My husband and I were recently in Key West for the Fantasy Fest week and decided to take in a drag show. We had walked up and down Duvall Street, the main street in Key West that goes from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic and this was the only show where the show was promoted. They usually have a show at 9pm and 11pm but since this was part of Fantasy Fest the only one being advertised was the one at 9pm. They were handing out promotional tickets at 7pm.

We came back at 8:30pm and after paying a $12.00 per person cover charge we entered the bar area and decided to sit at the bar. We ordered a drink, and to our surprise it was a very strong one, not like the watered down versions in other establishments. We paid $5.00 per drink which is standard and possibly lower than other bars in the area. They had a great selection of drinks, from ordinary mixed drinks like vodka and tonic and frozen margaritas. They had a very large selection of beers. There were several high drink tables and one area to the right was set a little higher than the stage with couches and small drink tables. Unfortunately we were not able to sit on the couches as they had been reserved for a birthday party. We sat at the bar until the place filled up and the show began at 9:00.

They have five drag queens but only three drag queens were working that night. The first one, Inga, was continually dressed with a blonde wig and did several impersonations and sang a few racy songs. She was hilarious. The next one was named Victoria and had a dark wig. She did a fantastic impression of Celine Dion, Cher, Shania Twain and Pat Benetar. The third one was a black performer who did a fantastic impression of Aretha Franklin and a host of other performers.

They would take turns singing and interacting with the audience, sashaying around accepting tips, They were incredible performers. They could really belt out a song. You could not tell they were not women until you got up close. The costumes were very well done and the shoes they were wearing had heels that were at least six inches high. They would also interact with the wait staff and everyone seemed to love what they do.

Since this is a gay bar a lot of reference was made to gay issues. Being straight they did not make us feel uncomfortable. They were extremely professional and the singing and costumes were so precise it was hard to tell they were not the performer they were imitating.

Such performances are not the regular ones that you get to see in nightclubs and what was comforting was that they were not mocking the gay community by any standards and the show was quite excellent that made the people in attendance take notice and people simply refused to budge until the last act. A truly illuminating experience it was and one that no one will ever forget, a stark contrast Lavelle Toronto, which many times resorted to vulgar and crude jokes whenever there was a sensitive topic for the theme of the party, not to mention uncouth behavior of certain individuals.

The show went on until 11:30pm and I can honestly say that this is a show you must not miss. The performers came into the crowd after the show so that patrons could take pictures with them. They did not rush anyone and would take as many pictures as people wanted. We had the best time and highly recommend this show to anyone.

Many hopeful United States Immigrants and their significant others are forced to decide to pursue immigration status through two different methods: the fiancé(e) petition and the spousal petition. This can be a very difficult decision as both methods wrought with pros and cons galore.

You, like many other frustrated hopeful immigrants or their lovers, might be baffled at our current immigration system and unsure of which method is right for you. This article will discuss the various positive and negative aspects of each type of immigration petition. If, after reading this article, you are left still with a vague picture of your immigration options, I highly recommend consulting with an Immigration attorney who will be able to advise you specifically.

Fiance(e) Petition (I-129F)

Fiance(e) petitions can be filed by US Citizens only. That being said, there are various requirements that one must meet in order to be eligible to file for a fiancée. The one difficult one for many is that the Petitioner must have met (been physically present) with the Beneficiary (fiancé(e) abroad) within 2 years of the Petition’s filing date. This visit must be documented with an abundance of evidence. Once the petition (I-129F) is approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, it will be forwarded to the US Embassy nearest to the beneficiary’s home. The beneficiary will then need to attend an interview with the General Consul.

Fiance(e) Petitions are touted as a faster way of bringing a partner to the United States. Petitions can take from 5-8 months from start to finish. Once the fiancé(e) arrives in the United States, he or she must get marry the Petitioner within 90 days of landing, and must subsequently apply for permanent residence.

Pros and Cons

-Only US Citizens are eligible to take advantage of the Fiance(e) Petition (Legal Permanent Residents are not)

-The filing fees are more expensive for Fiance(e) Petitions- $455 initially, plus $1,010.00 to adjust status once in the US, versus $825 for a Spousal Petition

-Fiance(e) Petitions require more evidence of a bona-fide relationship and Interviewers seem to be more capricious

+Partners need not rush their marriage to be eligible to petition, but can get married in the United States (within 90 days)

+Petitions are processed relatively quickly

Spousal Petition (I-130)

US Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents are allowed to file Spousal Petitions for their wives or husbands. Immigrant visas are immediately available for US Citizens’ spouses, but the immigrant visas for Legal Permanent Residents are not (check out uscis.gov under Processing Dates- currently the USCIS is still processing the Spousal Petitions by LPRs filed in 2005).

The I-130 Immigrant Petition must be filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and once it is approved, it will be forwarded to the National Visa Center for processing. The National Visa Center will then request information about the beneficiary of the immigrant petition (the immigrant spouse) before forwarding the petition to the US Embassy where an Interview will be scheduled.

Pros and Cons

-Processing takes longer- for US Citizens can take up to a year, for Permanent Residents takes around 3 years

-Partners must be married before the Petition can be filed- this most likely means the US Citizen will have to travel outside of the US to marry his or her partner

-Spouses must live separately while waiting for their immigrant petition to process

+Spousal Petition Fees are less expensive than the Fiance(e) Petitions- Fees are $825 total, versus $1,465.00 for Fiancee Visa

+Once the immigrant spouse arrives in the United States, he or she is automatically a legal permanent resident and need not adjust status. The spouse visa immigration lawyer will provide information about all the legal procedures to the person after the arrival. It will be convenient to the spouse to adjust in the other country.

+Interview is not quite as capricious as the Fiance(e) Visa Interview, however cases are still decided upon discretion of the Consul

I hope this breakdown of the pros and cons has assisted you in choosing which method of immigration is better suited to your circumstances. If you are still unsure if you are eligible for these petitions, please check the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website at uscis.gov. There are also various other Immigration forums online that may lend you some guidance. Immigration attorneys are the best resource however, and many offer cheap or free first consultations and advice.

If you would like the opportunity to observe underwater sea life without all the complicated equipment needed for scuba diving, then snorkeling might be your sport. Snorkeling is a fun recreational sport that does not require any special certification. The Hawaiian Islands are ideal for snorkeling, and Kauai in particular has some great snorkeling spots throughout the island. This is a guide to snorkeling on the island of Kauai. 

There are a number or snorkel rental shops throughout the island if you decided to leave your own gear at home. If you are not into renting gear, you can buy gear relatively inexpensively at some of the big box stores on Kauai. 

If you have never snorkeled before, there are two outfits that offer guided snorkeling tours. Aloha Kauai Tours offers their SeaFun Guided Snorkel tour for about $80. They pick you up and take you to a safe snorkeling location and provide drinks and snacks. Seafun Snorkel tours are one of the best on the island; they can help anyone enjoy snorkeling. At the Princeville Hotel, Hanalei Watersports also offers guided snorkel tours for $45. 

The north shore of Kauai has some great snorkeling beaches, but the snorkeling here is seasonal. The best times to snorkel on the north shore of Kauai is from May till September. Ke’e Beach is great for snorkeling, tons of fish, clear waters and turtles. Tunnels is another beach on the north shore that is great for snorkeling. The ocean is a rainbow of colors and truly amazing. Make sure you bring your waterproof camera. 

The east shore also has some great beaches for snorkeling, as long as the seas are calm. Lydgate State Park is one of the best snorkeling parks on the island. The beach features bolder protected pools that allow for relatively calm water perfect for snorkeling. Nukoli’i Beach Park can also be a good place for snorkeling, but only when the waters are calm. 

On the south shore of Kauai Po’ipu Beach Park is a great place for snorkeling, especially when the north shore is swelling with waves, Po’ipu is calm like a swimming pool. Kiahuna Beach, which is right in front of the Sheraton Hotel, is one of the most user-friendly beaches on the island and is nice for snorkeling. Lawa’i Beach is calm and good place for beginner snorkelers, except when the tide is high.

The seas on the west side of Kauai are a little less predictable and there are few protected swimming areas, and therefore know known safe snorkeling beaches. 

If you want to swim with the fishes, get your mask, snorkel and fins, and get in the water. Kauai has some of the most beautiful fish in the entire world. This guide to snorkeling on Kauai will help get you started. 

In conclusion, snorkeling is a fun sport that can be enjoyed by one and all and is one that every swimmer in existence has tried it out atleast once in his/her lifetime because they all have found it to be far more adventurous than scuba diving, which can be considered its parent organization and what better place than Kauai to unleash the swimmer inside you. So grab onto some of the best full-face snorkeling masks and take the plunge into the deep waters of the sea. 

I recently traveled on the airline Aero Mexico and it’s definitely different then the traditional Delta flight. I’ve been on different airlines before but usually stick to flying via Delta or it’s partnering airlines. You also get the option of opting for charter flights as you book your flight with Delta or it’s partnering airlines which is why you can choose a much comfortable seat and travel if you have the budget. 

On my Aero Mexico flight I was first greeted by a stand of free newspapers and magazines before boarding. I took the compliment copy of the world newspaper. As I got on I was greeted by a flight attendant. When I sat down I saw the seats were provided with blankets and pillows that were sealed in plastic cases. My flight was about 3 hours and I hadn’t sleep in over 24 hours. After we took offer, we were offered an enchilada meal.

I at first passed on this and decided to try and sleep. Afterwards I got up and asked one of the flight attendants if they had any more meals left. Instead of becoming annoyed at the situation, they politely got me a meal and I went back to my seat. I was surprised because it offered an enchilada dish with a dinner roll, fruit cup and muffin. And to drink a full size Coca Cola. After I finished eating, I laid back down and fell asleep again. The attendant had taken my tray away as I was sleeping without disturbing me.

Later a complimentary bar was given. I couldn’t believe this. I was in coach and the bar was offered to everyone. And I was surprised that they had brand names such as Bacardi rum. I passed because I was on cold medicine. As the flight continued, we had a movie where the screens automatically came down for each row of seats.. Attendants passed out headphones sealed in plastic bags. Overall I was pleased with Aero Mexico. The service was pleasant and the experience was a nice, relaxing flight.

On my journey to my final destination, I had to take a Delta flight. There was a difference in service. We had to wait three hours in the airport because Delta didn’t know where the captain was for our flight. When we finally did board, our flight attendant didn’t know where we were going at first. She came around and offered cups of juice, soda or bottled water. The bottled water was a tiny 8 oz fl of Dasani. If you chose a soda, you were only given the glass and not the whole can. We were given snack options of cookies or crackers.

I understand this flight was a shorter one but not even giving the full soda can seemed cheap. Even on long flights via Delta I haven’t had a in flight movie. If I had to choose between Delta or Aero Mexico, I’d go with Aero Mexico any day. Even in coach, you’ll feel like you’re flying in first class.

If you are not a premeire status flyer, who is allowed additional luggage or unlimited suitcase weight, you may have to be more efficient when packing for a business trip or vacation. Here are some tips to keep your luggage under fifty pounds so you avoid extra baggage fees.

Wear It Instead of Packing It

1. Shoes can take up a lot of room and can be heavy so wear your heaviest comfortable pair to the airport. Also, try to limit yourself to no more than two pairs.
2. Wear layers on the plane. Sometimes the airplane is cool so if you are bringing only one jacket or sweater, carry it on the plane. You may be surprised to find you need it and you will avoid adding its bulky weight to your luggage.

Avoid Packing

1. Do not pack a hair dryer because hotels will furnish one and they take up a lot of room. If you will be a house guest, ask your host if you can borrow a dryer.
2. Limit your toiletries to the minimum. Most hotels offer lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and soap so do not pack them. Purchase a travel size deodorant and keep make-up to a minimum.
3. Omit hardcover books. Pack paperbacks, use a kindle, or plan on borrowing books from a hotel library. Ask the resort in advance and you may be surprised that many hotels and resorts have libraries that are complimentary to guests.

Must Have Items and Packing Suggestions

1. Pack clothes in one color scheme so that they are easy to mix and match. This will help limit the shoes you need as well.
2. Bring packets of laundry detergent so you can hand wash a few items if needed. This will also save money on a cruise or resort where laundry is expensive.
3. Pack a large scarf or shawl because it can change an outfit by being worn many ways. Try it as a sarong with a bathing suit, roll it thin to double as a belt, or use it as a shawl at night.
4. Pack multi-use clothing such as a cover-up that can double as a robe, a reversible belt, or a tube dress that can be worn as a skirt. Business travelers can limit their suits, but bring ties and shirts to change their outftits..

Your Luggage and Hangers

1. Pack a soft suitcase because it is likely to weigh less and will have more give to fit in a few extra items.
2. If you are checking in a hanging bag, use wire hangers, which are lighter than wooden or plastic ones.

Other Ideas

1. After you lay out everything you want to bring, select two items you can live without and leave them at home.
2. Check the weather in advance so you can pack efficiently without having to throw in clothes for every climate possibility.
3. Leave room in your carry-on bag just in case you need to remove an item or two when you get to the airport. However, it it is best to weigh your luggage before you leave your house.

The above points are quite useful for getting your luggage on a good bargain but it entirely depends on your bargaining skills and your convincing power of persuasion that counts, for which you need to be aware of current prices of any commodity. Luggage is naturally for traveling purposes and storing your personal items but better keep a reisisemu kohver to be on the safer side.