A Few Miles Traveled

Save Bucks on Fashionable Eyewear

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:54:00 +0000

It's good to see your kids getting ready for school. However, it's so sad to realize that their eyes are not yet ready for school. Their eyeglasses must have signs of breaking up. And despite the fact that you want to buy them new pair of eyeglasses, your budget is probably the problem. I would recommend that you watch Zenni Optical on TV!!! and choose from their $ 8 Rx eyeglasses that your children will surely brag about. It won't only make you save a lot but they are also fashionable for your kids to say High Five to Zenni Optical .

Business Loans to Back You Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:53:00 +0000

Personal matters are said to be things that can wait as it needs more analysis than that of a business. But if you think applying for personal loans is what you really need at this point in time, you can do so. Don't hold yourself from doing what you want, especially if that can make you feel fine. But if you are more of a businessman than a sentimental being, it's high time that you keep an eye on your business. The global economic crisis might be on its way to trim your business down, or it might be soon lead to bankcruptcy if you take it for granted.

Of course, budget is one important aspect that you also have to consider in keeping your business stand still. If that is what bothering you lately, worry no more because ezunsecured.com is here to back you up. It offers business loans for entrepreneurs who have always dreamed of having a successful business in town or around the world.

Sure, you are interested to avail it. Who wouldn't be when your business credit is at stake? Why wait for bankcruptcy to put you down when in fact you can actually have greater chances of winning back the pride and effort you have done for your business. It's not yet too late. You can lean on them at anytime you decide of getting a loan from them. "Don't waste time calling anyone else - If you need Unsecured Financing for your Business, use EZUnsecured.com - They are the only Company that can be trusted - It's a Jungle out there!"

It's Summer Time in Bora Bora!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:02:00 +0000

It's already February and summer season is already fast approaching. I am actually planning to bring my family in Bora Bora this coming summer vacation. I'm sure my wife and my son will be happier when they hear my plan. They always feel excited to travel to faraway places, especially in the islands.

How about you? Are you planning for an upcoming island vacation? Sure, you want to visit somewhere that is a little different than your place. It's so easy when you visit resorts in Bora Bora. It is one of the beautiful tourist spots in French Polynesia. Finding this unique spot to spend your summer vacation can be fulfilling and memorable for your family or friends. Perhaps, you will all gasp with awe upon seeing its beauty as it is the first time that you will get to see such a wonderful place that ever existed on earth.

Grabbing your chance of Tahiti vacation is perfect for fun and relaxation on the beach. If you visit the place on summer season, you will be amazed to find that the ocean is calm and serene. You will be lucky enough to take a glimpse of the sunrise and sunset when you sit on the beach along with your family or friends. If you love boating, this is the perfect place to do your hobby.You can rent a boat or try riding on a chartered boat fishing cruise. If you have kids who are below 16, you don't have to worry about them because Bora Bora is a licensed resort to entrust your safety. It will be more fun if the activity is done with the whole family.

If you choose to roam around the vicinity, you can also do so and see a better view of the ground. You may also consider horse-back riding during sunset. Shopping stores are also around so you can shop some souvenirs for your love-ones. Whatever your plan is, I would suggest that you try the famous Bora Bora. You will get to see a large beach with people who are having fun and you can see it in their faces that they are all enjoying their vacation.

I Care for My Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:14:00 +0000

I've been wanting to go to an optical clinic to have my eyes checked. My sight is getting blurry sometimes and I'm afraid that this might get worsen if I failed to have it checked so soon. I am still weighing my budget for the doctor's check-up fee and new eyeglasses. Yes, I prioritized Seeing Straight Without Breaking Bank. And I was once told by a friend that I can always go to an optical clinic for an eye check-up as it is always important to know the right eyeglasses I would need. But when it comes to purchasing eyeglasses, he suggested that I better find the cheap but high-quality eyeglasses over the internet.

So it's what I did. A while ago, I was browsing the net and searched for a Prescription eyeglasses for only $8! The search engine show me a lot of links, but what caught my attention was the headline Zenni Optical in the New York Times?! Of course, I got interested not only because New York Times is a renowned news source, but also because it features an optical source which is so timely for it is what I am really looking for. New York Times suggested that if people were to find cheap high quality eyeglasses, we must opt to one of Zenni Optical's stylish eyeglasses and not to mention their frames are way cheaper than other optical stores.

When I visit their site, I was surprised to see a lot of stylish eyeglasses. And I promise to get the one I am eyeing for. It looks stylish and elegant so no worry about looking old when wearing it.

4 Reasons Why Traveling During a Recession is a Good Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:28:00 +0000

Ever thought of traveling in a recessionary economy? I bet not. During recession, everybody wants to earn money or save it, so travels are often out of the question because that will be spending money rather than saving or generating it. It is counterproductive, to say the least.

And yet, it is that very reason that makes travelling attractive during recession: everybody else wants to earn they will give their best to a tourist. You will receive better service, discounted fares, reduced accommodation costs, and less competition for attention along the way.

Discounted fares

The cost of oil has dropped from $150 to about $70 a barrel. This means airplane flight costs would have gone down by a significant percentage, which should translate to lower airfares. Since in a recession few people will travel due to lack of means --money is tight- the airlines will offer promos and more discounts in their effort to lure the small numbers of tourists their way. What works for airlines will be repeated by other transportation companies including cruise ships and tour buses. This will be very advantageous to the recession tourist.

Better service

The smaller number of tourists will urge service providers and employees of hotels, casinos, and similar establishments to perform better service. In a recession, many people will be out of jobs so there will be fierce competition for existing ones as well as vacancies. Therefore any employee who performs lower than the desirable levels would be in greater danger of being fired. Who would want to be out of a job when there are no alternative employments?

Likewise, the reduced number of clients will enable the staff, for example, to more easily familiarize with their clients, and the staff's smaller workload will give them longer time to attend to their clients' needs. Fewer visitors, reduced work: special treatment, better service.

Lower room rates

In the same manner as that of the airlines, accommodation providers that depend on tourism will compete with each other more fiercely for the smaller number of potential clients. Common methods of attracting visitors are reducing room rates, offering lower prices for groups and package tours. In whatever way it is done, the visitor will enjoy the benefits of less expense than normal.

Less competition for attention

Let us put it this way. If a provider's -tourist guide, hotel staff, resort attendant, restaurant waiter- attention is 100 units and you are in a group of 50, you get only two units of the attention as your share. If your group is only five, you get 20 units, which is of course markedly better. And this is applicable in all aspects of the travel in terms of service, from the flight stewardess to the tuk-tuk driver, the bartender to the masseuse, the bellhop to the hotel manager. This will be the resulting boon for a recession traveler, to be treated with extra-special care.

Why travel during a recession? One reason: you can expect to be treated royally but less expensively. Therefore more enjoyable, right?

7 Golden Rules of Travel Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Did you ever hear of the "golden rule?" The golden rule states to "treat others as you would want to be treated." This is great advice for anyone who is about to travel, especially if you're visiting a foreign country.

Most travel writers are probably unaware of the "golden rules of travel writing." Whether you're an aspiring or experienced travel writer, it's good to know and review the golden rules of travel writing. These rules can help you stay on track with your writing. Refer to them at anytime if you're stuck or need inspiration.

Golden Rules

Travel as much as you can. It's not necessary for you to travel around the world. Travel within your own backyard and discover something new and then write about it. Your discoveries will be interesting to someone, somewhere.
Write every day. Even if you write for an hour each day, the point is to write! This is a great way to improve upon your travel writing skills.
Read publications such as National Geographic and Travel + Leisure Magazine. If you have a plan to reach a goal of writing for one of these publications then start by reading them. This is a great way to learn what types of articles are printed. Pay attention to the style and tone of each article.
Take a travel writing course or two. It will not hurt you to sign up for a travel writing course.
Join a writing group. You can join writing groups online or where you live. Visit Meetup.com and see what's available. Make sure to check out your local bookstore because they usually have book clubs and writing groups.
Purchase a couple of travel writing books. L. Peat O'Neil's book See the World, Sell a Story is a fantastic book. It's packed with useful information and you'll find great resources at the end.
Do not give up! Sometimes success takes time. Avoid giving up too soon before your dream is realized. Go with the flow and detach from your dream. This may sound contradictory from what you're used to doing. If you hold onto something and try to force it to happen, you can sabotage your dream. Take a step back, breathe deep, and just write. Visualize yourself being a travel writer but do not become obsessed with it. If you do, you" put out an energy that reeks of desperation. You'll create situations where you find yourself feeling desperate all of the time. This will only hinder your chances of being successful in travel writing.

Follow these golden rules and your travel writing will be good as gold! Refer back to them as often as you need to do so. It's important to nurture your travel writing and yourself. Don't be too hard on yourself. Remember, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey you take to get there.

Our website is dedicated to aspiring and experienced travel writers. You'll find inspiration, encouragement, and education on everything travel writing.

Sign up for our weekly blog recap. If you're about to travel this is a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest in travel writing. Also, check out our forum. If you have a question, login, and with a click of a button you'll have the answer to your question.

All Inclusive Travel Packages

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:24:00 +0000

Every day people are facing a lot of stress, may it be related to their personal relationships with others or their careers. That's why a lot are looking for ways to somehow get away from these, even for a short time. The problem, however, is that the prices of commodities have risen greatly that traveling is already considered very expensive, especially when you have your family or friends with you.

But things have changed; it is not that the costs have come down, but nowadays, we can already get cheap travel packages that include everything that is needed. This means when you choose these all inclusive travel packages, do not need to spend on anything else-unless you want to.

A few years earlier, the middle-class people could never even dream of holidays in places like Mexico or the Caribbean or even in Hawaii; but now, it is the middle class who really look forward to such holidays, and it is well within their grasp, thanks to the cheap all inclusive travel packages.

Nevertheless, it may take sometime before people can get used to the idea. After all, isn't it how many times that we get fooled by cheap rates with hidden costs. It may slowly change your mind, though, when you come to know the amenities and services that could possibly be included in the all inclusive travel packages. They could mean the inclusion of your airfare, meals, drinks, and a 5-star accommodation. There can be additional perks, such as complementary souvenir items or a day tour.

You can look forward to a lot of things, so you know that with these types of travel packages, you're getting the best of both worlds: comfort and fun at a very low price.

If you think that finding companies that provide such packages is tough, then you should know that there are plenty of options. For one, you can always scout for a travel agent, who can offer you the best possible rates for this type of package. You can find him or her in the World Wide Web. Normally, these travel agencies come up with such offers throughout the year.

Some all inclusive travel packages are not only contained in beaches and other exotic beaches, but may also include cruises. This means that you and your loved ones will be able to visit a number of countries or cities in a specified number of days aboard the best cruise ships in the world.

You can also get the most of your all inclusive packages during your vacation if you use it during off season. At these times, the rates are incredibly at their lowest. What's more, there are lesser people, so you can far better enjoy your privacy. There can even be discounts offered on items and services that are not included in the package.

With these all inclusive travel options, exotic locations all around the world have become tourist destinations for all, whether you are rich or poor. If you always wanted to visit your dream place at a far lower cost, then what are you waiting for? Find such packages and realize your dreams.

Travel Rewards Cards - Taking the Benefits With You

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:22:00 +0000

The credit cards are extensively used anywhere in world. The people find it very handy to have a card that provides lot of convenience & flexibility. As lots of people are also finding it helpful, some credit companies are planning ways to attract prospective clients and their present customers in turn for them to be satisfied with the services.

The benefit programs like the reward credit cards that serve as pioneering instrument to stay cutthroat in market. If you are frequent traveler, then you can find having a reward card extremely useful. Alternatively, if do not travel, it is best not to get reward travel card since its advantages are usually counterbalance by the hidden charges & high annual fees.

Certainly, you gain the rewards points, which can be transformed in airline miles for the purchases that charged to your credit card. Certainly, total amount you require charging to your travel card will need to be important for you to attain sufficient airline miles in order to claim free flight. This as well states that you need to charge a little to your card every month. To reap full rewards, it is good that you pay off the outstanding card balances each month that it is not caught with peak of debt with the high interest rates.

It will not be long prior to you claim for free flights for well-deserved vacation. What is more, the rewards points might at times be claimable for the free hotel rooms also, making you true smart explorer! Other advantages of travel rewards card comprise of hotel discounts, the travel insurance and car rental discounts. Few of these credit cards comprise of car insurance coverage & purchaser assurance plans.

There are some attributes of the travel rewards cards that you must look at while selecting right card to get. Initially, these credit reward some sum of free miles on support of your request or first charge to credit card. Some other points of assessment include value of every mile, which you will get. For instance, a few travel awards credit cards 1 point for each $1 spent, whereas others might reward one point for each $2 spent. Thus, credit cards that reward extra points for the lower card charges can enable you to build up rewards points at greater pace.

The airline awards credit cards are most popular kind of plastics, in accordance with the recent cardholder polls. Obviously so, as these credits cards were original companies to present the rewards. To earn very best inducements, there are some tips & tricks to follow. Ensure to pay the bills in full each month. Choose the card with supple reward schemes. And do your homework to find out various profit packages, like the special purchase inducement, redemption policies, or else promotions. Irrespective of which common airline rewards card that you select, always keep in mind that these particular cards have got credit fees and corresponding APR rate, like any other card has.

Best Travel Writing - Top 10 Travel Novels

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:21:00 +0000

It's hard to find great travel writing, but it's out there. Part of the reason for this is that so much travel writing is also considered nature writing or narrative non-fiction. Part of the reason is that the field is so competitive because of a lot of good authors competing for a relatively small market space. But there is a wide array of great travel fiction out there, and here is my list of the best ten travel novels I've read over the past couple years.

10) Through Painted Deserts, by Donald Miller. This is one I actually found in the "Christian Non-Fiction" section, which can be unfair. There's no question Miller is a Christian, but he's a writer first and foremost, he's not preachy, and his questioning of his own faith, of reasons for existence, of who and what he is or is becoming is reminiscent of the fantastic soul searching that came from the travel writing of the Beat generation. Miller's account of his trip is great, going through the moments of beauty, the necessity of good road trip music, and admitting his moments of embarrassment and fear as freely as any other part of his journey.

9) Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald. The early reading of this book can be hard, because after the first few chapters there's a lot of the Western perspective, the whining of living conditions and poverty, the type of scorn you don't care to read from travel writing. I'm glad I read the rest, because like "Through Painted Deserts," "Holy Cow" is about the author's journey. Sarah evolves and changes chapter to chapter in front of you as she sheds the scornful nature of an atheist "too smart" to fall for superstition, and she opens up, traveling through India and sampling all the different religious beliefs and practices as she becomes a humble Theist who learns happiness, learns to grow, and learns that alien cultures can have a lot to offer the open traveler.

8) Into the Wild by John Krakauer. I first caught sight of this book at a Barnes and Noble on one of the feature tables. I was on winter break from Alaska and visiting family in Iowa. I picked up the book, sat down, and read the entire work in one sitting. Travel book, journalistic book, nature book, adventure book-whatever you call it, this is one heck of a read, and the debate this book causes is deep and passionate. As a wanderlust traveler, I understand the drive the main character feels, as an Alaskan, I understand the native perspective of irritation, of the lack of understanding that nature is brutal and especially Alaska needs to be respected as such.

7) Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown, by Paul Theroux. Paul Theroux is at his best in "Dark Star Safar," where his skills of observation and his dry wit are on full display. Paul takes readers the length of Africa via overcrowded rattletrap bus, dugout canoe, cattle truck, armed convoy, ferry, and train in a journey that is hard to forget. There are moments of beauty, but there are also many moments of misery and danger. This is a narration of Africa that goes beyond the skin deep to dare to look at the deeper core of what is often referred to as "The Dark Continent."

6) Blue Highways: A Journey Into America, by William Least Heat-Moon. This is an auto-biographical travel journey taken by Heat-Mean in 1978. After separating from his wife and losing his job, Heat-Moon decided to take an extended road trip around the United States, sticking to "Blue Highways," a term to refer to small out of the way roads connecting rural America (which were drawn in blue in the old Rand McNally atlases). So Heat-Moon outfits his van, named "Ghost Dancing" and takes off on a 3-month soul-searching tour of the United States. The book chronicles the 13,000 mile journey and the people he meets along the way, as he steers clear of cities and interstates, avoiding fast food and exploring local American culture on a journey that is just as amazing today as when he first took the journey.

5) The Lost Continent, by Bill Bryson. There are tons of fantastic Bill Bryson books out there, and any one of them could hold this spot here. "The Lost Continent" is Bryson's trip across America, visiting some common places (the grand canyon), but also exploring the back roads and looking for that familiarity that helps him remember home.

4) Wanderlust: Real-Life Tales of Adventures and Romance by Pico Iyer. Probably one of the best travel writing collections released in recent memory, this collection is under the name Pico Iyer, who helped to edit this collection. These stories come from the "Wanderlust" section of Salon.com and create a varied tapestry of travel writing that will keep the reader flipping from one writer to another.

3) A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. This is one of the all time modern classics in travel literature, as Peter Jenkins recalls the story of his 1973-1975 walk from New York to New Orleans. For many readers, this remains a rare travel book that grips you and keeps you. Known as a travel writer who will walk anywhere, including Alaska and China, Peter Jenkins says, "I started out searching for myself and my country and found both." That sums up what travel writing should be all about.

2) Travels w/ Charlie by John Steinbeck. This was a novel that helped John Steinbeck win a Nobel Prize in Literature. "Travels with Charlie" is a fantastic travel narrative that gets to the heart of travel, the point of the trip, and the strange confrontation and realization that the places and people you remember are gone once you are. As he revisits the places of his youth that many of his books are based on, he realizes on seeing old friends that they're as uncomfortable with him being back as he is with being there. A great story about travel, about home, about mourning lost history, about aging, and about America-this should be required reading for every high school student.

1) The Dharma Bums, by Jack Kerouac. The beat generation was full of great travel narratives, and Jack Kerouac was the master of powerful, moving, passionate language that unfolded stories like few people have ever managed. While "On the Road" is the most often pointed to travel narrative by Kerouac, "The Dharma Bums" is a better book. Full of passion, interesting characters and stories, and the kind of passionate language and powerful prose that made the beat generation writers popular, this Kerouac book is extraordinary and deserving of its number one spot.

Travel Books - Compilation of Accurate Travel Information

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:20:00 +0000

The travel books are a wonderful means of gaining information about travel, travel routes and other travel related information. These books really act as a virtual guide for people who are true aspirants of tour and travel. Travel books give a detailed information of the various routes available for visiting a place and the means to commute.

These books normally concentrate on a particular place or destination. However, there are also categories that give a broad coverage of destinations. Such coverage include a number of places in one region. But whenever the travel books give coverage to one place, it is detailed information about the tourist spots. So, the tourists are absolutely kept alert about the tour package for touring a place. This is absolutely convenient for people as they can now avail the right services for they are in full knowledge about the do's and do not's after reading the travel related books.

The travel books are meant to provide an itinerary to travelers aspiring to travel to several destinations of the world. The travel literature is a genre in itself. These books document the travel literature and store them as a knowledge pool for people to get the right kind of information. The books are incorporated with fascinating pictures of tourist destinations and places. These pictures give viewers a through understanding and the readers get a glimpse of a place before visiting it. The unique and informative content make tourists fall in love with a place. It is only then that they decide to visit the place during their vacations or holidays.

Some of the best examples of travel books are lonely Planet, Rick Steves, Moon Handbooks, Michelin, Eyewitness Guides and more. These books give complete information about a destination. Tour packages are compiled to help tourists choose the most suitable travel package keeping in mind the time in their hand. People find it very convenient for it acts as a capsule that gives complete information about tourist destinations on earth. So, it is recommended that tourists read such books before taking up tour to a place.

Get Paid to Travel the World - And Never Hold a Job

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:18:00 +0000

Wouldn't it be great to travel the world and get paid for doing so? When most people think about traveling, they think of the two outdated 'travel models.'

1) Work really, really hard and save a lot of money. Once you have 'enough cash,' you travel for as long as you can before going broke and getting another job (or go back to your old one).

2) Travel as a part of your job. These would be low-paying jobs like working on a cruise ship, as a tour guide, bartender, adventure sport instructor, or simply getting a regular job in an exotic location. A better option, to be sure, but...

How can you travel wherever your heart desires, 'working' at something that fascinates you? The answer is closer that you may imagine, and a lot more attainable. No, you don't have to sell anything to your friends or join a cult. I present to you option 3.

3) Utilize simple technology to automatically provide people with value. For doing so, you make money.

Sound like fun? It definitely is.

The underground movement of travelers who hold no jobs and 'work' out of internet café's and on laptops a few hours a day (or a week) grows larger every day. Here are some quick ways you can join this group.

Film your travel adventures and drive Internet traffic using your videos. You're taking pictures and videos anyway, so why not make some money for doing so? Did you know you can use sites like YouTube and Flickr to send traffic to websites that will PAY you for the traffic?

Write about your travel adventures. Most 'travel writers' work like mad to make a few measly hundred bucks selling their stories to travel magazines. Instead, land a high-paying job on Elance or Guru... or better yet, post your stories to your own easy-to-create blog and make a Google Adsense income off of your readers.

Become a salesman for the biggest store in the world... Ebay! This is one of the most under-appreciated travel-income methods of all time. Most people think they have to ship a physical product on Ebay... which limits your inventory to what you could fit in your luggage or backpack. Unfortunately (fortunately for you!) this is completely wrong. You can sell digital products like e-books and courses on Ebay and never pay a red-cent for shipping. For physical products, you can also easily setup a fulfillment center that will ship your stuff without your ever having to lift a finger.

Drive internet traffic to sites using simple techniques. Can you get on an online forum and answer other people's questions about a subject? Then you've got enough skill to drive internet traffic! If you send traffic to websites looking for customers on your subject, you can get paid for it.

Making an income while traveling isn't as difficult as it may seem... you just need to take action on a few simple steps that not many people know about. Soon, you will be making more money while traveling than you would if you had a 9-5 job! The only thing stopping you is taking action.

Before You Go - A Medical Travel Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Did you know that nearly half of all visitors to developing countries get sick during their stays? So go prepared! For example, I always take a small packet of first-aid items: salve for infections, aspirins, lozenges and band-aids. Divide your prescriptions between two bags so that you will always have some of your medications. Make sure you have adequate prescriptions for your trip, and also know the generic equivalent in case you need to purchase some while on your trip.

For each overseas trip I also go through a medical checklist. I have listed several important items:

• Buy insurance before you travel. Some countries require that you be insured before you apply for a visa. In cases like this getting international medical insurance is not an option. You will not get a visa for your destination without proper health insurance.

• Update your routine immunizations. Diseases that are eradicated in your home country are not eradicated around the world. Go to your family doctor and update your routine immunizations: tetanus, pneumonia, polio, influenza and measles-mumps-rubella.

• Get special immunization. Determine what special immunizations may also be needed for your target destination. Often you can find this information on the web; for example, Center for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov or World Health Organization at www.who.int.

• Obtain helpful documentation. If you suffer from a chronic or pre-existing condition, it would be good for you to have a short medical history on hand, along with the name, address and fax or email address of your physician. Don't forget to include any allergies you have, especially if you are allergic to certain medications. If you can, keep prescriptions in original packaging. A letter from your doctor stating that you need certain medications would be a great help in getting through customs if you run into a problem.

• Include these items in your International Travel Supplies Kit. Sunscreen, Band Aids, Antiseptics, Hand Gel, Travel and Evacuation Insurance, Sunglasses, First Aid Kit, Mosquito Repellent, Passport and copy of passport stored in another location, Spare glasses, Thermometer, Diarrheal Rx, Prescription Meds in Original Bottles, Analgesics (Tylenol, Asprin, etc), and Malaria Prophylaxis.

• Check airline regulations for liquid medications allowed on board. The Transportation Security Administration prohibits any liquids over 3 ounces to be in your hand luggage. However, certain medications are allowed. Please check TSA online or talk with an airline representative.

Credit Cards and Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:15:00 +0000

A common question among the avid traveler is "Will a credit card actually benefit me when I travel a lot?" I can sum this all up in one word and it's "yes" but you have to have the right card and you need to use it properly before you can actually take advantage of it. Before you just start swiping any credit card out there, there are some things you should know about your card before you use it.

You need the right card - Before you start swiping that card, make sure that you have a "travel based credit card". If you don't have a card that's travel based, you're probably not getting the rewards you deserve. Sure, there are cash back cards out there that will give you 1-2% back on everything but there are travel cards out there that will give you 5% back. If you want to maximize your rewards on travel, look into this niche based card. Other than that, sure you may save but how much will you save?

Use it properly - if you don't use your card the right way, you're not going to take advantage of the rewards and let me explain. Let's say your interest rate is 13% and you have a $500 balance. Let's say you only pay off $250 for that month. Now, you're going to have that APR tacked onto that leftover $250. In the long haul, you're going to pay more toward that interest rate than you would the rewards. It's important that you pay your card off in full each month and never miss a payment. This way, you won't have to worry about any fees at all.

Watch your rewards - This one goes alongside with picking out the right card. If you're getting a card where you only get 5 times the points on airline A and you fly airline B all the time, I think you picked out the wrong card. You're going to want to pick out the card where you can maximize on airline B. This is why it's important to be loyal to an airline. When you find yourself loyal to an airline, you're going to get more rewards and some high perks like boarding early, getting gifts or even getting upgrades on your next flight. Airlines love it when people continue to fly their airlines only.

It's not hard to pick out the right card. Usually when someone asks me about a travel card, I will tell them to look for an airline that offers a card that they fly through. While I think it's important to be loyal to an airline, I can understand why some people want to find a cheap flight and they don't care about loyalty. What they don't understand is that in the long run, the gifts and rewards might outbalance the savings that they have occurred just by going the cheap route. The next time you fly, try out a card. If you like it, keep using it, if not, just shred and cancel, it's that easy!

Start saving on travel with the best travel credit cards on the market at FINDairlinecards.com, where you can find even more of Tom's work.

Hassle-Free Essay

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:28:00 +0000

You knew it all along that in every desire to achieve something has its equivalent challenge to face. That’s what I have gone through for so many years, and even today.

Well, challenging myself today is a little bit okay than when I was still in school/university. Why? It’s because I have always been aiming to achieve high grades and be in the honor roll. I am happy with the results though. The effort has paid me off. But come to think of it, if ever I’ll go back to college by next semester or probably next school year, would I still be able to handle my hectic schedule? That’s the question that is bothering me all along.

I have been a student and I know how challenging it is to be dealing with studies. Well, on my part yes because I make sure that I would be getting only high grades so I was pressuring myself then. But now that I am already working, it would be very difficult for me to adjust my hectic schedule especially if going to college would also mean making a thesis. That one is a very difficult part to be involved with both work and dissertation.

It’s just a good thing that I chanced upon on custom-writing.org where essay professionals are willing to extend their knowledge and help so every student who needs to work on an essay or thesis would just have the choice to buy essay. It’s hassle-free, right? So why invite your eyebags in burning a midnight candle when you can actually have a ready-made essay or thesis when you visit the site?

Zenni Optical was on FOX news

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:52:00 +0000

Suffering from eyestrain makes your day dull and boring. So your last resort is to wear eyeglasses. However, when you are going to find one, make sure that you get the Incredible Stylish New Frames From Zenni. You can surely get the right choice because Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses are of various styles you can choose from. So if you are looking for an eyeglasses, you got to read the Zenni Optical was on FOX news!.

Meeting with the Boss

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:25:00 +0000

7:30 a.m. SHARP! That's our meeting time with the boss. No late! Maybe that was her reason why she booked us in a hotel near our office. Anyway, just like the meetings we had before, the atmosphere is still cool and fun. We are all boys except for one auditor and the boss, of course. So what do you expect? Hehehe!

It's not a stiff and boring meeting like other companies would usually have. We are free to crack jokes even with the boss around. But we know how to approach the meeting with formality, of course. What we, the guys, love most about our monthly meeting is the resto treat of our dearest boss. From breakfast down to dinner, we can fill our stomach with the best foods we want. There's no limit when it comes to the order. As long as we can eat it all, then we are free to order the meal. And not just that, we always have it at the best restos our boss loves to hang out. Like for our breakfast, we usually have it at McDo; our lunch and dinner at Maxx or Chowking. But just recently, ma'am introduced to us her fave resto so far. I will post about it next time. The ambiance is a native Filipino style, and the food is so great!

at the office while waiting for the busy boss...

Me on a hot seat...

at the native resto...

Our workaholic boss...(peace, ma'am!)

Trying to look serious...

I just can't...I want to outburst my laughter (smile!)

The meeting had ended past 8:00 in the evening. Just right for our dinner date with the boss. After that, we headed straight to the hotel to catch some sleep because I had to wake up early tomorrow to catch a good bus going back to Legazpi.

at Orange Place Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:27:00 +0000

My boss had already booked me at Orange Place Hotel a night before I arrived Manila. My fellow field auditor joined me in the room (oops...d kami talo! hahaha!) We spent the night laughing at our own stories. We even joked about the sudden escape of my coordinator who was supposed to be with us inside the room that night. Before he left, he said that he'll just go out and come back again. But he didn't show up hahaha! He might have spent the night at her girlfriend's boarding house hahaha! Well, it was just part of our joke.

alang magawa kaya palitan kami ng buddy ko mgpicture2x hehehe!

O jan ka na lang muna nyahahaha! may gagawin lang ako (joke!)

Where's Your Loyalty?

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:08:00 +0000

Watch Sermons Online

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:18:00 +0000

Religions are spreading worldwide with their own convictions and missions in the world. But all of them have their main goal, and that is to spread the Good News of our Lord. If you are a preacher or you know someone who preaches God’s word, you might want to upload sermons or watch sermons online at PreacherTV.com.

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:24:00 +0000

I left Metro Manila at 11:00 a.m. yesterday. I am supposed to catch a bus earlier than that but I don't know why there were a lot of passengers yesterday and that left me waiting for available passenger seats. It was just a good thing that I finally got one although it's near lunch time. I arrived home at 12:15 a.m. and my hon waited for me at that hour. I missed her and Bendyk and if the budget permits, I'd bring them along when I come back to Manila.

So much for this, I need to take a nap since I hardly slept when I was in Manila.

On My Way to Manila Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Wed, 14 May 2008 12:28:00 +0000

It's getting late and this will only be quick. We'll be having our meeting with the boss on the 16th so I have to be in Manila tomorrow night. I just reserved a ticket at Philtranco this afternoon. I'm glad that it's off-season so I was able to choose a more innovative bus from Philtranco. Hope that it'll be a no-hassle trip to and fro Manila. It's been awhile since I get there. Maybe a year ago.

Anyway, I'm sure I will miss my hon and of course, my daddy's boy prince. I'll just find something for them when I get there. Need to sleep now. Goodnight!

A Lesson for a Lifetime

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:12:00 +0000

Le'mme share this very inspiring story with you peeps...

When I arrived at 6 a.m. in the large hospital kitchen, Rose was already checking name tags on the trays against the patient roster. Stainless steel shelves held rows of breakfast trays which we would soon be serving.

"Hi, I'm Janet." I tried to sound cheerful, although I already knew Rose's reputation for being impossible to work with. "I'm scheduled to work with you this week."

Rose, a middle-aged woman with graying hair, stopped what she was doing and peered over her reading glasses. I could tell from her expression she wasn't pleased to see a student worker.

"What do you want me to do? Start the coffee?"

Rose sullenly nodded and went back to checking name tags.

I filled the 40-cup pot with cold water and began making the coffee when Rose gruffly snapped, "That's not the way to make coffee." She stepped in and took over.

"I was just doing it the way our supervisor showed us to do it," I said in astonishment.

"The patients like the coffee better the way I do it," she replied curtly.

Nothing I did pleased her. All morning her eagle eyes missed nothing and her sharp words stung. She literally trailed me around the kitchen.

Later, after breakfast had been served and the dishes had been washed, I set up my share of trays for the next meal. Then I busied myself cleaning the sink. Certainly Rose couldn't criticize the way I did that.

When I turned around, there stood Rose, rearranging all of the trays I had just set up!

Totally exhausted, I trudged the six blocks home from the University of Minnesota Hospital late that June afternoon. As a third year university student working my way through school, I had never before encountered anyone like Rose.

Fighting back tears, I wrestled with my dilemma alone in my room. "Lord, what do you want me to do? I can't take much more of Rose."

I turned the possibilities over in my mind. Should I see if my supervisor would switch me to work with someone else? Scheduling was fairly flexible. On the other hand, I didn't want to be a quitter. I knew my older co-workers were watching to see if my actions matched my words.

The answer to my prayer caught me completely by surprise -- I needed to love Rose.

Love her? No way! Tolerate, yes, but loving her was impossible.

"Lord, I can't love Rose. You'll have to do it through me."

Working with Rose the next morning, I ignored the barbs thrown in my direction and did things Rose's way as much as possible to avoid friction. As I worked, I silently began to surround Rose with a warm blanket of prayers. "Lord, help me love Rose. Lord, bless Rose."

Over the next few days an amazing thing began to happen. As I prayed for this irritating woman, my focus shifted from what she was doing to me, and I started seeing Rose as the hurting person she was. The icy tension began to melt away.

Throughout the rest of the summer, we had numerous opportunities to work together. Each time she seemed genuinely happy to see me. As I worked with this lonely woman, I listened to her--something no one else had done.

I learned that she was burdened by elderly parents who needed her care, her own health problems, and an alcoholic husband she was thinking of leaving.

The days slipped by quickly as I finished the last several weeks of my summer job. Leaves were starting to turn yellow and red, and there was a cool, crispness in the air. I soon would be returning as a full-time university student.

One day, while I was working alone in one of the hospital kitchens, Rose entered the room. Instead of her blue uniform, she was wearing street clothes.

I looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you working today?"

"I got me another job and won't be working here no more," she said as she walked over and gave me a quick hug. "I just came to say good-bye." Then she turned abruptly and walked out the door.

Although I never saw Rose again, I still remember her vividly. That summer I learned a lesson I've never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose--irritating, demanding, unlovable - yet hurting inside. I've found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend.

"Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked."
Luke 6:35 NLT

Why Do Men and Women Cheat?

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:14:00 +0000

Why do men and women cheat? And what can be done about it?

Infidelity or extramarital affairs have been extensively studied over the past two decades and a lot has been discovered. Unfortunately, most of the evidence indicates being faithful to a single romantic partner is difficult to do.

To start with, human sexuality is incredibly complex. Decisions about our sexual behavior are typically not planned in advance. Few people intentionally plan on committing infidelity (at least the first time it happens).

When making promises to be faithful, most people are serious and have every intention of keeping their word. But while people generally have the best intentions when making such promises, human behavior is not always governed by the fact that vows were taken and promises were made.

When it comes to making decisions about love and betrayal, logic and reason have a difficult time competing with our emotions for control. Simply put, logic and reason often take the backseat to our emotions when it comes to love and romance. So from time to time, our emotions can get the best of us and lead us down paths we had no intention of traveling.

In short, most infidelity occurs, not because it is planned, but because people find themselves in situations where their emotions lead them astray.

What types of situations influence our emotions and bring out the worst in our behavior?

* Being close or interdependent on someone other than one’s spouse
* Being around someone who is sexually interested
* Spending a lot of time one-on-one with someone else
* Not feeling close or connected to one’s spouse (e.g., feeling lonely, being upset or angry with a spouse, etc.)
* Situations that create the sense of opportunity - the feeling that one will not get caught (e.g., meeting someone in private, out of town trips, a lot of time away form a spouse, etc.).
* Situations involving alcohol or drugs

@ Daet, Camarines Norte

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:38:00 +0000

I left Legazpi City at 10:30 a.m. today. Had my lunch in Naga City, and reached Daet at 4:00 p.m.. The trip was quite tiring. I even fell asleep until I reached my destination. I didn't waste time so I went to the warehouse for my audit so I can go back to the hotel to have some rest.

I just came here at the cafe today to chat with my honey. Had also talked to my little prince through YM voice call. The day is not yet over, but I already missed them. How I wish I could bring them with me anywhere I go. But my profession needs my focus and attention so I need to work hard for my family.

I better leave now for dinner. I have to finish the audit tomorrow so I can go home later in the afternoon. I'll post some photos for this trip. Bye for now!

Tattoo ad on forehead for $10,000

noreply@blogger.com (Rick) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:11:00 +0000

A mother had her forehead tattooed with the web address of a gambling site after auctioning off advertising space on her head to pay for her son's school fees.

Karolyne Smith has to live with a permanent billboard on her forehead after she accepted Goldenpalace.com's offer of $10,000 for the 'advertising space'. She needed the money to send her son Brady to a private school.

Karolyne said: ""I really want to do this. To everyone else, it seems like a stupid thing to do. To me, $10,000 is like a million dollars."

"I only live once and I'm doing it for my son. It's a small sacrifice to build a better future for my son."

Karolyne did not take the decision lightly. She discussed it for more than three weeks with her boyfriend Jeremy Williams.

Smith's eBay auction attracted more than 27,000 hits and 1,000 watchers. Bidding reached $999.99 before Goldenpalace.com, an Internet gambling company met Smith's $10,000 asking price. Goldenpalace.com also gave her another $5,000 for her trouble.

Another person, inspired by Karolyne is currently auctioning his forehead as ad space on ebay