Archive for June, 2008
Retirement gifts demonstrate appreciation and respect towards an employee or employer for the years of dedicated hard work they have put in. The nice thing about these days is that a lot of retirement gifts can be purchased online from a wide selection of websites that offer different kinds of items. When most people brainstorm for a retirement gift idea the first thing that usually comes to mind is a watch. Timepieces are classic retirement gifts that companies give employees as a token of gratitude for the long years of service. This retirement gift somehow conveys the message that retirees have all the time they have to do the things that they have been postponing for so long to focus on work. Not only affordable but also personalized is another retirement gift ideasignature frames. A retirement gift such as a signature frame is a true keepsake in the sense that it displays a photo of the retiree surrounded by signatures as well as messages from fellow workers and friends from the company. Fixed with an engraved plaque, the signature frame is something a retiree will be proud exhibiting in a room to remind the memories accumulated during the most productive years of his or her life. This retirement gift is highly suitable to give at a retirement party. Travel voucher is another great retirement gift idea. A relaxing trip for two to places the retiree has been wanting to go, but did not have the chance to, is something he or she will genuinely cherish. A perfect vacation getaway is a fitting culmination activity from the daily routine at the office. Travel vouchers are easy to acquire from your nearest travel agent. Gourmet basket is another popular retirement gift idea.The most popular item available on the internet is the Luxury Chocolat retirement gift line. These are personalized wooden boxes made of mahogany. The retiree’s name can be engraved on the brass plates that are fitted on the box, and inside the box are handmade French chocolates. Other personalized retirement gift ideas are mementos carved or embossed with the name of the retiree, which may also include the dates of being hired into the company and of retirement. These personalized souvenirs are reasonably priced and are available to order from many websites that specialize in customized gift items. Apart from these, china gift sets, commemoration mugs, photo albums with handcrafted covers, no matter how simple a though they are can make the retiree feel appreciated as well. There are many more of ideas to choose from on the Internet. If one really takes time, brilliant retirement gift ideas can emerge from the simplest of objects. Creativity does not only cost less, but also contributes a more personal touch on the gifts that you give to a person who is transitioning a new chapter in his or her liferetirement. Earl Juanico
Nova Scotia can be found on Canada’s eastern coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean. This Peninsula touts dense, rich forests to windswept, rocky shores and fertile inland orchards that make it a perfect vacation spot for scenic viewing and perfect relaxation. The French first settled in Nova Scotia in 1605 - one of the oldest settlements in North America by Europeans. This is now home to a vibrant ethnic mix of cultures. Nova Scotia offers a unique combination of European history along with its cultural diversity. On your vacation, visit historical landmarks such as the Halifax Citadel. Go back in time and view the Capital city, Halifax, from the Citadel, a fortress completed in 1856 and in use by British and Canadian Forces until the Second World War. Experience the Victorian age recreations of soldiers training in the courtyard - kilts and all! The Citadel also portrays soldier’s wives and civilians in authentic recreations. Nova Scotia’s history also plays a role in of one of the largest sea tragedies in recorded history, the sinking of the Titanic, and is home to the graves of the largest concentration of the victims. Do you enjoy the outdoors? Want to take an active vacation? there are several scenic trails that cut through Nova Scotia’s inlands and coastal areas. There are also hiking, canoe, kayaking and biking routes and tours. Spring ushers in the traditional festivities of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival in May where you can enjoy parades, celebrations and the breathtaking beauty of some of the loveliest apple orchards in full bloom. Fall is equally well admired with the landscape becoming a sea of brightly colored trees painting the hills and valleys with orange, yellow and red. View the barren, rocky landscape of Peggy’s Cove and visit the most photographed lighthouse in the world. You’ll also be impressed with the awesome power and beauty of the ocean crashing and spraying over the rocks. Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides - so be aware when enjoying the many beaches that dot the coastline. There are quaint pubs, shops and the art shops of the historic properties in Halifax. Great high end shopping on Spring Garden Road or take a glimpse of works by up and coming artists at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design - a leading visual arts university in North America for more than a century. Nova Scotia, a beautiful and diverse local, whatever your taste and enjoyment, there is always something for everyone! Adventure Package Travel: for travel tips, advice, insight and booking for Air/Cruise to North American and Caribbean vacation spots.
If you’re one of those people who loves to get off the beaten track, there can’t be many places further off than Antarctica! Travellers with less time can fly by jet over Antarctica from Australia for a full day of aerial sightseeing. When you tour Antarctica and its neighbouring chains of islands by ship, you’ll be able to get up close and personal with all the magnificent wildlife that abounds in these unspoiled regions. There are whale, seal and sea bird watching opportunities. Bird lovers will especially appreciate the chance to see the Emperor and King Penguin rookeries. Ask your travel agent about the special cruises for birdwatchers. You can fly over Antarctica with Qantas - details here: http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/ There are only ten flights (aboard a Qantas 747) that depart Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide between October and February. While you’re at this site, click on the Photo gallery link for some spectacular scenery. This is one holiday destination where you’ll need to pack carefully … no wandering around in a t-shirt and shorts here! You’ll find lots of information on what to take, what you’ll see etc here: http://www.coolantarctica.com/Travel/antarctica_travel_home.htm Did you know that the average thickness of the Antarctic ice is 2,000 m (6,500 feet), and the greatest measured thickness is more than 4,770 m (15,650 feet)? (Bramwell, Martyn. Glaciers and Icecaps. Belgium: Franklin Watts, 1986) These winds “are caused by a combination of the cold of the interior, the domed shape of the continent and intense low pressure systems around the coast. For long periods - often many days - large amounts of dense, cold air slide at an accelerating rate down the coastal slopes of Antarctica’s ice sheet, reaching hurricane force (around 120 km/h) by the time they reach the sea. Maximum gusts can be more than 250 km/h.” As well as being the windiest, Antarctica is also the coldest place on Earth: “the lowest temperatures recorded in nature have been at the Russian Vostok base, when on 21 July 1983, the temperature dropped to minus 89.2 degrees C (-128.6 F). In 1998 the Vostok temperature was reported to have dropped below minus 90 degrees C (this is yet to be confirmed).” So take your woolly vest! If you want to see what it’s like before you go, here’s the webcam at Casey Base: http://www.aad.gov.au/stations/casey/video.asp When I just visited, the temperature was a balmy -5.1 degrees C, and wind speed 7 km/hr. Hey — it’s summer! J M Stewart is a freelance writer and editor. Sign up for free, weekly writing tips that have been delivered every Friday since 1998: mailto:WritingTips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com J M Stewart’s travel site http://www.traveltoaustralia.write101.com provides intending travellers with all they need to know to visit, live and work in Australia. Drop by now to see if you’re eligible for an Australian work visa! Tags: Antarctica, travel to the South Pole, trekking south, windiest place on earth, worlds coldest place
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