To enjoy a budget-friendly trip, safety is a chief concern regardless if you opt for a camping site or being gallivanting in the great outdoors. This is especially so when there are children around. As with any other things, safety is best ensured by planning in advance by doing.a little research before you even start to pack your backpacks.

Tip #1 - A common mistake is overlooking clothing, footwear and equipment requirements for seasonal transitions. A sudden shifts in weather and temperature happen all the time, yet many campers are ill prepared for these. Getting sick while having your were supposed to have fun is no fun at all! Getting sprained ankles or blistered feet during trekking would be greatly avoided if you are wearing proper hiking shoes. Wearing caps or hats would help guard you against the sun and insects. Packing several types of clothing is an excellent way to protect yourself from getting sick or even injured.

Tip #2 - Getting lost is another safety issue so a flashlight, a whistle, a bottle of water and some energy bars are essential when you head out of your tent. Getting lost is not that bad when you know what to do and you are prepared. The flashlight can be used to send signals at great distances. The whistle alert others on where you are. Water and food keep your energy and spirit up.

Tip #3: Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Bring iodine tablets if you are uncertain of the cleanliness of the water supply. Always assume that streams, creeks and rivers are potentially contaminated sources of water so do not just drink directly from them. Iodine tablets are inexpensive and one of the easiest way to purify water.

Tip #4: Beware of nature. It is best to know which plants are “friendly” and which ones are harmful. It is also advisable to know if there are aggressive wild animal lurking around too. You might want to check out with rangers or the locals on these. Not to forget, there are also insects that are poisonous or could sting so packing a bottle of insect repellent is a good idea. If you somehow forgot, cover your body with as much clothing as possible.

Tip #5 - Bring a first aid kit because camping in remote areas often mean that proper medical attention is hard to find. It is always better to apply first aid treatment while waiting for the medical experts to arrive. First aid kit can be easily bought at pharmacies.

The above 5 tips are are just some of the things that would help everyone keep his camping experience safe and enjoyable.

In my humble opinion, this is sound advice especially when credit cards are so handy.

We stumbled on this secret and would like to share it with you! You see, chartering a private jet is actually quite easy. There, now you know. Just like those rich people, you too can have a private flight all to yourself. You don’t really need to own the plane. Actually, it is not all that expensive to charter one too.

Think about taking on a Private Jet Charter all of your own! For an unforgettable holiday, what more can you ask for? This company claims to provide excellence in service, amenities, and flexible flying schedules. Give it a try and let us know.

A search on the web widen my knowledge on African diamonds.

The world’s largest diamond was the Cullinan, found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. The Cullinan was cut into (1) the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, (2) the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40 carats, and (3) 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless colour and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels. Next time I must look closer at Queen E’s crown. Maybe I’m in luck to look at the real things.

The Cullinan was three times the size of the next largest diamond, the Excelsior, which was also found in South Africa.

The world’s largest documented polished diamond - unearthed in 1986, also in South Africa - is called Unnamed Brown. It weighs 545 carats and was cut down from a 700 carat rough diamond. It took an international team of expert cutters 3 years to complete the masterpiece.

Another impressive diamond that also took 3 years to cut, and also is part of the British crown jewels, is the Centenary Diamond. It weighs 273.85 carats and is the world’s largest flawless diamond.

No wonder de Beer said “Diamonds are Forever” and “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” was coined in the original Broadway production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”.

OK, if I do get to Africa, I must look for a big shining rock for my sister’s finger. Until I showed enough appreciation, she is going to remind me consistently how she had saved my house from the water, and probably saved my skin from the neighbors’ claws.

Anyway, the lesson learned is I must have a content insurance for my house. I was quite in tune with getting travel insurance whenever I travel. However, this is the first time I thought I better insured my stuffs even though they don’t worth much. I just hate the bustle and hassle plus the big hole in my pocket for the past 2 weeks.

When Gregory, a regular reader of this blog, heard of my recent frustration. He encouraged me to check out an online insurance site call Home Insurance. He said I must be prepared to answer lots of questions but the time spent will be much shorter than having a face to face discussion with an insurance agent. I guessed that took away some hesitation and anxiety. I’m rather apprehensive of talking to the insurance folks. Their perseverance in following up got on my nerves more than once. Anyway, I eventually visited the site and sure enough I was greeted with a list of questions at the Content Insurance Quote section. Initially I was furious with the seemingly unending flow of questions, from how many rooms are there, what’s the roof made of, how far is the river/water source from my house, etc, etc, etc. By the time I reached the second page, I was kinda impressed. The more details they asked, the more comfortable I became. I felt I was talking to a professional without actually facing one. A strange feeling came over me after I completed the exercise. I had been staying in this house for more than 7 years but I felt I knew my humble abbot even more now.

I felt a lot more grounded now … I have life insurance, travel insurance and home insurance in place now. And I didn’t even need to talk to anyone face to face.

Well, next time before you travel, just check that you got all the insurance coverage nicely set up. Just don’t make the mistake I made, it’s too much of heartache, headache and hassle.