History of Olmec Civilisation

Olmec Head - Photo: Pixabay

The first relatively modern awakening to the existence of the Olmecs was when plantation workers in 1862 came upon what they thought was a large, buried, iron kettle. Upon further excavation, and driven by thoughts of buried treasure, they finally excavated a huge stone carved head, which turned out to be the first Olmec sculpture to be discovered in Mexico. 

OLMEC ORIGINS.

Who were the Olmecs? What is known about them is that they preceded the Mayans in Mesoamerica, and are thought to be the foundation of all subsequent cultures in that part of the Americas, though there is evidence of humans going back to 20,000 B.C. There will always be differing opinions when it comes to dates, but the Olmes is believed to have originated in around 1250 B.C. and disappeared around 400 B.C. A common feature with theirs and later civilisations were that they:-

Followed a 365 day year.

Built pyramids.

Cultivated corn.

All had similar religious rituals and the same Gods of fertility, war, sky & nature.

Regarding the thick-lipped Negroid features of their carvings, some researchers postulate that the Olmecs originally came from Africa, and indeed their language is very similar to that spoken today in Mali. Details of facial scaring & lines on Olmec statues also bear similarities to tribal marks found among the Yoruba peoples of West Africa.

OLMEC LANDS.

Their range of influence extended from the Tuxtlas mountains in the west, to Catalpa in the eastern Mexican lowlands, around the Gulf of Mexico area. The three largest Olmec cities were:-

La Venta in Tabasco (the eastern sector), dominated the rich coastal estuaries, including the cocoa, rubber & salt trade.

San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan in Veracruz was at the centre of the Olmec civilization, and an important political/religious centre, which controlled the vast floodplains of the Coatzacoalcos basin and river trade routes. The first drainage system in Mesoamerica was discovered there, consisting of channelled blocks of stone set into the earth, covered with slabs. Their region is also famous for the colossal basalt carved heads, weighing 20-40 tons each.

Laguna de Los Cerros, also in Veracruz, to the West, controlled the important basalt mines/mountains, important for the manufacture of Metates (stones for grinding food), & monuments.

OLMEC ART.

The Olmecs must have had a high regard for art as many cave paintings & huge stone sculptures have been found, along with jade artefacts & statues. Typical Olmec art featured jaguars, thick-lipped soldiers and goatee-bearded men and often a combination of Jaguar and children. As they believed themselves to be descendants of the Jaguar, the animal was held in very high esteem, often featuring in religious ceremonies. Some of these huge carved stone heads have been found up to 100km away from the source of stone, leaving researchers still wondering exactly how they managed to transport such massive pieces those distances, though the likeliest explanation must be that they floated them on barges down the extensive network of rivers.

WORK & PLAY.

Rubber was first exploited by the Olmecs and various carvings show ball games where the ball could be deflected off elbows, hips, knees and head, though using the hands was considered an illegal move. Initially, the Olmecs in the swampy tropical heartland lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, later spreading to outlying areas and developing agriculture and distinct political & economic hierarchies as wealth and commerce with outside people grew. 

RELIGION 

Olmec religion featured mainly worship of the Jaguar and Werejaguars (children with Jaguar features), though snake worship was popular too. They believed that the Jaguar was very closely associated with a person's spirit and that should the Jaguar die, the person would also die. In common with all religions, to maintain their position in society the Olmec ruling elite needed to make the people believe either that they were Gods or that they were associated with The Gods (Gods of Fire, Water, Earth & Sun were the popular deities).

Their religion, symbolic language and archtictural systems seemed strong & popular enough to have lasted through to the Zapotecs, Teotihuacans and Mayan peoples, until everything changed with the Spanish conquests of Hernandez Cortez and Spanish influence. That of the Catholic Church being especially instrumental in destroying the old Gods and bringing a new one that eventually spread throughout the whole of South America.

Some might argue that Catholicism brought about changes for good and others point to the great poverty of the majority of predominantly Catholic South America.

Whatever your opinions, I will just leave you with this thought:-

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true,

by the wise as false, and by rulers as convenient."

Seneca the Younger. (3 B.C.-65 A.D.)

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BALI – Paradise of Indonesia

Balinese Dancers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Glorious Bali Island” – that’s the official motto of this paradise island, well known to the entire world since World War II. Bali is the most famous tourist destination of Indonesia and preferred location for sun lovers from the west, so undoubtedly the next choice of www.travelonguide.com had to be Bali.

Beach lovers can have a wonderful time in Bali, since daytime, they could enjoy the sun and at night enjoy the dances and cultural shows on the beach. On a full moon day, the Balinese people organize special beach games…. and guess what even a funeral is a procession and an event where people enjoy themselves.  Opt for a candlelight beach dinner and we guarantee you that the experience will be something that you will cherish throughout your life, the Balinese dancers and singers will add icing to this special moment.

If you are planning your trip to Bali, then it is best to have some information about its climatic conditions. Since Bali has a tropical climate, the temperature throughout the year is not more than 26 degrees Celsius. The dry season starts from April till September and the wet season from October till March, and the best time to be there is from May to August when the sun shines bright and the uninvited drizzle keeps the climate cool.

Watersports lovers just should miss this place. Bali offers world-class scuba diving experience, there are special schools where one could learn scuba diving. The coral reefs are purely untouched and display a wide range of sea life, never seen before even on Discovery Channel. If you like to see the corals, then make sure that you take a trip to Nusa Penida. This beach also offers various other water sports options. For people who are more adventurous, can go rafting in the Ayung river or try some mountain cycling. Walking in rice paddies is also a wonderful experience.

Bali is one of the very few places of Indonesia dominated by the Hindus, who celebrate all Hindu festivals and have retained all Hindu traditions.  Coming to the food options, Bali offers all cuisine right from Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Moroccan and even Mexican. One should not forget to try the sumptuous Grilled Lobsters especially served with a typical Balinese sauce.

For those who are not so adventurous type and like being spoilt and pampered, then Bali is where you should head to. Apart from the beautiful resorts like any other beach destination, you will also find beach villas. These villas are well equipped, some with private pool, trained cooks, maids and houseboys, who just don’t leave any effort to pamper you. Hiring a private villa could be a much cheaper and cozier experience for those who are on a honeymoon and need some intimacy. Just like Mauritius and Maldives, getting married in Bali is also possible.

 We hope that we have truly tried to inspire our readers to pack their bags and head to Bali, and if you indeed enjoyed reading about Bali, then make sure to log on to www.travelonguide.com for more exotic locations.

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The History of the Beer Glass

Beer Glasses Collection - Photo: Wikipedia

It is well known that beer has been with mankind for a long time. As beer itself changed, expanded, and improved, so did the way in which we actually got the beer to our mouths. The earlier vessels man used for drinking included earthenware, pottery, carved out wood, and even sewn-together pieces of leather. As time went on, a man saw small improvements in the quality of their beer glasses. Early Europeans living during the time of the Bubonic plague saw the creation of beer steins, which had an enclosed top on the steins to keep flies from landing in the brew and getting the person sick. 

The development of glass may have been the most important aspect of the way beer glasses are made today. As beer glasses became more and more popular, consumers could actually see what they were drinking and demanded a lighter and more appealing look as well as taste. This led to the filtration of beers; people no longer wanted the coarse chunks that were often found in the earlier beers of the breweries. With this new, more aesthetically pleasing wave of beer glasses, it seemed like beer steins were on the way out.

The development of glassware continued and produced a variety of beer glasses for all kinds of different beers. The most popular in the United States is the 16-ounce pint glass. It was originally used to fit the top of a Martini shaker, but bartenders soon found that as the brew flowed out of the beer taps the pint glass was the perfect vessel because it allowed for some of the carbonation to be released and allowed the aroma of the beer to be more pronounced. It is also favored for its storage capabilities; pint glasses can be stacked on top of each other and stored easily upright on shelves, quickly making them a favorite with the bartenders who ended up having to wash out each glass.

A drive to get people to buy their brand of beer by earlier breweries led to some unique and groundbreaking moves on the marketing and promotional front. Early breweries were often prohibited to give away beer or other rewards to their customers but found that giving away beer glasses was a great way to reward customers and also to advertise for themselves. This led to the breweries producing beer glasses that were works of art unto themselves. The first were ornate and expensive; they would often have gold or silver embossed on the sides. Eventually, artists for the breweries began doing detailed etchings on the sides of the glasses or steins and even developed a method of firing enamel paint onto the beer glasses. These enameled glasses remain some of the rarest beer collectibles, even though they were made more recently than the others. Today, some of the beer collectibles and signs are worth thousands of dollars and sought out worldwide by eager collectors. Have you looked up at the top of Grandpa’s old drawer lately?

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The Importance of Aggression in No Limit Texas Hold‘Em

Texas Hold'em Poker Ass - Photo: Pixabay

No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em is a game that moves by the rules of psychology. Players try to read their opponents if it is the right moment to bluff or to fold. They also seem to know their opponents' hands by their betting patterns. And if they trail in the chip count, they try to make the opponent fear them into folding good hands so they can catch up.

The main rule in winning consistently in poker is to give an impression that you’re the top dog. You must drill the notion that no one will scare you into folding and stop you from hammering into that pot. But one shouldn’t do that haphazardly. One should get a feel of the table, knowing how others play specific

cards so that one will know if it is the perfect time to stomp your foot down and scoop the chips on the table.

Read the Table First

Don’t just try to put your hand into that pot, read your opponents’ betting frequency and patterns first. If most people simply limp into the pot and fold if the flop doesn’t hit them, then what you have is a rather loose and weak table. After the flop, if everyone checks to you, make sure that you throw in a bet around a third of the pot to get an idea if anyone is serious in playing their hand. When you do that, it seems as if you’re making a serious bet when in fact, you’re just checking out the field. Remember that you shouldn’t treat your chips as money, but rather a tool to pick on your opponents. With that done, you’ll be eating up small pots like crazy.

Aggression Conceals Your Hands Perfectly

With you chomping on pots, it will give off an image that you’re a freak who bets on marginal hand or worse, nothing at all. When they finally call your probe bets that is the time to change gears and play a tight-aggressive game. Just limp in your good hands like AA and AJ to keep that image and make your customary bet of one-third of the pot after the flop (if you hit something or it is favorable). When you do this, they will sense that you’re trying to eat the pot again and call when in fact, they’re drawing dead.

If all the betting that ensued will put you and your opponent(s) into a hand showdown, he/she will freak out when you showed a legitimate hand. When people see this, they will respect your bets more and fold once again when you throw your chips around like in the first instance.

Conclusion

It is integral to your game that you know how to utilize both conservative and aggressive techniques. But your main style should be the latter since it will help you win larger pots when you do shift into the conservative approach.

But given this advice, it can’t be done without feeling the table and being aware of how people think of you as a poker player. If the table’s very tight and they fold immediately when their hand doesn’t fit the flop, throw in some bets. If they randomly call any bet, meaning that they have no idea how the game of poker is played, then be wary of using bluffs and instead, make straightforward bets to ensure a win.

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The Rise and Fall of Jamestown

Cultivation of Tobacco at Jamestown - Photo: Wikimedia

In the early 1600s, an English preacher named Alexander Whitaker described a land where winters were dry and fair, forests were filled with “rare and delectable birds”, and rivers abounded with fish great and small. His essay was entitled “Good News from Virginia”.  Through this writing, the preacher helped recruit Englishmen to live in what was called the New World.

However, many who followed Whitaker’s advice became sorely disappointed. Ten years later, a man named Richard Frethorne would write from Virginia, “I have nothing to comfort me, nor is there nothing to be gotten here but sickness and death.” Whitaker’s description of the territory had been accurate, but settlers soon realized that it was no place for unprepared Englishmen.

In 1607, about 100 male settlers sailed from England to the Virginia territory, which was owned by the for-profit Virginia Company of London. Unlike later colonists, these men were “gentlemen adventurers” primarily interested in finding gold; farming and the creation of community were neither their skills nor their priorities. Many were accustomed to having servants back in England, and they were not equipped inability or spirit to forge a new life in the wilderness.

When the men arrived on behalf of the Virginia Company, they decided to settle land alongside a river in the Chesapeake Bay. They dubbed this the James River, and they named their colony Jamestown in honor of King James I. 

In several ways, the men selected their land well. First, they were nestled far enough upstream to avoid an ocean attack from the Spanish, who were competing for resources.

Second, the James River provided a quick escape route in case native people attacked.

Third, the river was a useful transportation route for supplies.

What went wrong in such a location, where “delectable birds” and fish were abundant? One problem occurred during high tide. Salt water poured from the Atlantic into the James River, and men who drank this became ill. The swampy area was also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which spread fatal diseases including malaria, typhoid fever, and dysentery. Furthermore, the men did not know how to farm this sort of land. Their food supplies quickly ran out, forcing them to roast rodents and dogs and turn to cannibalism.

By 1609, only about 60 of 300 eventual colonists had evaded starvation, deadly disease, and attacks by natives. Thereafter, the winter of 1609-1610 was referred to as “the starving time”.

The Virginia Company soon regarded Jamestown as a near failure. They decided that a new sort of man must be sent overseas – not the gentlemen adventurer in search of easy gold, but the hardworking man who could actively contribute to a new society. Thus in 1609, the company began sending indentured servants to Virginia. The terms of servitude included five to seven years of unpaid labor, but in return, servants would receive supplies for a new life of freedom: 100 acres of land, clothes, tools, and weapons.

This strategy was initially promising as wealthy men convinced their servants to move overseas. These wealthy settlers received fifty acres per servant brought, so they quickly amassed large plantations. They learned to grow tobacco, which they promptly shipped to London. Within ten years, the settlers had developed a strong European tobacco market, and the crop became Virginia’s main source of income. Women, both free and enslaved, joined the men. Jamestown started to reflect English society a bit more, but in many ways, it remained a chaotic campsite.

Ultimately, about 14,000 people participated in the Jamestown experiment. However, the death rate from Indian confrontations and disease remained extremely high. In 1624, King James dissolved the Virginia Company and converted the territory to a royal colony.

Jamestown served as the capital of Virginia throughout the 17th century. In the 21st century, tourists can visit the site of the settlers’ fort, tour a museum, and ride the Jamestown Ferry for a view similar to that seen 400 years ago by the ill-prepared gentlemen adventurers. 

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Canes And WALKING STICKS - An All-Essential Guide.

Walking stick made with bamboo cane

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Formerly canes and walking sticks were seen to be a sign of wisdom and dignity. In fact, old people used canes and walking sticks more regularly as compared to the young, and in precedent times, older people were more respected for their wisdom and age. Today’s culture gripped with youthfulness, canes and walking sticks mostly are seen to indicate senility or feebleness, though, the right cane or walking stick can add an air of dignity to one's declining years.

In my opinion, of all the best varieties of canes and walking sticks are the ornamental ones that are carved out of beautiful wood with some weight and heft. With intricate designs engraved on them, these tools of mobility are captivating to the eye and tell something of the tale of the life lived by the bearer of them. Though a number of people fancy plain, unadorned, functional canes, and walking sticks, I personally think it is a mistake. Despite the fact people will notice a cane whether or not it is fancy or ornamental, on the other hand, a functional one seems only to indicate frailty. Whereas a strong, ornate, captivating one indicates a sense of style and art which people will always remember.

For sure, the best canes and walking sticks depend on who is using them. Many a time a walking stick is often used by hikers in the woods to aid them to traverse arduous tracts of ground with ease, where otherwise they might slip. Lots of people, in these circumstances, rather prefer light, high-tech poles instead of the more classic wooden tree branch designs, and this is reasonable as the bearer has to walk several miles holding this walking stick. Though it would look silly in the city, it can be a practical part of being well prepared in the woods for a day hike or a more difficult multiple week journeys. Obviously, they make a valuable tool as well, as an emergency tent pull, or a way to poke at and tend the fire. Unlike at home, the hiker does not really have room for a large number of unnecessary tools like he could keep with him, so a multi-purpose stick sort of tool can come in useful much more often than you would think.

Though not many people would use one of these in the city, nevertheless if you are a cross-country backpacker, it might make some sense. Sure, it will help you pass the miles, or be handy as often as if you were in the woods, and can even be used in self-defense in an emergency. After all, who knows where you could end up, clearly anything that will make you more prepared in an emergency can't be a bad idea.

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The Ultimate Adventure with Caribbean Sailing Vacations

Photo: Pixabay

The Caribbean is indeed one of the beautiful places on Earth. With its mesmerizing aura and sights to behold, more and more people are planning to go on Caribbean sailing vacations. But, just like any vacation destination, Caribbean sailing vacations can be a hassle and much more, a tiring experience if you don’t prepare for it.

Planning your sailing vacation

There are so many ways to prepare for a sailing vacation in the Caribbean. One is gathering as much information that you can get so you won't be a loss during the trip.

To gather information, you can ask those people who have experienced it for first-hand comments and opinions. Probably, these people who have gone to the sailing trip are the most authorized to talk about it because they have experienced it themselves. You can ask them about their personal impression on certain places as well as tips in order to make the trip more enjoyable and worthwhile. If you are getting information from these people, make sure that you ask those that you know personally. Since observations can be subjective, you might be getting wrong information and impression.

Another means of planning for Caribbean sailing vacations is by reading about the place that you are planning to visit. Today, there are so many travel magazines that feature almost all places in the world. If you are buying one, make sure that it includes all the places you would want to go so you can save on some money. In the articles inside the magazine, everything about the place will be featured and you will have an idea what to expect.

If you want faster and updated information, surf the Internet and browse various travel websites. Here, you can visit multiple sites all at the same time. You can even ask online inquiries and get travel updates on the date you wish to sail. If you are lucky enough, you can even get discounts from various travel agencies once you book early.

Another means of planning your sailing vacation is to "schedule" what you need to do during the trip. "Scheduling" means that you have to specify which are the activities that you want to do in a specific time, date, and place. You have to set your priorities so you can maximize your trip and your money.

Things to consider in planning your Caribbean sailing vacations include the food, your accommodation, and the schedule of boat transfers if there are any.

The places to visit should also be of major consideration. The places to visit would depend on your interest and your curiosity. If you don’t have any specific place or places in mind, conduct a simple research through the Internet.

Before you leave

Although you have planned your Caribbean sailing vacation well, there would always be glitches just before you leave. This major glitch involves the things that you need in the duration of the vacation. To ensure that nothing will be left behind and you will be bringing the things that you need, make sure that you list down all the things that you will be needing before you pack.

The most important things that you should consider when going on a Caribbean sailing vacation include storage spaces such as duffel bags, pieces of clothing, tools or devices for relaxation, important documents, medication or first aid kit that contains aids for in simple ailments, money for emergency and shopping purposes, toiletries, and protectors from the sun's rays such as sunglasses, hats, and lotions with UV protection.

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