201 Street

Aside from the responsibilities a property management company has to the owners of the buildings they manage, they have responsibilities to the tenants who rent those buildings. One of the basic elements of customer service is to not only meet the needs of customers and clients, but to anticipate them when that is possible, and to exceed those needs most certainly. People put their lives in the hands of the property managers when they rent. In some cases it is their home life and in other cases it is their business in which they gain their livelihood. In either case they trust the company with their “stuff”, in keeping their possessions safe and in keeping them safe and cared for when things break down.

In terms of property management companies , there are various websites that are dedicated to the anticipation of what people may need. They not only advertise the properties they have available for rent, but they do a bit extra. One of the websites is for properties located throughout the cities in Canada. This is a site where college students can go to find apartments that are in their budget. But that is not all that is on this site. The options that are also available on the site, inform young college students on developing study habits , how to go about finding jobs, and the best way to look for a roommate.

In years past, not only did college students have to look through the paper and the rental magazines to find a place to live, they had to ride around on their bikes simply looking for “For Rent” signs. And, on top of that, they many times found it necessary to simply run adds to find roommates, and search the adds looking for those who needed them. This is just one of the ways a property management company can go above and beyond in their field and in the practice of great customer service . It is why those companies who do, continue to stand out and continue to be the most trusted companies in the industry.

There were a couple of reasons I wanted to explore Nova Scotia. I had been considering moving there after reading so much about it, but had yet to experience it in real life. What interested me was that I had read that the live music scene was incredible, mainly the Celtic and Folk scenes. And the cities that are situated along the coast such as Sydney, Yarmouth, and Wolfville seemed to be calling my name. I had always wanted to live along the coast, so I was going there with intention of finding a great place to rent, and perhaps staying for a little while.

Food is another pleasure of mine and when I got into Halifax, I was overwhelmed with choices as there are more than four hundred restaurants, a very dense concentration choices. The city is very cosmopolitan. I had read that but I still had the idea that it would just feel older, more traditional, I mean the city is almost 300 years old. The Victorian architecture however is mixed in with many funky cafes and pubs, and the plethora of cultural activity gives that city a certain buzz that is modern and happening.

Each night Cape Breton Island has a couple locations where live music is played, folk legends such as Natalie MacMaster, Gordie Sampson, and the Rankins all got their careers going here while their friends, neighbors and families paid their support by dancing the night away. Other live music genres thrive in the city as well, everything from country to hip hop to roots and reggae.

This is a region that is extremely diverse and multi-cultural. I asked a fellow at my hotel for suggestions on how to go about looking for a place to live, as I had made my decision that I did in fact want to spend more time learning the history and getting to know the people of Nova Scotia. He directed me to a property management company called TransGlobe, and I went in and told them what I was looking for. Within a week I made arrangements to have things shipped from the States, as I sat in my brand new, older Victorian apartment overlooking the sea.

Ever since its inception, the internet has had far reaching implications for every aspect of society.  It has changed the way we communicate.  It has changed the way we think.  It has changed the way we do business.  The recent fiasco with sports figure Tiger Woods is perhaps a great example of this.  Though he plays sports, his name has become a brand.  He has numerous advertisements that he does and tons of money from doing them.  His name and fame have made him a fortune.

Unfortunately, the way in which he handled the extramarital affairs scandal has affected that brand name he has worked hard on producing and cultivating.  Proper reputation management would have helped him out immensely, rather than the silence he chose for those few days after the allegations came out.  His brand took years to build, but yet had been destroyed in a matter of days.  Some could probably argue hours.  Bloggers and other social media sites tore him down, and his silent approach only fertilized their efforts.

Good online reputation management could have prevented all that.  It helps a company to protect its brand and name from customers who have no real grievances: there are times when a company has done all it can to help a customer out, but that customer simple has a chip on their shoulder.  However, in instances where a company has fault, online reputation management has a more difficult job of fixing things, though not an impossible one.

There are certain things to track and keep an eye on, namely, everything about your company.  The employees, your services, your products, your customers, and so on.  After all, online reputation management can only do so much if your company has a bad rep for a good reason.   You should also know your competitor and information related to your industry and what you do.  There is also more monitoring to consider: news feeds, search engine keywords, message boards, groups.  The point of monitoring sites like this is to see where your company stands on the internet.  Then from there, you can understand where you need to take your company or what you need to do to maintain it.

Branding and marketing have proved to be a great part of the success that Avonmore Super Milk has experienced lately in Ireland.  Within just this year, it has seen an increase of about fifteen percent from sales.  Researchers in the industry claimed that about sixty thousand people had actually made the switch to the brand as well.

Part of the reason for its success comes how the company has employed sales management.  Training and experience on his side, Simon Greene, not the famous science fiction author, constructed the campaign that has led to the current success the company has been enjoying lately in the news.  He named it the power of sunshine, owing to the fact that a large amount of people in Ireland actually suffer from a rather significant problem: many of them lack proper amounts of vitamin D.  Some of the effects of lacking enough vitamin D are increased chances of heart disease, diabetes, rickets, cancer, and even schizophrenia, though there is usually some sort of genetic predisposition to the last disease for the deficiency of vitamin D to have that kind of an effect.

There have been large changes in the way the company advertises their goods and in the goods themselves.  The milk now contains a little bit more than the normal calcium and vitamins normally found in milk.  However, it has been put in to address the problems specific to Ireland, and not as a kind of Frankenfood experiment.  In addition to the funny advertisement campaign, the company is also planning on keeping its sponsorship from Munster Rugby Schools Cup.  Further sponsorship will be found on TV as Avonmore will be a patron of the weather on TV.  Charity has also been a big part of what the company does and will continue to be.  There will be a picnic this year that is expected to bring in even more money for the charitable efforts of Avonmore corporate.  Team building and community building games and funs will naturally be a part of the event.

With abundant natural resources, an immensely rich and fascinating history, and a splendid cultural diversity that adds to its excellent arts scene, Canada is a wonderful place to live and work.  There are so many wonderful things about the country, and new things that crop up every day that make this a great place.  At TransGlobe Property Management, we understand that this is due to the important contributions of its creative and inventive citizens.  It has a world reputation for civic-mindedness, and we try to mirror this in our business model.

We appreciate creativity and diversity, and see our buildings as places where people make and do important and wonderful things.  We have a very searchable database, with thousands of properties for both business and residential uses, and you’ll certainly find something to love here.  We make it easy for you, so that you can find exactly what you’re looking for, according to your specifications for price, size, and a host of other details.  Once you start looking, you establish a relationship with us that we consider to be our number one priority, and it’s something that will continue for as long as you live and work here.

At TransGlobe Property Management, we’re committed to seeing the life of the community thrive, so that you’ll be able to do all the things you set out to do.  We dedicate ourselves to taking part in the civic life here by participating in charity fundraisers for excellent causes, like fighting cancer, heart health, and helping sick children get the help and services they need.  We’re also happy to participate in parades and public events, because this gives us opportunities to continue to get to know the communities we serve.  At TransGlobe, we work with you, where you work and live.

When adequate customer service becomes an issue for a business it can actually cause greater destruction and financial impacts than what is immediately acknowledged. When businesses become financially strained corners are often cut and sometimes effective customer service is one of the first things to go. This actually corresponds to a personal tendency of many people. When life becomes overly stressful or demanding, personal care aspects are often the first thing people neglect. This has compounding effects on both the personal level and the professional, and neglecting customer service needs can often signal the end of many struggling businesses. Steven Barbarich is fully aware of the importance of excellent customer service, and also has a personal commitment to it. Caring about the needs and satisfaction of a customer is a rare skill, and it is also one that can carry a business through troubling economic times.

It is important as a business person to remember that when the economy causes struggle to your industry, it is also wrecking havoc with the lives of consumers. Making major purchases can become an even greater stress than what it is in easier economic periods. When the purchase is made online through an Internet based company, this stress can become elevated to the point of anxiety. When this is the status a consumer brings into the purchase, maintaining a calm and respectful perspective on the part of the business is absolutely essential. And regardless of the fact a particular business may be struggling, when dealing with a client, their needs must be acknowledged as coming first. And the stress the business may be feeling should not be projected onto the consumer. This is actually easier than many people realize, and often times simply requires a timely response to inquiries and questions and providing a friendly voice to handle major transactions. Many times the consumer is looking for reassurance to their concern, and an appropriately handled transaction can turn a stressful consumer event into a positive purchase encounter.

Have you ever been in the position of feeling like you are receiving poor or inadequate customer service? It is almost guaranteed that everyone who reads that question will respond in the affirmative. That is an extremely distressing statistic when it seems that excellent costumer service has become a major priority with businesses. Yet the circumstance remains that most people have encountered at least one service person who has made them feel as if they are a bother to them and have less than adequately handled the issue or situation, or even the simple service they are there to provide. Steven Barbarich has had his share of disappointing experiences with businesses and inefficient customer service and has made this one of his company’s main priorities.

It is an extremely rare, but also an extremely respected and successful business that actually invests in their consumer’s well being and satisfaction. And while this is true, various perspectives on customer service seems to be everyone’s intention and commitment. This invites the question of what could possibly be going wrong when consumers are increasingly dissatisfied with service and service providers seem to be committed to quality care. Part of the answer may be as simple as a basic misunderstanding of what excellent customer service means. In addition, with a growing global market, language barriers and cultural differences can come into play.

All of these dynamics mean that it is essential to focus on cultural diversity, understanding and respect and that proper communication is the key ingredient to satisfied customers. Honesty and high business ethics also contribute to customer satisfaction and must be considered an element of good service. Businesses today have a higher chance of succeeding if they treat their customers with respect, deliver exactly what the customer ordered and do so in a timely manner and address any concerns or issues in an appropriate, respective and timely fashion.

So much conversation on the internet, news and radio about the use of social networking by individuals, small business people, artist and large businesses today. Advertising and marketing models going from pushing information to you or at you to you pulling information toward you that you want. The changing face of this landscape is fascinating to observe as it moves ever faster and faster at a nearly explosive rate. Networking sites are introduced on a regular basis and over night they seem to be house hold names.

Well no it doesn’t really happen over night, but the time in the fringes, when the company is virtually unknown it seems like over night and your hearing about the site every where and everyone is talking about it and it is all over the media. One such site I can think of is the initally college student focused Facebook where the explosion of college students using the site for networking grew from hundreds, to thousands to tens of thousands of college students very very quickly. This popularity has continued to grow with celebrities, artists, buyers sellers and managers all taken up to establishing Facebook pages. This diversity has grown to encompass companies like Transglobal Property Management setting up fan pages to keep their clients informed. Many other social networking sites and blogging sites exist as well in the arena. One such site is for photo sharing Flickr showing pics from Transglobal Property Management pictures of vacations, family shots, artists paintings, jewelry that was hand created, pictures of company picnics, gorgeous professional work and so much more.

The saying a picture speaks a thousand words lives among sites such as these. It is an interesting world of on line communities where straight of social networking is building relationships across borders, getting first hand information and referrals for business and traveling decisions as opposed to relying on advertisements alone. The ability to reach a large audience with out gaining the approval of a gate keeper of the information. People are able to share their expertise and knowledge, thoughts and ideas freely instantly and across borders.

With the changing face of the real estate market it is becoming increasingly harder and harder to keep up with the market values and the ups and downs. From region to region there is such a difference any more. Well there have always been differences from market to market, but it was usually about what was available, what was in demand and how fast or slowly the market prices on the property were going up. But now with some regions going down, some still looking for the bottom, others leveling off and some coming back it has become so difficult to make what use to be simple determinations.

I started thinking I need some help with all this, Transglobe property management was recommended to me by a colleague. Needing to do some research before deciding if I really need to engage a property management company, however it does sound like it would be a good idea on the surface. Catching the a look at the Facebook page the company appears to be professional and on the ball and up to date using social marketing. Giving over responsibility is not like me but I just don’t have the time and expertise to be making sound decisions in this market.

Transglobe property management has a Flickr page. I like seeing whom I will possible be dealing with, this also gives me the impression the company is forward thinking taking advantage of social networking tools to promote their business. Needing to know if they are comfortable with national markets or are they more regional.

Given the current real estate climate and the volatile nature of today’s market there really doesn’t seem to be much choice but lean on the knowledge of an expert. This will have to be a move I make sooner than latter.

If one ever has the intention of conducting business transactions of any kind, be it financial or in trade and commerce, the seemingly time consuming practice of due diligence is not only necessary, sometimes required by law, but is also just a form of practicing good common sense.  For those owning companies, it is advised that all of one’s employees receive proper training on how to follow the procedures of due diligence and the necessity for them to adhere to the policies with consistence.

This just means to know everything one can possibly know about those whom they are either about to do business with, or those with whom they are currently involved.  Due diligence is just another way of saying, complete investigation.  It is an investigation into the background of the clients or business associates with whom one’s name, or business name, will eventually be linked.  This involves going over financial documents of the potential customers of a financial institution, or the history of the previous business transactions that a company or an individual has conducted.  This is an attempt to discover all of the previous transactions, be they financial or legal, or in some cases, just the everyday activity of a business or a company, in order to ensure that those with whom one is about to become involved are honest and ethical.

How does one go about accomplishing the practice of due diligence?  Well, as the term implies, one must make certain that they themselves, and those whom they employ remain diligent about following the steps on a regular basis.  Looking through documents and contracts may seem to be a daunting task, but when considering the repercussions of becoming involved with those who are either committing acts that are illegal or unethical, the task becomes just common practice.  It is when a company takes a look at the big picture, that they can really understand the reasons why completing the small tasks becomes so important.

The key to taking a long distance road trip, especially when traveling in an older vehicle is DIY auto repair.  This is just another way to say do it yourself, for when stuck out on a road in the middle of nowhere, the knowledge one will have gained from reading up on small engine repair manuals will come in very handy.  Small problems with an engine may seem very big when there is not a mechanic’s shop in sight, and could ruin an otherwise fabulous vacation.

It isn’t that one should learn everything, all at once, but the ability to know how to, and what to, inspect on one’s vehicle before heading out, will safe a lot of headaches down the road.  And just a little bit of knowledge about car maintenance will help.  Keep the manuals in a convenient location, say in the glove box, so that they are easy to find when trying to diagnose the issues that may come up on the back roads of Kentucky or in the middle of the Ozarks.

And when dealing with many issues of car engines on the road, often times these are minor repairs that one can accomplish on their own, just by following the suggestions in the vehicle’s manual.  Same holds true for motorcycle manuals. Many a journeyman, or woman traveling the open road via the motorcycle has studied up and will be able to fix their own bike should they need.  It’s putting to use the practical chapters of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance“.

And this knowledge does not only come in handy on long trips, but in day to day life and driving as well.  Independence is gained.  Independence from what? one may ask.  Independence from the worry, and independence from the dependence on car mechanics who may take advantage of those who are unsuspecting, and just want their car fixed.  With this knowledge one will be able to fix the small problems, and will know exactly what the big problems are.  This way, even when one can not fix those big problems, one will at least know what they are when they take their car or motorcycle in to someone who can.

If you are shopping for anything from a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels to a new LCD television you should use the internet as your first line of shopping research. No matter what type of item you are shopping for, you should first do a little research on price difference on the internet.

The internet has revolutionized not only the way that people communicate with each other, but also how they research anything from a term paper to where to get the best price on a new lawn mower. The internet is especially helpful if you are shopping for items that will cost quite a bit of money all at once, big ticket items.

Another place that you should consider before purchasing a brand new item that is quite expensive it to check craigslist. Lots of people end up selling their treadmills or furniture or other things that they don’t need and you can pick up some top equipment at a fraction of the cost.

A great tool that you can use on the internet is a website called Pricegrabber. All you do is simply type in the item that you are looking for and then instantly the site compares prices from many different retailers to find you the best deal. This site is great for electronics and other smaller goods, but also great for most any kind of item.

The internet is the best place to start researching something. The more you know about what you want to buy, the better prepared you will be when you go out and start shopping for it. For example, if you are looking for a big ticket item like a hot tub, you may find a great price on choosehottubsdirect.com but still want to see it in person. Well, go see the tub in person at another retailer and then come back and buy it off the website. Just make sure you find the site reputable and know the return policy.

Have you ever found yourself unhappy with a product you have purchased? This often happens with clothes. You thought a pair of pants looked just fantastic in the store, but you take a look at them at home in natural lighting, and you really don’t like how they make your hips look. So you take them back. When the sales lady asks you if there is anything wrong with the pants, you just simply say that you changed your mind and it’s an acceptable answer. A mark of a good retail establishment is how they treat their customers. If you enjoy the customer service a business gives you, you are more likely to frequent that establishment.

Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy to change your mind and get your money back. What if you buy a big ticket item and find it difficult to return? Say a giant hot tub that is built for twelve with awesome soothing jets. Problem is, it’s not what you thought it was going to be, or you simply changed your mind. That is what happened to Steve Barbarich 7/. He was shopping for a luxury hot tub on the internet and found that the company he bought it from had less than stellar customer service.

So instead of getting mad, he got even with the company, in theory. He decided to start his own luxury hot tub website with one key ingredient missing in the one he had tried to use, customer service. Isn’t it funny how long and far customer service can take you. There is a reason that companies make their employees go through customer service training. It’s because it the reputation of a business and its employees that keep it at the forefront of consumer’s minds.

It’s important to keep your customers in the forefront of your mind.

Times in the United States have become tougher than the used to be. The job market has almost become a vacuum of positions that often require much more schooling or ducking into school to avoid the market entirely.

Now the job boards seem to be absolutely filled with jobs for people who have a sales background. Sales can be quite a lucrative career, but it can also be quite a risky career path. Now more than ever, especially, employers may be offering only commission based sales jobs. The good news is that your earnings potential is never capped, on the downside you do not have a steady income to speak of.

You should not be put off by the sales jobs listings. Even if you don’t fashion yourself a sales tiger you can get some sales training to give yourself some more confidence.

Or if you used to have a sales job that you abandoned long ago do some sales process improvement training. This type of training can kind of job your memory and let you know if anything has changed in the realm of sales.

If you don’t think you can sell, you are definitely wrong. Just think back to your childhood, you probably sold something. Were you a Girl Scout cookie top seller? Or did you work at a retail store during college with sales goals? Don’t discount that kind of experience; it can be just as valuable as any other type of experience.

Bottom line is that a career in sales is a viable career choice. And it allows you to apply for many more jobs if you are open to working on a commission basis. If you are feeling less than stellar about your skills, definitely consider getting into a sales training program. The more job choices you give yourself, the better off and more rewarding your job search will be.

For travelers who make their way to Delhi, hotels hold many surprises and treasures in store.  There is a remarkable combination of old-world charm with new-world amenities, insuring that guests will find themselves enchanted and also super-connected to the world at large.  Delhi is a city of wonderful contradictions, where the present and the past mix with the future in often remarkably unexpected ways.  The hotels capture this sense, to make for a luxurious experience in the heart of a very lively city.

There are thousands of things to do here.  Sight-seeing is at a premium, with temples and festivals and fairs, and both cultural and historical attractions that will be fun for the whole family.  People watching here is a stunning sport, with endless possibilities for long and pleasant mornings spent observing human nature playing out its drama in the streets.  Then there is the food.  The sumptuous feasts here are fantastic, drawing on centuries of cooking traditions, where recipes have been perfected over time and passed down along the generations.  There are also some amazing chefs here, who are playing with the tradition of Indian food in exciting ways.  Chef Suvir Saran, now one of New York’s finest culinary experts, was born and bred in Delhi, and he’s using the knowledge from here to make his mark on the world.

It’s a very impressive mark, too.  Still quite young, Suvir Saran has written two very influential books, Indian Home Cooking, and American Masala.  These books are just the visible cream of the work that Saran has been doing, advancing the way the world at large views Indian cooking.  For reasons that are baffling, it’s been difficult for Indian cuisine to find its way to the top tier in world cooking traditions.  However, with Saran’s efforts, and other Indian chefs, the ceiling is starting to give way to sense.  Suvir Saran is one of the co-executive chefs at Dévi, one of New York’s finest restaurants, and is changing the way New Yorkers think about food.  Saran has also done multiple television appearances, has taught widely in many prestigious cooking schools, and has of course written many articles for culinary magazines.  His approach is to take the best of the tradition, and experiment using contemporary techniques, to make for a blend of styles that suits contemporary tastes.  The result is a divine gift.

Put your worries in our hands, and we’ll make car hire in South Africa an easy process.  Our aim is to get you on the road so you can have adventures right away.  You’ll love South Africa, it’s got something for everyone. The birthplace of humanity, everything is here, and sometimes all at the same time.

Make sure to give yourself plenty of opportunities to improvise in your travels here.  There are probably a thousand good suggestions for things to see and do, but some of the best memories are made when you decide to follow your nose.  But to start, there are some wonderful things here.  Nature is displayed here in wildness and splendor, and there are plenty of good tours to join to get a taste of the jungle.  There are also some fantastic cultural fairs, festivals, and parades, that will give some fascinating windows on South Africa’s present and past.  The historical interest here cannot be overstated, since it has seen some of the most incredible revolutions in recent times.  Nightclubs are lively and fascinating, and the restaurants have some of the most amazing world cuisines on the planet.  And if you’re looking for tattoo culture, that’s here, too!

2009 saw Cape Town’s first ever international ink festival, Southern Ink Xposure.  This tattoo convention sees itself as the counterpart to the Northern Ink Xposure convention in Toronto.  It was held over two days, and tattooed people from all over South Africa, and the world, showed up, to see the latest and the greatest in tattoo art.  Tattoo parlors sent their best artists to demonstrate and to learn, and there was even a full line-up of local music, with aKING, the Shy Guevaras, Taxi Violence, and the Mochines.  They also included charity events and panel discussions, and the intention is to make the Southern Ink Xposure a regular fixture on the international tattoo circuit. Held at the Cape Town Convention Center, this event will not be forgotten.

Steve Barbarich is an inventor, entrepreneur and philanthropist who took it to be his responsibility to solve a problem he saw in the retail market for portable spa Jacuzzis.

As with buying anything online, consumers have to be weary of when they put in their credit card information. With the way identity theft is these days, consumers can never be too careful.  Whether you are buying a pair of shoes or looking into buying a hot tub, like Steve, you need to verify the retailer that you are buying from.

So Barbarich decided that he would do something about his predicament. Instead of waiting around for someone to open a business for this service, he decided he would do it on his own.  He founded choosedirecthottubs.com after doing his best to find a hot tub from a retailer that was already on the market.

In his previous endeavor he found customer service to be lax and a problem he wanted to solve.  So he made sure that his new business put a priority on achieving excellent customer service. And really that is what keeps people coming back for more when it comes to buying off an online retailer. When you have a problem with an item, say a bra you bought on the Victoria’s Secret website they are quick to make you happy and turn around the product that you really want. So you are more likely to buy from that company again, or recommend it to your friends.

Barbarich believes that customer service should not be what goes out the window when it comes to the business of e-commerce. Just because you are not dealing with customers face to face, does not mean that they do not deserve an amazing customer service experience.

Barbarich will continue to offer his luxury products with top notch customer service.

Working at a Mom and Pop’s plumbing company was the best job I ever had. Even the hiring process was great; I was interviewed by my future manager for about a half-an-hour, and he offered my the job. No 2 to 3 more interviews with upper management or with the Human Resource department. He just simply trusted his judgement and hired me. About a month later, my new manager called a meeting with everyone in my department and his opening statement was telling us that his job is to make sure that when we wake up in the morning we want to come to work and get the job done. Wow, I’ve never had any boss any company ever care about what I felt waking up in the morning. Even when I thought I had a perfect job with New York Business Hotels, nothing compared to that moment in that meeting. He even teared up when he said explained what his purpose was and then proceed to tell us what a great job we were doing.

I fell in love with working for a Mom-and-Pops. My manager kept his promise and I did enjoy going to work every day. But only after working there for about half-a-year, the Mom-and-Pops plumbing business sold out to a big conglomerate corporation, a nation wide plumbing company. This was a sad day. The corporation kept the name of the Mom-and-Pops so as to not lose a dedicated customer base, but the corporation wasn’t dedicated to us the loyal employee. After about 3 months, I noticed it was hard to wake up and look forward to going to work. Eventually, after working for the conglomerate for 3 more deary years, I decided to start my own business which now pays for a few of my bills, but not enough to make a living at it yet. So, once again, I’m in search of that once found perfect job and focusing on the Mom-and-Pops of my community.

A first-rate city of international reach, Dubai provides top-shelf hospitality to visitors from everywhere.  And when it comes to business hotels, Dubai holds nothing back.  With comprehensive accommodations that are exquisite to the finest detail, your stay in this city will be unparalleled in comfort.  There is no doubt that the city offers so much for everyone, and for the business traveler, there are opportunities to make endless contacts.  For networking, there are many circles of influence that can be explored, and one of the most rapidly growing circles here is the international arts community.

There are art galleries all over Dubai, offering many different kinds of Arab and world art, and each gallery draws a peculiar clientele.  One way to get to know Dubai’s art world is through ArtBus Dubai.  Begun in 2007 as part of the Gulf Art Fair (now Art Dubai), ArtBus Dubai helps promote the local arts scene with tours of the local galleries here.  Art patrons buy a ticket for the bus, lunch is served but is extra, and they are taken on a tour of Dubai’s thriving arts scene.  There are guides who will introduce you to some of the more interesting points about the local galleries, and also offer other interesting facts about the city, while you are taken to arts galleries to see the latest cutting-edge exhibitions.  ArtBus is for tourists, art aficionados, teachers and students (there is a fifty-percent discount for students on a budget).  it is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the city, and there is a wealth of information here for those who are well-traveled in  Dubai.

As the Art Dubai event is growing and becoming much more visible in the international art world, the Bus is a crucial part of connecting all the corners of Dubai’s art scene.  The visitors will be given a well-informed overview of the city and the art scene, as well as a guided tour of the local galleries.  The tours are usually designed to connect with current exhibitions, to highlight not only the contemporary art in the city, but also to promote connections with world art forms on display here.  The tours will see works by Arab and Western artists, Indian and Pakistan art, and classical and cutting-edge forms, all in the heart of Dubai city.

Enthralled with her new HP laptop she purchased off the Internet and delivered today, Elizabeth, not wanting to open it at home immediately rushed to her local coffeehouse, a coffeehouse that offered free wireless and didn’t require you to make a minimum purchase, A coffeehouse where fellow non-published writers went to discuss the latest books they were reading or to use and abuse the free wireless to do research for either the novel they were writing or to stay on top of their emails.

Before today, Elizabeth didn’t own a laptop computer, but she was a writer and thought by hanging out at her local coffeehouse with only a notepad and pencil and converse with her writers would inspire her to one day finish her collection of poetic short stories. But, observing, as all good writers do, that she was the only one without a laptop made her feel inadequate, made her feel poor, which she was, dirt poor. Not having a laptop made her feel left behind in this world of electronic materialism. A far cry from where she grew up.  Elizabeth’s homeland is Africa, an by the time she was 15 she was already living on the streets there, surviving on the tips she earned every day doing slam poetry anywhere she could; next to bus stops, in front of Top Cape Town Hotels , at storefronts, anywhere that wouldn’t kick her out right away. It was her love for the written word that got her to the States. Over a year ago, a professor of English was travelling through the Southern Tip of Africa and was so impressed with her vast vocabulary and her poetic style that he sponsored her application for a student visa. He didn’t offer her much more than that really. So, she’s pretty much been on her own here in the States, working here at this very coffeehouse as a barista.
She still earns tips doing her slam poety on open mic nite, enough to purchase a used laptop; one that she has just openend and turned on and began her new journey into the world where she now sees herself as one of the moderns. Penniless, but satisfied.

There are a few different reasons tourists spend time visiting the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa.  There is history in this building, there are art galleries, dolphin pools, and even a few ghosts. And it is located conveniently in an area close to one’s favorite restaurant or boutique hotel.  Cape Town has the distinct honor containing within the city, the oldest building in the entire country of South Africa.  Construction began in 1666 and continued through 1679.  One of the ghost one may see here is that of Governor Noodt.   He was at the time a very harsh man, cruel to the soldiers.  Four soldiers convicted of trying to leave the army were at the time sentenced first to a beating, and then to exile, however the Governor changed their sentence.  Execution.  On the day of the execution, the Governor did not attend, and the fourth and final soldier to be hanged, put a curse on the Governor just before his death.  When the messenger was sent to his office to deliver the news that the soldiers had been executed, he found the Governor sitting at his desk, not alive…but sitting with a look of terror.  Apparently Governor Noodt still roams the halls at night.

The dolphin pools are not a modern aspect of the Castle, but were discovered during the restoration process.  Along with the pools, an ancient bakery was excavated.  The building is now the headquarters for the South African Army and is the center for the ceremonial events that take place concerning the Army and the Regiments of the Cape.  Upon entering one will see a large bell.  This bell was cast in bronze by an artist from Amsterdam, Claude Fremy, in 1697.  The bell hangs in the tower, from the wood support beams that it was hung originally.  There are two museums on the property as well.  The military museum that illustrates the history of the Castle, the Regiments, and the Cape.  And the William Fehr Museum,  which is a collection of artwork by various artist displaying the life of the cultural aspects of the Cape.  This museum does exhibit contemporary works from time to time.  This is a very interesting location for anyone visiting Cape Town, a bit of history, a bit of art, and a bit of the supernatural.

I walked into my roommates bedroom to get some aspirin from his medicine cabinet in the bathroom, when I noticed his laptop was on and a widow was still up. He wasn’t home, so I thought I’d take a look to see what he was up to. I know, I should respect his privacy and all that stuff, but I’m curious, really, I am. He hasn’t been home for a few days. Maybe there’s a clue as to why. I knew he was doing some type of research for his Master’s Thesis, something to do with what the power of intention’s have on the PH balance of water. But, that isn’t the information showing up in the open window on his laptop screen; it was about all kinds of travel tips for New York and something to do with a New York USA Hotel.  Hmmm…obviously a decoy. Since we live in Kansas. I reduced that window and viola’, there was his research paper. So, why was his laptop here, not with him and where the heck was he?

I don’t know him too well, he’s only been my roommate for about 3 months. My boyfriend, Brian, left me for another woman, a co-worker. He moved out on me in one day. As he was walking out the door with the Ipod I bought him, I told him he was still on the lease, so he needs to keep up his half of the rent. He didn’t even look back at me and he said, “Sue me.” That was that, no words of apology, no ‘take care babe…it’s been great while it lasted’. Nothing.

Bill, that’s my new roommate, answered my ‘roommate needed immediately’ add I posted on Craig’s List. I told him that I just needed a roommate for 9 months cause the least will be up and I plan to move back home to stay with my ailing parents. The truth be told, my parents aren’t ailing, but I need the comforts of home to lick my gaping open wounds of Brian. That was cool with Bill, he told me he just needs a place to research his Thesis in quiet and he’ll be getting his Master’s before nine months, so this set up will be perfect for him.

I was just about to start reading the beginnings of his Thesis when I hear a distinct ‘a-hem’ directly behind me.

‘Bill’, I said, ‘Ha…I  er  um …I just came in for some aspirin’, and I stood up from his desk with laptop and started to exit his room all red-faced and apologetic when he said,  ‘Oh, I don’t have any aspirin. I used the last ones a few days ago’, then he shuffled his feet and scratched his head. He looked over at the laptop and back at me.

‘Sorry’, he added as I was out past his bedroom door. I stopped and turned to him, ‘No problem’, I said, ‘But, next time, I would appreciate it if you’d let me know when you’ve used up the last of the aspirin, cause I can put that on my grocery list.’

‘Sorry’, he said.

Hmm…Bill’s apologizing to me. That’s a quality I just might consider staying in Kansas a little longer. A good quality in boyfriend material.

Simply in terms of luxury, Phuket hotels are a world apart.  High above the daily grind, these hotels will make your stay absolutely unforgettable.  An exotic adventure waits you at every turn, and after a short time you’ll feel right at home.  Whether the agenda is staying in, going out, or letting the dice fall as they may, pleasure and comfort are in the cards.

Phuket specifically, and Thailand generally, has long captured the film industry, both locally and abroad, as testified by the recent success of The Beach, and has attracted filmmakers from around the globe.  Some of the films that have placed Phuket in the popular imagination are The Man with the Golden Gun, Brian de Palma’s Casualties of War, and the Killing Fields.  Some of the films are shot in Phuket because of its astoundingly beautiful scenery, which makes it an ideal place for films with multiple locations.

The Killing Fields was shot here and in Cambodia, and is perhaps one of the most important and humane films about war that Hollywood has ever made.  Spalding Gray, the experimental monologist turned occasional film actor, had a small speaking role in the film, and later used this as a basis for his highly successful monologue, Swimming to Cambodia (which was also turned into a highly successful film).  In Swimming to Cambodia, Spalding Gray talks about his experience in making The Killing Fields, and meditates on the nature of cinema, war, and the quest for personal meaning.  At the end of the journey, the actor finds himself swimming in Phuket, and realizing that he has finally touched the Perfect Moment, the thing he was searching for all his life.  There are many perfect moments to be found in Phuket, a place as mysterious and constantly-shifting as the tide, or the spark behind an actor’s eyes.

Manhattan is one of the most fashionable and stylish cities in the world. After stepping out of a Manhattan Business Hotels you are staying at for business in New York, take walk down the Upper East Side or stroll around Soho, you are bound to cross paths with people that have fantastic haircuts. That is because of the fabulous hair salons of New York. Here are a few to take advantage of when while you conduct your business trip.

The Beehive Salon in Brooklyn has been around for approximately 6 years. It has quickly become a favorite for New Yorkers to recommend to visiting business clients due to their expertise to create styles that are classic and are the cutting edge. The hip and very amiable staff, you’ll feel like a favorite family member or friend.  Laicle on Grand Street is a sleek and stylish Soho with other salons established in Japan and Italy. The style they are known for is very international and so is the staff. Laical is a wonderful salon to get edgy and hip hairstyles at a very reasonable price. Ueno Salon on Mulberry Street, located downtown Manhattan, has a Japanese-themed interior and by far the best one Manhattan has to offer with this theme. As a business person in a hurry, Ueno Salon will fit you in without an appointment and give you a manageable haircut, no matter what kind of unruly hair you have. You also get a great cup of Japanese tea while they cut your hair.  AR Hair Salon on Eighth Avenue has a calm and serene ambiance, perfect for after a high-powered meeting. The friendly and highly skilled staff with an eye for detail and will provide you with a great up-to date style haircut. When at AR Hair Salon, you can close your eyes, unwind from the stressful day and relax because you will be well taken care of by the staff. Space Hair Salon on Avenue of the Americas without a doubt is the best salon in the entire city. As a business person coming into New York from another state or country will walk in looking like the average person, but when you walk out you will look and feel like a movie star or supermodel and at a very reasonable price.

Each section of the city has its own personality. New York City is jammed packed with hair salons in all the boroughs and subdivisions. But for the busy business person the comparable list above removes any doubt about which hair salon to try. Typically, salons located on Madison Avenue are known for their celebrity and model clients and a very expensive cut or color. Salons located in Greenwich Village are known for providing the current and trendy styles at a more reasonable price. But stick to the list above and not only will you get a great cut and or color, but a great cut and or color and still afford to go out to dinner afterwards.

Manhattan Street Art will pleasantly change your way, your relationship to the city. It will open you perspective and peripheral vision. You will start to notice things you never noticed before. Street art is on every street and in every aspect that is Manhattan and taps into the city’s underbelly, taps into it’s soul.

The proliferation of street-art galleries, exhibits and website photo albums are any indication, the people’s increasingly purchasing street art is proof of the influence and impact it has in the world of art. People don’t just make a beeline to the New York’s major museums anymore. They now walk and explore to see what people are ‘putting’ up on the streets, sidewalks and any other object an hit-and-run artist can paint or drawn on without permission. If a person staying at a Manhattan Accommodation, they possibly might have to go down alleyways to find a mural, venture into off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods or visit a local coffee shop and ask if they know of any street art of interest to look at. The search won’t disappoint because once you find a piece of street art, you we find the ’soul’ of the area.

Of course, what some call ’soul’, others will call it vandalism or graffiti. They’ll even call an exquisitely crafted street paintings, like that of the artist Swoon or the stencil paintings of Banksy, vandalism, even though those very pieces can make a six-figure price and well known auctions houses. They are even considered to be illegal. The consequence is that many street artist preferring the media of posters and wheat pastes (drawings that are cut-out, slapped up with a type of adhesive) installations.  Street art’s ‘fly-by-night-quality and the fact that it can be torn down or even obscured by another ‘hit-and-run’ street art’s poster, is a part of what makes it appealing and magically ephemeral. Making a street art hunter’s quest even more urgent and intimately visceral because street art may not have ’staying’ power, but it has power all the same.

With lively cultures, beautiful architecture, and luxury hotels, Kuala Lumpur is a vacationer’s paradise.  From morning until night, there is adventure and pleasure waiting here.  From an expansive and comprehensive array of restaurants that are really a testament to the array of cuisines that make the world an interesting place, to new experiments in theatrical entertainments, there is so much to do.

One fine example of theatrical events is a recent tour in Kuala Lumpur of a U.K. artist named Tom Pringle.  His show is called Dr. Bunhead’s Volcano Head, and its his second tour in Malaysia, following the 2005 hit, Recipes for Disaster.  This new show is certainly more explosive than the last, and unquestionably more funny.

Tom Pringle, aka Mr. Bunhead, describes himself as an ex-scientist, ex-teacher, turned extreme science performer, and has participated in the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  This show, Mr. Bunhead’s Volcano Head, will offer a number of outrageous and hilarious scientific experiments that are particularly appealing to the 7 to 11-year old demographic, but are suitable to family members of all ages.  It will be a special treat, however, to the younger audience members, who will delight in the use of all manner of household objects to create wild new spectacles of scientific value.  There is also the threat of audience partcipation, where youngsters will be chosen as Dr. Bunhead’s accomplices!

But there is a certain current of grossology running through all the exercises in science gone extreme.  From “glow in the dark undies” to the building of a live volcano on stage, there is a kind of pleasure in terror here that will excite the bold, and make the extremely proper very nervous.  All the more reason to see it ( and bring the mischievous little girl and her anxious aunt).

When it comes to luxury hotels, Johannesburg offers the traveler a beautiful center from which to explore a vibrant urban metropolis.  With world-class beaches, and a constantly changing landscape, nature and culture present themselves in amazing richness.  All the comforts of home are coupled with bold new adventures at your fingertips.  Fantastic surroundings accompany every traveler here who sets foot on this beautiful and complex city.

The Apartheid Museum’s recent exhibition, “Mandela – leader, comrade, negotiator, prisoner, statesman”, is a testament to the history, continually unfolding, of the country.  The exhibition is a collection of video, photographs, and other artifacts, such as the Mercedes Benz that factory workers made for Nelson Mandela while he was serving as president of South Africa.  There is a remarkable attempt here to show the complexities of the former president, and former prisoner, by examining strengths and weaknesses in presidential policy.  There are clips of some of the more remarkable speeches by Nelson Mandela, whose life story parallels, and is also uncoincidentally synonymous with,  the end of apartheid.

The opening of the museum was a remarkable evening.  The former archbishop and Nobel prize winner Desmond Tutu opened the ceremony, with a speech that was as uplifting in tone as it was self-deprecating in humor.  The extreme humility of Desmond Tutu was demonstrated in his serene manner, as well as in his passionate words.  He reminded the audience of something his father passed down to him: “Don’t raise your voice; improve your argument!”  Another important speaker this evening was the new president of the U.S., Barack Obama, whose video recording of remarks posted to the event of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday, were played to the 250 guests present.  This was a truly remarkable evening in the inauguration of an important exhibition, which will tour the world after it leaves Johannesburg.

With world heritage architecture, fantastic beaches, and luxury hotels, Goa is India’s smallest state in terms of size, but is a world leader in class and pure, getaway pleasure.  Its history is fascinating, and can be seen in the temples, which are still in use today, as well as the Portuguese influence in the city life and architecture, as well as the interesting mix of culture and religions here.  The idea, Unity in diversity, is celebrated here.  There are also an interesting array of fiction writers and poets here, with a long literary tradition in many languages.

Writers from Goa writing in English, however, are somewhat rare, and Nandita da Cunha is one of the recent rising stars on the literary scene.  Her novel, “The Magic of Maya,”has caused a moderate but important sensation in the literary world, and certainly is a reason for celebration.

The novel is a fantasy, or magical realist novel, about a young girl, Tara, who is lured away from her village, Govan, to Maya, a musical fantasy land.  In Maya, the inhabitants only hear what they want to hear, so the music that works like a symphony in the head, becomes something that each character hears differently, to suggest that perspective is based on internal desires, rather than perception of the external.  Govan, in contrast, is a material culture ruled by money.  Both worlds then collide, and there are moral lessons to be offered by both realities, and the quest of the main character, then, becomes a quest for a balance of seemingly-opposing forces.   Nandida da Cunha has written a profound and delightful book that is a treasure to Goa, and to the world at large.

Nandita da Cunha currently lives as a management consultant in Mumbai.  Her post-grad is from XLRI, Jamshedpur, and she has also passed the licentiate exam from London’s Trinity College of Music.  Rather appropritate.

For luxury hotels, Bangalore is uniquely situated as a world-class district, offering sumptuous delights for world travelers, business travel, and anything in between.  The third largest city in India, Bangalore has been growing by leaps and bounds in terms of technology, business, and economic development.  It is also home to Bangalore University, whose main campus and subsidiary universities have some 300,000 students, making it one of the largest in the world.  Bangalore has been regarded for a number of years as India’s largest center for technology, but recently it has begun to make large strides in the world marketplace.

One result of this phenomenon is a syndrome called R-2-I, or Return-to-India.  For the first time in recent years, there is an increase in young people moving from the United States to Bangalore.  Some of these are first generation U.S. residents, while others have pursued university educations in the U.S., and worked there because of the earning power in that country.  The intention was always to move back to Bangalore one day, as is the case for so many immigrants, but this wish is becoming something that a generation of Indians and Indian-Americans are bringing into light.

The reasons for this are complicated, but the main reason is because of the same force that drove them out: economics.  A new generation is starting to realize that there are suddenly more opportunities for talent and education in Bangalore.  Industry is booming, and opportunities are, in fact, better.  There are also some other very important factors in this trend.  One is simply based on the emotional attachment to a motherland, which would include being close to the parents again, and the extended family, and meeting up with old friends.  As more young people are returning, the previous generation remembers the brain drain on India, when so many left for the opportunities promised in the U.S.  But now this is shifting, and some are calling it a “brain drain in reverse”.  There are some very interesting incidents of reverse culture shock.  The returning Bangaloreans are coming home with the expectations of seeing the India of their childhoods, only to find that technological advancement and the effects of globalization are markedly present here.  Old world customs still win out over new world trends, but it’s a shifting ground that is culturally fascinating for insiders and world travelers, making for a vibrant backdrop for change in a vibrant city.

There is  no place like home, and no place like a home away from home in a luxury hotel.  Dubai holds the distinction of being one of the most fascinating cities for satisfying business, leisure, and global travel curiosities.  There is a growing expat community here, because the place has so much to offer in terms of culture, nature, and style.  It has always attracted artists and thinkers, and has seen a surge in recent years by members of the international community looking for an artistic center to call home, and from which to speak to the world at large.

Holly Major is one such expat.  Originally from Queensland, on the east coat of Australia, she now makes her home in Dubai.  She runs the open mic nights at Dubai Lime cafe shop, and works the crowds at many Dubai Lime events, at venues like Jumeriah Central Perk and Bert’s Café in the Greens – Al Barsha.  She also keeps herself quite busy with her up and coming music career.  A natural songwriter, she specializes in folk riffs and turns of phrase that make her soulful, melancholic, and often oddly uplifting, tunes extremely catchy and hard to forget.

She is now working on projects with another expat in Dubai, Cassiano Da Sa.  The Brazillian guitarist is joined forces with Holly Major to make some incredible new sounds.  They’ve already won an international songwriting competition in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and have played at such festivals as Adrenaline Sports Live Fest, Wonderland Festival, Slob Fest, and for MTV Brazil, MTV Arabia, and Souk Al Bastikya.  Together, they make quite a team, and together, they list their influences as Pearl Jam, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, the Dixie Chicks, Jackson 5, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Cat Stevens, and Brazil’s treasure, Tom Jobim.  This interesting combination of influences is at work in their music, creating a sound that is wholly international, multi-cultural, and distinctly touched with Dubai charm.