The Buildings along the Water lit up and played classical Music.
Photos and video by Maggi Carstairs
http://travel-maggi.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Cloncurry Queensland Australia
Cloncurry is a Mining Town in the Outback of Queensland
Photos by Maggi Carstairs 2009
http://M-carstairs.com/travel
Photos by Maggi Carstairs 2009
http://M-carstairs.com/travel
Cambodia Sihanoukville 2008
Sihanoukville Temple, the beach, shopping and a Fishing Village
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
M-carstairs.com/travel
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
M-carstairs.com/travel
Cambodia Sihanoukville 2008
Temple Sihanoukville, Beach and a Fishing Village at Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
Dumaguette, Philippines
Dumaguette Philippines
http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g616032-r30267793-Dumaguete_City_Negros_Visayas.html
I started by staying at Phillipinen Dive...its a brand new Dive Resort and I could be the first guest as there wasn't even a menu, and other concrete huts were being constructed even as I speak.
It boasts the best Reef along the coast..and from the photos of the divers they could be right.
[--]
Here I photographed some of the best sunrises I have ever seen. The colors of the sunrise woke me every morning, and I would go out to sit on the sand and take photographs.
I stayed there for 4 days and they took me to Kookoos Nest in a little boat..and the huts right on the waterside won me completely.
I stayed at Kookoos for 3 nights, (cost 1000 pesos in their best hut, and the smaller hut was 450 pesos), and it was marvellous...lying in bed at night listening to the waves and being woken up by the birds. Mai, the cook there, is world class...and the meals were cheap and absolutely amazing. She bakes their own bread and rolls and the curries are wonderful.
Going back was a it of a issue and I would have had to pay 800 pesos for a ride back, but I got a lift with some tourists on the last night.
I stayed a night at Bethel in Dumaguette..and that was 850 pesos but the food was OK in the downstairs restaurant, but further up the road is Annabel's which is run by an Australian and noted to be good company and good food.
I also found a Korean Hotel there..Negros..right at the Manila Airport..and they also run a English School.
One can buy pearls in the Philippines..and they are lustrous and beautiful. The people are ultra friendly and the diving people are really the tops. I had a wonderful stay and am thinking of going back and running a school there next year.
I found the tropical rains really heavy...and was damp for the days I stayed in the bamboo hut...and the cold water bathing means you should take a good shampoo and soap with you...or buy it there...and the reef was beautiful. I was lucky to get the photos of two of the divers. I snorkelled and that is amazing too.
I can recommend the Philippines for a holiday..and if you dive and snorkel, it is the place to go.
I also learnt there are ferry services from Dumaguette to the other islands...and next time that is what I will do...go exploring the islands around.
Great place..
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Maggi
http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g616032-r30267793-Dumaguete_City_Negros_Visayas.html
I started by staying at Phillipinen Dive...its a brand new Dive Resort and I could be the first guest as there wasn't even a menu, and other concrete huts were being constructed even as I speak.
It boasts the best Reef along the coast..and from the photos of the divers they could be right.
[--]
Here I photographed some of the best sunrises I have ever seen. The colors of the sunrise woke me every morning, and I would go out to sit on the sand and take photographs.
I stayed there for 4 days and they took me to Kookoos Nest in a little boat..and the huts right on the waterside won me completely.
I stayed at Kookoos for 3 nights, (cost 1000 pesos in their best hut, and the smaller hut was 450 pesos), and it was marvellous...lying in bed at night listening to the waves and being woken up by the birds. Mai, the cook there, is world class...and the meals were cheap and absolutely amazing. She bakes their own bread and rolls and the curries are wonderful.
Going back was a it of a issue and I would have had to pay 800 pesos for a ride back, but I got a lift with some tourists on the last night.
I stayed a night at Bethel in Dumaguette..and that was 850 pesos but the food was OK in the downstairs restaurant, but further up the road is Annabel's which is run by an Australian and noted to be good company and good food.
I also found a Korean Hotel there..Negros..right at the Manila Airport..and they also run a English School.
One can buy pearls in the Philippines..and they are lustrous and beautiful. The people are ultra friendly and the diving people are really the tops. I had a wonderful stay and am thinking of going back and running a school there next year.
I found the tropical rains really heavy...and was damp for the days I stayed in the bamboo hut...and the cold water bathing means you should take a good shampoo and soap with you...or buy it there...and the reef was beautiful. I was lucky to get the photos of two of the divers. I snorkelled and that is amazing too.
I can recommend the Philippines for a holiday..and if you dive and snorkel, it is the place to go.
I also learnt there are ferry services from Dumaguette to the other islands...and next time that is what I will do...go exploring the islands around.
Great place..
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Maggi
Philippines ..Laguna and Bohol
I went to Manilla and then to Laguna where we went White Water Rafting at Pagsanjan Falls. Then we flew to Bohol and there I saw the tarsis Monkey and did a River Cruise as well as a trip to the Beach. Here are some of the Photos of Beautiful Phillipines
Phillipines Manilla to Bohol
If you want to have an rafting experience or dive in the Philippines contact Felix who took me and Irene White water rafting
http://activetravel.pbworks.com/Dive-Philippines
http://www.asiadivesite.com/philippines-dive-sites/anilao/
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Phillipines Manilla to Bohol
If you want to have an rafting experience or dive in the Philippines contact Felix who took me and Irene White water rafting
http://activetravel.pbworks.com/Dive-Philippines
http://www.asiadivesite.com/philippines-dive-sites/anilao/
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Key West Florida America
Key West Florida
Key West Florida
Marguerite Carstairs http://Community.webshots.com/user/ladymaggic
Key West Florida
Marguerite Carstairs http://Community.webshots.com/user/ladymaggic
Sydney Australia
Sydney Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8v5YSoK1CU
http://m-carstairs.com/travel/id17.html
Sydney has to be one of the most exciting places in the World, running second to New York and Shanghai.
Tourists arrive in Sydney by plane, train, bus and Car. All travel services are excellent, and I have traveled to Sydney by every way.
I drove to Sydney from Melbourne on the Pacific Highway along the coast on Highway 1, and drove back inland on the Hume Highway. Both drives were fantastic. I also drove inland from West Wyalong, via Canberra. That was interesting too.
This trip I flew in from China where I was teaching to collect a Chinese Visa, and while waiting in the City, I went on the Monorail which gives a view of Sydney from above.
These are the photos shared here on the Video, and you can see the harbor, the shops and the city of Sydney viewed from the Monorail as it traveled Sydney and back.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8v5YSoK1CU
http://m-carstairs.com/travel/id17.html
Sydney has to be one of the most exciting places in the World, running second to New York and Shanghai.
Tourists arrive in Sydney by plane, train, bus and Car. All travel services are excellent, and I have traveled to Sydney by every way.
I drove to Sydney from Melbourne on the Pacific Highway along the coast on Highway 1, and drove back inland on the Hume Highway. Both drives were fantastic. I also drove inland from West Wyalong, via Canberra. That was interesting too.
This trip I flew in from China where I was teaching to collect a Chinese Visa, and while waiting in the City, I went on the Monorail which gives a view of Sydney from above.
These are the photos shared here on the Video, and you can see the harbor, the shops and the city of Sydney viewed from the Monorail as it traveled Sydney and back.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
How to Pack Your Bags for Travel
http://www.broowaha.com/articles/3726/how-to-pack-hints-from-a-seasoned-globe-trotter
If you Pack on Paper first, your packing is simplified and much easier. Here are some ideas on how to pack for short trips and for more permanent travel
Packing is a skill that can be mastered in one simple lesson.
Pack on Paper. Write a list of all the things you are planning to take, and add and subtract and amend, until you have a refined list, that you use when you actually pack your bag...the night before leaving.
That is the formula I use for packing for travel. I travel frequently, and now there is a list added to my Diary, so often I don't ned to create a new list, I simply use the standard one.
The Basic List incudes: toiletries, footwear, formal clothing, casual clothing, camera, laptop, and books.
With this basic list, I can quickly add the individual items and hone it to exactly what I will take when weight is a problem, as it is if you travel economy, or worse still, by bus or train and have to actually carry it all yourself too.
This works fine for short trips, and even longer vacations.
When packing to move to a new location and new position, packing gets more difficult.
The list is different now:
You pack glassware and breakables in clothing to save paper and space.
All maybe-leakables and breakables get placed in plastic bags so if there is a problem it is contained.
All shoes get placed in plastic bags for protection.
Clothing and linen get compressed tightly in sealed bags. I learnt this packing secret from my sister Carol, who is a magic packer. She can get three times what I manage, into a bag, and also make it look impressive. Seal packing also keeps the clothing smoother and less rumpled.
Roll what you cannot seal, like the Army does. This is another great space saver and also protects the clothing and linen, especially towels. Place Photos, papers and pictures into cylinders for safety, if you don't want them folded and creased. I have watched delivery staff throw packed boxes down from vans, and writing 'Top Up' or 'Fragile' does not always guarantee careful handling and delicate care of your packed boxes.
Take photos of expensive items or fragile ones when being packed. I was to lose some articles and had no proof that they were ever packed. I still wonder who has my italian Ink stone, and where the small carved Cedar tri-leg table is, and a collection of original miniature paintings. I know I personally packed them so they had to be in a box somewhere. They never arrived.
So after you make your Paper List...then open and prepare the Boxes, and carefully add the items to the boxes. You can top up, or move items around to make lesser boxes, and double the boxes if you have more belongings. label each box with even some of the contents so you can find that toaster or printer when you need it in a hurry, or to remove it as you have decided not to take it for some reason.
This is how I pack when I have to pack, but my best advice is.....pay someone to pack everything and move everything. Its much better...except, your boxes come filled with paper as packers get paid per box they pack, so the 12 boxes now become 56 boxes.
Happy Packing.
Marguerite Carstairs
21 June 2008
Pack on Paper. Write a list of all the things you are planning to take, and add and subtract and amend, until you have a refined list, that you use when you actually pack your bag...the night before leaving.
That is the formula I use for packing for travel. I travel frequently, and now there is a list added to my Diary, so often I don't ned to create a new list, I simply use the standard one.
The Basic List incudes: toiletries, footwear, formal clothing, casual clothing, camera, laptop, and books.
With this basic list, I can quickly add the individual items and hone it to exactly what I will take when weight is a problem, as it is if you travel economy, or worse still, by bus or train and have to actually carry it all yourself too.
This works fine for short trips, and even longer vacations.
When packing to move to a new location and new position, packing gets more difficult.
The list is different now:
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Winter clothing
- Summer clothing
- Shoes
- Makeup and Toiletries
- Books
- Whiteware and Hardware
- Computer and Camera accessories
- Linen
- Ornaments and decoration
- Miscellaneous
You pack glassware and breakables in clothing to save paper and space.
All maybe-leakables and breakables get placed in plastic bags so if there is a problem it is contained.
All shoes get placed in plastic bags for protection.
Clothing and linen get compressed tightly in sealed bags. I learnt this packing secret from my sister Carol, who is a magic packer. She can get three times what I manage, into a bag, and also make it look impressive. Seal packing also keeps the clothing smoother and less rumpled.
Roll what you cannot seal, like the Army does. This is another great space saver and also protects the clothing and linen, especially towels. Place Photos, papers and pictures into cylinders for safety, if you don't want them folded and creased. I have watched delivery staff throw packed boxes down from vans, and writing 'Top Up' or 'Fragile' does not always guarantee careful handling and delicate care of your packed boxes.
Take photos of expensive items or fragile ones when being packed. I was to lose some articles and had no proof that they were ever packed. I still wonder who has my italian Ink stone, and where the small carved Cedar tri-leg table is, and a collection of original miniature paintings. I know I personally packed them so they had to be in a box somewhere. They never arrived.
So after you make your Paper List...then open and prepare the Boxes, and carefully add the items to the boxes. You can top up, or move items around to make lesser boxes, and double the boxes if you have more belongings. label each box with even some of the contents so you can find that toaster or printer when you need it in a hurry, or to remove it as you have decided not to take it for some reason.
This is how I pack when I have to pack, but my best advice is.....pay someone to pack everything and move everything. Its much better...except, your boxes come filled with paper as packers get paid per box they pack, so the 12 boxes now become 56 boxes.
Happy Packing.
Marguerite Carstairs
21 June 2008
YouTube - Cruising
YouTube - Cruising
"Rhapsody of the Seas" was boarded in Singapore.
The Cruiseship traveled 15 days visiting Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia and for me the trip ended in Hongkong where I stayed a week.
I arrived in Singapore the day before, and was one of the first on board.
The first photos were from this early exploration of the Cruiseship which was to become my base for 15 days cruising.
There were many facilities available on board. It was a floating community which involved food 24 hours of the day, drinks and ice-cream always on tap. It would be difficult not to put on weight, but the constant activities does help.
There were games, dances, music and shows, dining at three levels and books to read by the pool. Many people walked the decks, used the gym and also played cards.
I used the pool and the Beauty section, and the casino. I attended the evening shows and chose where to dine..formal or the fantastic smorgasbord where I could enjoy smoked salmon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as multiple, delicious desserts that got the overweight looking pensive as I jubilantly escorted my laden dessert plate to my window view table.
The Musicians were wonderful, and the band played 'Margaritaville' for me, which I recorded.
This video is just my first impressions. people at my table and the dinner companions, and it shares the enthusiasm of the first impressions of being on board a cruiseship.
"Rhapsody of the Seas" was boarded in Singapore.
The Cruiseship traveled 15 days visiting Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia and for me the trip ended in Hongkong where I stayed a week.
I arrived in Singapore the day before, and was one of the first on board.
The first photos were from this early exploration of the Cruiseship which was to become my base for 15 days cruising.
There were many facilities available on board. It was a floating community which involved food 24 hours of the day, drinks and ice-cream always on tap. It would be difficult not to put on weight, but the constant activities does help.
There were games, dances, music and shows, dining at three levels and books to read by the pool. Many people walked the decks, used the gym and also played cards.
I used the pool and the Beauty section, and the casino. I attended the evening shows and chose where to dine..formal or the fantastic smorgasbord where I could enjoy smoked salmon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as multiple, delicious desserts that got the overweight looking pensive as I jubilantly escorted my laden dessert plate to my window view table.
The Musicians were wonderful, and the band played 'Margaritaville' for me, which I recorded.
This video is just my first impressions. people at my table and the dinner companions, and it shares the enthusiasm of the first impressions of being on board a cruiseship.
Arizona America..Skydiving
http://www.broowaha.com/articles/3402/cherie-daredevil-darling-of-the-skies
Cherie: Daredevil of the Skies, with over 600 jumps to her name, is a pint sized Dynamo of a woman whose passion is jumping from flying aeroplanes....Cherie Carter is a dare-devil of the skies. She has always loved speed and danger, and when she discovered Sky-diving, her life revolved around the sport.
Last year she jumped her 600th jump and she had just turned 60 years old, or is it 60 years young? Cherie will never grow old…she just does not have the time.
Every possible weekend finds Cherie heading for the Dive Zone carting her equipment in a matching bag.
Intrigued, I asked Cherie some questions.
Why does a cute little lady like you want to throw herself out of a plane?
Cherie just laughs. She has been trying to get me up there with her every time I hit Texas, but something always stops me from taking that final step…out of a plane. She thrives on the adrenalin that takes her to the Drop Zone whenever the weather is fine for diving. Most of us enjoy planes, and many of us want to experience a sky-dive, but not many of us really take that step to actually jump out of flying plane.
Here Cherie shares her love of the sport, and also some videos about her experiences. She is one feisty lady, and the love is a passionate and dedicated one. Cherie is a daredevil of the skies.
How many Jumps have you now done?
I have 659 jumps as of today.
Do you get scared or nervous about jumping from a plane? Are you ever afraid?
I don't get scared anymore....I used to be scared silly until I had about 100 skydives; then I started to relax and really enjoy it without the extreme fear. Now I just hope I do well on each skydive, but I'm not afraid.
What’s your biggest problem when jumping?
My biggest problem is my fall rate. I only weigh about 100 pounds, so fully geared up I weight only 135 pounds at the most. It’s hard to fall as fast as a fully geared up man whose weight is twice mine. Thank goodness I have a flexible back and can get into a pretty radical arch, which makes me fall faster. And I have a very tight jumpsuit with slick fabric to make the air spill off me faster. The heavier guys sometimes use a camera suit to jump with me; which has little wings under the arms to slow them down, or a baggy suit which catches more air. I sure know a lot more about aerodynamics than I used to!
What is the best thing about sky-diving?
The best thing about skydiving is the thrill of going out the door and the splendid view falling from so high above the Earth….and the satisfaction of walking away from another brush with death.
What is the worst thing about sky-diving?
The worst thing is when I mess up in a formation sky-dive and feel less than good about my flying skills. But then I always shrug it off before the next one and resolve to do better. I always want to be perfect, get into my slot fast and without wobbling or floating too high and turn all the points we planned in the dirt dive.....sometimes I mess up and make it hard to complete the dive as planned. But I have to remind myself that I'm not the only one who messes up; sometimes it’s all of us together!
What Sky-dive Zones do you jump at?
I skydive at other drop zones whenever I can; although I usually jump every weekend at Skydive Temple. I've jumped in Dallas, Houston, San Marcos, Puerto Rico and Arizona, and want to jump everywhere I go!
How often do you Jump?
I jump at least two times every weekend, weather permitting. I log in about 200 jumps a year; and that's up this year from 100 jumps in previous years. I'm trying to get my numbers up so I can get insurance for demo jumps. For insurance coverage you have to have 1000 jumps and I only have 660 now. So I'm jumping more often in the hopes that it won't take me 4 more years to qualify for that insurance.
What was your Most Thrilling Dive?
My most thrilling skydive was the one where I had an unfixable malfunction on my main canopy and had to cutaway and land on my reserve. I was calm during the emergency when I was in an accelerating spin, which would have killed me if I hadn't cut my main away. I got the shakes after I landed and was heading back to the drop zone.
What happens in windy weather? Do you jump when it is windy?
In really windy weather the canopy will flex and the ride down is bumpy, so that's the only time the weather makes skydiving more thrilling. It’s kind of scary when you're bouncing all over the place and getting really close to the ground. You know what its like to land an airplane in turbulent winds......it can be a heart-pounder!
What do you think about when you are falling?
In freefall, I think about executing the sky-dive properly, so I'm focused on the other people on the jump. Under canopy I enjoy the view and think about how lucky I am that I get to do such a thrilling thing every weekend. The major feeling you get in freefall is wind pressure against your face, there's no sensation of falling....under canopy you get the floating sensation that's so pleasant. I get that wonderful feeling that life is good.
What about the cost? Is it expensive to be a sky-diver? What are the costs involved in this sport?
I was very scared when I first started skydiving and I had to repeat the same expensive skydive 43 times; so my cost as a student was outrageous and not typical at all. The average person will spend $1100 on the ground school and the training dives with one or two instructors. After they've passed the student dives and get off student status they're either renting the gear or looking to buy their own. I went cheap and bought an old rig when I first got off student status and got a broken wrist for it. The canopy was so old it didn't even slow me down when I ‘flared’; it just thumped me down really hard on my behind and I broke my right wrist against the hard ground. I was lucky I didn't break my back. So I bought all brand new custom made gear from head to toe and have about $6000 invested in that. Of course no one has to spend that kind of money to get good gear, but I knew it would last for years to come so I splurged on everything I wanted....color coordinated. Once I got off student status the jumps only cost $22 apiece, so once you have your gear it costs about what it does to play golf every weekend. I'm afraid to total up what its cost me to skydive over the last 7 years!
Does Your Husband watch when you sky-dive?
Richard likes to watch me skydive and seems to have no fears or anxiety about it. Of course, he knows I'd do it anyway even if he didn't like it and wanted me to quit. I didn't start skydiving until I was 54 and we were married when I was 33, so long after.
Is Fitness necessary for a skydiver?
Fitness is absolutely necessary, as the gear is heavy and the arch position has to be maintained in freefall or you end up flailing around. You also have to climb outside the plane and hold on against the wind to execute student and group exits, so you have to have strong arms and legs for that or the wind will knock you off the plane. Then there's the long walk back to the packing shed after you land with heavy gear on your back. So fitness is very important.
What advice would you give a new sky-diver who wishes to try sky-diving?
My advice to a new skydiver is to listen carefully to their instructors and soldier on through the fear that everyone experiences. The first skydive is very scary to most people and you have to make yourself do it. It’s worth the fear and that goes away with some experience. I would also advise a new skydiver to establish an equipment check routine to perform as they gear up for each skydive; kind of like pre-flight an airplane before you board and take off. That way you know you're properly suited up and your gear will work as it should. I don't know if its better when you're young....I was old before I started and it’s been great to me. It takes me longer and more practice to master the flying skills involved in formation skydiving than it would a much younger person......young folks have faster reflexes and seem to learn quicker; but other than that there's no difference as long as you're in good shape.
View a video of Cherie in a Skydive: (Video 2)
“I downloaded this video to youtube, but I guess it wasn't filmed at a high enough speed because much of it is depilixated. But it IS one of my skydiving videos and I thought you might find it interesting. I was just off student status and didn't fly very well, although my landings were good. And that is me landing under the blue canopy right at the end.
Cheri”
First Jump as a Skydiver over 60 years: (Video 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS_vNRg5MaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYRuQuRrP_0
Play Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Cherie: Daredevil of the Skies, with over 600 jumps to her name, is a pint sized Dynamo of a woman whose passion is jumping from flying aeroplanes....
Last year she jumped her 600th jump and she had just turned 60 years old, or is it 60 years young? Cherie will never grow old…she just does not have the time.
Every possible weekend finds Cherie heading for the Dive Zone carting her equipment in a matching bag.
Intrigued, I asked Cherie some questions.
Why does a cute little lady like you want to throw herself out of a plane?
Cherie just laughs. She has been trying to get me up there with her every time I hit Texas, but something always stops me from taking that final step…out of a plane. She thrives on the adrenalin that takes her to the Drop Zone whenever the weather is fine for diving. Most of us enjoy planes, and many of us want to experience a sky-dive, but not many of us really take that step to actually jump out of flying plane.
Here Cherie shares her love of the sport, and also some videos about her experiences. She is one feisty lady, and the love is a passionate and dedicated one. Cherie is a daredevil of the skies.
How many Jumps have you now done?
I have 659 jumps as of today.
Do you get scared or nervous about jumping from a plane? Are you ever afraid?
I don't get scared anymore....I used to be scared silly until I had about 100 skydives; then I started to relax and really enjoy it without the extreme fear. Now I just hope I do well on each skydive, but I'm not afraid.
What’s your biggest problem when jumping?
My biggest problem is my fall rate. I only weigh about 100 pounds, so fully geared up I weight only 135 pounds at the most. It’s hard to fall as fast as a fully geared up man whose weight is twice mine. Thank goodness I have a flexible back and can get into a pretty radical arch, which makes me fall faster. And I have a very tight jumpsuit with slick fabric to make the air spill off me faster. The heavier guys sometimes use a camera suit to jump with me; which has little wings under the arms to slow them down, or a baggy suit which catches more air. I sure know a lot more about aerodynamics than I used to!
What is the best thing about sky-diving?
The best thing about skydiving is the thrill of going out the door and the splendid view falling from so high above the Earth….and the satisfaction of walking away from another brush with death.
What is the worst thing about sky-diving?
The worst thing is when I mess up in a formation sky-dive and feel less than good about my flying skills. But then I always shrug it off before the next one and resolve to do better. I always want to be perfect, get into my slot fast and without wobbling or floating too high and turn all the points we planned in the dirt dive.....sometimes I mess up and make it hard to complete the dive as planned. But I have to remind myself that I'm not the only one who messes up; sometimes it’s all of us together!
What Sky-dive Zones do you jump at?
I skydive at other drop zones whenever I can; although I usually jump every weekend at Skydive Temple. I've jumped in Dallas, Houston, San Marcos, Puerto Rico and Arizona, and want to jump everywhere I go!
How often do you Jump?
I jump at least two times every weekend, weather permitting. I log in about 200 jumps a year; and that's up this year from 100 jumps in previous years. I'm trying to get my numbers up so I can get insurance for demo jumps. For insurance coverage you have to have 1000 jumps and I only have 660 now. So I'm jumping more often in the hopes that it won't take me 4 more years to qualify for that insurance.
What was your Most Thrilling Dive?
My most thrilling skydive was the one where I had an unfixable malfunction on my main canopy and had to cutaway and land on my reserve. I was calm during the emergency when I was in an accelerating spin, which would have killed me if I hadn't cut my main away. I got the shakes after I landed and was heading back to the drop zone.
What happens in windy weather? Do you jump when it is windy?
In really windy weather the canopy will flex and the ride down is bumpy, so that's the only time the weather makes skydiving more thrilling. It’s kind of scary when you're bouncing all over the place and getting really close to the ground. You know what its like to land an airplane in turbulent winds......it can be a heart-pounder!
What do you think about when you are falling?
In freefall, I think about executing the sky-dive properly, so I'm focused on the other people on the jump. Under canopy I enjoy the view and think about how lucky I am that I get to do such a thrilling thing every weekend. The major feeling you get in freefall is wind pressure against your face, there's no sensation of falling....under canopy you get the floating sensation that's so pleasant. I get that wonderful feeling that life is good.
What about the cost? Is it expensive to be a sky-diver? What are the costs involved in this sport?
I was very scared when I first started skydiving and I had to repeat the same expensive skydive 43 times; so my cost as a student was outrageous and not typical at all. The average person will spend $1100 on the ground school and the training dives with one or two instructors. After they've passed the student dives and get off student status they're either renting the gear or looking to buy their own. I went cheap and bought an old rig when I first got off student status and got a broken wrist for it. The canopy was so old it didn't even slow me down when I ‘flared’; it just thumped me down really hard on my behind and I broke my right wrist against the hard ground. I was lucky I didn't break my back. So I bought all brand new custom made gear from head to toe and have about $6000 invested in that. Of course no one has to spend that kind of money to get good gear, but I knew it would last for years to come so I splurged on everything I wanted....color coordinated. Once I got off student status the jumps only cost $22 apiece, so once you have your gear it costs about what it does to play golf every weekend. I'm afraid to total up what its cost me to skydive over the last 7 years!
Does Your Husband watch when you sky-dive?
Richard likes to watch me skydive and seems to have no fears or anxiety about it. Of course, he knows I'd do it anyway even if he didn't like it and wanted me to quit. I didn't start skydiving until I was 54 and we were married when I was 33, so long after.
Is Fitness necessary for a skydiver?
Fitness is absolutely necessary, as the gear is heavy and the arch position has to be maintained in freefall or you end up flailing around. You also have to climb outside the plane and hold on against the wind to execute student and group exits, so you have to have strong arms and legs for that or the wind will knock you off the plane. Then there's the long walk back to the packing shed after you land with heavy gear on your back. So fitness is very important.
What advice would you give a new sky-diver who wishes to try sky-diving?
My advice to a new skydiver is to listen carefully to their instructors and soldier on through the fear that everyone experiences. The first skydive is very scary to most people and you have to make yourself do it. It’s worth the fear and that goes away with some experience. I would also advise a new skydiver to establish an equipment check routine to perform as they gear up for each skydive; kind of like pre-flight an airplane before you board and take off. That way you know you're properly suited up and your gear will work as it should. I don't know if its better when you're young....I was old before I started and it’s been great to me. It takes me longer and more practice to master the flying skills involved in formation skydiving than it would a much younger person......young folks have faster reflexes and seem to learn quicker; but other than that there's no difference as long as you're in good shape.
View a video of Cherie in a Skydive: (Video 2)
“I downloaded this video to youtube, but I guess it wasn't filmed at a high enough speed because much of it is depilixated. But it IS one of my skydiving videos and I thought you might find it interesting. I was just off student status and didn't fly very well, although my landings were good. And that is me landing under the blue canopy right at the end.
Cheri”
First Jump as a Skydiver over 60 years: (Video 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS_vNRg5MaA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYRuQuRrP_0
Play Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
Travelling Man: China In Winter - Broowaha
Travelling Man: China In Winter - Broowaha
Walking the Great Wall of China, and Climbing Yellow Mountain in Winter are two experiences one should not miss....
Traveling the World: China in Winter The world is full of wonderful places and experiences, and those who have the love of adventure seek new places to visit and explore.
This month is vacation for many people. In the North it is winter, and in the south it is summer. Northern based folks like to travel south for the warmth, and southern based people head for the beaches and the mountains, or travel to exotic cities and Festival Venues following advertising stories or shows.
It was quite by accident that I visited Beijing and the Great Wall of China last January. I was looking for something with a bit of adventure, without the High Holiday costs, and the travel agent suggested China because it was off season for the Wall, and tours and Hotels were at their cheapest. So off I went to Beijing staying at a 5 star Holiday Inn at a fraction of the cost because it was off season. A China Based website offered me some great $20 a day tours, and away I went to explore the Wall in winter.
The first Day was wonderful. We arrived on the wall to see the wall stretching out in the distance, and walked the wall with great delight. Then it started snowing…and the snow came down and covered everything and made the whole scene white. I was absolutely delighted, as now I had a range of photographs without snow, and another whole set with snow.
Because the wall was deserted except for small tour groups, I was able to get some wonderful photos, and walk the wall moving freely from side to side, and up and down turrets. I returned a few days later to Mutianyu with a different tour group, and again saw a different scene with partly melted snow and wonderful distances.
It was not until July when a group of friends did the same trip and came back disappointed because it was far too hot to walk, and the wall was full of tourists crammed neck to neck, that I realized that maybe winter was the best time to see the wall after all.
Walking was easy, and you got warm as you walked, the scenery was breathtaking and the lack of hordes of tourists also made it special as one could feel the spirituality of the Wall.
Extra tours were added to the base tours, and we also visited a Jade factory, a silk factory and a cloisonné factory. It was in all a fantastic week as I explored Beijing and its Culture following flags help aloft, and trying to keep up to the group as I lagged behind taking photographs.
You can see stories of the Wall and my trip on my squidoo.
http://www.squidoo.com/greatwallofchina
This January saw me traveling to Yellow Mountains which is south of Beijing and inland from Shanghai, in the Anhui Province.
It was of course bitterly cold, but after hiking many kilometers the body gets quite warm, and the wonderful scenery makes it all worthwhile. Again, because of the off-season, I was able to get accommodation at a price I could afford and stayed on top of the mountain. This meant that at daybreak, armed with the Hotel torch, I was able to follow a group of Chinese to see the sunrise. Three and a half kilometers in the dark, then crowding along with many hopefuls on a rock, to see dawn break without color, was a bit of a let down, but I was happy to photograph the photograph of the sunrise, along with all the others who had also braved the climb. Walking back in the light was fantastic, and I was amazed that I had actually walked all this in the dark. It was steep sides down both sides in places, and some awesome mountain peaks.
Now again, taking advantage of the off season gave me unadulterated views of the mountains and again I have photos both of a sunny day with no cloud, and rainy day with mists and drizzling rain. I also have some wonderful memories of hiking with strangers who became friends as we climbed the mountain.
Yellow Mountain is an hour’s drive from the city of Huangshan, and then a curving climb to the top where a cable car takes you to a crest 18,000 m high, and then its climbing many steps and exploring many peaks and famous spots where much of the Chinese prints and watercolors have been created throughout time.
Slideshows and photographs of Yellow Mountain are available on One-true-Media.
by Marguerite Carstairs
http://www.skyalbum.com/album/Ladymaggic/477412a3078/yellowmountaindecember.swf
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Great Wall China 2008
A three hour bus from Beijing to Jinshanling, and then a 3 hour hike over 30 Towers to Simatai.
Next Day I went from Simatai up to the very top...Tower 10
http://M-carstairs.com/travel
The Great Wall stands as a symbol of the dauntlessly indomitable spirit of the Chinese people in Ancient Times. Today it is a tourist Attraction that draws adventurers and sightseers to experience this awesome Wonder of the World.
The Towers were sturdy and strongly built of thick stone. Five thousand kilometers like a gigantic dragon winding its way across China, with many of its sections and passes now designated as Key national Cultural Sites.
Each main area divided into smaller areas with a turret window in each section, which would have been manned by soldiers in the past. A small staircase led up steep steps, to the parapet, from which one could get a 360 degree view over the land.
There were steps up to the tower and down from the tower.
The walking path ran alongside the wall in most places, and you can see it quite clearly. The tour guide told us there were 1000 steps from where we started, to the wall, when he suggested we take the chair lift to the top, at the beginning of the tour. Because of the weather in January, and also the time element of the tour, we chose the faster pulley up to the Wall, so we could spend the entire time walking the wall.
There are many stories written about the Great Wall, but the one that I like best is the fact that it was called the Wall of Tears, as so many lost their lives in the creation of this World Wonder. The faith and heart of the Chinese is very strong here. They considered it an honor to die in the course of serving their Emperor. Many died from the hard life they left, and were just buried under the wall itself making this the "Wall of Tears".
When you stand and marvel at the feat of construction, spare a thought for the workers who toiled so hard to build this Fantasy.
Yes, it is a very memorable wall and if walls tell stories, there is a story here with each stone.
It is a wonderful Physical and Spiritual Experience to Walk the Wall.
Maggi Carstairs 2006
Next Day I went from Simatai up to the very top...Tower 10
http://M-carstairs.com/travel
The Towers were sturdy and strongly built of thick stone. Five thousand kilometers like a gigantic dragon winding its way across China, with many of its sections and passes now designated as Key national Cultural Sites.
Each main area divided into smaller areas with a turret window in each section, which would have been manned by soldiers in the past. A small staircase led up steep steps, to the parapet, from which one could get a 360 degree view over the land.
There were steps up to the tower and down from the tower.
The walking path ran alongside the wall in most places, and you can see it quite clearly. The tour guide told us there were 1000 steps from where we started, to the wall, when he suggested we take the chair lift to the top, at the beginning of the tour. Because of the weather in January, and also the time element of the tour, we chose the faster pulley up to the Wall, so we could spend the entire time walking the wall.
There are many stories written about the Great Wall, but the one that I like best is the fact that it was called the Wall of Tears, as so many lost their lives in the creation of this World Wonder. The faith and heart of the Chinese is very strong here. They considered it an honor to die in the course of serving their Emperor. Many died from the hard life they left, and were just buried under the wall itself making this the "Wall of Tears".
When you stand and marvel at the feat of construction, spare a thought for the workers who toiled so hard to build this Fantasy.
Yes, it is a very memorable wall and if walls tell stories, there is a story here with each stone.
It is a wonderful Physical and Spiritual Experience to Walk the Wall.
Maggi Carstairs 2006
Echuca Australia in Australia
The Murray River was once the main transport for timber and industry, and the Riverboats remain for cruising the River
Photos and video by Maggi Carstairs
Photos and video by Maggi Carstairs
Monday, March 29, 2010
Spring in Korea at Nonsan
These are Plum blossom, cherry blossom, Lilac and Magnolias at Nonsan South Korea at the Apartment I lived in.
Spring is beautiful in Korea
M-carstairs.com/travel
Spring is beautiful in Korea
M-carstairs.com/travel
Sunrise Over the Sea : Phillipines Dumaguette
Sunrise at Dumaguette in the Philippines
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
http://www.artwanted.com/ladymaggic
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
http://www.artwanted.com/ladymaggic
Koalas, Kangaroos and Emus
Australia Native Animals at Lone Pine Sanctuary, Queensland Australia
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
M-carstairs.com
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
M-carstairs.com
Brisbane Australia
Brisbane Queensland Australia
Photos by Marguerite Carstairs
http://www.artwanted.com/ladymaggic
Photos by Marguerite Carstairs
http://www.artwanted.com/ladymaggic
Whale Watching at Hervey Bay
Whales migrate to the Barrier Islands to feed and mate and then return south.
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
http://coastalart-maggi.blogspot.com
Photos by Maggi Carstairs
http://coastalart-maggi.blogspot.com
Friday, March 19, 2010
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