TRAVEL.EXPERIENCE.LIVE.LOVE.

So The Faroe islands, seem to be a dream catch for any avid traveller.

Its mystical beauty manages to resonate through its peoples accounts of the island.

All reviews from backpackers and other families are positive.

The only thing people criticize are the whale and porpoise hunts.

It is very difficult to hate a country like the Faroe Islands.

They say when u you visit the place in order to feel its soul u need to meet the locals, the people of the place. Trust me the Faroe islands are one place where befriending a local would do you well.

If you’re the young musically curious types, then the locals would be able to give the best advice on where to visit, what to see and what killer parties to be at.

If you’ve come with your family then they could show the heritage and the basic culture and beauty of the country.

Another beautiful thing about these islands is that it has the ability to cater to anyone.

Anybody visiting The Faroe Islands would find something to connect with somewhere.

In my opinion we should take back a little something from their lifestyle.

They are so mellow, so happy, so kind and honest and they are all eager to show you the country through their eyes.

So walk into The Faroe Islands with no preconceived notions and I guarantee you will have an incredible life altering experience.

NOTE FOR BACKPACKERS...

So if youre a student and dying to travel, then u should definitely make the faroe islands ur first stop!

They cater to tourism and the youth beautifully,with youth hostels placed everywhere.

They are spread across the islands. The size of the faroe islands makes the placing of the hostels apt as everything is within walking reach.

Accomodation is usually two to six rooms in limited size which are supposedly pretty decent.

They are youth hostels after all...one cant expect 5 star treatment and thats the beauty of it.

There are a few dormitory accommodations,with the exception of Bládýpi which has two dorms and two apartments.The problem with these youth hostels however is that they don’t have a regular reception with regular opening and closing hours so contacting them online before arriving there is incredibly important.The prices vary,youth hostels are known for they cheap prices.They offer discounts etc.

Two of the most popular hostels are Bládýpi and Skansin,they can be reached by their online websites.

So step into backpackers paradise and envelop yourself in the beauty of basics and the magic of music.

WHEN IN ROME....

They say “when in Rome do as the Romans do” .This is a native Faroese pointers on what to say and what not to in the faroe islands. This is because they are sick of being looked down upon for their way of living and believe that if you have nothing nice to sya then don’t say it all principle and it works for them...which is why they are so happy and so connected!

A. Never ever call the faroe islands denmark.

-this is because 1. The faroese do not identify with the danes.

2.the faroese look at denmark as a separate nation

3.danes are looked at as foreign nationals.

B. danish and faroes people do not unerstand each other. The danes see the faroese as culturally backward and feel bad for their way of living.

C. the faroese are very proud of their national heritage. They regard the grindadrap as a very important part of their culture,it is best to avoid strongly cristicizing them,

D. the faroese are known to be helpful and hospitable and they expect you to be the same,

E. If you go and visit the old part of tórshavn around tinganes - don´t bother the people who live there (like peering in through people's windows or ask if you can use the toilet) - the old wooden houses are not a tourist display, and their inhabitants are getting very tired of visitors who fail to understand this and act like they are aliens from another planet.They

understand this lifestyle seems different to you,but gawking is not neccessary to experience it.

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In danger: Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize barrier reef is the second largest reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef. It is spread over a total of about 960 square kilometres, and reputedly has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the planet. It is home to more than a hundred species of coral, 500 species of fish and hundreds of invertebrate species. Such is the richness and diversity of it, that the reef has been classified as a United Nations World Heritage Site.

The massive ecosystem consists not only of the reef alone, but also of many small mangrove islands and lagoons, along almost the country’s entire coastline. The reef itself is so large that it had to be divided into seven different marine reserves, so as to be effectively managed by the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Needless to say, it is considered the backbone of the country’s tourism industry.

In 2009, it was suddenly discovered that the mangroves had fallen prey to massive deforestation. That the coral reef itself was suffering from global warming and rising sea temperatures had been evident for a long time. Reefs are generally sensitive to changes in climate and temperature- they bleach very easily and fail to support too many life forms thereafter. The Belize Barrier Reef was no exception, but the news about the mangroves sent alarm bells ringing, with environmentalists etc scrambling to chart out the consequences.

The reasons for the damage are many. Global warming and rising temperatures have done the most damage, but there are other factors as well. Direct human intervention has wreaked further havoc on the already fragile ecosystem. Tourism has resulted in frequent and invasive human presence- not many people know how to behave in a delicate ecosystem. Shipping and its impacts have damaged the reef to a large extent, inevitably, since the reef stretches along more or less the entire coastline of the country. Overfishing has also damaged the ecological balance in the reef (which is surprising, since the reef is a heritage site and hence should be adequately protected). The reef depends on the fish for sustenance almost as much as they depend on it.

The biggest avoidable cause of the damage to this large and crucial ecosystem is shoddy coastal development. This reef is a global treasure in many ways, and it is the duty of the Belize government to preserve it, protect it, and spread awareness about it. That duty has obviously not been taken very seriously.

AK 47

As a kid I always wanted to be a spy or an IB agent someday. The idea of seeing Heroes escaping
the villain’s trap and running away with the required ‘blueprint’ seemed very exciting. The fact that I could be able to do those fancy stunts like jumping over buildings and hilltops, handle an AK 47 or an M1A1 Thompson used to move me to a different world altogether. But to my disappointment I grew up to become a nerd and my dreams of being a secret agent saving the nation from it’s enemies continues to be a dream. Well if not for real may be I could just do
something through this piece.
The AK 47 or the Kalashnikov was first developed in USSR by Lieutenant General Mikhail Kalashnikov, a small arms designer. The device was made during the last year of World War II in 1945. The first generation AK was first used in 1946, ever since many versions of the AK have
been made. AK 47 is the most basic form of the device. It is a selective fire gas operated 7.62 by 39mm assault rifle. AK 47 still continues to remain the most widely used assault rifle even after five decades.
It is very durable, less expensive and easy to use. AK is very easy to manufacture, clean and maintain. The AK 47 was initially made to suit the Soviet soldiers fighting in Arctic region. The rifle was intended to be part of mass infantry fire, not long range engagements. The average shelf
life of an AK 47 is 20-40 years depending on its usage.
The basic design of the AK 47 has been used by many countries to create their version of the device. The Israeli Galil, the Indian INSAS and the Yugoslav M76 and M77/82 rifles and the Finnish RK 62/26 rifle are some of the successful versions.
Apparently the OJSC IzMash has claimed that majority of the manufacturers produce AK 47 without a license from the IZH, weapons manufacturers based in Izhevsk. They had acquired
a patent in 1999 making manufacturing of AK rifles by anyone other than them illegal. But older designs like the AK 47 are open for manufacturing to everyone.
The AK 47 is known to be the most smuggled small arms sold to governments, criminals, extremists, military officials and civilians. A lot of illegal trade of the AK 47 takes place all over the world. In many African countries AK rifles are sold at cheap prices. In 1986 a small town in Kenya an AK 47 cost fifteen cows. The weapon has been used for a lot of civil wars. The weapon is widely used by groups in Africa like Hamer.
“The World Bank estimates that out of 500 million total firearms available worldwide 100 million are of the Kalashnikov family and 75 million are AK 47s.”
The Kalashnikov Museum was opened on November 4, 2004, in a city located in the Ural Mountains of Russia. The Museum documents the invention of the AK rifle and also gives a
biography of General Kalashnikov. The museum attracts nearly 10,0000 visitors every month. The museum is devoted completely to the making and use of the AK rifle.

When teachers are killed

On March 31, 2011, the Perifirio Lobo led Honduran government passed a law opening its education system to privatization. The legislation had been under deliberation for a long time, and protests had been long and violent. This move was the latest in a series of legislations opening up the most basic of country’s services to private players.

The teacher’s struggle has been the strongest and the most prominent among many different struggles that together make the Resistance movement in Honduras. In most of the protests, in most of the brutal police backlashes, teachers have been in the forefront. There have probably been more teachers killed in the past two years, than there have been journalists and policemen.

The plan and structure of private education was actually worked on during the Presidency of Ricardo Maduro (2002- 2006). Maduro had the reputation of a neoliberal, and it was under him that global private corporations received the maximum Honduran encouragement. It is a sign of the awareness and solidarity within the Honduran people that despite the glamour attached to global entrance in any market, protests movements were coordinated and consolidated and the Resistance took shape at such a massive scale. Moreover, socialist Manuel Zelaya was elected in 2006.

Regardless of such immensely strong public opposition, however, the legislation did get passed. Honduras will now have private, profit- motivated schools, despite many teachers having died to prevent it.

When teachers are killed

On March 31, 2011, the Perifirio Lobo led Honduran government passed a law opening its education system to privatization. The legislation had been under deliberation for a long time, and protests had been long and violent. This move was the latest in a series of legislations opening up the most basic of country’s services to private players.

The teacher’s struggle has been the strongest and the most prominent among many different struggles that together make the Resistance movement in Honduras. In most of the protests, in most of the brutal police backlashes, teachers have been in the forefront. There have probably been more teachers killed in the past two years, than there have been journalists and policemen.

The plan and structure of private education was actually worked on during the Presidency of Ricardo Maduro (2002- 2006). Maduro had the reputation of a neoliberal, and it was under him that global private corporations received the maximum Honduran encouragement. It is a sign of the awareness and solidarity within the Honduran people that despite the glamour attached to global entrance in any market, protests movements were coordinated and consolidated and the Resistance took shape at such a massive scale. Moreover, socialist Manuel Zelaya was elected in 2006.

Regardless of such immensely strong public opposition, however, the legislation did get passed. Honduras will now have private, profit- motivated schools, despite many teachers having died to prevent it.