All the restaurants I visit, the gym that I go to, even my yard guy has a coupon in the book. It is great that I can have a book that gives me coupons for so many things that I use on a regular basis. I have looked at the other deal sites that are out there and it seems to me that they only offer deals on luxury items that I don’t like anyway. It is always some really fancy restaurant or some expensive spa as the daily deal, and I don’t use those coupons. I like coupons that are for the places that I use on a regular basis and that is what My Coupon Riot is doing.

One of the restaurants that I go to quite often has a coupon in the book, he and I started talking about My Coupon Riot and he informed me of some things that I didn’t know about them. He said that other deal sites are hurting businesses by taking a portion of the deal, and that you have to wait for your money. My Coupon Riot is basically giving free advertising to the businesses and the business doesn’t pay them anything. I think that is a great idea, and they are actually doing what the website says. They are helping the community.

Thailand is one of such wonderful places in Asia which takes pride in lustrous opulence and lavish gold-plated Buddhas and temples. This Golden Land is a true beauty with the glistening white sandy beaches, rich cultural diversity and luscious forests. Even if you are a mere traveler or a newly-wed couple, Thailand is definitely your place with the sun-basked beaches, exotic islands, whispering seas and magnificent cuisines that can truly make your voyage unforgettable! Truly, Thailand can be said as the most romantic place for honeymoons and newly married love birds.

Another really inspiring and romantic place for lovers is India which could make you fall in love with your partner ten times more. The famous Taj Mahal in India is an embodiment of love, sacrifice and true commitment and only those who understand the mysteries of love will be able to truly appreciate this fantastic wonder of the world. Apart from this, you can also see a culturally rich land with happy people busy in doing some really mystical religious rituals which can enthrall anyone who is looking at it. From the Ganges River and the sacred Ghats’ waters to the majestic temples and domes, this place could be your perfect honeymoon place with lots of avenues for having a splendid shopping experience.

Pakistan is yet another major attraction for the tourists where you can truly enjoy your experience of communication with the local people having really lively and cheerful spirits. Especially, Lahore is a worth-mentioning place where you can truly enjoy scrumptious and deliciously made spicy meals. And for all the adventurous people having a great knack of traveling and thrill, Pakistan is truly your place with its wide and enchanting Himalayan Mountains, Swat Valleys, Monkial Ranges, Fairy Meadows, Nanga Parbat, Kashmir valleys and the never-ending list just goes on infinitely.

One of the highly recommended places to see while in Singapore is the DFS Galleria. This mall in particular is one of the largest luxury malls every created. Although this isn’t the type of mall you would go if you’re on a budget; those with the money will have over 100 luxury brands that they can pick from. You may find a good deal on an expensive item but you won’t find a sweet deal for someone who’s not wealthy enough to afford the “good stuff.”

One of the most historic structures in all of Singapore is also a hotel. It’s called the Raffles Hotel and it opened first in 1887. When it was first made it was a bungalow hotel with 10 rooms. It’s located at 1 Beach Road in Singapore and has a long bar that is a real eye catcher to travelers and guests. This bar is one of the greatest bars in the world and it hosts a drink called the Singapore Sling. This drink is still available and is actual a complete mixture of a few things. It has; Benedictine, Cherry Heering, Pineapple juice and Gin in it. The only difference from the way they were made in 1915 and now is that a machine makes them in today’s world.

So now that you know where to stay and what to drink, what else is there to do? How about see something that you’re never seen before?

Symbolizing not only resilience and strength but courage as well The Merlion is what they call the Mascot of Singapore. This is a mythical beast statue that is 8 meters high. The statue is half fish and half lion and shoots water. It attracts looks from thousands of visitors and residence and is sure to be a site to see.

Before mentioning any specific garden it is best to think of the first view Westerners got of Japanese gardens and it came in a little pot. It is the Bonsai, a tree and landscape made in miniature. Like most things in Japanese culture it traces back to China before it was transplanted to Japan and became its own style. The lone tiny tree growing on a rocky outcrop can be seen throughout coastal Japan. You did not travel, however, 1000 of miles to see Bonsai.

Of all the gardens you might chose to see there is one you have to see. That would be the Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden. It has all the grandeur you would expect from a palace and is one of the top gardens in the world. The flowering cherries in spring are a sight to behold and can not be missed in April. You also get a little bit of Japanese history as a bonus.

If you want to see the true skills of the Japanese gardeners then make sure to visit Shijuku Nation Gardens. This is where you will see East meets West. They were formally know as the Outer Palace Gardens but since the 1950′s has been open to the public. They have over 1700 plants on display so it is here where you can find a little bit of everything.

These are just two of the gardens Tokyo has to offer with many of them around shines to add to the beauty of the gardening. After your visit here you will not think of Tokyo as a sea of concrete again.

Any trip to Tokyo must include a trip to the Imperial Palace but to truly understand its importance takes us back in history. To the Japanese, the Emperor himself is a decedent of the Gods. It was for that reason that WWII ended differently for Japan than it did for Germany. Germany was forced to surrender unconditionally but the US realized the Japanese never would so they were granted a condition. As a figurehead of Japan, the Emperor could stay. To celebrate that legacy make sure you see the Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden, one of the finest in the world. April is the best time to see it. That is when the cherries are in bloom. If that reminds you a bit of Washington D.C., it should, This is where Washington’s cherries came from.

Another must-see in Tokyo is Tsukiji. Granted, it lack the elegance of the Imperial Palace but is no less grand. It is, in fact, the largest fish market in the world. If it swims, craws, or lays in the Pacific it is here and every morning the top chefs of Tokyo scurry around for the best catches for their dishes. You too can sample some of the taste or even make a purchase to be prepared by one of many small restaurants near by. Many only have 2 or 3 tables in them but do have chefs that know the correct way to prepare anything.

If more culture is what you like then visit Meiji Jingu shrine that is still in active use or maybe see Akihabara, a huge electronic mall that sells every thing from vacuums to MP3 players. If you do, make sure to stop in a Meido (maid) cafe where you will be treated like you just returned home, even if it is your first stop.

Tokyo has so much to offer that these places don’t even scratch the surface. It is easy to see why this city brings in tourist by the 10 millions.

People come from all over Asia and indeed all over the world just to shop in the malls. One of the most famous of these is the DFS Galleria Singapore, part of a chain of luxury malls, located at 25 Scotts Road.

The big attraction at this mall is the luxury shopping. The owners currently advertise 100 luxury brands under one roof which is one of the largest concentrations of luxury brand names in the world.

Brands at the DFS Galleria

Iconic names found at the DFS Galleria Singapore include:

• Gucci
• Hermes
• Ralph Lauren
• Tiffany & Company
• Vera Wang
• Cartier
• Prada
• Montblanc
• dunhill
• Calvin Klein
• Dior
• Armani

This is just a small sampling of the luxury icons for sale at the DFS Galleria. Obviously this isn’t a place for bargain hunting but it would definitely be fun to take a look around if just to see how the jet set lives.

It is possible to save some money at the DFS Galleria because the DFS stands for Duty Free. All the sales at the DFS are duty free which means shoppers will pay about 30% less than they would in China, Korea or Japan for comparable goods.

Specialties at the DFS Galleria

The specialty at the DFS Galleria is high end European leather goods, clothes, watches, and beauty products. The emphasis seems to be on smaller items that are easy to carry with you. This would be a good place to shop for a gift for a special lady. A big specialty is fragrances and perfumes.

There doesn’t seem to much at the Galleria beyond the luxury products. There is a small selection of liquors that includes champagne and spirits available. Not surprisingly this mostly Scotch whiskeys and French champagnes.

Unlike other malls in Singapore the Galleria concentrates on shopping. Drop in to get a bargain on a Cartier watch or an Armani. Look elsewhere if you want to get a meal or hunt for bargains. The DFS Galleria would; however, be an interesting stop on a day of mall crawling.

It’s a great retreat for visitors that are a little tired of Asian cuisine. Not to mention a good place to relax for the hectic business traveler.

The Tippling Club offers a bit of Australian culture on Singapore’s Dempsey Hill. The award winning restaurant offers a great selection of cocktails and European cuisine. It was founded by acclaimed chief bar tender Matthew Bax and English born Chef Ryan Clift. The two are best mates who worked together at several places in Australia before being lured to Singapore.

Before opening up shop in Singapore Bax worked at Der Raum Bar which was honored as the best bar in Australia. Bax has been named the best bartender in Australia and one of the best bar tenders in the world. His specialty is the creation of cocktails which are famed all over Australia. When he isn’t making cocktails, Bax is also an acclaimed professional artist.

In addition to being a bartender and artist, Bax is also the leader of the Melbourne Temperance Society. The Society exists to promote the arts of cocktail drinking and making Down Under.

Bax practices his craft in the Tippling Terrace an open air forest seating area. That is characteristically Aussie with its laid back atmosphere.

If you’re looking for really good dining in Singapore but you want to have some head over to the Tippling Club. Even though it’s laid back this restaurant has won a lot of acclaim for its new cuisine including four stars and recommendations from America’s Time Magazine, Gourmet Traveler and The London Times.

Five different menus including a tasting menu, a lunch menu, a terrace menu, a bar snack menu and a hedonist menu are available at the Tippling Club. The meals are prepared under the supervision of Clift who worked at Claridge’s in London and as head chef at Australia’s famed Vue du Monde Restaurant.

The Tippling Club is located at 8D Dempsey Road in Singapore. It can be reached by bus CSC Dempsey Clubhouse. It is open from 6 p.m. to Midnight Monday through Friday and Noon to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturdays.

Experts recommend that visitors to Singapore look around and try to experience some of the smaller ethnic restaurants. There are still quite of these around, although you may have to leave the Central Business District to find them.

Many of the city’s shopping malls boast quite a few affordable dining places. Most of these do specialize in Chinese or India cuisine but it in recent years quite a few Japanese and Korean chain restaurants have been opening as well.

The Hawker centers feature affordable ethnic cuisine and lots of local color and culture. These can be found within walking distance of most hotels and offices and offer a chance to try the local cuisine at a good price.

Singapore Cuisine

Not surprisingly Singapore Cuisine is known to be hot and very spicy. Many local delicacies contain seafood so those with allergies should be warned.

Some popular local dishes that visitors should definitely try include:

· Chili Crab – This is a crab that’s cooked in a thick tomato based gravy that contains lots of chili. It is often served with man tou or fried buns.

· Char Tway Teow – If you’re watching your weight or your cholesterol count you should avoid this one. It is wide and yellow noodles cooked in pork lard. Other ingredients include eggs, Chinese sausage, fish cakes, cockles and bean sprouts. Otherwise it sounds tasty and different.

· Bak Kut Teh – is a traditional Chinese soup that contains pork ribs cooked in five spices. It’s often served with fried dough and salted vegetables. This would make a good lunch.

· Hokkien Me – noodles cooked in prawn stock with bean sprouts, prawn, squid, eggs and spring onions. Experts recommend that you eat it with lots of lime.

· Hainanese Chicken Rice – a popular street food that can found all over the city. It originated on China’s Hainan Island but it’s now a Singapore staple. The standard dish consists of rice cooked in Chicken stock and mixed with garlic, ginger and scallions. It is often found in coffee shops and other cheaper eateries.

The hotel itself was first opened in 1887 by four Armenian brothers who built a ten room bungalow hotel on the site of an old girls school. The hotel is named for Sir Stamford Raffles – the English colonialist who founded Singapore in 1819.

The present hotel was built in 1899 and heavily renovated in the 1990s. It tries to preserve the luxury and style of British Singapore in the 1930s.

Long Bar and Singapore Sling

The best known feature of the current Raffles Hotel is the Long Bar which is considered one of the great bars of the world. The Long Bar is where bartender Ngiam Tong Boon invented the famous cocktail called the Singapore Sling around 1915.

The Singapore Sling is a mixture of pineapple juice, gin, Cherry Heering and Benedictine. Slings are still served at the long bar but most of them are mixed and dispensed using a machine. What is believed to be an early Singapore Sling recipe is still on display at the Raffles Hotel Museum.

A Historic Location

The Raffles Hotel is very much a part of Singapore’s history, so history buffs will enjoy a visit. Guests at the hotel and the Long Bar over the years have included Queen Elizabeth, Charley Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, Ernest Hemingway, Robert A. Heinlein, Michael Jackson, Somerset Maugham and many other celebrities.

A colorful story claims that the last wild tiger in Singapore was supposedly shot under the hotel’s bar & billiard room in 1902. Another version of the tale claims the tiger had escaped from a zoo.

Some very unwelcome guests were Japanese soldiers who occupied the hotel in 1942. Legend has it that the invaders found British colonialists dancing one last waltz as they marched in.

During World War II the Japanese renamed the Raffles the Syonan Ryokan and used it as a hotel. After the British recaptured Singapore the Raffles was used to house survivors from Japanese prison camps.

All of this history is recounted in the Raffles Hotel Museum which is well worth a visit as is the Long Bar. The hotel itself is probably too prices for most guest but if you can afford it a stay could be fun.

The Raffles can be found at 1 Beach Road in Singapore.

Perhaps the oldest and most common use of challenge coins is in the military or other fraternal organizations. While they can and are made for each branch of the service the more meaningful ones are the unit coins. They are somewhat of a team building tool as only members of a particular unit would have one like it. Some units will even play games with them. When the unit goes out the person who forgot to carry theirs has to buy around. Another use they have are for servicemen who pass a certain training like boot camp or jump training.

The military also uses them in a commemorative function. Sometimes they are used by for survivors of a large costly engagement or used by the general public to remember it. Generally if they are made for both the military and public they will be different.

In that same spirit many companies have adopted the use of challenge coins as well. They might be given to all members of a team or they might be given to everyone who passes a certain challenge. That might be something like a team building retreat or maybe a certain educational challenge.

Nowadays many people use challenge coins for personal milestones. Some people use them for their wedding and let guest keep them as wedding favors. Other times older couples will use them for large events like a 50^th wedding anniversary.

Because of advances in technology the printing prices have dropped. This make them very suitable for other uses such as advertizing. Because a coin is permanent they can be a much better advertizing media than other things. Their permanence also means they are more likely to kept rather than just thrown away.

Challenge coins are unique object that can be customized to any situation. They can be die cut from silver for important events or painted to make an effective advertizing tool. They might be for members of a military unit or for members of a wedding party. No matter what you use them for they will be around for a very long time.