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What is a Gap Year? What Can I Do?

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:11:57 +0000

A gap year, also known as a year out, is that year taken between high school and university, or after university and before getting a job, to travel and explore the world. It is that year that you set aside to become an adventurer and have fantastic experiences doing things you have never done before. It is that gap in your life when you break your routine and do something completely different!

There are so many ways to spend your gap year, from volunteering on a wildlife reserve in Africa, to learning Spanish and kitesurfing in Ecuador! For those who are on a tight budget, working abroad can pay for itself. If you’re more career minded, there are thousands of International Internships which will give you hands on experience in your field of study, look great on your resume, and give you a great excuse to travel. You can also spend a year studying abroad at a foreign university and earn credits towards your degree at the same time. Or maybe you’d prefer to spend you time learning to scuba dive in Fiji while working on an environmental conservation project.

The options are endless, but below is a little taste of some of the more popular ways to spend a fantastic gap year:

Volunteer Abroad

There are literally hundreds of organizations and charities out there that place volunteers on projects around the world during their gap year. The two main categories of volunteer projects are community projects and environmental projects. Community projects include teaching English and other subjects in local schools, building projects like building houses or wells in small communities with sparse resources, or working in health care facilities among other things. Environmental projects on the other hand focus on being immersed in nature, perhaps researching wildlife which is becoming extinct, or working to protect forests which are in jeopardy. Volunteer organizations tend to send volunteers in groups, so that you can get to know the people you are working with. Accommodation and food are generally provided as part of the package, and there are often side trips and excursions planned for the group. Volunteering can be an immensely rewarding experience, and a great way to really get involved in the culture you are staying in. Not only will you do a good thing for others, but you will have amazing stories to tell when you get home.

Adventure Travel

Adventure travel is a relatively ambiguous title, but this category includes the sort of gap year travel that gives you an adrenaline rush! Have you ever wanted to try scuba diving? Sky diving? Kiteboarding? Surfing? Skiing or snowboarding? How about going to mountaineering school in Patagonia? Well this is your chance! If you’re passionate about scuba diving, why not do it at the great barrier reef in Australia? Spend a few months and become an expert, get your PADI certificates and improve your skills. Or maybe you’re a surfer at heart but born in New York, why not learn from the best surfers in Costa Rica, and pick up a little Spanish along the way. Or for those that like the cold, you can spend a while in Switzerland learning to be a ski instructor on the great Alps! Adventure travel lets you really test your strengths and weaknesses, and gives you the opportunity to learn something profound about yourself and the world. Many Adventure Travel companies will offer packages including room, board, and training and equipment needed for your adventures.

Internships and Work Experience Programs

So you finished school, and now it’s time to get a job, but you have no experience to show on your resume! A gap year internship is such a great way to gain experience which will prepare you for the work force, and why not enhance your experience by doing it abroad! Europe is a particularly popular place for doing internships these days, but its best to go where your industry shines, for example an interest in Fashion can be nurtured with a fashion internship in Italy, home of the great designers. Or a business internship can be conducted in China, what a great asset to have behind you when you later apply for a corporate executive position. From engineering to graphic design, there are all sorts of great companies out there looking for eager young people wanting to get their feet wet. Internship programs usually include room and board, and often include language lessons to help you get by in your new culture.

Study Abroad

If you’re intent on finishing your career studies without taking a break from your schooling, then study abroad during your gap year! Speak to your own school or university and ask for the guidelines regarding transferring your credits, educational institutions tend to respect the value of travel and almost always grant credit for such programs. Imagine spending a semester in Spain or Italy! Learn a bit of the language, live with the people, enjoy the cuisine and continue your studies, it will only enhance your employability later. There are lots of study abroad programs to choose from, some are focused on a certain area of study while others are focused on relationships with particular institutions. Consult your own school for credit information.

Work Abroad

A lack of money is a poor excuse not to travel and take a gap year. If you can do it at home you can do it abroad. No matter where you go in the world every restaurant needs waiters, and every office needs someone to answer the phone. And what better way to see how the average person lives in a foreign country than by joining them for the 9 to 5! Find a job that is similar to what you might do at home, this will help you to surround yourself with people you would normally hang out with. But don’t work too hard! Make sure you find some time to spend that money on sights and side trips. There are lots of jobs available to travelers, you can easily apply before you go and secure your position before you get there. Jobs may or may not include your room and board, and weather they do or not will be reflected in your salary earned.

As you can see, the gap year opportunities are endless and there is definitely something for every type of person. A gap year provides a way to see the world, to experience other cultures, meet different people, and also to learn new skills. A gap year can be personally enriching, and at the same time gives you great experience to enhance your resume when you return home.

Exclusive Interview: Yau-man Chan of ‘survivor: Micronesia ‘

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:12:04 +0000

Yau-Man Chan is the third person to leave Survivor: Micronesia . In an exclusive interview with Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV’s staff writer, he shared his sentiments about his experience.

Yau-Man first appeared on Survivor: Fiji, where he finished fourth and was the last person to be eliminated. When the staff of the reality series called him and asked him to return for the sixteenth season, he immediately said yes. He was excited to play for the second time.

But on the current season, Yau-Man became target on the third episode after the Favorites lost the immunity challenge. He was voted out because his intelligence was a threat for others. But despite this, Yau-Man claims he has no bad feelings as he expected things like that are meant to happen on the show. “I wish it had ended a little bit differently, but on the other hand I played it hard. There’s a cruelty, I knew it going in and I was prepared for it,” he explained.

While in Micronesia , he gained close friends like Jonathan and Ami. He says that he got along well with Jonathan because they can relate to each other. “He’s married with kids like me. We have a lot in common,” he shared. With Amy, he discovered the real person behind the glare of the cameras. “She turned out to be very nice, certainly a very different persona than we see on TV in the Vanuatu season.”

He also shared that Cirie’s character surprised him. “I kind of completely missed out on Cirie and how much of a power player she can be… I didn’t realize that she has such a power of persuasion to get her way when she put her mind to it.”

At the end of the interview, Yau-Man thanked his supporters and even apologized for being eliminated. “I would like to thank my fans, and I’m sorry that I disappointed them this season. I really thought I could go much further, but thank you for cheering me on when I was still on.”

For more resources about Survivor or for the full story of Exclusive Interview: Yau-Man Chan of ‘Survivor: Micronesia ‘ please review http://www.buddytv.com

The Truth About Passive Income

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:06:26 +0000

If you search the internet for “passive income”, you may find a definition or two, but mostly, what you find are websites trying to sell you on the passive-income-flavor-of-the-day. It’s frustrating, I know. I don’t know about you, but before I jump into any opportunity or even before I take a trip, I like to do my research. That being said, there are a lot of good opportunities out there. But before you start spending money, let’s discuss what passive income is and, most importantly, what it isn’t.

Webster’s dictionary defines passive income as “of, relating to, or being business activity in which the investor does not have immediate control over income”. I don’t think that tells the whole story. Passive income is money that you receive over and over again without having to do much work (notice I didn’t say “any work”). It is different than earned income in that you are not receiving money for your time (like you would a job). But depending on the passive income stream that you choose, you may in fact have immediate control over your income. But I’ll get to that later.

Why would you want passive income? Well, like Robert Kiyosaki explains in his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, that is the main difference between the rich and the middle class. The rich invest their money in various passive income streams. When their passive income exceeds their expenses, then they are financially free. “Financially free” simply means that you do not have to have a day job to pay your expenses. And you are “free” to then do whatever you want!

What Passive Income Isn’t

Before I go into telling you what passive income is, let me first tell you want it isn’t. Passive income is not the same thing as “residual income”. Residual income is money that you receive on a regular basis after having done work once. The best example would be TV sitcoms. Some actors get “residuals”. Actors get paid for filming the show. Afterwards, some actors get paid each time the show repeats. Sales people that sell services, subscriptions, or renewable products (like insurance) sell that item once and, providing the customer renews, will get a commission off of each renewal. Royalties from the sale of books and music are also residual.

Many say that multi-level-marketing or network marketing sales provide you with passive income. Guess what? That’s residual too.

If you have a small business or are self-employed, even if you are making a lot of money, this is NOT passive income. If you receive a salary from your business, that is earned income. There is a way to turn this into passive income, however — so stay tuned.

You know, I have to say that starting your own website cannot be passive income. Whether you are selling a product (such as an eBook, seminar or other information) or a service, you still have to market your website. You will have to do this regardless of whether you are selling your OWN products or have the rights to sell other’s products. Marketing your website is work, simple as that. But it’s not a job. And once your marketing efforts start taking off, you can make a lot of money with little additional effort. But that is residual in my book, not passive.

What Passive Income IS

Passive income is a lot of things. The first thing that comes to mind, and also, I believe, the most popular example is real estate. If you own investment property and are getting a positive cash flow from a house, commercial property, or apartment, that is passive income. If you rent rooms in your house, that’s passive income too. You only have to set this up once, and then the income comes in month after month. Interest income from savings accounts, CDs, and money-market accounts are passive — the bank pays you for keeping your money in those accounts. If you have a website with banner ads or Google Adsense ads, that can be called

passive as well.

If you invest in any business, but don’t manage it, your profits are considered passive income, exactly what Webster was thinking about when he wrote the definition.

What about business? Well, that depends on how you set it up. Rich people create businesses and set up a system that the business follows. That way, if the owner goes on vacation for a month to Fiji, the employees follow the system and the owner still gets the profits. Any business will of course start out with a lot of work, but if you take the time to set up a business so that it gets reproducible results (exactly like a franchise), those profits become passive. And, according to the IRS, any salary you get from your business is considered “earned” but profits are considered “passive”. It is vital when starting a business to check with an accountant and an attorney to set up your business that financially benefits you the best.

What else can be considered passive income? How about self-storage facilities, parking garages/lots and dry cleaners! They all require some time to start up, but once they are set up, you collect money over and over again.

Residual vs Passive Income

Residual and passive income are like siblings. They are both very similar and most people really consider them synonyms. What does it matter, anyway? They are both excellent ways to get money in your hands month after month after month without trading your time or your freedom. How can it get better than that?

Reality Check

Beware of anyone that tells you that there is NO work involved in passive income. Passive income does not mean no work! If you are going to invest in a business, a stock, or a real estate property, you will have to do your research (this is called “due diligence”). Research is work! You will also be required to manage your investments, to check up on their progress and make changes as necessary. That’s work too!

The good news is that research and management is only a part-time endeavor. And most of the time, that work can be done from almost anywhere, including on a beach in Fiji.

Let us not forget the FUN factor. I’m sure there are some of you reading this who like, even love their jobs (if you still have one). Some of you have your own business– and congrats to you! But most of us are in jobs just because we need to feed our families and pay the bills. Looking into passive income streams and investing your time and money can bring you many, many returns. Researching for and implementing your passive income plans so that you can live your dreams is FUN. Getting money every month, week, or even every day is FUN. And trying out new strategies and managing your money — when you have some to manage — is FUN.

I hope I’ve done my job and given you the passive income basics. If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to contact me through my website. I’d love to hear from you!

Bras and the Breast Cancer Cover-up

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:06:30 +0000

“Whom can you trust when your culture is the biggest enemy of your health? Can you trust your culture’s leading authorities? Can you trust your culture’s government? Can you trust your culture’s private industry?”

We asked those questions in 1995, at the end of our book, Dressed To Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras. Before writing our book, we sent details of our research to the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, President’s Cancer Panel, American Women’s Medical Association, National Organization for Women, National Women’s Health Network, and National Women’s Health Resource Center. There was no response. Not one. Given the lack of interest, we decided to publish our findings in a book, getting the information directly to the women who needed to hear it.

But are women getting the message?

It has been 13 years since our book was first published. Over that time, more than 500,000 women in the US alone have died from breast cancer, with another 2,000,000 having been diagnosed with this terrible disease — a disease that is in most cases preventable by simply loosening up or eliminating the bra. And yet, this lifesaving information has been actively suppressed and censored by the medical and lingerie industries.

Examples of Suppress and Censorship

A large public relations firm in New York City was willing and eager to help us release this information to the public. “My wife just had breast cancer, and I’m sure you are right,” the head of the firm confessed. A big media announcement and celebration were planned. Days later, however, the firm withdrew its offer to help, stating that one of their clients, a large medical center, objected to their working with us.

A Sydney, Australia public relations firm agreed to help publicize our work when we were doing outreach efforts in their country. But it, too, reversed itself. We had asked if they had any conflicts of interest, such as lingerie industry clients. They said they had none. But as it turned out, they did represent a pharmaceutical company that makes a breast cancer treatment drug, and the prevention of breast cancer and its treatment are in conflict, they explained.

The Intimate Apparel Council (which is the US trade association for the multi-billion dollar bra industry) threatened our publisher, Avery Publishing Group, with a lawsuit if Dressed To Kill was released. The publisher said the publicity would help spread the word. The lawsuit never materialized.

After the book was released, the NBC television news show, Dateline, was interested in doing a story on our work. We were extensively interviewed by a skeptical reporter who became a supporter. The story was then abruptly terminated. The producer confidentially explained that the policy of General Electric, which owns NBC, is to avoid airing news stories that can adversely impact on other GE interests. As it happens, GE is a manufacturer of mammography machines.

Women’s magazines, such as Glamour, Self, and others, ran critical stories condemning our work, and finding “experts” to encourage women to continue wearing bras. Elle magazine planned a positive story about the bra/cancer link, but was coerced into pulling the story by bra advertisers. In various newspapers around the world, such as the Guardian in the UK, stories were pulled prior to publication because of fear that they may “panic the public”, including their lingerie advertisers.

The British Fashion Council (which is the UK’s equivalent of the Intimate Apparel Council) published the Breast Health Handbook in 1996 to oppose our efforts. They announced the formation of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Foundation, which was to receive donations from bra sales to fund genetic research into breast cancer. The book criticized our work, claiming, “The idea that wearing a bra encourages cancer by trapping toxins was recently put forward by researchers at the Institute for Culturogenic Studies (sic) in Hawaii. Researchers from more august establishments promptly dismissed it as claptrap.” Without any medical evidence or research, the book informs women that wearing bras is a health necessity, and should be worn as early in life as possible to prevent breast damage.

Our original publisher, Avery, was purchased by giant Penguin Putnam in 1998. The new publisher did not list the book for three years and refused to revert publication rights to the copywrite holders, Singer and Grismaijer. The book was virtually unavailable, and it was thought to have gone out of print. Finally, after repeated requests, the publishing rights were released to us in October, 2001. (ISCD Press has been keeping it in print since then.)

A television documentary was produced in the year 2000 by Channel 4 in the UK, called, Bras- The Bare Facts. In the documentary, 100 women with fibrocystic breast disease went bra-free for 3 months to document the effect on breast cysts and pain. Two prominent British breast surgeons conducted the study. The results were astounding, and clearly demonstrated that the bra is a serious health hazard. We were interviewed for the program to discuss the bra/cancer connection, which was considered highly plausible and important by the doctors interviewed. Some theorized that, in addition to lymphatic impairment, the bra could also cause cancer by overheating the breasts. The documentary made newspaper headlines in British Commonwealth countries throughout the world, but no mention of it was made at all in the US. The following day, headlines in the U.K. tried to suppress fears of the bra/cancer link, and the doctors in the study quickly distanced themselves from the cancer issue, telling women to continue wearing bras. Their research for the documentary was supposed to be published in a medical journal, but never was. And no further research ever materialized to follow-up on their work, which they said they would do. Extensive news coverage of the program was available on the Internet soon after it aired, but most articles were removed shortly thereafter.

No follow-up studies have been done to refute or confirm our research. None. While a Harvard study, published in the European Journal of Cancer in 1991, discovered that bra-free women have a lower rate of breast cancer, the results were not central to the research they were conducting and were considered unimportant and not followed-up. In fact, apart from our initial 1991-93 Bra and Breast Cancer Study, discussed in detail in Dressed To Kill, and our follow-up research in Fiji, discussed in our book, Get It Off!, there are still no other studies on the bra/cancer link. Not even a letter or discussion of the issue can be found in any medical journal. After decades of breast cancer research, the bra is still completely ignored as even being a potential factor for consideration. It’s like studying foot disease and ignoring shoes.

Keeping the Public Mystified

This lack of research, and the consequent ignorance, are then used by cancer organizations to justify further suppression of the issue. As the American Cancer Society states on its website, (ignoring the Harvard study), “There are no scientifically valid studies that show a correlation between wearing bras of any type and the occurrence of breast cancer. Two anthropologists made this association in a book called Dressed To Kill. Their study was not conducted according to standard principles of epidemiological research and did not take into consideration other variables, including known risk factors for breast cancer. There is no other, credible research to validate this claim in any way.” And they don’t seem interested in funding any such studies in the near future, either. There are other organizations that are similarly critical of the bra/cancer link for lack of research evidence, while at the same time discouraging any research on the subject.

Of particular interest is when breast cancer organizations antagonistic to the issue declare the bra/cancer link to be “misinformation” or a “myth”, without any scientific study supporting their claims. They say bras are important for women to wear for support, without any evidence showing bras are safe or necessary. They then encourage regular mammograms, cancer prevention drug therapy (not realizing that “prevention therapy” is an oxymoron), and even preventative mastectomies (which means that those who are high risk for breast cancer but who don’t want to get it can have their breast removed as a prevention strategy). Of course, it is better to remove the bra instead of the breasts, but bra removal is not a billable procedure.

Keep in mind that bras have been associated with other health problems, such as headaches, numbness in the hands, backache and other postural problems, cysts, pain, skin depigmentation, and more. And lymphatic blockage, which is the result of bra constriction, has already been associated with various cancers. Clearly, the bra/cancer link needs further research, while women take the precaution of loosening up.

Why the resistance?

What harm could there be in following our simple advice, or in even researching this issue? Why the defensive reaction?

There are three reasons:

1. The bra industry fears class action lawsuits. Many insiders have admitted to us that for years the industry suspected underwires were causing cancer. They know that tight bras cause cysts and pain. It is only a matter of time until a lawsuit is made against a bra manufacturer. As a defense, the industry is shifting the blame to the customer, claiming that most women are wearing their bras too tightly, and should get professional fittings. (How do you get a properly fitted push-up bra?) Breaking ranks with their industry peers, and trying to capitalize on the bad news, are several bra manufacturers that now offer newly patented bras claiming to mitigate the damage, including cancer, caused by conventional bras.

2. The medical industry is making billions each year on the detection and treatment of breast cancer. As mentioned above, there is a conflict between the prevention and the treatment of disease, especially if the prevention does not include drugs or surgery. The fact is that our treatment-focused, profit-oriented medical system is making a killing treating this disease, and has billions to lose if breast cancer goes out of fashion along with bras.

In addition, the bra issue will revolutionize the breast cancer field, embarrassing many researchers. Breast cancer research to date that has ignored the bra issue is seriously flawed as a result, which is why the “experts” are still unable to explain the cause of over 70% of all breast cancer cases. Career cancer researchers who have ignored the bra issue will have to admit this fatal flaw in their work, which they are not inclined to admit in their lifetimes.

3. Finally, there is the dogmatic, fearful resistance from some women who find their personal identity so connected to their bras that they would rather risk cancer than be bra-free (which some women have actually told us.) Women are cultural entities, and so long as our culture scorns a natural bustline, many women will submit to the pain, red marks and indentations, cysts, and even the threat of cancer rather than face potential public ridicule (which never really happens.)

There are also women who believe the myth that bras will prevent droopy breasts. The bra industry admits this is a myth, while it still promotes it to improve sales. In fact, bras cause breasts to droop, as the breasts become dependent on the bra for support and the natural supportive mechanisms atrophy from non use.

Despite the resistance, however, some women have gotten the message. And many health care professionals, who have also suspected bras for years, are now spreading that message. As women hear the news and discover that eliminating the bra also eliminates cysts and pain, the news further spreads by word of mouth.

There are now thousands of websites on this subject, many from health care professionals including medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, osteopathic doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, lymphatic specialists, nutritionists, and others who care about women and helping end this epidemic. Grassroots efforts to keep this information alive and spreading have supplanted the traditional medical research approach, which has disqualified itself for lack of interest and conflict of interest.

When a disease is caused by the culture and its habits, attitudes, fashions and industries, there is bound to be resistance to change. Industries that contribute to disease will be defensive, and industries that profit from disease will be conflicted. However, the truth has a way of getting out, despite the resistance and suppression. Thank Goodness the truth does have a way of getting out.

Secret Island Paradises You Cannot Resist

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:06:14 +0000

You want to plan that vacation to that glorious tropical island but you’ve only heard of the tourist traps like Nassau, Bahamas or Montego Bay, Jamaica. You want a place without fifteen-story hotels, screaming crowds, and a thousand souvenir shops. You want a place where you can finally relax and recuperate from the smash and grab daily grind. Well, worry no longer. Below you will find eight of the most peaceful paradises in the world. But don’t wait a decade to choose one. By then, they may no longer be some of the best secret travel destinations.

1. Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico: Because this little gem was controlled by the U.S. Navy until 2003, it lacks the crowds, tourist traps, tall buildings, and traffic of commercialized vacation spots. This is truly an unspoiled island with lush, rolling hills, tranquil lanes, and a pristine beach with bioluminescent waters. At night, under glittering stars, the surf truly lights up with glowing living organisms. It’s like an ethereal wonderland. Besides the stunning beauty, the island offers view of the final Spanish fort built in the Americas; it offers snorkeling, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding on sleek horses. The residents are warm and personable and you will likely make a few friends before you leave. If you want a little more excitement for a few days, ferry the six miles to San Juan and perhaps stay in their huge resident resort with multi-level, infinity pools and five restaurants to fit your every mood and taste.

2. Secret Beach, Kauai: Nestled at the base of a sheer cliff just north of Kilaua, it’s hard to find anything about this hideaway to criticize. Cottages nestled on the mountainsides offer a panoramic view. The cottages are furnished with quaint furniture, Jacuzzi, kitchen utensils, appliances, Kauai guidebooks, beach supplies, and even laundry detergent. Enjoy at least a few meals gazing out from your own deck. The beach is private and easy to walk to. Snorkel on Tunnels Reef, have lunch at the Tropical Taco, view the Waimea Canyon (Grand Canyon of the Pacific) and Wailus and Opaeka Falls. Kayak peacefully on the Lanalei River, buy something sweet from the Kilauea Bakery and buy fresh seafood from the fish market across from the King Lung shops. Grill the fish yourself at your cottage for a meal you’ll never forget. This is a Hawaii worlds away from the crazy commercized chaos of Waikiki.

3. Waykaya Club and Spa, Fiji: This is a private 2,200-acre retreat belonging to Fiji’s 333 islands, featuring serene lagoons, majestic cliffs, gorgeous beaches, and encircled by a virgin coral reef. Start off with the stunning orientation walk to begin tasting the wild natural beauty and charm. You will see tropical forests, spectacular lookout points, pristine beaches, and a wildlife sanctuary teaming with feral horses, pigs, deer, and goat. At the Club and Spa you will find a 9-hole golf course, lighted tennis courts, and equipment for a quick game of croquet. The Club will pack a gourmet picnic lunch for you take anywhere your heart leads you. Play a game of billiards or do a vigorous workout followed by a luxurious massage. Tour the organic gardens, the Fijian wood carvers, the cooking demonstrations, or the exotic bird watching. Play beach volleyball, or sit back and enjoy a native dance pageant or Kava ceremony. Then on Sunday, if you like, attend the Village Church to hear the Fiji choir and enjoy the 30-minute service. You will never get bored at the Waykaya Club.

4. Jellyfish Lake, Palau: Palau is a wonderland located about 500 miles from the Philippines. The limestone islands in this area were formed by many thousands of year of coral accretion slowly lifting out of the sea. The one jellyfish lake open to the public is on the uninhabited island of Macharchar. Somehow along the way, the jellyfish have lost their sting, so divers or snorkelers can swim safely among the 1.2 million translucent, orange orbs ranging in size from marble- to volley ball-sized. As they pulsate through the azure waters, they bump harmlessly against snorkelers and drift on. It is doubtful that you will be able to tear yourself away from the jellyfish, but, if so, the sea kayaking among the Rock Islands is superb, and there are fascinating World War II relics to be found on the island of Peleliu. For breathtaking view and nice accommodations, try Koror’s Cliffside Hotel.

5. Santorini, Greece: This island is actually a live volcano, but it isn’t expected to belch again in our lifetime. The volcanic yield has resulted in black sand beaches and soil that grows some of the best wine grapes in existence. Because of the volcanic soil Santorini also grows some of the sweetest tomatoes in the world. You must sample the fried tomato balls (Keftadas). You may never see a more awe-inspiring site as when you gaze from the rim of the volcano and watch tiny boats cross the royal blue waters. If you can tear yourself away from that, you must visit the nearby town of Oia, with its stunning sunsets. Two terrific restaurants to visit are the Saltsa and the Nyhteri. Perhaps you can find lodging among the villages overlooking the submerged volcano. And two hotels that can be recommended are the Villa Kalimera and the Volcano View Villas.

6. The Caves Resort, Negril, Jamaica: The resort sits atop honeycomb, limestone cliffs overlooking the sea. It features eleven exclusive Cliffside accommodations, two main dining gazebos, and private cave dining. If you ever get tired of the view and the pampering, you can watch dolphins, jet ski, go horseback riding, or enjoy the sauna, Jacuzzi, or the saltwater swimming pools. The rooms of the resort overflow with ambience: music for whatever your vibe, candles and scented oils, the most comfortable beds, and gracious hospitality. Rick’s Cafe is one of the greatest places to eat. Sheddy Williams has been the head chef for 15 years. Enjoy the rich Jamaican coffee, the fresh fruit plate, mango daiquiris and a full course dinner. It is guaranteed that no matter how frayed your nerves when you arrived, you will leave the Caves refreshed.

7. Christ Church, Barbados: Why would you visit the Barbados? Well, for one thing, the residents love tourists and the crime rate is almost non-existent. You can cruise on a catamaran, swim with sea turtles, and watch the antics of hilarious green monkeys. The surf is consistently perfect for surfing , kite surfing, or windsurfing. You can watch a cricket game or play on a world class golf course. You can stroll the plantations, lush gardens or the rum distilleries. Then there are wonderful restaurants such as Oistin’s Fish Fry, the Restaurant at the South Sea, and Just Grillin’. You will love it.

8. Long Island, Bahamas: We’re not pushing Long Island alone. It is just an example of the Bahamian islands that are still beautiful, serene, and unspoiled by raucous crowds and unabashed commercialism. A massive spine of ancient reef gives the 80-mile island two faces: the sheer cliffs and caves of the east coast and the soft, sandy, mangrove-lined lee side which washes into the Bahamas Bank. Long Island does have numerous shallow and deep scuba diving sites. But it is best known for Dean’s Blue Hole, a vast abyss that tunnels down about 600 feet. Travel writers grow bored and jaded after seeing hundreds of beautiful island sites. However, a writer for Trip Atlas raved, “Long Island is a true hidden gem—the real paradise island of the Bahamas!” This island is also home to Columbus Point, towering memorial to Christopher Columbus, perched high atop a hill at the island’s northernmost tip. You will find everything in this place: sloping hills, vast beaches, high cliffs, gardens, caves, old plantation ruins, quaint villages, and pink sand with intricate seashells.

Now I’m feel a little sorry for you. You’re going to have to choose between all these incredible places and that’s the hardest part!

7 Easy Ways to Make Your Next Hotel Booking Cheaper!

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:06:18 +0000

Imagine heading off on your dream trip but then not being able to spend money on anything else because the Hotel room is SO expensive! It’s something we’ve all had to face, do I spend more on the hotel room and have less to spend on activities or do I spend less on the hotel room and stay somewhere undesirable? What if there was a way to spend less and still stay well? If you read on you’ll see some great tips that can save you money on your next trip!

Know What You Want

Before you can save money, you need to know what you want from a hotel room. Do you want to have a luxurious place to stretch out and relax, or a cheap, modest room to quickly change clothes before you head out to see the sights? It’s easy to narrow down what you’re looking for by thinking about what kinds of extra’s you need to have. Do you have to have a pool? Do you need internet or a restaurant at the hotel. Knowing what you want will help you narrow down the search so you can find cheap hotel rates.

Beware of Packages

Sometimes you can find cheap hotels by looking for packages that combine two services, such as hotel and your flight, or hotel and care hire. But sometimes, you’ll actually pay a lot more for the convenience of booking and paying for both the airfare and hotel in the same location.

At one package booking agent, you might be persuaded to book a flight from Sydney to the Big Apple (New York City, USA), and a seven night hotel stay at the Pennsylvania (near the Empire State Building), priced at $5,480. However, if you went to Qantas Airlines (Quantas.au.com) and the Hotel Pennsylvania (www.hotelpenn.com) and booked your flight and room separately, you’d pay $4,770. This isn’t always the case, of course, but sometimes packages aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

Make sure you check the rates, or you’ll think you’re getting a good deal while the booking site laughs all the way to the bank. The very same hotel stay can be the same price or even more expensive through a “discount” agency than if you booked through the hotel directly.

The moral of the story? Do your research! Make sure you know how much a night at a hotel is alone and then compare with your package rate to ensure you’re getting the savings you deserve.

Good Package Deals

Not all package deals are bad, as long as you know what you’re looking for. For example, your car rental agency may offer a free night at a participating hotel. The deal may be a third night free after a two-night stay, but if you’re planning on staying several days anyway, it’s a good deal.

Online Bookings to the Rescue

Some sites are just worth their weight in gold when trying to book cheap hotel rooms, and here are two that are priceless.

Wotif: (www.Wotif.com) This is a great online site to visit to get cheap hotel rates in Australia and abroad. You can book your cheap hotel room last minute or up to twenty-eight days in advance. Whether your holiday is in Australia, Scotland or Fiji, Wotif can help you book discount hotel rooms, bed and breakfasts, or apartments in thirty-five countries.

One great feature is that you can enter your travel information and compare hotels, apartments, and bed and breakfasts side by side. If you don’t have set travel plans, you can see which dates are cheaper and book accordingly. You can also advance your search by entering in different amenities you’d like, such as pool or a kitchenette.

A sampling of hotels around the world showed that indeed, Wotif provides cheap rates. Want to visit Walt Disney World? The Raddison Resort Orlando, FLA USA is a stone’s throw from this world-renowned family destination. For $100 a night ($185 a night full rate) you get a gorgeous room with two double beds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, exercise facility and a restaurant on site. The best partkids stay and eat for free as long as they are accompanied by one paying parent.

Want to stay in a Scottish castle for your holiday? The four-star Dalhousie House Castle and Spa in Edinburgh, Scotland offers a luxurious holiday experience that will make you feel like royalty. Standard castle room: $302 ($500 full price) and includes a double occupancy room in this 13th century fortress. For a little more ($350) you could stay in a themed castle room. They both will have their own comforts and bath.

Or perhaps you’d rather experience a decadent South Pacific holiday on Fiji. For $300 ($350 full rate) a night you can stay in the four-star Sonaisali Island Resort. Enjoy a restful holiday on a small island across the lagoon from mainland Fiji, with a health spa, tennis courts and a child minding program that includes sandcastle building. Children stay free of charge.

Smarter Travel: (www.Smartertravel.com) This is an awesome site to review if you want hotel, flight and car hire information. They have a page with links to assorted deals, such as booking a night at the Hilton in NYC and receiving free breakfast or free parking. If you’ve ever tried to park in Manhattan, you’ll realize what a bargain this is!

Plus you can’t beat the advice. In the Hotel section, the editor posts his/her favorite deal links which takes you to a detailed page that outlines the fine print (like having to stay for three nights, one being a weekend night). There are also sponsor deals to choose from.

The great thing about this site is that they aren’t doing the bookingthey link you to the hotel or sponsor in charge of the deal they advertise.

Check with Your Credit Card

This may sound silly, but checking with your credit card could result in cheap hotel rates. Sometimes the major credit card companies will link up with a hotel chain to promote travel and business in a specific area, giving discounts if the consumer uses their credit card.

For example, the Hilton Latin America and Visa have teamed up to give travelers a discounted rate on a stay at the Hilton hotels across Latin America if using a Visa card to pay. You’ll also get a continental breakfast and a generous credit toward food and beverage. Of course, there are conditions and limitations, such as a three-night stay, but if you’re traveling to somewhere as gorgeous as Buenos Aries, you’re going to want to stay for a long holiday.

Check Directly with the Hotel or Hotel Chain

Sometimes you can get a great deal by calling the hotel directly and asking about cheap hotel rooms. If you’re calling a chain, such as the Hilton, call the hotel in the town you’re staying in, as calling the main line will often get you an operator that’s located somewhere else. He/she may not know of the deals that particular hotel branch has to offer.

You can also check online for deals. You’ll find that a lot of different hotel chains will actually be able to beat the discount travel websites on a nightly price if you book direct with them.

In Conclusion

A holiday doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg in hotel fares alone. By doing some research, comparing rates and contacting companies you wouldn’t typically think of, you can definitely find a cheap hotel room. Then you can sit back and relax on that well-deserved holiday trip, knowing you didn’t have to pay top dollar.

Plan for a Global Base That Will Obliterate Costs

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:06:22 +0000

Talk to most organizational leaders about how the global marketplace can help them reduce costs, and visions of low-wage manufacturing employees seem to fill the leaders’ heads. Hiring such employees may well be an opportunity, but often that opportunity will be the least important part of your global cost-reduction business model.
The marketing opportunity can be vastly more significant than the production opportunity. In our overly commercialized world, authenticity becomes scarcer and scarcer.
Remote locations may provide access to original sources of designs, improved ways of preparing materials, and unique resources. Would as many people visit Australia if it didn’t have wild koalas and kangaroos?
People are intrigued by differences when they deepen their understanding of what interests them. I am constantly amazed, for instance, by how many different ways there are to make beer and vodka. Both were once seen as virtual commodities in the developed world.
Yet now these products splinter into ever more types, segments, and brands. Most of those unusual choices have their base in someone’s authentic old recipe, regionally admired ingredients, or local stories and culture.
Television is going the same way. More and more choices are provided, and the most popular new choices are often not new stories . . . but new locations. For instance, one of the more popular cable channels is the Discovery Channel, which allows people to travel vicariously and experience vastly new places from the comfort of their homes.
Network shows based on so-called reality like Survivor (where individuals set out in a remote location to compete against each other in survival skills) feel the need to move on to ever more exotic and remote locations that most people have never seen or heard of before. When you mix in authenticity in the right way from local sources, you greatly increase your sales and reduce your marketing costs.
Energy is one of those costs that many people don’t feel as if they can do very much about. But they are wrong. The cost of energy varies enormously around the world.
In some countries, energy is subsidized by the government. In other areas, plenty of direct sun and relatively few cloudy days provide low-cost opportunities for solar heating. Windy sites can use propellers to generate power. Strong tides in other areas can generate inexpensive electricity. Enormous rainfall in other regions provides the opportunity for low-cost power from hydroelectric dams without flooding a vast territory. Agricultural waste in some regions, such as bagasse from sugar cane, can be an inexpensive fuel to burn for electricity.
Similarly, raw materials are more available and less expensive in some places than others. When you are close to a low-cost source, you can expect your total costs to benefit as well. If that raw material is expensive to transport, you will often gain by doing your processing to upgrade its value closer to the source.
You can also see the globe as a living laboratory that’s open to all at low cost. Benefits, rituals, methods of interacting, and experiences spread rapidly from a few places into mass offerings.
One of the most curious examples of this trend involves fire walking where people walk across superheated rocks or burning coals in their bare feet. I first saw the practice in Fiji as part of a fertility ritual in 1986 that was slightly commercialized to entertain the tourists. By 1996, it was hard to avoid offers of courses that would let you directly participate in a fire walk experience.
In 1986 I was intrigued to see that the people in Fiji were able to accomplish this feat (pun intended), but could find no one to explain why it’s possible to us. By 1996, I was walking barefoot on red hot coals.
I still can’t explain the phenomenon, but I know it’s real. Experts argue that burning is avoided because wood is a poor conductor of heat to our feet and that our circulating blood helps cool the bottoms of our feet. Calluses undoubtedly assist, as well.
Successful companies often develop their offerings by creating a globalized version of an authentic product or experience. In essence, that’s part of what Walt Disney did in creating the original version of Disneyland. In Adventureland, you can still ride across the rivers of the world to experience the wildlife in a simulation of the real thing. In Frontierland, you live the life of a rugged American frontiersman or cowboy as depicted in more American B movies around the world than anyone can count. In Fantasyland, you walk through Sleeping Beauty’s castle (based on a real French chateau), drive wildly with Mr. Toad in England (drawing from children’s literature), and ride a boat through Storybook Land where Grimm’s Fairy Tales await. In Tomorrowland, you could formerly take an imaginary, but realistic-feeling, trip to the moon and back . . . all in 12 minutes. And now you can experience these same adventures and more in France and Japan where the American Main Street of 1890 probably seems as exotic to people who are native to those regions as the Jungle Cruise seems to Americans in California.
And, of course, if you are going to try to tap into everyone’s ideas such as Goldcorp and Procter & Gamble have done through their contests to lower costs, you are wise to go global. This broadening approach expands the number of ideas you can draw on and delivers you into greater diversity of thinking.
To date, a weakness of such contests has been assuming that primarily experts are the people who can help. That’s an incorrect assumption. In fact, nonexperts have a big advantage in that they come to problems and opportunities with fewer preconceived ideas.
In addition, many of the successful innovations for poor people have been designed by poor people with no technical expertise. Those who are interested in creating vast new markets need to engage these future consumers now.
Look beyond low-cost wages in exploring the potential for global cost reduction. What will you find?

My Sports Betting Story

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:05:48 +0000

I somehow was receiving these emails about sports betting champ over and over again, probably from back in the day of trying to find a way to earn money online and i freely went about entering my email address everywhere.

I was very sceptical about this and very concerned i was going to kiss away my hard earned for this program, however after one day of losing on the horses I was thinking there must be a better way. So I found a recent email I deleted and clicked on the link, I read through it over and over again, in fact so much so that I probably could have quoted the website word for word.

I had missed the 07/08 NBA season and was coming to the end of the MLB season and bit the bullet. I paid for the service and almost instantly I received the system in my email. Within days I had my first bet on MLB, being from Australia and knowing nothing about baseball I was hesitant to place a bet but I persisted and with my first bet I won back what I had paid for the program, my second bet came the very next day and wham I was already in profit after 2 bets I thought this was great. At the end of the MLB season I had a big enough bankroll that I paid cash for a 2 week holiday in Fiji which I am taking in March 09.

I was quite happy there and knew that there was still the NBA season to come which is sports betting champs claim to fame, now after a mere few weeks of NBA betting and having missed a few bets because of internet and laptop problems I’m at 100% and worked out just yesterday that based on my small conservative wagers I have profited over $500 in the last month alone.

I would recommend this to anyone who was interested in making money and let’s face it who isnt. The price of the program alone you can win back with your very first bet. Now that I have paid off a few bills and paid for my holiday in cash im looking at becoming less conservative with my wagers and am hoping over the next few months to triple my monthly profit which would be real handy for spending money on my holiday and also for extra Christmas presents.

This program is an absolute must, its foolproof and so easy to use, selections come via email and then you simply get online with a betting account and place the bet wait a few hours til the game is over and collect your winnings its that easy.

Why Survivor: Fiji is (and Will Continue to Be) Good

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:05:42 +0000

Survivor is an institution. The Mark Burnett reality show began its career as a huge phenomenon, popping up out of nowhere to become a runaway hit from the first episode it aired. Since, Survivor has continued its success and, although it doesn’t hit the huge numbers it did in its first couple of seasons, it still is an extremely profitable franchise.

Not many shows ever make it to 14 seasons and I guarantee not many people would’ve predicted this kind of longevity for Survivor during first season. Survivor (and reality TV in general) was regarded as a passing fad, a simple moment in time in TV history that would soon pass. As we have all found out, this is not the case. Oh, yes, there were a few seasons of reality show saturation, with all sorts of terrible knock-offs, but now, after the dust has settled, all the big name franchises remain, as strong as ever. If this isn’t an example of the staying power of reality TV, I don’t know what is. There are many self-righteous people out there to despise reality TV and its success, but their reasons are largely faulty. Why is reality drama less meaningful than scripted?

It’s not. Yes, of course the producers and editors have manipulative power in their hands and reality shows will play up things that they think will make good stories, but scripted drama is based upon audience manipulation. What goes on in scripts is false, it is made-up, yet we are supposed to feel for the characters. This is not at all an indictment of scripted TV, but a knock on those who dismiss reality TV completely.

Survivor has proven that reality TV can be great and is here to stay.

For more information about Survivor and especially about Why Survivor: Fiji is (and will continue to be) Good just visit this website http://www.buddytv.com

Fiji Honeymoon Resort

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:05:25 +0000

Fiji is considered by many to be a slice of paradise. It is perfect for vacations, hideaways and especially unforgettable honeymoons. When you’re in the market for the perfect place to enjoy a honeymoon while on the Fiji Islands, there is a resort that not only offers perfect and private accommodations to honeymooners, but amenities, adventures and VIP treatment that will continually remind a newlywed couple that their new life together is very special. If such treatment sounds intriguing, remember these three words: Koro Sun Resort. Please, continue to read on.

The Koro Sun Resort — The Perfect Fiji Honeymoon Resort

Before you’re tempted to book a honeymoon stay at the Koro Sun Resort, first consider a few of the facts about the resort property:

Located on the northern island of Vanua Levu, the Koro Sun Resort rests ideally away from the crowds on over 100 acres of virgin rainforest and white sand beaches. The crystal clear, warm waters of the Koro Lagoon spill into the Koro Sea leading to the vast South Pacific Ocean. The resort offers more than a few activities and adventures to choose from, perfect for guests whether they wish to relax for a week, or work up a lather exploring the surrounding rainforests.

Honeymoon Packages At The Koro Sun Resort — Fiji

As a honeymooner, the Koro Sun Resort offers a couple great ways to enjoy your special vacation through honeymoon packages. You can choose from accommodations such as a private and luxurious Bure (cottage style accommodation), or even the two story, deluxe Honeymoon Villa, offering 360-degree views of everything the resort has to offer, including panoramic views of the beautiful beaches and other outlying islands. With your honeymoon package, you’ll enjoy three gourmet meals daily that include a special, first night’s dinner for two in a private, candlelit setting, followed by a first morning’s champagne breakfast.

The Rainforest Spa located in the Koro Sun rainforest will provide you and your spouse with a his and her massage, and you’ll be able to enjoy all of the activities available through the resort, including participation in a weekly Lovo and Meke, if you choose, or something more private if a group celebration doesn’t appeal to you.

Koro Sun Fiji Adventures Perfect For The Honeymooning Couple

What do you want your honeymoon to consist of? Adventure? Relaxation? Lazy days and romantic nights? The Koro Sun Resort will heed the call of your desires, and make your honeymoon a truly memorable event. Choose from activities such as golf, tennis, volleyball, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba, deep-sea fishing, rainforest trekking, waterfall explorations, hiking, biking or boating. The Koro Sun Marina offers you the ability to rent a watercraft and enjoy some time far from everyone and everything except your new spouse.

If you plan to embark on a few of your own activities, for example, a massage and facial from the Rainforest Spa for her and golf for him, you can also toss credit to the Koro Sun for allowing you to so peacefully begin your marriage compromises!

Though there are several choices for Fiji honeymoon resorts, if you want to enjoy privacy with the potential for a little or a lot of activity, the Koro Sun Resort will be a perfect Fiji honeymoon choice.

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