Thames Locks Due for Massive Refurbishment

Following a routine inspection of the Thames locks, the Environment Agency found the river locks to be rotting in certain sections and in desperate need of refurbishment. Some of the Thames locks are around 30 years old and are due for a scheduled upgrading. As a result, the Environment Agency recently announced a large scale revamp of River Thames locks, stretching as far as Iffley Lock in Oxford to Buscot Lock near Faringdon. Work on the Iffley Lock will begin in November and is scheduled for completion in February, which may cause some disruptions for Thames River cruise services.

Thames Lock Refurbishment Projects

The cost of revamping the Thames River locks is likely to run into the millions. Abingdon Locks will have to be completely refurbished and the new Thames locks are already being made by carpenters working for the Environment Agency at its base in Osney. The Abingdon Locks will be drained and barriers will be used to hold back the water. This section of the project will begin in November and hopefully finish in March. At Rushney Lock, the timber alongside the Thames lock that prevents boats from ramming walls, will also be replaced.

South African Tourism; SA Lodges Amongst The Top 10 In The World

Best Hotel in the World

The tourism Gods are shining once again on South Africa, as S.A lodges have been named as some the world’s best. Singita Grumeti lodge in Tanzania has received the prestigious best hotel in the world award with its sister lodges in South Africa, also coming in the top 10. South African Tourism is growing as this beautiful country has a world to offer and more, from sea and sand to that elusive safari holiday, South Africa has got it. Cape Town, one of South Africa’s seaside cities, has earned the name of the most popular destination in the world and now their safari lands are also gaining some accolades.

The Sun Rises on Malta’s Summer Solstice

The summer sun brings a time for relaxing, fun, outdoor activities and a time to appreciate the outdoors. However for the Maltese, summer brings with it an extremely interesting and educational level that many of us do not have the pleasure of experiencing. The summer solstice in Malta is coming up on 20 and 21 June and there is so much to look forward to.

Guides are preparing tours to the historically rich and cultural Maltese temples. The World Heritage Sites of the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples will be open for people to experience Malta’s 2012 summer solstice. The solstice occurs once a year and happens on sunrise of the first day of summer. The temples come into the solstice agenda because it is believed they were built in accordance with the relationship between these structures and celestial beings. Astronomy and astrology appear to have played a large part in historical architectures. Many people do not believe in the correlation between the two, however the systematic orientations are too plausible to believe otherwise. This is one of the perfect reasons for people to consider Malta holidays now. This only happens once a year and guarantees an experience.

Malta Destinations May Be Stamped In

There is no doubt that Malta destinations are picturesque enough to hang up on any of the greatest art galleries in the world, but have you ever considered them for a stamp collection? If this is something that sounds attractive to you, then you may guide yourself to make Malta destinations the winner of the EUROPA 2012 Stamp Competition. So while you are basking in the glory of Malta holidays, you can also send a postcard using a gorgeous screenshot of one of the many Malta beach destinations that exist. You last chance to take part in this competition is fast approaching and you can vote here.

How to Keep Frozen Food in the Forest

There’s nothing quite like packing that tent into your boot and heading out into the wilderness for a weekend away. There are a few options when it comes to meal times out in the woods. Popping some frozen food meals into a cooler bag is the most common method but you could always opt for the more primal, eat-what-you-catch option. Taking frozen food away with you, however, can be a tricky business but you can always find ways to keep it fresh and prolong its life for those slightly lengthier trips. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your frozen food when you’re not being followed by a freezer van and you only have your trusted cooler bag at your disposal. 

Father’s Day in the Wild

It is that time of the year again when you show your dad how much he means to you. You know, when you remember how he got up late into the night and changed your diapers and cleaned up your mess. Father’s Day is for you to show appreciation for all the times your father made your milk bottles every two hours at night just after you were born because your mother was too exhausted to think straight, let alone wake up.

If your father is a man’s man then what better way to show him how much you dig him by taking him on a safari somewhere deep in nature where Kudu, the Big Five and a droning 4×4 will take him back to the days, pre-diapers, milk bottles and two-hour sleep cycles. Father’s Day is typically filled with socks, handkerchiefs and soap-on-a-rope, so take that one step further. Throw in a voucher for awesome Kruger National Park tours that will get him away from the city and back to nature for some serious relaxing time.

New Ganhara International Airport on the Way

Benazir Bhutto International Airport is about to become a thing of the past. The new airport’s name will be Ganhara International Airport and it is currently undergoing a serious face and organ lift.

The original concept for a new airport came about in the nineteen eighties and was considered due to the dramatic increase of passengers and traffic through the, then called, Islamabad International Airport. Images of chaotic airports became the norm for Islamabad International so authorities felt it imperative to build a new airport to support the influx and to keep order and tighter control on security and scanners to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, airport personnel and visitors. Going to a chaotic airport is enough to have anyone running for the hills, and men in their comfortable workwear are able to deal with it very well.  Female staff who searched and dealt with the ladies managed to get by without ladies workwear and safety boots and they comfortably deal the influx of thousands of passengers each and every day in their thick dresses.