Lifestyle: Business - 3 Secrets to Customer Management That Bring Real Results

From a management perspective, we need systems because they make output and input neat and organized. Business runs smoothest when everybody is following the manual, step by step.

However, when we consider that employees must also take care of customer management, the systems—keeping inventory, managing the register, stocking supplies, accomplishing timesheets, expense reports, and hundreds of other minutiae—inevitably get in the way.

1. First Secret: Go beyond the routine.

Systems are based on routines, which reduce friction. They minimize effort which is useful for repeated processes. But good customer service is not a routine. It is a relationship, which requires more energy, and more effort to sustain.


2. Second Secret: Keep the face—eyes and ears—open to the customer

Customer management that makes a difference is face-forward, beaming its attention on each customer. Being tuned in and attentive is something that most employees will say they are. But keeping eyes and ears open means actively searching for the needs and concerns of the customer. Keeping alert to the customer’s needs means understanding that each customer is different, not a step in a routine, and each one requires different levels of assistance.

3. Third Secret: Be an expert on your own product.

Once you have mastered keeping your face oriented towards the customer, you must be able to respond fully to your customers’ needs. Knowing your company’s services or products really well translates into better presence, faster customer service, and customers that return for the excellent service and customer management. MP :)

Places: Singapore - My trip journal of the Lion City

The Merlion

Singapore was one of my favorite place in the world. I always make sure to have a stop over before going to my homeland from my work overseas. Singapore airlines usually offer a free one night stay to any hotel through their Singapore holidays promo. This includes free hotel accommodation (Furama hotel was my choice for this offer), free breakfast, and hotel / airport service (no tour included). You may arrange your city tour at the hotel itself. However if you have friends in the city, it is advisable to seek for  their assistance for the tour.

If you do not have any land arrangement, there are taxi's from the airport. You may take the taxi downtown for about SD 15 ( Php 520 ). This is depending on the time of day. Please note that peak hours carry a SD 3 (Php 105) additional fee. For other option, you may take the MRT for about 25 minutes. Rate is SD 2 (Php 69).

In Singapore, there are many tourist attractions. These include the Marina Bay resort, Universal Studios, Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam, and Sentosa Island, Singapore Zoo, Singapore River, Esplanade Singapore, Orchard Road and Singapore botanic gardens. These Singapore tourist attractions are the great ones, and within them, there is the great versatility that is offered to the tourists. Throughout the year, there are many tourists that come here and enjoy. The sunny climate with the amalgamation of the tropical weather, luxurious hotels on the economical rates and many more has made Singapore one of the best tourist spots in the world.

Island of Singapore

You can also spend your entire day at Changi beach park. The park is different from the rest of Singapore. Changi beach park is elegant, peaceful during daytime, but get ready for all-night partying when night falls.

Best eats suggestions is to try the local food court for their chili crabs, fried fish, prawns with salty egg yolk, and a variety of fresh seafood for your enjoyment.

At night time, the Skypark at Marina Bay Sands offer an amazing view of the rooftop pool. The Pizzeria and Osteria Mozzo Restaurant is highly recommended for dinner. For night outs, you may enjoy drinks at Ying Yang, a hip bar on the rooftop  of  the Club Hotel by Harry's Hospitality along Ann Siang Road.

Tip: Locals will love you if you put a "lah" at the end of each English sentence.

Below are some of the pictures taken at the Lion City. Enjoy!:)

Amphitheather

Road to Little India

Stuffs you can buy from Little India

Typical Indian store

A walk to Chinatown

Chinese delicacies at Chinatown

Road to Chinatown Market Place

Botanical Garden of Singapore

The Raffles Hotel

Cable Ride

Overseas Union Bank Centre - Tallest Building in Singapore

Marina Bay Sands view 

Universal Studios Castle Attraction

Universal Studios Globe

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People: Death of Sec. Jesse Robredo

Sec. Jesse Robredo

The nation mourns for the loss of a great, humble, and dedicated public servant. Sec. Jesse Robredo.

Sec. Robredo was a public servant in the truest sense of those words. I admired him for being intelligent and humble. Public servant pass by but the institution and constitution remain. Now, the question is who will be  capable of replicating those qualities? Sec. Robredo is truly a loss to the nation. He is a great leader in the making where Filipinos from all over the world love and respect him. I hope that the next DILG Sec. will be responsible as Sec.Robredo for a better Philippines.

And, wish that filipinos learn to give credit where credit is due when the person is still alive.

Let's pray for him.

May he rest in eternal peace.

Lifestyle: Business - The 1906-s US-Philippine one peso coin

Did you know that the US-Philippine series 1906-S 1 peso coin values from  1,000 USD to 3,200 USD?

Yes, it is one of the rarest coins in the US-Philippine series according to some reviews of Philippine coins and Bank notes. The mintage of this coin was said to be a good 201,000 but before they were released in the Philippines, the value of silver has risen so sharply that most of the coins were shipped back to America to be melted. Many of the remaining coins were also damaged from being thrown into the sea when the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Luckily, an estimated 250 of them still exist.

Due to its rarity, many counterfeits of the 1906-S peso coin exist, some made from authentic 1903-S to 1905-S coins. I am pretty sure that Filipino coin collectors would love to own the scarce 1906-s USPI one peso coin. So, if you have this kind of coin be sure to keep it safe because it can be use on rainy days.

You may check the sample pictures of the 1906-s USPI one peso coin below:

Filipinas (Philippines) side of the coin

US side of the coin with the year

Places: Remembering Dubai: City of Gold (Dubai Gold Souk)

Dubai Gold Souk

Souk is an Arabic word meaning market. In Dubai.there are many souk (market) you can find. And, one of the famous is Dubai Gold Souk. The gold souk is is one of the main hubs for gold trading and retailing in the UAE. It is a market where mainly gold jewelry is sold in all its various forms. You will find diamond,  precious stone and plain gold jewelries. They have gold bars, coins, designer / branded jewelry as well.


It is approximately a 20 minutes drive from the Dubai airport and  near the Dubai creek.  You can either take a taxi or bus. You may also get there from the airport by metro and get off at the AL RAS metro station. At the Union station, you must go the green line instead of red line.

Dubai Creek

Please note that yellow gold is not all the color that you can see in Gold Souk.  You will be fascinated of all the glitters and almost going blind looking at all the gold at the gold souk .

The Gold souk area has plenty to offer to locals and tourists. Aside from being the heart of jewelry stores. It is famous for its spice souk where a dearth of loose spices are to be found to stores selling cloth , perfumes, oud, cutlery and crockery stores, stationery, scarves, abayas, electronic stores, laces, toys, footwear and others.

There are also plenty of small cafeterias, ice cream shops like Baskin Robbins and famous shawarma booths to be found at nearly every corner for your refreshment when you get tired of looking around the souk.

You can also explore and walk to the creek, take the famous boat ride (Abra) crossing the opposite side of Dubai called Bur Dubai.

Below are some of the pictures taken at Dubai Gold Souk:

At Dubai Gold Souk...

Gold...

Gold, gold...

And more gold... Amazing!

Inside the gold souk.

Going to gold souk.

Abra boat

with my friend Sam at Abra ride experience..

Alighting at Bur Dubai.

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Lifestyle: Business - 4 Undeniable Gains from Great Customer Relationship Management

Customer Experience Management clarifies your customers’ expectations, making the role of customer relationship management clear. The effects of great CRM touches all aspects of the business, from the product itself down to the user experience and everything in between. Let’s get down to the benefits of great customer relationship management.

1. Increased Positive Mentions Online

Before shopping or buying products for the first time, we now look online to compare features, prices, and locations for availability. Often, this will come in the form of reviews of the product, or the store in which it was bought.

Looking after the positive mentions online cannot be stressed enough. Thanks to the internet, a satisfied customer is now more likely to share her experience on social networking sites, and is eager to recommend your company to friends and family. Great customer service doesn’t only grease the wheels of trade, it replaces the transaction with a personal and emotional interaction that can result in online calls for an encore.

2. Better Products and Services

Empowering your customers with a two-way channel to talk about your store or product is a valuable part of your business. Use this to enhance the value of your offerings by adding or deleting items to make your company fit better with your market.

Involving the community in which you operate wins a place in their hearts and minds as a partner for their satisfaction. Taking in their opinion may save you unnecessary costs, or help you improve delivery of services and products, and even increase sales or discover new markets.

3. Smaller Marketing Budget

A customer’s experience can be louder than any advertising effort. By delivering customer satisfaction rather than simply goods or services, you minimize the need for stimulation with paid media. Sincerely communicating your company’s values and beliefs goes a long way in promotions, especially when competing for market share.

If your customers leave your store or website with a great experience, and later on, see an advertisement by a competitor, chances are they will come to you instead of your competitor because of the memorable quality experience of doing business with you, something that an expensive ad can only describe.

4. Employee Confidence

When you demonstrate the positive effects that great customer service brings, everyone wants to get in on it. Customers crave it, and employees are happy to deliver it. That’s because keeping the customer satisfied benefits the sales person in charge as well as the customer.

Pleasing the customer is addicting. It’s easy to get hooked on the feeling of changing a customer’s perception, or transforming a sale into an emotional connection. Make customer relationship management the ethos of your company, and you will see your employees become proactive in furthering the company’s goals. MP :)

Lifestyle: Business - 5 Secret Ways to Check for Customer Satisfaction

One of the more culturally challenging business processes is checking for customer satisfaction. It is all too easy to look for answers that we want, and ignore the undesired ones. Furthermore, if you haven’t set a customer service standard within the entire company, it will be difficult to assess customer satisfaction.

Imagine everyone in your company asserting they’re doing a great job in terms of customer service, yet have different standards for “best practice” and what “customer satisfaction” means. You could even find inconsistencies in monthly reports, and have trouble in getting repeat business.

Sound familiar? Keep reading. Here’s how you can effectively check for customer satisfaction.

1. Establish a Customer Service Standard Within Your Entire Company.

Customer service doesn’t only concern front liners. This is an ethos to which all must adhere, so that assessment standards will remain consistent and any feedback can be treated equally. Any customer interaction, whether on the store floor, at the register, and at the receiving end of the “Contact Us” section on your website must adhere to the same standards of customer service.

It’s difficult enough that each customer has different expectations and levels of experience in dealing with your company. Let’s not compound the issue by having different standards for delivering customer satisfaction.

2. Use Listening Tools Wisely.

You may think that appearing on top of search results is a sure good thing, but you might be wrong. Social media and online message boards may mention your company name, but not for the reasons you want. Running a digital scan and quantifying the online perception of your brand is a good first step in assessing customer satisfaction.

If you’re savvy, you can address the issue short-term by contacting disgruntled customers online, and asking them to participate in a survey with the aim of addressing their concerns and with the long-term goal of improving your company’s offering.

3. Know What They Want.

How do you know what your customers want? You can close that knowledge gap with a survey that asks them to rank satisfaction levels with the service, the store itself, the product experience, and whether they would come to your store again or repurchase your product.

Making the survey easy to fill out means using a weighted scale, ranking opinion and experience from 1-5. Putting specifics like what they bought at your store and their satisfaction with the specific items can clarify their opinion. It can also open the possibility of an isolated complaint amidst a generally good regard for your service as a whole.

Have space on your survey for personal and voluntary comments, and you can crack the case of what your customers want from you.

4. Be Honest with Yourself.

Getting the truth requires an open mind that can see its own creation objectively and acknowledge where disappointment occurs. The places it can possibly reside are: in the product—is it not worth the value they paid? The employees or sales force—are they overselling or overpromising your company’s services? Customer service—could they be inadvertently rude, dismissive, or ignorant of how to reassure irate or dissatisfied customers?

Knowing your company’s weaknesses and strengths makes it easy to plug holes in your brand reputation, and actively mending your customers’ broken perception will make a big impact.

5. Survey the Competition.

Finally, knowing how your competition works gives you an edge in improving your products or services. Ask your customers to come in and describe their experience with other merchants. Ask them to compare and contrast your offering with theirs. You may be surprised with the results, and with that knowledge, you can maximize that knowledge to your advantage. In the worst case, you will be one step closer to delivering ultimate satisfaction with your customers, who will see the lengths you go to to maintan in your relationship with them. MP :)

Lifestyle: Business - Handle Customer Feedback Like an Absolute Pro

Getting customer feedback puts us on the spot. We’re in crosshairs of other people’s expectations. When we receive customer feedback, we’re forced to multitask; we have to acknowledge and assess the complaint; pinpoint the problem; and if possible, troubleshoot the customer’s situation; and if it can’t be solved with troubleshooting, appease the dissatisfied customer to ensure his/her return with the promise that the next experience will match the customer’s now verbalized expectations.

The feedback may be directed at you; it may be about a front-liner; it may be in the form of an email about your ad campaign; and it could be something less in your control like your supplier’s behavior or hygiene.

Handling feedback is a complex job that can be over in a matter of minutes, the speed of which can trigger a fight/flight/freeze response. In this case, we are pressured to act in self-defense, or acting to “take care of it” without thinking. Or it could cause us to “freeze,” and stand speechless, unable to do anything, annoying an irate customer further.

The unfortunate fact is we have been trained to see customer reviews as negative criticism. But this is a point of view that should be corrected, if you wish to handle customer feedback with the best in the business.

To reverse the negativity associated with customer feedback, just imagine that it could be much worse:
1. Your dissatisfied customer could just leave your store and never do business with you again.
2. Instead of coming to you, the irate customer could go online or tell friends.
3 . Instead of knowing about a problem, it could grow to become a chronic failure.

Truth is, customer feedback should be received with grace and gratitude because it averts the above reasons. You could see a customer who gives feedback (complains) as someone who cares enough to vocalize his/her opinion. And at the heart of every complaint is that the customer wants a better experience than the one he/she is currently getting.

Here are some tips to help you overcome the fear of receiving a complaint and turning it into a customer service coup.

1. Pause before speaking. Reach for a pen and paper to compose yourself. The customer is likely in a huff, with a complaint that must get off his/her chest. It’s better to be mentally prepared, rather than rush to react to a customer who is flustered with a negative experience.

2. Remember, it isn’t about you. The complaint is about your customer’s unmet expectations. Find out what those expectations were, and view the event through that lens, so to speak. Knowing what he/she wanted in the first place leads you to the next tip.

3. At this point, your customer is expecting you to fix the problem. You may be pressured to take action, so take a mental pause so you don’t say or do anything rash. One way to mentally buy some time is to apologize for damaged goods or expectations, or that he/she was inconvenienced.

4. Acknowledge the complaint. Restate his/her problem as clearly as possible to communicate a full grasp of the situation. This should give you time to work out a solution, as well as provide affirmation that you care about the complaint.

5. Offer two solutions. One temporary and one long-term. Tell the customer what you can do for him/her right now, and say that the complaint will be addressed more systematically to ensure any company failure gets corrected and never gets repeated.

6. Remember that pen and paper? Now would be a good time to use it and jot down the customer’s information. After all, you’ve said that his/her complaint would be acted upon. Wouldn’t the customer want to be notified once the complaint gets resolved? Whether you’re able to fix the problem or not, updating the customer on how and why (or why not) may gently introduce him/her to your company standard procedure, its stand on the issue, or brand promise.

Remember, a customer feedback system is not a punching bag with your face or your brand name on it. It’s a way to receive input that improves your company. It is important to outwardly win the customer’s confidence that you are working towards the customer’s best expectations. MP:)

Lifestyle: Business - 5 Winning Customer Service Tips That Drive Repeat Business

As a business owner, there’s nothing more “feel good” to you than a repeat customer that walks through the door. That’s because it means less marketing or advertising spend for you, and it means they recognize the value of customer experience that they’re getting.
To achieve that golden moment of repeat business, here are five customer service tips that are designed to bring your paying customers back through your doors.

1. Be Visible Online.

Google has identified a new step in the buying process; it’s the one in which customers turn to product reviews, and research the closest outlets or stores—all online. Google calls this the Zero Moment of Truth, which comes before the first and the second moments, “Shelf” (in-store) and “Experience” (after purchase).
As buyers in the modern day, we take this Zero Moment for granted. But as customer service providers, we may not be as conscious of our online presence. This is a crucial moment to extend the values of our business! Providing up-to-date information, fair customer reviews, and representing a friendly and professional demeanor online can seal the deal. This is an increasingly influential step in the buying process and should be part of your business perspective. As a plus, consider a mobile version of your site or at least the products and services section.

2. Make Them Feel Special.

The song is right. You do want to go where everybody knows your name. Whether it’s a web page or restaurant or auto repair shop, knowing their name the moment they arrive makes an experience memorable and rich.
Train your staff or add a log in feature online to get to know your visitors. It builds a feeling of community and privilege to do business and serve, especially if it’s done with a valued, special greeting.

3. Give Your Customers Multiple Channels for Feedback.

Having a twitter account or an email address or customer service phone line tended by well-trained staff will prevent a dissatisfied customer from ranting, especially in the age of social networking. And if they are satisfied (or delighted), feedback channels give them a place to sing their praises as well.
But also, it is important that your front line accurately conveys your business’ high regard for listening, and being caring. If clients and customers know that the lowliest of employees genuinely cares, and they come upon a well-attended feedback channel, they will be glad to share positive comments about you.

4. Place the Customer Experience First.

More than the bottom line, showing the customer in no uncertain terms that “it’s about them” is the heart and soul of a business. Was the customer experience good? Great! Make it about them by reminding them how thankful you are for their business.

Was the experience marred by things out of your control? A reimbursement or a complimentary item can demonstrate your sincerity in putting them—not the bottom line—first.

5. Reduce Bureaucracy.

Time is money. And system redundancies can turn off even the tightest penny pinchers. To make doing business with you pleasurable, make your transactional system—especially for returns and complaints—as simple and accommodating as possible.

It’s not enough to add a premium service like a privilege lane in your store or website. Make it easier to log in to your website by using social network IDs; make cellphone numbers work as member codes so customers don’t have to reach for their wallets at the register; reduce the steps in returning or exchanging goods.

These customer service tips will drive repeat business because it is far easier for people to remember a company that recognizes their value, even if they haven’t yet given you a dime.

Lifestyle: Business - Why The Best Customer Service is Now Expected of Your Business

Retailers like hip supermarket Trader Joe’s and tech warehouse Best Buy have to represent a wide array of products and items on their shelves. As a result, they can’t be expected to stand by each product they offer, either figuratively or literally.

So to be true to their “best customer service” promise, these stores have done what few stores are willing to do: encourage honesty amongst the staff and induce them to speak freely about items and experiences in the store, confidently citing internet reviews and even sharing in-store feedback from customers.

The front line of any company holds expert knowledge, whether it be about the life cycle of a product, the advantages and disadvantages of their suite of services, or in comparing competing products on their shelves. The best customer service employees must be familiar with the product or service, but also must have a desire to know customer satisfaction, good or bad, after the transaction.

For the service industry, especially in Asia, this becomes slightly more tricky due to the “Harmony Play,” in which conflicts between employee and company interests are smoothed over without resolving key business issues like customer complaints and productivity.

A premier hotel in South Korea was beset by a declining reputation for solving customer issues, yet the General Manager at that time received only positive customer comment cards when delivered to him by his management staff. His solution was simple: he ordered the locks changed on all feedback boxes, and he held the only key.

Desiring to deliver the best customer service requires three values to be imbued by everyone in your company. First, have a higher purpose for your company. If you’re a retailer, encourage your employees to look after your company’s reputation as a trustworthy seller that deals in knowledge as well as products from the shelf.

Second, have an intelligence-gathering culture. If you are making and selling your own product, encourage openness within the company, and teach the importance of listening to clients and suppliers. Extracting information, even hints and clues, can be useful to improving productivity and managing relationships on all ends.

Third, remove the culture of blame from your company. That means putting a premium on solving problems, rather than performing a witch hunt to find out who is ultimately responsible. While you can’t throw accountability out the window, the urge to repair a faulty system and earn the reputation of “best customer service” should far outweigh the potential shame in being the reason for customer complaints.

Another important implication is that respect for customer feedback isn’t limited to staff or to employees on the sales floor. It must go all the way to the top for the front-liners to agree that listening to customer comments (often complaints) has a higher purpose. Encouraging intelligence-gathering, and then motivating employees to share their discoveries is essential.

Experiences with great customer service make customers more savvy, and they demand straight information from your front line, to whom they hand their hard-earned cash. Understanding this relationship should improve your and your employees’ drive to deliver better customer service that meets their growing expectations.

Places: Cyprus Travel Guide from YouPlanet!

As a YouPlanet Ambassador, I would like to share the Travel Guide below for your information and guidance when planning to visit Cyprus.

Cyprus is a divided nation with an invisible “Green Line” border which signifies that part of the country is ruled by Turkey. In time, it is thought that this line will disappear entirely since it is fading all the time. Traveling to Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean, will give you an opportunity to see sights of ancient monuments, castles and take in an actual archaeological dig.
Cyprus is full of sunshine and calming sea breezes that flow across what is rated as some of the best beaches in the world. The Grecian beauty of this idyllic country is prevalent in all it’s surrounding. The summers are hot and the winters are mild which makes this a perfect get-a-way anytime of year. 

Country parts

The largest city on Cyprus is Nicosia which is also the capital. It is also a separate administrative capital for the Nicosia District. This city is authentic and is not generally on the tourists list of places to see. Nicosia offers cafes and woodworking shops to view; along with, walking the infamous “Green Line” since it is on the boundary that divides the North from the South.
The second largest city is Limassol which is the principal sea port. This has become a must see tourist attraction. If offers the options of luxury, boutique as well as international hotels. However, if traveling on a budget, accommodations such as private apartments and villa rentals can be found just as easily.
Larnaca has been purported to have had population for about 6000 years, which is said to make it the oldest city in Cyprus. Larnaca has a variety of hotels, hotel apartments and restaurants which line the town’s main beach and are close to shopping.
Coral Bay, which is to the north of Paphos, has the best natural beaches located in that particular area. Coral Bay is a resort that offers villas that provide privacy by being set apart, one from the other. The villas are located just above the golden sand of the beach. Children can swim in the marked shallow area of the sea safely. This resort also offers water sports for your enjoyment.Hotels, bars and restaurants and shops are nearby for the visitors’ convenience. If traveling with the whole family, you can also find minimarkets to stock up on staples for cooking your own meals. The European Blue Flag beach is also close enough to see while staying at Coral Bay.
Peyia is a large, friendly village about 3.5km from Coral Bay. There are coffee shops, tavernas and grocery stores for your convenience. If eating out, the taverna of your choosing will usually create a special dish is requested in advance. Pea has beautiful forests and other scenic villages to tour on your days out that will stay in your memory for years to come.

Map of Cyprus

Getting there

By plane

Cyprus' main airport is Larnaca International Airport (LCA) and is located on the outskirts of Larnaka. Cypress Airways and National airlines from European countries offer non-stop flights from cities such as: Amsterdam, Brussels, Athens, Geneva, Moscow, and Prague. National carrier for North Cyprus is the Cyprus Turkish Airlines located at the Ercan airport in North Cyprus. This airline uses a route that stops over in Istanbul, Turkey. Here, you will change airplanes and then head to North Cyprus.

By boat

Occasional ferries connect Cyprus to Greece. Services to Israel and Egypt have been terminated for time being, however there are 2 and 3 day cruises running in the summer months from about April to October. See CruiseCyprus.These mini cruises also run to Syria, Lebanon, Rhodes, the Greek Islands, The black Sea and The Adriatic.The ferry service from Greece runs from Piraeus, Rhodes and Ayios Nikolaos in Crete to Limassol. See the itinerary here. You may also catch a freighter from Italy, Portugal, Southampton and various other European ports. See Grimaldi Freighter Cruisesproviding you with the opportunity to bring a vehicle to Cyprus throughout the year. 09:53, 24 June 2007 (EDT)MaybeBooThere is a regular ferry service from Turkey, connecting Taşucu to Girne (north of Nicosia) http://www.fergun.net. See Northern Cyprus page for details.

Travelling to and from the north

Prior to Cyprus's accession to European Union, evidence of entry to Northern Cyprus resulted in denial of entry to the Greek part of Cyprus at the very least. After the accession and according to EU legislation that considers Cyprus to have been admitted in full an entry to the Turkish part is formally an entry to whole Cyprus and must therefore not result in any disadvantage to travellers from the EU. Travellers from non-EU member states (as, for instance, Turkish citizens) must enter the island via one of the legal entry points (i.e. entry points in the Southern part of the island) in order to visit the Southern part.
The Cyprus embassy in Washington on the phone (June 2006) when asked if the border is open to U.S. citizens, didn't give a 'No', but said that they recommend entering from the legal points in the Greek side.
Different entities and web pages claim different things. In June 2006, 4 U.S. passport holders (the writers herein) took a boat from Turkey to Northern Cyprus. On the boat there were other casual travelers planning to cross the border to take a flight back home. We were needing to get to Limassol to catch another boat. The local who gave us a ride to Ledra Palace thought we wouldn't be able to cross. The person at the gate told him that it is ok. We passed with no problems, noticing the sand bags and bullet holes on the deserted buildings. The Greek side let us in without stamping our passports and no questioning. In Limassol the woman in the passport control made a little fuss about entering from the north, but after a few minutes we got our passports back and boarded. I am not sure what this means... it is possible that Greek side won't let us in in the future. You don't have problem entering from the check points from south to north and vice versa.The only problem is that the Turkish side in the north wants to stamp the passports, as it is like you are entering a different country. The only country that is recognised by the UN is the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Republic of Cyprus is only recognised by Turkey, which actually controls the northern territory of Cyprus.
Update: As of October 2007, We (two Canadian passport holders) travelled from Tasucu Turkey to Larnaca Cyprus in the North. The plan was to travel to Israel which necessitated our cross from the North to South in Cyprus. While our internet research suggested that we could catch a bus, we were advised by taxi drivers at Larnaca that this was not possible. In the end, we took a taxi from Larnaca to Limassol. This took approximately 1 1/2 hours and cost 90 Cyprus pounds. Our taxi driver advised us that it could have cost up to 120 Cyprus pounds.
Our real concern was whether we would be allowed to board to boat from Limassol to Haifa, Israel. It is possible to take a boat on Louis Cruise lines which offers a 3 day cruise to the Holy Land that lands in Haifa. It is also possible to take this cruise one way for 178 Cyprus pounds for two people.
At Limassol, the woman at passport control was a bit confused and went into the back office but we were allowed to board the boat with no trouble and little fanfair. This is, of course, subject to change. There is no need to have the stamp in Northern Cyprus on a separate piece of paper instead of your passport as you will need to advise passport control in the south how you got into the country.
The main crossings between the south and north are:Astromerits/Zodhia (by car only)Agios Dometios/Kermia/Metehan Ledra Palace (by foot only)-the oldest crossing, just outside the walls of old Nicosia to the west of the cityPergamos/BeyarmuduStrovilia near Agios Nikolaos-located at the eastern part of the island.

Saranata kolones ruins phaphos, cyprus

Aprhrodite rock

Getting around

Getting around in another country can be confusing and trying sometimes, but finding maps from the internet or the Embassy can help you through this. There are no railways located in Cyprus, so this will not be an option for transportation.
Taxis in Cyprus are an affordable luxury for getting around and seeing the sights. There are also legitimate and above-board rental agencies to be found; but be careful of this mode transportation since rental cars cannot usually be taken across the border. Also remember to drive on the left.

When to go

The peak season between July and August can bring temperatures of approximately 80 degrees and higher; but the skies are clear and this enables a touring adventure you will never forget. In the off season between December and January, rain will not be a deterrent when visiting the beautiful sites of the Toodros Mountains. The temperature for this season is usually about 50 degrees.

Warnings

The first smart thing to do before going to Cyprus would be to inform the Embassy of your trip. This will give enable you to receive the most recent updates on safety and security information for Cyprus. This will also enable the Embassy to help you in case of emergencies as well as contact family and friends.
When trying to enter a U.N. buffer zone in Cyprus, only use a designated crossing point. Under no circumstances should a military installation, or any other such construction, be photographed. There will be signs posted that prohibits photographs being taken; watch for them.Although crime rate is low, when traveling through Cyprus, beware of the timeshare touts. They will pick out tourists and offer a scratch card that when scratched will say you won maybe a little something. If you agree to come with them to get your winnings, they will then take you some remote place where you will then have to sit for approximately 4 hours to listen to a seminar. When offered a scratch off, refuse and keep moving.
Take heed of going to cabarets in Cyprus; they are usually not what they seem. Tourists who attend establishments such as these are sometimes drugged and robbed while enjoying the entertainment. So, be careful of choosing your entertainment destinations; there are some that are to be enjoyed.
Renting a car in Cypress can also be tricky. Some car rental agencies will try to you to get you buy extra insurance. They will tell you that unless you agree to the insurance fee, you will not be able to drive the car. Also, they will inform you that you will not be charged unless an accident occurs and will have you sign a real credit card slip. These are not the only extra fees which they will try to force on you, so be careful.

Health

Cyprus will have government hospitals and private clinics where medical attention can be administered if needed. They also have private sector physicians who have received their education either in the United Kingdom or the United States. Cyprus is rated by the World Health Organization to be one of the safest, health-wise, in the Mediterranean.
For staying healthy while on your trip, try to avoid animal bites and scratches. Before leaving the US, find out what type of vaccinations will be needed before going into Cyprus. Also, update your tetanus vaccination. Stay away from animal even if they look as if they are healthy; even dogs or cats. If children are traveling with you, keep an eye on them and make sure they follow the same rules.
Knowing the danger of the food and water will also be a help when traveling to Cyprus. This is usually the main cause of illness for tourists. Do not consume and food that is sold on the streets. Make sure whatever is eaten is well done and don’t eat unpasteurized dairy products. Another point to be made is that the tap water in Cyprus will be either desalinated sea water or rain water. Water there is more precious than gold, so do not waste it. The last point about the water is that it is heavily chlorinated; so if you do not like the taste of chlorine, then I would recommend buying bottled.

History

The United Kingdom took over Cyprus government in 1878. This was to protect them from the Ottoman Empire. With the dissolving of the Ottoman Empire in 1925, Cyprus became a Crown Colony. EOKA, National Organization of Cypriot Struggle, fought to end the British rule over Cyprus and for a union with Greece between 1955 and 1959. Their struggle resulted in an independent republic in 1960.
The Cypriot population consisted of only 18% Muslim Turkish Cypriots in 1960. The Constitution, at that time, held safeguards to ensure the participation of Turkish Cypriots in State affairs. An article in the Constitution was created so that the Turkish Cypriots and the Greeks could manage each of their municipalities in big towns. However, the article was not put into play by the President Archbishop Makarios (President) or the Republic.
In 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus which led to the southern Turkish Cypriots to move north and the Greek Cypriots who lived in the north moved south. Northern Cyprus was declared in 1975 under the name “Turkish Federated State of Northern Cyprus” which was then changed to the present form of its name in 1983.

Places: Remembering Dubai - Desert Safari Adventures at Hatta, Oman Road

After my birthday celebration that night in Dubai. I was invited by my friends to further celebrate it to the desert - Desert Safari at Hatta, Oman Rd. I joined my fellow expats for this adventure. Our assigned tour guide picked us up from our flat  at exactly 3p.m.  The package includes Dune bashing (quad bike rental is at extra cost), free camel ride after an interesting Arabian night dinner and a free henna tattoo. The tour ended at around 10:00p.m. since many tourists where present that time.

 This was our first time for this adventure and don't really have much expectations. The first part of the tour was Dune Bashing. We were all screaming  at the top of our voice and was perspiring all over with excitement. I was shouting "Dios ko po!" while the rest of my friends were shouting "OMG!"  in the SUV while laughing at each other! It's like you are in a roller coaster ride plus you worry that our SUV will topple over the hills of the desert. The excitement lasted 30 - 45 minutes and it was quite a thrill for us first timers.

In Dubai the Dunes Drivers have a special license given by the government and according to our Driver  and its not easy to get one. 

After Dune bashing, its time to rest and enjoy the desert.  

My friends in Dubai

Enjoying the views of  Hatta Desert

quad bike rental

It was so warm since its summer time..

It was already dark when we reach the camel ride. 

There were many loose camels running around the desert.

Arabian Night- Dinner and entertainment..  

belly dancer entertain us with its traditional Arabian dance..

Tourists also participated and enjoyed the night away.

We got the chance to have a souvenir picture with her.

Sheesha was also available for the tourists with extra cost.

I will surely treasure this experience since I got scared to death while having fun. They say that your trip to the Middle East would not be complete without it. However Dune Bashing is not for the fainted heart. You may arrange a different tour with your guide instead. If you plan to go here.
 

You may also check my other Dubai posts............. :)

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