Hong Kong is one of the world's most fascinating destinations, offering tourists an excellent blend of historical and cultural attractions, top food and drink, and hospitality that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Before you book your cheap Hong Kong flights, you may want to check the events calendar to ensure that you get the most out of your holiday by travelling when there are festivals and entertainment that interest you.
Whether you are hoping to explore the city's rich cultural heritage, enjoy fast-paced sport or make sure the children are entertained, there should be something in Hong Kong to keep you occupied, however long your stay.
If you are travelling with kids, one of the best days out in the city is Wetland Park's 'Bouncy Wetland' exhibition, which runs annually from June to November.
It focuses on the lifecycle and characteristics of the mudskipper, a fascinating amphibious fish that is native to the area.
The fish is primarily recognised for spending large amounts of time out of the water, hopping through wetland areas in order to defend its territory or communicate with other mudskippers.
Kids and adults can learn how this amazing creature can survive so long out of the water through a series of art workshops, guided tours and film shows, making this a surefire hit for the whole family.
For those more interested in brushing up on their local history knowledge, a trip to the Hong Kong Museum of Art in the Tsim Sha Tsui district may be a better option.
One event that is worth checking out is the A Lofty Retreat from the Red Dust: The Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong exhibition - with his reign considered to be one of the most important times for Chinese art.
The Qianlong Garden in Beijing's Forbidden City is an example of the high art that was produced during this era and now various exhibits from the garden will be on show in Hong Kong.
The garden was commissioned by the emperor in time for his retirement and items from this fascinating historical attraction include murals, architectural elements and paintings.
Another exciting addition to the museum is the Dragon in Chinese Art exhibition, which is a collaboration with the Oriental Ceramic Society of Hong Kong and presents more than 200 items with images of the famous mythical creature.
With exhibits dating back to the Neolithic period, this is definitely one attraction that you won't want to miss, especially in the year of the dragon!
Open six days a week and with free admission, there is no excuse not to become a culture vulture and expand your knowledge of China's extraordinary history.
Looking for some laughs? The annual Hong Kong International Comedy Festival will be running from September to October, showcasing the talents of a range of home-grown and international talent.
Set across various venues in the city, you will get the chance to see American comedian Ruben Paul, as well as witness the now famous English and Chinese International Comedy Competitions, where the eventual winners take home a cash prize.
Alternatively, the New Vision Arts Festival - which happens every two years - may be of interest if you prefer music, dance and drama.
Gathering together top-quality productions from across the world, this event has a number of highlights, including The Next Generations - a contemporary theatre classic - and the acclaimed German orchestral band Ensemble Modern.
There will also be a concert by Chinese contemporary musician and singer Dadawa, who is best known for scooping an Independent Music Award for best fusion album in 2008.
Avant-garde bands are a common theme, with unconventional groups formed from different continents hitting the stage to entertain the crowds, such as The Butterfly Effect: East-West Percussive Parade. This will see three international drummers play alongside Japanese guitar legend Sugizo and US guitarist and cellist Knox Chandler.
Last but not least, if you are a sports buff then the Hong Kong Squash Open is an occasion you won't want to miss.
Boasting some fast and frantic action, the tournament will pit 30 of the world's best players against each other in an effort to crown a champion in the male and female categories.
The best way to experience any destination is through experiencing its local events. Book cheap Hong Kong flights through Netflights and learn more about this fascinating country on your next holiday.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Simple Ways to Improve Employee Morale
Keeping your workforce motivated when times are tough for both businesses and individuals can be difficult. The issue becomes even trickier if you do not have much money available to reward staff who do a good job or incentivise them to achieve the company's goals.
Many organisations have struggled to find the funds needed for annual wage rises in recent years, so have also been unable to offer discretionary pay increases. If your business is in that position, you should examine what improvements you can make to the employee benefits scheme.
The expense involved means items like private health insurance are off the agenda, but there are some simple things you can do that will help to improve the senior management team's relationship with other staff. They do not have to cost a lot, but workers will appreciate the fact the company has thought about them.
One option well worth looking at is setting up a flexible gift card scheme. Such programmes involve a salary exchange, in which staff agree to have a portion of their wages paid into a benefits account rather than their usual bank.
They can spend this money at a variety of high street stores using the flexible gift card they will receive. It entitles them to an ongoing seven per cent discount, so will help them to make their money go a little bit further when they are out shopping.
Among the attractive things about this sort of scheme from an employee's point of view is that the sum they pay in can be changed each month. If they need all their spare cash for something else they can contribute less, but if they are saving towards something, such as the arrival of a new baby, they can add more.
Your business will discover this is a cost-effective method of internal PR, as it will help to improve your workforce's view of the company. The only expense involved is a small annual subscription charge for each employee and, in return for that, the specialist organising the programme will take care of the bulk of the administration.
There is no need to worry about your workers losing their money from a flexible gift card scheme, as the funds will be held in trust. The only thing you need to check is that the business you use to run the programme is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
One popular variation is the Christmas savings scheme. Staff pay a proportion of their wages into it throughout the year and then receive a flexible gift card or vouchers - complete with a bonus sum added - in November to use for present shopping.
To find out more about employee benefits schemes, get in touch with Love2reward.
Many organisations have struggled to find the funds needed for annual wage rises in recent years, so have also been unable to offer discretionary pay increases. If your business is in that position, you should examine what improvements you can make to the employee benefits scheme.
The expense involved means items like private health insurance are off the agenda, but there are some simple things you can do that will help to improve the senior management team's relationship with other staff. They do not have to cost a lot, but workers will appreciate the fact the company has thought about them.
One option well worth looking at is setting up a flexible gift card scheme. Such programmes involve a salary exchange, in which staff agree to have a portion of their wages paid into a benefits account rather than their usual bank.
They can spend this money at a variety of high street stores using the flexible gift card they will receive. It entitles them to an ongoing seven per cent discount, so will help them to make their money go a little bit further when they are out shopping.
Among the attractive things about this sort of scheme from an employee's point of view is that the sum they pay in can be changed each month. If they need all their spare cash for something else they can contribute less, but if they are saving towards something, such as the arrival of a new baby, they can add more.
Your business will discover this is a cost-effective method of internal PR, as it will help to improve your workforce's view of the company. The only expense involved is a small annual subscription charge for each employee and, in return for that, the specialist organising the programme will take care of the bulk of the administration.
There is no need to worry about your workers losing their money from a flexible gift card scheme, as the funds will be held in trust. The only thing you need to check is that the business you use to run the programme is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
One popular variation is the Christmas savings scheme. Staff pay a proportion of their wages into it throughout the year and then receive a flexible gift card or vouchers - complete with a bonus sum added - in November to use for present shopping.
To find out more about employee benefits schemes, get in touch with Love2reward.
Getting To Know The Amazon Then And Now
I don't suppose many of my readers have ever seen the Amazon River and have no interest in disputes between the tribal Indians and outsiders who are invading their territory to drill for oil, raise cattle, export their lumber, and mine for gold.
No one will ever see the Amazon as I saw it. In the early 1950s when I cleared a couple of acres of jungle and built a house for my family the Peruvian rainforest was virtually untouched by civilization. Our Jivaro neighbors were as primitive as they had ever been in the thousands of years of their existence.
Documentaries about the rain forest that I watch on TV distress me greatly. They glamorize the indigenous culture as though it were something sacred that should be left untouched by civilization.
The aboriginals do not need White Man's intervention. They don't need education. They don't need westernized clothes. They don't need doctors and hospitals. They don't need a different religion. The message is, stay out of the rainforest. Leave those people alone.
Who is to blame for the inevitable changes that are drastically affecting the primitive cultures around the world? I lived with those Indians for several years as a missionary and I get a lot of the blame for changing their way of life.
I saw first hand how their society functioned. The pain, the suffering and the needless death saddened my heart. What I saw was not the happy people you see depicted in the documentaries. Why should we blame anyone for taking a better way of life to those people?
Who should I blame for the changes in my culture? The gaslights and the fragile gas mantels have been replaced with electric lights. Instead of our icebox we have a side by side refrigerator freezer. The smelly outhouse is gone. How would we live without supermarkets and superhighways?
I am not sure whom to blame for the changes that someone caused in the Ohio River valley where I was brought up. What I am saying may sound facetious, but this is how I see what is happening to primitive cultures in places like the Amazon.
Yes, I built a nice house and they learned from me about electric lights and how an American family lives. I am responsible for bringing some changes to the Amazon rainforest, but they are the same changes I see here in America that makes 2012 different from 1912.
I cannot imagine why people think it would be better to leave those primitive people in the practices of their heathen culture. People ask me: "What right do you have to disturb their way of living?" No one denies that bathrooms are better than outhouses; or that electric lights are better than oil lamps. However, there are intelligent, educated people who fault me for introducing civilization to people who should have been left in their primitive state.
In future articles I am going to deal with the challenges involved in developing the Amazon.
Harry Flinner is a retired missionary of the Church of the Nazarene who spent several years living and working with the Aguaruna tribe of Jivaro Indians in the Peruvian Amazon. He established his mission on the Marañon River in the early 1950s when the Amazon rainforest was virtually untouched by civilization.
Harry Flinner is a graduate of Asbury University, The Alliance Graduate School of Missions and BIOLA School of Missionary Medicine. He has done graduate work in Linguistics and Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Kentucky.
My website is not political. I have no cause to defend.
I simply want to inform and stimulate interest in Amazonia. http://www.AnAmazingAdventure.com
No one will ever see the Amazon as I saw it. In the early 1950s when I cleared a couple of acres of jungle and built a house for my family the Peruvian rainforest was virtually untouched by civilization. Our Jivaro neighbors were as primitive as they had ever been in the thousands of years of their existence.
Documentaries about the rain forest that I watch on TV distress me greatly. They glamorize the indigenous culture as though it were something sacred that should be left untouched by civilization.
The aboriginals do not need White Man's intervention. They don't need education. They don't need westernized clothes. They don't need doctors and hospitals. They don't need a different religion. The message is, stay out of the rainforest. Leave those people alone.
Who is to blame for the inevitable changes that are drastically affecting the primitive cultures around the world? I lived with those Indians for several years as a missionary and I get a lot of the blame for changing their way of life.
I saw first hand how their society functioned. The pain, the suffering and the needless death saddened my heart. What I saw was not the happy people you see depicted in the documentaries. Why should we blame anyone for taking a better way of life to those people?
Who should I blame for the changes in my culture? The gaslights and the fragile gas mantels have been replaced with electric lights. Instead of our icebox we have a side by side refrigerator freezer. The smelly outhouse is gone. How would we live without supermarkets and superhighways?
I am not sure whom to blame for the changes that someone caused in the Ohio River valley where I was brought up. What I am saying may sound facetious, but this is how I see what is happening to primitive cultures in places like the Amazon.
Yes, I built a nice house and they learned from me about electric lights and how an American family lives. I am responsible for bringing some changes to the Amazon rainforest, but they are the same changes I see here in America that makes 2012 different from 1912.
I cannot imagine why people think it would be better to leave those primitive people in the practices of their heathen culture. People ask me: "What right do you have to disturb their way of living?" No one denies that bathrooms are better than outhouses; or that electric lights are better than oil lamps. However, there are intelligent, educated people who fault me for introducing civilization to people who should have been left in their primitive state.
In future articles I am going to deal with the challenges involved in developing the Amazon.
Harry Flinner is a retired missionary of the Church of the Nazarene who spent several years living and working with the Aguaruna tribe of Jivaro Indians in the Peruvian Amazon. He established his mission on the Marañon River in the early 1950s when the Amazon rainforest was virtually untouched by civilization.
Harry Flinner is a graduate of Asbury University, The Alliance Graduate School of Missions and BIOLA School of Missionary Medicine. He has done graduate work in Linguistics and Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Kentucky.
My website is not political. I have no cause to defend.
I simply want to inform and stimulate interest in Amazonia. http://www.AnAmazingAdventure.com
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