Wow! What an experience this was for me. Although I was a “late bloomer” in watching the series, because of this tour I still feel like I’m a #1 Fan!! Mr. Luigi was my tour guide and he was excellent at entertaining me and the other guests. Each stop on the tour, Luigi gave us his personal stories about watching the actors as they performed dangerous stunts. He explained the reasons why certain houses and neighborhoods were chosen to film. Also, he gave a lot of information about employment of the locals when Hollywood came to town. This tour is absolutely your #1 choice for those interested in film making who love the “Breaking Bad” series. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!!
If you were to ask me, what animal I would compare myself to, it would be the African Lion. Not just for the lion's majestic look pronounced by its mane, but for what lies behind that prestige. Just as a lion looks after his pride (family), I have the same responsibility to my community.
In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1, I would like to highlight the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project who was started by CNN Hero, Mr. Jackson Kaguri. Mr. Kaguri is another “African Lion” who began his journey on making a difference in his community back in 2001. It all started on a trip from Michigan to his home in Western Uganda. He was met with 52 children lined up at his door asking for school fees. Many of these children had lost both parents from HIV/AIDS, hence the name “AIDS Orphans”.
To understand the impact that COVID-19 has had on volunteerism abroad, I asked Mr. Kaguri a series of questions. He is the perfect person to interview since he travels internationally about 3 times a year. During his travels he has learned many things to protect himself and the more than 80,000 children his organization educates, feed and clothes, as well as the 20,000 grandmothers whom they live with. “The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the way Nyaka provides its services to the community. Schools are closed, learning is taking place in small neighborhood groups outside, and supplies are being delivered to houses on motorcycles instead of in a community gathering. The ability to even enter the country was suspended for our staff during the first half of the pandemic. The ability to reach our communities due to the suspension of travel, for health and safety, significantly changed the way we operate
during COVID. Only now are we starting to reach our previous levels of travel for programmatic trips, fundraising visits, and community outreach. Further disruptions in how the world (and Nyaka) travels could further change how we serve the children and their families in our Ugandan community.”
Mr. Jackson plans to hopefully travel to Uganda about 3 times during 2022. He is hopeful to maintain the same level of health and safety for his community next year. Thankfully, there were only a handful reported cases of COVID-19 among the children since the pandemic began. To learn more about the organization, visit: www.nyakaglobal.org
Imagine yourself standing in front of a tall door marked “Trust”. On the other side lies your next destination or “last hoorah” summer vacation. For many, passing through that door means having the confidence that your family will remain safe and healthy before and after the trip. That is why I would like to highlight The Apple Leisure Group (ALG Vacations™) which some travelers may want to explore further.
ALG Vacations™ has done research that determined that health and safety is the most valued factor of travelers choosing a vacation. The company has always had a high standard for health and safety practices, but due to COVID-19, they have gone above expectations to institute their TripTrust™ initiative. ALG Vacations™ has made it easy for travel agents to identify accommodations that meet specific health and safety standards to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The company has badged its hotels and resorts with the TripTrust™ logo in travel agent online portals. The logo indicates that these properties have self-certified that they have taken measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These properties self-certify compliance with the guidelines of government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The World Health Organization and/or private companies that specialize in sanitation. ALG Vacations™ has identified more than 2000 properties taking necessary steps to provide a healthy vacation environment.
For your convenience, I have highlighted several of the major hotels and resorts that have earned the TripTrust™ badge according to ALG Vacations™:
AM Resorts Collection
RIU Hotels & Resorts
AIC Hotel Group
Bahia Principe Hotels& Resorts
Barceló Hotel Group
Be Live Hotels & Resorts
Blue Diamond Resorts
Hotel Xcaret Mexico
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
La Colección by Fiest Americana
Meliã Hotels
Ultimately it is your decision on whether to travel or not. Keep in mind that your vacation can be impacted by social distancing requirements, health screenings and self-quarantine requirements. I believe that travelers are hoping for the best during this time of uncertainty. Be wise when choosing your accommodations and travel safely.
