When and When Not to Ride in a Limo

With companies offering cheap limousine service in LA, Brazil, France, Manila and every corner of the globe sprouting up like wild mushrooms, renting limousines has never been easier. It’s so easy in fact, that many tend to make the mistake of renting a limousine for every event they attend, irregardless of the fact that in many occasions, they are already breaching the rules of tact and propriety.

To avoid committing etiquette faux pas (and being branded tacky), here is a brief guide to help you determine when and when not to ride a limo:

Do ride a limo if you and your friends plan to have a fun night out on town.

The vehicle is without a doubt the perfect vehicle to use when you and your friends decide to paint the town red. With its spacious interior and fun accessories (mini bar, DVD players, plasma TVs), even the act of driving from one hot nightspot to another becomes a party in itself. And because it seats more people than the ordinary SUV o sedan, there is no need to drive in separate cars and you and your friends can maximize the time you’re together. Ultimate party vehicle? Definitely.

Do ride a limo if you’re going to a big, glitzy event.

Going to a red carpet event like a movie premiere or a club opening? Then arriving in a limousine is acceptable since the vehicles are after all, synonymous with glitz and flash.

Do not ride a limousine to a simple gathering.

While arriving in a limousine is acceptable in big and glamorous events, doing so when going to a simple gathering is not. There are times when it is okay to be ostentatious, and your niece’s 3rd birthday party in the suburbs is not one of them.

Do not ride a limo unless there’s a special event or occasion

Limousines are not ordinary vehicles. You do not use them for everyday tasks like going grocery shopping or eating out with your buddy; this just screams of tactlessness and vulgarity.

Because of their flashy and attention-grabbing appearance, limousines should only be used during special events and occasions. Going to the suburbs for your weekly visit to your mom? Don’t even think of hiring a LA limousine service company.

Do ride a limousine if you’re going to your prom.

It is okay to wish to impress your date with a glamorous black limousine when you take her to prom. Actually, it is more than “okay”; you are actually expected to ride a limousine when you go to your prom. Riding a limousine to your prom is like baseball or eating hotdogs– it’s an American tradition.

Senior prom coming up soon? Then better start looking for companies that offer limousine services now; your date expects nothing less than a stretch limo.

Just like every thing else, there are rules to follow when it comes to riding limousines. Keep this guide in mind and be secure in the fact that you are always on the side of tact and class when it comes to choosing the right mode of transportation.

Seven Closely Guarded Secrets of Wedding Rehearsals

Even though I received three ministry degrees, not one of my classes ever taught me to perform a wedding or lead a wedding rehearsal.  I guess that falls under the “sink or swim” category.  This means that the only way to learn is by doing them.  It also means that the learning lab is the actual wedding and rehearsal.  This can be very unfortunate for the couple and for the minister.  Hopefully the minister will have a good mentor who can show him or her the ropes and walk them through it.  

Fortunately, my first few weddings did not require me to lead a rehearsal.  That allowed me to focus on finding a good wedding ceremony and a template that I still use for most of my weddings today.  After I became a Pastor church members needed me to perform weddings for them in our church. Since it was a small, single staff church, that meant that I was responsible for scheduling the facility, leading the rehearsal, and performing the wedding, not to mention meeting with the couple several times beforehand to discuss the wedding and for premarital counseling. 

Being very young and naïve when I came to my first wedding rehearsal as a minister I only expected to rehearse the ceremony.  I thought that would be my only responsibility other than opening and closing the building.  I smile when I think back on just how young and naïve I was.  It was something similar to a lamb being tossed into a cage of lions.  And these were people who liked me.  You see, even though I was only expecting to be responsible for rehearsing the ceremony, the expectation of the couple and the family was that I would be in charge of the entire rehearsal.  (This is why I believe every church should have a paid wedding coordinator who is responsible for coordinating the facilities, personnel, equipment, clean-up, and leading the rehearsal.  This relieves the Minister of this role and allows him or her to function as a Minister to the couple instead of an umpire.  This also enables a busy Minister to not attend a rehearsal when there is schedule conflict.  Oh well, live and learn.)

But there are also other considerations.  Where is everybody supposed to stand?  Where do the groom and the groomsmen enter?  What order do the bride’s attendants come in?  What music is played for each section of the processional?  In what order does everyone walk out during the recessional?  Who is responsible to get the bridal party lined up?  Where do the parents, step-parents, and grandparents sit during the wedding? 

Another issue I was not prepared for was how to handle conflict.  I know, there should not be any conflict at a wedding rehearsal.  It should be a day of relaxed joy.  However, it is an event that is ripe for conflict and tension, especially if there has been very little planning.   It is usually attended by the bridal party, the minister, some extended family and friends of both the bride and the groom.  In other words, there is a wide variety of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and wedding experiences.  There are multiple personality types involved and some of them love to be in the spotlight and some of them just get frustrated if it seems like no one is in control and time is wasting and they are eager to jump in and take charge to “save the day.”  There are hidden landmines of family secrets and an ever increasing landscape of broken families with step-parents and half-brothers and sisters who might have suppressed resentment just waiting to come to the surface.  Not every family is “The Brady Bunch.”  Everyone has an opinion.  If you are lucky, no alcohol has been served to anyone prior to this.  This is an environment where anything can happen.  We all know of stories where a mother, step-mother, father, sister, or brother asserted themselves and ruined what could have been a very pleasant time.�

I was fortunate on this occasion that everyone was patient with me since I was young and inexperienced and most of them knew me.  I was also fortunate that there were no strong willed people who wanted to force something on everyone and the community itself was rather “laid back.”  There were a couple of Christian ladies there who were able to make a few suggestions in a nice and tactful way, and we were able to get through that rehearsal in about 2 and one half hours!  Everyone still felt very confused about some of the details but we were all ready to leave.  When it was finally over everyone was exhausted.  I got to go home, but they still had to go to the Rehearsal Dinner, late!

Afterwards I felt like I had just run a marathon.  I was exhausted.  Why had no one told me about this?  Why didn’t one of my professors warn me or teach me?  Maybe they did and I just didn’t listen.  I knew there had to be a better way.

I stumbled through a few more of these and learned more each time so that I could get the time down to something more endurable for me and for them.  I learned how to head off a few problems ahead of time.  I learned who to listen to and who to ignore.  I learned who else needed to be there.  But it was not until I actually began working with wedding coordinators that I really learned how to conduct an efficient and well-run rehearsal where everyone left feeling confident about the wedding day.  When I worked with these wedding coordinators, all of them women, I watched how they worked with the couples, how they worked with the family, how they led the actual rehearsal, when they turned it over to the minister to go through the ceremony, and what they really wanted the minister to do during the rehearsal (not read the whole ceremony), several different but beautiful options, and much more. 

In short, I learned their “system.”  I don’t know if any of them would have called it a “system,” but that is exactly what it was.  I worked with several different coordinators through the years and their “system” is almost exactly the same.  They had just been taught a few of these things by mentors and by trial and error.  I learned by observing and practicing the techniques they had mastered.

Allow me to go on record right now and say that I think a good wedding planner or wedding coordinator is worth her weight in gold!  I think every couple should contract with one even if they are getting married in their own church.  What they save you in time, headaches, trouble, mistakes, and even vendor costs, will be well worth their fee.  Especially since the average wedding now costs $28,000.00.  However, I know that not everyone can afford to do this or find an available wedding coordinator.  If your church has one, it might be a good idea to pay them extra to help you coordinate not only the rehearsal and wedding at that facility, but to also help with some of the other vendor issues.  Just a thought.

Since I often worked with couples who did not have wedding coordinators and expected me as the Minister to “make it happen,” I put together my own “system” based on what I had learned from these seasoned wedding pros.  I call it the Wedding Rehearsal Genie .  It is based on the Seven Secrets of an Amazing Wedding Rehearsal.  The “Genie” includes a tool to meet the needs of each of these “Seven Secrets.”  It even includes an article on “How to Conduct a Wedding Rehearsal in 30 Minutes or Less.”  I really created this valuable resource to help Ministers, Church wedding coordinators, hotel wedding coordinators, and Wedding Planners who are just getting started.  I highly recommend it to any Minister who is called on to fill this role.  It is reasonable and will save you your weight in gold through the years.  It is also indispensible to the couple who is getting married without a wedding coordinator.  It is a tool they could work through together in about an hour and feel totally confident before their rehearsal.  The couple can then choose an organized friend to help them on the day of the rehearsal and the wedding to make sure that everyone is in the right place at the right time.

Let’s face it…people will spend hundreds of dollars on a dress to wear one time, hundreds on a cake you they will only eat only one bite from, thousands on a place to spend the day, hundreds or even thousands on gorgeous flowers that fade in days, all so their wedding ceremony will be beautiful and graceful. THE KEY TO MAKING THAT ALL HAPPEN IS A PRE-PLANNED AND WELL-DIRECTED REHEARSAL. Please do NOT leave it to chance. No one dreams of seeing their wedding on America’s Funniest Videos.  A small investment in planning and preparation right now that will make a huge difference in a VERY IMPORTANT AND MEMORABLE DAY.

Right now, I want to give you the Seven Secrets to an Amazing Wedding Rehearsal.

Secret #1 Knowledge

Knowing the Essential Ingredients and Participants in the Wedding Ceremony. This is what the Wedding Ceremony At-A-Glance is designed to provide.  You must know all the details of this particular wedding and who is involved in any part of the ceremony.  You must know all of this before the Rehearsal begins!  This great little tool was given to me by a wedding coordinator who has done more than 900 rehearsals. 

Secret #2 Positioning

Knowing exactly where everyone in the Wedding Party is supposed to stand during the ceremony. This is what you receive in the Platform Chart.  You cannot wait until everyone walks down the aisle to decide where they are all standing. 

Secret #3 Order

Knowing exactly what order the members of the Wedding Party are supposed to walk into the auditorium and out of the auditorium or chapel and some suitable options. This is what the Processional and Recessional Orders provide.  Everyone will be asking you when they are supposed to walk in and who they follow.  It solves so many problems when you can pull out your form and show them exactly what their place is.

Secret #4 Seating

Knowing exactly where everyone is supposed to be seated during the Wedding Ceremony whether they were at the rehearsal or not because not all of the important people in the ceremony are on the platform. This is what the Seating Chart for the Wedding Ceremony provides.  Couples often get so concerned about deciding where everyone is supposed to sit at the Rehearsal Dinner or the Wedding Reception that they often forget about the Wedding Ceremony itself.  Deciding this before the rehearsal is a very important key to heading off tension and confrontation at the rehearsal and on the day of the Wedding.

Secret #5 Timing

Someone said Timing is Everything. That is so true in a wedding. When does the music begin, which music is supposed to be playing and when, and who is responsible to make that happen? Who is supposed to light the candles and when? Who is responsible to line up the Bride and her attendants? The 3-D Wedding Ceremony Chart describes how to design your own 3-D Chart which you can customize as needed.  This simple chart keeps everyone on the same page during the actual ceremony.

Secret #6 Procedure

What specific steps do you take before and during your rehearsal to make things run smoothly, orderly and efficiently. There is a specific set of steps to take. The article, “How to Conduct a Rehearsal in 30-Minutes or Less” is the perfect step by step how to article that will make it a snap.  Prior planning is a must.

Secret #7 Instant Access

The person in charge of the Wedding Rehearsal must have instant access to all of the details of the wedding ceremony and the wedding party at their fingertips at all times. They must also have instant access to common wedding information such as where certain people are to stand or be seated. In addition, they must have instant access to several options in case the Bride decides at the last minute to change some detail. If you are a Wedding Coordinator and have several weddings to do you will need to keep a file for each one with their specific details. I have performed about 300 weddings and attended almost that many rehearsals.  Nothing works as efficiently as having a clipboard or manila folder with the right information in front of you.  A PDA will not work.  You need something you can print out, carry with you, fill in the blanks, and make notes on as needed. 

The most important thing about these seven secrets is that they really do work.  Everyone wants a perfect wedding, but the only way to get anything close to that is to have a really good rehearsal.  No one can guarantee that you wedding rehearsal will be fun and stress free, but knowing and following these “secrets” will give you the very best shot at it. 

Whether you are a couple planning your wedding or a minister or coordinator looking for some help in conducting a rehearsal.  I hope these insights gained from personal experience will helpful to you.  And, I would encourage you to take a look at my Wedding Rehearsal Genie and see if it would meet your needs.

Travel destinations: The Philippines – Part 2

There are as many reasons to visit The Philippines as there are islands – thousands. The warm sunshine, the glorious beaches and even warmer smiles of the Philippino people make you forget your pressures, forget your troubles and return again and again.

Granted, the first time you visit The Philippines it is like walking into a huge jumble sale. From the moment you arrive at Cory Aquino International Airport outside the sprawling metropolis of Manila you are definitely in The Philippines. The colors, the noise, the laughter, the mothers and their kids,- you’ve never seen so many kids – everyone and everything mixed up together under the warm sunshine with nobody in a hurry to do much.

Except when you ask them. The Philippinos are respectful and attentive when you request something like “can you tell me where to get a taxi to Batangas”, or, “where is the Comfort Room (toilet) please” – ask nicely and you will be met with a wide smile and more often than not, a friendly escort to where you need to go.

Over the generations, The Philippinos have had to adapt to a number of conquerors. From the Spanish (the name The Philippines comes from King Philip of Spain some 500 years ago) the Germans, the Japanese, to the Americans (Carnos or farangis as they are called locally in the nicest possible way), each has left it’s mark on the nature and make-up of this friendly and resourceful people. Devout Catholics to the last, God rides with them everywhere they go. “Wallah problema” or no problem is something you hear everywhere.

Don’t be shy to ask. The Philippinos love Americans and everything about the US. Nearly everyone you talk to speaks excellent English and they are aware The Philippine islands have a complex method of getting places known only to the locals and frequent travelers and so they understand when you need a little help. To get to most places in the 7000 plus island archipelago requires a combination of taxi, bus or Jeepney ride to a Banca, the Philippines standard mode of transport by sea.

Getting around as easily as possible in The Philippines is probably the single most important factor in having a good time there. You can only enjoy crystal clear warm water, beautiful sandy beaches, diving on reefs of extraordinary beauty and mountains of volcanic wonders if you can actually get around without agony. For the most part your hotel or resort will take care of the pick-up details from the airport to their door but do not be afraid of

Travel destinations: The Philippines – Part 9

The Philippines is known as ” The Pearl of the Orient”. It is because the Philippines is rich with natural resources and endowed with various scenic places that visiting the Philippines would be like visiting numerous wonderful places all over the world.

The Philippines could provide you with various interesting nature tripping adventures that you would surely enjoy. If Ibiza and the Bahamas offer beaches and nature, the Philippines also has beaches that are pure paradise to a vacationing local or foreign tourist.

Here are some tourist’s spots that could make your visit worth the trip:

1. Boracay, Aklan – It’s an island paradise with its fine white sand and beautiful beaches. Boracay has captured the hearts of millions of tourists who had trekked to the island every year. The beach and the surrounding environment is a blast for sea lovers and nature trippers.

In fact, just recently, Yahoo Travel announced the Most Popular Beaches of 2007 and Boracay has ranked first, even besting the wonderful Bahamas islands. What better testimonial than that coming from Yahoo! Travel?

2. Tagaytay – This city is great for outdoor activities. The air is cool and clean and one can go into several activities like horse back-riding, nature tripping, or just spend time basking in the beauty of nature. This is also one of the locals most frequented tourist spots. There are available comfortable lodgings, golf courses, guided tours and many more.

3. Baguio City Is the Summer Capital of the Philippines. This is because during the sweltering heat of summer, only Baguio maintains that bearable temperature. The city has also several interesting places to see. The Asin hot springs is an hour ride from the city proper. This place is usually frequented by believers in the healing power of the hot springs. “They’re really hot; you can boil eggs in them.) You have also the Pink Sisters, a very quite and calm place to have a self-retrospection. This is where the best Yam and pineapple jam are made by enterprising native women. You can go horse back-riding too at mines view park; a park where you can see the breath-taking view of the neighboring towns where previous mines were located.

4. Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao Going further north, you can visit the Banaue Rice Terraces. This has gained notoriety because of the recent tragedy that occurred there but lawmakers are more vigilant and careful now. For Filipinos, these rice terraces believed to be the 8th Wonder of the World and had

Tips for a Great Roman Party

Are you bored of the same kind of normal party? Looking for something unusual and different. Read on the article and get a new dashing and delightful ideas about a “Roman Party”.

“I think the Romans had the right idea. Why should we sit up to eat our meals?” This remark by Hal to his fellow Latin class members started the ball rolling for a really different party.

The girls in the crowd got together and dreamed up the party. They made invitations out of stiff Manila paper to represent a Roman scroll and sent the following proclamation to their classmates:

Oh Noble Lords: We your slaves ask you to dine while you recline in truly Roman fashion, at the home of Ginny Reynolds on Saturday at six o’clock. Please dress in togas and sandals.

The night of the dinner the arriving guests were indeed a sight for astonished eyes. Their togas, upon close inspection, turned out to be cleverly draped bed sheets. Their sandals smacked of beach wear. The school’s football captain bound his crew-cut hair with a Roman headband.

The dinner was served on folded card tables placed flat on the floor. Plate doilies were used and the place cards were tiny Roman scrolls wound on toothpicks. Blankets were spread along the tables upon which the guests reclined. The dining room was candle lighted.

The girls, acting as Roman slaves, served the reclining Lords their dinner. The first course consisted of deviled eggs on lettuce, stuffed celery, olives and crackers. There were no knives, forks or spoons. Everything was eaten with the fingers.

The main course consisted of cold meat, string beans, carrots, and buttered buns. Grape juice and lemon punch was served with the dinner. Dessert was individual pumpkin pies. Trays of dried prunes, apricots, figs and raisins were passed.

At the close of the meal the Roman custom of freeing the slaves for the day and crowning one of them King was observed, only in this case the slaves were all girls, so the Lords crowned a Queen. Immediately the ex-slave Queen ordered all the Lords to Hades to receive judgment for the way they had bossed the slaves during dinner. Each Lord chose an ex-slave lady to accompany him.

To reach Hades it was necessary, of course, for each one to cross the river Styx which was well guarded, according to Roman mythology, by Cerberus, the three-headed dog. The river Styx was a strip of floor covered solidly with twigs and sticks. Three boys under one blanket, except for their heads, impersonated the dog. The three heads made considerable noise with their barking.

When all had crossed the dangerous river each victim paid obeisance to Pluto, king of the underworld. Then each Lord or Lady appeared before three judges to plead his or her cause. The three judges were chosen from the erstwhile slaves.

If the judges decided that the prisoner’s lordly manner at dinner was natural and not acquired, he was sent to the Elysian Fields. But alas and alack, few were found to be without fault, and the guilty were promptly condemned to Hades. They were, however, given a chance to redeem themselves. Each was ordered to do a stunt which would meet the approval of Pluto.

Some of the stunts assigned to the guilty would do credit to a truth-or-consequence program. Two of the most studious lads were blindfolded and given bean bags to throw at each other. Each lad to succeed in placating Pluto must hit another lad with the bean bag before he could be released from Hades.

A Roman party takes all the children back to the time of Roman empire. They love to practice some of the famous Roman Customs, Roman tradition and lots more about Roman, which also increases their knowledge.

The most beautiful places youve traveled to

I have been fortunate to have visited some places on earth of stunning natural and indeed man made beauty. From Prague’s architectural elegance to Australia’s Blue Mountains; Mongolia’s vast plains to Singapore’s skyscrapers, I am in love with travel and the intoxication of the freedom it brings courses through my veins.

The Geographical scope of this article is defined by my having not touched on Africa or South America. Europe offers great cities and Eastern Europe particularly has exciting and picturesque cityscapes. Budapest and Prague stand out, yet Paris and Venice earn their reputations for cities of love partly from the atmosphere that goes with skilfully crafted, ornate buildings dating from centuries past. All offer exquisite cuisine, great cultural depth and irresistible intrigue. While the European plains offer wonderful vistas of verdant countryside they are eclipsed by the sprawling, unchecked nature of Ukraine fields of Sunflowers so large, it may be half an hour of driving on the road before a dividing line of tress presents itself; breaking vast swathes of the earth, given over to producing rich yellow sunflowers. Even the arid desert of Kazakhstan further east has a surreal beauty in an unexpected, unconventional way but it lacks the dunes of the Middle East to be truly spectacular.

In terms of natural beauty however, mountains present the most awe inspiring spectacle. Switzerland has the financial capacity to make the stunning Alps accessible, in summer or winter. Sydney’s Blue Mountains are famed for the haze which hangs over them on a clear day providing their affectionate name. From a high point on the edge, the view inland is simply spectacular. Being surrounded by flocks of Eagles in Kashmir at the foothills of the world’s greatest Mountain range, The Himalayas was beautiful and humbling. However, Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia possesses perhaps the most stunning scenery of all. Beneath an azure blue sky, at a road 3500m above sea level, there are huge turquoise lakes, like enticing giant Jacuzzi’s all around.

South East Asia is home to perhaps the greatest concentration of wondrous natural landscapes I have seen. The unprecedented beauty of coral reefs in the Philippines is like nothing else I have dived in Asia or the Pacific. An eminent marine Biologist catalogued, in 2005, more species of coral in a single Filipino bay than are known in the entire Caribbean. The verdant colours of coral and sponges, sharks and rare fish make the area a truly rewarding experience. Even Tonga in the South Pacific is eclipsed in terms of underwater beauty. However, the most remote of Tonga’s islands above the water level present the picture postcard image every office worker day-dreams of; a white coral beach, shallow blue water, palms and a beach hut with a well stocked bar.

Closer to home, I find the architectural wonders of London and other European cities captivating; Barcelona, Bilbao, Ljubljana to name but a few. The Medieval city of Prague is superseded only by Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges for mystical intrigue, stunning views over the river and a visit India’s holiest city provides the closest thing to time travel yet. The saffron robes of devotees and garlands bring colour to the narrow, tall streets of this still medieval city.

These are some of the most beautiful places I have seen. Beauty is of course, a truly subjective concept and all one can suggest, is that you visit these places yourself to discover if I am to be believed.

Internet Dating – It is All About Options

There was a time, fairly early in its history, when the Internet was an almost purely social place for most of us. Shortly after it became popular, the average person connected through America Online (AOL) or CompuServe and paid by the minute to enter chat rooms and meet new people. Most of us were wary of the people we met online at first – the anonymity offered online brought out the worst in many of people during the early days when the idea of communicating with people via the Internet was new. However, the bad experiences that were had by some were vastly outweighed by the convenience, the uniqueness and the sheer fun offered by those simple chat rooms of the past.

No one – not even the Internet pioneers – could have predicted how fast the Internet would grow, and how much a part of virtually everyone’s daily life it would become. From the humble beginnings of those early chat rooms, the Internet has become a tool that most of us use to do business, stay in touch with family and friends, get news, sports and weather reports, directions and maps, buy and sell things – you name it, the odds are very good that the Internet offers you a way to do it. The amount of information available on the “information hi-way” is staggering – a simple search on Google or Yahoo can net literally millions of matching sites – and if you can buy something in a brick and mortar store, you can more than likely buy it from your PC or laptop.

Interestingly, in some ways the Internet has come full circle in that along with the other things we do online on a day-to-day basis, many people are now finding that dating online – meeting new people to form relationships with – offers them options that the bar scene, blind dates, fix-ups and other traditional ways of forming romantic relationships simply don’t. The recent explosion of online dating and online dating sites has created a situation in which proximity is no longer the deciding factor in who a person can meet. Rather than being confined to a single town or city, Internet dating offers people the option of looking for that perfect someone across the state, the country and even all across the world.

Not only has the online dating industry exploded in recent years but it has become both more user friendly and relationship specific. No matter who you are or what sort of relationship you are looking for, the odds are that there is a site out there that will fit your needs. There are sites that cater to straight dating, the gay/lesbian community, ethnically based dating (white, black, Asian, etc), bi-sexual and interracial relationships, dating based on religion, political views, ages (under 30 or over 50, etc) and pretty much any and all combinations of the previously mentioned groups. There are sites that will try and find the perfect match for you, and sites that will simply offer thousands (and in some cases tens of thousands) of user profiles and pictures for you to search through. Some sites offer only simple email introductions while other sites will offer instant messaging, private chat rooms, streaming audio, and live video capabilities all administered through the site. It only takes the investment of an hour or two of your time to find an online dating service which caters to your specific needs and desires.

While online dating certainly isn’t going to appeal to everyone, there can be no doubt that the industry’s rapid growth and expansion indicates that more and more men and women are finding it to be not only a viable but a preferable alternative to traditional forms of dating. As a matter of fact, an increasing number of men and women are finding that there are many advantages to looking for romantic companionship online. Some of these advantages include:

* Safety – There is no doubt about it, the world in general and the dating world in particular can be a dangerous place for both men and women. While a person may look or seem to be okay, it takes a considerable amount of time to really get to know anyone. Many people find that getting to know another person online – where they have control over both how much personal information they give about themselves and how much information they ask of another person – alleviates most of their safety concerns. No reputable online dating site will give out your personal information (last name, address, phone number or even email address) without your permission. It is up to the user(s) how fast or how slow a relationship progresses and, should one person have suspicions or fears about their online dating partner, ending the relationship is as simple as clicking out of the chat box or instant message.

* Convenience – For most of us, traditional dating is WORK. Whether male or female, it takes a considerable amount of time to get that look you want perfect, pick out the right wardrobe, find the right place to go, etc. The truth is, in today’s hectic world, a lot of people simply don’t have the time to do everything that they need to do to get ready for a date on a regular basis. Online dating, however, is as simple as switching on a computer and logging into your dating site. Even if you use a site that offers webcam functions, you control whether you turn the cam on, and even if it shows anything other than your smile. The impression you make on the people you are interested in can be made in ripped jeans and an old tee shirt – you don’t even need to comb your hair.

* Variety – One of the most common complaints that people in the dating scene have is that they always seem to meet the same kind of people. A lot of this is, of course, due to the fact that in many cases people from the same towns or cities tend to share many of the same personality traits. This is not the case in the online dating world. You can just as easily strike up a conversation with a girl in Kiev or a guy in Manila as you can with your next door neighbor, and this offers a wide variety of people that simply isn’t available with any other form of dating.

* Cost – Love may be blind, but finding it by traditional dating methods certainly isn’t cheap. A first date with someone you may not even know or actually be compatible with can easily run $200 or more, and there is never a guarantee that you will even enjoy yourself or want to see that person again. While virtually all online dating sites charge fees for their services, in many cases the cost of that first traditional, three hour date will buy you weeks – and even months – of online dating with a variety of people who catch your attention. And again, if you find that someone simply isn’t what you are looking for, you can simply say goodbye and try someone else … without having to pay for a cab to take them home!

As I said before, online dating isn’t for everyone – and not every approach to online dating offered by specific sites will be right for everyone. But with the almost unlimited options available and the wide variety of choices that can be explored from the comfort of one’s own home, online dating is something that should at least be looked into by anyone who is in search of that perfect someone. The one you’ve been looking for could be as near as the next chat room!

Travel destinations: The Philippines

Back to The Philippines

Last year I went to the Manila in the Philippines, and the people I met and the way they have to live made me wish I could help them in some way. It tears the heart out to see such good people having to suffer so.

I love the place, and the people! As poor as most of them are, they are kind-hearted and giving, and in some cases, probably more honest than some of my neighbors here in the US.

I have a cousin, from Indiana, that lives in Manila. He stays all year, but has to leave one day out of the year, due to visa requirements. He seems happier there than he ever did in Indiana.

In Manila, the traffic is bad..I mean impossible! Still, somehow, the Taxi and Jeepney drivers are amazing. They all roar into the same intersection at breakneck speeds and at the last minute..stop! I saw very few vehicles with dents in them. Absolutely amazing, I have to say.

One day Cousin and his wife took a taxi and went to the Robinson’s Mall not far away, for groceries. For 50 dollars American you can buy more groceries than you can carry, for that you need the taxi.

Cousin and wife got the groceries and it took about 5 “sack Boys” to carry all the food out to the taxi.

After loading the groceries, Cousin offered to tip the sack boys, but they refused. Must be a new policy, because most would take it, since most are dirt poor to begin with.

On arriving back at the hotel where they live Cousin realizes he has lost his wallet..Oh Boy!

Immediately, he cancels all his credit cards, but the approximately 200 dollars in cash he had been carrying, was no doubt gone.

Two days later, much to his surprise, Cousin received a phone call from one of the sack boys at the grocery store. Apparently, after the taxi pulled away, the man found cousin’s wallet where he had dropped it.

In the Philippines, 200 dollars is a small fortune for some, and as it turned out, that was the man’s first day on the job, without a pay check coming for 2 weeks. The man and his family hadn’t had work or money for a long time…they were desperate! The man admitted to cousin that he was tempted to keep the money, but his good Catholic conscience wouldn’t let him do it. Cousin was so grateful for the money and the man’s honesty that he gave him 2500 Peso(about 50 dollars), which was half a months wages there.

When I heard the story it made me want to fly over there and shake the man’s hand.

Kind and polite is the way I would explain the people. I’m sure there are exceptions but even the police were polite. I had heard that they didn’t like Americans anymore but I found out, for the most part, it is American politics they don’t like.

I plan on going back this winter, not just because it is nice there in winter, but because I feel more relaxed there. As far as danger..it is probably more dangerous in Los Angeles, California.

sending fresh roses, tulips, sunflowers, gerberas, carnations in the Philippines

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Gift shopping is an activity that we all have to do at some point during the year, whether it’s something we do once or more than once. We all have birthdays, attend weddings, celebrate anniversaries and for most of us, celebrate Christmas. Buying and giving presents in the Philippines seems to be part of our international culture- to mark, congratulate and celebrate important events through the year. Why shouldn’t we celebrate the birth of our child, the day we married our spouse and so on and so forth? I don’t think the question is why we buy gifts, but how do we find that special gift?
www.ofwflowers.com online in the Philippines can help you buy a gift for everyone without hassle. When you buy online you do not have to compromise quality, you are simply buying the same quality products from your home. Most people find that shopping online Philippines is a much more enjoyable way to buy gifts in the Philippines without all the hassle.
It is advisable to look into the lesser known gift shops in the Philippines that are not so famous but are trustworthy and maintain good quality. These gift shops could also offer you with interesting offers and discounts that could make the whole package look much lucrative. And www.ofwflowers.com is the best choice online shopping gifts giving in the Philippines.
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Ideal vacation spots

Experience the Escape and Luxury of Boracay

You’ve heard of beautiful Malaysia, cheap Thailand and luxurious Dubai, but have you experienced the wonder of the Philippines? Well here’s how.

Take a one hour flight from the simple, but friendly Manila airport and touch down on the “Asian spirit,”ready to enjoy the simple and luxurious beach resorts of Boracay. It is then just a short ride by taxi van and Catamaran boat ride from beach front hotels.

The fun starts here. Chose your price range, and find yourself in one of three areas A, B or C. Choose from cheap, but decent budget accomodation with all the basic facilities such as a bed, hot water and friendly service or upgrade to a mid-range condo style residence, usually self-contained, Pay-TV, independent residence close or right on the beachfront. If neither of these options is to your liking, go to the up-class end of town. Still cheap with the exchange rate and with all the mod-cons thrown in.

Self contained your thing? There are open road-side stalls a stones throw from the beach front, not to mention convenience stores that do not obscure the view or get in the way. Or take the break you deserve. Find almost any food you can think of in Boracay, mixed with all the local tropical fruit and vegetable delicacies and of course traditional Filippino pork, beef, chicken and fish dishes. Not to mention mouth watering seafood at its best. All freshly caught, cooked anyway you like as good as any other in the world.

Clean, good accommodation, spectacular views from easy to reach lookouts on the highest points on the island. Reach these places by an ATV quad bike tour, Tricycle (motorbike with side cart) or by Jeepney. Try your hand at scuba diving, book a lesson and dive the depths of some the world’s best coral reefs or bring your own gear. If none of this takes your fancy, go island hopping, lie on the pearly white beaches or book a caving tour. There is so much to see and do, or not do here. Relax, enjoy the atmosphere and forget all your troubles in a laid back resort style atmosphere. Go out to dinner or cruise the bars on the island where you will never be short of company.

See you there!

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