Visiting the Acropolis of Athens

The Acropolis or Akropoli of Athens is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the world. The word ‘Acropolis’ is made up of two words ‘akron’ meaning edge and ‘polis’ meaning city. Thus, the word means city on the edge. In Greek, ‘Acropolis’ means "Highest City". For defense purposes, early settlers chose elevated grounds usually a hill with precipitous sides. This area on top of Athens' most famous rock acted as a defensive point for the ancient Greeks.

A monumental gateway called the Propylaea forms the entrance to the Acropolis. The sites that are not to be missed at the Acropolis are the Parthenon, the Acropolis museum, the Temple of Nike and the Erechtheion which is a shrine to Athena and Poseidon. Temple of Athena Nike lies to the south of the Propylaea. A bronze statue of Athena, sculpted by Phidias, originally stood at the centre of this temple. The famous Parthenon or Temple of Athena Parthenos lies at the centre of the Acropolis. The Erechtheum temple lies to the north of the Parthenon. At the foot of the Acropolis there are two Roman theaters. Firstly, there are the remains of the outdoor theatre called Theatre of Dionysus. A few hundred meters away from it, is the now partially reconstructed Theatre of Herodes Atticus. The Acropolis Museum contains valuable ancient artifacts and is located 280 meters from the Parthenon.

The best time to visit the Acropolis is early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as the heat can become unbearable atop the hill in the afternoon. Carry binoculars to catch amazing vies of the city of Athens from the top. One can book a ticket on a tour or visit the place on his own. Public transportation is easily available and buses numbered 1, 5, 9, 230 or 231 can be taken to reach there. One can also take the Athens' Metro subway and exit at the Akropoli station. Acropolis is also within easy walking distance of many of Athens' central attractions and hotels. The visiting timings are different during the months of April through October than the remaining months of the year. The timings on Monday also differ from the timings of the remaining days. Thus, make sure to note the operating hours and dates of the Acropolis before planning your trip.

When in Athens don’t miss this historic, beautiful and memorable location.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Toddler Behaviors and Activities

Toddler usually refers to a child aged between one and three years old who has just started to walk independently. They are blessed with lots of learning capabilities during this phase of development. A toddler has more grasping power and can inculcate habits that carry them forward towards the whole of their lifetime.

This period of child's development could be very funny, at the same time very challenging task to the parents. They can recite rhymes, dance to the rhythm of the music, want to choose their favourite colored dress and they try to be independent for themselves. Parents and caretakers of toddlers have to be very patient to listen to them carefully as they get annoyed if they realise that they are not able to communicate to us properly. Their language may not be clear and they can pick up only few words and phrases from their adults at this stage. However, by the time they complete three years, they will be able to speak fluently.

Toddlers usually like to play and share their toys with friends and mostly they want to spend their time in outdoor activities. Giving them appraisals and gifts for their smallest deeds also would help in building up confidence level in them thus helping the child to grow as a strong individual. It will be very exciting to play with toddlers and they want all the members of the family to join them. They can learn new tricks like climbing up on high chairs and tables, playing slides, swings, see-saw, kicking a foot-ball, enjoying bat-ball sport and many outdoor activities like cycling, gardening and swimming at this step of development.

Parents and caretakers must also be enthusiastic and energetic to play with toddlers and lend a helping hand for them to carry out new activities by encouraging them to do so. They would like to be the centre of attraction at all times and they want everybody's attention on them. If not, they try to attract the crowd by their dancing or singing and doing all sorts of messy things.

Children at this age will be very fussy eaters and they want to select their own menu. They require lots of proteins, vitamins, calcium and essential macro-nutrients at this stage because their physical activity level will also be very high. Their taste buds crave to have different varieties of food and therefore they become choosy eaters.

Children at this age love books and they learn to identify fruits, vegetables, animals and birds through interactive and colorful books and then they try to recognise them practically.

Therefore dealing with a toddler could be very tricky and it greatly depends on individual kid to learn and interact in their own way. It is not worth forcing them to do some activity of our choice, instead it is good to leave for them to choose their own interests and help them in building up their own individuality.

Children feel happy with a warm cuddle and a big hug which make them feel comfortable and secure.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Toddler Behaviors and Activities

Toddler usually refers to a child aged between one and three years old who has just started to walk independently. They are blessed with lots of learning capabilities during this phase of development. A toddler has more grasping power and can inculcate habits that carry them forward towards the whole of their lifetime.

This period of child's development could be very funny, at the same time very challenging task to the parents. They can recite rhymes, dance to the rhythm of the music, want to choose their favourite colored dress and they try to be independent for themselves. Parents and caretakers of toddlers have to be very patient to listen to them carefully as they get annoyed if they realise that they are not able to communicate to us properly. Their language may not be clear and they can pick up only few words and phrases from their adults at this stage. However, by the time they complete three years, they will be able to speak fluently.

Toddlers usually like to play and share their toys with friends and mostly they want to spend their time in outdoor activities. Giving them appraisals and gifts for their smallest deeds also would help in building up confidence level in them thus helping the child to grow as a strong individual. It will be very exciting to play with toddlers and they want all the members of the family to join them. They can learn new tricks like climbing up on high chairs and tables, playing slides, swings, see-saw, kicking a foot-ball, enjoying bat-ball sport and many outdoor activities like cycling, gardening and swimming at this step of development.

Parents and caretakers must also be enthusiastic and energetic to play with toddlers and lend a helping hand for them to carry out new activities by encouraging them to do so. They would like to be the centre of attraction at all times and they want everybody's attention on them. If not, they try to attract the crowd by their dancing or singing and doing all sorts of messy things.
Children at this age will be very fussy eaters and they want to select their own menu. They require lots of proteins, vitamins, calcium and essential macro-nutrients at this stage because their physical activity level will also be very high. Their taste buds crave to have different varieties of food and therefore they become choosy eaters.

Children at this age love books and they learn to identify fruits, vegetables, animals and birds through interactive and colorful books and then they try to recognise them practically.
Therefore dealing with a toddler could be very tricky and it greatly depends on individual kid to learn and interact in their own way. It is not worth forcing them to do some activity of our choice, instead it is good to leave for them to choose their own interests and help them in building up their own individuality.

Children feel happy with a warm cuddle and a big hug which make them feel comfortable and secure.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

To lie or not to lie

Ok, so this is an age old dilemma, is it ok to lie? And if it is ok, where does one draw the line? And the answers will always wary depending on who you ask the question to. From a moralistic point of view, of course, it’s never ok to lie. No matter what the reasons you can never justify it. We’ve all heard this piece of advice time and again from countless number of people and yet it’s somehow the hardest thing to do. It’s a simple thing really, to just tell the truth but if you try and remember you probably wouldn’t have come across a single person in your lifetime who could claim that he/she is a perfectly truthful person.

The reasons why people lie are simple too. Children usually lie to get out of scrapes; if they have got into a mischief or have done something that they weren’t supposed to do, they would lie in order to not get into any trouble with parents. But things get complicated once we grow up, and we lie for different reasons. Employees lie at work often, but why? What are the chances if you go up to your boss and say that you want a leave because the weather is too good to be hiding behind a mountain load of files? You would be snubbed out unless your boss is an angel, and that is why so many people lie at work.

But not considering these trivial lies, the main reason people lie is to spare other people’s feelings. It isn’t always easy to tell people what you feel especially when you don’t have flattering views about them. What does one do in situations like these? Well, handling this isn’t always easy. Of course, in a fit of truthfulness you shouldn’t just go around telling people that they’re fat or stupid or ugly. The best thing to do is to not say anything unless asked and if asked there’s always a better and a gentler way to frame words so that they don’t really feel like hurtling bricks.

But I’m of a view that you should always tell people the truth about how you feel and what you want rather than keeping them in the dark, especially in a relationship. Sure it would hurt, but it would hurt only once. When we lie, we need to keep on saying one lie after the other till it builds up into one big rock of lies and sits heavy on our conscience. If we tell the truth, no matter how bitter, at least people would respect the honesty, and in any case it would save us from getting into sticky social situations.

Then of course, not everyone can be truthful. There are people who lie about things for no apparent reason; these are called compulsive or pathological liars. Such people would lie about trivial as well as important things out of habit and in most cases these people genuinely can’t help it. It is useless trying to reason on confront such people, the best thing to do for them is to see a specialist who can help them cope with it and recover.

The rest of us are situational liars. While it’s ok to lie once in a while about harmless things to get out of trouble, it is always advisable to think twice before saying something untrue that might hurt someone we care about. Sometimes the damages might be too extensive to correct.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

The romance of trains

There is something very old fashioned and romantic about train journeys. And I’m not talking about the world of superfast bullet trains here, although they are very practical and comfortable in present times, I’m talking about the sluggish and slow trains that allow you to enjoy the journey and the steady stream of scenic beauty that passes by. What could be more romantic than being with someone you love on a long train journey (preferably in one of those first class compartments that allow you the luxury of privacy) and enjoying each other’s company while looking out of the window and enjoying the views?

Although it’s rare, and very few people consider it, trains are also a place where one could consider lapping up in 5 star luxuries and travelling in style. Consider journey aboard the very famous oriental express or if in India the super pricey “The Palace on Wheels”. I haven’t been on any but have spent countless hours in front of the TV examining with utter jealousy those lucky travel journalists who do get a chance to be on one.

However, I can definitely say that I’ve had my fair share of train journeys, countless hours spent in the train compartments travelling from one corner of India to another. Air travel in India is still very expensive and most people like me wouldn’t consider spending a fortune on it unless extremely necessary. And so, trains are a favorable choice for many. Ask any Indian, and they would tell you how train journeys are a fond memory of their childhood. I remember my school holidays, when as a family vacation my parents used to take me and my brother to Delhi where my grandmother used to live. Although year after year we used to go to the same place, I used to be deliriously happy to get on a day long journey on the train. If you haven’t ever travelled on a train in India, let me tell you, you are missing out on an invaluable experience! Trains are the lifeline of India and the best place to meet the locals and getting to know the culture that has a hundred diversities and a million controversies.

For one thing, a train journey in India can never be boring. And if you’re looking forward to a quiet journey to contemplate whatever’s on your mind, forget it! Trains in India are noisy, and the activity on it can be mind boggling at times. Fellow passengers are kind but they would be always very interested in knowing everything about you, who you are, what you do for a living, your entire family history, and if you’re willing to tell they would also be extremely happy to listen to your dirty secrets! And if you are the quiet kinds and do not talk much they would be happy to do all the talking and keep you entertained.

Speaking of entertainment, don’t worry if you are about to embark on a very long journey on a train, entertainment is always available in plenty. One of my favorite things to do on a train is simply observing people. Just the sheer vastness of differences in people in one single compartment is baffling and it generally keeps me occupied for hours. If not that, I strike up a conversation with my fellow passengers. People here always by default carry playing cards or some other board games with them on the train and one could always join them for a game. And of course, in modern times how could I forget music? On a recent train journey that was 30 hours long I was fully entertained by loud music blaring up from somebody’s music player in some part of the compartment!

Food is another vital detail to discuss. In recent times the Indian railways have drastically improved in this particular area and provide not only ample but actually edible food. But if you’re not quite keen on that, don’t worry; there are plenty of other options. First of all, there are usually throngs of vendors who would be moving around the train selling all kinds of food, most of which is normally good. Also the trains stop at a lot of stations where you might risk getting down to buy food from the food stalls (but always keep an eye on the train and be ready to run like a pro in case it starts moving without you). If everything else fails, don’t worry, you would never sleep hungry on a train. Most passengers always carry enough food to feed an army for this very purpose. For reasons I fail to understand, people are more than happy to share their food with others and derive satisfaction from it like a mother hen does when she feeds her children!

All I would say is keep an open mind when you travel by a train in India. Don’t be afraid of the over friendly people, they mean no harm and be willing to try anything different that might land in your way. More often than not, you would come away with an unforgettable experience.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Swine Flu

Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs. Caused by an influenza type A virus, there are regular outbreaks among herds of pigs, where the disease causes high levels of illness but is rarely fatal. It tends to spread in autumn and winter but can circulate all year round.

The swine flu viruses aren't the same as human flu viruses. The virus did not often infect people, and only a few people who had direct contact with pigs were affected by it. However, the current "swine flu" outbreak is different. It has been caused by a new swine flu virus. This virus has changed in many ways that allow it to spread from person to person, even when the people have had no contact with pigs. To distinguish this virus both from flu viruses infecting mainly pigs and from the seasonal influenza A H1N1 viruses, the virus has been named the "novel influenza A (H1N1) virus".

Symptoms of swine flu include sudden fever and cough, sore throat, running nose, body aches, headache, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, fatigue and loss of appetite. Many people with swine flu have had diarrhea and vomiting. Nearly everyone with flu has shown least two of these symptoms. However, these symptoms can also be caused by many other conditions. This means that you cannot know for sure if you have swine flu. Rapid flu tests can be used to diagnose the disease. However, a negative result in such a test does not necessarily mean the absence of swine flu. Only lab tests can determine with certainty it one has got swine flu. State health departments can do these tests. However, due to the large volume of samples coming in to state labs, these tests are being reserved for patients with severe flu symptoms. Currently, doctors are reserving antiviral drugs for people with or at risk of severe influenza.

Swine flu can cause neurologic symptoms, like seizures and changes in mental status, in children. These events though rare, can be very severe and often fatal. Most serious illnesses of swine flu have been in younger age groups. Most U.S. cases of H1N1 have swine flu have been older children and young adults.

There are some preventive measures that can be taken. Firstly, washing hands regularly with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing, is important. If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand cleaner can be used. Avoid close contact or being within 6 feet of people who have flu-like symptoms. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes. This will require a lot of self control. Wear a medical mask in public places. This can offer additional defense against the flu. However, there is no definite proof of the effectiveness of such masks. However, people who have swine flu or are suspected of having it should wear medical masks when around family members. In case of flu like symptoms, stay home for seven days after symptoms begin or until you've been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

Tamiflu and Relenza are effective in the treatment of swine flu. These drugs have been found to be most effective when taken within 48 hours of the start of swine flu symptoms. But, they should never be taken without medical prescription because of their side effects. Laxity in taking preventive measures will certainly prove dangerous.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Stress- Overcome It with Inner strength.

Mental stress is a stage wherein the nervous system is facing a strong demand from different directions. The mind is tugged in opposite sides, making attention to shatter. When we try to respond to various demands, it can create lot of disturbances to form stress. Confusion about the priority of requirements arises in our mind and it can prolong for a long time. The outcome of this can be complete exhaustion and ultimate failure in all demands. If we try for a compromise, it can cost many other things too.

Though stress is common to all sorts of people in this modern life, some are more vulnerable to it. Some people become more inclined to the unhealthy effects of stress than others. As the effects of stress can vary from individual to individual, it can vary in a person as per the occasion. It is purely personal.

Stress in a challenging form can elevate our performance level. Such stresses are helpful in developing ourselves. Lack of sufficient stress can lead to lethargy and monotony. The state of under stress is not good and harmful just as overstress. Overstress is really significant and it can leads to many physical and mental problems. The person will be showing many symptoms like sleeplessness, depression, constant fatigue, low resistance to illnesses and irritability when experiencing stress. Stress has directly or indirectly become a major reason for many serious diseases like heart problems, lung ailments, cancer and accidental injuries. The overstress is to be conquered with our inner energy.,

Stress is to be counteracted in such a way that the person can come out of it with no major losses. We should purposely try to control our emotions towards stress. When our responses are controlled, the situation will ease. By analyzing the contradictory demands we can identify the reasons. When the tensions and worries are identified, it is easy to go to the next step. We should be ready to undergo changes that will reduce stress. Accepting the changes in lifestyle and modifying our environment, you can succeed in the fight with stress. A stressful situation is to be handled intelligently.

The strategy for handling stress is also varying with personal preferences. We have to understand one thing that stress is a part of this busy life. As we do not forget to have vaccinations against serious illnesses for immunity, some mental arrangement is to be done to cop up with stress. We have to make out and anticipate the reasons and manage the demands in time. Also we need to change the way we look into a situation, and our responses to the pressures should be regulated.

We need to develop self awareness to manage stress in an effective way. We should know our strengths, weaknesses and potentials. It is necessary to have a realistic approach towards stress. Once you get a grip on your stress, you can deal it easily and effectively. You can select a number of ways to make you stable and immune to stress problems. There are physical exercises like Yoga, Aerobics, swimming, walking, etc for a relaxed life. You can also rejuvenate your mind by meditation, listening to music, reading, writing and painting. Everyone has to find his own unique method for relaxation. When we are too occupied with our duties and responsibilities, unknowingly, we try to suppress or neglect our own demands or feelings. These will accumulate day by day and will become a reason for stress. So, take a little time for yourself every day. Remember you are also to be cared by you. The important thing is that, you should make yourself available for all such positive changes in the life style.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/