Travel

Medicinal Plants of the Rainforests

This article was written by Samuel Phineas Upham

The Amazon rainforest is a natural habitat for many of the Earth’s plant and animal species. The forest canopy in the Amazon is one of the most densely populated regions on the planet, but there is more to cherish than just the plant life. Without these forests, we would be without many important cures that our society relies on.

Quinine

This naturally white, crystalline alkaloid is useful as an anti-inflammatory and a fever reducer. Thus, quinine is an important part of the treatment regiment for diseases like malaria. It’s easy to synthesize in labs, and is widely distributed in impoverished nations because it is so cheap to produce.

Curare Lianis

There is a poisonous tree in Latin America with a bark that has incredible healing properties. Scientists have synthesized alkaloid d-turbocuarine, and used this medication to treat multiple sclerosis. Aside from treating muscular disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, the alkaloid also helps anesthetize patients for tonsillectomies and abdominal surgery.

Rosy Periwinkle

The rosy periwinkle from Madagascar is useful as an anti-tumor agent. One of these agents has a ninety-nine percent success rate against tumors resulting in lymphocytic leukemia. The other agent offers a fifty-eight percent chance at remission in patients suffering from Hodgkin’s disease. This plant generates over $160 million in drug sales from use of its derivatives.

Wild Yams

Wild yams from Mexico, up until recently, were the only source of diosgenin and cortisone. These are the active ingredients in birth-control pills.

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About the Author: Samuel Phineas Upham is an investor at a family office/hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Samuel Phineas Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media & Technology group. You may contact Samuel Phineas Upham on his Samuel Phineas Upham website.

David Livingstone’s Amazing Life

Written by Phineas Upham,

In November of 1871, a weary Henry Morton Stanley was making his way through South Africa in search of Dr. Livingstone. The story goes that he arrived in the town of Ujiji, and seeing the only white person for miles, approached the man and simply asked him, “Dr. Livingstone I presume?” Actual records of the meeting make no mention of this historic phrase, but the life of Dr. Livingstone goes far deeper than this quote. The man who found Victoria Falls lived prolifically among African villagers.

The Nile

Dr. Livingstone had, for years, been exploring the deepest parts of Africa. It was a combination of factors that forced him to pivot on his exploration strategies and make some premature conclusions. With his medicines stolen, his crew deserting him at every turn, and declining health he mistakenly concluded that the Lualaba River was actually the Nile (which Western explorers had not yet reached.)

Slavery

That expedition put Livingstone front and center for an event that would change his life forever. In July of 1871, angered by poor deals, Livingstone witnessed slave traders massacre over 400 people. The event so thoroughly shocked him that he would continue to denounce slavery until his death, writing poignantly about the horrors he witnessed first-hand.

Discoveries

Livingstone was awarded the highest honor of the Royal Geographic Society for his work in exploring Africa. Livingstone’s numerous expeditions uncovered places like Victoria Falls and helped fill in details about parts of Africa that had gone previously unknown.

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Phineas Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phineas on his Phineas Upham website

How the Great Barrier Reef Formed

Posted By Phin Upham

Over a half million years ago, the Great Barrier Reef began to take shape. The continental shelf has constantly evolved over time, and depending on the depth of the place where you stand, the current formation may be anywhere from six to eight-thousand years old.

Formations Today

The reef we see today began to form around 7,000 years ago, during an event known as the Last Glacial Maximum. Sea levels had been raising by about 15 millimeters per year for the past 9,000 years. For the  19,000 years prior, sea levels had dropped dramatically. As they regained their levels, dramatic changes struck the reef.

The Beginning

The Reef itself formed from the sediment of the Great Dividing Range, which was at one point Australia’s largest mountain range. Roughly 13,000 years ago, when the sea level was about 200 feet lower than its current level, coral began to form around the hills of the coastal plans. This land had become part of the continental island over time.As temperatures increased over time, the glaciers melted and submerged the majority of the Continental islands. The remaining coral began to form the basis of the reefs that divers and sea life explore today.

Changing the Landscape

Of course, man made changes to the landscape have affected populations. The Great Barrier Reef was one of the most renowned and well-tended natural sites in the world. Recent bouts with overfishing and manmade problems have put the wildlife in danger.

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Phin Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Phin Upham website or LinkedIn page.

Special Places

Article written by Gear Up 4 Nature

The honeymoon of any married couple will always have to be something special. In fact, there are some people who look forward to the honeymoon more than the marriage ceremony and reception. It makes sense with all the preparation that goes into those, so your honeymoon will be your well-deserved rest and reward. Some choose to spend it in nice cozy inns, and others in grand destinations all over the world. One this though remains constant. Whether you’re in a foreign country exploring all the various tourist sports and exotic locations or just kicking back in a secluded part of some familiar territory, your honeymoon resorts has to be someplace comfortable, relaxing, and luxurious. In any of the honeymoon destinations that you choose, your hotel and resort must be one of the best places that you have ever stayed in as the most intimate moments of your special time together with your spouse will be shared within the confines of your honeymoon resorts.

 

Affordable Getaway for Couples at the Poconos

The Pocono Mountains, which are located on the northern Pennsylvania, provide an ideal gateway destination for couples. These picturesque mountains are breathtaking and offer a much-needed serenity. Couples visiting the taking a Pocono weekend getaway can spend time one of the many resorts surrounding the Pocono Mountains. The serenity afforded by the mountains helps in the creation of a romantic atmosphere in which the couple can immerse themselves and reignite their love. Some of the Pocono resorts are designated couples only to allow the couples some privacy. The fact that couples can engage each other in numerous activities makes the Poconos an interesting place to be.

The romantic atmosphere and the scenic beauty of the Pocono Mountains make it an ideal destination for honeymooners. Newlyweds can check into one of the many honeymoon resorts and take advantage of the complementary packages that is tailored to offer the best experience to couples in love. Couples taking Pocono honeymoon can partake of numerous leisure activities that include water sports, sailing, golfing, and sport fishing. The couples can also take long romantic hikes along protected trails of the Pocono Mountains. There are nightclubs and restaurants that keep the couples entertained throughout their visit.

 

Stop, Refresh, and Rekindle

When the hustle and bustle of everyday big city life, and the repetitive routine of waking up, making coffee, going to work, then going out at night with you girlfriend or boyfriend, and heading to the same corner pub has given your relationship an almost mechanical, if not robotic feeling. Want to change all that, well, I’ve got a secret for you. Ready? Okay then. Pocono getaway!

I didn’t sneeze while I was writing; I’m talking about the beautiful and picturesque Pocono resorts of Pennsylvania. More specifically take trip together, experience new things together like hiking through the woods, going fishing or maybe just relaxing at the spa. Want to learn a new sport together, then why not go water skiing or try out racquetball? If you two are the adrenaline junkie, adventure seeking types then have a NASCAR racing, and white water rafting experience. When the sunsets catch one of the many comedians and headline acts at dinner time, and really laugh your hearts out. If that’s not enough for you; then how about going to one of the nightclubs and dance the night away?

Saving Money on Car Rentals

Taking a vacation can be very expensive, especially when taken during certain times of the year. Every popular vacation destination – like the Caymen Islands – has a peak season. Peak season is the time of year that most tourists visit the location. Because of the influx of travelers during the peak season, accommodations like hotels and car rentals are often priced higher. There are many ways to save money on a car rental in the Caymen Islands and shopping around various agencies comparing prices is the first step. For instance, someone who is looking for a car rental in Grand Caymen Island could go online to compare the local agency prices or call them up to check their rates.

Booking a car rental well in advance of a planned trip is another great way to save money. Most agencies will provide a discount if a booking is made several weeks to several months in advance. Further, larger agencies regularly run promotions for free rental days or a discounted rate during certain times of the year. To ensure the most savings, anyone who is in the market to rent a car should definitely compare prices, perks and incentives among several different agencies before making their final selection.

Submitted by Andys Rent-A-Car – Serving Grand Caymen Island since 1987, they provide the seventh day free via their Caymen Islands rent-a-car promotion.

Ireland Excursions To Make Your Irish Vacation Perfect

Irelandis one of the most beautiful places on Earth to visit, as it is a country with a lot of history, culture, and plenty to see and do.  The next time that you visit Ireland, be sure to check out the many Ireland excursions that are available to tourists.  The country is turning more and more into a tourist destination as every year goes by, and some of what the country has to offer is truly special.

 

Irelandis a great place to visit, whether you want a day trip to discover the countryside fromDublin, to taking a train ride to see the beaches, the peninsula in Killarney, or something totally different. Irelandtruly has something for everyone.  If you have never been to the country before, we highly recommend one of the escorted group tours that are offered by many of the travel agencies out there, as these are a great way to experienceIreland.

 

With so many different options out there in terms of how you can see Ireland, you may want to start by checking out www.irelandvacations.net.  These guys are experts in putting together Ireland vacations that you will not forget.  They have great Shannon airport transfer services, as well as escorted Ireland tours that will show you around one of the most beautiful countries in the world.  Whether you check outBelfast,Dublin, hop into a famous Irish pub, or just fine a great beach and relax, there is plenty to be had here.

Tips for Where to Book Your Ireland Vacation Package

Whether you are looking for an Ireland vacation package or you are just thinking about it for right now, one of the things that you want to do is to find a website that is going to provide you with a lot of information that you can use.

There are three things that the website should have in order to be a great travel website.

Lots of information – It’s essential that it has a lot of information so that you can choose the vacation that is right for you. It shouldn’t simply have a lot of lavish hotels or bed and breakfast Ireland options. It should give a wide range of choices. It also shouldn’t just provide information about airfare, but give you options for self drive Ireland.

Packages – It should also have choices for your own vacation package. Only you know what you are looking for, what you want to do and what you want to see.  A good site should have this laid out for you and help you choose the best Ireland vacation package for you.

User friendly – The site should also be user friendly. You should not have to struggle to find what you are looking for with your vacation.  it also should have a good way to get in touch with the site’s administrator.

These are the three things that www.irelandvacations.net has. It can provide you with the information that you are looking for and help you with making the best Irish vacation you’ll ever have.