#all of the little inexpensive luxuries are just expensive luxuries now!!!

[lights-all-askew]

@unpretty's tags:

my most old person trait is that when i'm at the store and see marrow bones for $9 a pound i can't stop myself from complaining that you used to be able to buy a pack of those from the local co-op for a dollar

[kimkelevra]

9 Best Strategies For A Cost Effective Luxurious Safari

If you've ever before longed for embarking on an electrifying adventure right into the heart of bush while indulging in luxurious conveniences, a cost effective Tanzania safari can switch that desire into reality. Photo yourself neighbored by untamed gardens, amazing creatures, and also best lodgings-- all without breaking the bank. Within this article, we'll reveal 9 top-level suggestions to assist you experience the safari of a life time without draining your wallets. Through executing some tactical preparation as well as bewaring various elements, you can easily take pleasure in a premium wild animals encounter that's light on your pocketbook. Click over here now to get additional resources on luxury African safari. Let's look into the particulars of exactly how you can easily attain a cost effective luxurious safari.

Choosing the Right Safari Location

Destination option is critical when it comes to deluxe trips. Select countries like Kenya, Tanzania, or South Africa, which offer a combination of wealth and also phenomenal animals conflicts. These places boast renowned national forests and also books, making certain an unforgettable quest.

Going With Shoulder Seasons

Time participates in a crucial job in your safari prices. Take into consideration taking a trip during the course of shoulder times-- the time frames prior to or after peak traveler opportunities. You'll not just stay away from the groups but likewise locate additional reasonable fees on cottages as well as scenic tours.

Research and also Book earlier

Detailed research study is your ally in planning an inexpensive luxury safari. Contrast excursion operators, went through reviews, and also book properly beforehand to protect first comer discount rates. This forethought can dramatically decrease your expenditures while maintaining the high quality expertise you find.

Picking Holiday Accommodations Wisely

Luxury doesn't constantly indicate ultra-expensive lodges. Search for boutique accommodations, eco-lodges, or tented camps that supply a flavor of prodigality without the fee price. These business commonly provide an individualized contact and mix effortlessly with the natural surroundings.

Adopting Group Trip

Taking a trip along with a group of compatible wanderers can greatly cut prices. Group fees on lodgings, transportation, as well as helped trips can easily help make the luxury African safari experience so much more economical.

Stuffing Intelligently for Your Safari

Stuffing correctly is actually necessary for convenience as well as convenience. Remember essentials like lightweight apparel, sturdy shoes, insect repellent, as well as sunshine security. Being ready ensures you won't overspend on late acquisitions.

Catching Times With Digital Photography

Preserving your safari minds via digital photography is very useful. Buy an excellent camera or even cell phone along with a top quality lens to capture spectacular moments. You'll cherish these images for several years ahead, making your safari expertise a lot more satisfying.

Social Engagement and also Local Area Expertises

Improve your Climb Kilimanjaro through engaging in local area societies as well as experiences. Join village check outs, socialize along with aboriginal communities, as well as appreciate authentic cuisine. These meets include a rich layer to your journey, typically at little bit of to no additional price.

Preserving Durability

Supporting ecological and also maintainable safari practices advantages both the setting and your budget plan. Lots of lodges and also traveling drivers prioritize durability, ensuring your deluxe safari leaves a beneficial impact on the location.

Conclusion

Plunging into an affordable luxury safari is actually a goal properly available. Through strategically planning your travel, making notified choices, and also welcoming local area expertises, you may submerse on your own in the appeal of attributes without risking on high quality. Your wallet is going to thanks, as well as your moments are going to be valuable.

[blogbytanvi]

The Other Face of Fast Fashion

Hi dear reader, let's take a look into our cupboards and find those clothes that we bought because a similar looking garment was worn by our favourite celebrity or was maybe worn by a model on the ramp of Versace. I'm sure we all have such garments in our cupboard that we wore only once, or maybe not even once and never touched them ever, and we still have nothing to wear when we have an approaching party or a night out because everything seems outdated.

This is the bait we have all fallen for and now we are entrapped in the mentality of fast fashion.

Fast fashion in layman terms mean, producing inexpensive, trendy, unsustainable clothing in mass volumes. It includes a series of chain retailers that look into runway collection and make designing, production and marketing insanely quick and visually trap customers into a "see now buy now" environment.

People today want to look in line with trends, they want to look fashion forward, and this is exactly the mentality, these giant fast fashion retailers such as Zara and H&M feed on. They make products cheap and available in bulk in comparison to actual branded products, by compromising on quality and harming garment workers, environment, animals and planet.

They want to create feeling of luxury without paying higher price. The feeling of looking expensive.

Fashion industry has about 67 tons of carbon emission per second, which is higher in comparison to maritime and airline industry.

Such garments are made of synthetic fabrics that are non-biodegradable.

Even the donated clothes are sent to the third-world countries such as Indonesia, South Africa, Philippines, and many more. There these clothes end up burning since most of last year's clothes is already filling up landfills.

Some Solutions

We can contribute our bit here as well by simply wearing the clothes we have a little longer.

We can innovate with our garments by styling them with different accessories and other clothes.

We all have cousins and friend whose wardrobe seem exciting to us, so let's just swap accessories or clothes with them.

Next time while going shopping, we can be a little mindful and 'reflect before purchase', this can avoid over-buying and ultimately over-spending.

Why just buy in the first place if we're never gonna wear something and our hard-earned money is gonna end up in landfill.

We can apply the practice of 3R's of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle on our old garments and give a new life to the discarded product and use it again.

REFERENCES

[2ynjns]

secret santa || hwang hyunjin

day 18 of 31 days of christmas with ydale

pairings: hyunjin x reader

genre: nonidol!au, chaebol!hyunjin

warnings: i used the term ‘bro’ as a gender neutral nickname as i always personally use that as a gn nickname too hehe and this chapter could’ve been better but i just couldn’t think of any good ending huhuhuh

“omYGOSH RYUJIN! i don’t know what to give hyunjin for that stupid secret santa thing.” you complained to your best friend. she was pretty much occupied with her phone online shopping for her secret santa, which is lia.

“i don’t know, bro. he’s already rich as hell, he doesn’t need more stuff.” she said and placed her hand under her chin.

you sank on the floor and knocked on your own head. “i mean, out of all the people you’re gonna get is the person you like and the well known rich guy in our class.” ryujin teased, you glared at her and threw the nearest pillow you could find.

“you’re not helping.” you buried your face on your hands and grunted. “i just don’t want to buy him a cheap thing knowing everything about and on him is probably worth more than my kidneys.” you said.

ryujin gave you a what-the-hell look before sitting up from your bed. “that’s not a big deal, y/n. just get him something sentimental, or you can call one of his friends too and ask. they won’t tell him that you got him.” you looked up and you saw ryujin handing her phone to you so you can text one of hyunjin’s ex.

“sis, they’re ALL chaebols. they’re all gonna make fun of me and tell me to buy expensive things.” you stood up and got your phone to get chan’s phone number.

you figured, chan as the eldest among the group, is the most mature and would probably won’t judge you if you ask him. 

“just ask one of them, gosh.” ryujin went back to laying on your back while you texted chan.

you hoped that chan would give you a good answer and not tell you to buy some gucci belt or something, you can’t even afford to get chicken nuggets from mcdonalds so how are you gonna be able to afford to buy a gucci belt?

after you got chan’s message. you stared at your purse that is 3 feet away from you.

“hey ryu, what are some practical and sentimental objects?” you asked your best friend. she set her phone on her chest and looked at you.

“for hyunjin? something practical and sentimental for hyunjin?” she asked you to double check if she was hearing right. she tapped her cheeks to think and looked outside your closed window. the window is iced and cold, the outside is nice and white.

“wait y/n look is snowing.” ryujin got up and walked near the window. she examined the weather outside and she turned around to face you and crossed her arms.

“wanna go christmas present hunting for him?” she pointed outside and leaned on your wall. you got up and smiled at her, grabbing your purse and wearing your coat too. you passed her coat to her and opened your door.

“wanna come with me? let’s get hot cocoa on our way there.” you dragged her with you to hunt for hyunjin’s gift.

on the way to the store you and ryujin got hot cocoa and were brainstorming for gift ideas. you and ryujin figured that you would get hyunjin a set of matching beanie, scarf and mittens.

“look y/n these are cute!” ryujin showed you the perfect set of baby blue beanie, scarf and mittens. it’s simple but there’s a star logo on them. you giggled and took it from her and smiled. “it’s so cute.” 

you got to your classroom and everyone is busy preparing their gifts for the secret santa portion of the party, you held on the box tightly and tried to look for ryujin.

after a moment of silently searching for her, you found her chatting with chaeryoung while they’re sitting at the corner of the room. when you met ryujin’s eyes, she waved at me to come closer to her so we could sit together.

you sat next to chaeryoung and placed the box on the desk in front of me. “has anyone exchanged gifts yet?” you asked. chaeryoung nodded and waved the box of makeup that she got.

“i already gave my gift to yeji and jisung gave me mine.” she giggled and opened the lipsticks jisung got her, “i love it!” you giggled at her cuteness and held your box up.

“i haven’t give mine. have you seen hyunjin?” you asked your two friends but they just shrugged their shoulders. 

“you’re looking for me?”

you looked up and you saw hyunjin smiling sweetly at you. you blushed as you saw him and immediately thought he's the most gorgeous human being ever. you saw that he’s wearing his all burberry outfit.

that made you feel a little bit insecure because you got him a inexpensive gift while he showed up with his full on luxury outfit. you looked down and you hugged the gift tightly.

“y/n needs to give you something.” ryujin said and laughed, chaeryoung giggled while nudging you to get up. you glared at them but ended up standing up to give hyunjin his gift.

“oh really? well, i do too. i pulled you as my secret santa person.” he smiled. your eyes widened from his revelation but ended up giggling.

“really? that’s cool, who would’ve thought.” you said and you both walked out of the classroom to go to the rooftop.

you sat on the bench and he sat next to you. you handed the gift to him and blushed.

“i know it’s not much. i hope that’s okay.” you said and he took it, “i even asked chan and ryujin for advice. i hope you like and use it.” he looked at you and nodded, he passed you his gift for you that’ in a paper bag.

“well, funny thing is i asked chaeryoung what you like. my gift isn’t much either but i hope you like it too.” he said, you smiled and blushed even harder.

“i’d like anything from you.” you took the bag from him and he looked at you, “you should open it.” he said.

you chuckled and snarked. “you should open yours too then.” you challenged him. he just giggled and started opening the box.

you took a breath and did the same, you opened the bag pulled out the item he gave you. 

your eyes flew wide open when you saw the same set of baby blue beanie, scarf and mittens that you bought for him. you turned to look at him and he was also looking at you dumbfounded.

your jaw drop but ended up laughing non stop from what you’ve given to each other.

“seriously?” you both said at the same time before cracking a laugh.

“we should wear this right now and show our friends.” he said while putting the scarf on. you looked at him softly from the sight of adorable hyunjin appreciating your gift to him.

“wouldn’t it ruin your outfit?” you asked him. he shook his head while grabbing your beanie and putting it on you. “this set is too cute to ruin any outfit. c’mon, hurry and put it on and let’s show them.

hyunjin helped you wear the scarf and the mittens and he held your hands while pulling you back to the classroom. he turned around and patted your head.

“oh and i forgot to tell you. i really like this set, and saw that you’d look cute in it. And to my surprise, you got me the same set. And yeah, i like you, too.”

[fruitchouli]

Top 5 INEXPENSIVE perfumes and why? Thank you so much!

this is hard cuz almost all my perfumes i got for less than 50 dollars so my answer to this changes with the wind .. excluding drug store cheapies bc they feel cheap i think rly good cheap perfumes that smell more expensive than they are and have good bottle , cap , sprayer , packaging etc r ..

kenzo amour is a crowd pleaser u can get a big bottle for like 40 dollars online and it’s like the only vanilla i own i’m not a vanilla bitch by any means but this one’s not too sweet or annoying it’s like vanilla rice pudding very soft and round and cozy with faint faint florals in the back that keep it a little fresh and airy

kenzo jungle l’elephant u can also get big bottle for like 40 it’s less crowd pleasing it’s a big spice rack oriental . very strong clove cardamom with a touch of sweetness .. like amour i don’t really wear things from this genre either but for whatever reason i reach for it a lot i think i rly like cloves in perfume🤪

nirvana rose is my favorite from that elizabeth and james line.. it must have been a flop bc now u can get it for like 20 online which is sickening but sad bc i think it’s one of the better designer releases in recent years.. i’ve picked up two back up bottles i wear it all the time it’s my favorite kind of rose it’s sour and sharp like pomegranate juice enhanced by a bitter vetiver note.. very modern construction like most of this line bc they all are built of very minimal accords..!!!!love the bottle too

i love this one i got it for like 13 dollars the milk carton box is so cute irl and the bottle feels nice and hefty i think it’s a rly cool one for the price it’s a soft but also kind of chemically / plastic-y sour (in a cool way) smelling milk perfume i wear it to bed a lot and for when i’m feeling autistic

clinique wrappings is weird i find it very um cinematic i feel like a gray haired hot old lady on a rocky beach with dark storm clouds and cold gusting wind and she has a big metal pot full of the ocean water and she puts herbs .. parsley and pine needles and mixes it with a big wooden spoon . clinique only sells this at christmas time for whatever reason as part of a gift set with the lotion which also smells very good and u can get it for like 40 , the bottle is small tho less than an ounce but i’m just ... i find it very comforting because of childhood memories of the rocky coast of maine and it reminds me of the old rich ex hippie types who live around there in their luxury home & garden wooden cottages with their garden yards full of herbs and her windows always open living her white witch fantasy very her

[dwellordream]

“...Cloth fibers could be dyed at several points during production (though again, note above that dyeing was far more common for wool than for linen). Assuming wool was scoured after shearing, it could be dyed at that point (thus the phrase ‘dyed in the wool’) though unscoured wool will not generally take a dye because the natural oils of the wool will prevent the dye from setting into the cloth. Alternately, wool might be spun and then dyed either as thread or as finished woven cloth. In the early modern period, undyed woven fabrics fit for dying were called ‘whites’ and might either be dyed locally or in some cases shipped significant distances to be dyed elsewhere (in no small part because, as we’ll see, the availability of dye colors was regionally dependent).

Today, we are used to the effectively infinite range of colors offered by synthetic dyes, but for pre-modern dye-workers, they were largely restricted to colors that could be produced from locally available or imported dyestuffs. If you wanted a given color of fabric, you needed to be able to find something in the natural world which, when broken down could give you a chemical pigment that you could transfer to your fabric in a durable way. That put real limits on the colors which could be dyed and the availability of those colors.

Some colors simply couldn’t be produced this way – a good example were golden or metallic colors. If something in a dress was to be truly golden (and not merely yellow), the only way to do that prior to synthetic dyes and paints was to use actual gold, weaving small strands of ultra-thin gold wire into the cloth or embroidering designs with it. Needless to say, that was something only done by the very wealthy. Alternately, if the dye for a given hue or color came from something rare or foreign or difficult to process (for instance, in all three cases, Tyrian or royal purple, which came from the murex sea snails – if you have ever wondered why no country has purple as a national color this is why, before synthetic dyes, coloring your flags and uniforms purple would have been bonkers expensive), then it was going to be expensive and rare and there just wasn’t much you could do about that.

What dyes were available thus varied based on where you were and how much you could afford to import. Determining ancient dye availability is often tricky, since fabric so rarely survives, but we know that the Romans prized a wide range of colors; Pliny gives us some clues as to some of the more expensive dyes in his Natural History (such as saffron for a rich yellow), along with more common colors like blue (from woad), red (from madder), brown (from walnuts), and a cheaper yellow from weld. Similar sets of dyes were available in the Middle Ages, J.S. Lee notes the principal dyestuffs in use in England were woad (blue), madder (red), weld (yellow), ‘grain’ red (scarlet, this is kermes dye), cinnabar (vermillion), saffron (yellow) and various other vegetable and fruit dies (op. cit. 62). Many of these were imported; madder and weld from Germany, France and the Baltic, kermes and woad from the Mediterranean, Cinnabar from the Red Sea area. Madder, weld and woad in particular were the cheapest and most common dyes and served as the foundation for clothing color in the ancient and medieval Mediterranean (which is, consequently, why colors that can be produced by those dyes, or by mixing them, are so common in medieval artwork depicting clothing).

Eventually (‘true’) indigo blue dye came all the way from India (it was known to the Greeks and the Romans) but because of its imported nature it was an expensive luxury product in Europe prior to European colonial expansion. Indigo is a particularly good example, however, of how a dye (and its associated color, the deep blue) could be relatively inexpensive and available in one place and a rare luxury good used as a status symbol in others. While the dyes available were somewhat restricted, dyers could of course combine pigments to get composite colors, giving a fairly wide range of colors, assuming one had the money for the pigments...

The actual dying process varied based on the pigment being used and there were likely local craft differences as well. Still the process could be complex, with dyestuffs often needing to be ground down or broken up and then often heated (sometimes boiled) in order to get the pigments ready before the cloth would be immersed in the dye.

...Other dyes might require a mordant, a fixing agent which enabled the pigment to set on the fibers of the fabric. Alum was often used; in the Middle Ages it was sourced from Asia Minor and so needed to reach Europe via Mediterranean trade (although Italian sources of alum were found in 1462; it was only produced domestically in England in the 17th century and after). In other cases, as with the use of dyes produced from wood, tannic acid might be used as the mordant. Each dye had its own unique preparation process to produce the dye; some involved boiling, others fermenting, some grinding down the products and so on. Dyers needed access to quite a lot of water, both for the processes of making dye, but also to discharge the various effluent from the process – spent dye mixtures and waste water. Once the dye was made, the fibers, which might be unspun wool, spun wool thread or woven wool cloth, were immersed in the dye and then agitated; the agitation was done with a ‘dyer’s posser’ and introducing or removing the cloth was done with tongs.

...Now it is necessary to caveat this upfront: in terms of raw amounts of cloth produced, household textile production is likely to have outstripped commercial textile production until the start of the industrial revolution, so while commercial textile production is more visible to us (in part because rich businesses tend to leave records and their owners tend to be the sort of people to be literate and write things like wills which we can read) they weren’t the majority of production. So while clothiers and cloth merchants and professional weavers often get more attention in the sources (and consequently may get more attention in some modern treatments) they were likely a minority of cloth workers and cloth production prior to the early modern period.

At the same time, it is clearly wrong to think of the household production chain as being completely divorced from the commercial production chain; the two were clearly intermingled. Fullers and dyers seem to have represented a point where the two production systems converged; fulling and dying were difficult to do at household scale and required special skills and so it seems that even a household producing its own textiles would have a use for the fuller and the dyer to finish those clothes (because, again, people liked to look nice). Moreover, as we’ve discussed already, commercial clothiers often sourced the spinning and weaving they needed through the putting out system, paying domestic spinners and weavers (mainly women) on a wage or piece-work basis (that is, per-unit of thread or fabric).

...But of course there were also purely commercial workers making cloth, including elements of production that couldn’t be brought into the household (like fulling and dyeing) but also producers who worked primarily for the market. The emergence of large-scale textile production for markets – what we might term commercial production – seems closely connected to the rise of large cities, presumably because those cities contained both elites who might want to buy more (or finer) fabrics than their household could produce as well as poorer workers whose households (which might just be themselves) lacked the ability to produce textiles at all. Long distance trade was also clearly a factor that drove the emergence of large-scale cloth production; wool products were major exports as early as third millennium BC Summer (on this, note several of the chapters in C. Breniquet and C. Michel, op. cit.)

In both cases, we can see that dyers tend to be rather more highly paid than other textile workers, while second place goes to fullers (in the second chart, note that fulling, cleansing and finishing were all done in a fullery; it is the last task, I think, that would be done by the fuller himself (or herself) rather than paid workers or – in the Roman context – enslaved workers), with skilled professional weavers in the third place. The range of tax paid though gives a real sense of how there might be a considerable separation between the earning power of small-scale producers (or apprentices and other hired workers in a larger operation) and producers working at a larger scale (or making elite products).

Dyeworks (and fulleries in the medieval period) tended to be located just outside of urban centers, in part because of the smell (both kinds of work tend to smell quite bad). Because both dyeing and fulling made use of bad smelling mixtures, older scholars often assumed that the workers in these occupations were low status individuals and looked down upon. And while it is true that there does seem to have been some sense that these places were not terribly sanitary, more recent scholarship tends to show little evidence that the people who worked there – particularly the skilled, professional dyers and fullers – were low-status themselves.

In terms of the social position of cloth-makers, one indicator we can look to is professional associations and guilds. In the Roman world, professional associations (collegia) of fullers seem to have been quite common and Miko Flohr (op. cit.) argues persuasively that Roman fullers were respectable professionals, similar to other artisans – well below the political and social elite (whose wealth was in large landholdings), but not disreputable. Fuller’s collegia could be significant politically though; Flohr notes that Roman fullers seem to have been politically active, for instance, in Pompeii’s local politics (most famously dedicating a statue of Eumachia, a local aristocratic woman, outside of the ‘building of Eumachia’ the purpose of which is still under some dispute (but perhaps a market-place for fabric?)).

...So while the landed elite will have looked down their nose as textile workers (they looked down their nose at everyone), skilled professional textile workers represented fixtures in what we might see as a lower-middle-class of sorts in pre-modern cities. Because there were so many of them (and because they were attached to cloth merchants who might be truly wealthy) they often exerted a significant political and cultural pull. Thus there is an enormous range in the status of cloth-workers, from the well-to-do dyer who might be a respected professional artisan to the poorly paid spinner working in the ‘putting out’ system in her spare time when she wasn’t making clothing for her relatively poor farming family.”

- Bret Devereaux, “Clothing, How Did They Make It? Part IVa: Dyed in the Wool.”

[mydeztination]

Solo Female Travel Mexico - Is Puerto Vallarta Safe? + Yelapa & Los Arcos Video

Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

Puerto Vallarta is located on the West side of Mexico and is lined by the Sierra Madre Mountains & a lush jungle coastline. Puerto Vallarta is known for its warm tropical weather, inexpensive cost of living and traditional Mexican culture. During whale season (November to March), you are guaranteed to see whales every day in the Bay of Banderas, and sting rays and dolphins year around.

So, is Puerto Vallarta safe for solo female travelers?

The answer is - YES!

As a solo traveler myself I have lived in Puerto Vallarta for almost 4 years now and have never run into any situations that I felt were dangerous or unsafe.

Is there a lot of theft or violence in Puerto Vallarta?

There is not a lot of theft, danger or violence in the tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta and any of the surrounding cities, but like with any place you choose to travel to it is smart not to wear a lot of flashy jewelry and keep a small amount of cash on your body.

The key here is: don’t come to a third world country and flash your first world luxuries and you should be just fine.

Puerto Vallarta is very safe and violent crime does not exist in here.

What is public transportation like in Puerto Vallarta?

Taxi’s, Uber, the bus and now INDriver are all available to you in PV and are all equally safe. Taxi’s are the most expensive option while the bus is still only $10 pesos (.50$ USD). Uber and INDriver are reasonably competitive.

The bus is currently the most used form of public transportation in Puerto Vallarta and personally my favorite! Can you drink a beer or a margarita on the bus in YOUR home country? Didn’t think so!

Is the ocean safe in Puerto Vallarta?

Tides, currents and jelly fish are all things to watch out for anytime you’re in the ocean, but there is no reason to be overly concerned.

In the Bay of Banderas, waters are calmer here than most other parts of Mexico because it’s crescent shape protects the beaches from currents out in the open ocean.

Sharks are not a concern in Puerto Vallarta which is one of the main reasons the humpback whales choose to breed here as well as bring their young calf’s to the warm tropical waters.

There are life guards on the beach at some beaches, but its good to pay attention to the flags on the beach:

Green Flag: Water conditions are safe for swimming.

Yellow Flag: Use caution while swimming.

Red Flag: Dangerous conditions.

Black Flag: The highest warning level. Do not swim.

Is it safe to eat the food in Puerto Vallarta?

Street food stands are located everywhere in Puerto Vallarta and are safe to eat at. Some of the best food in Mexico comes out of a little mom and pop street food stand because it is delicious and cheap.

Is it safe to drink the water in Puerto Vallarta?

That depends on where you are in the city and where you are staying. A lot of the major hotels have a filtration system and will inform their guests that the water is potable - ok for consumption.

Locals and visitors do not drink tap water in Puerto Vallarta, so we purchase a garrafon (5 gallon filtered water jug) 2-3 times per week from any OXXO or grocery store for around $35 pesos.

Is there crime in Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta is safe, but that doesn’t mean you should always be letting your guard down. Crime still exists, but crime levels are low, especially compared with the rest of Mexico and significantly lower than the crime rates of major cities in the U.S. like Miami and Las Vegas.

Is there Cartel activity in Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta has largely remained uninvolved in Cartel conflicts. Violent crime is rare, and in the few instances of violence that have occurred, the victims were expected to be involved with the cartel in some way.

Crimes that do occur are usually petty in nature, and mostly crimes of opportunity such as bag snatching, pick-pocketing or theft. But even these aren’t very common.

Mexico has this reputation…

Mexico has a reputation - mostly with Canadian and American travelers - that it is not a safe destination to travel to for people like retirees and solo female travers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.

In 2018, AARP ranked Puerto Vallarta the #1 place to retire in based on safety and the cost of living against 100 other cities around the world.

10 Quick Solo Female Travel Tips for Puerto Vallarta

Double check the license plate of your Uber/InDriver.

Never leave drinks unattended.

Take your belongings to the bathroom with you.

Smile and acknowledge the people you pass, most of the time they just want to say hello.

If you need help, ask for it. Almost everyone is here to help you enjoy your time in Puerto Vallarta.

Don’t wear flashy jewelry.

Always be conscious opening your wallet in public.

Be aware of leaving your purse open and pick-pocketers.

Don’t carry too much cash. $200 USD per day is more than enough.

Avoid walking home at night if you don’t know the neighborhood.

watch the video below

More Videos on Youtube

Travel Experts Interviewed in this video:

**Current COVID-19 Safety Protocol in Puerto Vallarta**

Masks are required in all public places & social distancing is enforced. Public beaches are open & groups are limited to 10 or less, with mask use optional once you are on the beach & distanced from others.

Restaurants & bars have limited capacity, but isn’t much of a problem since tourism is so low right now since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Wearing a mask or not wearing a mask is not a political statement here as it is in the US, but from my observation, most seem to follow the protocol.” - Jim Kellett.

“As of January 26th, 2021, all passengers on international flights bound for the United States will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, PCR or rapid antigen, or written documentation of recovery following a COVID-19 infection. Canada only requires the PCR test.”

Testing requirements for both countries must be within 72 hours prior to departure.

COVID Testing locations and prices in Puerto Vallarta: https://visitpuertovallarta.com/covid-19

Puerto Vallarta Activities x My Deztination

Book now!

What is the weather like in Puerto Vallarta?

From December through April, the average daily high temperature is about 81 degrees, with a low at night hovering around 65 degrees, so not too hot during the day & no air conditioner needed!

During the rainy season (June through November), temperatures are higher at around 89 degrees, with full-day sun and lightening showers in the evenings.

Where is Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta follows the coast of the Pacific Ocean & shares the same latitude line as Hawaii, making it the best year around weather in the world. Most tourists visit the East coast of Mexico first because they assume that the Caribbean Sea will provide a better ambiance, but once those same people come to Vallarta they realize it’s the only place in Mexico where the tropical ocean is lined with the lush jungle of the Sierra Madre Mountain range.

Thanks for reading!

Puerto Vallarta Activities

by My Deztination

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[gmcdcvq377]

Getting My Class Of 2021: The New And Redesigned Cars, Trucks And ... To Work

Mercedes asserts this new two-seater convertible will return the SL name to its historic sporting origins and also, for the very first time in over twenty years, the folding steel roof is being ditched for a material configuration. When the brand-new SL takes place sale in 2022, anticipate a lot of effective engine options and also a starting price of around 85,000.

The brand-new Peugeot 208 will likely set you back from around 23,000 when it takes place sale in 2022. New Peugeot 508 PSE by Peugeot, Sport The Peugeot 508 PSE Sport Engineered comes as both a barroom and also an estate automobile. The Peugeot 508 Sporting Activity Engineered (PSE) will enter into manufacturing in 2021 as well as will be the fastest auto in the Peugeot range, with a 200hp fuel engine and also two 110hp electric motors.

The Basic Principles Of One Of These 5 Cars Will Be Motor Authority's Best Car To Buy ...

New Toyota Yaris Cross The brand-new Toyota Yaris and also GR Yaris will quickly be joined by the Yaris Cross a crossover-styled variation of the well-appointed crossbreed supermini. The Yaris Cross's inside is quite a lot the like the regular cars and truck's, and also the 116hp petrol-electric hybrid engine has also been lugged over the same.

Our checklist of the very best brand-new automobiles being available in 2021 highlights where the industry is heading. It's fair to claim that the vehicle market is going with something of a revolution currently, and also we're releasing evaluations and also short articles about new SUVs and electric cars a lot more frequently than ever.

The Best Strategy To Use For 7 Best Electric Cars Of 2021 - Top Tested Evs

EV modern technology is quickly improving, as well as there are now automobiles with plenty of range for just about the highest-mileage motorists. Billing times are coming down, and the availability of billing factors is raising almost every week. Prices are still more than an equal gasoline or diesel car, however we'll start to see expenses coming down in the next couple of years.

Here are all the brand-new cars and trucks that are established for a 2021 release date: Superminis being available in 2021Dacia Sandero Now, The budget-focused Dacia Sandero hatchback has actually been modernised as well as the next-generation version is currently offered to get. It stays the most inexpensive supermini on sale, undercutting the Ford Feast as well as other competitors by numerous thousand pounds. Dacia Springtime Electric EV Spring, Dacia will present its initial electric vehicle in 2021, one that's readied to be just one of the least expensive EVs on sale. It'll cost much less than the SEAT Mii electric as well as will certainly have SUV styling, although it only has 43bhp. A series of regarding 140 miles is claimed, which would certainly suffice for most individuals to bill as soon as every couple of days.

Not known Factual Statements About 5 Of The Best Off-road Vehicles Available In 2021 - Automotive ...

" Cooperative credit union auto loan rates are normally about a point as well as a half less than from a financial institution." "They will certainly be usually as long as 4-6 rate of interest factors reduced at a cooperative credit union than they'll go to a cars and truck dealership. So there's huge cash to be conserved gradually obtaining pre-qualified for funding," he claims.

Pick the incorrect model and also you can finish up with a fault-prone automobile that will invest as much time with an auto mechanic as it does on your driveway. A new cars and truck is an important purchase, and also a pricey one, so you require to make the ideal decision.

The Best Cars. Top Rated Cars Of 2021. Best Vehicles - Carbuzz ... Diaries

Extra and much more suppliers are declaring their automobiles can take a trip over 200 miles, however our very own examinations have actually found electrical autos that drop well short of the claimed figures. Car Study asks tens of thousands of proprietors just how trusted their automobiles are.

Where hybrid cars and trucks can actually come active is in metropolitan driving - choose the best design and also they'll quickly best the average petroleum or diesel for urban mpg. Nevertheless, their standard Achilles' Heel is poor Ford Probe FAQ freeway mpg - although some of the most effective crossbreed vehicles can be exceptions to this pattern.

The smart Trick of 7 Of The Best Luxury Cars And Suvs 2021 Has To Offer That Nobody is Discussing

a lovely little car that's remarkably low-cost to run. one to avoid at all costs it looks cheap as well as let us down with a rough trip. Every cars and truck we evaluate in our laboratory is driven for numerous miles on UK roads, so we can claim, with authority, whether the vehicle is easy to drive.

hazardously sub par when it pertains to safety and security credentials. As you would certainly anticipate, indoor area in a huge vehicle will not be a concern, as well as considerable engines imply the extra weight will not produce slow-moving efficiency. However although you 'd anticipate all 'huge' cars and trucks to have lots of boot room, not all of them deliver on their promise.

[beautybranding12]

How Fenty’s Beauty Branding Positioning Generated $100 Million In 40 Days

Many of Huda Beauty’s high posts featured the brand’s photogenic founder, suggesting the brand is taking advantage of that Huda magic. Beauty branding is all about first impressions and in the enterprise of beauty the bar is set excessive. Salons want a distinctive style to face out and entice fashion-savvy shoppers in an over-saturated market. We are a beauty branding company, our skilled brand id companies create related, believable, well-positioned manufacturers https://mslk.com/.

Don’t cover them on a webpage nobody visits; use them to underscore your advertising, your website copy, and every thing else that comes from your model, implicitly and explicitly. According to Brand Finance, L'Oreal Paris is the main make-up brand in relation to net worth. In 2020 it's value was value a whopping 11.75 billion US dollars. It's adopted by Gillette and Nivea in the second and third places, respectively. Anyone could be their own makeup artist with the assistance of Make Up For Ever.

This beauty branding logo is kind of made up of a monogram illustration and a wordmark. The monogram is made up of a artistic and edgy letter mixture. The U and D are uppercase and angular, with gentle swirls, onerous traces and modern aptitude. Color is merely certainly one of three logo components - others are symbol and font.

The brand’s skincare, makeup and perfume merchandise combine science and sweetness to achieve the right blend of modern thinking and timeless style. Created by François Nars in 1994, NARS Cosmetics launched with simply 12 lipsticks. Since then, the label has grown considerably and now provides a various and in depth assortment of magnificence merchandise for women of all skin sorts. You don’t want to purchase couture clothes to find a way to put on luxurious.

This mega cosmetics firm is certainly one of the largest on the earth and has been providing girls with incredible cosmetics and fragrances since 1886. RMS Beauty prides itself on creating merchandise that are not solely non-toxic but in addition nourishing to the skin. The label’s makeup and skincare ranges function raw, food-grade and natural elements that promote anti-ageing and long-lasting magnificence.

They’ve backed up their dedication to that base of their marketing, and they’ve used social media to attach with their clients in unfiltered and organic methods. Since Lilah b isn't brand new, Foland is working via well timed issues that are important to modern beauty customers. The brand is increasing the variety of foundation shades provided, of which there are at present only 5, and addressing sustainability, an increasing area of focus for the wonder trade. The frequency of assortment has increased from monthly to weekly in just some years, and Lilah b is devoted to persevering with the scheme as a value of doing enterprise. Vegan beauty brand The Lip Bar was a prime performer on each Instagram and Twitter this year.

As prospects are exposed to a beauty model extra typically, they become extra inclined to like it. Successful brands have a constant look and feel in every little thing they put in front of their prospects. One of the major benefits of this type of consistency is that it offers easy recognition of any product amongst customers. Attractive packaging design is a motivating pressure in encouraging folks to make impulsive selections. Taking benefit of this reward-seeking conduct with a good design can have a robust influence on customers’ receptiveness to your products.

To be thought-about natural, the product must meet non-toxic standards for ingredients and processing. Up from $483B in 2020 to $511B in 2021 — and with an annual compounded development rate of four.75% worldwide — it’s predicted to exceed $716B by 2025. Long controlled by legacy conglomerates, the sweetness business has turned on-line. Spend a while really nailing down what makes your products different. You have to not be afraid to level out what makes you stand out, there’s plenty of power in that. You’re a growing group with systemic issues which may be affecting your brand.

Lilah B promote multi-use merchandise using "clean" components, encouraging clients to recycle their old cosmetics packaging. Customer engagement is handiest if it’s organic, through “deep connection” corresponding to user-generated content or influencers who've plausible relationships with products. A robust online presence might help entice stockists—so it’s worth investing in social media areas. Early on, you will want to create a website—try Squarespace for an inexpensive, secure, and slick on-line retailer you could build your self with no coding skills. I constructed my very own retailer on Squarespace within the time it took to watch an episode of Black Mirror.

Skincare model Mary Kay swiftly jumped into the fight against coronavirus by redirecting resources to fabricate hand sanitizer within the early days of the pandemic. Instagram followers jumped in to applaud the brand’s actions with more than 17,000 likes and comments. Not all brands went so far as to change up manufacturing, however many beauty manufacturers tried to make a difference by actively sharing what they have been doing to fight the pandemic with followers on social media. Many manufacturers noticed success with giveaways this yr, but this one from ColourPop is a textbook instance of a dynamite social media giveaway. The brand stored the criteria for entry easy and centered on ColourPop as an alternative of creating fans hop around to a bunch of different brands. The giveaway in celebration of a big follower milestone sneakily helped ColourPop develop followers even more by incentivizing casual followers to follow the model on Instagram.

The company serves various industries together with sports, leisure, food & beverage, retail and travel. But the joy in this brand comes in its simplicity — particularly in comparability to the encompassing packaging. The monogram is made up of the overlapping E and L of the model name in a curly, inventive and splendid font. The backward “N” adds a cool, innovative and edgy tone to the logo that elevates the brand’s mastery within the beauty industry. Due to Instagram API limitations, we’re capable of pull accurate Instagram engagement numbers only for verified and/or Instagram business accounts. Helpful business articles, our work, and special provides are introduced on these platforms.

You’ll also need an on-brand business card full with your logo, website and another components of your model identity, to construct these connections. The visual id communicates instantly what it would take a long time to place throughout in words. For example, are your values natural, natural and eco-friendly or glamorous and glossy? The customer will instantly get an impression from your packaging and marketing materials to assist them resolve if the product is for them. Of course the phrases are important too, but you have to get your clients to notice you first, and that's where visuals are so necessary.

After Fenty launched, their deep shades offered out across the nation, and customers took to social media to share their joy at discovering foundations that matched their pores and skin tone. But while Fenty is priced as a luxury model, they still aren’t as expensive as most of the other manufacturers promoting a lot of shades. Estée Lauder’s foundation range with forty two shades, for instance, is priced at $42; Fenty’s foundation is $35.

By posting YouTube movies of her make-up routines and sharing seems on her Snapchat tales, she had positioned herself as a number one voice. eMarketer reviews that 38% of shoppers interested in testing pop-up stores are those that already store on-line every week in comparability with 28% preferring brick-and-mortar shopping. By engaging with its followers in a face-to-face setting, Glossier is prepared to deepen relationships with customers past online interactions. Yet, it doesn’t come with the monetary obligations of following a chain-store mannequin. With different themes in every area and experiential advertising activations — it’s constructed hype that attracts droves of brand name lovers desperate to try out the products in real-time.

While the beauty and private care business will stay strong globally, the cosmetics and skincare verticals specifically will expertise probably the most income growth within the US at a fee of 3.5% by 2021. Crafted is a inventive branding agency that companions with startups and fortune 100 brands across the globe. They have experience in brand design, video manufacturing, web site improvement ad content material advertising. Does a Black-owned magnificence brand need to post about Black founders, Black influencers, and makeup shades for darker skin tones to be successful on social media?

Fenty is a good instance of magnificence brand advertising, from their partaking social media channels which include sharing well-liked memes on Twitter and sharing selfies of their clients sporting Fenty makeup. Fenty was initially launched in 2017 by way of an exclusively digital marketing campaign and to this present day the model is a testomony to the significance of how important the web area is for modern magnificence manufacturers. Different branded cosmetics model design elements by Almi designLogo. Your brand is the face of your beauty enterprise and, as such, it’s the most important component you’ll bring to life through the branding course of. Fenty found next-level success because it positioned itself from day one as a diverse brand for a various buyer base. They’ve built products for an enormous and underserved market—women whose pores and skin tones don’t fall into the ranges that the most important makeup brands focus on.

According to NPD, Benefit Cosmetics had a 50% share of the £20 million brow market in 2016, and that was before the model launched thirteen model new brow-related products. Fenty continues this strategy across digital channels, using YouTube tutorials and stay virtual events to generate engagement and hype around each new product launch. Many magnificence brands launched digital tools in 2020, as customers have been unable to visit stores , and L’Oreal’s ‘Signature Faces’ digital make up line was arguably one of the most innovative releases.

Your web site is a superb platform to start a dialogue about all magnificence topics and, who is aware of, maybe a while down the road you might begin producing a line of beauty products that you never considered. Funkhaus is a digital creative company working on the intersection of design, content material, programming, and strategy. One reason behind Benefit’s domination of the area is its shrewd advertising activity, which in 2017 concerned the ‘Browmobile’ campaign. Combining experiential elements with digital advertising, it involved an online competition offering customers the possibility to win a visit from the browmobile.

"Aside from social media, a advertising tactic that usually will get overlooked is the unboxing experience you could create for influencers," says Wittick. "Fabfitfun created a stir about this, yet it’s a tactic that still will get uncared for." When operating a cosmetics advertising marketing campaign on social media, begin by figuring out what makes your product visually intriguing.</p>

<p>Glossier managed to tie for first with last year’s Instagram winner Huda Beauty thanks to dynamic posts tailor-made to the instances. Many of the brand’s prime Insta posts featured COVID updates, assist of frontline staff, and popping out in support of Black Lives Matter, indicating the model was unafraid to take a stand. Going beyond the makeup was a profitable strategy for Glossier throughout all channels and was especially powerful on Instagram.

A logo that conveys your brand and character instantly is one which prospects will respond to. Those are just two examples, but you should take the time to determine the place your clients spend their time if you'd like your marketing to be effective. Once you could have taken these three steps, you have to use the information you could have gathered to market your company and merchandise. New web shoppers must create an online account to earn & redeem rewards. “We actually imagine that Then I Met You has its own distinct branding and story to inform, and we want to grow separate and distinctly from Soko Glam,” says Cho.

You will create much less waste and save vitality by using recycled supplies. This sort of engagement is gold, and firms like ColourPop comprehend it. The brand is constantly increasing its product range and making an attempt new things, and the probabilities are countless. In 2017 it put a name out for a name for a model new, yet-to-be-released concealer and inside seconds had dozens of replies. The website Bustle rapidly caught on to the thread, stating ColourPop teased a possible concealer on Twitter and followers already have the right name idea. A large seventy % of Glossier’s on-line sales come from peer referrals.

Matt Holt, Chief Strategy Officer at Digitas UK, explains why we have to deliver memorability and utility via buyer expertise. The travel trade fascinates me; not just because like everyone else I love a good holiday and a while within the solar, however it’s additionally some of the aggressive industries in relation to the SERPs. A beautifully designed web site in its personal right – it’s fairly simple to get lost browsing round. However, by pointing customers back to content material on the primary Aesop web site, it is in a position to deliver on its authentic function of promoting the core model.

Social media cosmetics branding by JayJacksonIf you need your magnificence brand to succeed, you need to model yourself on social media. While all platforms are necessary, YouTube and Instagram are each visual platforms where the majority of magnificence content material lives, making them, palms down, the most important channels for beauty manufacturers. Fenty launched with forty totally different shades of foundation, encompassing an enormous variety of pores and skin tones. As a outcome, the company was in a place to supply a greater number of choices in darker and lighter shades of make-up than most other major firms.

Logo by thisisremedy for Floral Chemistry.Customers wish to work with manufacturers they'll stand behind. So when you really wish to connect together with your customers, you should do greater than make superb lipsticks or tremendous pigmented shadows—you want a powerful corporate mission and values. Sign up for our free, 7-day e mail course and learn to construct the proper model id. When it comes to branding your corporation, there are three fundamental ideas you have to understand.

It specializes in science, and you'll see that within the design components that the logo embodies. You can’t ignore a model whose beauty brand is shiny, daring and dynamic in the way this model is — and you don’t want to. The first store opened a hundred sixty five years ago as a New York apothecary, nevertheless it has advanced right into a model that cares about all-natural merchandise and the shoppers that use them. Glossier is a modern cosmetic brand that is identified for its simplicity and minimalism — in its product providing and its product packaging.

The flowing feel of a script font is inherently feminine and conveys a simple class that might be perceived at a look. What meaning in sensible phrases is that the competitors in the magnificence industry is fierce. The huge cosmetics corporations are continuously engaged in a battle to win the business of more and more subtle customers. And even in the smallest cities, generally two or three hair or nail salons have to compete with one another for a small pool of shoppers. Over the previous twenty years we now have helped manufacturers grow from the bottom up, launch line extensions, rediscover their voice in a crowded market, and create totally new product categories. While public relations, partnerships, events like Indie Beauty Expo, and different advertising tactics may be efficient, Instagram influencers will actually increase your beauty business.

The emblem is a mirror of this magnificence brand’s products, usually described as bold, surprising and vivid. Its aesthetics is immediately derived from Kat’s tattoo artistry in its intricate typography sample even in its retail places which echo stylistic cues from gothic artwork and structure. It balances a regal history with a contemporary energy that can’t be ignored or tamed.

[wallmountedshampoodispensersuppl]

Customer Advantages To Wall Surface

I presume I like mass since I never use it. I actually pack my own toiletries in 3 oz containers due to the fact that no hotel in the world provides Head and Shoulders and also I do not such as dandruff. I'm much more likely to use the toiletries at flight terminal lounge showers, when my own toiletry bag is stored, but it seems all of them utilize bulk toiletries. I'm not saying a person that declares to have obtained a breakout or a few other pain after using a communal shampoo dispenser is lying, yet I very much doubt it was infected by an previous owner. I just can not envision a large criminal activity wave of freaks or evil-doers paying $100 or $300 or $1000 an evening to check into a hotel space to tinker or nasty the toiletries. It's like razor blades being provided on apples at Halloween.

Modern, modern design wall placed square hand soap dispenser, both of wall install and cost-free standing design offered.

Easy to get hold of as well as make use of, sleek hand soap dispenser is a required accent in any type of visitor or master washroom.

Sanliv Soap dispenser container is made from stainless-steel # 304, can be satin or polished surface optional.

I believe hotels must alter the sheets and towels by default as well as allow visitors to opt out not choose in like they do now I choose bar soap, and bottles of excessively perfumed shower goop absolutely undervalue the experience. I've stayed a a couple of Autograph Collection buildings in current months as well as they had these wretched pumps in any way of them.

Pump Up The Volume: Luxury Resorts Welcome Soap Dispensers.

So then, why is it that showers, whether they're standalone or component of a shower/tub combo, are all seemingly created for people of a particular elevation. Putting in a shower head that I can move and also get used to my elevation and likewise remove really makes my resort stay appear considerably much more homey than throwing in some added sofa or nonessential furnishings. Back at the Americas Lodging Financial Investment Summit in January, Hilton Worldwide Holdings went for it in making their launch as well as pitch to developers for their new Tru by Hilton brand name. There was a re-creation of the general public spaces at the hotel, and also ambassadors for the brand pointed out all the unique style touches meant to attract visitors right into those rooms. Less-expensive hotel chains such as Starwood's Aloft and Aspect and also IHG's EVEN have actually accepted pump dispensers. Used for hair shampoo, conditioner and bath gel, using in washroom, utility room, beauty salon, etc. " It's more green-friendly for the hotel and the atmosphere, due to the fact that they do not to have fret about all those private containers," says Chacon.

Plus, when staying at a nice hotel, it can be wonderful to take home a little remaining hair shampoo or conditioner as a souvenir. The miniature containers obtain used when and obtain gotten rid of, generally wasting 50% of the shampoo or conditioner. Hopefully right stuff appearing the dispensers will help you wipe the stuff you got from using it. TBH, I prefer to utilize these dispensers than have our coastlines littered with the dead wild animals who have actually choked on little Le Labo containers.

Hotels Need To Quit The Shampoo Wall Dispenser Madness.

They are loaded with nourishment as well as delicious. I haven't had a point to eat considering that they put this mean guideline in location. " Every one of the polluted dispensers were replaced with sealed-soap-dispensing systems after the initial phase of the area hand cleaning study. H2o shampoos & conditioners are not inexpensive Walmart junk. Tammie is just pointing out guests can be ludicrous over cost-free items, as well as they can, I have seen it a lot of a time.

Basic and also stylish soap and shampoo dispenser bundle design supplies well protection for the item inside and clear product photo outside the box. Each set features user's manual as well as installment kit including screws, anchors, glue tapes as well as silicone. This wall installed handwashing container owner is an energy service to maintain your hand hygiene.

These consist of a refillable cartridge or a storage tank and a switch or a sensor. A home window is likewise present to examine the quantity of soap left in the dispenser. The shutoff and the nozzle that dispense the soap are such that it always supplies the appropriate amount of soap.

The whole top piece simply requires to be pulled up to remove this indoor bottle, after that the pump can be unscrewed from the plastic bottle in order to be filled up. A bulk services program can also aid from a visitor services and friendliness viewpoint. Among the concerns of those against the California bill is that bulk facilities are harder for housekeeping staff to take care of. Nevertheless, both Xanterra and also Delaware North have actually discovered methods to make the process smoother. By hand run soap dispenser pump devices, made from brass in chrome plated. All you require bathroom essentials such as shower gel, shampoo as well as conditioner for shower remain in one plan. Are you going to surrender your bar of soap as well as container services to sustain preservation as well as sustainability efforts?

[awesomeshefalimulye-blog]

5 best international destinations to visit post COVID – 19

The COVID – 19 pandemic has devastated humanity as never before. With multiple countries under strict lockdowns or restricted movements. It has caused a severe blow to the economics of many countries. Multiple businesses and industries worldwide have been badly affected (though some continue to prosper even through this pandemic). One of the worst hit is of course the tourism industry comprising of airlines, hotels and other hospitality related services such as transporters, embassies and visa related services, restaurants and many other ancillary service partners. Having said that tourism is resilient and will bounce back for sure just as it did post the SARS in 2013. The biggest question is what will one’s travel itinerary in the future look like and which regions in the world will be safe to travel in the future? Some of the factors which will perhaps determine this will be – proximity to home, airline capacity, especially to bring back home in case of any eventuality, destinations which were less impacted and/or have better health facilities and also insurance covers.

I am listing down some international destinations that maybe explored post COVID – 19 taking into account multiple factors that work in favour of these destinations. For those who are ‘travellers’ and are looking at continuing to travel once airline services resume and it is safer to travel, here goes –

Country                 Total cases        Active Cases         Deaths

New Zealand           1499                   45                         21

Taiwan                     440                     35                          7

Vietnam                   324                     61                          0

Thailand                  3031                  118                         56

Hong Kong             1056                    27                          4   

 New Zealand:

As on date New Zealand has reported 1499 active COVID – 19 cases with around 21 deaths and 93% of the infected cases have recovered successfully. New Zealand has a definite advantage over many other countries. Constituting 268,000 kms of total land area and a population of approximately 48 lakhs spread out between the North and South Island and any neighbouring inhabited island – It is not a large country and is fairly sparsely populated and yet has the comforts of being a developed country.

Ø  Known for its surreal natural beauty, few destinations can boast of so many natural wonders and experiences packed into such a small area. Snow capped peaks, rain forests, coastal glaciers, large geothermal areas in Rotorua with bubbling mud ponds and hissing streams – New Zealand has it all. Queenstown is a hotspot for adrenaline filled sports such as white-water rafting, luging, jet boat riding, skydiving, hiking, mountain biking, heli hiking, bungy jumping at the Bloukrons Bridge (one of the highest bungy jumps in the world)– the list of outdoor activities is endless.

Ø  With options of self - drive vacations as well as seat in coach holidays, one can find a wide variety of accommodations ranging from budget to luxury as well as quaint bed and breakfasts.

Ø  For the sports lovers, the cricket season in New Zealand will start from July with matches with West Indies followed by ICC T20 on Oct which could be something to plan for. Oct onwards is a good time to travel to New Zealand right through till the beginning of March, to experience summer in New Zealand.

Ø  With simplified e visa processes, correct documentation and timely application of visas, obtaining the New Zealand visa can be a breeze.  

Ø  Well connected with multiple airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways, Air New Zealand and Emirates as well as low cost airlines such as Jet Star, it is a destination which can combined with a stopover in a South East Asian hub as well.

Ø  Considering the size of the country and its population, social distancing should not be a challenge when travelling through New Zealand.  

Ø  New Zealand has around 40 public hospitals spread across the country in cities and larger towns. Both public as well as private health care in the country is excellent.

Ø  All the major insurance companies offer multiple type of travel insurance products for New Zealand and are expected to offer products inclusive of COVID -19.

Ø  Best time to visit: September to November (Spring) with temperatures averaging between 13 – 20 degrees, December to February (Summer) with temperatures averaging between 19 – 25 degrees

 Taiwan:

Considering its geographical (not to mention lack of political) proximity to China, Taiwan has done an exemplary job of managing COVID 19 and its implications. While relatively unknown. Taiwan offers wondrous vistas, lively traditions and cultures. This year in 2020. Taiwan celebrates ‘the year of mountain tourism’.

Ø  Shaped like a leaf, the island covers 36,000 square kms with 23 million people living in it. Though not a very large country and while it is fairly densely populated, its immediate action and advanced deployment, sufficient availability of PPE for medical personnel and effective use of technology has helped the country tremendously in successfully handling this global pandemic far more effectively than most other countries.

Ø  Some of the popular ways of discovering Taiwan are trekking in the magnificence of the cliffs at Taroko Gorge; taking a ride on the Alishan Forest Railway and experiencing the breathtaking sunrise and sea of clouds; hiking up to the summit of Northeast Asia's highest peak, Yu Mountain (Yushan). You can also soak up the sun in Kending (Kenting), Asia's version of Hawaii; stand at the edge of Sun Moon Lake; wander through the East Rift Valley; or visit the offshore islands of Kinmen and Penghu – overall a lot of fun family activities after being confined to our homes for so long.

Ø  For true shoppers at heart, Taipei offers many night markets where you can combine a very satisfying shopping tour with a street food tour and try some amazing local fare and even a unique shrimp fishing experience.

Ø  You can enjoy a cycle tour near Sun Moon Lake as well a sample local wines and tea made from pure spring water.

Ø  Well connected with many airlines’ ex India such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Airlines and low-cost airlines like Air Asia, connectivity is easily possible from many Indian cities though fares are a little towards the expensive side.

Ø  Taiwan has emerged as a hotspot for medical tourism with sophisticated medical technology, well-trained medical professionals, strategic geographical location, stress-free VISA process and most importantly affordable cost-effective quality treatment. With a wide range of government and private hospitals spread across the country, makes it an ideal destination to travel to even as we wait for a vaccine for COVID – 19.

Ø  Popular among both business and leisure travellers, Indian nationals can now travel to Taiwan with a free visa, which can be applied online, thus simplifying visa processes.

Ø  Best time to visit Taiwan: November or the first half of April. The weather is cooler in November while in April you will get to see nature in its full bloom.

 Vietnam:

Vietnam has been another interesting statistic in so far as battling Coronavirus is concerned. With only 288 cases and no deaths till date, inspite of a relatively weak healthcare system and a low budget for combating the virus, Vietnam is a case study in how this virus can be beaten against all odds.  Effective 23rd April 2020, Vietnamese government has lifted social isolation rules and allowed opening of many non- essential services including restaurants. Domestic flights have resumed operations as well. Though Vietnam has limited and not necessarily international level medical facilities, I have still continued to include the same in my list on account of close proximity to India especially for those on a relative budget and looking for a short break. Vietnam boasts a variety of experiences for families as well as couples and can be an expensive luxury holiday or a relatively basic holiday if looking for a budget one, though airfares can be a little bit of a deterrent sometimes even if booked well in advance

Ø  Vietnam follows a very simple, inexpensive online e visa process for Indians, which is not complex and does not need to be planned weeks in advance.

Ø  One of the most underrated destinations in Asia, Vietnam is popular for its amazingly beautiful beaches some of them relatively unexplored, national parks, historical monuments and bustling nightlife. Cities as vibrant as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh , overnight on a junk boat at the dazzling UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, hiking through Cat Ba Island, visiting and staying with locals in some of the most spectacular rural villages in North of Vietnam, visit the world’s largest cave in Pho Nha National Park, enjoy relaxing cycling expeditions in Hue or Ninh Binh as you walk around or drive past karst peaks and sail pas Tam Coc’s rice fields, meet up with local tribes in Sapa or find romance in its love market, see the recently opened Golden Hands Bridge in Da Nang and enjoy its French flavours or head on a food trail in one of the cities in Vietnam – the list of experiences is endless.

Ø  Combining a trip to neighbouring Cambodia is also a wonderful option as you will get to see the massive and most important archaeological site in South East Asia – Angkor Wat temples.

Ø  The best medical care in Vietnam is in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, though most medical concerns can be treated competently in many smaller towns and cities. ... SOS International has clinics in Vung Tau, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, providing good but expensive outpatient medical care

Ø  All major insurance companies offer multiple products that cover Vietnam.

Ø  The best time to visit Vietnam is during December through February when temperatures are milder and rain is minimal. Vietnam's long, narrow shape means that the three primary regions (north, central, and south) experience different types of seasons and weather events throughout the year.

 Thailand:

Thailand is perhaps the most ‘been there, done that’ destination in this list. Nonetheless I am including the same as I feel that the destination has great potential on account of a lot of unexplored experiences it has to offer.

Ø  Fantastic connectivity PAN India with option of more expensive full service carriers as well as budget LCC carries combined with amazingly tourist friendly and well organised seat in coach as well as private service and a wide range of accommodation options, gives one a wider price range to choose from depending on budget.

Ø  Apart from the pristine, dreamy beaches, ancient monasteries and coral reefs, food trails that are a treat for your taste buds, adventurous water sports, historical sites  and of course a flourishing night life– there is still a lot undiscovered by many Indian travellers.

Ø  Bangkok, the capital, in central Thailand, is regarded as a modern hub of various cultures, faiths and experiences. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to the north cater to those looking the quiet countryside and to spend time in the wild. Down south, beach destinations such as Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui and island resorts in Khao Sok or Koh Yao Yai and many others, offer some of the best tropical experiences by the sea. On the western end, the Hua Hin region is popular for resorts where one can relax luxuriously. Finally, towards the east, Ubon Ratchathani is a spiritual and historical escape where one can immersively learn about Buddhist and Thai culture.

Ø  Generally speaking, the standard of medical care in Thailand is good. Thailand has world class international standard hospitals in the larger urban centres, with reasonably good medical facility in rural Thailand.  

Ø  Normally I do recommend Thailand as a year- round destination as the countryside is stunningly beautiful in the monsoons and though it rains, it will not disrupt your plans largely. Having said that if you are looking for a perfect weather to travel in, then November through till April is a dry season with temperatures ranging from 29 degrees to 34 degrees.

Ø  Before the COVID- 19 pandemic, Thailand was offering free e visa on arrival. Butan update is awaited on the same from the Thailand embassy. The process of obtaining visa before departure is fairly hassle free and does not take more than 3- 4 working days under ordinary circumstances.

 Hong Kong:

Considering its proximity and accessibility to China, this is another country that has done a remarkable job of managing the pandemic. One of the 1st countries to be hit by the same, Hong Kong is today one of the most ‘almost COVID – 19 free’ countries on the list. What makes this remarkable further is that the city-state has achieved this without the kind of de facto police-state curfew that India has resorted to. While people did work from home and some of the theme parks as well as attractions are closed to avoid community transmission, eventually restaurants opened, people continued to go to parks and favourite hiking routes but nearly everyone wears a mask and maintain social distancing.

Ø  Bustling streets, mouth-watering authentic cuisines, nature reserves and teetering tower blocks, old world markets amidst neon jungles, diversity in its various contradictions - Hong Kong is by far one of the most dynamic, overwhelming city I have ever has the opportunity to visit, A great pick for a family destination, Hong Kong offers a wide range of attractions for all age groups combined with all the privileges and comforts one can enjoy in any well-developed country. Apart from child friendly attractions such as Ocean Park and Disneyland, this multi culture destination also hosts many world class sports events especially rugby and horse racing.  

Ø  It is only an hour’s ferry ride from Macau, a mecca for those interested in casinos and night life and Las Vegas style hotels on ‘The Strip’ with internationally acclaimed shows. Just perfect for those who cannot make it to Las Vegas as yet!

Ø  Hong Kong is extremely well connected to many major airports in India. The airfares as well as hotels are a little on the higher side and I would recommend booking the same early.  

Ø  Critically, Hong Kong has one of the world’s best public healthcare systems, experienced at dealing with challenges such as the avian flu in 1997 to the H1N1 in 2009. 

Ø  Once again, an all year-round destination, the best time to visit Hong Kong is from October till April. For those who enjoy cultural experiences and local festivals and food, I would recommend considering a trip to Hong Kong in January & February though.

 COVID – 19 is not yet a thing of the past globally nor is it an issue we can ignore, So it is time we start working around it and figuring out solutions to stay safe when travelling. Airlines, hoteliers, transporters – everyone involved in the business of hospitality are figuring out solutions in terms of contactless travel, regular sanitisation, norms of social distancing and many other issues which are likely to come up once all of them are allowed to operate as usual. There is definitely a new ‘normal’ that we all need to adjust to while travelling in the future. In a business where human touch and conversation is all about hospitality, be it on land or in air, we may be looking at reduced human touch just to be able to stay safe and travel. So be it then!

[serpentsprincearchive]

send me  ‘ 🖤 ‘  for our muses to go on an inexpensive, simple date

Valentine’s day – it was not a celebration of love, they were not suited in ancient Greece or Rome and they were definitely not worshipping a God who probably didn’t exist for their entertainment. Valentine’s day – it was simply a creation made by those suited in the one lucky percentage of the population, those who were playing with the lives of the rest 99 %. It was their masterpiece, their own Frankenstein  - a way to make a profit and to make the poor believe that one could actually buy love. He despised it, it made him sick, he groaned in response every time Archie had a valentine in his locker. He would roll his eyes when someone mentioned it but all changed when he started loving Betty Cooper.

Now, he didn’t have enough money to make her Valentine’s day being as good as a plot of a Hollywood movie. Yet, he knew that even though she was not simplistic, she found happiness in the simple things. They were sitting at their little booth in the corner, isolated from the other customers and the world. The light of the candle was illuminating her face and making her smile even brighter, the book he bought her and the flowers were long forgotten. They were just smiling at each other and while he was eating his favourite burger, she was eating the dessert he bought her from her favourite place. Pop allowed him to sneak it in. His beanie was gone and for once he styled his hair, his shirt matching the colour of her dress.  It didn’t seem like a stupid holiday anymore

While he promised himself he would show her how much he appreciated her being in his life every day ( one day was simply not enough), today somehow felt even more magical. The rest of the world was colored in black and white and while many girls were falling in love with jewellery, expensive hotel bed sheets and luxury cars, she was falling more in love with him. He could see it. It wasn’t about how much he had spent, it was about the fact that he remembered her favourites ( and he was blessed that he was on that little list of hers.) “ Happy Valentine’s day, my love.” He stated before his lips met hers in a passionate kiss. And for once, it was truly happy.

[gamemennavigator]

100 Gorgeous Wallpapers For Your Mac Mac.appstorm Within Par biriltap1996 dans Accueil le 30 Janvier

100 Gorgeous Wallpapers for Your Mac « Mac.AppStorm这里有你想要的或是你意想不到的手机卡通动漫壁纸图片，有你爱的壁纸卡通，有你喜欢的奥，我为大家收集了最近流行的图片，可以作为手机壁纸也可作为头像来使用，大家不妨来挑选自己喜爱的吧在線上免費玩文字最热.

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The meaning of a totality of the economic relations shaped in the process of development, circulation, and application of finances, as income resources are generally spread. The 2018 CRM Service Leaders: Customer Case Management erpinnews In the process of defining the opportunities, it is important to ingest brain the sides of methods, expenses and incomes, because investment, from area, is the consequence of the manufacture’s activity, and, from a different one, – a part of income, which, in cases like this, isn’t employed for usage.

Yet another situation: it’s advisable to go over investments in two factors: as a group of arrange and flow, that may reflect exactly the connection between “keeping of funds” and “opportunities “. As we have stated earlier, not long before, in the well-known Soviet literature the concepts of “the placement of resources” and “opportunities” were recognized to function as the synonyms and concerned to function as investment of places for further creation of the main funds and formation of the turnover funds. We match with such knowledge of the thought of “expense” (here, they separate three kinds of the expense costs: opportunities in the essential money of investments, investments inside your home creating and opportunities in the reserves) in the present day inexpensive publications and it is mostly utilized on the macro level within a statistical analysis of inexpensive processes. In that concrete event investment could be the category of the reserve. Finance SoftwareWallpaper, MicrosoftFinance Software, IntegratedFinance Software, FinanceManagement Software, FinanceApplication The method that you & Ones Companion Must Preserve Capital finance one software – The 2018 CRM Service Leaders: Customer Case Management erpinnews - Many newly-married couples are receiving a hard time adapting to another way connected with daily life, primarily in relation to economic matters. As separate people today, ones shelling out practices will probably differ.

This is why both of you need to make a number of alterations in blend the family unit budget. Here are several methods about how the two of you may make your ‘economic feature"of one"s relationship good and organized: Fully grasp exactly how both of you look at money. Finance one software – The 2018 CRM Service Leaders: Customer Case Management erpinnews - When both you and your loved one get various beliefs in relation to dollars issues, sit back and also focus on it. The real key here"s to be able to compromise.

For some, cash is a security alarm measure that must be saved. Others spend it more luxuriously and look at income as a way to help compensate by themselves for their work.

Even now, others have become thrifty how they rarely ever commit a penny connected with what they have earned. Know that exactly how both of you deal with and also spend some money is caused by the way you had been brought up on your parents. Consider of other foods you will want to focus on in relation to your household budget. If you can, established policies about how it will cost ones blended cash flow upon electricity debts, meal, home loan, motor vehicle servicing, etc.

Collection foreseeable future economic goals. For anyone who is newly weds and also you are wanting to possess a little one shortly, look at this when setting up ones finances.

As a few approaching age retirement living, you may make plans on where it will cost ones discretion years. Setting up long-term and also short-term targets will assist you to finalize ones economic plans. Reveal ones money-saving expertise together with your partner. Finance one software – The 2018 CRM Service Leaders: Customer Case Management erpinnews - In case you have various relatives background scenes, then you would get one thing to help make contributions in the direction of setting up ones important joints assets.

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[aliesteem]

An Immensely Through Fine Dining Experience from the Brokest College Student Ever.

I’ve recently broken into my old, student email and was reunited with the dozens and dozens of papers I’ve written about dining in Culinary school. These papers scored me A’s and made me realize I possibly do have a future in writing. I’m still proud nearly two years later so I thought I’d share. Enjoy!

Introduction

I am a college student and with that, it’s practically needless to say that I am also broke, very broke. I, however, through great resilence have maintained my champagne dreams enough to actually see a fine dining experience. This is NYC, there had to be one I could afford. In my heavy search the top, three included Tocqueville, Del Posto, and Le Bernardin. These three I took into consideration because of there more affordable price range, beautiful display, and interior design I’ve seen online and (or) its popularity online. It was  Tocqueville that caught my eye. Located 1 East 15th Street in Manhattan, NYC. Tocqueville was most affordable as if they were thinking of college students like me who dreamt of a mouthful of caviar. The others came with a hefty price tag, ones that honestly made very nervous. To me, a $10 burrito Chipotle sounds like a luxury so you can imagine my reaction in finding out Le Bernardin restaurant that costs over $87 for its pri-fixe menu. It doesn’t sound like a shocking expense to some but on this side of the fence, it is.  Del Posto was a little more affordable at $50 but it still wasn’t in my price range.  Luckily, Tocqueville provided the most inexpensive pri-fixe menu only costing $36 for a three-course menu. I felt relieved. I decided this restaurant is my final choice.

Tocqueville, named after the French political sociologist and theorist is owned by husband and wife Marco Moreira and Joann Makovitzky who also own new restaurants 15th East and The Fourth in the same city. With no trouble found I found that the Chef is Jason Lawless on StarChefs.com. He has managed the kitchen since August 2011. The restaurant itself has been opened since 2000 and in seventeen years it has built its reputation of being one of the most innovative French-American restaurants in New York City. You can see from how modern chic yet classic they truly are by their restaurant design. From the photographs provided on the official website, tocquevillerestaurant.com - the look of the restaurant is a cool but clean creamy white and black color scheme. I can tell it is a place that provides excellence a traditional fine dining restaurant would hold but pulls themselves away from being boring and ordinary. I adore the minimalistic and classic take. Their dishes and plating looked absolutely sparkling as well. The picture heading the page of their menu category was the Grilled Filet of Beef. A pearly white plate of succulent meat topped with small diced tomatoes, red onion and herbs were appetizing enough for me to set a reservation for a party of two with a close friend.  

`Making the reservation was fairly easy. Once I called a person who sounded to be a young woman answered sweetly. I asked to make a reservation and she was very quick and efficient. There wasn’t any of the run around that I had anticipated. The space I wanted was open. It didn’t take any more than say four minutes. I was surprised. I expected the restaurant to be packed with reservations especially on a Friday. We talked for a short while after about what will partake once I arrived. The phone call was my first experience with Tocqueville’s true hospitality. It made me all the more comfortable with coming in and dining.  

My expectations in visiting Tocqueville are sky-high. For one, it is a fine dining restaurant. I’ve never been to one. This is exciting, I want it to be fascinating. Above all, I am looking forward to the food. Since I’m a meat and a wine lover the Red Wine Braised Short Rib sounds appetizing. I cannot wait. There is a bit of nervousness about the way the employees will treat me, however. I am visibly very young and a person of color. I sometimes feel when I enter nice places that I’m not supposed to be there. I feel like the oddball. In past experiences the waiters did nothing to eliminate that feeling, making me more unsettled with long stares and awkward treatment. Other guests dining had body language that expressed that I was ruining the atmosphere for them.  I hope that doesn’t happen this time but as always I am remaining positive. From what I know now Tocqueville is a beautiful restaurant with a kind, warm friendliness. I’m counting down the days till the visit.  

The Visit

I woke up a Friday morning with a Ferris Buller-type charisma and energy. I was going to visit a beautiful fine dining restaurant in the city! I have never been to a French restaurant before much less one that was seemingly so elegant. I had the jitters. What should I wear? How should I do my hair? Which train should I take? Is my friend going to be on time? Did I give her the right directions? A million and one questions running through my head. I thought I ought to relax my nerves before I begin my day. I snugged my feet into my orange fluffy slippers and made my way to the kitchen. I picked a Lavender Jasmine mix tea from my collection to boil. Tea always soothes the soul. I brought my mug to the window and looked out for a moment. The day was chilly, sunny but very chilly. “How am I going to dress nicely and still be warm?” I asked myself then take a short sip. I was still nervous but pushed to let it go and know everything will go well.  

My reservation was at 12pm sharp for lunch. It was already about 8am and I know how slow I can be with getting ready in the morning so I start right away. I jump into the hot shower, brush my teeth and prep my skin with scrubs and cleansers for makeup. I hop out, dry off, put most of my day’s clothes on and begin to do my makeup. This takes the longest out of getting ready. I try to see if I can get it done within 30 minutes' time. Nope! It took me almost an hour because I kept messing up but luckily I started early so I was still in good time. I decide on a long, oversized, grey sweater that flows over my black leggings. I pair it jet black heels. Next, was my hair, I have natural, kinky curly hair that usually needs lots of attention but yesterday I braided it up. All l had to do now was unravel them so they can come out fluffy and defined. Once all my clothes were on, fully moisturized, fixed my hair and makeup done and feeling confident to step outside it is 10am. I get a text from my friend, who I invited to dine with me.  “I don’t know what to wear!” she texts. She thinks she’s going to be late. I knew it but I didn’t stress. I tell her don’t think too much in it, just wear something nice but no jeans or sneakers. She tells me she’ll figure it out. I just hope she makes it on time. I make sure everything around the apartment is tidy and in order before I head out the door. I text my mother that I am leaving to go to the restaurant since she’s already at work. She texts me “Good luck!” and I’m out the door.  

I live on a very popular, main street in Brooklyn. It’s loud and lively this time of day. People are heading to work and school in droves. Walking down the block to catch the A train I run into a family friend I haven’t spoken to in a long time. So long, in fact, I can’t even remember her name but her face is vivid in my memory. She asks how I am. I tell her about school and how much I love majoring in Hospitality Management since I’ve transferred from the old school. I keep in mind the time and explain to her I’m on my way to somewhere important and have to get going. She reminds me to say hello to my mother for her and I rush into the train station. Luckily the train arrives immediately. I’m not a train girl not in the least. I know it’s the New York way but I love traveling on an empty bus as oppose to a crowded train with performers yelling “It’s Showtime!” in my ear. It’s not my cup of tea. While I’m on the train I read a Pete Wells article I’ve pointed out. I need to know his review for a class. I’m really into it because I’m a fan of sushi. It’s one of my absolute favorites. The good read distracts me from the groups of people stuffing themselves into the cart along with the street entertainers swirling on poles above my head. I’m thankful.  

My stop is a Fulton Street which I switch over to a 4 or 5 train because it gets me to Union Square under ten minutes. Once I climb out of the train station I check my phone. There’s a text from my friend she says she needs more time but is about to get on the train now! It was 11:23am and we planned to meet at 11:30am. I guessed she lost track of time. I decided to find a way. I am kind of scared to walk in so I wait right outside the restaurant to wait for my friend meanwhile taking a few pictures of my own. It’s nearly 12pm but she is nowhere in sight. 

I go inside to introduce myself to a woman who I believe is the Maître d’ of the restaurant. I tell her my reservations and how I am a student doing a report. Her face suddenly gleams in a huge smile and asks if I talked to Roger. I express I don’t know who Roger is even though I feel I should know. She tells me to sit down which she gets him for me. In a few minutes, Roger is in front of me. A short, well-suited older man with blonde white hair. I don’t recognize him but he says he’s a professor at my school. He begins to ask me questions about wine. I was taken aback a little because I wasn’t expecting it. I tell him my Wine & Beverage professor that I’m taking now, Professor Aliah. I convey how much I’m enjoying her class and all the elements in detail there is to wine-making. It turns out Professor Roger is a Master Sommelier. I wished I said more about wine to him but I was so nervous I’m not used to settings like these.  My friend still wasn’t there after the talk with Roger. I told him I’d wait a bit longer she is supposed to come any second and he told me to take all the time I need. In the meantime, I took pictures and looked around the restaurants outside and the entryway. The name of the dining establishment is printed white on a black sight like a tent over the sidewalk.  The door where the guest enter is made up of all glass. It is chic, modern and simplistic. The Maitre D’s desk in the reception appeared tall, sleek, dark wood tabletop with a shiny, brown wooden, dimmed lamp. There are also award plaques and photos framed all along the wall. Their awards included the 2016 Forbes Magazine’s Restaurant with the highest rating. Best of Award of Excellence 2016 by Wine Spectacular and a 4.8 out of 5 from Zagat 2017. The restaurant is not just popular but highly respected and celebrated, making its way to more great success is that they’ve been recently recommended by the Michelin Guide in 2016.  

-

 I looked at the time on my phone and it said 12:30am. Since I was already checked in I figured I was safe from losing my reservation but I opted to seat in the dining room than to take up space in the front seating area any longer. To get to the dining room one needed to pass by the bar. The bar designed with a black and silver color scheme was the most modern section in the restaurant. On the bar top sat a huge marble vase filled with light blue, yellow and pastel green orchids that touched the ceiling. Soothing French jazz spilled gently out of the above speakers. The ambiance, graceful and contemporary. I was in awe. I actually hoped I could have my lunch there.   As soon as I sat down Roger offered me water and the front server – who name escapes me handed me a menu. I told him I wanted to wait for a friend. He was very kind and understood. Pouring the water I realize the glasses were short, open chalice glasses, still easy to hold by them small stem. It was fifteen minutes later when I heard my friend’s voice speaking to the Maitre D’ in the reception area. Seconds later she came walking in the dining area and sat down. She apologized for the lateness. I’ve been late to her events before so I could only be so upset. Seconds later the front server returned to hand us menus.

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The menus were the longest menus I’ve seen. The outside a smooth olive green, the outside a yellow and cream menu with a folder style with all its printed dishes in bold and script. The front server in his black and white uniform finished with a sharp blue tie read over some of the meals that were listed. I appreciated his attentiveness. His body language was confident, alert to where I was impressed by his time and time again throughout the service. He was very efficient when scanning the room and our table. I took the opportunity to ask him the style of the napkin fold, neither did Professor Roger. “We simply make up the style,” he told me. The back server then came up to us from a side station behind the elongated gold curtains and offered bread. I was watching his Frenching style closely. He did it so quickly, it looked easy for him. When I attempt it in class I often lose the stability of the utensils in my hand. I chose the focaccia which was scrumptious. It was dense but not overbearing with flavor. The focaccia was filled with olives, spices, herbs and was beyond incredible with the home-made butter. I asked for another.  

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My friend and I talked about our morning getting ready and caught up with each other’s lives since we haven’t talked in a month. In perfect timing, the front server came to take our orders. We picked two courses from the pri-fix menu. I ordered the Organic Potato and Baby Leeks Soup as an appetizer and a Red Wine Braised Short ribs entrée. As we waited for our meals and the back server pointed each of our tables I observed the dining area. The dining area was mildly lit from the light gold, sparkling crystal chandelier from above. The walls were a warm yellow with rich, gold curtains to match. The seats were made up of a comfortable cool silver, velvet. My attention was grabbed by the gigantic paintings on the wall that was created by an artist named Cheryl Roy Starer. The abstract art stood up on the walls so stunning with its blends of green, blue and white. It was a conversation piece definitely.  We were met with a unique hors d'oeuvres compliments of the Chef. It’s a fresh new take on the Southern-known treat. It’s a toasted golden brioche topped with the cooked yolk and whites of a quail eggs and finished with Alabama caviar.  The deviled eggs we centered on an all-white porcelain dish designed by Bernardaud Classic Silverware. This was my first time having caviar. The flavors delicate and salty reminded me of sardines in a way. The texture was cold creamy goodness. I wished I could have more. As we scrapped the crumbs from whatever was left of the exquisite deviled egg dish the back server approached us again to offer more bread. This reminded me of my Dining Room class where we service almost the same exact way, consistently offering our guest all the bread and quail eggs whites hard-boiled finished with Alabama caviar.  The deviled eggs centered on an all-white porcelain dish designed by Bernardaud Classic Silverware. This was my first time having caviar. The flavors delicate and salty, reminded me of sardines in a way. The texture was cold creamy goodness. I wished I could have more. As we scrapped the crumbs of whatever was left of the exquisite deviled egg dish the back server approached us again to offer more bread. I was waiting. 

-

This reminded me of my Dining Room class where we service almost the same exact way, consistently offering our guest all the bread they’d like. It was nice to be on the other side of the service. I chose the focaccia again. I could not get enough. This time however I was able to dip it into the Potato Leek soup which arrived moments later. When I first saw the bowl it was only filled with sautéed’ black mushroom and a miniature leek in the center of the bowl. I thought to myself there must be a mistake. Turns out the front server came prepared with a tiny creamer pitcher and poured the creamy soup into the bowl right in front of me. It was original and added a special touch. To be completely honest, I was expecting the soup to be bland. I’ve had potato soups so lackluster I pushed myself to finish a bowl. This wasn’t the case. The soup was luscious and silky, earthy with just enough seasoning. The soup was so harmonious with my pallet I was tempted to lick the bowl. I reminded myself I was in a very classy place but it was difficult not to, simply divine! When the entrée arrived I was the most enthusiastic. I am a huge meat lover. Anything meat I am a fan of. I’ll choose it over anything in the menu. I looked at the plate in front of me. The dish appeared kind of odd. My image of short-ribs wasn’t this. The dish came in a wide, circular plate. The meat of short rib formed in a rectangle, an island centered in the middle of potato puree. The short rib was glossed over with a deep brown red wine sauce that resembled chocolate. A lady sitting across from our table asked what dessert we ordered. We told her it was actually an entrée and she was surprised. On top of the short rib sat a roasted pearl onion and cylinder chunks of buttered carrots. The short rib melted on my fork as I cut through it. It was wonderfully tender, I didn’t need a knife. The flavor was robust, the sauce adding a vigorous taste of richness. Swirling a piece of the meat through the potato puree and putting it in my mouth it felt like I was eating butter. It has to be the most well-presented, heavenly dishes I’ve experienced in recent years.  Unfortunately, I was unable to order a dessert since I was on such a strict budget. Next time I’d make sure to experience the sweet parts of their cuisines. 

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It took a while before the check came and I appreciate that. Usually, the front server passes the check to me as soon as the last fork bite leaves my mouth and I find it disrespectful. It hints that the server wants you to hurry up and leave completely killing the feeling of hospitality. My friend and I were fully ready to go when the bill came. It came up to $63.15 for both of us, not too pricey. We decided to tip 20% then we were on our way out but not before I could check out the bathrooms. There were three available bathrooms in the restaurant. One upstairs, one ground level and the other downstairs. I chose the downstairs bathroom. The staircase down was dark with small, glowing gold light to lead the way. The bathroom was covered in light and dark brown marble. The look gave a beach house theme added with the beige weaved baskets and dried plants spray painted gold. The vases were filled with white seashells. The walls were a sexy, dark gold against a shiny, wide mirror. The light was too dimmed, however. I couldn’t see myself as clearly as I would like. The bathroom was also extremely clean, immaculate even. I could tell the restaurant as a whole took tidiness and organization seriously.  I enjoyed myself thoroughly at this restaurant. The ambiance and décor gave me what I wanted, fully satisfying my eyes as well as mouth with every savory dish. I’m glad I decided to come here as opposed to other establishments. It was affordable yet delivered an essence of great fine dining. I plan on going with another friend for a celebration. I’ll try everything I had my eye on the second time around. The restaurant met all expectations and taught me an extra thing or two about quality service. It ensured a tranquil sense of hospitality and an intuitive and refreshing strategy in service. I’d recommend the restaurant to absolutely anyone.