These foods are generally not the most popular but they are some of the healthiest foods in existence. For this reason, these foods should be given some ‘publicity’ and people should have a chance to get to know them. In line with this, Jumia Food, Nigeria’s No. 1 online food ordering platform, shares 4 foods you probably didn’t know existed.

Bitter Melon

This healthy food goes by other names like Bitter Gourd or Bitter Squash. It’s widely grown in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean and is one food that has plenty of health benefits. For example, it has a soothing effect on the digestive system and is used medicinally to treat upset stomach. It’s also able to kill off parasites and other unwelcome entities in the digestive tract.



Chia Seeds

These seeds contain omega-3 and this is what makes them so healthy. They are small sized, which makes it easier to add them to almost anything, even sprinkling them on top of a main dish for an instant nutrition boost. They are widely grown in several countries of western South America, western Mexico, and the southwestern United States. They contain plenty of fibre and are recommended for diabetics. They are also a non-meat source of protein and are rich in minerals.



Romanesco

The Romanesco broccoli, also known as Roman Cauliflower, is another very healthy food you probably didn’t know existed and is a great source of fibre and vegetable protein. It is also full of Vitamin C, potassium and Vitamin B6, and it boasts of a large assemble of vitamins and minerals which are great for overall health and wellbeing. It has been grown in Italy since the 16th century.



Yacon

It is traditionally grown in the northern and central Andes from Colombia to northern Argentina and is popular for its crisp, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots. This food is known to show positive signs of being an anti-cancer food and for boosting the function of the liver. Foods that boost the function of the liver are considered important because the liver is such a crucial organ in the body, as it helps the rest of the organs in the body do their job.

In this exclusive interview with Jumia Travel, Miss Sophia Allison Oguru, a presenter at Pulse Nigeria, shares her experience at Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort in Ekiti, detailing the basics of her journey to the resort, the cost of the trip, her time and activities at the resort as well as her overall experience on the trip. She ends by giving some useful advice to those intending to visit the resort in the near future. Enjoy.

Introduction

Miss Sophia Allison Oguru is a presenter at Pulse, Nigeria. She is also a makeup artist that caters to all occasions from weddings to photo-shoots and so on, through her makeup business, ‘SparkleByMisaziba’.

Journey to the Resort

Her reason for the trip to Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort was mainly work-related. According to her, the trip was for a video and photo-shoot for a brand and she was the makeup artist on set. She went on the trip with a group of people, consisting of colleagues, crew members and friends. Overall, she described the 5-hour journey by road to the resort as a smooth one, but long and unending to her. She judged this to be caused by the fact that she had never gone on such a trip before, and added that returning to Lagos from the resort felt shorter and more normal to her. She shuffled between listening to music and chatting with people to entertain herself during the trip, and when she was doing neither she was quietly asleep.

Cost of the Trip

According to Miss Sophia, the trip was a sponsored one, a work-trip, and as a result was embarked on at no monetary cost to her. However, she did add that a stay at the resort is generally not really expensive and the cost should be a little over ten thousand naira (N10,000).


Time and Activities at the Resort

She left Lagos for the resort in Ekiti on Thursday and got there with her colleagues in the evening, around 4pm to 5pm. When she arrived, it seemed to her that she and her colleagues were the only guests around at the time and there was no electricity supply. When the management was asked about the lack of power supply, they explained that they typically switch on their generator at 7pm in the evening and leave it on till about 7am the next morning. However, when they do have guests come in before this time (7pm), they switch it on for an hour to give guests time to use the electricity to do whatever they need to until 7pm when it will switched on overnight. They explained that it’s done this way to manage operational costs as the resort has not be privy to national power supply for almost three years. In line with this, at the request of Miss Sophia and her colleagues, the generator was turned on for them to use the hourly supply to do things like charge their devices etc. till it will be switched on again by 7pm.

At the resort, a guide was assigned to Miss Sophia and her colleagues to take them on a mini-tour of the resort, and they used the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the resort and find the best locations for their planned shoot. After this, they had their dinner and settled in for the night. The next day, which was a Friday, was the shoot day. They were to finish with everything on Friday and return to Lagos the following day, Saturday. The call time for the shoot was 7am, so by 7am they were up and at the location to begin the work. The breakfast eaten was complementary, and according to Miss Sophia, consisted of either yam and eggs or bread and eggs, there wasn’t really variety when it came to the resort’s food offerings. Though the quantity and price was fair, the taste was, in her opinion, just okay.

Experience at the Resort

She tried as much as she could to enjoy the trip and have some fun because ‘all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl’, and she was successful at this as she shared some of her interesting activities and memorable experiences at the resort. Firstly, during her break from work Friday afternoon, she mentioned going on a walk. She described her experience during this walk as memorable and refreshing. The sun (which wasn’t too hot) and other nature around her was refreshing. The air, according to her, was different and soothing; the scenery was also pleasing to the eyes. Then, she talked about her work (the make-up work) and because as she enjoys what she does, making women beautiful amidst the calm and refreshing natural setting gave her enjoy and made the trip all the more memorable. Also, she mentioned intending to join a pool party happening Friday evening at the resort with her colleagues. However, it unfortunately started to drizzle and they had to return indoors. But in all, it was a memorable experience for her which she described in three words as beautiful, amazing and refreshing (with emphasis on the refreshing aspect).

Conclusively

After sharing her experience, Miss Sophia advised that because the resort doesn’t generally have good cellular reception, it’s just easier to prepare to be ‘incommunicado’ while there. According to her, the only social media she could use while there was ‘Whatsapp’ and if she had to make or receive calls, because the warm spring doesn’t have cellular service, she had to walk all the way back to the rooms, which was quite a distance considering how big the resort is. Coming along with your own food or junk food was another thing she recommended because the resort doesn’t really offer varieties when it comes to food and you might not exactly find their meals delicious. Finally, she added that in all the resort is indeed a great place to take a break from the world, which includes a break from work and the like. For her, a trip to the resort is a nice way to getaway and do something different, and it is especially suitable for couples that just want to escape for awhile and be together.

In this exclusive interview with Jumia Travel, Mr Tajudeen Mohammed, the Managing Director of Diplomat Hotels, GRA Ikeja, shares some predictions on possible trends to expect in 2018, major challenges faced by hotels in the hospitality industry as well as some advice for those looking to work in the hospitality sector, amongst other things.



Tell us about yourself sir, as it relates to your function as the MD of Diplomat Hotels?



My name is Mr Tajudeen Mohammed. As the MD of Diplomat Hotels my major function is to ensure that all operations in every department of the hotel runs smoothly to the pleasure of and at the utmost convenience of guests. Simply put, I ensure everyone has what they need, when they need it.



What hotel amenities are considered important to guests and what are some of the amenities your hotel has to meet the needs of these guests?



Well, the hotel amenities that are generally considered important to lodgers are: a comfortable bed to sleep in, internet, air conditioning, a restaurant with mouth-watering and delicious meals, a bar offering the best alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beverages, a clean swimming pool and parking space. The Diplomat hotel offers all these and more, additionally offering guests free Wi-Fi or internet services, complimentary breakfast, a smoke free room and a 24/7 ever responsive front desk services.



What are the top 3 challenges faced by hotels in the Nigerian hospitality industry?



One of the major challenges faced by the Nigerian hospitality industry is inadequate power supply. We end up having to spend a lot of money to ensure that power supply is uninterrupted for guests through secondary means of power supply like running generators etc. It will definitely make things easier if the national power supply was more stable. Other challenges include poor customer service and little or no standardization of operations.



What are your predictions on the trends to expect this 2018 for the hospitality business?



I believe a trend that we’ll see in the hospitality business is more competition in the Nigerian hospitality industry. This is largely because I believe there is going to be a resurgence of hotels and general improvements of service delivery which will inevitably lead to this competition.



From your own personal experience, how would you describe the ideal customer service experience in the Nigerian hospitality industry?



I believe customer service is about helping customers efficiently in a friendly and positive manner to make the customers happy and satisfied.



For those looking to work in the hospitality sector in Nigeria, what will be your advice to them?



As a service-oriented industry with endless opportunities, a prospective applicant must strive at all times to satisfy the customers by rendering effective and prompt service delivery. The applicant should always keep in mind that the customer is the cornerstone and hallmark in the industry and he/she must put in their possible best to ensure that customer satisfaction is highly guaranteed and achieved.

Promoting an event online is really not as difficult and complex as some might think. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 best ways to promote an event online.

Create Content to Promote Your Event

This is where content marketing comes in. Your content marketing efforts should align with the event you are promoting. As much as possible, plug in details of the event in all your content marketing efforts so the repetition will help keep your event in the mind of your readers or audience. Additionally, you can go a step further by creating unique videos for the event and posting them alongside the promotional content for the event.



Add the Event to Your Email Signature

Many might already know about this tool for online event promotion but the key is to be tasteful about it. Don’t use your email signature for event promotion in a way that puts those who receive your emails off, be creative about it and do it in a way that can pique their interest and compel them to find out more about the event. The main thing to keep in mind to achieve this, is to avoid a very long and tedious email signature; keep it brief, simple and yet professional. You can also make use of GIFs that get the point across in an animated and interesting way.



Create an Event Page

This should be the hub for information about your event and it doesn’t even have to be overly fancy, just decent and presentable. What really matters is that all relevant information about your event can be sourced from the site and any issues that your potential guests might be worrying about is addressed. The best part about creating an event page is that you can also create trackable URLs for your website and landing pages to help collect data on which methods of promotion are working best. You will thus be able to determine which method has the highest ROI.



Share on Facebook

Social media is important for online promotion and Facebook is one social media giant (over 2 billion monthly active users) you should not neglect in your online marketing or promotional efforts. The best way to promote an event with Facebook is to create an event page on Facebook and the best part about the Facebook event page feature is that it offers plenty of useful tools to use to help promote your event. It also helps you build a unique space for your community to stay updated on your event by enabling you add images and videos related to your event, update event details, keep a list of who’s attending and remind users about the event as it gets closer.

The Lebanese have an impressive amount of recipes featuring delicious spices, wonderful flavours and fresh ingredients. Lebanese cuisines are definitely foods your taste buds need to explore. Jumia Food, Nigeria’s No. 1 online food ordering platform, shares 4 mouth-watering lebanese dishes to try.

Kibbeh
This Levantine Arab dish is made of burgul (crushed wheat) or rice and chopped meat. It is popular in Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Cyprus, Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Armenia, Israel and several Latin American nations which received part of the Syrian and Lebanese diaspora in the early 20th century. Kibbeh is a ‘torpedo-shaped’ fried croquette that is stuffed with minced beef or lamb. As per shape, Kibbeh can also be shaped into balls or patties, and baked or cooked in broth.

Shawarma
This is an Arab method for cooking meats such as chicken, lamb, beef and sometimes goat. The meat is typically placed on a vertical split that slowly turns. Slices of fat and seasoned or marinated meats are layered on the spit and meat slowly cooks through the heat from the center cone throughout the day. Meat shavings are then removed from the top-to-bottom with a large knife or similar tool, and collected in a tray below. For extra flavour, an onion, lemon or tomato maybe added to the top of the skewer. Shawarma can be served on a plate with accompaniments, or as a sandwich or wrap (which is what is commonly done in Nigeria).

Falafel
These are scrumptious, round, golden-brown croquettes that are crispy and crunchy on the outside, and warm and moist on the inside (sounds delicious right?). It is a vegetarian dish that consists of fava beans, chick peas and a special blend of spices. It is typically served with tahini sauce and can be eaten on its own or wrapped up and rolled into a sandwich with pita bread.

Mujaddara
Mujaddara is an Arabic word for ‘pockmarked’, which is fitting considering the lentils among the rice resemble pockmarks. The dish consists of cooked lentils together with groats, generally rice, and garnished with sauteed onions.

The Kalakuta Museum also known as the Kalakuta Republic Museum was home to the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, his family and band members in the 1970s. Before being turned into a museum, the home used to be a recording studio and commune to the late Fela. The name of the museum, ‘Kalakuta’, is an imitation of the prison cell ‘Calcutta’ that Fela inhabited during his time in jail. Fela’s personal effects are displayed in the museum and the grave of the late musician is also located there. It is a nice place to visit to learn some more about the great music legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 interesting things to do near the Kalakuta Museum.

Go For a Relaxing Massage

After enjoying your time reviewing the beautiful displays at the Kalakuta museum, you can go for a relaxing massage at the SweetBrook massage spa, a nearby massage spa therapy center. They’re open from Mondays to Sundays, so regardless of the day you decide to go to the Kalakuta museum, the prospect of a succeeding spa treatment is available. However, their treatments are strictly by appointment, so you will do well to book one before going.



Visit the New Afrika Shrine

To continue your ‘Fela experience’ after visiting Kalakuta museum, you can go to the New Afrika Shrine, which is an open air entertainment center and tourist attraction located close to the Kalakuta Museum. It is the host location for the annual Felabration music festival and showcases photo galleries of Fela and music performances from Femi and Seun Kuti, as well as other local and international musicians.



Go Shopping

ICM (Ikeja City Mall) is about a kilometer away from the Museum. It’s not too far and a perfect opportunity to do some shopping after exploring the Kalakuta Museum. ICM is a large shopping center that includes specialist facilities for department stores, banks, cafes, bars, restaurants and hairdressing/beauty salons as well as a 5-screen cinema for movie viewing pleasure.



Explore the Hi-Impact Planet

This amusement, theme park and resort, which is not too close to the Museum but is also not too far, is a great place to go and unwind some more with friends or family or both, after a nice time exploring the Kalakuta Museum. It features a myriad of both indoor and outdoor facilities as well as wet and dry facilities like car rides, boat rides, ferry spins etc. The park also features other facilities like clinics, banking services, luxurious hotels, food courts, a multi-purpose hall, sanitary amenities, a 5-D animation studio and imax cinema. It really is a nice place to have fun with friends and family.

In this exclusive interview with Jumia Travel, Mr Tajudeen Mohammed, the Managing Director of Diplomat Hotels, GRA Ikeja, shares some predictions on possible trends to expect in 2018, major challenges faced by hotels in the hospitality industry as well as some advice for those looking to work in the hospitality sector, amongst other things.



Tell us about yourself sir, as it relates to your function as the MD of Diplomat Hotels?



My name is Mr Tajudeen Mohammed. As the MD of Diplomat Hotels my major function is to ensure that all operations in every department of the hotel runs smoothly to the pleasure of and at the utmost convenience of guests. Simply put, I ensure everyone has what they need, when they need it.



What hotel amenities are considered important to guests and what are some of the amenities your hotel has to meet the needs of these guests?



Well, the hotel amenities that are generally considered important to lodgers are: a comfortable bed to sleep in, internet, air conditioning, a restaurant with mouth-watering and delicious meals, a bar offering the best alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beverages, a clean swimming pool and parking space. The Diplomat hotel offers all these and more, additionally offering guests free Wi-Fi or internet services, complimentary breakfast, a smoke free room and a 24/7 ever responsive front desk services.



What are the top 3 challenges faced by hotels in the Nigerian hospitality industry?



One of the major challenges faced by the Nigerian hospitality industry is inadequate power supply. We end up having to spend a lot of money to ensure that power supply is uninterrupted for guests through secondary means of power supply like running generators etc. It will definitely make things easier if the national power supply was more stable. Other challenges include poor customer service and little or no standardization of operations.



What are your predictions on the trends to expect this 2018 for the hospitality business?



I believe a trend that we’ll see in the hospitality business is more competition in the Nigerian hospitality industry. This is largely because I believe there is going to be a resurgence of hotels and general improvements of service delivery which will inevitably lead to this competition.



From your own personal experience, how would you describe the ideal customer service experience in the Nigerian hospitality industry?



I believe customer service is about helping customers efficiently in a friendly and positive manner to make the customers happy and satisfied.



For those looking to work in the hospitality sector in Nigeria, what will be your advice to them?



As a service-oriented industry with endless opportunities, a prospective applicant must strive at all times to satisfy the customers by rendering effective and prompt service delivery. The applicant should always keep in mind that the customer is the cornerstone and hallmark in the industry and he/she must put in their possible best to ensure that customer satisfaction is highly guaranteed and achieved.

The best part about some foods is how flexible and versatile they can be. It thus makes these foods a must-have in your pantry because come what may there would always be some transformative and tasty way that you can turn it into a delicious meal. Jumia Food, Nigeria’s no. 1 food ordering app, shares 4 foods you can do with almost anything.

Rice

It is no wonder that rice is the most consumed food on the planet. Rice is an extremely versatile food that has an impressively wide range of uses. This is largely due to the fact that there are so many different types of rice which include: short-grain rice (which is great for making rice puddings or rice molds); medium-grain rice; long-grain rice; white and brown rice, aromatic rice and wild rice.



Potatoes

These are just as flexible and versatile as rice. With potatoes, you can choose to boil them and eat them whole, smash them to your preferred texture and eat them mashed, mash and cook them for pancakes or chop them up and use them as ingredients in something else. There are so many tasty ways to make potatoes into a meal and its ‘preparation methods are nearly endless’. The many types of potatoes that are available also contribute to its versatility. Some of its types include: russet potatoes, red potatoes, white potatoes, yellow and yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, irish potatoes and purple/blue potatoes.



Bananas

Bananas might look like they are pretty plain and straightforward, but you will be surprised at just how flexible they can be. For one, aside being peeled and eaten straight up or sliced into your meal, bananas can be added to smoothies to add some thickness and sweetness to it. Additionally, you can also make banana bread or banana pudding with your bunch of bananas rather than just peeling and eating them straight up. Bananas are also great for use as ingredients to several tasty meals, simply go online and check out the endless list of recipes and preparations that involve banana as an ingredient.



Pepper

Common peppers like bell pepper and chili pepper are among the most versatile varieties of pepper. The number of ways these peppers can be prepared and served make them an essential food to have in your pantry. You can serve them raw as a snack, sliced up over salad, stirred in fries, sauteed with sausages or other meats, chopped up fine and added to eggs, salad, rice or practically anything you want to add that pepper flavour or sweetness too. However, this is mostly done with bell peppers. Chili peppers, on the other hand, can also either be stuffed or sliced up and added to the desired dish to add some spiciness and heat to the dish.

Most people are more comfortable going on vacation with friends or family rather than doing so alone. However, if you really want to enjoy your vacation it is best to avoid traveling with some kinds of people that really might end up making you wish you traveled alone. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 people you definitely shouldn’t travel with.

The Whiners

They complain about everything at any chance they get, nothing is ever really good enough for them. This can really frustrate any kind of fun or adventure you planned on having on vacation; it is thus best to avoid traveling with them so you really can just easily relax and have a good time.



The Know-It-Alls

These people are never willing to ask questions about anything; they claim always to know every and anything. Unfortunately, this many times leads to their making mistakes that either get you lost or end up ruining your travel experience all together by making it more tedious than it has to be. However, if you have to travel with these kinds of people, you would do well to avoid relying on them because doing so can lead to hell breaking loose and a lot of regrets for avoidable mistakes made.



The Lazy Ones

They hardly ever want to do anything, they only want to lie down all day, everyday. This can be frustrating if you’re on the adventurous side and want to use your vacation to explore and experience new things. The dullness and low energy of the ‘lazy ones’ might end up frustrating your excitement and dampening your mood. It is thus better to travel with ‘like minds’, that is people that will be willing to go on adventures with you and experience new things as well as make lasting memories.



The Workaholics

These kinds of people are constantly working. The effect they have on your mood is much like those of the ‘lazy ones’. They tend to dampen your spirits and frustrate your drive to experience and explore with their killjoy ‘I have work to do’ attitude. It’s just best to avoid traveling with them if you really want to enjoy your vacation.

With Africa’s diverse array of cultures and spectacular picturesque locations, it is not surprising that Africa is home to some of best cultural festivals in the world. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 popular cultural festivals in Africa.



AfrikaBurn, South Africa

This is considered to be based on the popular US festival called the ‘Burning Man’. AfrikaBurn is considered the continent’s most alternative arts festival and it takes place in the Tankwa Karoo, an arid semi-desert area that’s located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. Everything that happens at the festival is really up to the creativity of the participants as they are given the leeway to create their own art works, their own music and their own performances. It’s such a great festival because of this dynamism; you have no idea of what to expect each year but you are guaranteed a memorable experience. It generally occurs annually between 24th to 30th April.



Fez Festival of World Sacred Music, Morocco

This is an exciting musical festival that happens each year in the medieval city of Morocco. The festival presents a blend of lovely sacred music from around the world. You can expect everything from the whirling dervishes from Turkey, dancers from Bali and chanting Sufi mystics from Iran performed in breathtaking venues like centuries-old regal palaces and atmospheric garden courtyards. It typically occurs annually between 12th to 20th May.



Zanzibar International Film Festival

This festival is widely known as East Africa’s largest film, music and arts festival. It takes place every year in the stunning island of Zanzibar and involves the screening of films from around Africa in venues across the island. An awards night is organized on the final night of the festival to round up the series of events that took place from day one, with exciting musical performances to liven up and create a carnival like atmosphere.



Lake of Stars, Malawi

This festival has actually been named one of the world’s best by the UK Guardian newspaper. The Lake of Stars is a musical festival that takes place on the stunning shores of the Lake Malawi. It features the presentation of local Malawian music by local musicians played with bands and DJs from around the world. It explores a wide range of music from electro to Afro-pop, and while enjoying the lovely and entertaining music, one can enjoy a swim in the lake, relax on the sandy beach or get involved in one of the festival’s community projects.

In today’s world, there are more and more investment opportunities opening up to potential investors. As a result, it becomes necessary for potential investors to have knowledge of some of the important traits of a good investment opportunity to help make right investments. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 surprising traits of a good investment opportunity.

Company is Buying Back Shares

At first glance, you might think this is a sign of business that is not doing well but businesses that buy back their shares are many times doing so to increase the wealth of their current and longstanding shareholders, which prima facie makes this a more lucrative investment opportunity.



An Easy to Understand Business Model

Many times, the simpler a company’s business model is the easier it is to run, which means the business will more likely be stable and have a good growth curve. This in the end translates into a lucrative investment opportunity because of its propensity for stable and sustainable growth and development.



Viability in the Long-Term

You should try to stay away from investing in companies that don’t seem to have prospects of long term viability, this is because most money made in business investments comes from owning stocks in a company for quite a while, then leaving it alone until the value of your currency rises and reinvesting your dividends. This tends to pay off much better than rapidly buying and selling stocks in a business.



Promising Market Cap

It is a good idea to compare the market cap of the business you are looking to invest in to similarly priced businesses. This will help you determine whether or not the stocks are going to be worth what you are paying for them.

When it comes to taking a good picture, much of the success depends on your skill at posing and presenting yourself in the right way. Thankfully, these skills are really not hard to learn, it just largely entails you avoiding certain mistakes you might be prone to make when posing for pictures. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 mistakes to avoid in order to look great in photos.

Put Your Chin Forward

To take a good photo your neck should remain visible, you should therefore try to avoid tilting your head forward to keep your gaze from becoming ‘heavy and unwelcoming’. It is much better to put your head slightly forward and though it might feel unnatural, it is the position will make your neck look slimmer while adding fitness and grace to your overall image.



Avoid Crossing Your Arms

Crossing your arms does little to flatter your figure, and tilting your head without lowering your shoulders looks unnatural. Therefore when facing the camera, be sure to angle your body a little to the side while you put your arms down and spread them apart slightly. Doing it this way will make your neck seem more slender and your body outlines will be more clearly defined.



Be More Watchful of Your Posture

Even a slight fault with your posture can be magnified in a very unflattering way by the camera, you should therefore try to draw your shoulder blades together and straighten your spine while bending backward at the waist. If you’re sitting down, try to avoid leaning against the back of the chair, instead sit half-turned to the camera to make your body outline more defined.



Create Visual Lines

For a flattering and photogenic picture, avoid standing straight with your arms hanging at your sides because some items of clothing can blur together, adding width and bulkiness to your figure. It is better to move your arms away from your body and try using them to create straight lines and angles that will accentuate your figure and highlight what really matters.

“An investment in travel is an investment in yourself.” In view of this saying, it is important to try as much as possible to travel and expose yourself to a wider world. There are so many awesome places to visit in this world, which makes it quite difficult to decide on which to visit, since chances are you cannot visit them all. To make it easier for you to decide, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 awesome places in the world you should visit at least once.

New Zealand

New Zealand has magnificent backdrops with prehistoric forests, picturesque widespread beaches, snowclad mountains and beautiful springs. It also has a distinctive culture caused by the coexistence of the Maori and European people in the country, and is one of the easiest places to travel to because of its well-developed infrastructures and its high quality services, especially in terms of transportation.



Japan

Visit Japan to explore a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Japan offers superb religious and cultural heritages that coexist quite beautifully and impressively with state-of-the-art technological and architectural achievements in the present. Mount Fuji, Imperial Palace, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Island Shrine of Itsukushima, Osaka National Park, Chubu-Sangaku National Park and the Japanese Alps are some exciting and notable places to visit when in Japan.



Botswana

This is a premier safari location on the African continent, with large portions of land that consist of national parks and wildlife reserves. So, if you are generally intrigued with nature and wildlife, this is one of the best places to visit for an awesome experience in that line. Chobe and Okavango Delta region are great for viewing wildlife. There is also the Kalahari Desert, Tsodilo Hills and Nxai Pan National Park, which are some of the ‘must-not-miss’ places to visit when on trip to Botswana.



Greece

This wonderfully historical country might have recently undergone an economic crisis, but it still remains a premium tourist hub. It boasts of historic cultural heritages and natural spectacles like beaches, mountains and islands. It really is endowed with stunning natural beauty in diverse forms. Visit Greece to explore the colossal Aegean to the cloud covered peak of Mt. Olympus., the ever bustling historical capital of Greece, Athens and the ‘not-to-be-missed’ Meteora, Santorin, Delphi and Thessaloniki. It is sure to be an experience you’ll never forget.

Many times, as a working mother you would not be able to escape business travel and as tasking as it might be, there are some ways to ease the process. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 interesting ways working mothers can travel with ease.

Stay in Touch

With recent inventions in communication like Whatsapp, Video Calls (e.g. Facetime etc.) and so on, there are now so many great tools for working mothers to stay connected with their families while working. Using Facetime, Whatsapp Voice and Video Calls etc., are great ways to stay connected with your family as a working mother and ease some of the burden (and guilt) of having to leave your family for a bit because of work.



Have a Good Support System

There is nothing that ease the burden and stress of having to travel for a mother, like having a supportive spouse. It’s basically all about figuring out each others schedules and working around it. The best part about this is that it also gives your children time to bond and improve their relationship with their father. Also, having great friends and relatives can also be very helpful. They can always help out in babysitting or taking care of your children during your period of absence.



Plan a Coming-Home Activity

Plan exciting coming-home activities with your children so they have something to look forward to when you return. Now, rather than your children focusing on the times you are not there with them, they can focus instead on how much fun they are going to have with you on your arrival and have something positive to look forward to.



Bring Your Children Along

If you’re feeling guilty about being away from your children, there is always the option of bring them along if they’re on vacation. However, this option works best if you can, of course, afford it and if you’ll be traveling to a place where you have family and friends nearby. This way, your children can always have fun playing with family and friends for the times you’ll be too busy with work to play with them. Nevertheless, try as much as you can to spend some quality time with your children so the trip won’t end up being all about work.

Being in debt sucks and can be extremely stressful, however with determination and discipline, there are some simple and effective ways to get out of it. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 totally simple ways to get out of debt.

Determine the Amount of Debt You Have

Rather than ‘bury your head in the sand’, look at the reality of the situation, go through account statements etc. and be sure of how much you owe. If your total debt seems high, just remember that from the day you make up your mind and start paying off your debts, it really can only go down from there.



Decide on What to Pay Off First

You need to ‘strategically attack’ your debt and to do this you must first prioritize the pay off of your debts. This prioritization should be based on the time frame you have and the interest rates (if any). If there are interest rates, then it’s best to pay off the debts with the highest interest rates first. Prioritizing the pay off your debts will make it easier to come up with an effective plan to get out of debt.



Get Rid of Temptations

You definitely don’t want to be incurring more debts when trying to pay off present ones. Consequently, you should do whatever you need to do to ensure that you discipline yourself enough to resist falling into the ‘debt temptation’ again. If you have to get rid of all your credit cards and stop using them all together, then you should. If you have to ask friends to turn down your request to borrow money from them, then do it. Basically, whatever you need to do to resist the temptation to borrow should done promptly.



Consider Your Hidden Income

Hidden income more or less has to do with cutting the costs of everyday bills and items (you probably never thought you could save money on), where and when you can. Saving money on these everyday bills and items can easily help to free up more cash towards paying off your debts. Challenge yourself to do this and see just how much you can put together for your next debt payment. It always best to 'wipe out your debts' so you can have your financial freedom.

You can eat better, healthier and save yourself the cost of wasted food by simply employing some helpful tips to prevent food from going to waste. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares some of the ways to prevent food from going to waste.

Store The Food Properly

This is quite obvious, however, it is sometimes ignored when food is being kept away or stored. You can easily store your food by refrigerating (for foods or fruits like lettuce, cabbage, apples, oranges, cucumbers etc.), keeping in a cool dark place (for foods like potatoes, onions, garlic etc.) and leaving it out on the kitchen counter (for food or fruits like whole watermelon, plantains, tomatoes, avocados etc.)



Keep It in Plain Sight

For food that spoil easily like dairy products, leave them at the door of your fridge or on the kitchen counter so you are more likely to grab and consume them often. Sometimes food goes to waste not because we intend to let it happen, but because we totally forgot we had them in the first place. Keeping these foods that spoil easily in plain sight will reduce its chances of going to waste.



Swap Food Smartly

If a recipe calls for a particular ingredient rather than going out to the store to get it, consider if you have anything at home that will make a nice swap for the ingredient. This way you’re less likely to have food going to waste because you were not able to use them on time.



Try To Come Up with Several Uses for Your Food Items

This isn’t as hard as it might sound. The best part of food is how versatile it can at times be. One food item can be used in many different ways and a visit to a recipe book or online food websites will open you up to the many uses of individual food items. This way rather than letting your food go to waste, you can simply ‘multitask your ingredients’ by using it in another way.



Use Them For Natural Beauty Recipes

Rather than letting that ‘over-ripe’ banana go to waste, why don’t you use it to make a face scrub that will soften your skin? You can also use foods like old yoghurt and leftover nuts to make a foot scrub to soften the skin of your feet. These are just some of the many ways food can be used as ‘beauty ingredients’ instead of being wasted.

“An investment in travel is an investment in yourself.” In view of this saying, it is important to try as much as possible to travel and expose yourself to a wider world. There are so many awesome places to visit in this world, which makes it quite difficult to decide on which to visit, since chances are you cannot visit them all. To make it easier for you to decide, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 awesome places in the world you should visit at least once.

New Zealand

New Zealand has magnificent backdrops with prehistoric forests, picturesque widespread beaches, snowclad mountains and beautiful springs. It also has a distinctive culture caused by the coexistence of the Maori and European people in the country, and is one of the easiest places to travel to because of its well-developed infrastructures and its high quality services, especially in terms of transportation.



Japan

Visit Japan to explore a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Japan offers superb religious and cultural heritages that coexist quite beautifully and impressively with state-of-the-art technological and architectural achievements in the present. Mount Fuji, Imperial Palace, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Island Shrine of Itsukushima, Osaka National Park, Chubu-Sangaku National Park and the Japanese Alps are some exciting and notable places to visit when in Japan.



Botswana

This is a premier safari location on the African continent, with large portions of land that consist of national parks and wildlife reserves. So, if you are generally intrigued with nature and wildlife, this is one of the best places to visit for an awesome experience in that line. Chobe and Okavango Delta region are great for viewing wildlife. There is also the Kalahari Desert, Tsodilo Hills and Nxai Pan National Park, which are some of the ‘must-not-miss’ places to visit when on trip to Botswana.



Greece

This wonderfully historical country might have recently undergone an economic crisis, but it still remains a premium tourist hub. It boasts of historic cultural heritages and natural spectacles like beaches, mountains and islands. It really is endowed with stunning natural beauty in diverse forms. Visit Greece to explore the colossal Aegean to the cloud covered peak of Mt. Olympus., the ever bustling historical capital of Greece, Athens and the ‘not-to-be-missed’ Meteora, Santorin, Delphi and Thessaloniki. It is sure to be an experience you’ll never forget.

The process of getting a job can indeed be quite arduous, however, there are some secrets that help ease the process and make your job search more successful. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 secrets for succeeding at job hunting.

Quality over Quantity

Try to avoid carelessly applying to as many positions as you can find. Your chances of getting a job are better if you spend more time and energy writing personalized cover letters, targeted resumes (that are free of errors) and sending them out to companies that are hiring for positions you are qualified for (not just any position you see). The closer a match you are to what the company is looking for, the better your chances of getting hired.



Take Advantage of Your Networking Connections

Referrals and connections are another great way to get a job, aside direct applications. In fact, many in our society believe that a large percentage of people who are successful in the job hunting process owe it to having good and useful referrals and connections. It might sound cliché, but being able to ‘name drop’ in your cover letter, application or email inquiry can help send your application straight to the top of the pile, at least close to it. Additionally, you should also take advantage of personal and professional networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to make connections that further help you in your job hunting endeavors. You can easily use LinkedIn’s search feature to identify network connections or even school alumni in the fields or companies you are interested in getting a job in.



Practice Makes a Great Interview

Not practicing before an interview can be extremely disadvantageous for you and paint a picture of irresponsibility and nonchalance to the company you are applying to. Take time to practice simple interview questions and answers to sharpen your skill and delivery at answering interview questions. Also, be sure to research on the company and rehearse personal statements you intend to deliver and questions you intend to ask. You can ask a spouse, friend or relative to help. Try not to underestimate the extent to which practicing before interviews can help make you perform excellently at it.



Know Your Value

If you know your value, it wouldn’t be hard for you to defend why the company should hire you in an interview. The fact is, one of the hardest things to get across is your value to a potential employer or interviewer, but this is many times because you don’t even know your value to begin with. To be able to articulate or communicate your value and to also be able to successfully negotiate a befitting salary for yourself, you must first know and believe in your skills and talents. Basically, you must first know your own value before others will value you and want to hire you. Knowing your value basically involves knowing what you are good at, what you can do, what your skills are, what you are an expert in, what your strengths are and what you can bring to any organization.

It might surprise you to know that some foods you were so sure could hardly be a source of weight gain can actually be if appropriate portion/serving sizes are not taken. As a result, seemingly healthy foods might end up doing more harm to you than good. Jumia Food, Nigeria’s no. 1 online food ordering platform, shares 4 popular foods you didn’t know could make you gain crazy weight.

Cereal

It might be surprising to some but cereal can actually be a significant source of weight gain. It can be just as bad as some junk foods depending on the serving sizes, and the quantity of sugar and milk added. When cereal is consumed out of proportion to the recommended servings, it more or less becomes a ‘sugar bomb’, a monumental source of calories and a valid source of weight gain.



Fruit Juice

Though this is not actually a food, it can be a valid source of unexpected weight gain. The fact that a drink is packed with fruit doesn’t necessarily mean it is good for your waistline, or that it will automatically help you lose weight. This is why you should be careful with juice cleanses. Weight loss from a juice cleanse usually happens because the number of calories being consumed in the juice is drastically cut from what you normally eat. As a result, once the cleanse is over, you’re likely to see the weight immediately come back on.



Nuts

If you think you can’t go wrong with nuts, you might be surprised to know that you’re mistaken. Snacking on a bag or bottle full of nuts can cause you to pack on the pounds, thus the best way to eat nuts is as a condiment. However, if you must snack on nuts, be sure to watch your portion and not overdo it.



Avocados

Though Avocados are incredibly good sources of antioxidants, nutrients, heart-healthy monounsaturated fat and fibre, they are also high in fat and are very calorically dense. It is thus best to mind the quantity of avocados consumed. The fact that avocados are very healthy doesn’t mean it can be consumed in any quantity. If you’re not mindful of the quantity of avocados you consume, you can end up consuming more calories than you bargained for.

As humans we are prone to mistakes, however holiday or travel related mistakes can really take a hit on our finances; this is why they are mistakes to try as much as you can to avoid. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 expensive holiday mistakes people make.

Not Comparing Deals

There is currently a lot of competition between holiday companies and/or travel agencies, as a result, just going for the first deal you see might mean you will end up missing out on better bargains. It is thus best to first compare sites, surf/shop around before choosing a travel deal/package. Additionally, be sure to always pay attention to the terms and conditions and check exactly what’s included in the holiday package. Cheapest isn’t always the best and sometimes it’s better value to pay a bit more for a deal with added extras.



Not Researching on the Holiday Company/Travel Agency

Don’t just use a travel agency because they are the cheapest or offer the best prices, do some thorough checks on it before you do so. Many have fallen victim to fraudsters or have had to endure terrible service delivery because of this. You can surf the net for online reviews on the travel agencies, to know what people are saying about it and what the general consensus is. You can also use online forums like Nairaland, to ask questions about the travel agency and see how positive or negative the responses will be. There are a lot of scammers out there posing as travel agents and because of this one needs to be very careful. If the travel agency doesn’t have a strong and credible online presence, you should be wary of it.



Using Phones on Roaming Rates

This really doesn’t have to be a travel mistake, all you need to do to avoid this is to check with your mobile service provider about international rates and packages you can buy before you travel. These packages can make it easier for you to make calls, texts and use the internet at cheaper rates.



Failing to Book Your Accommodation

Sometimes, while on vacation we might want to be spontaneous and visit one or two places that wasn’t in the original plan, and while this is great for making memories, this spontaneity can often backfire with impractical decisions like failing to book your accommodation beforehand. As a result, out of desperation and to avoid being stranded, you end up having to ‘splash your budget’ on more expensive accommodation because all the affordable ones have all been booked.

Sometimes, for one reason or the other, you might prefer eating out over having a home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, eating out is largely known as an expensive eating option and that many times scares people away from it. However, there are some creative ways to save money on eating out, making it less expensive that it would typically be. Jumia Food, Nigeria’s No. 1 online food ordering platform, shares 4 creative ways to save money eating out.

If You Can, Skip Your Drink Order

Restaurants make ‘a killing’ off your drink order, so a great way to save yourself some cash is to skip the drink order and just order for food and water. You can always get a drink later at much cheaper price than you’ll find at the restaurant.



Go at the Start of the Week

This usually includes days like Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. At this time, foot traffic is notoriously slow for restaurants so they tend to offer specials with price cuts or discounts to entice people to come in and fill up their chairs.



Avoid Going out During the Weekends or Major Holidays

At such times, there is usually an increase in the number of people coming to restaurants or fast foods, as a result, these restaurants are likely to mark-up their prices to take full advantage of this increase in traffic. To save some money, it is best to go before the weekend or either a day or two before or a day or two after a major holiday for your celebratory meal.



Go at Lunch Time

Items on a restaurant’s lunch menu almost always cost less than their dinner menu, so you can opt for eating a late lunch at the restaurant and just make it a lunch date altogether to save some money. This is also a great idea for checking out expensive restaurants in a cheaper way.

We are in the holiday season and because of this more people tend to travel within the country and overseas for one reason or the other. As you travel, it is important to keep some of these safety tips in mind to prevent avoidable hassles. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 absolutely important safety tips for traveling this holiday season.

Secure Your Valuables

This is an obvious thing to do and basically involves you doing what you can to keep your valuables out of plain sight to avoid being a tempting target to thieves. The holiday season is usually a prime period for thieves so it is important to be careful and be more vigilant and focused on keeping your valuables secure. It really is not the best time to carelessly show off your valuables.



Take Care of Basic Maintenance

This mainly applies when you are traveling a far distance with a private car. Before going anywhere with that car, you need to ensure that: the oil level is good, you replace/change what ever needs to be replaced/changed in the car, you check the brakes, tire pressure and tread depth, ensure that there is enough water in the car, the batteries are tested and working well etc. This is very important to avoid unpleasant surprises during your trip.



Prepare Your Home for Your Time Away

Before leaving your home, you should ensure that all electrical appliances and the like are properly turned off. If you have a security system installed in your home, ensure that all is working properly before your departure. If you don’t have a security system, you can have someone (maybe a close friend or relative) check on your house periodically. Another option is to have someone (like a caretaker) stay in your house to look after it for the period of your absence. Of course, you should ensure that this caretaker is someone you can trust.



Be Calm

All through your trip, try to be calm and keep your cool, even if things go wrong. Learning to keep your cool will make it easier for you to come up with solutions to any problem that you might face in the course of the trip.

Many times, we find ourselves tired at work and this can be quite frustrating because not only does it interfere with our productivity, it makes everything seem harder. However, to get some extra energy and survive the entire day, Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares some useful tips to avoid being tired at the work.

Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Avoid taking caffeinated teas anything after 2pm because this can keep you active for the greater part of night and make you tired during the day. Additionally, you should altogether reduce your intake of caffeinated beverages and keep it to a minimum. Try taking care of the bulk of your work during the day so that you can get some rest at night and won’t have to take caffeine to remain awake all through to get work done.



Eat Healthily During the Day

Sometimes people take the ‘fit-fam’ movement to the extreme and end up practically starving themselves during the day. The body needs food to be active - food is to the body what fuel is to a car. If you don’t eat well and healthily during the day, you’re going to end up feeling tired and slow all through. Additionally, you should endeavour to eat foods in small portions while at work because taking large portions might end up making you feel sleepy. Also, favour fruits over fatty, sugary and processed snacks and be sure to drink enough water. Being dehydrated can also weigh you down.



Do a Little Exercise

If you sit at work all day, there is no way you would not be tired – your joints would be stiff and your muscles would ache from all that sitting. Taking short walks during your lunch break, or simply looking for excuses to go up and down the stairs or to walk from here to there can go a long way in helping you to avoid being tired in the workplace.



Expose Yourself to Natural Light

Our body’s ‘circadian rhythm’ needs sunlight to stay regulated, so going outside for a few minutes of exposure to natural light can help to remind your brain that you are still in the waking hours. Additionally, when it’s time to sleep, you should try to avoid checking your phone. This is because the blue light emitted from your phone screen tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime and thus prevents the release of melatonin - the sleep hormone. If you must use your phone at night, you can try downloading a blue light filter app to mitigate the effects of the light emitted from your phone screen on your body.

If you’ve never traveled abroad before, it can be quite daunting and overwhelming because you might find it hard to decide on where to go. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 of the best cities for first-time overseas travelers to make it easier for you to decide on where to travel to.

Barcelona

To be honest, there is really no place like Barcelona. In many ways, Barcelona encapsulates the best of Europe. If you really want to experience Europe, then Barcelona in Spain is one of the best places to visit. It is a very interesting place that’s culturally diverse, with great and breathtaking scenery. It is one of the most tourist-friendly cities in the world. The best part about Barcelona is that there are a ‘glut of cheap and chic hotels and/or accommodation’ for you to relax in while visiting. They also have a bustling and delightful food scene that is sure to give your taste buds a culinary experience like no other.



Paris

Paris is considered one of the world’s most visited cities and for good reason. There is a certain ‘casual elegance’ to the city and that is further enhanced by its array of famous museums, beautiful architecture and pretty, intimate streets. Paris is one of the best cities for first time travelers because there really is hardly a chance of getting bored or underwhelmed. The city has a virtually limitless and wide array of shopping, dining, drinking and sightseeing opportunities. The best part about Paris is its extensive metro-system that makes transportation or getting around relatively easy. The only downside is that Paris is quite an expensive city but if you are able to budget well and set aside enough money, you are sure to have a great and memorable experience.



United Kingdom

This is the obvious choice for many first-time overseas travelers, especially those from Anglophone countries, because everyone speaks English so there will be less of a culture shock. The UK is very diverse so it offers the opportunity to enjoy big cities, beautiful seashores, as well as spectacular highlands. When visiting the UK, try to base your stay in London so you can visit iconic attractions like the Tower of London, Big Ben etc., and enjoy day trips to places like Windsor, Bath and St. Albans. Accomodation in the UK can be quite on the expensive side, so it will help if you know someone living in the UK that you can stay with during your visit. However, if you prepare, budget well and put enough money aside, you should be able to take care of accomodation without really breaking a sweat.



Canada

This is generally a great place for first-time overseas travelers. It’s a safe, very friendly and incredibly scenic place. It’s ideal for outdoor adventures like whale watching, puffin and iceberg cruises, kayaking, hiking etc. There are also some great and delicious foods to enjoy like the famous sweet Canadian maple syrup. Many travelers to Canada go there to enjoy its calm, peaceful and scenic ambience. Canada is known to be one of the safest countries in the world, as well as one of the best countries in the world.

Africa is a large and vast continent where different cultures coexist. This is one of the reasons why the continent is so culturally diverse. There is much to fall in love with in Africa and Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 5 things to love about Africa.

Its Sunsets and Sunrises

African sunsets and sunrises are known to be some of the most beautiful in the world, thanks to its diverse landscapes, which consist of jungles, deserts, tropical beaches and open savannahs. Many times, you can see the sun setting on a lake, the sea, waterfalls on colourful dunes in a breathtaking spectacle you’ll honestly never tire of.



Its Food

Multicultural influences have resulted in a varieties of African foods across the continent. There’s a new and/or different culinary experience for your taste buds at different areas of the continent. Ethiopian, Moroccan and Nigerian cuisines are perhaps the most famous internationally and African cuisines are known to be very tasty and diverse.



Its People

Africans are generally happy people who enjoy simple things. This is reflected in their culture and way of life. They generally don’t worry too much about the future and tend to be religious, believing in a higher power. They have a relaxed and chill way of life and are very diverse even amongst themselves. There is always something exciting to experience with the people of Africa.



Its Wildlife and Nature

Africa has the most varied wildlife that you can imagine, and it is the reason why the continent has become popular for safari trips as well as wildlife and nature reserves. Many of these animals and/or wildlife are unique to Africa and there are many natural parks you can see and admire these animals in. Africa is also the only place where you can see the Big 5: lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black or white rhino.



Its Landscapes

Africa boasts of gorgeous and diverse landscapes across its over 50 countries. Whatever you’re looking for in terms of stunning landscape you are very likely to find in Africa. From Pyramids and Bazaars to breathtaking white beaches, impressive mountains, beautiful waterfalls and so on, there are indeed amazing landscapes to admire in Africa.

Investments are great tools for growing and accumulating your money. However, it is important to keep some basic things in mind before making investment decisions because of the risks investments generally carry for your money. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 important things to consider before making an investment.

The Time to make the Investment

This is one of the most important things you should consider before investing. You need to consider if it is indeed the right time for you to invest. There is no hard of fast rule to this but it basically just involves you being observant enough to know the right time to make your investment. You can as well consult a financial advisor for this, and you can also employ your sense of good judgement in making the decision on the right time to invest.



Where to Make the Investment

Many times your objective for investing will determine where you will invest. If your objective for investing is to keep your money relatively safe because you will need it soon, then investing in less risky instruments like bonds will make more sense for you. On the other hand, if the objective of your investment is to take aggressive risks to make higher gains, then you can of course invest in high risk instruments like stocks etc. However, if your objective for investing is to take some moderate risk with your money for better appreciation, you can consider investing in real estate or in a mix of stocks of very stable companies that pays out dividends (income).



The Time Before You Need the Money

Not everyone invests for retirement, some investments have shorter goals. This will therefore influence where you are going to make your investment. Typically, the longer you can stay invested the more you can take risks and hopefully make more gain, since you can still recover from potential losses. However, if you do not have a lot of time to stay invested, taking a loss might be more disastrous to you, it is thus best to make less risky investments or invest in less risks instruments.



Tolerance for Risk

This is another very important factor you should consider before making an investment. The general rule is the higher the risk of an investment, the more potential there is for higher return. However, not everyone can tolerate risk or take risks with their money over a certain level. You need to understand your threshold for risk and the level to which you can take risks with your money before making any kind of investment. This is to avoid the adverse of effects of risk taking on your life and health. It is thus best to invest within your level of risk tolerance.

In trying to be smart with our budgets, to avoid wasteful spending and to cut back on our general spending, it is best to know some basic things that should be considered before buying anything. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 basic things you should consider before buying anything.

Consider its Purpose

Even if the item is being offered at a great price, don’t just buy it because it’s a great deal, buy it because you actually have use for it. If you don’t have use for an item or can’t think of anyway it really be useful to you, then it’s best to refrain from the purchase to prevent wasteful spending.



Consider its Shelf-Life

Shelf-life is more or less how long an item will last. Again, you might be tempted to buy an item because it’s cheap and seems like a good deal, but it will be quite disappointing to buy an item at a ‘great price’ only for it to spoil a day after because it’s not durable. As much as you consider the price of any item you are purchasing, be sure to also consider it’s quality, durability. and longevity



Consider the Reason for the Purchase

Another thing you have to consider before buying anything is the reason you are buying it. Are you buying the items because you need it or because of some kind of peer pressure? Many times, buying things because you are trying to ‘keep up with the Jones’ doesn’t end well for you or your finances. This is because in trying to ‘keep up with the Jones’, you tend to spend way beyond your financial limit and end up having to resort to desperate means like borrowing to make up for the financial deficit.



Consider if You can Find it Cheaper Elsewhere

This basically means that you should consider if there are places you can get the item at a cheaper price without compromising quality. For example, if you want to buy fresh produce, rather than buying it at a store, it might be cheaper to get it at a farmer’s market without compromising quality. Additionally, when you want to buy an item you should be willing to shop around, compare prices and possibly negotiate; you’ll be astonished at how much you can save by doing this.

There are some essential steps you need to take before boarding a plane. Failure to take these steps can result in issues with your air travel that can jeopardize your trip. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 things you absolutely should do before boarding a plane.

Research on your Trip

If you haven’t been to the destination before, it is best to use online resources to research on the trip and have some information to help familiarize yourself a little with the destination. Read up on possible hidden fees that could come up, on the local currency and exchange rates, on emergency phone numbers, transport system and maps etc.



Ensure All Your Documents are Ready and Within Reach

From your passport to your ID and/or visa, ensure that all the documents you would need to travel are valid, up-to-date and well within your reach (so you don’t have to start looking for or trying to get them last minute). Additionally, if you need to renew or change some documents ensure you do so early enough to avoid the hassles, stress and cost of late applications and/or registrations.



Secure Your Finances

This goes without saying. You should ensure you don’t travel without several money options at your disposal so you don’t end up stranded. If you can’t handle this on your own, talk to your bank to help with this but do so early enough to avoid delays that can potentially jeopardize your trip. Additionally, it is also best to never travel without some cash so if your other ‘cashless’ money options fail, you would always have something to fall back on.



Be Proactive

You shouldn’t depend on an airlines to know when there is a delay with your flight, you can easily know exactly what is happening concerning your flight per time and stay-up-to-the-minute through online flight tracking services, which most airlines provide through their website.

Earning the respect of your colleagues in the workplace can be challenging, however, there are some helpful ways to do so effectively without breaking a sweat. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 ways to earn respect in the workplace.

Communicate Well

Many times, the disrespect we get in the workplace is due to improper communication or miscommunication. Try to make a conscious effort to listen to and understand those that you work with, as well as communicate your ideas and point of view clearly to them. Improving your communication habits in the workplace is an effective way to secure respect as it will help boost your connection with your colleagues and subordinates, as well as help you reap the returns of cooperation and morale.



Be Organized

If you are unable to organize yourself in the workplace, you’ll end up painting a picture of ‘bumbling incompetence’ to your colleagues. As a result, earning the respect of your colleagues and surbordinates becomes more of a herculean task for you because it is hard to respect someone who doesn’t seem to know what he/she is doing, where he/she is going and how to get there. You should thus put in more effort into developing a vision and plan/schedule that will guide your activities and keep you organized in the workplace.



Trust Your Team

There is nothing worse than a ‘micromanager’, someone who looks over everyone’s shoulder and hardly gives those he/she is working with space to do their work or express themselves in the workplace, trying to control every detail of everyone’s work. It is important to give your colleagues some breathing space to do their work. Though you have an opinion on your colleague’s work it must not always be expressed as long the overall work is being adequately done. The best way to earn the respect of your team or colleagues is to adopt a less controlling approach when relating with them in the workplace.



Show Respect

Respect, they say, is reciprocal. If you want respect, then they best way to get it is to first give respect. Respect is an earned trait and once you show respect to your team, they’ll be more likely to return the sentiment.

Ghana is a beautiful and brimming West African country that is rich in culture, tradition and delicious cuisines. A lot of Ghana's culture reflects in its local cuisines and you can clearly see the brilliant way Ghanaians induce the use of local crops and food sources to produce their tasty and mouth-watering cuisines. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 awesome and best cuisines to eat when in Ghana.

Banku

This is a popular traditional Ghanaian dish that basically consists of cooked fermented corn, which is served as orange sized balls along with often highly and deliciously spiced soup or sauce and fried fish or meat. Banku is frequently served alongside boiled rice, fried plantain or yam.

Waakye

This delicious meal is pronounced by the Ghanaians as ‘Wa Chi’. This meal shows the love of Ghanaians for rice and beans and is one of the spicy Ghanaian foods that can be eaten with either fried fish, egg, spaghetti or fried chicken. Waakye is really one Ghanaian dish you shouldn’t miss eating when you’re in Ghana. It offers a truly memorable culinary experience for your taste buds.

Kyinkyinga

This is a popular street food in Ghana and is one of those foods that best portrays the ‘taste of Ghana’. Kyinkyinga is basically beef kebab and is typically prepared using steak meat or liver and is crusted with peanut flour. The meat is typically first marinated in chilli marinade and coated with peanut flour, before it is cooked on skewers that are placed vertically in front of a fire. The peanut floor gives the kebab a crunchy texture, and the sweetness of the flour helps to counterbalance the spicyness of the chilli marinade.

Shoko

This is Ghanaian beef and spinach stew and is another awesome meal from Ghana. This is one traditional Ghanaian meal that has remained significant and popular over the years. It is an easy to prepare meal that is also very affordable. It’s ‘hearty, spicy and full of greens’, which makes it a very healthy meal option. It basically consists of a combination of red tomatoes, peppers, leafy green spinach and of course beef.

Having to carry heavy luggage can indeed be very stressful, but there are some tips to help lighten the burden. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 useful tips for carrying heavy luggage.

Look for a Sturdy Light Bag with Wheels and a Handle

It’s bad enough that you have all that heavy luggage to convey, but you can make it easier to convey by doing so in a relatively light bag with wheels and a handle. Using a light bag for your heavy luggage can help take some extra weight off when your bag is weighed for check-in, and can help you keep your excess luggage weight within a manageable range.


Mind the Way You Lift the Luggage

If you have to lift heavy luggage, do so by bending at your knees not your waist. Then, bear the weight by lifting with your leg muscles rather than with your back, lift it close to your body while grasping the handle properly and then straighten up to put the luggage at the desired location. This way of lifting heavy luggages is unlikely to have the kind of adverse effects on your physiology that lifting it the wrong way will have. Additionally, when placing your luggage in an overhead compartment, first lift it onto the top of the seat, before firmly placing your hands on the left and right sides of the suitcase and then lifting up. If the luggage has wheels, ensure the wheels are set in the compartment first, before pushing the rest of the bag into the compartment.


Don’t Twist Your Body When Lifting Heavy Luggage

Twisting your body when lifting heavy luggage can exert a devastating amount of stress on your upper and lower back that can result in subsequent back pains. It is much better to first point your toes in the direction you intend to turn to, before you turn your entire body in that direction. You should also not rush yourself when carrying heavy luggage, it is best to take your time and if it is too heavy for you to bear, ask for help or set the luggage down for sometime, to rest, before lifting it again.


If You’re Using a Backpack, Never Sling it Over One Shoulder

Slinging a heavy backpack over one shoulder does not allow the weight of the bag to be distributed evenly, it thus leads to muscle strain and you stressing your back much more than you should.

With increasing online phishing and fraud attacks, it is important to pay more attention to online security. The internet is a free and largely uncensored domain, protecting your online privacy is therefore crucial to using and enjoying the internet without fear. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 4 things you should know about online security.

Password Management

If you really want your online data or information to be protected, it’s best to avoid letting your browser or password wallet remember your passwords. However, this doesn’t mean that you should use the same password for all sites. The best way to preserve your online security is to have a primary email ID linked to all your services or applications, so instead of focusing on remembering the password for each service or application, you can instead focus on remembering one email ID. This way, if you ever forget your password for any service or application, you can easily change it through the ‘forgot password’ link, once you know your email ID.



Online Safety Practices

Installing an anti-virus software on your device is one of such safety practices that can help boost your online security. Additionally, it is best to use a private internet connection when sending or sharing sensitive data online, rather than public Wi-Fi or a public internet connection. Sending or sharing sensitive data over a public internet connection puts your data at risk of being intercepted by a malicious third party, who ends up having the power to do whatever he/she wants with your data.



Keep Your Windows Operating System and Vulnerable Applications Up to Date

Updating important and vulnerable software is the best way to keep it secure and take care of software vulnerabilities or holes that can leave these applications vulnerable for cyber-criminals to take advantage of. Software updates help to deliver new features for your use and also fix potential and existing security issues on the software. You can easily set your apps to update automatically or you can use a tool to help automate the process, this will help you avoid the hassle of having to manually apply updates all the time.



Be Careful of the Links You Click On

It is best to ensure that you are careful about the links you click on when surfing the net. Most phishing attacks are carried out using links embedded in email messages mimicking messages from well-known financial institutions, brands and trusted persons. These links attempt to retrieve your private information by redirecting you to fake web locations, controlled by online criminals. You can use free apps or tools like ‘Redirect Detective’ to help you see the complete path of a redirected link and ensure you are going in the right direction. Another helpful tool is the URL checker called ‘VirusTotal’.