Chemical properties

 

Silk is made up of the amino acids Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala and forms Beta pleated sheets. H-bonds form between chains, and side chains form above and below the plane of the H-bond network.

The high proportion (50%) of glycine, which is a small amino acid, allows tight packing and the fibers are strong and resistant to stretching. The tensile strength is due to the many interseeded hydrogen bonds. Since the protein forms a Beta sheet, when stretched the force is applied to these strong bonds and they do not break.

Silk is resistant to most mineral acids,nike running shoes, except for sulfuric acid, which dissolves it. It is yellowed by perspiration.

Ancient Mediterranean

 

   In the Odyssey, 19.233, when Odysseus, while pretending to be someone else, is questioned by Penelope about her husband's clothing,nike shox shoes, he says that he wore a shirt "gleaming like the skin of a dried onion" (varies with translations, literal translation here)^[9] which could refer to the lustrous quality of silk fabric. The Roman Empire knew of and traded in silk. During the reign of emperor Tiberius, sumptuary laws were passed that forbade men from wearing silk garments, but these proved ineffectual.^[10] Despite the popularity of silk, the secret of silk-making only reached Europe around AD 550, via the Byzantine Empire. Legend has it that monks working for the emperor Justinian I smuggled silkworm eggs to Constantinople in hollow canes from China. All top-quality looms and weavers were located inside the Palace complex in Constantinople and the cloth produced was used in imperial robes or in diplomacy, as gifts to foreign dignitaries. The remainder was sold at very high prices

Tours on the Pride of Africa in Africa

           Tours on the Pride of Africa in Africa

Known by the Victorians as the ‘Dark Continent’ because it was even at that late date relatively unexplored, beautiful Africa still rewards visitors with the exciting thrill of discovery. From Lake Victoria’s magnificent falls to the coral islands of Zanzibar or the Ngorongoro crater, this extraordinary continent is a magnificent destination for those prepared to step off the more beaten holiday tracks. Africa’s wildlife is unmatched: not only the ‘big five’ – lion,Sexy silk dresses, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros – but a bewildering array of other creatures from camels to crocodiles await to delight the traveller. Yet Africa has far more to offer than ‘just’ magnificent scenery and extraordinary wildlife. It is believed that mankind originated here, and this huge continent – covering more than a fifth of the earth’s land mass – boasts the results of centuries of constant human endeavour, from Egypt’s pyramids to the famous Cape Winelands of Southern Africa. Just as symbolic of mankind’s efforts is the Cape to Cairo railway – the 19th Century dream of empire-builder Cecil Rhodes. He never saw the great project finished (there’s still a 500-mile gap in the rails even today), but what has been built is an extraordinary tribute to man’s ingenuity. It is also the perfect way to see this remarkable continent at first hand, in luxury…

Climate: Seasons are opposite to those of the Northern Hemisphere. South Africa is renowned for almost eleven months of sunshine. From May to August, temperatures drop. However generally speaking, April and May are the most temperate months. The wide expanses of ocean on three sides of South Africa have a moderating influence on its climate.

STEAM

   

       These tours are hauled by a beautifully restored Steam locomotive for the entire journey

       On all of our tours you should make sure you have your camera with you, ready to capture the beautiful scenery through which we travel - after all,womens silk pajamas, this is one of the great things about travelling by rail. However the particular tours featuring this symbol take in some of the world’s most stunning scenery; from the awe–inspiring Rocky Mountains and the Columbia Icefields; to the to the views from the train on the Roof of the World line to Lhasa; to the mountain ranges lining either side of the Three Gorges, we know that you will not be disappointed.

everything is possible’

Beautiful Africa rewards visitors with the exciting thrill of discovery.

From the wonderful Victoria Falls to the Ngorongoro crater, this extraordinary continent is a magnificent destination for those prepared to step off the more beaten holiday tracks.

Africa’s wildlife is unmatched: not only the ‘big five’ – lion, elephant, buffalo,Sexy silk dresses, leopard and rhinoceros – but a bewildering array of other creatures from gorillas to crocodiles await to delight the traveller.

Yet Africa has far more to offer than ‘just’ magnificent scenery and extraordinary wildlife. It is believed that mankind originated here, and this huge continent – covering more than a fifth of the earth’s land mass – boasts the results of centuries of constant human endeavour, from Egypt’s pyramids to the famous Cape Winelands of Southern Africa.

Just as symbolic of mankind’s efforts is the Cape to Cairo railway – the 19th Century dream of empire-builder Cecil Rhodes. He never saw the great project finished (there’s still a 500-mile gap in the rails even today), but what has been built is an extraordinary tribute to man’s ingenuity and it is the inspiration for our very own unique route northbound aboard the luxury train from Cape Town to Cairo.

It is also the perfect way to see this remarkable continent at first hand, in luxury. The epic journey over 6,000 miles from one end of the Africa to the other is now possible and to complete this immense voyage we use a combination of the Pride of Africa train, a private jet and a five star Lake Nasser cruise ship.

In a world where ‘everything is possible’, this is truly a unique adventure.

Day 1 Ulaan Baatar

    

 

     International arrivals are met and transferred to a centrally located hotel in the heart of this intriguing city. There is free time to explore before we have a welcome reception and dinner in a city restaurant. This is a great time to get to know fellow travellers with whom we will be sharing this 13 night adventure.

    Today we spend a full day at the festival. We get to observe the elaborate opening ceremony which consists of local dancers, athletes,Silk Queen Quilt Cover, horse riders and musicians, before watching the main competitions.

   After a further half day at the Festival, we take a city tour which includes a visit to the Gandam Monastery. After spending some time at the central square with its impressive monument to the legendary ruler, Gengis Khan, we visit the National Museum which gives us a comprehensive insight into this fascinating land and people.

  

We have a day to enjoy the magnificent alpine scenery of Terelj, one of the most beautiful places in Mongolia. We can take a leisurely stroll through meadows carpeted with edelweiss and a dazzling variety of other wild flowers; view fascinating rock formations against a backdrop of pine covered mountains; or wander along the wooded banks of a mountain stream.

The more adventurous of us can go horse riding in the 300,000 hectare Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. Alternatively, we can spend the day in Ulaan Baatar with its many opportunities for leather or cashmere shopping. Tonight we board the Golden Eagle and have time to settle into our modern, stylish cabins before enjoying dinner in one of our beautifully designed restaurant cars. There is then time to listen to our resident pianist in the comfortable bar car.
 

Tours on the Shangri-La Express in China & Tibet

                Tours on the Shangri-La Express in China & Tibet

  

From its areas of grand wilderness to the ancient wonders of the Orient or its bustling modern cities,Silk Queen Quilt Cover, China is a land like no other. Ancient and modern collide here, captivating visitors to this little understood but vibrant and fascinating country. Now home to over 1.3 billion people – more than anywhere else on earth – China stretches from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north across deserts and wide plains to the lush tropical scenery of the south. Splashed across this broad canvas lie the remarkable results of thousands of years of history: China gave us printing, gunpowder, paper and early mathematics. The signs of this ancient civilisation are around for all to see: the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army – and of course the Great Wall – are each testament to a magnificent past. Yet China is also the world’s great emerging nation, with fast-developing cities like Beijing increasingly competing with Hong Kong in their modernity. Criss-crossing this remarkable and vast landscape are China’s great rivers – the Yangtse, Yellow River and Mekong. However these days the waterways are less important than they were: the best way to see this extraordinary country is the railway, and in particular our private train the ‘Shangri-la Express’.

Climate: China covers extensive territory, therefore the weather differs from region to region. The south east tends to be very wet with high temperatures all year round. In the central Yangtze and Huaihe river valleys there are four distinct seasons with very hot summers and extremely cold winters, and rain all year round. The dry north experiences a short but sunny summer, with long bitterly cold winters. The coast is humid and experiences monsoons during summer.