The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics are just around the corner. February 12-28, 2010 … the world of winter sports will converge on magnificent Vancouver, British Columbia. This will be the first time that this Canadian city will host the Winter Games. If you have never been to Vancouver, you will be pleasantly surprised by its diversity and beauty. As the third largest city in Canada, Vancouver and its surroundings offer all the necessary amenities for a comfortable and enjoyable visit to the Winter Olympics.

Planning to attend some events at the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Games? Here are some things to know about the venues that will host the 17 events of these Winter Games …

PROPERTY VANCOUVER

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will take place at BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver. Nearby Canada Hockey Place will host some ice hockey games, as will UBC Thunderbird Arena. The Vancouver Olympic Center will host all curling events, and the Pacific Coliseum will host short track speed skating as well as all figure skating events.

RICHMOND, BC

Richmond’s huge Olympic oval is the site of all speed skating events. Richmond is a suburb of Vancover in the southern part of the city and is located just south of the Vancouver International Airport.

VANCOUVER WEST, BC

Cypress Mountain will host all freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions including moguls, antennas, ski cross, half-pipe, snowboard cross and giant parallel slalom. Cypress Mountain is about an hour’s drive north of Vancouver International Airport.

QUIET ZONE

For all remaining events, you must head to the mountains and to the beautiful Whistler Resort area, which is a 2-hour drive north of Vancouver International Airport. Three locations in close proximity host a multitude of events. Whistler Creekside will host all alpine skiing events including: Super-G, Giant Slalom, Super Combo and Slalom. These take place in the Whistler Blackcomb ski area. Whistler Olympic Park will host all Nordic events, including: Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing, Nordic Combination and Ski Jumping. Last but not least, the Whistler Sliding Center is a bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track that will host all of the 2010 Games sliding events.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

To maximize your Vancouver 2010 experience, a good travel strategy is to stay for several days in the Vancouver area combined with several days in the Whistler area. Events at both locations are spread across the 17 days of the games, so you’ll find events to watch no matter what day. Tickets can be purchased through the official Vancouver 2010 website, and there are many hotels adjacent to all Olympic venues (but book as early as possible to ensure availability).

Bangkok is an exotic, friendly and beautiful city in southern Thailand. It is the capital of Thailand, has more than eight million inhabitants and is the cultural center of the country. It is a place of scandalous nightlife and beautiful temples, delicious food and sweltering heat, crowded streets and massive markets. There is no shortage of things to see and do in the city, but there are also plenty of travel tips to keep in mind while traveling in Bangkok.

Some basics

Thai is the main language spoken in Bangkok, but due to the boom in the tourism industry, many people speak English (learn a few phrases in Thai though, the effort will be appreciated).

The unit of currency is the baht (THB), often misspelled “Bath” on the street. One US dollar is approximately 31 baht. Prices are very cheap in Thailand, which makes Thailand a hot spot for Western tourists. You do not have to tip for services or restaurants as in many other countries, but it is certainly appreciated.

There are some cultural taboos and laws that you should take seriously when traveling anywhere in Thailand:

• When visiting a Buddhist temple, dress conservatively and remove your shoes upon entering. Do not take pictures if someone is meditating or during the ritual, without prior permission.
• Touching another person’s head (even a child’s head) is a religious affront and should not be done. Touching another person’s foot is considered an impure act and should not be avoided. Pointing something with the foot is not done either.
• Females should never touch a Theravada monk, but monks often touch lay men, and even women if the lay woman is very ill.
• Never participate in public displays of affection.
• Thais revere the King of Thailand. The King is legally “inviolable” and it is a legal offense to say or do anything that can be interpreted in any way as “disrespectful”. This is a serious matter. A rape can get you arrested and put in prison. This is not a joke.

Food and water

Food and water safety is another important topic here. Don’t drink tap water in your hotel or restaurants, and never use ice cubes. Drink only bottled water. Don’t eat street food that can spoil in the heat. Although Thai cuisine is delicious and there are street vendors almost everywhere, you don’t want to spend your time in Bangkok sick of this food.

Streets

Traffic in Bangkok is overwhelming, extremely congested, and even crossing the street is dangerous. Due to the large population, there are many transportation options: the Metro, the SkyTrain, the boat network, buses, taxis, and tuk-tuks.

Although three-wheeled motorized tuk-tuks are not the most cost-effective way to get around the city (agree on a price before you enter, sometimes you can go for very little!), They are a great part of Bangkok, well worth it. ride one at least once!

Sex for sale

Bangkok has a thriving and hyperactive commercial sex industry, both straight and gay. Many prostitutes and prostitutes are HIV positive. A certain percentage of visitors come to Thailand to satisfy their sexual desires and fantasies. So keep in mind that male visitors to Thailand especially will be proposed quite aggressively when landing at the airport and in the red districts of Bangkok. Just be firm in saying “no,” and guys, try not to sound interested or the sales pitch will get more aggressive and demanding.

Temples and Palaces

Bangkok is known for its abundance of temples and palaces. These include:

The great palace it is perhaps the most spectacular. This huge residence of the King is made up of many buildings, each one more beautiful than the other. It can take hours to explore, and it’s definitely worth the 400 baht (about $ 13 US) admission fee.

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, is a national monument and a must see here; It was one of the most memorable places of my time in Bangkok. You must dress very conservatively in order to enter, so plan ahead.

The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, located near the Grand Palace, is another temple that is extremely memorable. It is home to beautiful gardens, sculptures, and a golden Buddha statue over 150 feet long. Admission is cheap (20 baht, about 60 US cents), and here is a famous Thai massage school That can get you a one hour massage for just 200 baht (about $ 6.50)!

The temple of dawn, Wat Arun, is another amazing temple to see. It is located on the Chao Phraya River and is known for its tall, colorful spiers and ordinance room. For only 50 baht (US $ 1.60), this attraction offers beautiful views of the river and offers a great understanding of Buddhism.

Markets

Bangkok has an impressive number of markets and they are the perfect places to buy Thai clothes, food and handicrafts. You can find quite amazing prices, but be prepared to haggle, you can almost always bargain for a cheaper price! But don’t be afraid to walk away if you think you are being scammed.

Be careful with personal belongings in the markets. There are pickpockets lurking.

If you’re in town on a weekend, go to Chatuchak Weekend Market, which has thousands of positions that offer everything you can imagine. Although it is crowded (try to go in the morning before it gets too hot), it is worth a trip to experience something so large in size and so rich in Thai culture.

Another really interesting market is the Damnoen Saduak floating market. The vendors are all in small jars and sell mainly fruits and vegetables. You have the option of staying ashore or renting a small boat. Although this is quite touristy, there are not many other places in the world that have floating markets!

Museums

If you prefer a less crowded place, Bangkok has many interesting and attractive museums. There are two that I especially recommend:

The national museum It is an impressive building with a huge collection of Thai art and architecture.

Jim Thompson’s house It is a fairly large complex that houses art, antiques and an interesting mix of Thai and European interior design.

Fri de Nuit

If you are looking for a truly unique nightlife, there are two places in Bangkok that will leave a very lasting impression.

Cowboy car It is the very touristy sex district of the city, it is a street full of fluorescent lights and go-go bars.

Khao San RoadMeanwhile, it was the coolest place I went to in Bangkok. While there are many cheap clubs and bars (mobile bars are very popular here too), there are also Thai restaurants, western fast food chains, cafes, street vendors and artists, and people from all over the world having fun and enjoying the city. . It is a place where Thailand meets the West, and this mix of so many cultures makes Khao San Road an interesting place.

Bangkok is a fast-paced city with plenty of things to see and do. Although it can be quite hot and busy, its spectacular palaces, museums and temples, its active nightlife and its strong sense of culture make Bangkok one of the most fun and exciting cities in the world.

There is a lot of talk these days about the amount of dangerous chemicals found in tap water that has been ‘treated’ by city water authorities, and how filtered tap water at home is also not always safe. .

Well, I would say two things about the chemicals found in tap water.

First, millions of us are drinking water contaminated with chemicals, and it doesn’t matter if we live in large metropolitan areas or small rural communities.

The fact is that in a recent study of tap water in 62 large urban centers, 24 of them were contaminated with pharmaceuticals. Prescription drugs to stop seizures and stabilize mood, antibiotics and sex hormones, and many similar drugs are regularly found in the drinking water of more than 40 million Americans.

Then there are chemicals from industry and science, such as chlorine, bromine, commercial strength disinfectants, benzene, industrial solvents, pesticides and herbicides that cause cancer, perchlorate that damages the thyroid and distorts physical development, and many others. THERE ARE chemicals found in tap water.

What’s worse is that city water authorities often fail to test for chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Although drugs have been found in the watersheds that supply Oklahoma City and Santa Clara, for example, water officials in those two cities do not test for them. This shocking lack of concern is found in many other water treatment offices across the country.

New York is particularly worrying. The state health department and the USGS found that the water in New York’s catchments has minimal concentrations of heart medications, infection fighters, estrogens, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, and tranquilizers, but water authorities They insist that they meet federal standards and that their water is safe. It’s almost as if the chemicals found in tap water don’t sound the alarm bells for these officials.

Well, how many prescription drugs do you need in your drinking water to make it unsafe? In a lab, you can expose male fish to parts per trillion estrogen compounds and turn them into females. Frankenstein’s same experiments interfere with the circulatory system, eyes, and bladders of these fish. Even small traces of chemicals found in tap water are dangerous.

How is it possible for drugs and chemicals to pass through the city’s treatment systems?

Well, it’s partly because they often use equipment that only blocks contaminants with a molecular size larger than water. Since chemicals can be smaller in molecular size, they pass directly through city filters. It’s also partly because officials can get away with it because federal safety levels are so lax, as New York’s water treatment authorities will tell you.

The second thing I’d like to point out is that filtered tap water can remove chemicals found in tap water, but not all tap water filters do this.

Here’s the simple truth about what makes a good home water filter good: You need a system, a set of filters.

What you don’t need is the expensive and wasteful home version of reverse osmosis equipment so popular in big city water treatment plants. They don’t work there and they won’t work in your home. In addition, these osmosis systems remove the natural and healthy trace minerals found in water that are so essential to your health. Don’t waste your money on reverse osmosis.

Instead, you simply need a relatively inexpensive set of hard-working filters. One that uses granulated activated carbon for its filter, one that has a resin and multimedia block, and one that stops submicron particles. It may also include an ion exchange to remove lead if it is a problem in your community plumbing and to balance the minerals in your water supply. But even with all of these things in place, you’re seeing a modest cost of less than a couple hundred dollars.

And for that he has peace of mind, in a city where there are chemicals found in tap water.

Now that you know this, I recommend that you get down to business and find an affordable and effective tap water filter system. Search the Internet for a reliable manufacturer. (And you can start looking at my own website, which has a lot of helpful information on chemicals found in tap water.) By doing this, try to bypass the retailers and save money by going straight to the people who make good water filters.

Looking for a Colorado winter vacation that doesn’t include flying down the mountain at breakneck speeds? Let’s take a look at what Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park have to offer. You already know that there are hundreds of miles of trails and terrain, protected and preserved in Rocky Mountain National Park. That’s just the tip of the story.

The national park and forests surrounding Estes Park provide exceptional winter opportunities for cross-country skiing and extreme skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledding, hiking, and winter mountaineering. Some also enjoy the revived Telemark skiing technique. For those who want a winter ski vacation in Estes Park but still crave downhill skiing, Eldora Ski Resort is an hour south down the ridge road. Once you’ve returned, you can head into town for a bite to eat or explore some of the artist galleries.

We’ll go into more detail about what you can expect to see and do in just a minute, but you can also explore the opportunities yourself at any time by clicking the links on the left of the page. There you will find money saving coupons, discounts, bargains and deals on equipment rentals, accommodations – everything you will need and want during your trip to this magnificent winter vacation destination.

Even in the winter, one can enjoy the mighty rivers, mountain lakes, forests and ravines, and all the forested mountain dwellers, a cornucopia of natural beauty waiting to be seen and discovered. If you want to take pictures and leave footprints, some of the shots you can get include mule deer, elk, elk, bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, and golden eagles.

Estes Park is at 7,522 feet, while the highest point in the area is Long’s Peak, at over 14,250 feet, on the Continental Divide. Several companies offer guided tours through the park’s many wonders, or you can drive a car and enjoy it all at your own pace.

Hiking is still possible during the winter months. When the lower elevation trails don’t get a lot of snow, the rangers leave them open. Precautions should be taken, as is the case, when venturing into any wilderness area, but additional measures are required during winter. Experienced guides are available. Check out the links to your left to find one that you like!

There are several galleries of unique artists to explore. Who knows? You can end up taking home a masterpiece or get inspired to create one yourself! Travel is the destination of such a vacation, so take your time, savor the many flavors found in this fantastic area. The locals provide a warm, friendly and genuine greeting to their guests. Away from the attitudes of most downhill resort towns, you’ll feel truly welcome in Estes Park.

Accommodations are an essential part of any vacation. Estes Park Colorado Lodging leaves you in charge of this, too. You can choose from inns, cabins, chalets, condo rentals, hotel rooms … You can rent almost any type of accommodation you want. You could even have the same room Stephen King stayed in while writing “The Shining”!

We are confident that you will be glad you chose Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park as your vacation destination this winter. Don’t be too surprised if you come back in the summer months too. Estes Park is amazing any time of the year!

Be sure to check out the links for discounted rates, money-saving coupons, bargains, and deals on all the goods, accommodations, services, tours, and rentals you want and need! Take your pick and we’re sure you’ll have a great time at the most enjoyable natural vacation destination in the continental United States, Estes Park.

© 2007 RightNow Communications

In the shadows of New York City, just five miles and a seventeen-minute train ride away, Newark, NJ has much to offer visitors, or the New York City tourist who chooses to visit or stay nearby in less expensive restaurants and hotels.

This is not a city to spend a considerable amount of time, but it is an excellent destination for a day trip or weekend getaway, or even for the budget conscious tourist looking for a place to stay when visiting Nueva. York.

One of the oldest cities in the country, after Boston and New York, Newark was a thriving industrial giant of the 19th century and, at the turn of the century, invested heavily in cathedrals, museums, parks, a major art deco train station, and other art deco. architecture, which today stands as world-class attractions.

Newark also has a good subway system. The system is a light rail line on the surface of the metro that runs underground in the center and above ground in the peripheral areas. The line is 5.3 miles long and runs between Newark Penn Station and Grove Street in Bloomfield.

After World War II, as in other urban cities in the US where the loss of manufacturing jobs and urban blight began to occur, Newark experienced a similar decline that continued until it bottomed out with riots. from the 1960s. Since then, the city has been slowly regressing.

While its churches, museums, schools and public buildings are certainly worthy of admiration, they are also off the tax rolls and carry an unusually high tax exemption burden that has slowed the pace of Newark’s revitalization programs.

Since the 1960s, the city has come a long way with a major drop in street crime, a walkable downtown, and the development of major entertainment venues and downtown hotels that bring Newark a stadium, a team NHL hockey pro, a 6,200-seat minor league ballpark, and a performing arts center with a concert hall and theater that attracts the world’s best artists. Coinciding with the development of entertainment venues, office skyscrapers have risen as homes for employers and corporate jobs. These are all attractions that are easily accessible by public transportation or by car with plenty of safe and affordable parking in the center. The center of rail transportation is the restored Penn Station, an art deco landmark, used by more than 70,000 commuters a day.

Main attractions Cherry blossom festival The second largest Cherry Blossom exhibit in the United States with the National Cherry Blossom exhibit in Washington, DC is the largest and usually occurs about two weeks earlier. Held at Branch Brook Park, there are more than 2,700 cherry trees. The flowers can best be enjoyed with a casual stroll or a picnic in the park. Cherry trees usually bloom in the second and third weeks of April. This is a week-long festival with many events including a 10km run, trolley bus tours, and Family Day with Japanese cultural activities, including demonstrations of origami, bonsai, ikebana, and martial arts.

Contact: 973-268-2300

Basilica Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

The fifth largest cathedral in North America. The French Gothic structure took more than fifty years to build and gained the status of Pope John Paul’s basilica in 1955. Located near Branch Brook Park on Ridge Street, the architecture closely resembles two of the world’s great cathedrals in the cathedral. of Notre Dame in Chartres in France and Reims Cathedral in Germany.

Contact: 973-484-2400

The New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts

It houses two venues that attract the best artists in the world at Prudential Hall, one of the best concert halls in the world, and the Victoria Theater. It is also the home of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

Contact: 888-GO-NJPAC

The Newark museum New Jersey’s largest museum offers experiences in the arts and natural sciences. In operation since 1909, it includes a restored 1885 brick and limestone mansion, the Dreyfuss Planetarium, and a zoo with more than 100 animals. Take an inspiring journey through 80 galleries of world-class collections, including American, Asian, African and classic. Stroll through the beautiful sculpture garden, visit the museum shops, and enjoy a delicious lunch or snack in the cafeteria.

Contact: 973-596-6550

The Prudential Center This new 18,000-seat stadium is one of the best in the country and is home to the New Jersey Devils NHL hockey team and other college basketball, futsal, concerts, family shows and special events.

Contact: (201) 507-8900

Riverfront Stadium A new $ 30 million, 6,200-seat state-of-the-art stadium is home to the Newark Bears minor league baseball team. Located in the center of the city, the stadium enjoys a magnificent urban setting surrounded on three sides by the city with a view of the Manhattan skyline in the distance.

Contact: 1-866-55-4BEAR

Hotels

Hilton Newark Gateway

The hotel is located in the heart of the downtown business district in the prestigious Gateway Center. The Hilton hotel is directly connected to Penn Station and the Gateway Center, making it very convenient for travelers to reach it via Amtrak, New Jersey Transit or PATH.

Contact: 1-973-622-5000

Robert Treat Hotel

The contemporary and stylish Robert Treat Hotel is located in the heart of the Downtown District overlooking New York and the city skyline.

Contact: 1-800-637-7200

Restaurants

The Ironbound section, is a Portuguese neighborhood with Ferry Street, being its commercial center, it stands out for its Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian restaurants at moderate prices. In the mood for an ethnic lunch or snack? Try one of Ironbound’s cafes and bakeries. Enjoy a sandwich or some pasta and a cup of dark South American coffee. With the revitalization of the city, new restaurants are beginning to emerge that offer diners a variety of different dining options.

Adega Grill – Spanish-Portuguese

130-132 Ferry St

973-589-8830

Basque House – Spanish-Portuguese

141 Elm St.

973-465-1350

Maize Restaurant – Traditional American Food

Hotel Robert Treat, 50 Park Pl.

973-639-1200

Theater Square Grill: Creative American food.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

1 Center St.

973-642-1226

Italian food may be causing your heartburn. If you have heartburn on a regular basis, you can minimize the effects by trying a few simple modifications to your routine. Taking medication could be a final resort if you try these small-scale modifications beforehand.

It’s common to be affected by acid reflux later in the evening, so make the decision not to snack later in the evening. The last meal you eat should be a couple of hours before you retire. If you like snacking later at night, it’s time to try to put an end to it.

If you want to stop your acid reflux, you should know that it can be a big part of the problem. If you want to limit your chances of getting acid reflux, avoid acidic foods. Cut back on certain beverages such as tomato juice, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.

Sometimes the food itself may seem fine, but it induces the stomach to produce acid, which in turn creates acid reflux conditions. Foods high in fat, such as chocolate, and hot foods that incorporate bell peppers, will cause heartburn. Foods that have tomato sauce, like pizza, are really a trigger when it comes to heartburn and should be limited.

If you really want to avoid the painful feeling of heartburn, you should think about watching your portion sizes. You must distribute smaller portions. Consuming too much can cause stomach acid to rise, which often leads to a painful burning sensation in the esophagus.

Vacation planning is fun and easy, so you don’t need to be overwhelmed. The first thing I want you to do is take a deep breath and not panic. If you’ve never done this before, relax. I’m here to help you with some simple steps to planning a great vacation.

1. Determine your budget.

There are many ways to determine your budget, but I usually set a price for how much I want to spend (per person) and then go from there to determine how to find the best travel deals based on where I want to go. a cheap vacation. You must be reasonable about what the budget will be for your vacation or getaway. A very realistic and reasonable budget for a budget vacation is between $ 800 and $ 1200 per person, including airfare, hotel, car rental, food, tips, and airport parking. I have traveled across the country on business and the average budget for a two to three day business trip is roughly the same amount so it is very reasonable for a cheap vacation for a whole week (especially when it comes to air travel and a much longer stay).

2. Choose your destination.

Here’s a little insider travel secret. I have traveled to incredible vacation destinations at incredible prices, but I don’t usually choose my destination. Fate chooses me. It can be a bit frustrating, but I can tell you that if the destinations didn’t choose me, I would have never gone to Jamaica and seen a live starfish swimming underwater when I was snorkeling off a beach in Negril, climbing the Great Wall of China. . , traveled through the Panama Canal or met a baby sloth at a sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica just to start. I went to those vacation destinations not because I had a deep desire to travel to Montego Bay, Beijing, Panama City, or Puerto Limón, but because I was looking for a travel deal. Now, vacation planning through finding a deal is a great way to get cheap vacations and save a lot of money. I have taken amazing trips and gone to vacation destinations that I would never have had at the top of my “travel destination list”, but I realize that chasing the travel deal has kept me from going to the island paradise of Tahiti , Bora. Bora (my life’s dream of traveling) and I still want to do the “Sound of Music” tour in Salzburg, Austria. So you generally have a choice: search for the best travel deal or choose your dream trip.

3. Reserve your airfare, hotel and car rental.

When planning your vacation, the best way to save hundreds of dollars on your vacation is to book everything together as a complete travel package. I have no technological reason why this saves you money, but it does. Feel free to experiment with your own online travel booking engine of your choice with this concept by consulting separately and then as a package, but it has been done before and has been shown to save you money. I know that Rovia Travel has the best price online 68% of the time compared to Travelocity and Expedia, based on a recent independent survey from Topaz International, so you may want to check them out.

4. Research your vacation destination and plan your travel itinerary.

Researching my vacation destination and planning great itineraries is one of the things I excel at in vacation planning because I love researching the most popular tourist attractions in the vacation destination I’m visiting. I know some people like to “improvise,” but that lack of vacation planning can really add hundreds of dollars to your trip. There are two excellent ways to do your research. First, there are so many online tools at local tourist offices in the areas you visit that they have all the main information at your fingertips, plus many have coupons or travel deals that you might not have been able to find in other ways. The second thing I like to do is pick up an excellent guidebook for the destination I’m going to. The Frommer Travel Guides and Rick Steves Travel Guides for Europe are very well researched and written and these authors update their books almost every year so you know you have up-to-date information.

5. Make two checklists.

Now you need to make two checklists to plan your vacation. One is a list of things to do before going on vacation. This includes finding a pet sitter, having a neighbor pick up the mail, calling your mobile phone service to arrange a text / email package while you are away if you are traveling internationally, obtaining a passport or visa (if you need them), Get medical shots if needed, call your credit card companies to let them know you will be traveling and which cities or countries will expect charges to arise, and the like. The second list for planning your vacation is a list of things to pack.

Now that wasn’t so bad, was it? Now you see how simple it is to plan your vacation even for an inexperienced traveler. These are the basics of vacation planning and now that you know how to plan your vacation, we have plenty of additional travel tips on my travel website (see below) to help you discover a world of ways to see the world. Have a good trip and have a fabulous vacation.

This is for those travelers who love to explore and do so in an effort to participate in experiences that are as varied and unique as the many places they visit.

They look for meaningful and memorable activities.

When you travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas, there are many things to do to fulfill this quest for unique travel experiences. It’s like going back in time when you find that special little establishment that can only be defined as a “gem”.

Owner Ron Lusby says it all started when he had to drive more than 20 miles just to buy a pack of cigarettes. Yes, Ron, you left the house one night to go get a pack of cigarettes and after driving around you soon realized that there were no businesses on Carpenter Dam Road in Hot Springs, Arkansas where you could buy the basics; milk, bread and / or cigarettes. To many, this sounds like a “great story” in itself. Having to explain a prolonged absence.

An hour and a half later, when he got home, he had a “Plan.” This plan would require a complete upheaval in the life of his family. Because it would involve him and his wife selling their other convenience stores in Little Rock and moving to Hot Springs. After his wife Regina considered the proposal, she simply said that “that was the most expensive pack of cigarettes I have ever bought.”

However, with their support a Dream came true and Red Oak Fillin Station was born.

When you enter the gravel parking lot, you first come across an old truck that is directly in front of the entrance. Your gaze then shifts to the old log cabin-style structure that houses the Red Oak Fillin Station. The building is only 3 years old but has the appearance of a much older structure. Thais was intentional in the sense that Ron and Regina wanted the sense of history and nostalgia but with all the new amenities. You’ll appreciate it when you visit the state-of-the-art bathroom facilities. You didn’t grind it here.

Today, both Ron and Regina are available to meet their guests who come for a homemade burger, a tank of gas, minnows for bait, and the occasional “Fishing License” required to fish nearby Lake Hamilton or the lake. Catherine. Homemade desserts are also a local favorite. Fresh cakes and pastries are prepared daily.

This unique and secluded establishment works hard to provide a family and home experience for all who visit. There are specials on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday nights you can sign up for all you can eat fried catfish and on Saturday nights starting the second weekend in September, diners can feast on Pan Fried Chicken, homemade cookies served family style in large cast iron pans; a southern favorite.

This is a family-supported family operation and their teenage son is a “professional fisherman” just like Regina’s brother, so they also serve the fisherman. There is a great selection of fishing lures and supplies for the avid angler and leaving nothing to chance and continuing the theme throughout the store, even the ice machine is covered in a “camouflage design”.

After filling your stomach, visiting other diners, shopping for supplies, and chatting with Ron, you can relax on the front porch in large rocking chairs. Nothing is left to chance at the Red Oak Fillin Station. It carries everything and YES, they sell cigarettes.

When I was working and earning money, we visited Hawaii five times … we flew out, rented a condo, and stayed for a week on a particular island.

Now retired, we see Hawaii on a cruise … it’s a much less expensive way to enjoy all the islands you want to see.

We recently completed a 14-day round-trip cruise from the Los Angeles cruise port … we saw the Big Island of Hawaii, Honolulu on Oahu, Nawiliwili on Kauai, and Lahaina on Maui … all with just unpacking one Once … our hotel room moved from island to island.

With some purchases, you should be able to find a round trip cruise package from Los Angeles between $ 800- $ 1,000 per person … this price includes all your accommodation, meals (the cruise gives new meaning to the phrase everything- you can eat), entertainment and as many activities on board as you want.

Compare this to flying from the US, renting a car, staying in a hotel, or renting a condo.

This is what we used to do … take the condo route. We ate a lot … we had limited or no entertainment and usually stayed on an island all week.

Let’s do the math for flying instead of sailing.

• Airfare $ 600- to $ 1000 per person
• Rent-A-Car for the week including gasoline $ 400 per couple
• Meals $ 100 per day per couple
• Condo rental, $ 1000 per week

That works out to a total of $ 3,500 to $ 4,100 for one week, compared to … assuming the upper limit on cruise prices is $ 2,000 for two weeks.

So let’s go over the advantages of cruising versus flying.

• Obviously it is much cheaper
• You see four islands versus just one
• You have daily “maid” service
• You eat all your meals in an elegant environment
• They pamper you 24 hours a day
• You have more activities and entertainment on a boat.

When you look at all the benefits of cruising to Hawaii, it’s surprising that even more people are flying to Hawaii …

On our particular cruise, our ship also called in Ensenada, Mexico … since most cruises are registered outside of the United States, they must call outside of the United States at least once … I don’t know why … it’s just the way it is.

We were only in Ensenada for four hours and, like most people, we did not leave the ship.

So the next time you’re considering a visit to Hawaii, take a look at using a cruise ship instead of flying.

You will find it more relaxing and definitely more profitable than traveling by plane.

Mahalo for reading.

Since I avoid paying for Hulu and Netflix services, I have been exploring more fully what YouTube has to offer. It’s interesting what you connect with when selecting your own entertainment. One community or trend that I have followed is that of tiny houses and the trends of minimalism. I was raised by minimalists and have always been quite subconsciously minimalist, but now I want to wake up to more possibilities with that.

The first step is to open your eyes to the things you consume and surround yourself with at home. I think everyone has some things that stand out as things that we seem to collect, but that we don’t take advantage of. This may motivate us to part ways with these things, simply stop collecting more or make an effort to use what we have already collected. I’ve always been a fan of the shopping needs pyramid and would love to recreate it as a piece of art to hang in my home. The base of the pyramid, similar to a food pyramid, are the healthiest options. From bottom to top, the buying hierarchy is: use what you have, borrow, trade, save, make, and finally buy.

These are the things that I noticed I collect that I am not getting optimal use of.

Crafts

I am such a creative person. Crafting makes me feel good until my mind has created more things than I can physically support and even storing my supplies has become a mess. This year I have decided to clean my palette. Once I have completed the crafts in the queue, I will put all my creative energy into writing because it takes up little space and furthers my career.

Books

Books are another of the usual consumptions with a new minimalist look at the beginning. I’m not THAT bad, but I’m a new mom who hasn’t had a chance to regularly read the books I’ve accumulated. Instead of using my credit card points on books as I usually do as a gift to myself, I am going to read what I have and hand over my points for cash rewards. If I’m interested in reading a book on a topic on a whim, there are plenty of free and inexpensive books offered on Google Play.

Jewels

Jewelry doesn’t take up much space, but it encourages me to buy more clothes to match. Some jewelry lovers may have great pieces that go with everything, but not me! Over the years I have made a small collection and I never wear them. It’s sad. If I can’t add them to my wardrobe anymore, I’m going to donate them and combine them with the most versatile and interchangeable pieces.

Clothing

With a changing body, from pregnancy to postpartum, my wardrobe has expanded and not in a good way. There are clothes left that I would never consider putting away; ripped tank tops, ugly dresses, ill-fitting pants, and leggings and sweatpants with holes. All because I anticipate more changes and also stretch and mistreat the clothes until I finish breastfeeding. When I walk into my lavish but organized closet, I try on various pieces before being satisfied with the fit, look, and quality of an outfit. To feel good in my current wardrobe, I will have to adjust the collection and cut the fat. Anything you are not absolutely sure you need to throw out will go to a Rubbermaid bin in another closet for removal and evaluation in another season.

My son’s toys

After reading about Montessori methods, I understand the importance of not having too many toys so that a child can work on the concentration and skills associated with one or a few age-appropriate toys. Since then I have been distributing toys that he grows up with and even toys that are appropriate for his age at his grandparents’ house or distributed in different rooms. Being overwhelmed with toys only makes the child focus less on them and more on getting into whatever they are doing! It also contributes to a messy home and safety hazards, which is why I am much more pleased when my son has 3 age-appropriate toys in each room that I can sit down and show him how to use. It is more peaceful for all of us.

What things do you have an overabundance of? Some other examples might be makeup, tools, film, cables and remotes, canned food that never circulates, or boxes “that may come in handy.” What things are you consuming that can be cut from your budget to provide you with a savings or vacation cushion? Some of these things might include coffee and lunch bought away from home, eating out in general, and Hulu / Netflix / Cable. Maybe you buy so much of something that you DO use that you can buy it in bulk to save money and save our planet from excessive packaging waste. Exploring feasible minimalist practices can only help you, your family, and your planet. What are you waiting for?