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As upon request from a friend of mine who absolutely loved her trip, today we will be visiting the beautiful Island of St. Martin with some tips from her.

Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km east of Puerto Rico. Being as it is so small in size, there are lots of activities to do there and you can also visit the neighboring Islands!

My friend wrote down a list of activities I should share with all of you so here it goes…

Snorkeling in Mullet Bay Beach — If you have your own snorkeling gear (like me), Mullet Bay has much to discover: sea urchins, crabs, octopus, colorful fish. In terms of coral, there aren’t so many, if any. Suggested trip: snorkel along the rocks on the right side of the beach, until you get to Cupecoy Beach. Then, go hang out at Cupecoy Cave. Stay close to the coast when you snorkel because sometimes catamarans and jetskiers come pretty close to the shore.

Marigot Market — Every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, fishermen from St. Martin and Anguilla come to sell their fresh catch at the outdoor market at Marigot. Get your fresh locally-grown fruits and veggies here or bargain for the usual tourist-targeted merchandise. Visit the coconut man for a sip of yummy coconut juice, or try some conch at one of the local food shacks.

Island Hopping Adventure — Off the coast of Lucas Bay lies four little, uninhabited islands. As the bay is shallow, it is easy to wade across the water from island to island, exploring what each has to offer. The waters are very clear and you can see starfish, sea urchins, and conchs.

Shopping on Front Street — Front Street is the main avenue in downtown Philipsburg and is basically one big outdoor mall with cars and tourists. It’s the most lively place to go shop on the island in my opinion. Jewelry stores, boutiques, upscale fashion stores, and restaurants line the street. Go visit the Yoda Guy. He’s one of the key artists who designed Yoda from Star Wars (along with characters from other movies) and he now runs a museum/store selling genuine Star Wars memorabilia.

Pic Paradis — Pic Paradis is the highest point on the island and offers wonderful vistas of the island and the ocean in all directions. A hiking trail on top links mountain peaks to mountain peaks. A one-way hike would take about 2 hrs to complete, or 4 hrs roundtrip, if you please to go that far. As the trail winds through forest and meadows, you may see mango trees (or even pick a mango or two to try), banana trees, and if you’re really lucky, you may spot a monkey. Drive past Marigot and follow the signs for pic paradis. At the top, you’ll reach a radio station. Park somewhere on the side of the road and follow the sign for the hiking trail.

I don’t know about you guys but until now, St. Martin sounds like my number 1 spot for this summer. Have any other suggestions that can make me change my mind?

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Of the many options available for a Europe Vacation, Italy is one of the most popular for a reason; it offers a wealth of history, culture, and attractions to suit the tastes of just about everyone. While most any itinerary to Italy can be fabulous, it pays to talk with others who have already been there. I researched some tips for you if you are ever planning a great Italy vacation:

1. Look into flying in and out of Rome (Fiumicino Airport), which is typically cost-effective compared to other options. Consider calling the airline several weeks before you depart to see if you can select your seats; otherwise, you may show up at the airport and get a middle seat for a nine-hour flight!

2. Spend a few days in Rome (which is nowhere near enough time to see everything you’ll want to see, but it’ll at least give you a flavor for the capital city). The most favorited sites in Rome include the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, Trastevere (a medieval neighborhood just west of the river that runs through the city), and just about every piazza you can wander into!

3. The Vatican is worth a visit if you have time, but make sure you buy your ticket online well in advance. If you don’t, you’ll wait in a HUGE line outside. Use a guidebook instead of purchasing a tour at the Vatican because the tours are sold out by the time you reserve a ticket online.

4. Tuscany is a must-see! This is going to be a highlight of your trip. Be sure to rent a car so you can drive through the tiny towns sprawled along the Tuscan hillside. Stop in Lucca for an afternoon and rent bikes to ride along the old city walls. Check out the old skyscrapers in the medieval town of San Gimignano, and ask for a room with a view of the countryside if you stay the night. Other highlights in Tuscany include Sienna, Pisa, and tons of castles, and medieval hamlets.

5. Florence is also a popular city in Tuscany, but you don’t really need a car to get there. Train travel to Florence is fast and affordable, and you can easily take a cab or bus to your hotel. Il Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Michelangelo‘s David are must-sees, but the best site in Florence is a sunset trip to Piazza Michelangelo, which overlooks the entire city.

6. If you can make it to Pompei during your trip, you won’t be sorry. It is absolutely amazing how much of this ancient city still remains. I highly recommend renting an audio guide before you check out each villa and building — hearing the stories of the city’s inhabitants is fascinating.

7. Eat gelato as much as you can!

Italy is a beautiful country, and the people are very accommodating even if you don’t speak the language. If you’re looking for a great Europe vacation, it’s hard to go wrong with a trip to Italy.

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A friend of ours from Bananaq8 recently bought a new pair of UGGs summer collection from ShoeboxNY. Upon paying at the cashier, she was informed that with every purchase of KD25 worth of Uggs at any ShoeboxNY store, there is one chance to participate in a draw to give two lucky winners a 7-day round-trip and accomodation to the sunny city of Los Angeles, California for some absolute sun fun. She filled out the coupon, and…

She is now somewhere tanning on Cali Beaches, enjoying the scenery and hollywood life-style.

If you want to be a lucky winner with ShoeboxNY, visit any of the stores and enter the draw. Best of luck to everyone!

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When I hear Bali, I think paradise. That is why our second destination for this summer is: Bali, Indonesia.

It’s more than a place: it’s a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind. Yes, Bali has beaches, surfing, diving, and resorts great and small, but it’s the essence of Bali – and the Balinese – that makes it so much more than just a fun-in-the-sun retreat.

It is possible to take the cliché of the smiling Balinese too far, but in reality, the inhabitants of this small island are indeed a generous, genuinely warm people. And there’s an awful lot to do in paradise:

1.)    Go surfing in Uluwatu, Bignin, or Balangan. Or if you don’t know how, learn in Kuta, Legian, and Canggu. Bali boasts some of the world’s best surf spots.

2.)     Escape to Menjangan Island and go snorkeling in the clear waters to see the abundant marine life. If you visit in the spring, make sure to catch hundreds of deer swimming to the island.

3.)     Relax and take in a spa and massage treatment in the midst of Bali’s beauty or practice yoga and meditate in Bali to find your inner self.

4.)     Climb Mount Batur’s black sand and lava at dawn to see the sunrise. After that walk around the shores of Lake Bratan in scenic Bedugul.

5.)     Go cycling and see Bali’s beautiful rice fields, rainforest, or mountainous terrain. If you’re a thrill-seeker, try one of the downhill tracks.

6.)    Visit the Tirta Gangga water palace, a maze of pools and fountains surrounded by lush gardens with stone statues. The complex is simply beautiful.

7.)     Visit the scenic fishing village of Jemeluk, learn freediving in Amed, and dive the famous USAT Liberty wreck in Tulamben: it’s an unbelievable experience.

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“The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see.” – G.K. Chesterton

As summer vacation is approaching and everyone is so busy thinking of where to go, I decided to do some research and highlight several countries/islands/towns that are worth visiting this summer. Everyone usually goes to well-known touristic spots, but did you ever stop and think that there actually might be somewhere better? Travelling is not just for fun or to change your mood, travelling or seeing places is an important part of our education. One cannot believe a fact to be true unless one sees it. The education that we receive from schools and colleges does not provide clear knowledge or idea of places. That’s why the first destination spot I picked for this summer is: Vietnam! Yes, that’s right – Vietnam.

Vietnam’s history is one of war, so it’s amazing to see how much this country has evolved from being a war-zone for so many years and then blooming to become one of the top most visited touristic destinations in magazines worldwide.

Vietnam has around 3.3m tourist arrivals every year. These tourists arrive to Vietnam waiting to unfold its true treasures at:

Halong Bay: There’s nothing quite like Halong Bay first thing in the morning. As the mists clear, hundreds of huge karst towers appear, looming high above the boat. In the soft morning light it’s like waking up in a watercolor painting of a mythical land.

Hanoi: Motorbikes piled high with people, produce and even animals zip through the streets. It’s crazy, haphazard and somehow it works. The best way to take it all in is from a rooftop cafe. Order an extra strong coffee and watch the chaos unfold below.

Mekong Delta: This massive area of floating markets, emerald rice paddies and lush islands is home to some of the friendliest people on earth. Take a boat trip to one of the sleepy islands to get a front row view of life on the Delta, and meet the people who call it home.

Sapa: Head to the hills and see the colourful villages of Vietnam’s minority groups – the Zay, and the Blue and Black H’mong. The area is remote so the best way to experience it is on an overnight trek, spending the night as a guest of a local family.
Qui Nhon: Quaint Qui Nhon is a sleepy beach town off the main tourist trail. It’s worth coming here just for the drive. The road hugs granite cliffs that plunge into the South China Sea, and islands, lagoons and sand dunes slowly give way to sugar plantations and rice fields.

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Hungry? Want something quick but fulfilling at the same time? Then head on down to Rowdy Taco, located at Alia & Ghalia Towers in Mahboula.

Kayan Restaurants, the owners of Smash Burger, have decided to launch their Mexican Concept – Rowdy Taco. The interior is amazing, the staff so friendly and the food – let’s just say I’ll be going back for more.

They have everything from Breakfast Tacos to Quesadillas, Salads, and even Dessert Tacos! All their ingredients are freshly prepared daily, using fresh local produce and organic foods. The price range is not bad at all as the most expensive item on the menu are the Quesadillas priced at 1.500 KD.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: RowdyTacoQ8

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Since when was being too good looking a crime? Since when were good looking people not allowed to go out in public? And since when did people become so close-minded? I came across this article the other day stating that three Emirati men were thrown out of the Heritage & Culture Festival in Riyadh because they were too handsome and they were deported on the spot to Abu Dhabi! Seriously? If Saudi men are in fear of their women looking at “too handsome” men, then why would they host a mixed festival in the first place? Plus, how handsome can they really be? And what is too handsome anyways? This is the link for the article [link]

Ladies, please share your thoughts; what are the criteria for handsome men? Because truly I haven’t seen any of those around lately!

Update: I saw this short video for the man that they claimed was thrown out of the Heritage & Culture Festival in Riyadh because of his handsomeness.

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I don’t know if you guys felt anything (I didn’t) but apparently an earthquake occured almost 2 hours ago. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 and 87 km originated in Khash, Sistan va Baluchestan, Iran. All neighboring countries felt the quake because of its magnitude and according to earthquake track Kuwait has had 3 earthquakes in the past year.
الله يستر علينا يا رب و يجيرنا من الأعظم

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My friend from Dubai has sent me photos for new Lamborghini Aventador police cars in Dubai! Let me re-phrase it; KD 140K+ Lamborghini Aventador that can speed up to 349km/h for the police in Dubai! That’s heavy, forget about economy crises I say. That would undoubtedly be world’s most expensive patrol car ever. “God” is there anyway I could work as a cop in Dubai? Anyone has any ‘Wasta’ please!

Thanks [Omran]

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I was checking my e-mail and came across this article from CNN, and thought it would be of great interest to you guys:

Bolivia was ranked the unfriendliest country for travelers in the World Economic Forum report. The category ‘Attitude of population toward foreign visitors’ is just one of many used to rank countries in the new Travel and Tourism Competitive Index. Bolivia ranked 110th out of 140 countries in the overall index results. On the positive side, it performed well in price competitiveness due mainly to low hotel accommodation costs.

(CNN) — When traveling, some countries just don’t like you. Or at least, it can certainly feel that way.

A new report, put out earlier this month by the World Economic Forum, has ranked which countries roll out the welcome mat to travelers and which give the cold shoulder.

The “Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013″ ranked 140 countries according to attractiveness and competitiveness in the travel and tourism industries.

Unwelcoming

Among the extensive analyses, one of the most interesting rankings was how welcome tourists are in each country, under the category “Attitude of population toward foreign visitors.”

And the world’s most unfriendly country, according to the data?

Bolivia took the dubious honor, scoring a 4.1 out of seven on a scale of “very unwelcome” (0) to “very welcome” (7).

Venezuela and the Russian Federation were next.

Interestingly, despite their huge tourist arrivals, South Korea and China tied with four other countries for the eighth least friendly spot.

At the other end of the scale, Iceland and New Zealand were ranked the world’s most welcoming nations for visitors.

You can see a top 10 for friendliest and unfriendliest at the bottom of this article.

Strengths and weaknesses

The “friendly” ranking was just one aspect of the report, analyzing each country’s competitiveness in travel and tourism. That competitiveness is “based on the extent to which they are putting in place the factors and policies to make it attractive to develop the travel and tourism sector.”

In the overall Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Europe was the top region with the first five positions all held by European countries. Switzerland, Germany and Austria were the top three in that order. Switzerland has headed the ranking since the index began five years ago.

Excellent tourism infrastructure and facilities, business travel appeal, sustainable development of natural resources and rich cultural resources were among the key factors in landing the highest positions in the rankings.

Safety/security, underdeveloped infrastructure and concerns about sustainable development were among the factors bringing down countries’ competitiveness.

Haiti scored the lowest on the competitiveness index.

The United States (6th) topped the combined Americas, Singapore (10th) just pushed out Australia and New Zealand to lead the Asia Pacific region, the United Arab Emirates (28th) was the highest performer in the Middle East and the Seychelles (38th) overtook Mauritius to head Africa.

The report emphasized the need for continued development in the travel and tourism sector particularly for its role in job creation in a relatively stagnant global economy. The industry currently accounts for one in 11 jobs in the world.

The report used data compiled from the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey and hard data from private sources and national and international agencies and organizations such as the ICAO, IATA, UNWTO, World Bank/International Finance Corporation, IUCN, WHO and UNESCO.

Attitude of population toward foreign visitors

(1 = very unwelcome; 7 = very welcome)

Friendliest

1. Iceland  6.8
2. New Zealand  6.8
3. Morocco  6.7
4. Macedonia, FYR  6.7
5. Austria  6.7
6. Senegal  6.7
7. Portugal  6.6
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina  6.6
9. Ireland  6.6
10. Burkina Faso  6.6

Unfriendliest

1. Bolivia  4.1
2. Venezuela  4.5
3. Russian Federation  5.0
4. Kuwait  5.2
5. Latvia  5.2
6. Iran  5.2
7. Pakistan  5.3
8. Slovak Republic  5.5
9. Bulgaria  5.5
10. Mongolia  5.5

Kuwait is ranked #4th Unfriendliest country in the world? Really CNN? Is that all you got? This article outraged me. What do you guys think? If Kuwait was to be rated, where would it fall? Waiting for your feedback.

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Have you guys watched the 85th Oscar Academy Awards last night? I was so sleepy but I kept my eyes open till the show started and managed to watch half of it before I fall into a deep sleep, it was so fun but sadly I missed to see the winners and their reactions. I always get surprised with the winners but this time around I kind of expected the results. My favorite movie this year, Life of Pi, has won several awards such as best Director, best Cinematography, and best Visual Effects (well deserved) but the top movie award has gone to Argo (which I haven’t seen) starring Ben Affleck. It’s weird that I always miss to watch the films that win the Oscar awards!

The other surprise that the Italian-origin actor Daniel Day-Lewis has won the best actor award for the 3rd time for his role in Lincoln which I also missed, I think this is the first time ever an actor wins Oscar for three times, I remember he won the Oscar in Gangs of New York in year 2002, it was such an awesome movie. Also I think it was fair that Best Supporting Actor award has gone to cute Anne Hathaway (which is her first Oscar award) because she had to lose weight and cut her hair to fit the given role. As for the Best Actress award it has gone to Jennifer Lawrence for the film Silver Linings Playbook, yes I missed it as well.

As I expected James Bond Skyfall won nothing because it sucked if you ask me except for the intro song Skyfall that was performed amazingly by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth. By the way, did you see how Michelle Obama suddenly came in? It was kinda bizarre but indeed a smart diplomatic move. Academy awards aside, which actress do you think looked stunning on the red carpet this year?

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