Empire State Building lights up for Spain's World
Cup win

post from NewYorkology on 11 July 2010 11:15:45 PM. © NewYorkology

It was a last-minute surprise, but the Empire State Building tonight is lit up red and yellow for Spain’s World Cup victory, a spokeswoman for the skyscraper’s management company confirmed to NewYorkology via e-mail tonight.The official[...]

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US Embassy Fees Rise in Lima, Peru

post from travel tourism about American living in peru abroad in lima visiting peru on 11 July 2010 06:55:00 PM. © travel tourism about American living in peru abroad in lima visiting peru

Rachel from Rachel in Peru just posted an article talking about the changes that the US Embassy in Peru is making in regards to US citizen and Resident fees. This isn't good for those currently living in Peru and currently planning to get a visa or any other service. Below is the full rundown.

Sensitive Privacy ActThis email is UNCLASSIFIED.
WARDEN MESSAGE
July 7, 2010

FEE INCREASES GO INTO EFFECT JULY 13, 2010
PASSPORT AND CITIZENSHIP SERVICES:
- The application processing fee for adult passport applications will change from $55 to $70.
- The passport book security surcharge will change from $20 to $40.
- The application fee for passport cards will increase, from $20 to $30 for adults, and from $10 to $15 for minors.
- A new fee of $82 for additional passport pages will be imposed.
- The fee for file search and verification of U.S. citizenship (generally conducted only by domestic passport agencies) will increase from $60 to $150.
- The fee for a Consular Report of Birth A broad will change from $65 to $100.
- A new fee of $450 is being established for documentation of formal renunciation of U.S. citizenship, which applies only to those persons who choose to take the Oath of Renunciation pursuant to Sec. 349(a)(5) INA.

OVERSEAS CITIZENS SERVICES:
- The fee for making arrangements for a deceased non-U.S. citizen is changing from consular time (Item 75 on the
Schedule of Fees) plus expenses to $200, plus expenses.

DOCUMENTARY SERVICES:
- Notarial and authentication services, which now range from $20 to $30, will all be $50.

JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES:
- The fee for processing of letters rogatory will increase from $735 to $2,275.
- Fees for taking depositions and executing commissions to take testimony will change as follows: scheduling/arranging appointments for depositions, from $475 to $1,283; attending or taking depositions or executing commissions to take testimony, from the consular time charge of $265/hour to $309/hour plus expenses; swearing in witnesses for telephone depositions and supervising telephone depositions, from the
consular time charge of $265/hour to $231/hour; providing seal and certification of depositions, from $70 to $415.

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
- Consular time charges (item 75 on the Schedule of Fees) will decrease from $265 to $231.

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n-lima-peru.html

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Sarangani: Whitewater tubing, anthropomorphic
pottery and pawikan in Maitum

post from Philippine Travel Journal | Ivan About Town on 11 July 2010 06:23:40 PM. © Philippine Travel Journal | Ivan About Town

Sarangani is very popular because of Gumasa Beach, a powder white sand beach in Glan. But on the opposite end of the province is Maitum, which has the Pangi River whitewater tubing, Pawikan Sanctuary, and a small museum dedicated to the anthropomorphic pottery that was found in Ayub Cave in Brgy. Piñol.

From General Santos, it's a three hour drive to Maitum. Unless you plan to stay overnight in Maitum, it's best to hire a vehicle going there since the Pangi River in Brgy. New La Union is several kilometers inland. Thanks to Go Sarangani Travel for arranging a vehicle for me to get to Maitum.

It's a really scenic drive. As you cross over to Sarangani from General Santos, the landscape changes abruptly. The rocky hills with a sparse cover of trees actually reminds me of some areas in Spain. This rocky landscape slowly changes into green forested mountains as you move ahead towards Maitum.

When we arrived in Maitum, we first visited the Maitum Municipal Hall where an exhibit of the Maitum anthropomorphic jars is located. Although the pots on display are replicas, the exhibit done by the National Museum is very educational and worth the visit.

Before proceeding to the Pangi River, we dropped by the Pawikan Nesting Sanctuary in Old Poblacion. There were several hatchlings ready for release but since it was early in the afternoon, it was too hot to release any of them. Hatchlings are best released early in the morning or late in the afternoon. There were green turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), which is also known as the Pacific Ridley.

After the visit, we rushed to Pangi River in Brgy. New La Union for some whitewater tubing. I wanted to reach the jump-off point early in the afternoon just in case there were mid-afternoon rains that would fall that day.

It costs just Php120 for a 30-minute run down a one-kilometer length of the river. There's a longer 45-minute run which costs an extra Php50 but you have to do this in the morning when the guides are still well-rested since it requires them to carry the equipment further up stream.

Anyway, the only things they will advice you are to stay cool, not to panic, and to hold the handles of the rubber tube as tight as you can. This will keep you from falling off the tube. I did two runs and despite several near falls, stayed afloat because of my tight grip on the rubber tube handles.

It would have been fun to go for a third run but it was another three hour drive to General Santos. More from General Santos in my next entry.

Go Sarangani Travel
Partridge BLDG, 66 J. Catolico St. Gen. Santos City
(083) 552-8015 or 304-4398

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http://www.ivanhenares.com/2010/07/sarangani-whitewater-tubing.html

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Tales from Cameron Highlands - Brinchang Stasis
and Tanah Rata Lethargy

post from Eye in the Sky on 11 July 2010 10:25:29 AM. © Eye in the Sky

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http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/07/tales-from-cameron-highlands.html

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Thailand in the News Week Ending 7/10/10

post from Thailand Land of Smiles on 11 July 2010 09:51:01 AM. © Thailand Land of Smiles

Rumors of Carrefour Exit unfounded? Over the past week rumors circulated that Carrefour was getting out of the South East Asian market as it was losing money and there were more profitable areas to explore. The speculation was that Carrefour would off[...]

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Fifth Annual MISTIC Awards

post from Go Nanaimo Blog on 11 July 2010 09:04:50 AM. © Go Nanaimo Blog

The Mid-Island Science, Technology and Innovation Council (MISTIC) will be hosting the fifth annual Science, Technology and Innovation Awards at a gala banquet on Wednesday, November 3, 2010.

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http://blog.gonanaimo.com/fifth-annual-mistic-awards

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Tales from Cameron Highlands

post from Eye in the Sky on 11 July 2010 08:22:42 AM. © Eye in the Sky

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http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2010/07/tales-from-cameron-highlands.html

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Trip report from Shanghai in China

Nikki and I went to Shanghai in China in May 2010 and we visited World Expo 2010, Jin Mao building, Shanghai World Financial Center, the aquarium, Oriental Pear Tower etc. Here is a trip report with photos, links and videos: http://gardkarlsen.com/Shanghai_China_trip_report.htm . I have also made this Shanghai Google map to give people an idea of where the various attractions are located. I hope that it can give people an idea of what to expect if you are heading to this metropolis. Get in touch if you have any questions or comments.

Read The Full Article:
http://gardkarlsen.com/blog/?p=736

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Peruvian Bathroom Graffiti

[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://streetsofperu.blogspot.com/2010/07/peruvian-bathroom-graffiti.html

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Photos of Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram is a colourful festival in Kerala held every summer, known for its grand procession of elephants, the panchavadyas (music from five instruments) and high decibel firecrackers. Here are some images from Pooram, which was celebrated in[...]

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pooram.html

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