Just got another sob story in my junk mail. Do these kinds of things even work anymore??

From Ms. Mariam Ture,
Please Reply me through my private email address for my security reason
(mariamm_ture70@yahoo.fr )

It is my pleasure to write you after going through your profile I decided to contact you to help me out of my problem, however is not mandatory nor will i in any manner compel you to honour against your will,but first Iet me introduce myself to you.

My name is Ms. Mariam Ture, Am 21 years of age, I am a student of high school before I lost my parents in a car accident last year, so I have been out from school and been looking for a sincere person that I will trust.

I am the only child of my late parents and that has made me to run away from our family house because my uncles are after my life to take away my inheritance which my late father left for me in a Bank here in Cote D’ivoire. My entire dream is to find somebody that I can trust with my future life and inheritance and also who will be able to invest it wisely in any lucrative business.

Nobody knows about the inheritance which worth $7.5 million dollars in Cash deposited in a Bank here with my name as the next of kin. And I want you to also keep it very confidential till we can be able to transfer this money from the Bank here to your country and I will fly
to join you immediately for future plans of continue my education once a join you in your country.

I have to trust somebody to save my future and that is why I am trusting you now I want you to understand my critical situation and give me the assistance that I need so that I will have a better life and also enjoy my inheritance with you. I will tell you more about myself as soon as I hear back from you, your interest to assist me and also build more trust to be able to have a better understanding.
Please Reply me through my private email address for my security
reason ( mariamm_ture70@yahoo.fr )


I look forward for your urgent response, thank you and God bless you.

Best regard
Ms. Mariam Ture

These days, all hotel booking sites offer price guarantees. But are they useful or just another marketing ploy? 

As with most things these days, you’ll have to read the fine print to know what you’re getting into. Perhaps the most constricting condition is that with  most of these hotel booking websites, you can only claim against the guarantee within 24 hours of the booking. On reflection, this is fair as prices may fall, particularly if the hotel is empty. Many of the other terms and conditions are centred around making sure that you’re comparing apples to apples. After all, you can’t book a suite in a hotel and then claim that they had a cheaper room rate for the basic room.

On the whole, while price guarantees are fair, I do think they have limited usefulness. There is a certain comfort to be taken in the fact that you can get your money back if you find a cheaper rate. But then again, with such restrictions in place, the average user generally won’t get much out of the guarantee.

I got an email from the U.S. Department of State the other day telling me that I’d won the US Green Card lottery. Some years ago, I had applied for the lottery on a whim but never thought more about it so when I received this email out of the blue, it gave me quite a thrill.

Until I read a little further. 

Apparently I have to pay $879 of processing fees in order to get my green card. I can also bring as many members of my family as I like, provided that I pay $879 per person. This instantly raised my spam alert so I did a bit more checking online. Apparently green card lottery scams are pretty common. The US Department of State even has a webpage dedicated to it.

This is probably one of the most convincing pieces of spam mail that I’ve ever received. They’ve even included the logo on the email. But the minute someone asks you to send money, you need to proceed cautiously. Here are a few top tips on avoiding green card lottery frauds:

1. Do your research. It’s not called the green card lottery, it’s actually called the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.

2. The US government will never email you if you win the lottery. They will use snail mail only.

3. Application is free.

4. If you are applying, make sure to use only a website that ends with .gov

5. You don’t have to pay anyone to complete the application for you. Call your local US embassy or consulate if you need help.

For more information, visit FraudAid’s website.

Looking for a inspiration for your next holiday? The newly-released list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is a great place to start. After a two-year voting process that was open to the world, provisional results have finally been released. While the usual suspects like the Grand Canyon, the Great Barrier Reef and the Maldives made it into the top 28, the final seven are lesser known. These include Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Indonesia’s Komodo Island and the Iguazu Falls (pictured above). Of the seven, three are in South East Asia but I’ve never been to any. Shame on me :(

Which ones have you been to?

My brother had his wedding in the Putrajaya Marriott about a month ago. It was a beautiful place with a grand fountain outside. Quite decent food as well, in contrast to most hotels. The breakfast buffet spread, in particular, was quite impressive.

If you’re visiting Kuala Lumpur, this hotel is not a good choice as it is very far from the city and public transport isn’t the best. However, if you want something close to the airport, or if you’re looking for a resort style location for a break, the Putrajaya Marriott may fit the bill.

Photo by Steven Tom

I was a college student when I watched the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time. I had to take the train in to the city, waking up at some ungodly hour to take the early train to ensure I had a good vantage point. It was an awesome experience and so worth it. Watching an event live is always so much better than watching it on TV. The atmosphere, the excitement, the sheer size of the floats and the balloons - it was a great day.

The parade starts at 9 a.m., but people show up as early as 6 a.m. to get a good view. Dress warmly because it can be cold and bring a thermosful of your favourite hot beverage with you. Don’t bring chairs because there will be no space for them. If you can’t be bothered turning up for the parade, try watching the balloons come to life the day before. Head to Central Park West between 77th and 81st street from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. to watch the magic happen.

I know I’m definitely the sort of person who leaves Christmas gifts to the last minute, and then has a panic attack. This year I’m trying to break the habit by starting early. I’ve even researched the hottest new toys for Christmas. How come all the best kiddie toys come with batteries nowadays?

It’s one of the latest sites to jump on the group buying bandwagon. But there’s a twist. My favourite thing about Lime&Tonic.com is that it donates 10% of revenue to charity. It also encourages and incentivises members to interact with the site by rating the activities and deals, and by providing tips on cool things to do in town. It’s currently live in eight cities around the world and coming soon to more - check out my review here.

The Maria Cristina is one of the best hotels in San Sebastian. Located within walking distance of the old town, it’s also one of the best placed for visitors to explore the incredible foodie culture of the beautiful city.

A Luxury Collection hotel, the Maria Cristina is all marble floors, elegance and superior customer service. It’s part of the Starwood group of hotels so you can earn points towards your next free stay there as well. 

Don’t miss the incredible pintxos or tapas at all the bars in town. Each will have their own specialities - what more excuse do you need to bar hop?

It’s my latest obsession, something to fill in the gap when I can’t get my beloved curry laksa or asam laksa. It’s dan dan noodles from China. Deliciously spicy, a little tangy, and packed with Sichuan peppercorns that make your tongue numb, this little bowl of noodles is a delight, particularly in winter. 

I first tasted it in Sydney and fell in love with it but I got a rude shock when I tried it in Hong Kong. I went to two Shanghainese restaurants and one Taiwanese restaurant there hoping to duplicate the culinary experience from Sydney but every single one of them served something that tasted like peanut butter. But here in Sydney, the dan dan noodles while sprinkled with some peanuts, is predominantly a spicy, sour soup. I wonder why a dish can share the same name but taste so different?