Archive for October, 2009
Oldest Chimpanzee In Uganda Celebrates 44 Years
Zakayo the oldest chimpanzee at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre UWEC will be celebrating its 44th birthday on Friday 15th August 2008.
A prolific birthday party not thrown in the recent past is set to be hosted at UWEC for the well wishers.
According to a statement from UWEC Zakayo who is also regarded as a favorite to visitors at the education center is the Alpha male and one of the flagship animals at the centre thus the birthday party will be accompanied with a number of activities.
A statement further stated that Zakayo is as well a historical member of the centre whom with no doubt is entitled to a birth day celebration with the general public. In the event to spread the conservation message to the public the UWEC authorities have organized similar occasions in the past that were predominantly involved by school children who assembled to witness the birthday celebrations participate in question answer sessions as well as quiz competitions.
Zakayo is said to have sired eight off springs at the centre and it is very protective towards the younger ones. In the mornings he is always the last to go out and also the last to get inside in the evening expressing its role as the alpha male.
The chimp which is assumed to be very fatherly was found in June 1972 at Semliki in Bundibugyo district hand raised and later surrendered to UWEC formerly the Entebbe Zoo on 10th June 1976 which it has had a successful spell to date.
UWEC also thanked the general public for the support they have shown to the centre and appealed for a continued support for the public.
The centre has acted as home to most wildlife in Uganda and provides an appropriate view of viewing a diversity of Ugandas game in their different habitats. For people who do not wish to visit national parks like; lake Mburo Queen Elizabeth Murchison Falls Kibale Forest Semliki UWEC provides a great substitute for it has animals such as the buffalo rhino hyena a diversity of antelopes shoe bill chimpanzee and monkeys.
About the writer: I am a tour Consultant at Adventure Trails Limited a tour company operating in the East African Region here to help any one interested in travel with in the region
Newcastle: Fun Capital Of The North
The city of Newcastle has moved on significantly from its 1970s image of a rundown city a desolate industrial landscape with dilapidated docks nestling on the banks of the Tyne as portrayed in the dark film Get Carter and comedic sitcom classic The Likely Lads. If the images contained in those celluloid portrayals are your only impression of Newcastle then you wont recognise the modern bright Newcastle of today.
Major capital investment in the city over the past 20 years has seen the city restored to a magnificence that really deserves a wider audience. Not only has the city benefitted from major dockside and city centre refurbishment but the addition of a stateofthe art 11000 seat concert arena has also seen the city play host to the worlds top pop performers with a forthcoming list that includes Tom Jones Girls Aloud Spandau Ballet and Pink amongst others!
Sport too particularly in the form of football club Newcastle United based and latterly the Newcastle Falcons rugby union team at has also benefited from vastly improved facilities at St James Park and Kingston Park. Additionally the introduction of new service and retail industries to the area has replaced its traditional reliance on declining heavy industries of mining and shipbuilding and bringing a new era of affluence to the city.
Shopping is a pleasure in and around Newcastle. From the designer boutiques of the historic heart of the city in Grainger Town to the abundance of high street brand names in Northumberland Street or the Metro Centre in nearby Gateshead; whatever you want to buy youll find it here.
The city also boasts its fair share of artistic and cultural venues. The Theatre Royal on Grey Street has been staging productions for almost 175 years. For the last 25 it has featured a Royal Shakespeare Company season and it also host to touring West End musicals. In addition the Great North Museum Laing Art Gallery and The Discovery Museum are all popular visitor attractions.
What’s more because of the tremendous rejuvenation of the city you will find plenty of weekend leisure travellers boarding flights to Newcastle from Heathrow and other regional airports every Friday evening. Many of those visitors will invariably spend their first evening in the city at the Bigg Market or the Newcastle Quayside; both noted venues for an outstanding night out and the major reason why the city was awarded The Rough Guide to Britains number one tourist UK attraction for nightlife.
About the writer: The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author and is intended purely for information and interest purposes only. It should not be used to make any decisions or take any actions. Any links are included for information purposes only.
New Bedford Massachusetts: A Whaling We Will Go
New Bedford Massachusetts was once the whaling capital of the world until 1925 when petroleum took over. Even today it boasts a profitable fishing fleet. Because of its maritime history the city itself is a cornucopia of ethnic and racial diversity. Anyone of a seafaring nature finds his home here and fortune at sea. Because whaling expeditions generally took two to for years away from home working aboard ship was a perfect hideaway from runaway slaves. Frederick Douglas the famed abolitionist made his home here.
The National Park Service gives daily tours of the thirteen block historical district retelling the stories of the rich and famous the sinners and saviors. The streets once tarred over now reveal the Belgian brick stones once used for ballast in the whaling ships. The NPS guides talk about miserly Hatty Green called the Witch of Wall Street who amassed such a fortune that in todays dollars would be the richest woman in the world even today. They talk about Herman Melville who in 1841 boarded the Acushnet bound for the Pacific Whaling grounds. On his return he wrote the semiautobiographical story Moby Dick. Many references in the book had real life counterparts like Captain Swain who died lashed to a whale Mocha Dick a light colored elusive sperm whale and Whalemans Chapel based on Seamens Bethel.
Seamens Bethel was a haven of prayer and learning among the brothels and bars on the street. Next door still functioning is Marines Home where seamen could find a safe room. Even today any sea person even one who only owns a rowboat or military person can stay there for 10.00 per night. The pulpit in Seamens Bethel is a new addition to the chapel since the filming of Moby Dick. Only a desk stood there until the tourists insisted that the chapel should have the prow of the ship there. They got their wish including a bare breasted maidenhead which would have been unheard of one hundred years ago.
A memorial commemorating the 54th Massachusetts Regiment stands in the district. Here men of color were mustered into service during the Civil War. Captain Kearny was from New Bedford. Denzel Washingtons character in the movie Glory was loosely based on his life. His descendents still reside there.
Not to be missed is the Whaling Museum. Everything you want to know about whaling can be found here. From the skeleton of a beached whale hanging from the ceiling of the lobby still dripping oil from it bones to the weapons used to kill and harvest the whale blubber and spermaceti oil for making candles the exhibits depict the life on board the whaling ships. The danger the adventure the tedium the rewards and the everyday tasks of whaling are vividly shown in film hands on exhibits and in paintings throughout the museum. Figure to spend at least two to three hours to see everything.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;John Pelley is a Geriatric Gypsy. He is retired from the rat race of working. He is a fulltime RVer who ran away from home. He began our travels on the East Coast and like the migrating birds seek the warmth of the seasons He has discovered volunteering with the National Park System. He has a CD he has recorded of Native American flute music. A Day with Kokopelli. For pictures links and more information visit http://www.jmpelley.org.