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Sports are one aspect in our culture that has always been cutting edge.  Let’s look at some of the new and interesting sports that have made a mark in this global culture.

Although many may not consider them a sport, cyber games do indeed qualify. And, recent years have seen a tremendous growth of gaming consoles, game design, and the video game industry in general.  This evolved into a global gaming culture that is now recognized as a new extreme sport in more than 70 countries.  Competitive Video Gaming has become one of the most sought after new recreational sports in the last five years. Not only that, but the best players from around the world meet in the annual World Cyber Games. This event was launched by International Cyber Marketing, a Korean company backed by Samsung and Microsoft, with the goal to market video games as competitive sports.  Like athletes and fans that recognize sports talent, many know that Korea has some of the elite players in the world, since they were one of the first countries that developed the gaming and the new sports technology that makes World Cyber Games possible. The World Cyber Games bring the best players from different countries to battle it out just like the Olympics.

This new recreational sport draws more than one million visitors every year, which is an impressive number for a young sporting event. Ironically, some players believe in exercise and physical fitness to compete in this sport.  Only a select number of games are considered competitive games.  These games include Warcraft III, Starcraft, Counterstrike, FIFA, and Need for Speed.  Recently Guitar Hero was added to the list of events.

Getting out into the fresh air where danger lurks, base jumping can really get your pulse going. Many extreme sports involve jumping from high altitude and at high speeds. One of the more radical extreme sports related to skydiving is Base Jumping.  BASE stands for Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth.  This jump employs a parachute or wingsuit to jump from altitudes less than 2000 feet with the parachute unopened. To become a BASE jumper, you must jump from fixed objects. The first jump made in Yosemite National Park demonstrated how Base Jumping is different from other recreational sports.  During the eighties, all base jumps were made using standard parachutes, but new sports technology has developed specialized equipment specifically for this kind of low altitude jumping.

Many consider base jumping an “ultra-extreme” sport because it is significantly more dangerous than similar sports.  Unlike skydiving, low altitude jumping only spans six seconds at the most.  Thus, jumpers have less than three seconds to position themselves and open their parachutes.  In addition, these jumps are usually made from man-made structures where there are many people on the ground. Try it if it sounds right for you.

Finally, there’s body boarding. This is a form of human wave riding kind of like surfing.  This new extreme sport uses a smaller, rectangular board made of hydrodynamic foam.  Body Boarding is the fastest growing extreme sports in the world since this sport is easier to learn than similar activities like wakeboarding or surfing. A body-board is a short board made of foam core and protected by a plastic bottom.  The boards are designed to absorb much of the surface pressure of the water, so body-boards will have an easier time catching the waves. Professional body-boarding involves launching and landing tricks in the height of the wave from the simple spinning and reverse trick done near the wave pipe, to the more extreme jumping and aerial tricks that use the stronger waves as jump-off points. Have fun.

Extreme sports can be a lot of fun. Have you heard of them? Let’s take a quick look. An extreme sport can also be called an action sport or adventure sport. This is a popular term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger and are at least unusual. These activities often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, and highly specialized gear or spectacular stunts. In the end, the exact definition is in the adrenaline of the beholder.

While not the exclusive domain of youth, extreme sports tend to have a younger-than-average target demographic. Extreme sports are rarely sanctioned by schools. Extreme sports tend to be more solitary than traditional sports. In addition, beginning extreme athletes tend to work on their craft without the guidance of a coach. Activities categorized by media as extreme sports differ from traditional sports due to the higher number of inherently uncontrollable variables. Athletes in these activities compete not only against other athletes, but also against environmental obstacles and challenges. These environmental variables are frequently weather and terrain related, including wind, snow, water and mountains. Because these natural phenomena cannot be controlled, they inevitably affect the outcome of the given activity or event.

Some extreme air sports are include BASE jumping, bungee jumping, gliding, hang gliding, high wire, ski jumping, sky diving, sky surfing, and sky flying. Some of the land sports include indoor climbing, adventure racing, aggressive inline skating, BMX, caving, extreme motocross, extreme skiing, freestyle skiing, land and ice yachting, mountain biking, mountain boarding, outdoor climbing, skateboarding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, speed biking, speed skiing, and street luge. Some of the extreme water sports include barefoot water skiing, cliff diving, free-diving, jet skiing, open water swimming, powerboat racing, round the world yacht racing, scuba diving, snorkeling, speed sailing, surfing, whitewater kayaking, windsurfing. Extreme sports can also be an extreme version of a common sport. Much is up to the individual’s imagination.

The definition of extreme sports has shifted over the years due to many reasons. One key reason may be familiarity. Once millions of people have gone bungee jumping, it isn’t considered extreme any more unless there is an added twist. Usually the twist requires an added level of danger. When the term first surfaced circa the late 1980′s, it was used for sports such as skydiving, scuba diving, surfing, rock climbing, snow skiing, water skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, mountaineering, storm chasing, hang gliding, and bungee jumping, many of which were undergoing an unprecedented growth in popularity at the time.

Once millions can safely skydive or paraglide off buildings, or the average soccer mom goes out and enjoys ice climbing each weekend, these sports will fit in the ‘extreme’ category. Extreme sports are for the few rare dare-devils among us. Whether racing cars or bikes or taking anything sporty to the extreme, the warning ‘don’t try this a home’ will always apply. Those of us that don’t have a glacier in their living room will find this advice easy to follow.

If you are interested in burning calories but you’re not sure which sport is best for you, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to look at several activities and see how many calories are burned. Some sports may be less convenient like swimming if there’s no access to a pool, and some may not be your style – like basketball. But, all in all, there should be something here for everyone.

Some of the easiest activates are also the ones that give you the lowest fitness results. Although you may enjoy them, keep in mind, they aren’t getting you in any better shape. Some of the lowest on the scale are bowling (have you seen a fit bowler?) sitting quietly and golfing with a power cart. Billiards, lawn darts and ice fishing also scored pretty low – especially ice fishing. Most of the activity is just sitting and waiting for a fish to bite. There’s not much effort in that.

Moving up a bit on the effort scale, we get into moderate activities. Backpacking and badminton are both in the same area with burning double the calories of sedentary ones. Stationary bicycling is also in the same range of effort and health benefits. It is interesting to note that when you get a on a real bicycle, all health benefits go up. Even with the same moderate effort range, a real bicycle is more challenging and will give you more calories burned.

Moving up another notch of activity into the real calorie burners you’ll find things like a stair climber, tae kwon do karate, singles tennis and swimming laps. All of these activities are, of course, keeping you moving much more than sitting still. It’s this constant motion and demand on your muscles to go quickly in spurts of action that makes all the difference. Also, the more muscle groups involved has an impact on the calories burned. More big muscles working hard equals more energy needed and expended. Jumping rope is also one of the best exercises for burning calories you can do.

Now the crown for the king of exercises has to go to several different activities, but all of them are truly taxing and you must be in shape to keep them up. Bicycle racing is one of them. Boxing and competitive canoeing are also near the top. Roller blading and running at 8 mph also take the cake as some of the best calorie burners. Finally, walking up stairs is one of the most efficient things you can do if you want to burn more calories. You don’t see many people doing it for exercise, though. Most people like to do sports or something provided by the gym. The stair steppers are great, but often are so tiring that people don’t do them for long.

Remember that whatever exercise you do, keep your health in mind. See you doctor if you are embarking on a new regime and take your time if you’re doing something new. Bicycling can be dangerous if you’re new on the road or taking chances. Even lifting weights in the gym can be harmful if you’re not cautious or if you pick up more than you can handle. But, starting a new routine will build confidence and improve your looks and health. Why not try something new tomorrow?

If you’ve thought about taking a bike to work instead of a bus or car, there are a few things to consider. You’ll see some benefits and some challenges. But, with more focus on health and exercise and more people caring about the environment, perhaps it’s worth looking into.

Bikes supply millions of people with efficient, healthy, pollution-free daily transportation. They reduce traffic congestion, noise and all that smoke. They are space efficient because you can park a dozen bikes in the space of a single automobile, and the idea of a morning commute free of fossil fuels seems particularly attractive in the face of rising fuel costs and oil spills. Even if you only cycle once a week, you’ll be making a difference in your own health and the environment.

One thing to work out before you bike to work, is a secure place to park your bike -  at work and at home. Bikes tend to get in the way indoors, so keep yours out of hallways where people might knock it down or get their clothes greasy. A back room or storage area might work, but your best bet is probably outside — a covered location, if possible — with a good lock.

Do you live in a warm environment? Do you sweat easily? Is your commute long? These things will impact just how fresh you are when you arrive at work. Since many work places have places to freshen up, that may not be a problem. You may also want to bring a change of clothes to work and some toiletries. It can also help you to slow down the pace a bit if the ride is too exhausting at first. You’ll find that after a few weeks the ride gets easier. If there is no place to freshen up at your office, perhaps there is a gym nearby that will handle all the requirements you have for freshening up.

If you haven’t much experience with riding a bike, chat with some friends that ride regularly. You’ll get some good tips. For example, if you’re feeling winded, ease back. As your fitness improves, you’ll be able to turn bigger gears at that 70 to 80 rpm cadence. Ride for pace, and the speed will come naturally. As with all exercise regimes, consult your physician before getting started.

Also you may want to think about the route you take to work. The way you drive or take public transportation may be a straight shot, but not the best if you’re on a bike. And, the shortest way to work may not be the best. Scout roads with marked bicycle lanes. If none are available, look for routes that avoid overly narrow roads, tricky bridges or intersections, and open storm grates. Routes through residential areas are pleasant and usually have the benefit of lower traffic. But keep in mind that people are heading to work at the same time you are, and the most dangerous place on the road for a cyclist is the foot of a driveway. Watch for distracted drivers backing into the street. Avoid the temptation to hop up onto a sidewalk: it decreases the time a car has to spot you, and bikes are a hazard to pedestrians.

For safety, stay away from cars and crowded roads as much as possible. If you’re going to be riding before the sun is fully up or after it sets, you must have lights. Most municipalities have very specific regulations about the degree of lighting required by night-riding cyclists. Here’s the good news: a properly lit cyclist in reflective clothing is generally more conspicuous than a daytime rider. Don’t forget to wear a helmet. It can be the difference between a scraped knee and a hospital stay – or worse.

It will come up eventually, so you should learn how to change a tire, or have a good plan ‘B’ if you get a flat or have another problem such as the chain breaking or the wheel getting damaged from a rut in the road. To change a tire, once again a friend will be very helpful to show you how. Many bike riders have a kind of brotherhood or sisterhood that enjoys sharing the skills and knowledge about riding bikes and changing flats. You’ll need a flat kit: a spare inner tube, two or three tire levers, and a rag to wipe your hands and check the inside of your tire for glass. You should also think about getting flat-resistant tires and tubes. They’re a bit heavier and more expensive than their conventional equivalents, but well worth the money if you’re prone to flats.

Commuting by bicycle is a healthy and environmentally friendly way to get to work and back. The fresh air and sunshine, sights and sounds, health benefits make it all worthwhile. You’ll feel more a part of humanity and more in touch with your body, too. And when you get to work, while others need a caffeine injection to wake up, you’ll be ready for anything. A quick rehydration and freshening up and you’re ready to have a great day.

Red leaves of maple trees carpeting entire mountain sides, valleys and forest floor this time of the year pull in thousands of visitors to Phu Kradung National Park in Loei. However, there is another place nearby _ Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary _ that offers easier access and a more spectacular profusion of maples and flowers of virtually every shade imaginable.

Loei is 558 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, and the sanctuary with its thick cover of red rhododendrons, wild flowers and orchids is vibrant with colours in the cool season.

Phu Luang was the start of our exploratory tour of attractions located off Highway 203, which connects the districts of Phu Rua and Dan Sai, marked by several stops interspersed with treks along nature trails.

Actually in Phu Rua district you see decorative plants and flowers sold in pots by local vendors along the highway all time of the year. In fact the length of the road as it cuts through the district looks like a long flower belt. You can buy the flowers at half the price they are sold in Bangkok.

Off Highway 203 is a local road leading to Phu Rua National Park that has tourist bungalows as well as an area where visitors can pitch tents. The road is in good condition and the park is also a popular picnic spot for locals. One road sign pointing to the park is conspicuous by its prominent thermometer, as if needing to tell visitors to Phu Rua that here they can enjoy cool breeze all year round.

West of the park on the road to Dan Sai sits one of the district’s popular landmarks, Phra That Si Song Rak, a pagoda built in the Ayutthaya period as mark of goodwill between the rulers of Ayutthaya and Lan Xang, now part of Laos. Not far from the temple is the Phi Ta Khon Museum at Phonchai Temple where you can learn the origins of the province’s annual Phi Ta Khon ghost mask festival held in the month of June or July and how the masks and dresses used in the festival are made.

Driving back to Loei town, if you have spare time, check out the scenery at Huay Krathing reservoir, vast and noted for its quiet ambience, where locals like to go to relax and enjoy fishing.

2009 is coming to an end and for our final assignment we were tasked to blog about our favorite travel moments from this past year. It was a difficult choice, but thumbing through the thousands of pictures I took this year brought back many fond memories. Anyway, without further ado, here are my 2009 highlights:

Number 1: Kanto Matsuri

Finally, the highlight of my year was the Kanto Matsuri held in Akita City over the first week of August. I had read about it beforehand, but I was really impressed when I saw it in person. The energy and skill of the participants was amazing, and the sheer number of lanterns, literally hundreds of them, was an awesome sight to see.

Number 2: Hanafubuki at Shinjuku Gyoen

We did some extensive cherry blossom coverage this year and I saw lots of beautiful sakura all over the country. But the best was towards the end of the season as I was checking out Shinjuku Gyoen. Most of the blossoms around the park had already fallen, but as I was about to exit at the Sendagaya Gate the wind picked up and treated me to the most amazing hanafubuki (cherry blossom blizzard) I’ve ever seen.

Number 3: Iriomote Swimming Hole

This summer, while on a kayak trip down a mangrove lined river on Iriomote Island, we discovered a small swimming hole literally in the middle of the jungle, a few hundred meters hike up a small stream from the larger, brackish river. The cool water was a refreshing relief and it was one of those unexpected discoveries that make travelling fun.

Number 4: Hokutosei Night Train

While not usually the most economical way to travel, night trains are a unique experience that are a neat way to do some long distance travel. The Hokutosei night train from Tokyo to Sapporo is one of the best ones I’ve taken so far and really renewed my interest in the genre. One day I’m hoping to check out the coveted Cassiopeia, but that probably won’t be for a while.

Number 5: Sumo Wrestling

We started off 2009 with a trip to Ryogoku to see the first Sumo tournament of the year. We had some pretty good seats and were able to see the matches from up close. Afterwards we headed to a nice chanko nabe restaurant owned by former wrestlers who sang for the restaurant’s patrons.

Number 6: Taketomi Island

Taketomi Island is another Okinawan Island and part of the Yaeyama Chain. The village on the small island has maintained its traditional Ryukyu (the old kingdom of Okinawa) look and feel with stone walls and white sand roads patrolled by water buffalo drawn carts. It’d love to come back and spend a few days on the island soaking up the sun and relaxing on its beaches.

Number 7: Nebuta Matsuri

The Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori City has spectacular floats that are basically giant paper lanterns. They’re each followed by giant drums, dozens of musicians playing flutes and chappa cymbals, and legions of haneto dancers. Anyone can participate in the parade as a dancer and it looks like a lot of fun.

Number 8: Kabira Bay

Kabira Bay, down on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, is in my opinion one of the most beautiful beach scenes in Japan. The bay is used for pearl cultivation so unfortunately you can’t swim in the water, but glass bottom boats provide tours of the bay’s coral environment.

Number 9: Nagaoka Fireworks

Next up is the Nagaoka Fireworks in Niigata Prefecture. This fireworks extravaganza is routinely ranked one of the top fireworks shows in Japan and features sanjakudama starmines, whose shells are nearly a meter in diameter; phoenix starmines, that explode twice; and well over 20,000 other fireworks. The picture doesn’t really do it justice, as the fireworks cover almost two kilometers of the riverbank and it was just too big to fit it all into the shot.

Number 10: Kinugawa Mazes

First off on my list are the two fence mazes in Kinugawa Onsen near Nikko. Both the Grand Maze Palladium and the Ninja Trick Maze at Nikko Edomura were a ton of fun. Edomura also got some other fun things to see and watch, such as ninja shows and a gruesome wax museum, which are fun for the whole family.

Well that’s it for this year. 2009 was filled with amazing trips and I look forward to seeing what 2010 has to offer. I hope you’ve enjoyed the blog and I’ll see you again next year!

1. Pang-ung Maehongsorn

2. Pai Maehongsorn

3. Doi Aangkang Chaingmai

4. Huinamdang Chaingmai

5. Doimaesalong Chaingrai

6. Phutubberg Phetchaboon

7. Phushefa Chaingrai

8. Thungdokbuatong Maehongsorn

9. Phukadung Lei

10. Doi Inthanon Chaingmai

One in Top 10 bars of the world to see

            Gazebo, Bangkok nightclub features spacious indoor and outdoor bar area with a complex design the middle East. Is your bar restaurant and club will want to take with you throughout Thailand. Main Bar 3 bands perform in the night in large open air roof.There ‘s beautiful breezy fresh air and shelter if it rains-with Spectaclar views that do not fail to impress Nightclubs open late, with DJs best of Bangkok .Relax back benches cushioned sofa and elegant a style seats in an outdoor setting without you or someone you come with, you will forgot.

To Adventure Travel in style. Man brain to relax the same style as the “fighting Sarika Adventure Point ” Nakornnayok Province, Thailand. They have experienced about adventure eco-oriented activities for more than 10 years,with that theme last minute. “Just to get him to the forest. Until the day we were to die. If you fear too difficult for yourlife! Do not walk us. ” Drive steadily through the pretty views. Of forest paths and visit the open orchard of the villagers. The fruit of the various names such as Durian Maprag sweet orange, pomelo, lemon flavors are luscious frame it. And natural close, with various wood species and island cataract beautiful river bend.

I’ve heard somebody mentioned there’s nothing in Pai, Maehongson, Thailand….But on the other side, I found it’s peaceful and wonderful…

So it seems like nothing in Pai but as the matter of fact…It is such a heaven to me…Wish I’ve been there again.

Here’s little information about Pai…

Pai is a small community, embraced by rolling mountains and enveloped in natural setting that is fresh and beautiful. The atmosphere is clean, pure, quiet and warmly welcoming. The different ethnic groups, religious beliefs and languages of the people of plains and the people of the mountains have blended together here to form a unique set of cultural traditions.

The citizens of Pai live their lives with a spirit of generosity and a sense of community, always ready to give someone a helping hand. Yet at the same time, the remoteness of the region makes travel to and from Pai difficult. Many people would rather not come and risk their chances in such an isolated place. However, many other people entrust their luck to fate in this very spot, and others dream of having just one chance in their lives to come and experience the summit of the north of Thailand.

One of favorite cold season trends is the boot tucked into a pair of women’s jeans. It’s sleek, it’s adroit, it’s comfortable when you wear, but it takes some major twisting and shoving to try to get your jeans from bunching out of your boot. Then when you bend or sit down they jeans come WAY out so then you have to shove them back in throughout the day and so on. So everthing basic ,you can do is wear the tightest denim possible and hope it looks as good as Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz and other chic celebrities in their sophisticated denim-boot look. 

Krabi is the perfect getaway destination at the Andaman Sea with stunning limestone cliffs, beautiful beaches like Ao Nang and Railay and more than 130 islands including the most famous – Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. Enjoy relaxing days at one of the tropical hotels and resorts available and visit the natural beauty of waterfalls and caves and other attractions. The more active ones can try some rock climbing, sailing, kayaking, diving and snorkeling or just spend a day or two for island hopping. Krabi has everything on offer for a fantastic and unforgettable holiday experience.