Best of Madrid Festivals

San Isidro
May. Fighting a bull in Madrid is the matador’s equivalent to performing a solo on Broadway. The festivals of San Isidro draw the world’s best matadors, Spain’s fiercest bulls, and thousands of passionate fans for three weeks of nightly corridas; there are also street parties, fireworks, and parades.

Orgullo Gay
Late June/early July. One of the biggest gay pride events in Europe and Madrid’s wildest party; Barrio Chueca becomes a massive outdoor fiesta with concerts, drag shows, world-famous DJs, parades, and two million-plus revelers.

Fiestas de San Cayetano, San Lorenzo y La Paloma
First half of August. With half of the city away on vacation, the other half enjoys this series of wild parties in three of Madrid’s most traditional barrios; food stalls, live music, and dancing in the streets until dawn.

Festival de Otoño
October to November. Singularly converts Madrid into a cultural reference point for Europe; dozens of top international theater, dance, and circus companies perform more than 100 shows throughout the city.

La Trashumancia—Sheep Crossing
First Sunday in November. Old and new Madrid come together as dozens of traditionally attired shepherds herd hundreds of sheep to their winter grazing grounds—going right through downtown Madrid.

Plastic material knowledge

Particularly for small children, whose bodies are developing, it's best to steer clear of plastics that can release chemicals that could harm them in the long term. Below, the plastics not to choose (check the recycling number on the bottom of your bottle) and those that are safer:

Plastic to avoid :
#3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) commonly contains di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), an endocrine disruptor and probable human carcinogen, as a softener.

#6 Polystyrene (PS) may leach styrene, a possible endocrine disruptor and human carcinogen, into water and food.

#7 Polycarbonate contains the hormone disruptor bisphenol-A, which can leach out as bottles age, are heated or exposed to acidic solutions. Unfortunately, #7 is used in most baby bottles and five-gallon water jugs and in many reusable sports bottles.

Better Plastics :
#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the most common and easily recycled plastic for bottled water and soft drinks, has also been considered the most safe. However, one 2003 Italian study found that the amount of DEHP in bottled spring water increased after 9 months of storage in a PET bottle.

#2 High Density Polyethylene

#4 Low Density Polyethylene

#5 Polypropylene

Better Baby Bottles: Choose tempered glass or opaque plastic made of polypropylene (#5) or polyethylene (#1), which do not contain bisphenol-A.

Plastic using tips :

1. Sniff and Taste: If there's a hint of plastic in your water, don't drink it.

2. Keep bottled water away from heat, which promotes leaching of chemicals.

3. Use bottled water quickly, as chemicals may migrate from plastic during storage. Ask retailers how long water has been on their shelves, and don't buy if it's been months.

4. Do not reuse bottles intended for single use. Reused water bottles also make good breeding grounds for bacteria.

5. Choose rigid, reusable containers or, for hot/acidic liquids, thermoses with stainless steel or ceramic interiors.

Language at the Oktoberfest

"No a degree, biddscheen" - "Still a liter of beer, please": this sentence should Oktoberfest visitors dominate.

A toast to the atmosphere! "Promille For 5.58 you need to toast, however, say a few times.

Emergency help in the noise of the beer tent also demonstrative of the empty Hold High Krug and asking for a look into the eyes of the operation.

"A chicken, a Giant pretzel and Obatzd" - "A chicken, a pretzel and a small cheese": one of the standard menus at the Oktoberfest.

"Servus beinand 'or anything formal" Griaß God ": friendly welcome.

"Hoit dei Bappn" - "Be quiet but" defensive measure against too talkative table neighbors.

"Where is'ns Haisl?" - "Where can I find the nearest toilet, please?" Contrary to rumors otherwise, the question running at the Beer not as decorous.

"Drink the Noagerl no?" - "Can I have been clear?" - Question of operations, which collect Maßkrüge. The real Bayer almost never drink everything from paint and lets the rest have come in glass - despite the high beer prices.

The "Diridari" - the "money" - is always an important topic at the Oktoberfest. Each year, the measure will cost more. This year it is from 8.00 to 8.30 euros paid. The jammers on this state should not be exaggerated. Munich real answer otherwise happy times with the sentence: "Nachad warst hoit dahoam bliebm, bei deim Tää."

Dealing with feelings

Why was the secretary so scathing? Even love sickness and frustration help a relationship not just through the workday. But what to do?

That many problems in the professional life of emotional nature, also known as Cornelia pot, from Augsburg coach and author of the book "Emotional Intelligence for women."
It is not a purely female problem. "We tend to treat everything that is not factually as bad devaluation. Feelings in themselves but something good! We should learn to intelligently with our feelings deal, so they do not hinder us, and even useful," she explains.

But this is easier said than done, the trainer knows well. "Emotional intelligence is a lifelong task. Through practice and training can be his goal, but step by step closer to reality." Is it easier for Cornelia pot, their own emotions to understand and correctly guide? "No, absolutely not. But I think now I am quite proficient!"

ACEH after Tsunami

It's been almost 4 years after Tsunami hit Aceh on December 26, 2004.
In memorial one year of the tragedy, lots of people visit to Banda Aceh which came from Padang, Bali, Jakarta with expatriate surfers exactly to Lhok Nga. This beach has a good wave like in Cemara Night, Left, Peak and PT.SAI. The first day can be seen were only damages by tsunami but despites of all found that beautiful beach and swells like we're in the new world.
Step by step, a local surfer from Padang encourage local Aceh surfers spirits and help them to wake up from trauma of Tsunami tragedy.
Along with local Aceh surfer, Rizal local Padang surfer tried to promote of surfing local contest and open the first surf cafe right in front of the reef left wave.
One month operating, the cafe was accidentally burnt but with NGO assistance, that cafe called Sunset Surf Cafe become a Lhok Nga wave check center for surfers and so was Dahlia hostel which before Tsunami up to now had new building for surfers accommodation visit to Lhok Nga.
There has been built surfcamp in Ihdinga like Akira surfcamp. Local Aceh surfers were ready to self development and welcoming tourist in Aceh by joining surfing and tourism training in Bali.
Good luck for Aceh surfing and tourism :)

Make up shopping criteria

Recently, its hardly to find healthier ingredients for our cosmetic.
There are few shopping criteria, such as :

>> Avoid cosmetics from The Green Guide's "Dirty Dozen" which contains of these ingredients ; 1. Antibacterials
2.Coal tar colors: FD&C Blue 1, Green 3
3. Diethanolamine (DEA)
4. 1,4-Dioxane
5.Formaldehyde (diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaterniumcompounds
6.Fragrance (containing phthalates)
7.Lead and mercury
8.Nanoparticles
9.Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl-, ethyl-, isobutyl-)
10. Petroleum distillates
11. p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)
12.(PPD) Hydroquinone

>> List of Third party certification that informed of additional guarantees animal welfare and ingredient purity ;

a. BFA (Biological Farmers of Australia) certifies cosmetics as "Australian Certified Organic", any products that contain 70% organic ingredients and 30% remaining free from other ingredients prohibited in certified organic products, entitled of "BFA registered" label.

b. Ecocert, the common European certifications which more widely used.
This label has two levels of certification which explained that the "Eco" label requires 95% of ingredients products are natural, with minimum 50% of vegetables ingredients and at least 5% ingredients of finished product are certified organic. The "Bio" label requires the same as Eco, 95% ingredients from natural origin and minimum 10% of finished product ingredients are certified organic.
Both labels not using mineral oils, silicone, parabens or animal products and they will analyze of the manufacturing process from transportation, storage and to waste disposal.

c. BDIH, a German certification which requires the use of plant-based ingredients that are organically grown or wild harvested in unobtrusive manner and they disallow animal testing, products from vertebrate animals, synthetic dyes & fragrances, petroleum-based ingredients, parabens and other preservatives could caused a health risk and radioactive sterilization products.

d. Eco Labels, the Consumers Union Guide to Environmental Labels, notes that the USDA Organic label is not as meaningful for cosmetics and personal care products as it is for food. Furthermore, the certification does not preclude the use of the term "organic" on the label or a product's claims that it's "made with organic ingredients," both of which can lead to confusion.

d. The Leaping Bunny label indicates products made by companies that follow the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals.This standard was developed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a coalition of eight animal protection groups, including the American Humane Association and The Humane Society of the United States.Always look for seal pictured of terms such as "cruelty free" and "no animal testing" are undefined which means that the product's ingredients haven't been tested on animals.

e. Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
Companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics agree to six criteria set forth by the consumer advocacy group, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which tracks compliance with annual questionnaires and random checks. The first requirement is that signatories remove any ingredient listed in the European Union's Cosmetics Directive, a law mandatory for all European cosmetics manufacturers. The directive prohibits the use of more than 1,000 ingredients, some of which have been deemed "safe for use" by U.S.-based cosmetic trade groups, that the Union considers carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxins. That list includes diethylhexyl phthalate (a hormone-disrupting component of fragrances commonly used in the U.S.), petroleum- and coal-based paraffin waxes and lead.
In addition, the Compact requires companies to substantiate all ingredients and potential impurities for safety, find substitutes for those that pose health risks, register all their ingredients with the Environmental Working Group's "Skin Deep" database and make all product ingredient lists publicly available.

Point of view : Religious education or Islamic Studies

The subject of Islamic Studies has been test run at 130 schools in North Rhine-Westphalia region, Germany. The studies means to get information about Islam. It is different between Islamic studies and religious education, the religious community said that the education is given from the believer.The religious community determines the contents and teaching staff if under state supervision, however Christian religion still the most important of their faiths to the next generation in an objective form which suitable for the schools. To get equalize treatment in teaching religion, the Islamic organizations have been trying to get respect of the rights guaranteed by the Basic Law of The German constitution which aim is to prevent the state interfering the religious affairs.

In Lower Saxony, the subject of Islamic Studies has been changed to Islamic Religious Instructions and the curriculum was developed co-operatively by school administration and Islamic organizations.The respective person in Osnabrück had the agreement rights that still no decisions yet but he's supporting the demand of the activities , like Jews and the Greek-Orthodox had their own religious instruction which the communities exists and smaller than Muslim believers, he said.

Kelimutu National Park

One of the famous tourism spot in Ende region, Flores island of East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia was Kelimutu National Park. When you have time to travel and visit to the island, you must see the beautiful crater of three color lakes which probably this moment only had in Indonesia. It takes 1,5 hours trip by public transportation or rented car from H.Aborosoesman (Ende airport) to Moni where the entrance to Kelimutu located. Best time to visit is early in the morning to see the sunrise from the top of hill around 05.00 am, so when you arrived in town afternoon it's better straight to go to Moni, rent Sao or little lodge for a night sleep since the public transportation rarely operated in the afternoon. After you have good night sleep then you should prepare yourself for hiking to hill of Kelimutu to catch the sunrise, at 04.30 am be ready to go to the entrance of Kelimutu National park which cost you Rp.2500 per person and Rp.6000 per vehicle. One thing you should know, there was kind of local story if you want to see clearly three color lakes you must prepare to give something (such as ; little snack, Rp.1000 and 1 cigarette) in place at corner of the last turn before you enter to the parking lot. This kind of notice was come from the local, instead of that there was also said that if you have good intention to see the lake then you get a sunny, clearly vision of the three color lakes and if you had bad intention, you will get cloudy covered around the lakes for the whole day. Local people don't know about the beginning of the lakes, but those craters for the ancestry spirits rest that you will see at the first place which was called Tiwu Ata Polo (for the elder spirits) before it red turned into brown, the second next to it was called Tiwu Nuamuri Koofai (for the young spirits) before it blue turned into green and the last one up the hill was called Tiwu Ata Mbupu (for the evil spirits) before it white into black. So if you have time and would like to see the beauty of the nature then come visit to Flores where all nature of hills, mountains and sea puts together.