There is never a shortage of things to do in Las Vegas. Las Vegas, also known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World”, is a city that never sleeps. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned veteran, here are some ideas for how to make the most of your time in Sin City.

Explore the Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip is home to some of the most iconic casinos, hotels, and attractions in the world. Take a walk down the Strip and see the bright lights, bustling crowds, and unique architecture that make Las Vegas one of a kind. Some must-see attractions along the Strip include the Bellagio Fountains, the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, and the High Roller Ferris wheel at the LINQ Promenade.

Visit the Fremont Street Experience

If you’re looking for a different side of Las Vegas, head downtown to the Fremont Street Experience. This pedestrian mall is home to some of the oldest casinos in Las Vegas, as well as live entertainment and a nightly light show. Check out the SlotZilla Zip Line, which sends riders soaring over the crowds below.

See a Show

Las Vegas is known for its world-class entertainment, and there are plenty of shows to choose from. Whether you want to see a Cirque du Soleil production, a magic show, or a concert, there’s something for everyone.

Here are some family-friendly shows you can consider:

Cirque du Soleil – There are several Cirque du Soleil shows that are family-friendly, such as “Mystere” at Treasure Island, “O” at Bellagio, and “The Beatles LOVE” at the Mirage. These shows feature amazing acrobatics, aerial acts, and breathtaking stunts.

Blue Man Group—This energetic and interactive show combines music, comedy, and technology. It performs at the Luxor Hotel and Casino.

Tournament of Kings – This show is set in medieval times and features knights, jousting, and a three-course meal. It takes place at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino.

Magic shows—Las Vegas has many magic shows suitable for families, such as David Copperfield at MGM Grand, Penn & Teller at Rio, and Mat Franco at the LINQ.

V – The Ultimate Variety Show – This show features a variety of performers, including comedians, acrobats, and magicians. It takes place at the V Theater inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

The Mac King Comedy Magic Show – This is a family-friendly show that combines magic and comedy. It takes place at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Go Shopping

Las Vegas is a shopper’s paradise, with everything from luxury boutiques to outlet malls. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian are both popular destinations for high-end shopping, while the Fashion Show Mall and the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets offer more affordable options.

Visit the Hoover Dam

Located just 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam is a marvel of modern engineering. Take a guided tour of the dam and learn about its history and construction, or admire the views of the Colorado River and Lake Mead.

Take a Day Trip to the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world, and it’s just a few hours’ drive from Las Vegas. Several companies offer guided tours of the Grand Canyon, or you can rent a car and explore.

Try Your Luck at the Casinos

Vegas is known for its casinos and plenty to choose from. Whether you prefer slot machines or table games, there is a casino that caters to your style of play. Some of the most popular casinos on the Strip include the Bellagio, the Wynn, and the Venetian.

Relax at a Spa

After a long day of sightseeing or gambling, there’s nothing better than a relaxing spa treatment. Sin City is home to some of the most luxurious spas in the world, offering everything from massages to facials to hydrotherapy. Some of the top spas in Vegas include the Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian, the Spa at ARIA, and the Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace.

Dine at a World-Class Restaurant

Sin City is a food lover’s paradise, with everything from casual cafes to Michelin-starred restaurants. Some of the top chefs in the world have opened restaurants in Las Vegas, including Wolfgang Puck, Gordon Ramsay, and Joël Robuchon. Be sure to make reservations in advance.

The post 9 Fun Things to do in Las Vegas appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The post Jessi Bang: Its all about the outdoors appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Black History Month is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, while in the United Kingdom and Ireland it is observed in October.

Four Columns supports Black History Month and empowering women in the community.

Bobby Ray Jones Jr. is a professional basketball player, writer, and director. Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2006 NBA draft. In 2009, he played for the Portland Trail Blazers. He has played professionally in Italy for the last decade. Bobby is presently traveling all over the world with his daughter and has created a vlog, Are We There Yet Dad? I catch up with him and talk about fatherhood.

Bobby, let’s talk about Are We There Yet Dad. How did the project start and why travel with your daughter? Finally, what are you trying to teach through this vlog?

AWTYD? started because I’ve always been creative and loved to travel at an early age. Since Aaliyah was born, I’ve been playing professional basketball and it has kept me away from her 9 months out of the year. When I’m back in the summer, I always make an effort to have adventures set up for us. It started as Instagram posts and stories but it was only a matter of time before I combined the three loves of my life: storytelling, traveling, and my daughter and turn it into a travel vlog. I want to inspire other parents to travel more with their children, no matter domestically or internationally.

What has fatherhood taught you?

Fatherhood has taught me to be even more responsible and not take anything for granted. Unfortunately, I’m not with her mother and so I have learned patience to accept what I can control and not worry about what is not.

Tell me something that you went through, that changed you forever and how did you overcome it?

It’s been two years since I lost my mother to lung cancer. She was the most important figure in my life.  She made many sacrifices to give me the best life possible. Losing her was one of the worst things I have ever experienced. It wasn’t easy, but I have learned to slowly to move on without her. My mothers’ death motivated me, even more, to show my daughter the world and try to be the parent my mother was to me.

Help me understand what happened on the trip from Seattle to Vancouver?

My first time in Vancouver was three years ago with some friends and I had such an amazing time. Going to college at UW, I’ve always heard good things about Vancouver but to finally visit was way overdue. After doing some research, I decided to take my daughter to experience it on a family level. We spent the day visiting Coal Harbour and went zip lining on Grouse Mountain.

What has basketball taught you?

Basketball has taught me so many lessons that apply to the court and in life in general. Having a good work ethic, communication, how to handle adversity, sacrificing, and teamwork. I was blessed to receive a college scholarship, get drafted to the NBA, and play the last 10 seasons in Italy. Basketball gave me an advantage in life but it never defined me.

How important is food, faith, finance, and family to you?

Food, faith, finance, and family are all equally important. As a result, they need to be managed properly. Life is all about balance.  In other words, if you do not find balance, stress and anxiety occur. At one point or another, I have experienced both. I did not have priorities and I’m still learning. However, creating this travel vlog with my daughter helps me tremendously; it’s my free therapy! :-

The post Are We There Yet Dad? appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The headlines roared about the closing of a major plant and as a result, more than 3,500 people would be out of a job. The spokesperson for the company said, “The skill sets of those impacted do not line up with the long-term trajectory of the business”. What has this got to do with being a husband?

After that, another expert commented on the situation. His take was: change or die.

As a result of the announcement, it got me thinking. We focus so much on our lives to develop skills to get a job. What about the skill set to be a husband and a father? Does a school even exist to teach us? Our very social fabric depends on this. Wives eventually lay us off in the form of divorce. Kids downsize us by not wanting to spend time with us.

Men are natural boneheads. We are fixers, insensitive, visual, and selfish. These inherent qualities do not help us in the role of a husband.

When I first got married, I thought I had arrived in heaven. All my problems are resolved. Marriage is a very expensive place to find out who you are. The spouse is like a mirror. The weaknesses magnify. It is a relationship where you learn by trial and error. You learn as you move along.

Some have a false idea that if they marry someone who practices a certain faith or same ethnic background, it will be different. However, all statistics point in the other direction. Study after study shows that it is no different.

Fatherhood has its joys and its challenges. In a marriage, you change from focusing on you to us. The equation changes with children. The shift in family dynamics brings its own ups and downs.

When I come home tired, I just want to switch the TV, eat and just chill. Jean wants me to play. She wants me to listen to how her day went. She wants me to comment on her paintings. Debbie just laughs all along. Most times, it is fun. Sometimes it is all about self-denial.

Change or die rang in my ears. Modern men have to develop a whole set of soft skills. For instance, listening, patience, kindness, gentleness, communicating, cooking, helping with chores, and changing diapers. For those with strong patriarchal backgrounds giving her importance and equality is important.

Here are some important skills to develop to be a husband:

• Show appreciation
• Listen
• Do not interrupt
• Do not flirt
• Have boundaries
• Be intentional
• Make your marriage a priority
• Watch your tongue
• Validate her emotions
• Be aware of your body language
• Be disciplined
• Say ‘I love you’ daily
• Be open to change
• Be kind and compassionate
• Support her dreams
• Character, character character
• And finally, remember what Nathaniel Bonner said ‘No amount of success is worth personal failure at home’.

End of the day, both roles have made me a better human being. It has made me a balanced person. It has changed my view on life. Jean in all her innocence says I have to become a better listener. She is only 17 years old. I have a long way to go. Children just speak the truth.

The post Ten Skills Required to be a Successful Husband appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The goal for independent restaurants in this environment is to pivot, learn, grow and adapt and become aware of food trends. The trends will help restaurants in 2022 to keep and attract new customers.

Diners today are Instagram conscious, internet savvy, Yelp aware, and Google Reviews fans. Diners are fanatics about the quality of their food and where it is sourced from. They want locally sourced ingredients, chemical-free, color-free, and free of GMOs. Eating healthy is the benchmark. Diners are aware of the footprint on the environment that food not sourced locally causes.

I talk to Professor Aris Moussoulides from Larnaca College in Cyprus about food trends.

Aris please tell me a little about you? 

I was born and raised in Nicosia, Cyprus. After graduating from the Swiss Hotel Management School Les Roches (Diploma in Hotel Management) with Merit in 1990, I completed in 1992 a Master of Science degree in Hotel Administration at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. After working in top positions in the Swiss and Cypriot Hotel Industry for more than a decade, I joined academia in 2001 working as a tenured lecturer at the then-largest college in Cyprus as well an Associate Researcher on various projects at the Athens University of Economics and Business Management (as a team member of ReSEES). On 9/2/2016 I successfully completed a Dprof (Doctor of Professional studies degree) in Hotel and Tourism Management at Middlesex University, UK and that was a milestone in my academic career as well as my personal life.

Currently, I am employed at the “Larnaca College” where I hold the rank of Full Professor and Head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management! At the same time, I am also employed as a Senior Researcher at the world-renowned “International Center for Research on the Environment and the Economy”, working as a full research team member on two EU and one UN-funded project. My current research interests and publications are found in the fields of Sustainable Development, Service Quality in Hotels, and Seasonality in Tourism.

As a professor in a hospitality school, what is your goal in teaching the students? 

My main goal is to pass to them the knowledge regarding Hotel and Tourism Management that I have gained in the three Academic Institutions that I graduated from as well as the knowledge that I have gained during the many years of experience that I had in top management positions in the Tourism Industry.

How important is food in the overall curriculum? 

Food is extremely important since it is a vital element of the Hospitality Industry.

Tell us about the new food trends in Cyprus? 

The latest trend in Cyprus is the creation of small, family-run Cypriot taverns, mostly situated in small villages, that are offering a different type of meze dishes (various small dishes of traditional food items similar to the tapas dishes in Spain) which apart from the local element in them include also the element of experimentation with new ingredients and tastes. 

What is one trend that you like and is sustainable? 

I really like the new trend of the small family-run Cypriot taverns (mentioned above) that are mostly situated in small villages because they offer a sustainable product that respects and supports the local environment, the local community, and the local economy. In order to justify my position let me just tell you that these establishments operate in small villages, normally in premises that have a strong local character (architectural wise), hire local staff from the local community, and buy mostly local ingredients.

No matter what trends come and go food needs to be tasty? 

Definitely because at the end of the day food is a product that needs to be appealing to the palate of the customer.

How has food changed in the last three decades? 

It has become more sophisticated with new trends and ideas influencing international chefs from all over the world. At the same time, it has also become healthier with the inclusion of lighter dishes that have gained popularity over the years (for example sushi meals).

How does eating healthy impact us overall? 

Eating healthy has many advantages. Firstly it fights physical health problems that are related to obesity such as diabetes and heart problems as well as helps immensely with mental health problems including depression. Then it increases productivity and generally leads to a better quality of life.

What advice you would give to students wanting to get into hospitality? 

My advice is to go for it! This is a wonderful Industry that opens many professional doors worldwide and has a lot to offer to a young graduate. Let’s not forget that Tourism (the Hospitality Industry is a sub-sector of the Tourism Industry) is the largest employer on earth. And as I always say to my students all that you need in order to be successful in the field of expertise is a solid education, common sense, discipline, and willingness for hard work.

How do you balance faith family finances and food as a professor? 

With great difficulty, due to my very busy schedule, and some correct time management which is a skill that I have acquired during my undergraduate studies in Switzerland.

The post The New Food Trends in Cyprus appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Volunteering is an act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. It is an act of giving yourself for the greater needs of the community.

I talk to Taras Kulish a lawyer in the charity sector about volunteering.

Taras brings over 20 years of experience to the Business Law Group at Mills & Mills LLP. Before joining the firm in 2020, Taras was for many years the chair of the Charity/Not-for-Profit and Intellectual Property groups at a well-known mid-sized firm in Toronto.

In the Charity sector, Taras has extensive hands-on experience as a director, president, Country Director, and now International Relations Volunteer for the Canadian affiliate of an international NGO, which gives him insider knowledge about the challenges facing not-for-profit organizations in today’s complex world. Taras represents numerous churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith-based groups as well as many other foundations and service organizations in the not-for-profit sector in Ontario.

Taras is co-chair of the organizing committee and spearheads the annual Churches, Charities, Not-for-profit Knowledge Hub for Ukrainian Canadian Social Services – Toronto, Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association, and the Ukrainian Canadian Professional Business Association

Taras, please tell my audience a little about you and your volunteer work?

Let me start Jerry by thanking you for the opportunity‎ to share with your audience how I practice my faith and make a difference. This year has been a milestone year. My wife, Sandra, and I have just celebrated our 20th anniversary; and since October, I now live in a household with two teenage girls. It’s a good thing we have a boy hamster named Jack Henry! As well, this is my 25th year practicing law and since Day 1, I have been involved in the charity sector helping organizations serve their community.

As a lawyer you do a lot of work for non-profits and charities tell us little about that as a volunteer?

I was lucky to start off as a first-year lawyer with a small Christian law firm in the GTA. I started working on foundations for evangelical Christian charities – the very first one was a children’s foundation. Over the years, as I grew in my career, I kept working with community-based charities and not-for-profit sports organizations. I really started to focus on this area as my involvement as a volunteer grew with HOPE worldwide Canada, first as a director in 2000, then as the President, and later Country Director. This experience gave me a great deal of hands-on, real-world experience to understand the challenges faced by a charity. Because of my legal training, I gravitated to all the legal work in the organization especially the international agreements required when an organization runs programs overseas or assists in disaster recovery. Now, I run an annual conference that attracts over 100 attendees and growing called Knowledge Hub for churches, charities, and not for profits. ‎My father always used to say, “The community is the most important thing.” I have been privileged to work with many organizations that do good work in their communities.

What drives you to help people in Ukraine as a volunteer?

Through HOPE worldwide Canada, I started out as a volunteer in international disaster recovery in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010; in the Philippines after Hurricane Haiyan; and in Ivory Coast after the Civil War. When the war in Eastern Ukraine first exploded on the international scene in 2014, I started to think about how we could help. My mentor at HOPE worldwide, Dr. Mark Ottenweller, would tell me frequently that after a disaster, whether man-made or natural, it is always the children who are left behind, not cared for, and who need the most help. Mark impressed upon me that the niche of HOPE worldwide was in helping children with their psycho-social needs post-disaster. So, when the conflict in Ukraine had not stopped by March 2015, I woke up one day with the following thought in my mind: “It is time”. Time to put to good use my skills as a lawyer, my experience as the International Relations Officer,  and my Ukrainian heritage and volunteer. So, I got in touch with my colleague at HOPE worldwide Ukraine, Vladimir Yermakov, and we brainstormed for a month, got input from some excellent people in our organization in Canada, the Philippines, and the USA, and created a Trauma Therapy program to help children in Ukraine who were suffering from war trauma. What drives me to help is knowing that when we help children, we help their future and ours.  ‎In June 2017, I visited Ukraine for HOPE worldwide Canada and went to a children’s recovery/therapy camp outside of Kyiv, the capital. We drove from Kyiv to Lviv to meet with the director of the Trauma Centre at the Ukrainian Catholic University since they trained our lead therapists and oversee the therapy program content. On our drive, we stopped at Dubno for a few hours and got to see the town where my father grew up and lived before, he was taken by the Nazis by train to Germany with all the able-bodied people from the town to work as slave labor during the War. That’s another reason why I am compelled to help the children of Ukraine as a volunteer – the people of my father’s generation did not have the chance to receive the kind of help we are able to provide.

Walk me down your own journey to faith and how has that changed you?

Well, I come from a mixed-faith background. My father is a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian and my mother is Jewish. She converted to my father’s religion when they were married so when I was young, I attended the Ukrainian church. The problem is that my parents got divorced when I was 5 years old, so I never really learned Ukrainian. Going to a Ukrainian language church was not cutting it for me. Also, because I came from a multi-generational divorce-affected family, I somehow knew that I needed God in my life if I was to have any chance of staying married. My mother also had a strong influence on me as her Christian faith grew over her life and she impressed on me the importance of being “equally yoked”, meaning it is important to be married to a Christian spouse. So, in my early thirties, at a time when I was looking to deepen and strengthen my relationship with God, I met Stuart Carmichael. He arranged for me to have a series of bible studies that led me to come to certain convictions about ‎God that changed my life around 180 degrees. Shortly after I placed membership with the Montreal Church of Christ, I was introduced to Sandra, and the rest is history! 

Has becoming a husband and father changed you as a person?

Sure! First, getting married was a dream come true – like heaven on earth! But of course, not without challenges over the years that we overcome through our faith and support from friends at church. I am lucky to have Sandra as my best friend and partner – she is such an accomplished person and she really keeps me and my girls on our toes! Becoming a father has also been a remarkable experience and journey. I guess these two events have changed me most as a person because you always have to think about other people, not just yourself, in particular, my wife and her thoughts and needs.  I still don’t have the winning formula for this! So, I’m fortunate that my girls and my wife are forgiving and put up with me!   

Give me some tips on how you handle your household finances?

I listen to my wife! Sandra is a very good manager of our resources and we live within our means. Sandra always looks for ways to optimize what we have. In the first few years of our marriage, we aggressively paid down debt (all mine from University and a private loan). Then we got rid of our mortgage in record time. This helped us get through some leaner years later on. My mother was also very frugal, having grown up in post-war England during food rationing. As a single mother in Canada, she used these skills and her entrepreneurial business acumen to keep our family clothed and fed. Growing up with this approach, it became easier to transition to marriage and family life and live within our means. Don’t get me wrong, it can still be a challenge to not give in to consumerism – my weakness would not be electronics or sports toys, but a nice new shirt and tie or some shoes! 

As a lawyer how do you balance faith finance family, volunteer work and good food?

Hmmm – I’m not sure whether being a lawyer makes it easier or harder to balance these different baskets! The charity work I do as a volunteer and as a legal professional probably helps me to be grounded and connected. It’s easier to connect emotionally with people about this side of my life and practice as opposed to another of my areas of specialty like trademark law. As a family, we try to find balance by living within our means so that financial pressures do not overwhelm faith, food, and family. My Granny always used to say, “Debt collectors can wait; but you must never scrimp on food to eat.” I also try to be connected with several guys in the church and have to work that into my obligations as a lawyer. Sometimes I invite friends from church to networking events to have a “wingman”. I am also mentoring a fellow from a church who wants to enter the legal profession. In addition, by working together on some volunteer projects for HOPE worldwide in Canada, I also get connected with people from church and others in the community. Volunteering is an area where the boundary between being a lawyer and Joe Christian is harder to discern. However, when I am doing something like flipping burgers at a community BBQ or giving backpacks to the kids at a Youth Academy program, Mr. Lawyer is not even in the room‎ – and I like that!

I really believe in the adage that “To whom much is given, much is expected”. So that is one reason why I have given countless volunteer hours over the years to local programs and international disaster recovery. As a lawyer, I am the black sheep of my family! My mother and sister are artists and my father was a musician. So, I have some artistic tendencies and that gets expressed mostly when I cook. I am also learning to play guitar and just started a year ago – it’s a good way to relax! The hours I work are longer, so it takes faith to be able to cut off the day and not worry about the work still left to be done -it will be there in the morning, but my family needs me in the evening.

Tell me a little about Ukrainian food and some of the dishes I should try?

Ukrainian food is simple, hearty, East European food, meant to fill you up so you can go out and do a hard day’s work. There are lots of stews, cabbage, and potatoes. Everyone knows about perogies and sausage. Try Chicken Kyiv one day! Or come over to my house and I’ll make you a traditional cabbage stew with sausages! If you want, we can break out my traditional Ukrainian cookbook and cook an entire Ukrainian-themed dinner, including beet soup (borshch) and beet salad. When I was in Ukraine, I tried “salo”, which is 100% cured pig fat, an inch thick – eat it like that with a pickle, onion, and a whole clove of raw garlic! It’s not for everyone, but I liked it and my friend Vladimir said, “now you are really Ukrainian!”

You have so much on your plate, why decide to go into politics?

Politics is something I was drawn to, probably for the same reason, I became a lawyer. I ran for Toronto City Council in 2014 and 2018. Sure, I have a lot on my plate, but I felt I could contribute to the community and bring good community programs, the same type that we learned to create in HOPE worldwide Canada, as the Youth Academy. At the same time, I saw a lot of waste and duplication in government and believed I could make a difference – after all, I was raised by a single mother who had survived the War!

Tell me a good lawyer joke.

People who know me – well they know that I can take a short joke and turn it into a 45-minute story! So, if you want to hear my best lawyer joke, you’ll have to come to my house to make that cabbage stew!

What’s the difference between God and a lawyer? God doesn’t think He’s a lawyer.

The post Volunteer: To Whom Much Is Given Much is expected appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

It is time to take a vacation. You want to go to an all-inclusive resort. I have been to 10 all-inclusive resorts, taken a couple of cruises in the Caribbean and Central America. I have been to 30 countries and lived in four different countries.  I have traveled on business and stayed in some of the best hotels in Europe, the US, and Dubai. I love food, people, and culture and have an undergrad in hotel management from Switzerland. This is a practical guide on how to enjoy your vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Trust me if you follow these tricks your experience will be better at an all-inclusive.

Set a budget 

An all-inclusive can cost $ 600 a week all the way to $ 6,000 a week. Start saving a year in advance. You do not want to go on vacation stressing about how you will pay the bills. It is wise to include a taxi back and forth to the airport from your home or parking, tips and excursions. I recommend going during the low season. Avoid March break, Christmas, and New Year. Also, sometimes it is cheaper to fly during the week than at the weekend.

Choose an all-inclusive resort that meets your needs

If you are going as a family, choose a family resort. If you want peace, quiet, and romance then go to an adult resort. If you want restaurants, a marina, discos, and clubs then choose one that is in the downtown area. Remember if your resort is next to the airport, get used to planes taking off and landing and the noise. If you have mobility issues then choose a resort that has elevators and not constructed on a mountain.

Know what is included in an all-inclusive

It is important to know what is included. Make sure that baggage, transport from the airport to the hotel, tips, room service, mini bar, Wi-Fi and other services are included. Premium drinks, excursions, taxis, spa services, laundry, and long-distance phone calls are not included.

Eat yogurt

Two weeks before you head on your vacation, start eating yogurt. Yogurt increases the good bacteria in your intestines and will fight the bacteria that can lead to diarrhea at an all-inclusive.

Check flight times

If you are going for a week and you have an evening flight. You will get to the resort late in the evening or the night and you lose a whole day. I recommend taking an early morning flight. This way you are on the beach by noon.

Check the distance from the airport

I personally prefer a morning flight and a resort within a hrs distance from the airport. If you take a 6.30 am flights you arrive around 10 am. Once you pass customs, you can be at the resort latest by noon.

Sunscreen, tanning and mosquito spray

Make sure you carry the appropriate sunscreen, tanning, and mosquito spray with you. These are very expensive at the resort.

Sunglasses and a hat

If you do not want to get a headache and avoid getting sunburned then bring a pair of sunglasses and a hat.

Research the resort

Look at the map of the resort. This will give you an idea of where your room is located and how close you are to the beach, restaurant, pool, bars, amenities, and activities. On Google Maps find out the attractions, shopping centers, and nearby towns if you want to leave the resort. Also, look into public transportation and hospitals nearby.

Know the weather conditions

Look at the weather channel and it will give you one week and two weeks forecast. It is vital to know the weather, temperature, climate and any other conditions that will impact your vacation. Do not go during hurricane season.

Book your vacation

Now that you have money saved up and done your research book your vacation. Make sure you have your passport and visa if necessary.

Check with your family doctor

Call your doctor and see if you need to take any vaccinations for the country you are visiting. Carry Imodium, Pepto-Bismol and an after bite with you. All three are over the counter medications.

Exchange money

If you are in Canada and heading to Mexico, ask your local bank for Pesos. You will get the best rate. At your hotel, you will get 10% less.

Get to the airport

I recommend taking a taxi or limousine. The parking at the airport is expensive. If you stay at a hotel, make sure the buses come regularly. In a snowstorm, you can be stuck for a couple of hours.

At the airports

Enjoy your flight. As you land at the airport and pass customs walk straight through the timeshare sharks and head outside. Your representative will meet you there and take you straight to the air-conditioned bus and even offer you a beer.

Put all valuables in the safe

You are now at the resort and in the room. Unpack and put everything in place. Before you head to the pool or beach, put your passport, jewelry, cash and any other valuables in the safe.

Traveling with children

Find out about the kids’ club, the age limit, hours of operation, activities and tell them about any allergies. Also, ask if daycare is available after the kids’ club closes.

Take a tour

Walk around the resort. See the distance between your room and all the amenities.

Clothes

Dress appropriately for the pool, beach, lobby, restaurants, and clubs. The beach club might allow you to eat in your bikini. It is definitely a big no in the restaurant.

Restaurants

The resort will have at least 4 to 6 restaurants and about 6 to 10 bars. Ask the concierge about the types of restaurants, the names, what time they open and close and if reservations are required. Also, find out if they cater to any allergies.

Bring your own mug, insulated cup or flask

The drinks outside the fine dining restaurants will always be served in throwaway or plastic cups. If you prefer to drink coffee or your cocktail in your own cup or glass then bring it along.

Meet your representative

Your tour representative would want to meet you the next day. I strongly recommend that you see him/her. They are locals and will tell you everything about the resort and the tours. They can also help you in case of emergencies. The representative will also give you a return voucher which you give to the taxi or bus that will pick you to take you back to the airport.

Take it easy the first day

This is very important. I have seen many people get sick. It is not the fault of the resort. Remember you are in a new country. Brush your teeth with bottled water. On the first day, do not expose yourself to more than one hour of the sun. If you spend 8 hrs in the sun, have 8 Coronas, a couple of Mojitos and then a couple of drinks after you have overstuffed yourself with food. Guess what? You have shocked your body. The shock will suppress your immune system. You will get sick. Also, if you step outside the resort, drink only bottled water and eat at a well-established restaurant. Do not eat from any road hawker.

Do not lose your room key, wrist band or towels

Keep your room key with you always. If you lose your keys, you have to go back to reception, stand in line, explain the situation, answer any questions and then security might escort you back to the room. Do not lose the room keys. You will get a card for a towel. Do not lose this card. You will have to pay at least $20 per towel. You will get a wrist band during your stay at the resort. Do not lose it or cut it until you leave the resort.

Get in the mood

You are now finally here. Relax, take it easy and do that embraces this pace and flow. Be grateful and enjoy.

Forget the Wi-Fi and the internet

Wi-Fi has been around a short time. The internet has been around for the last quarter-century. Cell phones do not enhance your vacation. Take pictures for sure. But do not get worked up if the Wi-Fi strength is not strong or the internet is down. You do not have to check your social media feed every hour or your emails. Forget about checking with the office. Focus on yourself and your friends and family.

Do not schedule every minute

Do not bring your day timer and plan every minute of your vacation. It will ruin it for you and your family. Go with the flow and enjoy talking to the other guests and employees.

Food

After I have visited an all-inclusive and read the reviews, I wonder if we were at the same resort. I am going to spend some more time here. Every resort I have visited, I have checked the kitchen. They are run by professional chefs with professional standards on safety, hygiene, and cleanliness.

I am going to lay down a couple of ground rules. If you are leaving from Canada, the UK or the US, the bacteria and microbes are different in the meat, fish, poultry, and vegetables. If you eat a steak rare or a salmon at medium, you should always eat your meat and fish well done. The bacteria are killed and chances of you getting sick are slim.

Before you enter the restaurant, use hand sanitizer. Drink bottled water only. Find out what oil is used. If you have eaten food cooked with sunflower oil and you eat everything cooked in coconut oil, your body is not used to it.

Most of the buffets have chefs making tacos, crepes, omelets, pasta, fish, steaks and tacos. Eat fresh off the grill.

Try different a la carte restaurants. Try various buffet restaurants. Try various local dishes.

Take it easy with the alcohol in the restaurants.

Activities

An all-inclusive will have activities from 9 am to 2 am. A family resort will have a playground, games room, mini-golf, and a waterpark. The adult resorts will focus on dance lessons, massage, tasting wine and everything romantic. In general, expect aerobics and stretching in the pool, games, volleyball, soccer, yoga, Spanish lessons, cooking lessons, guessing the alcohol in a cocktail, ping pong tournament, archery tournament, dart tournament, bingo, history questions to be some of the activities. My personal favorites are volleyball in the pool and ping pong.

On the beach snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, parasailing, and gliding are some of the activities. Try them all.

Do not expect everything to be like home

I would strongly recommend learning a few words in Spanish and French. Always have Google translate with you. Embrace the new culture, food, and entertainment. Do not freak out if you see a lizard, fly, dragonfly or mosquito in your room.

Go outside the resort

One of the things I strongly recommend is taking an authentic tour to see historical sites, villages or a small town. It will open your mind and hearts as to how other people live. Go visit a local bakery, school, local market and you will notice things are done differently. Invest in sustainable, ethical tourism.

Ask questions

Talk to a concierge or someone at reception if you have a question. They are more than willing to help you.

Do not compare resorts

When you go on a tour or for a walk on the beach, you will meet fellow Canadian, American and from British tourists. Never compare your resort to the other. Always remember what you paid for your vacation.

On a rainy day

The first thing to do is not to freak out. Sleep in. Go to the spa. Exercise at the gym. Go shopping. Take a tour of the city. Spend the day at the sports bar. Watch soccer, play some pool or cards. This is your day. Do not let any rain spoil your day.

Tips

In the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, the staff depends on tips. This is my recommendation. For one week at an all-inclusive, a couple or a family of 3 should budget $200.

The driver who drives you to the resort and back to the airport: $5

Bag attendant: $2 per bag

Housekeeper: $15 a week

Minibar service: $2

Buffet waiter: $5

A la carte waiter: $10

Buffet chef: $5

Bartender: $2

Concierge: $5

One or two members of entertainment: $15

Tour guide: $10

Tip your bartender, waiter at the buffet and the omelet chef the first day and miracles will happen.

Finally, enjoy your vacation. Something will always go wrong. The staff at the resort are humans. They work long hours in extreme heat and on their feet. Treat them with love and respect and you will be surprised.

Photo Credits: Ana Acosta Sharon McCutcheon Karly Gomez Leio McLaren Belinda Fewings yue su Chelsea Gates STIL  Gary Tou twinsfisch David Boca Michelle Spollen

The post Discover 34 tricks to enjoy an all-inclusive resort appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

February is Black History Month. Jean Augustine in 1995 passed a motion in Canada’s House of Commons to officially recognize February as the month to honor Black Canadians. I am proud to present Kunle Tauhid. Kunle is smart, intelligent, humble, and someone who works hard, an example of a successful immigrant in Canada.

Kunle Tauhid is Vice President of Financing and Consulting at BDC. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital, and consulting services to entrepreneurs. As the Vice President for the Financing and Consulting Business in Eastern and Northern Ontario, he is responsible for leading a team of dedicated sales force that is focused on growing existing client relationships and helping Canadian entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Kunle talks about his own journey as an immigrant to Canada.

Kunle, please tell me a little about you?

My name is Kunle Tauhid, from Nigeria, married to Esther and we have two kids, Alexandra (21) and Andrew (19) both students at York University.

Your hard work, persistence is an inspiration to me.  Walk me through your immigration to Canada, the challenges and how you ended up at BDC?

Thanks, Jerry. My family immigrated to Canada in 2002.

I was a professional banker in my native country Nigeria where I obtained a Bachelors’s degree in finance and a master’s in banking and international finance from two elite Nigerian universities. Canada is an international hub of immigrants and professionals but luckily, having come from a Commonwealth nation it was easy to get my degree accredited and recognized as an equivalent to a Canadian university, through the University of Toronto.

I had a challenge getting into the system and getting senior leadership roles. In Nigeria, I had a decade of experience in banking, of which the last 3 were in leadership roles. It was a humbling experience, which I am thankful for, to have had to start from scratch again being given an opportunity to work for RBC as a bank teller. My last role in Nigeria was as a Manager responsible for a team of professionals with all the perks such as an official car, driver, return tickets and spending allowance to Europe for vacation.

Talk a little about your faith and how it helps you daily?

As an immigrant to Canada required taking a leap of faith for both myself and my wife. We had and have no immediate family here and relied on mostly information from friends who had come earlier. Our faith in God and the comfort of knowing that we had a Church family to come to through the International Church of Christ of which we were members in Nigeria helped a lot. The Church community here helped us a lot in our initial settling down and finding resources for us and the kids. I have to confess that the transition of my career was tough. I was able to overcome the challenges, learned humility through Christ. I had highs and rejoiced and lows and I cried. However, a great combination of hard work, positive attitude, and determination never fail.

Give my audience three tips on their household finances?

First, don’t spend what you don’t have. As an immigrant to Canada coming from a cash environment taught us this lesson early.
Secondly have a budget every month. We have been married for over 23 years and never gone a month without writing out our budget. A budget that is not documented is not a budget. It saves you a lot of stress
Third have a backup plan. Save for the rainy day.

How important is it for someone to maintain their credit rating?

In North America and indeed most credit-driven economies a positive and good credit rating gives you access to opportunities. Not only do you need a good credit history for access to financing but you also need it to earn your income. Today employers as part of due diligence use one’s credit history as a determining factor to hire as it speaks to one’s character. Landlords use it to determine if one will be a good renter. I cannot overemphasize the importance of a positive credit rating and history. And there are very simple tricks to maintaining that.

Explain the different kinds of credit ratings?

In Canada, Equifax and TransUnion are the two major rating agencies and the higher one’s credit score the better their rating. They range from poor, fair, good to excellent. Good to excellent give you better access to personal and commercial credit facilities

How has becoming a husband changed your life?

Becoming a husband has made me a better man. I have been blessed by God to have a beautiful and God-fearing woman, Esther as a wife for 23 years. Lessons in humility, listening, caring, extending grace, giving people a benefit of doubt and most important having someone to share with have come from being a husband. Despite being the finance “man” of the home, the discipline of having a budget came from my wife even before we got married. I made a lot more money than her but was always broke before the next pay cycle. It was my wife (fiancé at the time) who introduced me to the concept of budgeting and since then we have not looked back.

Has your approach to life and finances changed after having children?

Not at all. With life, God comes first and we teach our children to understand the same. The values that were instilled in us by our parents, we instill in our children. The financial discipline we had before having children is what we still maintain and our kids see and luckily are embracing those values as well. They understand that credit card is not free money and is used to create a positive credit history. My daughter has a credit card but uses it to make purchases that she already has the cash to pay for and as soon it is done, she transfers money to pay off the balance even before the statement arrives.

Give new immigrants some tips, advice on how to become successful like you?

Canada is a great country and every employer wants to hire and grow with employees that will help them succeed.

As an immigrant to Canada, do not be intimidated by the color of your skin, your accent or foreign degree. This is a beautiful country that is inclusive and embraces diversity. Be confident in your abilities and skill set. Be humble. Your first job may not be the high-power job you had in your country. Take your entry-level job as your door opener that will enable you to prove your mettle and capabilities. Come daily with a positive attitude and can-do mentality. Do not settle. Do not join water cooler conversations at work. Focus on your job and give it your best daily. Your employer and manager will reward those that help them succeed. Develop yourself professionally at an earlier opportunity and keep learning and taking personal lessons. There are many free resources that can help you to be better at your job. Give back. Volunteer, be part of your community.

Most importantly hold on to your faith. God and your faith that saw you through and brought you to this country don’t change.

When we move to a new country, we need to acquire a new skill set, explain what it means to do that for the corporate world?

As an immigrant to Canada, we may never get a job exactly in the field we were in, so it is important to be open-minded. For example, my wife worked in a PR agency in Nigeria but we found out quickly that the setting was different here and so we acted quickly after trying for a couple of months. She looked at other options for a career that she would enjoy. Since she liked working with kids and had lots of fun in our Church’s children’s ministry decided to go back to school to obtain an Early Childhood Education certificate in one of the colleges here. A job was waiting for her as soon as she was done schooling and she had a good career working for YMCA starting as a daycare teacher and rising through the ranks to a manager and then Director before leaving for another opportunity.

Tell me little about your culture, and where can I find good Nigerian food in Toronto?

I am from the western part of Nigeria of the Yoruba tribe. What we call Naija proper.  There are a few good Nigerian restaurants in the west part of Toronto, especially on the Jane street axis and Weston road. There is also a popular “suya “joint in the Etobicoke area.

As an immigrant to Canada, how do you balance faith, family, finance and food in the 21st century?

The 21st century is a fast-paced era in every aspect of life. With advanced technology, family dynamics have changed. Gone are the days when as kids fun was all outside playing soccer, running around, playing in the rain. As an immigrant to Canada and to keep one’s sanity there has to be balance. I have to remember that creation was set by a higher power and our wisdom with which we make things happen here is superseded by a higher power. I remain grounded in my faith.

The post How to be a Successful Immigrant in Canada appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

The post Swimming in the Ocean appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Ronita Goswami is a writer by profession and by passion. She considers herself to be an introvert, a bookworm, a fitness enthusiast, a perfectionist who likes to have all her ducks in a row. Discipline is important to her. “Recently, more specifically over the last two years, I have been donning the hat of a traveler. I’m picking up a lot of traits from my journeys. Travel has converted me into a minimalist and has made me more aware of different cultures. It has had a huge impact on my personality, my lifestyle, and my creative interests.”

About 3 years ago, she discovered the joy of football (soccer) and has been an Arsenal fan ever since.

Ronita you like soccer (football), traveling, and food. We will get along well. You speak or shout at length in a wild impassioned way and are unpredictable as per erratic rantings. Haha, I love the name of your blog. Talk to me a little about it.

Erratic Rantings came into being in 2018. Before that, I had another blog in my college days where I used to write book reviews. But I hadn’t taken it too seriously back then. And then in 2018, my then fiancé (now husband), Tathagata, talked me into having a proper blog set up. I remember that I had asked him, “What am I going to write about?” He said, “Anything you want.” In fact, he chose the name Erratic Rantings since I didn’t give much thought into the name. That’s how it all began. 

We got married the same year and I wrote the first post on our marriage. In fact, I turned my marriage into a seven-part blog series. It felt good to pen the entire event down. I realized that this blog was like a memory bank where I could relive my experiences any time I wanted. And then I couldn’t stop. There were too many things happening around me that I knew I would want to look back at later in my life. In doing this, I started gathering up a handful of followers who have personally told me that they draw inspiration from my blog and are continuously looking forward to the next post. 

Ronita, walk me through the city you live in, the food, the culture, and some good restaurants?

I’m from, what is popularly known as, the City of Joy – Kolkata. I’ve lived here all my life and somehow have never felt the need to live anywhere else.

Kolkata is located in the eastern part of India. It is a city I hold close to my heart. It’s home and more. The city is famous for its literary inclination, its heart-warming food, and progressive culture. Kolkata’s charm lies in its bylanes, serpentine tram lines, intense ‘adda’ sessions (conversations) over searing hot tea poured into earthen cups, sweets, football, intellectual debates and protests, theatres, libraries, music, poetry, old buildings with a colonial past, sprawling chaos in roadside markets, love for sweets and deep-fried snacks and more.

Kolkata is also a confluence of a variety of cultures. That’s because the city is one of the major business hubs of the country and the cost of living isn’t too high compared to other cities. It’s laidback yet modern. One of the characteristics that are unique to my city is its open-mindedness. It encourages uninhibited and constructive debates instead of silent acceptance. I’m proud to be a product of the liberal landscape of my city.

Being a convergence of multiple cultures, Kolkata is a witness to numerous festivals. But Durga puja outstrips all of them. It’s a grand autumnal festival celebrating the victory of Goddess Durga over evil. It continues for five days officially, but we wait for it all year. In fact, the life of a Bengali revolves around Durga puja. Beautifully decorated marquees are put up to house the idols. The entire city transforms into an exhibition of art and creativity. Residents of the city from all over the world return to their homes and join in on the festivities. In essence, Durga puja is a celebration of togetherness. The end of the festival brings out the worst case of blues among us, Bengalis. That’s when we start the countdown for the next Durga puja.

One of my favorite restaurants in Kolkata is Oudh 1590. Not just for the food but for the décor as well. Oudh 1590 is a recreation of the Nawabi era to provide its customers with a period of the dining experience. Once you step inside the restaurant, you would truly feel like you have been transported to history in a time machine.

Tell me about your favorite place that you visited and why you like it so much?

It has to be Bali. Bali stole my heart from the moment I set foot on the island. 

On the first morning of our stay, we headed to the Git Git waterfall. It was deserted when we reached. The water was gushing down with ferocity, Nature has grown abundantly around it, there were tiny, naturally-formed cave-like structures beside the waterfall and the water was crystal clear. I sat down on one of the large rocks closest to the waterfall and felt the water-laden breeze washing over me. It had started to drizzle. The entire place looked magical. That’s where my mood changed dramatically from head to heart. I felt more awake there than I had all my life.

Bali’s beaches are no doubt beautiful, its people are extremely friendly and the coffee is mind-blowing. Bali taught me humbleness through their uninhibited devotion to their Gods and their gratitude towards what they have been blessed with. I believe if there is any place on Earth where God lives, it’s in Bali.

I see you like Arsenal. Why? You talk that you have a lot in common with them. I want to know the commonality.

Like I said, I was introduced to the world of football and its fanaticism in 2017 by my then fiancé (now husband), Tathagata. He is an ardent Arsenal fan. I knew it the day I met him by the tattoo of the Arsenal crest on his left arm. It started with watching videos of old matches on the phone and then slowly I began to understand the power of ‘The Beautiful Game’. He taught me the different aspects of a football match, the significance of every move or sign in the field, and the true meaning of the sport.

As for the commonality, you have to read my blog post to find out.

What is your ideal romantic date?  How has married life changed your life? Any surprises?

My ideal romantic date would be at the beach at sunset with ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon playing in the background. Both Tathagata and I love the beach. We’ve witnessed countless sunsets at the beach together and it still gives me goosebumps thinking about it. The quiet roaring of the waves is relaxing and that’s when I find myself most calm and at the same time, most lively. I cannot thank my stars enough when I walk along the beach with Tathagata by my side. I feel on top of the world every single time that happens.

We’ve been married for a little over two years now and I have felt a lot of positive changes in myself through this time. A friend told me recently that marriage has brought me out of my shell. It’s true. I am exploring myself a lot more. Like I told you before, I’m donning more than one hat to discover new aspects that I can add to my identity. I’m experimenting more, I’m trying to stretch my boundaries and learning to step out of my comfort zone. I feel more confident and optimistic about life.

I married into a large family. We live with my parents, grandparents and uncle, and my aunt-in-law. Coming from a nuclear family, this was the biggest change in my life. Thankfully, we get along really well. More importantly, living with a large family has taught me some core virtues like patience, resilience, and being less judgmental. Luckily I married into a family that appreciates and practices creativity and art. 

I know you like the beach. What is it about the beach that you like?

It is the sound of the waves that pulls me to the beach. The sea makes me happy. It has a soothing and reassuring effect on my mind. It’s as if the waves tell me that no matter what happens, everything will be alright. I feel like I can draw strength from the ocean. Every time I’m at the beach I make it a point to take off my shoes and feel the sand between my toes. It helps me connect to the sea and relax my mind. It’s always an invigorating experience to sit down at the beach at sunset and just listen to the incessant roaring of the waves. Tathagata tells me, “If you respect the sea, the sea will respect you too.”

You are the modern-day Indian woman. How is that woman different from Woman in the ’80s and the ’60s?

I feel that the status of Indian women has radically changed in the modern-day since the ’80s or ’60s. There have been massive structural and cultural changes that provide equal opportunity to women in education and employment. I’ll give you an example.

My grandmother-in-law, who is now 85 years old, couldn’t complete her school-level education because she had to walk a certain distance to be able to board the school bus. And that wasn’t acceptable at that time. She regrets it to this day. She takes a keen interest in reading and has a brilliant memory. But she feels that no matter how much she reads, it can never compensate for the education she was deprived of and so immensely desired.

On the other hand, my late maternal grandmother who was a statistician by profession was a financially independent woman. Her sister was a headmistress of a reputed school, an ardent traveler, and an excellent swimmer even with a polio-affected leg. So you see, there were opportunities, but only for the extremely lucky ones.

Fast forward to this day, today’s Indian woman has ample opportunities to choose the education she desires, become financially independent, have a voice, and make well-informed decisions about her life. While a certain amount of social norms still govern a lot of Indian women’s lives, we have come a long way from how it used to be about four or five decades ago. But then again, the lesser privileged are still oppressed to the point where they have forgotten that they can have opinions. I think a large part of the cause is the lack of free basic education. But change is occurring every day. The idea is to manage the challenges and make adjustments according to the situation to be able to build a better tomorrow. We are getting there. At least we are trying. That’s what matters.

What does women empowerment mean to you?

Today, we talk a lot about women’s empowerment. But I think there are multiple aspects to it. I feel that the key to women’s empowerment is abolishing discrimination. This is where our society falls short most of the time. People make a lot of hues and cry over women’s empowerment on the surface, but the mentality of people would take a lot more generations to change. Women today, face a lot of adversities in the name of loss of culture. Even today, women are subject to gruesome violence. There are numerous organizations working towards the improvement of women’s status. There’s progress but the mentality needs to change before we can see any large improvement. This is where access to education is necessary. 

Discrimination against women exists in the different stratum of the society – some are visible, some not so much. And quite a lot of times, this discrimination becomes such a force of habit that people don’t recognize it at all. I think one of the most effective ways to empower our women is by teaching our sons about true feminism so that our women do not have to fight for it. We need to teach our sons from a very young age to view women as equals and engage them in abolishing gender stereotypes. Women empowerment is not the fight for women alone, it’s a fight for our men too. To stand as equals with women. Nothing more. Nothing less.

We will do another interview in 5 years. Where would Ronita be and what are your goals and aspirations for the next 5 years?

Hopefully, I would be able to make some developments with my blog, share more experiences, and inspire more people. I am working towards improving my English writing skills since it isn’t my first language. I hope to make progress with my career, try to push myself out of my comfort zone, and acquire more knowledge and skills along the way. Maybe I would be able to add some more beautiful destinations into my travel experiences, get to learn about different cultures, and create better travel videos than my first attempt. 

In the next five years, I see myself growing into a more mature version of myself. I expect to become calmer, more confident, and more in touch with myself. So let’s wait and find out.

The post Ronita Goswami: Blogger and Wanderlust appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.