Month: March 2023

Basic Technology History

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Computers:

First Computer Invented:

Most people when they think of first computer invented they think Bill Gates. This, however, is not true, for the computer was invented long before Bill Gates was around. Bill Gates only revolutionized the computer, buy creating a more compact and useful form of the computer and making it available to everyone with a job.

There are many people out there who would say that the first “computer” was the abacus, invented in Asia about 5000 years ago. I however, wouldn’t.

The first of the “modern” computers was invented during World War II, in 1941 by a German engineer named Konrad Zuse. Its name was the Z3 and it was used to help design German airplanes and missile’s. Then in 1943, the Allied forces developed a computer called Colossus. It helped decode German messages.

The Mark I, designed by Howard H. Aiken, an engineer working with Harvard and IBM. The Mark I was positively huge, taking up half of a football field. It was useful though and it helped to create ballistic charts for the US Navy during the war.

Shortly after this, came the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), developed by John Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly, working with the government and the University of Pennsylvania. ENIAC was about 1000 times faster than The Mark I but no smarter.

The Use of transistors, ment computers that could store memory and even run programs. Soon after computer languages were invented so that people could change the programs run by the computer. Finally computer research brought us smaller, more useful computers, and eventually the kinds of computers that we have today.

First Laptops Invented:

Although it is a little hard to determine what the first portable or laptop computer was, and when it was invented, we can however say that there is more than one claim to laptop fame. There was even signs of laptops dating back as early as 1979. Designed by a Briton, William Moggridge, for use by NASA in early 1980’s. IT was one fifth the weight of any model equivalent in performance and was a 340K byte bubble memory lap-top computer with die-cast magnesium case and folding electroluminescent graphics display screen.

Since then notebook PC’s released in 1981 lay clam to being the first. It was the Epson HX-20, a battery powered portable computer, with a 20-character by 4 line LCD display and a built-in printer that started the new widespread desire for these laptop computers.

In January of 1982, Microsoft’s Kazuhiko Nishi and Bill Gates begin discussions on designing a portable computer, based on using a new liquid crystal display or LCD screen. LCD technology in 1982? Yeah that’s right! Believe it or not we had the technology to make the LCD tvs and monitors that you’ve seen only recently over 22 years ago. But that’s another story in itself.

First PDAs Invented:

First of all PDA stands for personal digital assistants in case you didn’t already know. In 1993, Apple Computer Inc. released the very first PDA(personal digital assistants) “The Newton®”. For the next three years, PDA sales dwindled, and were almost off the charts. Then, in March 1996, Palm(TM), Inc. delivered the industry’s first truly compelling handheld computer, the PalmPilot. Today there are to many PDA companies and products to even bother mentioning.

Some Things You Can Do On A PDA:

Get a Wireless Connection

Surf the Web

Play Music and Video Files

Watch movies Using PocketTV

Play a Game

Use Your Pocket PC as a backup device

Update Office Documents

Download and read E-books

Listen to Audio Books

Connect to Windows servers using Terminal Services

Use Messenger Tools

Change the theme of your Pocket PC

Project the Pocket PC screen onto your desktop

Study

Do Your Taxes

Some PDA Software:

Medical/Drug Resources PDA Software

Medical Calculators PDA Software

Learning Tools PDA Software

Patient Tracking PDA Software

Document Readers PDA Software

Medical Equipment PDA Software

Databases PDA Software

Printing PDA Software

News and Information PDA Services

Street Finders and Maps PDA Software

Bible Study PDA Software

Voice Command PDA Software

Language Translator PDA Software

Tax PDA Software

Home Entertainment Technology:

Home Entertainment really is just a collaboration of all our entertainment technologies into a package that surely will not disappoint us. Home entertainment systems have many different parts that together give us the feeling of being at the movies.

Plasma TV

LCD Panel TV

DLP Rear Projection TV

Video Projectors

Surround Sound Audio Systems

Speakers

DVD / CD / VCR Players

Accessories and Furniture

Satellite Television

Media Center HTPCs

First Television Invented:

The first signs of a tele date back to the 1862 when Abbe Giovanna Caselli invents his “pantelegraph” and becomes the first person to transmit a still image over wires. In 1900, at the World’s Fair in Paris, the 1st International Congress of Electricity was held, where Russian, Constantin Perskyi made the first known use of the word “television.” In 1930 Charles Jenkins broadcasts the first TV commercial. The BBC begins regular TV transmissions.

Then throughout the years the inventions came one after another. In 1950 the FCC approves the first color television standard which is replaced by a second in 1953. Vladimir Zworykin developed a better camera tube – the Vidicon. In 1956 Robert Adler invents the first practical remote control. In 1973 giant screen projection TVs are first marketed. Followed by Sonys release of the first home video cassette recorder in 1976.By time 1996 came around there was a billion TV sets world-wide.

First DVD/Player Invented:

We can only assume the transition over from cd’s and cd players over to dvds and dvd players wasn’t that hard. The technology was already there for them. So the dvd player was surely invented before or right after the dvd was invented. DVDs are the work of many companies and many people. The DVD evolved from CD and related technologies. Companies such as Sony, Philips, Toshiba, Matsushita, Time Warner, and others announced the new “high density” dvd in September of 1995.

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The Secrets of Scientific Street Fighting

Scientific street fighting is all about understanding the human bodies physiological response to a fight and understanding the effectiveness of various street fighting strategies based on statistics.

Scientific street fighting may sound complicated but it’s not. It is actually quite simple. The best part is it is actually easier than learning a martial art. The key is that scientific street fighting eliminates showing difficult to do moves in favor of simple techniques that have a proven track record of success.

So here we go…

How Your Body Reacts To A Street Fight:

The first thing many people notice (and the most important things when it comes to fighting) is that your hands begin to shake. This is not a sign that you are scared; it is your body’s natural reaction to a life threatening situation.

What does this mean for scientific street fighting? It means that fine motor skills shut down, things like hand writing or complex martial arts moves (like joint locks that require several steps). This is critically important so pay attention.

Why in the world would your body shut down fine motor skills when your life is being threatened? The thing is your body sacrifices fine motor stills for increased strength and speed in gross (or large) motor skills. These are much more important things like running, jumping, punching, and kicking.

The key to scientific street fighting is understanding this reaction, and creating a fighting system that takes full advantage of your stronger and faster gross motor skills. Don’t even waste your time trying to learn complex moves your body simple won’t let you use in the heat of the moment.

The loss of fine motor skill is by far the most important part of scientific street fighting but here are a few more reaction that are pretty cool:

Your skin will go pale, because your body is restricting blood flow to the skin. This reduces blood loss from shallow cuts and scrapes you will likely receive.

To save energy you brain stops recording as many short term memories. This is why people often can’t remember exactly what happened after a disaster or fight.

There are a lot of other really cool things your body does to get you ready for a fight, but when it comes to scientific street fighting the number one thing to think about is focusing on gross motor skills.

Any move or technique that will work well in a street fight should be simple and easy to learn. In fact it should not take you more than a few hours to become proficient in any self defense technique.

I’m not saying you will master anything in a few hours, but you should be able to learn it well in this amount of time. If you can’t it’s probably based on fine motor skills that take tons of time to learn. These fancy moves are likely to get you hurt when you really need it.

Okay now for the scientific street fighting statistics…

The number one street fighting statistic you should learn and live by is that the average street fight last between 3 and 8 seconds. That’s right. No 5 minute street boxing scene from some movie, just 3 to 8 seconds of ugliness.

So if you are going to focus on scientific street fighting this means that you need to take care of business fast.

To further illustrate this point I like to use another statistic. The person who hits first is way more likely to win the street fight. If you haven’t figured it out yet hitting first means that for at least one or two of those 3 to 8 seconds you will be ‘winning.’

The last statistic is that after 12 seconds the fight will almost always go to the ground. Now most fights never get to this point. 12 seconds is a long time in a street fight, but if it does go that long it will go to the ground.

What does this mean for scientific street fighting? Well, first of all it means that you should try your best to end it in less than 12 seconds.

Going to the ground dramatically increases your chances of getting seriously hurt. I often tell people nothing good happens on the ground. You will get cuts, scrapes, lose skin on your palms, elbows, knees, and face, and don’t forget about having your head slammed into the concrete (and I didn’t even get to the part where bystanders or you attackers friends start kicking you).

Bottom line, try to end the fight in less than 12 seconds by hitting first, using gross motor skills, and dirty fight moves.

You should also realize that if the fight does go longer than 11 seconds you will need to know how to handle yourself on the ground. There are scientific street fighting skills that will dramatically improve your chances of winning on the ground but I’ll save that for another occasion.

Okay here’s a quick review of scientific street fighting:

  1. Don’t waste your time on fine motor skill moves, they won’t work in a street fight (This is not an opinion it’s a fact).
  2. Use gross motor skills like punching, eye gouging, ear slapping, head butts, kicks and only the simplest joint locks.
  3. Always hit first if you want to win a fight.
  4. Most fights end within 8 seconds so hit him with your nastiest barrage of attacks right from the start (using gross or simple motor skills of course).
  5. End a fight as fast as possible to avoid going to the ground.

For more scientific fighting tips check out my blog at Fightfast.com/blog.

Stay Smart and Stay Safe,

Bob Pierce

President, Fightfast.com

Obi Divination – The Mouthpiece of the Orichas

“Ago Obi, ago Obi, ago Obi”

The prayers begin for Obi, the binary system of divination from the Yoruba religion to obtain “Yes” and “No” answers to questions in various levels of intensity and meaning. This system, crucial to all in the African religious concepts under the major heading of Ifa and their various levels of dilution under the categories of Lukumi and Santeria, are a methodology of the ways Nigerian kola nuts (Obi Abata), fresh coconut meat (darle el coco) and four cowrie shells speak to us and are considered the ‘mouthpieces’ of the Orichas. The Orichas, as they are collectively known as, are African based Gods and Goddesses of Nature who rule various places and elements of the World and are considered ‘guardian angels’ of each and everyone who inhabits the Earth. Each and every one of us is considered having that particular Deities’ “Ache” or “spirit” and it is within the patakis, or stories of the Orichas’ interactions with each other and the World that the lesson is given or the message is delivered.

The spirit of Obi, once a mortal on earth, ascended to being an Oricha once good deeds had been done, fell from Grace because of Ego. Upon descending to Earth, Obi’s spirit embodied the coconut palm tree. Although Obi cannot speak with the use of his tongue, he communicates through the white (“clean”) side or brown (“dark”) of coconut meat. If cowrie shells are used, it is the side that has been filed open to indicate “Yes” (“clean”) and the closed ridged side that indicates a “No” (“dark”) side of the answer pattern that fell during questioning.

After ritual libations and prayers, some utilize Obi divination with coconut to answer questions during a divination reading in the presence of the client. Obi also gives clarity to confusion in regards to the message of the cards when used with cowrie shells in a tarot card reading for a client. Clients can ask Obi a question and the consultant or spiritual worker may also be prompted to ask as well when the layers of cards upon themselves are not in association with the clients’ dilemma. Obi divination is not to be taken lightly and is regarded as a tool to help Mankind seek clarity in decision making, regardless of whether you are fully initiated into the religion or not. There are 5 levels of intensity to Obi; two affirmative or positive in different severities, two negative or “no” answers, and a “maybe” answer that needs a second question to extract a less ambiguous answer.

The five different shell patterns that will fall during a questioning session are as follows:

“Alafia” – “Yes with blessings!” – This is the most affirmative answer but because it can be over eager in it’s delivery, it must have a second toss to confirm and secure the answer. The second fall of the cowries must be another “Alafia” or an “Ejife” or “Etagua” answer to be taken as a “Yes” answer.

“Ejife” – “Yes” (but without emphasis) – This affirmative answer is interpreted as a “Yes, and your World is balanced”, meaning that what you have proposed or achieved (or about to) brings balance to the give/take, yes/no, or contradictory struggles of the World to keep in harmony.

“Etagua” (or “Etawa”) – “Maybe” – This answer comes up when the question needs clarification (posing it in a way to be able to obtain a “Yes” or “No” answer to begin with) or Oricha is pondering the whole situation and needs a second question that has been ‘tweaked’ to be able to answer. When Etagua appears, the second answer of the second toss of shells is the true answer. If another “Etagua” (Etagua-Meji) falls after the first one, the meaning is “do not ask what you already know”.

“Okana” – meaning darkness is surrounding the client and a positive outcome is not available, perhaps without additional spiritual work. One open shell and three closed ones indicate to focus on the small beam of light in the darkness.

“Oyekun” – The most serious “No” answer as it tells of the client being out of touch with their spirituality and walking in darkness. This is a dire warning; it presages unforeseen problems, accidents, fires and even portends death. Additional questions need to be asked in the clients’ behalf to determine why Oyekun has come. Water must be sprinkled on Oyekun and if it appears more than once, the shells must be placed in water to ‘cool’ down the answer.

After the full tarot card reading, the client has an opportunity to ask questions that were not addressed in the card reading. These may be of additional clarity on the original shell toss or other unrelated questions on relationships and business strategies. Once we begin to receive multiple “Etaguas” to questions in an obvious pattern, this is an indication that the line of questioning needs to end as the client is asking questions to obvious answers in front of their face.

While not always an immediate answer, Obi gives insight on things to come. It is no mystery that clients who return for a follow up reading three months later will exclaim, “The shells were right! I just didn’t see it (the situation) evolving before me!” and other affirmations that indicate that revelations of Truth that Obi gives come true. For me, as well as over 70 million plus devotees of this African indigenous religion, we know Obi does not lie.

Layap – The Nomadic Herders of Bhutan

The mule skids on the wet ice and slides forward on the steep track. The man springs forward and grabs it by the muzzle. They both strain against the slope, breaking skids on the edge of the sheer precipice. The mule is lying on its belly, its forelegs dangling over the cliff. Braced precariously, inches from edge, the man strains to hold the animal on the narrow track. Within seconds, the man’s teenage son runs back and deftly unloads the mule, handing over the heavy packs to the woman standing behind the animal, holding it by its tail. Together they haul the mule back on the path. Far below them the mist swirls over the jagged rocks which line the bottom of the deep gorge.

A few meters behind, a 73 year old woman is sitting on an icy path, inching forward on her buttocks, using both her hand and feet to maintain her balance. She sits still and watches calmly as her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson save the family mule and a year supply of food grain.

An hour later, along with other families, they reach a swift stream. Without a thought the men, women, children hitch up their Ghos and Kiras (Bhutanese dress) to the waist and wade across, oblivious of the water which is at about freezing point. Young men pass lewd remarks at the women who are forced to expose their upper thighs to avoid getting their kiras wet. The women respond with quick witty remarks.

By evening, families are camped along the way in caves or under leafy trees. They care for the horses first and then sit down to a simple hot meal. By dark, after a few bottles of Ara and Sinchang (Local brewed alcohol and wine); they share their experience of the past months. This year, the highlight was the meeting in Gasa (District Head Quarters), where they met their King and Queens. They marvel that their king walked just as they did, all the way.

THE LAND

The four day journey from Punakha, usually stretched over several weeks as they relay a year’s food supply, brings the Layaps home to one of the most spectacular region in the Kingdom of Bhutan, the raw natural beauty of the high alpine range.

Spreading upwards from 12000 feet above sea level, Laya sits on the Lap of the 7100 meters Masagang, One of Bhutan’s 20 virgin peaks which are above 7000 meters. The mixed conifer forest above Gasa Dzong, dotted with maple and rhododendron in full bloom, merge into groves of birch, juniper, maple and mountain cane. The entire slopes are richly colored by wild flowers.

Across Bari-la and Kohi lapcha, two rugged passes, the terrain leaves behind the tree- line and the vast alpine grassland undulate towards the great northern glaciers. High above the crystal waterfalls which often cut through the ice formations on the cliff side, and the clear rapid streams, are their sources, the turquoise fresh water lakes many of which the local population hold in sacred awe.

This is the world where the snow leopards roam, where the blue sheep, Sambar, and Musk deer graze in solitude. Lower down, this is the home of Takin, the Himalayan black bear, numerous deer and the wild dog. The winged inhabitants of the region include the raven, wild pheasants, snow pigeons, the red billed cough, the alpine swift, the snow partridge, and the black necked crane.

HISTORY

The Layaps called their home Bayu, the hidden land, with good reasons. The cluster of villages is completely hidden by ridges and appears suddenly when the travelers reaches the first houses. The people believe that they are protected by an ancient gate leading to the main village. It was here that their guardian deities kept a Tibetan invasion at bay. In an important annual ceremony, the Layaps pay homage to the protective forces which turned all the stones and trees around the gate into soldiers to repel the invaders.

But if such legend is history in Laya, history is also Legend. This was the place where Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal entered Bhutan. In a journey which resounds with conquest of human and supernatural dimensions the Shabdrung crossed a chain of Mighty Himalayan ridges and entered Laya from Tibet. In a small meadow below the villages, called Taje-kha a chorten shelters the footprints of the shabdrung and his horse.

History and legend are still the realities of today. The pristine mountain ranges have not succumbed to changes over the centuries. Neither have its people, like in many other parts of Bhutan, the land nor have the people existed in a harmony which the modern world does not adequately appreciate. And it is in this context that the Layaps must be viewed. It is against this rugged backdrop that they must be understood.

THE PEOPLE

“The Layap smell”, is one well known comment. “You cannot depend on the Layaps, is another, often from civil servants. “The Layaps are backward”, say people living in the lower valleys. “The Layaps are alcoholics,” say many who know them, most people stop to look when a layap woman passes by in her distinct, perhaps ‘quaint’ kira. Some would point her out to friends.

The Layaps is all of these, if you do not look beyond the surface or if you do not understand him in the right context. A discerning observer would probably find, however, that the Layap has far more substantial qualities to be admired than those passing these derogatory comments.

If the Layaps are weather beaten as the alpine rangelands they are as untamed and unpredictable as the forces of nature which are sometimes harsh That is why, perhaps, the frustration of a civil servants who finds that the Layap cannot be bound to a deadline or even to a responsibility. When you call them they always say yes but never turn up, explains one District official.

The Layaps are also as open as their environment, normally free of social inhibition. Men and women are open and relaxed on issues like the boundaries sexual behavior. This, in fact is, often exploited by occasional visitors like tourist guides, military patrolmen, and civil servants.

Survival has also sharpened the wiles of the Layap. Today, it is a nightmare for District officials to pin a Layap herder down on a number of yaks in his herd because he wants to avoid tax. Call a Layap family for official duty during the busy season and the best bet is an old woman who is not needed at home.

But inside the rough Layap exterior is a tenderness which is invisible to the casual observer. Every Layap, for example, identifies with a 46 year old horse owner who risked his life to scale and icy cliff to his horse which had fallen. The man was oblivious to the bitter cold as he sat with his dying horse for two days, feeding the animal water from his cupped palm, the water mixed with his tears.

The Layaps are most tender in their feelings for the Yaks which are the mainstay of their semi-nomadic existence. They officially own about 2000 of Bhutan’s 30000 yak population, both believed to be reduced figures. The 300 to 400 KG beast of burden is a source of food, shelter, draught power, transportation and part of the layap Identity.

THE LIFE

The carefree life-style comes with the alcohol consumption by the layap men. Nearly every men drinks heavily, often losing time, effort and hard earned money in drunken stupors and converting all the hard toiled food grain into alcohol. 63 years old Ap Tshering claims to be a typical example of the Layap man. “I have lived a hard life,” he says with a proud smile. “Now I have two important goals in life. I brew sinchang (local wine) during the day and I drink it at night.”

In this patriarchal society where girls are married early and move to the husband’s home, polyandry is on the decline. With clear cut gender roles the woman bears a serious domestic responsibility, looking after the Yak herds, digging the fields, weaving the traditional clothing, and generally keeping the home and family together. The men are responsible for trade and the transportation of goods, their own and for the Government.

THE COMMUNITY

With about 60,000 semi nomadic pastoralists spread across the kingdom’s northern region, the 800 or so layaps share a strong community spirit. They are fiercely protective about the image of their community. Internal squabbles are normally settled within the community and even a child will not divulge the name of a Layap who is guilty of some wrong doing.

As a community, the Layaps are also proud of their self sufficiency in the basic necessities of life despite the day to day physical difficulties. Wealth is measured by the number of Yaks in a herd or the volume of rice. The Layaps are also quick to inform the visitors that they constitute an important proportion of the Workforce in Gasa District.

THE SPIRITUAL

There is a strong spiritual element in the cohesion of the Layap community. The men pay obeisance to their Pho-la, the local guardian deity. Every archery match, every business trip, every journey, every development project starts with a prayer at the Pho-la’s sacred shrine, a small chorten above the village.

Like the broader Bhutanese society the advice of the village astrologer is sought on most activities and the local medium is usually consulted during illness. It is the legacy of the Shabdrung that the Layaps celebrate the Bumkar festival to plant barley and the Aulay festival during harvest.

A superstition is strong and is, in fact, one of the protective forces of the Layap identity. E.g., the distinctive Kira (women’s cloth) of Layap women has been kept partly because of the belief in its necessity. A superstition also controls etiquette and other aspects of the local traditions.

TRADE

The layaps are traders, bartering their animal products for food grain and other edibles every winter. Starting in late October, when nature offers a respite between the rains and the snow, they move to Punakha, their horses and every person laden with Yak meat, butter cheese, incense plants from the wilderness and sometime trans border goods like dried fish, shoes and brick tea. By March, when the trail becomes accessible, they move back with rice, oil, salt, sugar, chillies, clothing and shoes.

The only relief in this annual venture is a visit to the popular Gasa Tshachhu (hot spring) where they join people from all parts of the country in the baths which are believed to be of curative value and a boost to general health.

Yak products account for 49% of Layaps earning, 18% comes from trade, 15% from animal transport and 4% from tourism, the last benefiting only 5 or 6 horse owners who are in contract with tour operators in Thimphu.

CHANGE

It is largely the exposure from these annual trips that have given Layaps a view of a rapidly changing world outside. A handful has ventured as far as Thimphu. And, in recent years, they have watched the widening gap in economic progress with some dismay.

The urge to reach out and pluck the fruits of progress which their fellow citizens are enjoying is beginning to gnaw at the roots of Layap culture. The goal of one man was to build a house like the one he saw in Punakha, a woman preferred a car so she would be spared a heavy loads, a young girl envied the Punakha School girls, and an eight year old boy rolled his father’s hat around the campfire, his mind on the plastic toy cars he had seen in the shops.

Two women who had been selected to visit Thimphu in a cultural entertainment team returned embarrassed about their Kiras because they were clumsy compared with the nylon kiras of the Thimphu women. When told by a Thimphu official that the beautiful and unique Laya kira should be preserved she retorted. “So you can send tourists to take photographs of us?”

PROGRESS

It is an enlightened policy that the Royal Government of Bhutan has sensitively pursued in the mountains of Laya. The goal is to improve the life of the people without upsetting the delicate balance in the distinct cultural identity of the people, the pristine natural ranges, and the rich wildlife.

Finely tuned to the migratory pattern of the people, the priorities reflect an emphasis on improving the Yak herds and fodder, on the crops, on the road, and on the transportation of goods.

But the main benefits of development in Laya have come from the establishment of Health unit, a veterinary service, and the School. The Layaps however, place their long term hopes on a 100 or so children who represent the education of the community.

The Layaps have not been aware of the image of backwardness they suffer among a section of Bhutan’s population. “Once educated, our children can face other people with pride,” said one weary mother. A 56 year old father summed up the general sentiments, “Last month, when I went to Thimphu, my son read the bus ticket and showed me where to sit,” he said glowing with pride, his right hand gripping the boys shoulder. “I did not have to face the shame of sitting in the wrong seat.”

BEING A LAYAP

Laya today confronts an issue which Bhutan, as a nation, has been grappling with for the past four decades. If change is inevitable, will the experience be more harsh than the bitter winds which blow over the mountains?

It is a question with a familiar ring to it. It is a question facing Bhutan. The Layaps represents the Bhutanese population on a smaller scale, the harmony with their natural environment, the deep pride in their unique cultural identity, and the fierce will to protect their home.

“We Layaps have our good points and bad points.” Explains one village elder. “But in the end, our biggest pride is our land and our self. Yes we go out to trade, buy supplies, to drink, to flirt. We complain about our hardships, the heavy workload, and the tough road. We are embarrassed about our backwardness. But we would never want to be anything but a Layap.”

Tips to Finding the Best Spa Resort Hotel to Meet Your Particular Vacation Needs

Spending a few days or a week at a luxury spa resort hotel is the dream of thousands of people who are looking for that perfect place to relax and rejuvenate after weeks of hard work at the office. Choosing a hotel isn’t always an easy task, but there are some simple steps you can follow to find that perfect match that meets your vacation needs to perfection, ensuring you get the luxurious and relaxing stay that you expect and deserve.

The very first step you are going to want to take when it comes to selecting a spa resort hotel is to set yourself a budget. Having a budget in mind can help you narrow down your search and eliminates the risk of you wasting time on establishments that are simply too expensive or those that are cheap and don’t meet your needs exactly. With a set budget in mind you can start searching online to find your dream vacation paradise, a chance to unwind, rejuvenate and relax, giving you that skip in your step you need when returning to the office.

Consider the type of spa vacation you are looking for. Do you want to spend time in a beautiful desert oasis? What about near the beach? Maybe you’re already heading to a busy city and are looking for the perfect spa resort hotel on the outskirts of town which you can take advantage of for a few days. Knowing the type of vacation you want can help you narrow down your search considerably and ensure that you focus your attention on locations that can provide you with the spa vacation you want and deserve.

The next step of the process, before you even start searching the internet is to decide where you want to visit. You may have an area in mind, maybe another country. Knowing where you want to visit will enable you to search for that particular area, ensuring that you eliminate locations which are not going to tick the boxes for you and will provide you with the spa vacation you need to give your body the rest it so desperately deserves.

You will also want to pay some consideration to who you will be travelling with. Are you travelling as a group of friends, business associates or family. Are you traveling with your loved one? This will enable you to choose a spa resort hotel that matches your vacation ideals, but also those of your companions, ensuring that you all have an enjoyable and memorable vacation experience that you will remember for years to come.

With all of this in mind, you are going to want to start doing an online search, matching all your specific criteria with the spa resort hotels available. Focus your attention on the spa treatments offered, to ensure that you are going to have the relaxing experience you need and that when you return home after your stay you will feel relaxed, rejuvenated and refreshed, ready to tackle the world.

You will want to compare the spa resort hotels, learn as much as you can about them and the packages they provide. Ensure you read through the guest reviews to get a good feel of what they offer and the service they provide. Once you feel confidence you have found your perfect match book and pay your deposit.

Remember to book early. There is a demand for spa resort hotels and some hotels also offer special discounts for early bookings, giving you more for your money and making your travel budget go that little bit further.

Expat Life in Sri Lanka, Colombo

I recently visited the wonderful island of Sri Lanka, and found a country full of surprises.

Sri Lanka is situated just south of India, in the Indian Ocean. Once known as the Dominium of Ceylon and often referred to as the tea country, tea plantations abundantly thrive across the island, with spice gardens, banana and coconut palms growing randomly to create a jungle of natural resources.

People, animals and transport seem to co-exist side by side with no animosity towards each other. Dogs wonder aimlessly across or bask in the sun at the side of roads, cows and goats roam around everywhere, even on the beaches (which I found rather amusing) and people are everywhere, whether walking, cycling, using a tuc-tuc, motorbike with 5 astride, in a taxi, bus, car or truck, each takes up a space of the not too wide road. But co-exist they do, there is no anger at being stuck behind a truck, merely a short hooting of the horn to say I am here and would like to pass, politeness abounds and the expression and sounds are all of friendliness, within a country that sorely needs help at redeveloping itself since the tsunami. People are poor and yet happiness is everywhere…. Not just for the child on the hip or the person at their side, but for expats and tourists as well.

Tourists fluctuate towards the resorts and some chance the areas slightly outside of these areas, to experience a quieter less harassed holiday. Small pockets of expats can be found, dotted all over the country. When you bump into these people and chat about life on the island, there is not much to complain about. Yes, sometimes the water gets turned off or the electricity, yes the internet is not as fast as they would like it to be. Isn’t that how most people feel in developed countries anyway: The faster it gets the faster we want it. In this little piece of paradise, expats are not too concerned that it takes a little longer to do things here, the people are prepared to wait, not too hasty to move forward too quickly. There was a lot of talk and concern about the elections and safety within the country and there are still road blockades and police / army personnel with guns wandering around keeping peace if necessary. However, with 70% of the population being Buddhists, the lifestyle is peaceful and life simplistic.

From an expat perspective, I could not fault the lifestyle. As said above, yes there are definite things missing, things are slower, it takes a good 4 – 6 hours to get from Colombo to Galle and similarly to anywhere about 200km’s apart. I cannot say that the roads are particularly in good condition, but in the 10 days that I visited, I did not see one accident. Hardships could include the lack of being able to get from one part of the island to another quickly, the lack of fast internet connection, perhaps the human waste / refuse, which allows for the influx of flies, the dirt which is left to lie around and lastly the lack of funds to rebuild the country to what it was before the Tsunami.

Having said that, I have to look at all the good things that you find there, the beauty of the natural resources, how the nationals and expats are trying to rebuild the country, the beaches, game parks and mountains. This is truly a beautiful part of the world.

Expat Cost of living summary

The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR

The Exchange rate as at 15 January 2010 was $1 = 114.217 Rupees

I am going to break the Cost of living down according to some of the basket items:

Alcohol and Tobacco: Alcohol at Bar, Beer, Cigarettes, Locally Produced Spirit, Whiskey, Wine

Cigarettes (20s) – $3.14 to $9

Domestic Beer(500ml) – $2.50

Imported Beer (330ml) – $5.80

Wine at a bar – $6 a glass

Wine at a shop – $15 (750ml bottle)

Hotels tend to increase the prices of alcohol as it is the one way that they can make a profit. There are many small hotels and restaurants which create a competitive edge to where you can stay.

Clothing: Business Suits, Casual Clothing, Children’s Clothing and footwear, Coats and hats, Evening Wear, Shoe Repairs, Underwear

Casual Long Sleeved Shirt (Men) – $12

Casual Long Sleeved Trousers (Men) – $20

Shorts (Men) – $11

T-Shirt (Men) – $6

Casual Blouse (Women) – $7

Casual Skirt (Women) – $12

Children’s Jeans (Boys) – $5

Children’s Jeans (Girls) – $3.50

Children’s Shirt(Boys) – $5

Children’s Shirt(Girls) – $4

Clothes are extremely cheap, in Colombo a person can get most of the name branded clothing at fairly reasonable prices in Factory shops.

Communication: Home Telephone Rental and Call Charges, Internet Connection and service provider fees, Mobile / Cellular Phone Contract and Calls

Monthly phone rental – $4.36

Phone call rate – $0.05 for a local call

Internet line connection fee – $104 (buy all equipment with installation)

Internet service provider fee – $17 (1 geg free thereafter)

Monthly mobile contract fee – $2.18 (for the year)

Mobile / cellular call rate – 90% of phones are prepaid,

Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call – $38

– $0.012 – $0.05 sms peak times

Due to so many of the nationals working overseas to send money home, the communication costs are extremely low and there are often special deals or no cost is involved in the actual call.

Education: Creche / Pre-School Fees, High School / College Fees, Primary School Fees, Tertiary Study Fees

Annual Creche fee – $4.36 per month

Annual Primary school fee – $260 – $436 per month

Annual High School fee – $260 – $436 per month

Annual 1st Year Tertiary / University fee – $260 to $436 per month (dependent on which

private school they go to)

Private schooling is the most expensive on the island for expat children to attend, however the rates in comparison to other countries are reasonable. Expats that I came across spoke highly of the education system in the country and were happy with the private education that their children were receiving.

Furniture and Appliances: DVD Player, Fridge Freezer, Iron, Kettle, Toaster, microwave, Light Bulbs, Television, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine

DVD Player – $87

Fridge / Freezer – $489 (LG / Whirlpool – 4 year guarantee)

Iron – $12 cheap to $35 top of the range

Kettle – $20 cheap to $37 top of the range

Microwave – $191

TV 21 inch – $244 (2 year guarantee)

Washing Machine LG – $570

Discounts can be negotiated with stores on all items

Groceries bought in a grocery store: Baby Consumables, Baked Goods, Baking, Canned Foods, Cheese, Cleaning Products, Dairy, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Fruit Juices, Frozen, Meat, Oil & Vinegars, Pet Food, Pre-Prepared Meals, Sauces, Seafood, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Spices & Herbs

Powdered baby formula (400g) – $7

Plain biscuits (100g) – $0.20

Loaf white bread (200g) – $0.70

Cake Flour (1kg) – $2.80

Baked Beans (415g) – $1.92

Tuna (185g) – $2.75

Cheese: Cheddar (250g) – $6.63

Crisps: Pringles (139g) – $2.50

Autowash clothing powder (750g) – $1.57

Dishwash liquid (500g) – $0.87

Clothing Softener (2l) – $5.40

Breakfast Cereal (250g) – $2.45

Butter (227g) – $2.18

Milk (1l) – $1.40

Eggs (12) – $1.80

Orange Juice (1l) – $2.80

Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1kg) – $6.20

Cooking oil (1l) – $3.22

Olive oil (500ml) – $8.28

Can of cola (355ml) – $1.00

Local Fizzy Soft Drink (1l) – $1.30

Local Natural Mineral Water (5l) – $1.08

Tea Bags (200g) – $1.85

Instant Coffee (100g) – $6.75

Local Ground Coffee (200g) – $3.66

Salt (400g) – $0.26

Pepper (400g) – $0.35

Prices were obtained from local grocery stores, there are no big department stores to shop in.

Healthcare: General Practitioner Consultation rates, Hospital Private Ward Daily, Rate, Non-Prescription Medicine, Private Medical Insurance / Medical Aid Contributions

GP Private rate visit with meds – $3.50

Hospital Private ward rates – $28 per day

Dentistry – Tooth extraction – $4.35

Most expats use Bupa or the Sri Lankan Equivalent

Household: House / Flat Mortgage, House / Flat Rental, Household Electricity Consumption, Household Gas / Fuel Consumption, Household Water Consumption, Local Property Rates / Taxes / Levies

Rent 2 bed Apartment City Centre – $700

Rent 2 bed Apartment outside of City Centre – $600

Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage per – $80 to $90 per month for an average

household, this is expensive when taking household

air conditioning into account

Gas / Fuel – 12 ½ kg bottle – $14

Local property Rates – 8 to 10% of value of property

Expats cannot buy a property directly, this has to be done via a Lawyer who owns the property. Mortgage for locals is 4/5%. This is where most expats find the costs creep in, running the air conditioners is extremely expensive as well as the cost of water.

Miscellaneous: Domestic Help, Dry Cleaning, Linen, Office Supplies, Newspapers and Magazines, Postage Stamps

Domestic Rates – full time per person – $80 average

1 Black inkjet printer cartridge – $14

1 Color inkjet printer cartridge – $21

500 sheets printer paper – $5.23

Local Daily Newspaper – $0.17

International Daily Newspaper – $0.45

International Magazine – $20

International Airmail Stamps – $0.22

Domestic Stamps – $0.12

Domestic help is cheap and most employees either live on the property or close by. Office supplies are reasonable, with CD’s and DVD’s freely available on the street where most locals buy them.

Personal Care: Cosmetics, Haircare, Moisturiser / Sun Block, Nappies, Pain Relief Tablets, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Soap / Shampoo / Conditioner

Body lotion (400ml) Vaseline Intensive car – $4.53

Toilet paper 1 ply per roll – $0.50

Toothpaste (200g) – $1.92

Shampoo (200ml) – $2.40

Some of the items that can be purchased can be expensive, like creams, sunblocks and cosmetic creams. Name brand products are the most expensive.

Recreation and Culture: Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD’s, Sports goods, Theatre Ticket

Books paper back – $10

Cinema ticket – $0.50

DVD / CD Imported – $2

Cricket ticket – $0.50 to $8

Theatre Ticket – only in Colombo – $30

Hard cover books are expensive in the country, but paper back books are of a similar cost to the US and UK. Cinema tickets are cheap due to the availability of cheap DVD replicas which can be bought on street corners. International cricket tickets are also kept cheap for the local population.

Restaurants / Meals out / Hotels: Business Dinner, Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away Drinks & Snacks (fast Food)

Business Dinner excl Alcohol – $22 per person

Dinner / lunch at local restaurant – $8 per person

McDonalds Big Mac – $4.10

Hotel Rates 3* – $8 to $50 pppn

Hotel Rates 4* – $80 to $120 pppn

Hotel Rates 5* – $140 pppn upwards

Take away – Can of cola x 1 – $0.70

Medium pizza – $3.50

Hamburger – $2.00

Coffee – pot x 3 cups – $1.40

As in most countries how much you pay for a meal is dependent on where you go, the local restaurants have great local meals, as well as international flavours, we found a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Galle, well worth a visit and all prices were fairly cheap. Some restaurants do take advantage of the tourist population and serve sub standard meals. However, most restaurants were good with their portions and meal plans.

Transport: Hire Purchase / Lease of Vehicle, Petrol / Diesel, Public Transport, Service Maintenance, Tyres, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Purchase

Hire / Lease car – Sedan Toyota Corolla – $37.14 per day for 1 week

Hire / Lease car – Toyota RAV4 – $46.71 per day for 1 week

Petrol unleaded per litre – $1.23

Diesel per litre – $0.64

Bus Ticket (one way) – $1.00

Taxi Ride – per km – $0.50

Tuc Tuc – 10 km ride – $6.00

Train Ticket 2nd class – $1.57

If you are visiting I would suggest you use the local taxis and tuc-tucs, driving can be a head-ache and unpleasant experience if you are not used to the local norms. However, speeds do not go over 80km on the bigger roads and overall a safe place to drive.

The above detail are some of the items form the basis of the cost of living indexes for each basket group in the Xpatulator calculators, these costs are then used with their indexes and exchange rates to calculate the cost of living in different locations.

For more information on Sri Lanka read more at www.xpatulator.com/outside.cfm.

Welcome to Tanzania!

Tanzania is blessed with natural beauty and extraordinary wildlife. It is the largest country in East Africa, nearly a million square kilometers (386,109 square miles). Agriculture dominates the economy with the vast majority of its crop exports consisting of coffee, tea, cotton, cashews, sisal, cloves and pyrethrum. While somewhat unreliable cash flows frustrate farmers, government intervention is having a significant and positive impact on the country’s economy.

In 1986, to help improve the country’s economy, the Tanzanian government established new policies including reducing its budget deficit, easing trade policies and reducing food crop restrictions. In addition, as a result of significant U.S. funding and numerous international groups in the mining, agricultural, gas and oil, insurance and tourism industries increasing their staff and presence in the country, Tanzania enjoyed a 16% increase in Foreign Direct Investment in 2007.

Tanzania has been growing at approximately 4% a year and is now a fully integrated democratic society that is developing into one of Africa’s most vibrant economies. Dodoma is the capital city and is home to the country’s parliament and government offices. It is situated 440 kilometers (273 miles) due west of Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital. Dar es Salaam is a city that is over five centuries old. It is a mix of African, Arabian, Asian and European cultures. Tanzanians are extremely friendly and will stop to assist foreigners in any way they can.

For someone first arriving in Dar es Salaam by air, they will see a large area with high palm trees and mud dwellings as far as the eye can see. Once on the ground, the buildings are haphazardly constructed and not very clean. By contrast the international hotels are of good quality and well situated to take advantage of the seascapes.

The city is divided into 4 distinct areas: The “town center” is a mixture of office buildings, hotels, restaurants, bars, night clubs, parks and sports facilities. The “peninsular” is where most of the diplomats and expatriates live. It boasts spectacular views of the sea, hosts local restaurants, shops, hotels and has a sailing club. Then, there are the coastal homes and resorts which span 20 to 30 kilometers (12 to 19 miles) north and south of Dar es Salaam. The remainder of the city, unfortunately, is characterized by low-cost housing, with a large population of three to four million people living close to the poverty line.

Dar es Salaam has changed dramatically from socialism to a more capitalist-aligned government over the last 15 years. The influx of diplomats, big business and foreign aid donations have resulted in a gradual improvement in the living standards of the local population. The infrastructure and public facilities are also improving each year–frequent power failures of the past are becoming much less frequent. Water and sewage problems remain high on the government’s list of priorities.

Swahili is the official language of Tanzania, but for business communications, English is almost always used. A person can function quite easily in the city without knowing Swahili, but learning it does make it easier to assimilate, shop and barter in the local communities.

Being polite and greeting Tanzanians is the most important thing you can remember and preferably if it is done in Swahili. Visitors should try not to raise their voices, even if patience is tested. Dar es Salaam is a Muslim environment and one should be very understanding of the Muslim customs.

Dar es Salaam is extremely hot most of the year around and unless you have an office or house equipped with fans or a good air-conditioning system, you will feel drained by the high temperatures which are generally 30 degrees C (86 degrees F), and in summer, closer to 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) with humidity very close to 100%. Torrential showers come and go without much notice. One can escape from the heat on weekends by going to one of the many beaches.

Foreigners seeking to enter Tanzania should have a valid passport. The passport is to be presented to an Immigration Officer at any entry point, border station, airport or harbor. It must be presented with a Visa, a Residence Permit or a Pass, which is for those in transit en route to another destination.

There are five types of visas: The “Ordinary Visa” is issued at any Tanzanian mission abroad. However, if you arrive at the check point without a visa, you can obtain one at the entry point at a cost of US $50. The “Business Visa,” which is called a CTA, is issued to potential investors or business people trying to establish professional contacts. It is valid for two months. It costs US $100, in addition to the entry visa cost. If the business person leaves the country, they need to get the entry visa and CTA visa again when entering. The “Multiple-Entry Visas” are issued to foreigners who, due to business commitments, are required to make multiple entries. The validity can be from one month to one year. The “Referred Visa” requires special clearance from the Director of Immigration or Principal Immigration officer in Zanzibar. This is usually for people from Lebanon, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Somalia, refugees, stateless people and any other country as specified by the authorities. Applications are made to any Tanzanian missions abroad and cannot be obtained at entry points. Finally, the “Transit Visa” is issued for those who wish to cross Tanzania and the validity is two weeks. It is for those people holding onward tickets.

Visas can be obtained at the airport and if arriving by land or sea, at the port of entry. Although the government has officially stopped asking for yellow fever certificates, it is still advisable to obtain and carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Weapons, pornographic material, fresh food and cars more than 10 years old should not be brought into Tanzania.

There are two types of work permits, each requiring different documents including resumes, cover letters, academic qualifications and personal photographs. A special type of Work Permit is given specifically to those who successfully apply and possess rare qualifications or skills. These are usually granted to those in highly technical occupations that are not readily available in the local labor market including doctors, pilots, lawyers and accountants.

With a residence permit, spouses and dependents are permitted to stay in Tanzania for the duration of the working relative’s stay. They generally do not work, but there are some exceptions based on specific criteria. A passport is the main document used to verify identity in Tanzania. Apart from getting a Tanzanian driver’s license, no other documentation is required.

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (Shilingi). The notes are TSH 10,000 (red, elephant), TSH 5,000 (purple, rhino), TSH 1,000 (blue, late President Nyerere), TSH 500 (green, buffalo) and TSH 2,00 (brown, Zanzibar Fort). The coins are TSH 200, 100, 50 and 25. TSH 20, 10 and 5 are out of circulation and while they still may be used in banks, are no longer issued or used. Bureau of Exchanges are located throughout the city. The rates vary so it wise to shop around. Hotels will also exchange foreign currency, but at higher rates.

Cash is the most commonly-used payment for everyday purchases e.g., groceries, etc. It is essential for such things as cooking gas, fuel for the car, restaurants, drinks at bars, taxis and most other daily purchases. Recently, larger shops have started accepting Visa and MasterCard and some places will accept American Express, but it is still advisable to have cash available in case of problems with the unreliable machines.

Credit cards are accepted in hotels and some very select restaurants, which will charge a 5% fee. In most instances, you will need Tanzanian shillings. Foreign cash is accepted, but at shocking exchange rates. Some institutions insist on being paid in U.S. dollars, but you have the right to pay in Shillings. However, you will more than likely get a poor exchange rate.

As a foreigner you are able to open a private bank account with a minimum of 50,000 Tanzanian Shillings, 1,000 U.S.-dollars and sometimes with 1,000 Euros, but you will need a work/residence permit, two passport-size photographs, a letter of appointment from your employer and a cash deposit in order to do so. All banks use English and Swahili as the language of correspondence. Provided you have sufficient funds, you can transfer and remit any amount of currency out of the country. Conversely, you can transfer in as much as you want, but it will be converted into the currency of your accounts.

Banking hours on weekdays are normally 08:30 am to 15:30 pm and Saturdays, from 09:00 am to noon. There are over 30 banks with Barclay’s, Standard Chartered, Stanbic, Bank of Baroda, FBME, and Citibank being the more well known internationally. Most banks have ATMs and offer Visa, and MasterCard facilities. Cash is dispensed in Tanzanian Shillings. TSH 400,000 is usually the maximum allowed to be withdrawn at one time. Traveler’s cheques are generally only accepted and exchanged at banks, hotels and bureaus of exchange. Credit cards are slowly being introduced but, when dealing with locals, cash is the only acceptable tender.

When searching for a place to live in your city, the most important factor to consider is your budget. Accommodation costs are extremely high while the standards are comparatively low. The other factor to consider is the traveling distance to work and school as traffic congestion is problematic, especially in the morning.

Oysterbay and the Peninsula are the two most popular neighborhoods for expats. Rentals in the Oysterbay and Peninsular vary from US $2,500 to $15,000 per month. The most prominent and sought after areas are Masaki (near the Yacht Club), Msasani Peninsular and Oysterbay. All are located near the most popular school, shopping centers, hospitals, hotels and restaurants. These areas have been developing at an amazing rate in the last five to seven years and you now have a choice of all types of accommodation. Many of them have swimming pools, gyms, tennis courts and security systems. Because these areas are in high demand, the rents are much higher and payment terms are seldom less than a year.

Foreigners are not allowed to buy property. Only businesses are permitted to buy on a 99-year lease agreement. So as a general rule, accommodation is rented. Landlords of property on the Peninsular demand an advance payment for one year. In other areas, some owners ask for only six months in advance.

While looking for your home, you may consider furnished accommodation on a short-term lease. Ask for a list of accommodations available, but book early because it is scarce in Dar es Salaam. There are only two international residential management companies: Knight Frank and Pam Goulding. However there are three to four good local firms. There are over 40 hotels and furnished apartments in Dar es Salaam and the surrounding areas: Holiday Inn, Movenpick, Kempinski, Protea and Sun International are the more commonly known hotel chains.

Utilities are generally not included in the price of rent. Water is a factor to be considered when moving to an area. In certain areas, for example the Yacht Club and Masaki, a house for a family of four requires water to be trucked in four times a month at US $50 a delivery. If DAWASCO, the local company distributing water around Dar es Salaam is connected to your home it can cost about TSH 100,000 (US $85 per month).

Electricity is another high-cost factor. A house that consumes electricity for air-conditioners and appliances can be as much as TSH 500,000 (US $430 per month). TANESCO sells prepaid electricity through its LUKU offices from Monday to Saturday. Some garages offer a 24 hour service for sales of LUKU. Gas is a very useful alternative to electricity and is readily available and most DUKAs (local shops) sell it late at night. The voltage system is 220 but because of the fluctuating .voltage, most households buy many protection plugs to prevent their appliances from being destroyed by the sharp peaks and troughs in supply. Most appliances function in Tanzania.

Tanzania is considered safe, but there has been an increase in petty theft and some gang-related attacks on lone people. Burglary in the home is rare, but one should employ 24-hour security services.

Expats to Dar es Salaam usually enroll children in the main private schools. There are more than a dozen schools to choose from in Dar es Salaam including IST (International School of Tanganyika) in Oysterbay for upper class children and IST Elementary school in Upanga. IST is by far the most popular school of choice for expatriates and for that reason alone, it is difficult to get students placed immediately. Sometimes your luck is determined by those leaving a particular grade. The school is extremely expensive but has the best record in the city. There are also seven selected schools in the Peninsular, Ada Estate and Upanga areas which cater to preschool children. School buses are available, but heavy traffic means that children spend a long time on the bus from very early in the morning. Hence a lot of families drive their children to and from school.

All schools except IST start in January and finish in December. IST starts in September and finishes at the end of June. The schools as a rule, insist that their pupils wear uniforms. Sports are not a high priority, but IST does have some activities other than academic.

It is recommended that you get Yellow Fever and Cholera vaccinations as a precaution, and speak to your doctor about medicine to prevent malaria. You would not be refused medical care, but in Aga Khan and government hospitals, admittance is relatively cheap. Most expatriates go to IST Clinic–International School of Tanganyika Clinic, which is run by professional doctors who charge in U.S. dollars for all services. The local institutions will refer patients to Kenya, South Africa if the situation warrants it.

You can dial 112 for help due to a medical emergency, a fire or if you need to contact the police, however, these numbers are rarely answered. It is best to get the emergency numbers of the security company you belong to. There are three or four security firms that offer reliable ambulance and medical assistance services. Daktari” is the word for “doctor” in Swahili. “Duka la Dawa” is the shop for medicine. The water is not safe to drink from the tap. Bottled water is highly recommended.

Dar es Salaam traffic can be very congested especially in the morning and evening hours. It is a definite advantage to have your own vehicle. If a company vehicle is not available to ferry your family around, you may require a second vehicle. A great deal of expatriates use drivers to avoid the stresses of traffic and the perils of possible accidents. You may want to employ a driver to carry out both functions and, in general, these people are very reliable and prepared to work odd hours. Vehicles are generally a four-wheel drive type, because the roads are not in good condition. A new vehicle of that type sells for US $30,000 to $50,000 but good second hand vehicles are available for between US $8,000 and $15,000.

A Tanzanian driver’s license is required within six months upon arrival. The licensing authority requires both a current driver’s license for verification; three passport size photographs and an eye test by a reputable specialist (at a cost of TSH 30,000 or US $26). Insurance is not mandatory, but it is highly recommend that you take out full comprehensive insurance as very few local citizens have insurance and you need to protect your assets.

In Tanzania you drive on the left-hand side. Despite periodic complaints in the press about dangerous driving, dirty uniforms and unsociably loud music, Dar es Salaam’s public transport is surprisingly efficient and you can get almost anywhere within a twenty kilometer (12 mile) radius of the city for less than a thousand Shillings (less than a US $1). “Daladals” are shared minibuses which are all around the town and operate from 5am to 10pm. For short, frequently-used distances, the route is serviced by an inexpensive, three-wheeler motorbike, which accommodates two- to three passengers. Taxis can be found everywhere. Trips to the airport are between TSH 20,000 to 30,000 (US $17 to $26). In the city, the transport is safe but is generally very crowded and can be very hot and congested.

Long haul buses are available to take Expats out of the city. They are of good quality and are fairly inexpensive, but the drivers are known to speed. If the distance is within 40-50 kilometers (24-30 miles), then taxis would be a good option. Because of the huge distances from Dar es Salaam to other major tourist spots, many travelers use local airlines and charter companies to go to these places.

There are many grocery stores to buy food and toiletries including Shoppers Plaza, Shop rite (three outlets), Game, Village Supermarket and Shrijee’s (three outlets). For fresh produce, there are other “Dukas,” but one must be ready to barter for the best price, so most expatriates tend to shop at the main-stream shops and occasionally buy at the odd roadside Duka. Other than fresh food, all other commodities are imported and comes with an inflated cost. You can get most things, including appliances locally and quite a variety too.

There are also several brilliant furniture outlets. Tanzanians are very good furniture manufacturers and are renowned for Zanzibar beds, chests, bookshelves, side tables and coffee tables and much more. Zanzibar Doors are grand entrances for a great deal of houses.

The expat community is very friendly and there are many activities available for entertainment. Clubs and groups are available to meet and mix with other expatriates and locals alike including Bridge Clubs, British Council, Dar es Salaam Yacht Club, Diplomatic Spouses Group, Irish Society, Little Theatre, Mah-jong, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania and many others. There are not many radio stations and apart from television, the social life is restricted to going to the movies and dining out. There are several groups who welcome “Karibu,” newcomers. There are night clubs and many bars, but it is suggested that a newcomer only goes to these places once they get to know the city. There are a lot of single, professional expats who are on assignment for a contracted period.

The list of things for spouses to do is almost endless. It is common for spouses to visit the islands near Dar es Salaam, enjoy the sunshine and eat freshly cooked fish and chips. The sporting activities are limited, but golf, tennis and cricket are all very popular social events. There is a bowling alley at the Sea Cliff Hotel on the Peninsular and scuba diving and sailing are popular activities on the weekends.

Nannies are available and are generally have experience working with other expats families. They are very reliable and can double up as housekeepers. Domestic employment contracts are essential, the wages are very affordable.

While Kunduchi Hotel and Beach Resorts are the most popular kid-friendly attractions in the area, other childhood activities are quite limited and families are expected to entertain their children most of the time. Other than school-organized activities, it is suggested that families remain involved with selecting the possible venues for their teenagers before allowing them to explore on their own. Discuss any safety issues for children in this city. There are no real fears for children, but it is recommended that teenagers do not go into the city on their own.

Mt Pleasant – High Life in the Low Country

Just East of Charleston is a beautiful stretch of land bounded by Charleston Harbor, Shem Creek and Cove Inlet. English settlers in 1680 named the area Mt. Pleasant. Today it is still a treasure to behold, but is easy to miss among the modern sprawl of Hwy 17.

As visitors walk the docks of Shem Creek and the streets of Old Town, they connect with the natural beauty of the area that drew settlers here. The marsh spreads out from Shem Creek, opening glistening green and gold arms out to Charleston harbor. In Old Town along Pitt Street, massive live oaks spread moss-laden limbs over narrow streets.

The historic charm hides the underlying battle between the descendants of the early settlers and modern day developers. Locals wish to remember and conserve the area, while developers dream up ways to profit on the ambiance. The fight against progress is ancient, its roots running deep along the shorelines. Low Country residents have a history of fighting for their beliefs, keeping time honored traditions intact. Balanced compromise is called for to accommodate industry and preserve the way of life.

“The Creek” as locals affectionately call it, runs out of the marsh and into Charleston Harbor, beckoning travelers to explore the natural beauty and architectural nooks and crannies. While dolphins cavort in the creek, pelicans and gulls perch on shrimp boats, inviting visitors to pause and enjoy the view. As the sun sets, rays of golden light reach through thunder heads above, bounce off the surface of the water and flash silvery radiance that lights up the marsh grass.

Boats of all sizes and shapes line the docks on each side of the creek. This community has provided much of the shrimp supplied to the Charleston area for 30+ years. Shrimp season opens in late April with the Blessing of the Fleet festival, held at historic Alahambra Hall. Deep sea fishing charter vessels also dock here, as do kayak outfitters. Sail and power vessels tie up to the dock, their passengers encouraged to dine along the quay. The ‘no wake’ zone makes it easy to pause here for an experience of freshly caught local seafood at restaurants lining “the Creek”.

For longer term stays, dock your vessel at Patriot’s Point Marina. Located just outside the mouth of Shem Creek toward Charleston Harbor, Patriot’s Point is the largest marina in the area, with 459 slips. A majestic view of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown offers an opportunity to explore and connect with naval history. An entire day could be devoted to exploring the Yorktown, the Coast Guard Cutter and the Medal of Honor Museum. Tour boats to Ft. Sumpter leave from the Yorktown daily.

Patriot’s Point Resort and Hotel is also located here. Nautical themed guest rooms decorated in bright yellows and blues, comfy bedding and spectacular views of the harbor keep guests close to the water with all the comforts of home. The resort also offers an 18-hole championship golf course overlooking Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter and Shem Creek. Known for its challenging waterfront finishing holes, the course is within minutes of the beaches at the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island.

Patriots Point Resort is well acquainted with water lovers. Charleston Race Week is held here in the Spring, and sport fishing tournaments are throughout the season. Black and White photographs of previous tournament winners line the walls in the Reel Bar. A quick bike ride or shuttle from East Cooper Shuttle will transport you over to Shem Creek. For guests preferring to go into Charleston the Water Taxi leaves from Dock A hourly, dropping passengers at the Charleston Maritime Center, within walking distance of the Aquarium. Bikes and pets are welcome on the water taxi. Bring the camera for unique close ups of the hull of the U.S.S. Yorktown and the Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

For accommodations overlooking Shem Creek, check into The Shem Creek Inn. The Inn offers a 10% discount for fishing charters booked with Captain Rick Hiott’s Inshore Fishing Charters. Guests booking a fishing charter with Captain Rick Hiott’s Inshore Fishing Charters receive a 10% discount on room rates. Captain Hiott’s fishing expertise for Red Drum is widely known, both with locals and worldwide. Featured on the Discovery Channel – Europe and in Saltwater Sportsman Magazine, Captain Hiott is highly recommended for finding the best inshore fishing hot spots, and also for his genuine interest in teaching others about the inshore waters around Charleston.

The abundance and experience of local fishermen here provides for the ultimate in fresh seafood. Mt. Pleasant Seafood operates a retail store here at the Creek and has a booth at the Mt. Pleasant Farmer’s Market. For fining out, patrons at the Water’s Edge Cabana Bar delight at the antics of the playful goodwill ambassadors of the Creek. Arriving daily at 4 pm, the male dolphin makes his appearance, followed by the rest of the pod. Look closely and you will see the baby swimming along with his mother. It’s as if these creatures have come to just to welcome guests to the area. It would be difficult not to be infused with wonder as one watches these beautiful beings fish for their supper. Working in conjunction with brown pelicans and seagulls, they dive for fish remains from the charter boats.

Sunsets are an event here. Several restaurants offer outdoor and creekside dining, allowing guests to experience the wonder of a brilliant Charleston sunset with the ubiquitous charm of a small fishing village. Enjoy the view from the outdoor bar and dining area at Vickery’s. Watch as the suns rays cast over the marsh as it spreads toward the mouth of the creek. Feel the gentle breezes from Charleston Harbor waft through the palmettos. Even during a storm, the view from the indoor bar is a magnificent way to watch the drama without dampening the spirit. From the indoor bar, one can see the shrimp boats, wings spread out and up as if they were water angels ready to fly.

Looking across the creek offers an opportunity to check out the architectural nooks and crannies lining the docks. Magwoods Seafood still provides shrimp and fish to much of Charleston after 30 years in business. “Live long, Love long, Eat Seafood” is their motto, painted on the walls in red and blue. At The Wreck, Low Country culinary favorites are dished up informally on huge paper plates. The price is well worth the spectacular sunset view from the screened in porch dining room. This is one place the no-see-ums can’t reach during dinner.

Looking toward the bridge, R.B.’s and Red’s Ice House offer more choices for outdoor dining. RB’s is more upscale, and quite serious about proper patron parking, sometimes towing their own customers by mistake. Bright yellow signs warn fines for booting and towing. RB’s owns the Shem Creek Towing Company, and keeps a tow truck is parked in view on the lot.

Red’s is the casual local hangout with something going on at Happy Hour daily. Offering free parking in a huge gravel lot adjacent to the restaurant, they are more concerned with customers having a great time. Red’s is also the local “Yappy Hour” hotspot, so bring your canine buddies to meet and greet the locals. Ice cold buckets of water and doggie biscuits are favorites with the four-legged furry crowd. Upstairs, the view of the sunset is unparalleled. Cushions line the upstairs bar, which can be reserved for private parties. On holidays, this is a prime spot to view fireworks shot from the U.S.S. Yorktown.

Happy hours are special at Red’s Ice House. On Sundays, listen to local acoustic/rock/folk singers playing downstairs. On Thursdays, taste the freshly steamed shrimp served up at the bar for free. Best of all, Wednesday evenings feature a sunset cruise on the Palmetto Breeze, a 50′ sailing catamaran. This is a great way to watch the CORA (Charleston Ocean Racing Assoc.) races in the harbor, with plenty of photo ops on the trip. Ticket prices include adult beverages and a spread of hors du vours. Captain Ping is always cheerful, ready to take guests out on the water. He will even let you steer the boat, if you ask nicely.

A few blocks away from Red’s is the Old Town of Mount Pleasant. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, Old Town is home to quaint churches, colonial and antebellum homes and also the majestic Alhambra Hall, the original site of the Mount Pleasant Ferry Company. Built in 1847 by Charles Jugnot and Oliver Hilliard as a summer retreat and dance hall, Alhambra Hall sits nestled in a grove of massive live oaks. Rebuilt in 1937, it is a popular spot for community events. Located on a waterfront park lined with live oaks, and equipped with a fabulous community playground, this is a quiet peaceful place for an afternoon picnic. Wander over to the Confederate Cemetery, and don’t miss the tiny Post Office building on the way back over Pitt Street. Many streets end with a view of Charleston harbor, making it easy to see why the town founders named it Mt. Pleasant. Although there is no mountain per say, it is certainly a pleasant place to be.

A short distance away is the Old Town, where visitors can tap into nostalgia with an old fashioned ice cream soda from the Pitt Street Pharmacy. Down the block, the Old Post House Restaurant and Tavern operates in the building that served as a grocery store. Originally built by German immigrants in 1888, the Post House serves light lunch and dinner, with dining downstairs and a meeting room upstairs for private parties. She Crab soup, tuna, lamb shank, steaks, sauteed sea bass, and shrimp & grits await hungry diners here. The streets of Old Town point toward Charleston

If you’re in Mount Pleasant on a Tuesday afternoon, stop by the Farmer’s Market, held at the Old Moultrie Middle School on West Coleman Blvd. An abundance of fresh flowers, herbs, local produce, and seafood is found in this tiny market. Local Bluegrass or acoustic musicians perform while you shop. Snow Cones and face painting are available for kids of all ages and a barbeque stand ensures that you won’t go hungry before you get back to your floating home. The Market runs through the end of October, with a special Holiday Market and Craft Show scheduled on December 8 from 10 – 3 pm.

Shopping in this area offers a variety of delightful wares both in Old Town and on the Creek, and in some cases, a generous helping of local history. In the village, Utonga Gallery offers a unique collection of Shona (Zimbabwe) sculpture. Next door, Out of Hand Gallery is a feast for the eyes of cards, gifts and treasures to remember your visit. At the Charleston Candle Cottage on West Coleman Blvd., customers can chat with Rachel, the proprietress. A post office is located in the back for mailing art cards to folks back home. The candle selection here is vast as well. Behind the Candle Cottage, watch local artist Steven Jordan as he paints watercolors and oils of favorite Low Country scenery.

Across the way on Mill Street, a variety of shops are located in the Commons. For the right stationery and post cards, check out The Scratch Pad. Sue Tanis offers an appealing selection of quirky, fun locally oriented gifts, stationery and invitations for the right occasion. At the end of Mill Street, proprietress and local history expert Lou Edens offers a collection of select gifts, home furnishings and a generous helping of local history about the area at The Fifth Season. Lou owned and operated the Maritime Museum next door for years, and also owns Rice Hope Plantation Bed & Breakfast on the Cooper River.

Shem Creek Marina is across from The Fifth Season on Mill Street. Sailing vessels can’t navigate under the bridge, the marina specializes in long term dry dock storage for smaller power boats. The old Maritime Museum building is next door, now the recent home of Coastal Expeditions kayak tours. Coastal Expeditions offers kayak tours of Shem Creek, and passenger ferry tours to Bull Island year round.

Two more restaurants are on this side of Shem Creek. Shem Creek Bar & Grill has a spectacular view of the marsh from the outdoor dock bar and the indoor back porch. Inside the main restaurant, the bow shaped bar is unique, reminding all who enter that boating is a first love here. With a great selection of seafood and Low Country favorites, this family oriented restaurant has it all. Next door the new Creekside Bar & Grill offers lower priced favorites and outdoor roof seating overlooking the creek.

One could easily spend a week discovering the historic places in this area. Watching a sunset through the shrimp boat wings, strolling along the docks of the creek after dinner, and taking time to explore local shops will endear visitors to this charming spot so close to Charleston. A kayak tour will shed light on conservation efforts on the Creek, and a conversation with locals at Red’s will further enhance your visit here. Check out the many wonders of Shem Creek and Old Town Mt. Pleasant soon, before it’s too late to remember the way things were.

Sidebar

Lodging

Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

20 Patriots Point Road

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

http://www.CharlestonHarborResort.com

843-856-0028

Toll Free: 888-856- 8333

Reservations

Toll free – (888) 856-0028

Shem Creek Inn

1401 Shrimp Boat Ln,

Mt Pleasant, SC

(843) 881-1000

Marinas

Charleston Harbor Marina

24 Patriot’s Point Rd.

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

Office: (843) 284-7062

Mobile: (843) 297-2949 or (843) 297-2948

Fax: (843)856-8540

Patriots Point Links on Charleston Harbor

One Patriots Point Road

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Phone: 843.881.0042

Fax: 843.881.0044

Toll Free: 877.709.5053

Restaurants

Water’s Edge

1407 Shrimp Boat Lane

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

Reservations 843.884.4074

Vickery’s Bar & Grill

1313 Shrimp Boat Ln

Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

(843)884-4440

Reds Icehouse

98 Church Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843.388.000

Shem Creek Bar & Grill

508 Mill St

Mt Pleasant, SC 29464

(843)884-8102

Creekside Grill

508 B Mill Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-4803

http://www.CreeksideBarGrill.com

Old Village Post House

101 Pitt Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843-388-8935

Tours and Sightseeing

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

40 Patriots Point Road

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

866-831-1720 toll free

843-884-2727

Angie Bennett, Group Business/ Visitor Services

866-831-1720 toll free

groupreservations@patriotspoint.org

Aqua Safaris, Inc. (Palmetto Breeze)

24 Patriot’s Point Rd.

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

800-524-3444, 843-886-8133

Coastal Expeditions

514 B Mill Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-7684

Fishing Charters

Aqua Adventures

Capain Chuck Griffin

843-884-6696

843-860-1664

Captain Rick Hiott’s Inshore Fishing Charters

(843) 412-6776 cell

or (843) 554-9386 home

Transportation

East Cooper Shuttle

Elaine: 843-343-0484

John: 843-327-4700

Water Taxi

Charleston Water Taxi

843) 330-CWTX (2989),

One way $5

Round Trip: $8

All day Pass: $12.

Galleries

Steven Jordan Gallery

409 W. Coleman Blvd and

423 W. Coleman Blvd in the Peach Orchard Plaza

843-881-1644

Utonga Gallery

113 Pitt Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

800 732 4306

(843) 216 7686

Shopping

Out of Hand

113C Pitt Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-3585

The Fifth Season

510 Mill Street

Mt. Pleasant SC 29464

843-884-5000

The Scratch Pad

409 Mill Street

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-3433

The Donkey Steam Engine, Part Two – The Loggers Best Friend

The logging industry was pushed to the limit in 1881 by the exploding demand for lumber. The forests in Maine were logged out and had been abandoned. As timber in the Great Lakes region was becoming depleted, and as the logging companies moved west, the guys in the forest were pushed harder and harder for more, more, and more; the industry struggled to keep up.

As so often happens throughout history, about the time a machine is greatly needed it, someone invents it. When the logging industry was desperately trying to dramatically increase production, along came an invention that revolutionized that industry. That invention was the Donkey Steam Engine – a steam-powered mechanical winch developed by John Dolbeer in 1881. That year was generally declared as the beginning of technological change in the industry. This machine was both the loggers best friend and his deadly enemy if he wasn’t constantly on guard. As one logger said, “There’s lots of hard work out there but if you don’t look out it’ll kill ya.”

John was a founding partner of the Dolbeer and Carson Lumber Company in Eureka, California. Eureka is a town in Humboldt County about 100 miles from the California-Oregon border and is a huge logging and lumbering area.

Dolbeer received patent number 256553 for the Donkey Steam Engine on April 18, 1882. By comparison, to date 7.5 million patents have been issued in the United States. As a point of interest, the current patent numbering system began with a patent #1 issued on July 13, 1836. No information is available about that patent but prior to that date, about 10,000 patents had been issued.

The Steam Donkeys actually acquired their name from their origin in sailing ships, where the “donkey” engine was typically a small secondary engine used to load and unload cargo, raise the larger sails with small crews, or to power pumps. Dolbeer had been a naval engineer before turning to logging which undoubtedly led to his choice of the name for his invention. It is also said that loggers gave it that humble name because the original model looked too puny to be rated in horsepower. Donkey power doesn’t have quite the image of a powerful engine, but as you will see, a Donkey Steam Engine could readily snatch a giant log out of the forest.

This wonderful engine was essentially a collection of mechanical components starting with a wood-fired steam boiler. The boiler supplied steam at anywhere from 100 to 200 PSI to a one cylinder engine that transmitted power through a connecting rod to a crank shaft on which was mounted a flywheel with some sort of brake mechanism. A lever operated clutch configuration controlled a complex of reduction gears and drive wheels that drove a winch. The winch could be either a large pulley with a horizontal shaft or a drum, or a capstan, mounted on a vertical shaft.

The Donkey Engines came in an endless variety of configurations of steam, gas, diesel, or electric power plants plus drums to hold wire rope. They had one thing in common; all were used to haul logs from the woods, load them at landings, move equipment, rig up trees, and to lower or raise wagons up and down inclines. But, the vast majority were steam-powered and most were built in the Seattle, Tacoma and Portland, area. Hard to imagine now but a hundred and fifty years ago Seattle was basically a logging town, as was Vancouver, British Columbia.

In the simplest setup, a “line horse” would drag a cable out to a log in the woods. The cable would be attached, and, on a signal from the whistle on the engine, the Donkey’s operator would open the steam valve on the boiler and engage the clutch, allowing the transmission mechanism to rotate the drum. As the cable was wound around the drum, the log was dragged to the Donkey. The log was then taken either to a mill or to a “landing” where it would be transferred for onward shipment by rail, road or river; either loaded onto boats or floated downstream directly in the water. The layout of a logging operation was no small task as terrain and river characteristics had to be carefully considered and were crucial to the successful movement of these giant logs.

The Donkey operation had a lingo all its own. There are hundreds of terms that are unique to this activity and are much too numerous to mention all of them here. The significant titles are described here.

Operating an early Donkey required the services of a minimum of three men, a boy and a horse. One man, the Choker-Setter, attached the line to a log; an engineer or Donkey Puncher, tended the steam engine; and a Spool Tender guided the whirring line over the spool with a short stick. An occasional neophyte tried using his foot instead of a stick. When he was back from the hospital, he would use his new wooden leg instead. The boy, called a Whistle Punk, manned a communicating wire running from the Choker Setter’s position out among the logs back to the steam whistle on the engine. It was said that one could tell a Whistle Punk by his style of blowing the whistles.

When the Choker Setter had secured the line running from the spool, the Whistle Punk tugged his whistle wire as a signal to the engineer that the log was ready to be hauled in. As soon as one log was in, or “yarded,” it was detached from the line. The horse then hauled the line from the Donkey Engine back to the waiting Choker Setter and the next log. Later a “haulback” drum was added, where a smaller cable could be routed around the “setting” and connected to the end of the heavier “mainline” to replace the line horse.

A more typical Donkey crew consisted of nine or ten men: a Water Tender (the water tank had to be replenished as the steam was fed to and exhausted from the engine), the Donkey Puncher, one or two Spool Tenders, two Choker Setters, two Timber Fallers (they were never called “Fellers”), a Haulback Horseman, and of course the Whistle Punk. There could be more than one Donkey Engine and crew deployed in a large timber tract so you can imagine the furious activity to get those logs to the mill. One engine might haul the logs down to the next engine, depending on the terrain and so on. These were not jobs for the faint of heart. No wimps allowed.

One might ask how could these big, heavy devices be transported around the forest over very rough and uneven terrain? They were actually kind of self-propelled. Since the engine and associated equipment were mounted on heavy skids, and since it was used for pulling, the free end of the cable was tied to a distant tree, the other end was wrapped around the winch on the engine, the gears engaged, and the whole assembly pulled itself into position over hill and dale.

When in the final position, the Donkey was lashed to the nearby trees to secure the apparatus and keep it from being pulled to the logs. That would be just the reverse of the desired effect. After all, the Donkey was mounted on skids so that it would easily slide around in the forest. As Sir Isaac Newton once said, probably more than once, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction!” That reaction had to be constrained, in this case by cables.

Once an area was logged out, the Donkey had to be moved to the next grove of trees to be cut. The hold-down cables would be removed, the pull cable attached to a distant tree, stump or other strong anchor and the machine would drag itself overland to the next location. This was very much like the winch on the front end of a jeep pulling itself out of creek or canyon or up a mountain.

Twenty-six different types of Steam Donkeys were built in the Pacific Northwest by one firm alone. In 1913, one company built 51 donkeys in a 49-day period, all sold before they left the plant to fill rush orders.

Donkey Engines kept getting bigger and bigger. There were two drum and three drum Donkeys able to haul in logs from the woods over high wires, Donkeys that loaded logs on railroad cars, and landing Donkeys that pulled logs to river or lake landings. This was big business back in those days in support of the great logging industry. In the later years of the Donkey era, some were of enormous size. For example, one was so large it had to be mounted on two railroad cars. I doubt this one was dragged around much in the forest.

In The Loggers, Chapter 3, Taming The Virgin Forest, a turn-of-the-century author, Ralph D. Paine, happened upon a logging operation in the Western Cascades and was filled with both admiration and terror at what he witnessed. He described the scene: “Stout guy ropes ran to nearby trees, mooring the Donkey as if it were an unruly kind of beast. In front of the engine was a series of drums, wound round with wire cable, which trailed off into the forest and vanished. The area was littered with windfalls, tall butts, sawed-off tops and branches, upturned roots, 15 feet in the air. Huge logs loomed amid this woodland wreckage like the backs of a school of whales in the sea.”

Paine noticed a long signal wire that led away from the engine’s whistle off into the woods. When an unseen person yanked this wire the Donkey screamed a series of intelligent blasts that could only be some sort of code. The engine clattered, the drums began to revolve and the wire cable grew taut. The Donkey surged against its mooring; its massive body began to rear and pitch as if striving to bury its nose in the earth.

He was then startled by an uproar out in the forest sounding as if trees were being pulled up by the roots. In a moment a log came hurtling out of the underbrush nearly 1,000 feet away. It burst into sight as if it had wings, smashing and tearing its own path… so fast that when it came to a stump, it pitched over it as if it were taking a hurdle. Then it became entangled with another giant a log. The two, as one, did not even hesitate, and both came lunging toward the engine.

He said it is an awesome sight to see a log six feet through and 40 feet long bounding toward you as if the devil were in it, breaking off trees as if they were twigs, leaping over obstacles, gouging a way for itself.

When the gigantic log was within 20 feet of the loading platform where he stood, Paine panicked and ran, but then he said, “the huge missile halted in its flight and the masterful Donkey had a breathing spell.”

Old timers love these old engines and enjoy restoring and demonstrating their capability in museums and parks. Just the mention of a Donkey Steam Engine will cause an old logger, or a young history buff, to stare off into the woods and remember, perhaps with a tear in their eye, the sight and sound of one of these great steam-powered engines dragging giant logs out of the forest to be transformed into lumber for building the West. San Francisco had to be rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, which represented a huge increase in the demand for lumber.

The sounds they made as they performed their duty — chug, clang, bang, whirr, hiss, tweet – were music to the ears of mechanical engineers and mechanics alike. There is nothing like the clickety, clickety, clickety of a big spur gear pinion driving a giant bull gear round and round and round as the pull cable hauls in a log.

As a mechanical engineer, I have been enthralled by watching these great old machines perform, kind of like a musician standing in front of a symphony orchestra and listening to a great composition.

The Donkey was unique in so many ways, even in terms of its own sounds. How many know what a Steam Donkey sounds like? Even among steam railroad fans, few are familiar with the powerful sound of hot, dry steam powering a 12 x 14 yarder pulling at high-speed. It is unlike any other. The power, the speed, the vibration, and the smell were all a part of it. Memories of those days are of a time of glamour, accomplishment, humor and hard work, in spite of men facing danger, pain, and sometimes death.

Now, you might ask, “How could a guy get all choked up about a dilapidated and rusty old contraption?” Well, to an old logger, mechanic, or mountain man, that several ton pile of wonderful stuff evokes memories of a bygone era, the heyday of logging in the West. I would describe them as “Steam Junkies” or “Gear Heads.” It is definitely a “guy” thing. Donkeys are, in fact, a link to the “glory days of logging.” Those who worked the “big woods” around the steamers speak of a time, now gone forever, with reverent nostalgia. There is a certain romance, if you can call it that, associated with Donkey Steam Engines.

In his book, In Search Of Steam Donkeys, Merv Johnson reminisces about his father, Lee Johnson, “warming toast over the firebox extension. I remember Lee steam cleaning his overalls with his home-made washing machine connected to a Donkey. I remember riding in a ’41 Chevy pickup between the shoulders of two loggers who were reminiscing about the old days. Both of them had spent most of their lives on and around Donkeys. Their vivid descriptions of how yarders sounded with 225 lb. of steam in a hard pull, how the firebox door used to puff after a turn of logs came in, brought tears to my eyes that day.”

Just standing next to a wonderfully restored Donkey Steam Engine listening to the signal whistle, the steam rushing in and out of the piston, the connecting rod moving up and down, the flywheel spinning, big old gears meshing and the pulleys rotating is an emotional experience – especially to those who have lovingly restored the beast.

There is the well-known saying about boys and their toys; well this is about dudes and their Donkeys.

Unfortunately, of the thousands that were built during the age of steam, only a handful remain and few are anywhere near operating condition. How could these machines have disappeared so fast? Why have the traces been almost totally erased? These steamers were central to the character of mechanized logging of the time. Each machine had its own personality, its own idiosyncrasies, unlike today. Today, the machine operator climbs into an enclosed cab, pushes an electric starter button and controls the apparatus effortlessly with a joystick, not unlike that found on a video game.

Though a few Donkeys have been preserved in museums, very few are in operating condition today. The Petry Donkey Steam Engine at the Central Sierra Historical Society Museum at Shaver Lake, California is an exception. It was discovered in 1993 Southeast of Shaver Lake on the side of a mountain by Patrick Emmert, nephew of the owner of Pine Logging Company in Dinkey Creek. Pine Logging was in operation from 1937 to 1979 and was the last lumber mill operating in the Sierra National Forest

Patrick had studied the history of sawmills in the area and followed up on a rumor that it was out there at the old Petry Sawmill site where it had rested since being abandoned in 1912. It was just a rusty pile of metal when Patrick found it – a mill fire in 1947 incinerated all the wood parts of the support structure and many of the small mechanical components were gone. Mill fires were quite common in those days and many mills had to be rebuilt several times. But, Patrick recognized that this was a treasure after all.

OK, he found it – now what? How do you remove a rusty old pile of steel (treasure) covered with many years of forest growth that weighs several tons from its hiding spot deep in the woods? As luck would have it, a helicopter company was operating on a salvage timber sale in the area and agreed to airlift the Donkey to a flat piece of land that Patrick owned nearby. It took only 5 minutes to fly it out. Imagine how long it took originally to drag that engine out to the forest work site. From there it was hauled by flatbed truck down the mountain to a shop in Tollhouse, California for the extensive restoration. Missing parts had to be replaced which were acquired from many sources in the old logging areas of California and from current catalogs for steam equipment. There are numerous steam engine enthusiasts out there.

Rebuilding this engine took a lot of TLC and five years of hard work, but when completed in 1998 the gang held a “steam up” party to celebrate. The engine was mounted on a lowbed trailer and was transported to various logging jamborees. When the Central Sierra Historical Society Museum at Shaver Lake was completed in 2007, this labor of love was donated to the museum where it is now on prominent and permanent display – with its own protective roof. The finished product weighs approximately 3 tons, including the heavy-duty timber skids.

Patrick also discovered a Donkey Engine boiler from a Sierra sawmill in 1994 in the front yard of a home in Clovis, California. The missing parts were acquired from various sources all over the West and it was also restored at the same shop in Tollhouse. It is now mounted on a trailer to be hauled to functions that desire a Donkey demo. These engines have been lovingly and painstakingly restored to near perfect operating condition by a crew of dedicated Donkey docents.

Six times a year, Memorial Day, Labor Day and for other celebrations, they (the Donkeys and the docents) are put through their paces at the museum for the enjoyment of young and old alike, to demonstrate the technique of hauling a log out of the woods. And, you can blow the steam whistles to your heart’s content. If you are musically inclined, you can even play a tune on the whistles. People come from far and wide to participate in these nostalgic events.

So, if you are inclined to take part in the fun-filled “Steam Up” festivities with the Donkey dudes, come on up.

Horse Riding Holiday in Zambia’s Kafue National Park

There is just one place you can experience the African safari on horseback in Zambia and that is in the Kafue National Park which is the largest and oldest national park in Zambia covering an incredible 14,000 square miles. And what better way can you think of to explore this vast and varying terrain, wildlife and birds than on an African riding holiday?

Rides could include the banks of the Kafue River and its many tributaries, lake shores, swamps or through thick and mysterious forests. The main base for the Zambian horse safaris is near the man-made Lake Itezhi-Tezhi which covers an area of 230 square miles.  Naturally, exploring the varied shore line of the lake is a must. You will ride along its grassy banks and take in the view that is dotted with hippos, miniature islands and submerged trees – natural and irresistible perches for exotic birds.

Seated on your naturally high perch, from horseback you’ll be able to see far out across the landscape, easily able to spot many of the 500 plus species of birds that have been documented here. Horses are also perfectly suited to riding amongst some of the twenty-three species of herbivores that can be found in Kafue National Park. Unlike zebra, some of the larger herbivores like the dense elephant populations and buffalo will need to be approached more carefully as will the eleven species of carnivores!

The topography is as varied as the range of wildlife. Large teak forests (like the Ngoma Forest), sandy expanses, areas of swamp, never-ending open plains, lake beaches and even regal palm trees are on offer.  Horseback is perfect to take in the surroundings of the Kafue National Park through all five senses. You’ll hear the grunts, growls and unique sounds of big game as well melodious birdsong. You’ll see brightly coloured feathers, amazing animals and beautiful plants, trees and shrubs. You’ll smell the wildness of Africa and the fresh breeze it offers. By touch you’ll lead your horse across wild Africa and at the end of an adventurous day you’ll be able to experience the taste of good food amongst great company.

Zambia is often referred to as ‘the real Africa’ for the simple reason that as it still has immense portions of wilderness. It is pristine. Untouched. Unspoiled. Areas like this deserve to be explored with respect and horseback safaris are quiet and non-intrusive, lending themselves marvelously to true adventurers, real game enthusiasts and seekers of Africa’s real charm.

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