As per a report in the fiscal 2022, CBP confiscated more than 25 million forged goods from international travelers flying into the US. This suggests how serious the penalties can be if a passenger bypasses the rules of the CBP.

The CBP has intensified the enforcement efforts at the US airports to nullify the inflow of counterfeit items. As soon as the products of international brands are found to be fake, they are not only seized but also destroyed. There were quite a few instances where travelers have had goods confiscated upon investigation by the CBP officers.   

In one of the recent incidents at a US airport, a South Asian traveler was stopped and questioned about the brand authenticity of some items that he had bought for his family members in the US. The items were seized for having a fake brand label. Although he tried to get back the seized items, he suffered a loss to evade further penalties.

Counterfeit goods are prevalent globally, with major hubs in Asia. In China, key markets include the Silk Market and Han City in Shanghai, as well as the Garment Wholesale Center and AP Plaza. The Greenhills Shopping Center in Manila serves as a significant market in the Philippines, while South Korea’s Dongdaemun Saebit Market is notable for counterfeit products. These locations are known for selling a wide range of counterfeit items, posing challenges to intellectual property enforcement and consumer protection efforts.

So, to avoid facing any sort of penalty, let’s get well-informed about the US regulations for travelers with counterfeit brand items?

CBP allows travelers to carry only one counterfeit good of each apparel and accessory for personal use. Carrying more than one fake piece per category like shirts, handbags, shoes, wristwatches, is deemed to be an act of non-compliance of the CBP regulations that can lead to some serious consequences.

One of the recent reports suggest that the global market for counterfeit luxury items is estimated to be $4.2 trillion. The increased inspection at the US airports is in line with the efforts to safeguard intellectual property rights (IPR) of international brands, specifically those based in the US. 

In essence, the major intention of such heightened investigation is to enhance the safety, economy, security and mitigate environmental risks posed by the forged goods flowing into the US.

The post Traveling to USA with Counterfeit Brand Items? Check Regulations to Evade Seizure of Items or Penalties on Your Arrival appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

What is Horsetail Fall?

Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall (Burning waterfall) is just a regular waterfall that turns orange or red owing to optical illusion on select days of the year, making it one of the must-visit tourist hotspots in California. Around the second week of February, the setting sun hits the Horsetail Fall at just the exact angle and illuminates the upper reaches of the waterfall. On occasions when the atmospheric conditions are perfect, Yosemite Firefall glows orange and red, as it gives away the feel of watching molten lava cascading from the top. Should it not be on your list of must-visit tourist attractions in 2020?

Best Time to See Horsetail Fall

The first and foremost condition is that the Horsetail Fall (Burning waterfall) must be flowing. In case, there is not enough snowpack in February, there are chances the snow completely melts before you get to see the Firefall. Similarly, the temperature must be warm enough for the snow to melt. However, if the temperature is too cold, the snow stays frozen and alas! You won’t get to see the Firefall. Consequently, in the month of October, the snow stays frozen owing to the drop in temperature and there is no runoff. That’s why you don’t get to see this magical phenomenon even when the sun rays hit the Yosemite Valley at the same angle.

Secondly, it requires a clear sky at sunset. If the sky is cloudy, the sun rays will be blocked and, oh dear! You won’t be able to witness the Firefall in spite of the water flowing down El Captain. 

However, if Lady Luck favors you and the conditions are just right, you will be able to witness the Horsetail Fall glowing blood red and lighting up the locale for about 10 minutes. This is a once-in-a-lifetime supernatural and breathtaking experience – the burning waterfall in California.

The word about Yosemite Firefall (Burning waterfall) spread like wildfire after Galen Rowell, a wilderness photographer, took the first-known photograph of the glowing Horsetail Fall. A tourist hotspot in California – the Horsetail waterfall descends in two streams side by side; the larger one on the eastern side drops 1,540 feet while the smaller one drops 1,570 feet. When flowing, the Horsetail Fall is the highest fully airborne waterfall in Yosemite, after the Ribbon Fall which drops 1,612 feet.

The post Yosemite National Park in California is Home to the World’s Most Spectacular ‘Burning Waterfall’ appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

Jeepney, East Village

This is the best Filipino restaurant NYC where you can hang out with friends and enjoy incredible taste of the Philippines. Jeepney in New York hosts communal feasts and serves the best Filipino food on banana leaves on Wednesday as well as Thursday nights. Have longganisa, whole fish, rice cakes and other Filipino dishes in the Kamayan tradition of “eating with your hands.” Reservation in advance is recommended.

Jollibee, Woodside

Jollibee not only serves the best Filipino food in New York City but also connects Filipino Americans with their native culture in the US. Needless to say, it is one of the few best places for dining in a homely atmosphere. Filipino Spaghetti with sweeter sauce, hot dogs with cheese topping and chicken drumstick with salty flavor are some of the must-have Filipino dishes at Jollibee in New York. This Filipino restaurant NYC is best known for desserts including classic halo-halo.  

Purple Yam, Ditmas Park

If you crave home-cooked Filipino food with familiar spices and flavors, do visit Purple Yam in New York. The recipes of some dishes at Purple Yam are influenced by the restaurant owners’ trips to Korea, Malaysia, Bali and France. Undeniably this Filipino restaurant NYC serves both traditional fare and fusion food from the Philippine cuisine with equal finesse. You can taste some lesser-known noodle dishes from the cuisine of the Philippines here.

Krystal Café 81

Krystal Café 81 is one of the best Filipino restaurants in New York City where Filipino Americans enjoy authentic Filipino breakfast and beer to their heart’s content. Though located at a stone’s throw from the most popular Maharlika, Krystal Café 81 is frequented by foodies for its home-style Filipino cooking. It serves breakfast throughout the day. Café 81’s breakfast menu includes garlic-fried rice (sinangag), dried beef (tapa), eggs and the main dish (ulam). It is equally famous for serving crispy, succulent pata, a deep-fried pork leg dish, which is sufficient for two persons.

Pig and Khao, Lower East Side

Pig and Khao at Lower East Side is a must stop for the best Filipino food in New York City. The restaurant owner Leah Cohen’s inheritance of Filipino food culture is evident from the menu itself. Her mother was born and brought up in the Philippines, which makes Pig and Khao a favorite of homesick Filipino Americans. From spicy sisig to crunchy pata to chicken insal, Cohen’s restaurant has everything that Filipino expats long for.

Maharlika, East Village

Maharlika at East Village has got everything from lively interior décor, heart-warming cocktails and delicious food to attentive staff that makes it the best Filipino restaurant NYC. Interestingly, each of the cocktails is named after a Filipino celebrity. You can’t help going gaga over meat heavy dishes with marinated pork shoulder tocino, sweet sausage longganisa, garlic rice and fried eggs. Kare-kare, a stew with peanut butter, and Arroz Caldo, rice porridge with garlic, ginger as well as chicken are other must haves at Maharlika in New York.          

Lumpia Shack 

Do make sure to stop by Lumpia Shack while passing by West Village in New York City. Owned and run by King Phojanakong, the restaurant is a cozy dining hub for those having palates for Southeast Asian cuisines including Filipino. It serves a variety of meals in different categories including milkfish rice bowl with calamansi. Among Filipino restaurants in New York City, Lumpia Shack is equally popular with Filipinos and non-Filipinos. Get your taste buds treated to different versions of halo halo with different toppings.

Payag

Payag in New York is one of the few Filipino restaurants where both redefined taste of the Philippines and modern dining infrastructure create a magic. Located in Woodside, Queens, Payag houses both private banquets and party halls. There is a bar serving Asian-inspired cocktails in the restaurant. Payag hosts bands and musical programs on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ugly Kitchen, East Village

If you go four doors down from Maharlika, you will stop by Ugly Kitchen, one of the best Filipino restaurants at East Village in New York. Alongside offering a Korean menu, this eatery is known for traditional food of the Philippines. Ugly Kitchen delivers on its promises to serve the most authentic and best food to Filipino Americans in New York City. The menu boasts an array of cocktails with calamansi juice. Smoked boneless milkfish is a must try at Ugly Kitchen NYC. After all, milkfish is the national fish of the Philippines.

Grill 21, Gramercy

Grill 21 is a favorite of Filipino expats in New York for its ‘Asian Fusion’ food on the menu from the Philippines. With nondescript murals on the walls, the restaurant boasts decent ambience for family dining as well as hangouts. Grill 21 NYC is an ultimate destination for those Filipino Americans who are fond of chicken abodo, a dish of chicken thighs marinated in vinegar, and Sinigang na Baboy, a pucker-worthy sour soup with tamarind. Also popular for offering San Miguel beer from Manila, Grill 21 is the best Filipino restaurant NYC.

Also Check Latest Philippines Passport Validity

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It was the marshlands of Louisiana where Filipinos settled first permanently in 1763. In order to flee from the clutches of the merciless Spanish colonists, they sheltered themselves along the gulf posts of New Orleans. Referred to as ‘Manilamen’ or ‘Spanish-speaking Filipinos’ in those days, they were the first to share with the United States the sun-drying recipe of shrimp.

The year of 1781 is an important episode in the Filipino history of the United States. In 1781, the Spanish Government sent a Filipino named Antonio Miranda Rodriguez Poblador along with a team of 44 individuals from Mexico to the land which came to be known as Los Angeles. Evidently, the city of Los Angeles owes its foundation to the Filipino in the US.

There were Filipinos from New Orleans among the ‘Batarians’ who had bravely fought against the British colonizers in the 1812 Battle of New Orleans. It initiated the first wave of immigration from the Philippines to the United States. The second wave of Filipino migration to the US commenced in 1906 and continued till 1934.

The Treaty of Paris between Spain and the United States in 1899 as a result of the Spanish-American War put an end to the 300-year long Spanish colonization of the Philippines and brought Filipinos under control of America in exchange for $20 million to Spain. Consequently, the second wave of the Filipino immigration to the US was initiated in the beginning of the 20^th century.

The Filipino Americans have formed some close-knit neighborhoods, which are nicknamed ‘Little Manilas’ in California and Hawaii, with immigrants from the Philippines. Little Manilas are tailed habitats of Filipinos living as residents or citizens or employees on contact or students in the United States.

Many Filipino American chefs work in fine dining restaurants across the United States. Even the executive chef in the White House is a Filipino American named Cristeta Comeford. However, the Philippine cuisine is not as popular as other Asian cuisines in the USA.

The Filipinos in America celebrate the month of October as the Filipino American History Month among all Philippine festivals and celebrations, commemorating the first arrival of Filipinos in Morro Bay, California, in October 1587. They also celebrate the Philippine Independence Day on June 12 across the United States.

According to some surveys, it is estimated that over 60,000 Filipinos migrate to the United States every year. The most interesting fact is that the Filipinos in America form the third largest community of immigrants from Asia, which is equivalent to 15.7% of foreign-born residents in USA after the Chinese and Indians.

Although the US census states that 3.4 million is the strength of the Filipino community in USA, it is believed that the actual population of Filipino Americans is close to 4 million.

One of the most interesting facts to know about the Filipinos in America is that half of their population resides in the state of California, while 6.7% of the rest lives in Hawaii. 4.8% of the Filipino migrants in Texas is the same in New Jersey. Illinois is home to 4.7% of the total Filipino Americans.

Do you know that the Philippines to the United States is the seventh largest migration corridor in the world? The Filipino community in the USA rapidly grew in the 1980’s.Their population increased from 12,271 in 1950 to 255,592 in 2010. Another interesting thing to share from the Filipino history is that more than 25% of the foreign-born Filipinos immigrated to the US after 2000.

Among the most interesting things about Filipinos in America is the fact that they represent the largest fraction of the naturalized US citizens in all communities of foreign-born immigrants in the USA. The average age of Filipino Americans is 34. Interestingly, 72.6% of the Filipinos in America are just above 18 years in age.

One of the few interesting facts about the Filipino community in the US is that their average household size is greater than that of the Americans. 3.3 and 3.72 are the average household size and the average family size of Filipinos in the US. 76.7% of the Filipino Americans own houses in USA and 57.2% of them are married.

Believe it or not, the literacy rate in the Filipino American community is almost twice that of Americans in the US. The most interesting of all facts about Filipinos in America is that they earn more than the Native Americans. The average annual household income of the Native American population is $53,657, while the median household income of the FilipinoAmericans is $75,146 per annum. They are the second highest earning community after Indians in America.

Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines, is the fourth largest foreign language spoken in the Filipino American households. It is next to Spanish, Chinese and French languages spoken in the United States. More interestingly, 69% of the Filipino Americans speak fluent English.

You can save big on your flights to Philippines from USA by booking the cheapest air tickets at iEagle.com, a reputed and reliable international travel organization.

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