Monday, March 27, 2023

Secrets To A Successful Marriage ❤ | Mistakes Single & Married People Make

International Romance Author, Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku, provides advice on how to have a successful marriage, and the mistakes singles and married people make.

 

Enjoy.

Monday, March 20, 2023

5 best international wedding destinations - Written by Sneha Das

These international destinations will offer you the perfect backdrop for a dreamy wedding.

Destination weddings are on a roll ever since power couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli got married in Italy in 2017. Following the trend, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone also tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy in 2018. If white sandy beaches, picturesque mountains, and dreamy vineyards also fascinate you, check out these five international for your big day.


Muscat in Oman

Photo by Emily Sherwood

The largest city of Oman, Muscat is one of the best places to host your wedding celebrations amidst mighty mountains and golden desserts. Performing all the ceremonies on a dreamy beach with scenic views of mountains as a backdrop is nothing but surreal. There are many stunning resorts here where your guests can stay. The guests can also explore the mesmerizing mosques here.

Tuscany in Italy

Photo by Josh Hild

Located on the west coast of Italy, Tuscany is the most idyllic wedding location surrounded by green valleys, vineyards, rolling hills, olive groves, and 15th-century art and architecture. You can get married in one of the ancient castles or wine estates here for a rustic yet romantic feel. Include some local specialties in your wedding menu like mushrooms, sheep’s milk cheeses, and super-fine wine.

Vail in Colorado

Photo by Thomas Ward

If you are looking for an adventurous destination wedding, Vail, Colorado is the perfect place to visit. Located at the foothills of Vail Mountain, this small town is ideal for a winter wedding amidst picturesque settings. Here, your guests can also enjoy several thrilling activities like snowboarding, skiing, golfing, fly fishing, and hiking. This hidden gem also organizes several cultural festivals throughout the year.

Miami in Florida

Photo by Elvis Vasquez

If you want a spectacular beach wedding amid silky white sands and blue ocean waters, then Miami, Florida is a beautiful destination to consider. The unique architecture, mind-blowing skyline, and vibrant art scene will add to the wedding ambiance. The Magic City is also known for its exciting nightlife and toothsome food, which means your guests will be happy throughout.

 Mackinac Island in Michigan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

Another underrated international wedding destination, Mackinac Island in Michigan is a quaint, car-free island that is set between the state’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas near where Lake Michigan and Huron meet. Known for its frozen Victorian vibe and architectural style buildings, this national historic landmark is full of charm. You can book a Colonial Revival-style waterfront hotel or a Victorian-era mansion for the wedding.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Great Mysteries, Thrillers and Suspense Written by Remarkable Storytellers By Vivienne Diane Neal


Following are stories that will leave you wanting more. To purchase, just click on the title. Enjoy!

 

Dr. Glass (A Psychological Thriller) by Louise Worthington - A psychologist receives an ominous letter base on an article she wrote regarding filicide.

 

The Wrong Kind (Hannibal Jones Mystery Series) by Austin S. Camacho - A mother, living in a shelter, hires a private investigator to find her missing daughter who may be in danger.

 

Looking for Henry Turner (A Mo Gold and Bernie Mysteries - Book 1) by W.L. Liberman - A mother hires two private investigators to find her son who has been missing for 8 years.

 

Liar, Liar by L.G. Davis - A promising writer, with a dark past, discovers her husband is having an affair and creates a diabolical plan that will have dire consequences.

 

Not Guilty by Linette King - A successful talk-show host believes her husband’s mother does not like her because of her race.

 

Blood Rites: Rise of the Best by C.Y. Marshall - An enslaved, husband transforms into an avenging entity when a brutal owner kills his wife.

 

Acts of Betrayal by Sekinah Jackson - After almost hitting a man with her car, a successful owner of a lip-gloss company becomes infatuated with him, believing she has met her soulmate.

 

Professor Law by Jonathan D. Rosen and Amin Nasser - A successful divorce attorney, found dead from an apparent suicide, may be just another victim of foul play.

Monday, March 06, 2023

How Indonesia's New Sex Laws will Affect Tourism

Photo by Lalu Fatoni

As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, international travelers have been going back to the popular resort island of Bali, hoping that Indonesia’s beaten tourism industry is on the road to recovery.


Recently, the parliament passed new laws banning cohabitation and sex outside of marriage. The laws apply to residents, foreign expats, and vacationers in the country.


Although the changes are not expected to kick in for at least another three years, the new criminal code could put foreigners off visiting that country and hurt its global reputation, starving it of vital tourism revenues.


A Turnaround for Travel Operators  

“From our point of view as tourism industry players, this law will be very counterproductive for the tourism industry in Bali, particularly the chapters about sex and marriage,” said Putu Winastra, chairperson of the country’s largest tourism group, the Association of The Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA).


The new laws are a response to rising religious conservatism in Muslim-majority Indonesia in recent years, with parts of the country enforcing strict Islamic codes. In Bali, the population is predominantly Hindu and, as a result, has had a more liberal social environment that appeals to Western tourists.


Indonesian lawmakers have defended the new laws, saying they were an attempt to satisfy “public aspiration” in a diverse nation. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said that it was not easy for a multicultural and multi-ethnic country to make a criminal code that “accommodates all interests.”


Winastra says that the new laws caught him and others off guard because they felt the government had been very enthusiastic about increasing foreign tourist arrivals. “Now there will now be rules and laws that will burden tourists and the industry,” he added. Like most major tourist hotspots around the world, Bali suffered significant economic turmoil during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 500,000 foreign visitors each month, arrivals slumped to as low as 45 for the entire year of 2021.


However, with the pandemic in retreat, government and tourism industry officials had been forecasting a healthy revival, potentially bringing in billions of dollars of revenue for the Indonesian economy.


The World Travel & Tourism Council, a global industry body, forecast annual growth of 10% for Indonesia’s travel industry over the next 10 years, predicting the sector would contribute nearly $118 billion dollars to the country’s GDP while creating over 500,000 jobs each year for the next decade.


Local guide Ken Katut told CNN Travel he believed things were “progressing in the right direction” in the tourism industry after G20 leaders held a summit in Bali last November. Hotels were bustling with delegates, Ken said, and he was “thrilled” to be busy ferrying tourists around the island. “The G20 was great for us who had been out of work during the pandemic,” he said. “It really brought Bali back to life.” Now, some worry the momentum will lessen just as it was picking up again.


What Now?

Under the new criminal code, anyone – Indonesians or foreigners – found guilty of adultery or premarital relations could face 12 months in jail. It is not yet clear how these laws will be enforced.


“Do tourist couples (visiting Bali) have to prove that they are married? Should we be asking them if they are married or not?” wonders Putu.


“Now foreign tourists will think twice about traveling to Bali because someone might jail them for violating the laws.”


Rights groups have noted how the laws will disproportionately affect women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, and added that they could “provide an avenue for selective enforcement.”


Hotel operators have also objected to the laws, saying it would be difficult for them to enforce.


“Asking couples if they are married or not is a very private area and it will be an impossible task to do,” said Ida Bagus Purwa Sidemen, Executive Director of the Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association (PHRI).


Sidemen feels that the Indonesian government will review the laws following a public backlash. “We just can’t be asking every couple about their legal marital statuses. It will create huge problems for us,” he said.


“But what is going to happen to us now if the new laws scare tourists off? Will we go back to how we were during the pandemic?”


“The government can’t want tourists (revenue) and enforce these laws that will scare people away. It just makes no sense.”