Saturday, October 10, 2009

3 Great Museums in Costa Rica.





National Theater and Gold Museum.
The Gold Museum is a famous museum located in the heart of San Jose, below the Plaza de la Cultura.In the Gold Museum, you will be able to admire as many as 2000 pre-Columbian gold artifacts.The National Theater is located near the Gold Museum and the Plaza de la Cultura.This monument has a European flare to it : it was designed by architects from Belgium and decorated by artists from Italy.The National Theater offers shows from famous artist from around the world.With 1000 seats in the theater, you might have the chance to catch one of those shows.By choosing to go on a little San Jose tour, you will learn more about all the history behind the city.

^ With 2000 pre-Columbia artifacts, the Gold Museum is a must see
Jade Museum.
Amazing jade from the pre-Columbian era, shiny gold, stone art, this is just a glimpse of what you can admire at the Jade Museum।The Jade Museum is located in San Jose, at the top of the INS building.Make sure you return to the Jade Museum on your next trip to Costa Rica, as the exhibitions of artist's works changes frequently.


^ The Jade museum : jade, gold and stone art Photo by greenwithevil

Butterfly farm and Insect Museum.
Located at the Hotel Chalet Tirol, this extensive collection of unique insects (bugs, beetles, butterflies) are displayed in an artistic way, and educational videos and brochures (and maybe Dr Richard Whitten and his wife themselves!) will teach you about those wonderful and often unknown creatures.


^ Unique colors at the Butterfly farm

Friday, October 9, 2009

Facts about Costa Rica

  • Area: 51,100 sq km
  •  Population: 3,773,057
  • Estimated Population in 2050: 5,696,700
  • Capital: San Jose
  • People: 96% Spanish descent, 2% African descent, 1% indigenous, 1% Chinese
  • Language: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon
  • Literacy: 94.8% total, 94.7% male, 95% female
  • Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, other Protestant 0.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
  • Life Expectancy: 73.49 male, 78.68 female
  • Government: democratic republic
  • GDP: US$38 billion
  • GDP per capita: US$6,700
  • Major Industries: microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
  • Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, Italy, Japan, Guatemala, Mexico
  • Natural Resources: hydropower
  • Check it out here

  • The national flower: In Costa Rica, cattleya skinneri is one of the most common orchids. When in 1937 a vote was organized to choose the national flower of Costa Rica, nobody was surprised that cattleya skinneri was the winner. Not only scholars and horticulturists participated in the vote, but also secondary school and university students.

  • National bird: The so called Yigüirro (clay-colored robin) was declared national bird of Costa Rica on January 3rd, 1977, as a tribute to its powerful and melodious call that signals the beginning of the rainyseason.This bird was chosen especially because it is so familiar to Costa Ricans as it tends to live near people's homes.

  • National Tree: On August 31, 1959, the Guanacaste tree (enterolobium ciclocarpum) was declared the national tree of Costa Rica. It was chosen as a tribute to the people of Guanacaste, which was the last province to join the Republic in 1825. With the giant shade it provides, this tree symbolizes the protection that Costa Ricans enjoy from the State. The name "Guanacaste" originates from a native language called "náhuatl" and means "tree of the ears". This is because the fruits of the tree are similar to the shape ofthe human ear.

  • Unofficial Motto: "Pura Vida."- the words convey the state of happiness, peace, and tranquility that the political stability and freedom bring to Costa Ricans.
  • The phrase actually comes from a 1956 Mexican movie, "Pura Vida!" By 1970 Costa Ricans were using the expression on a daily basis. The expression "Pura Vida" has become so popular that has been added to Costa Rican Spanish dictionaries as an idiom to greet, or to show appreciation.

Why you should choose all included vacation in Costa Rica?

You have one week of unused vacation, you really want to spend this winter. Have you ever thought of was cheap Caribbean vacation and all. But can not quite figure out the selected country. Costa Rica Resorts and could answer all your questions. Next few lines will show why.

Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Costa Rica border.
So what is interesting about the order. Costa Rica Resorts and all? First Costa Rica is known as a beautiful country with friendly people. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea are ideal beach spot vacation. View the countries of Central America in terms of what to do but to see.

Life in Costa Rica as a whole is quiet, not excited. In fact the country will be peaceful and that no military. (First country ever. Army constitutionally abolish it.) people in Costa Rica is often referred to as Ticos and are welcome. Although developing countries Costa Rica is one country, but most knowledge in the world: 93% of people who can read and write. Ticos speak Spanish, but this Central American country's cultural and ethnic mix includes distributed nationwide. Costa Rica entire resort has an excellent reputation for their hospitality to tourists and visitors.

Costa Rica is a country of relatively small but because policies of strict nature protection laws and 23% of protected areas in Costa Rica to occupy the country make the most of species density in the world.

In thick rainforest you can find many exotic species. Among mammals such as monkeys spider monkeys. Amphibians and reptiles including frogs, toads, snakes and iguanas. Costa Rica has also shared the bird species like Toucans and cuckoos. Exotic butterflies and insects are also part of a wider number of species found in the country. If you are still interested in botany, a variety of beautiful orchid flowers, trees and plants that can be found in the wild and wonderful coast line Costa Rica.
Spider monkeys are among a variety of animals found in the rainforest.
By venturing away from the earth, you may see some dolphins and manatees, but also some volcanic several waterfalls. Select Resort Costa Rica The total you will find yourself close to these beauties look. Although small in promoting tourism that is recognized around the world will respect and dedication to conservation and protection characteristics. When all options including Costa Rica Resorts remember reverend he's forests and wildlife.

From Costa Rica Resorts can book your entire tour to various locations in seven areas of the country. Here is a small overview of what you see in Costa Rica is.
In Alajuela, you can visit the rainforest and the two volcanoes.
In Cartago, you will be awed by the mountains.
In Heredia, make sure you visit the amazing old architecture, old brick house and found the local plants.
In Guanacaste you may enjoy the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica.
Limon, you can explore the wonderful forest protection and land and experience the green turtle spawning.
In Puntarenas you can go to the forest and many beaches along the Pacific coast.
In San Jose between volcanoes and forest make sure you stop by the garden department.

Make sure you look into some wonders of Costa Rica.
Because some areas are protected, you may not access them. But there is more to see and do to try to respect the most protected areas are.
Quiet and inexpensive, Costa Rica more than 1,500,000 visitors happy each day, many of them resort in Costa Rica and all. Costa Rica Resorts and create the perfect family vacation spot with friendly staff their views of the magnificent natural wonders of beautiful beaches, many of the species of animals and specific types of exotic flowers and plants in the environment. So why not select the entire resort vacation to Costa Rica or not.

People love flowers? Costa Rica is a place for you.


Thursday, October 8, 2009

Antimicrobial activity of South African medicinal plants

South Africa has a unique botanical heritage More than 30,000 plant species, of which about. 3000 species are therapeutic(Van Wyk et al., 1997).
It is not only the South African Flora diversity, but it is also endemic(Mulholland, 2005).In addition, the unique botanical heritage, South Africa is the cultural diversity and traditional healing is an integral each ethnic group.
African traditionalmedicine is oldestmedic inal system, often referred to as the cultural cradle of humanity(Gurib-Fakim, 2006).
Despite the documented ethnobotanical theWell Literature, very little scientific knowledge (eg, efficiency, Phytochemistry) become the indigenous medicinal use Plants.
It is only recently (1997-2008) that a number of findings as the chemical and the biological activity of plants used in traditional healing.

The latest developments in science Validation of the South African medicinal plants may be able to through awareness, advances in methodology and the number of References to local pound confirm that such studies(Hutchings et al., 1996, Van Wyk et al., 1997).Antimicrobial review of South African literature shows broad spectrum of research activities in which the traditional medicine practices, inflictions including the use of a different skin Diseases, tuberculosis, urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract Disorders. Van Wyk (2002) contains a number of antibacterial agents Guidelines on his review of ethnobotanical research in Southern Africa also has a social role in wound healing and antidiarrhoeal activity.
While South African scientists seem to be behind global comparison, the antimicrobial activity of plant research
favorably with researchers in other parts of Africa (Light et al.2005). This document has been taken to examine studies of antimicrobial agents South African medicinal plants, carried out mainlythe years 1997-2008.

References
Van Wyk, B.-E., Van Oudtshoorn, B., Gericke, N., 1997. Medicinal Plants of South
Africa. Briza, South Africa.

Mulholland, D.A., 2005. The future of ethnopharmacology: a Southern African perspective.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 100, 124–126.

Gurib-Fakim, A., 2006.Medicinal plants: traditions of yesterday and drugs of tomorrow.
Molecular Aspects of Medicine 27, 1–93.

Hutchings, A., Scott, A.H., Lewis, G., Cunningham, A.B., 1996. Zulu Medicinal
Plants—an Inventory. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Van Wyk, B.-E., 2002. A review of ethnobotanical research in southern Africa. South
African Journal of Botany 68, 1–13.

Light, M.E., Sparg, S.G., Stafford, G.I., Van Staden, J., 2005. Riding the wave: South
Africa’s contribution to ethnopharmacological research over the last 25 years.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology 100, 127–130.