Monthly Archives: August 2017

The Worst Souvenirs

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The Worst Souvenirs

Keep some souvenirs of your past, or how will you ever prove it wasn’t all a dream? ~Ashleigh Brilliant

Who doesn’t love looking at tacky souvenirs – especially in airports? What is it about us that makes us buy shot glasses, boxer shorts, tote bags, ashtrays and other inappropriate items to remind us where we have been? It always seems like a good idea at the time.

Snow globes. What is our fascination with snow globes? It isn’t even real snow –  it’s glitter. But there is something magical especially to kids about looking at a scene from the place you just visited in a snow globe. I love snow globes but remember you can’t carry them on the plane. I’ve seen airport security rip them out of a kid’s hand.

Tea towel.  Nothing says “couldn’t be bothered thinking of a proper present for you” like a souvenir tea towel. Every destination has them.  They are an easy to pack item for collectors of tea towels around the world, 

Refrigerator Magnets. They are like cats. You start with one. You end up with ten. Your refrigerator starts to look like a souvenir store. Then, you need to buy a bigger refrigerator.

Key Chains. All the other items usually come in a key chain as well. I did buy the Obama’s dog Beau key chain in Washington DC as a gift for my dog.. It was a great chewing toy.

T Shirts.  All I Got Was…. and I Heart ……. are still very popular in every souvenir store in every country.  I used to think an interesting local T-shirt was a good gift. They were cheap, light weight, easy to pack and a simple reminder of where I was in the world.  I soon realized that no one ever wore them.

National Clothes. It  seems like a great idea when you are there. I bought enough clothes from the different hill tribes in Thailand to actually join one.  It was the same with wool sweaters  and hats from Estonia and Peru. I  live in Southern California. It doesn’t get that cold.  I finally realized that I’m not really the ethnic, art teacher type dresser.  No one else I knew was either.

Baseball hats with logos. I do buy them from time to time as a gift but I usually end up keeping them. I have a lot of bad hair days.  At the moment I’m wearing the New Zealand All Blacks one. 

Miniature statues.  Every souvenir shop has tons of these. I always wonder who buys them. I’ve never seen anyone paying for one. Miniature Christ the Redeemer? Miniature Eiffel Tower? I guess it’s a good way of keeping track of the bucket list places that you have seen. Do you really want a plastic Leaning Tower of Pisa on your book shelf in ten years time?

Coffee Mugs are everywhere with everything you can possibly imagine on them. You can get them with Chairman Mao, Mickey Mouse,Vladimir Putin, Eva Peron  and everything in between. Since I collect Starbucks mugs from all over the world I don’t find this one as odd. I find it memorable.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Ten Things To Do In The Napa Valley, California

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Ten Things To Do In The Napa Valley, California

“The Napa Valley is Disneyland for alcoholics. Be honest, you’re not visiting wineries in four days because you’re an oenophile, you’re doing it because you’re a drunk. It’s the only place in America where you can pass out in a stranger’s house and it’s okay, because it’s a B&B and you paid for it.” Bill Maher

  1. Visit Wineries and Vineyards. There are many. You can do wine tasting, visit wine cellars, stomp grapes, blend your own wine, experience food and wine pairings or drink wine and view art. Ride the wine train. Purchase a wine tasting card to all the tasting rooms in downtown Napa. Drink wine and have a cooking lesson. See a winery with historic caves. Visit wineries owned by famous people.
  2.  Sample beer at micro breweries.
  3. Eat. The restaurants have more Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region in the world.
  4. Visit farmers markets and taste the local olive oil.
  5. Hike. Do yoga and have spa treatments.
  6. Visit Old Faithful Geyser of California in Calistoga which is not to be confused with Old Faithful of Yellowstone National Park. It is one of the three faithful geysers in the US due to regular eruptions. They are geysers that you can count on. It is one of the most photographed places in California. Add in mud baths and hot mineral pools when you are there.
  7. Go antique shopping and take a historic walking tour of downtown Napa or Yountville.
  8. Take a hot air balloon ride and watch the sunrise over the Napa Valley.
  9. Stop in at the Di Rosa Gallery. In the 1960s Rene Di Rosa introduced grapes to the Carneros region, but ultimately it was contemporary art that became his passion. With nearly 2,000 pieces created by 800 artists, Di Rosa has three galleries, a sculpture park, 35-acre lake and a wildlife preserve.
  10. Visit Greystone which is the original Culinary Institute of America in St Helena. Chances are good that if you are a wine connoisseur then you also like food. Take cooking classes or see chef demonstrations of food to go with all that wine. Maybe some hangover specials would be good to learn.

    Fly safe,

    JAZ

Perfect Summer Venice California Day

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Perfect Summer Venice California Day From My Instagram

“We are all citizens of Los Angeles because we have seen it in so many movies.” DJ Waldie

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A perfect, summer Venice day is brought to you by Venice Beach, Eggslut, a street artist, Plant Food and Wine, Blue Star Donuts, Abbot Kinney, Venice Canals, Blue Bottle Coffee, my dog, the sun, Felix and Kippys.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Peace In The House, Peace In The World

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Peace in The House, Peace in The World

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world” A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

In the Jewish tradition, there is a high idealized standard of family life characterized by wholeness, fulfillment, nurturing, respect and kindness. It is believed that God dwells in a pure and loving home. It is called shalom bayit -peace in the house.

Peace starts with us. We must create peace in the home to carry it outside and share it with our communities, our cities, our states, our country and then the world. It is more than saying I want World Peace. It is making a conscious choice do something differently in our lives. It is choosing to deal differently with our own conflicts and frustrations. It is learning communication skills and taking responsibility for our  actions. It is taking these commitments we have made to ourselves and bringing them out into the world.

As Gandhi says, become the change you want to see. We can’t depend on our leaders anymore. I do not believe that I will see World Peace in my lifetime. But if we do not change how we behave to other people, it will not be in any lifetime.

Be good to those around you. Selfless acts of service to those in need will change your life and theirs. Teach your children about the world around them. Learning about other cultures, religions and customs enables children to understand different perspectives and develop a feeling of connection with all people.

There are more people in this world who want love and peace than there are who want hate and war. The media focuses on the bad. We need to focus on the good.  I have met good  people from all over the world which makes me still believe that peace is possible. There are more people who want to live in harmony then chaos.

I try to do something nice for a stranger every day. It started after seeing the movie Pay It Forward. Sometimes it is small like leaving money in a parking meter for the next person, buying a coffee or a drive through meal for the person in line behind me, giving food to a homeless person, picking up garbage that I see on the beach, listening to the person standing in front of a store who is raising money for something or talking to an old person sitting on a bench alone in a park. My hope is that they will do something for someone else. Maybe it will make one person a little less angry, or more peaceful and connected during their day. 

Become an expert at living your life with wholeness, fulfillment , nurturing, respect and kindness and maybe those around us will follow. If we are lucky, it will trickle up.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Ten Of The Least Corrupt Countries In The World

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Ten Of The Least Corrupt Countries In The  World

“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” Mahatma Gandhi

Corruption is one of the biggest problems in the world. The threat of corruption is always prevalent. Here is the list of the 10 least corrupt countries in the world in order as published by Transparency International.

Denmark almost always ranks first as the country least prone to corruption. Is it that the Danes have a higher moral fiber than other people? Is it something in their genes? Perhaps it is that the Danes have a high degree of trust in other people and in the system. Fair working conditions, social security, health arrangements, decent salaries and pension schemes are among the things that contribute to giving the Danes reasonable living conditions. Anti corruptions strategy is part of the corporate business structure. They aren’t immune to bribery but they have a tradition of  high ethical and moral views of the world.

New Zealand is not categorized by political corruption scandals.   No country has a perfect score and New Zealand has slipped down from first place over the last few years. New Zealand’s reputation for honesty, transparency and justice is a great advantage in conducting international trade and other dealings. It is still the least corrupt country in Asia-Pacific.

Corruption is very low in Finland. Finland consistently ranks in the top four of the Corruption Perception Index. There is a strong anti corruption commitment from their government. The country’s focus on human rights issues and literacy have a high correlation to lower rates of corruption.

Sweden ranks fourth in the World Corruptions Perception Index.  Government agencies have a high degree of transparency, integrity and accountability. The legal system is effective in fighting corruption issues that arise.  According to Forbes magazine it is the best country in the world to do business with. The low-level of corruption is one of the reasons.

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Norway falls behind Sweden and Denmark in corruption but all the Scandinavian countries still rate as the least corrupt countries in the world. Business is conducted with a high level of transparency. Administration corruption and petty bribery are almost non-existent. Bribery, fraud, extortion and money laundering carry a penalty of up to ten years imprisonment. Anti-corruption laws are strongly enforced.

Switzerland has very strong anti-bribery enforcement activities and controls of corruption. The Swiss economy is one of the most competitive and innovative in the world. One of the reasons is because they have a sound regulatory environment.

Singapore has consistently placed well ahead of the other Asian countries in terms of corruption. Singaporeans expect and demand a clean system, and will not give or accept bribery to get things done, unlike in other countries.  The city-state does have an aggressive Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau; professional courts and a ruthless, relentless emphasis on efficiency and results.There’s an old saying in Asia that the real money is in government. Not the paychecks, but the kickbacks. Singapore  pays its government well so that does not happen.

The Netherlands is always in the top ten. When economic freedom exists, it comes with  very little corruption.  The country has established strong pillars—an independent judiciary, effective anti-corruption mechanisms and a culture of trust—that all combine to create a society where corruption is not considered a serious problem.

Corruption does not constitute a problem for businesses in Luxembourg. The country has a strong legal framework to curb corruption, and anti-corruption laws are effectively enforced. It is not perfect but still better than most of the world.

Canada ranks tenth  this year and is still one of the least corrupt countries. It is the least corrupt country in the Americas which includes the United States. It does not mean that there is no corruption, only less than other countries.

Fly safe,

JAZ

Things That I Am Worried About When Traveling As A Couple

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Things That  I Am Worried About When Traveling As A Couple

“The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people half way.”  Henry Boyle

It all seems perfect when you are thinking about it in your living room. I imagine breakfast in a fluffed bed, over looking a clear blue ocean. In my story, I look effortlessly beautiful five minutes after waking up. The new normal airport security lines are fast and stress free. My suitcase is not heavy. Traveling in my fantasy is just as glamorous as traveling looks on Instagram and Facebook. No one has jet lag, gets annoyed, sick or has physical bodily functions.

Traveling  together as a couple prematurely  can ruin a potentially great relationship. The pressure to get along and enjoy yourself all day long can be huge.  A short trip is a good test. It is easy to over look things when you are home, but when you are traveling together every minute, an issue that would otherwise not be a big deal, can blow up out of proportion.

He does not yet know that I truly believe that to have the perfect trip you need to have the perfect travel wardrobe no matter how heavy the suitcase is. I am a spiller and not just on myself. The pressure of not knocking over a glass of wine or cup of coffee all over him will probably make it happen. Does he really understand that saying you get carsick and being in a car with someone who is carsick are two different things?  What funny, weird habits does he have that I don’t yet  know about? Besides that he just mentioned he has a fanny pack for traveling.  At least it is a cute one. What is a jet lag problem?  We are both planners. Will that turn out to be one of our issues?

Finding oneself in a challenging situation often changes temperaments and can lead to misunderstandings. Different agendas often lead to calendar conflicts and the inability to visit every site you hoped to see. Flexibility and at least a bit of alone time is important.We both are funny so that might help. He says that he is funnier. 

The unpredictability  of any trip  and being together twenty-four hours a day means there is no place to hide. The chips will fall one of two ways: I will return hating every fiber of his being; or I will be convinced that this is the person I am going to travel the world with. The first trip we have planned is a few days in Northern California – the second is to the most remote place on earth.

I am  about to learn quickly whether he  can read a situation, problem-solve, and handle his  baggage in any circumstance. He is about to learn what it is like to be with a serial traveler. 

Fly safe,

JAZ

Countries With The Longest Life Expectancies

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Countries With The Longest  Life Expectancies

 ‘If a man in China dies before 90, other people treat the death as early and tragic.’ unknown

I  think of life as a finite amount of time.  Maybe we are each allocated a certain number of years. Some countries have more- some less. People often exceed the life expectancy of their country. For them, every day is a gift. here is a list of the top ten places to live if you want more of a guarantee of long life.

10; In South Korea people now live longer than Americans. Perhaps it is exercise – they take it very seriously and walk a lot also. Perhaps it is diet. Kimchi, a staple of Korean food, is actually rated as one of the healthiest foods in the world. Korean meat and chicken are raised differently and are considered to be healthier than those in the United States.

9. The people in Israel live long lives. The world has made great strides in reducing deaths that arise from preventable and treatable diseases and Israelis have good medical care. Israeli people live in a constant state of stress and fighting which should work against their lifespan. But the Israeli warmth and social support has a major influence on their mental state. Israelis do live with a fear of terror which is balanced by a high level of optimism.

8. Australia is now included in the group of countries where people are expected to live longer. Australia’s universal health care system is one of the best in the world.There is a sharp decline in tobacco consumption. Though they are living longer, there is also a rise in diseases so it may not mean that they are living healthier.

7. Red wine and good health insurance make France one of the countries with a long life expectancy. Walking, everything in moderation, varied diet and no snacks or sodas are proven to be helpful for longevity. 

6. Singaporeans are living longer now. They are not just living longer but staying healthy longer. There is great emphasis on proper care for the onset of chronic diseases. In Singapore good health seem to come with wealth, a strong economy and good health care. They want to change the perception of aging  by keeping people over the age of sixty-five as vital members of society.   

5. Italians smoke more, earn less and spend less on health care than we do but they still live longer. The Mediterranean diet is also likely to be a factor in the long lifespans in Italy. Olive oil helps.

4. There are long life expectancies in Switzerland. They have a good work life balance. The Swiss work normal hours and take proper lunch breaks.Their cities are very pedestrian friendly and walkable.They have the highest chocolate consumption of any country in the world. Dark chocolate is believed to have protective powers.

3.  Spanish people are happy, friendly and walk everywhere. The food in Spain is unprocessed and there are a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables. Gazpacho and honey are credited with longevity powers.

2. If you had the power to choose the chance for a long life, you would choose to be born in Japan. Japanese boys and girls are  expected to live to 73 without any major illness or disability. Their overall life expectancy is in the 80s. The high Japanese life expectancy is due to a diet low in fats and high in carbs. It also includes regular exercise and a healthy attitude to life, community and family. The island of Okinawa has an unusually high proportion of old people attributed  often to a laid back attitude and a lot of varieties of seaweed in their diet.

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1. People who live in Hong Kong are outliving the rest of the world.  They have beaten Japan primarily because smoking has decreased by fifty per cent. Hong Kong is a city while Japan is a country with rural areas included. In general, people who live in the city have longer lives. People in Hong Kong have good access to education, clean water, medical care and electricity. The Asian diet which is low in sugar, Feng Shui, Yin and Yang philosophy (balancing opposing forces – physically and mentally), importance of family ( people who live alone die sooner) and no sun worshipping, are all contributing factors to their long lives. 

 

Fly safe,

JAZ