Aug 31
2009

If you are trying out camping for the first time, you may be shocked at the amount of gear that you need and how much it may end up costing. You should definitely borrow as much camping gear as possible until you know whether you and your family will be enjoying camping for years to come or if once will be enough.

If you call around to your friends you should be able to find sleeping bags, air mattresses, camp stoves, folding chairs, lanterns, flashlights, tents and coolers. So many people have camping gear, sometimes that they never use, you should be able to borrow everything you need.

You will need to bring a first-aid kit and your own toys and food. You can borrow bike racks, backpacks, boxes for the top of your car and cooking pots. Since many people camp as a way to be economical about vacations, you should try this hobby out without spending any money before you make any investments.

There are only a few items you will need to personalize and may not want to borrow, such as your hiking boots, water bottles and comfort items such as kids toys and pillows.

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Aug 31
2009

There is one city in the southern part of India in the state of Karnataka, called Mysore.  It is a beautiful city which was once a royal province and has the memories of royalty even to this date.  The city has a beautiful place which was once the residence of erstwhile kings and has been maintained beautifully to this date.  It is not uncommon to watch workers in the old royal uniforms going about their work on important festive occasions.  Millions of tourists from all corners of the world visit this city and admire the beauty of this city and this palace is one of the main tourist attractions.

There is one festival called “Dussehra “which normally falls in the month of October every year and a grand procession takes place from the palace and passes through the city.  It is a spectacular event and there re many cultural shows during this time.  People rush from their homes to see this even and all the important are lined with innumerable people who gather to watch the procession.  During this time, the royal horsemen decorate their horses with velvet and all kinds of adornments and ride their horses as a part of the procession with the equipment.  It is a real treat to watch this spectacular event.  No resident of Mysore misses this event during Dussehra.

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Aug 27
2009

Now since horse back riding with the necessary equipment is a dwindling picture, the younger generation does not even know what it is to ride a horse and the thrill that the experience can give.  Other than in the movies, the only place where they can watch them probably is the turf club now.  But then, children are not encouraged to go to turf club owing o the fear that it might inculcate concept in them as they grow.  It is only the people from the upper stratum of society who frequent these turf clubs.

Whenever I have happened to pass by these turf clubs, I kind of feel sad for these horses and the jockeys.  The poor animals are overused so that the people who bet on them are able to make money.  I still cannot understand why the turf clubs were started in the first place and why these poor animals are unnecessarily made to run day after day.  We all know very well what happens to them when they grow old and are incapable of running for their masters any more.  If it is only to fill the pockets of those who wager and the companies that organize these shows, should the poor creatures be tormented this way, and they have to run relentlessly irrespective of the weather, however inclement it might be.

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Aug 23
2009

In the sixties and seventies, it used to be a common sight in India to see horse driven carriages.  The petrol driven three wheelers were not so much in vogue then and people preferred to travel by these carriage if they had to travel short distances.  The horse carriage drivers did not charge too much from the travelers and hearing the sound of hooves was very common those days as opposed to the vehicular horns which create noise pollution in the present days.

Then started the vociferous oppositions from many animal lovers and enthusiasts that animals should not be tortured in this manner and they should not be used for transporting people, which was inhuman.  The government too gave a patient hearing to their demands and slowly horse carriages were taken off the roads of big cities and petrol driven vehicles started replacing them and gradually the roads were infested with them and the consequent atmospheric pollution and noise pollution because of these automotives.  The legacies left behind by the royal families started diminishing and the subsequent generation did not have the opportunity of horse back riding or enjoying the picture of horse carriage drivers occupying the road with their equipment.

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Aug 19
2009

I have always been enamored of horses.  I love the sound of their hooves and the graceful figure they make when they trot or gallop.  I am not exactly a movie buff but if a movie consists of lots of horses and anything related to them, I will not miss it, be it in any language.  That is one reason I love watching period films which show lot of ancient history, and they will invariably show heroes and other characters astride horses.

Having watched so many movies on horses since my childhood, I always dreamt of riding a horse.  The opportunity once came calling when I was in my teens.  Our school management had arranged for a school trip for all of us and we were taken to countryside in our school bus.  The excursion was a lovely with lot of scope to walk amidst nature and enjoy the lovely greens around us.  There we came across some horses owned by a village head and he was generous enough to allow us to mount his horses, but under the vigilance of his workers.  We all took turns in riding the horses and we were thrilled to bits.  It was first chance to enjoy horse back riding with equipment and it will always remain in my memory.

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Aug 15
2009

India is one beautiful with diverse cultures and traditions and has a lot to offer in the form of rich heritage.  There is one state in northern part of India called the Himachal Pradesh, located in the Himalayan region.  It is a beautiful state which has lovely scenic beauties and Himalayan hills are known for their spiritual splendor too, this state offers that too in abundance.   If you visit northern part of India, you should not be missing Himachal Pradesh.  If you are a lover of hill resorts, you will fall in love with this place instantly.

When you visit this state, there are a number of places to visits that consist of some local temples too.  In order to reach some of these temples, you may not be able to cover the distance either by your vehicle or by foot.  You need to take the help of the local horses here, which are available on hire.  If you have not experienced horse back riding and used horse equipment, you will get your opportunity here.  The experience is a lovely one though at times it becomes really scary.  People who visit this place love to don the ethnic clothes available on hire, and take photographs sitting on horse backs!

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Aug 12
2009

o become an expert in any field you need to know everything about it and attending training sessions will always help your cause. As far as horse riding is concerned, you cannot proceed with it without taking proper training about this risky activity. Since you are riding on the back of an animal which does not understand human language, you need to have enough knowledge about horse psychology which will be helpful for you to safeguard yourself from rude behavior from the horse in the course of riding and also for becoming an expert horse rider.

Training can be taken either from your friend who is an expert horse rider or from a professional instructor. To become a successful horse rider you must acquire skills to communicate with your horse and to control its emotions when you are riding in a danger zone. If you are not sympathetic with the horse on which you are riding, you cannot expect any cooperation from it and you may land yourself in a difficult situation. If you build a perfect repot with your horse, your training session will be safer and smoother and also you will learn the challenging art of horse back riding in a very short time. Apart from this you need to use safety equipment and dresses which are meant to protect horse riders.

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Aug 12
2009

Every country must be having its own way of celebrating its Republic Day, But Indian Republic Day celebrated on the 26th of January every year is something beautiful and spectacular and a foreign dignitary that is the President or Prime Minister of a foreign nation is invited as the chief guest to witness the show.

A grand parade of various units of the army, air force and navy is arranged and also the tableaus of all Indian states are presented, depicting their diverse cultures and traditions, which becomes a useful study in itself for the onlookers.  What is to be observed here is the fact that the horse riders from the Indian Army who participate in this show and steal the show with their magnificent horse riding and the horses too look majestic and lovely with full equipment and decorations and shining coats.  They make a lovely picture with their grandeur for all those who are present.

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Aug 9
2009

Once we had been to Gulmarg, which is a beautiful hill station on the Himalayas in Kashmir and is fully covered with snow during winter.  The beauty of this place is breathtaking and is very soothing and has an inexplicable calming effect on the mind.  It could be because Himalayas have always been associated with solitude and spirituality.

Though we were well equipped with our winter wear, covering the distance by foot on the snow was a tough task as our feet kept getting stuck in the snow, making our movement difficult.  We then decided to hire horses for our passage up the hill.  We sat on the horses whose saddles were not up to the mark.  All the same, we decided to ride them and the bones of the horse kept hurting me badly during the ride.  I must say I developed severe bruises and stiffness on my back by the time I got down, which took not less than three days to go!

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Aug 9
2009

Walnuts contain Omega 3 oils.  Can a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids help our vision?  I found and interesting article (exerpt below) that discusses the positive nature of Omega 3 fatty acids when added to the diet of mice.  Now whether one study of mice is enough for us to add more Omega 3 to our diets is questionable.  However, there has been plenty of other research supporting many healthy benefits of Omega 3s.  So go ahead and have that Salmon – it is good for you.


The August 2009 issue of the American Journal of Pathology presents findings from a study conducted by the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, MD that examined the direct effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The scientists found that mice fed a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids had slower progression of the leisons in the eye and some improvement. They also found that the mice had lower levels of inflammatory molecules and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules, which they suggest may explain their findings.

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Aug 6
2009

While traveling to the temple of Vaishno Devi on the Himalayas, we come across many old and sick people who cannot travel by foot on account of the various curves and the long distance.  Compared to what it was in the eighties, concrete roads have been made now and youngsters enjoy talking and walking the distance.

Of course, there are some old people who prefer to go horse riding.  Since the most of the horses used thereat are old Arabian horses, riding them is quite scary and there are always attendants to take care of the pilgrim when they ride the horses.  One funny thing about the horses is that while they trot, they have this habit of going to the edge of the road on the side of the gorge and trip slightly, which is very scary and you will have heart in your mouth, especially when you look at the gorge which is very, very deep!

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Aug 3
2009

Horseback riding on San Diego beaches are beyond imagination and the one who has gone through the excitement, enthusiasm and pleasure will understand. There are well-trained horses and most seasoned instructors and you just don’t have to bother about anything. When you will pass by the trails of pines and oaks some of which are borders of national parks, you will forget about everything.

Even if you or anyone in your family is a novice rider you have camps separately designed for them. You can even enjoy playing games or visit the mountainous terrains and enjoy the great specific styled food also. If you take along your family they will be completely recharged and this vacation will be extremely memorable for all of you.

It is not that you have to trail around the beaches but you can also ride along to the mountains and this will be a lifetime experience. There are different types of packages too that you can avail and take advantage of. With nature so close to you will have various types of thrill and adventure that will last forever in your memories.

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Aug 3
2009

There is one temple called “Vaishno Devi” on one of the hills of Himalayas in Kashmir, which is on the extreme northern part of India.  This temple is visited by lakhs of people throughout the year.  It is believed that if one visits this temple and offers prayers to the goddess thereat, the wishes of the person are fulfilled.

Until the late eighties, the access to the temple was very difficult, as the route to the temple consisted of climbing the hill, which had no proper road and was strewn with pebbles, sand and stones. Many would cover the distance of more 14 km by foot and those who could not, would ride the horses or ponies which were available on rent.  When I visited that temple along with my husband, though I could walk, for the sheer pleasure of riding a horse, I went horse riding, which just had a saddle and no other horse equipment.  I enjoyed the ride and was scared at the same time.

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