The highlight of the carnival show is the competition between the samba schools. Foreigners can also parade with the schools if they pay for costumes and learn the theme songs and dances in the weeks before the big party. The coming carnival in Rio will be arranged 5 - 8 February 2005.

According to updated stats from the Federation of Norwegian Commercial and Service Enterprises, HSH`s (Handels- og Servicenæringens Hovedorganisasjon) members in the Norwegian travel industry, it has been sold nearly 115,000 more tours to foreign countries than the first three quarters this year compared with the same period last year.

Recent finds from excavations indicate that cosmetic has been used in Persia, Iran, for over 6000 years ago, and that both men and women used it to improve their look. A source indicates also that the Persian King Darius, one of the most powerful rulers in the ancient time, used black eyeliners.

Perhaps we can get some good beauty tips by studying how they used makeup in the past?

He plundered and destroyed some ancient sites in Persia as Persepolis, but Iran is still a paradise for exploring ancient sites and culture. The country is full of fascinating stories about remarkeble persons, battles, wonders, kings, science, cultures as Alexander the Great`s invasion of Persia - Discoveries of great treasures in Persepolis - Cyrus the Great - the Iranian Calendar Systems - Cultural Anthropology of Baluchis - And more

The ancient city Persepolis, Takht-e-Jamshid, in Persia, Iran, is a great wonder of world. Its remains are still well preserved in some parts, but what could it have been if not Alexander the Great invaded it.

At that time he was remembered as Sikander or Iskander and was called Dhul Quarayn, or "the Two-Horned," probably because he was once depicted on a coin wearing a helmet with horns.

Ready for the Norway International Tourism and Travel Trade Fair - Reiseliv 2005 - 13 - 16 January? Attract more Norwegian customers to your country! If you like to improve your position in the big Norwegian travel market, we in Travel Explorations would like to give travel companies professional and practical assistance to succeed.

The Norwegian Travel Exhibition - Reiseliv 2004 - was a success for exhibitors with tour operators reporting sales that far outstripped expectations, according to the organiser. Plus it was not only special offers the public were after, but also exclusive travel packages.

The movie Gabbeh gives a beautiful portrait of the nomadic life in Iran. It's directed and written by international renowned director Mohsen Makhmalbaf in 1996. Its symbolic expressions make it unique. Here you can follow a nomadic tribe wandering through a beautiful landscape that takes your breath away. You will really see that Iranian people and nature is colourful as the carpets they make themselves. Also today it's possible to visit nomads and experience their unique traditional culture and lifestyle, and don`t forget the country's untouched and grandeur nature.

Take a walk on the wild side. Svalbard in Norway one of the world`s last frontiers. In the northern part of the country there is plenty of opportunities for exciting adventures. Some of them are winter extreme sport, Northern Light tourism, dog sledging, and well constructed infrastructure for winter sport, snow- and ice festivals. There is a new enthusiasm for winter tourism now. A three days programme will be arranged from 26 - 28 January 2005 in Norway's arctic wilderness Svalbard. The main organiser is Winter Cities Europe (WCE).

The famous Norwegian travel operator Hvitserk has plans for arranging the first commercial "charter tour" from Norway to the South Pole next year.

To join this expedition it will cost you a lot of money. So far 10 persons have showed their interest: seven Norwegians, one German, one Austrian, and one British living in Norway, from 23 to nearly 60 year.

Entertaining, useful and inspiring! Norwegians are really the travelling people. The book "Nå er det din tur" proves that they have a strong passion for trekking and climbing in challenging surroundings. With the right guts independent of age and gender, most people can make it too.

Living in a small country, Norway, in the northern corner on the globe, Norwegians are curios and eager to explore the world round. The places covered in this book are Kilimanjaro, Greenland, Aconcagua, Machu Picchu, North Pole, Grand Canyon, Mt. Everest and of course the wilderness in Svalbard, from their own beloved country.

On his way up to the Alps mountain range, the Norwegian trekker Tore H, encountered climbing pigs. By walking and yodelling around in one of Switzerland's` dramatic landscape as Grindelwald, he was in his right element.

Britain's Pioneer TV is making an hour documentary on Flight 19 and the Bermuda Triangle for National Geographic's Explorer. The documentary, directed by Simon Ludgate, will feature the famous researcher and author Gian J. Quasar.

The Norwegian didn't make it to the top on his attempt Sunday 10 October, but anyway it was a fantastic attempt. He tried to make it on his own.

The Norwegian expedition is called "Shishapangma Ekspedisjonen 2004". One from the team, Mikjel Thorsrud (22) is now attempting to reach the summit on his own as his team members are packing up camp.

There are now only 4 French and two Norwegian tents left in Camp 1.

"I am so eager as a dog", Mikjel says, ready for his second and last attempt.....

This is the golden rule, but it`s dependent on several other things. Experts from the website MountEverest.net (Xexplorersweb) give here their best advice how to survive climbing the world`s highest mountain, Mount Everest.