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Afo-A-Kom: The Lost Totem

9008614293?profile=originalThe Afo-A-Kom is far from the world's greatest piece of art—or even Africa's. A 5-ft. 2½in. image of a king, it is rather crudely carved in iroko wood, the torso covered with sackcloth stitched with reddish-brown beads, the face masked in copper. But the Afo-A-Kom (literally, the Kom thing) is sacred to the approximately 30,000 people who constitute the Kom kingdom, a tribal enclave in the northwestern part of the Federal Republic of Cameroon.


Last week this rather ungainly sculpture caused a fl
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9008613273?profile=originalI was deeply chagrined to learn that Gray Line recently suspended its culinary walking tours in NYC but nevertheless wanted to give one of their bus tours a try. Among the cavalcade of numerous other double-decker buses plying NYC's streets, I was fortunate to experience a complimentary ride aboard Gray Line's Downtown Loop. A hop-on, hop-off circuit, I caught the bus at its Times Square stop and luckily was able to climb up to the rooftop deck for a birds eye view of all that the non-stop narra

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I'm often asked what the tipping guidelines are in other countries. I would like to say to use the guidelines that we use here in the U.S. The truth is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Every country has different guidelines. Some places a few dollars may be fine or a couple of dollars. In other places, a few dollars may get snubbed.

The purpose of a tip is to express appreciation for a service also called a gratuity. One question always asked is in the case of all-inclusive prop
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Part the Fourth in a four-part series.

 

9008610656?profile=originalWhat to buy is surely the most important issue regarding William and Kate's Royal Wedding. After all, the day will be over in the blink of (the world’s) eye, but those all-important souvenirs will last until the highest bidder gets them on eBay.

 

The official Royal Wedding souvenirs will look perfectly at home in your granny's china cabinet, but if you don't want to part with over £120 for the Official Royal Wedding Commemorative Loving Cup, don't worry. Eve
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American Airlines is celebrating their 30th Anniversary of their frequent flyer program.I have been enjoying hearing all the crazy ways people have earned miles over the years on the various tv shows.The funniest one is from a man who started a company just to fly 20 Thai people back and forth on a $8 flight,so he could earn 4000000 miles. The local DEA ask him about it because he was flying people in the noted Golden Triangle and they thought he was a very dumb drug runner.

This 20 minute film b
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Welcome to tripatini! An introduction...

Hello All,

 

I am so glad to find this website and all of its resources and thought I'd take the time to introduce myself and weasel my way into the community - lol. My husband and I consider ourselves avid travelers, in the past time and money constricted what we could do - now it is just money. We retired last year, I was a teacher, he worked for the utility company. Our travel was restricted to spring breaks and summer vacations - now we can take advantage of offers anytime of the year and are

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Vietnam Travel Companies

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Of all the trips I’ve taken, the one to Vietnam stands out as being the biggest surprise. I expected to meet people who didn’t like Americans – and was greeted by smiling faces. I knew very little about the history, other than the period of the “American War,” but found it all fascinating - and I loved the food. During three weeks in the country, I became nearly obsessed by the local crafts and, even though I’m typically not a shopper, I managed to fit a lot into my suitcase and ship the rest ho

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Cheap Flights to Europe: My 9 Top Web Sites

1.Airfarewatchdog- They have been good at finding out some of the bargain flights to Europe.They don't list a lot of flights, but those they do are generally pretty cheap. Check the daily blog also. 

2.Momondo- Still the best of the Airfare search sites,but they do have some problems as well. They check a lot of sources though ,so they are worth a look.They price one way fares at reasonable rates

3. Iberia- has had some great sales recently,under $300rt, and I've noticed that almost every week the
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You might think London hotels would be sold out or vastly marked up during Royal Wedding week. Well, you might be wrong. Seems a lot of folks got the idea that it would be a total Picadilly circus, and decided to stay away. Travelocity, for example, just reported there’s plenty of availability, affordability, and even bargains – so if you can scrape the time together, you can get thee thither for Wills and Kate’s Excellent Adventure. 

When it comes to hostelries, of course, the city on the Thame

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Entering the Great Abyss

9008615078?profile=originalLast April I crawled out onto Shoshone Point on the South Rim and stared into the Great Abyss. It was a bit windy that day so I held onto a boulder to keep from being blown into oblivion. As I watched the fast moving clouds cast shadows upon the striated walls of amber, purple and mauve, I yearned to know the pulsing heart of the grandest gorge of them all. The terra cotta river carving it’s path a mile below held mysteries for me I had to know.In May, I will meet the challenge of rafting the tu
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My Observations of the Japan Quake

I just wanted to post some things I saw during the quake. I was near Asakusa station in Tokyo waiting for my son. We were going to visit Nikko for the weekend. I was in a building on the first floor. After I felt the quake , I exited the building and waited in the middle of the street with others. Being from California, we are told to stay put or get under a desk or doorway during a quake. In Japan, it seems like everybody wants to be outside during a quake. Right or wrong, thats what I did. The

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Photo exhibition on Ha Long Bay opens in France
  
(VOV) - A photo exhibition entitled “Ha Long Bay - the world’s natural wonders” is taking place in Paris, France.
 
The event offers an opportunity for Vietnam to promote the image of Ha Long Bay to international friends and overseas Vietnamese in France with the message “Vote for Ha Long Bay as the world’s natural wonders.
 
On display at the event are 50 art photos which have been selected from thousands of high quality masterpieces on Ha Long Bay.
 
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9008611452?profile=originalDiscover the Rail Way. On May 7, 2011, the 4th will be a free coast-to-coast celebration.  Take the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston Mass. to Old Orchard Beach Maine, and enjoy your stay at the Atlantic Birches Inn, an elegant Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast.  Stay two nights during the week of May 7, 2011 show us your train stub at our Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast and we will pay for half your fare from Boston to our Old Orchard Beach Inn.  

Old Orchard Beach Maine trains are now traveling eig

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After a wintering in the Bahamas, the Boatel re-opens for another season at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre June 1st for its 6th year of operation. For more details see www.boatel.ca

 

So often we are asked questions about the concept of the Boatel. I will try answer the FAQ?

 

Question: How many Boatels are there?

Answer: There are about a dozen Boat Bed & Breakfast in North America. We are the only one in Toronto.

 

Question: Why would someone want to stay on a Boat?

Answer: Have you ever walked past a

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9008610279?profile=originalAirlines Give Passengers a Needed Break

The airlines don’t give up easily, nor do they give much away.

So when U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray Lahood,) announced that starting in August , airlines will be required to protect their passengers’ interests much more than they have, there were smiles on the faces of consumer advocates.

Yahoo News, quoting the The Associated  Press, said  DOT is asking for protections that we think are overdue and very obvious:

• Airlines will be required to refund ba
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Our part of San Diego is known for great beaches, restaurants, and shopping.

In addition, here are my Top Ten Favorite Only-in-La Jolla Activities:

1. Take a surf lesson. Surf Diva in La Jolla Shores is the world's #1 surf school for women - and they also offer co-ed surf camps for would-be surfers ages 5-17.  Established in 1996 by twin sisters Izzy and Coco Tihanyi, Surf Diva also has a beachy clothing boutique on Avenida de la Playa.

2.  Go hiking in Torrey Pines State Reserve. Of the eight sho

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