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Archive for November, 2009

Health Tips

November 12, 2009 Leave a comment

Most of the human body is comprised of this life-giving element, which performs many vital functions.


Why We Need It

Water is second only to air in importance for life. We can survive many days or even weeks without food, but we can only survive a few days without water. Unfortunately, the body’s need for water and its importance for health are often overlooked.

Approximately 60 to 75 percent of total body weight is water. While most people know that the blood, lymph, urine, sweat and tears are mostly water, they do not realize that the lungs are 90 percent water, the brain is 76 percent and even bones are 25 percent water. It also serves as a cushion and lubricant for our spine and other joints.
Most individuals lose between 10 and 16 cups of water per day. This loss is in sweat, urine, in the air we exhale and via direct evaporation from our skin. During exercise in a warm climate, as much as 8 cups of water can be lost in a single hour.

(You can visit the International Water Association’s Hydration Calculator to get an estimate on how much water you should have a day.)

Water’s Role In Massage
It’s important to keep your body’s fluid balance in check. You hear how vital it is to replenish what is lost during exercise, how the key to a successful workout is to keep well hydrated before, during and after exercising but did you also know that water is also important to drink post-massage?

Drinking water after a workout and/or a massage session is very important for creating balance in a person’s well-being,” says AMTA President Laurel J. Freeman. “The body uses muscle energy to move. The energy used from the muscles produces a byproduct called metabolic waste. There are many types of metabolic wastes, including lactic acid. Water helps the muscles by assisting the body’s ability to release and eliminate metabolic waste to restore balance,” she says.

Anna says that massage ‘flushes out’ these metabolic waste products that have been trapped in soft tissues. “This puts the waste products into circulation in the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems where they are filtered and eliminated from the body,” she says. “Drinking lots of water provides the fluid medium for the ‘flushing out’ process. And, of course, drinking lots of water leads to more trips to the bathroom where water and waste products in circulation are eliminated.”

When We Don’t Get Enough
Insufficient water intake results in reduced cell function, which greatly diminishes the body’s ability to heal damaged tissues from injury and maintain optimal health. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., author of Your Body’s Many Cries For Water, has successfully treated many diagnosed diseases—peptic ulcers, colitis, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back and neck pain, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, high cholesterol, asthma, allergies and diabetes—with simply increased and regular intake of water.

According to Batmanghelidj, dry mouth is the last sign of inadequate cellular water. When the thirst signals produced by the body are ignored or are responded to with intake of beverages other than water (i.e., soda, coffee, tea or concentrated fruit juice), eventually the body stops providing the sensation of thirst. It often requires drinking water regularly throughout the day for as long as six to eight months for the normal thirst signals to return, and for people to reacquire a taste for water. It can take up to a year or longer to rehydrate your tissues. The sensation of thirst also diminishes as we age. Therefore, it is very important for the elderly to acquire a “habit” of drinking adequate water to avoid cellular dehydration and subsequent health problems.

Caffeine’s Negative Effects

The loss of body water through urination is greatly increased by the ingestion of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, as they a diuretic effect. Not only do we lose water, we also lose water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and other B complex vitamins. There also is increased excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride and zinc.

This loss can be made up by a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, since they can supply about 4 cups of water per day. But even with a diet high in fruits and vegetables, it is still necessary to drink an additional 6 to 8 cups of water per day to supply enough water to meet the body’s daily needs. For every caffeinated or alcoholic beverage you drink, you need to add an additional glass of pure water.

High intakes of caffeine have been linked to anxiety, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, heart palpitations, headaches, fibrocystic breast disease, diarrhea, increased stomach acidity and ulcers, birth defects and miscarriages. Long-term use of caffeine will cause overworked and weakened adrenals, which may lead to depression and chronic fatigue.

Tolerance for caffeine varies greatly. Some individuals can tolerate as much as 500 milligrams of caffeine per day, equivalent to five or more cups of coffee. Other people cannot tolerate even one cup of green tea, which contains approximately 35 milligrams of caffeine. This intolerance often is due to decreased capacity of the liver to clear caffeine from the body. If any symptoms of excess caffeine consumption are present or pregnancy is planned, caffeine should be eliminated from the diet. Otherwise intake of caffeine should be limited to less than 100 milligrams per day, the equivalent of one cup of coffee. Besides coffee and tea, caffeine is present in soda, chocolate, aspirin and other drugs, such as Fiorinal, Vivarin, NoDoz and Dexatrim.

Drink Up
There have been reports of people suffering from water intoxication, where too much water is consumed and it results in coma, or even death.

Technically, it is possible to drink too much water. However, according to the American Dietetic Association, the bigger concern is not consuming enough fluids.

Most people need 8 to 12 cups of water daily—from drinking water, other beverages and water in solid foods. And since certain medications, high-fiber intake and age can further boost your need for water, it’s more important to worry about getting enough high-quality H2O, than worrying about getting too much.

Gambia 5 Star Beachside Estate

November 11, 2009 Leave a comment
Gambia 5 Star Property

£395,000 
GMD 17,380,000
$651,750
€442,400
5 Bedrooms
5 Bathrooms
Built 2008
Land size 1 hectre











Description

Luxury Four / Five Bedroom Mansion with huge relaxing gardens and swimming pool.


This truly unique and newly built grand mansion is set a huge 8,000 square metre plot situated in the tranquil village of Tujereng, approximately one mile from the beach , near to the coastal highway. This property offers further development potential due to its large plot size but makes an ideal luxury residence.


The house has over 580 square meters of living space comprising of: four large bedrooms, each with walk in closet and en-suite bathroom, there is also a further room which can be used as either a fifth bedroom / study or 2nd sitting room with family bathroom. With a beautiful modern european style kitchen and separate formal dining room plus utility / store room. 

The main living area is designed using large windows and French doors to maximise natural lighting and to enhance views overlooking swimming pool, covered entertaining area & rear garden. The grounds of the property include: vegetable garden, a large double garage / store, generator room, parking for numerous vehicles, staff quarters, plus water borehole. The property is supplied via mains electricity.

Exceptional residence for the discerning purchaser
Contact Africanblog@gmail.com
Principles Only No Agents

Categories: baobab realestate

Baobab Jam

November 11, 2009 Leave a comment

Stemming from Fruit of the Baobab (or Monkey bread), this extra jam specially come from Senegal offers a quite African flavour. It is to sample at any time of the day, with some bread or yoghurt, or for the realization of desserts. 
We find it look like quince jam !


Prepared with 50g of fruit per 100g of the finished product.
Total sugar content : 60g per 100g.

Holistic Massage Therapy

November 10, 2009 1 comment

Holistic Massage is an ancient therapy that heals physical and emotional tension. Anna’s Holistic massage helps to restore balance to your body and mind and helps relax and de-stress you. We cover the back, neck, shoulders, legs and feet.

Our Holistic massage incorporates traditional Swedish massage techniques to release muscle tension and promote a sense of wellbeing. Holistic massage increases your blood and lymph circulation, boosts endorphin levels and can help restore natural sleeping patterns.

Benefits
There are many benefits associated with holistic massage. It benefits all body systems, as it is a natural and effective way to treat both physical conditions and psychological problems.

Short term
Improves skin tone and colour, it improves circulation and removes dead skin cells. Relives muscle fatigue, stiffness and soreness. Relaxes the mind, which in turn reduces tension and effects of stress. Increases energy as massage invigorates all body systems.

Long-term
Boosts the immune system and helps relieve insomnia and increases energy levels and aids lymphatic drainage.

Prices
60 minutes 500D

Visit Senegal

November 10, 2009 Leave a comment


Senegal lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator and enjoys a steady warm year round climate, with a short rainy season between the months of June and September.

As such it provides the perfect weather for a lazy beach holiday, especially in the Saly region just south of Dakar; but Senegal also has three mighty rivers and these provide a good deal of fertile land and some wonderfully intricate coastal lagoons and waterways that are a joy to explore. 

And because of this abundance of water and fertility it supports a great wealth of wildlife including numerous birds from coastal waders to large raptors, and various mammal species such as warthogs, hyenas, monkeys, baboons, manatees and dolphins.

CLIMATE
Senegal has marked contrasts in climate. The coastal region, except in Casamance, is equable, with low rainfall and high humidity. Inland, the climate is drier, ranging to the semi-desert of the Sahel region in the east. The wet season is from June to September, rather shorter in the north and longer in the south, especially near the coast.

VISAS & IMMIGRATION
Citizens of countries member of the European Union (EU) do not need visa to travel to Senegal for up to three months stay. Visas are also not required for citzens of Canada Israel Japan Taiwan United States .


PEOPLE
The population was estimated in 2002 at about 9,8 millions , of which a quarter live in the agglomeration of Dakar, it is composed of many ethnics. 

The Wolofs, are the most represented (35%), they make up the majority in all the regions, especially in the centre, the north and the coast of Dakar and Saint Louis. The farmers and the merchants, of Muslim faith for the majority, there importance is certain in the nations economy. The Lebous, established in fishing communities in the peninsula of Cap-Vert and in Saint Louis are related.

 The Pulaar (20%), is composed of the Foulbes, Peuls and Toucouleurs, in the northern Senegal, the Fouta Toro, historical source for the propagation of Islam in Senegal, make up the cultural birthplace, they are very active in the commercial domain, as well as breeding and irrigated farming. they populate the Senegalese river valley and the Ferlo region. 

The Sereres (17%) are less scattered out than the other ethnic groups. They can be found in the Sine-Saloum, along the Small Coast, in the centre of countries and north-west of the Gambia. The majority are Muslim, except for those along the Small Coast. The Diolas (10%) can be found in the Casamance, but also in Gambia and the Guinea-Bissau. Oriented rather to the culture of rice, they are for the majority animist and/or Christians in the basse Casamance region (Ziguinchor, Oussouye, Cap Skiring), and musulmans in the north and east. 

Other than the main ethnic groups, we find the Mandingues of Eastern Senegal, the Soninkes very present in the east of the country and in the zones adjacent to the Mali and the Mauritania, the Bassari which live mainly by the culture of the millet and corn, of the picking and hunting, between the Guinea border and the limit of the Niokolo-Koba national park.
You may already be a fan of Senegalese music, or you may well already be a fan of Senegalese music without realising it. For a relatively small country they have produced a startling amount of fabulous music, and much that has crossed over the ‘world music’ divide into the consciousness of Western musical audiences.

Naming CeremoniesWood Carvings
These are great lively occasions that are well worth a look if you have the opportunity. This normally takes place one week after the child is born. The elders of the village gather together in the morning and name the baby whilst slaying either a chicken, goat, sheep or cow depending on the wealth of the family. Then the rest of the village is invited to join in and the party continues long into the night. There are displays of dancing and singing and collections for the new baby continue throughout the event – so we recommend that if ever invited you take along plenty of small notes.


Tabaski
Tabaski is probably the most important celebration in the Muslim calendar and is marked by a two-day public holiday. Muslims kill a ram to commemorate when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God.

Ramadan
This is a 30-day festival that takes place each and every year in the ninth month of the lunar calendar. During this period all physically mature and healthy Muslims are obliged to abstain from all food, drink, gum chewing and any kind of tobacco use.

Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, doing good deeds and spending time with family and friends. The fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning to thank and appreciate all of God’s bounties.

MUSIC
A few names for you: Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, Orchestra Baobab – and these are just the artists that have made that crossover; you’ll find that music is such a presence in Senegal, and such a crucial part of the very fabric of life that it will form a soundtrack to your holiday, a soundtrack for your memories.

SENEGAL ATTRACTIONS

The Bandia Nature Reserve
Is a small but perfectly formed game reserve, situated 40 miles from Dakar near Saly and M’bour.

You can enter the reserve either in your own car or in one of the Reserve’s 4WD vehicles and hire the services of one of the skilled guides to see some typical African savannah animals: Giraffe, White Rhino, Zebra, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Kudu, Oryx, Impala, Cape Eland, Lord Derby Eland, Kob Antelope, West African Forest Buffalo, Wart Hog, Crocodiles, Green Vervet Monkeys and Patas Monkeys.
Dakar
Is the capital of Senegal, located on the Cape Verde Peninsula, on the country’s Atlantic coast. It is Senegal’s largest city. Its position, on the western edge of Africa, is an advantageous departure point for trans-Atlantic and European trade; this fact aided its growth into a major regional port.

Kermel Market
Many women go to the colourful Kermel Market to sell a variety of flowers: marigolds, zinnias and sunflowers. The flowers are primarily for western tourists. At Kermel Market, a hot spot for foreign visitors from the West and Asia, vendors have been selling their goods since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Lac Rose
Lac Rose (The Pink Lake) surrounded by dunes, is a large shallow lagoon 10 times saltier than the ocean and is renowned for its pink hue when the sun is high. The colour is due to a high concentration of minerals in the water. Senegal’s answer to the Dead Sea, you can swim here or effortlessly float on the surface. There is a small-scale salt-collecting industry on the southern side of the lake which is also worth a visit.

Marche Sandanga
The Marche Sandanga (Sandanga Market) is a labrynth of stalls selling anything from Senegalese music casettes to freshly plucked chickens. You can buy just about anything here, although don’t expect too many souvenir stalls. Colourful and vibrant cloth and clothing are a major attraction of this traditional market, drawing in many visitors.

Palais Présidential
The Palais Présidentiel (Presidential Palace) is a white building dating back to 1906 and encompassing strikingly lovely gardens. Guards in their Presidential uniforms guard the outside and pose with tourists for pictures.

Village Artisanal
One of the most popular places for buying souvenirs is the government-sponsored Village Artisanal (Village of Traditional Handicrafts), near the fishing beach of Soumbédioune. You’ll find a tremendous display of wooden carvings, metal work, gold and silver jewellery, ivory, tablecloths, blankets, leather goods and clothing, but a lot of the goods are turned around very quickly and you have to search hard for good-quality pieces.

GOREE ISLAND
To the east of Dakar, about 3km offshore, is Île de Gorée, one of the earliest European settlements along this part of coast. Today it is a haven of history and peace within easy reach of Dakar via ferry which departs every two hours during the daylight.

Local Art & Crafts
You will find a variety of traditional vibrant, colourful fabrics and canvasses, together with wooden carvings and instruments on display on the island produced by local artists.

The Old Slave Trading Station
With its colonial brick-structures and sand-blown, bougainvillea-flushed alleyways, this island is a haven of tranquillity. But there’s a sad background to all this calm beauty – Île de Gorée used to be an important slave trading station, and many visitors come here for traces of this tragic past. Maison des Esclaves (Slave House) is a museum dedicated to the slave era.

The Fort
The Fort stands as a reminder of the Second World War. Here visitors can see a memorial statue and the original heavy metal war guns, and view a red buoy out in the sea marking where a British ship was sunk by the guns during the war. You can find out more about the effects of the war on Gorée Island by visiting the island’s museum of history. There is also the opportunity to visit a traditional African mosque.

SAINT LOUIS
The Saint Louis region of Senegal sits just off the border with Mauritania. Famous for its cast iron bridge, put in by French colonialists in the 19th century, it is close to the Djoudj National Park, home to thousands of birds, some indigenous to the area. The city is also famed for its culinary roots, being the home to Senegal’s national dish: Ceb-u-djen – rice and fish.

The Governor’s Palace
The Governor’s Palace is an 18th century fort, and now a government building. Place Faidherbe, with its statue of the famous French colonial governor, sits in front of the Governor’s Palace.

Guet N’Dar Fishing Village
In the fishing part of the town, Guet N’Dar, pirogues are lined up on the beach and fish dry on racks by the side of the road. Women boil up fish in vast drums, and the steam mixes odorously with the early morning sea mist. A little further south is the Muslim cemetery, where each fisherman’s grave is covered with a fishing net.

Réserve de Faune de Guembeul
This reserve is small, accessible and easy to explore by foot. It’s about 8 miles south of St Louis. The landscape is a mixture of lagoons, mud flats and dry woodland protecting the population of endangered Sahel animals, which include Dama Gazelles, Patas Monkeys and Sulcata Tortoises. There are also many birds around the lagoon – 190 species have been spotted here – and there are plans to introduce other Sahel mammals into the reserve.

Ebony is an exceptionally hard and beautiful wood found only in the Sahara desert regions of Africa. Its exceptional density makes it not only very heavy, but also gives it an incomparable sheen when polished. West Africa is home to many master carvers of ebony. 

Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022

Baume Karité Baobab Gingembre Bio Emma Noël

November 9, 2009 Leave a comment

Baume Karité Baobab Gingembre Bio Emma Noël a un excellent pouvoir hydratant apporté par l’huile de baobab. A base de beurre de karité et d’huile de baobab, ce baume peut s’utiliser quotidiennement en crème hydratante sur le visage et le corps pour une action anti-rides. En synergie avec l’huile de baobab et l’huile essentielle de gingembre, il vous apportera un effet tonifiant. 

The Leading Gambian Tour Operator

November 8, 2009 Leave a comment

West African Tours was set up in 1987 by Patrick Sothern and Angela Andrews as a full service destination management company that provides total quality control and hands on destination management of all ground services during your entire stay.

For Tour Operators and Travel Agents with small programmes we can offer a full resort service including meet and greet, transfers, hotel reservations, hotel hospitality desks, excursions, flight reconfirmation for your clients and full resort information service for the operator including a quality control assessment of all hotels and tourist facilities. Our good relationship with service providers assists our aim of 100% satisfaction.

Between Patrick and Angela they have over 40 years experience in tourism, particularly in The Gambia. They are supported by our team of over 30 trained staff that are dedicated to ensuring the quality of travel management you are looking for. This is a company that has grown on teamwork and dedication.

Based in Fajara, in the heart of The Gambia’s coastal resort strip, West African Tours is well placed to serve the needs of hotel-based clients in The Gambia and with their network of agents throughout the region, we can advise, organise and assist you wherever you want to travel in West Africa.

West African Tours maintains close contacts with The Gambian Government’s Tourist Authority and was proud to be Gambia Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Travel Association and Industry’s Tourism Promoter of the Year in 2003.

We also pride ourselves on our commitment to the Gambian people and we regularly support charities with donations and equipment.
West African Tours offers destination management, specialist tour and excursion services in The Gambia and beyond. These are detailed in this webblog.

West African Tours
We show you the very best that Gambia has to offer in adventure, cultural, bird watching, fishing, roots heritage, sports fishing, four wheel drive, safari and day tours. We also offer Senegal, Ghana and Mali tours.

Enjoy Your Gambia Experience With Us!
220 449 5258
watours@qanet.gm
watours@gamtel.gm
watours@gmail.com
http://www.westafricantours.com/

Tourism school upgrade to raise industry bar

November 8, 2009 Leave a comment

Gambia’s minister for Tourism and Culture, Madam Nancy Njie has said that ongoing plans to transform the Gambia Hotel School are expected to transform the school into a regional centre of excellence.
Madam Njie said this yesterday at the graduation ceremony of 115 graduates of the hospitality school who have completed training in various aspects of the hospitality industry including Reception, Housekeeping, Restaurant and Bar and Cookery and Pastry, held at the school on MDI Road, Kanifing.

According to the minister, the Tourism and Culture ministry is committed to improving the the standard of service delivery in the hospitality industry. To do this, she said that government has a dream of transforming the Gambia Hotel School into a tourism and hospitality industry which will in the future become a regional centre of excellence for tourism and hospitality education.

She said that a World Bank-The Gambia growth and competitiveness project is currently conducting a survey on the transformation of the Hotel School, noting that upon completion, “this project would realize the full transformation of the Hotel school in to a regional centre of excellence for tourism and hospitality education.”

While calling on all stakeholders to support the achievement of these goals, Madam Njie also called on the graduating students to remain steadfast and be good role models in their professional pursuits. She then wished them success in their endeavours.

Delivering his annual report, Mr. David H. Joof, the principal of the School said that 115 students were graduating from the school, out of which 9 are from The Gambia Armed Forces. According to him, all of them had successfully completed their professional training and had fulfilled all the requirements for the award of certificates in their areas of specialization. He said among the 115 graduates, 21 are graduating as Receptionist, 27 students from the Housekeeping, 38 from the Restaurant and Bar and 29 from the Cookery and Pastry programmes.

He said these graduates had received both practical and theoretical training that had professionally prepared them for the delivery of standard quality services in the services industry.

He described the year 2009 as a turning point for the Hotel school, as it has culminated to the starting of the much needed management training programme, which started in July. He said in this initiative, 15 management staffs had been trained to the award of a Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management (OTHM), noting that with this undertaking, he had no doubts that it would bridge the gap for the management training needs of the industry.

He then commended the Spanish government for the support in the construction of a training hotel, as it would go a long way in providing training for young people who are interested in making a career in the hospitality industry. He also commended the government of The Gambia and the Tourism ministry for providing them the necessary support.

In his farewell address, Abdoulie Jallow, the president of the Hotel School students, said they are equipped professionally to be able to provide standard service to any hotel in The Gambia and elsewhere in the Diaspora. He said this graduation also gave them the opportunity to be able to render service to the hotels in order to be able to play their quarters in nation building.

He commended the teachers who left no stone unturned in impacting a sense of knowledge and good morals as well as providing them with a homeostatic atmosphere in the school as they bid farewell to each other.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the principal and the entire staffs for their tireless support. They are wonderful and very experienced; they had our welfare at heart and assisted us immensely at work.” Jallow noted.

Advising his colleagues, Abdoulie Jallow said they owed moral responsibilities in preserving the good name of the school.

“As we are the ambassadors of the noble institution, we should be mindful of our conducts not to tarnish the image of the school.” He said.

He finally appealed to the hotel managers in the country to consider these graduates the moment they knock at their offices for employment.

“I am appealing to the hotel managers to take great care of the hotel school students during their attachment and consider them in terms of employment and promotions,” as he said the hotel industry is a service industry which depends on well trained staff who are not reluctant to serve with diligence and high honor.

Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker, Dr. Saja Taal a renowned sociologist and lecturer at the University of The Gambia said quality education should be valued, because with the right productions in education, people would be able to make right choices for themselves. He opined that education has to be relevant to all walks of life.

Dr. Taal who noted that there is need for women to be active partakers of development processes challenged the various colleges operating in the country to give education which is relevant to present day challenges. He said that there should no longer be gender bias in the type of courses that ladies could enter for in colleges.

While stressing the need to provide females with technological knowledge, he also hinted that girls who shy away from courses like Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics form part of the major constraints militating against technological advancement of the female folk in our society. He finally implored the authorities that are in charge of providing education to ladies to train them in the arts of science as the country is in a hunger for female engineers, doctors and scientists and that the Vision 2020 depends on the country’s grasp of science and technology.

Contact details and Reservations:
Luigis Complex for the best Gambian self-catering apartments, serviced flats, beachside accommodation, bed and breakfast, restaurant and eco-tourism excursions.
Relax and enjoy your Gambia Holidays with us!
Tel +220 4460280

Les spécifiques – soin des cheveux : – Baobab 100 ml

November 8, 2009 Leave a comment



Baobab intensive hair treatments

Soins des yeux Bio

November 6, 2009 Leave a comment

Ce soin contour des yeux Bio à la texture gel-crème a été spécialement formulé pour les zones fragiles du contour des yeux. En complément de l’action anti-âge du complexe des huiles essentielles, la sève de Baobab aux effets tenseur et hydratant lisse visiblement le contour de l’oeil. L’extrait de Bleuet  apaise et décongestionne. Grâce à des réflecteurs naturels de lumière, cernes et poches sont estompés. Votre regard est plus jeune et détendu.