Install a hands-free device
Most accidents are caused by people who drive while talking on their mobile phones. As you talk on your mobile, you only have one hand on the steering wheel and most of your attention on the call, rather than the road. Fix the problem of having to talk on your phone by installing a Bluetooth free-hands kit. It’s easy to install and might save your life and others on the road.

Keep your eyes on the road
60 percent of young drivers don’t have the ability to assess a situation before it approaches. It’s important to keep your eyes on the road, but it’s just as important to look ahead and be able to assess any oncoming obstacles in the road and then act accordingly.

Drive slower
It’s really as easy as keeping to the speed limit. Many accidents occur due to the driver exceeding the limit and losing control over his car. Drive especially slow if the weather is bad and rain is pelting the road as it brings up old oil spills which can be very dangerous and cause your car to skid uncontrollably across the road.

Do safety checks
Before you go on a trip, be sure to check a few things of your list. Walk around your car and check for any obstructions. Have a good look at your tires and make sure the grooves are deep to allow good traction on the road. Pop your bonnet and have a look at your water, radiator, oil and brake fluid. Finally let someone help you determine if your brights, lights and tail lights are operating.

Road Rage
Road rage is a very real and dangerous threat on the road. The world we live in is filled with people working themselves to the brink of exhaustion and not taking the time to relax. People hit cars with baseball bats or drive into your car for the smallest “misdemeanour”. If you have done everything in your power to avoid confrontation, and the road rager is still on your tail, drive to the nearest police station or police officer. Hopefully, the road rager will be scared off with the realisation that matters will be dealt with in a lawful fashion. The other way to avoid road rage is to avoid driving like a lunatic on the roads and stirring up the wrath of other drivers.

Escaping a submerging car
If, for some reason, your car crashes in a body of water, then you should follow these steps. Move to the area of the car which contains stored oxygen. Usually the heaviest part of the car will go down first (the engine). Help your passengers, if there are any, and cut or unclasp their seatbelts so that everyone can move freely.

Having a rescue tool is a good idea, since the next thing you will have to do is get out of the car through the windows. Slowly open the windows, if they are still operational, since the water pressure needs to be equalised between your car and the body of water you’re in. Take a deep breath as the water rushes in and make a swim for it. Keep an eye out for younger passengers when swimming to the surface.

Brake Failures
You see brake wires cut in movies and soaps resulting in fatal car crashes, but don’t be alarmed, it rarely happens in real life. In the instance that it does happen, due to your brakes failing in the case of a mechanical malfunction or from wear and tear, you should try and create as much friction as possible to stop your car. Start pumping the brake pedal and as you keep doing it you will feel the brake pedal tensing up, that’s fine as it builds up stopping power. The next step is to keep your foot on the pedal which will make your car come to a stop. After pumping the pedal start gearing down, it will make a loud noise but that’s part of the plan to get your car to stop. If all else fails then drive closer to a wall, shrubs or anything else which you can ease your car against to scrape the car to a halt. Parts can be replaced but lives can’t.

Buckle up and keep your kids safe. Many people tend to go on long journeys in the holiday season so do your best to keep the people around you and close to you safe, by acting like a responsible driver.

With the unlikely combination of mixing people’s love for swimming pools with the need for a sense of wonder – I bring you some of the most astonishing swimming pools  around.

SkyPark Swimming Pool (above picture)

Now we’re talking! Meet the Infinity pool that towers over the city of Singapore by a whopping 55 storeys and makes mothers with water baby children cry in their sleep every night. Located atop the renowned SkyPark resort facility in Singapore, this particular pool holds the world record for size in terms of pools that have been constructed at a similar altitude. The entire resort cost around four billion dollars to build but at least they didn’t skimp on safety. The pool has a catch area that should prevent people who didn’t believe Newton’s theory on gravity and decided to swim off the edge, from taking the plunge.

Kandalama Hotel Infinity pool

Those Infinity pools really know how to make an impression on a person and this one is no exception, except that it’s overlooking the stunning Kandalama Lake. Architect Geoffrey Bawa certainly had this in mind when he put his plans together, as the whole thing is designed to make you feel as though you’re actually taking a plunge into the actual lake below. What’s more, they’ve even got some guy walking over the wooden decking above playing the flute over there which is just dandy. So, if you feel like pretending you’re in a lake while being in a pool and being serenaded by the Pied Piper – then you’re in luck!

La Hague corporate pool

Arguably the best swimming pool in the whole world, this Olympic sized aquatic playground will instantaneously kill you and then cause you to sprout five extra arms and a dorsal fin. Confused? Well the reason the water looks so blue and lovely isn’t because of clever lighting tricks but rather due to intense radiation known as Cherenkov radiation – which develops from a particle travelling through a medium faster than the speed of light. What you’re actually looking at there is the new French answer to nuclear waste storage and so far it looks pretty damn clever, just – maybe refrain from dropping any turtles with latent ninja skills in it.

1. Hout Bay

This Cape Peninsula suburb can be found in a valley on the Atlantic Seaboard, and is an established area that is home to a variety of different properties. There are 28 areas within the suburb, which is surrounded in part by mountain and sea. Its spectacular beach is a popular hang out for tourists and locals – especially dog owners – and there are a host of other restaurants, shops and markets that make a weekend in Hout bay a perfect one indeed. If you’re thinking of buying Western Cape property in Hout Bay, you’ll also be living close to one of the busiest harbours in Cape Town, so if yachting and fishing is your thing, you’re set.

2. Table View

Named so because of its breathtaking and un-spoilt view of Table Mountain, Table View is situated on the West Coast of Cape Town and is a mere 20 minutes away from the city centre. If beach life is what you’re after, this is the perfect place to settle down. Offering a choice of beaches and dunes, as well as a nature reserve, there is loads of open space that’s suitable for picnics, hiking and other fresh air activities. With a host of property options to choose from, families will find this place a superb place to call home.

3. Sea Point

One of the most affluent suburbs in the Western Cape, property in Sea Point is on the pulse when it comes to location. With a variety of different options, from houses to apartments and flats, there’s a world of options for both families and young professionals. The beachfront promenade is one of the most alluring things about the area, with a constant stream of tourists and locals who light up the beachfront most days and nights. If city life with a beachfront view is what does it for you, this kind of Western Cape property might be just the thing you need.

St Andrews – Scotland

Nothing in the world compares to this historic and magnificent course. This is, without doubt, the home of golf and even if you don’t get to tee off on this course, there are six other sublime links courses that are just a few minutes away. Elegant accommodation and friendly locals will make this a stay that you will never forget.

San Rogue – Spain

With two challenging championship courses, a number of up and coming professionals have put their skills to the test here as it is home to the European Tour’s qualifying school. Breathtaking villas provide the accommodation and sensational dining options are also available. Viva Espana!

San Lorenzo – Portugal

Many see this as Portugal’s best golf course and once you see the unbelievable location, you will understand why. Never-ending views of the ocean and Ria Formosa lagoon running through the course make it challenging and unforgettable.

Poggio Dei Medici – Italy

This is the epitome of a perfect spa and golf resort. Dining is simply unbeatable, the spa offers treatments of the highest quality and the golf course is difficult but entertaining. The Tuscan countryside will provide scenery that will caress your eyeballs.

These are just a handful of options that you could visit during a European break. Depending on the country that you are planning to visit, each offers a variety of spa and golf resorts for you to choose from. Ireland offers the fantastic Knightsbrook Hotel, spa and golf resort in the historic County Meath; Wentworth Golf Club in England provides the true English experience and Celtic Manor in Wales is both picturesque and offers the best golfing experience in the country.

Of course, you may have your own opinions about what should appear on this list, so why not tell us about your favourite golfing resort in Europe and why they are so special to you?

Jason Acar is a well traveled sports journalist who focuses on spa and golf resorts which are linked to the top luxury hotel accommodation locations in the world.

Try to put on a happy face and be kind and friendly. It is harder (although admittedly not impossible) to start a fight with a pleasant person. If you look very happy, it is entirely possible that dysfunctional family members won’t want to talk to you at all because they don’t want to hear your positive, upbeat news. Also, even if the situation is really bad, smiling may make you feel better. Pretending to be something often translates into actually feeling that way.

Fighting back never makes anything better. Even if you are justified in talking back, it will only exacerbate the situation and quickly turn it into a yelling match. Yelling matches are never fun, but they especially suck if they take place with the two of you squashed in a car.

Try to ignore the dysfunctional people. Headphones are your best friend. If there’s chaos going on around you, it can be pretty hard to ignore. Listening to music or watching a movie is a great way to drown out the noises around you.

A more amusing approach to dealing with dysfunctional family members is to lie, lie, lie. Have some fun by making up stories about your life, so if they decide to poke fun, it’s not like they’re even insulting you about the right thing. Just thinking about how you hold the upper hand and they don’t even know it will probably bring a smile to your face.

You can always try the passive aggressive approach, making snarky comments that nobody can call you on because they don’t sound rude but manage to irritate people anyway. Being passive aggressive is an art however, and often requires a good deal of practice to be able to think on your feet and have the perfect delivery.

This post was provided by www.completeinsurance.ca – a website providing car insurance across Canada.

Medjumbe Private Island, Mozambique – Situated on one of the secluded islands which compose the Quirimbas Archipelago, the Medjumbe Island is host to excellent accommodation and displays nothing but stark beauty in all directions. Renowned for their succulent seafood dishes and coral reefs this private island has a great deal to offer.

Baobab Beach Resort, Diani Beach, Kenya – Fed by the warm Indian Ocean the Baobab Beach Resort is home to 80 acres of tropical gardens. Known for its restive atmosphere, it offers excellent accommodation and over 500 meters of golden beach.

Mnemba Island, Zanzibar – Just off the eastern coast of Zanzibar this beautiful private island is 4.5 kilometres of perfection. Bounded by coral reefs and romantic backdrops this is one exclusive location no one should miss out on.

Zimbali, KwaZulu-Natal – This is a 700 hectare stretch of prime coastal land which features some of the most stunning indigenous fauna and flora available. Its name translates from the Zulu as ‘Valley of Flowers’ and it’s apt indeed.

Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town – The Mother City’s foremost beach is a long sandy stretch surrounded by staggering views and a great deal of energetic water sports. The beach is host to restaurants and celebrities, beach vendors and sun bathers, and is a finer point of a holiday in South Africa.

LeMuria Resort, Seychelles – Also known as the ‘Lost Paradise’ Lemuria is a big part of the reason that Seychelles is as celebrated as it is. The white sandy beaches of Anse Kerlan and the one of a kind level of tranquillity found here make this one of the most important beaches to visit when you decide to travel Africa.

400 days left.

Everyone is talking about it… almost everyone is coming to see it. The 2010 Soccer World Cup hosted by South Africa is causing a serious headache for the Cape Town accommodation industry. How on earth are we going to house all of these foreign (and some local) people, and how are we going to do it in an ecologically friendly manner? That’s the question on the lips of most businesses around the city, but not to worry! Many hotels are being refitted with ‘green’ technology, and more are being built to eco-friendly specifications as we speak!

The first five-star ‘green’ hotel in South Africa, the Blaauwberg Beach Hotel, is located right on the beach in Blouberg, with fantastic views over the bay and the city in the distance. For any environmentally-conscious traveller, this Cape Town accommodation is perfect for a guilt-free stay. The lavish 14-story hotel has 187 rooms and is environmentally conscious. Materials used in the construction of the hotel are eco-friendly such as eco sensitive electrical generators with solar panel appliances. The windows are made from recycled glass and, being tinted, reduce heat and glare to cut down on air-conditioning needs.

Solar heaters, low flow taps and shower heads combine to make water wastage a thing of the past, while energy efficient light fittings aid the hotel’s reducing carbon footprint. The basic heating system is derived from solar power, with a backup generator.

The décor in the luxury rooms are made from recycled material, but still have a unique sense of class. Additionally, all soaps and detergents used when cleaning the rooms are biodegradable, maintaining the eco-friendly brief that this hotel was built for. The carpeting and linen at the hotel is made from 100% natural fibres and the restaurant serves pure organic food.

It is true that for too long the environment has taken a backseat in favour of capital and construction, but hopefully with more and more hotels being built to the eco-friendly brief as in the Blaauwberg Beach Hotel, Cape Town accommodation has only one colour in mind – green.

Sightseeing.

Cape Town’s tourist industry has always been a vibrant economy-booster. With Cape Town tours and sightseeing trips making up a big part of the tourist’s to-do list, the industry must protect the image of Cape Town as a fun, vibrant and safe place to visit. However, we all know that the economy is said to be slowing down across the world, but is it true for Cape Town? Will this city join the hundreds of others worldwide that have suffered the beck-and-call of the share-marked slow down?

Thanks to the FIFA World Cup in 2010, Cape Town’s tourist industry has never looked brighter! We have a brand new international airport (no more hectic traffic for a start) and our roads are being upgraded so much that all locals see nowadays are big concrete pillars and trucks carrying the world of dirt and rubble. Great for those Cape Town tours and tour buses!

Cape Town remains an authentic value for money destination, despite the economic downturn, and British Airways predicts that Cape Town will be its top long haul destination for 2009. The popularity of South Africa’s Mother City is due to a number of factors. For start, the weakness of our Rand to many other currencies makes it the perfect destination for foreign travellers looking for a cheap yet luxurious holiday. Secondly, the increased publicity of the city (such as the 2010 world cup, the British Lions tour, our win at the rugby world cup) shows off our strong points and our beautiful views. When last did you see an advert that doesn’t show the view from Blouberg or Table Mountain? Or a view from a helicopter over the city bowl?

However, just because the tourism industry is blooming in the Mother City, we can’t afford to rest on our laurels. So why not book a ride on one of the many Cape Town tours today and come see the fantastic sights of South Africa’s most charming city?

Happy unimaginative, consumerist-orientated, entirely arbitrary, manipulative and shallow interpretation of a romantic day.

Funny how the truest things are often the most hilarious isn’t it? Valentine’s Day. Have you ever really stopped to think about the actual concept behind this arbitrary day that we are supposed to shower our loved ones with kitsch approximations of romantic tokens? And did anybody else notice that as soon as most commercial stores took down the plastic Christmas trees and headache inducing tinsel, they brought out the red Styrofoam hearts? Jeez, you’d think that all this talk of an economic recession was just a vicious rumor.

Let’s take a step back and see how all of this actually came about. As with all our sterile traditions, the origin of Valentine’s Day is quite a bit bloodier than expected. Back in the day when Emperor Claudius II was ruling Rome, they were involved in a few very unpopular military campaigns that resulted in large numbers of casualties. Understandably, the young men of Rome were not queuing up to enlist, instead pleading family responsibilities.

To remedy this atrocious situation, good emperor Claudius naturally outlawed all marriages and engagements in Rome. It was then that two men of the cloth, Saint Valentine and Saint Marius stepped in and helped couples to marry in secret. BIG MISTAKE. Saint Valentine was caught, imprisoned and later executed by means of beating and decapitation. Guess what the date was on this auspicious day in history? None other than the 14th of February.

Around this time, it was also the custom to celebrate the Feast of Lupercalia during the month of February. One of the traditions inherent to the Feast of Lupercalia was the “love lottery”. According to history, the lives of young girls and boys of the time were strictly separate and the festival represented an opportunity for interaction. The names of all the young girls would be placed in a receptacle, from which the young men would then draw the names of their companions for the duration of the festival. These pairings often lead to long term relationships and marriage.

In a bid to do away with what they considered sinful pagan holidays, the Christian church stepped in a little while later and renamed all the festivals to commemorate their own saints (because if you change something’s name you alter the nature thereof, obviously). Since Saint Valentine was tapped around the time that the festival normally commenced, he had the dubious honour of having a primitive mating ritual named after him. The End.

So, if you are into arranged marriages, decapitation and governmental stupidity by all means buy into the hype and run off to purchase some plush toys and candy. Me? I’m having lunch at a wine farm as part of a Cape Town tour. And the fact that they’re having a Valentine’s Day menu and a jazz band has NOTHING to do with it.

Recovery room with a view

There are many reasons to visit the Mother City. We have the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a whole host of incredible beaches, the Waterfront, Table Mountain, the Constantia wine route, a penguin colony, antique stores aplenty, colourful street performers, a laughably good exchange rate and the bulk of South Africa’s worthwhile restaurants and dining establishments (to name but a few). In light of all of this, it would seem strange that many people from around the globe come to Cape Town expressly to take advantage our medical establishments, doctors and rehabilitation facilities, yet they do.

Medical tourism is becoming a booming trade. Places like Panama, Brazil, Malaysia, Costa Rica and India have been tapping this particular vein for a number of years, and it seems South Africa is pretty keen to join the party. (For the uninitiated: the term ‘medical tourism’ relates to a branch of the travelling industry that allows foreigners to combine affordable plastic- or reconstructive surgery with pre- and post-operative forays around the country).

Not a big fan of gratuitous elective plastic surgery myself, I can still understand why foreigners name South Africa as a preferred medical tourism destination. Let’s tick the relevant points, shall we? We have:

1. A favourable exchange rate (my aunt and uncle from America recently had dental work done in Cape Town and their whole trip, including flights, transport, accommodation and the actual cost of the procedures came to around four times less than they would’ve paid for the same treatment in California).
2. High quality medical care facilities.
3. World renowned surgeons and physicians (remember the whole heart transplant thing?).
4. Incredibly scenic surrounding in which to recuperate.
5. Reputable establishments that facilitate medical tourism trips. This includes everything from flights to airport transfers, consultations with surgeons, the actual surgery, a recuperation period in the locale of your choice, as well as pre- and post-operative trips around sunny South Africa.

Basically what you’re looking at is First World health care at Third World prices. What’s not to love about that? Accommodation venues include the likes of five star Constantia and Camps Bay hotels, as well as the beautiful Arabella Sheraton. After your surgery, you can then decide whether you would like to go on a tour of the Winelands, enjoy a Big Five Safari tour or participate in a thorough exploration of the country’s most illustrious golf courses. South Africa is quite literally your oyster (especially if you happen to be around Knysna while to Oyster Festival is underway).

So, there you have it – one more reason to include Cape Town in your global itinerary.