Monthly Archives: May 2009

May18

Surgery and Travel: The New Paradigm

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Surgery and Travel: The New Paradigm

For those of you who haven’t heard of Medical Tourism (http://medicaltourismguide.org/ ) , this is the new way for people to obtain high quality, low cost surgery in a foreign country and then spend extra time afterward enjoying a bit of a vacation. With the incredible savings that one finds in countries like Mexico, India, Costa Rica, and Argentina, this is fast becoming one of the best alternatives to the high cost of health care in the United States. Cheap knee surgery, cheap hip surgery, along with most every other type of procedure is easily obtainable in hospitals that feature state-of-the-art equipment and techniques. Most of the surgeons in these countries have obtained their post graduate degrees in U.S. and Canadian hospitals and are able to perform surgeries as professionally and responsibly as their counterparts world-wide. In many of these countries, more attention and care is paid to each person than in North American hospitals where turn-around is key. So if you are looking to save money on your surgery and then take some time to sight-see, consider the options by going online or to your travel professional to find the right agency where all of your needs can be taken care of.

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May18

Gastric Bypass: Mexico is the Place

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Gastric Bypass: Mexico is the Place

Gastric bypass and lap band surgeries are becoming more and more popular for patients who suffer from obesity. Having this type of surgery generally comes with a high price tag if you are going for treatment in the United States. Now there is an alternative. Mexico has become one of the most in-demand countries for high quality surgery without the high cost. With state-of-the-art hospitals and many surgeons who have obtained their post graduate degrees in countries such as the States and Canada, there is no longer fear attached to going to Mexico or other countries besides one’s own to have a surgery. And as important, the cost of surgery in Mexico can be as low as 60% less than in North America.

When you have savings like this it is no wonder that the Medical Tourism industry is thriving, with patients requesting vacations after their surgeries so that they can enjoy the sights once released from the hospital. A little reward after a surgical procedure never hurt anyone. And because most a surgeon abroad allows a friend or loved one to stay with you in your hospital room, you will already have someone to enjoy sightseeing with once you have completed your hospital recuperation.

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May18

The Chew Valley

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The Chew Valley

The beautiful Chew Valley is located between the cities of Bristol and Bath. The countryside of the Mendip Hills, and the many lakes that are found in this region of England, makes this a perfect get-away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Anyone staying in a Bath hotel, will want to take this trip to the valley. Many trails wind through the outdoors making this an incredible experience for hikers as well as bicyclists. The locals in the area are known for their warm nature and their strong community sense, and will often times invite visitors into their homes for tea and cakes in the afternoon.

This particular region is steeped in myth and legends as the history is more than 10,000 years in the making. Circles of ancient stones are found at Stanton Drew and are thought to have been used for the site of worshiping Pagans. One frightening legend states that the devil had come to this site, and performed a wedding ceremony. Now though, the town is extremely charming with many restaurants, pubs, local markets and picnic areas. One of the more popular picnic spots is alongside theBlagdon Lake. The nature reserve, Avon Wildlife, is also located here along the water, however there is quite a bit of wildlife out and about. Horseworld is just north of the valley, and is a must see for those who love horses. There are many rescued donkeys and ponies as well, providing hours of entertainment for the children. This is an ideal get away for those visiting the two larger cities of Bath and Bristol, the perfect place and the perfect way to spend a tranquil afternoon.

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May16

Carnival in Goa

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Carnival in Goa

One of Goa’s most exciting festivals is the annual celebration of Carnival. The festival occurs just before Lent in February and/or March and is a one of a kind event in India. Settlers from Portugal brought this celebration with them in the 18th century and it has fused with traditional Indian culture to become a special and unique event. This three-day celebration includes plenty of floats, parades, dances and food to entertain the excited people who are filling the streets. One of the common entomological definitions of Carnival breaks it into two root words, carne (meat) and vale (good, or goodbye). This is understood by participants to mean enjoying the last days of eating meat before lent. Vacationers oftentimes travel to Goa and stay in a Goa India hotel specifically to take part in the wonders of Carnival.

Most guests are pleasantly awoke every morning to the sounds of cymbals and bagpipes playing in the streets. The musicians are very colorfully dressed and radiate the excitement of the festival. For lucky individuals who have a suite with a view of main street they can watch the early parades with their elaborate floats and performers. On the street below, crowds have already gathered to watch and also join in the celebration. For residents and tourists in Panjim, they have the fortune of witnessing the extremely elaborate masquerades that collaborate with live bands and fill the streets in an enormous party all through the night. Also, spectacular balls are held every evening leading to the ultimate party at the Clube Nacional. This occurs at the end of the Carnival celebration and includes the famous Red and Black dance. Goans are extremely serous about the importance of Carnival and begin preparations for it in December. They rehearse short plays and sketches that depict pieces of Indian history and then perform them in various venues and on the streets during the festival.

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May14

Sega Music in Mauritius

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Sega Music in Mauritius

Mauritius, with its amazing idyllic beaches, is a vacationers’ paradise. There are a hundred things to do, and travelers will enjoy the mix of activity and leisurely laid-back style of the locals. In terms of luxury hotels, Mauritius is a hotspot for the discerning traveler. All the amenities plus more will greet you as you explore the island.

One of the results of the mix of cultures is found in the music. Sega music is Mauritius’ benchmark, and has evolved for hundred of years . In the eighteenth century, European explorers were writing about the song and dance the African slaves here would perform (in some early writings, it was called “shega”). It is said, then, to come from the Africans’ songs of loss and mourning, mixed with a love for the island, which resulted in this unique blend of lively and strangely melancholic musical form. Ravane, maravane, triangle, and bobre were some of the names given to the indigenous instruments. They make rhythms and beats that are intoxicating, and continue to be played along the beaches. However, these same instruments are being replaced by “traditional” orchestral instruments in Sega’s new incarnations. The pattern of the music is the same. It begins soft and mournful, with a slow swaying of the hips. As the song continues, the rhythms build in tempo, until the dancer is encompassed by the rhythm and must give over to it. This is the hypnotic power of Sega, which can haunt both locals and travelers.

Linzy Bacbotte is one of the most famous Sega singers to date . She is enormously popular on the island and internationally, giving concerts in French and Creole French. Her videos are widely available, and she is a national treasure, playing all over the world. She follows the tradition of Sega by being the female vocalist for male band members. Linzy Bacbotte‘s soft vocals, along with her enchanting charm and grace, make for a unique musical experience.

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May12

B2B, B2C, B2G… huh?

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B2B, B2C, B2G… huh?

Navigating the sales jobs boards can be like a little like reading hieroglyphics sometimes. If are looking for a career change and not exactly a seasoned sales professional it can be difficult to decipher just exactly what companies are requiring. So before you send an embarrassing cover letter know the terms in the job description.

Of course, any sales job is going to require sales training and business training, but what really are the ABC’s or G’s of sales careers?

B2B:

B2B sales means business-to-business sales. This describes transactions between businesses, for example, a manufacturer and a wholesaler or a wholesaler and retailer. B2B sales are the most popular because of the sheer volume of sales that can be done. The term was originally coined to describe electronic communications between businesses and enterprises. It was only coined to distinguish from B2C sales. It is now also a widely used marketing term.

B2C:

B2C sales means business- to-consumer or customer sales. Most retail is considered B2C sales. When you buy a pair of shoes from a retailer it is going directly from the business to the consumer.

B2G:

B2G means business-to-government sales. It is a child of B2B marketing and is often referred to as public sector marketing. It includes communication techniques such as: strategic public relations, branding, marcom, advertising, and web-based communication.

It is also good to note there are many others as well. B2B is the most common term job hunters are likely to see on the job boards. Sales is a viable way to make a career switch. All that really matter is that a sales person knows their product or service and knows it well, the rest of the alphabet will just fall into place and soon enough you will just become and expert. Anyone with drive and great leadership skills can succeed in sales!

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May12

Look to Next Day Blinds to Cover All Your Custom Window Treatment Needs

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Look to Next Day Blinds to Cover All Your Custom Window Treatment Needs

Finding blinds at low-prices can be a bit of a challenge. But, Next Day Blinds has a guarantee on most all their products, which include premium wood blinds, premium plantation shutters, pleated shades, roller shades, Roman shades, wood blinds, aluminum blinds, vertical blinds, vinyl shutters and more.

Next Day Blinds sells high-quality window treatments, utilizing only the highest-quality goods for their wide range of home decorating/window treatment products. All of their products are custom made in their own factory in Jessup, MD. They have 35 stores throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area, showcasing a wide variety of window blinds, shades, shutters, and cornices. Their web site is a phenomenal showcase of window treatment items, available at discount rates. They have also dedicated themselves to top-notch customer service, including free in-home consultations.

Their website is extremely user friendly and gives tips and tricks for maintaining your blinds. Even if you are not a decorator, you can still feel like one using this website.

The environmentally-conscious company (the majority of their vehicle fleet will go hybrid by end of 2009) aims for absolute customer satisfaction in every aspect of their business. Shop Next Day Blinds online and discover a stylish, classy line of blinds, shades, top-notch service and more! See for yourself why people are raving about this company.

Shop online anytime!

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May11

Nitto Tires Wins Endurance Race

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Nitto Tires Wins Endurance Race

Nitto Tire and Team Achilles Motorsports recently competed in the world’s longest endurance race: the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The race requires teams to drive throughout the night for 25 hours straight. At the end of 25 hours the team with the most laps is declared the winner. The team campaigned a BMW M3 in the second fastest class overall and the fastest class requiring D.O.T.-compliant tires. The team ran on Nitto’s NT01 road race tires. Nitto created a new website that documents the race as it unfolded.

Despite a shaky start, the race was one of the closest on record. Early in the race the team was forced to pit and make needed repairs, which put them four laps down. Then, as they tried to regain their track position, a dense fog settled over the track, making it difficult to see more than a few car lengths ahead. The fog forced officials to stop the race for over 11 hours. After the restart, the team starts to catch up to the first-place team. But is it enough time?

After weeks of preparation and hours of racing, the race came down to a few crucial seconds. The team finished first in their class, with 477 laps completed and a 9-second lead over second place. In fact, the team’s laps and times were comparable to faster classes, which have the competitive advantage of using race slicks. When compared to these classes, the team finished second overall, fewer than 15 seconds behind the winner of the fastest class. This is Nitto‘s second consecutive win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Nitto is the only tire manufacturer to hold back-to-back wins.

Nitto Tire develops performance wheel and tire packages including racing, off-road and street tire packages.

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May11

Bangkok River Cruise

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Bangkok River Cruise

Bangkok has much to offer in terms of cultural heritage and arts and entertainment. It is one of Thailand’s most popular tourists destinations and the possibilities for sight seeing and unique experiences is endless. One possibility isn’t to be found in the city specifically, but along the Chao Phraya River. This is the longest river in Thailand and a cruise through its waters can be an incredible sightseeing adventure. Tourists staying in five star hotels Bangkok can easily gain charter cruise information from the concierge. Transportation and activity planning are also common assistance aspects from luxury hotels.

A tour originating in Bangkok will begin at the Sathorn Pier close to the Taksin Bridge. This can be easily accessed by the skytrain station which is only about a five minute walk from the bridge. Once aboard the trip becomes exciting and increases in scenic and cultural views as it goes. The first stop over is likely, and usually recommended, at the Ratchawong Pier. This will provide the opportunity to visit Bangkok’s Chinatown. Next on the stop over agenda is the Memorial Bridge, which is dedicated to King Rama I, who was the founder of Bangkok. There is a beautiful monument near the bridge that depicts the King gazing fondly at the thriving city. If time allows, a short jaunt further into town leads to Pahurat, which is the Indian based community.

There are many other adventures and locations to stop and visit as the cruise progresses up the river. Some of these include Fort Vichai Prasit, which served as an Ayutthaya fort. It was built in 1688 and currently houses the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters. Near there is the Wat Arun, the temple of Dawn. This incredible building was also built during the Ayutthaya period and stands tall and impressive along the water’s edge. Further along the river, the cruise will rich the spectacular Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha complex. This will likely be one of the highlights of the cruise and tourists generally choose to spend time touring it. This beautiful historical center was originally the center of Bangkok.

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May7

Lap Band Surgery in Mexico

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Lap Band Surgery in Mexico

Lap band surgery is where a small pouch is created in the upper area of the stomach, whereby the patient feels full without having to eat in excess. This procedure is done on obese patients who are not affected by customary dieting procedures. Lap band surgery is done without cutting the stomach or using staples, as found in conventional gastric bypass surgery. In this case, a gastric band is placed through tiny incisions in the abdomen and placed around the upper area of stomach. The band has a balloon inside that adjusts to reduce the stomach size and that can be inflated or deflated at any time after the operation, depending on weight loss goals.

Because Mexico is such a strong option for medical tourism, many patients choose to have their surgery done in a Mexican hospital as medical care is so cost effective. Because lap band surgery is done under general anesthesia, lasting between 30 minutes and 1 hour and because the procedure requires a short hospital stay, patients are delighted to have lap band surgery abroad in Mexico and then to use their extra time to visit the many beautiful sights in this country. With savings up to 60% of what would be required in the United States, patients are able to afford a lovely vacation after their surgery.

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