Destinations

Visit Haunted Castles in Ireland!

Patricia asked:


Castle doors suddenly slam shut. Swift winds tear through guest rooms on otherwise calm nights. Terrifying wails are heard from deep within castles. The reason for these events? Ghosts. Their spirits have been haunting some castles in Ireland for hundreds of years. If you are brave enough, you might want to visit or stay in one of the real haunted castles in Ireland.

Many battles took place in Irish castles over many centuries of struggle for Irish rule. The violence and bloodshed took many lives and created many legends. Some of the castle ghosts were involved in the fighting; others had more personal tragedies. I visited many haunted castles during my most recent castle tour.

Charleville Castle in County Offaly is haunted by the ghost of its former owner, by druids buried on the grounds, and by a girl who fell from a high staircase to her death. When I visited, ghost hunters were setting up equipment to detect the spirits.

Clonony Castle is in County Offaly, near the Shannon River. A ghostly figure of a man reportedly patrols one of its towers.

Ballygally Castle is 20 miles from Belfast on the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. It is a beautiful hotel and is said to have its own friendly ghost!

Carrickfergus Castle in County Antrim, Northern Ireland is home to “Buttoncap”, the ghost of a young 16th Century soldier.

Huntington Castle in County Carlow is built on the site of a Druids Temple. Spirits of deceased monks, a murdered soldier, and Lady Esmond all haunt this large estate.

Killua Castle, located in County Westmeath, is rumored to have a former employee’s ghostly figure stalking the grounds at night.

Castle Leslie in County Monaghan, Northern Ireland is a beautiful castle haunted by Norman Leslie, slain in World War I.

Gormanston Castle in County Meath was owned by a family for seven centuries. Legend has it that foxes surrounded the castle upon the death of one of the family members.

Kinnitty Castle in Country Offaly is a beautifully restored castle hotel built on land once inhabited by Druids. This castle is haunted by the “Phantom Monk of Kinnitty”.

Wilton Castle in County Wexford is said to be home to the ghosts of a former magistrate, a dead actress, and a former castle resident.

Leap Castle in County Offaly is widely regarded as the most haunted castle in Ireland. Its bloody past of massacres and murders has led to the presence of vengeful ghosts and unexplained noises, placing Leap Castle at the top of the list of real haunted castles in Ireland.

Whether or not you believe in ghost stories, it is worth testing your beliefs firsthand. You will definitely enjoy a visit to these beautiful and real haunted castles in Ireland.



Shadow People

Posted by burnsai - July 26, 2009 at 8:35 am

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,

Savannah Georgia – America’s Most Haunted City

Deb Bunting asked:


In 2003, the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America’s Most Haunted City.  And Savannah is able to support the title.  Ghosts, apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah’s inns, restaurants, private residences, and of course, cemeteries.

There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah’s twenty-one squares.  Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners.  James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House, now a restaurant, but formerly his home.  Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was born and raised in Savannah.  Her parents, long deceased, are said to still roam Juliette’s childhood home.

Savannah’s Sorrel-Weed House, visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special, is supposedly haunted.  The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed’s many slaves.  Mrs. Weed, very distraught, ran back to her second-floor bedroom.  After a long argument with her husband, she either threw herself (or was thrown) to her death from a second floor balcony.  Soon after Mrs. Weed’s death, the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters.  Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.

The Hampton-Lillibridge House was said to be so haunted, that Jim Williams (of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” fame) had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house.  On countless occasions, residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.

The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah, as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront.  The Kehoes built this fireproof, all-iron home and lived there with their 10 children.  The Kehoe’s heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home.  It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming, a nurse shushing visitors, the Lady in White making appearances, and several instances involving ghosts of children.

The list goes on and on!

So, what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories?  Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead.  Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733.  It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds. 

As the colony began to grow and thrive, it needed more room.  Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists.  Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads.  Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.

Second, Savannah has a very violent history.  Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah.  One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution, the Siege of Savannah, where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour, was fought in Savannah.

Also, the city has been victim to many city-wide fires, at least two yellow-fever epidemics and several hurricanes.

Third, Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton, so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.

Fourth, Savannahians are (proudly) an eccentric bunch, as were their ancestors, which adds history and volume to the ghost stories.  Take the

Lastly, I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees.  The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.

Whatever the reason, the ghost stories are endless, earning the Savannah the right to the title of America’s Most Haunted City.

 



Paranormal Video

Posted by burnsai - July 14, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,

Treasure Hunting With Metal Detectors

David Cowley asked:


People who use metal detectors for treasure hunting do tend to run up against an image problem.  The media and comedians like Steve Martin have poked a lot of fun at people who use these detectors.  But perhaps treasure hunters can have the last laugh when their detectors turn up something valuable, which has happened in the past and is sure to happen again in the near future.

It’s Easy To Get Started

The price of good quality, lightweight metal detectors have been going down in recent years.  You can find them at Sears, for goodness’ sakes.  A basic metal detector will cost you less than $200.  You can always add on bits and pieces from treasure hunting supply stores (usually found online) and from online auction sites like eBay.  It’s good to get a taste of the hobby before making a big financial commitment.

There are professional-quality metal detectors that can be used on boats, as well as other vehicles.  There are those with ground radar that can usually detect how far down in the earth a piece of metal is and some even guess what the metal is and in some cases determine the shape of the metal object.  Metal detectors are used in this case by surveyors, utility companies looking for pipelines and miners.  The detectors used for these professions can often run into five figures.

There are many different types of detectors on the market.  If you are just starting out you may want to consider the Land or Relic detectors.  They have fewer features and are easy for the beginner to start with, just turn in on and go.  Then can be used on land and even in a couple of inches of water.  Most of the coils are waterproof, just keep the electronics out of the water and you will be ok.

As the price increases for the detectors the more complicated they become.  More and more practice will be needed to become an expert with the device but in the long run you will spend less time digging up trash.

You Are Not Alone

Treasure hunting is a hobby that not only lets you get to play with big toys, perhaps make some money, but also gets your outside and exercising.  You should be exercising regularly, anyway, but just doing the same old exercises over and over again can get boring.  And, you can also make new friends with the treasure hunting hobby.

There are treasure hunting clubs all over the country.  In order to find out the closest one to you, contact the Federation of Metal Detector and Archeological Clubs (FMDAC).  Although most of these clubs cater to adults, there are some clubs strictly for kids and some clubs will allow kids to enter with an adult.  There are treasure hunting clubs in other countries besides America.  For example, in England, the use of metal detectors for treasure hunting has gone up 20% in the year 2006.

There have been incredible things found by regular people with metal detectors.  These finds include rare coins, buried cars and ancient artifacts.  And if you loose your wedding ring in a forest, chances are you’ll be able to find it again before your spouse finds out about your little accident.

Happy Treasure Hunting.



gold dredges

Posted by burnsai - July 11, 2009 at 10:29 pm

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,

Treasure Hunting for Gold


Treasure hunting is the common name for a fun and interesting hobby enjoyed by thousands of people around the world. They use portable metal detectors to go outside and literally hunt for treasure.  With the price of gold over $700 oz today, more and more people are getting metal detectors and heading into the hills.

The FMDAC

In order to help you get started in treasure hunting, you should check out the Federation of Metal Detector and Archeological Clubs, Inc.  You can find out about any events, meeting or treasure hunting clubs in your area.  You can find out where to legally go look for gold in treasure hunting.  Usually, you have to go to state parks and public property unless you are invited onto someone’s private property.  And it’s not just a pipe dream to find gold treasure hunting in this way.  People have actually found very valuable items, from gold coins to gold artifacts.

You also need to know your area’s municipal codes, which the FMDAC can help you find.  Sometimes, you can legally go treasure hunting in public schools, church grounds and public beaches with metal detectors.  You might even be asked by neighbors to help locate utility pipelines on their property or to find lost trinkets in their back yards.

Wal-Mart

Believe it or not, Wal-Mart is now playing a big role in promoting finding gold by treasure hunting.  Usually, stores will not allow any solicitation in their premises.  However, Wal-Mart has a unique partnership with the FMDAC where they will allow displays by treasure hunting clubs in their stores.  These can be manned or unmanned display tables with pamphlets.  Your local Wal-Mart or Super Wal-Mart may be the place to go get started in gold treasure hunting business.

Is There Any Gold Left?

The best place to prospect for gold is the place where gold already has been found.  Some nice size nuggets have been found with metal detectors in areas that have had active gold mines in the past.  Not every ounce of gold has been mined or panned from rivers.  Part of the treasure hunting hobby is to learn gold panning and pour over old prospector maps.  There still is a market in this hobby for treasure maps.  Some treasure maps will show you where gold has been found in the past.  The odds are that not all of the gold was found and that there might still be some left in those gold-bearing areas.

The Roaring Camp Mining Company is in Pine Grove California, which is about one hour east of Sacramento.  Visitors to the mining camp are shown many of the mining techniques us for locating gold.  You are able to pan, sluice boxes, dredge and dry wash for gold.  You get to keep any gold that you find.  Gold bearing material is collected from the mine bedrock area and run through a screening process to remove the large rocks and it is then made available to you.

California isn’t the only state where there has been success in gold treasure hunting by amateurs.  Gold has been found in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Virginia.  The gold was found with the use of portable metal detectors or gold-panning.  So, there still might be gold left “in them thar hills”.

Happy Treasure Hunting.

Posted by burnsai - June 24, 2009 at 1:50 pm

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,

Travel To China, H1N1 – Info for your China vacations

Shane Lee asked:



H1n1 and this but in chinabrbr1 if you when there are 293 ah1n1 patient the malaria control center will contact you are more can find more can do medical examination in it is to ask you dont get the beijing airfare beijing airfare beijing and fill out maybe was not very close to china.


Vaccine for H1N1

Posted by burnsai - June 1, 2009 at 9:49 am

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,

Treasure Hunting for Antique Bottles

David Cowley asked:


Milk Bottles

To some, old bottles are just junk taking up space on the windowsills of the kitchen.  They truly don’t appreciate the craftsmanship that typically went into making these items, which was usually done by hand.  Of course there are other reasons why someone would be interested in antique bottles, and it has to do with more than just how the bottles were made.

Antique bottles are truly a part of history.  The different types of bottles tell a story about a particular industry or way of life.  For example, medicinal bottles tell us how far the medical industry has come since many elements are now stored in plastic bags.  Seeing an old glass IV bottle can take you back decades.  There are antique bottles from the pharmaceutical industry that have the name of the chemical and even poison warnings worked right into the bottle’s design.  This is so different from items today where everything is printed on adhesive labels and attached to the bottle itself.

It can be said too that antique bottles are a part of true Americana.  Old Coca-Cola or Pepsi-Cola bottles can remind one of the time when sodas were actually sold in glass bottles and were enjoyed at a real soda counter.  Other types of antique bottles that are valuable to collectors include vinegar bottles, whiskey bottles, torpedo bottles, cosmetic bottles, and of course beer bottles.  To collectors, a bottle that is in good shape and that is an unusual shape or color is very valuable and some can sell for literally tens of thousands of dollars.

Bitters Bottles

There are of course antique bottles that are appreciated for their design and workmanship.  For instance, bitters are an old type of medicine that were made from herbs and roots and were called that because of their bitter taste.  The bottles they were contained in were often shaped like log cabins, ears of corn, women’s figures, or even a pig.  These types of antique bottles are valued for their different colors as well as their shapes.  You just don’t see that much detail put into a bottle any longer!  If you can imagine a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup, you have an idea of what old bitters bottles were shaped like.

Antique bottles can be found all across the United States.  Good locations include ghost towns, old dumps, old houses, old homesteads, antique stores and the campsites on the trails that the early pioneers used to cross the United States. 

Bocksbeutel Bottles

Before you start treasure hunting for these valuable antiques I suggest that you pay a visit to the National Bottle Museum at 76 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY, to learn the early bottle making methods.  The museum sponsors a antique bottle show every June and dealers and collectors from all over the world attend.  At the very least you can visit the museums web site. 

Many of the more valuable bottles were produced in the 1800s and were handmade and no two are exactly alike.  Bottles are appreciated for their look and for the visual appeal they have.  Lining colored bottles up against windows can really reflect sunlight and brighten up a kitchen.  But more than just visually appealing, antique bottles are truly part of history.  For antique lovers, bottles are an important part of any collection and can be very valuable.

Happy Treasure Hunting.



Paranormal Video

Posted by burnsai - March 13, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,

Fly With Delight – Cheap Flights From UK

Alfie James asked:


Are the expensive flight rates the reason why you can not hop outside UK whenever you wish to go on a vacation? If you said yes, then here is something that would make you fly with delight (pun well intended). Now you can get cheap flights from UK to many destinations in different parts of the world. They help you not just save money on your travel, but also enable you to visit locations of your choice easily, comfortably and timely.

The skyrocketing prices of flight passes have been beyond the reach of the masses and the ranks. Now cheap flights from UK are easily available that fit well within your pocket, even when you are enjoying the luxuries of sitting in an aircraft. These are especially beneficial for them who fly with their families. The air fare for the whole family would prove to be an expensive affair, going by the traditional high rates. But with the revised prices, now traveling with family would not burn a hole through your pocket.

Now you can easily plan vacations with your family to far off places like Malta and Greece, Egypt or Jamaica. And when you buy the air tickets, you would not feel a pinch. Most of the cheap flights from UK are part of vacation packages and affordable holiday deals. The travel agents provide the cheap air tickets as a part of the vacation packages chosen by the traveler. This makes traveling fun and inexpensive and also you can save more money to splurge on entertaining things in your favourite holiday spot.

The cheap flights from UK have not only made holidays more enjoyable, but they have also helped the tourism industry in many countries. The affordable flight fares have pulled more people to travel abroad and explore places, and that has also opened the gates for the common people. This in turn has helped in the growth and development of domestic and international tourism.



Posted by burnsai - August 6, 2007 at 1:47 pm

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Discount Airfare To Frances: Some Tips On Getting The Best Deals

David Faulkner asked:


France is undoubtedly one of the most interesting places to visit on Earth. Boasting an attractive and varied landscape, as well as a rich assortment of wines and cuisine, France is definitely a major tourist destination.

In order to experience the sights and partake of the delicacies the country offers, you would have to prepare a sizable budget. Obtaining discount airfare to France will help you save cash to get the most of your European vacation.

Discount airfare to France can be availed of by purchasing tickets from a discount website on the Internet, or by inquiring directly from your favorite airline company. These two popular sources of discount airfare to France will yield rather comparable results in terms of the savings you will acquire. However, each method has its own pros and cons.

If you choose to get your discount airfare tickets to France via the Internet, you will be presented which much lower prices for the tickets themselves, but on some sites, you will need to pay more for hidden fees and undisclosed taxes.

Getting discount airfare to France at the airline companies themselves will cost a little bit more, but you can be certain of the service – and usually, they will present you with more options on customizing your flight details.

This brings us to the planning of your trip. Before you set out looking for discount airfare to France, you will first have to lay out your schedule as thoroughly as possible. As far as six months before your planned departure, you should have a general idea of when you are leaving, what your cities of departure and arrival would be, and how many of you will be traveling together.

You will have a much better chance of obtaining great discount airfare to France though if you do not have a definite date of departure yet. Most websites and airline companies offer special discount airfare to France or other countries on certain days of the week. Off seasons will also have more discount airfare to France than holidays or summer.

If you can find out when the airline is offering discount airfare to France, it would be more practical to schedule your trip around those dates. Traveling in groups or in pairs will also give you more opportunities of acquiring discount airfare to France. For more info see http://www.knowdiscountairfare.com/Cheap_Discount_Airfare_Ticket/Cheap_Discount_Airfare_Reservations.php on Cheap Discount Airfare.

A helpful tip in looking for discount airfare to France is to consider taking a series of connecting flights rather than a direct flight to your destination. While it is not that convenient, traveling this way will oftentimes prove to be more economical and in effect give you more affordable discount airfare to France.



Posted by burnsai - June 12, 2007 at 3:53 am

Categories: Destinations   Tags: , ,