Ski and Snowboard Wax Review

Rossignol Ski's and Snowboards
No matter what level of skier or rider you are, or what type of skis or board you ride, everyone needs wax. From ski racers to nobs lapping the bunny slope, wax is the common thread connecting all manner of winter alpine snow sliders. Unless you are in the racing community, the type of wax that you use is often overlooked — but it shouldn’t be. You can buy a $1,600 snowboard and expect to be the fastest man on the mountain (assuming a certain level of skill and courage) but without the right wax, you might as well be riding an original Surfer. These waxes will help keep your skis and boards operating at peak performance and increase their longevity. Johannes Scheffer in 1673 gave what is probably the first recorded instruction for ski wax application. He advised skiers to use pine tar pitch and rosin. Ski waxing was also documented in 1761.

Beginning around 1854, California gold rush miners held organized downhill ski races. They also discovered that bases smeared with dopes brewed from vegetable and/or animal compound helped increase skiing speeds.

This led to some of the first commercial ski wax (even though they contained no wax at all), such as Black Dope and Sierra Lighting; both were mainly composed of sperm oil, vegetable oil and pine pitch. However, some instead used paraffin candle wax that melted onto ski bases, and these worked better under colder conditions.








Below listed some of the best ski and snowboard wax that are currently in the market:




Hot Sauce Hertel Wax
Hertel Hot Sauce 

One wax. All conditions. Out-performs waxing with colors. Other waxes try to match paraffin hardness to temperature and moisture. Super HotSauce Ski Wax is made like no other wax available today. Our research department has developed a new and totally unique wax formula that delivers unmatched riding. Super Hotsauce Ski Wax has a unique microencapsulation formula with patented surfactants that work in all temperatures and weather conditions. No other wax has it and no other wax works like it. Super HotSauce all temperature wax since 1974. Give it a try, you won't regret it!




Swix made in Norway

Swix Racing Wax

When the temps drop and you are lined up in the gatehouse, you best have your skis waxed with Swix’s HF4. The Norwegian company’s best cold-weather race wax is intended for temperatures ranging from 10 down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Racing Wax also features a new nanotechnology developed specifically for snow with dry friction conditions that are frequently experienced in the Rockies and Wasatch mountain ranges.




Zum Wax made in the USA


Zum Wax

I have switched to ZUMWax High Fluoro Ski/Snowboard Wax for price reasons this past year and couldn't be happier. It's High Fluoro, perfect for alpine racing. They have only 3 temperature waxes to cover what we needed, we mixed colors to get boarder line temps,and it worked out great. We are very happy with the speed this wax gave us for racing.




F4 Fluoro Wax


F4 Fluoro Wax by Swix

I love this wax because it's simple and effective. It's not like hot waxing, but it only takes a minute to apply. I ski 3-4 times a week and hot-wax my skis every other week or so. This stuff is great for putting on top of the hot-wax to make it last longer. 



Winkwax made in the USA

Universal Glide Wax by Winkwax


This biodegradable ski wax is different from other ski wax. You will wait until the wax cooling down. The wax is designed to stay together instead of spreading everywhere. Scrape it off as much as possible. It works great on the slopes. The fact that it is eco-friendly is also a huge plus! It performed much better than many expensive competitors at an unbeatable price. This wax's formulation is really special.


Scenic train journey's in Switzerland and Japan

Trains have always inspired me since young! It's an ultimate fascination that you can't imagine a life without train technology. I distinguish two categories of trains, one is the fast bullet train that people need to commute whereas the other category is sort of view train. Exciting slow trains to enjoy panoramic views for old and young. Especially tourists tend to rather book journeys selecting an enjoyable view train experience. The countries that are popular for viewing panorama's are Japan and Switzerland. Both countries share cutting edge railway technology that is unbeatable. Tourists from around the world visit Switzerland for spectacular panorama trips through the Swiss Alps. Switzerland is famous for two epic train lines which is the Glacier Express and Bernina Express that goes from Italy to Switzerland. Many people in Switzerland think that the trains are comfortable and definitely recommended over flights. If you travel by train in Switzerland, I would recomend to buy a Swiss Travel Pass which allows unlimited traveling throughout the country. I think that is the best choice for worry free traveling. The Glacier Express train runs from St. Moritz to Zermatt and takes about 7,5 hours. It passes through 91 tunnels and crosses the 2033m high Oberalp Pass, as well 291 bridges.
Popular among commuters - Swiss milk chocolate bars



When is the best time to visit Switzerland

September and the first half of October usually have great weather. Not for nothing that the grape harvest happens in early October each year!! I would suggest any time from mid September to mid Oct as being a really good time to visit.

I personally frequently travel in the mountains - this year I was in the Engadine - in the first two weeks of October. the trees are beginning to change colours, the nights are cool and crisp in the mountains and the days warm and sunny. Perfect! For the lakes and the towns any time to the end of October is usually fine.

In the ski resorts in the mountains everything will be open and "humming". Christmas is a very very busy period. If you are considering this Christmas it may well be too late to get a reservation - and in any case most hotels want bookings of 7 nights, from Sat to Sat. (21-28 or 28 Dec - 4 Jan)


The Bernina Express is a direct train from Chur to Tirano in Italy.

The Bernina Express crosses the beautiful canton of Graubünden from the north to the south. Chur to Tirano is the classic route, but in Summer there are more options: there is a Bernina Express from Davos and St. Moritz as well. All trains have in common that they cross the Bernina Pass and end in Tirano.

The journey from Chur takes about 4 hours. From Davos it takes 15 minutes less. The route from St. Moritz is shorter, about 2 hours, and does not include the north of Graubünden.

Popular Female Camping Urination Device
The Bernina Express route is an impressive piece of railway engineering: the train reaches an altitude of 2253 m, even higher than the Glacier Express, and without the help of cogwheel track. It requires lots of spiral loops, 55 tunnels and 196 bridges to accomplish this.

The landscape varies greatly, from high alpine scenery on the Bernina Pass to Mediterranean scenery in the Poschiavo valley to Tirano.

In Summer, there is a connecting Bernina Express bus from Tirano to Lugano, that adds another 3 hours to the journey. All sections are beautiful in their own way. Most of the route is really worth it. If you ask us, it's only the tunnels and the area just outside Chur that is less pretty. In all that's perhaps half an hour of the total trip. If you don't have the time to do the complete Bernina Express route, just pick the section that is closest to your base town. Visitors will be able to see a vast and beautiful panorama when the sky is blue and no clouds in sight. The food in the Bernina Express route is excellent too. 





The famous Aescher Cliff






Train Travel in Japan



Another fascination are the incredible trains of Japan. Needless to say, Japan has more than 15 railway companies. The largest Japan railway company is Japan Railways JR. JR stands for Japan Railways. There are several branches of the Japan Railways Group depending on the location–for instance, Japan Railways East (JR East) covers Tohoku and Kanto, where Tokyo is. Likewise, JR West does Kansai and JR Kyushu does Kyushu.

If you are staying in a hotel or a hostel, there is most likely information available with directions on how to get to the nearest train station. However, I put this question here for a reason. Make sure you know if you’re traveling by metro or JR, and which line you’re using, because depending on the station, you could end up wasting your day trying to find out where you need to go. Simply asking “where is Shinjuku station” or “where is Tokyo station” could land you on the opposite end of where you need to be, and by the time you get where you need to go, precious time will have been lost.

As a tourist, I would suggest to buy a Rail Pass. Yes! If you are traveling to Japan on a tourist visa–
Universal Plug-in Adapter
which is up to 90 days, so short-term exchange students may be on a tourist visa–you are eligible for the JR Rail Pass. You buy this before you come to Japan, and you are not able to get it within the country. It begins when you want it to–so if you are in Japan for two weeks, but aren’t traveling for the first week, you can activate it when the second week starts.

I won’t go into much more detail than that on the JR Rail Pass. Instead, if you aren’t on a tourist visa, you can purchase a prepaid IC card, which you can load with money and just touch-and-go when you enter and exit through the ticket gates. It’s much more convenient than buying tickets all the time, and it removes the hassle of staring at the train map in front of the ticket machines going “@%$#& BUT HOW MUCH IS IT!?”

One of the most fascinating trains is the luxurious Kyushu Seven Stars Train! Seven Stars is the first luxury sleeper train in Japan. It made its inaugural run in Oct 2013. Seven Stars is the creation of JR Kyushu Chairman Koji Karaike and designer Eiji Mitooka. For over twenty years Karaike had dreamed of making this “Cruise Train” a reality. The result is a collaboration of designer Mitooka and local artisans, who have beautifully furnished the train with their masterpieces. Discover the island of Kyushu on Seven Stars, and look forward to an experience only possible in Kyushu. On the Seven Stars, passengers can enjoy the beautiful Kyushu scenery as it flows by their windows. The courses on the Seven Stars are highlights of the best that Kyushu has to offer. The train does not just push through the journey. At certain points passengers will alight from the train to participate in excursions, making this train a new kind of travel experience.







Japan's top 10 scenic train lines

1. Gono Line (Akita Prefecture)
2. Tsugaru Line–Aomori
3. Kurobe Gorge Railway ( Toyama Prefecture)
4. Nishikigawa Railway (Yamaguchi Prefecture)
5. Ikawa Line (Shizuoka Prefecture)
6. Fujikyuko Line (Yamanashi Prefecture)
7. Kisuki Line (Shimane Prefecture)
8. Seto Ohashi Line (Okayama Prefecture)
9. Hohi Line (Kumamoto Prefecture)
10. Take a Steam Locomotive ride (SL Trains)






Scenery from Gono Line - Shimonada Station


Gono Line

This is a JR East Japan local railway connecting from Kawabe Station in Aomori Prefecture to
Zojirushi Original Lunch Jar
Higashi-Noshiro Station of AkitaPrefecture. The line is 147.2 km long included 43 stations. The train passes the shore of the Sea of Japan, highly rated landscape such as World Heritage Site Shirakami Mountains and the Sunset view of Senjojiki which listed among "Top 100 sunsets of Japan". There is a 9.5 m long Senbokuiwa Tunnel, which is the shortest tunnel of JR east Japan line that connected Mutsuiwasaki Station and Juniko Station, it also becomes a hot photo shooting spot. Through the line you can easily access to sea-facing Furofushi Hot Spring (5 min by shuttle bus from WeSPa-Tsubakiyamae Station), blue Aoike pond, one of the Twelve Lakes (From Juniko Station take Konan bus, get off at "Okujuko") and other tourist facilities.

The special train, "Resort Shirakami Limited Express" is especially popular. The train runs between JR Aomori Station, Shin-AomoriStation and Hirosaki Station to JR Akita Station. The whole trip takes 5 to 5 and a half hours to finish. Meanwhile you can look through the window to enjoy the view and have some light snacks also enjoy the live music which occasionally performed on the train.

You can purchase a 2 day "Gono Line Pass",(adults – 3810 yen) and for "Shirakami Limited Express" a special reservation is required.


Access


Get on Ou hon-line from JR Akita Station and transfer at Higashinoshiro Station. Or get on Ou hon-line from JR Aomori Station and transfer at Kawabe Station. You can take Express Resort shirakami-Kou directly from JR Aomori Station, Shin Aomori Station and Akita Station.



Drones Review

DJI Phantom
As time goes by, Drone technologies are advancing in gigantic steps month by month! In the near future, new models will be released that can reach 10 miles control range. I will update this post with new models from time to time. Drones are undeniably cool, but unless you have the necessary know-how making an informed purchasing decision is virtually impossible - there are so many options, from cheap quadcopters to expensive professional drones for which you'll probably need to justify spending that much on a 'toy'.

What is the difference between a drone and a quadcopter?

In the majority of cases you can think of a drone and a quadcopter as the same thing, though you'll often find more expensive devices are marketed as drones and cheaper toys as quadcopters. In truth, a drone is any unmanned aerial vehicle, while a quadcopter is any drone controlled by four motors. Typically speaking, a drone will be able to stay in flight for longer than a quadcopter.


Flight time and range

Cheap drones tend to fly for about five- to 10 minutes before they need recharging, and USB chargers tend to take 30- to 60 minutes to recharge the batteries. Try to get a drone with replaceable batteries and buy a couple of spares.

Although some manufacturers claim a range of over 100m, it’s best to assume you’ll never get more than about 50m. Small and light drones will be blown around in the wind, so warm, windless days are the best times to fly, although the smallest micro drones can be flown indoors.

For bigger drones, such as DJI's Phantoms, expect flight times around 20-25 minutes. These use big batteries but are of course bigger and heavier than the toy drones. Even the most expensive consumer drones (and we're talking over $3,000) don't fly for longer than 30 minutes.

























Daruma for Setting Your Goals - 達磨



The first thing that comes up to my mind is Daruma, especially when visiting the ancient town of Kyoto in Kansai area. The Daruma doll (達磨), also known as a Dharma doll, is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man (Dharma), vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist. Though considered an omocha, meaning toy, by some, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese.

Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement. The doll has also been commercialized by many Buddhist temples to use alongside goal setting. Daruma is widely spread in Japan and even the neighboring country of South Korea is familiar to daruma's. Daruma hasn't yet become popular in Europe but it's somewhat more popular in the United States due to numerous Asian communities that pass on traditions from generation to generation.





Daruma Products World of Daruma


When purchased, the eyes are white so a person can decide on a goal or wish and paint one eye in. Once the goal is achieved, the second eye is filled in. There are so many different colors, shapes and kinds of daruma. I have listed some colorful ones below;


























The World of Asian Lanterns

Paper lanterns, originating from Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), mainly were used as lamps in ancient China. A variety of crafts were used in their making such as Chinese paintings, paper-cutting, and pricking and seaming and many kinds of materials such as bamboo, wood, wheat-straw and metal were used in their manufacture. Paper and silk were the major materials. Originally, monks used lanterns on the twelfth day of the first lunar month in their worship of the Buddha. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Emperor Liu Zhuang was a Buddhist and he ordered the inhabitants of the imperial palace and citizens to light lanterns to worship the Buddha just as the monks did. Later, this custom gradually became a grand festival among common people. During the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), people made lanterns to celebrate their peaceful life while the splendid illuminations symbolized and celebrated the prosperous, strong and powerful country. From then on, lighting lanterns became popular in the country.

Once used for lighting before the introduction of gas and then electricity, lanterns are now merely decorative or more significantly used during of the yearly Lantern Festival. There are countless shapes and forms of lanterns but the most popular ones are the Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese lanterns.

Now more types of lanterns appear in festivals apart from the traditional ones. More modern technology is used on making lanterns, so people can see lanterns with music, with colorful bulbs inside and so on. The shapes of the modern lanterns have changed a lot too. These shapes can be cartoon characters, Chinese zodiac animals and the makers can even involve the computer games, which give visitors a different new and fresh impression.





For common people, lanterns are hung up from the eve of Spring Festival (Dec. 29th of lunar year) and not removed until the Lantern Festival (Jan. 15th of lunar New Year). The Lantern Show is an attractive activity around the day of Lantern Festival in many cities. If you want to see the lantern fairs, Beijing, Nanjing, Xian, Shanghai and Hangzhou have their unique shows during the festival.

On the lantern show, many people love the ‘lantern riddles’ most. Anyone who knows the answer to the riddles on the lanterns will get a small gift as award. The activity attracts people because of the riddle itself rather than the gift. The interesting riddles make the colorful lantern shows more interesting. Before the Lantern Festival, all kinds of lanterns are sold along the street and these beautiful lanterns light the dark nights. In Chinese culture, an uncle needs to buy his nephew (under 12 years old) a lantern before the festival. It is the happiest time for children to playing with their companions outside the houses. The red lanterns stand for the best wishes uncles have for their nephews, hoping their nephews grow up happily and are as healthy as last year. Some examples of the most common lantern shapes and styles are listed below;











Best Fertilizers Review



Choosing the right fertilizer for your lawn can be a real challenge especially if you are just starting out and don’t exactly have a clue what to use. However, when it comes to choosing lawn fertilizer products, there are three important elements that are needed for the proper growth of your lawn and plants. These are: hydrogen, oxygen and carbon.

While these nutrients are readily available in the environment, there are also certain nutrients that are not readily available to plants especially those that do not exactly stay long in soil and need to be replenished on a regular basis.

Each of the nutrients contained in lawn fertilizers have a critical role to play in the overall health and survival of your plants. By applying fertilizers, you can be sure these nutrients are available to them.

Among the important macronutrients among plants include phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Secondary nutrients that are also required include magnesium and calcium but both in lesser quantities. You should also check for boron, copper, manganese, cobalt, chlorine, zinc, nickel and molybdenum to complete your list.



With the much publicized adverse reactions of chemical fertilizers, the availability of organic varieties presents a great alternative for many. Milorganite is an organic nitrogen fertilizer that can be used on a variety of applications such as shrubs, lawns, vegetables, trees, flowers and even gold courses.

This 36-pound bag contains 4% iron that is non-staining, which is just the right amount to bring out that attractive lush green hue. You can actually apply this fertilizer any time within the growing season and it’s known to work well with any type of climate.

The organic fertilizer is composed of heat-dried microbes and has met the EPA standards, which imposes one of the stringent criteria in the industry when it comes to protecting the health, safety and environment.




Dr. Earth Organic 5 Tomato, Vegetable and Herb Fertilizer is a superior blend of fish bone meal, feather meal, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, soft rock phosphate, fish meal, mined potassium sulfate, humic acid, seaweed extract, pro-biotic seven champion strains of beneficial soil microbes plus Ecto and Endo Mycorrhizae. Primary Uses: Feed tomatoes, Summer vegetables, Winter vegetables, Herbs, Root crops, Established vegetables and During transplanting. 5-7-3 formulation. This is the second year I have used this product and I even begin to say just how awesome it is!! Last year I had tomatoes that weighed over 2 lbs and lots of them. And the bloom boost is the best I have ever found, my flowers are just going crazy, and the flowers last a long time. I totally recommend this product!!




A green lawn is a healthy lawn, and a healthy lawn is a product of a thriving ecosystem within your soil. That’s why Safer Brand has created Lawn Restore II – an organic fertilizer that immediately goes to work to ensure the proper balance of natural elements in your soil, in turn giving you a healthier, greener lawn in just 3-5 days. Backed by over a quarter-century of research and development, this formula is the best choice for any turf; use it to promote greening in fresh sod, or bring life back to existing grass. Number One reason to use, It's safe for humans as well as pets. Well I should qualify this, its the safest I have found so far.



100% Natural & Organic fertilizer for All Purpose and easy to use. Maximizes microorganism activity for healthier and stronger soil & plants. It provides organic matter essential for microorganisms. It is one of the building blocks for fertile soil rich in humus. Develops bigger & stronger root to improve the structure of the plant and increase it’s ability to hold water and more nutrients. Greater resistance to disease and insect attacks. Never harms soil & plants. No danger of over concentration. No danger of over concentration. Once a healthy soil condition is reached, it is easier to maintain that level with less work.

This is an amazing fertilizer! I started growing an avocado tree about a year ago and my fertilizer didn't work on my tree. After countless types of fertilizer I came upon this Pro Organic All Purpose fertilizer. I used it on my tree and after about a month it started growing! I strongly suggest you buy this if you plant anything.



How fertilizer helps your lawn


Fertilizer helps to provide the required nutrients in the soil that plants, including lawn grass, need to successfully grow. Three of the elements that are vital include carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In addition, there are other nutrients, which are quickly depleted from the soil that require replenishing. This is accomplished through the application of fertilizer.

Macronutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium come in second behind oxygen, carbon and hydrogen, but are still important. Secondary nutrients such as magnesium and calcium are not as important, but smaller amounts can give your plants the boost that they need. Micronutrients including manganese, cobalt, copper, iron, chlorine, boron, molybdenum, zinc and nickel complete the nutritional checklist to ensure that your lawn is receiving all of the nutrition that it needs to thrive. These are the ingredients that a high quality fertilizer should contain. Read more about how to apply lawn fertilizer.

Different types of fertilizers

The two main types of fertilizers are granular and liquid. Liquid forms act very quickly as they are absorbed into the plant. These are usually purchased in a concentrated form that you dilute with water and apply every 2 to 3 weeks. They may either be applied with a watering can or hose end sprayer.

Granular fertilizers are sprinkled on the surface of the ground by hand for smaller areas or with a mechanical spreader for larger areas. They are used in a dry form so will require watering after they are used. Granular fertilizers are divided into two different classes. Quick release fertilizers usually last for 3 to 4 weeks before any additional applications are needed.

This type is water soluble nitrogen and is good for any general fertilizing use. Slow release granules are water insoluble nitrogen fertilizers which are intended for specific uses. They come in either sulfur coated with lasts for around 8 weeks or polymer coated with lasts for up to 12 weeks.

Different types of lawn fertilizers


Your lawn has changing nutritional needs at different times of the year. Here are a few tips for helping you to select the right fertilizer formulation that will help to encourage the establishment of new grass and to keep it healthy throughout the seasonal cycles.

Starter fertilizers and winterizers

These mixtures are recommended for new lawns and as they are heavy on phosphorus to encourage healthy root growth. For the last fall application, a winterizer that is also heavy on phosphorus will provide nutrients for root preservation during the winter months.

Weed and Feed


Fertilizer formulations that are known as Weed and Feed mixtures contain weed killers in a dual purpose mix that kills broadleaf weeds while nourishing lawn grass. This is useful for helping to eliminate noxious weeds such as crabgrass and dandelions. When a weed and feed product contains post emergent weed killers, they are intended for weeds that are already present and can be seen. Those containing pre-emergents are intended for killing weeds at the germination stage, but do not kill weeds that have already broken through the ground.

What to look for in lawn fertilizer

The bags that contain the fertilizer are clearly marked with a set of three numbers. The numbers represent, in this order, the amounts of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium that are included in the fertilizer. The numbers are known as the NPK. These are the main ingredients. Nitrogen helps in the development of leaves and for producing a healthy green color. Phosphorus promotes root growth and Potassium or potash also assists root development and helps plants to become more disease resistant.

The numbers represent the percentages of the given nutrient, so you will know which ingredients are predominant. This is helpful in choosing a mix that will either promote more leaf growth, green your grass or reinforce the root system. Inert ingredients are necessary for helping to distribute the fertilizer, so don’t be alarmed if there is a fairly high percentage in the bag. This does not lessen the effect of the other ingredients and it can actually be beneficial in preventing chemical burn.

In the event that weeds become a problem, the application of a weed and feed blend will help to eradicate any broad leaf weeds such as dandelions, which can become a nuisance. Look for weed and feed products that are formulated to kill the types of weeds that you see most in your lawn grass. In most cases, these are clearly indicated on the bag.

Conclusion

Lawns require very specific formulations with include nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. There are different mixtures that serve a variety of purposes for lawn health. Fertilizers that are intended for other plants may not work as well for grass, so when shopping, look for the fertilizers that are specifically designed for use in lawn care.

Even if your lawn looks green and healthy, it is important to remember that grass has the need for nutritional elements that may initially exist within the soil, but may be fairly quickly depleted. Replenishing the nutrients is accomplished through the application of the recommended formulation of lawn fertilizer. You now have the information about what your lawn needs to maintain good health throughout all seasons of the year. By following the simple tips included in this guide, you are prepared to choose the lawn fertilizer that will work best to promote optimum lawn health.