Calgary Stampede

THE GREATEST OUTDOOR SHOW ON EARTH!

July 09 - 18, 2010

Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Canadian Rockies, the Calgary Stampede is a ten day, city wide celebration of western hospitality.

Calgary's most popular tourist attraction,

'the greatest outdoor show on earth' features a real rodeo, a midway (amusement park), concerts, chuck wagon races and more. The city of Calgary is transformed for 10 days into town celebrating the cowboy culture. Each year, millions of visitors from around the world come to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to partake in the annual event, the Calgary Stampede and Exhibition.

The Calgary Stampede has a rich history. With origins as an 1886 Agricultural Fair of the world-famous attraction that it is today, the Calgary Stampede's past contains many colorful characters and significant milestones.

Annual Stampede attractions include Rodeo, World Champion Blacksmith's Competition, Animal and Agricultural Events, chuck wagon races. Watch saddle bronco and bareback riding, and the thrilling bull riding. See the crazy clowns, wild cow milking and wild horse races. Walk through an authentic Indian village and a recreated frontier town. Peak of each Stampede day is a must see Grandstand Show with fireworks that ends your day of fun with your family and friends.

Annual free Stampede Pancake Breakfasts are help every day through out the city of Calgary and near by communities like Cochrane.

Ask for more information and directions about The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

There is truly no better place to be during the Labour Day long weekend than Cochrane, where every minute is packed with events that are exciting, stimulating and, to be honest, just a little bit odd. There are not many towns where outhouse races take place right down the centre of the main street. The Lions Labour Day Rodeo, a fixture in town every Labour Day weekend since 1968. Come and join us for the weekend of family fun!

source by rockymountainview.ab.ca

Calgary Stampede [photo 2010]

Calgary Stampede

The Calgary Stampede is a wild west extravaganza - a historic celebration of farming life, of agriculture and of the rodeo. It features musical entertainment in the evenings, chuckwagon races, agriculture competitions, fair ground rides, a daily parade and the world’s largest outdoor rodeo competition.
The first Calgary Stampede took place in 1912 and drew large numbers of competitors and more than 100,000 spectators. Visitors to the modern, ten day annual July event usually total more than a million, and a further two million viewers tune in and watch the parade on television. Prize money for the six rodeo events has now topped $1.6 million dollars.
Locals and visitor are encouraged to ‘dress western’ for the duration of the Calgary Stampede and enjoy the range of traditional sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat style western entertainment.

The polar bear...

Apart from guzzling down coca cola, here’s a few facts about the polar bear you might find interesting…

1) Polar bears are considered a marine mammal probably because they spend just as much time on ice as they do on land. 

2) Even though our eyes tell us differently, a polar bear's fur is not white. Each hair is completely colour-free and transparent with a hollow core.  Polar bears look white because the hollow core scatters and reflects visible light, just like ice and snow does. When photographed with film sensitive to ultraviolet light, polar bears appear black.

3) A polar bear is so well insulated that it loses almost no heat!  In addition to its thick fur, the bear's blubber can be up to 4.5 inches thick and adult males quickly overheat when they run!

And here are 10 funny facts about polar bears…but I don’t think they are all true!  Worth a look!

source by discover

CA Highlights

As we celebrate Canada Day and launch our new summer tours I have been fondly remembering my first trip to Canada, many, many years ago when I was lucky enough to spend a couple of months working in Banff, in the heart of the Rockies. It’s hard to describe the beauty of Canada; its spectacular scenery is on such an epic scale, and offers such contrast from the grand peaks and glaciers of the west and the endless lakes and forests of the east; the picturesque fishing villages of the Maritimes and the wild Arctic landscapes of the far north… The country is home to fascinating indigenous histories and the wildest of wildlife, as well as a surprisingly diverse range of modern cultures and vibrant cities.

There were countless highlights of my summer in the Rockies but the bright turquoise waters of Lake Louise remain a vivid memory to this day; setting foot on the Athabasca Glacier and climbing to the top of Mt Rundle were also incredible moments for me. Seeing elk wandering down the highstreet and even getting a glimpse of a bear one morning on my way out of town were heart-stopping – so much more exciting than the squirrels and foxes that frequent my own local neighbourhood!

A tour of Ontario and Quebec followed, where I searched in vain for moose and spent many happy hours canoeing through the still waters of Algonquin National Park, marvelled at the torrential Niagara Falls and practised my rusty French in Quebec City.

Much more recently I have just returned from a trip to Nova Scotia, a real gem of a province that offers a unique combination of picturesque charm and rugged scenery. I barely scratched the surface of the Maritimes, but I did finally get to see that elusive moose…. albeit in a wilderness reserve rather than out roaming in the wild. Ah well – there’s always next time…!
source by discover-the-world-blogs

Hanoi VietNam travel information

Vietnam’s capital city has to be one of Asia’s most fascinating cities offering a unique blend of oriental and western charm. It is a city of exotic brightly painted temples and pagodas, elegant ochre-washed colonial villas, bustling narrow streets and alleys, grand tree-lined boulevards and shaded lakes. First established as Vietnam’s capital in 1010,

when it was known as Thang Long, the city’s name changed several times before it eventually became Hanoi in 1831.

Pho Hanoi

The Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070 and its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets. Today Hanoi is still a city that attracts many of the country’s intellectuals as well as artists and writers.

Paintings by Vietnam’s new generation of artists can be seen for sale in the dozens of galleries that have sprung up in recent years in and around the city’s Old Quarter. It is here in the Old Quarter that Hanoi began life as a commercial centre over a thousand years ago. The original 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter are named after the goods once sold there such as silk, paper, silver, copper, herbs, cotton, fish and chicken. Nowadays the goods on sale are more likely to be t-shirts, sunglasses or embroidered table cloths but step back from the main streets and you will still find shops specializing in candlesticks, pagoda flags, engraved headstones and traditional musical instruments amongst others.

Pho Hanoi

Just to the south of the bustling Old Quarter streets is Hoan Kiem Lake, an oasis of calm right in the centre of the city. Old men, students and weary tourists stop to rest in the shade on the park’s benches while local residents begin their day with a lakeside tai chi workout. Some of the capital’s finest colonial buildings can be found in the area of Hoan Kiem Lake including the magnificent Opera House, History Museum and the Metropole Hotel.

A couple of kilometers west of Hoan Kiem Lake are the imposing granite structure housing Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. The mausoleum overlooks Ba Dinh Square, the square where President Ho Chi Minh read Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence at the end of World War Two. Nearby is the lotus flower-shaped temple of the One Pillar Pagoda, first built in 1049, and the grand palace that was once the residence of the Governor-General of French Indochina.

Like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi also has some great shopping, particularly in the Old Quarter where bargains include silk, embroidery, handicrafts and original works of art. There are some interesting day trip options from Hanoi including Hoa Lu, the site of Vietnam’s first capital, Tam Coc Caves, the Perfume Pagoda and Hoa Binh, the home of many ethnic minority groups.

My favorite assignment 2010

Saveur Magazine sent me on assignment late last year for a story they ran in their December 2008 issue. The assignment was a food feature on Iraqi refugees living and practicing their food traditions in Beirut. The situation was pretty intense for a photographer, let alone a western woman operating in a
Hezbollah-run neighborhood where journalists, especially foreign ones, were prohibited and detained. My access was limited and quick as we didn’t want to draw too much attention to the Iraqi men, which could have been very dangerous for them.
The few nights I spent photographing these gentlemen were amazing. Photographically it was terrible, no electricity, not able to use flash (draws too much attention through the windows, raising suspicion with watchmen patrolling the neighborhood). But when they lit candles for their evening meal signifying the end of their Ramadan Fast it couldn’t have been better. The orange glow from the candles lit their faces just enough to give it the right amount of detail and emotion and capture the moment There we sat on the floor, cut up garbage bags as our table cloth, feasting on spiced chicken stew with chic peas. As I scooped up every bite with flat bread it all tasted like heaven. It was the best meal and the best table I ate at the entire trip. It was one of those moments I’ll always remember because of what it symbolized. The customs and cultural traditions of these Arab Iraqi men don’t allow me to socialize with them , not as a woman, nor as a journalist/photographer. It was my camera that allowed me access to their world. It was a great reminder of how much food can bring us together and give us something in common if only for a few hours. It’s funny how the most incredible experiences can happen in the hardest of situations.

source by http://pennydelossantos.wordpress

Swallowing Clouds-Andrea Ngyuen’s new book

This is an image taken from my most recent assignment, working on Andrea Nguyen‘s newest book due September 2009 (Ten Speed Press). I spent all of last week in San Francisco working with the Andrea and food stylist Karen Shinto photographing some 50 images for the book. Andrea’s first book “Into the Vietnamese Kitchen” was ground breaking for Vietnamese cooking in this country. In her dumpling
book she creates beautiful artisanal dumplings and makes the process of creating these bite size pockets of joy relatively easy. From the famous Shanghai soup dumpling to Malaysia’s onde onde, Andrea’s knowledge and writings about this food will be another first of it’s kind. On a personal note, the dumplings were incredible, I had a really hard time not eating my sets, seriously!

This entry was posted on January 27, 2009 at 8:58 pm and is filed under food with tags culture, dumplings, food, food styling, photography, ten speed press, Vietnam. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
source by http://pennydelossantos.wordpress

FishingGallery on March 2010

On March 29,
Offshore fishing has been UP AND DOWN, one day you could have a wonderful day and the other catch nothing. In other hand, inshore fishing has been better when we fish for full day. It let us reach fishing spots not reached on half days.

On March 27,

- Jake Staser and his girl friend were inshore fishing aboard our Wahoo boat. They caught 3 very good sized dorados and one roosterfish.

Here a few words from Jake:

Genaro,
I just wanted to thank you for arranging our Trip on the Wahoo it was incredible. My girlfriend Jenna and I caught 3 Dorado (MahiMahi), 1 Rooster Fish, and 1 Jack Crevalle. Of course Jenna caught the two 2 40+ lb. Dorado, but I was pretty damn happy about the one I caught and the rooster fish.The captain and first mate both worked very hard to get us into some quality fish! Attached are some photos.
Pura Vida,

On March 26,

- Lois Hartzog and her husband were fishing aboard our WAHOO boat out of Flamingo beach. They released one sailfish.

On March 25,
- Mike Yazurlo and other 3 friends from Tamarindo were deep sea fishing abord our LA CHILA-G boat with Adolfo Mendez capatain. They raised 3 sailfish, released one and a 400 plus pounds black marlin.

On March 21,
The Stanfill family were fishing aboard our LA CHILA-G boat, deep sea fishing out of Tamarindo. They raised 6 sailfish and released 3 of them.

Offshore fishing has been some slow lately, but captains have been reporting some sails and marlin released out of Tamarindo and gulf of Papagayo in last few days.

On March 15,
Offshore fishing has been slow lately; however inshore has been good and boats have been catching rooster, mackarel, jurel, tunas and other inshore species.

On March 13,

- Eric Luthman from the Hilton Papagayo was inshore fishing at the Bat islands. He released one rooster, 3 jack jurel and 3 bonitos.

On March 08,

- Dave Harger from the Grand Papagayo was inshore fishing aboard our Albatres boat. He released 3 roosterfish and caught other inshore species.

On February 21,

- A canadian couple (Alex and Key) fishing out from Playa Conchal aboard our LA CHILA-G boat released a 200pounds blue marlin and kept a 30 plus pounds Wahoo.

- Marck Salesman, his wife and other couple from the JW Marriott in Tamarindo were fishing offshore aboard our CORMORAN boat. They released a 250 plus blue marlin and also caught 2 bull dorados/mahi.

On February 17,

- Marc Chields from the Four Seasons Papagayo was fishing inshore aboard our LA CHILA-G boat. He released a good sized roosterfish.

- David Baldwin and 3 friends were inshore fishing aboard our CORMORAN boat. They released 3 big rooster fish.

On February 15,

- Mike Jacoby and 3 friends from Playa Hermosa were fishing aboard the WAHOO boat for a full day fishing charter. They released 7 roosterfish and caught one 30 pounds barracuda and some tunas used as bait.

On February 14,

- Geroge Rudacille from Playa Panama was fishing for a half day aboard our ALBATRES boat and released a 60 pounds roosterfish.

On February 13,

- Papagayo Marlin fishing: Paul Michael from the Riu Guanacaste was fishing aboard our CORMORAN boat with Jesus Mendez captain. They raised one sail and one marlin which is in the picture above.

On February 09,
- Two couple from Playa Grande, Tamarindo were deep sea fishing aboard our LA CHILA-G with Adolfo Mendez captain. They released one sailfish and caught two big dorado.

On February 05,
- Nicke Brune and 3 friends from Tamarindo beach were fishing aboard the CORMORAN boat. they raised 10 sails and released 6, also caught one dorado for dinner.

On February 04,
- 3 people from the Ocotal beach fishing aboard the WAHOO boat raised 2 sails and released one and caught two mahi-mahi.

On February 02,
- Brenda Euker and her husband were fishing aboard the LA CHILA-G boat. They rised one sail and released a rooster and caught two dorados.

On January 30,
- Two groups in a shared fishing charter from the Riu Guanacaste and Playa Conchal were fishing aboard our CORMORAN. They released one sail and two dorados.

- George Zertopouli and 3 friends were fishing from Tamarindo beach were fishing abord the LA CHILA-G and released one sail and caught two dorados/mahi.

On January 25,

- Rob Corley and a friend from the Hilton Papagayo resort were fishing aboard our CORMORAN boat with jesus Mendez captain. They released a nice Blue marlin and one sailfish.

- All Reed and a friend from the Hilton Papagayo resort were fishing inshore aboard our LA CHILA-G boat with jesus Mendez captain. They released two roosterfish, 4 big needlefish and caught other inshore species.

On December 31,

- Michael Sambrooks from the Riu Guanacaste resort was fishing with us aboard WAHOO boat. He caught two nice dorado/mahi and released one roosterfish.

On December 25,

- James Smith and his wife from the Riu Guanacaste resort where fishing aboard our SEA-SNAKE boat for a half day. They caught two nice dorado/mahi.

On December 23,

- Jason and his wife from the Allegro Papagayo were fishing aboard our CORMORAN boat with Jesus Mendez captain. They released one sailfish and caught a nice mahi-mahi.

On December 20,
- Fishing from the Grand Papagayo resort, Jordan Smidth and his wife aboard the CORMORAN were fishing offshore in the gulf of Papagayo. They released one sail and caught two dorados.

On December 19,

- Leah Eaton and his friend from Flamingo beach were fishing aboard our LA CHILA-G boat with Arnaldo Mendez captain. They released one sail, also caught 3 dorados, 2 yellowfin, 3 bonitos and one red snapper.

- Nelson Mendez aboard the TUNA-FISH boat took Mr. Bobbeck and his family from the Riu Guanacaste resort fishing out to the Catalinas islands. The mate took the first mahi they caught and prepated a fresh "ceviche" what Mr. Bobbeck and his family enjoyed. They also raised 2 sails and released one, also caught 2 yellowfin, one more mahi and 3 bonitos.

December 18,

- Jesus Mendez aboard the Cormoran boat took 3 guys from the Grand Papagayo inshore fishing for a half day. They released one sailfish and caught one dorado for dinner.

On December 12,
Hola, fishing has been up and down lately, we can go offshore one day and catch nothing and the other day catch a marlin or sails and dorados/mahi. Such as yesterday, December 11th, Jesus Mendez aboard the CORMORAN boat took a couple from Allegro Papagayo offshore fishing, out from Catalinas islands, they released a 300lbs Blue marlin, one dorado and one sailfish. In other hand, on Thursday, December 10th, Arnaldo Mendez took 4 guys from the JW Marriott offshore fishing at the same place fished Jesus and they caught nothing. So, we hope things change soon, however there is no guarantee for a great fishing.

- Mike Liederman and his wife from the Four Seasons Resort were fishing for a half day aboard our CORMORAN boat. They caught 6 dorados/mahi.

On December 03,
- Ron Whaley and his wife from the Four Seasons Resort were offshore fishing aboard our LA CHILA-G boat. They caught 6 dorados/mahi and one sailfish.

- Mike Liederman and his wife from the Four Seasons Resort were fishing for a half day aboard our CORMORAN boat. They caught 6 dorados/mahi.

On November 20,
- Cindy Hintz and her husband were fishing out from the Grand Papagayo resort aboard our LA CHILA-G boat with Arnaldo Mendez captain. Deep sea fishing in Tamarindo 10miles from the Catalinas islands they caught 5 dorados and released 3 sailfish.

- The Adriana Martinez friend, from the Ocotal resort was fishing aboard the CORMORAN boat with Adolfo Mendez captain. Offshore fishing out of Tamarindo caught 2 dorados and released one sailfish.

- Wesley Poth and a friend were fishing aboard our WAHOO boat with Lino Guido captain. They don't had a lucky day but caught 2 dorados for dinner.

November 19,

- David Davis from the new Riu Guanacaste resort where fishing aboard the CORMORAN boat. He caught one Mahi, raised two sails and released one of them.

- Kevin Stone and his girl friend, from the Ocotal beach, where fishing aboard the WAHOO boat with Lino Guido captain. They caught 2 dorados for dinner and released one sail.

November 15,

The Jo-Anne Dusseault party from the Grand Papagayo Resort was fishing in Tamarindo aboard our two boats: LA CHILA-G and CORMORAN. From CORMORAN boat reported 3 dorados caught, from LA CHILA-G reported 1 dorado caught, two sailfish and one 200 pounds Black Marlin released.

On November 12,

On this Riu Guanacaste Fishing Charter, Allan Mielke and two more people where fishing in Tamarindo aboard the LA CHILA-G boat. In the morning they caught 4 dorados and released one sailfish.

In the afternoon, Arnaldo Mendez, the captain took them inshore fishing and released on roosterfish.

On November 08,
On a shared charter one person from the Riu Guanacaste and a couple from bahia Brasilito where fishig aboard the CORMORAN boat, they caught 5 dorados.

On November 02,

Edward Ford and his wife from Paradisus Playa Conchal, fishing aboard the Sea Snake boat for a half day inshore charter caught 3 dorados/mahi and one roosterfish in the nearby Catalinas islands.
source by roosterfishing.net and fishing.tv