The Super-Deluxe Private Nandana Resort, Bahamas

The proprietors of Nandana Villa in the Bahamas say, “Find us and you find paradise.” Although this sounds like hyperbole, it’s not: the word Nandana actually means “paradise” in Sanskrit  and the moment you arrive at this five-star custom resort’s private dock, you’ll know that’s nothing more than the unvarnished truth. Through 200-year-old hand-carved teak doors, you’ll enter the Great Hall, the “hub” of the resort, where social amenities include a glass-enclosed wine room. From there, check into one of five separate villas  one-bedroom “bangalas” (bungalows), each with its own climate control and security  and savor the perfect combination of solitude and gorgeous island views. For the ultimate in a magical island night, try the Canopy Suite, a 2,000-square-foot safari-style tent, nestled among towering palms, that includes all the amenities of the other suites, including air conditioning and a fully-appointed bathroom.



But you won’t want to spend much time sleeping, either; the resort’s facilities feature not only a 120-foot infinity pool that drops gracefully onto a private beach…but a championship golf course, Jet Skis and ATVs, beach volleyball, snorkeling, and fishing. If it’s your pleasure, arrange a trip to swim with dolphins, have a private picnic on an adjacent island, or explore the area on a bicycle. To keep in shape, work out in the resort’s private gym; and for relaxation afterward, treat yourself to an Asian massage or other spa services, or simply relax with a DVD and snacks. Whether it’s gourmet dining under the stars, gazing at priceless art and treasures from Asia on display throughout the resort, or using the convenience of high-speed Internet to gloat to all your friends who aren’t with you (!)…you’ll long remember your trip to “paradise” at Nandana.

Beach House Iruveli, the Maldives: A Whole Other World

Just say the words “beach houses,” and what do you imagine? Places to relax  places we let loose and immerse ourselves in sand, sun, and water. The travels -Beach House Iruveli is just such a place and more. In the midst of Haa Alif Atoll in the Indian Ocean, this resort combines luxury and culture with a mix of a well-trained staff that caters to your every want, and people who’ll share their personal stories and images with you. In suites from beachfront to oceanfront, from small to spacious, and holding delights from gardens and greenery to hammocks over the water, it provides luxury amenities enhanced by island details: native carvings, photographic stories, and invitations to experience the “Maldivian sun” on many levels.

There’s a lot to do at this beach house, too. Dining on local cuisine — paired with the right vintage from the underground wine cellar. Snorkeling, even for non-swimmers, in the shallow lagoon — or deep-sea underwater photography for experienced divers. Water sports range from kayaking and windsurfing to jet skiing; you can swim in your private pool, or enjoy an indoor soak in a restorative whirlpool. Breathe in the benefits of aromatherapy at the spa, be a kid again and build a sand castle on the pristine white beach, or curl up in the library with a good book to while away a lazy afternoon. Soon, you’ll truly understand the promise of this place: “Beach House Iruveli is not just an island, it’s a whole other world’’.

 

A Very Special Private Island Place: Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia

The Pangkor Laut Resort, a privately owned island three miles off the West Coast of Malaysia along the Straits of Malacca, boasts unsurpassed luxury and a fan, in the late opera star Luciano Pavarotti, after whom its top-of-the-line suite is named. It promises a combination of “luxury, natural beauty, and age-old wilderness” where “peace and magically memorable moments are the currency.” And, as befits a privately owned island, its status is truly unique: the island is only 300 acres, of which a bare fraction is devoted to the resort and its eight Estates, and there are no other resorts on site. What awaits you here? Pristine beaches among them Emerald Bay, which has been called the most beautiful beach in the world by travel experts. Fishing and snorkeling? Of course as well as kayaking, wakeboarding, and waterskiing. You can even have a romantic sunset cruise aboard the resort’s teakwood Oriental junk.

When it’s time to refresh and rest, your accommodation choices are wide: villas on stilts in the ocean…on the beach…or tucked into a hillside, with open-air bedrooms and bathrooms. Seven restaurants and bars offer cuisine of both East and West, prepared and customized to your preferences and needs. Whether you love sunbathing from your private terrace…indulging in the Spa Village’s offerings…losing yourself in a book from the library…soaking in a bubble bath under the stars…or shopping for souvenirs at the resort’s Kazbah gift shop, you’ll find your own special brand of relaxation at a place the staff call a “piece of paradise 2 million years in the making…nestling in the shade of forest giants as old as the land’’.

travels

travels-Pangkor Laut Resort,Malaysia

 

 

EIGHT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR COMPANY’S YOUNG EMPLOYEES

1 .

Close relationship with supervisors and constant feedback:

During their childhoods, millennials were encouraged to have close relationships with their parents and teachers. They expect the same kind of relationships in a work environment.“Millennials want close relationships with their supervisors, and expect frequent feedback. They dislike ambiguity and expect transparency and fairness in all their dealings with work organisations,” notes the report.

2. Work/life balance: Unlike their parents of the boomer generation, millennials are not workaholics. They want a clear work/life balance and expect their employers to help them achieve this.“They view work as just one aspect of life, and place more value on the sanctity of free time,” says the report.

3. Immediate gratification: The young people surveyed by Ericsson are not necessarily excited by the idea of slowly climbing up the corporate ladder. “They are less willing to pay dues, and unlikely to pursue the delayed gratification of a gradual promotion track.”

4. Tech-savvy: Millennials have a much closer relationship with technology than other generations. The report explains that “due to the rapid changes in technology over the last 25 years, millennials have become highly adaptable and naturally fast-paced. In their eyes, change is a constant…” These young employees often get frustrated with companies that use outdated technology.

5. Always connected: Young professionals are in constant contact with their friends and family through social media networks and instant messaging platforms. They continue with this communication during work hours, and view it as a right rather than a benefit.Unfortunately for employers, this is not a two-way street. Millennials are generally not willing to let work interrupt their private lives, especially during weekends.

6. Using personal networks to solve work-related issues: Millennials reach out to their friends and contacts to get help with work-related issues. Whereas previous generations would have limited such questions to their colleagues, millennials utilise their personal networks to address a variety of tasks.

7. Flexible work hours: Today’s young professionals desire flexible working hours (with no overtime) and the option to work from home on certain days.

8. Want to be treated as equals: “The sense of equality that millennials learned from their friendships with parents and teachers growing up translates directly to the workplace. [They] expect everyone to be equal, and for there to be transparency, fairness – and no hierarchy,” says the report.So in light of the above, what is the ideal company for today’s 20-somethings? “In the eyes of a millennial, an ideal company should allow them to sustain their personal lives at work. It should also offer them the opportunity to work in teams, preferably with others of their own age. There should be transparency, clear directions and constant feedback from managers and supervisors, with whom millennials expect to have a close relationship. In order to perform optimally, having the latest technology is a must, especially when it comes to communication.”

I WANT MY CHILD TO DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT WITH LIFE PART 1........TIPS

Children are born entitled. They are surrounded by adults who cater to their every need.

That’s fine when those things really are necessities: food, clothing, diapers and a place to get some sleep. Children grow up, though, and as they age, many come to define “needs” as an iPhone or a pair of expensive shoes. So how can parents teach their 21^st century kids to be more grateful and truly appreciate things?

    AFFIRMATION:  Sometimes one simple word of affirmation can change an entire life. So make sure your children know how much you appreciate them. And then, remind them every chance you get.

    ART. With the advent of the Internet, everyone who wants to create… can. The world just needs more people who want to…

    CHALLENGE:  Encourage your child to dream big dreams. In turn, they will accomplish more than they thought possible… and probably even more than you thought possible.

    COMPASSION/JUSTICE: Life isn’t fair. It never will be – there are just too many variables. But when a wrong has been committed or a playing field can be leveled, I want my child to be active in helping to level it.

    CONTENTMENT: The need for more is contagious. Therefore, one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is an appreciation for being content with what they have… but not with whom they are.

    CURIOSITY: Teach your children to ask questions about who, what, where, how, why, and why not. “Stop asking so many questions” are words that should never leave a parents’ mouth.

    DETERMINATION: One of the greatest determining factors in one’s success is the size of their will. How can you help grow your child’s today?

    DISCIPLINE: Children need to learn everything from the ground-up including appropriate behaviors, how to get along with others, how to get results, and how to achieve their dreams. Discipline should not be avoided or withheld. Instead, it should be consistent and positive.

    ENCOURAGEMENT:  Words are powerful. They can create or they can destroy. The simple words that you choose to speak today can offer encouragement and positive thoughts to another child. Or your words can send them further into despair. So choose them carefully.

    FAITHFULNESS TO YOUR SPOUSE. Faithfulness in marriage includes more than just our bodies. It also includes our eyes, mind, heart, and soul. Guard your sexuality daily and devote it entirely to your spouse. Your children will absolutely take notice.

    FINDING BEAUTY: Help your children find beauty in everything they see and in everyone they meet.

    GENEROSITY: Teach your children to be generous with your stuff so that they will become generous with theirs.

    HONESTY/INTEGRITY: Children who learn the value and importance of honesty at a young age have a far greater opportunity to become honest adults. And honest adults who deal truthfully with others tend to feel better about themselves, enjoy their lives more, and sleep better at night.

    HOPE: Hope is knowing and believing that things will get better and improve. It creates strength, endurance, and resolve. And in the desperately difficult times of life, it calls us to press onward.

    HUGS AND KISSES: I once heard the story of a man who told his 7-year old son that he had grown too old for kisses. I tear up every time I think of it. Know that your children are never too old to receive physical affirmation of your love for them.

    IMAGINATION. If we’ve learned anything over the past 20 years, it’s that life is changing faster and faster with every passing day. The world tomorrow looks nothing like the world today. And the people with imagination are the ones not just living it, they are creating it.

    INTENTIONALITY: I believe strongly in intentional living and intentional parenting. Slow down; consider who you are, where you are going, and how to get there. And do the same for each of your children.

    YOUR LAP: It’s the best place in the entire world for a book, story, or conversation. And it’s been right in front of you the whole time.

    LIFELONG LEARNING: A passion for learning is different from just studying to earn a grade or please teachers. It begins in the home. So read, ask questions, analyze, and expose. In other words, learn to love learning yourself.

     LOVE: but the greatest of these is love.

ANOTHER OLDER WHITE WOMAN/NIGERIAN MARRIAGE?

Love can be a fairytale but come on people can this really be LOVE???

MAKING YOUR KIDS STORAGE ORGANISATION INTERESTING

A child's interests can change as frequently as his shoe size. With all the phases he's going through, it isn't surprising that his room can easily become disorganized and cluttered. Establishing order in a child's room can be a great opportunity to teach your child how to keep his room clean and organized. Implementing some simple kids' storage and organization guidelines will help you and your child sort out the mess. With the right kids' furniture, you can create a storage system that gives your child a relaxing space all of his own.

1.       PURGE AND SORT: Because children grow so quickly, it may only take a season for them to build up a pile of outgrown garments. The same is true for toys and decor. Organizing her things means relinquishing the items she no longer needs. Box up old clothing, toys and other items for donation or sale. Sort the things she wants and uses into categories such as clothing, accessories, toys, books and decorations.

2.       LIMIT TOYS: To reduce clutter, you can limit the number of toys in a child's room to only the ones he or she still plays with frequently. Keep favorite or special toys where your child can have easy access to them. Donate old toys or store them in a closet or other storage area.

3.       KEEP CLEANUP SIMPLE: To make sure the room remains in order, it needs to be easy for the child to keep it clean on her own. Complicated organizational systems can discourage a child from cleaning up after her. Make sorting simple with an easy system, like one bin for large toys and one for small. Make sure every item has a proper place, so your child knows where it goes when it's time to put it away.

4.       STORE THINGS AND MAKE SENSE: The best way to make the most efficient room possible for your child is to keep each item in the area where it will be used. For example, keep clothing, accessories and a mirror near the closet or dresser. Store books and other educational items in a bookcase near the desk. Keep toys in a toy box or storage bins away from the bed, designating that space for sleep and not play. Anything used infrequently can be stored on shelves in clear, plastic containers for easy recognition.

5.       Give your child a say in the way the room is organized. Including your child in the organization process will empower and encourage him to keep it clean.

If you need more storage space in the room, you can purchase a storage bed or elevate the bed and utilize the space underneath the bed for extra storage room.

Kids love to climb, jump and run. To prevent accidents, make sure shelving and other top-heavy kids' furniture is secured to the wall. Fasten wall hangings to studs with proper hardware. Keep heavy items off high shelves to prevent them from falling on top of a child.

SCHWERIN CASTLE, GERMANY