Best Vacation Advisor

Archive for November, 2009

The Walsall Leather Museum And The Tradition That Made It Famous

Walsall is a huge industrial town located in the West Midlands of England. It is exceptionally popular because the saddles and leather products that the townspeople make are simply the worlds finest.

As a matter of fact the town of Walsall is renowned as the British leather goods capital. It has ninety companies three of which are Royal Warrant holders. These leather companies are continuously producing an amazing variety of high quality riding equipment and gift items like belts purses and handbags. These very fine leather goods are exported to nearly all parts of the globe.

The leather industry of Walsall had recently suffered from the Foot and Mouth disease outbreak. But despite of this the industry is striving even harder and continues to thrive for their worldwide reputation as first class and fine quality leather goods producer.

It is known that Queen Elizabeth II adores the leather handbags produced from Walsall. Also the Royal Household regularly places orders for saddles and other riding equipment from Royal Warrant Holders like the Jabez Cliff Co. which was founded in 1873.

Really the Walsall people have been making fine quality leather goods for about two hundred years. Hence today a museum was built to celebrate this tradition. The Walsall Leather Museum is actually housed in a restored factory of leather. It is located on A4148 Littleton Street and is only a short walking distance from local train and bus stations.

You will be able to witness the story of leather unfolding right in front of your eyes as the museum displays Walsall leather trade and splendid examples of wellcrafted leather goods including the saddles and other riding equipment especially made for the Royal Family. It also features leather products with exhilarating contemporary designs.

The museum further endeavors to demonstrate to the people the tradition of leather goods making as it features actual craftsmen as living examples of the production and tanning of leather. These skillful craftsmen make different leather goods such as purses and wallets while you watch them as they work.

This fascinating and functional museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am up to 5 in the afternoon. It requires no admission fee so basically anyone is free to come and enjoy its different attractions and facilities which includes a Saddle Room coffee shop among others. With its activities and facilities the Walsall Leather Museum will surely impress you as you discover how Walsall became the capital of leather goods in Britain.

About the writer:  For accommodation options in Walsall please visit: HotelsWalsallHotels.co.uk. For other options: Walsall Hotels DublinHotels.me.uk

The Kenyan Giraffe

Also known scientifically as lt;Igt;Giraffa camelopardalislt;/Igt;

The Kenyan giraffe is the tallest living animal with a long neck adapted to reach vegetation far above that is inaccessible to other herbivores except the elephant.There are eight subspecies of Giraffes in Africa.Kenya has the rarest Rothschild Giraffethe commonly seen Maasai Giraffe lt;Igt;G. c. tippelskirchilt;/Igt;of Southern Kenya and the Reticulated Giraffe lt;Igt;G. c. reticulatalt;/Igt; of Northern Kenya.The giraffes have a unique walking gait moving both right legs forward then both left with a top speed of about 55km an hour.Unlike other wildanimalsgiraffes have good eyesight.Giraffe horns are actually knobs covered with skin and hair above the eyes which protect the head from injury.
This animal was once thought to be a cross between a camel and a leopard owning to its heightspotted body and scientific namelt;Igt;Giraffa camelopardalislt;/Igt;.

Giraffes inhabit mostly in the arid and drysavanna zones south of the Sahara and therefore can be found wherever trees occur in Kenya.The big bulls can reach up to 19 feet a yard higher than their cows.They feed mainly on broad leafed deciduous foliage and on other evergreen species.It’s menu includes Acacia and Combretum trees that are always available in most areas.This animal can feed on 134 kg of leaves per dayand drinks water every 2 to 3 days.Since it feeds on green leaves it can leave with no water where its not available.
The Kenyan Giraffe can be commonly sighted even outside wildlife conservational areas.They are social nonterritorial with no cordinated herd movements or leadership.Males test their strength by swinging necks on each other to establish who is dominant.

Kenyan Giraffes reproduce throughout the year but usually peek during rainy seasons.A female can conceive at age four while the male starts mating at age seven.The cow takes 16 months between two pregnancies.The young animals are left together while their mothers graze within.They can survive weaning at two months since they they already can start eating leaves.
Young giraffes are most likely to be preyed on by other preditors since they cant attack in return though they are never left alone.Bulls often use their horns to combat its competitors whe mating and powerful kicks for its enemies.

The fiercest known enemy to adult Kenyan giraffe’s is man who usually kill it for wild meat and skin. Giraffes can be found in all major national parks in Kenya.

About the writer:  Paul Gitau is a reporter and writer on kenyan tours Vacation Travel and Tourist facilities. For More Information on Kenyan Tourism visit his site at www.Xenopages.com :: All About Kenyan Tourism ::

The Battle Of Natural Bridge: Tallahassee Teenagers Take Arms

On the 6th of March 1865 towards the end of the civil war Confederate and Federal troops fought for control of a vital natural river crossing of the St Marks River just south of Tallahassee Florida’s state capital. The battle was very significant because the bridge was the gateway to the city.

One of the aspects of the Battle of Natural Bridge that makes it such as legendary tale is that many of the Confederate troops were young men teenage boys and cadets from what is now Florida State University.

The Natural Bridge itself is a short section where the St Marks River sinks underground providing one of the few places to cross. Confederate scouts who were monitoring the Federal army’s movements realised they were heading for the Natural Bridge and immediately positioned themselves to the west bank of crossing. When the federal troops arrived just before dawn they began to move across the crossing only to be greeted by showers of artillery and musket fire. They took up defensive positions and returned fire whereby a bitter stalemate developed.

The Confederates continued to reinforce their position throughout the day pushing additional troops and artillery on to the scene. By 12 noon they had twice as many cannons on the ground as their enemy and had extended their lines to form a slight semicircle connecting to the river above and below the crossing. The Federal troops attempted to penetrate the confederate lines eight times but were continually rebuked by heavy fire; suffering heavy causalities in the process. After a day of fighting the Federal troops realised they could not force their way across Natural Bridge and began to withdraw their troops felling trees to slow the Confederate troops’ pursuit.

The battle was over the Confederates has successfully defended the crossing and in doing so prevented the capture of Tallahassee. Casualties on their side were remarkably light just 3 killed and 22 wounded. The Federals suffered much heavier losses with 21 killed 89 wounded and 38 captured.

The battle of Natural Bridge is honoured by the Natural Bridge Historical Society which was created to preserve and enhance this historic site. The organisation strives to raise funds to maintain the park and incorporate improvements such as monuments and plaque commemorating the battle. Every year hotels in Tallahassee become full of tourists and historical enthusiasts who converge to watch the reenactment of this historic battle with more than 200 hundred members taking part from all over Florida and the rest of the USA. This takes place on the exact site of the original battlefield in what is now Woodville Florida and follows as closely as possible the movements of the troops recreating an accurate portrayal of this highly significant battle.

It may have only lasted a day and involved relatively small numbers of troops but the Battle of Natural Bridge remains Florida’s most crucial fight and even today the fact that Tallahassee was saved by the bravery of local men and boys is a source of great pride for Floridians

About the writer:  Isla Campbell is an online freelance journalist and avid traveler and pilates devotee. When not on the road she lives on the outskirts of Oban.