Maritime adventures

If you want to travel to some of the most exotic destinations in the world, and be paid handsomely for that, then a career in cruise tourism is just the right choice. The growth of the Indian cruise industry is a recent phenomenon.

In the past, tourism to Lakshwadeep or the Andamans existed, but was popular mainly among the foreigners. Among the Indians, cruising primarily attracted the rich and the affluent in the 60 to 80 age groups.

But the introduction of reasonably prized holiday packages, disposable incomes among the younger generation, and an increasing desire to savour exotic locations has lead to a surge in the popularity of cruises among domestic tourists.

"Undisputed government backing, aggressive international marketing and easy accessibility have put 'back water' tourism in Kerela on the must-do list of every avid traveller," says Lemuel Herbert, associate vice president, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels.

By this year, the government aims to achieve a target of 0.6 million cruise passengers landing on Indian shores annually. A career on a cruise liner comes with many perks.

First, this job is no less than an all expenses paid trip to a great destination, as all your boarding and lodging is taken care of.

Second, while the pay package itself is attractive, with starting salary on domestic cruise liners for the hospitality staff being in the range of Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 per month, one can earn even more by way of tips.

Getting $1,000 per month as tips is not uncommon. The average salaries and tips go much higher if you get placed on an international cruise liner. The employment opportunities for the navigation crew and chef for traditional cruises are typically limited to the local population.

"They have a clear idea of the water channels and local cuisine and flavours," explains Herbert.

Most of the training and technical knowledge is provided on-the-job itself. A majority of the manpower on a cruise is the hospitality staff.

A pleasing disposition and good communication skills are some of the prerequisites. One usually begins as a steward or an assistant cook. The only hospitality programme in the country that trains aspirants specifically for cruise liners is run by India Tourism Development Cooperation in association with Ark Shipping and Management Company, Goa (www.arksmc.com/cruise_hospitality.htm.)

The course was launched in 2008 and runs short training programmes of one-month duration throughout the year. It is conducted in Goa in order to acquaint students with the marine life and facilitate practical training.

"Often, fresh hotel management graduates are shell shocked when they first find themselves on a cruise. They have no clue on how to conduct themselves. This course trains them for a job on the ship," explains A. M. Hooda, proprietor, Ark Shipping and Management Company and director of the course.

The training promises to familiarise students with life on a cruise, acquaint them with the code of conduct on a vessel, train them in safety and abandon drills and provide knowledge of conducting bar and restaurant duties.

According to Hooda, the high points of this one-month course are not just the placements, both domestic and international, but also the fact that even students from mediocre hotel management institutes find themselves getting well paying jobs in no time. So those willing to cruise ahead, this institute is the place to be.

Source:http://in.specials.yahoo.com

The coming boom in health care jobs

On April 15, 2010, TMI Network, a recruitment company in Hyderabad, received a call from a US staffing agency seeking to hire nurses and paramedics in large numbers. It is still early days, but to T. Sreedhar, Managing Director, TMI Network, the call indicates a dawn of a new opportunity, thanks largely to the recent health care reform bill passed by the US Congress.

On March 23, President Barack Obama signed the 2,400-page piece of legislation into law that brings in sweeping changes in the health care system.

However, Sreedhar could not take the US agency's requirement forward. That's because the requisite talent is virtually non-existent. "This is a highly technical area where nurses need to be trained, have experience in IT use and undergo tests in English and certain technical areas," says Sreedhar.

The TMI MD expects a pick-up in demand for talent from all the health care and insurance business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, which are likely to get more business as the legislation will bring 32 million more Americans under insurance cover.

Though it is premature to estimate the number of jobs likely to be created in India, what is clear is the direction.

"We see a lot of opportunities because of the health care reforms, as there is going to be a greater consumption of health care services overall and that means more work for hospitals and insurance companies," says Ananda Mukerji, MD and CEO, Firstsource Solutions, a leading global provider of BPO services.

Firstsource gets close to 39 per cent of its revenues from health care in the US and this is largely from revenue cycle management, claims processing and patient enrolments. A significant part of its services is connected to the US Medicaid programme (which apparently will now increase).

The US government is expected to spend anything between $15 billion and $20 billion on health care technology services alone. A lot of this business is likely to be awarded to BPO firms and some of that will head either directly or indirectly to India.

The opportunity is long term, says Mukerji. "The move will translate into a big opportunity in 2013-2014," he says. At the moment, he adds, his company (apparently like many others) is busy in dialogue with its clients trying to evaluate the nature of service offering and competencies that would be needed to service demand.

One such area, for instance, could be compliance with the Act, which means hospitals will need to measure the outcomes of what they do and their impact on the patient's health and get paid accordingly. In contrast, today the reimbursements are largely based on what has already been done. This change will mean added business for service providers as hospitals will need to have more outreach programmes for patients, look at after-care and focus on data gathering.

Sreedhar sees another fallout: "To ensure data privacy, we will see more captive units in India, which will, over the next three years or so, build capacities, leverage it, transfer it to third parties and move on."

Reproduced From Business Today. © 2010. LMIL. All rights reserved.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com

Curb cravings without eating

Do you ever find yourself reaching for a high-calorie food when you shouldn't even be hungry?

Turns out, the human brain has a tendency to fire off a "I need to eat message in response to emotions and situations that have nothing to do with appetite...and constantly misreading that cue and chowing down can pack on extra pounds.

The trick is to learn what your body is trying to tell you and what kind of fix your system truly needs. These tips will help you avoid loads of calories in the easiest way possible. You're stressed It's human nature to crave a reward for hard work.

So when you're under a lot of pressure-for example, you need to finish a big project at your job-you start fantasising about getting some sweet payback for your extra effort. But while you might want to get a luxe massage or blow off work and hang with friends, those kinds of things require free time, which is in short supply on tense days.

Food, on the other hand, is an almost instant reward, especially if you get it by speed-eating through the fridge or racing out to the nearest drive-through. It's such a natural way to pamper yourself that nutritionists say many women subconsciously start to associate feeling overwhelmed or overworked with a trip to the vending machine or a plate of soaked-in-oil fries.

Scarfing all that junk won't really satisfy you, though. When you're stressed, you're actually less likely to savour the taste of your food or respond to feelings of fullness. So pop in a piece of gum instead. It can help in two ways: some experts claim that chewing is calming and you'll sidestep those calories that you wouldn't have even enjoyed anyway.

You're exhausted

Ever notice that you're desperate for sugary and carb-loaded foods after a bad (or short) night of sleep? That's because when you're dragging, your body craves a jolt of energy...and a sweet snack often delivers an instant boost.

Thing is, not only does your body not need the calories, but indulging in something sweet and junky will actually make you feel more tired, since sugar-energy highs are followed by rapid energy plunges.

Instead, wake yourself up when you're feeling beat with a quick burst of exercise-for example, a 20-minute gym routine or a brisk walk. Then plan to better manage your fatigue next time, by either getting to bed half an hour earlier or taking a much-needed power nap.

You worked out

Exercising depletes your body's protein, which may explain why you sometimes want to chow down on cheese or meat right after clocking time on the treadmill. But that craving doesn't mean you have to eat a mega meal. Instead of inhaling hundreds of calories (and negating the hard work you put in at the gym), satisfy your protein need by drinking a glass of non-fat milk.

Eight ounces has just 86 calories but enough protein to quell your urges till it's time for lunch or dinner.

You're near other noshers

You feel full after a satisfying dinner...but then you show up at a friend's party and start grazing. The environmental cues (food spread out on a table, people's mouths munching) and our innate human desire to mimic others are making you think you're hungry when you aren't. So keep your hands and mouth otherwise engaged.

For instance, by grabbing a seltzer or just chatting and flirting (anything that keeps your mouth busy). You're bumming As kids, we're often placated by our parents and teachers with yummy treats, which may be why we connect those same foods (often sweets) with getting out of a funk.

Think of how many times your mom said 'Here, have a cookie' to stop your crying. But what you really need when you're feeling blue is emotional comfort from someone close to you. So rather than reaching for a cupcake, reach for your cellphone or your laptop and call a friend or cruise Facebook.

It also helps to get energetic: experts say connecting with other people and getting out of your apartment and doing something, even if it's window-shopping with friends. banishes bad-mood hunger.

You're procrastinating

Women often eat to delay making a tough decision or to put off an unwanted task. Nutritionists say we tend to choose food over things like watching TV or going online because those types of activities seem like a waste of time and 'real' procrastination, whereas eating doesn't since, hey, a girl's gotta eat.

Stop kidding yourself and either give in to goofing off or buckle down and get it done. At least you won't have to feel guilty about being unproductive and overeating. You're thirsty Hunger and thirst fire off nearly identical messages in the brain, so our bodies often confuse the need to drink with the need to eat.

If you ate recently but are suddenly jonesing for some solid sustenance, the explanation is probably dehydration. That's why nutritionists say the first thing to do when you're craving food is drink water. Guzzle it down, and wait about 10 minutes; that lingering hunger will probably fade.

You're bored

We migrate to the kitchen when we have nothing to do because, well, it's something to do.something fun and pleasurable to boot. If you can't get out of the house or away from your desk and you start fantasising about chips, ice cream, or [insert your poison here], do something competitive, like playing a video or online game. It'll entertain you and keep your hands too busy to reach for food.

Sources: Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, Author of The flexitarian diet; Jana Klauer, MD, Author of the park avenue nutritionist's plan

Reproduced From Cosmopolitan. © 2010. LMIL. All rights reserved.

Source:http://in.specials.yahoo.com

In the air

Haute seat Retro glam meets Parisian chic in a furniture line launched by France's Ventury Group.

Appropriately named Divine, the debut collection created by designer Vincent Cadena for the company's new label, Maison Ventury Paris, is luxe incarnate. "The philosophy is simple: design should pay homage to the past, while embracing the future. It should take on a new sensibility and a bold approach," says company chairman Emmanuel Touraine.

Available in limited editions, these handcrafted lounge chairs do just that. Look hues here Flaming red, seductive purple, sugar pink? Or sunny yellow, citrusy orange, midnight blue? Thanks to Grohe India, you can now have the rainbow in your bathroom.

Part of a limited edition collection, these vibrant hand showers combine form and function, and give the bathing area a dash of colour. They're water-saving too. The jet heads come in a ring-shaped design and an ergonomic chrome finished handle.

Table manners

Rhythm divine From the dramatic starkness of the African landscape to the Oriental charms of China, Lladro travels far and wide for inspiration. India, too, has been a happy hunting ground for its statuesque creations. After Ganesh played the porcelain veena in an earlier Lladro avatar, it is now Shiva's turn to strike a dance pose. So, check out the Nataraja that has been crafted from glazed porcelain and hand painted using soft colours and intense enamels.

It is a limited edition with only 3,000 pieces on sale, priced at Rs 3.21 lakh apiece.

Table manners

What would you do with an old kitchen table that's seen better days? Most likely, you would opt for a fresh coat of polish. Prosaic and predictable. But if you're ready to think out of the box, here's a magical makeover idea.

Measure your tabletop, stop by at a flooring store and take your pick from the vinyl or linoleum options available. Nail the sheet onto the table and, voila, you have a brand new top. Not just creative, but quirky, too.

Viewing pleasure

Lush homes require luxe gadgets. And what can get more glitzy than a gold-and-diamond TV set? British designer Stuart Hughes has come up with a line of limited edition high definition TVs in collaboration with Prestige HD of Switzerland and Metz of Germany. The 55-inch Prestige HD Supreme Edition has a base and frame made from 22 carat gold.

The outer frame is lined with hand-sewn alligator skin while the inner screen is adorned with 48 round-cut diamonds. The princely price tag of Rs 6. 74 crore, makes it the world's most expensive TV.

Cool tool

Experts are calling it the tool version of the Swiss Army Knife. And why not? For, whether it is an art work or a home improvement project-Boch Power Tools' latest product, Dremel 300, works like a dream. It comes with 55 different accessories that perform tasks like carving, engraving, grouting, grinding, sharpening, sanding, polishing and cutting, at the flick of a switch.

It works on almost all surfaces including wood, glass and clay pots. What's more, it's lightweight and has an ergonomic design allowing for a firm yet easy grip. Priced at Rs 5,625 (25 accessories) and Rs 7,321 (55 accessories), it's available at all Hometown outlets.

Green piece

Here's more glitz and glamour for your home. Tables in gold and silver finishes and topped with an array of semi-precious stones. That's what Viya Home's new line of Art Deco side tables are about.

Taking inspiration from the movement that flourished in the Thirties, the store's owner and designer-in-chief Vikram Goyal has crafted the bases out of brass, which are then layered with either gold or silver leafing and finally topped with a variety of semiprecious stones. Take your pick from malachite, lapis lazuli as well as white and black mother of pearl. Price on request.

Reproduced From India Today. © 2010. LMIL. All rights reserved.

Source:http://in.specials.yahoo.com