- Foundation or concealer
- Brushes
- Two blush (Think one for a day look, one for night)
- Eyeshadow
- Mascara
- Black eyeliner
- Eye primer
- Lip Conditioner
- Lipgloss or Lipstick (Aim for only three or four of your favorites)
- Lip liner

Foundation or Concealer. Choose one with an SPF if you can; if your favourite foundation doesn’t come with SPF, you can mix your liquid foundation and sunscreen together in equal parts when you get to your destination. Your foundation should always travel in a Ziploc bag in your luggage instead of your carry on. If you are worried about your luggage possibly getting lost along with your staple cosmetics, it’s easier to manage a powder foundation in your carry on.

Basic Brushes; Foundation brush, eyeliner brush, blush brush, smudge brush, and eyeshadow brush are the usual essentials. I travel with a small set from MAC Cosmetics including the 187, 316, 190, 194, 168, 266 and 275 brushes.

Brushes do not take up a lot of room, but they are essential tools, so make sure you pack all the ones you will need. Remember to cleanse your brushes before you leave so they will be fresh to use when you arrive at your destination. You can also buy small containers from a beauty supply store (even some dollar stores are now carrying them) and bring a little bit of your brush cleanser.

Eyeshadow is the hard part; whether you are traveling with eyeshadow pots or palettes, exercise caution. If packing your eyeshadow in your suitcase, rest them in between your clothing in plastic bags; your clothing will provide sufficient padding and the bag will prevent any spillage and transfer in case there is an accident. If packing a palette in your suitcase, place a piece of paper towel in between the shadow and the top lid of the palette and make sure it closes tightly. This will prevent any shattering if the palette is rattled around. Place it in a freezer bag and set it in between your clothing. I usually bring an eyeshadow that can be doubled as eyeliner, and then some basic colors. I go for lighter pinks during the day, and darker browns, golds and blacks for the night time. The color scheme you choose is your personal preference.

Most mascaras, liquid eyeliners, lip gloss and lipsticks can travel with you in a carry on but make sure they conform to TSA regulations. Sometimes, if the agents are feeling picky, they may throw out your mascara without reason. All gels and liquids (including your mascaras and lip gloss) have to be less than a total of three ounces each, or they will throw it out. The good news is most lipglosses are about 1.92 grams, which is only .06 ounces. Remember to store them in clear plastic Ziploc bags per TSA regulations and you shouldn’t have any problem.

Of course, some cosmetic companies have had their items conform to the new TSA regulations, and some companies like Cargo Cosmetics have created all new products simply to help for the ease of travel with your makeup by dividing lip glosses and even eyeshadow in to small packets that fit easily into a suitcase or carry on.

So, wherever your travels take you, make sure you are packing well and if you are unsure about a product you’d like to bring with you, please visit http://www.tsa.gov/ for full information.

Introduction

            China is a country of great economic growth. Having booming business industries and versatile forms of food, China is indeed a special place. So many great and eager people live there and fill the streets with venues and acts. China is truly a magical setting.

Country Information

·      Geographic Facts

Here are three geographic facts about China:

1.       China is the 3rd largest country in the world in size, next to Russia and Canada.

2.          The Great Wall of China was built over 2,500 years ago to protect against invaders from the north and is still standing.

3.          About one-fifth of China’s population live in urban areas.

·      3 “Serious” Facts

Here are three serious facts about China:

1.            China is over-populated

2.            Most Chinese people live off the equivalent of 200 dollars a month or less.

3.            China still enforces the one child per family law.

·      3 “Fun” Facts

Here are three fun facts about China:

1.            Ice cream was invented in China around 2000 BC, when the Chinese packed a soft milk and rice mixture in the snow.

2.            Each month is represented by an animal.  There are twelve animals which represent the twelve months. 

3.            Long ago, silk making was a closely guarded secret.   Anyone who gave the secret away could be killed.

·      A “Potpourri” Item

Here is an unusual fact about China:

1.   When a Chinese child loses a baby tooth, it doesn’t get tucked under the pillow for the tooth fairy.  If the child loses an upper tooth, the child’s parents plant the tooth in the ground, so the new tooth will grow in straight and healthy.  Parents toss a lost bottom tooth up to the rooftops, so that the new tooth will grow upwards, too.

Image via Wikipedia 

Food Information

·      Recipe

I purchased the tea in China and have used it when I did not feel well.

Chinese Green Tea- Lin Hai Pan Hao

Glass-based or porcelain teaware are recommended for tea brewing. Rinse tea cup and teapot with hot water. Use about 2 grams of tea leaves (1-2 teaspoons) for every 150ml of water. Brew tea leaves in hot water at 70oC – 80oC (158oF – 176°F) for about a minute for the first and second infusion. Gradually increase brewing time and temperature for subsequent infusion.

·      My Kitchen Story

The first time I tasted this tea in China, I was on a study abroad trip to China and I absolutely hated the taste of it! It was bitter and strong but I did find it refreshing. My classmates looked at me strange for drinking it, but it felt right. An international student named Ling Tao told me the Chinese custom is to drink warm drinks (like tea) with their meal because it is better for digestion. Trust me, they have the right idea.

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of China: A Recipe for Green Tea,” please email Jewell.Faulkner@selu.edu

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/.

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Nicaragua has a population of 5.5 million people.  Spanish is the official language and, though there is no official religion, Catholic is the most dominant faith.  Pastel de Tres Leches is a popular dessert throughout Central America, but it originated in Nicaragua; translated, it means cake of three milks.

Country Information

· Geographic Facts

Here are three geographic facts about Nicaragua:

1. Nicaragua is located in Central America and bordered by Honduras, Costa Rica, The Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

2. Nicaragua is positioned in both the northern and western hemispheres.

3. The total land area of Nicaragua is 46,430 square miles and its coast line spans 565 miles.

· 3 “Serious” Facts

Here are three serious facts about Nicaragua:

1. Nicaragua, along with some of the neighboring countries, declared their independence from Spain in 1821 to form The United Provinces of Central America.  In 1838, this federation dissolved and Nicaragua became an independent republic.

2. A little over 1/4th of Nicaragua’s population lives in the capital city Managua.

3. Nicaragua experienced its worst natural disaster in 1998, Hurricane Mitch, which killed over 10,000 people, damaged more than 40,000 homes and most of the roads and bridges were washed away.

· 3 “Fun” Facts

Here are three fun facts about Nicaragua:

1. Nicaragua is famous for its dance form called ‘Palo de Mayo’.  This dance is done during the Maypole Festival, where people dress in costumes, dance and play instruments as they parade down the streets.

2. Lake Nicaragua is the largest freshwater lake in Central America and it houses the world’s only freshwater sharks known as the Nicaraguan Shark.

3. Nicaragua was given its name because the ‘Nicarao’ tribe inhabited the shores where the Spanish settlers ported.  Due to the fact that there were so many lakes and lagoons present in the area, the Spanish settlers used the word agua, which is the Spanish word for water.

 A “Potpourri” Item

Here are some unusual facts about Nicaragua:

1.     Nicaragua’s Miskito Cays were once a popular pirate hideout.  The Miskito Cays were completely destroyed by hurricane Felix in September 2007.

2.     Nicaragua elected its first woman president in 1990, Violetta Chamorro.  After her husband’s assassination, for his articles about the government corruption in Nicaragua, in 1978, Violetta Chamorro became a publisher and continued fighting against government corruption and a brighter future for Nicaragua, through her literature.

Food Information

-Recipe

· Flour — 1 1/2 cups

· Baking powder — 1 teaspoon

· Unsalted butter, room temperature — 1/2 cup, or 8 tablespoons

· Sugar — 3/4 cup

· Eggs, room temperature — 5

· Vanilla — 1/2 teaspoons

· Whole milk — 1 cup

· Sweetened, condensed milk — 1 cup

· Evaporated milk — 2/3 cup

· Whipping cream — 1 1/2 cups

· Sugar — 1/2 cup

· Vanilla — 1 teaspoon

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour an 8×11-inch baking pan.

2.    Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

3.    Reduce mixer speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, allowing each one to get incorporated before adding the next. Finally add the vanilla and continue beating until foamy.

4.    Remove the bowl from mixer and fold in the sifted flour until it is well incorporated.

5.    Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 30 minutes, or until done. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

6.    Pierce cake all over with a fork, toothpick or skewer. Mix the whole, sweetened, condensed, and evaporated milk together and pour the mixture over the whole cake.

7.    Refrigerate cake for anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, or until liquid is completely absorbed and cake is well chilled.

8.    Beat the cream, sugar and vanilla together to make whipped cream. Frost the cake with the whipped cream and serve.

       Source: http://www.whats4eats.com/desserts/pastel-de-tres-leches-recipe

· My Kitchen Story

I have mastered the art of box cakes, so, I thought, hey, how hard could it be to make a cake from scratch?  Due to the fact that I have only baked cakes from a box, I didn’t understand why I would need to sift the flour…I never had to do that before, so, I figured I could skip that step….BIG mistake.  Did you know that those clumps in flour are hard as rocks, once you add liquid?  Getting past this point was the hardest part of making this cake, but whipping the icing was no great joy either.  Baking this cake was very time consuming…not to mention having a two year old begging at my feet because he wants to help me with whatever I am doing!

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of Nicaragua: A Recipe for Pastel de Tres Leches,” please email Kristy.gauthreaux@selu.edu.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/.

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Introduction

Ethiopia is a country located in the continent of Africa. Ethiopia is a landlocked state in the Horn of the continent of Africa and is one of the most ancient countries in the world.  Its capital is Addis Ababa, and it is known to be the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in a chapel in the Holy City of Aksum.

Country Information

Geographic Facts

• Ethiopia is 1,119, 683 square kilometers in size this is equivalent to about twice the size of the state of Texas.
• Ethiopia has an approximate population of over 79.2 million people, making it the 2nd most populous country within Africa.
• The life expectancy at birth is 41.24 years.

Serious Facts

• Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and they have often had official coffee ceremonies in the home. It is believed to be rude if a person denies coffee once offered.
• 85% of the workmen are farmers, and there is 40% unemployment throughout the country.
• Traditionally parents and children do not share a last name. Most children inherit their father’s first and last name.

Fun Facts

• Women often feed the men with their fingers as an indication of love and devotion.
• There are 13 months in the Ethiopian calendar. Each month has 30 days and the last month has either 5 or 6, depending on the year.  New Year is celebrated on September 11th, and they are almost 8 years behind our Western calendar.
• Ethiopian television consists of only one channel.

Potpourri

A unique fact about the country of Ethiopia:

The large portion of the Ethiopian population claims descent from King Solomon of Jerusalem and Makeda Queen of Sheba.

Food Information

“Ikegulian Punch” Recipe

Ingredients

1 Cup Raspberry Syrup

1 Cup Maraschino Cherry Juice

1 Cup Orange Juice

1 Cup Lemon Juice

1 Cup Pineapple Juice

1 Cup Grape Juice

2 ½ Quarts of “7-up” soda

Alcoholic ingredients (optional to taste and setting)*

Recipe URL source: http://supercocktails.com/7491/Ethiopian_Punch.html

Mixing Directions

Combine the aforementioned ingredients in a punch bowl, serve with plenty of ice and garnished with orange slices.

My Kitchen Story

I very much enjoyed making this punch. Although it doesn’t seem there are many ingredients to make this simple concoction, I found myself with little space on my kitchen counter & table to make it. It seemed a little messy to make, also. My roommate assisted me and tasted it after it was done; we both really liked the taste and wondered what it would taste like with a little “libation” added to it. After drinking the punch we both became hungry, but then I realized that I had spent so much on the punch ($37 to be exact), that I couldn’t afford to go to the store and get any groceries to eat; therefore, I went to bed with a quenched throat and a hungry stomach. Ultimately, the entire experience was worth it.

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of Ethiopia: A Recipe for the Ikegulian Punch,” please e-mail Joshua.Ikegulu@selu.edu.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. 

Introduction

Greece is also known as Hellas, and officially as the Hellenic Republic.  With a population of 11,306,183, Greece has a rich culture with many different traditions. It is located in southeast Europe on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula.  Modern Greece traces its roots back to ancient Greece and is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western literature and historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama, including both tragedy and comedy.

Country Information

·      Geographic Facts

Here are three geographic facts about Greece:

1.            Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe

2.            The Pindus mountain range strongly affects the climate of the country by making the western side of it wetter on average than the areas lying to the east of it. The Mediterranean type of climate features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

3.            Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world at 14,880 km (9,246 mi) in length, featuring a vast number of islands (approximately 1400, 227 of which are inhabited), including Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and the Ionian Islands among others.

·      3 “Serious” Facts

Here are three serious facts about Greece:

1.            Greece is today relatively homogeneous in linguistic terms, with a large majority of the native population using Greek as their first or only language.

2.            During the World War II, Greece was the only country which had to fight 3 countries continuously (Italy, Albania, Germany). And it was the only country in which it held the most days of resistance (219 days).  Hitler referred to Greeks during WWII as “the bravest who fought with the highest disregard of death”.

3.            Athens is the oldest city in Europe, and the birthplace of democracy.

·      3 “Fun” Facts

Here are three fun facts about Greece:

1.            Greece is home to the first modern Olympics, which has been an on-going tradition worldwide.  The first Olympics were in 776 BC and there was one event, a short 200 meter sprint called a stade.

2.            Greeks love to dance and there are as many as 63 folk dances in Greece.

3.            Greece has the lowest crime rate in Europe, and second in the world.

·      A “Potpourri” Item

Here is an unusual fact (or two or three) about Greece:

1.            Traditionally, Greeks have been known to celebrate their name days, rather than their birth dates.

2.              Greece has more goats than any other country in Europe.

Food Information

·      Recipe 

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved

2 ounces fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

In a blender or food processor, combine garbanzo beans, jalapeno, cumin, lemon juice, garlic and 1 tablespoon of the reserved bean liquid. Blend until smooth.

Adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Hummus/Detail.aspx

·      My Kitchen Story

This recipe is very simple to make.  Once you have all the ingredients, all you have to do is mix them together in a blender.  I had never made this recipe before, but seeing how simple the recipe was, I assumed it would come out well.  The recipe came out good and tasted like the regular hummus that I have always eaten at Greek and Lebanese restaurants.  Add a black olive and a sprinkle of cumin to the top of your hummus and enjoy with pita bread.

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of Greece: A Recipe for Hummus,” please email lauren.glueck@selu.edu.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/.

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Introduction

Belize is a country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. Spanish is spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Belize doesn’t have many foods that they can call their own because most of their foods came from other cultures. After looking and asking around, I found Congri. It is a Spanish dish that has been in my stepmother’s family for many years.

Country Information

·       Geographic Facts

Here are three geographic facts about Belize:

1.               It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the south and west, and  

          the Caribbean Sea to the east.

2.               The population density is the lowest in the Central American region and one

          of the lowest in the world. However, the country’s population growth rate,    

          2.21% is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the western

          hemisphere.

3.               Belize is shaped like a rectangle that extends about 280 kilometers (170 mi)

          north-south and about 100 kilometers (62 mi) east-west, with a total land    

          boundary length of 516 kilometers (321 mi).

·       3 “Serious” Facts

Here are three serious facts about Belize:

1.              The first recorded European settlement was established by shipwrecked

          English seamen in 1638. Over the next 150 years, more English settlements  

          were established.

2.              Great Britain first sent an official representative to the area in the late 18th

          century, but Belize was not formally termed the “Colony of British Honduras“

          until 1840. It became a crown colony in 1862.

3.              The official name of the territory was changed from British Honduras to

          Belize in June 1973, and full independence was granted on September 21,

          1981.

·       3 “Fun” Facts

Here are three fun facts about Belize:

1.         Belize has  excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving, and snorkeling,

          numerous rivers for rafting, and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife

                   reserves of fauna and flora, for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, 

                   as well as many Maya ruins.

2.              It also has the largest cave system in Central America.

3.              One of the holidays people in Belize celebrate is Commonwealth Day. This holiday Celebrated

          nationwide as the Queen’s birthday. National Sports Council holds horse

          races in Belize City at the National Stadium and in Orange Walk Town at the

          People’s Stadium. Cycle races are held between Cayo and Belmopan.

·       A “Potpourri” Item

Here is an unusual fact about Belize:

1.              The origin of the name Belize is unclear, but one idea is that the name is from

          the Maya word be’lix, meaning “muddy water”.

Food Information

·      Recipe: Congri

Ingredients:

1.      2 cans Blue Runner “Creole cream style red beans”                                  5. 1 tsp garlic

2.      1 can coconut milk                                                                                   6. 7 cups water

3.      1 small onion (chopped)                                                                          7. 1 ½ Creole seasoning salt

4.      5 strips bacon                                                                                            8. ¼ tsp black pepper

                9. 1 tsp ¼ salt

Directions:

1.      Cook bacon until crisp and has 2 tsp of grease on bottom of pan

2.      Take out Bacon

3.      Put onions and garlic in pan & sauté until soft.

4.      Add 2 cans of beans and stir

5.      Add can of coconut milk

6.      Add water

7.      Bring to a boil  

8.      Add seasonings ( to taste)

9.      Add rice & stir

10.    After mixture comes to boil, reduce heat (low) and cover

11.    Fold mixture after every 10 minutes.

12.    Cook until rice is cooked and not watery

·       My Kitchen Story

I decided to pick Belize because my stepmother is from there, and I thought it would be wise to pick a country that I would have a reference for. I decided to make Congri. It is a dish that I knew I could make, and it is one of the only dishes that I thought people might eat in the morning. The first time I made this dish, I had to have my stepmother there because she never uses measurement or writes any of her recipes down. So, I had to go step-by-step and measure everything she said was in it. The only thing I had trouble with was the rice to water measurement. It is a very easy dish to make, and one can make a lot of it for very little cost.

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of Belize: A Recipe for Congri,” please email Nicholas.Thomas@selu.edu.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/.

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Introduction

Today, I am presenting the recipe for Jamaican Curry Chicken. Jamaican cooking is very authentic and delicious. Back in the 50’s and 60’s, cooking in Jamaica was done in the outside kitchen on a handmade charcoal stove and was considered “poor people cooking.” Over the decades, a more efficient way was discovered, and cooking on the Island was more and more popular. The first people to develop the Jamaican cuisine were the Arawak Indians, next were the Tainos, which are among the oldest inhabitants of this country.  Several surrounding countries grasped most of their cuisines from Jamaica originally and changed a few spices to make it their own dish.

Country Information

·       Geographic Facts

Here are three geographic facts about Jamaica. 

1.                  Kingston became the capital of Jamaica in 1872.

2.                  Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean; as a result the island sometimes experiences significant storm damages as well as hundreds of deaths. The climate is tropical and very hot.

3.                  Jamaica is the third largest island and the fourth largest country in the Caribbean.

·       3 “Serious” Facts

Here are three serious facts Jamaica:

1.                  Jamaica was a Spanish colony from 1494 to 1655 and a British colony from 1655 to 1962.The Arawak and Taino indigenous people from South America were the first people on the island between 4000 and 1000 B.C. when Christopher Columbus arrived there were 200 villages ruled by different village chiefs. Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain after landing there in 1494.                  

2.                  Many locals sent their children to England to access quality education. After the emancipation small churches were granted funds to create Elementary schools, now known as All Age Schools.

3.                  The nation formally abolished slavery in 1834. The population in 1834 was 371,070 of whom 15,000 were white, 5,000 were free blacks, 40,000 were mixed race, and 311,070 were slaves.

·       3 “Fun” Facts

Here are three fun facts about Jamaica

1.                  During the first 200 years of British rule, Jamaica became one of the world’s leading sugar exporting, slave-dependent nations, producing more than 77,000 tons of sugar annually by 1820 and 1824.

2.                  Jamaica is rich in culture and has a strong global presence. Musical genres include reggae, ska, mento, rocksteady, dub, and the development of punk rock. Reggae also had a wide influence on modern rap music.  Bob Marley was one of the most popular reggae musicians and one of my personal favorites.

3.                  The most popular sport played in Jamaica is cricket. Internationally Jamaicans have tended to be extremely successful in track and field. The country was one of the venues of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

·       A “Potpourri” Item

Here is an unusual fact (or two or three) about Jamaica:

1.                  The Spanish wrote the name used by the native Taino, “Yamaye,” as “Xaymaca.” The Taino word is purported to mean “many springs.” The abbreviated name, “Ja” and the Rastafarian term “Jamdung” (Jamdown) are used by some residents, along with “Yaahd” (Yard), used mainly by Jamaicans, in reference to the national culture.

Food Information

·       Recipe

Ingredients:

v  2 lbs of Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts                  * Salt

v  ¼ cup of olive oil                                                     * Onion Powder

v  1 cup of  water                                                        * Lemon Juice                 

v  1 tomato                                                                 * 1 Spring Thyme                 

v  2 tablespoons of Jamaican Style Curry                      * ½ Clove of Garlic, Chopped

Recipe:

1.     Clean 2 lbs of chicken breasts, once cleaned, dice in cube pieces.

2.     In a saucepan heat up ¼ cup of olive oil, and combine chopped garlic, onion powder, Jamaican style Curry, salt, and lemon juice. Let ingredients brown together for about 5 minutes.

3.     Add chicken and a cup of water to the saucepan, and let cook for another 20-30 minutes until chicken is well done to perfection. 

4.     While chicken is cooking, dice one tomato and add to chicken along with 1 spring thyme.

5.     Let stand once chicken is cooked for about 5 minutes and serve usually or rice or pasta, or you can even serve alone as an appetizer.

·       My Kitchen Story

When I hear Jamaican cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is Curry Chicken. It is one of my favorite dishes. However, I have never had the opportunity to make it in my own kitchen until now, and it was quite an experience. It’s a good thing my girlfriend makes me watch the Food Network quite often, as Bobby Flay was actually making it on TV as I was trying to create the best curry chicken I could make. I retrieved my recipe on idealhomesandgardens.com, and it was pretty simple to follow. After a few trials, my friends upstairs loved it.

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of Jamaica: A Recipe for Curry Chicken,” please email Garry.Polk@selu.edu.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/.

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Late hours, scandalous hangouts and cheap liquor, oh my! New York City may never sleep, but there are probably nights when you’ve rivaled its partying prowess.

If you have a wild side, you’ll love to descend on the following cities, which each have a rowdy personality of their own. Some are known for having a bad reputation, and some just might make you discover the inner bad boy or girl inside of you.

Las Vegas

The city whose nicknames include Sin City and the Entertainment Capital of the World just begs you to be bad. Choose from late-night clubs such as Tabu, TAO or Drais, or have a cocktail in the wee hours of the morning at Dino’s Lounge, a neighborhood bar where the drinks aren’t overpriced. Indulge in sultry shows such as Ooh La La at the Paris or the Peep Show at Planet Hollywood. Discover your darker sense of humor at Improv at Harrah’s or Second City, the comedy precursor to Saturday Night Live. Of course, one can’t mention Vegas without the word “gambling,” and there’s plenty of opportunity for games of risk in the city, with 197,144 slot machines in one of the 1,701 licensed gambling establishments. If gambling on love is your thing, you could always be a part of the 315 Las Vegas weddings per day.

New Orleans

With an entire street named for a syrupy southern whiskey, New Orleans is a bad girl or boy’s playground. Meander down Bourbon Street for endless bars, nightclubs, strip clubs and drag shows, or toss beads at exhibitionist tourists during Mardi Gras. At Jazz Fest, party with thousands in wide-open fields where everyone’s feeling the love. Epitomize gluttony at one of New Orleans’ multiple restaurants, as you gorge on red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, beignets, jambalaya and oh-so-dirty rice. If you have any money left, visit Harrah’s Casino, where the blacked-out windows will keep you guessing how long you’ve really been there.

Miami

Hot temperatures, skimpy swimsuits, fast beats and never-ending beaches collide in the coastal city of Miami, where dancing is almost a requirement and partying doesn’t seem to stop. Miami nightlife is considered to be the among the best in the world, in places such as The Vagabond, with multiple rooms of different music, and the more laidback Automatic Slim’s, which has no velvet rope or cover charge and is open until late at night. If the devil on your shoulder encourages you to impress others, Miami’s multiple VIP spots – Mansion, Prive, Opium Garden and BED – will be glad to take your money for line passes, for fast entry into the hottest night clubs.

Atlantic City, N.J.

Aside from conjuring up images of “The Sopranos” and “Jersey Shore,” Atlantic City has a lot to offer those who want to be bad. Monopoly, a game that exudes excess, was inspired by Atlantic City, though the multiple casinos, including Donald Trump’s three entertainment resorts, are not mentioned in the board game. The city is also a shopping Mecca, with several malls, resort shopping centers and outlet malls, for those who just have to spend. If you want to indulge your inner dangerous side, watch a boxing match at one of the resorts, which are steadily making Atlantic City a competitor to Las Vegas for attracting big fights.

Panama City Beach, Fla.

For those whose idea of being bad is reliving the good ole’ college days, Panama City Beach is the place for you. Known as the Spring Break Capital of the World, Panama City Beach welcomes nearly 100,000 high school and college students per year, who descend on the area’s cheap, off-the-beach hotels, novelty stores and beachfront clubs. Delight yourself with awesomely bad redneck fashion at local Alvin’s Island Stores, in the form of airbrushed anything and Big Johnson T-shirts. If you need your PC Beach fix in a hurry, don’t worry: soon you’ll be able to fly directly into the area at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, the first international airport designed and constructed after Sept. 11, 2001.

Washington, D.C.

What – you can be bad in a city full of politicos and Secret Service agents? Oh yes. Washington, D.C. works hard during the daytime, but at night is a city full of dark bars and powerful people, which some may consider to be incredibly bad (or fun, depending on who you ask). Strong drinks abound at Rumba Café, which has live Brazilian music and strong caipirinhas. For dirty dancing, visit Nation, Velvet and 9:30 Club.  If you dare, try to find Eighteenth Street Lounge (but wear something sexy), and then try to convince the bouncer to let you in. Watch political humor unfold at The Capitol Steps and The Improv, and hope that a certain well-ranked politician being made fun of isn’t sitting next to you. For tips on how to be sneaky, visit the International Spy Museum, the only museum solely focused on espionage.

State College, Penn.

Though it’s often ranked as one of the safest and least stressful places to live, State College has a rowdy side. But who ever said being naughty had to cause anxiety? State College is home to Pennsylvania State University, the top party school in the nation according to a Princeton Review survey based on the use of alcohol, study hours each day and the popularity of the Greek system. Imagine 36,000 college students in a place that normally has about 38,000 residents, where everyone eats, sleeps and breathes Nittany Lions football. Have a beer at a pub or restaurant along College Avenue, Beaver Avenue and their cross streets, or catch a live music show at one of the multiple venues in the city. You’ll have no trouble finding a party, and alcohol is in abundance.

California’s El Nino weather means heavier than usual wild flower blooms on the backside of San Diego County in the Anza Borrego State Park.  Long known for surreal landscapes, home to the timid Desert Bighorn Sheep and a place for a quiet get-away that rivals nearby Palm Springs, Borrego Springs and the surrounding 600,000-acre state park explodes with color in March as sandy hills and washes come alive when everything from small “belly flowers” to towering red tipped ocotillo erupt in bloom.

Crowds, of course, follow published reports that direct flower seekers to where the bloom seems most profuse, in Coyote Canyon northwest of Borrego Springs.  Heavily travelled Di Giorgio Rd., where it morphs from a paved thoroughfare to an unpaved bumpy lane zig-zagging across a desert wash, accesses one of the most profuse flowering areas in the state park.

But, if scores of people tramping through flower fields appall, the state park has enough room to roam while scoping out the annual explosion of red, white, yellow and purple blooms and still enjoy spectacular scenery.

To ramble among blooming flowers on a smaller scale but no less rich a spectrum of seasonal colors, try the remote trail that leads to the Elephant Trees about 25 miles south of Borrego Springs.  To get there, go east on Calif. 78 to Ocotillo Wells and then south on Split Mountain Road six miles.  A state park sign indicates where to cross the desert for just under a mile on a poorly maintained road that ends at a broad parking area.

The short hike along the discovery trail that meanders in and out of a wash to and from the near-extinct Elephant Trees is well worth the slow but navigable drive to the parking area.  Arriving in the area just past the peak of the bloom provides the visitor with a two-fer: still plentiful flowers and an excellent opportunity to catch the start of cactus blooming.  Yellow green flowers on hedgehogs, red tipped ocotillo and even the multiple pink hues on barrel cactus often occur as the flower season begins to wane.

Either en route to or from the Elephant Tree trail, check out another off-the-beaten path site in Anza Borrego State Park.  The Slot sets up as an exotic hike through a narrow canyon carved by seasonal rains out of the sand, sandstone and mud.  Though less than a mile in length, the close walls and ever higher rim in the narrow little gorge offer a cool respite from the heat of the surrounding desert.

So narrow in spots that hikers must turn sideways to take a few steps, this short hike often provides even amateur photographers with great opportunities to capture exotic shapes of mud and rock walls in filtered light.  The Slot widens into a broad wash and eventually that wash, in turn, opens up as the surrounding hills flatten.  A trail leads to the left and up to a rutted road that takes those interested in a loop hike back to the parking area.

A more interesting and shorter hike retraces steps back through The Slot.

To get to The Slot, take a sandy single lane road that starts a mile and a quarter east of Borrego Springs Rd. off California 78 at a sign indicating “Buttes Pass’.  Bear left toward Borrego Mountains Wash another mile to a wide parking area.  Don’t expect to see many vehicles there, either.  And, while thin on blooming flowers, the rare and lovely white desert lily can be found in the area along with extensive stands of flowering ocotillo.

To learn about the region and chat with knowledgeable rangers and park volunteers, start your day or end it at the Anza Borrego State Park visitor center west of downtown Borrego  Springs.  The staff regularly provides updates on areas where the bloom shows best at any particular moment.  Most often they direct visitors to nearby Palm Canyon, which offers the opportunity to glimpse Desert Big Horn Sheep and hike along a rushing creek en route 1.5 miles to an oasis crammed with blue palms.

Call the visitor center at (760) 767- 5311 or check out the state parks website: http://oarks.ca.gov.  Desert USA hosts one of the best web sites for getting more desert wildflower reports, taking user input on a regular basis: http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca_abdsp.html.

Jerry Kalman, who specializes in stories about places away from the madding crowd,  lives in Bonsall, a wide-spot on Calif. 76 in North San Diego County where crowds almost never congregate and he maintains an office and studio. 

Overview

Kenya lies across the equator in eastern Africa, on the coast of the Indian Ocean. Kenya borders Somalia to the east, Ethiopia to the north, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest. It was a British colony and attains its independence in 1963. Its official name is republic of Kenya. The population has grown rapidly in recent decades to nearly 40 million.  Chapati is a favorite food for most Kenya, although in rural areas it is mainly made during special occasions.

Country Information

Geographic Facts 

Here are three geographic facts about Kenya:

1.  Kenya has an area totaling 582,650 sq km, a land which is nearly the size of Texas and 13400 sq km water: Lake Victoria is the largest lake shared by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.  

2.    Kenya has two seasons – wet season (April to October) and dry season (November to February).

3. Kenya has many beautiful sceneries, including the Great Rift Valley which has many features like the escapements, waterfalls, the plateau, fertile low lands. It has also many mountains like Mt. Kenya, Mt Elgon, and Hills.

3 “Serious” Facts 

Here are three serious facts about Kenya:

1.80% of the population lives in rural areas and farming is the main economic activity. Crops grown include Maize (corn) which is the major source of food. Wheat, Tea and coffee are also the major crops grown in plantations. A pastoralist is also common.

2.  The tourist industry in Kenya is the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue after agriculture. The main tourist attractions are safaris there 19 national parks and game preserve, There are many species of animals including the big five Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffaloes and Rhinos. There are also thousands of small animals antelopes, Giraffe, Zebras, There are millions of Flamingos in Lake Nakuru.

3.            Kenya is known for many sports including Athletics (track and cross country), football (soccer), Rugby, Volleyball, Hockey among others.  Kenya is known as one of the major producer of Distance runners in the world.

3 “Fun” Facts

Here are three fun facts about Kenya:

1.     The currency of Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling.  One U.S. Dollar is worth approximately 73 Kenyan Shilling.

2.     English is the official language, and Kiswahili is the National language.  Apart from this, there are a number of indigenous languages spoken (52 indigenous languages).

3.     Kenya is has two major political parties PNU (Party of National Unity) which is currently in Government and ODM (Orange Democratic Movement).  There are also many other third parties. Election is done after every fives.

A “Potpourri” Item 

Here is an unusual fact (or two or three) about Kenya:

Polygamy is still common. A woman may cost up to 20 cows.  The price is decided by the parents of the bride. Although due to the education and raise in economic, polygamy has decrease in recent years. 

Food Information

Recipe for Chapati

Chapatis are normally used to accompany stews.

• • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 4 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • Oil
  • Warm water to make a dough
  • 2 Tablespoon softened butter or ghee 

Mix Sugar, eggs and warm water in a bow. Add flour to make stiff dough. Knead for 5-8 minutes until satiny and elastic. Add 2 Table softening butter and continue kneading. Leave to cool for 20-40 minutes. Knead again and divide into balls, about 3-4 cm in diameter. Roll into flat pancakes with oil, butter or ghee. Place chapati in pan and cook until it until golden.  Press them down with a wide pancake turner to cook evenly. Serve hot. 

My Kitchen Story

 It was easy making chapati because I have made it several times. I like making Chapati (Chapo) it is one of my favorite dishes.

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Contact Info: To contact the author of “A Taste of Kenya: A Recipe for Chapati,” please email Dorcas.kapkiai@selu.edu for more information.

David C. Wyld (dwyld@selu.edu) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/.