Some of the things you should know about Jounieh, Lebanon

Jounieh (Arabic جونيه, or Junia, جونية) is a coastal city which is located about 16 km north of Beirut, Lebanon. It is well known for its seaside resorts and also bustling nightlife, as well as its old stone souk, ferry port, and a cable car that takes passengers up the mountain to the infamous shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. There is a small hill named Bkerké above Jounieh and not far from there stands the Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.

For your information, the residents of Jounieh and the surrounding towns are amongst Christian Maronites, making Jounieh the largest Christian Maronite city in the world. If you do visit Jounieh, don’t forget to stop by the bay of Jounieh, which is considered to be the most beautiful bay in Lebanon.

Coming to Jounieh? Make sure you have a comfortable stay while you are there. Here is a list of some of the hotels in Jounieh that you can check in:

1.      Reston Hotel

This hotel offers a high quality service and it is a harmony between the romantic and the luxurious. In fact, this four stars hotel is one of the most luxurious hotels in the area.

What it offers:

24h Front Desk and concierge, Free Wireless Internet in lounge, 24h Room service, Daily housekeeping, Airport pick-up and drop off facilities, Taxi service, Tour operator, Car rental, Laundry and Dry cleaning service, Breakfast area, International Restaurant and Banqueting facilities.

2.      Aquarim Hotel

This hotel is ready to offer you both luxury and comfort. Located in the heart of Jounieh, the Aquarium Hotel is just a short distant away from the popular shopping areas, attractive tourist sites and nightlife entertainment places.

What’s hot here?

Aquarium Hotel offers you a beautiful pool, which is located by the sea. Sit tight and relax!

Churchill Rooftop Pub/Restaurant that offers you excellent food and beverages, so you can get together with your friends and family at night after your tiring exploration around the city.

3.      Madisson Hotel

Located 100 meters away from the sea-shore and just 3 kilometres from the Casino du Liban, this hotel offers you nothing but convenience and comfort during your visit to Jounieh. It is also 20 minutes from downtown Beirut. What’s cool about this hotel is that you don’t have to worry about finding a parking each time you come for a visit. 

Facilities:

Fitness centre, Jacuzzi, Sauna, etc

Activities:

Horse riding, Scuba diving, Skiing, Tennis, Golf, Hiking, etc

Condom machine; don’t try without consent

Surprisingly, this is a condom machine that can be found in one of the pubs in the UK!

Travel tips when travelling overseas

Travel tips:

1. When travelling overseas, make sure you snap as many photos as possible! Store these pictures in your external hard disk to ensure that you have enough space to store new pictures.

2. Instead of making calls from your hotel room, why not use phone cards or better, a LocalSIMKad™ of your destination!

3. Make sure you have enough cash and do keep your cash and credit cards in a secured place.

4. Before leaving your hotel room, double check the things under your bed; you’ll never what is left behind.

5. If you wish to wash your undergarments, it’s better to wash them manually using your hands and the bathroom basin available as it is much cheaper than sending it to the hotel’s laundry service.

Work in Dubai

Want to work abroad? Yes, you can! There are many places that you can go to and it also depends to your interest as well; work in a place that you think you can be comfortable in. Well, if you have no experience staying abroad, perhaps experience it yourself! Dubai is one of the great places to work in although there are of course, the black and white sides about it. Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of working in Dubai, shall we?

Some of the things that you should put into consideration:

1.      Financial

In Dubai, you will get to enjoy an income tax free salary! This way, you can always save up more money in your bank account. Having more money in the bank is essential as you may need those extra cash for the rainy days. Why pay so much when you can save more?

2.      Culture

Dubai is a place of culture, both local and international. You will get to see a lot of foreigners around the country; people from all over the world come here to work as Dubai is a country that requires professionals from other countries. Due to the multi-cultural population, you will get to learn about other cultures, language, and religion. However, there are people who prefer to work with people from their own kind; they’re not racist, but some people just have their own preference in certain things.

3.      Travel experience

Working in Dubai enables you to learn and know people from different cultures and backgrounds. Well, if you think getting to know people around Dubai is not enough, you are most welcomed to visit its neighbouring countries! Try visiting Syria, Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and many more. You will get to learn more because although each country may practise different lifestyle and holds different political and religious views, they are very kind and welcoming people. This is also the best time to learn Arabic or perhaps, belly dancing!

4.      Free trip home

Being far from your friends and family back home can be stressful sometimes as many people actually suffered from home-sickness when they stay abroad for a very long time. But, don’t worry, if you’re lucky, you might get your company to pay for your trip back to your home country. Most companies in Dubai would do that, so cross your fingers!

5.      Freedom

Working in Dubai is an experience no one should miss! This emirate city has the largest population and second largest land territory among all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi. It is also one of the most well-known Arab countries for having more freedom compared to the other Middle-east countries. Night clubs are available, so you and your friends can always come over for a beer. Yes, there are more freedom here but remember to always behave too.

6.      Climate

Dubai has a very hot arid climate and if you can’t stand the heat, be prepared for this if you are going to stay there for a very long time. Summer in Dubai is even hotter; it is also windy and humid (108 °F in average). Most people find it to be uncomfortable, but to those who are used to hot weather, they tend to adapt faster.

7.      Habits

Likewise, there are so many people of different nationalities in Dubai. Can you imagine how many types of people that you’ll be dealing with? There are good and bad people; you have to learn to tolerate with others, especially when driving on the road. The road is definitely a place that challenges one’s patience.

8.      Learn to respect

You probably have your own views on certain things and the values practised are also different than the others, especially those from different cultures and backgrounds. If you are not careful with your words, this may lead you to some unwanted actions. Learn to be a good listener and bear in mind that some things are just for you to know; you don’t want to touch on sensitive issues that may put yourself into troubles. Always respect the locals and learn to be patient. If you have to learn to be or behave like the locals, try to do so; but, NEVER compare and downgrade their culture. You don’t want them to tell you to get out from the country, don’t you? So, learn to respect and love each other.

Dine in with your dog at the Chew Chew restaurant in Sydney

In Australia, there is a restaurant for all dog lovers out there! ‘Chew Chew’, is a restaurant in Sydney that provides delicious meals for your dogs, from beef steak to fish soup. The restaurant has caught lots of attention and people from all over the country have been taking their dogs for a visit to this unique place to dine. Dogs are behaving more like humans these days; dogs normally drink water but here, you can serve your dogs with coffee or tea for a change! If you live far from this place, don’t worry; you can purchase Chew Chew’s products online.

The restaurant’s owner, Naoko Okamoto, told The Sydney Morning Herald that a lot of dog owners have long for a restaurant like this; this is how they express their appreciation and love for their pets. She said “I started with organic dog biscuits and supplements and selling them at the markets and spent three years finding out the customers’ needs”.

Like them on Facebook today! p/s they also have parties for your pets=p

http://www.facebook.com/chewchewpetrestaurantpage

Lebanon

Lebanon, also known as Lubnān, is located in the East Mediterranean. It is bordered by Syria and Israel.  This country filled with rich history is populated by people from different religious beliefs and cultures. Lebanon was the home of the Phoenicians, a maritime culture that flourished for almost 2,500 years (3000-539 BC). Due to the fall of the Ottoman Empire after WWII, 5 provinces that comprise modern Lebanon were mandated to France, which then resulted to the population of Maronite, Catholics and Druze. The country achieved its independent in the year 1943, with a political system called the confessionalism. Confessionalism employs a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities.

Places of visit

Beirut

Tripoli

Sidon

People of Lebanon

Lebanese singers

Lebanon has beautiful singers like Nancy Ajram, Haifa Wehbe, Myriam Fares, and Amal Hijazi. These singers have performed in various concerts and they all, produced cool music videos. Nancy Ajram is one of the most famous Lebanese singers and her songs such as Waving Flag and Betfakar Fe Eih have stolen many hearts from all over the world. When you listen to the song called ‘Waving Flag’ by Nancy Ajram feat. K’naan, you will think of football since it was the song of the previous world cup tournament. Haifa wehbe on the other hand is well-known for her sex appeal and beauty that eventually led her to the People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful people in 2006 list.

Culture

“Shisha” is one of the cultures in the Arab world, including Lebanon. Most Lebanese spend time with their friends by having shisha as it helps them to relax, especially during the weekend. However, you can actually see them having Shisha every single day! It’s a pretty normal thing to them. You can choose your preferred flavor, from strawberry to Grape and many more. The smoke will make you sleepy or what we call “high”. The fruity flavor tastes good, which is one of the reasons why people love Shisha so much! You can buy your own Shisha and smoke it at home or perhaps, smoke it when hanging out at the restaurant with your friends while watching a football match.

Weather & Climate

Lebanon is a country with a moderate Mediterranean climate. In some places, winters are very cool and rainy whilst summer is very hot and humid. In more elevated areas, temperatures would usually drop below freezing during the winter with heavy snow cover that remains until early summer on the higher mountaintops. Before you travel to Lebanon, do check on its weather forecast and plan your trip wisely; don’t forget to bring clothes that are suitable for the current or future weather.

Food & Beverages

Hummus

Tabbouleh

Maamoul

Kibbeh

Bears around the world

1. The Sun bear

The Sun bear that lives in Brunei stands approximately 1.2 m in length and it is known for being the smallest member of the bear family; therefore sometimes called the ‘dog bear’ and probably the most aggressive of the bear family. It will attack without provocation. So, you should not mess with this bear. The Sun bear is also called “honey bear”. If you think that you can upset this bear and then later make your way up on the tree, you better think again; this bear is a good climber and it stays long periods in trees, and one good reason for this is it procures honey from the hives.

2. Polar bear

Yes, looks can be deceiving; so, never judge a book by its cover. The Polar Bear may look adorable and innocent, since it’s cute and looks almost harmless, with soft and beautiful white fur but don’t let it fool you. This bear is an amazing killer and it is the most aggressive in the bear family. This predator lives in one of the coldest places in the planet and it feeds on seals. It is a carnivore and would consume carcasses, such as dead whales or anything dead on the ice.

3. Grizzly Bear

The Grizzly bear is one of the biggest in the bear family and it is different from the black bears. You can see a distinctive hump on its shoulder. This bear has long claws and they are about the size of a human finger! In general, they have brown fur but can vary from very light cream to black. Grizzly bears are omnivores; they eat both vegetation and animals. Basically, they feed on fish from the nearest river. But, in certain areas some Grizzly bears actually eat moose and elk! They can be found in dense forests, subalpine meadows and arctic tundra. They are mostly found in western Canada, Alaska, Washington, and Montana. There were some cases of fatal events involving this bear. The best thing to do when you see one is to ‘play dead’ and hope it goes away. That is the only way to survive from a Grizzly, especially a pissed-off Grizzly bear.

4. Panda Bear

The Panda Bear is well-known for its black and white colour, especially the round black patches around its eyes! This bear lives in south western China and it loves the bamboo. Basically, the bamboo is its main diet (99%); however, it also eats other grasses, wild tubers, or even meat in the form of birds, rodents or carrion when it lives in the wild. In captivity, pandas may receive honey, eggs, fish, yams, oranges, and bananas along with specially prepared food. Sounds like a pampered bear, I say? Pandas are loved by everyone and they are the friendliest bear compared to their cousins. However, this species is threatened due to deforestation, making it as a protected animal by WWF.

5. American Black Bear

The black bear’s habitats range from the far northern tundra of Canada and Alaska to the forests of Central America and Mexico. They have small eyes, long noses, round ears and a short tail.  The males are bigger than the females. These bears love termites, bees, and moths. They also consume fruits and honey. Most bears prefer to eat carrion, especially after hibernation as they need lots of protein to gain back their energies. Likewise, do not attempt to provoke these bears; they rarely attack humans but do watch your back to avoid troubles. One thing for sure, these bears are very protective towards their cubs.

The Tung Lung Fort, Hong Kong

Did you know that the Tung Lung Fort is one of Hong Kong’s declared monuments? It was built in the late 17th or early 18th century and was attacked a number of times by pirate bands before it was abandoned in 1810. The fort used to have 15 guardhouses and was armed with eight cannons. To find out more about it, you can check its information centre from 9am-4pm.

A spooky tale of Balete Drive, Philippines

Balete Drive, Quezon City is well-known for its horrific tales. A movie called Peque Gallaga’s Hiwaga sa Balete Drive was inspired by this Balete Drive in 1988. Wonder where did it get its name? It got its name after the balete trees, which are known to be homes of paranormal beings. It is said that a white lady haunts the road at night and she would appear in the taxi’s backseats. Some say that she was raped & killed by a taxi driver. Scary? Yes, it is!

University of Hong Kong

Did you know that the University of Hong Kong was opened in 1911, and it is known for being the country’s oldest university? One of its famous graduates is Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founder and first President of the Republic of China. This university is located on the hillsides above Western district. There are four internal courtyards, with two of which have palm trees over 9m tall.

There are 10 faculties in the University of Hong Kong:

• Faculty of Architecture
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Business and Economics
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Law
• Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Sciences

Libraries are available here. Built in 1912, the university’s library is the oldest academic library in the country with over 2.3 million holdings. Students taking Masters and PhD programmes can always log on to the university’s web-based library catalogue, called DRAGON that allows them to search books, journals and other resources.

Students are also provided with lots of great services such as:

• Career Education and Placement Centre
• Personal Development and Counselling Centre
• Sports and Recreation Programmes/Facilities
• University Dental Service
• University Health Service
• University Museum and Art Gallery (formerly Fung Ping Shan Museum)
• Computer Centre
• Centre of Development and Resources for Students