When was the last time you were on a cruise?

I don’t know about you, but for me one of my top choices for a vacation is to go cruising. I love having a vacation that leaves you free to enjoy yourself. By that I mean that your vacation is all arranged and taken care of – rooms, meals, entertainment - without having to worry about taxi cabs, trains, buses, planes or other modes of travel that have you sightseeing with one eye and with the other eye glued to your watch, hoping you don’t miss a connection.

 

Cruises feature some amazing entertainment, wonderful food and fascinating tours. The staff always treat you like royalty, your stateroom is immaculate and you are free to enjoy every minute of your time in the way you want.

 

When the ships dock, there are always a number of different tours to choose from – some of them are exciting, some of them are educational, some of them show you breathtaking scenery. There are tours that are filled with action and adventure, some that show you the country’s culture, and other tours which encompass the arts. The choice is yours as to whether you wish to stay onboard or go on a tour.

 

On the last cruise I took, I remember the wonderful feeling of relaxing on a wooden deck lounge with a comfortable cushion and dozing in the sunshine.

 

One of the things I really enjoy is the fact that you don’t hear any traffic noise when you are out at sea. The air is cleaner – it smells good when you are out on deck.

 

There is something for everyone on a cruise and it is also one of the perfect family vacations, as there are programmes available for children and teens.

 

The picture above is one taken from a cruise to Alaska that my son & daughter-in-law went on a couple of years ago. They had a wonderful time and hope to take another cruise soon.

 

Cruises are available in destinations all over the world. Think about spending your vacation on board this year – I’m sure you’d enjoy it!

Tips on Using Chopsticks

Here in Richmond, where ACTION TRAVEL is located and where my workmates and I live, we have many very fine Asian restaurants.

Since we are located in Canada, where we have residents from many different countries of origin, most restaurants will have forks, knives & spoons available. If you want to enjoy the whole Asian dining experience, it is a good idea to learn how to use chopsticks. Chopsticks are not that difficult to master – it just takes a little practice.

Directions:

* Take thumb and 4th finger to grip one chopstick

* Use forefinger and middle finger to grip the other chopstick

* 2 inches of chopstick should be below where your fingers & thumb grip

* Hold chopsticks at a slight angle

* The top chopstick should make the motions, the bottom chopstick should be held stationary

* Practice on large pieces of food first, graduating yourself to smaller pieces as you improve your technique

* It is a good idea, when you are a beginner, to lean over your dish to avoid messing your clothes up. When you have a little more experience you won’t need lean over

After a little practice you will be able to use chopsticks with confidence and truly enjoy your meal!