7/13/13

5 health benefit facts of drinking water

1. Drinking water on an empty stomach purifies the colon, making it easier to absorb nutrients

2. Increases the production of new blood and muscle cells

3. Helps with weight loss. Drinking at least 16 ounces of chilled water can boost your metabolism by 24% in the morning

4.Glowing (Skin Clear Skin)
Water helps to purge toxins from the blood which help keeps your skin glowing and clear

5 Balances your Lymph System. These glands help you perform your daily functions, balance your body fluids, and fight infection.

7/11/13

12 Interesting facts about Chimpanzee

1.Chimpanzees are one of our closest living relatives. In fact, humans and chimpanzees share 95 to 98 percent of the same DNA.

2.Chimpanzees make and use tools. In fact, they use more tools for more purposes than any other creature except human beings.

3.Chimpanzees develop lifelong family bonds, particularly between mother and child. Mothers and dependent young (up to age seven or so) are always together.

4. Chimpanzees can currently be found in 21 African countries. The greatest concentration of chimpanzees is in the rain forests of what used to be the equatorial forest belt.

5. Chimpanzees are omnivores, which means they eat fruits, nuts, seeds, blossoms and leaves, as well as many kinds of insects and occasionally medium-sized animals. 

6.Chimpanzees communicate in many ways, most notably through sounds and calls. They also communicate with each other through touch, facial expressions and body language. They also understand human language.

7.Chimpanzees are knuckle walkers, which means they walk on all fours using their knuckles for support when they are on the ground or even when they are up in trees.

8. Chimpanzee habitat is rapidly disappearing as human activity increases in the areas where chimpanzees live. Some of the causes for habitat loss include the conversion of land into agriculture, competition for natural resources such as firewood, commercial logging and mining.

9. They live in communities of up to 100 – 150 members. The male leads the hierarchies that are formed by these communities.

10. Chimpanzees are endangered. At the turn of the 20th century, they numbered between 1 and 2 million. Now there are estimated to be fewer than 300,000 chimpanzees remaining in the wild. Help us save them. 

11. Chimpanzees get their name from the Bantu words Kivili-Chimpenze, which translates as ‘creatures that look human’. They possess senses similar to humans including sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.

12.  Unlike other primates, chimpanzees do not have tails and have large developed brains.

7/10/13

Top 10 awesome reasons to Date a Doctor:

Dating a doctor definitely has some major benefits. Let’s look at a few of the reasons to date a doctor!

1. Financial stability- One of the fabulous perks of dating a doctor is their bank account.

2. They’re smart- They went through A LOT of schooling to get where they’re at. They had to take sciences and maths that would make the average head spin!

3. Can’t gross them out- Doctors have seen the worst of the worst. Your funky skin rash isn't going to send them running for the hills. With the gross things they deal with everyday, it is very hard to surprise them.

4. Free doctor visits- If you’re feeling sick and need some expert advice on your tummy trouble or sprained ankle, you can always ask the doctor you’re dating!

5. They listen well- Doctors are trained to listen very attentively to what you have to say and to process what you are telling them. Dating a female doctor will boost this benefit even more because of a female’s natural caring and attentive nature.

6. They’re fixers- Doctors are trained to fix you. Their job is to problem solve and get everything working back to normal.

7. They’re committed- All of the schooling, studying, training and practicing took a lot of effort and dedication to complete. Dating a physician has many pros and this is a big one.

8. Interesting conversation- One of the things you can look forward to if you’re trying to figure out how to meet a doctor to date is the stimulating conversation.There’s no such thing as “just another day at the office” in the medical field.

9. They’re Dependable- Doctors are often on-call and have to be available at any hour of the day. You can rest assured that your doctor will be there for you any time you need them!

10. Status- Love should have nothing to do with titles or salaries, but doctors do come with a prestigious status. Doctors are highly respected in society and dating one puts you right alongside of them.

7/9/13

10 Amazing facts about Facebook.

1. The average user has 130 friends
Are you worried about your popularity? The average number of friends on Facebook is 130, and women tend to have somewhat more than men. Yet despite having hundreds of friends, most people only interact regularly with 4 to 7 people. 

2. Over 25% of users have already been dumped via Facebook
A June 2010 survey of 1,000 Facebook users -- 70% of whom were male -- found that 25% had been "dumped" via Facebook (via their significant other updating his or her relationship status).

Twenty-one percent of those surveyed said they would end a relationship by changing their Facebook relationship statuses to "single." While worrisome, the survey does show the majority of people do not split up via Facebook.

3.Facebook doesn't allow breastfeeding photos
Facebook, the popular social networking website, provoked a squall of maternal wrath when it yanked photos of breastfeeding babies that women had posted on their personal profiles because it deemed them a little too revealing. This, by the way, from a website that allows photos of women in thongs and bikinis and of couples making out; it has even accepted paid advertising for a dating website that featured a topless model. (The topless ad was taken down after angry women noted the hypocrisy.)

4. Facebook causes 1 in 5 Divorces
It used to be the tell-tale lipstick on the collar. Then there were the give-away texts that spelled the death knell for many marriages. But now one in five divorces involve the social networking site Facebook, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

5. 36% of users check Facebook, Twitter or texts after sex.
Lighting a cigarette after sex? That's soooo last season.
An October 2009 study by Retrevo suggested that social networks are becoming an increasingly important part of young people's lives. Among under-35s, 36% admitted to "tweeting, texting and checking Facebook after sex." Forty percent of respondents admitted to doing so while driving, 64% said they do so at work, and 65% use these communication channels while on vacation. 

6. Over 350 million people suffer from Facebook Addiction Disorder.
Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) is a term introduced by US psychologists for those who are addicted to Facebook and their life is really affected by their uncontrolled activities on Facebook. The most common effects are the loss of productivity, the inability to concentrate, the superficiality of friendships as well as isolation in the extreme cases.
It has been said that approximately 350 million people are suffering from the disorder.

7.Facebook users have lower grades than non-users
According to a new study by doctoral candidate Aryn Karpinski of Ohio State University and her co-author Adam Duberstein of Ohio Dominican University, college students who use the 800 million–member social network have significantly lower grade-point averages (GPAs) than those who do not.

The study, made in 2009, surveyed 219 undergraduate and graduate students and found that GPAs of Facebook users typically ranged a full grade point lower than those of nonusers — 3.0 to 3.5 for users versus 3.5 to 4.0 for their non-networking peers. It also found that 79% of Facebook members did not believe there was any link between their GPA and their networking habits.

8.A man was arrested for openly asking his 13-year-old daughter for sex over Facebook.
On perhaps one of the worst crimes perpetrated in Facebook, a Pennsylvania father was arrested for allegedly asking his teen daughter for sex over Facebook. John Forehand, 39, referred to himself as "Bad Daddy" in the online correspondence with his 13 year-old daughter, in which he openly propositioned her and made explicit sexual suggestions. Forehand told his daughter he had been having "inappropriate" dreams about her, and wrote to her, "I'll take very good care of my little girl."


The girl told her mother about the inappropriate Facebook messages, and she then alerted the police. The police captured Forehand by tricking him into coming to what he believed would be a meeting with his daughter. How sick is that?

9. An average facebook user spend 13.5 minutes on the site everyday.

10. A Cincinnati photographer, Mark Byron, abused his wife verbally on his Facebook page.  He was later ordered by the court to either go to jail or write an apology on his Facebook wall.


7/8/13

15 Interesting facts about Mahatma Gandhi

1. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of india
during the Indian independence movement

2. Mahatma Gandhi went to England when he was 19 to study law.

3. Gandhi is officially honoured in India as the Father of the
Nation; his birthday, 2 October, is commemorated there as Gandhi
Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International
Day of Non-Violence.

4. Mahatma literally translates to ‘great soul’ in Sanskrit.

5. Time Magazine, the famous U.S. publication, named Mahatma
Gandhi the Man of the Year in 1930.

6. In 1930 Mahatma Gandhi led hundreds of followers on a 240-mile
march to the sea, where they made salt from seawater in protest
against the British salt law, which made it illegal to possess
salt not bought from the government.

7. Mahatma Gandhi experimented with diets to see how cheaply he
could live and remain healthy. He started living principally on
fruit and goats’ milk and olive oil.

8. Mahatma Gandhi spoke English with an Irish accent, for one of
his first teachers was an Irishman.

9. On 30 January 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was shot and killed on the
grounds of the Birla Bhavan (Birla House) in New Delhi.

10. Gandhi’s policy of Satyagraha, based largely on Hinduism, was
influenced by many diverse sources, including Christ, Leo
Tolstoy, and Henry David Thoreau.

11. When he was a child, he was afraid of the dark. 

12. He was married when he was 13 years old to Kasturbai Makanji.

13. He had a Law Office in South Africa. 

14. He influenced Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and millions of other people.

15. He spent most of his time fighting for the independence of India. He led the Salt March to protest against the British. 

15 Awesome facts about Mother Teresa

1. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Albania, to a financially comfortable family – they lived in one of the two houses they owned. Her father died when she was 8 years old, which ended her family’s financial security.

2. Although she lived to be 87 years old, she never saw her mother or sister again after the day she left for Ireland. 

3. After a year learning English in Ireland, Agnes transferred to the Sisters of Loreto convent in Darjeeling, India. 

4. Teresa began teaching history and geography in Calcutta at St. Mary’s, a high school for the daughters of the wealthy. She remained there for 15 years and enjoyed the work, but was distressed by the poverty she saw all around her. 

5. In 1946, Teresa traveled to Darjeeling for a retreat. It was on that journey that she realized what her true calling was: “I heard the call to give up all and follow Christ into the slums to serve him among the poorest of the poor.” 

6. It took two years of preparation before she was able to begin doing the work she felt compelled to do. She needed to receive permission from the Sisters of Loreto to leave the order – while retaining her vows – as well as permission from the Archbishop of Calcutta to live and work among the poor. She also prepared by taking a nursing course. 

7. In 1948, Teresa set aside her nun’s habit – adopting instead the simple sari and sandals worn by the women she would be living among – and moved to a small rented hovel in the slums to begin her work. 

8. Teresa’s first year in the slums was particularly hard. She was used to a life of comparative comfort, and now she had no income and no way to obtain food and supplies other than begging. She was often tempted to return to convent life, and had to rely on her determination and faith to get herself through it.

9. One of her first projects was to teach the children of the poor – drawing on her experience with teaching the children of the rich. She didn’t have any equipment or supplies this time, but she taught them to read and write by writing in the dirt with sticks. 

10. Word began to spread about Teresa’s good works, and soon she had other volunteers wanting to help. By 1950, she was able to start the Mission of Charity – a congregation dedicated to caring for “the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.” 

11. Mother Teresa was honored with many awards throughout her life, from the Indian Padma Shri in 1962 to the inaugural Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971 to Albania’s Golden Honour of the Nation in 1994…and, most famously, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. 

12. She refused the traditional Nobel honor banquet, instead requesting that the $192K funds be given to help the poor of India.

13. She continued her work with the poor for the rest of her life, leading the Missionaries of Charity until just months before her death on September 5, 1997. 

14. The Catholic Church has begun to move Mother Teresa along the steps toward sainthood, and she was beatified in 2003. Her official title is now Blessed 

15. She took her vows as a nun in 1931, and that’s when she chose the name Teresa – to honor Saints Therese of Lisieux and Teresa of Avila. 

10 Interesting Things About Stephen Hawking

1. Even if you don't keep a close eye on new developments in physics, you've probably heard of the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. He's prided himself on making his complex physical concepts accessible to the public and writing the bestseller, "A Brief History of Time."

2. Many find it surprising, for instance, that, despite his influential body of work, Hawking hasn't yet been awarded the Nobel Prize.

3. Hawking was born on Jan. 8, 1942, which just happened to be the 300th anniversary of Galileo's death.

4. Hawking is as much a celebrity as he is a scientist, having appeared on The Simpsons, Star Trek and having provided narration for a British Telecom commercial that was later sampled on a Pink Floyd album.  

5. He had a difficult time at the local public school and was persecuted as a "swot" who was more interested in jazz, classical music and debating than sport and pop. Although not top of the class, he was good at maths and "chaotically enthusiastic in chemistry". Hawking has said of his workload as an undergraduate at Oxford "amounted to an average of just an hour a day". He also said: "I'm not proud of this lack of work, I'm just describing my attitude at the time, which I shared with most of my fellow students. You were supposed to be brilliant without effort, or to accept your limitations and get a fourth class degree."Despite his workload confession, Hawking got a first and went to Cambridge to begin work on his PhD - but he was already beginning to experience the first symptoms of his illness, having fallen over twice for no reason during the last year of his undergraduate degree.

6. Hawking has credited his marriage in 1965 to Jane Wilde, a language student, as a turning point in his life at a time when he was unsure as to what the point of a degree was if he was to die soon. They went on to have three children - Robert, Lucy, and Timothy.

7. At a meeting of the Royal Society meeting, Hawking interrupted a lecture by renowned astrophysicist Sir Fred Hoyle to let him know that he had made a mistake. When asked how he knew there had been an error, Hawking replied: "Because I've worked them out in my head."

8. During the 1970s Hawking produced a stream of first class research, including probably his most important contribution to cosmology: the discovery of Hawking radiation, which allows a black hole to leak energy and gradually fade away to nothing.

9. Among some of his more unconventional theories, Professor Hawking has predicted the end of humanity - due to global warming, a new killer virus, or the impact of a large comet.

10. In 2009 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge for 30 years, taking up the post in 1979 and retiring on 1 October 2009. He is also a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge having held many other academic positions. In recent years, Professor Hawking has examined the relationship between science and religion, writing a 2010 book Grand Design, which argues that evoking God is not necessary to explain the origins of the universe.

7/7/13

Interesting Facts About Windows from the History


  • More than 70.39% of Internet users are currently running Windows, and there are 1,693,244,385 users. (As per 2012)



  • Bill Gates started Microsoft with Paul Allen in Gates’ 500-square-foot garage in 1975 with a huge vision—a computer on every desktop and in every home. 



  • Microsoft currently employs 88,180 people who work across 32,404,796 square feet of Microsoft’s premises.



  • Microsoft shipped out the first copy of Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985. Its TV commercial featured current CEO Steve Ballmer as an enthusiastic salesman.



  • Windows 1.0 only required a minimum of 256 kilobytes (KB), two double-sided floppy disk drives, and a graphics adapter card.



  • Control Panel made its first appearance in Windows 2.0.



  • Windows XP was compiled from 45 million lines of code.


7/4/13

10 Interesting facts about Viagra

1. Viagra can help your garden grow.
The magic blue pill is used for problems other than impotence and heart conditions.
For example, it’s sometimes prescribed to treat altitude sickness and high blood pressure in the lungs.
It’s even been shown to stop plants wilting.
A bamboo stick works just as well though.

2. Viagra started life as a heart drug.
Because it improves blood flow, it was first tried out as an angina treatment.
Then researchers noticed their cardiac patients had a smile on their face and a bulge in their pants.
And the rest is pharmaceutical history.

3. It can cause blue vision.
Yes, really, in a small number of Viagra-poppers.
It’s temporary and harmless, though.
Much more common side effects are headaches, flushing or indigestion — again, these aren’t serious.

4. You’re only allowed one bonk per week on the NHS.
In fact, most men can’t get treatment on the NHS at all — it is restricted to “special cases” such as blokes with diabetes or multiple sclerosis.
Even then, the pills are rationed — the Department of Health told GPs that “one treatment per week will be appropriate for most patients”

5. Viagra - the most counterfeited drug in the world
The demand for Viagra is very high and a lot of people want to try it out. However, a number of them are not willing to pay the full price for the drug and that brings out an excellent opportunity for generic drug manufacturers to launch fake versions of Viagra. You would be surprised to know that Viagra is the most counterfeited drug in the world. It is therefore, extremely important to ensure that you have the original version of the drug launched by Pfizer. 

6. Viagra does not work instantly
A lot of people have the misconception that consuming Viagra results in an instant erection. In fact, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes for the drug to get absorbed in the blood stream. It should ideally be taken about 1 hour before (and not more than 4 hours before) the sexual activity. 

7. Viagra does not increase the libido. For some middle-aged men a loss of libido may simply be a natural part of growing older; but if you think there is some other cause, a visit to your GP and possible referral to a therapist will be of much more use than a pill. It cannot produce desire; it simply helps to make a penis erect once the desire is there.

8. When appropriately prescribed, the drugs generally work well. The overall success rate is about 80 per cent, although it's closer to 60 per cent in men who are impotent because of diabetes complications.

All three drugs can have similar side effects, including stomach upset, headache and facial flushing. However men prescribed nitrate-based medicines, used to treat angina, must NOT take them, as the combination could cause blood pressure to drop to an unsafe or life-threatening level. They are also risky for men with very low or uncontrolled high blood pressure.

9. Men Up to 65 Years of Age - Viagra 50mg is prescribed to be taken once a day, 30 minutes to 4 hours before intercourse. In situations where 50mg isn't effective, your doctor may prescribe 100mg to be taken once daily 30 minutes to 4 hours before intercourse

10. For Men Older than 65 Years of Age - Viagra 25mg is prescribed to be taken 30 minutes to 4 hours before intercourse. In some circumstances, men older then 65 may have their doses increased.

10 Interesting Facts about Qatar

1. The Road to perfection is met after the road has been worked upon three to four times in a year. if you don’t know what is it, go to Qatar.

2. The Qatari’s favourite food is roast camel, by all accounts roasted on a BBQ is the best option.

3. The average age a Qatari citizen lives too is 97. According to local reports it’s because of the roast camel.

4. The worlds best airline is Qatar Airways.

5. Qatar is the home of Al Jazeera, the popular and controversial Arabic satellite television network.

6. Qatar became independent from Britain in 1971 and Independence Day is celebrated on 3rd September each year.

7. It is NOT true that you must cover your body up in Qatar. You can wear a bikini at the pool or the beach, you can wear short shorts, and you are free to show off your fashion. (You just can’t be naked.

8. The country is rich in oil and 90% of all its exports to other nations are oil-based. They have the world’s largest Gas Reserves and are the single largest supplier of liquefied natural gas. Other exports include petroleum products, fertilizers and steel.

9. Industries include crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars and cement. Agriculture comprises of fruits, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, beef and fish.

10. The official language is Arabic and English is the common second language. The government is a constitutional monarch.

7/3/13

10 Beneficial facts about apple juice

1.Reduced Risk of Heart Diseases
Apple juice prevents cholesterol to form in your blood vessels and arteries. High cholesterol level and plaques in the arteries are one of the major causes of heart diseases. By drinking apple juice you reduce the risk of heart diseases.

2. Cleaner Organism and Improved Digestion
Apple juice (especially raw apple juice) helps to clean the liver and kidneys from harmful toxins. As a result, you have a cleaner organism and you are better protected against liver and kidney diseases.

3. Apple Juice is Great for Weight Loss
This health benefit of apple juice is loved by weight conscious persons. Cholesterol and calories are two major causes of extra weight. Apple juice is basically free of calories and fat + it protects you from cholesterol.

4. Excellent Source of Energy
Apple juice is packed with different vitamins – A, C, E, K, B1, B2, B6 and Folate, so it is an excellent source of energy. As a result, it is a great drink to restore your energy after a physical exercise.

5. Lower Risk of Dementia
Some studies have shown that apple juice lowers the risk of dementia in older people. Apple juice slows brain aging and helps to keep it sharp for longer time.

6. Improved Vision and Eye Health
Apple juice contains vitamin A, which is good for your eyes. Vitamin A helps you to protect your eyes from eye diseases and keeps your sight sharp.



7/2/13

10 Amazing facts about Yarsaghumba



Introduction: Yarsaghumba, (The Himalayan Viagra) 
Nepalized Tibetan name „dbyar rtswa dgun'bu“ (summer grass, winter worm) for a rare fungus that parasites on the body of a caterpillar of a moth (genus THITARODES). This so-called CATERPILLAR FUNGUS (CORDYCEPS, or also OPHIOCORDYCEPS SINENSIS) grows only at high altitudes in Tibet, Nepal, China, Bhutan and North-East India. For its medical effects, YARSAGUMBA has been an important component for a many of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, due to a constantly growing demand and the difficulties in harvesting, YARSAGUMBA has become the most expansive medicinal substance in the world.

Fact 1.
According to Himalayan legend, YARSAGUMBA was discovered by Tibetan and Nepalese herders who, in springtime, noticed grazing yaks and goats acting stragely in the high mountain pasture. After eating this strange looking substance, the animals would become frisky and start chasing each other around with lustfull intent. Soon the locals were consuming YARSAGUMBA and also experiencing this added vigor.

Facts 2.
In Asia YARSAGUMBA is cooked with many kind of dishes: chicken or duck soup, pork specialities, boiling it in ducks stomachs, or feeding the duck with CATERPILLAR FUNGUS and after 2—3 days preparing the duck and eating it. (This pre-fed duck usually has very tasty meat!) As a powder it is often consumed with drinking water, milk or tea.

Fact 3.
The taste is pleasant, sweet, with a nutty-mushroom flavor. Any aversion to consuming caterpillars (although actually there is no more caterpillar, just its cover) is quickly overwhelmed by the benefit which YARSAGUMBA provides. There is no possibility of overdose with CATERPILLAR FUNGUS, and, according to all available information, there are no known harmful or negative side effects, even for pregnant women.

Fact 4.
Yarchagumbu is an exceptional and incredible herb that grows in the pastures above 3,300 meters upto 4000 meters in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Bhutan, India and Tibet.

Fact 5.
Yarsagumba is also known as the “Himalayan Viagra” or “Himalayan Gold” for its high medicinal and commercial value. It is mainly used as a treatment for impotency in many countries.

Fact 6.
Numerous scientific studies and research reveals that it has properties of antibiotic in it. Cordycep sinensis is used for lung and respiratory infection, pain, sciatica and backache. It also provides vitality and increases physical stamina of the body. Yarsa gumba is used by the Chinese to cure chronic hepatitis B and immune function such as dysfunctioning of liver.

Fact 7.
Researches has revealed that the body of Yarsagumba contains:- Cordycepin acid, Cordycepin, D-mannitol, Polysaccharide, SOD, Fatty Acid, Nucleocide Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, Serien, Zinc, Copper, Carbohydrates etc. Cardycepin and Cordycepic acid have been found to be the main constituents.

Fact 8.
According to the Hawaiian health products, cordyceptin is found effective against tuberculosis as well as in the treatment of leprosy. Another major use of this is in the treatment of leukemia. It is useful for children, adults, the aged and the sick people. It energizes lung, kidney and liver; improves memory and purified blood; keeps a person physically and mentally sound. It is of great importance for men and women of any age group, players, people working in physical stress, suffering from premature ejaculation and sexually inactive ones. It gradually empowers internal energy of our body in a natural way as well as acts as a powerful aphrodisiac. Unlike Viagra, it does not cause any mental problem or any other type of physical damage or malfunctioning.

Fact 9.
Yarsa Gumba is well known for its immune support, and the ability to counteract short term and long term damage from toxic pharmaceutical agents. It protects the kidneys and is useful for cognitive, respiratory, cardiovascular, and liver protection. What this miracolous herb can do for your body has been summarized below:

Fact 10.
Yarsa Gumba in most cases eaten roughly. Sometimes it is mixed with milk. The most traditional use of Yarsa Gumba is it's tea. Now many Hotels and restaurants in Nepal serve yarsa tea in their menu. You can also buy commercially packaged tea bags of Yarsa Gumba.

Many Chinese and some Nepalese medicine use extracts of Yarsa Gumba in it. In order to get the benifit of Yarsa Gumba you can just take a yarsa and eat with milk or hot water.. there is no special way. 

12 Interesting facts about Nepal



1. Nepal opened it’s borders to the world in the 1950s and 2011 is Nepal Tourism Year!  So make this year count and join the celebration.

2. People in Nepal do not greet one another with a handshake, but rather put their palms together and bow their forehead and say Namaste (directly translated as “I salute the God in you”).  This is the same greeting used throughout India.

3. A popular and cheap ‘fast food’ is the Momo.  Delicious dumplings made from flour and water filled with different fillings like chicken, meat or vegetables either fried or steamed and served with a dipping sauce.  My favorites were the yak-meat filled ones at the Yak CafĂ© in Kathmandu.

4. Nepal is home to one of the few places on earth where you can see both the Bengal tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros.  We were lucky to see 3 rhinos on our safari.

5. he Annapurna region was voted one of the top 10 best trekking places on earth.  The trek to Poon Hill is a moderate 5-day trek with views that will blow you away.

6. Everest in the Nepali language is Sagarmatha which means goddess of the sky and it stands at a staggering 
8,848 meters (29,029 ft) above sea level.

7. Bob Seger wrote a song called Kathmandu in 1975.  He wrote it at a time when he wanted to disappear from the record business, media and touring. Kathmandu represented a far way land where no one would be able to find you.

8. Little Princes written by Conor Grennan is about child trafficking in Nepal and spawned the NGO Next Generation Nepal which reunites children and their families and aids rural communities.  A must read and a portion of the proceeds from every book go directly to the cause!

9. The Sherpas are an ethnic group from mostly the eastern mountainous part of Nepal.  Many are employed as porters for mountain expeditions as they do not suffer the effect of altitude and due to their genetics and upbringing.  Many groups refer to their porters as Sherpas.

10. Nepal is the birthplace for the Lord Buddha.  Lumbini and a pilgrimage for many devout Buddhists.

11. Nepal has the densest concentration of World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu valley alone has 7 World Heritage Cultural sites within a radius of 15 kilometers.

12. The Nepali flag is the only nation with non-quadrilateral flag.The two triangles symbolize the Himalaya Mountains and represent the two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.    

10 really Amazing facts about tigers

Fact 1.

  • Tigers can reach speeds of up to 35-40 mph (49-65 kmph)
  • A tiger can leap a distance of up to 10m
  • A tiger's litter usually consists of 3-4 cubs
Fact 2.
  • Three of the nine subspecies of the modern tiger are now extinct.
  • The remaining six are all classified as endangered species.
  • The name 'tiger' is taken from the Greek word tigris, a derivative of the Persian word for arrow, referring to the animals great speed.
  • Though tigers rarely form groups, when they do the proper name is a 'streak' of tigers
Fact 3.
  • The current range of the tiger is only 7% of what it used to be
  • Of all the big cats, only the tiger and jaguar are strong swimmers.
  • They can swim up to 4 miles, and have been observed dragging their prey across lakes.
Fact 4.
  • Compared to lions, tigers tend to prefer areas of denser vegetation, better suiting their camouflage and solo hunting style.
  • The oldest known tiger like cat is the Panthera palaeosinesis which lived about 2 million years ago.
  • The oldest fossils of true tigers are dated at about 1.6-1.8 million years old.
Fact 5.
  • Most tigers have over 100 stripes.
  • Like a human's fingerprints, the patterns on tigers are unique to each animal and can be used to identify individuals.
  • The striped pattern is also found on the skin of a tiger, thus if one were to be shaved it's unique camouflage pattern would remain.
  • Like other big cats, tigers have a white spot on the back of their ears called an ocelli.
  • A female tiger is called a tigress.
Fact 6.
  • Tigresses are smaller than their male counterparts.
  • White tigers have blue eyes (others have yellow)
  • All tigers have round pupils
  • A tiger's nightvision is 6 times stronger than those of a human.
  • The South China Tiger is one of the top ten most endangered creatures in the world with not a single one being sighted between 1983 and 2007.
  • The three extinct subspecies of tigers were all wiped out in the 20th century.
Fact 7.
  • A white tiger will only be produced when both parents carry the rare recessive gene.
  • The gene for white tigers has been calculated to occur in only one out of every 10,000 births.
  • White tigers are not albinos, as they have pigmentation on their dark stripes, blue eyes and pink noses.
  • All white tigers are at least part Bengal.
Fact 8. 
  • The golden tabby or strawberry tiger is the only other verified color variation amongst tigers (also only found in tigers which are at least part Bengal)
  • Golden tabby tigers have much thicker fur and very faint orange stripes.
  • Golden tabby tigers can carry the recessive gene for white tigers and when two such tigers are mated can produce a white stripeless cub.
Fact 9.
  • A male tiger's territory can be five times greater than it's female counterparts.
  • Though tigers tend to avoid one another, both male and female tigers have been observed sharing their kills in the wild.
  • Territory disputes between male tigers are often settled by displays of intimidation rather than physical aggression.
  • A subordinate tiger will give up territory to a dominant tiger by rolling on to it's back, displaying it's belly in a submissive posture.
  • A male will sometimes tolerate a subordinate within it's range so long as it does not live in too close quarters
Fact 10.
  • Though tigers preferred prey includes wild boar, deer and buffalo, they have been observed preying on leopards, pythons, bears and crocodiles as well.
  • Many old or injured tigers, as well as healthy tigers in some regions have been known to be man-eaters.
  • Tigers will also eat vegetation for dietary fiber, with the fruit of the Slow Match Tree being a favorite.
  • Like most cats, the tiger is an ambush predator.
  • Tigers kill by locking their jaws around the neck of their prey until it dies of strangulation.

7/1/13

10 Interesting facts about mangoes

1.Top Mango exporters are India, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Israel, South Africa and Peru.

2. Mangoes can range from 2 - 10 inches in length.

3. Only 10 percent of all mangoes are grown in the United States.

4. Mangoes are available late December through August.

5. Mangoes should be eaten when soft, and will ripen at room temperature.

6. Mangos are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and for those who are physically active, whether working out or constantly on the go, mangos are a great way to replenish that lost potassium

7. There are over 20 million metric tons of mangos grown throughout the tropical and sub-tropical world. The leading mango producer is India, with very little export as most are consumed within the country. Mexico and China compete for second place, followed by Pakistan and Indonesia. Thailand, Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines and Haiti follow in order.

8. In the Hindu culture hanging fresh mango leaves outside the front door during Ponggol (Hindu New Year) and Deepavali is considered a blessing to the house.

9. A mango stored at 55 degrees F will last for up to two weeks.
You must not refrigerate a mango.

10. Did you know 1 cup of mango has just 107 calories and provides 25% of the Daily Value for Vitamin A??

20 Interesting Facts About Apples

1. The science of apple cultivation is known as Pomology.

2. If you threw an apple in water, it wouldn't sink – apples float in water! This is because 25% of their volume consists of air.

3. Apples are said to have originated from a region between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.

4. China produces the largest amount of apples in the world. 

5. Apple trees have a life of over 100 years.

6. Apples can help you improve your memory.

8. A medium sized apple has contained 4 grams of fiber 

9. The daily requirement of fiber is 25 grams. Apples are amongst the highest sources of fiber.

10. Apples are cholesterol-free, sodium-free and fat-free.

11. In the Chinese culture, the word for apples is pronounced as ‘ping’ which also stands for peace. This is why apples are a popular gift to give when visiting someone in China.

12. Isaac Newton is said to have discovered the Law of Gravity when an apple fell on his head.

13. It is generally agreed that apples originated from Kazakhstan.

14. The Apple Macintosh was named so as it was the favorite apple of the head of the team that created the computer, Jef Raskin.

15. Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why." - Bernard M. Baruch 

16. Apples are one of the most popular juices taken with breakfast in the United States.

17. Humans have been eating apples for a while now – from as far as 6500 BC

18. Eating an apple before bed can help cleanse your teeth and is said to be able to whiten your teeth.

19. The Roman Goddess Pomona is the goddess of apples.