the travel

Avoid camping in low places--Air flow gets stagnant and typically moisture settles more. Also, if it rains whilst your tent is up, there's a greater chance of water collecting when you're camped in a low lying area. Lastly, position your tent so that your head is uphill wherever you camp (seeing as most locations are rarely ever flat).

Ventilation--It's better to face the tail of your tent into prevailing winds. This will maximize air flow.
Scrutinize the area--Check the area for sharp objects that may damage your tent before setting up camp.

Set Up-- Once your tent is set up, if you notice wrinkles running from one corner to the next (interior), this means that you've pulled the tent too tightly in that direction. Reposition the stakes until the floor evens out.

Looking Good--Last but certainly not least: If you've never set up your tent before, it's best to practice at home until you can do it in your sleep (bit of an exaggeration...but you know what I mean). This will save you any embarrassment later on in the 'Real World'.

Tent Care

Keep it dry-- Never store your tent when it's wet or damp! Consequences of forgetting this cardinal rule is mildew damage and tent stink. So, dry it after use (but not in direct sunshine).

Reduce condensation build up--Sometimes condensation may become a real issue, especially in certain types of tents. One of the ways to combat this, is to spray the outside of your tent with a product like ReviveX which beads up water so it rolls off the tent's surface (think of water rolling off a duck's back).
Ground Cloth--Use one. It will protect your tent bottom from protruding objects.

Sweep out your tent--accumulated dirt between your sleeping bag and the floor will gradually erode the tent floor.
Sunshine--Don't leave your tent in the sun for prolonged periods--ultra-violet rays damage the tent fabric and its waterproofing capabilities. If you can, set up in the shade.

Seams--Seal them all. In this particular case, water is not your friend. Keep it out!

Transporting your tent--Constantly folding your tent the same way will eventually cause creases that will compromise its weatherproofing and ultimately crack the fabric itself. Solution? Stuff it for transportation.

Packaging of your tent--The keyword here is "carefully" (assuming you have any concern about its lifespan). Poles dent, break, chip and cords stretch. Also bear in mind that poles and stakes can tear and poke holes in the tent fabric.

Tent Types

The following is not an indepth treatise of the types of tents available but rather a brief review.

Dome Tents

This type of tent has a rudimentary dome shape formed by inward curving walls that meet atop at the apex. Advantages: ample headroom and ability to sit upright. Disadvantages: Two pole design leaves a significant portion of unsupported tent material restricting this type of tent's use to moderate weather conditions.

Modified Dome Tents

Same as the dome tent with a few variations: addition of more poles plus cross-section rods, as well as tapered ends. Advantages: better able to withstand harsh weather and mounting wind levels.

Pyramid Tent

In essence this is little more than a waterproof tarp staked to the ground and draped over a central pole. Advantages: easy to set up. Disadvantages: it's sheer simplicity does not accommodate for the presence of bugs and other crawlies.

Tunnel Tent

As the name suggests this type of tent is designed in the shape of a tunnel. Usually the front has the most ceiling height (just enough to sit up) and tapers towards the rear. This tent type incorporates a single or dual pole design with the longer pole upfront. Advantages: Very lightweight. Disadvantages: Design type tends towards being cramped

Being responsible for the sales of thousands of flight tickets, Airlines prefer to provide exclusive fares to Consolidators. They get the fares from airlines on negotiated rates depending on their long term relations with them. Travel agencies seek Airline consolidator to ensure sufficient profit while giving attractive discounts to their customers. The diversity in travel field brought more air traffic that made the travel agencies spur the travel business in one way or another. The travel agents find airline ticket consolidators huge source to get their revenue increased. By getting in contact with airline consolidators, they can extend their flight bookings up to a great extent.

Let us take a shift ahead with a better understanding of airfare consolidators. They sell a bulk of airlines tickets by sourcing Discounted Fares from Airlines. They further pass the negotiated airfares to the travel agencies so that these agencies can add required markups while giving attractive discounts to their customers. The catch for travel agents here is to maintain the private fares below published fares and pass on to the customers that ultimately get lower fares than published fares. Purchasing the air tickets in bulk from airfare consolidators that already have their commissions set with airlines proved valuable to many of the travel service providers. The business is made flexible for both consolidators as well as the travel agencies. Consolidator fares make these travel management companies turn up the business by getting around 45% commissions on flight fares commonly.

Published and Private fares

A published fare is the same for anyone they are easily attainable through Airlines' websites. However, the Unpublished airfares that are also referred to as private fares or consolidator fares, are offered to travel agencies or travel agents at a net price, that can be around 30-60% lower than regular airfares. That let travel agents earn great commissions which allow them to offer adequate discounts to their customers even after setting decent markups. Some of them wait for the time when they can get the maximum drop in price due to seasonal discounts.

We all know very well about the importance of online booking engines. Though a bug-free travel portal is a plus point still teaming up with the big airline consolidators for international fares can make a huge difference to travel businesses. With them, travel service providers get access to discounted airfare content across multiple GDS. Yes, earlier, they might be limited to a single GDS or two, but pairing up with leading airline consolidators, provides the best deals across multiple GDS. TMC(s) can expect a tremendous increase in their dividends by saving up to 60% on published fares with the help of airfare consolidators. In order to keep the graph high, these airline consolidators make good terms with Airlines by distributing private fares to various travel agencies in the act of selling more and more airline tickets. Thereby, travel entities can book the lowest fares across multiple GDS or non-GDS sources to present the best deals to customers.

Brings best deals for travel agents

Airline consolidators are capable of negotiating fares with airlines. Travel agencies that book fares for customers demanding seats in premium classes can make a healthy profit after purchasing the same on consolidator fares. Apart from that, travel agencies can buy airfares that are commonly booked depending on frequent regional traffic. The diversified airfare content by these consolidators allows them to save a huge amount on international fares. With this, travel management companies can book the right fares for customers with more attractive deals on holiday packages too. Teaming up with airline consolidators makes travel companies earn even more. As it allows them to access multi GDS content at a time. That helps them present nice deals to their customers while making enough profit for themselves.

The kind of backpack you bring will make a huge impact on your outdoor trips. Whether you prefer car camping, tent camping or plenty of hiking, the most important thing to remember is to choose a backpack that will fit your personal needs.

There are 3 main things to consider when choosing a backpack for camping and hiking - the capacity, the fit and the features.

Consider these factors when choosing the best backpack for camping and hiking:

Capacity

This pertains to the size of your pack, depending on how much you plan to carry and how long your trip is going to be. There are various types of camping or hiking backpacks, each designed for a different length of trip.

There's the Weekend Backpack which is typically good for short trips (1-3 nights) and for those who pack light. These can carry 30 to 50 liters. If you're not a light packer or your trip goes beyond a couple of days, you can opt for the Multi-Day Pack, good for up to 5 days and can carry up to 80 liters. This is a good choice for warm weather camping.

Lastly, there's the Extended-Trip Backpack which carries 70 liters or more and is ideal for trips that last more than 5 nights. A great choice for winter treks or families that camp/hike together.

Fit

To make sure that you are carrying the weight on your back comfortably, you should get a backpack that fits your body perfectly. Look for one that's appropriate for your torso length and has a snug grip on your hips. So when at the store, be sure that you have an idea what your torso length is and your waist size.

Features

Different models of outdoor packs offer different features. Make sure you choose one with features that you would find useful and would personally use. Some common useful features to look into include ventilation, the number of pockets, padding and attachment points. Some camping or hiking backpacks even offer cool features like a removable top lid, a sleeping bag compartment, a rain cover and a water reservoir.

To ensure that you're comfortable on the trail or while camping carrying all the gear you need, choosing a good outdoor backpack is paramount. You should be able to feel comfortable o matter how long your trip is. Here's how to choose the best backpack for your camping and hiking trips!

Being in Paris gives you a vibe of being stunning. Whether you are in an alley or on the main road or the pavement there are people with a vibe of elegance in them. Several cafes and restaurants would let you increase your appetite. It is the feel of being amidst history and modern fashion.

There are mysterious unknown places to discover like the Underground tunnels Catacombs with the impressions of world war two that has bones and skeletons aesthetically placed and its told that it has about 6 to 7 million peoples bones that were killed during the French revolution and has a look of a cemetery. You would have to wait in a line unless you get a golden ticket booked previously on skip the line tickets section online. It costs about 40 US dollars but the place is worth visiting. This place is 20 meters below ground with a 14 degrees temperature It was build in the 12th century with lime stones and gives you a feeling of being in a mine we need to be there with a local TOUR guide.

If anyone has the curiosity of where to find the best baguettes French bread and pastries in town or want to see the Maison Kaiser the award winning bread maker who serves bread to the president. You need to walk around the streets of Paris with a list of best bakeries.

Le Grenier a Pain is one of the best bakeries in Paris and it has received several awards. There is a boulangerie in every corner of the city.

Traffic here is moderate but we might feel a little noisy and crowded sometimes. There would be scooters and cars crossing each other from the alley and roads even though there are lanes. Overall, it is quite safe to cross the lanes through signals. There would be an electric pole where you get the red and green button to push which is for pedestrians and vehicles to stop and wait at a periodic time there are cafes around the corner where you can sip your latte with baguette and watch the people go by. Like a cherry on top, you would find a free WI-Fi around every restaurant and sitting areas so there would be loads of communication and uploading of videos and pictures with your friends.

Chateau de Versailles has a fireworks show that was previously banned. Louis the 14th the king of France loved to be called the king of the Sun so the palace is filled with equipment that look like a sun and even the garden can give you glimpses of it.
Living in Paris can cost you a fortune. Many people opt for very small rooms unless you are a billionaire and want to spend your bucks. Try asking the French citizens who have lived here for several years for a moderate living place because a big room or an apartment can cost you almost 300 to 400 Euros. It all depends on the facility and area. The Champs Elysee is the most expensive area where a room can cost you 105 Euros with a separated kitchen and a big bedroom. SO choose wisely. Find a youth hostel or Airbnb through websites like couch surfing and book your place there on prior basis.
Paris has loads of food varieties but obviously It is rich, it is colorful, it is tasty and is made with the best of ingredients.

You will get loads in variety but the best is French onion soup with raisin bread, steak, seaweeds French fries and falafel. There is this item called Crepes and Croissant. It comes in varied varieties like chocolate to almond. Going to the Latin Quarter, you would find items ranging from seafood duck breast fries sausages ham bacon eggs and simply stunning vegetables. You can have a 3-course meal menu with either ten or sixteen Euros option is yours. You would have your choice of salad French fries and ham or sausage. (Only if you are a non-vegetarian) Not to forget the Baguette and cheese that goes together with a cup of coffee this place resembles a lot to the Indian street food area where we enjoy our spicy treats. Do not forget to try the Chocolate Fondue specially the egg bean with vanilla cream. You can learn the recipe from your hosts. Cheese is what will melt your mouth with its flavor ranging from Parmesan to Mozzarella.

Parisian life and Parisian food are both synonymous with each other. Their lives are exotic hardworking and always cheerful. Let's roam around today in the city of Paris and see what's the best that catches our heart.

Some will argue life at sea was easier back before regulations were established by the IMO, US Coast Guard and ABS. But was it really? Most of the ships were Foreign Flags. That meant long tours of duty and no union. Today you'll find seafarers prefer American flagships; the pay is better, and they're unionized. "There's a lot more paperwork today," says Third Mate Mike Loesch. "Instead of doing just the noon report, you're now doing three reports a day."

In 1875, nine Houses of Refuge were built along the Florida coast; between Miami and Jacksonville; every 25 miles. Each Refuge House was commissioned by the United States Life-Saving Service. They had a keeper whose only job was to maintain the house, keep it supplied of food, clothing, and walk the beaches after the storms. When they came across a shipwrecked sailor they gave him "refuge" in their house. The men got to stay for a week or two. Some got back on ships heading north. A lookout tower was built and used to watch for enemy submarines in World War II. Over the years they've been operated by the US Coast Guard and the Navy. Today only one house remains in Martin County on Gilbert's Bar. In 1976 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

This year the IMO's theme for International Seafarer Day is well-being. Since this is a huge topic I thought I'd stay the course. And, enlist the help of a few seafarers. Tour duties last anywhere from 75 days to six months on board a ship. Before the sun even warms their faces, Third Mate Mike is on the bridge for his morning watch. Captain Tod is busy getting the morning report out before breakfast. After breakfast, Captain Tod continues his day responding to emails, handling personnel issues, payroll, orders, etc. Third Mate Mike attends to his safety inspections or maintenance if the chief mate needs it done. After lunch he relieves another third mate and stands watch till dinner. The end of his 12-hour day and another sunset. If the ship is docked, instead of standing watch on the bridge he would be in the cargo control room monitoring the cargo operations. Also making rounds on deck and checking the lines. One thing you don't need is the ship to slip away from the dock.

Hot and cold meals are provided three times a day. Breakfast is your standard fare. Lunch and dinner offers a variety of fish, meat and a salad bar. If anyone has a food allergy, like I do, you need to let the Captain know when you board the ship. According to Civilian Mariner Wendy, I would starve on the navy's ship. Their food is mostly deep-fried foods with a salad bar and overcooked veggies. Not exactly nutritious. I find this ironic since she's on a logistics ship. They provide other Navy and NATO ships with fuel, parts, food and sodas.

Must be inspection day today. Tensions are high. Everyone's stressed. Not sure why. To me an inspection is a good thing. If they find something wrong on the ship it gets reported, then fixed. Right? Well, not necessarily true. Each inspector has their own interpretation of how things should be done. Usually from first-hand experience years earlier when they crewed. Surely not how things are done today or what you were told to do. Regulations are changing all the time, and everyone is expected to adapt. However, resources are not always made available.

Woohoo! After countless sunsets of reds, pink and gray, land is finally in sight. The ship is heading into port where its crew members get to go onshore for a mental health break. The only question - is it full of security checkpoints or can you walk right off the ship and be in the middle of everything? Some guys like to get away or take a break. The ones that come in on a Foreign flagship usually head to Walmart before heading out again. Poor Wendy, that's when she gets the busiest. She arranges travel for any of her crew members that are leaving the ship for vacation. They don't get to leave the vessel until their replacement gets onboard. Mike and Captain Tod don't always go ashore either. They have this philosophy work is work. I don't always agree. Sometimes it's good to get off the ship for a change of scenery. Even if only for a couple hours. Maybe today, a few more crew members will join the ship. That would be a great help. Just like in corporate, the crew is asked to do more with less people. According to Mike, the difference is that the office building isn't going to run into something.

If you've read any of my stuff, you'll know safety is a mega concern. Crowley Maritime puts it high on their list as well. Every meeting starts with a safety and cultural moment which includes wellness and behavior. They realize to be a high performing company they must support their employees work life balance and health. Their trainings vary depending on the ship. Its operations. The seafarers and shore-

side personnel. Each petroleum ship has magnetic signs throughout the ship. "We don't want to be reactive," says David DeCamp, Sr Communicator, Strategist for Crowley Maritime. "We're thinking prevention and avoiding incidents as much as possible." Just remember, when you're on the ship, it's one hand for the ship and one hand for you. Keep your balance and stay safe.

Back riding the waves, the crew appears happy. Many sunrises and sunsets later end of tour duty is fast approaching. I begin to wonder what signs to watch for that people are ready to get off the ship. Oye! How do they handle the stress? After all, my stints on recreational boats are much shorter and less crew. So, I asked around.

"When the guys get quiet," says Mike. "If you're standing watch with them and for four hours they don't say one word when normally you'd be having a good conversation. After that you'll see them start fouling things up a lot. Some guys will just explode, or they'll do something - either conscientiously or subconscientiously - where it's jeopardizing their job."

Wendy says you'll hear of someone who starts giving things away. Saying goodbye to others on the ship or just seems despondent. These are usually signs of suicide, she says. Especially, amongst the younger crew members.

When it comes time to destress, hit the gym onboard the ship or do some form of exercise. Talk with your peers and find some alone time. Regular contact with your family is also important. Especially if you're married. It helps ease their stress as well. If email is not readily available, write those emails anyways, then once in port send them out all at once. Guaranteed the receiver will be looking forward to them. "Remember it's important to take care of yourself," says Captain Tod. "Not just mentally but physically. Sometimes you have-to eat that pastry at 3:00am or drink that thick coffee. Working long hours adds extra stress to your body both physically and mentally."

Finally, it's important to enjoy your time off. Isn't that one of the beauties of going to sea? Somebody else is doing your job on the ship for the next 75 days or however long your tour of duty is. Get rested up. Recharge. Then get ready to get back out there for those long hitches.

The apprehension of boarding an airplane today is well founded. Practically every one associates the fear of flying with a foreboding sense that the plane will actually crash. They may have a valid point; because now, most of the commercial airlines have eliminated two engines on their aircraft. This, for the sake of cutting fuel costs has jeopardized passenger safety. A prime example occurred in January of 2009 when a commercial jet with only two engines both shut down during ascent which forced that plane to make a miraculous landing in the Hudson River. Had there been four engines mounted the decibel level would have been loud enough to scare birds and other foul farther away so that what caused those engines failure wouldn't have happened. Only through the skill and knowledge of the pilot and crew a tragedy was adverted.

This is just one prime example of how the commercial airline industry has cut costs in lieu of public safety. Today, with the ever increasing demand to keep profit margins steady, and the continuing threat of terrorism the commercial airlines and government has instituted protocols, procedures, rules, regulations and mandates that the general public now finds very intimidating and daunting when it comes time to book, board, and travel via air. Also, adding to this dilemma that the airline industry is faced with is the growing number of individuals who are so obese that the normal size aircraft passenger seats are too small to accommodate those passengers. This is because airlines have continually revamped commercial jets to include more passenger seats. Another ploy to increase revenue and at the same time decrease passenger safety and comfort. It is just recently that some air lines have began the long over due replacement of their out dated aircraft. Most airlines continue to use aircraft that are more than 20 years old. This has to be a major safety concern.

Gone are the days when airlines treated all its passengers like guests on a luxury ocean liner; where the amities and service by the crew was exemplary. Many of the amities like food and beverages were all included as well as your luggage in the purchase price of your ticket. What has transpired in the past 30 years is a complete elimination of the kinds of service that made air travel such a pleasure. Replaced with a bare bones service one would expect when traveling on a crowded subway car in rush hour. Some airlines are going even further in dashing any hope that air travel would once again put the pleasure back in passenger service. They are now implementing vertical seating {a new terminology} where passengers now book airfare as standing room only. This means that certain airlines now are putting profit to even greater heights ahead of passenger safety and well being. Imagine a subway car so crowded people are strapped in like sardines in a can. The mere thought of traveling this way is irrepressible. Sad to say this is a reality being offered in some commercial airlines today.

Any time when an industry blatantly puts financial gain ahead of safety that industry incurs greater financial loss and the respect of the general public. Does BP and the oil disaster in the Gulf sound familiar? What the commercial airline industry has inadvertently done by all those additional fees, continued use of outdated aircraft, lack of amities and the continuing rising cost of tickets is rendering the commercial aviation industry incapable of being a major contributor to the economic expansion that is so crucial for the United States economic recovery.

In understanding the fear of flying in today's world one has to realize that with the constant threat of terrorism [a real eminent threat to any one who travels regardless of the particular mode of transport] the new instituted rules, procedures and regulations are in place to help make us safer. They also help deter those individuals who are bent of rendering devastation and harm to the public. Still many view these new protocols as intrusive and infringe on our social liberties. A very sad commentary of the world we live in today.

What the commercial aviation industry must do is streamline all those new regulations when boarding and regain the attitude of putting passenger comfort and safety back ahead of profit. That old saying in business "Give the public what they want at a price they can afford, repeat business is rest assured." This same philosophy has to apply to the commercial airline industry. Even with the security measures that are now in place the fear of flying just might be reduced and more individuals will experience a renewed sense of pleasure and safety when traveling by air.

Vibrant neighborhoods, historic buildings, culinary scene, world-class museums this city has lots to offer to its visitors. As Detroit no longer just a destination for business travelers, you can get fantastic deals on Detroit Air tickets! Even you can end up getting great discounts on one-way flights to Detroit. Still wondering why you should visit Detroit? Then Read on.

Art Scene and Museum

Detroit is a haven for history lovers and art enthusiasts. This city houses some of the best museums in the world. The Henry Ford, which is also popularly known as Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is one of the most prominent attractions of the city. This museum houses the chair of Abraham Lincoln, the presidential limousine of John. F Kennedy and many other historical items. Other museums to visit in Detroit are Motown Museum, Hitsville USA, and Cranbrook Educational Community. The Detroit Institute of Arts is a perfect place to see some of the iconic works by Van Gogh, Matisse, Rembrandt, John Dinger Sergent and many others.

Sports

Sports play an important role for the city, and that's why it gets a high number of visitors during the tournaments. Comerica Park is a must visit place which is the home to the Detroit Tigers, one of the most popular baseball teams in the nation. Close to this open-air ballpark is the Ford Field for NFL Football which is home to small team Detroit Lions.

Food Lover's Paradise

Detroit is the perfect destination for food connoisseurs. Even National Geographic named Detroit as one of 'the six unexpected cities for food lovers'. The city has tons of eateries serving different cuisines. There is also no shortage of cafes, and even Detroit has gained popularity for its breweries. You will find most of the restaurants, cafes, and bars in Corktown, Downtown, and Midtown.

Eastern Market

Situated near Downtown Detroit, Eastern Market is the largest historic public market in the country. This market attracts thousands of visitors on Saturdays. Not only would you find local produce and flower vendors here, but also art galleries, traditiona; letterpress shops, independent boutiques and more. Moreover, it is a great place to enjoy delectable food.

Corktown

The historic district of Corktown, should not be missed when in Detroit. Even though this neighborhood transformed itself, yet bits and pieces of its old world charm can still be experienced. Since this area was home to the Irish settlers, visitors can spot few of the rowhouses and Federal detached homes. One of the major highlights of this historic district is the Detroit Central Depot which was closed down in 1988. Today, it is considered as one of the most photographed sites in the city. Corktown is also known for housing some of the best eateries in Detroit.

Over the past few years, Detroit has gained immense popularity as a tourist destination. In fact, it can be considered a perfect weekend gateway in Michigan. Travelers can easily find cheap flights to Detroit. And since many tourists are visiting the city, great deals on airlines ticket to Detroit are readily available.