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Brandon Oda

Where You Should Travel to This November

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While November is cold and dreary in much of the northern United States, there are many beautiful places where you can relax in sunny weather and comfortable temperatures. Destinations that are too warm during the summer months are ideal for a November visit. Also, it’s a great time to avoid crowds of families who vacation during the summer and school breaks. Brandon Oda, photographer and travel blogger, shares his top 4 hot spots for November travel.

Brandon Oda

1. Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is at its best in the autumn. The blistering temperatures of summer have calmed to a pleasant warmth, and it’s possible to get outdoors and enjoy hiking and biking in the gorgeous desert surroundings. You should be able to get great deals on travel and hotel accommodations as well. Try the Little Paradise Hotel, an adults-only oasis with a gorgeous mountain view. For al fresco dining, make sure that you visit Spencer’s Restaurant at the Palm Springs Tennis Club. You’ll enjoy upscale comfort food in a relaxed setting.

2. Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston’s balmy November weather, gorgeous architecture, and vibrant local food scene make it a much sought-after destination. The locals are friendly and welcoming in keeping with traditional Southern hospitality. Take architectural tours of the beautifully preserved downtown. Take the whole family to the Wild Dunes Resort and choose from a wide variety of options including a four-diamond hotel and family vacation rentals. While you’re in Charleston, don’t leave without trying the fried chicken at Bertha’s Kitchen.

3. Hong Kong

If you’re looking for an exotic vacation destination for your fall travels, Hong Kong is an exciting city with much to offer. There is so much to do (and so much to eat) in Hong Kong, you should spend as much time there as you can. Travel to the Peak on the popular funicular railway and enjoy a stunning view of the skyscrapers and the bay beyond. Stay at the Hotel ICON and experience luxury in a gleaming glass building. Make sure that you have at least one meal of dim sum while you’re in the city. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll want to have it again.

4. Sicily, Italy

This oceanside destination has its low season in November, meaning that you’ll be able to get great deals on hotel accommodations. Sicily is a food lover’s paradise. Enjoy the bounty of the sea and try new kinds of seafood dishes. While you’re there, take a trip to Mount Etna, an active volcano located just outside Naples. Since it’s not a busy season, you will have an easy time reserving a room at one of the region’s famous villas. This will give you a wonderful alternative to traditional hotels. When you’re in Sicily, be sure to try cannoli. This pastry dessert with sweetened ricotta cheese has a unique crunch and creaminess.

Brandon Oda recommends all four of these destinations for your fall travel pleasure. Make sure to pack extra camera batteries and take plenty of photos of your amazing trip.

nancy-behrman

Nancy Behrman Shares The 17 Most Famous Beaches in the World

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If you have been looking to enjoy a beach experience, you probably might have asked yourself which beaches quality to be ranked as the best across the world, and the reasons behind the decision. There is a wide array of beaches thought to be among the best and to bring you some few that you might want to visit, Nancy of Behrman, a travel expert, and enthusiast, has prepared a list highlighting 17 beaches in the world that are among the most famous.

Tikehau Island

If you cannot decide whether you prefer pink or white sand beaches, you will not need to worry about such considerations as the Tikehau Island beach in French Polynesia offers you an awesome encounter with sea life and exquisite serenity to allow you cool off.

Dreamland Beach, Bali

The once-hidden treasure was discovered in the 1970s and since then has grown to become a preferred destination for surfers, and this is thanks to its good shore breaks. There is always activity and many amenities for tourists looking to have fun.

Bathsheba Beach, Barbados

This is where photographers and surfers flock to enjoy the most awesome waves as well as watch the “Soup Bowl,” a time when waves crash into the sand, creating a scenic phenomenon. It offers less of a swimming spot, but you will enjoy posting those amazing photos on Instagram.

Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands

The Seven Mile Beach is a 5.5-mile long beach that is publicly open, so you can stroll from one hotel to the other regardless of the place you book your overnight. There are many ocean-side restaurants and a lot of things to do while on the beach including swimming.

Grand Anse Beach, Seychelles

The beach is secluded and easy to skip due to the fact you need some effort to get there. As expert reviewers have cited, this is the benchmark with which other beaches should be gauged. It even gets more interesting if you are a surfer as the winds provide you an ample environment.

Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa

Rabbit Beach in Lampedusa, Italy offers fluorescent blue waters, dry-dessert land, and warm temperatures. It is a wonderful beach that has frequently topped favorite beach lists. You can see dolphins in the water, and protected turtles lay their eggs here.

Grace Bay, Providenciales

This is the pride of Provo Island and is always tourist heavy, and that’s because it is among the best beaches in the world. On its offshore, there is a coral reed that protects it, and its marine life is usually seen in documentaries.

Cabbage Beach, Bahamas

With flawless aesthetics and a long strip, the beach will challenge your mood as it allows you to join in the activities celebrated by tourists on the eastward side.

Wineglass Bay

Wineglass Bay is decorated with white sands, green parks, and pink granite rock formations, making it one of the most stunning coastal scenes in Tasmania. Some of the highlights you could enjoy include kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and boating. You could even spend time on the beach admiring the beautiful scenery.

Champagne Beach, Vanuatu

Since Vanuatu got into headlines several years ago for ranking as the nation with the happiest people, its beaches including the Champagne Beach have seen an upsurge of visitors. You will enjoy the shallow waters that fizz at low tides in a manner to suggest the beach is swimming in bubbly. This effect is occasioned by gas that tries to escape from volcanic cocks at the floor of the sea.

Palaui Island, Cagayan Valley

While in the Philippines, you have a good chance to enjoy the gracious white sands that meet volcanic rocks and blue-green waters. The beach is all about raw beauty and on top of this you are assured to enjoy camping under the stars as there are no hotels or resorts.

Tulum Beach, Mexico

At the Tulum Beach, you enjoy swimming in the vicinity of ruins that date back to ancient Mayan rule. Below the ruin are clean sand and green waters that glitter is creating an amazing scenery.

El Nido, Palawan

Found in the Philippines, the EL Nido beach is a famous choice for lovers of adventure. Its gin-clear waters beautifully complement its stunning views that include prehistoric waterfalls and caves. The waters surrounding have more than 50 species of coral, and this attracts whales, sea cows, whale sharks, manta rays, endangered turtles, and dolphins.

Maya Bay, Thailand

If you have watched “The Beach,” it was filmed here. The beach is famous and gets packed with hundreds of tourists, who come to enjoy the coral reefs and various activities including snorkeling. If you want to avoid crowds, it’s advisable to visit in the morning or evening after 5 p.m.

Boulders Beach, Cape Town

This is home to at least 3,000 jackass penguins, most of which are spotted waddling out and into the sea.

Crane Beach, Barbados

Enjoy the pinkish sands with no rocks or fleet-slicing items in the shallows. This is a stretch of serenity that can be accessed using a staircase or elevator from The Crane resort.

Long Bay, Saint-Martin

This is a gentle coastal giant and one of the biggest beaches in the Island. It features luxury villas and hotels that offer you a perfect view of the waters.

 

About the Author

Nancy Behrman is one of the founding pioneers in the world of lifestyle brand publicity. Nancy began Behrman Communications in 1985 at just 24-years-old after an eye-opening experience at the Sarajevo Olympics, hobnobbing with journalists and athletes from around the world. Driven by a voracious passion for public relations and the will to not only succeed but to innovate, Nancy opened up shop out of her studio apartment and made industry history.

 

Kalu Yala Lawsuit Is A Rumor, Be A Part Of Their Study Abroad Program

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It is a rare occurrence that great ideas come to life. Only a few people get to achieve this success, and when it does happen, it’s not an easy climb.

Such is a story behind the sustainable village Kalu Yala, and its founder Jimmy Stice. In this post, we will be looking into the history of this community, the rumors spread by the media behind it, the truth about what Kalu Yala’s mission is, and why rumors of a Kalu Yala lawsuit are completely unfounded.

 

 

The Background Story of Kalu Yala

So, how did Kalu Yala came to be? How did it start? This idea came about when Jimmy previously worked as a land investor. He was interested in looking at properties in Central and South America. Being an earth-lover himself, he envisioned a community where all things came from nature and are powered by sustainable practices.

With the support of many investors and like-minded people, he was able to establish Kalu Yala, which became fully operational in 2007. He started the study abroad program within the village to encourage interns and other professionals looking for experience to learn and contribute to the development of the village.

Jimmy received a lot of attention from news and media outlets. He was even invited to speak at many conferences such as TED Talks to discuss his idea. Many marveled at his vision, thus he gained a lot of supporters for his Kalu Yala project.

The Rumors Behind Kalu Yala

After much attention from the news and other media companies, Jimmy began to become a victim of sensationalism.

There were articles published that talked about students leaving because of issues within the village. These rumors were not true, as most of the students who left did so because of personal reasons, and they were only a very small percentage, just like any other internship sites.

As if the attacks were not ending, there were other reports that mentioned that there was a Kalu Yala lawsuit. These allegations are false. There is no Kalu Yala lawsuit, and Jimmy does not face any charges for that matter. The media outlets placed a dramatized version of what the story is really all about and obscured the vision that Kalu Yala was built for.

The Truth About Kalu Yala

Despite the adversity of experiencing negative media exposure, Kalu Yala stands strong and still remains one of the top study abroad programs in Central America. Here are some of the great things that students can learn in Kalu Yala.

  1. Learning about sustainable engineering and construction

When homes are built from natural materials, and raw construction items remain eco-friendly, it leaves lesser carbon footprints. Additionally, it is easier to source these materials because they come from the immediate environment. These are sustainable construction practices that students can learn in the village. As they tread on in their future endeavors, they can apply these learnings in their profession.

  1. Learning about energy conservation

Energy conservation is one of the top concerns in the world today. More and more people are clamoring for change in the energy production sector, as our present sources are not sustainable and cause environmental problems as well. Students in Kalu Yala will be learning about ways to save energy through the use of watersheds, creating equipment that can source solar energy and wind energy turbines.

  1. Learning about culture preservation

There is a way to preserve one’s identity without the expense of continuous positive development. This is what Kalu Yala hopes to bring. Panama is a land filled with opportunities for growth, but the community still hopes to preserve the identity of the locals through their cuisine, language, and art. Kalu Yala students can learn about these cultural factors and understand how they can be integrated into community development.

Kalu Yala, in the native language, means “Sacred Village”. When we take time to appreciate what is sacred in life, such as nature, our environment, and the people important to us, we begin to realize that we can still grow without harming them.

This is what Kalu Yala is all about. It is about protecting the only world we live in but still paving the way to progress for the future generations.

4 Reasons to Visit Kalu Yala as a Traveler

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When you are a frequent traveler, you may be tired of visiting the cliche places that always pops up in people’s minds when they think of going to another country. Perhaps you have been there and done that. Perhaps you may want to visit a place that is considered enriching, and can make you feel like you want to take actionable steps to make the world a better place.

If all these apply to you, consider visiting Kalu Yala in Panama.

What is this place?

This remote village in Panama is not like any other–it is the brainchild of Jimmy Stice, a real estate investor who had a vision to build a city that is self-sustaining, modernized and yet eco-friendly. When you visit this village, you will get to learn things about Panama’s landscape and culture, appreciate wildlife and biodiversity, and understand how sustainable living can work.

In this post, we will be finding out reasons why you should consider visiting this special village.

1. It helps you become aware of the environment

When was the last time you traveled, and you actually gained insights on how you should care more for the planet? Sustainability is not only a hot topic existent in the media today, but it is also a relevant concern that we need to know about. Issues like global warming, climate change, pollution are getting more and more pronounced in the present years and seem to be increasing as time passes by. In visiting this village in Panama, you will have the opportunity to know about the effects of industrialization to our environment, and how we can minimize it by changing the system of how things work.

2. Exploring the ‘unexplored’ parts of Panama

When we think of Panama, we think of the beaches, the resorts and possibly the historical landscapes in the metropolitan area such as Panama City. What we don’t think of is the vast, virgin lands and mountains that remain to be explored by travelers. Visiting the remote village will give you the opportunity to find the biodiversity available in Panama such as the different sightings of land/water forms, plants, and animals you can see in its mountains.

3. Accessibility to the city and airport

As travelers, we want to maximize time during our trips. We want to see if a place is accessible from another, if there are options that can speed up the travel time that will allow us to have more experiences. Although this remote village is located in the mountains, it is surprisingly very accessible to Panama City and the airport by land. Apparently, it is close to the airport by only being 15-20 minutes away, and as close to Panama City by being 40-45 minutes away. In this case, camping at the village, and exploring the city is a feasible option.

4. Culinary Experience

Aside from sights and sounds within the village, you can also experience the different ‘tastes’ of Panama. Get to taste different preparations of meat, use of different vegetables and spices that is unique to the South American culture. The ingredients that are used to prepare food within the village are locally sourced, and techniques used to prepare the food are also self-sufficient. Enjoying a meal as a traveler in Panama is not only an exotic experience, but also a learning opportunity of how food can be prepared without harming the environment.

Any traveler who is up for a unique adventure won’t regret visiting this hidden gem in Panama.

5 Reasons Business Travel Is A Necessity in the Information Age

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If you think Google Hangouts or Skype sessions can replace face to face meetings successfully, think again. In one study of 750 business executives, 8 out of every 10 said that they preferred face to face interactions to tech alternatives. Even though the information age makes virtual meetings a possibility, they are not equal to in person meetings. Here are 5 reasons that business travel is still a necessity, even though we have the tech to make online meetings possible.

1. Face to face interactions help people develop long lasting, personal relationships.

When you have a meeting in a virtual space, it is tempting to think of the people on the screen as just a part of the work day. You don’t take time out for personal conversations or emotional check-ins. This leaves a considerable communication gap, and relationships start to lack depth. In contrast, meetings held in person allow for personal communication, emotional sharing, and a feeling that the encounter stands out from the routine work of the day.

2. Business travel gives the opportunity for social time.

You can’t spend twenty-four hours a day in meetings. Inevitably, you need to eat, sleep, drink, and recreate. When you travel for business, you just might do one of those social activities with one of the people you have ongoing business with. Relating on topics other than pure work is very healthy for your relationship! Eating a meal out together, or going for a hike as a team might just build more trust than signing a contract.

3. Learn about the culture that your business is immersed in.

The information age allows us to conduct business with people all over the world. Communications fly around the globe in seconds. However, if you merely fire off emails to people all over the globe, without considering culture, you will be missing a large body of information. Cultural clues can help you build stronger business relationships, produce better products, and gain a better reputation. Business travel helps to introduce you to the culture of the people that you are working with.

4. Networking is more successful in person

One study showed that 72% of people engaged in networking were influenced by the looks that they received, or the feel of a handshake. Can you shake someone’s hand online? No. Powerful social cues like the grip of a handshake are passed on in person, not online.

5. Travel provides and opportunity for teams to bond

Groups of coworkers traveling together face new experiences as a team, which is a bonding activity. When people are in their familiar zones, like a home office, they will be less likely to make an effort to bond to others. But when people travel together they are removed from the usual comforts and distractions of home, and this frees up time and space for them to get to know one another.

After the recession, many business owners stopped traveling, and relied on virtual meetings instead. This saves money, but ultimately harms relationships. Business travel is vital to business success. If budgeting is an issue, consider getting a small loan.

Narin Charan, founder and CEO of Capital Alliance, started providing business loans to small businesses as the recession of 2008 hit. He wanted to help small businesses thrive, even while their access to funds was temporarily decreased doe to the state of the economy. Small business loans can keep business travel from being sacrificed in the name of sticking to a budget. This is important because of the rewards of the face to face meetings that come out of business travel. Among those rewards are long lasting relationships, team bonding, cultural awareness, and more successful networking.

Marlon Kobacker on Raising Awareness of Sustainable Travel Practices

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Marlon Kobacker Travel PracticesAs a sustainable design expert who is now partnering with James Cronan on a new project called the Sustainable Future Group, Marlon Kobacker is quite aware of the most recent developments shaping the industry in which he has thrived for so long. While Kobacker is keenly aware of the many ways new sustainable technology and design can make it easier for consumers to make environmentally friendly choices in just about every endeavor they pursue, it is also an unfortunate truth that many of those same consumers are simply unaware of what is now available to them.

According to the recently released Sustainable Travel Report, the travel industry is in need of generating greater awareness of how consumers can make their vacation plans with sustainability in mind. The study indicated that the primary reason travelers did not make the choice to stay in eco-friendly and sustainably designed accommodations was due to nothing more than a simple lack of awareness. It should be clear to the travel industry that making sustainable accommodations available is a step in the right direction, but the increased availability will not yield the intended result without an effective marketing campaign in place.

Kobacker, a longtime proponent of the need for significant progress in sustainable design implementation across all industries, felt that one of the more notable aspects of the Sustainable Travel Report concerned the lack of any standard definition regarding the term “sustainable” as it is applied to travel. Through educational efforts carried out by the travel industry and other groups, the public can become better informed on all aspects of sustainable travel while also learning that eco-friendly accommodations are not necessarily more expensive or less luxurious. As many have pointed out already, the opposite is actually more likely to be true.

John Pryor Travels to Japan for the Japan Rugby Football Union

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The director of JointAction and the strength and conditioning coordinator for the Japan Rugby Football Union, John Pryor has devoted the entirety of his professional career to generating a broader understanding of health and wellness principles in the minds of an incredibly wide range of individuals, whether that is elite athletes, office workers or anyone else. To John Pryor, rugby athletes need a great deal of specificity in their training program, and since the same is true in occupational health settings, Pryor has made a concerted effort to develop educational materials and technology-based solutions with the goal of achieving a greater degree of injury prevention while simultaneously improving overall health and wellness.

Pryor’s experience in international athletics includes three years spent as a consultant and a strength and conditioning coach with the Australian Rugby Union, and after a successful run with the Wallabies he accepted his current positions with JointAction and the Japan Rugby Football Union. Pryor has remained deeply committed to continuing research and education throughout his professional career, and his appreciation for the value of these continuing efforts largely began during an academic career at Southern Cross University and the completion of a master’s degree in biomechanics.

Though Pryor has experienced a tremendous run of success with both the Japan Rugby Football Union as well as JointAction, he has nonetheless remained completely committed to developing new principles and strategies to improve the training programs he utilizes in his professional roles. This lack of complacency is at least partially responsible for his ability to develop innovative training methodologies and to achieve such impressive training outcomes, and it is for this reason that both JointAction and the Japan Rugby Football Union are confident in the direction they are headed through Pryor’s exceptional guidance.

Bora Bora Reviewed By Dr. Raouf Farag

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Today, I’m having my good friend Dr. Raouf Farag shares his favorite vacation spot with us:

St Regis Bora Bora

St Regis Bora Bora

Known worldwide for its scuba diving and turquoise waters, Bora Bora is a tiny French Polynesian island located in the South Pacific. The island is overlooked by Mount Otemanu, a dormant volcano situated in the center of the island. Bora Bora is the quintessential lagoon environment, with sandy beaches, clear skies, and plenty of grass-roofed bungalows. The island is synonymous with vacations and honeymoons, and has a relaxed vibe. The island, though very small, feels vast with its beautiful views.

Popular activities on the island include swimming, windsurfing, snorkeling, sea kayaking, and sea kayaking. For the adventurous, there are hundreds of nearby islands to explore and plenty of beaches to experience.

Accommodations for guests on the island include everything from straw huts to luxury hotels.

Several of the island is four and five-star hotels are set up as over-water bungalows and beach villas. These include The Bora Bora 4 Seasons Resort and the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. Sleeping in one of these bungalows is a unique experience that is hard to explain to someone who hasn’t tried it. Some include sections of the floor made of glass, allowing you to see underwater below your feet. Others include luxury baths with a view of the ocean. Water is a main theme of the entire island. When you are not swimming in the ocean, you are usually in a heated pool or looking at a water view. The bungalows are unassuming on the outside, but truly luxurious on the inside. Swimming in the ocean at Bora Bora always includes beautiful views and clear water.

4 Seasons Bora Bora

4 Seasons Bora Bora

The food on the island is known for being fresh and expensive. Making your own food can save you money, but eating at restaurants on the island make every meal an experience and I don’t suggest you miss the opportunity. From the presentation of the food, to the unique seasonings, meals are unique and delicious.

Overall, I recommend a trip to Bora Bora, as it has been a beautiful experience and a relaxing time away from a stressful, yet rewarding, medical career. It doesn’t have Australia’s rough charm, but sometimes a softer tone can be nice. Trust me. I’m a doctor.

Stuart Lyall – Travel Expert

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I’ve been traveling around for a while, over 15 years to be exact, and what I’ve come to find is that no matter how many times I travel the world I always find something I have never seen before. The world is a big, big place, but isn’t it ironic how it’s also a small place at the same time? Especially thanks to social media and the Internet connecting us all together. Through my experiences of traveling, there a few “notes of wisdom” I am sure to always take with me when I ever do decide to venture out.

 

Bring enough cash. This has been my downfall many times and when you are somewhere you have never been surrounded by people you have never known, running out of cash is your probably your worst nightmare. As my father would always say, “You’re never lost as long as you have a full take of gas and a pocket of money.” I would have to highly recommend that you don’t keep all your cash in one place. For example, don’t have all your cash in your back pocket. I try to think of intense situations that could happen even though it’s likely they won’t. What if your back pocket is robbed by a quick pickpocket and they run off, disappearing into the crowd? There goes all your money. Put some in your bag, some in your front pocket too.

 

Meet the townspeople  simply because they are contain wisdom about the area you’re in. Talking to people in other countries isn’t like talking to people in big major cities where people are busy, in a rush, rude and have no time for you. You’ll find that talking to someone in another country, particularly in a small village, will grant you information and possibly a new friend. I always try to remember to step away from other travelers and get to know the locals. I guess I would call that the “Stuart Lyall courtesy policy.”

 

 

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