvenating mineral springs of Hawaii. That’s why Hawaii has become one of the favorite travel destinations of UK tourists. Hawaii has so many places to explore, things to do, sights to see -- it can be bewildering to plan your trip with so much vying for your attention. This city is really breathtaking city. If you are planning your vacation then you must include this city in your list. There is no doubt that Hawaii is a very relaxing vacation destination. Special vacation packages available may include accommodations and activities such as diving, surfing, and luaus. Luaus are a traditional meal of roast pig, poi, and pine apple and coconut juice.

Everybody wants to just get away even for few days—especially those who have very busy working schedules. And one of the most popular destinations for people want to unwind and relax is Hawaii. Hawaii is a dream traveler’s vacation spot because of the many outdoor activities like fishing, surfing, hiking, golf, kayaking, snorkeling and whale watching. Additionally, Hawaii also provides fine dining, entertainment, and shopping. But if you plan to go on vacation in Hawaii and you do not want to stay in a hotel or go on a group tour through a travel agency, the best option for you is Hawaii vacation rentals.

When visiting Hawaii, you’ll find the tropical atmosphere to be one that is unrivaled. With beautiful beaches and stunning scenery, you’ll find a great assortment of vacation home rentals to choose from. When you choose a Hawaiian vacation, you’ll find a vast array of water activities to choose from. Surfing is one of the largest sports on the Islands and if you’re a beginner, you’ll find many places to try your luck. Snorkeling is another popular water sport on the island and you’ll want to make sure you see the beautiful coral reefs and some of the most amazing marine wildlife, such as the sea turtle and millet seed butterfly fish. Swimming and Parasailing are excellent activities to enjoy on Hawaii's excellent beaches.

Hawaii’s Big Island offers a beautiful, exciting and exotic location to meet your group’s needs. Yet we’re surprisingly accessible with daily, direct flights from major West Coast cities into Kailua-Kona. Our conference and meeting facilities offer an extensive network of technical support services, with state of the art business equipment, including video teleconferencing services. Our unique blend of indoor and outdoor function space ensure your meeting needs are met, yet with a touch of aloha found no where else in the world.

It's often difficult to decide where to stay, but whatever your budget, a Hawaii vacation rental will meet your needs and make your vacation perfect for you and your family. Hawaiian vacation rentals are perfect for a group of friends who want to experience living in the same roof for couple of days. If the Big Island is part of your Hawaii vacation plan then it won’t be complete without a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here you can see Madame Pele in all its glory and experience this beautiful devastation. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution — processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with unique ecosystems, and a distinct human culture today Bruce and Yaling talk about the Volcano and offer tips for view and visiting this amazing natural wonder

There are four Hawaiian Destinations that I will cover today in this Free Hawaii Guide: the Pali Lookout, the Punchbowl Crater, the U.S.S Arizona, and the Hilton Hawaii Villages Aloha Friday Party and Fireworks. If the Big Island is part of your Hawaii vacation plan then it won’t be complete without a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Here you can see Madame Pele in all its glory and experience this beautiful devastation. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution — processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with unique ecosystems, and a distinct human culture today Bruce and Yaling talk about the Volcano and offer tips for view and visiting this amazing natural wonder

The Pali Lookout is one of my absolute favorite free Hawaii spots here on Oahu. It sits atop a 985-foot cliff overlooking the Windward Coast. The trade winds that blow are so strong that you can lean into them and they hold you up. But remember to not wear dresses, things that can fly away or loose track of your small kids. Okay at least the kids won't fly away. Pali Lookout is open during the days and is located on Pali Highway.

The Punchbowl Crater is another one of the free Hawaiian destinations that you shouldn't miss. The top of an extinct volcano collapsed inward even before the original Hawaiians came to rest here, and is the site of a World War II Memorial and Cemetery. With Diamond Head right beside it and a look out onto Waikiki, the site is reverent, peaceful, and breathtaking.

The U.S.S. Arizona makes this list of free Hawaii vacation ideas because of its significance to the Hawaiian Islands and its demise during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The tour includes a movie depicting the events of the day and then a boat trip out to the observation deck that was placed above the resting Arizona. If you listen closely, you will here the voices of Americas Sailors below still speaking to you. This site does come with a negative however, the free tickets are on a first come first serve basis and the wait once there may be long. But overall it is still a must see.

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Burj Dubai Tower: The World's Tallest Tower At The Time

Dubai's upcoming landmark, Burj Dubai Tower, is creating ripples around the world. The building is expected to be completed by June 2009, and it will stand to be the world's tallest at that time. Emaar, a UAE construction giant developing it, has yet not disclosed its official height, but the building is expected to measure above 800m on its completion. There will be more than 160 floors and a 200m high spire carrying various communication equipments in the entire building. Most of its first 108 floors will be lent either to house one of Dubai hotels or to accommodate private apartment owners, however, the business community will also have its own share in the form of exclusive offices.

Dubai's government has worked for over two decades now with intent to shifting away from the chiefly oil driven economy to a diversified free-trade, retail and tourism oriented one. They have succeeded as well in doing so to a very large extent, since the share of oil revenues in the GDP has fallen drastically in the last few years. However, they will require continuing on to make this transformation last permanently, and that's where the projects like Burj Dubai Tower, Dubai Marina, The World, The Palm Islands, The Dubai Mall, serviced apartments and various Dubai hotels come into this picture.

Dubai is expecting to receive 15 million visitors by the year 2010, and needs to add more supplies in the hospitality and retail sectors by that time. The Downtown Burj Dubai, which is going to host the Burj Dubai Tower, apart from many other developments, is expected to fulfill this growing need. The township will have nine Dubai hotels, over a dozen and half residential towers, one low-rise township called The Old Town, the world's largest mall, The Dubai Mall, and loads of leisure outlets such as cafes, stylish boutiques, restaurants etc to add more to its charm.

The Downtown Burj Dubai will provide roughly 30,000 serviced apartments, penthouses, villas and several Dubai hotels for staying in the city. The 63-story tall Dubai Lake Hotel & Serviced Apartments is one of these projects, which will offer exclusive apartments and studios for outright sale. The tower will also host a 210-room luxury hotel, which will be managed by a leading luxury hotel group. Another housing development is called Boulevard Crescents, which will comprise of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom luxury residential suits and penthouses. A very beautiful landscape encircling these apartments will add more value to one's stay in Dubai.

The world's largest mall, The Dubai Mall, is also located in the same area, where you can find the goods of your preference to fulfill your desires. This retail giant will house over a dozen built-in smaller malls, each catering to the needs of an individual market. The mall will be spreading over an area of 12.1 million ft², and will begin its operations by August 2008. These developments, along with the spirited rise of the tower Burj Dubai, are bound to add a significant amount of growth in the city's tourism and retail sectors.

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Curug Orok: Fresh and Natural Waterfall in Garut

The origin of waterfall is called a Curug Orok because according to local stories in 1968 there was a young woman who put her child from the top of the waterfall, so the waterfall is called Curug Orok. Judging from the shape of this waterfall has a second waterfall, where a large presence symbolizes the mother and the little baby symbolizes.

Curug Orok with a height of 45 M has become attractions and Tourist Attractions (abbreviated ODTW) since 21 April 1996. Curug Orok is a type of natural ODTW located in the village Cikandang Cikajang Garut district of West Java Province. Curug Orok itself is managed by PT. Perkebunan Nusantara and owned by PT Perkebunan Papandayan . Operating time of ODTW Curug Orok started from 9:00 a.m. to 16:30 o'clock.  
Administrative boundaries of this ODTW As follows:  
North: Mount Papandayan  
South: Mount Geder  
West: Village Cikandang  
East: District Pamulihan

The distance from the capital district region Cikajang is 5 km, while the Capital District of Garut is 31 Km. Curug Orok itself is located at an altitude of 250 M above sea level with the general configuration of hilly land because it is situated at the foot of the mountain Papandayan and the level of land sloping and steep slope stability and absorption rate in kawsan this good land and a low abrasion level. This type of soil material that is in the form of a rocky clay and gravel. Newbie waterfall has a clear water, the smell of normal water and cold temperatures. There are the influence of the season at which time the dry season the water discharge less. Flora Curug Orok dominant around the waterfall is pine trees, papaya and other wild plants. While the fauna found in the region of monkeys and snakes. Quality and environment in the region visability quite good although there is little trash pollution and vandalism in the rocks caused by visitors. There is also a signpost and a bit of advertising signs. Power source in the region comes from the PLN to 220 volts. Sources of clean water from the waterfall itself, which debits are not limited and the water quality is crystal clear, fresh taste and smell normal. Waste disposal system in waterfall Newbie is through septic tanks and irrigation systems in good condition. While the communication system in this region is a walkie talkie with a number of 6 pieces in a sufficient condition. 

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