National Senior Citizen’s Day in the US

“For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older — places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance, and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.”

— President Ronald Reagan

Elderlies or the Senior Citizens, deserve all the love and respect in the world. Thanks to the late US President Ronald Reagan for declaring August 21 of each year as the National Senior Citizens Day in the United States of America; under proclamation 5847 on August 19, 1988. The celebration aims to recognize contributions senior citizens make in communities across the country.

How is National Senior Citizens Day observed in the US?

National Senior Citizens Day was established to honor senior citizens in the US who made positive contributions in their communities. The day was also created to bring awareness of social, health, and economic issues that affect senior citizens. This is an observance and not a public holiday in the US.

Some people spend time with the senior citizens they know to celebrate National Senior Citizens Day. Various events and activities are also organized to raise awareness of supporting older people and recognizing their achievements. Some people raise awareness through social media and news stories, while others organize special community gatherings inviting senior citizens, their families, friends and volunteers. Some businesses give special discounts or deals and promotions to senior citizens on or around August 21.

National Senior Citizens Day may also be a good day to volunteer at a retirement home and share smile with those who may not otherwise get a visitor during the day.

There are a lot of ways to let our elderlies know that they are appreciated and loved. Let’s make the most of this day to let them feel their importance and the difference they have made in today’s world.

Why You Need Travel Insurance

Have you heard the saying “If you can’t afford travel insurance, then you can’t afford to travel?” So, do you need travel insurance?

When travelling either overseas or domestically, most people are skeptical of getting travel insurance because of the additional amount they have to spend on top of the usual expenses when traveling like accommodations, airfare, transportation fees, food, etc. But is travel insurance really worth it?

We always think of happy thoughts before and while we’re on a journey but have we thought of the possibility of a trouble or a misfortune before or during our much needed vacation? This is why travel insurance should be included among our priorities when traveling. Whenever unforeseen circumstances happened, travel insurance got us covered.

Below are important reasons why we need travel insurance:

We can get help overseas with the travel insurance.

When we are caught in trouble while on an overseas vacation, we can always get the best care. If we fall ill or encountered an accident, travel insurance will cover medical treatment, including transportation to the medical facility. Also if needed, travel insurance provider can send us back home at no extra cost.

Travel insurance covers medical costs

Not everyone who travels is in the pink of health. If that is your case, then you need a travel insurance as you might require medical attention while travelling. The treatment cost will be provided by your travel insurance.

Travel insurance can cover trip disruptions

When traveling, so much are out of control. Flights can be delayed or you might need to return home due to an emergency or you have to cut your trip short. Without travel insurance, you might lose the money you’ve already paid and you have to pay for new bookings too. Most travel insurance packages covers you for incidents that are out of your control, so that you don’t have to spend your own money for unforeseen reasons.

Losses and expenses reimbursements

What if your luggage is stolen, lost or damaged overseas? Without a travel insurance, you will be responsible for replacing your items. However, with the right insurance, you can reimburse the losses incurred and your expenses due to an airline or hotel blunder, or a thief’s wrongdoings.

Let’s always remember, while travel insurance is important, not all of them is the same. So it is imperative and necessary to read the description of coverage carefully so we can be sure to enjoy all of its benefits.

Best Books to Read while Traveling

Reading is the most efficient way to pass time while travelling. No matter how long it takes to reach your destination, you will never get bored with a book as a travel companion. Long distance journeys provide ample time for reading, much more than one finds in other usual days of life and reading for long gives one an immense joy that is incomparable. Here are 5 of the best books to read while traveling. Some are life-changing books, others are simply inspiring to make your journey lighter and stress-free.

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is an epic high-fantasy novel written by English author and scholar J. R. R. Tolkien. This is a sequel to Tolkien’s 1937 fantasy novel The Hobbit and is one of the top 10 best-selling books ever written, with over 150 million copies sold as of 2007. The Lord of the Rings was published in three volumes over the course of a year from 29 July 1954 to 20 October 1955.

This classic wanderlust book is so pleasant to read while travelling. Reading the story of an epic journey will make you more excited to travel every day and brace all adventures in life. It is a really long book so you can be sure you won’t run out of things to read right away and this is definitely perfect for a more relaxing travel.

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The Little Prince

The Little Prince first published in 1943, is the most famous work of French aristocrat, writer, poet, and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The novella is one of the most-translated books in the world – translated into 300 languages and dialects (as well as Braille), selling nearly two million copies annually with sales totaling over 140 million copies worldwide, it has become one of the best-selling books ever published.

Some things just become famous because they are simply really, really good like The Little Prince. This book is not really a children’s book but a children’s adventure book for adults. An adult should read this to children because a child alone may not truly understand the essence of the story. If you’re on travel with a kid or kids, this will surely kill their boredom. The Little Prince will remind you of the different people that you may meet along the way. The little boy will inspire anybody to travel, that if a little boy can have the strength to travel the universe, you will have the strength to travel the world. This book is good for every traveler, but is especially fitting for those traveling far away and for a long time.

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The Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Life of Pi is a Canadian adventure novel by Yann Martel, a Spanish-born Canadian author. It is a Man Booker Prize-winning novel published in September 11, 2001. The protagonist is Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry who survives 227 days while adrift on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

The Life of Pi is one of the best books around which will keep you happy on the beach, on a road trip, in the city, just about anywhere. The book teaches us to get out of the comfort zone – assume the negative side and go find other places. Travelers who love the marine life and adventurers who love the wildlife will surely enjoy the book.

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Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia is a 2006 memoir by American author Elizabeth Gilbert. It chronicles the author’s trip around the world and what she discovered during her travels. The book remained on The New York Times Best Seller list for 187 weeks. It also had a movie adaptation released on theaters on August 13, 2010, which stars Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.

The book delivers notes of enlightenment and smiles. The book will inspire us to buy a one-way ticket for months of adventures and it reminds that traveling helps us grow as a person.

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The Alchemist

The Alchemist originally written in Portuguese, is a novel by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. It was first published in 1988 and it became an international bestseller translated into some 70 languages as of 2016. This is a novel about a young Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago in his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there.

 This is an inspiring tale of self-discovery. It will make us realize that our quests will take us to different – and far more satisfying – directions. We just have to brave the path and learn how to listen to our heart and follow our dreams.

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British Columbia Day

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia became the sixth province of Canada in 1871. Its capital is Victoria and its largest city is Vancouver.  The province has a resource dominated economy which is centered on the forestry industry. In the first quarter of 2017, British Columbia has a population of over 4.7 million.

In 1974, with the aim to create a statutory holiday and recognize the pioneers in the province, the British Columbia Day Act was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly. The act gained royal assent in 1996 giving way to the British Columbia Day celebration every first Monday of August. British Columbia was the last province to establish an August Monday holiday. This yearly statutory holiday in the province gives Canadians the chance to celebrate with family and friends. This year, British Columbia Day falls on August 7.

During the long weekend, people grab the chance to make short trips out of town and spend time into one of the areas with beautiful scenery in the province. Some of the activities people do during the long weekend are camping, walking on the parks, hiking or canoeing. The first Monday in August falls in the middle of the summer season that is why people incorporate the holiday into their summer vacation. In most urban areas, various celebrations are organized which features fireworks displays, parades and cultural festivals. Events are held in appreciation of Canadian’s contributions in the areas of sport, technology, cuisine and Canadian-Japanese culture.

How to Tip by Continent

Tipping is a sign of gratitude for a good service or a job well done. Tips and their amount are a matter of social custom and etiquette which varies in between countries. While tipping is customary to most countries, there are still some places in the world where it’s not allowed and they consider tipping rude or offensive.

The next time you travel to another continent, make sure to take note of correct tipping etiquette.

Africa

Tip restaurants from 5% – 10% when no service charge has been added to your bill. When in hotels, $1 is the minimum tip for porters. You may also tip the concierge in advance for additional services like helping you to get tickets to special events or attractions. Taxi drivers are tipped about 10% of the total bill. Not all countries in Africa will accept American Dollars, prepare local currency.

Asia

 In Japan, China, South Korea and in Singapore, tipping is not part of the culture and is considered insulting.

In Hong Kong, tipping is not expected at hotels and restaurants establishments. A 10% charge is added to the bill instead.

In Macau, which is previously a colony of Portugal, tipping is widely accepted.

In most Southeast Asian countries, restaurant tipping isn’t a requirement but it is recommended to leave 5% – 10% tip as long as no service fees have already been added. For taxis, just round up the fare and leave the change.

In Indonesia, tipping is common especially in large tourist areas such as Bali and Lombok – 10% – 15% tip at restaurants, 10% – 20% at massage parlors, 5% on taxis and around $1 per bag for bellboys at high end hotels.

Australia

Tipping in Australia is not required or expected. The federal government of Australia protects the rights

of workers by providing them with a minimum wage. In New Zealand, tipping is not a traditional practice, but is accepted as a gesture of kindness.

Europe

When dining out in Europe, tips should always be in cash and not of credit cards.

When there are no service charges already added then it’s ideal to leave a 5% to 10% tip at restaurants.

For Hotels, porters are tipped €1 – €2 per bag and housekeeping staff around €1- €2 per day. However, in Italy, Finland and Iceland, tipping is not customary.

North America

Tipping is a social custom in both Canada and the United States. In restaurants, tips range from 15% to 20% as long as there are no service charges already added. Hotel porters are tipped $1 – $2 per bag and housekeepers about $2 – $5 per day depending on the rating of the hotel. Taxi drivers expect tips of about 10% – 15% of the total bill. In fact, there were laws created to make sure that the pooled gratuities are redistributed among all employees of the establishments.

South America

Tipping is uncommon in Paraguay since service charges are included in the bill. Restaurants in most parts of the continent expect a 10% tip when there are no service charges already added; about $1 per bag for hotel porters and around $2 per day for housekeeping staff. Exceptions apply when staying at luxury hotels. Taxis do not require tips though you could always round up the bill.