Saturday, February 12, 2011

Wine Tasting Guide

Step One – Look

Clarity is an indication of the character and condition of the wine.
Colour (intensity and hue) should be assessed – generally a darker colour and a difference in colour from the centre of the glass to the edge can indicate oxidation, which may be a deliberate part of the winemaking, an error, or a part of the natural process of maturation in bottle.
The ‘tears’ left on the inside side of the glass after swirling can be indicative of the amount of glycerol and alcohol present in the wine.

Step Two – Smell

Inhale and try and identify as many flavour compounds as possible.
Aromas refer to smells derived from grapes and include fruit descriptors (eg: lemon) and herbs and spices.
Bouquet refers to smells derived from the winemaking process such as characters formed by yeasts, specific fermentation techniques or type and size of maturation vessel.

Step Three – Taste

The texture of a wine can provide clues as to how the wine is made.
Progression of flavour from when the wine enters your mouth to after you swallow, is an indicator of the quality of the wine, a long aftertaste is generally a positive indication of quality.
After looking, smelling and tasting, make an overall assessment of the wine – a lasting impression of harmony and balance is considered desirable and easiest to enjoy.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Creativity -new keys in survival of living?

Creativity has been taken into the next stage with a great emphasis on creative thinking as one of the major selling qualities for an individual. The ability to have great ideas, to be able to think out and through the box, combine with charisma and the ability to interact with the public is a great skill seen by many companies worldwide.

What do you have to say about thinking big and new ideas being the new keys in survival of living? Perhaps some people might see it a little too extreme to associate this with a person’s survivability but it’s not entirely unrelated too. This is because new ideas are usually influenced by new overviews and ways of thinking toward many things in life, it shows indirectly how fast and skillful a person is in facing new challenges and changing situations - an explorable necessity which one needs in order to adapt to the current situations and dynamic intervention of events and happenings.

No human beings are able to use 100% of their brainpower, an average person only use up to 10% of it. Brainpower is something that improves as you practice - through thinking especially. But to some people thinking can be stressful and too much to bear but there’s also another way of practicing your brainpower, that is through learning. The main point of learning is so that you can expand your knowledge and regular thinking habit can increase your brainpower.

Baggage problems, No more

What can probably be considered as the most common of any traveler’s woes most likely has something to do with his baggage. We always hear stories of people getting hit on the head by luggage falling out of overhead compartments on a particularly turbulent flight, or of the security line being held up by airline passengers who insist that the gigantic suitcase they have brought with them should pass as carry-on luggage instead of just checking them in. And then we have stories of lost luggage, wherein the hapless passenger finds that his suitcases have flown to Taiwan instead of coming with him to Thailand.
Losing luggage, among other baggage problems, is a fact in the life of a traveler. Thankfully, such problems can be avoided with a few simple precautions to be taken before the flight. Here is how:

1. If you can get away with traveling with only carry-on luggage with you, go for it. Airlines generally allow their passengers to bring two pieces of carry-on luggage with them, so bringing your bags with you to the cabin will save you the worry of losing your bags or having them stolen.

2. If your bags are heavy, do not put them in the overhead bin. Luggage, even the lightweight ones, can cause serious injuries if they get loose and fall on someone’s head.

3. Before you check in your bags, make sure that every piece of luggage you are checking in has a label that has your name and address on it. Better yet, put another label on the inside of the bag, as well as a copy of your itinerary. Do the same for your carry-on bags in the event that you need to check them in after all.

4. Make your luggage as unique as you can make them so the other passengers will not confuse your luggage with their own and pick them up. You can do this by putting colorful tags or stickers.

5. Never check in your valuable items such as money, jewelry, laptop and electronic files. Put them in your carry-on luggage.

6. Make sure that airline tag on your checked-in luggage is correct. The airline tag should match the airport where you are flying to.

7. If you have lost your bags, report the loss immediately. Approach the baggage agents on duty as soon as you discover that your bags did not turn up at the airport you flew in.

8. Do not throw away the stub from your checked-in bags. In case you do lose your bag, the stub will help airline authorities to trace your bags.

9. Always anticipate the fact that you may lose your luggage on your flight. It’s a simple application of Murphy’s Law. Thus, pack your bags in such a way that the loss of one bag will not cripple you. Pack at least one set of clothing in your carry-on bag.

10. Bear in mind the security regulations of the airline you are flying in when packing your bags. Leave prohibited items behind, such as knives, cutters and other hazardous objects. If you must bring such items, see if your airline can let you check them in.

Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang) - A Thousand Lights

Kek Lok Si, or Temple of Supreme Bliss, is the largest and arguably the best known temple in Penang. It straddles a hillside overlooking the town of Ayer Itam and George Town beyond that. It is a temple that harmoniously blend Mahayana Buddhism with Taoist beliefs and other Chinese rituals, creating an amalgam that is uniquely its own

During the Chinese New Year celebration, thousands of devotees turned up for the annual lighting ceremony at Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam.
Starting from Chinese New Year, Kek Lok Si Temple will be light up every night at 7pm until midnight to symbolize peace, luck and prosperity.

Approximately 230,000 light bulbs and 10,000 lanterns light up the temple every night for 33 days in conjunction with Chinese New Year. Making this 120 year old temple one of Asia's most beautiful temple.

The Kek Lok Si lights up as night falls

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A Woman Traveling Alone

It is tough to be a woman traveling alone. Not only do you have to deal with the usual hassle that a tourist has to face, like getting around the place, getting over the language barrier and all that, but women traveling are also vulnerable to being on the receiving end of unwanted attention, especially if she is traveling alone. This is particularly true in countries where women do not enjoy as much freedom as women in, say, the United States do.

Safety is a special concern for a woman traveling alone. A lot of enterprising people find a woman traveling alone to be an easy target for whatever heinous heist they may have in mind, so it is very important for her to take care of herself.

The first thing that a woman traveling alone should do is to secure her lodgings. As much as possible, her lodgings should be something she should not cut corners with. She should check in a reputable place and make sure that her room is not on the first floor, where many people come and go all too easily.

Another precaution that a woman traveling alone ought to take is to keep her room number to herself. Keeping her hotel room door locked at all times is also logical. She should never let anyone inside her hotel room without first identifying who that person is. When she is ordering room service, she should ask room service to call her when the waiter is coming up to her room with her order. While the waiter is laying out her food on the table, she should stay by the door.

Whenever she eats at one of the restaurants at the hotel she is staying in, a woman traveling alone should sign her bills with her initials instead of her full name. After signing these bills, she should give them directly to the server and should take care that no one else sees them. Whenever a stranger approaches her, she should feel free to say that she is busy and does not feel up to entertaining casual conversation with people she does not know. But if she feels inclined to it, she should be careful of the things she says to the person she is talking to. Never at any time should she reveal her itinerary for her trip. Also, a little white lie can also keep her safe.

If she is going out, a woman traveling alone should leave a note at the reception, notifying the hotel of her destination and the time she left. She should also check in regularly with someone at home. When she is going about the hotel, she should steer clear of the stairs and instead use the elevator; in this case, safety comes first before burning calories. Upon returning to the hotel after going out, she should not hesitate to ask the concierge to escort her to her room if she thinks she is being followed or spied upon.

Most of all, a woman traveling alone should wear sedate outfits and do her best to blend in. She should leave her provocative clothes at home, and she should not stash her cash and valuables in one place alone.

These safety precautions may seem paranoid, but it is better to be safe than sorry. A woman should have fun and peace of mind during her trip, even when she is traveling alone.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Tips for the Perfect Honeymoon

1. Begin planning early. The sooner the better. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to research your trip it’s actually part of the fun! and you’ll be able to get exactly what you want.

2. Share the planning. After all, this honeymoon is for both of you. If you make all the decisions, you’ll feel guilty if things don’t go perfectly. Conversely, if you don’t take part in planning, you may end up dissatisfied.

3. Set a tentative budget. Talk about your expectations and priorities so you can agree before you go about what you’ll splurge on and where you’ll skimp. This way, you’ll avoid money hassles en route. Suggestion: Splurge on your accommodations. Even if you think you won’t spend much time in your room, you’ll probably be sorry if it’s not special.

4. Take it easy. The first few days so you can recover from post-wedding exhaustion and focus on each other. Don’t try to do too much remember, you’ll have lots of time to travel together, but only one honeymoon.

5. Take advantage of free info. Call your destination’s tourist board many have toll-free telephone numbers and websites for free information on hotels, restaurants, activities and festive events. Some even provide discount-coupon books.

6. Register for your honeymoon with a travel agent or tour operator. Gifts are put toward the total cost of your trip. The average couple who uses a registry gets $500 to $1,000, which can really makes a difference.

7. Pack a sense of humor. A bit of flexibility can go a long way on a honeymoon. Expect that things won’t always go as planned. Do what you can to remedy the situation, then relax and enjoy your honeymoon. Years, or even a few hours from now, you’ll probably laugh.

8. Tell the world you’re honeymooners! Don’t be bashful about your status you’re likely to enjoy special treatment such as complimentary champagne in-flight, or a gift basket in your room.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The words that women usually want to hear

The words that women usually want to hear, besides the typical ‘I Love You’. The effect may not be definite but it can sure do some good to your relationship with a woman. However, the most important part of the whole thing is meaning what you are saying and doing it sincerely with the intention to give her more love and happiness. Let it come from your heart, naturally. Below are some romantic ideas, as far as talking is concern…

“You always look good to me…”

Well, it is almost undeniable that women are deemed to be weak against compliments, even a simple one such as ‘nice shoes’. There’s no harm in telling your lover how beautiful and gorgeous, or how kind or cute or great she is as a partner. She’ll remember it always and know that there’s always her in your eyes. Even a compliment about how the dress suits her or make her look slim can do wonders!

“How are you today?”

Sounds too simple? Better think again. As simple as it is, the impact can be tremendously heart warming. It shows that you really care about someone and you want to know that everything went well for the person. You should not restrict it to the above phrase; it can be any question regarding how the person is doing, whether it is about her job, the current event or her family.


“Honey, where are you now?”

If a woman starts to feel troubled by this question, then something is not right about the relationship. A typical woman looks at this question as a sign of care and love. A man who asked this to his lover shows that he cares for her and mainly also because he wants to know that she’s safe. However, you should not ask this too often because it could looks as if you’re a bit of a control freak.

“Where do you want to go for the holiday this time?”

Actually, you don’t have to say this often. Nevertheless, this is one of the most favorable questions to women. You can do once every year, and by asking your partner ideas and opinions on the next vacation, your woman will feel greatly appreciated. More often than not, men like to make a decision on their own. So why don’t you make a change by asking her views sometimes. That naturally shows how important she is in your life.

There you go, a few of sweet and romantic lines that you should be able to practice whenever you’re truly, deeply and madly in love. Remember it is not a trick of wooing, because anything that’s not sincere will not give you a good outcome. Have a nice day!