TRAVEL: A MEMORABLE VACATION IN NEPAL


Nepal is a fantastic holiday destination for those who are looking for a serene and relaxing retreat. This is the ideal destination for anyone who likes to visit places of interest, marvel over natural beauty, and enjoy a peaceful yet fulfilling vacation. 

When visiting the country, you should definitely stay in one of the Nepal holiday cottages and traditional houses that are available. This is the best way to make the most out of your stay. The cottages and traditional houses perfectly coincide with the tranquillity of the county. Furthermore, you will be able to benefit from some of the most outstanding views. As mentioned; one of the main reasons people love Nepal is because of the gorgeous countryside that is on offer. A cottage allows you to take advantage of this because they are situated in areas that boast the most delightful landscape. So, don’t forget to take your camera! 

One of the great things about Nepal holiday cottages and traditional houses is the fact that you can choose to reside in a peaceful area. These are a lot more tranquil and you get away from the hustle and bustle of city centres. Nevertheless, you aren’t so far away whereby you would be missing out on all of the action. You can easily take a trip to the shops and the attractions during the day, yet you have somewhere beautiful and tranquil to relax on the evening. We definitely advise doing one of the Nepal tours as well, so you can see the best of the country, and sometimes accommodation is even sorted within these. 

In addition to this, Nepal holiday cottages and traditional houses present you with the freedom and privacy to plan your holiday to suit you. There are of course lots of hotels in the county yet it is not recommended to stay in one of those. You always have to be mindful of the other guests and you are restricted to set meal times too. Holiday cottages and traditional houses are much better because you can see and do things whenever it suits you and whoever else has gone on vacation. You will also get to enjoy an array of the local restaurants and cafes as well. Nepal has achieved a great reputation when it comes to food because of the array of local and fresh produce and ingredients the restaurants use. 

And finally, the best way to find the best holiday cottages and traditional houses in Nepal is to take a look on the internet. You will be amazed by the sheer wealth of choice that is available. Not only this, but you will be able to see how beautiful and lavish these cottages and traditional houses are. They are also filled to the brim with character, intrigue and story too. This is no average accommodation option. You will get all of the homely and comfort factors you would expect from such a beautiful accommodation choice, yet you also get that added dash of luxury too. 

If you are planning on visiting Nepal any time soon then you simply must rent one of the holiday cottages and traditional houses in the area. This is the only way to make the most of your countryside vacation. 


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LIFESTYLE: There You Are (An Essential Guide To Travelling, Mental Health, And Happiness On The Road)

The book Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabitt Zinn, is not about travelling. However, it is about mindfulness and mental health, and it makes the excellent point that the one thing we can never get away from is ourselves. Yes, even when travelling to distant and exotic locations, it will still be us with our history and bias that is experiencing it. 






Of course, many of us also feel as if travelling can be a transformative experience. Something that helps us to experience a shift in the way we see things. However, believing that setting off and travelling around the world will be a cure for any long-standing issues you have is somewhat naive. Instead, you need to account for such problems while away from home and take care of your mental health. Something that should ensure that your experience is as positive as possible overall. Keep reading to find out more. 


Depression


Although the experience of depression can vary from person to person, many people describe it as having all hope for the future sucked from them. Something that can leave them very demotivated and struggling even to plan a trip let alone set off on one. 


Of course, there are a few things that you need to consider when travelling with depression. One, in particular, is any additional accommodations you will need to help keep your energy up as high as possible. For example, you may opt to rent a private room rather than a bed in a dorm of strangers. The reason being that by doing so, you will get a much better night's sleep. Which, in turn, will have a positive effect on your ability to enjoy the next day of your travels. 



Additionally, just as with any medical condition it is vital that you take or have access to any medications you may need while travelling. Although, it is worth noting that many border control will require you to have them in their original packets. In fact, some countries will also want to see a prescription made out in your name. Especially if you are transporting them over the border in bulk. 


Anxiety 


For those suffering from anxiety, even the most simple of tasks can feel like it is electrifying their body and mind and draining everything they have. Of course, add to that being in an unfamiliar country, where you don't speak the language, and don't know anyone, and it can send anxiety and stress through the roof. 






That is not to say, however, that those of us suffering from anxiety should not travel. In fact, there are plenty of coping strategies that can ensure we will have a successful and enjoyable trip as anyone else. 


One of these is to teach yourself some calming breathing techniques before you leave. Something that can really help to keep things manageable on a crowded plane or bus, or even in an unfamiliar street or sook! 


Additionally, researching posts like this one on 7 Ways to Travel Stress-Free is a smart idea. In fact, planning the details of your trip well can help to foster a sense of control and provide plenty of positive things to look forward to. Something that can again make sure that your anxiety is as manageable possible while away from home. 


Safety 


Closely related to anxiety is the issue of safety. Something that even those that would not class themselves as anxious people can worry about when travelling the world. In fact, because we get to hear what goes on in other corners of the globe so quickly these days, it is easy to think that we could be at risk at every turn outside of our hometown. 


However, this is genuinely not the case. Yes, of course, there are places in this world that are more risky to travel to at the moment. Especially for particular groups of people. However, educating yourself on the potential risk before you plan a trip to a specific location is the best way to approach this. 





Additionally, there are some basic safety tactics that anyone can use when in a foreign country that will help reduce any risks. The first is to do your best to not look like a tourist, as unscrupulous people may target you. 


Secondly, splitting up any cash you have into at least two places on your person, one being hidden, is a brilliant move. Then if the worst does happen and you get pickpocketed or held up, you won't be left with nothing in an unfamiliar place. 


It can also be a smart idea to photocopy your passport and take these copies out and about with you when you leave your accommodation. Then you will have an evident form of identification should anything happen without risking losing your valuable travel documents. 


Homesickness


Sometimes when we travel, homesickness can hit like a bolt out of the blue! It can be super frustrating, too, because it can really impact our mood and our ability to enjoy ourselves. Even while in some of the most spectacular places in the world. 






Of course, the most obvious cure for homesickness is to head home. Although it is not always the best choice when you have paid out a great deal of money to explore exotic places. Happily, there may be some other strategies that you can use as well. 


For example, video chatting with a loved one at home can be so much more effective than just messaging or email them. In fact, seeing them in real-time can alleviate any fear that they aren't happy and thus allow you to get on with your trip without any worry or stress. 


Also, don't forget that the world is a much more connected place than it used to be. In fact, no matter what your location, you are likely to find meetup groups that contain people that hail from similar places as you and speak the same language. Something that can be a real lifeline if you are feeling isolated and alone. 


Although, proper security and safety measures will need to be taken before a meeting anyone that you don't already know well. Especially in a place that is unknown to you. 


Disappointment 


I hesitate to put this section in, but travel disappointment can be a very real thing. In fact, what I'm talking about here is when you have scrimped and saved up all your money and waited months until your next trip, but then don't quite enjoy yourself as much as you’d hoped. 






Of course, such disappointment can result from two things, the first being having to deal with issues like the ones above, and the second is that the places you visit just don't quite live up to the hype. In fact, it is often a combination of the two at work together that can cause a ‘meh’ feeling when what you were expecting was ‘wow.’


Luckily, there are some strategies you can use to help get over this type of bump in the road less travelled. One is to stop what you're doing and allow yourself to rest and recharge for a day or two. After all, things often seem a great deal better when we have had a good sleep and have a full belly. 


Also, if you find that what you had initially planned isn’t working out for you, nothing is stopping you from changing what you are doing to suit your mood better. Whether that is taking things down a notch and spending more time chilling, or revving things up and packing in some additional adrenaline-fuelled activities. After all, what matters is not that you do and see what everyone else does in the place that you are visiting. Instead, aim for an experience that provides you happiness, and nourishes your soul. 





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LIFESTYLE: THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF TRAVELLING

Do you have wanderlust in your heart but aren’t sure where to begin? If, like so many of us, you look at photographs and read about the wonderful, far-flung places of the world, but haven’t yet plucked up the courage to book the trains, or the flights, or the buses to go and see them, then this might be the place for you. Although some people seem to pick up their rucksacks and book a flight in mere moments, for others – especially if you have created a little home that you’re fond of and would miss or are managing health concerns – it can seem much more daunting. Below, you’ll find some common worries before going travelling, and hopefully some solutions to assuage them.

Missing People

This is one of the hardest things about travelling, and one of the biggest worries, especially if you have a close family at home. Thankfully, in this day and age, you won’t vanish from their lives for six months. There are plenty of ways to share your adventures and keep them in your life, especially if you’re feeling homesick. Have a look at The Best Ways To Stay in Touch With Family and Friends When Travelling for some useful apps which will allow you to stay in communication. Also, remember that you will meet people while you are travelling and it’s likely that they will become your friends for life. Those you’ve explored other countries with and discovered new cultures will share the same sense of freedom and adventure that you can get from travelling.

What About Stuff?

Oh, it’s a tricky one. If you have a beauty routine that you maintain every evening before bed like clockwork, and every morning when you wake up, the thought of leaving behind all those little pots and potions might be filling you with dread. First things first, remember that, unless you’re going completely off the beaten track, it’ll be unlikely that you go anywhere that you can’t pick up at least some products. Also, the hostels and places that you stay will have things available, either to buy or left there by travellers who have gone before. You aren’t alone in your situation. If you’re travelling with a companion, share the load of cosmetics. You can also decant any liquids before you go into multiple 100ml bottles if you’re passing through airports with your rucksack.

Obviously bear clothing in mind and pack sensibly, but you can avoid carrying a lot of bulky coats and outerwear if you plan your travels to always take you to warm climes. There’s something very romantic about following the summer round the world!

Not Knowing Where You Are


You can plan well and do all your research before you leave but it’s almost guaranteed that, at least once or twice, you will find yourself in an unfamiliar situation which the guidebooks didn’t prepare you for. If the idea of this is stressful, then it’s this exact anxiety that going travelling will combat. Personal growth and development are part and parcel of going on these adventures and you might learn to not sweat the small stuff. This is obviously without putting yourself in dangerous situations. It’s worth remembering though that the people around you are likely to be in the same situation and don’t doubt the advantages of talking to people, making friends and asking about what others have done. Before too long, you’ll be handling every new challenge travelling throws at you with aplomb!


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LIFESTYLE: KEEPING YOUR FAMILY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG THIS WINTER

As the winter months get even frostier, common colds and flus start to make their rounds at nurseries, schools and workplaces, and the risk of these infecting your family and making you sick might be higher than you think. Luckily there are several different things that you can do which will help to protect you and your children from the effects of winter, and it couldn’t be easier to get started. So, if you want to know more about what you can do to keep your family’s immune system strong through the coldest months, then read on for some of the best top tips that you can make the most of today!


Maintaining A Healthy Diet 

Ensuring that your family consumes a healthy diet that’s full of fruits and vegetables is so important, as this will lay the best  foundations for a strong immune system to thrive. Each meal should consist of 2 portions of your 5-a-day, along with complex carbohydrates such as wholemeal bread or quinoa, a source of lean protein like chicken or tofu, as well as a small serving of healthy fat, which could be some avocado or nuts. This will provide your family with all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that they need to be the healthiest they can be, and fight off any infections or illnesses with ease. 

Exercising Often 

When you exercise, your heart beats faster which in turn causes your blood to pump around your body at an elevated rate. Not only will this be great for keeping you warm, it will also help to increase the amount of oxygen that is distributed to your muscles and organs - this is said to help them to recover from stress much more easily. Getting your family active can be a little tough, especially with kids, but finding something fun like swimming lessons or rock climbing might just encourage them to get up and go! 

Be Smart 

It takes some extra common sense in order to ensure that your family as are as healthy as possible during the winter months, as simple things can really make a difference. For example, heading out armed with a coat, scarf and gloves is essential, as it is always better to have too many items rather than too little. Do not allow your children to go outside with their hair wet, as this will no doubt increase their risk of feeling poorly, and always follow your own advice to set the best example and look after yourself too. 

Keeping your family's immune system strong this winter needn’t be a hard task when you follow the steps outlined above! Ensure that you all follow a healthy diet full of vitamins and nutrients sources from the freshest ingredients, and combine this with regular fun exercise to lay the best foundations for wellbeing to thrive. Be smart and responsible, and encourage your kids to wrap up as warm as they can and never head out with their hair wet.


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LIFESTYLE: A GUIDE TO ORGANISING YOUR FIRST HOME THE EASY WAY

If you’re moving into your first home, you’re probably very excited! Moving all of your things in is a momentous occasion, although it can be daunting if you have a lot of stuff and you’re not really sure where to start. Below, you’ll find a few ideas that you can use that will make it easy for you to get organised and enjoy this new time in your life. 

Make It Super Easy To Put Things Away
If you’re going to not only get organised but stay organised, you need to make it super easy to put things away. You shouldn’t underestimate how important this tip is. You should consider getting bins with a lever, so all you have to do is step on it and put your rubbish in there - and consider having more than one so you can easily separate your recycling. 

Open top washing baskets are great for throwing your clothes across the room, as well as cosmetics holders. It’s all well and good buying boxes and storage with lids, but this adds an extra step and makes it less likely that things will stay organised. 


Be Very Picky About What You Let Into Your Home
Don’t get too excited and start buying anything and everything you see and like for your home. Be extremely picky about what you bring in. This way, when you hire removals, you won’t need to hire as much space or give them too much stuff to move. Moving will be much easier.  

Buy Storage Containers When You’ve Gotten Rid Of The Stuff You Don’t Want 
Before you move, get rid of the things you know you don't want. You can then buy the right size and type of storage containers for your needs. If you get them beforehand you’ll likely have too many and feel compelled to fill them, and your house will still be filled with clutter this way. Be sensible and get rid of things you don’t use, whether that’s 5 year old dried herbs or clothes. 

Put Organisers In Your Drawers 
Instead of dumping everything into your drawers, put organisers in them. Not just the ones in your kitchen, but your clothes drawers too. 

Eliminate Clutter Hotspots 
Think of classic clutter hotspots and avoid letting clutter accumulate before you even get into the habit of putting things there. You could put a flower arrangement in the middle of your dining room table, and this will send a message to everybody that it’s not a good place to dump their stuff. 

Go Paperless Before You Move 
See if you can go paperless before you move. You can ask your utility bill suppliers to send everything electronically, and even upload documents to the cloud. 

Take A Tip or Two From Marie Kondo 
Marie Kondo says you should only have things in your home if they bring you joy. Create a capsule wardrobe using the clothes you love, and make sure you only keep what you really love out of everything else you own. This way, your entire house will bring you joy. 


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LIFESTYLE: HELPING THE ELDERLY LOVED ONES IN YOUR LIFE



We tend to focus on our own business and our own wellbeing. We put our energy into our work, our social lives and tasks such as going the gym. But if you have elderly individuals in your life you may need to consider them on a regular basis too and ensure that they’re living well - no matter how full your schedule may already be. Here are just a few ways you can show your elderly loved ones a little TLC that can drastically improve their lives!


Guaranteeing High Quality Healthcare


Health should come first and foremost when it comes to caring for your elderly loved ones. They’re more likely to experience health problems, but are also more likely to miss doctors appointments due to difficulties getting there. This can have a profoundly detrimental impact on health conditions and their overall wellbeing - subsequently reducing their overall quality of life. Check in on them, make sure they’re doing well physically and ensure they have appointments if they need them. Give them a hand getting there and support them through it!


Making Sure Their Homes are Comfortable


When you grow old, you find things a little more difficult that you may have taken for granted in the past. Simple day to day tasks around the house can prove testing, so make sure that you check your loved ones’ homes are comfortable and navigable as time passes by. If they have stairs, they may begin to struggle and you may have to look into getting a mobility stairlift. If doors are particularly heavy, you might want to switch them out to lighter versions to reduce difficulty in opening them. There are simple solutions to most problems!


Consider Home Care


You may find that your loved ones begin to require care to maintain a good quality of life, but you may not be able to provide this care yourself due to other commitments in your own life. If this is the case, you should consider home care. A home care provider can visit your loved ones in the comfort of their own home and help to ensure they aren’t struggling or going without at any point. They can dispense medicine, help with chores, and provide emotional support and company too!


Ensuring They Have a Good Diet


We tend to take the ease of preparing healthy meals for ourselves for granted. But sometimes it’s not quite so easy for the elderly. If they suffer from conditions like arthritis, meal prep and tasks like make chopping fresh food can quickly become a difficult and painful task. They might also not be able to get to the shops to get fresh ingredients in the first place. In situations like this, you may want to consider delivered meals. These can be dropped off to your loved one’s door, prepped, cooked and ready to eat!


It may feel a bit unfamiliar to look after the people who once looked after you. But there’s so much you can do to improve their lives and ensure they’re happy and comfortable. The steps outlined above are just a few ideas to get your mind working in the right direction!

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BEAUTY: THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MASCARA FOR YOU


If you’re not sure exactly what cosmetics you need to buy, you may be bewildered by the choices on offer. This can be true when it comes to mascara and the various types on the market. 

Most people buying makeup online find makeup they like and they stick to it. Sometimes, though, that makeup may not be the best one for their needs. When you’re thinking about buying mascara, for instance, there are so many different types available, you might be a little baffled. 

Do you use mascara primer to prepare your lashes for mascara? Apart from making you look great, primer can protect your lashes from everyday makeup use. 

For actual mascara, the options are numerous. Do you have short lashes? Try lengthening mascaras that extend your lash beyond the tip. If your lashes are a little on the thin side, try thickening mascara to boost the volume of your lashes without making them look too heavy. It’s a balancing act, but the right type of mascara can help. 

There are also mascara options that cater to your special circumstances. Do you need waterproof mascara because you have an oily skin type or spend a lot of time outdoors? Or maybe you’re always smudging your mascara, and you need a smudge-resistant formula to stop those streaks? Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it from online makeup suppliers, often with huge discounts. 

Cheap Online Makeup Must Be Genuine

Cheap online makeup can be a gamble. As a consumer, the reason you turn to the web isn’t that you want an inferior product, but because you want makeup that comes at a lower price than the major retailers. However, some makeup suppliers take advantage of that need and sell fake makeup. 

There are many reasons some online cosmetics suppliers are able to offer the discounts they do. Some operate solely online or buy in bulk from other stockists at the end of product lines. This means they can offer excellent prices to their customers that are usually only available via makeup online suppliers.  You also have amazing free makeup solutions whereby you earn points through completing tasks and you can exchange these points for genuine makeup. Love To Slay is a great example of this.

Other online retailers, however, are less scrupulous. Some provide makeup, including mascara, lip colour, and fragrance, which they know isn’t genuine. As well as being fraudulent and casting the makeup industry generally in a bad light, these fake products can also be harmful to your health. If you don’t know where cosmetics have come from, you can’t know for sure that they’ve been manufactured safely. You can’t be certain of the ingredients and whether they’re going to react badly with any other material. 

In short, it’s really important that when you buy cheap makeup online, you buy from a reputable online retailer who is happy to share details about their sources and why they’re able to sell cheaply. They’ll also look legitimate. Reputable businesses are keen to project a professional image. You wouldn’t buy from a man with a suitcase, so don’t buy from a website that looks shoddy and fake.


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LIFESTYLE: ARE YOU THINKING OF MOVING ABROAD?

Many people today are realising the miracle of being self employed and taking their jobs on the road, or moving their jobs from one city or country to another. There is a huge world out there and exploring and travelling can open it all up for you; but perhaps you’re wanting to take the plunge and move for a year or more. How easy is it and what do you have to look at before making this monumental decision?  Of course there are quite a few legalities to look at when you’re wanting to emigrate, but there are many other things to look at first also. Let’s take a look at the simplicity vs complexity of moving abroad. 

Photo: Pixabay

Can you afford it? This is firstly the question you need to ask yourself. You probably already have a job that you can transfer abroad, or maybe you just want a working visa and will find the work once you are there, but some countries would not accept this and also some countries have incredibly painstakingly intricate processes for moving, some of which include your finances and how much money you’re planning on taking into the country to prove that you are able to look after yourself (and your family if you’re going as a group), when you’re there. If you’re able to provide your work documents and bank statements easily, then this shouldn’t be a problem, but do you really have the funds to ensure that you will be able to stay afloat. If you’re tapping into your savings, do you have enough to carry you through the amount of time you’re wanting to stay in your chosen country. Food, accommodation, social money, travel money and any taxes and charges that may occur when you’re there. Planning methodically and strategically week to week will help you work out your finances to make sure you’re truly financially stable enough to move. Sometimes your work visas and your documents will cost a set amount too, but there are ways to apply for visas that are quick. Certain countries have easier entry requirements, the EU zones up until Turkey at the start of the Middle East and cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman and it is easy to apply for an Oman Visa. 

Are you moving away from what your comfort blanket? Where you live now will have probably shaped you to an extent as a person. You most likely have family and friends in the town you inhabit at this point, and the question is are you completely sure that you're ready to embark on a new journey and leave your friends and family behind. It’s important to have lots of conversations about this in the upcoming months before you move, to ensure that they’re happy with it, and that they appreciate that this is exactly what you’re wanting in life. Family will of course worry and undoubtedly there will be mutual sad emotions when you leave, but keeping them in the loop and telling them your dreams and passions for moving will probably help them understand a little. Are you emotionally prepared to move to a city where you may not know anyone and do you have a strategy in place of how you’re going to integrate in your chosen destination. Where do you want to see yourself in the first few months of your stay. Do you want to have a group of friends within six months? Would you like to find other expats from the same country and share some common ground? Making social plans is important and if you have children, look at groups they can join and how they can become involved. If you’re moving to a non English speaking country, look for the local English speaking groups, you will usually find something in every country. 

Photo: Pixabay

Do you know all the rules of the country? You’ve chosen a country, a city and probably a specific location for your accommodation. Have you fully researched where you’d like to stay? We may look at moving to a specific capital city but within the city, there may be rules and regulations you weren’t aware of, or even a specific type of crime that you didn’t know existed. For example, what are the crimes rates for burglary like? Do you need permits to park? Are there any areas that are completely off bounds at certain times or closed private roads that could lead to fines if you breach any of the rules. Making note of this and making contact with local police can be very helpful to gather a good positive image in your mind of what your neighbourhood is like. If you visit the city, go into the shops in the area and ask them, find out the basics. Just because somewhere looks beautiful at first glance, doesn’t mean it may not have other issues. Safety first is key when youre looking to move abroad and it may be something that you haven't even thought of! 

Have you prioritised your health? When we travel, we do not need to think about registering with clinics or chemists for our prescriptions - we most often have travel insurance which covers us for any mishaps but when you’re moving abroad for long periods, it’s important to note exactly how you’re going to take care of your health if you fall ill. Even if it is something as simple as the flu or a chest infection and you need medication, how are you going to be prescribed these tablets? Some countries will offer free healthcare which may be included in your visa but it’s worth fully researching so you’re not caught out, especially if you are out of the EU zone. In America for example, they offer acute care clinics but you must make sure that this too is included in your visa and health insurance before you go to avoid any kind of hefty bills afterwards. Taking risks with your health isn’t worth it and neither is taking risks with laws.

So, with all the above covered, are you still thinking of moving abroad? The world is a big, bold and beautiful place so there is no reason to fear it, but it is important to be completely aware of all the implications of moving, as well as the emotional and physical upheaval of changing your atmosphere and world. Is it time for a change? You decide! 







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