Preeti Rajput's Blog, page 3

Japan: A holiday for every season

You don’t have to look far in Japan to find references to the changing seasons. From artistic pieces to vibrant festivals, the country is host to a wealth of seasonal celebrations.

Let’s take a look at some of the most loved destinations, and the ways in which these places honour the unique transformation of the landscape.

Spring

Spring (Haru) is celebrated with the arrival of the nationally revered cherry blossoms, otherwise known as sakura.

Fukuoka is a prefecture on Japan’s main island of Kyushu and has 1,000 blossoming sakura trees in the spring. You can admire this view by visiting Habu Park in Nakama, and even take a boat to view the blossoms.

The transient nature of Haru is so important for the Japanese you will find daily news reports on hanami (flower viewing). These regular reports reveal the best locations to enjoy lush, beautiful blooms after a cold white winter.

Summer

Summer (Natsu) is when the Japanese celebrate Obon. Usually held around the 15th of August, Obon is an annual three-day Buddhist event honouring the nation’s ancestors. It is considered to be one of Japan’s most meaningful religious festivals. Celebrations take place in various locations across the country with live music, dancing, and food offerings – intended to help welcome the spirit’s home.

At the end of the three-days, you can watch in awe as thousands of glowing lanterns are set afloat to commemorate deceased loved ones. This is the tradition of Toro Nagashi – known as Japan’s Floating Lantern Festival. Perhaps the most famous ceremony of its kind is the one held in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture. Here the lanterns allow people to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the world war 2 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Autumn

Autumn (Aki) witnesses the colourful changing of leaves. The Japanese even have a special word, Koyo, to describe this pass time of watching the natural wonder. Traditionally, people gather across the nation to view the dramatic foliage and celebrate this environmental spectacle.

If you are fortunate to visit in this season, you will be delighted by deciduous trees and the patchwork of colours that surrounds you. Some of the best places to view this breath-taking scenery are Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto, Mount Nasu in Tochigi, and Ueno Park in Tokyo.

Sightseers should be aware that depending on the region, the leaves may change earlier than in other places. So be sure to check before you visit!

Winter

Winter (Fuyu) in Japan sees several spectacular snow festivals from ice sculptures to illuminations making it a fantastic season to visit.

The Sapporo Snow Festival is probably the most famed, with sometimes literally millions of people in attendance. The celebrations are held in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, for one week in early February.

Here you can see various sized statues and sculptures made with snow and ice. These can include anything from illuminated monuments to popular characters or famous individuals. It is an incredible sight to behold.

Whatever time of year you choose to visit Japan, you’ll be sure to experience the wonders of nature and the festivals that celebrate them.

About the Author :

Carla Francis is the internationally recognized author behind the 5th edition guidebook and blog, ‘Travelling with Pets’. Carla’s work has been extensively featured in the UK, across Australia, on SBS radio. Carla has made significant contributions to the Japan Times, as a staff writer for major pet food companies, and travel magazines. She is also the in-house pet travel expert for PetsForever app, and her latest book, a travel memoir , is soon to be featured in The Reader’s Digest.

Check out her amazing book : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=CJ+Fenti...

Blog: https://www.pet-friendlyaccommodation.com.au/
Travel memoir: https://silvervinepress.com/shop/

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Surviving in the Corporate Jungle by Ashok Kumar Bhatia

Rating : 3.5 out of 5.0 stars 3.5

As a survivor of the corporate world for over a decade, I can precisely understand the analogy between corporate and jungle. There are myriads of personalities one encounters in a business day and their traits can be pertinently mapped to those of lions, cubs, fox, etc. Although this book doesn’t do vivisection of the personalities, yet the title is very well suited to the environment.

Organized by topics like advertising, burnout, leaders, networking, working hours, etc., the author gives a snippet of advice related to each. It doesn’t deep dive into the topic to explain the nitty-gritty of them but is limited to a single piece of guidance. None of the topics reach beyond a single page except a few where the learning of epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata are correlated to exciting times.

It is not intended for a specific category of employees. Whether you are fresher, experienced, a boss, a CEO, or in top management, it touches upon multiple aspects of corporate life. It is not a textbook that will walk you through the concepts with motivational examples but a quick reference guidebook.

Having gone through multiple management books and corporate training, I intended to find some pathbreaking tips. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it. Unarguably, the capsules of wisdom in each chapter hold relevance but some of them are at a pretty elementary level. For instance, being accessible, work-life balance, networking. These tips find a place in almost every management book under the sun.

Irrespective of unable to go beyond my expectations, it is still a valuable asset to people lost in the corporate jungle. Easing out your way when nothing seems to work needs a proficient support system. I believe his book can prove to be one. It is worth a read, and I would recommend it.

Connect with Author :-  www.ashokbhatia.wordpress.com

Buy the Book – http://www.amazon.in/Surviving-Corporate-Jungle-Ashok-Bhatia/dp/1482888505

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How to Have the Happiest Holiday

Research confirms that experiences make us happier than things, and going on holiday is an excellent way to enjoy a new experience! You will be able to joyfully anticipate your travels, enjoy them in the moment, and reminisce fondly about them after they are over. But how can you make the most of your travels to extract the biggest happiness boost of all?

Here are some tips to maximise the happiness you gain while travelling.

1. Start planning early

Planning early will not only minimise any last-minute surprises and stress, but also allow you to enjoy the happiness boost from anticipating your holiday as early as possible. In fact, people sometimes derive more enjoyment from looking forward to an occasion than the occasion itself! Make the most of it.

2. Pay in advance

If you pay in advance, studies show you will enjoy the moment more. Rather than dreading a large bill at the end of your travels, by paying in advance, you free your mind to focus on having fun.

3. Travel with friends 

A vacation with family or friends offers the highest gratification because social experiences bring greater joy than solitary pleasures. Invite your loved ones to join you on vacation, and revel in their company.

4. Put your phone away

Did you know that even having your phone on the table when you’re out with friends reduces the pleasure you get from the experience? Avoid the magnetic pull of your smartphone by keeping it out of sight while you absorb the beauty of your destination and delight in the company of your travel companions.

5. Take photographs 

Taking photos can actually help you enjoy an experience more. What’s more, it will also assist you in reliving those joyful moments when you’re back home, multiplying the pleasure you get from your vacation. Go on – get clicking!

6. Choose new experiences over shopping 

If you’re choosing between visiting a mall and exploring a new culture/cuisine/locale, always choose exploration. Due to a phenomenon called hedonic adaptation, people stop valuing material items over time. Great memories, on the other hand, last a lifetime!

7. Be a voluntourist

Consider devoting a few days from your next vacation to give back to the community, whether it’s working with children, the environment, or supporting economic projects. 94% of volunteers say it improves their mood, and 96% say it enriches their sense of purpose. And, across 136 countries, donating to charity has a similar impact on happiness as doubling household income! 

8. Be an eco-traveller

Make your travels more meaningful by travelling locally, off-season, and in groups, and by choosing eco-hotels. Pack light but take your own toiletries and water bottle. Try to reuse your linens and towels during your stay, and plan to wash your clothes at home on return. You will enjoy a happiness boost from knowing your travels had a minimal impact on the planet.

Follow these eight tips to make the most of your holiday experience. Happy travels!

Read more ideas on how to live a happy, healthy and successful life in my book Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success. Get it now on Amazon for only $2.99: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TYQ4HH8.

About the author:

Ayesha Ratnayake (MBA, Chartered Marketer) is the author of ‘Cheat Sheets for Life: Over 750 hacks for health, happiness and success’. She is a Sri Lankan born in Fiji with 10+ years of experience in marketing and management. Ayesha is a startup mentor and a mental health advocate. 

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Please Don’t Ask For Extra Glasses by Barb Taub

Rating – 5.0 out of 5.0 stars 5.0

I don’t remember the last time when I had so much fun reading a travel experience. Barb is a witty author with a laudable sense of humor. She has kept the book alive with her clever one-liners and individual style. This book revives the travel experience of a lively trio- Jaya is the leader who can take no-nonsense, Janine is a photographer, and Barb is a shopaholic. In initial experiences, I envisioned Barb, Jaya, and Janine to be young women in their late 20’s on an all-girl trip until I encountered the word “Grandmother”. I went back and checked the pictures, and it further enhanced my enjoyment.

The book starts with a humorous exchange of communication for VISA approval and sets the right tone for further chapters. In all 16 chapters, the author has narrated her experience of traveling across Rajasthan and Gujrat. I have been to most of the destinations, and through the author, I have seen them in a different light. While traveling in Rajasthan, she couldn’t contain her childish excitement for camels and Elephants. Even though I live in India, still camels and elephants are scarce to be seen in Delhi. I can relate to the thrill.

I always wanted to know the thoughts of international travelers for my country. This book gave an appropriate opportunity. It is strange to know they also have to face similar tourist traps, scammers, and thugs. Looks like there is no escape for anyone. The book starts with crashing a wedding, and they also encountered a bride on a horse. Being a native Indian, it is unusual, and I have not seen it in my entire life. It’s the bridegroom who sits astride the horse.

There are nowhere boring stats and history in it. Wherever needed it is transformed into stories. This book is thoroughly strived to relive the marvelous memories. In the end, there are some relevant travel tips for markets, food, shopping, etc. As the book ends, they didn’t want to end the trip, and I also felt the same. I wish it could go on and on. I relished and lived their every experience.

Connect with Author –  http://barbtaub.com

Get the book –  my newest book!

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How to Avoid Negative Reviews on Airbnb

I’ve been staying at Airbnb rentals for the last year or two almost every night while traveling the world. This means I read a lot of Airbnb reviews and also experience several different Airbnb listings every month.

That makes me privy to knowing firsthand the most common complaints that Airbnb guests make, and I’ll even add a few to the list myself.

Avoiding negative reviews on Airbnb is not as difficult as it might seem. If you can cross the following potential issues off your list, you will supercharge your Airbnb listing, improve and increase reviews, and make more money as a result.

As for my qualifications: I’ve probably lived in more cities around the world than most people have ever visited and I created a website dedicated to helping restaurant and hospitality workers make more money in tips, after freeing myself from the 9 to 5 grind myself.

Avoid These Top Airbnb Guest Complaints

1. Cleanliness and hygiene issues – This is by far the biggest one. From smells and odors to unwashed things like sheets or pillows, let’s face it- no one wants to live or sleep in someone else’s dirty home. This means professionally cleaning your property yourself or with a cleaning service to get near hotel standards, which travelers expect these days considering all the options and availability of online booking.

I once found some sheets in a hall closet at an Airbnb listing in Latvia that had been peed on and never washed. The furniture was so old that it had the smell of body oil permanently engrained. In the refrigerator upon a high out-of-sight shelf was a balled up napkin with some salami in it. I lasted 2 days and cut my stay short!

2. Wi-Fi – Many people like myself work from their laptop computer while traveling. This means if you don’t have reliably Wi-Fi service, you need to get it right now before you even think about listing your 2nd apartment or home on Airbnb. Your review section will be fullof complaints of weak Wifi signal which is a clear tell that you are not concerned about your guest’s experience, or ability to make a living.

3. Poor communication with guests – This could be anywhere from not communicating enough and causing an inconvenient or awkward check-in to over-communicating and coming off like a neurotic ex-lover just checking up on someone. Either way, there’s a fine balance between saying too much or too little. Demanding guests communicate through Whatsapp or other text apps is not always app-propriate in any case, and Airbnb encourages hosts and guests to communicate via Airbnb so that a disinterested 3rd party can ensure professionalism and protocol are being observed.

4. A Lack of amenities – Not having enough clean towels, greeting your guest with a half roll of toilet paper, no sharp knives for food preparation or no knife at all, are all examples of your listing failing to make the grade. Airbnb has even asked me as a customer several times if listings had salt, pepper and cooking oil available. That tells me that Airbnb cares about a guest’s ability to cook without having to spring for and lug around a bottle of cooking oil at every place they stay. Those daily vegetable oil costs really add up for travelers when you think about it.

5. Misleading listing or photos – Only showing the best photos or carefully crafted camera angles can lead to some disappointment when the guest arrives and experiences reality. I’m pretty easy going myself. I usually don’t expect everything to work perfectly or be perfect, but when major appliances don’t work or the listing says the apartment is really warm and it’s actually quite cold, you can’t help but feel a little bamboozled as a customer.

Consider this Airbnb customer which paid around $2,000 for a 3-night stay in Palm Springs only to discover the pool and spa didn’t work– and still didn’t work after the host sent out a maintenance crew. This tells me the owner likely knew their property had issues to begin with, but they were just in it for the quick buck while away from their vacation home.

6. Stop begging for reviews – Your customers and guests aren’t stupid. They’ll leave a review if they feel you’ve earned one. The best practices for getting reviews without seeming pushy or oblivious would be to take care of the basics first, always considering that your guest is not just a customer- they’re a human being like you. How would you like to be treated? If your unit is very clean and accurate, you communicate sufficiently and everything works, then you’re already halfway there.

Not everyone leaves a review, and that’s ok too. You should create an exceptional experience that will make people want to leave you a review. Leaving a free beer in the refrigerator or small bottle of wine, especially for guests staying multiple days or weeks, can go a long way for getting good reviews, and consider the tiny amount of money it set you back.

Final Word on Avoiding Negative Airbnb Reviews

Many Airbnb hosts do not have a customer service or hospitality background and view the guest as a quick buck. With this attitude it’s easy to see why there are so many bad reviews left against seemingly clueless hosts on the site.

Running an Airbnb listing is no different from running a standard business, hotel or restaurant and you should treat every guest with your very best. This starts with the basics first and then optimizing the guest experience with a few highlights and added plusses.

Hosts: View your Airbnb customers as guests to improve their experience, and your income

This small change in your psychology will help you to advance your earnings which is what you really want, of course. But just like any amazing fine dining restaurant or 5-Star hotel, you’ve always got to be guest-centric. Simply asking your customer several times “Is everything ok?” is not going to cut it.

Most people will just tell you what you want to hear to avoid the drama anyway.

After all, they’re on vacation.



———–

About the author: Patrick Warren is an American veteran and entrepreneur that has been traveling the world for over 4 years straight. He recently wrote a book about his experience while hiking 800 consecutive kilometers on foot down the Adriatic Coast during the late summer and autumn of 2020, rucking with a load of over 30kg/60+ pounds and sleeping off-grid in a tent most of the way.

Titled “Just Go Man: Hiking and Wild Camping in a Foreign Land During the Worldwide ‘Pandemic'”, it’s now available on Audible audio book and Amazon.

He has his own online business, a BA in political science and a certificate in studio music production, with his music being featured on MTV and television in the UK. In his spare time he likes going on 15 km/9-mile runs, cooking and making a fine sauce, and avoiding most of society’s drama.

For inquiries and contact info for Patrick click here

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Subsurface History of Humanity: Direction of History – Victor Torvich

Rating – 3.5 / 5 Stars

As the title suggests, this book is an endeavor to uncover the 44 thousand years old history of humankind. In doing so, the author tries to answer some burning questions – In which direction humanity is moving? What is the driving force behind it? Is it moving fast or slow? Why Human rule the earth?

The first few chapters are utilized for the concepts like resources, resource group, and how opportunities are significant. After that, things start to make some sense when the concepts come together. In the later chapters, content seems scattered, and many topics look out of place and irrelevant. Numbers and data points appear overwhelming in between. Yet, the outcome is relatable as the author states that humankind is close to the inflection point in its development.

The author specialized in complex systems and has used data-based models to explain his study. Throughout the book, he sought to keep it simple with the analogy of pizza and other related things. Despite this, it is not facile for all kinds of readers. It is pleasurable to a class of readers who have an interest in complex models and Math. Other readers may find it laborious to finish the book. Another important thing is that the learnings and outcomes are based on the research done by the author. I believe (and the author also mentioned it) they need external validation to be confirmed as facts.

Readability is slightly difficult, as Page 1 and the Last page are referred to multiple times. It is handy for a paperback, but in Kindle versions, navigation is annoying.

It is an esoteric piece of work, pertinent to students of science and data. For them, it will be an exciting read.

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Kaun hai Bharat Mata by Purushottam Agrawal

Rating – 5/5 Stars

This book has hit during an appropriate time when even Jawahar Lal Nehru is struggling to keep his image immaculate. Blinded by the WhatsApp university syllabus, forces have succeeded in character assassination of our first Prime Minister by spreading apocryphal stories. He is painted as a womanizer, anti-Hindu, and reason for almost every predicament in the country even after so many years of his death. Today we hear about mob lynchings on the pretext of – “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and years ago, Nehru had succinctly described the meaning of Bharat Mata.

Majorly the book can be divided into three sections – First is an introduction by the author. Second, collection of letters, speeches, and articles written by Nehru concerning several topics. Third, is the collection of notes, articles written by other deferential personalities about Nehru.

Introduction by the author is a powerful, fact-based, and meticulously written essay of around 50 pages which gives an insight into Nehru’s achievements. He also prostrates the most impudent lies teeming nowadays by facts. All those who judged Nehru’s character by seeing his pictures with women should be ashamed to know that the women in the pictures were his sister and niece.

The second part helps to understand the intellectual and logical thought process of Nehru and why he gave more weightage to technology than religion. His vast knowledge about history, world, politics, religions, and Hinduism will let you see him in a revered light.

The third section shows how much loved and respected he was/is among fellow leaders and politicians across the world. The experience of some renowned journalists with him is worth reading and enjoyable. It also includes views of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, emphasizing why they considered him as the right leader for the nation, who can pave the path for reforming India.

It is a shame that a leader who lead the nation through three major phases- the struggle of freedom, chaos after freedom, and reforming the country has to prove his worth after death.

This book is a must-read for youths and children to see the truth beyond social media and understand the struggle for an independent India. People should not forget that he built India from a point when it was not even a country. We should look back and see how far we have come and how.

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Travel Tales: A Wanderer’s Journal by Rajeev Varma

Rating – 4/5 Stars

This journal lets you witness the world through the lens of a wanderer in his late adulthood. Rajeev along with his wife has ventured to exotic locations in Europe, Middle East, and Asia. All 180 pages of the journal are filled with a mesmerizing reminiscence of his travel experiences around the globe. With a vivid account of Mouthwatering dishes, glorious history, and magnificent monuments readers embark on a virtual journey of the world.

Apart from destinations, the book is filled with delightful tales like the one when he visits the University of UK where his father has studied. I was amazed at the warmth shown by the University in welcoming him. Another one I find quite funny is the one related to the nightlife of Venice.

For each destination, he has included a snippet of history which adds to the reader’s knowledge bank. Their particular interest in historical monuments maybe because of his wife being a student and teacher of history.

It is not a “How-to” manual to plan the trips and ideal itinerary but a simple record of memories with beautiful pictures of the couple at these scenic locations.

It is a travel journal with more of a tourist experience than a traveler experience. In no way it should be construed as one being superior to the other. Both are different ways and equally significant. The author has the luxury to book a sudden international journey the very next day, stay in palace kind of hotels, pre-booked cabs, and guided tours, while a traveler focuses on cost-effective ways to travel and explore by itself. I have been a tourist and traveler both, and both experiences have perks of their own.  I wish the author has put more detailed pictures of the masterpieces.

This book opened up the scope of my travels to destinations like Jordan, which I never thought about visiting. Thanks to the author, I have added several destinations to my wish list. It is bliss to travel lovers.

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Kashmir Aur Kashmiri Pandit by Ashok Kumar Pandey

Rating – 5/5 Stars

After “Kashmirnama”, the author has come up with yet another deeply researched piece of excellence. “Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandit” takes a deep dive into the plight of Kashmiri pandits throughout the lifetime of Kashmir (1500 years, to be precise).

The book touches every ruler who put a foot in or ruled Kashmir. Based on published facts, this book is a complete account of the exodus. In the end, the author has published snippets of his interactions with locals who didn’t leave the state in 1990. It helps to see the situation from the point of view of a local Kashmiri.

We sitting far away from Kashmir, blindly believes whatever is told to us through social media like it is devoid of any pandit now, all the temples in Kashmir were demolished or all the places with Hindu names have been changed. The author has blasted them by providing fact-based evidence, including photographs of grand temples, streets with Hindu names, and Interviews of pandits living there. The author doesn’t claim that attacks on temples never happened or names didn’t change but restrain from exaggerating the situation.

For any event, he quotes 3-4 renowned author and then analysis their prejudices to understand who could be saying it accurately and who could be biased. Throughout the book, he has tried to maintain a balanced stance. However, his leftist ideology is palpable when he explains the situation from a Muslim’s angle. At many points, he seems biased and tries to mollify the intensity of the situation.

It is an audacious and courageous attempt to put forward the real story of Kashmiri Pandits and how the situations worsened and reached exodus. Those of have read “Kashmirnama” may find a lot of similarities between these two. Although, the focus of this book is entirely on the story of the exodus.

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Life Skills by Katie Fforde

Rating – 3/5 Stars

The story starts with Julia breaking up with her fiance Oscar and losing her job to someone younger and less experienced than her. Her horrible boss happened to be a friend of Oscar, although he has no role in her termination.

She starts looking for a new job and found an opportunity as a cook on a boat. Regarding this, she meets the owner– a young, daddy’s little princess, who has no idea what to do with her life. Together they embark on a journey where both emerge out as sounder person. Julia, already 34 years old and not married, is constantly bugged by Oscar’s mother and other women about that. This point has been repeated over and over by different characters in different situations. One fine day her childhood family friend Fergus enters the boat. She is not happy about it because of horrible childhood memories with him. The moment he enters the boat, the storyline becomes predictable as Oscar is also onboard.

Oscar helps her out and crew every time, and seems to be a charming guy. His mother is an impossible person with her brash and brusque talks. Fergus is also a nice guy, and it becomes difficult to understand her constant rejection for him, who is always in to lend a helping hand. Seldomly Julia’s thoughts become annoying, and I wanted to hold her shoulders and shake her to ask – what’s wrong with this guy?

This book is not for intricate plots, in-depth romance, or heart-wrenching separation. The purpose is to give a light-hearted book ­­. It is the kind of book you would like to bring to a beach holiday to relax. Do not expect a page-turner kind of fiction but simple and witty humor.

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