Beautiful Namibia

Namibia means "a place of great arid plains" and lives up to this name. The northern parts of the country are grass covered savannah, but the lasting impression is one of unrelenting harshness and lack of water.

This is one of the most sparsely populated lands on earth. San hunters, Khoikhoi and European renegades fleeing justice in the Cape were some of the pioneers of the area. Restless and wild, they were free from any government control until 1884 when the country was brought under the control of the German Empire. Second only in size to the Grand Canyon of the USA, the Fish River Canyon is 161 km long, 27 km wide and up to 549 meters deep.

The jagged ravine cuts deep into the arid land. Daytime temperatures reach 48ºC and seldom drop below 35ºC, but nights can be very cold. The canyon is the scene of one of Africa's finest hiking trails. As you descend into the depths of the canyon at its northern end, civilization is left far behind, and for the next four or five days you can experience one of the last tracts of true wilderness on the African continent.

Sossusvlei is one of Namibia's most spectacular natural wonders. It lies about 400 km northwest of the canyon in the heart of the Namib desert. It was opened to the public only in 1977 and is a great favorite of photographers and nature lovers. The huge red dunes, up to 300 metres high are the largest in the world and are an unforgettable sight at dawn or in the late afternoon sun.

The greatest experience of all however, is to see the pan filled with water. This is something that seldom occurs and photographers from all over Southern Africa will drop everything and head for Sossusvlei for a once in a lifetime picture on those rare occasions.

Although the Skeleton Coast can be said to encompass the entire coastline of Namibia, the Skeleton Coast National Park is bounded by the Kunene River in the north and the Ugab River in the south.

The early Portuguese explorers called it "the coast of hell" but it became known as the Skeleton Coast largely due to the dismal fate awaiting shipwreck survivors through the centuries.
The Kunene River forms Namibia's northern border with Angola and is Namibia's largest river.

In ancient times the Kunene emptied its contents into the Etosha Pan, much like the present day Okavango in Botswana. In former years large numbers of elephant, rhino, impala and hippo could be found here, today they have largely been hunted out, but Willem van der Riet, the first person to navigate the river in a canoe, reported that the Kunene crocodiles were the largest and most fearsome that he had ever seen.

The Kaokoland (or Kaokoveld) encompasses a vast arid area where the desert meets the sea and some of the most ancient desert on earth. Within the region the 2586 high Brandberg mountains and plunging river gorges, such as at Tsisab where the beautiful and mysterious rock painting known as 'The White Lady of the Brandberg' can be seen. Also in the region are dinosaur footprints dating from over 150 million years ago, the worlds largest known meteorite, an ancient petrified forest and the spectacular natural sculpture known as "Finger Klip".

The 120 by 50 kilometer shallow pan at Etosha is believed to have been an inland lake fed by the Kunene River before it changed its course to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

The edges of the pan are typical Mopane woodland, and wild game abounds. Everything from the Big 5 to vast herds of antelope and wildebeest can be seen in the park. There are several lodges and tourist camps in the area catering to every taste and budget.

Kaudom game reserve is in the more remote north-eastern corner of the country bordering the Botswana border. The area is dry for most of the year but the grasslands and game flourish during the brief summer rains.

Game viewing is best during the winter months when the animals gather around the water holes. The routes are tough at any time of the year and are suitable only for 4x4 vehicles.

Extending east from Kaudom is a slender finger of land that abuts 4 neighboring countries. The Caprivi Strip is influenced by the Kavango, Zambezi and several smaller rivers which the very essence of life for the local inhabitants. The majestic African Fish Eagle is a familiar presence along the waterways which team with fish and bird-life.

What Are Some Hiking and Backpacking Trails in the USA?

The United States offers an amazing array of hiking backpacking trails for those who prefer adventurous vacations over luxurious tourist holidays. Your travel agent would be able to advise you on what type of trail would be the best for you depending on your physical fitness, the degree of difficulty and your preference of location.

For your safety, it would be good to plan on traveling with a friend, since the trails could be lonely and full of unpredictable dangers, which you could tackle better if you are in the company of another person. Alternatively, you could employ the services of a recommended local guide. Never go alone, because this could be very dangerous in case you meet with an accident or fall sick on the way.

Choosing the right trail would often depend upon your personal choice of location, as well as being physically fit for the type of trail you want. The Mount Whitney Trails are great for the real rough and tough people. Here, you need to have a special permit for your travels and you need to be in top physical condition, but if you go by what people say, you would get a traveling experience of a lifetime on these mountains.

Do you like to stretch your physical endurance to the max? If so, then the hiking backpacking trail of Kesugi Ridge in Alaska could be the right thing for you. Rough and demanding, this hiking trail is also one of the most amazing places in the world. A vacation such as this will leave an indelible mark on your mind and a wish to come back as often as possible.

For those who like to take it easy, while still enjoying incredible natural beauty, then choose Hawaii, also known as paradise on earth. The Kalalau trail, which ends on the beach of the same name, can leave you speechless with admiration.

There are many, many hiking backpacking in the United States which are remarkably beautiful. Depending upon your choice, you could choose any of the famous trails for your vacation adventure. These would put you in touch with nature in ways you would never have thought possible.

Before you finalize your itinerary, ensure you understand what in involved, with regard to physical fitness, equipment and other requirements. You do not want to have any unpleasant surprises during your travels. Backpacking through trails is fun, challenging and unforgettable; make sure you make the most of it.

My Recipe For Main Street USA Apple Crumble Cake

Nothing is more American to America than apple pie, or in my eyes apple crumble cake. Biting into a piece is like biting into a piece of home. It tastes like a warm part of American heritage (if that is even possible). Disneyland.....nothing clings to my romantic image of how the turn of the century should have looked like, than this place. My crumble cake brought me back to the feeling of walking down the land of Main Street U.S.A.

It is the most overlooked land in all of Disneyland, but without it all the charm and glamour of the park would be partly gone. Far as the eye can see you see shops that not only serve necessity but delightful simplicity. That is only the outside of course, because what you get is beautiful merchandise. From the delight of the old-fashioned Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor to the ringing and brightly lit Penny Arcade, you know you are part of an innocence now found.

Sounds of laughter float up the street mixed with the jingle of the trolley as it comes down the street bearing many happy residents. I can hear the soft clip-clop of the horses' horseshoes on the pavement along with the tinkling and grace of old time music. It makes the moment that much more magical.

The smell of vanilla and warm baked sweets greet you at the gate and tantalize your spirit. It relaxes and brings the comfort that only hearth, home, and family can bring us.

Sitting down at Carnation Plaza Café I taste everything that I could smell. Delicious hot soup with light and fresh sandwiches fills you up and makes you feel part of the magic. Finally I taste the apples inside a cake laced with cinnamon that makes it all that much more of a complete picture.

All that wonderment should be more than enough, but nothing compares to Main Street U.S.A in the night time. Have you ever known the night and never feared it? Well, here it is so. It is where families walk at night and not criminals. This is where lights accent the town and don't try to disguise it. It is honesty and innocence in its stark clarity.

All of this baked into one dessert. All the memories of my turn of the century have been put into this dish. The warmth of the apple, strength of the cinnamon, and the surprise of the raisins make this a dessert to cherish and enjoy.

For some of your own Main Street charm, try this recipe:

"Main Street U.S.A. Apple Crumble Cake"*

Ingredients: 1 and ¾ cup sifted self-rising flour, 7 tbs butter softened, 1 gala apple cored, thinly sliced and tossed in lemon juice, ½ tsp and a pinch of cinnamon, 5 tbs sugar sifted, 5 tbs Splenda, 7 tbs butter softened, 1 egg beaten, 2 granny smith apples peeled and cored, and 1/3 cup raisins.

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 7 inch springform pan, line with wax paper and grease the paper.

2) Sift ¾ cup flour and ½ tsp ground cinnamon. Then rub 3 tbs butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs, stir in 2 tbs sugar and 2 tbs Splenda

3) Put 4 tbs butter, 3 tbs sugar, 3 tbs Splenda, egg, and 1 cup flour in a bowl. Beat for 1 minute. Spoon into the pan.

4) Mix together the granny smith apples and raisins. Spread them evenly. Sprinkle with the topping.

5) Bake for an hour. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Peel off the wax paper. Put the gala apple in the center and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

6) Enjoy with the rich simplicity of old time America.

*Base for recipe from Cake and I molded it from there.

Rachael Rizzo has been acting since she was nine years old. She uses her experience to write about what the things she loves mean to her (mostly movies and baking). She is twenty-three years old and resides in beautiful Oregon.

Great Places For Holiday Travel With Children

If the excitement of the holiday season is overwhelming for you, just imagine how incredible it must be for your children. There is so much to juggle: Santa Clause, reindeer, Christmas stories, and of course, presents! Many families have a great time staying home, preparing a big dinner and enjoying time in the house with relatives during the holidays, while other families prefer visiting their out of town relatives. But if you have a family that simply can't be held to tradition and instead enjoys the hustle and bustle of holiday travel to an exciting vacation destination, then get ready to meet your match this season with some great adventures that will make your children want to come back for more!

Great Places to Visit

Hersheypark in Hershey, PA - If you've never heard of the city, I know you've heard of the chocolate. That's right, they man behind some of the best tasting chocolate in the world created a city centered around candy many years ago, and now, this great city wants your tummy to be the next one hurting from a chocolate overdose on this great holiday travel vacation destination.

Affectionately known as "Chocolate Town USA" Hershey, PA owns Hersheypark, which is a fabulous amusement park that is normally closed in the winter; but for the holidays they reopen for "Christmas in Candyland." There your children will have a ball riding in your car under the "Hershey Sweet Lights" two-mile holiday lights show. In addition, they will love Hershey's holiday musical, the Teddy Bear Jubilee, and the family party on New Year's Eve. Your family can either stay in Hotel Hershey, a hotel with a kids club, or the Hershey Lodge, which includes the Santa Package (breakfast or lunch with Santa Clause). This trip will make your children's holiday travel dreams come true - and maybe yours too!

Legoland Christmas Parties - If you are looking for some extreme holiday travel, and are up for venturing outside of the country, then you will want to head out to Legoland in Windsor, UK. Just by the name alone you know your children are about to have a blast. But to tickle your senses some, I will tell you about this great location. Smell the delightful mix of spices and scented oil lamps as you feel your feet make their way across a wooden bridge that is surrounded by the sounds of trickling nearby fountains. As you look around, you notice the beauty of bright and exotic colors and you realize you're in Heaven. For children, Heaven is Legoland, and for you, Heaven is a happy child. So for this vacation, you both get your wishes.

When you visit Legoland, get ready to be dazzled by fun Belly Dancers, exciting Sword Swallowers, and adventurous Fire Eaters. After enjoying this great show, you can have fun on at the Camel Rodeo. And if you are able to escape the children for a while, you can enjoy playing a great game of Arabian Wheel of Fortune and later relax in the intimate Kasbah. No matter the choice, this destination is guaranteed to please the young and the young at heart.

Tips for Traveling with Your Children

As you know, holiday travel with children, especially those younger than 10, can be an adventure within itself. Often, they are not easily entertainment and have short attention spans. So a car trip (or long flight or train ride for that matter) can be more than a notion for them. The best way to anticipate possible tantrums from the frustration of feeling claustrophobic is to plan ahead as much as possible.

Try a Travel Agent - I know sometimes it feels great to stick out your chest and say you were able to single-handedly plan and execute the perfect trip, but sometimes, no matter how tailored your planning is, it's hard to catch all of the details because you simply don't know everything. This is why, when traveling with multiple children, it is a good idea to consider an agent for your holiday travel. Their job is to plan trips; they know what's going on around the country and can help you keep your children entertained while en route to your final destination. If you're driving, they can give you great stop-off points that will be best suited for an entire family. And if you're flying, they can provide tips on the easiest ways to manage children and security in the airport.

Pack a Separate Bag for Your Children - It is a good idea to pack a bag that has goodies and entertainment for your children in a second bag. If they're old enough, they can keep the bag near them, whether in the car or on a train or plane. The bag can contain their favorite teddy bears, stickers, toys, (washable) markers, paper, coloring books, crayons, pillows, or anything else you can think of that will help them feel comfortable while in the midst of holiday travel.

Bring Along a Portable DVD Player - I know this sounds so 21st century and may take away from the tradition and sentiment of holiday travel and family time. But let's get real for a second. You're traveling with children of the 21st century who are used to a TV in every room, and having their own DVD collection and a computer. If you want some happy children traveling with you, you need to bring along some of their favorite movies. A little Dora the Explorer or Spider Man has never hurt anyone, and I guarantee, during the 2 or more hours they're watching their movies, you won't hear as little as a peep out of them.

Make Frequent Stops - As an adult, you've probably grown accustomed to sitting in a cramped car without complaining, but children have not advanced to this stage yet, so if you don't stop and let them run around you can certainly plan on some whining and griping during your holiday travel. A travel agent can come in very handy at this stage because they can advise you of different fun places to visit during stops in various cities. But if you want to bypass the agent and do it yourself, you can map out where you'll be stopping and find fun places on your own on the Internet. And if you can't find anywhere else, you can always stop at a McDonald's Playland. Remember, they just want to stop and play; they're not too particular.

Engage Them While Traveling - Traveling a long distance provides the opportunity to spend quality time with your children. So this is a great time to sing with them, tell stories and point out exciting places, historical buildings and even unique cars passing by. Believe it or not, when they reach a certain age, they begin to remember these trips as magical experiences simply due to the adventure of holiday travel. Why not make it more exciting for them by letting them know how marvelous and unique our country really is?

Holiday travel with your children can evolve into an exciting adventure for both you and your children if you know the right places to visit, and make sure to plan ahead for the long trips (or short ones for that matter). Just remember, holiday travel is only once a year, so make a strong effort to make it as memorable and loving as possible. Your children will never forget the time and attention you gave to make them feel special during this special time of the year.