Plastic surgery has never been particularly taboo in Lebanon, and now the east Mediterranean country is capitalising on its popularity as a venue for lovers of sea, sun and scalpel.

A cosmetic surgery tourism initiative, launched by a private company under the auspices of the tourism ministry, includes post-operation rest and recuperation in stellar resorts and even summer camps for patients’ children. The Dubai-based firm Image Concept handles all bookings and accommodation for tourists seeking cosmetic surgery in Lebanon, which is famed for its skilled yet affordable surgeons. Nicole, a native New Yorker of Lebanese origin, recently saved US$7000 (A$8600) by having a nose job in Lebanon. “In the States it would cost me about $9000 to have rhinoplasty, but in Lebanon it cost me only $2000,” said the 21-year-old law student. While surgery was not her only motive for a holiday in Beirut, Nicole admits that being in Lebanon was a decisive factor. “I was not for it at all at first,” she said. “My extended family here convinced me. Spending summers here, one of the first questions people would ask me is ‘when are you going to do your nose?’. “I did a bit of research and I saw this well-reputed doctor’s work was pretty natural, so I went for it,” she said. Nada Sardouk, the tourism ministry’s director general, believes the programme is both “innovative and promising.” “Cosmetic tourism is a widely recognised and appreciated concept, and we are very hopeful that this initiative will contribute to our economy,” she said at the launch of the scheme in June. Local banks have also played their part, with many offering low-interest loans for beautification procedures. Estimating how many nip-and-tucks will take place this summer is difficult, but a handful of top surgeons said they each had hundreds of operations scheduled for August alone, many of them clients from the oil-rich Gulf. Nour, a 26-year-old Kuwaiti, is taking full advantage of her holiday in Lebanon and readying for rhinoplasty and surgery to remove a small scar.

– ‘A national duty for women to look the best’ –

Although both she and her surgeon agree that neither surgery is “necessary,” she said she wanted to look better for her job at a bank. “I come to Lebanon anyway every year for vacation,” Nour said at the Hazmieh International Medical Centre, which employs an army of more than 50 cosmetic surgeons and is still expanding. “All doctors here are skilled, the prices are moderate and it’s not a taboo any more,” she said. Surgeon Elias Shammas, who heads the Hazmieh centre and is affiliated with Image Concept, says Nour is one of many patients of all ages and genders who brave the knife to be “fashionable.” “And Lebanon has always been famous for medical tourism, way before the civil war” from 1975 to 1990, he added. “The only thing that stopped people coming here was the political situation.” Men and women from the Gulf states have long come in droves for augmentation and reduction in Lebanon, but they kept their distance after political turmoil and violence rocked the country for four years between 2005 and 2008. Tourism was particularly badly hit by the 34-day summer war between the Shiite Hezbollah and Israel in July and August 2006. But the industry made a dramatic recovery last summer with the arrival of 1.3 million visitors and, after a peaceful general election in June, Lebanon hopes to host two million tourists by the end of the year, the tourism ministry says. Nader Saab, surgeon to the stars and a jury member on the Miss Lebanon beauty pageant, says three quarters of his clients in the summer season, which is already fully booked, hail from abroad. Men are increasingly seeking cosmetic surgery, but Saab says it is still mostly women who feel the need to “compete.” “Aging is coming, and a woman is aware that she might be replaced by another woman,” he said. “We live in a society in which appearances are very important.” A popular model among women opting for plastic surgery is pop star and sex symbol Haifa Wehbe, surgeons say, and many young ladies leave clinics looking uncannily like the dark-haired, voluptuous siren.

Haifa Wehbe

What women want generally is “a sexy body — a good silhouette and beautiful boobs,” Saab added.

And according to Shammas, “It is a national duty for women to look the best they can.”

miami_beach

Miami is certainly a fun-loving place. The two tenets of life here are the beach and the bar, which means this large city in the southern state of Florida makes for an awesome backpacking destination.

Time spent partying here can get quite expensive however, as those numerous cocktails and chasers don’t come cheap. Consequently, it’s important the incoming backpacker pick his or her drinking hole carefully – there are numerous excellent and affordable places to spend an evening in Miami, you just have to be prepared to look for them.

Here are a few suggestions of places where the earnest backpacker can enjoy a fulsome and relatively inexpensive night out on the town in Miami…

Jazz on South Beach Hostel

Jazz on South Beach Miami

Miami hostels prove a good bet if you’re looking for like minded backpackers to share an evening out with. What’s more, part of the deal when you book a Miami hostel is often organized nights out, whereby staff take you to places that only the locals know about. Jazz on South Beach Hostel is one such place. A carefree and fun hostel, it’s known for being the epicenter of many a memorable party in Miami.

Lost Weekend, Espanola Way

Lost Weekend, Espanola Way

Lost Weekend is just the type of bar backpackers love: there’s no dress code (so you can get in wearing your vest and cargo pants that haven’t been washed for a month), pool, darts and Foosball are all available, and the drinks come happily cheap.

The Playwright Irish Pub, Washington Avenue

Playwright Irish Pub

This atmospheric Irish Pub is extremely popular with locals and travelers alike. Not only is the drinks list extensive, the food menu hearty and cheap, and the sporting occasions raucous (in a good way), but the place is also fitted with traditional wooden decor. Which means it’s not just the Playwright’s drinking culture that carries that certain flavor of Ireland!

Tavern in the Grove, Main Highway

Tavern in the Grove

This great joint is a favorite among students, who lap up the welcoming ambiance and cheap drinks with predictable fervor. This is the type of place where you head early in the evening, and remember very little thereafter.

Tobacco Road, South Miami Avenue

Tobacco Road

One of Miami’s most famous nightlife spots, this is another joint that can suck you in at any hour of the day and keep you in its thrall for a near infinitive amount of time. The drinks are affordable, the food is good, and the live music come nightfall is pumping. It’s an all round excellent choice.

Happy Hours

Happy Hour Miami Beach

Happy Hours in Miami bars prove a great way of enjoying the nightlife here. You can either milk a good deal on cheap booze for as much as you can get, or you can use the opportunity to get into one of those swankier cocktail joints on the beach using the justification that the drinks won’t dent your wallet as much as they normally would. Ask around at your Miami hostel to find out about the best happy hour deals in Miami.

Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for HostelBookers.com Johnny Cooper did a backpacking tour of USA and he checked out a variety of hostels in Florida and a hostel Miami

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonny_C.

20 Craziest Party Hostels Around the World

With So many cheap flights,cheap hotels,& Airline tickets available for International Travel deals,from Budget to Luxury. Booking Vacation packages online, is EASY.

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[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHIUgwnWCtY 331 276]

Billie Jean by Michael Jackson being played live at a Moonwalk Tribute Flashmob, outside London’s Liverpool Street Station on Friday 26th June 2009.                                    R.I.P. Michael Jackson

With So many cheap flights,cheap hotels,& Airline tickets available for International Travel deals,from Budget to Luxury. Booking Vacation packages online, is EASY.

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May 17th boxing’s leading promoters in Melbourne, Brian Amatruda & Barry Michael Sports presented a six-fight card at one of Melbourne’s more luxurious venues Shed 14. Samuel “The Lion” Columban (11-3, 5 KO’s)  challenged  New Zealand based veteran Guillermo “Pantera” Mosquera (41-7-3, 20 KO’s) Columban won the WBO Oriental Welterweight Title on points after 12 grueling rounds, and world rating inside the top 15 by the WBO.

The semi-main attraction on the night  Daniel “Babyface” Iannazzo (10-0, 1 KO) defeated Thai Thiti Sithkosol (10-6, 7 KO’s) for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super-Bantamweight Title which was vacated by undefeated WBO #5 Filipino Ciso Morales.

Watch the fights from Young Victors Site Here -

http://www.youngvictorboxing.com.au/

Big V

Greg n Girls

Porky shapes up