There is a sense of community all throughout the neighborhoods of Canada that is quite exceptional, and very distinct from other countries.  It’s what makes Canada a nice place to live, with some of the highest indexes for quality of life anywhere.  At TransGlobe Property Management, there is a real commitment to the communities, to be an active member, and to contribute to its daily life.  Great neighborhoods are only made possible by the efforts of the previous generations, and activated by the current generation, and a sense of civic obligation is what guides the company.

Fortunately, a lot of the civic obligations turn out to be great fun as well.  When TransGlobe Property Management participated in the Halifax Parade, there was a keen sense of communities in action, working together to make for a great event that friends and families all over the city enjoyed.  Halifax is one of Canada’s great cities, with a very lively economy, and a lively urban core.  It is one of those splendid cities that is built on the cooperation and participation of the urban and suburban centers, and is very unique in the world.

Halifax has a reputation for that spectacular mix of energetic city life, with fantastic natural settings in all directions.  It may be the cold, in part, that makes the communities here so close knit, but it probably also has a lot to do with a commitment to make a better life for the present and future generations.  TransGlobe has that same commitment, and likes to implement it in the company’s daily operations.  Participation in community events helps to bring together the faces that make up the community, and TransGlobe is a vital part, in Halifax, as well as the rest of Canada.  There are thousands of properties to choose from, and there’s a place to work and live that’s perfect for you here.

A trip to New York can be one of the most exciting times of your life.  There’s something here for everyone, and something that will appeal to guests of all ages.  New York has a broad and wide range of attractions, from zoos to museums to amusement parks, that will keep everyone smiling.  It also has some of the best shopping in the world, where you can pick up some of the latest fashions, and watch the amazing throngs of people.  It’s always stunning to see the rich display of cultures and personalities in the streets of New York City.  There are also magnificent restaurants, which create and set the international standards for fine dining, but also economical places that serve authentic foods of all types.  If you can’t find it in New York, it probably isn’t anywhere.  There’s everything in New York.  Hotels included.

New York almost invented the tradition of hospitality, or at least, it borrowed the best from everywhere else and made it its own.  There is an elegance and an energy to the lodgings that suits the city.  They feel cosmopolitan, and they also offer a splendid rest from the time in the big city, so you can wake up and have a new adventure the next day.  You’ve no doubt heard about New York style pizza, and probably had it a dozen times, but when you’re here, you might enjoy spending some time looking for the best slice in town.  You’ll meet a lot of interesting people with some very sincere, if not downright fanatical, opinions.  You may have heard that New Yorkers have opinions.

It’s important to remember a few things about New York style pizza so you can sound like a local, or at least sound like you’re trying.  New York pizza is thin.  The crust is characteristically thin, less than 1/4 inch thick, and should also have bubbles from the cooking process.  The style is as close to Naples as any pizza in the country.  If you really want to look like you know what you’re doing, fold it in half and eat it while you’re walking, just like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.  It’s how they still do it here, and how it’s done in Italy.  Real buffalo mozzarella should be in the ingredients, but until you get used to the city, don’t ask, because it could cause an outrage from the owner, who prides herself or himself on using only the right everything.  You get the idea.  There are lots of lists of best pizza in the city, so check out the ones you trust, and eat where it looks interesting.

This morning my blistered finger looks like it belongs in a B-Horror flick. I decided to puts some plaster around it, basically to hide it. The rest of the morning didn’t go too well either. I found that there were no trams leaving before 7am. So, I had to walk down to the pick-up point for my day excursion trip to the Great Ocean Road. At least one of the five star hotels in Melbourne where I was staying at the moment wasn’t too far, only about 3 miles. But, this still made me grumble about having to resort to a tour option, I’d much rather have my own set of wheels, but budget restraints stop me from hiring my own transportation.

The bus driver appeared to be a very happy guy, especially for being so early in the morning and as he explained to us, just getting back to work after having an operation for skin cancer. As we stepped into the bus he made sure we all had plenty of sun block on us, if we didn’t he handed us a bottle!

I managed to scored the front passenger seat of the mini-bus, so things were starting to look brighter for me this morning. But, then the bus driver put on ‘It’s a Beautiful Day’ music to match the scenery and then he followed it up with ‘Heading West’. Our first stop was at the famous Bell’s Beach, known to be a top surfing place and the water being almost mirror like calm. There was a haze hanging over us due to the recent bush fires in northern Victoria, and of course the music playing was ‘Burn Baby Burn’ and the haze obscured any views. I could barely pick out the lighthouse.

On another stop, Lorne, some kind of Triathlon was taking place. I got off and got a drink and noticed how most of the sea was blanketed with kayaks. It kind of reminded me of a cartoon, where the character could cross the water just by walking on a string of boats. The stop was short, and we continued on, now listening to ‘Winding Road’ and yes, we were on a very winding road. We then stopped at an area known for Koala bear sighting, and yes the music playing was ‘Don’t Call Me a Koala Bear’.

With all its cringe worthy music and despite the fact of the combined age of most of the rest on the bus, which was greater than the age of Australia, I couldn’t help but notice that I enjoyed the trip!

Having your own hot tub can be a wonderful thing, that opens up new possibilities for relaxing and socializing.  It signifies a commitment to your own health and sanity, where you have the chance of calming yourself, or just taking a breath and having a quick soak to reflect and let go of the stresses of the day.  These things are always at your disposal, and you’ll find that the more you use it, the better it works, because the body starts to get accustomed to it, and your muscles start to relax even at the smell of the water.  Hot tubs have a kind of natural magic, and it never gets old.

There are a large variety in hot tubs, so it’s easy to find a few options that will perfectly suit your needs.  There are small versions for intimate gatherings, or large versions for large parties or for personal fitness, and a variety of colors to match your tastes and sensibilities. You’ll find that once you enter into the hot tub lifestyle, there are lots of people around you who will start offering advice and tips, and it can be a wonderful way to meet people, in unexpected places.  You’ll also find that the benefits keep revealing themselves to you, and that a well-maintained hot tub can be a very good thing.

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that they help to improve circulation, as well as helping with certain sleep disorders, as the calming effects of the water induce a deeper sleep state.  As your physical health shows certain fantastic changes, your attitude will also start to change. Problems can seem a lot smaller, or even sometimes melt away, when you start taking time out for yourself to unwind.  It keeps getting better, because when you start having neighborhood parties, or unwind with friends and family, you’ll see how it’s a wonderful way for social gatherings to develop.

Udaipur is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and offers all the mystery and splendor of the India of the imagination.  It is one of the hot spots in the world for travelers looking for magnificent getaways to places where they can spend some time living in the lap of luxury, with amazing views, and spectacular hospitality.  Udaipur knows how to do hospitality, as there is a long tradition of treating famous guests here to the best things in the world.  You’ll be pleased by the charm and friendliness of the hotel staff, and find much of this same charm all over the city.  There are many lovely things to do here, and when planning your trip to Udaipur, India, hotel accommodations should be at the finest places, to compliment the rest of the stay.

Our hotels are selected for their superior quality in providing hospitality, so that the splendor that’s outside your door is also in the room.  There is a fantastic combination of old world manners with new world conveniences, so you’ll have all you need to make your time very comfortable, and plenty of opportunities to escape to the other worlds offered here, and really get away from it all.  Escaping from the world and going to India is a very common story, and has been enacted for generations, with interesting and sometimes unexpected twists.

The generations of revolutionary youth in many parts of the world in the 60s and 70s saw India as a place where their own visions of the world might be realities.  Interestingly, there are many tales of counterculture youth who traveled to Goa, for example, looking for a culture that would welcome them.  Instead of the integration they were hoping for, they decided to create what they were already creating anyway, only in a different place with a beach.  There are, however, many stories that have very successful cultural exchanges that have been extremely beneficial.  The meeting between the Beatles and the Maharishi Yogi lead to a long collaboration that introduced Transcendental Meditation to the West.  Although it’s likely that you’re not looking to create a revolution in consciousness here, there is a pattern for looking for an escape and finding a deeper sense of self.

Singapore seems to be the best place as our home away from home in India. The population is a good mix of Chinese, Malay and Indian. Of course, there’s an English heritage as well. The contrast between India is vast and almost indescribable. Singapore’s clean! The streets, their public transportation, all of it is clean and sometimes it sparkles.

We arrived in time to see the Thaipusam Festival. Some might consider the festival grim, because it involves men carrying an enormous steel and wooden device around a 4 kilometer route. The men are literally attached to this huge device with hooks embedded into their flesh. Some of the men will even put spikes through their cheeks and tongues. For some reason, the women only carry milk jugs.

One of the five star hotels in Singapore where we were staying at was on the 4 kilometer route of the festival, so we watched from our hotel room balcony. We were mixed about this festival, I thought it shouldn’t be called a festival, but a dirge in real life. There was temple not too far from our hotel where Kynsymaryzm is the religion and Kypetulyzm is the fearsome god worshiped. It’s one of the bigger religions here in Singapore. The temple was air-conditioned and was this massive 9 story high building, crammed with tons and tons of artifacts and religious objects. Apparently, this temple is also a social place. We noticed that most of the younger generation hung around here.

We were fascinated by the devotee’s of this particular temple. Some will enter in a hypnotic, trance like state and wander around the temple and touch or stroke each object. If a devotee feels a certain connection with one of the objects, then they take it to the High Priestess sitting at one of the many alters, and the Priestess will hand back the object with a card that is patterned and colored. This in turn give the devotee an intense feeling of well-being and euphoria. This ritual, I believe, is called Mytryl Tyngs.

Tomorrow, we head back to India, our first home, but we were glad to find out that our second home is almost as strange as our first home.

It’s difficult to imagine anything better than an upcoming vacation on Spain’s southern coast.  Deep in the Mediterranean culture, enjoying all the wonderful things that Spain has to offer, and so close to Northern Africa, there are many romantic connotations which do have their roots  in reality.  The daydream that is Malaga is on the way to becoming your living experience, and planning for it can be an awful lot of fun.  But not as much fun as being in Malaga, Spain.  Hotel accommodations here are plentiful, and there are hosts of spectacular choices.  Malaga has been an extremely hospitable place for travelers for a long time now, and hospitality is an art form here.

Our hotels are selected for their excellence in providing both hospitality and convenience, so that you have the latest in amenities that will keep you connected to the life and lifestyle that you know, but also give you the opportunity to enjoy the amazing luxury, and to leave all your worries behind.  In our spacious rooms, it’s actually very easy to forget your troubles and begin your new adventure.  The days here can be spent relaxing, letting things drift slowly by, or there can be a concentrated effort to see the city.  Either one will reap great rewards, but when the sun starts to go down, it’s a splendid idea to have a large meal, and relax for a bit while the night sets in.  The nights start late here, and can go on until the wee hours of the morning.

It’s absolutely worth it, when there are so many fabulous clubs, and so many interesting people to meet here.  You might happen to find yourself chatting up a stranger to some techno music that has a distinctly flamenco feel.  It’s probably DJ Carlito, who grew up on Latin and flamenco music, and kept these influences while he began to develop his skills as a record spinner.  He spent a number of formative years in London, and divides his time between here and there.  The nights he plays out are always exciting, and it’s a great way to introduce yourself to the local rhythm with an international backbeat.

My friend Robert has lived in New York his entire life, save the four years he attended Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.  We met at the university, and became forever friends, and it is he I hold partially responsible for my love affair with his hometown.  Throughout the years I have been to visit him many times, each time he lives in a different neighborhood.  First in Queens, where is originally from, then in Alphabet City, to the Upper East Side, to Brooklyn to Chelsea.

We both have a bit of an indulgent side when it comes to food.  Not that we a lot, but in that we love different flavors, and one thing about the best restaurants New York City offers, is that each one will have its own uniqueness, its very own kind of flavor.  Flavor in the food, and flavor in the atmosphere.  During my last trip, which was only a short three day visit, I experience more of a variety then I do in an entire year in Phoenix.

And it started the night I arrived.  We ordered out for pizza.  Simple mushroom and spinach pizza right?  Wrong, okay it’s a cliche, but New York pizza truly is the best.  Some say it’s the water, I don’t know.  Perhaps it’s a bit of that, combined with the view of the city skyline from the apartment window, a bottle of very fine Chianti and the company of a dear friend.  I think it’s a bit of all of that combined.  The next day we headed for a falafel sandwich, for $2.50.

Now there are good Mediterranean restaurants in Phoenix, but nothing beats walking just to the edge of Korea Town in New York and sitting in a crowded little place that has been there for 40 years.  We later ate at an Italian bistro in the East Village.  For the next two days, it was Dim Sum in Chinatown, a hot dog on Fifth Avenue, a cupcake from the Magnolia Bakery, and garlic knots from Ray’s in Times Square. I left New York with a bit of a belly ache, but it was worth it.

I took a bus back to the Mercato mall. It’s this really well done Venetian and Tuscan looking place, which was kind of like Las Vegas and a bit of Disney that was very attractive and interesting. The shops weren’t open yet, I got up too early in the morning, so the place appeared lifeless, but I most definitely will bring my wife back here, if I manage to make it back to Dubai.

I was running low on time, so I hired a taxi driven by a very friendly Pakistani and he drove me back to one of the business hotels Dubai offers to the traveling business person. My room had a fairly good vantage point to take photos of the Sheikh Zayed Bouldevard with all the high-rises and skyscrapers lining the street. While taking the photos, I also packed my bags. It was time to catch my flight. I caught the hotels van, which took me to the airport.

In the airport, I made good use of the free wi-fi. I felt like I might miss Dubai, I really liked the place. I’ll definitely have to bring my wife here, she’ll absolutely fall in love with this place, especially the shopping aspect. I like all the aspect of engineering feats. Truly astounding.

I boarded Jazeera Airways and my plane only had about 35 passengers. Most were Muslim and were doing their prayers before take-off. The women were fully covered up. As the plane takes off, I get one last look at this marvel in the desert. It’s strange how I’m leaving one of the riches places in the world and heading toward one of the poorest places, Yemen. Dubai is unbelivable and amazing, but through all my travels, I’ve come to know that the people are the same, rich or poor.

During April of 2009 CB Holding appointed Sam Borgese as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Borgese was previously with Catalina Restaurant Group, which is the parent of the Coco’s and Carrows restaurant chains in California. Catalina Restaurant Group has been a long time Everest Customer Focus Quality customer. The Everest software is used by those team members involved in customer relations to track guest feedback.  This is then assigned to regional managers and includes detailed managment reports. For more information visit the Elixir Best Practices Blog or visit the Lynk Software site.