Seychelles- Sitting Pretty Among Top Beach Destinations

 by: Andrew Muigai

Almost every description of the Seychelles appears to be a bit over the top. Is it only the easily impressed who get to visit and write about the Seychelles? The magic of these islands is however real. Impressions gained of this dream island paradise will be your refuge when you return to those long working hours. Just like everybody imagines paradise, the Seychelles islands are far away, peaceful and stunningly beautiful.

It is the peace and quiet that attracted the writer Somerset Maugham when he sought to work on a novel without interruption. Most visitors do not however come here to work. The main draw of the islands has always been the beaches, snorkeling and diving. The attractions of the natural world particularly the birdlife, tropical fish and the unique physical environment are a bonus.

After your Seychelles holiday you may want to impress your friends by these two facts. The islands are the only mid ocean island group in the world with a granite rock formation. And that Aldabra, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site is the largest coral atoll in the world. Some will of course not understand what you are talking about but the point will be clear that you have traveled to a place of distinction.

Jacques Costeau whose part of the documentary, The Silent World was shot in the Seychelles said that he had never been anywhere else with such clarity of water or diversity of reef life.

The islands are also a good place to get married and to enjoy the tropical honeymoon of your life. Few other destinations can beat the combination of beauty and romance. For this and other reasons I cannot go through here, It is my firmly held position that visitors who get married here go on to a happy married life and are sooner joined by cute little ones!

The Seychelles is a year round destination. But if you must undertake a specific activity, then you need to pick the most suitable season. Windsurfing and sailing are best at the start and end of the trade winds - May and October. Diving enthusiasts should go for dates between March and May or September to November, although conditions are excellent year round.

Those keen on the birdlife should note that April marks the beginning of the breeding season. Bird Island, in particular is overrun by sea birds between May and September. Due to drier conditions, the period May to September has best conditions for hiking and walking.

The other factor you may want to consider is cost. The Seychelles is considered to be a top-drawer destination. In general, the peak falls between mid December-early January and mid July-end August when most Seychelles hotels and resorts trade in the currency known as top-dollar. The off-season periods vary with each establishment much more widely than most other destinations.

The discount in designated off-season periods relative to the peak season falls between 20-60%. Some of the smaller premises however charge a uniform rate year round. If you have a flexible schedule, good planning can result in considerable savings.

Copyright © Africa Point

About The Author Andrew Muigai is the editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. travel@africapoint.com

Easy Party Planning Tips

 by: Jan Kovarik

Planning a party can be easy! Even complicated theme parties or surprise parties can be very manageable as long as you create a Party Plan List that has a pre-party time line of things to be done, things to buy, things to rent or borrow, people to contact, grocery shopping, and food thats to be prepared, catered, or brought in by party guests.

Start Your Party Plan List Early!

No matter what type of party you are planning, from the simplest Saturday night get-together, to an all-day or all-night theme party, you are going to need a basic list of things that will need to be done prior to the day of the party—and right up until just minutes before the party!

As soon as youve set the date for your party, start making your list. It can be a real piece of paper that you write on, or it can be a computer Word document. You can use the free printable Party Plan List that accompanies this article (change the column headings to suit your party needs), or you can make one of your own.

Jot down the first few things that come to mind as they apply to your party: invite guests, plan the menu, decide on party games, and make a shopping list. If your party is going to be more involved, like a theme party or a surprise party, then your initial Party Plan List might include a few more things like decorations to buy or make, music, outdoor seating or lighting, and invitations that need to be emailed, snail-mailed, or hand-delivered.

Your Party Plan List can be as short or as long as it needs to be, and can include lots of details or just cover the basics. The whole idea is to have one central place where you can make notes for yourself and create reminders about what will need to be done, and when. For very detailed parties or elaborate celebrations, you might want to seriously consider buying a small notepad that you can keep with you wherever you are so that you can make notes for yourself as soon as you think of them.

Arrange for a Party Helper!

If your party is going to be a little more involved than just having a few friends over for drinks and conversation or a simple family-only birthday party, you should consider asking a close friend or relative to be your Party Helper. No matter how prepared you think you are going to be, as the party day gets closer, you are likely to feel as though that things are out of control and that youre running around in circles and not accomplishing anything. A Party Helper can keep you sane during those last few wild days before the party, even if only to remind you that everything really is going according to plan!

Ask your Party Helper to be available the day before the party or the day of the party to help you with all the last minute things that are going to come up. Dont be bashful about asking for help—but do remember that you might be asked to repay the favor someday!

Share the Party Plan List with your Party Helper, and make a special point to go over everything with him or her.

Work the List!

Now that you have a Party Plan List, you might want to review it on a regular basis. As things begin to get done, check off things that no longer need your attention, or mark done what youve done so far for any one thing on the list.

Once you have the basic list done, review each item on the list. Make your time line of what things need to be done and when. You can either color-code things (that is, everything that needs to be done on Monday before the party you can mark in blue), or you can number the list (that is, the thing that can be done now gets marked 1 and the thing that can only be done right before the party gets marked 999, or whatever numbering sequence you want to use). No matter what scheme you use, make sure that your list will help you do what can be done sooner and remind you of what will need to be done later.

Coordinate With Your Party Helper!

As the party day gets closer, stay in touch with your Party Helper and other friends and family who have offered to help with the party (by providing party items or taking care of errands) to make sure that everything is on track. Review your Party Plan List one last time with your Party Helper and discuss any final arrangements that need to be made. By this time both you and your Party Helper need to have a very clear idea of who is taking care of what.

Help Yourself To Be Prepared!

Remember the Golden Rule about parties: Everything you need to do will take longer than you think!

So, using your Party Plan List, do everything you possibly can ahead of time:

Any food item that can be prepared and stored or frozen can be made prior to the party. If youve frozen an item, note on your Party Plan List what time it needs to be taken out of the freezer.

For any food item that needs to be made the day of the party, think ahead. Can you pre-measure the ingredients and store in containers in the frig or seal in resealable plastic bags? This will save you plenty of time on Party Day!

Remember that parties create TRASH and GARBAGE. Most people dont plan ahead for this. Using the free printable signs that are available with this article, plan for trash, garbage, and recyclables (if that applies). If you dont have regular large trashcans (or garbage cans that you can hose out and have clean for the party), then big cardboard boxes will do. Buy large trash bags. Put several in the bottom of the trashcan before you put in the trash bag that will be open. This way, as the trashcan fills up, you can bag up the trash and there will be another trash bag ready to go!

Accept the fact that it is likely that drinks are going to be spilled. Depending on what your arrangement is for drinks, whether cans of soda, bottles of various sport drinks, juices, and water, cans and bottles of alcoholic beverages, or party punchbowls, please think ahead about spillage and melting ice. Borrow plenty of coolers from friends and have certain types of beverages in their own coolers (all the soda in one cooler, all the bottled drinks in one, beer in another, etc.). Be sure that one cooler is kept for clean ice that people can use for drinks that are poured into cups. If the coolers are going to be inside on the floor, spread out beach towels underneath them to absorb the ice melt. Buy several rolls of paper towels, and have them handy to dry hands and mop up spills.

Dont Panic on Party Day!

Youve been using your Party Plan List and youve been coordinating with your Party Helper. On Party Day, all you need to do now is go by the list, and work at getting things done in the order that they need to be finished.

Hopefully your Party Helper will be available to assist you during the day. It might also be helpful to appoint other helpers to help during the party: replenish food trays, put uneaten food away before it spoils, take care of trash, help set up party games. Ask someone to restart the music if you are playing CDs on the stereo.

Dont be afraid to ask several people to each do one small task during the party. They wont mind, and you wont have to spend all your time hurrying around, trying to do everything!

Enjoy the Party!

Now that youve done all the planning, finished the shopping, prepared all the food, and greeted your guests as they arrive, you can relax and enjoy the party!

Post-Party Reminders

After the mess is gone and the place is back to normal, please do remember to personally thank your Party Helper and all those who lent a hand in making it a successful event! And then offer your services as Party Helper for their next party

About The Author Jan K., The Proofer is freelance proofreader and copyeditor. Visit http://www.janktheproofer.com for more information about Jans services; http://work-at-home.janktheproofer.com for work at home articles and free printables; and for work at home moms, visit Jans sister site http://work-at-home.momsbreak.com for articles, free printables, and work at home T-shirts and other fun products. © Copyright 2004 All rights reserved. jkproof@bellsouth.net

A New Kind Of DJ VU Paris Arrives In Cabo

 by: Richard Chudy

Ever had the feeling that you’ve been somewhere before? Well, even if you’ve never been to the French Riviera Restaurant in Los Cabos, the experience will leave you with a new kind of dj vu, one that makes you wish you had been there before. The owners and staff make you feel as if you are long lost friends or family who have finally come home and the food, service and congeniality will create a lasting impression.

Los Cabos has no shortage of excellent restaurants. Whatever your appetite, you’ll have little trouble finding food that pleases the palate. Traditional Mexican, authentic Italian, the freshest seafood, sushi, fondue and fusion, they’re all here. The cuisine that has garnered the least attention has been French, the king of haute cuisine. Not anymore. Nestled on the cliffs above the Sea of Cortez, just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Cabo San Lucas, is an elegant yet unpretentious jewel in the crown of Cabo culinary delights.

That jewel is the French Riviera Restaurant and Bakery. A destined to be famous trio of eateries with locations in San Jose del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas and along the tourist corridor in between the two municipalities. Until recently, those seeking true gourmet French dining had a very small selection from which to choose. Most offered French fare as part of a mlange of vastly unrelated cuisine with the French fare being a somewhat obvious afterthought. Others claimed to have French trained chefs, but my taste buds told a different story. It is with great pleasure that I report that my taste buds have found true French cooking, and it is alive and well in Los Cabos.

Begat by Jacques Chretien and his wife Sophie, the French Riviera is a gastronome’s paradise, an oasis of flavor infused sauces, originality and decadence. Led by Chef Jacques Chretien, the staff prepares some of the finest meals that are likely to ever pass your lips, all the while making guests feel more at home than any home should have the right to feel. That, my friends, is no easy task, but somehow these wonderfully hospitable folks make it look easy.

Chef Chretien has the honor of belonging to a small community - the world’s greatest chefs. As recipient of the Maitre Cuisinier designation (French master chef), he joins a group that boasts only 200 members worldwide with only forty or so outside of France. Mexico boasts a total of five, Los Cabos has only one. The award is bestowed by the French government and recognizes culinary excellence as an art form unto itself. Couple Jacque’s talent and passion for fine food with Sophie’s “joie de vie” and undeniable warmth, and you have a five-star dining experience set in one of the world’s most picturesque coastal destinations.

The main restaurant is open for lunch (12:00 to 4:00) and dinner (5:30 to 11:00 pm), bar service runs from 11:30 am to 11:00 pm. Decorated in with stone tables and wicker chairs, the interior bathed in earth tones, the restaurant is warm and inviting. Out on the terrace you are surrounded by lush landscapes and an endless ocean view with Land’s End and the famous arch off in the distance. Sunsets here are spectacular.

Chef Chretien’s menu is an eclectic collection of original dishes and classic French fare. For starters, your waiter brings you a delightful trio of “welcome” canaps, sea bass tartar with baby green onions, goat cheese mousse and other seasonal delicacies. A nice touch that starts the process of making guests feel truly special and welcome.

For an appetizer try the lobster cappuccino served with truffle foam and a crispy zucchini stuffed ravioli; tuna & scallop carpaccio flavored with walnut oil and lime, served atop lamb’s lettuce and topped with shaved Parmesan cheese; or roasted heirloom tomatoes served with a comfit of eggplant, zucchini and crab with cheese sauce. These are just a few selections from the menu, making a choice is not easy as they are all excellent.

For your entre Chef Chretien has created a plethora of unique dishes from which to choose. Items include; braised red snapper served with potato-mushroom gnocchi in a basil reduction; gilded frog’s legs served with “Pure d’Andouillette ” drizzled with a foamed garlic, and parsley butter sauce; roasted Sonora beef tenderloin served with homemade fettuccine and a vanilla-ginger portabella mushroom sauce; herb crusted loin of lamb served with organic French green beans and black truffle jus; roasted free-range chicken breast stuffed with eggplant and vegetables with pan reduced au jus; or roasted lobster raviolis with shitake mushrooms bathed in a garlic-basil emulsion, just to name a few.

Each dish is prepared in full view of the restaurant thanks to the open kitchen designed by Chef Chretien. Watching the kitchen staff is a real treat. Co-owner and Chef Eric Scianamanico is the perfect partner in the kitchen with Chretien and the rest of the staff. A constant buzz of activity takes place in the kitchen and one walks away hoping to have learned techniques to use in their own kitchens, albeit that watching is much easier than doing.

The wait staff does an outstanding job of pairing wines to each stage of your meal and has a large selection of wines from around the globe. One of the great surprises is the quality of the Mexican wines the restaurant features. Until recently, Mexico was not regarded as a wine producing country but with the abundance of land and temperate climate that exists here. Slowly but surely, Mexican wines are being taken seriously by wine enthusiasts worldwide. To make selection even easier, the restaurant menu offers the option of adding wine selection to both single and double entre prix-fixe menus.

For the finish, dessert, and what a selection they offer. My partner, Dolores Peralta, opted for a chocolate souffl made with Valrhona chocolate and served with fresh baked cookies, goat milk and caramel ice cream. I opted for the lemon souffl with the same garnishments. Valrhona is a wonderful French chocolate company. Their “Noir Amer” chocolate literally translates as “black bitter”, which is a fair description of both the color and taste of this chocolate. For the true chocolate aficionado, eating Noir Amer is almost a religious experience. It is most likely as close as you’ll ever come to tasting pure chocolate essence.

In addition to the souffls, the French Riviera also offers; melted chocolate cake served with pear puree; a soft hazelnut biscuit served with chestnut cream; a selection of seasonal red fruit with “Sabl Breton mango coulis and cocoa sorbet; or flambed apples and bananas served with Calvados chocolate dentelle.

Another aspect of the French Riviera experience is that it does not have to end with lunch or dinner. Rise the next morning and satisfy your morning appetite with a short trip to either of the restaurants satellite locations for terrific breakfast fare. Fresh baked baguettes, decadent pastries, crepes and more await and there is nothing more appetizing then the aroma of fresh baked goods carried on crisp, clean coastal breeze. All in all, the entire experience is, well, magnifique!

To learn more about the French Riviera or to reserve your table, visit them online at www.frenchrivieraloscabos.com or call 011 52 (624) 142-3350. Bon apetit!

For complete restaurant locations, hours and contact information, visit CabosBest.com.

About The Author Richard Chudy is the author and co-owner with Dolores Peralta of CabosBest.com, a travel information portal for Los Cabos, Baja Sur, Mexico. An avid and frequent Cabo traveller, he brings his travel experiences to the web for others interested in exploring all that Cabo has to offer. Copyright 2005 CabosBest.com caborich@cabosbest.com

True Blue Georgia Towns…

 by: Ed Williams

My boss was talking to me the other day, and in the course of our conversation he mentioned that he had just talked to an old friend who lived in Cackle Corner, Georgia. Naturally, I figured I was getting my leg pulled all the way to Texas and back, so I told him so. He responded by saying that he was telling me the truth, and that I should go and do some research so that Id see he was right. Well, I took his advice and did a web search for Georgia cities and towns, and happened to find a site where they had all of them listed. Sure enough, I found a listing for a little community here in Georgia called Cackle Corner. I dutifully reported back to my boss that Id done the research and found that he was right. He nodded, accepted my remarks graciously, and then added that Id better be thankful that I hadnt been raised up in Destitute Acres, Georgia.

Destitute Acres, Georgia. A quick look back at the web site showed me that this, too, is a real Georgia community. From that, I figured that it might be interesting to go through the entire list and see what other unusual community names might be out there. It took me maybe about an hour to do it, and yall wont believe the names of some of our less publicized Georgia communities. So now, as a public service, Im going to list some of them for you, and even add in a few thought provoking opinions by each…

Gass - Probably the place where chili dogs originated in Georgia, or maybe baked beans.

Fife - The little known birthplace of the most famous deputy sheriff in America.

Sprite - A resort community for rich Coca Cola company executives.

Trickum Hills - Im not gonna offer any opinions as to how this name came to be, but my best advice for anyone reading this would be to not buy any used cars there.

Tails Creek - This is actually one of two adjoining communities, Tails Creek is the southern most one, and the northern most one is named Heads Creek.

Flea Hill - Not the place where you want to board the family pet when youre headed out on a vacation.

Po Biddy Crossroads - The last place in Georgia where a widower wants to look for a new bride.

Crane Eater - Needless to say, I wouldnt patronize any of the restaurants there.

Jay Bird Springs - Few people know this, but this was probably the first nudist colony in the state of Georgia, its name being shortened from the original, Naked As A Jay Bird Springs.

Vega - A community for ex-Chevrolet executives.

Frogtown - What happens when you locate a community too close to a large pond.

Shoulderbone - An attempt at the first planned community in Georgia. Had this been successful, future communities named Kneecap, Appendix, and Elbow were planned.

Nameless - The community where scientists first came up with the concept of generic branded products.

There are also some other names that yall might get a kick out of, but, in order to keep my editors happy, I wont offer any opinions or commentaries regarding them. Theyre as follows: Dicks Hill, Hix, Tee Pee, Abide Awhile, Cabbage Town, Hothouse, Peter Point Oaks, Skullhead, Dewy Rose, and Water Pipe.

If yall would like to take a look for yourselves at the names of these and other towns in our state, you may do so by pointing your browser at the following web address (URL):

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ga/gatowns1.htm

…and you can see for yourselves all the varied and colorful community names that we enjoy. In fact, I could write ten more columns about this, but Im pressed for time right now. Retirement isnt all that many years down the road for me, and Im gonna do some research on what the property values are like over in Willacoochee, Georgia. For some reason, this seems like the kind of place I could really enjoy my remaining days in….

About The Author Eds latest book, Rough As A Cob, can be ordered by calling River City Publishing toll-free at: 877-408-7078. Hes also a popular after dinner speaker, and his column runs in a number of Southeastern publications. You can contact him via email at: ed3@ed-williams.com, or through his web site address at: www.ed-williams.com.