What Happened to My OnePlus One in Las Vegas?

OnePlus One and the Luxor Hotel

Just completed my 3-day Las Vegas trip. I was having a vacation full of surprises and the unexpected, especially after seeing one of the seven natural wonders of the World in the Grand Canyon. However, all my excitement was shattered by an unfortunate event just the day before returning to Toronto.

After having a quick breakfast in Wendy's located in front of my hotel, New York New York, I decided to visit the Luxor hotel before heading to the Las Vegas South Premium Outlets mall. The Luxor hotel is named after the Egyptian city Luxor and it mimics pyramids both inside and outside.

I was very excited to take video and pictures of the Luxor hotel from the sidewalk across the street in front. And then bad luck struck me. All of a sudden, I don't even know how, my OnePlus One phone slipped out of my hand and landed on its screen on concrete. The screen got shattered, but the phone was still working. However, the shattered screen lost its touch sensitivity and I was unable to access anything on my phone.

I was very found of my OnePlus One phone and it still looked new after using it for a year and a half. So breaking it made me very upset and I was unable to enjoy my vacation 100% after the incident. I did buy a new OnePlus Two phone when I got the invite, so this is what I am using as my primary phone.

I don't see any point in trying to fix my OnePlus One, as I did some research and it looks like the cost is about $200 to fix it. I was able to retrieve all my pictures and video clips from my trip via Dropbox. I will be posting all the videos on my YouTube channel one by one. Here is the link you can check, you especially don't want to miss the Grand Canyon video.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico; A Perfect Vacation Spot

The Beautiful City Of Cabo San Lucas Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is located on the Baja Peninsula Tip in Mexico. It is most commonly known for its beautiful scenery, luxurious hotels and thriving nightlife. So if you are thinking about visiting Cabo San Lucas on your next vacation, read on to find out all the essential information to make your trip more enjoyable. 
There are several ways to get to Cabo San Lucas, depending on where you are departing from. It has its own small airport located 4 miles out of town. It only serves domestic flights to other cities in Mexico. If you are coming from the United States or an international country then you may have to catch a flight to Manual Marquez De Leon International Airport, which is located in La Pez. It can also be reached via the highways which run through the country, and is a great place to stop off if you are going on a road trip. 
Cabo San Lucas is the perfect place to relax and Unwind. Many of the hotels offer special spa packages so you can get pampered in the most luxurious surroundings. A beautiful coastline stretches along Cab San Lucas, which features picture perfect white sandy beaches as well as amazing cliffs and secret hidden coves. If you are a bit more adventurous then you may want to try out some water-sports such as jet-skiing or banana boating. There are also day and night fishing trips which can be booked through your hotel or travel agent and make a nice day out for all the family. 
A great way to explore the area is to hire your own rental car. If you book in advance you can collect it from the airport you arrive at, or at a specific downtown location. A rental car gives you the freedom to travel where you want when you want – without having to depend on unreliable public transportation or expensive taxi’s. It will also allow you to escape from the crowds and visit areas of natural beauty that are off the tourist trail. 
If you really want to see how the other half live, then it is worth visiting the Los Cabos corridor. This 30km stretch of coastal land is home to some stunning houses owned by the rich and the famous. There are also many Golf courses along the corridor, some are membership only, but other allow one day passes – so you can test out your golfing skills. 
And when the sun sets, Cabo San Lucas turns into a vibrant playground with a great party atmosphere. There are many prestigious bars, where you can enjoy a relaxing drink. Or if you fancy something more crazy why not check out the large clubs where young and beautiful party revellers dance the night away until the wee hours of the morning. Cabo San Lucus does really have it all, so whether you are going for a short weekend away with your friends, or a romantic long break with your partner – you are sure to have a great time. Enjoy your vacation!

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the Travelnowsimply.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to Entrepreneur Journey site. This article originally published on the above website on Feb 27, 2010.

Exploring The Magnificent World Class City Of Toronto

Toronto Travel Tips

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario, home to over 2.5 million people and an amazing place to visit. This article will help you get the most out of your vacation by explaining some of the most popular and well-loved sights in the Toronto area. 

Art And Culture 

Toronto is considered to be the arts capital of Canada. There are numerous musical, theatrical and artistic festivals happening throughout the year. A must visit for any art lover is the ‘Art Gallery Of Ontario’ located in Toronto’s Chinatown area. This impressive gallery houses over 64,000 pieces of contemporary and modern art. Here you can view spectacular pieces up close, from the likes of Andy Warhol, Vincent Van Gough and Pablo Picasso. Special exhibitions are held frequently featuring art from up and coming and established artists – check the museums website for up to date information. 

Toronto Zoo 

A great place to visit on a family day out is the Toronto Zoo. Since opening in 1974 this zoo has grown in size and popularity to become one of the world’s largest zoo’s. Not only is it a fun place to view over 16,000 different species of animals from around the globe, it also is educational experience. There is a special ‘Splash Island’ water park area where you can cool down on a hot summers day whilst learning about wildlife and geography. There are great discounts rates available on family tickets, just make sure you book in advance to save yourself some cash! 

Sports 

If you love sports then you are in for a treat, Toronto practices almost every sport under the sun. With the city currently representing home teams in 5 major league sports, including: baseball, soccer, football, hockey and basketball. You can go and watch a real life game in the huge Rogers Centre, a multi-purpose built sports stadium. Formerly known as the dome, this stadium can hold over 65,000 sports fans . It also puts on exclusive concerts from famous musicians, and in the past musical greats such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones and AC/DC have all performed here. 

The Toronto Waterfront 

Take in the amazing skyline from Toronto’s famous waterfront, located on the shores of the massive Lake Ontario this is a must see for anyone visiting the city of Toronto. The waterfront spans a huge 46 kilometres, but there a several specific places of interest along this shore. The first being downtown Toronto waterfront, here you can get a postcard perfect photograph of Toronto’s skyscrapers. To get the best view it is recommend to go on a tourist boat trip just before sunset. Another place of interest is the beautiful Scarborough Bluffs. These are 
stunning limestone cliffs which tower over the lakes below – a beauty to behold. 
So take your pick for any of the activities above, but don’t forget Toronto has so much more to offer including fine dining experiences, up-market fashion districts, amazing botanical parks and gardens as well as vibrant nightlife. Have a great trip!

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the Travelnowsimply.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to Entrepreneur Journey site. This article originally published on the above website on Feb 25, 2010.

Dominican Republic; An Endless Summer

Where to visit in Dominican Republic

It is vacation time again and you have decided you want one with difference this time. You may have saved up your monies for so long and if there is anything you want it is value for your money. And actually if you can you are looking to experience more value for less dollar, and for this reason you have chosen to visit the Dominican Republic. If you are the usual traveler who just goes by the tide, you will spend all your time in a hotel or resort that was recommended to you by the travel agency. But that is just a tip of the iceberg, so get ready to keep a bagful of tips for you to consider in your trip.

There are many good things that happen to you when you visit the Dominican Republic because the activities are just in the plenty. Whatever you love to have in your holiday, you get it here in very pocket friendly packages. Whether you want to go for windsurfing, scuba diving, a little tan on your skin in the sandy beaches or even some little indulgence with the beautiful local women, this is a place you will want to come again and again especially if you discover the good hidden places.

Anyone who has been on vacation in Dominican Republic and never got to visit Bavaro and Punta Cana missed half of their experience. It is this beaches that are located on the South-eastern part of the republic that are the crème de la crème of the beaches in this part of the world. For the new comer or the returning visitor, ensure you have it in your itinerary, because this is a must visit. Your eyes will view miles upon miles of sandy beaches and you will just love the experience.

Words are not enough to tell what experience you will get visiting the renowned La Costa Del Coco because this is just another must if you are to experience in relaxation and joy in your Dominican visit. The long beach is dotted with coconut trees and every class of hotel or resort for everyone’s special liking. There is also the place they call Casa de Campo which you will find nestled in the south coast in an agricultural city known as La Romana. Getting to La Romana is not a problem at all because it is aptly served with an international airport that is close to all the resorts which means you get there fresh and raring to go. But just in case you begin from some other part of Dominican Republic and you want to get here, there really should be no hassle because there are adequate helicopter services that operate to La Romana.

But for the really adventurers person who loves nature, there is no better way of touring Dominican Republic and enjoy all the trappings of Mother Nature than to do a bus ride. You will get a chance of savouring the magnificent landscape and remember to carry your camera along because the pictures you will click away are simple breathtaking. While at Caso de Campo the theatre lover will be reminded to ensure they visit Altos de Chavon whose architecture is inspired by traditional Mediterranean village as well as the famous Las Minitas beach. Enjoy an unforgettable holiday in Dominican republic and you will surely come back again and again.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the Travelnowsimply.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to Ahmed Dawn Dot Com site. This article originally published on the above website on Nov 24, 2009.

Arctic Vacation; Do Something Different

Arctic Travel

While the idea of a holiday for most people is to pack their shorts and swimming costumes, buy an ugly shirt and prepare for a week or two of siestas and questionable music, there is a large and growing sector of society which feels like the party animal in all of us can be catered for adequately by bars and clubs in our home towns, and to expect this from our holidays is merely to export our town center to a sunnier location. Indeed, for many people the idea of sun, sand, sangria and other assorted things beginning with “S” is as far away from the perfect holiday as it is possible for a thing to be. Snow, however, is to be actively welcomed on a trip to the Arctic – something which has caught the imagination of many since the first packages to the area started running.

A holiday to the Arctic may seem like the direct opposite of what constitutes a “proper” holiday for many people, but when you consider it for a while, it makes perfect sense. After all, what could be more different than traveling to somewhere where the temperature is perpetually sub-zero (Celsius) and the common practice of a typical holiday almost literally a world away? If sea and sun is what you expect of a holiday, of course it won’t hold much magic for you, but for many the most important thing about a holiday is  to see something different and live in a different way. This much is definitely possible on an Arctic vacation.

An Arctic holiday, essentially, can be any break taken inside the “Arctic Circle” in a geographic sense. This means that we are not just talking North Pole here, there are several other locations, including some within Canada and much of Alaska. Additionally there are European locations such as Greenland, Iceland and Russia, as well as Antarctica itself. So what would you do while there? There are countless things that make it worth a visit, not least a range of wildlife that makes it entirely different and original. On any safari holiday you can see lions or tigers and a number of other wild cats among other things, but only on a visit to somewhere as cold as the Arctic can you see Polar bears, snow leopards and penguins. Opportunities for the photographer are certainly plentiful.

Additionally, the difference of the activities you can take part in makes an Arctic holiday a really good idea. At the right times of year you can see the famed Aurora Borealis – almost habitually listed among the things you must do before you die – and the opportunities for pursuits like dog sledding and kayaking are also worth bearing in mind. If you fancy doing something really different, a break in the Arctic Circle – possibly by cruise – would be well worth looking in to. There is an increasingly long list of travel agents which offer the opportunity to go, as well as many who specialize in particularly fascinating breaks.