Miss 7 Continents 2013 is Miss Latvia, Daskevica Veronika !

TOP 5:

Winner: LATVIA - Daskevica Veronika

1st Runner up: ESTONIA - Vilsar Madli

2nd Runner up: ROMANIA - Duca Delia Monica (pageants veteran-check here)

3th Runner up: KYRGYZSTAN - Kliug Marina

4th Runner up: CANADA - Tadevosyan Inessa

Miss Ecuador Universe 2013 Recent Pictures

Constanza Báez for "Una acción, una sonrisa" charity project.

Miss Universe Ghana 2012 is yet to receive the prize package promised her by organisers

The 2013 edition of Miss Universe Ghana has started but Gifty Ofori, the winner of the last year’s pageant, is yet to receive the prize package promised her by organisers, Insignia Experience and RAC Group.

NEWS-ONE has gathered that the two companies have split over the organization of the event and this may be the reason they are dragging their feet in releasing the prizes to the winner.

The 24-year-old model and nurse was supposed to be given a list of prizes including an official car service for her year of reign, an all expense paid trip to the 61st Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, a three-month internship at the United Nations in New York, and a presentation and modeling portfolio shot by celebrity photographer Fadil Berisha in New York.

The rest are a Samsung Note 3 phone tablet, four pages editorial spread in an international magazine, personal celebrity stylists in New York, Los Angeles and Accra and also management and representation by the Insignia Experience/RAC Group as well as a year of incredible experience of celebrity status and adventure. Per her contract, she will also be given a house to live in for her year of reign.

NEWS-ONE reached Gifty and asked her about the prize package and this was her response: “I have only received Samsung Galaxy, my trip to represent Ghana at 61st edition Miss Universe in the US and the photo shoot I did. I have not received the vital packages.”

She said she had not received any official car service to go about her project. She is embarking on a reading programme and HIV sensitization project and has been using public transport to carry out the project. The internship with the United Nations has also not materialized just as she didn’t see any feature about her in any international magazine. Also, she has not been given that celebrity status she was promised from the beginning.

“While I was in the USA, I was waiting for internship with the UN to happen but it never happened. When I came back, I had to go out and solicit for funds for my project which I need to do. It was difficult for me because everything has to come from my pocket. Meanwhile, I have been raised to a certain standard and I have been left hanging with no one supporting me.

I have always expected the two companies to let us sit down and talk about what needs to be done but nothing is happening. They don’t care about my feelings,” she added.

The organisers would neither pick their phones nor reply to numerous text messages sent to them seeking an explanation for the apparent disappointment, when NEWS-ONE tried reaching them.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=273961

Pollution in China?

That is one question that I get asked now and then especially this year with the problem they had in Beijing.  Beijing has grown very quickly and added 10,000 cars per MONTH to the roads last year.  This has been an inverted air problem for a time this spring much like we get here in Seattle as well as other major cities in the world until the winds clear it out.  Most of China especially in the countryside the weather is clear and fresh including Shanghai which is on the sea.  Fall months when the farmers burn their straw from harvesting wheat and rice, there is some smoke pollution but lasts only for a few weeks.  The China Daily Newspaper which is in English and Free in most Chinese hotels lists the air quality in all major cities each day as well as the weather conditions and temperatures.   For more information on weather in China and the best times to travel and tour, email me at   interlak@eskimo.com    Photos below are:  Top:  Shenyang industrial city, Middle:  Beijing   Bottom:  Shanghai

Tereza Fajksová Pageantry

Did you know that prior to being crowned Miss Earth 2012, Tereza Fajksová had already been Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2010 2nd runner-up ?

She also placed in the Top 24 of Miss Bikini International 2011

Tereza with other Miss Bikini International 2011 contestants

Then Tereza competed at Ceska Miss 2012, Czech Republic national pageant, where she was not the top winner, but the third, what gives the Miss Earth Czech Republic crown.

After all, she went to the Philippines, beat 79 other international delegates and was crowned Miss Earth 2012.

What to Expect Eating in a Restaurant

Many people go on tours to China where the meals are ordered for them or in group tours they often have buffet meals to choose what you like.   It is an adventure to go to a restaurant on your own and order on your own.  The menu is usually in English and Chinese. Some have photos with the dishes.  Most restaurants will try to have an English speaking waiter or waitress but if they do not; then you can read and point.   Water costs extra.  Coffee is usually only available for breakfast.  Tea which normally came free with a meal is often charged for now.  Tipping is not necessary as it is included in the cost of your meal.  If you do tip, the money must be given to the owner of the restaurant.   Be careful about ordering some expensive things like lobster or special sea foods.  The price is often by weight rather than the dish and of course they would want to serve you the largest portion.  Many good restaurants require a reservation but your hotel or guide can help you with that.  Some restaurants will have a waiting line or room which may be up to one hour or more.  To avoid the crowds eat early as Chinese tend to have dinner about 8:00..  Chinese restaurants for the most part are very noisy so expect that.  Some smoking is done but becoming less and less each year.  Stay as long as you like as you will have to ASK for the check since it is considered impolite to bring a check without the customer asking for it.   For more details on restaurants contact me at   interlak@eskimo.com
I have had 50+ trips to China eating in hundreds of restaurants....and I haven't missed many meals!  :-)

Cash is King in China

I just read an article in the Seattle Times newspaper that mentions Cash is King in China.  What does that mean?   It means people use cash most of the time to buy everything even though the largest bill is 100 yuan which is worth about $16.   It mentions that a man went to buy a BMW 5 Series that cost $130,000.  He brought in a large white bag and a big heavy backpack full of money to pay CASH.   Sound Bizarre?  Yes, but I try to explain some things in China are much different than we are use to but I often think it falls on deaf ears as people can not realize this.  I have seen it for years.  China has 5  times the amount of cash in circulation than the U.S. has for example.  Just a couple years ago a man was checking out of the hotel next to me and brought up a large black brief case, opened it up to pay his bill and it was full of 100 yuan bills neatly stacked and wrapped.  I see the same in Jewelry stores. This is the norm rather than the exception in China.   Few places other than department stores and government stores accept credit cards especially in remote areas or private stores.   As I said,  CASH IS KING in China.  Yes, there are cash machines like ours and banks for exchange and even exchanges in your hotels is common; but spending it becomes another situation.  There are several reasons for this but too many to write here.  If you would like a copy of the article, email me at  interlak@eskikmo.com     I keep it in my computer to send to my clients who ask about money and credit or debit cards.  Added example:   One of my Chinese friends was just visiting here in Seattle and I showed her the article.  She agreed and said that she and her husband paid CASH for their apartment. It took three people with large bags to take to the owner for the payment.  She said that is common to avoid the one time Tax.  She couldn't believe we pay taxes on our homes EVERY year!   :-)