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Changi Recommends: Book with ChangiHotels and Enjoy Great Savings Like Free ChangiWiFi Rentals*!

Imagine this.

You are booked on a dream vacation to Bali, the beach vacation you have been looking forward to for the entire year. You can’t wait to see the blue skies, the sand, and the sea. You have your itinerary all planned out, from breakfast by the beach, to a candlelight dinner with your other half. All you have left is the hotel reservation. After surfing the net for an entire day, you found a beautiful romantic accommodation with the perfect view of the sea, just within your budget. You decided on it, and you are at the checkout page but, to your horror, the price was much more than what was stated at the selection page. You are back to the drawing board, this time, frustrated with the hassle of hotel bookings and hidden charges.

But fret not. You will not face that situation because you are here. Reading this.

The headache of hotel bookings can now be taken away by Changi Recommends new travel service – ChangiHotels. A new line-up to Changi Recommends already successful travel essentials, ChangiHotels boasts over 170,000 properties for over 5,000 destinations worldwide. The best part? No hidden prices. This means all-inclusive tax, upfront prices, and all these at unbeatable deals. *Screams*

Finding an ideal hotel for your vacation has never been easier. Besides transparent pricings for its consumers, ChangiHotels also offers competitive rates. Find yourself searching for your dream hotel on ChangiHotels with prices lower than its competitors as ChangiHotels also offers great savings on your hotel bookings with up to 50% off, all destinations worldwide.

The ChangiHotels website boasts an easy to navigate, no frills system from the get go, with the aim of offering transparent pricing to its consumers. Filter from price, star ratings, to even hotel promos with last minute discounts for your impromptu trip. Can I just repeat again that what you see is what you pay? Yes, the price for the hotel you are looking at for your upcoming trip before you even click to book IS the total rates for your stay, inclusive of tax.

But, we have not reached the best part, yet. To celebrate the launch of ChangiHotels, Changi Recommends have bundled in a ChangiWiFi x ChangiHotels promotion where you get free day-to-day ChangiWiFi rental for each hotel booking made with ChangiHotels! That is killing two birds with one stone, settling both data and accommodation for your trip in one booking!

To book, visit www.changihotels.com for your upfront price quote at an unbeatable deal, for your dream hotel.

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Golden Rules Of Gift-Giving

One of the most pleasurable pursuits associated with any special occasion is the act of gift-giving. While some gifts can evoke positive emotions, others can come across as inappropriate. The following etiquette rules will help you avoid the common gift-giving mistakes.

RULE #1: RECOGNIZE YOUR HOST

When you get invited to someone’s home, it is a delightful gesture to bring a token of appreciation in exchange of the invite. Recognize the efforts that your host has poured to this special day. This token should not be extravagant! Simply bring a bottle of wine, a bouquet of flowers, or a box of doughnuts. Any gifts that are appropriate to the holiday’s theme will suffice too.

RULE #2: TAP INTO YOUR CULTURE

Singapore prides itself as a country practicing racial harmony. Hence, you may be invited to selected holidays that you do not usually celebrate. Keep in mind that not all cultures celebrate a particular occasion in the same way. So, do your homework before purchasing a gift. What is appropriate to give in a Traditional Chinese wedding may not be necessary in a Malay wedding.

RULE #3: EXTEND YOUR SINCERE GRATITUDE

Image Credits: pixabay.com

What should you do when someone gives you a present and you do not have anything in return? For starters, you shall not dwell on the fact that you do not have a gift for him or her. Instead, focus on showing the person that you appreciate this gesture. Extend your sincere gratitude by sending a thank you note or by sending a gift at a later date.

RULE #4: NO NEED TO RECIPROCATE

Most of us are compelled to provide someone with gift of equal value. This can be a trap since value is not easy to assess! When giving presents, you should ideally spend what you feel comfortable with.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Remember that the thought that goes into a gift is the most important thing. A Do-It-Yourself gift can be a great option that not only provides a cheaper alternative, but also speaks volume about your love.

Sources: 1 & 2

Hunt For A Roommate While Keeping Your Sanity

With the soaring property rates, shared accommodation has become more and more popular in Singapore. Living with roommates is an economical choice, which is often necessary. However, living with someone else is complicated. You need to strike a balance between different personalities and accept the differences in living habits. It may be challenging at first, but you will get the hang of it.

To help you keep your sanity, here are three “roommate hunting” tips:

THE SELECTION PROCESS

They say that prevention is better than cure. Prevent personality conflicts from brewing by choosing a roommate carefully. Get to know the person or people that you are moving in with before you make a decision. Are your living habits compatible to the other tenants? Make sure that you like the space for what it is.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Alternatively, you may visit websites that offer information about your potential roommates. For instance, Easy Roommate lets you upload a profile of yourself and contact some possible roommates. Its search feature can easily provide you an idea of the desirable locations and its local amenities. Give it a try!

THE SHOWDOWN OF EXPECTATIONS

Whenever two or more people are interacting on a regular basis, conflicts are bound to happen. Whether you are settling with your partner or sharing a room with a friend, that is just how life goes. When this happens, remain calm and deal with the conflict in a healthy manner. Discuss the matter with him or her and reach a compromise.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Manage your expectations by clearing everything out. If you need or want something from your roommate, you must speak up. Setting up rules and expectations earlier on is the best thing to do.

THE SERIOUS TALK

You must talk about management of space in the beginning of your relationship with the roomies. Many people assume that they can leave their items in a shared space, while others find it annoying. Others are happy to share their food in the common fridge, while most people demand permission. Some people may be okay with you walking in when the door is unlocked. However, others would appreciate a knock before opening a door. These are just of the differences that you may encounter.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

So, establish your needs and wants regarding space and encourage others to do the same. They shall reciprocate the amount of respect you give.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Pricey Perfume

Whether you are attracted to musky or floral scents, your perfume is your signature. Get the most out of your money by lengthening your perfume’s longevity. Here are seven tips to help you in your quest.

1. KNOW WHERE TO SHOP

Saving money starts with shopping for perfume at bargain prices. A list of top places to raid will not be complete without mentioning Mustafa Centre. Mustafa Centre offers an array of product selections. If you are buying fragrances in bulk, go to Level 1. There, you will find different fragrances, household items, books, cosmetics, electronics, shoes, watches, and so much more.

Most people go to Mustafa to shop in bulk due to its competitive prices. This way, they had increased their savings.

2. THRIVE IN THE DARK

Some things thrive in the dark. Extend the privilege of going “incognito” to your fragrance. By storing your perfume in dark and cool places (e.g., inside cabinets or shelves), you are ensuring its longevity. Exposing your products to heat and humidity can break down its components. So, avoid damp or warm places such as your bathroom.

3. FOCUS ON PULSE POINTS

Let me take a quick moment to enlighten you about pulse points. Pulse points highlight the areas where your blood vessels are the closest to the skin. Heat activates the perfume. Thus, the pulse points on your body are the best places to spritz a scent due to the warmth of your blood. Choose two target areas to which you can apply your scent on.

Image Credits: shadesofglam.com

Do not over do it! Personally, I prefer putting some on my wrists and on the back of my knees. The aforementioned warmth shall aid in evaporating the alcoholic carrier that most perfumes come in. Moreover, it will help release the fragrance more effectively.

4. PUT SOME PETROLEUM JELLY

Pure petroleum jelly such as Vaseline seem to be a holy grail for many beauty enthusiasts. It can be used in lash extensions, lip balms, and fragrances. Yes! You read that right. You can make your scent last longer by rubbing this product on your pulse points before spraying a layer of perfume on top. This quick hack will only use a minute of your time.

Perfume gets stronger when put on “oily” skin. It works by trapping moisture of your skin and by trapping the alcohol-based scents.

5. CHOOSE THE WOODSY BASE

Perfumes are made up of notes, which are separated into three layers: top, middle, and base. The top note is the first scent that is activated upon spraying the fragrance. It typically fades away in a minute. Then, the middle or heart note will stay for a longer period of time. When both notes evaporate, the base note shall remain.

For a better staying power, stick to perfumes with woodsy base notes. Scents with citrus base notes tend to disappear the fastest!

6. SPRITZ IT ON YOUR BRUSH

Whether you believe it or not, your hair has the ability to trap scents better than your skin. Spraying some of your signature scent on your hair will help it linger throughout the day. I am not saying that you must directly apply the perfume on your scalp. I, for one, have a sensitive scalp. Instead, you must spray it on your hairbrush and wait for it to dry up.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Comb the smell through your hair strands. Doing this will still distribute the scent evenly and will minimize the contact of alcohol to your scalp.

7. BONUS TIP: STOP RUBBING THE SCENT ON YOUR WRISTS

Rubbing the scent on one’s wrists and distributing it on the neck is a typical move that your mother or grandmother employs. Stop doing this! Rubbing your wrists together forces the top notes to break down. The scent will disappear at a faster rate. Please, just let your perfume sit.

Sources: 1 & 2

The Influence Of Asia On The World Of Cryptocurrencies

Despite being decentralised online payment systems, there are various countries across the globe adopting these cryptocurrencies and sky-rocketing them to the rate of growth and development we’re seeing today. While the USA, South Africa and the UK sit quite prominently within the industry, there are a huge number of Asian countries either catching up, or dominating completely. From China’s ever-changing regulation, to South Korea’s outright ban, the greatest and most prominent countries within the continent are proving time and time again to make quite a substantial difference – the question is, how?

Japan

Japan’s crypto success arguably came when China imposed a ban on cryptocurrency withdrawals. This saw the BTC JPY exchange rate start to raise in a relatively strong upwards curve until the crash in price after the December 2017 high and has since turned more and more businesses within this innovative hub to either utilising blockchain technologies, or accepting Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payments. There has even been recent speculation that future economic booms could either involve, or be thanks to cryptocurrencies and the decentralised technologies that power them. Whether this is ultimately the outcome is a matter of keeping a close eye on changing focuses in the technological and financial industries, but it’s certainly proving an interesting road to take.

China

China has always been notorious for reducing and restricting the development of anything potentially out of government control and as a digital coin with no centralised system to control, cryptocurrencies were certainly in their line of sight. Despite having initially held one of the biggest markets across the world for cryptocurrency trading and mining, this isn’t so much the case anymore. After the ban of ICOs and the following closure of various local bitcoin exchanges, their stance in the industry plummeted. However, with a focus on ‘blockchain not Bitcoin’, it might not be the end for cryptocurrency use in China just yet.

South Korea

South Korea has taken a similar stance to China, but seems to be offering a far more mixed view than its larger counterpart. Despite its small size compared to China, a simple speculation that bitcoin could be banned was enough to plummet the price of major coins considerably. However, it still remains unclear as to whether this is going to actually be the case. These rumours certainly hold weight behind them, considering the announcement having been by South Korean officials, but have yet to actually be put into place. Instead, we’re simply seeing more and more Korean exchanges and local businesses starting to consider Bitcoin payments as standard, regardless of potential changes to come in the future.

What Could The Future Hold?

Whether we see global bans on cryptocurrency use or global adoption of a ‘blockchain first’ policy, only time will tell for sure. If there is one thing we have quickly learned from the world of cryptocurrencies, it’s that even the slightest movement or speculation can considerably shake up the industry and as a result, Asian countries focused on FinTech and other technologies have an even bigger influence than you may expect. The future could see unstable governments or economies introducing their very own cryptocurrencies to reap the benefits without the risks, or the simple outright ban and avoidance of all things digital coin.

What do you think?

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