Do It Go

It’s fascinating to see how cultures can be represented through the foods offered from place to place.  Cape Town is no different, and the cuisines here are extremely varied.  Cape Town is a very metropolitan place, holding a wide array of cultures and identities, and this is certainly reflected in the food.  There are many different African dialects spoken here, and one of the tongues you’ll undoubtedly hear is the Bantu-derived Xhosa.  This food is really exquisite, and extremely hearty, composed of different kinds of stews that are fantastic on the cooler nights.  There is also a wide array of Asian delicacies available.  In the best Cape Town restaurants the offerings might be a variation on local themes, but the main concentration is a kind of international chic that is truly out of this world.

Using the most innovative cooking techniques, along with the best of classical gastronomy, our restaurants offer scrumptious dishes that are made with the freshest ingredients. Cape Town is in the auspicious position of being close to the sea, to local farms, and to the wineries, making it an absolutely gorgeous place to get lost in hours of conversation over fantastic food.  There’s always the possibility of leaving the conversation to spend some time out on the town, checking out some of the fantastic night life here.  Whether your tastes lie in live music, a pub, or performance, there is plenty to choose from here.  You could, of course, always opt for the pub and continue the conversation, and if you’re here long enough, you might end up engaging with some of the locals about art in Cape Town.

Mention Gregg Smith, and you might get a few nods of recognition.  He’s a performance and video artist who lived here for the first three decades of his life, and is now living in France, and making quite a name for himself on the international art scene.  His work is rather hard to describe.  It’s not impossible, it’s just complicated, and better to experience it.  In one of his works that was brought back to Cape Town, there are recordings of parts of a complex and intriguing love story.  The recordings are sent to public telephones around the city, and whoever answers hears another segment of the story.  The art here is making things slightly uneasy, where a natural response to peek into private lives carries an ambiguous moral value.  Smith grew up in the last days of apartheid, and his work asks questions about the nature of moral choice in a repressed society, and in its ironic affect, asks deeply moral questions.

Tags: best Cape Town restaurants, Gregg Smith
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Going on road trips if fun, exciting, and relaxing.  If one lives in a big city, getting out on the open road, away from the hustle and bustle of a metropolis driven lifestyle, can be refreshing and rejuvenating.  However, this can be a somewhat annoying experience should your car break down in the middle of no where.  DIY auto repair is something that you must make yourself familiar with before heading out, especially if you tend to take long trips frequently.  DIY simply refers to ‘do it yourself‘.

Preparing for these road trips does not need to involve a lot of stress, just simple planning and the fun will soon ensue.  Car problems can sometimes be easily diagnosed by simply flipping through small engine repair manuals.  When hitting the road on a motorcycle, manuals are a great thing to bring along as well.  You should make sure and have your car tuned up before heading out.  They will check the filters, have them change the oil and check the brake fluid.  Also ask the mechanic to check all of the lights, headlights, turn signals and brake lights.

Tires can cause a lot of headaches when you are driving long distances.  Just simply checking the air pressure can make a big difference, as the pressure will affect the functioning of the tires, as well as the gas mileage you will get.  Of course make certain that your oil is fresh, and that it is full.  It is wise to carry a couple of extra pints in the trunk if you car may tend to burn oil, or if you have a small leak.  For those traveling in older model Volkswagen buses, I would advise a case of oil, just to be safe.  Aside from the preparatory arrangements, be sure to have the cell phone charged and a working flashlight, especially if you plan to be traveling during the night time hours.

Tags: DIY auto repair, do it yourself, manuals, motorcycle, preparatory arrangements, small engine repair manuals
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Making certain that you are purchasing the right car tires for your vehicle is the first step towards the care and maintenance of those tires.  You will find either in the manual or located on the sticker placed by the car’s manufacturer on the driver side door, the information necessary for knowing the exact tire that has been recommended for use.

Becoming as knowledgeable about your own tires, whether you are purchasing them for a car, a motorcycle or for custom truck wheels is a plus, however if you have a mechanic that you trust they will always be able to advise you and to answer any questions you may have.  Once you have the new tires mounted on your wheels, it is up to you to keep an eye on them, having them rotated periodically and checking the air pressure regularly will greatly increase the life of your tires.  Any discount tire company that installs the tires will usually offer the rotation services as well.

It is recommended that one checks the pressure on their tires once a month, however some people are diligent enough to check this each time they stop for gas.  This is quite a convenient practice as if you do notice that the tires are low, all gas stations have air pumps right there on the premises.  Along with the tire recommendations in the manual and on the sticker of the car door, you will also find information regarding the recommended tire pressure for your specific vehicle.

Alignment will also affect the wear of your tires, and if the car is out of alignment the tires will wear unevenly.  Personal driving habits will damage the tires, and it is good, not only for safety reasons, but for the life of the tire, that if you notice a tendency to speed or come to quick stops, you may be replacing your tires more often than you would prefer.

Tags: air pressure, alignment, car tires, custom truck wheels
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A business that provides their customers and clients with great customer service will benefit in many ways.  Not only will they make a profit in the long run with repeat business, but they will be respected among their peers and fellow business associates.  One of the first steps is take right at the initial point of contact, the first meeting.  When customers walk in the door they should be greeting quickly, attentively and respectfully.  This will let them know that they are valuable to you, and will make them comfortable with the knowledge they you know that they are there.  This is important when a business is busy, as it is easy to become distracted with the tasks at hand.  Just a simple nod or “hello” will ensure them that you will be with them as soon as you can be.  If it feels appropriate, many people like to be called by their name.  Remembering someones name will let them know that you have an investment in the continued relationship that is being developed.

As Steve Barbarich knows through good customer service practice, it is about being aware of the fact that when people are spending money in your business or on your products, the expect and deserve value and quality.  The staff should be extremely well trained on the products and services, and be capable of answering any questions that may arise.  This applies to knowing about the warranties and the guarantees, the prices and the promotional offers.  If a staff member must fumble through manuals or search for the answers, this will indicate that they do not thoroughly know what they are doing.  Should one need to look for the answer, do so as quickly as possible.  Quite simply, be helpful and courteous.  For even if it does seem to be immediately profitable, it will pay off in the end as the repeat customers will grow in number ensuring the continued success of your business.

Tags: customer service, repeat customers, Steve Barbarich
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Ibiza is a paradise on earth, having attracted travelers for centuries to its gorgeous beaches, lively culture, and easy-going lifestyle.  In the past decade or so, it has been rising again as one of the great hotspots for international culture, and it’s easy to see why.  Spain is simply a wonderful country to spend a vacation in, and its islands have all the taste and twice the space of the mainland.  Magnificent views seem to follow you here, reminding you that it’s always a good time to go to the beach.  The food and culture are equally splendid, and it has a wonderful array of accommodations that are 5 star.  Ibiza hotels are famous for their hospitality and warmth, and ours are carefully selected for their superb sense of style and elegance.  Staying in one of the world’s most exciting and relaxing places should be spent in the height of luxury.

Our hotels offer all the features that make it 5 star, meeting or exceeding the highest standards of the industry, and it’s possible to hide from the world at large and have an enormously reinvigorating experience.  With magnificent restaurants and state of the art exercise facilities, there’s something for everyone for sure, but there are of course plenty of things to see outside the hotel, where Ibiza’s colors start to shine through.  One place where the color certainly shine, and morph suddenly and unexpectedly, is in the work of Roberto Velasco Diez.

He’s the mastermind behind Liquid Orange, an Austurias-based venture that produces some rather extraordinary video art.  His work is shown at the clubs here, and is a spectacular accompaniment to the pulsing trance music that plays all night long.  It’s a very suitable art for the venue, where his experiments with chemical effects produce stunning images that speak to the beats and to the dancers.  Velasco Diez is a psychonautical engineer, designing images that speak to inner visions that are sumptuous and delightful to look at. The work is often intense detail of cellular structures in motion, and when projected, appear to be what one would see in a microscope, except a whole lot more pretty.  He works in clubs as well as festivals, and is mostly known in Spain, but has also worked throughout Europe.  He’s a ten in Ibiza.

Tags: 5 star Ibiza hotels, Liquid Orange, Roberto Velasco Diez
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Though leadership skills development are a popular initial thought when most people think of business, there are other routes to maintaining a foothold in the cooperate world. Search engine optimization is a large part of what smart companies do to disseminate the company name and culture to the web. In fact, those with leadership skills development would be smart to study the evolving and mutable field of SEO since the internet has transformed the manner in which people do business these days. Great leaders those who are proactive in searching for ways to help a company grow, and SEO instruction is definitely a way to do exactly that.

Originally, SEO was just another part of the job for website managers, but it was an extremely simplified version of what SEO entails these days. Presently, professionals and experts in the field of SEO are in great demand. There are also more and more people who want to study SEO services because it has changed from a minor duty to a feasible and often successful career for those who choose it. It is not unusual for a good SEO specialist to make about $80,000 in a year. Those who work in a freelance capacity have the opportunity to make more money than that.

Business training often includes some familiarization with what SEO is and what it can do. It is obviously becoming a more recognized and celebrated career in the professional world. For some people though, there are downsides to the type of career an SEO provides. It is totally reliant upon search engines, obviously, and because search engines are constantly refiguring their algorithms—evolutions not usually released to the general business world—refiguring you techniques can be difficult and challenging. Many SEO professionals in the business for many years claim that even they must often make a guess as to what will work. A minor modification in the algorithm can make a site drop from the number one position to the hundredth position. Such dramatic results are quite sobering, especially to those techies who prefer stability in their work. More challenging is informing cliental about this change. The constant changes search engines provide is also viewed as a positive by those who yearn for challenge in their work. SEO is definitely not a career for everybody, but it is a popular career with many positive attributes that make it attractive to many in the business world.

Tags: algorithms, Business training, leadership skills development, website managers
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Hot tubs come in various sizes and shapes and include a diverse selection of components and features that can add to luxury and benefits of the item. They also vary a great deal in price and it’s important to consider budget requirements before initiation the investment. With these diverse aspects in mind, it’s also interesting to know that most hot tubs have much in common and are based on only a couple of styles, the wood constructed soaking models and the plastic based spa models. These are not mutually exclusive and developments in technology and design features have expanded these two primary styles and they are often blurred in functions and options offered. The two style distinctions were more exact and common in the last 70s and 80s when the wood tubs were extremely common and popular. Due to the more simple and less costly construction aspect of the single unit tubs, they are now the more popular option. Choosehottubsdirect.com can explain the style and set up features of various hot tubs and assist individuals in making the perfect decision for their home spa.

Two of the common heating systems for hot tubs are those that are powered by electricity and those that are natural gas heated. There are other heating elements for tubs and these include wood fired heaters and the ultra environmentally friendly solar heater versions. Regardless of the style heating system used in a hot tub, keeping the water clean and sanitized is an extremely important maintenance feature. Some spa systems make this easier come in what is known as low maintenance models. These will often include a built in water filtration and ionization system that helps greatly in keeping the water sanitized. Sometimes the sophisticated digital control system can help to test the water and keep it at safe and clean levels and alert the owners to necessary maintenance needs. This is an extremely beneficial feature in some of the contemporary hot tub models.

Tags: choose hot tubs direct, ionization system, wood fired heaters
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Walking into your house and knowing that in a few moments you’ll be soaking in your very own spa is a wonderful feeling that never diminishes.  Putting a portable spa in your yard means that you’ve decided to make pleasure and relaxation one of your top priorities.  The needs of your family are more important than the needs of the outside world, and there is time to calm down, every day.  Keep in mind that other people are very drawn to those who understand how to live the good life, so you may find yourself listening to a lot of old friends inviting themselves over.  Portable spas can make entertaining groups rather easy, and it’s an excellent way to get conversations started.

The spa seems like a modern convenience, and something that belongs to our time in the history of the human race, but actually the roots are very deep.  The tradition of the bath goes back for centuries, and across cultures.  When speaking of baths in antiquity, it is probably more accurate to say they were a bit more like our spas than our notion of a bathtub.  Famous baths in Rome were places where people would gather to enjoy the healthy physical and social benefits of spending time in the water together.  Some of the most elaborate baths belong to Islamic culture, where there is a blend of the Roman ideas with the earlier Asian traditions to make a fascinating ritual with amazing architecture.

There are several houses in traditional Islamic baths, typically three, with varying degrees of water, from warm to hot.  There was also typically a container of cool water.  For the bathers, moving from one temperature to another was supposed to have healing qualities and was excellent for maintaining cleanliness.  Contemporary science suggests that these ideas were all indeed correct, and the old notions of bathing are very similar to our own.  It is a sort of double luxury, then, to have a spa with all the technologies of today, blended with ideas that go back for centuries.

Tags: Islamic culture, Portable spas
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“Plaza Eliptica, I like the sound of that, let us go there,” I told Tam in my usual unplanned, let us just go out the door and see the city approach to visiting foreign lands. But Tam, to her credit, was more planning oriented, and liked to actually have an idea where we might go, so we made a good team for exploring, and rarely got on each others nerves. We are both mindful of each other’s traveling strengths, and we happily traveled as much as we could. We could be as happy at a road side stall eating some fried concoction as visiting an expensive place, like we did at the luxury hotels Bilbao offers. We love the evenings in Spain as just about everyone goes out for a stroll in the nice air, and Bilbao is no different. They all seem to dress up and look smart as they parade about, families with children, teenagers, everyone. We were really taken by the permanent installation of the Puppy  outside the wild Guggenheim in Bilbao, a living floral sculpture in the shape of, well, a puppy. It is great fun to see this big, flowery friendly fellow (um, I think it is a boy), a pop art piece of such happy fun you just want to look at it all day. Flowers actually grow on the sculpture, and it is watered from some kind of internal irrigation system. The Puppy looks like a Cairn Terrier to me, I just know that it takes a lot of flowers to make this puppy bloom. Apparently, this was supposed to be a temporary installation, (I guess it is actually a Scotty) but I certainly would not confuse this fine dog with a cat, as some do.

Tags: Cairn Terrier, luxury hotels Bilbao, puppy, Spain
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We were in Delhi and off to see the tallest tower made of stone in India. Along the way, we would see the sights of grand Delhi, including a stop at Raj Ghat, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial. Well, once we started looking at the possibilities it was hard to stop and choose what to so, as we were visiting Old Delhi for the first time. We were interested in the history of the place and also riding rickshaws, and of course food. We were interested in the street food of India, which some warn against, but our guide reassured us it would be okay, we we plunged in at a place selling chapatis and spicy vegetables. We walked along a bit hand had a glass of lassi which can sometimes be found near Indian 5 star hotels if you look. On the way we went past the India Gate, a very sobering structure, first national memorial to the war dead in India, a very striking arch. It seems many Indian soldiers served in the British Indian Army and was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Luytens is considered Britain’s greatest architect. He was born in 1869 in London and was instrumental in designing the section of Delhi known as New Delhi, which became known as Luyten’s Delhi. The most striking example of his influence and the influence of the British is in that powerful India Gate, which has an around the clock eternal fire blazing within to commemorate those lost. It is over forty one meters high, and in the evenings is scene to visiting crowds of people with picnics, folks selling their wares at this wonderful, beautiful and stately monument. It was once covered by a canopy that represented British rule, but this was removed to demonstrate India’s independence from Britain.

Tags: Indian 5 star hotels, Raj Ghat, Sir Edwin Lutyens
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Of all the amazing cultural landmarks, elements, and attractions to be found and experiences in Barcelona. Spain, not to mention the great beaches, views and amazing architecture and historical icons of the city, it might be surprising to learn that many visitors to the city spend a great deal, or at least a portion of their time the casino. This is even more likely when some of the top Barcelona hotels are located all too conveniently close to some of these fabulous gaming centers. However, this is not intended to slight those tourists who enjoy experiencing the excitement and thrill of the casino, Barcelona culture is definitely alive and well in these establishments, as well as throughout the city. In fact, many people have their preferred way of experiencing the culture of any place they visit. Some chose to find the unique flavors of a particular city or region’s cuisine, some people experience as much of the local performance scene as possible, and some people feel they gain true insight into a place by spending some time in the local casino.

It’s important to keep in mind that gambling and poker playing is not the only thing offered by the major casinos. The entertainment options are often a main reason why some people are attracted to them, and this is particularly common in what most people consider to be the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada. In Barcelona, an evening at the casino can be a social event and generally features great food and a quality performance. This does not preclude the professional player who is at the table for one reason only. Whatever the reason or intention, casinos are extremely accommodating places, though appropriate behavior and sometimes attire is expected and required. Casino Barcelona is one of the most popular casinos in the region and is frequently referred to as the casino by the sea. There are also multiple bars, restaurants and the nightclub Baccara, which features a dinner show, associated with this casino.

Tags: Casino Barcelona, Las Vegas Nevada, Spain, top Barcelona hotel
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The Basel Committee conducted a research survey in 1999.  This survey focused on the internal workings of banks throughout the world, in regards to their practices of due diligence and how well they practiced the know your customer policies and procedures.  These procedures have been in place in financial institutions for many years, and are a few of the ways that banks ensure that they are not unknowingly involved with people or businesses that are committing illegal acts of corruption such as the financing of terrorists or money laundering scams.  Bank managers and presidents are aware of the importance of these policies, and are working with their employees to make certain that the new and existing customers have reputations that are clean and above board.

For not only is there the threat of a significant loss financially, they may be held criminally liable in cases of fraud and corruption themselves.  What was found in the 1999 survey, was that at that time, there were many deficiencies in the practice of due diligence when it involved foreign banking procedures.  In some countries, they did not even have these policies in place and in other more developed countries, the gap between the policies and the enforcement of those policies was great.

They printed out a guideline book, and distributed it bank managers, in the hopes that the rules and the laws would be better understood, and therefore easier for those institutions to implement their own procedures.  This differed from that which was put out by the Financial Action Task Force. The FATF guidelines were about avoiding the legal consequences of not practicing due diligence while the Basel Committee’s guidelines focused more on the protection of the reputation of the institutes.  The business that a bank may lose if it is found out that they had been involved in acts of corruption, whether or not they were aware of it, is detrimental and has been the ruin of banks and businesses in the past.  The key is to allows know with whom one is becoming involved with and to practice the gathering of the knowledge with due diligence.

Tags: banks, Basal Committee, corruption, Financial Action Task Force, fraud, illegal practices, Money laundering, scams, terrorism
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Florida is a place of magic, with a generous array of attractions that appeal to visitors of all ages.  There are the famous amusement parks, but also a world-class zoo that’s ranked on the top of many lists, as well as a very lively local culture.  There is much to see and do here, and for travelers who are drawn to luxury, Tampa hotels can certainly fit the bill.  Our hotels are carefully selected from the best that Tampa has to offer, so that you are assured to get the best in style and comfort.  The rooms are sumptuously decorated so you can fall asleep and wake up in splendor.  The design is a magnificent blend of classical and contemporary, so the best of the old and the new worlds are represented here.

After a delicious sleep, and a delicious meal, you’ll be ready to dive in to the local sights.  There is a lively arts community here, devoted to raising the bar for Florida’s visual culture.  Tampa is a vibrant cross-section of cultures, and there are always new installations and new exhibitions that can give good representations of what life is like here.  It’s also very much in touch with the international art scene, and recently commissioned a work from New York artist Marina Zurkow for the city project for public art, Lights on Tampa.

Marina Zurkow’s project is called Slurb, and it’s an 18-minute animation that was projected onto the wall of St. Pete Times Forum.  The film is fascinating, funny, beautiful, and even poignant.  It’s a world overtaken by water, where jellyfish now have control.  Slurb is a contraction of the words slum and suburb, and hints at the post-cataclysmic world Zurkow is creating here. With a kind of tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and a good dose of science fiction, she’s created a work that is a pleasure to watch, and also quite profound in its message about the delicate balance of things.  It’s a perfect installation for Tampa, and speaks well to its artistic present and future.

Tags: Lights on Tampa, luxury Tampa hotels, Marina Zurkow, Slurb
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I finally ventured out from my Ibiza Town hotel and walked around. I also finally came to the realization that all of my travel funk wasn’t without a positive side. Part of the reason I wanted to take on a world trip was that I wanted to try to figure somethings out. It’s not like I was unhappy in Arizona, but it wasn’t home for me, I felt I didn’t belong. I wasn’t being who I think I am. There was too much that I didn’t know about myself and I knew my answers wouldn’t come looking for me, so I set out to find them.

I have been having a lot of fun and I’ve noticed that I haven’t been worrying about looking for my answers. But, when then I finally reached a point where I asked myself, what is it I’m actually looking for? You know, the ‘why am I here?’ questions. I was beginning to analyze them with a very clear mind. And it’s been good. Anyway, my clear mind and I are heading out for our last night in Ibiza. I want to check up on my favorite DJ. I normally never like to go out to clubs alone, but that’s what’d I do in Arizona. But, I knew about 90 percent of the crowd on any given night. But, here I am, going to a club alone. It cost me 45 dollars to get in and one drink and I spent the rest of my budgeted money on 8 ounce bottles of beer. After I thoroughly enjoyed myself, I headed back to my hotel and packed to get ready to head for Barcelona. I’m pretty sure that with my new clear mind, that I’ll be finding more of myself as the journey continues.

Tags: DJ, Ibiza Town Hotel
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“Did you know Manila is home to the world’s only bamboo pipe organ? It’s in St. Joseph’s church,” said our driver, who shared around to share this tidbit of info while roaring down the road after picking Julie and me up from the Manila airport. We had arrived in Manila for Julie to administer a nursing exam at the area hospitals, a rather tedious but necessary activity, and I was along for the ride. It was a last minute affair for me to go, and I had been wondering how best to fill my days in this exciting city, and I had my first clue. “You don’t say?” I said to the driver in a phony British accent. I almost asked him to take us there right off, but we were tired and need a nap and a shower and he took us to the Hotel Manila Phillippines as we had asked. He said he knew the rector and if we wanted to see the organ close up to call him and he handed us a business card. Great I said the next day while Julie went off, she gave me her blessing to go see the thing on my own, as I had offered to save the trip for when she had time off from her duties but she said no no go ahead. I realized she was not as keen to see a bamboo organ in a church the way I was, but was more interested in the markets of Manila like the one at Quiapo , an old part of the city known for prices and hand made articles and things like electronics. When I told Kenny, that driver who I did indeed call for a trip to the church about our plans for Quiapo, he just shook his head and whistled and said, “Good thing I found you, the shop keepers are very hard to deal with, very hard. I will go with you to protect you,” he said smiling. It was hard to say no to him, he was so sincere, and I wondered if he noticed I had lost my fake British accent.

Tags: bamboo organ, Hotel Manila, Phillippines, Quiapo
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My friends is heading to India for the first time. I cannot believe how lucky she is she has her travel booked and then met some really nice folks from India through her Sangha. Apparently these people are very wealthy by Indian standards and have a nice house they offered for her to stay in instead of a hotel. She jumped at the chance to stay with an Indian family in India. After the meeting she ran home to cancel the reservations she had booked for herself in a five star hotel India. Now even more excited to be going than ever before I anxiously waited to hear about her trip and adventures in India. She flew into Delhi and this family arranged for their driver to meet her at the air port and take her back to their house. She said it was an experience. The massive crowds in the streets, the pollution and the poverty were overwhelming. The drive navigated his way through these streets filled with people, animals, carts, buses and other cars like a pro, after all he wasn’t new to all of this. She sent back several reports as her trip progressed. She said the contrast from the streets and slums of Delhi to the compound where she was invited to stay was starting. The driver drove the car through the crowds of people up to a gate in a vary tall and long wall. The gate opened and there were guards to keep anyone other than the car from coming in. She said it was unbelievable, once passing through the gate is was like the garden of eden. Lush tropical garden with pomegranate, fig and mango trees. Water fountains and a pond filled with gold fish and koi. The house was large and the compound consisted of several buildings. The main house, quarters for servants, gardener’s, guards and gardener’s and guest quarters. A very stark contrast to the suffering and poverty out side the walls. My friend came home in awe of the contrasts that are India, poverty next to wealth, crime and squallier next to great insight and enlightenment.

Tags: Delhi, five star hotel India, pomegranate, Sangha
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We were filming so much footage in Bangalore, at least three times as much as we did in Italy. We interviewed a man who wanted to heal our camera man of negative energies. He did so without the touching of hands. We interviewed a homeless pot smoking spiritual man. We filmed an Indian man who showed is love with all of his enormous family who surrounded us (this actually brought tears to my eyes). We interviewed a man who practices Kundalini yoga. A humble man who lives in the mountains with his immediate family. There was so many wonderful moments that we got to watch through the camera when we made it back to our room of one of the four star hotels Bangalore offers the thousands of travellers and visitors.

Yesterday, before we made it to Bangalore, was probably the highlight of our whole journey, we went up into the Himalayas and I got to interview a few eccentric characters. I had to convince my crew that hiking back to Rishikesh was our best bet, and my crew, in flip flops, with all their camera equipment and me, covered in sweat, hiked up and then down a mountain to get back to Rishikesh. That was one of the most exquisite, gorgeous, and longer than how long I thought it would take hike. So, near the end, we were running, in 112 degree weather just so we could make it in time for our next interview. Hot and exhausting doesn’t quite describe what our arduous hike was like. But, we did make our next interview right on time. He was a teacher at the ashram we were staying at. The interview was unbelievable, he was an amazing kind soul and he has so many interesting things to say concerning Hinduism.

To the Hindus, all people has a God within them, which is why we were treated so well everywhere we went. I can not begin to describe the goodness of all the people we interviewed. I and my crew felt like we stumbled upon the best kept secret in the whole world, but first we needed a much deserved rest in Bangalore.

Tags: four star hotels Bangalore, Himalayas, Italy, Kundalini Yoga
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Atlantic City may not be in New York City, though it certainly attracts many of its residents. It is of course a city in New Jersey that is famous for its boardwalk, beautiful sandy beaches, great shopping opportunities, and also and most prominently for its major casinos and gambling opportunities. Of the New York casino hotels and the multiple gambling centers and casinos offered across the river in New Jersey, the Borgata in Atlantic city is the most spectacular and highest grossing of them all. Tourist who visit the big apple may chose to stay in one of its entertaining and casino oriented hotels, though if they are gamblers, they are certainly likely to cross the bridge and end up somewhere in Atlantic City.

The Borgata, whose name means literally in Italian the little village, lives up to its name. This spa, hotel and casino comprise an area and facilities that can account for all the needs, entertainment and services one can expect or request on any vacation or getaway. It has played a major role in the revitalization of the city’s gambling industry and has contributed an element of prestige to the circuit. It first opened in 2003 and at the time it was the first opening of a new casino the city had seen for thirteen years. Since it’s opening, it has held the title of highest grossing casino in the city for every month of its existence, except for one. Card sharks like to play some top dollar sit down poker games like Texas Hold’em and Seven and Five Card Stud varieties. Black Jack is another popular favorite and the casino frequently holds major tournaments. Top professionals in the field can often be seen playing here. In addition to the thrill of gambling, the Borgata Event Center has hosted performers such as Stevie Nicks, Bon Jovi and Pearl Jam, making a stay here an unforgettable event.

Tags: casino hotels, New York, Stevie Nicks, Texas Hold’em
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Abba Eban was a prominent Israeli diplomat, writer and politician, who was born in Cape Town, South Africa in February of 1915. Although he was born in Cape Town, his family moved with him to England at a young age and he was educated by the St. Olave’s Grammar School in Southwark. He later went on to study Asian languages and Classical literature at Queen’s College in Cambridge. An early part of his education actually occurred at home and through family members. He recalls that in his youth he was sent to his grandfather’s house every weekend where he would be taught the Hebrew language and also take part in biblical studies. While this may not sound like the greatest fun a child might have on the weekend, it did impact his life choices and future studies. Tourists who are staying in one of the top Cape Town hotels may not be there to visit Eban’s birthplace, though they are certainly likely to have heard of him, and or read some of his works.

Eban was involved in political groups and efforts early in his life and while in college he was part of the Federation of Zionist Youth. He also served as the editor of its journal, The Young Zionist, for a period of time. During the Second World War he joined the British Army and worked as an intelligence officer. While there he achieved the rank of major. After the war he worked for the United Nations and for a time was posted in New York City. During his career he worked with both the US President Harry Truman and Henry Kissinger, who was greatly impressed with his command of the English language. Languages were always of interest to Eban and served as one of his special skills, which greatly contributed to his eloquence and fluidity as a writer. Some of his more prominent works include Personal Witness: Israel through my eyes, My People: the story of the Jews, and My Country; the story of modern Israel.

Tags: Harry Truman, Henry Kissinger, top Cape Town hotels
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After two sybaritic nights at Oberoi just outside Jaipur and a night in Jaipur proper, we cancelled our flight to Udaipur so we can drive there. We contacted our travel agent to arrange different resevation days at one of the Udaipur five star hotels with which we are booked. We first drove to Pushkar. Pushkar is small, so it was easy to explore in a car and had some fantastic shopping. We loved the bargaining part with all the various vendors, that was totally fun. But, we decided we needed our own personal guide and we managed to find the perfect driver, escort and interpreter. He was our dream come true for all of the rest of our travels.
 
We got caught up in a wedding parade and were coverd with sweet smelling leys byt the groom’s brother. It was night time and suddenly, all the lights go out in Pushkar. Our wonderful interpreter pushed us into a shop. We asked what was going on and he saved us from walking into exploding firecrackers. Apparently, something that happens after a wedding parade. We were starving, so he found us a fabulous pizza joint, funny that, a pizza and not India food. Our interpreter really did know us better than we knew ourselves, we didn’t realize we were craving different food other than Indian fare with which we’ve only had since we’ve been hear.

 
The next morning, our personal guided had us visit a holy tank and we got blessed. Then he saved me again, I almost walked into a cow. My husband was treated to the best barbar shop ever. He said he had never had a better shave and hair cut. I have to agree, his hair cut looks smashing.  Our personal guide could go all the way to Udaipur with us and he even offered to guide us around there also. We couldn’t resist, he was so marvelous and we got spoiled by him in the few days we knew him. He was an extra expense we thought was well worht breaking our budget for. We decided that from now on we will only travel by car hire and with our own personal guide.

Tags: hotels, Udaipur
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There are cities that are simply fantastically lucky for their ability to foster top restaurants. Sydney, with its proximity to farmlands and the ocean, is perfectly situated to offer the best in top quality meats, absolutely fresh seafood, and delicious organic produce.  Our chefs are at the top of their game, working in a lively city with a fantastic night life, and fast on the rise as an exciting young city.  The city’s reputation attracts a local population of young professionals who are often the best in their field.  Our chefs are in this wave, bringing the best of Australia and the world, to the heart of Sydney.  Our chefs specialize in blending tradition with innovation, honoring the best of classical cooking with the newest innovations in the world.  When you’re here in Sydney, the most difficult part of your vacation will be deciding what to eat.

Our restaurants are all carefully selected to be the beginning of a perfect night on the town.  The meal can set the pace of the evening, fostering memories that will last a lifetime.  It is a subtle trick of memory that smell and taste can activate nostalgia, and some of our best moments can be recalled with the right combination of scents.  The meal is up to us, then, and the rest of the night is up to you.  Live music can also be one of the greatest additions to a perfect moment, and for Sydney, one of the coolest new bands is Peregrine.

They’ve been playing here since they began in 2004, and like many Sydney success stories, have made amazing strides in alternative pockets of the world.  The summer of 2009 saw Peregrine make waves in Cologne and Berlin in Germany, and they return to Sydney in the fall for lucky local fans.   Their exciting sound contains a bit of retro to the contemporary appeal, thanks in large part to the complexity in songwriting that has debts in both jazz and rockabilly.  There is, however, a certain urban modern feel to this extremely contagious music that speaks of Sydney, right here, and right now, and it’s certain that everything’s under control.

Tags: Peregrine, top restaurants Sydney
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Last week, when I wrote about the power of a group of three friends, and how, while we were having a great breakfast in one of the many restaurants Canberra has, we discussed how crating a small tribe, like the three of us, can prove more powerful as a preventative that any diet or drug from dying to heart disease. Which is almost always, metaphorically speaking, caused by dying from a broken heart.

We all have done research and have come to the same conclusions such as the Japanese-Americans who demonstrate that social networks and social support protect them against heart disease. Regardless of whether they smoke or suffer from high blood pressure. Even here in Australia, in a study of 200 healthy elderly people, those with good supporting networks had lower blood cholesterol levels and higher levels of immune function than those without a good supporting network.

As I mentioned last week, just how much you smoke or what you eat didn’t seem to have a correlation or much bearing on your heart as whether you felt isolated from the world. This situation even exists in animal societies. Research has conducted heart studies on rabbits and were stunned to find that among the animals given a regiment of high cholesterol-producing diets, those who were played with and petted by the researches developed less cardiovascular disease that those who were in cages out of reach and left alone.

So, whether in humans or animals, a high-cholesterol diet does not appear to have much of an impact or creates heart disease, but the lack of social connections does. Many other studies have shown that a strong community involvement, is one of the most important indicators of healthy living.

One very good example of a strong community is in a small Pennsylvania town called Roseto. This tiny town was entirely populated with Italian immigrants who all lived in the same area in Italy. Along with the people themselves, their culture had also been transplanted to Roseto. The town shared a very cohesive sense of community. Roseto had an amazing health record. Despite the prevalence of a number of high-risk factors in the community, like smoking, high-fat diets and economic stress. The people of Roseto had a heart attack rate less than half that of their neighboring towns.

So, do what my two other friends and I are doing, creating our own sense of community and support.

Tags: Health, heart disease, prevention, Restaurants Canberra
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I was fortunate to experience a new way with which some teaching hospitals are using breath as a vehicle for healing. At first I was skeptical, but after only a week with using a certain breathing technique, I’m a believer. I’ve suffered from asthma as an adult for over a decade and my attacks can be life threatening, so much so I end up in the emergency room at least twice a year. But, my last asthma attack, which happened while I was staying at one of the New York casino hotels, I was taken to the emergency room where the emergency doctor who was treating me, mentioned this new breathing technique and recommended I go to a breathing workshop. He told me that I’d be very surprised at just how effective it is and that I’d come back to him and thank him for recommending the breathing workshop. I laughed, but I did take his advise.

I learned there were two specific healing initiatives which are implemented as illustrations of how our breath is both a subtle organizing property and a material manifestation. Like singing, music therapy which organizes the intentions of the physiological abilities of anther person as they recover from a coma. The second is Qigong for the treatment of asthma. I was shown that Qigong’s breathing is also used as and intentional activity which will improve my own breathing abilities and heal what essentially is a breathing problem, the material manifestation of air-flow.

Breathing is a central part in healing and communication which forms the basis of many disciplines in therapy. With the breathing workshop, I became very aware of just how little I breath when I’m stressed out. This in turn hurts my entire body, which creates stress on all my organs, which creates more stress on me emotionally. Lack of a good breathing habit, created an endless cycle of stress for me. With my practice of Qigong, I have been able to balance my breathing, and I have been asthma free for over a year now. I did go back to New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York), recently, and thanked that doctor who recommended that breathing workshop.

Tags: asthma, Casino Hotel New York
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There are so many alluring things about Bombay, restaurants surely being fairly near the top.  Bombay is a real feast for all the senses, being one of the most visually stunning cities on earth, with a rhythm that is constantly shifting, simultaneously seducing and alarming the auditory centers of the body with every step in every neighborhood, and of course, is a fantastic place to eat.  Indian food is among the world’s greatest contributions to the potentials for happiness among the human race, and Bombay is at a unique and fortuitous position.  Being one of the largest cities here, it attracts people from all over the country (and the world), and they bring their customs, and cooking techniques, with them.  So it is very possible to sample food from all over India, and our restaurants are carefully chosen to represent the best of the best.

A perfect evening begins with a perfect meal, and you’ll find a dazzling array of gourmet delicacies to choose from in our restaurants.  Whether your pleasure is spicy, creamy, or simply succulent, you’ll find something here that will make you smile.  And after a splendid meal, followed by a tea or coffee and a scrumptious dessert, there are a thousand things to do here.  One of the most heady events in South Bombay, if your timing is right, is the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.  This has been ongoing since 1999, and is the perfect place to touch the heart of India, and let the rest of your senses wake up and experience the rich fabric of life here.

The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival really demonstrates what Bombay is all about.  The focus is, ostensibly, on visual art, but it really has everything.  Live music, literary competitions hosted by world-class authors (Bombay is one of India’s literary centers, after all), crafts, and, if you find yourself ready for a snack after the heartiest meal of your life, more eating!  There really is something for everyone here, and it is one of the most well-attended events in Bombay.  Be sure to use good judgement and common sense, since the crowds here are rather dense, and the constant bombardment with sensory stimuli is enough to distract just about anyone.  However, it is also a fabulous way to see the city, in all its splendor.  The visual art is truly extraordinary, too.  Not only are their exhibitions of small-scale works, there are also a spectacular number of large public sculptures, and a look at the past Kala Ghoda festivals should inspire a visit here.

Tags: Art, Bombay, Festival, Ghoda, India, Kala
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Companies are being advised to keep up with their policies of regulatory compliance to the laws of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  In the current climate, the amount of corruption investigations underway, and the increased activity and diligence on the part of the FCPA investigators, has many companies nervous, for fear of the simple mention of the acronym, “FCPA”.  Many hear that and immediately think of fines, lawsuits, prosecution and jail time.  This is not the case, for if a business is being conducted and operated in an ethical manner than they really have nothing to worry about.

The FCPA, the courts, the lawyers have nothing to gain by pursuing prosecuting a case wherein the defendant is obviously innocent.  It would be a waste of time.  Now it is more important than it ever has been that companies make certain that those in charge of following and enforcing due diligence and regulatory compliance, do so in a thorough and unwavering manner.  For companies that are unsure if their compliance may be slipping, there are many organizations that will come in and do risk assessments.

This will measure accurately, with the help of a third and unbiased party, whether people are doing their jobs to the fullest extent.  They will also assess how well the current procedures are working and suggest ways in which to improve and increase the effectiveness of the program.  The point is, is that when one company commits corruption, such as fraud or extortion,  the ramifications for all those they do business with is great, is daunting.

For even if their associates were not involved, they will for one, come under investigation.  Secondly, they may be charged with not being thorough enough, not fully checking the company out to make certain they were trustworthy.  And thirdly, they may lose business as a result.  For when they become the subject of the FCPA policies of a prospective new business partner, that partner may not want to be associated with with a party who has been noted to be involved with another company, convicted of fraudulent and illegal activities.  It’s a cyclical process that is so easily avoided, by simply taking the time and the effort to comply.

Tags: extortion, regulatory compliance, risk assessments
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For someone so into modern computers, Internet and most things digital, Viola was crazy for any anthropology site and museum, and the C’an Ros Ethnological museum in Ibiza was not exception. Since we met in Warsaw Poland a year ago, we have been able to travel all over Europe, meeting in the British Isles to visit Stone Hedge, the cave paintings in France, and even necrophilia in Roman ruins around Italy. She seemed to need to be grounded in humanity’s dim, non technological past as she raced around the globe, reporting on the latest offerings by the computer industry and the latest social networking sites. Happily, we did not go for the crazy night life Ibiza night club life is known for, although everyone we met here thoroughly enjoyed the glitz and glamor of the island’s famous raves and wild clubs. We were happy to get up early with a picnic and check out the beach, contemplating what the earliest settlers form centuries ago would think about life today, and what it must have been like to arrive at this beautiful island. It seems they had to work, as the visit to the museum shows, mining lead and marble. After that hard work, no wonder wine production came to the island, who would not need a drink after mining lead all day with your hands? They probably did not think of vacations as they fished and subsisted on the islands. Then we went to Sant Carles for its beaches and the church that sits so gracefully in the courtyard. We had a nice paella for lunch and lounged about like college kids on summer break, taking in the rural atmosphere and simple village architecture of this picturesque town. It seems the church was built in the 1700′s, so of course Vi was excited to see it and we took a lot of pictures.

Tags: Ibiza, nature, night club
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Ethics has been a philosophical science for hundreds of years, beginning with the consideration of certain acts or behaviors by such men as Socrates and Plato. What business ethics is, is just the simple applications of the concepts of morality to the world of business. What the anti-corruption agencies focus on the legal aspect of such action as bribery and money laundering, they also serve to create and maintain business relations that remain moral and ethical in nature. What is applied in the study of the philosophy of ethics, is enforced by federal law, and that is quite simply, what is right and what is wrong, on a social level as well as the economic level. One way in which agencies maintain this is by having a set of checks and balances. Businesses and those in foreign offices must keep records and accounts of their actions and their dealings, and those records must be available to the law enforcement agencies, or in the public officials case to the public.

This creates a transparency, a clear view of what is actually happening. This has an effect that is two-fold. It brings to light when inconsistencies give way to corrupt actions, and it serves to protect those who are wrongly accused of such actions. It is a way for one to keep the receipts so to speak, the evidence of no wrong doing. When companies do not follow this system through negligence or ignorance they risk being convicted of committing crimes that they actually had taken no part in. Corruption is not only an economic or a political problem, but the true heart of the matter is that it is an ethical problem. It is the use of power over one that is seen as weaker, in order to take advantage of them for personal gain. Corruption destroys the economy, it destroys society and public morale, careers, business ventures, and it can bring a country to ruin.

Tags: anti-corruption, Socrates, transparency
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There are two different ways in which lenders in Canada can recover on defaulted loans that result in foreclosures.  Vancouver laws may differ from another region such as Ottawa or Ontario, and it is best to have an in depth knowledge and understanding of the laws for one’s own region.  One way a lender will attempt to collect on a debt is by a judicial sale.  These cases involve the lenders attaining authority granted through the court system, before selling the property, they must apply for the permission to do so and the court system remains extensively involved throughout the process. 

The power of sale, requires no court involvement.  The lender has been given the right in the existing mortgage documents that will allow them to auction off the house and recuperate their loss.  This varies from province to province, as well as other laws surrounding the process of foreclosure.  In New Burnswick, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, it is this power of sale system that is used.  In Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec it is the judicial process that is enforced.  And within these provinces, their own procedures vary as well. 

The main difference is in the involvement of the courts, and in the beginning of the entire process.  In the provinces wherein the power of sale is used, the home owner is sent a notice in the mail, stating that the lender has started the foreclosure.  In the provinces wherein the judicial system is involved, a lawsuit filed against the home owner and anyone else involved who may have liability in the case starts the process.  And in power of sale, the lender is just trying to recover the loan amount, usually this happens with the sale of the property, however with judicial provinces, the owner is sued by the borrower in a court of law.

Tags: foreclosure, Vancouver
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I could not wait to land and say my first G’day to some unsuspecting Aussie. We had been flying for what seemed like an eternity, a flight longer than our non stop marathon the Berlin from Phoenix, where we hired a taxi and toured the German city. Instead, we were two for the road, Dagny and I on our first trip down under, and we would not be staying at any of the luxury hotels Melbourne Australia kindly made available. We thought we would rent a caravan, or recreational vehicle,and visit the various sight of OZ. But first, we were starving (we thought,what with the time changes, we did not know what we were supposed to be) and so looked forward to food from the barbie. I was speaking Aussie already.

We went to New Quay, a place seemingly claimed by artists and had fish kabobs and crazy pizzas. We walked along the the peaceful scene and realized we were in a food court. We laughed when we realized the equivalent in India from our recent trip was a road of food hawkers. We delighted dealing with the Indian brethren of the food court stall-warts, and we wondered what Indian fellow would think of this. The food was food was good, if a little less adventurous. Needless to say a pub stop was in order, and we had some local brews,and when we had to speak to order, giving away our origin identity, we received hearty back slaps and hand shakes and we did not have to buy our beers. Thanks Melbourne. We whiled away the evening , headed down to the beach and strolled about. The next morning we grabbed a tall blond, also known as a latte, and loaded up the caravan a searched for breakfast, got our bearings and headed out .

Tags: luxury hotels, Melbourne
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