THE SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS part 4

VOGUE and BEAUTIFUL

Hornbills (Becerotidae) are a family of bird found in tropical and sub-tropical Asia and Africa. They are characterised by a long, down curved bill which is frequently brightly-coloured and sometimes has a casque on the upper mandible. Both the common English and the scientific name of the family refer to the shape of the bill, 'buceros' being 'cow horn' in Greek. In addition, the posses a two-lobed kidney. Hornbills are the only birds in which the first two neck vertebrae (the axis and atlas) are fused together, this probably provides a more stable platform for carrying the bill. Feed on fruit and small animals. A number of hornbill are threatened with extinction, mostly insular species with small range. Forest living species of hornbills are are considered to be important seed disperses for the eco-system.

A Green Culture - At Alila Ubud and Alila Manggis, we dont't only immerse ourself in Balinese culture, but also do your part in helping the community and environmentally sustainable tourism. In Nov 2006, they were named winners in the anaugural Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards, which supports conservation initiatives in Asia. And the are also recipients of Bali's internationally recognised Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards and 'Green Globe Certified', a global programme that recognises resorts commited to operating at the highest environmental standards. Alila Ubud was also awarded Best Practice Results in Water Recycling, managing to recycle 80% of its water consumption. All cleaning chemicals used in the hotels are bio-degradable and promote walking and cycling tours instead of driving tours to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and support local village cooperative projects. Pls visit http://www.eastbalipovertyproject.org/ for details.

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