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Vacation ideas
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You would think that when you are out of the house you are more likely to eat unhealthy and completely abandon your diet when you are on vacation. Generally true, but not always. At least not in the case that I am talking about. The Mandarin Oriental in New York wants you to stay with them to eat healthy and indulge in activities that you may not be able to at home. Nutritionist Jill Pettijohn (a registered nurse, chef and nutritionist, and has worked with Hollywood celebrities including Donna Karan and Nicole Kidman) has put together a cleansing package that consists of six nutritious "life food" juices per day made up of whole, unprocessed organic ingredients such as spinach, squash, beets, lemons, berries, avocado and nut milks.
The "Cleansing Package" is for two people and includes luxurious Friday and Saturday accommodations at Mandarin Oriental, New York, Jill Pettijohn's fresh juices, daily cleansing instructions for Saturday through Sunday, and one signature Time Ritual spa treatment per person tailored to ease the body through the detox and cleansing process.
"I use food more as medicine. My nutritional cleanse is good for the average person who has never fasted before and is designed for those who want to improve their overall health by clearing the body of toxic residue, resting the digestive tract and boosting the immune system," says Pettijohn.Hmmm...I guess I will shed a couple of pounds there. |
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Vacation ideas
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While travel and vacations are great moments in our lives, they can easily get spoiled if something goes wrong. On a trip to London with my girlfriend a few years ago, she lost her passport and wallet with money and credit cards in a busy area at night. We faced a lot of inconvenience getting everything in order and while we tried to be as cheerful as we could, it was not easy. AP9 SimpleEscapes offers some excellent tips to have a great vacation:
- Let 'em know where, when and how. Having a well-organized itinerary is not only good for the traveler, it also makes things easier on
 business associates and family members alike. If plans take you out of town, make sure that everyone who needs to know how to reach you, from bosses to relatives and friends, can do so quickly and easily. - Look the part. Make sure the right clothes make the trip. If your travels lead to areas that can provide decidedly "unpredictable" weather conditions, check the weather forecast regularly in advance. There's nothing worse than boiling in winter and/or freezing in summer. Just ask Mark Twain.
- The "IDs" have it. Right or wrong, today's world requires well-documented identification all the time. When traveling by plane, for example, even the most trustworthy-looking of travelers won't be allowed through airport security without proper ID. Check and double-check driver's licenses, passports and all other relevant documents that prove you're you.
- Comply with doctor's orders. If a trip is imminent, make sure any needed
prescription medications make it into the suitcase. In fact, bring more than just a few days' supply. As for non-prescription stuff, it can't hurt to bring along sundries such as cold medicine, aspirin and maybe even Pepto-Bismol or Alka-Seltzer. - Map it like Magellan. Modern travelers clearly have a leg up on history's seminal world circumnavigator. Where he relied only on instinct and a sea-faring soul, by contrast, the modern explorer has access to online mapping software, Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) and local maps for sale at every corner convenience store. Bring along these modern travel tools and save on headaches in the bargain.
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Vacation ideas
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One of the things that Hollywood celebrities do is that they make everything in their lives special, all the way from a birthday to proposing to their sweetheart to a wedding or just family time. Mind you, these are not the wealthiest people (these tend to be business people, especially those who work on Wall Street, some of whom are so rich that they can hire some of the Hollywood stars as maids).
It does not mean that we ordinary folks can't do the same. In this world, you can buy a bottle of wine at Trader Joe's for $2.99 and from what I know there is really no upper limit (prices in the range of hundreds of dollars are fairly common).
A company called Dreamweaver Lifestyle Management & Concierge lets you do exactly that: organize a destination wedding within your budget. Their motto is "If you can dream it we can help accomplish it." In other words, if you dream of a wedding in Mexico or St. Barths or anywhere else, do not just give up because you think it is expensive. Do your research by speaking to companies like Dreamweaver and my sense is that you may be able to do it within your budget. I mean does it really matter if you fly to Moorea Island on a private plane or a commercial flight when the most important thing is that you are getting married to the person you love. |
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Vacation ideas
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Just the thought of a vacation in Maui, Hawaii gets me excited since I have not gone there for a few years now. Now when you are there and want to have a great time without burning a hole in your wallet, you might want to buy the Go Maui card (you can do it for Oahu also). This is how it works. You buy the card in 2, 3, 5 or 7 calendar day increments.
Once activated, the card grants unlimited access to the included attractions and activities for the number of days purchased. Visitors can use their days any time over a two week period. The card includes fully pre-paid admission to: Prince Kuhio Whale Watch, Molokini Snorkel Cruise, Catamaran Sail, Reefdancer,
America’s Cup Sail, Haleakala Bike Ride, a guided Kayak & Snorkel Tour, Maui Golf & Sports Park, Maui Ocean Center, Coral Gardens Snorkel, Hawaii Nature Center, The Sugar Cane Train, Surfing Goat Dairy, Bailey House Museum, Wo Hing Museum, and Baldwin Home. Also included are rental packages at Maui Dive Shop, Maui Surf Clinics Lessons and surfboard rental, Maui Dive Shop boogie board rental, and one luau per customer at Waikapu Village Luau at Maui Tropical Plantation. |
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Vacation ideas
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Well, neither did I have the intention to watch the auto rickshaw race nor am I crazy like Madonna or Phil Keoghan or Kanye West but I did hope that I might run into some Bollywood celebrities and this is how I ended up in Goa with my family for a much-deserved vacation.
We had read horror stories about hotels in India so we wanted to pick the right hotel. It seems that the rating sytems in India is different because even their so-called five star hotels are like a Best Western in the US. After poking around and reading all the reviews we contacted several hotels (it was so hard to book since many hotels do not have online booking and did not accept credit cards issued  outside India or demanded full payment through an Indian bank before even arriving) but some never responded or asked for their full rates even though travel agents were offering one third of that.
Eventually we found vacancy at Vainguinim Valley Resort, a so-called "5 Star boutique property and a high class gaming resort located at the Vainguinim Valley, Dona Paula." We had our hotel ride waiting at the airport and our rooms were large and comfortable but not necessarily luxurious. When we walked around the property, we learned that everything worked, was comfortable, staff was attentive and pleasant, but nothing came close to what I call a five-star resort. Since the only reasonable price was for an all-inclusive package, that is what we chose, but all the meals were Indian (there were only a few non-Indian tourists) and served in a cafe. The hotel is also a short walk from the beach. We also went to the spa but it was more like a hair salon in the US that happens to offer manicures, pedicures, and massages. If you are man who does not like a male masseuse, you have no choice so I decided not to even bother.
Overall, it was a good vacation. Everything worked, the beach was quiet with no beggars, but do not expect a luxury resort experience. In any case, the prices were nothing comparable to that of an international standard five-star resort either. |
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Vacation ideas
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 For those of us who are so used to driving and flying to almost every place, a train ride has a special meaning. Now you can have full vacation on a train and that too in South Africa. Train chartering is offering African Steam Safaries that take you on a 750 miles journey over a 4-6 day period.
The 4-day Steam Safari leaves Rovos Rail's Station at Capital Park in Pretoria, South Africa. The train is hauled by historic Class 25NC locomotives through the gold-rich Highveld to the Freestate, stopping in Bloemfontein with its array of cultural and historical attractions. The Steam Safari then continues south into the Eastern Cape, calling at the Addo Elephant Park, home to over 450 elephants, as well as cape buffalo and antelopes. The journey ends in Port Elizabeth.I wonder if I can do this in Namibia! |
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Vacation ideas
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 Travel to Portugal offers many options including a trip to the Azores Islands, but what about exploring the major cities in the country?
Today's Portugal is a fascinating place where new architecture enhances Portugal's landscape as new public buildings and art centers soar high and complement the innovation and spirit of the past. Additionally, Portugal offers visitors world-class lodging and cuisine, all influenced by the allure of the Atlantic coast, 530 miles in length, that is still irresistible to visitors. Portugal's cities have been hailed by travel writers in recent months as some of the most exciting in Europe. Lisbon has reemerged as the place to indulge in fine cuisine, music, and light. Its wide avenues are brimming not simply with history but with fine shops, eateries, and museums.
Porto, to the north, is a cultural capital, with a reborn river district, new cultural institutions, and shopping on par with any capital city on the Continent. And, for fun, spontaneity, and amazing weather, the city of Funchal on Madeira is a wonderful place to escape to.
But in Portugal one can discover more castles per capita than anywhere else into world and popular forms of music, like the Fado that stretch back 1,000 years. Imagine palatial manor houses welcoming you as their guest with all the elegance of 800 years of tradition. Imagine the most modern of hotels rising like a cloud above the mystic seven hills of Lisbon. |
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Vacation ideas
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Can you imagine being able to take a "European" vacation after flying just four hours from Boston (it takes longer to get to the west coast)? That's right. You can go to Portugal's Azores Islands on flights operated by Azores Express. While visiting the Azores, travelers can experience bustling harbors, quaint seaside villages, dramatic walks around volcanic mountainsides and an up close view of an authentic culture that has been rooted for centuries in agriculture and sea-faring. The Azores offer a mild climate year-round, always fresh and spring-like.
Throughout the nine Azores islands, the architecture is Portuguese and often built with the local, black volcanic rock. The landscape is rolling, open, and wild, and can remind visitors of Ireland or Hawaii. The geysers, crater lakes, and lava flowers are reminiscent of other Pacific islands where volcanic activity has left its mark.
Visitors can tour one of the Azores tea plantations, the only such plantations in Europe. The Azores are also home to 6,000 pineapple plantations, more bullfights than anywhere else in Europe, and Portugal's tallest peak. |
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Vacation ideas
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India has its fans. Madonna likes and so does Phil Keoghan. Kanye West likes it so much that he ordered that Indian food from a restaurant in Britain be shipped to New York. Well, of course you can go to Goa for watching Bollywood celebrities, but there is something else even more fun you can do in the country: either participate or watch an autorickshaw race.
An autorickshaw is a small vehicle with three wheels that is commonly hired by Indian people. It is our equivalent of a cab.The roads in India are not for the weak of hearts. Quite often there are no roads worth driving an automobile even in large cities or metropolitan areas. It will be over a thousand miles of such roads that contestants will be driving and they come from all over the world. And by the way, the auto rickshaws themselves are not the sturdiest vehicles - they seem to break down very often. In other words a trip to India to watch this rally can be a lot of fun |
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Vacation ideas
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If beaches and sailing are your thing, you might want to head to Portugal. With more than 400 miles of Atlantic beaches, Portugal offers an array of water sports and recreation. From surfing to whale watching, Portugal's vast Atlantic realm stretched from the Mainland to the Azores, and to Madeira.
That is why many water sports events are held in Portugal particularly in places like Estoril and Cascais. But if watersports is not your thing, the country is also home to a thriving culture of fashion, music, food, and art, and the country remains a meeting point for people from around the world. Its new nightclubs are some of the liveliest in Europe, its new bistros blend the pillars of Portuguese food with globally inspired new flavors. Modern designers are bringing bold fashions to the runways, impressive new architecture to blend with the historic ambiance of the cities, and new museums of contemporary art. |
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