MirrorCube

Everything will reflect in this – the trees, the birds, the clouds, the sun, everything.
so it should be invisible nearly in the forest.‘ – Kent Lindvall

This has struck up a lot of controversy in regards to how it can be dangerous for birds flying in and around the forest. Lindvall the architect says that a special film that is visible to birds will be applied to the glass to make sure the birds can fly safely. The 4 meter mirrored glass cube plans to open this weekend.

MirrorCube Under Construction

MirrorCube Under Construction

MirrorCube Closeup

“I think I want to kiss your face.”
“So did it hurt?…. When you fell from heaven.”
“I may be no Flintstone, but I can make your bed rock.”

Although the women were laughing, it was obvious that none of these bold attempts to win them over worked. Shocking, I know. Their conclusion was that perhaps men would be better off not only dropping the pick-up lines, but just not speaking at all.

When it comes to the humorous and embarrassing pick up lines we all love to hate, the act of trying impress or win over a lady may seem like a social faux pas from modern times. However, showing off and shameless courting are ritualistic practices with deep historical roots that can be found throughout every culture on earth.

In the animal kingdom, courting rituals make the Chicago bar scene look like child’s play. Complex melodies, dazzling colors and life threatening battles are just some of the ways animals attempt to win a female over. One such practice includes a soundtrack that can be heard for miles and rallying that literally makes waves in the ocean. The result is oftentimes injury and even death. All of this for love? It could only be a performance by one of the biggest species on earth, Humpback Whales.

When a female humpback wants attention, she will slap the water with her fins and tail until about half a dozen 40-ton males gather around her. Once their attention has been piqued, it’s all about the chase. When the female plays hard to get and swims away, the males follow, crashing roughly into each other in an attempt to be the first behind her. This heat run will establish which male is strongest. The female knows that the strongest mate will give her the strongest offspring. When one male emerges as the victor, he has officially earned the female’s attention and the right to mate with her. They swim off into the ocean together while the other males head to the nearest reef to sulk.

Watch the Humpbacks in action on the Discovery Channel series, LIFE, the video is online here.

So, men of Chicago, Panama and the world, perhaps you should consider body thumping the guy next to you the next time you want to pick up a chick. You should definitely ram into every guy in the bar until you are the last one standing. Or better yet, don’t be an animal. Leave the extravagant courting to the humpbacks and cheesy pick-up lines to our monkey friends, because once you’ve been gossiped about at brunch, you have totally lost your chance.

Humpback Whales by the Numbers:

0 teeth

1 much like the human finger print, each humpback has a unique gray and blue marking on their underside

2.5 tons is how much they weigh at birth

2-3 years between giving birth

4-7 years old is when a calf reaches puberty

10 seconds after its birth a newborn whale instinctively swims to the surface for air

10-12 feet wide when full grown

10-12 months is how long a calf feeds from its mother

12 month gestation period

14 ft is the length of a newborn baby

15 years old is the age a whale is mature

15 ft is the length of each pectoral fin

30 minutes after being birthed, a newborn can swim

40-45 ft is the length of males

40-50 tons is how much they weigh

50-60 ft is the length of females

100 lbs of milk is how much a baby calf drinks a day

3,000 pounds of food is how much an adult whale consumes a day

Skin Care/ Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best sources of natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair and provides it with a healthy sheen. Coconut oil is excellent massage oil and skin care oil as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil is therefore a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.

Health: Coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. It is very useful in reducing weight, helps in improving the digestive system, strengthens the immune system, helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress.

For more information, visit Organic Facts.

"I had a great time tonight, I’ll call you."

The mission of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project is “to rescue amphibian species that are in extreme danger of extinction throughout Panama. Our efforts and expertise are focused on establishing assurance colonies and developing methodologies to reduce the impact of the amphibian chytrid fungus so that one day captive amphibians may be re‐introduced to the wild.”

While their mission is  to save frogs who are at risk of being endangered due to a horrible fungus is serious, they are still having fun and educating visitors along the way through the exciting blog posts.

Add their RSS to your feed or fan them on Facebook to hear the latest about their efforts.

I know you’ll be looking forward to Monday’s cute frog after checking out the past few weeks!

Coconuts can be found all over Isla Palenque and no trip to any island is complete without tasting this delectable treat! Fortunately for us this treat also comes packed with health benefits.

Isla Palenque Vitamins

• Coconut Water is more nutritious than whole milk – Less fat and NO cholesterol.
• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice – Much lower in calories.
• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby formula. It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother’s milk.
• It’s known to help treat kidney and urethral stones.
• Helps promote weight loss.
• Naturally replenishes your body’s fluids after exercising.
• Helps cleanse your digestive tract.
• Helps balance your PH and reduce risk of cancer.
• Also known to boost poor circulation.

Most coconut water can be purchased at your local grocery store but straight from a coconut is truly the only real way to enjoy it!

CHICAGO, Aug. 25, 2010 — It’s the height of sea turtle nesting season! These giant, air-breathing reptiles fascinate nature-lovers everywhere, and their nesting season is a time to celebrate them and to reflect on their struggle to survive.

Lasting from April through October, nesting is when endangered and threatened sea turtles get their annual chance to expand their shrinking populations. The Panama coastline is a key nesting ground for many sea turtle species, and its warm, equatorial waters are home to five different types: the hawksbill, loggerhead, green, leatherback and olive ridley species. This time of the year, newly hatched turtles can be seen struggling across Panama’s sandy beaches towards the sea.

“People occasionally come across a nest of sea turtle hatchlings on some of the area beaches,” said Ben Loomis, President of Amble Resorts and their Panama real estate project, The Resort at Isla Palenque. “The sight of these rare little sea monsters really heightens your sense of responsibility and protectiveness.” Loomis and his development team recently won an ASLA Honor Award for their ecologically sensitive master plan. Next month, Amble will launch sales of their unique, sophisticated homes on a beautiful island property in Panama’s Gulf of Chiriqui, scheduled for delivery in 2012.

Even under ideal circumstances sea turtle trials are many. They don’t reach breeding maturity until age 30, and their hatchlings run a gauntlet of hungry predators before reaching the safety of the sea. But recently sea turtle populations have sustained some additional blows. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, unchecked development ruining nesting sites, unsustainable fishing practices, water pollution – all threaten their very existence.

Loomis doesn’t want to add to their problems. “To prevent hatchlings from being disoriented, we’re limiting the use of bright artificial lighting near the coast,” said Loomis. “And to make sure mother sea turtles can come ashore to make their nests, we’ll avoid constructing artificial barriers near the shore.” Once The Resort at Isla Palenque opens in 2012, wastewater treatment and recycling practices will be implemented to significantly reduce and responsibly dispose of waste, keeping the ocean pure and protecting the area wildlife.

Panama’s coasts provide many nesting havens for sea turtles during this vital season. Chiriqui Beach in the Bocas del Toro Province remains one of the most important sites for nesting leatherback turtles in the Atlantic Ocean. The Sea Turtle Conservancy states that as many as 7,170 to 14,005 endangered leatherbacks nest there between northern Costa Rica to central Panama. On the Pacific side of Panama, the similarly named Gulf of Chiriqui is home to a rich variety of marine life, including multiple sea turtle species. Nature-loving travelers boat, dive and snorkel around the Gulf of Chiriqui National Marine Park and the Coiba UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“If more people can get close to natural wonders like these sea turtles, in a responsible way without harming them,” says Loomis, “then they’ll feel that same sense of responsibility and protectiveness I do.” That has to be a good thing for the turtles.

About Amble Resorts

Amble Resorts was founded by Benjamin Loomis in 2007 to develop and own unique upscale hotels and resorts which provide ecologically and culturally sensitive travel experiences. Those who want more out of travel, amble with us. http://www.amble.com

About Isla Palenque

Amble Resorts’ new Panama real estate project, The Resort at Isla Palenque, will be a secluded and sustainable residence community opening in late 2012 with a unique boutique hotel, ingeniously designed residences, and sumptuous amenities. http://www.islapalenque.com

Media contact: Frances Limoncelli, Marketing Director, Amble Resorts, fml@amble.com, 773-769-1145 x203

Image source: Dezeen.com

Gadling had a nerve wrecking story yesterday on a nine-day, 62-mile traffic jam in China. Here is an excerpt:

Before you start the commute home for the day, consider how bad the traffic could be. Sure, you could get stuck behind a bus or on the train for an hour or so, but how about 9 DAYS?! Thousands of motorists have been stranded on the Beijing-Tibet expressway since August 13th as a road work project has stopped up an already-busy road, and they could be stuck for another few weeks until the project concludes.

It dawned on me after reading this that Isla Palenque is going to lack any traffic. Island residents and guests will be able to drive through the jungles of Isla Palenque in their electric GEM cars with nothing to stop them. Well, there might be the occasional stop to watch an animal pass, but there won’t be anything near the frustration of urban traffic. It looks like the happiness in Panama is going to continue to thrive since the residents on the secluded island are going to be stress free. Being from an urban environment with some pretty bad traffic, the future island residents are already making me jealous!

The following is information from Agroforestry Database 4.0 (Orwa et al.2009):

LOCAL NAMES
English (Tolu balsam, Peru balsam); Portuguese (óleo-bálsamo, cabreúva, cabreúva-vermelha); Spanish (quinoquino, quina, palo de balsamo, Bálsamo de sonsonate, balsamo); Trade name (santos ahogany, Peruvian balsam, incienso, balsamo, balsam of Peru)

BOTANIC DESCRIPTION
Myroxylon balsamum is a tree growing to 34 m in height and 1 m in diameter. The bark is generally grey and spotted with rough yellow areas. Leaves oddly pinnate, 3-11 leaves, 6-9 cm long and 3-4 cm wide with scattered translucent, glandular oil dots or lines. Flowers are whitish, corolla 5-petalled. Pods winged 8-13 cm long and 2.5 cm broad containing one seed at the tip. The generic epithet is derived from Greek “myron” meaning perfume or sweet oil and “xylon” wood. There is confusion about the number of species and varieties in the genus Myroxylon, however, 2 species are assigned to the genus; M. balsamum and M. peruiferum both native to Central and South America. Two varieties are recognized namely var. balsamum (tolu balsam) and var. pereirae (Peru balsam).

BIOLOGY
Seeds are wind dispersed and may be collected from the tree as they begin to mature. Balsam trees lower from July-September and set seed in October and November in Brazil.

ECOLOGY
M. balsamum grows in areas with annual precipitation ranging from 1 350-4 030 mm (mean 2 640 mm), annual mean temp of 27-32 deg C, and soils with mildly acidic pH.

BIOPHYSICAL LIMITS
Altitude: up to 700 m. Mean annual temperature: 27-32 deg C. Mean annual rainfall: 1 350-4 030 mm
Soil type: Grows on soils with pH 5-8.

DOCUMENTED SPECIES DISTRIBUTION
Native: Exotic: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, India, US

PRODUCTS
Timber: Balsam wood is used for flooring, furniture, cabinetwork, turnery and railroad ties. It is moderately difficult to work but can be finished smoothly with a high natural polish. Heartwood is reddish brown, turning deep red or purplish upon exposure, has a spicy scent and is very resistant to fungal decay. The wood has a density of 900-1 090 kg/cubic meter and a specific gravity of 0.74-0.81. Shrinkage values from green to oven dry are very low for a wood of this density. The wood is not commercially marketed.

Gum or resin: M. balsamum’s var. balsamum and pereirae yield gums called tolu and Peru balsam, respectively. These gums are used mainly as flavoring in cough syrups, soft drinks, confectionaries, ice cream and chewing gums.

Essential oil: Balsam gum contains about 60% cinnamon, a volatile oil extracted by steam distillation. The oil is used in high-grade perfume, cosmetic and soap industries. Oil also used in flavoring baked goods. Its fragrance is attributed to vanillin, coumarin, cinnamic and benzoic acids.

Alcohol: The seeds are used to flavor aguardiente, a popular alcoholic beverage in Latin America.

Medicine: Tolu balsam is used as a feeble expectorant in cough mixtures and as an inhalant for catarrh and bronchitis. Peru balsam is used extensively as a local protectant, rubefacient, parasiticide in certain skin diseases, antiseptic, and applied externally as an ointment, or in alcoholic solutions. It is rarely used internally as an expectorant. Alcoholic extracts of tolu and Peru balsam inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

SERVICES
Shade or shelter: This is a good shade tree. Nitrogen fixing: The balsam tree nodulates and fixes nitrogen. Ornamental: The tree is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens. Intercropping: The Peru Balsam is grown as a coffee shade tree in El Salvador. Other services: Balsam oil is used as incense in churches and as a hair set and thickening agent.

I wrote about the study’s first announcement in a previous blog post, and additional information has just been released. Today, popular travel blog Gadling came out with an article on the new info that shows the adventure tourism market to have grown so much, it now dwarfs other travel segments that are thought to be mainstream:

“…That brings the total market value for adventure travel to $142 billion in 2009. In comparison, the cruise line world market share is estimated to have a value of about $27 billion.”

What is adventure tourism? Glad you asked. According to the U.S. based Adventure Travel Trade Association, it is any tourist activity including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction and engagement with nature. Once thought to be only for unwashed backpackers willing to endure hardship and discomfort to get an authentic experience, now adventure travel is for a much more mainstream group. Now well-heeled professionals, romantic couples and sporty families all want more adventure, nature and culture from their vacations. From Gadling again:

“Adventure travel clearly isn’t a niche market any longer, and what was once the purview of dare devils and thrill seeker, is becoming all the more appealing to mainstream travelers too.…The ATTA says that the typical adventure traveler is 36 years old and spends between $450 and $800 per vacation, excluding their airfare. They are also more likely to hold a passport, and are generally more educated and affluent than the “typical” traveler.”

Amble Resorts put out a press release on this topic a few months ago, you can read it here, and here are two quotes from it:

“According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Travel Industry Association of America, nearly one half of U.S. adults, or 98 million people, have taken an adventure trip. That’s because the industry isn’t just catering to gutsy thrill-seekers anymore. Resorts now provide a wider array of activities targeted at mainstream travelers, a market that includes increasing numbers of two-income families, childless couples, single adults and members of the growing aging population”

“‘Adventure tours have gone from 16 percent of passenger volume in 2001 to 50 percent for advance bookings this year,” writer Kirk Johnson said in a recent story in the New York Times…Industry mainstays are responding enthusiastically to this energetic trend. Disney has launched its “Adventures by Disney” line of family-centered adventure tours. Hyatt now offers its “Adventure Hyatt” line of services at 18 resorts. Marriott, Rosewood and Starwood, all successful mainstream hospitality companies, are getting on the bandwagon by providing their customers with more adventure opportunities. This evident commitment to serving this growing tourism segment indicates a widely held belief that this is no passing fad, but a trend with longevity.”

Disney? Marriott? Hyatt? Have I convinced you this is a major travel trend yet?

Of course, the more mature, affluent adventure traveler we’re talking about isn’t going to sleep in a hostel or eat trail mix their entire vacation, and so whether you’re a giant in the industry like Marriott or a boutique original like Amble Resorts, you need to provide the kinds of things your customers are likely to desire above and beyond the adventure element. That’s exactly why Amble is creating The Resort at Isla Palenque, where we’ll create not only luxury, but luxurious immersion in the nature and culture of this exceptional place.

]]> http://islapalenque.com/blog/2010/08/naturalcultural-experiences-sought-by-huge-number-of-travelers/feed/ 0 http://islapalenque.com/blog/2010/08/panamanian-slang/ http://islapalenque.com/blog/2010/08/panamanian-slang/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:11:22 +0000 Manya http://islapalenque.com/blog/?p=3323 My long burning desire to learn Spanish is finally on the top list of things to do in the next year, hopefully enrolling in some night classes will provide for a good start!

But what is this? “Wapin”?

According to Panama 980 magazine, this is a Panamanian slang for “WHAT’S HAPPENING” or “wapin mi fren”?

Here are some more of my favorites:

“Aguasero”- used to describe a serious downpour in the rainy season, ” esta cayendo un aguasero” = “it’s raining cats and dogs”.

“Chi-chi”- baby, both in sense of a small child and a term of endearment.

“Que power”- (an anglicism) old term from the 1980′s for “that’s awesome”.

What’s your favorite Panamanian slang?

]]> http://islapalenque.com/blog/2010/08/panamanian-slang/feed/ 0