Camping Utensils – You Better Not Forget Them

Posted on by

If you don’t like to be surprised what you will be eating during dinner, lunch or breakfast while you are on a camping trip you better take camping utensils with you and know which items to have in your backpack. Being the best campfire builder doesn’t help a lot when you are missing some of the basic cooking equipment, no matter how great the food and beverages are that you have with you.

The essentials

Some of the camping utensils are very essential and should be with you on every trip that you take. Here are a few of them:

1. A Whisk

When you like to eat a scrambled eggs, create a quiche or bake some pancakes you can’t do without a whisk. And that whisk can come in handy for other recipes as well for example to mix that hot chocolate.

2. The cheese grater

If there is one thing in the food cabinet that you can’t do without it would be a large block of cheese. And because of that you will need a cheese grater in your camping utensils pack. Something as simple as bread together with grated melted cheese can be a complete meal. The nice thing about a cheese grater is that you can use for other food items like carrots, onions and other vegetables which could make your meal taste wonderful.

3. Cutting board

Because a cutting board is flat and has a level surface you can also use it as a countertop and it is also very east to clean after you have used it. This board will be used to cut all kinds of vegetables and other items, it can of course be used together with the grater we mentioned earlier.

4. Paring knife

A paring knife you use to cut your fruit and the vegetables and other food items. Maybe you will not specifically need it on your trip but maybe having a serrated knife with you could help you a lot and you will see that during the trip both knives will be used frequently.

5. Tongs of steel

You will surely miss them if you don’t have steel tongs with you on your camping trip. Ones you need yo get something out of a hot pot or pan you will wish you could fly home just to get them. When you need to keep noodles or cor under the boiling water and afterwords take them out you know it was a wise decision to take them with you. Another good use of steel tongs is to toast some bread while your at sitting besides the campfire.

6. Eating utensils

You can, of course, eat everything with your hands, but eve if you won’t do it for the sake of hygiene the at least use them so you won’t burn your hands. Always have knives, spoons and forks with you on your camping trip.

7. The brush that scrubs

Yes, being on a camping trip doesn’t mean there will be no dishes to clean. So a scrub brush is at the end of this camping utensils list as it is one of the last items used when you are done eating.

Winter Destinations of India Offer Beauty, Adventure and Entertainment in Plenty

Posted on by

India has always been the famous holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.Its mind-bending diversity in the form of various attractions makes it a big hit with travelers. And winter is the best time to explore and experience the charm of this incredible land. It is during this time when the sheer natural beauty of this land increases manifold, ready to capture the hearts of tourists. From snow-capped mountains to dense forests, enchanting valleys, lovely beaches, wildlife and desert, the country has a lot to make your holidays pleasurable and memorable.

Some of the famous winter destinations of India are:

Shimla

Affectionately dubbed as the Queen of Hill Stations, Shimla is a beautiful destination in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Snowfall pampers this town during the months of December and January. Scenic beauty and wonderful trekking trails are its main attractions.

Manali

It is another wonderful hill station of Himachal Pradesh. The snow-capped mountains, beautiful valleys and winter sports of Manali make the holidays of tourists pleasurable.

Gulmarg

Located in Jammu and Kashmir, the paradise on earth, Gulmarg is an extremely beautiful place. Its breathtaking natural beauty will surely leave you completely enchanted. It is also the known ski resort of the country. Its hills peppered with colorful flowers, golf course, beautiful villages and majestic mountains make it a must visit destination of the country.

Rajasthan

It is one of the most sparkling jewels in the crown of India. Popularly known as the land of raja-maharajas, this destination is highly rich in cultural heritage. Its stunning palaces, havelis, forts, heritage hotels, monuments and museums are its main attractions. It is the perfect place if you wish to experience the lifestyle of raja-maharjas.

Goa

It is the most famous beach destination of India. Blessed with some of the finest beaches in the world, this state offers unlimited fun, entertainment, pleasure and adventure to tourists. Its beaches, scenic beauty, nightlife and sea food attracts tourists from far and wide.

Kerala

Aptly called ‘God’s Own Country’, Kerala is recognized as one of the most nature friendly destinations in the world. Its lush greenery, mesmerizing beaches, enchanting wildlife, arresting backwaters and rich culture make it a dream-like destination.

Best Five Day Trips in Vancouver, British Columbia

Posted on by

1. Stanley Park
Located just off the main downtown core, this 1000 acre park is one of the finest in the world. Encompassing a variety of gardens, animals, activities and spectacular ocean views, Stanley Park has something for everyone. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely few hours playing pitch and putt, spend a few hours at Vancouver’s Aquarium, observe wildlife such as raccoons, beavers, ducks swans and turtles in Lost Lagoon, inhale fragrant blooms at the Ted ad Mary Grieg Rhododendron Garden and the Stanley Park Rose Pavilion or travel the 9km seawall by bike or foot taking in beautiful ocean vistas or unearthing tiny crabs and looking at Starfish.

2. University of British Columbia Campus
This stunning Vancouver campus is located on Point Grey, separated from the suburbs by the massive Pacific Spirit Regional Park. The UBC Campus offers a variety of educational and beautiful pursuits – visit the world renowned Museum of Anthropology to learn about local native art or venture into the outdoors and enjoy the UBC Botanical Gardens and the Nitobe Gardens – one of the finest Japanese Style Gardens in North America. Other hidden gems can be located around the entire campus!

3. North Vancouver – Capilano Rd.
Starting at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, this roadway leads straight to Grouse Mountain which overlooks the West Coast. Visitors can cross the swinging suspension bridge and check out the dozens of activities including the treetops adventure. Further upstream is Capilano Regional Park with its fish hatcheries, trails and access to Cleveland Dam. Finally, Grouse Mountain, a destination throughout the year offers shows and animals in the warmer months and spectacular skiing during the winter. Don’t forget to try the famous 2km Grouse Grind Trail which goes to the mountain top!

4. Sea to Sky Highway
One of the most beautiful stretches of road in British Columbia, the Sea to Sky highway begins in West Vancouver winding along Howe Sound with views of the ocean inlets, ferries and mountains. There are many interesting stops along this picturesque route – the BC Museum of Mining offers visitors a chance to explore the old copper mines in Britannia Beach with tours, gold panning and the largest truck on display in the area. Several Provincial Parks including Stawamus Chief and Vancouver’s third highest falls, Shannon Falls are good picnic and hiking areas and one of the best lookouts in the area, Tantalus View Point with its stunning views of the snow capped mountain ranges. This two hour trip ends at Whistler.

5. Whistler
A destination for all seasons, Whistler is known best for its large ski terrain, beautiful mountains and warm hospitality. This ski resort town is a year long attraction with access up the mountains to hike, climb, mountain bike – and in the winter months, ski and snowboard. Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains are the two main attractions encompassing over 1,800 acres of trails for visitors to enjoy. The newest addition to the region, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola holds the distinction of being the longest unsupported span in the world. With summer around the corner – enjoying the beautiful parks, observing the wildlife and enjoying the panoramic views of the Cascade mountains makes Whistler an ideal day trip!

Kitchen Design – 10 Top Tips

Posted on by

Kitchen Design Tip 1. Before you start designing your new fitted kitchen it makes sense to formulate your idea’s and note them down on to a wish list. It is worth remembering that your new kitchen plan should incorporate the things you do like about your existing kitchen, as well as the things you don’t.

Kitchen Design Tip 2. Again, before starting your new kitchen plan you will find choosing your kitchen appliances (or type of appliances) is worthwhile. Your new fitted kitchen will require designing differently depending on your choice of appliances. (“Built In” Appliances are planned differently to “Built Under”).

Kitchen Design Tip 3. Keeping the new position of the sink relatively close to it’s existing position will simplify your kitchen installation. It is not so much a problem getting hot and cold feeds to your sink – it is the running of the waste from it that can cause problems. (As a rule of thumb “Right Handed” people prefer “Left Handed” draining boards – The “Lefty’s” that lurk amongst us generally don’t care.)

Kitchen Design Tip 4. Work your design out from any corners. Good access into corner cabinets is crucial for utalising storage space. If your measurements allow, try and plan corner cabinets in this order of preference… “L shape” Bi-Fold, “Le-Mans” Cantilever Tray, “Magic Corner”, “Syncromotion Corner Drawers”, Diagonal Cross Corner, and lastly the Blind Corner.

Kitchen Design Tip 5. Using “Hi-Line” base cabinets in place of “Drawer Line”, will generally provide a more ergonomic kitchen. Instead of drawers everywhere (some working, some false) it is more practical, and often less expensive, to position an optimal size nest of drawers (500, or 600mm) where they are required.

Kitchen Design Tip 6. Try to design your kitchen economically. A 300mm wide cabinet may be half the size of a 600mm cabinet – but it is 3/4 of the cost. Try to plan your kitchen layout using large cabinets instead of loads of small ones, this will reduce the kitchen furniture cost dramatically (And, as part of your fitting cost is calculated by the number of cabinets to be installed you will achieve a saving here as well)

Kitchen Design Tip 7. Position your new kitchen hob (or Range Cooker) reasonably adjacent to the new sink position. This will avoid the need to walk any distance to drain pans full of boiling water. (If you are Right Handed consider positioning the sink to the right of the Hob)

Kitchen Design Tip 8. Allow for an uncluttered area of worktop space immediately next to your oven. This will provide a safe area to remove hot trays from the oven and place on too.

Kitchen Design Tip 9. Avoid the classic error of designing an American Fridge Freezer into a corner as they need a minimum clearance of 300mm each side for the doors to open fully… (check yours before buying)

Kitchen Design Tip 10. When designing in a Kitchen Island make sure there is plenty of walk-around space (preferably 1100mm, but minimum 900mm) to all sides. Avoid the temptation of including an island with less clearance space than this – it will dominate the room, making it look cluttered.

We hope you found these tips useful and provided you with a brief introduction to the world of kitchen planning