Travel Copywriting, Email Copywriting and Web Content Writing for Travel, Real Estate and Wellness Industries

Tour Around Asia In An Asian Market

Claudia Looi — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:00:43 +0000

Four times a year we walk through this door…our senses come alive. The smell of an Asian Market, every aisle densely packed, packages written in many languages, pungent smells from every corner. All too familiar for me…seems like the roads I’ve traveled years ago in my hometown… memories of the past.

Ever been to an Asian Market for a cultural experience and some sweets, spice, condiments and exotic meat and vegetables?

Let us bring you into the doors of one…

Surprisingly there are not much differences in Auckland, Melbourne, London, Toronto,New York or Tampa when it comes to the varieties of food, housewares and spices in the Asian markets. Most products are imported from mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. Look at this white fungus from China, an ingredient for soup:

The variety comes in the type of fish in the tank. Here is a school of fish. One could be on your dinner table:

Then there are the prepared foods like ducks and the bakery shown below:

One of our favorite roasted pork-filled bun:

You have read or heard about MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). But have you seen one in packages? These are sold all over the world, made in Japan. I'm sure you will find one in an Asian Market near you:

As you walk through the cold aisles with frozen prepared or raw food, there are rows of exotic vegetables and fruits. One shown here is called bitter melon. One I hated while growing up. Now, I seek it out…an acquired taste…the bitterness gives you the 'kick' and the reminder of the 'trials of life'…

Our purpose of being there was to get glutinous flour to make Japanese Mochi. Imagine, flour is from Thailand with English, Vietnamese, Thai, French and Chinese labels..the diversity…

And a Japanese recipe. Look at the steamed dough:

Red bean paste made in China, filling for the mochi:

These were made by my friend's kids and my daughter, not pretty but edible:

Our recipe for Mochi:

1 3/4 cups of glutinous flour

1/4 cup cornstarch

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups room temperature water

Mix above ingredient and steam in a plate for 15 minutes in boiling water. Place 1/2 cup glutinous rice in a pan and pan fry the dry ingredient on slow heat for 15 minutes. This is for the outer coating (like using powdered sugar).

Remove the steam dough and let cool.

Scoop a tablespoon and roll them out in a plate, add 1 teaspoon of red bean paste and close it up. Roll it on the pan fried flour.

Ready to eat!

Have you been to an Asian Market? Let us know your experience. Please leave your comment

below.

Photo credit: Bethany Looi. You can find her at http://www.ontaskva.com

Fish and Chips Around the World

Claudia Looi — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:00:15 +0000

“The sun never sets on the British Empire”. That’s a phrase I often heard while growing up in Malaysia. Obviously being colonized by the British, older Malaysians have deep roots, admiration and understanding of the British culture.

Some of the food cultures have much of British roots. For example, the popularity of High Tea in late afternoons and now the Fish and Chips.

The British slang for fish and chips is ‘chippy’ and started out as a working class take-out (British and Kiwis called it Take-away) food. It is usually served with salt and vinegar. In New Zealand they are served with tartar sauce.

My first ever experience of authentic fish and chips was in Auckland, New Zealand. The fish and chips were wrapped in old newspapers for take-away. That was an amazing experience for me as a first timer living overseas.

Nowhere in the world beats the fish and chips of Mission Bay and Mt. Roskill in Auckland New Zealand in the 90s. I heard times have changed….so did the fish and chips there.

For fish and chips around the world stories, I have my good friend, Donovan Grant write and share a little story about his Chippy experience in England.

Donovan Grant’s Fish and Chips:

Where do the BRITS go after a satisfying week of work? They head in the direction of their favourite restaurant or 'take away'.

Have you got a favourite meal for a Friday?

In London we are spoiled for choice; Indian, Caribbean, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Spanish… And good olde English. You name it, we've got it!

In our house, the children normally have a big say in what we eat on Fridays.

This is a big difference from when I was a lad growing up. There was only one choice! Not because of cost, taste or diet restrictions. It was tradition to eat FISH and CHIPS and everyone loved it.

Mum and dad were first generation Jamaicans. Our dinners were typically colourful, spicy and wholesome Caribbean dishes. On a Friday, it was 100% British fish and chips.

Just imagine for a moment; me as 10 year old walking down to the ‘chippy’ with dad to pick up the family dinner. It makes my mouth water just sharing this with you now.

Dad always went to the same place “John’s Fish & Chip Shop” at 5:30pm. As we got round the corner of Lewisham Way, there was always a long excited queue of people waiting. Then the aroma hits you: freshly fried chips sprinkled with salt and vinegar. And finally those words “hello sir, what are you having today?”

Fish and chips really signify the best of British food. They may not be the healthiest meal, but they sure hold some fond memories for my family and I.

Are you coming to the UK? You’ve got to give fish and chips a try. Maybe it will become a tradition for you on Fridays too!

Angela’s Fish and Chips in Malacca, Malaysia:

My sister, Angela lives in Malacca, Malaysia and she has her story on fish and chips in pictures. Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 500 years of cultural and trading exchanged between the East and West. The British left their mark in the city along with the Portuguese and Dutch.

Fish and chips are mainly served in restaurants with proper knives and forks and comparatively more expensive than the local food. It is RM12.50, which is about $4 compared to a local bowl of rice with meat and vegetables for $2 per person for lunch or dinner.

My fish and chips experience in Epcot, Disney World:

One of my favourite stops in Epcot’s World Showcase is the England. They serve the best Fish and Chips and beer in the United States (in my opinion). It is conveniently called Yorkshire County Fish Shop. Could it be it was named after the Harry Ramsden’s fish shop in Guiseley, West Yorkshire? Harry Ramsden's fish and chips were called the 'world's biggest fish and chip shop'.

This little eatery counter served the Fish and Chips in old newspaper like the ones I was first introduced in my neighborhood in Auckland New Zealand. It is located next to Rose and Crown Pub. The price starts at $7.99 and the Bass Ale Draught starts at $7.50.

What a meal! On the side note, the worst fish and chip experience we have ever had is in…ironically…. England… in Greenwich near London. Look at the photo below. What happened to the battered deep fried fish?

Do you have a favorite fish and chips shop? Got a story of the best or the worst fish and chips meal? Please share below.

Photo credit: Donovan Grant and Angela Chua. Fish and chip wrapped in newspaper courtesy of Disney World.

About Donovan Grant:

Donovan Grant is a coach, mentor, blogger, speaker and IT professional who brings his wisdom of parenting for the last 21 years and coaching clients through the stages of raising youth and empowering leaders with life lessons that are changing generations. He is a passionate and committed leader who believes that we all have the ability to help to change someone else’s life. Actively doing so as a catalyst for many years he teaches how to live a life of success, balance, integrity and fun, whether at work or at play. www.donovangrant.com

Shocking Tips on Traveling with Kids that Went Unnoticed…It is Time to Demystify The Five Rules of Traveling with Kids

Claudia Looi — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:54 +0000

“French fries, nuggets, pizza and the like will save your holiday” said the writer. She added “all a young child wants is some fried, fast food or at the very least, a bowl of mac and cheese”

Parents, do you agree with that statement?

My children have traveled to 14 countries and they have never once sought out French fries, nuggets, pizza or mac and cheese. Both of my children are now teenagers. We started traveling with our children when they were babies.

Some trips were taken around the United States and some as far as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Italy and many more. Most flights were long and some were over 24 hour periods with long layovers. We find it a joy to see the world with them. They are a blessing and delight to our lives…never once seen as inconvenient or ‘more destructive than custom agents and harder to please’ (quoting the caption on a picture in the article).

The truth of the matter is, traveling with kids is not always easy…who says parenting is easy. But we love them and like having them with us while we see the world. Some questions came to mind after reading the article:

Are children’s staple food consisting of only French fries, nuggets and mac and cheese? The so-called convenient fast food?

What’s happening to parenting? Who is in control of a situation? Why does junior need a variety and five suitcases for a vacation?

Here is my take on dining while traveling with kids (and parenting):

1.    You respect other people’s cultures. You eat whatever is served unless it is dirty and/ or from animal’s parts you can’t handle.
2.    Parents know what is best for their children. In certain situations, children are not wise enough to choose and the parents’ decision should be the best for them. Parents are in control and not the children (10 years and below) when it comes to decision-making.
3.    Learn self-control. Children, as little as one, are able to learn self-control.
4.    The world does not revolve around you, my children. During a vacation, it is about meeting the needs of the whole family, not just the children.
5.    Junior doesn’t need excessive things or variety. If we let them have an excessive lifestyle in their everyday life, that behavior is bound to happen during vacation.
6.    Children desire our attention and want to connect with us. If we have not spent time with our children on a daily basis, how can we expect our children to connect with us during vacation?
7.    Children need boundaries and discipline when they are young.

For the past few years I’ve seen a disturbing trend in Asia, particularly Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong where most children are placed in the care of nannies, grandparents or house help from Indonesia, Philippines or Vietnam. Mom and Dad leave for work early in the morning and come home late at night or just enjoy the pleasures of life through their accumulated wealth.

I’ve seen it first hand, a lack of connection between children and parents. There is really no difference between everyday living and vacationing when it comes to parenting. We are their role models. More on this next time…

With that said, I disagree with the article written on June 20, 2011 by Elaine Ee published by CNNgo.com Singapore. This is not a criticism on the writer or publication. It is just a difference in opinion. I encourage parents to travel with children regardless of their age. They are only young once… happy traveling! Please leave your comment below.

This is a group writing project. Please support and comment on these amazing works and travel tips from fellow traveling families from all over the world:

1. A King's Life: The Surprisingly Easy Truth of Traveling with Kids

2. The "Secret" to Traveling with Children by Susan W

3. Worst Family Travel Advice I've Ever Read By Gabi Klaf

4. Debunking cnn's rules for traveling with kids By Mary @Bohemiantravelers

5. How Do you Travel with Children? By Alisa @ Living Outside of the Box

6. 5 Rules of Travel With Kids: A Traveling Child Responds By Jennifer Miller

7. CNN's Ridiculous Rules About Travel With Kids by Corinne at Have Baby Will Travel By @hvbabywilltrvl

8. 5 Amazing Reasons To Travel With Your Kids!

9. French fries and chicken nuggets are travel essentials: The worst family travel advice ever By Nancy Sathre-Vogel @familyonbikes

10.More Than French Fries By Lisa Shusterman

11. Rules are What You Make Them: Paving Your Own Way Through Family Travel By essica @Suitcases and Sippy Cup

12. CNNGo Five Rules of Travelling With Kids Are You For Real

13. Myths, NOT rules, of traveling with kids by Kate Rehkopf, Experiential Family @experientialfam

14. My Reality (Not Rules) When Traveling with Kids by Keryn Means/Walkingon Travels (twitter: @walkingontravel)

15. "Yes ! It is possible to travel with children of all ages" by Susus 7

16. Forget the Rules of Travel – Try Backpacking with Kids in Yellowstone National Park by Sandra Foyt @sandrafoyt

Ultimate Freedom and Pain While Living a Writer’s Life

Claudia Looi — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:00:11 +0000

“That wonderful sound of water from the fountain first thing in the morning, the sounds of birds singing in the distance and clicking on the teapot to make a huge cup of coffee.” Sounds like an ideal life for a writer.

Not to mention, I make my own schedule, most of the time working in pajamas in the first hour of the day… and designing my life to be portable and live wherever I want. Is the freedom bell ringing here? Up-close and personal, let me bring you in to the house of freedom and "pain" of a writer’s life….

When asked how we want our ideal life to look like, most typical answer goes like this:

“I want financial freedom, time freedom, freedom to live wherever I want or freedom to travel around the world"….the answers usually include time, money, vacation and family.

My daughter who is 16, makes her own schedule for work, school and play. Today is no different. Her brother has a day off from school (he goes to brick and mortar while she goes to online school). I had the joy of watching her practicing the art of food photography while baking Valentine's cookies from scratch.

My ultimate freedom is the ability to design my life around my children's needs and being available to guide them each day without the need to go out and punch in and punch out. Throughout the years, I've been the chauffeur, singer, artist, architect, cook, dancer, fireman, truck driver, manager, doctor….pretend and real to these wonderful children. They are teenagers now…

Freedom does come with a price tag and some pain. What causes pain to a writer?

I love my life as a freelance writer. I wouldn’t trade anything for this life…one I have worked hard for and am continuously working on to be better and better. I enjoy the freedom of time, freedom to choose who to work with, portability and location independence.

After writing two autoresponder emails for a client, we had a quick lunch and off to look for our next home. Smelled the flowers, took some photos along the way… I think we have finally found our next home with a view of a beautiful pond with lots of lily pads. We’re sure there are lots of frogs and alligators in that pond. This is Florida!

Soon it was a half hour coaching call with my copywriting coach which happens twice a month. Learning from an expert about the art and science of autoresponder emails, email marketing, newsletter writing and the various email campaigns allow me to have the keys to different doors for my work.

Where is the pain of a writer's life? If I slack in my own marketing campaign…if I don’t market myself, I don’t eat! Not all projects are long-term. If you want to beat ‘slow days’, you need to have a marketing plan. Famine may come if the marketing calendar is not filled.

I’m thankful for the regular clients that I serve every week. My work ranges from writing autoresponder series of emails, articles, e-newsletters and sales pages….writing for the web.

To get better at my craft, I read lots of books, magazines, e-newsletters and blogs. Here are some of the copywriters, travel and copywriting companies I follow:

Sandi Krakowski at arealchange.com
John Forde at copywritersroundtable.com
American Writers and Artists Inc. awaionline.com
The Travel Writers Life at thetravelwriterslife.com

If you want to live a writer’s life and want to know how we get started, please download our free report ‘How to make money writing online in 100 days’. Download it and take it for a test drive.

How about you? How’s your life like each day with your work and family? Would love to hear from you. Please comment below.

Claudia Looi is a copywriter, travel and web content writer. She's dedicated herself to helping entrepreneurs create their online presence with email campaign, sales page and web content. A writer and traveler who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York in the travel industry for over 12 years and has had the luxury of traveling to almost 30 countries. When not working, you will find her reading or planning her next family trip with her husband and two teens.

10 Carry-on Essentials for Local or International Air Travels

Claudia Looi — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:42 +0000

Simplicity comes a long way. It takes years of struggling, discovering, accepting and forgiving to achieve an attitude of abundance and freedom. Your style, your countenance, your attitude…your carry-on bag tells a lot about you and your choices in life and your traveling style. There is no right or wrong…be you!

Many years ago, I was the one with three books, 2 notebooks and lots of ‘stuff’ in my carry-on. Only to read a quarter of one book and wrote ten pages in one notebook. Case in point: Took three, read a quarter…that left two unread heavy books. Those ‘just in case’ books and two notebooks were the extras. Could it be, I had an attitude of lack and fear of not having enough in my carry-on?

Now liberated and presenting to you my 10 carry-on essentials for local and international air travels:

#10 Hat
To me, a hat has two functions. One is to provide shade outside, the other is shade on the airplane so I can sleep and not have sun shining on my face or lights disturbing my rest.

#9 Notebook and pen
No more huge notebooks or five pens. Usually I travel with one small 6×8 notebook with three pens. I write at all times and even carry a notebook to our local grocery store. I get most of my notebooks from Marshalls.

#8 Kindle Fire
No more thick hard cover books. Just a Kindle Fire, lightweight and filled with books and PDFs. This is so liberating and hip. My son now thinks his mom is having mid-life crisis. I’m way past that hurdle! Amazon provides lots of choices for any budget for Kindles.

#7 Cardigan
Airplanes can be cold sometimes. A little cardigan comes in handy. It is considered a piece of garment for traveling. No excess here. I like darker colors. Lately, I’ve been thinking of replacing my carry-on cardigan with Scottvest Women’s Q-zip, great for long-term travels.

#6 Thieves
What? Thieves is a blend of essential oils that defend and protect us from dangerous airborne bacteria. I apply it on the bottom of my feet and a little on my neck and behind my ears. We are breathing in bacteria when we are in the airplane.

#5 MacBook Pro
Few months ago, I’ve upgraded to a 15” MacBook Pro and love it. One of the best tools I’ve invested for my writing business and travel. Imagine my office in my carry-on?

#4 iPhone
I still have an iPhone 3GS. It is almost time to upgrade. However, this iPhone has been doing a great job for me. It is my alarm clock, camera, video recorder, calendar, calculator, Bible, apps, email, Facebook, Hootsuite, eBooks station.

#3 Ibuprofen
Yes, I must admit the change of time and schedule does affect me and I tend to have headaches when I travel. Ibuprofen helped me with instant relief.

#2 Bottled Water
It is more important than snack or any food for me. To keep my energy level up, you will see me going straight to get a bottle of water after security check in. One huge bottle to last an entire five-hour flight.

#1 No bad breath
Gum and peppermint essential oils are must haves when traveling. Additionally, peppermint essential oil can help digestion, ease tension and fight physical and mental fatigue. The use of peppermint has lessened the frequency of headache for me.

Not everyone has the same needs like me. These are just 10 of my essentials if I had to choose just 10. How about you? Would you care to share? Please leave your comment below.

P.S. I am an affiliate with ScotteVest and Young Living Essential Oils. For all of their high quality travel and everyday essentials please visit these links:
ScotteVest
Healthy Travels

Photo credits: Scottevest
Young Living Essential Oils

Top Five Favorite Traveling Experiences in Melbourne, Australia With Kids

Claudia Looi — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:00:20 +0000

There is something about Melbourne that kept us going back for more. Maybe it is the food, tram, diverse culture, weather or maybe it is the little fairy penguins on Phillip Island. A place friendly for families with young kids or teens.

Our Top Five Favorites around the city of Melbourne with kids…

#5 Take a free ride around city centre for free with this beautiful tram:

#4 Visit the Queen Victoria Market's Meat Hall, Open Air Market, Fruits and Vegetables Stall, Food Court:

Queen Victoria Market General Merchandise section for souvenirs:

#3 Eureka Skydeck 88 Experience:

Southern Hemisphere's tallest building is located on the southern banks of the Yarra River. Eureka Skydeck's view can extend to the Dandenong ranges on a clear day…unfortunately it was not so for us. Here is what we saw…

Another stadium in Melbourne viewed from the Eureka Skydeck…

The highest post office in Australia is located in Eureka Skydeck…

#2 A Hotel located in the city centre for the convenience of sightseeing, walking, shopping and dining. You save time and transportation costs. We like the Marriott Hotel Group:

A tired mom with a potato chip in hand:

#1 Fly on QANTAS A380 from Melbourne to Los Angeles direct. The best flight experience for my children. Qantas A380 is the largest and most technologically advanced aircraft ever built (according to Qantas). It has 450 seats, with stairs leading to the upper deck where you will find 72 skybeds and 14 first class suites. The lower deck has 332 economy seats and 32 Premium Economy seats.

Take a look at the video by Qantas: A380

Traveling with children enriches our lives together and it has been a fun experience even on a more than 15 hours non-stop flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. You gotta experience this.

Do you have a fear of traveling with children or teens? Would you rather travel locally because of your children? Please comment below.

Claudia Looi is a copywriter, travel and web content writer. She's dedicated herself to helping entrepreneurs create their online presence with email campaign, sales page and web content. A writer and traveler who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York in the travel industry for over 12 years and has had the luxury of traveling to almost 30 countries. Currently, her works include writing for tour operators, hotels, real estate, wellness and immigration consulting industries. When not working, you will find her reading or planning her next family trip with her husband and two teens.

How Could You Compare Traveling Around the World and Private Schooling?

Claudia Looi — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:00:55 +0000

Education and the Asian Culture:
Asian culture is almost synonymous to education. One's SAT score and gifted class programs are certainly asked during a family and friends gathering. Then the question will move to what are you pursuing…are you going to be a doctor, engineer, lawyer, accountant…like those are the only professions available in town.

Don’t get me wrong. Education is certainly important. What is more important is the education of the mind, body and soul…the realization of ones potential, calling and destiny…whatever we call it…ones life purpose.

My husband and I before the pre-realization period were always pushing our children to do their best. 90% is not good…its got to be over 95%. We’ve looked into private education for our children and the many ways to get them to the ‘very top’ according to our pre-realization opinions.

I'm reading Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley for the second time. He wrote many parents with children in high school contact me about academic issues. They may be dedicated to their kids, but they are often worry themselves and the children to the point of panic. One woman was considering legal action against a school because her child was not selected for the so-called TAG program, Talented and gifted.

We have seen many parents fighting for a ‘place in the talented and gifted program’ in our school district too.

Is that really important? What is education after all? What is standardized testing? Do you think it should determine your child or your future?

How far will you go to pay for “good” education?
Today, as I waited with my son at a parking lot, two school buses stopped by. One from a prestigious private school that we have considered years ago and the other is from another private school.

We began to talk about private schools. “Did you know that the school fee per year for private high schools in our area ranges from USD15,000 to USD19,500 per year? Middle school is USD13,000 to USD18,000 per year?”

My son was surprised! “Yes, that does not include the school bus transportation you are looking at right now!” “And these kids are not even dropped off in front of their homes. They get dropped off at a parking lot.”

The fees do not include schoolbooks, laptop, uniform, lunch, transportation or special events. Those are extras.

Traveling around the world with kids compared to private school education:
Here are some considerations if you are contemplating traveling around Europe for one year or sending two children to private schools.

Our example: Family of 2 adults, 2 children- one high school and one middle school. Parents can work anywhere in the world in their jobs or businesses (able to have a portable lifestyle):

If we send them to private school and life as usual at home—expenses per year:

One high school and one middle school $37,500
Misc. school books, activities, uniforms $2,000
Transportation for the family of 4 (insurance and gas, no car payment and considering teens do not drive) $6,000
Food expenses $15,000
Clothing and other expenses $5,000
Lodging, assuming rental or mortgage $1,500 per month $18,000
House repairs, car repairs $1,000
10 days summer vacation $5,000

Total expenses for a family of four per year $89,500.

Let’s take a look at the same family of 4 taking off for a year traveling around Europe:

Round trip London airfare from US for 4 during shoulder season $4,000
Transportation around Europe for one year (rental cars, Trains) $18,000
Accommodation (apartments, hostels, some hotels) in Europe for one year $30,000
Online education for one high school and one middle school including some language studies/art lessons/cooking lessons in Europe $12,000
Food expenses $15,000
Clothing and other expenses $5,000

Total expenses for a family of four in Europe for a year $84,000.

Can we afford to travel?

Those two total expenses are certainly not living frugally. It is an amount a family of four could travel comfortably to 30 countries in Europe for a year (there are about 50 countries).

Think traveling around Europe or the world is only for the big boys—the rich and famous or some lucky few?

Which could be the winning combination: private middle school and high school education or experience the wonders of the world?

Think of the possibilities…. while you are here, take a minute to download our Free Report How to Live out of Your Suitcase for a Week.

Please leave your comment below. What are your thoughts on private high school and middle school education as compared to traveling around the world?

Claudia Looi is a copywriter, travel and web content writer. She's dedicated herself to helping entrepreneurs create their online presence with email campaign, sales page and web content. A writer and traveler who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York in the travel industry for over 12 years and has had the luxury of traveling to almost 30 countries. Currently, her works include writing for tour operators, hotels, real estate, wellness and immigration consulting industries. When not working, you will find her reading or planning her next family trip with her husband and two teens.

Autoresponder, Email, Sweepstakes and Contest for Travel Industry or Any Business

Claudia Looi — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:00:15 +0000

I’ve just won a book, How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age from @DaleCarnegie through Twitter last week by posting a quote from Dale Carnegie.

So, when I set out to write today’s article, I thought about the many sweepstakes, contests and giveaways tour operators; hotels, airlines and businesses have each year.

They may be done for the purposes of a survey, poll, lead generation or an act of giving back. These days, most of the sweepstakes and contests are found online on blogs or social platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Some of the contests and sweepstakes require participants to opt in to the newsletter to be eligible for participation.

Companies are able to generate leads this way without having to pay hefty sums for advertisement.

Other than sweepstakes and contests, the free report, mp3 or video made available on the blog or social media platforms are important tools to increase your in-house list.

But it doesn’t stop there!

Ever received email from companies that are too ‘corporaty’ or ‘salesy’…

Or lack personal touch or friendliness…

Or you may need a dictionary to understand the terms used…

Maybe you never heard from the company…no emails to thank you for reading or participating. There is no relationship built.

Below is a sample email written to participants in a contest organized by a Hotels and Resort Group. Participants happily gave their name, email and phone number hoping to win the Grand Prize. They have opted in and become a house list:

Jane,

WOW!

We have a winner….

What a massive success we have with this year’s contest. There were over 10,000 of you who participated. Every entry is important to us.

We wouldn’t have all the success without your participation. So grateful for all of you…

Since there is only one winner…moving forward, here is what we are going to do.

For the next 48 hours, our Facebook Wall will be open. Please like our page, introduce yourself and tell us, if money is no object, where would you go for your next vacation? Please choose one:

A.    Bali
B.    Belize
C.    Bahamas
D.    Brussels

There are over 1000 hotels and resorts represented by our company. Here is your chance to receive a copy of our Award-winning Travel with ABC book(worth USD250 each including hotel vouchers). Ten lucky readers will be chosen randomly from our Facebook Fan Page.

We look forward to connecting with you with our weekly e-newsletter with updates and deals. For live interaction 24/7, come on over and hang out with us on Facebook.

See you there!

Sincerely,

John Doe
CEO of ABC Hotel and Resort Group

P.S. Our winner is Jim Doe of Anytown. Congratulations! We will contact you shortly.

That is an email I would send for my client who have a list with thousands of participants entering the recent contest/sweepstake. Participants gave their name and email address freely to you– hotel, tour operators and business owners, in hope of being the winner of the contest.

In brief, if we are not writing to them regularly through emails and building relationship, we are missing out!

Notice this:

#1: I’m directing readers to interact with the company further through Facebook. If Facebook is a country, it will be the third most populated country in the world after China and India. They are already hanging out there…you want to hang out with them too….get more exposure for free.

#2: I’m taking a poll here by asking one simple question. We want to know which destination is the most popular out of four. The answer will help us strategically work on our next email campaign.  

#3: I’m writing to them in everyday language and with a friendly tone…like writing to a friend.

Email writing and creating content/article writing for entrepreneurs are my specialties. From time to time, I will be sharing some of the secret strategies I’m learning, updates of writing, particularly email marketing and content creation.

Just for the fun of it, I’ve compiled a list of sweepstakes and contest available for FREE TRAVEL. Most of these are expiring on January 31, 2012. I do not receive any compensation or benefits from this list of companies. This is not a promotion or endorsement from me.

It is just to show you what sweepstakes are available now. I’m participating in one of those listed.

Here you go:

From Travel Channel:A trip for two to St. Lucia

From CaribbeanTravelMag:5 nights in a one bedroom garden view villa at Buccament Bay Resort in St. Vincent

From Alouette Cheese:Share in the adventures of Tintin, Snowy and Captain Haddock on a 10 day trip to Europe

From Lucky Magazine:A four night trip to Antigua for two in a junior suite, including airfares, all meals and beverages.

From Islands Mag: The Belize Sweepstakes which includes 3 nights for two at a private island called Cayo Espanto.

From Hilton:$10,000 online shopping spree at the Embassy Suites More Store

From Expedia:A chance to win a Disney Cruise Adventure Aboard the Disney Fantasy

From Delta Skymiles: Delta Airlines giving away 1 million miles and cruise giveaway

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Claudia Looi is a copywriter, travel and web content writer. She's dedicated herself to helping entrepreneurs create their online presence with email campaign, sales page and web content. A writer and traveler who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York in the travel industry for over 12 years and has had the luxury of traveling to almost 30 countries. Currently, her works include writing for tour operators, hotels, real estate, wellness and immigration consulting industries. When not working, you will find her reading or planning her next family trip with her husband and two teens.

Traveling to Taj Mahal, India, One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Claudia Looi — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:26 +0000

When we think of India and traveling to India, the Taj Mahal comes to mind. For help, we have our guest writers and friends, Surya (13) and his mom Sowmya to share their knowledge and experience visiting the Taj Mahal and the country they visit often and once called home. Come on a journey with us to the Taj Mahal.

Taj Mahal, India

By Surya and Sowmya Balaji

If given the chance to visit an architectural marvel anywhere in the world, you have many choices.

You could choose the Great Wall of China, a symbol of the Ming Dynasty, and is the only man-made structure to be seen from space. You could also choose the Eiffel Tower, which stands over Paris, representing French Architecture. But what about the Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, and equates with all of these other marvels of engineering.

It also happens to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. For over 4 centuries, it has stood as a masterpiece of Mughal Architecture, and also as a symbol signifying the “Love Story” of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan, who ruled the Northeastern part of India.

The construction of this architectural marvel began in 1632, when Mumtaz Mahal died shortly after the birth of their 14th child. Shah Jahan then undertook the task of erecting the world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved.

After 22 years and the labor of over 20,000 workers, the tomb was complete. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed in a tomb next to the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal. Shah insisted that the Taj should be built with marble, which was unlike many of the other monuments around it, which were built using red sandstone.

The Mahal was constructed on the banks of the serene Yamuna River. During the time the Taj was being built, Shah Jahan’s son Aurungzeb dethroned his father and took the kingdom into his own hands. Shah was held prisoner at the nearby Red Fort. His cell had a perfect view of the Mahal, but Shah never lived to see the completion of the Taj Mahal.

It is rumored that Shah Jahan cut the hands off of the certain builders so that they could never be able to make a replica of the Taj.

Mark Twain once said, “The world is divided into two types of people, those who have seen Taj Mahal and those who have not”. Taj is celebrated as one of the most beautiful and marvelous buildings of the world. It is a structure of geometric perfection.

The design of Taj was inspired by various other Mogul architectures. Humayun’s tomb has a dome topped structure raised on a high platform which is similar to Taj. Akbar’s tomb was the inspiration for four pillar design. Even though it is called as the marvel of Mogul architecture, it does have a touch of Persian, Turkish and Indian architecture.

My experience with the Taj was unlike any other. In 2006, during a typical Indian Summer Day (very hot 108 degrees Fahrenheit), my family left New Delhi and travelled 130 miles from Delhi, to Agra, the city that was the center of the Mughal Empire in India.

A visit to the Taj is truly an amazing experience. Though it is a huge building, you don’t see Taj anywhere from the place where you park the car or on your walk towards Taj.

As you continue walking to the Taj, there it is. The majestic Taj Mahal, reflecting on the pool and merging with the garden to create a tranquil environment. One has to make a visit to experience the beauty of this place.

Truly it deserves to be one of the wonders of the world. Unfortunately the Taj’s original beauty has not been maintained due to political interference and other socio-economic reasons.

Today when you visit the Taj, you will be able to see a layer of dust covering the marbles. Taj’s architecture and the attention toward details are incomparable to no other monument or landmark in this world.

Travelling tips:
Best time to visit: October to March.

Mode of travel: Travel to Delhi, the capital city of India, which is connected to all the major metros of the world. Drive from Delhi to Agra is approximately 3 hours.

P.S.–I visited the Taj when I was very young; so many memories were recollected with my mother’s help. I also used the Internet to find more facts and clarify ones that I already knew. I would also like to thank Mrs. Claudia Looi for giving me the splendid opportunity to blog–

Have you been to Taj Mahal or any of the seven wonders of the world? How was your experience? Please leave us a comment.

Sowmya Balaji was born and raised in India, a mother of a teenager (Surya) and wife of a wonderful person. She is a stay at home mom who loves cooking, reading, music and traveling. Surya Balaji is a talented 8th grader who has recently started a blog. He loves traveling, music, Geography and Engineering. Currently, they call Florida home.

Chinese New Year Celebrations in South East Asia

Claudia Looi — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:00:48 +0000

South East Asia consists of 11 countries. Each country has their original people group, culture, food, language and customs. But there is one similarity in all of them…the Chinese immigrants.

The Chinese in Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Timor are celebrating Chinese New Year on January 23rd (this year)…the year of the dragon.

Travelers to these countries will find most stores and restaurants close for the holidays for 1 to 15 days in major cities in South East Asia. Shopping and local diners will be limited but travelers might be in for treats like lion dances, parades, fireworks and special performances around the cities.

Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. It is celebrated for 15 days.

Before the start of the year, family members will perform deep cleaning of the whole house, wash all draperies and ensure a dust free, clean and uncluttered environment…including our mind, body and soul.

Next, they will gather together and make special sweet delicacies. Also, shop for new shoes and clothing for the whole family. Young and old will get haircuts.

No household should have borrowed items. They must be returned.

The day before New Year is the family’s reunion dinner where traditional dishes and family member’s favorite dishes are prepared. My sister prepared this meal for her two children and husband three days ago in Jakarta before leaving for Malaysia to celebrate with family members.

The first day of New Year is a day of honoring the elders. Everyone in the family show their appreciation and honor to grandparents, parents and the elders of the family. The younger folks, especially children will receive hong pao (red packet with money) from married family members, parents and grandparents.

If you are a visitor and unmarried, you will receive hong pao. It is a great time to travel and visit Chinese family in South East Asia during the Chinese New Year if you are single.

These are the most important days of the year and there are few rules to follow:
•    No uttering of negative words
•    No sweeping, no cleaning, no brooms can be seen in the home
•    Must wear new clothing especially red
•    No black clothing
•    Do not break any plates or bowls

We have not kept up with the traditions here in the United States except the hong pao. Here is ours:

My sister took some photos of food and decorations in the mall and around Chinatown of Jakarta last week. Here are some photos:

The colors red and orange are colors of choice during Chinese New Year as seen in Mandarin oranges here….

Families prepare a variety of sweet delicacies, or for convenience, they are found in stores…

Cherry blossoms are found in stores and homes during Chinese New Year…

Indonesian Chinese are called Chindo in Indonesia. Chinese New Year is celebrated in a smaller scale compared to Singapore and Malaysia. Employees all over South East Asia receive bonuses in hong pao during this festive season.

Preparing to travel to a country that has a different culture than ours can be quite challenging…heard of 'cultural shock'?

Travel can enrich and reduce cultural shock. It is an adventure and exposure to all types of cultures, peoples, customs, traditions…of course…different sight, sound, smell and taste….ultimately creating awareness, acceptance, openness and the quest to know more about other cultures.

Have you visited families or cities that celebrate Chinese New Year? Would you like to know more about South East Asia? Please share your experience and comment below.

Claudia Looi is a copywriter, travel and web content writer. She's dedicated herself to helping entrepreneurs create their online presence with email campaign, sales page and web content. A writer and traveler who has lived and worked in Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and New York in the travel industry for over 12 years and has had the luxury of traveling to almost 30 countries. Currently, her works include writing for tour operators, hotels, real estate, wellness and immigration consulting industries. When not working, you will find her reading or planning her next family trip with her husband and two teens.