Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Online Dating, Why Not?

So, you're looking to meet that "special someone". You have tried the bars, blind dates, churches, grocery stores, etc, all with little or no success. What have you got to lose by trying one, or even a few, of the many different online singles services? Absolutely nothing!As a former dating service professional, with both matchmaking and video dating services, I would encourage anyone to spend . . .

Choosing the Right Travel Nursing Placement Agency

Travel nursing is becoming one of our nation’s fastest growing professions, and it’s no surprise. If you love seeing new places and enjoy exciting new experiences that evoke the feeling of taking an extended vacation, then the career of a traveling nurse might be just what the doctor ordered! Travel nursing enables many people to stay on vacation for two to six months in free luxury accommoda. . .

Return to Ouvea, New Caledonia

"Ouvea is everything you'd expect in a South Pacific island. Twenty kilometers of unbroken white sands border the lagoon on the west side of the island and extend far out from shore to give the water a turquoise hue. The wide western lagoon, protected by a string of coral islands and a barrier reef, is the only of its kind in the Loyalties. On the ocean side are rocky cliffs, pounded by surf, b. . .

Price Is Not Everything

Booking a cheap holiday might be a short term gain, but what about the long term?So I got a cheap holiday, but how did it work out? Was all my needs met? Was the hotel as I would have liked it to be? Is the resort right for me? I am writing this article to give you an idea of the perils of booking your holiday in the competitive industry of Travel. I hope to raise your awareness to the perils o. . .

Unforgettable White Mountains Vacations – The Most Scenic...

This amazing drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire has a gorgeous vista at every turn, oodles and oodles of family vacation fun, and a visit to the home of the world wind speed record. Just keep reading to discover a remarkable trip on your White Mountains vacation.The White Mountain National Forest is about a 4-hour drive north of Boston, Massachusetts. Deep in New Hampshire, the . . .

An Island A Day

Stand by the shores of Casco Bay on the coast of Maine and you may expect to find ocean as far as the eye can see. Instead seemingly endless islands dot the seascape. Sometimes called the calendar islands, there is rumored to be an island in the bay for every day of the year.Stretching from Cape Elizabeth to Cape Small these islands with their rocky shores and rustic way of life define the ster. . .

For the Movie Watcher Who Can’t Get Enough

You love movies. That’s obvious or you wouldn’t be here. You’ve got a good system where you can watch your movies. That’s also obvious. Now comes the fun part, what do you watch? Because you’ve seen so many movies, the local movie rental store may not be giving you a decent supply of films. Besides, who wants to drive to the movie store, pick through the (possibly) meager selection, wait in lin. . .

Top Ten Travel Nursing “Hot Spots”

The great thing about being a traveling nurse boils down to one key component – it’s about the travel! For those of us who love moving around and seeing the world, travel nursing is the profession of our dreams. There are many travel destinations available, based on weather, activities, cost of living, and salary. Therefore, I have gathered a list of my “Top Ten” destinations that nurses cho. . .

Exploring The Exotic - Antarctica Cruise

Antarctica is one of the great unexplored areas of the world. It wasn’t until the last fifty years that there has been any appreciable exploration or study of the vast frozen continent. Now the tourist with sufficient money can actually view and set foot on this unique part of the earth.The tourist season for Antarctica is restricted only to the months of December through February when it is th. . .

Finding Fun Date Ideas

Need an idea for what to do on a date? Here's how to go about finding ideas for new and unusual dates that are enjoyable and memorable.The three most usual choices for what to do on a date are dinner, a movie, and a public event such as a sports game or concert. Those activities often give the couple several hours of time to enjoy each other's company. But relying on those same activities too o. . .

How to Get Your New Passport

A valid passport is necessary for U.S. citizens to enter nearly 80% of the world´s countries and highly recommended in most of the others as definitive proof of one´s identity and citizenship.If you answer yes to any one of the following, you should apply for a new passport. Are you applying for a U.S. passport for the first time? Was your previous U.S. passport lost, stolen, or damaged? Has yo. . .

Samoa, Heart of Polynesia

The islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new South Pacific travel destination between Hawaii and New Zealand. This "Heart of Polynesia" is politically split into two distinct entities 80 miles apart. The country Samoa is a former German colony, captured by New Zealand in 1914 and granted independence in 1962. In 1997 the name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.American Samoa is the. . .

Wild Parrots of Irena Street

Dawn. I stood waiting, watching on my roof deck for the moring sun to break over the horizon. I waited for them to wake up. Then, shortly after sunrise, stillness gave way to chatter in a gently swaying palm tree. Soon, about 50 parrots emerged from their roost, squawking as they circled above me in the early morning sky. Thirty minutes later, they disappeared from sight.The green parrots are M. . .

Picking Your Golf Equipment

Looking for quality golf equipment but not sure you want to spend a ton on it? Are you new and starting out and need some new golf equipment but don't know where to begin? Finding the right golf equipment may seem like a challenge, but it really does not have to be. In fact, if you know what you need, your task could be quite easy. Looking for quality golf equipment but not sure you want to . . .

Cruising: Fun & Affordable

Many people pass up going on a cruise for their vacation because of the myth that it is expensive. However, cruising has become a fun and economical way to vacation for young and old alike. It could be considered a downright bargain compared to staying at a resort, hotel, or private villa.Cruising is not bound to any particular age group either. There are fun activities for all ages aboard a sh. . .

Hostels in Germany – The Amazing Discovery of Irresistibi...

Would you like to spend nights at the most beautiful, most exciting and most unforgettable places? Would you like to constantly receive TOP Insider Tips from natives, whose are really well versed - and this totally free of charge? Would you like to save 50 to 80% of your usual overnight expenses? If you answered one or all above questions with "YES", read on ; -) Did you know that the youth hos. . .

Bolivia: A Geographic Portrait

South America's primary mountain range, the Andes, attains one of its widest points in Bolivia. Here the Andes are divided into two subranges, Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera Occidental. Peaks in these areas are in excess of 20,000 feet. Between these subranges lies the Altiplano which contains the highest navigable lake on earth. Lake Titicaca, which also lies in Peru, is 12,507 feet above . . .

Find Your Perfect Cottage In Ireland

Take a holiday in one of the world's best destinations – the delightful coasts and countryside of Ireland. In Ireland, your self-catering holiday options encompass stays in cottages, castles and farmhouses on the coast, in the countryside or in villages throughout the south and west including Cork, Kerry and Clare. You can choose anything from a short break to a longer two-centre vacation. And . . .

Finding Travel Deals

If your vacation time is coming up and you are planning on making a trip, then you will need to make some plans. Perhaps you are going to visit family? Or, maybe you plan to take your family to see an attraction somewhere? Maybe you are going to visit another country? Regardless of where you plan to go, you can find great deals on getting there, staying there, and even enjoying your time at the. . .

Looking for a Holiday with a Difference?

Fancy holidaying somewhere unusual? How about a 7 day tornado chasing safari? Care for a camping safari across the desert? How about a night in an Igloo? Or perhaps you may want to attend a winter driving school and receive your reindeer license! Chloe Lim goes in search of holiday spots with a difference. You will reach areas that are totally remote, stunningly beautiful, rich in history and h. . .

Fantastic Cruise Deals Abound at the Last Minute

Being a spur of the moment person has its advantages. It means you can “seize the day” and run with it, enjoying an opportunity when it comes your way. So the next time you’ve lined up your vacation time and decided you’re just going to drive to the nearest lake or maybe visit some relatives, keep an open mind and check in on the great online cruise deals that show up as you get closer to your . . .

Planning Your Dream Vacation

Planning a vacation is a very important part of any vacation. It ensures that a vacation can be successful and enjoyable, and hopefully goes a long way to avoiding snags and hang ups. Vacation organization is something that once you do it once, you can do it fore vacations to come. To begin I will point out some tips that will hopefully help you in your quest to organize your vacation and/or tr. . .

Export of Inuit Sculpture Containing Whalebone or Ivory

The export of certain Inuit sculpture from Canada to other parts of the world including the United States does have some restrictions. In order to reduce harvesting of marine animals such as whales and walruses, the United States Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. It was later modified in 1981 and a special section (101) of the act was developed to exclude Eskimo Inuit an. . .

My Introduction To Northwest Coast Native American Art

I had lived in Vancouver very briefly as a child and it was during that time when I was first exposed to the art of the Northwest Coast Native American Indians. It was the towering colorful totem poles out in Stanley Park that everyone gazed at with wonder and appreciation. It took about 30 years later during a return trip to Vancouver when Northwest Coast Native American art caught my eyes aga. . .

Validated Presence for Museums

'Some of the most important people to your future don’t understand the value of what you are doing.' --- Richard West, “American’s Museums – Building Community” Your museum needs validated presence with multiple individuals and groups to effectively carry out its mission, build and maintain audience and manage donor development. * For presence, your museum (or other heritage tourism site) requi. . .

Jerusalem - City of Gold

"It took just 6 days for God to createHis wonderful world - so big - so greatOn the 7th day - He had a rest -He'd worked so hard - He'd done his bestHe settled back and looked to see,"I need a city.. One that's just for Me"And as He watched in His new setting sunHis eyes looked down on Jerusalem.."Nikki Katz (9)Jerusalem!The news will depict the old city as a place of war. Conflict. Bloodshed.A. . .

Boat Timeshares - A Unique Vacationing Experience

If you’ve dreamed of sailing the seven seas, but don’t necessarily have the bank account to buy a luxury vessel, don’t despair. There are ways to make that dream happen without breaking your bank. Boat timeshares offer a unique vacationing experience for almost any budget. By getting involved in a timeshare, you have the right to use that luxury vessel to make your dreams come true, but you al. . .

Tropical Vacations Introduce You to Nature’s Glory

A tropical vacation usually evokes images of images of sultry summer days lounging on the beach and soft breezes caressing you in the evenings while you sip a drink in the evenings. There are so many wonderful tropical vacation packages that give you just that in Mexico, but if you’d like to take it to the next level, consider traveling to the interior as well and experience the full spectrum . . .

Fabulous Beach Vacations Appeal to the Whole Family

It’s time to plan the family vacation and you’re running into trouble again. Just once you’d like to find something that everyone will love, but you don’t think you can find it; after all, you have the twins who are six years old, a terminally bored teenager, and a preteen daughter whose idea of the perfect vacation is a trip to the mall. Your husband loves to golf, and your idea of a vacatio. . .

In Search of Hobbits: A Small Adventure

We couldn't very well visit New Zealand without seeing some of the Lord of the Rings locations and our first stop was the small town of Matamata on the North Island, which became famous as Hobbiton was filmed around there. All either of us knew was that it was filmed somewhere on a sheep farm near there, but that was about it. My husband John was driving and I was navigating with a map we'd jus. . .

Egypt : Land Before Time

In recent years, the number of people touring Egypt has slowly dwindled. This is most likely due to the violence in the Middle Eastern region and the few bombings and kidnappings that have occured in recent years. However, these cases are pretty much isolated, and the thousands of people who visit Egypt every year thoroughly enjoy their experience there.Egypt is famous for a lot of things, from. . .

Frankfurt Germany -- 12 Insider Tips

In the city with its international airport 650,000 humans live. It is a very modern large city and became the ' turntable of Europe '. In Frankfurt important industrial enterprises and wholesale dealer are resident like also many banks. Not only the German Federal Bank, but also the European Central Bank (ECB) resides here.Famous ‘Kaiserdom’ (emperor cathedral), which documents loved 'Roemerber. . .

Carnival in Salvador

Deemed by some as the wildest street party on the face of the planet, Carnival in Salvador, Bahia is the place to be during those five crazy days in February or March. Different from the more spectator-oriented Carnival in Rio, Carnival in Salvador puts you in the middle of the music, the dancing, and the rhythms of the some of the most energetic bands in the world. Once the center of sugar c. . .

Breakfast In Hong Kong

All people in the world know the importance of eating breakfast and every country has their traditional breakfast for its people. English people have their fried eggs, beans, bacon and mushrooms. Pakistan people have their chapattis. Chinese people have their noodles or congee. If someone happens to come to visit Hong Kong, one can have any types of breakfast one desires. Because of Hong Kong's. . .

German castles -- 4 of the most incredible ones -- Part II

Welcome to the second part of my special report of 4 awesome German castles! As I already have told, we have a long history here in Germany and very medieval castles. You can find them all over the country, but those four I have focused on South Germany, so that you do not have to travel hundreds of kilometres/miles and lose valuable time.I am sure you are hot to get to know them now, so I go s. . .

Why Visit Magical City?

People often ask me why we keep returning year after year to Cape Town and my answer is always the same, because we’ve not seen everything yet! “A world in one country” is the way South Africa is often described, but this statement can so easily be attributed to Cape Town alone. Cape Town is one of the top destinations world-wide for vacations these days and now that South Africa has managed 10. . .

The Story of the 12 Animal Zodiac in China

One day, Tian Di (The God Above) wanted to manage all animals on earth. He took out 12 chairs and told the cat to tell 11 other animals to go to the sky palace. When the cat told the ox about it, the rat overheard the news. The rat was very angry and he ran as fast as he could to the palace. As a result he got there before the ox. Tian Di then let him sit on the first chair. The ox took the sec. . .

Shanghai Experience

Recently I had a chance to spend four days in Shanghai. It was a wonderful experience and I was not at all surprised to see that Shanghai is really a city which is developing itself prosperously and positively.I was staying in a three-star hotel in which you can see as many foreign visitors as you can in a HK hotel. When I had the chances to go shopping in one of the busiest shopping streets, I. . .

Gifts in Chinese Culture

Chinese people have their own culture when it comes to giving friends or relatives presents. When it is a new-born baby, usually jade or silver bracelet or necklace would be good, particularly ones which can make the clinging sound so it will make some noise when the baby moves. Alternatively, some children's clothes, shoes or gloves would be good too. When it is an older child, some toys or st. . .

Are You Prepared for a Winter Emergency?

Brrr! It's definitely winter here in the Carolinas! Snow backed up traffic in Raleigh, NC today with some people being stuck in traffic for 5 hours!!! Four different schools have children spending the night because driving conditions were too hazardous for the buses and parents could not get through the traffic to pick up their children! People are in ditches and cars are stalled. An older coup. . .

Where I Draw the Line -- The Zugspitze

The Zugspitze is a dramatic mountain above the town of Garmisch- Partenkirchen in Southern Bavaria, Germany. I enjoyed walking mountain trails were I lived three hours away, and inquired about the trails to the top of the Zugspitze. In Germany hiking isn't much of an extreme sport. The trails are well developed and Gasthauses (restaurants) dot the sides of the mountains, so one can practically . . .

Take Beautiful Landscape and Nature Photos

We’ve all been there. Spent a lot of money to go to someplace we’ve never been before. We’ve taken the photos and brought them home expecting family and friends to ooh and aah over the shots we’ve taken. You open the envelope and take out the prints and somehow the landscapes and nature shots that looked so beautiful there look flat, dull, and you don’t remember seeing that couple in the corner. . .

Carnival in Rio

Considered one of the most awe-inspiring and grandiose spectacles in all the world, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the marvelous city, is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. For five days, the 14 samba schools (escolas de samba) parade through the famous sambadrome in quest to be the best samba school for that year. Besides being a spectacular display of costume, color, and dance, the perc. . .

The State of the Reef

Coral reefs around the world are under siege - FACT. Threats from over-fishing, urban coastal encroachment and rising sea temperatures are destroying sensitive corals and devastating the marine life they support. According to The United Nations, in the last four years ten percent of the world's reefs have died, and nearly a quarter are sick and suffering. Think about that for a second. More tha. . .

German Castles -- 4 of the most incredible ones – Part I

We have a long history here in Germany and very medieval castles also. Tens of thousands of tourists come to Germany day in and day out just to see and feel the "charisma" of our German castles.I will explain you 4 of my favourites and a little bit of their history. If you plan to travel to Germany, you might like to know them and to feel its charisma too. ;-) These 4 castles are located in S. . .

Dirty Old Men Get Their Dream Girls

Call them dirty old men. Call them sugar daddys. But with Elvis Preston King on their team these guys get their dream girls!Bachelor Dream Tours Dating ServiceThere are dating services after dating service after dating service, but there is only one Bachelor Dream Tours dating service with Elvis P. King at the helm. The king of dating services. Is Elvis back in the building with his girlfriends. . .

Marital Bliss - Honeymoon Cruise

A Honeymoon Cruise as the name suggests offers a gateway to paradise for honeymooners away from the pressures of daily life and enjoy the bliss of togetherness. This provides an opportunity for you to start your married life in a state of togetherness by exploring the unknown and enjoying nature and life. The Honeymoon cruise offers the comforts of a five star luxury and provides a period of un. . .

Bahamas Real Estate Guide to Permits, Residency and More

White sand beaches, clear blue waters, tax breaks, real estate and property; the Bahamas never looked so good. And yes, I said real estate. Bahamian real estate is hotter than ever.In 1993, the International Persons Landholding Act was put into motion to encourage foreigners to purchase a second home in The Bahamas. And it couldn’t be simpler. If a foreigner buys a single family dwelling or vac. . .

The Memory Collector

Everyone collects something right? It may be baseball cards, hats, or some other type of sports memorabilia. Even if you don’t consider yourself a collector of anything, you may be and don’t even know it. How about the collection of tools in the cellar you don’t really use, but you have to have them! Even maybe all those movies laying around you no longer watch, sounds like a collection to . . .

A Room With A View

In March of 1999, the Guinness Book of Records bestowed upon Hotel Everest View the title of Highest Placed Hotel in the World. This hotel is situated 13,000 ft (3,964 m) above sea level in Sagarmatha National Park in the Southern Khumbu region of Nepal. With its luxurious accommodations, guests stay overlooking the Himalayan peaks and Mt. Everest. A Japanese construction company, Trans Himalay. . .