Iceland: Land of Contrasts

Posted on April 11, 2014 by The Author

Iceland is a truly amazing country.

I remember visiting this beautiful place many times over the years. Travelling with Icelandair, I’ve had numerous stopovers at the Keflavik International Airport where I always bought something from the souvenir shop, my favorite items being white pullovers with subdued streaks of colors. These pullovers are made from Icelandic sheep wool.

Uncommon sheep

The sheep in Iceland are unlike any I’ve ever seen. They resemble round globs of fleece standing on stick legs. When in motion, instead of running, they appear to bounce-and-go. As unusual as they appear, though, their wool produces extraordinary and extraordinarily soft pullovers, gloves, caps and socks.

A land of contrasts

Iceland’s houses-painted blue, red, yellow and green-stand in sharp contrast to its volcanic landscape. When I first saw these homes, I thought that the vivid colors were deliberately chosen to bring life to the bareness and starkness that represent the island.

One time, I had the opportunity to stay in Iceland for several days. I stayed at a hotel next to the airport from which I could see airiplanes take off and land. I remember eating a variety of fresh fish including salmon. The sauna was fantastic.

Icelanders are extremely well read with a 99% literacy rate. Reading is a good activity in the depth of snowy winter.

The many volcanoes on the island, and the steam they emit, enable Iceland’s inhabitants to benefit from geothermal energy. Iceland is a world leader in harnessing renewable energy. 1

Iceland’s stunning scenery, with its bare, lava-strewn flats, snow-capped mountain ranges, glaciers, volcanoes and hot springs, is due to its location on one of the earth’s major fault lines, the mid-Atlantic ridge. While this landscape is attracting an increasing number of tourists each year, the country’s geographical peculiarities also mean that Iceland is the only country in the world that can claim to obtain 100% of its electricity and heat from renewable sources.

2 [My emphasis.]

Points of interest are: Blue Lagoon, Gullfoss, Hallgrímskirkja, National Museum of Iceland, Dynjandi, Aldeyjarfoss and Súlur. 3

Iceland is by no means an inexpensive destination. If you’re planning on going, make sure you budget first.

Eager to visit this amazing land of contrasts? Why don’t you build your own trip. 4

Image title & credit: Iceland Lava Cascade, “Iceland Volcano: Eruption Sparks Tourist Boom,” National Geographic, Daily News.

Dynjandi – Fjallfoss

References

1 Iceland’s energy answer comes naturally

2 Ibid

3 Iceland, Points of Interest

4 Build your own trip

The Secret to Success in Social Media

Posted on April 2, 2014 by The Author

Do you want to be more successful on social media? Perhaps you’d like to increase the number of your Facebook friends or gain more Pinterest and Twitter followers?

Giving is receiving

A golden rule to success on social media is to be generous. Don’t hesitate to click “like” if you really like something or post a brief and succinct comment where appropriate. Emoticoms are important, too, because they encapsulate many thoughts and emotions in a single image. Using them appropriately and effectively will increase your popularity.

Play by the rules

Not everyone plays by the rules; but if you do, you’ll be appreciated and sought after even more. When you post–and this applies to virtually all social media settings–be positive. Say things and/or choose images that are uplifting. There is enough bad news out there; why don’t you be a harbinger of good news.

Be engaging

If you have something to say, make sure that it’s timely, contemporary and interesting. People have very little time as it is, so don’t waste their time with nonsense. At the end of the day, we are all looking for something that we can add to our how-to-live-a-better-more-fulfilling-and-happier-life tool kit.

Don’t be sarcastic

We all have moments when we want to reply sarcastically to what someone says (in general or to us specifically). This is because it might sound stupid or rub us the wrong way. Avoid this temptation by being nice or saying nothing instead. In the psychologist’s dictionary, sarcasm is a mask for sadness. Better to process the feeling and move on. It’s not true that what we say on social media doesn’t affect others because it’s the Internet and, hence, “not real;” on the contrary, what we say could have implications beyond which we are able to comprehend.

Be careful

This is why we need to be careful about what we say. Online publishing–whether it be e-books, group posts, tweets or pins–must be treated with care. You may want to ask yourself before you write something, Do I really want to say this? This simple question may save you much heartache later.

Enjoy yourself

In spite of the above caveats, you can and should enjoy yourself when you’re navigating the world of social media. By all means relax, feel good about yourself, and unabashedly say what you must bearing in mind that your words will be read more than once.

Social guru

When you feel completely self-confident, know who you are, what you’re about, whom you serve, and why you exist, you’ll be able to blog, post, write, pin and tweet flawlessly. This is the secret to increasing your following on social media.

For more on this topic, see my blog post, The 5 Golden Rules to Success in Social Media.

Image credit: http://www.phildrolet.com/the-new-and-improved-definition-of-success/

PhilDrolet.com

The Perfect Storm

Posted on March 24, 2014 by The Author

In her music video, Dark Horse (Official, ft. Juicy J), Katy Perry plays four roles: Cleopatra, the woman on the barge; Isis, the woman on the pharaonic throne; the ascending “Snake Woman”; and the Messenger atop the pyramid.

Overlooking its entirely charming kitsch, Dark Horse is highly symbolic and worthy of our attention.

The perfect storm is the final battle between the elemental, oppositional forces of the universe

The crescendo beat of the song ratchets up the tension of what is inevitable: the perfect storm.

The opulent luxury of the royal palace, the fawning servants, electric-blue, palace guards and mesmerizing, scintillating, colorful, crystal–the “perfect” gift–will all be marred by the approaching storm. As go the lyrics,

So, you want to play with magic

Boy, you should know what you’re falling for

Observe how Isis examines the gift with the Eye of Horus, the third eye that sees beyond the material, three-dimensional world. As she smiles, peering into the crystal, we hear the lyrics,

Are you ready for, ready for

A perfect storm, perfect storm

The Sphinx speaks

“There’s no going back,” says the Sphinx. The Sphinx is talking about the inevitability of the clash between raw, universal forces that are in opposition.

Observe that immediately after the Spinx speaks, the Snake Woman appears in the arms of the ancient Egyptian gods, gods who the ancient Sumerians called Anunnaki–those sent from above.

This scene in the music video, in a muted gray, refers to Isis/Cleopatra “ascending” into a higher-dimensional reality, the realm of the gods.

That’s why, at this point, Isis chews on gems. In a crude way, she’s “tasting” the fruits of paradise.

The Snake Woman sings,

Mark my words,

This love will make you levitate, like a bird, like a bird without a cage

A bird without a cage represents a soul that’s been freed.

The Messenger

The next key point in the video is when we see the Messenger atop the giant pyramid. She sings,

So you want to play with magic

Boy, you should know what you’re falling for

She’s directing those words at Isis.

Do you dare to do this

‘Cuz I’m coming at you like a dark horse

The Messenger continues singing as she unfolds her pastel-blue wings.

She is a winged messenger recounting the future, the coming of the perfect storm.

Image credit: Vevo

Source: Dark Horse, by Katy Perry.

How to tap into Inspiration

Posted on March 13, 2014 by The Author

Do you ever look at a blank page and can’t seem to write a word? You have no idea at all what to write. You may start with something, struggle, and then, after a while, stop. You may even write several pages and then crumple them up because you feel dissatisfied with what you’ve written.

These are signs that you lack inspiration.

Inspiration, whose origin in Middle English means “divine guidance” and, via the Old French from the late Latin verb “inspirare,” means “breathe or blow into ‘from in-‘into’ + spirare ‘breathe.’ The word was originally used of a divine or supernatural being, in the sense ‘impart a truth or idea to someone.'” 1

Many people today know that by performing breathing exercises they engage in meditation. These kinds of exercises enable people to relax and “tap into” inspiration.

No rush here

If you want to be inspired, the best thing is not to rush. Forcing something will get you nothing but dissatisfaction. It’s like trying to make a flower grow. A typical flower grows naturally when it’s well rooted in soil and receives enough sunshine and water. The process cannot be rushed. It’s the same way with writing.

Time

I believe that time plays a great role in receiving inspiration. If you can’t seem to come up with something, take a break, relax and drink a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. This will put your mind off of forcing yourself to come up with something. As you relax, over time, thoughts will traverse your mind. One thought will lead to another and, all of a sudden, you’ve come up with an idea for your blog post, chapter or novel!

Enhancement

Although the thoughts will be brief and almost like ‘sparks,’ you then need to enhance them by adding more to what you’ve received. This is where the hard work of writing and editing comes in. You will need to ‘dig’ around the ‘flower’ of your thoughts, clear out the ‘weeds’ and make sure you add plenty of ‘water.’

Nurture your inspiration

The ‘sparks’ you receive need to be nurtured in order to bloom into the beauty that they were always meant to be: an inspired project. You need to nurture the seeds of inspiration so that they can grow. In many ways, writing a good blog post, chapter or novel is like cooking a great meal. My Aunt Sue says that if you put love into your cooking, the result will be wonderful. It’s the same way with writing.

Don’t overcook the meal

Adding too many words to a project can be disastrous because your literary inspiration could ‘go up in flames.’ It’s important to say just enough, but no more than what is necessary.

May you be inspired today.

Image title: “Beautiful Swan”

Photographer: Luba Rascheff

References

1 Oxford Dictionaries

Bulgarian Urtime

Posted on March 8, 2014 by The Author

As I settle in Toronto, I’ve been reminiscing about the decade I spent in Bulgaria.

I remember, especially in the beginning, that I wanted to return to the West. I didn’t speak the language and couldn’t understand why things moved so slowly.

My first invitation was to a village feast or, “praznik.” I recall going to a small chapel and sitting on its front stoop with village women. We sat there holding a single flower in our hands for more than an hour with no one uttering a word. I understood then that Bulgarians were people who appreciated and communicated in silence. Later, I gathered why there hadn’t been any men at the feast. The men celebrate “kukeri” or, carnival together. They dress up in animal skins and multi-colored, hand-painted or fur masks and, donning huge cow bells, walk down the middle of the village streets banging on pots. The point of the ritual is to bond as males while making their presence felt via loud noise.

Urtime

Over time, I learned how to speak Bulgarian and began to understand the power of silence. I got used to watching the street lamps–with their soft, orange, anti-fog glow–contrast with swirling mists of precipitation and allowed my thoughts to slip into infinity, time immemorial or, urtime. I learned that communication happened differently than only with words. I began to feel the draw of silence and the mysteries that enfolded it.

Subterranean tunnels and time capsules

They say that Bulgaria has everything. This includes Noah’s plate (i.e., the plate Noah ate from while traveling in his ark), subterranean tunnels that crisscross the country, and time capsules. The plate is in Varna and the time capsules are at undisclosed locations, waiting for an unknown trigger that will activate them and enable people to make new, never-before-heard-of discoveries that will benefit both Bulgaria and the world.

Vanga

One of Bulgaria’s most well-known psychics was a woman named Baba Vanga 1 which translates as Grandma Vanga. During her youth, she was caught up in a violent windstorm that left her blind. Ever since then, Baba Vanga developed the ability to “see” with an inner vision. Bulgarians from all walks of life would line up and wait for hours to meet with Baba Vanga, born Vangelia Pandeva Dimitrova, for healing and to learn what their future held. Well-known Bulgarian and foreign politicians visited her as well. Vanga had learned how to tap into Bulgarian urtime.

References

1 Baba Vanga

Distribution Channels on Amazon’s CreateSpace

Posted on March 5, 2014 by The Author

One of the most attractive features offered by CreateSpace, an Amazon.com company and print publishing platform, is its distribution channels. There are six channels and they are all free.

Standard distribution

Selecting Amazon.com “makes your book available to millions of customers on Amazon.com.” Activating Amazon Europe enables you to target websites belonging to Amazon in Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. And, you can choose to place your book in the CreateSpace online e-store.

Expanded distribution

By selecting Bookstores and Online Retailers, your books will become available to “thousands of major online and offline bookstores and retailers.” Choosing Libraries and Academic institutions will enable you to increase your book’s exposure to “public libraries, elementary and secondary school libraries, and libraries and other academic institutions.” Selecting CreateSpace direct will “make your books available to certified resellers such as independent bookstores and book resellers.”

The more the merrier

Having recently uploaded a third book to CreateSpace, I gladly selected all the distribution channels available. This is because the more distribution channels you choose, the more readers are exposed to your books, and the greater your chance of selling them and earning more royalties.

Networking

According to an article posted by CreateSpaceResources, “Book Marketing: Have you Tapped your Network?” by Maria Murnane, every author has a network that includes: where we went to school, who we share a favorite hobby with, our heritage, and where we’ve worked. It’s important to reach out to our network and tell them that we’ve written a book or books since this is newsworthy, according to Murnane.

From my marketing experience with Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, I can assure you that there is a natural progression to exposure; that a fan base will develop; that readers share with other readers; and that your reading audience will become more and more familiar with your brand.

When readers comment favorably about you or your work, include their comments in the About section on your website called, ‘What people say about [put your name here.]’

In my opinion, it’s not a matter of throwing a lot of money into your efforts. Remember, CreateSpace offers absolutely free distribution channels. It is, rather, a matter of systematically exposing your work and what you’re about to readers. It’s something that you must do every day.

If you select the distribution channels that are made available to you at no cost by CreateSpace and you do your part by networking and marketing appropriately on social media, you will significantly increase book sales, royalties and become known.

Image credit: The Cadence Group, Book Distribution

Cephalonia: The Indomitable

Posted on February 1, 2014 by The Author

The island of Cephalonia (also known as Kefalonia), the largest of the Ionian islands, was recently rocked by an earthquake that was nearly a 6 on the Richter magnitude scale. A few days prior to the earthquake, a fireball (or, meteorite depending on who you ask) fell between Cephalonia and neighboring Zante island lighting the shoreline of the latter as it slowly descended into the depths of the surrounding sea.

When I learned the news, I, a once-upon-a-time denizen, immediately called friends to find out what the situation was on the ground. Since the epicenter was close to Lixouri, most of the damage (to a nearby road and older buildings built before anti-seismic regulations came into force) was concentrated near said town, across the bay from Argostoli, Cephalonia’s capital city.

1953

Cephalonians are used to earthquakes. The Focas-Cosmetatos museum featured an exhibit called “1953: The Earthquake.” The earthquake of ’53 was a devastating, natural disaster that caused a tsunami, resulted in many casualties, and brought the International Red Cross. It was an event that caused many to lose everything they had with the consequence of a mass exodus.

Luckily, the latest earthquake resulted in zero casualties with only a few, minor injuries thanks to the fact that every new construction must, by law, adhere to strict, anti-seismic building codes.

Europe will fund repairs. The buildings will be fixed and road damaged repaired. Life will go on.

Cephalonia: The Indomitable

Cephalonia was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the top ten places to live in Europe. 1 Although it has experienced its fair share of natural disasters and foreign conquests (the pirates from time immemorial; the Venetians from circa 1500; and the Axis powers during WWII), this incredibly beautiful island continues to be a highly sought after tourist destination.

Absolute musts to see: Myrtos beach, Fiskardo, Assos, Kipuria Monastery, Melissani Cave, and Mt. Aenos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2GGy18Axsw

“Makis, a KTM Adventure”

Cheap flights to Cephalonia

References

1 Cephalonia is one of the top 10 places to live in Europe

Undercover: Tina Lee at Work

Posted on January 12, 2014 by The Author

I watched an episode on the “W Network” concerning T & T Supermarket, Canada’s largest Asian supermarket, in which Tina Lee, T & T’s Strategy & Operations Executive Director, goes undercover in order to find out what’s really happening on the “front lines” where customers interact with employees. Tina rationalized that many dynasties in China fell when the leadership lost touch with the people. She wanted, therefore, to bypass middle management and see what was actually happening with her own eyes.

Tina became nearly unrecognizable with her short-haired wig, large glasses and over sized, red worker’s cap placed slightly ajar on her head. None of the employees she engaged with could ever have imagined that “Linda” was, in fact, their boss.

It was precisely through her disguise and the casual and candid conversations she had with her employees that Tina was able to gather information she would otherwise never have obtained. She was able to see for herself how managers trained employees, how they interacted with customers, what skill level they possessed, and what improvements were necessary to make the business run more efficiently.

Get your hands dirty

Tina is remarkable because she isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. She hardly flinched when handling live lobsters, bravely cut a wide variety of meat products, and even made a cake from scratch. She was working, learning, and communicating nonstop with her ears wide open.

Communications genius

Tina has a knack for connecting with people. She has “the touch.” While humbling herself and revealing certain weaknesses (like making mistakes), Tina was able to obtain her employees’ trust with humor.

Generosity counts

I was very impressed when, at the end of the episode, Tina calls her staff to her office and reveals the truth to them. She rewards her employees for their hard work and her generosity toward them is both commendable as well as business smart. Her employees’ fidelity will, most likely, be reinforced; turnover will be stopped in its tracks; production will increase; and customer satisfaction will grow.

In the “telephone game,” information that is whispered in the first person’s ear tends to become distorted when spoken out loud by the last person in the chain. In a similar fashion, executives who follow in Tina’s footsteps will be surprised by what they see and gain deep insight into the business they run.

Image title: Tina Lee Undercover

Image source: http://www.wnetwork.com

The Grace and Andrew Masa Breakfast

Posted on January 1, 2014 by The Author

Whether you’re new in town or an old pro, the best breakfast place in Toronto is surely Grace and Andrew’s at the Masa Restaurant adjacent to the Comfort Hotel, Downtown, 15 Charles Street East.

‘Good Morning!’ booms Andrew’s voice as I walk inside. ‘How are you today?’ comes the genuine question. Andrew, born in England with a Grenadian background, has a passion for cooking that he cultivated from his youth becoming a chef. He’s lived in Toronto for thirty years.

‘How are you, Luba?’ asks Grace as I sit down on a comfy chair at a smooth table with clean lines next to the elegant, wooden, hanging decoration lit by candle-like lamps.

Grace, born in Toronto, is steeped in the tradition of restaurateurs. Her father, the late, reputed Danny Mangos, owned many restaurants and raised Grace from her youth to understand and appreciate the art of running a restaurant. Once a manager at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Grace, an accomplished chef, is specialized in organizing buffets and banquets.

Aside from Grace and Andrew’s unique, warm welcome and genuine hospitality, they offer a wide selection of excellent breakfast choices. The Continental Breakfast comes with: Croissant, Toast, Orange Juice/Apple Juice and Milk, $6.99; The Full American Breakfast offers: Bacon, Ham, or Sausage, 2 Eggs (any style), and Home-Style Potatoes (note that these are Andrew’s and that he developed their perfect, golden, crispy exterior and spicy flavor) with a choice of Muffin, Danish, Croissant, and Toast, $10.99; Eggs Benedict; Eggs Florentine; Omelets; Pancakes or French Toast; and numerous side orders.

Don’t stay out in the cold. Brrrrrrrrrrr! Come to Grace and Andrew’s for a healthy and wholesome breakfast with a big-hearted welcome. You can safely expect future developments from these two, fine chefs. Stay tuned.

Image title: The Masa Restaurant

Photographer: Luba Rascheff

2014: Make It Your Year

Posted on December 31, 2013 by The Author

In a few hours, it will be 2014.

Personally, I’m feeling quite upbeat about what lies ahead in the New Year.

As I ride out the ice storm–or, more precisely, what’s left of it, viz., the arctic cold wave–my thoughts are leaping ahead. In a warm and cozy setting, my thoughts are clearly in the future.

Resolutions

Although speculating about the future and making resolutions can be risky, it’s worth it.

Be bold

Let’s be bold and resolve that:

2014 will be our year
Great things will happen
Our positive state of mind will contribute to our success
Creative thinking will bring out the best of us
Energy is abundant (we don’t need to take it from others; we have our own supply)
Transformation is a given

A glass half full

When we permit ourselves to be positive and expansive, we see the glass half full. This lets us believe that more and more good–great, even–things are coming our way.

Resolve with me

I resolve that 2014 will be my year.

I believe I’m worthy and that great things will happen to me.

I know that change is a given and transformation is inevitable.

I accept the bounty that is rightfully mine.

Happy New Year!

Image title: Toronto in the Ice Storm

Image author: Luba Rascheff

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