Month: November 2024

Posted on

Dolphin Watching Trips in Scotland

If you’re in the mood to change up your usual vacation, why not go to the west coast of Scotland for your next holiday? This area is home to many animal and bird species; in addition, the Gulf of Corryvreckan is the world’s third largest naturally occurring whirlpool, and the Iona Abbey is one of the oldest and most important religious centers in all of Western Europe.

There are several dolphin watching tour providers in the Oban and Ardfern areas of Argyll. If you are interested in dolphins Argyll, you can choose from Craignish Cruises (departs from Ardfern rather than Oban), Sea.fari Adventures, Sealife Adventures, Coastal Connection, Oban Boat (owned and operated by Allan Strang), and Staffa Tours (also known as Gordon Grant Marine) among many others. Many of these providers use RIBs (rigid hulled inflatable boats) but Craignish offers a sixty passenger catamaran that was purpose built for travel in and around the Gulf of Corryvreckan.

Craignish’s 2 hour wildlife tour operates only when the whirlpool tour is not running, and the whirlpool tour only runs when there is adequate tidal action. They also offer a daily 3 hour tour that includes islands, history of the area, and a wildlife boat trip; this cruise normally departs at 2 pm every day but weather and demand may impact the schedule. A longer cruise to the Garvellach Isles usually departs once a week on Thursdays at 1:30 pm (this departure schedule is also subject to weather and demand). The final cruise offered by Craignish is a 4 hour or day trip for whale watching and wildlife watching; the departure times for this cruise fluctuate based on the tides. The Garvellach tour and the 4 hour/day whale watching trips are not suitable for young children or animals. Prior reservations are strongly recommended for all of Craignish’s cruises.

Oban Boat offers a one hour journey that departs from the railway pier in Oban. These trips run daily starting at 10 am (weather permitting) and the cost is 10 GBP per person for adults (5 GBP for children). Discounts may be available for families or other groups.

Coastal Connection offers RIB trips throughout the area, including a two hour ‘Wildlife and Castles’ trip that costs 30 GBP per adult (20 GBP per child). The tour leaves from Oban Bay and provides views of three castles, as well as bird life, an operational fish farm, and a seal colony.

Posted on

John Goddard and Living a Life of No Regrets

One evening many years ago, 15 year-old John Goddard was sitting at the kitchen table doing his homework while his parents and a family friend stood around the kitchen sink talking and washing dishes. The friend was telling John’s parents of all the things he had never gotten around to doing, all of the regrets he had, and how he wished he could be John’s age again and have a second chance at life. This conversation had a strong impact on John, and he resolved right there and then that he would never be in the same situation this man was in. He would live a life without regrets.

A few days later, on a rainy afternoon, John sat down once again at that same kitchen table. This time, he had a yellow pad with him, and a pen. At the very top of the pad he wrote: “My Life List”. John proceeded to fill the pages of the pad with all of the adventures he wanted to go. It included things such as climbing the world’s highest mountains, exploring the world’s greatest rivers, flying a plane, visiting every country in the world, reading the complete works of Shakespeare, having children, and even going to the moon. When he was done, John’s list contained 127 items.

However, John didn’t stop at simply creating a life list. He went on to cross off nearly every item on the list. Today, John is widely recognized as one of the world’s most famous anthropologists, explorers, and adventurers. Some people have even referred to him as the real life Indiana Jones. His greatest feat, traversing the entire length of the Nile River-the world’s longest river-was referred to by the LA Times as “the most amazing adventure of this generation”. This 1950 expedition has never been duplicated, even with today’s modern equipment.

John advises that you get started on living a life of no regrets by putting your dreams down on paper. He also recommends that you keep your life list in a place where you can see it often, and that you set firm deadlines. In addition, he cautions others that there will be obstacles that they will have to overcome as they try to achieve their life list. While traversing the Nile on a kayak, along with two other men, John nearly drowned, he was attacked by wild hippos, he was almost buried alive in a sandstorm, and he was even shot at by river pirates.

You may not be interested in climbing Mount Fuji or Mount Everest, running a mile in five minutes, or following Marco Polo’s route through all of the Middle East, India, and China. However, if there’s anything you’ve always told yourself that you wanted to do-such as go skydiving, visit Paris, or learn to play the piano-write it down. Then, follow John Goddard’s lead and get started crossing items off your life list. Do this and at the end of your life, you, too, will be able to say, “I have no regrets”.

Posted on

Corporate Gifting – A Culture To Nurture

In the wake of globalization and increased business linkages, gift-giving has been moulded to suit the demands of a growth-oriented and competitive business atmosphere. MNCs, business houses with global links and export houses are the core contributors to the growth of this culture. Gifts can play a role in awarding of contracts, finalizing joint ventures and in wooing the right kind of VC. Goal-oriented gifting is a known phenomena in the Global Corporate World.

But beware. It is first important to understand the global gift culture, which can have a big impact on the psyche of foreign partners. Most business representatives from overseas firms do not like to take gifts when dealing with Indian companies as it may become an obligation. Having inherited a dislike in dealing with the politicking of Indian business, a foreign partner always guards himself from being branded as corrupt or manipulating.

Representatives of foreign statutory bodies such as US FDA, TGA of Australia and ISO Certification agencies are generally averse to accept gifts from Indian firms.

Fred Luthans, George Holmes Distinguished Professor of Management, University of Nebraska, studied the gift-giving culture of Western Europe in his popular book Organisational Behaviour. Culture is important in understanding the socialization not only of Americans but also of those living in other countries. Western Europe is a good example. The US does considerable business there, so it is helpful for Americans or Indians working there to know how to act in this corner of the globe. The following are some useful guidelines for gift-giving in Western Europe.

 Do not give a business gift at the first meeting. It is considered bad manners.

 If you are going to send flowers to your dinner hostess, send them ahead rather than handing them to her upon your arrival. This gives her time to arrange and place them as she wants. It also prevents any embarrassment among other guests who may show up empty-handed.

 When sending flowers, be sure of your choice. In France, Chrysanthemums are associated with mourning. In France and Germany, red roses are a gift only between lovers.

 Good chocolate and liquor are excellent house gifts. If the occasion demands something more elaborate, small porcelain and silver gifts such as candle-sticks are good choices.

 Never give perfume or men’s cologne. This is considered too personal for a business gift to or from either sex.

 Do not enclose your business card. This is considered crass. Instead, write a note.

Different cultures contributed to the gift giving ethos of global business houses. It is, therefore, in the interest of business relations to be cautious about the gift giving culture of different countries.