traveling articles

The “samurai breath’ goes like this: one must push down hard on the outgoing breath, concentrating on the hara (solar plexus) and in doing so, push aside any thoughts, feelings, sensations, that get in the way, smashing through them like a karate expert would smash their hand through a brick.

If you practise like this, it will give you a considerable feeling of power, like winning a contest (with yourself), and also give you a sense of purpose in a goal-seeking way (like paying off the mortgage). This type of straining zazen creates a heroic struggle out of zazen and a sense that you are trying very hard, but it is ultimately self-defeating. Perhaps it is part of the process of learning that we have to go through this struggle before we realise it is not productive.

When I see people practising like this, I have a mental picture of someone on an exercise bike peddling furiously, somehow believing that they are going to get somewhere if only they try hard enough. I then imagine someone coming up to them and whispering in their ear, “Excuse me, it doesn’t matter how fast you peddle, you won’t get anywhere on that bike. ” This is like the story of polishing a tile, believing if only it is done hard enough, it will become a mirror, or believing that one will become a Buddha after years and years of zazen, rather than realising that we are Buddha right from the very beginning.

When I began my zen practice many ago in Japan with Kabori Roshi, I was like the person on the bike furiously peddling to get somewhere. I listened with keen interest to other students talking about various breathing techniques, which I berlieved, if only I could get them right, would propel me towards realisation in no time. Needless to say, I tied myself up in knots trying to breathe the “right” way, even making myself sick in the process. After several months of this, I went to Kabori Roshi and told him about it in sanzen (Rinzai for dokusan). All he said was “Just breathe naturally”. I remember feeling a mixture of relief, confusion and disappointment at his comment. How could it be that simple?

Kabori Roshi was like the kindly person whispering in the ear of the stationary cyclist, “Excuse me, no matter how hard you try, you won’t get anywhere on that bike.” The message got through a little but, looking back, I wasn’t quite prepared to really give up my belief, that if only I pushed harder, I would get somewhere.

This happens all the way along in zen practice. Teachers keep telling us there is nothing to attain, but we don’t quite believe them, even though we may mouth the words to others. In everyday life we see people all around struggling to find happiness and peace, believing it will come when they finally get what they want, without seeing that this very moment holds all that one could desire. It is easy to see this delusion in others, but can you see it in yourself?

Coming back to the analogy of the excercise bike, it is not the practice of peddling we have to give up but the belief we are going to get somewhere if we do fit. As we give up this belief, (which is underpinned with the fear of failure) we can enjoy just peddling, and in zazen if we give up this belief, we can just breath naturally and our breathing includes the breathing of the currawong warbling in the crisp morning air.

The “samurai breath” after all turns out to be conceptual breathing, a fixed notion of what breathing ought to be, unlike the breath of the Tao which is open and just comes and goes of its own accord. When our breathing attempts to fit some conceptual pattern of how we ought to breath, we interfere with it, and are out of touch with ourselves. The mind/will should take its lead from the breath, rather than the breath taking its lead from the mind/will. When the mind/will takes its lead from the breath, then the mind/will and the breath are in harmony. When sailing, you trim the sails according to the strength and direction of the wind, not the other way round.

Aitken Roshi, when he was a student of Soen Roshi, asked him “When I do zazen should I use effort or not?” Soen Roshi replied, “The question reminds of Joshu’s question to Nansen in Case l9 of the Mumonkan - ‘ordinary mind is the Tao’”.

Joshu asked Nansen, “What is Tao?” Nansen answered, “Ordinary mind is the Tao.” “Then should we direct ourselves towards it or not?” asked Joshu. “If you try to direct yourself towards it, you go away from it”, answered Nansen. Joshu continued, “If we do not try, how can we know it is the Tao?” Nansen replied, “Tao does not belong to knowing or not knowing. Knowing is illusion, not knowing is blankness. If you really attain the Tao of no doubt, it is like the great void, so vast and boundless. How then, can there be right and wrong in the Tao?” At these words, Joshu was suddenly enlightened. Mumon, commenting on this said, “Even though Joshu may be enlightened, he can truly get it only after studying for thirty more years.”

Should we direct ourselves towards it or not? Should we use effort or not? Does Nansen mean just “go with the flow of the Tao” as this cliche has become known, as on some personal growth weekend where everyone lies around drinking herbal tea, looking dreamy-eyed and talking about the oneness of the universe? I remember Aitken Roshi once saying to a student, “When are you going to stop going with the flow and get into action?”

“Going with the flow” is just the conceptual opposite of “samurai breathing”. Dull and complacent zazen with no vitality or resolve, which is more accurately going with the flow of Taoist fantasy and natural therapy mysticism.

What is the right attitude then with which to breath? The right attitude is to have no fixed attitude. However from a practical point of view it can follow certain guidelines. I think of right zazen as like holding a baby in one’s arms. You hold a baby gently otherwise you will hurt it. You also hold it firmly otherwise you will drop it. Light but steady. Should you use effort or not? Try holding a baby.]]>

(1) Leaders must be willing to be highly visible during crisis.

Enron, WorldCom and Martha Stewart…Their greed and fraud have further eroded trust in people around the world, and as a result, corporations and business owners are now operating with a brand new set of rules. Building trust requires a special effort on behalf of the CEO or Business Owner to communicate openly, honestly, and often…especially during crisis or tough times. During a crisis, the stakeholders want to hear from their leader…they don’t want to hear from his or her spokesperson. They not only want to hear from the person at they top…they want to engage in open communication that involves the sharing of information and ideas, and they want to know that their voice has been heard. During turbulent times, it is important to take advantage of all types of opportunities for communication, including open forums, task forces, breakfast meetings, the media, one on one meetings, and stakeholder surveys. More formal forms of communication strategies include the 360 degree feedback assessment or a full communications audit (which may take 2-6 months to complete.) The goal is to communicate openly and often and to continue assessing your communications program every day to insure that a culture of trust is being maintained.

(2) Leaders must be willing to take a stand- based on their vision and their values.

This does not happen in a vacuum…leaders must be willing to admit that they need strong support from an executive coach or a strong mentor who can guide them to doing the tough internal work required to shift their thinking and to get off the ego trip that many leaders live . They must be willing to carefully explore their values and how they can move their companies in the direction of a vision that is unwavering. This takes boldness, and a leader’s stand must be nailed into the ground and secured with cement…the stand must be so strong that the leader does not become “wishy-washy” during tough times and in the face of controversy. Consistency is key, and the leader must know and believe in his or her stand on a very deep level…from the heart…not because the public relations director or Chief of Staff told him or her what to do or say. This is a genuine stand that is driven by the leader’s authentic value system that never changes.

(3) Leaders must be willing to be fully engaged with the four focus areas of their being: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

These areas of being must also be congruent with the leader’s environment. Leaders of today must be willing to be fully engaged…physically fit, emotionally balanced, mentally tough, and spiritually centered. Leading a strong life is a quest that many leaders run from, because it can be tough, but it is crucial if he/she wants to engage followers in a way that is trusting. I cannot help but think about Tiger Woods when I think about leaders being fully engaged. He is an example of a world leader who is a model of what I am describing. His body is fit, his mind is sharp, his emotions are solid, and his spiritual presence is inspiring. He is being followed by young men from all corners of the world and viewed as an inspiring model and mentor in the world of golf.

In addition to strengthening the four areas of being, leaders must be willing to create a strong environment…one that is congruent with leading a strong life. The environment must be clean, clutter-free and optimized for speed, efficiency, and effectivness. The people and network surrounding the leader must be moving forward and fundamentally strong, and the activities leaders choose must point to a life that is built for change and is rock solid. If the environment is not congruent with the goals a leader seeks, her resources, energy, and effectiveness will become drained over time, and people will no longer be willing and loyal followers. They will seek a stronger leader to turn to for direction and hope.

(4) Leaders must be willing to build deep pockets of social capital by designing a network based on diversity.

In the book “Achieving Success through Social Capital”, author Wayne Baker advocates the building of networks based on diversity, In chapter 2, he states: “Diversity provides the benefits of multiple perspectives on problems, protection against groupthink, and enhanced ability to collect, process, and digest information. Management teams with members from diverse functional background, for example, perform better than homongenous management teams.” Building a diverse network is a crucial step in leaders being able to build a strong business and personal life. It is not uncommon to see leaders develop homongenous networks…known commonly as cliques. This is a dangerous approach, because the network does not develop the arms and legs it needs to reach the four corners of the globe, to get the resources and knowledge it needs, and it can actually cave in on itself, pulling the company down with it. By reaching into different cultures, ages, geographical locations, educational backrounds, and belief systems, leaders can build networks that will yield the biggest results and that will be sustainable over time.

(5) Leaders must be willing to overcome the growing tide of cynicism in the business world and define an upbeat style of leadership.

In the article “A Prescription for Leading in Cynical Times” authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of the Leadership Challenge discuss this in detail. Cynics are evident in every company in the world. They usually believe that human conduct is motivated by self- interest, and they have a disbelief about the integrity of others. They have high expectations of the world, and they are continually disappointed when the people in their lives don’t meet those expectations. To begin working with this challenge, leaders must be willing to drop their own cynical “The World Stinks” attitude and develop the qualities that others say are important to leadership such as integrity, competency, the ability to relate, visioning, inspiration and the drive the build a thriving and cohesive team.

(6) Leaders must be willing to push the edges of innovation.

I want to begin by talking about the difference between innovation and creativity. William Coyne, senior vice president for R&D at 3M once described the difference: “Creativity is thinking of new and appropriate ideas whereas innovation is the successful implementation of those ideas within an organization. In other words creativity is the concept and innovation is the process.” Innovation always involves treading into uncertain waters, and entering a new territory can be challenging, even for the most creative of thinkers. Yet falling behind can be a great deal worse than taking the risk to stretch and grow into new markets with new ventures. If companies are to move into the future, leaders must be willing to push the edges of innovation each and every day. Executing an experimental venture requires planning, and it requires revisiting ideas that your company may have put on the shelf years ago, and whose time has now come. It is about zeroing in on the best possible strategy, discovering what systems are needed and what processes will be required to get the job done and to come out on the profit side of the venture. Your new offering should meet the demands of your customers and should be an improvement over the way things are currently being done. As Nike says “Just Do It.” Start today to begin the process of innovation, and see what comes about for the future of your company…you may just be surprised!

(7) Leaders must be willing to show their employees that they love and care for them.

There is one truth in life that I firmly believe: With the showing of love and concern, people begin to feel wonderful and more worthy, and their productivity will triple in an environment that is loving. The book “Love is the Killer App” by Tim Sanders focuses on what it takes to create a true “Love Biz” by the giving and showing of compassion, resources, and knowledge without the expectation of anything in return. People will do business with people they like, and this “Love Cat” way of doing business often strikes an uncomfortable chord with leaders who are insecure about their own abilities or who view a show of love, empathy, and compassion as a sign of weakness. People have to know on a very deep level that their leaders care about them, their future, and their growth. With this loving approach to leading, the talent in organizations will grow, and a sense of self confidence and commitment will inspire individuals at every level of the company.

(8) Leaders must be willing to listen to the grapevine and then build a sense of community based on what he/she hears in the grapevine.

One of my favorite leaders in my local community is Dan Landis, the Director of Sales and Marketing for St. Joseph of the Pines, a life care community in North Carolina. He is one leader who I see as truly being bold…he actively places himself every day in the middle of the firing line. He spends much of his day talking to residents, sitting down and eating lunch with them, and stopping them in the hall to simply ask “How are you…What can I do for you today? What are the problems you are having? How can I help? ” He does not stop with the residents. He goes on to exercise this same approach with employees of St. Joseph of the Pines. Dan is a leader who is developing a very deep understanding of the collective issues and desires of the customers of St. Joseph of the Pines…both the employees and the residents. He is building a sense of community based on shared values, and he is taking people to places they have never been before. Not only does he listen…he acts, bringing quick solutions to the problems he hears and the desires he knows are in the hearts of the people he leads.

Every company has a grapevine, and it is not uncommon for companies to have a grapevine that spreads negative messages, complaints, and rumors. These messages and rumors can seriously undermine the morale of any company. Leaders must be willing to do as Dan Landis does…listen to the grapevine, and use it as a feedback mechanism to highlight key issues that customers and employees consider relevant enough to whisper about at the water fountain and in the community. Leaders can also use the grapevine to monitor which employees and customers are more likely to pass information along, so that the impact of the grapevine can be reduced.

(9) Leaders must be devoted to continuous improvement.

Leadership development is mandatory for CEOs and Executive Team, but it is also a necessary part of training for every person in the organization. So many business leaders of today see leadership development as “fluff” and “soft” but the truth of the matter is that leadership development can improve bottom line profits and productivity. By listening to an employee who is on the front line, and acknowledging her value, a leader can create loyal internal customers and can bring innovative ideas to the table which can grow a company by leaps and bounds. By strengthening team communication, a leader can create a sense of purpose, loyalty, and long-term commitment to the organization. One thing to know about leadership development is this: Leaders must not ask her followers to do what she is not willing to do. . Many leaders will hire training for their company and will then refuse to attend the training because they “don’t need it or think they are beyond it.” This is, in my opinion, completely out of integrity. The leader must first be a model of what is expected in the area of training, development, and improvement, and must be willing to fully participate in a training that the front line is asked to attend. The leader must develop a culture that sends the message that leadership development is not another undesirable task but a new and fresh way to go about work.

(10) Leaders must have a plan.

The late Christopher Reeve once said “If you don’t have a vision, nothing happens.” Strategic planning is about the future impact of decisions made today, and leaders must have a plan that examines the necessities of today and tomorrow in light of the organization’s vision, mission, values and goals. It is not uncommon to find organizations that either don’t have a strong strategic plan, or they have a plan that is sitting on a shelf collecting dust. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Leaders must realize that to fully implement change, to satisfy customers, and to promote teamwork from the top to the bottom of the organization, strategic changes must be made that are driven by a clearly articulated vision, mission, and purpose. Once the strategic plan is written, leaders can then take the steps necessary to insure that all stakeholders are in alignment with the strategic plan and that they are moving cohesively in the direction of fulfilling the vision and mission of the company. Many organizations will buy a “canned strategic plan” written by an expensive consulting company, and they will try to fit their round peg in the square hole of the canned plan. This is a BIG MISTAKE! Leaders need to understand that the strategic plan is a collaborative process implemented by key stakeholders in the company, and the CEO or Business Owner must be involved in this process. With a strong commitment and an experienced strategic planning coach or facilitator, a company can create a solid plan which meets the needs and demands of all stakeholders.]]>

In August 1909 the German teacher Richard Schirrmann had been caught in a violent thunderstorm on an eight day migration with his pupils and found accommodation in a barn by a farmer.

While the pupils were sleeping, Schirrmann was laying awake the whole night.

The thought attacked him suddenly, “One would have to create places, at which move-joyful young people and pupils receive a safe and inexpensive overnight stay”.

He published this idea for the first time in 1910 in an essay about “Voksschuelerherbergen” (”elementary school pupil lodgings”),

“…also the boys and girls of the common man must practice fresh merry moving as counterweight for the room stool time of their school years… how do I imagine now appropriate and sufficient lodgings for the enormous army of the elementary school pupils?… each city and nearly each village has an elementary school, which almost waits in holidays with empty areas for it, into a sleep and a dining hall for move-merry children to be transformed. Two classrooms are sufficient, one for boys, one for girls. The banks are set partly one above the other. That gives free area for the list of 15 beds. … each camp place consists of a tautly with straw plugged bag and cushion, 2 sheets and a blanket… each child is stopped to bring its camp place back in order finely neat… ”

After publication of this essay in the “Koelnische Zeitung” (Cologne Newspaper) numerous money and gift contributions in kind and support offers came from whole Germany.

In 1912 the first youth hostel was opened in the Altenia Castle, Germany

The first youth hostel was arranged according to Schirrmann’s plans: 2 sleeping halls with 3-storied solid wood beds, a dayroom, kitchen, wash and shower rooms. First hostel warden was Richard Schirrmann. He lived directly above the hostel rooms. In the same year Schirrmann also published the first hostel listing with approximately 140 addresses.

In many of these lodgings however were not even basics of accommodations, e.g. for girls were nothing at all.

In 1913 were already 301 youth hostels in cities and villages. One year later one counted already 535.

In 1920 the first expenditure of the “youth hostel” magazine appeared, and with approximately 700 addresses the first manual with addresses by youth hostels were published.

From 1924-1929 with the first lottery in favour to the youth hostels 1.5 million realm Marks were gained. In 1932 had already been 2,123 youth hostels in Germany. More than 4.5 million overnight stays took place. But at the end of the twenties in further countries, like Poland, Holland, France, England, and Switzerland, more than 600 youth hostels were already opened.

On October 20th, 1932 in Amsterdam in presence by land agencies from Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland, France, and Belgium, the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) was created.

The federation has its seat today in Welwyn Garden City near London. Richard Schirrmann was selected as the president. Conference language was German.

On the following conference in 1933 also Isabel and Monroe Smith from the USA participated. Within one year they could open thirty youth hostels in the United States. Also in 1933 the national socialists arrived in Germany at power.

All political and religious youth combinations were dissolved and replaced by a system of obligatorily university-formed youth organization, under the line of the “realm youth guidance”. Richard Schirrmann must withdraw as a chairman of the German youth hostel factory.

He let himself impress by the idealistic elements of the new movement and became honorary president of the realm federation for German youth hostels. A decision which he should bitterly repent later.

In 1936 for political reasons it had come to the break with the international youth hostel federation. In 1947 after the end of the world war, 247 youth hostels with 1,158,500 overnight stays were counted again in Germany.

From 1949-1990 also in the GDR were an extensive network of youth hostels developed. Initially still led as federations, these later had become to state led institutions of the youth. The existing federations were dissolved. In 1960 were the most youth hostels in the Federal Republic. More than 720 houses realized 11,300,312 overnight stays.

In 1990 after the end of the GDR also in the new Lands of the Federal Republic youth hostel federations were created. In November these federations joined the German youth hostel association.

Youth hostels today

World-wide there are more than 4,000 youth hostels in 65 countries, whereby more than 600 alone in Germany.

The youth hostels in Germany offer to their guests far more than an inexpensive overnight stay. Beside small cosy old buildings or the experience in castles and residences you also find many houses in scenic delightful environments as well as in large cities. For more details go to http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/hostels-germany.html .

This true story was published in German language by the German Youth Hostel Association, and translated by Marcus Hochstadt.]]>

Keep their ages foremost in mind….

Choose rides and activities that are age appropriate, your toddler will not appreciate the Tower of Terror and your teenagers will want to pluck out their fingernails on It’s a Small World. If you are traveling with children of wide age ranges, then a compromise will be in order. Some options are to split up, do alternate half days or make it clear that if they do this for two hours, will then do that. Find other ways to keep them amused if they are out of their element, younger kids may nap in line ups, older kids might be amused with their Game Boys etc.

Balance out your days…

The younger the children, the less you will be able to pack into one day. Try not to do it all at once. Let you family pick and choose the rides and events they really, really want and focus on those. A day at the parks can be followed by a day at a water park or relaxing by the hotel pool.

Disney tips for young children…

Make sure you plan for plenty of naps and rest times, bring a stroller, choose hotels close to the parks or stay on site so you can get back and forth easily, bring snacks and juice along, go at your child’s pace. Some children will love all the excitement, others may find it too much, so take your cues from your child and go at THEIR pace.

Disney tips for older children…

Give them some breathing room, let them explore on their own if possible, set a time and meeting place if they do go off on their own, bring walkie-talkies or cell phones to stay in touch, don’t force them to do things they don’t want to do, remember it’s a vacation - it’s supposed to be relaxing right?

Try to avoid releasing the beast…

The most important guideline to follow on your Disney vacation, or any family vacation for that matter, is to not let your children get too hungry or too tired. All parents are familiar with the tired, hungry, cranky child. On vacation, when they are probably already out of sorts, pushing them to the limit should be avoided. Keep an eye on meal times and nap times and try to keep them on track. Rest before the kids are exhausted and eat before they are ready to chew their own arms off.

Keep in mind these guidelines and you and your children can enjoy a Disney vacation at any age!]]>

But with so many plasma TVs on the market, how do you know which is the best one to buy? Firstly, you should decide on your budget. Knowing how much you have to spend will definitely be a good place to start. Plasma TVs generally start at around $700.00 and can go as high as $4,000.00, so it’s important to know what you can afford before you start shopping.

Once you’ve worked out how much you want to spend, you need to decide whether you want your new plasma television to consist of more than just a plasma display or if you want it to have a TV tuner, as well. The pricier plasma TVs will have a tuner attached to it, while more modest versions will have a separate tuner box. Some models will come with their own speakers, allowing you to listen to your favourite programs, in Nicam stereo.

You should also try to make sure that the model that you choose runs quietly. Some models are known to be very noisy, because they often rely on fans for a cooling system, which can ruin your home entertainment experience. The good news is that many new models have been re-designed so that they do not need fans.

With the proper planning, you should be able to find the perfect plasma TV to fit your budget, which will last you for years to come.]]>

Sugarloaf, in the great state of Maine, is a ski resort sure to please your family. Located on a mountain named, appropriately, Sugarloaf Mountain, it has a grand history. In 1951 the first trail was cut by a group known as a The Bigelow Boys. It is today a premier ski area of the Northeast United States, second in elevation onto to the highest mountain in Main, Mount Katahdin. At the summit of Sugarloaf is a life to take the skier above treeline.

New Hampshire offers fine skiing at Cannon Mountain, home of the New England Ski Museum, which contains the most extensive collection of historical ski equipment, literature, film, clothing, photographs, and artwork on the East Coast. The extensive archive is renowned by scholars and historians across the U.S., and the Museum is officially recognized by the United States Ski Association as a Regional Museum, one of only four in the country, and sure to please a ski enthusiast.

On the south short of Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, Blue Mountain prides itself on being the largest ski area in the province. The resort offers several six man chair lifts and a pedestrian village is under construction. Enjoy your visit to Blue Mountain for a fantastic and unique experience.

In upstate New York, Whiteface Mountain reigns king among ski resorts. The fifth highest mountain in New York State and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack range Whiteface Mountain offers a 360 degree view of the mountains and on a clear day a visitor can see both Vermont and Canada. Near Lake Placid, Whiteface Mountain has a ski area with the greatest vertical drop in the eastern part of the country. In 1980 Whiteface hosted the alpine skiing competition of the Winter Olympics.

Aspen Mountain in Colorado is world famous for fine skiing. Still called by the old name of Ajax by the locals, Aspen is a skier’s delight, as are most Colorado resorts, including Vail. Another world famous western state resort is in Park City, Utah, home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. All of the resorts listed provide great skiing.

Modern skiing evolved gradually from snow shoeing, and a Norwegian, Sondre Norheim, is thought of as the father of modern skiing. In the 1800’s he invented the form of skiing he called Slalom, but which we know today as Telemark skiing. While skiing has practical transportation value in many colder climate countries, and many militaries train troops in skiing, most people think of the sport involving taking a ski lift to the top of a mountain for a fast and fun downhill ride. When engaged in this activity most people prefer to wear warm clothing and follow runs, trails or slopes—patrolled ski routes that are checked for safety. Skiers also enjoy cross country skiing, but for safety sake most stay within the boundaries of the resort. In fact, most European countries have laws against cross country skiing outside of the resort’s boundaries due to the danger of avalanche and the high cost of search and rescue operations.

Skiing enthusiasts report a euphoria that comes from skiing, a feeling they liken to flying and many more people are engaged in the sport today than ever before, with many fine ski schools teaching the basics. Even if you’ve never skied before, the basic skills can be acquired quickly and you’ll be on the slopes enjoying yourself in a way you’ve never experienced before. Skiing is a great way to get in good physical shape, and at the end of the day, sitting around a fireplace in the lodge, bundled up with a warm blanket, and your spouse sitting next to you, holding a cup of hot cocoa in hand for sipping. This is the perfect ending to a wonderful day, which you’ll experience at any of the six great ski vacation resorts listed. So give a ski vacation a try, and be very glad you did.]]>

Multi-day or single day tours are available to areas of Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and the Continental Divide Trail. You’ll get knowledgeable tour guides, meals if you choose, and numerous options as far as lodging or camping. You can customize your snowmobile tour in Idaho to match your ideas and the professional tour guides will attend to your every need. You can book your snowmobile tour in Idaho online and the accommodations are outstanding. Day or overnight tours, snow coach tours, and tours to natural hot springs are all available to you at reasonable prices.

Togwatee Pass is a very popular snowmobile destination. Here you will find the top snowmobilers in the country. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are also popular destinations. Each year the National Parks Service implements a plan for use of the parks by snowmobilers and the trails are clearly marked and designed for safety. Your snowmobile tour in Idaho can be customized to your specifications and can include small or large groups of people. The lodging and riding choices are enormous. Snowmobile tours in Idaho are competitively priced and it is easy to reserve your choice in hotels, camping, and snowmobile rentals.

The terrain and weather in Idaho allows for unique opportunities in snowmobiling. Everyone, from beginners to the expert snowmobiler, can find the perfect snowmobile tour in Idaho. From the mountain ranges to the National Forest, there are many breathtaking trails from which to choose. Instruction and training is available for the less experienced and the snowmobiles are in excellent operating condition. A snowmobile tour in Idaho is an excellent way to spend your vacation and the adventure is sure to leave a lasting impression.]]>

Villas in Bali take personal privacy into account, and this is at harmony with nature. The detailed concept of their respective architectures can be various, but privacy and luxury play an important role in the basic concept of many villas.

Luxurious, sometimes superbly luxurious, the architecture of many villas in Bali is breathing in the rhythm of space that plays on the silence of the surrounds and fits effortlessly and discreetly into the small community.

In recent years the island of the Gods has become the site for many villas, or a cluster of villas referred sometimes as a boutique resort. The beginning of the new super luxury trend began at the end of the 1980’s, precisely with the opening of the Amandari, perched on the edge of Ubud’s Sayan Gorge. The mind behind the resort was renowned Australian architect Peter Muller along with owner Adrian Zecher. 

Hotels of that era were built with many rooms. Villas, however, have different approach. It is not simply how many hotel rooms you have, but how wonderful they are. Luxury, too, is not only determined by expensive materials for many of these resorts often use the simplest of local materials. 

The detail of concepts of boutique resorts and villas have developed since the days of Muller and Zecher, who has initiated the rejuvenation of the Balinese traditional village living within their architecture design. “Nowadays, modern touches are an important component in the design of villas in Bali,” said Popo Danes, a reputable Balinese architect who has designed a plenty of villas in some of Bali’s more remote locations.

As a result, according to Popo, the sense of simplicity is becoming stronger.

Initially, simple village living has been blended with a luxurious urban lifestyle. Nowadays, however, the sensation of simplicity has built the luxurious atmosphere. Details of architecture of many Balinese villas have beautifully combined the traditional and modern elements and features.

There is one feature almost always seen: Balinese traditional gate angkul-angkul , which usually gives access to Balinese compounds in many places of the island, has been utilized to strengthen the traditional senses of the villa building.

The presence of angkul-angkul has given a particular atmosphere of village living in many villa resorts. Almost all villa designers’ in Bali, seemingly, consider angkul-angkul as a standard feature for Balinese designed villa. However, the popularity of angkul-angkul has expanded beyond the boundaries of the island. In Jakarta as well as in many places in Java, including in Jogyakarta and in Surabaya, angkul-angkul has gained a particular place in villa design, it is often applied to give access to many private villas even luxurious residences. Perhaps it is to remind them of Bali, to bring about the nuances of Balinese harmony of living.

Once you pass the villa’s angkul-angkul , a serene garden awaits you. A garden is apparently another ‘compulsory zone of beauty’ for Bali-based villa designers. With lines of colorful flowering plants or decorative leaves, tropical gardens bring nature into the villas, each of which with their own details according to the sense of their respective landscape designer. The garden is not merely decorating the villa; it is so much important for the image that some villas in Bali use it as a marketing tool and promote the property as a ‘garden villa’.

Adjacent to the garden, often under the shadow of a frangipani tree, often lays the swimming pool. Private pools have been another luxurious trend in villa design. Nowadays, it seems that a villa is not a ‘real’ villa without a private pool. It can be a small swimming pool or even a plunge pool where you guests spend time relaxing and basking under the sun.

The garden and the pool sometimes (not sometimes, often!) are perfected with a spectacular backdrop of green rice fields, of mountainside, of river flow or beachfront: according to the blessing of the beauty of the villa’s location. This is Bali, where the stunning panorama of nature has long become an important element of beauty.

A villa, by this very definition must be small and limited. Above all, it should have its own recognizable flavor and character. The only similarity between many villas in Bali is the level of luxury and excellence.

If you have the money and want to really relax and enjoy yourself while visiting Bali, make sure that you reward yourself by staying in one or more of the world’s best resorts.]]>

“I want to lose weight.”

”I want a better job.”

“I want to make more money.”

Maybe for you it’s travel, education, meeting someone or improving a current relationship. We all have goals and changes we want that go unresolved. So we talk a lot about wanting them to change. How often does anyone really do anything about changing? In fact, after a while you’ll start hearing the wants turn to complaints. Then the complaints turn into reasons why success is not possible. “I don’t have the time or money or ability.” There are an endless number of reasons.

As a life coach, people are always telling me why they are stuck and why they can’t do certain things. “I don’t like to workout.” or “I’m too forgetful.” Basically what they’re telling me is, “I have no control over my own behavior.” Here’s one we have all heard from someone, “I’m not a morning person.”

What if I offered a “non-morning person” a million dollars to be a morning person tomorrow morning? Most people would say, “Well, for a million dollars I could be.” So in truth, it’s not that you are not a morning person, or that you don’t have the time or any of the other reasons you give that prevent you from the changes you want, you simply haven’t found the motivation.

With the right motivation, and it doesn’t have to be money, you can change and create winning actions in your life. You are not locked into any behavior. Stop placing limits on yourself and talking about the changes you want and the reasons you can’t achieve them. There is no definition of you other than the definition you give yourself.

We all have the power to redefine ourselves and create the lives we want. Let me show you how powerful you are. Take a sip of your coffee or tea and let me ask you this: Right now, could anything stop you from taking that sip? Oh, you don’t have a coffee or tea? Then get one or imagine you have one. Barring a sudden, catastrophic natural disaster, the answer is no, nothing can. The only thing that could stop you from taking a sip is…you!

In fact, nothing can stop you from going to the gym, eating right, getting an education, looking for a better job, paying attention to your relationships, not spending money on your credit cards or doing the things you should to make your life better. Nothing can stop you from anything you want to improve in your life except you. You are the only obstacle in your life.

We need to stop blaming outside factors for our behavior. There is no boogeyman keeping you from creating the life you want. We also have to stop looking for shortcuts. We tend to fall into the trap of wanting instant gratification and there are plenty of folks trying to sell this junk. I hate to be the one to tell you this but there are no magic pills that will make you thin, cure your life in seven days, get rich over night or have great abs in two weeks.

There is only one sure way to success and that’s doing the work. This means we must get into action. Get motivated to change right now! Motivation is power and we have established here that being powerful is as simple as taking a sip of coffee or tea.

So enjoy the rest of your coffee or tea and smile while you take that sip, because right now you are powerful and right now you’ve decided to get into action to achieve the changes you want.]]>

Salt and Habaneras from Torrevieja

In order to give directions, everyone referred to this town as where the old tower is and therefore in Spanish - Torrevieja, which when translated to English means ‘ an old tower’. This swampy marsh area has been known for its high quality production of salt and one of the places frquently used to store the dried salt was in towers. There was one particular tower which was knocked down when this area was hit by an earthquake in 1829. Even nowadays, this whole area is constantly being shaken by earthquakes, one of the last ones was just a few months ago. Although it is visited thanks to its beautiful beaches such as the Cura, the Locos or the Mata, it is also visited because it has become popular for its habaneras, Cuban music. One might think that it is quite strange that such far away music has planted its roots so strongly in a little salt mining town in Spain. But there is a very reasonable explanation. Torrevieja carried on a constant flow of salt trading with Cuba and the sailors who did this route were spellbound by this lively music and wanted to share it with their home folks and brought it back here. As we can well see, its has been happily transmitted from one generation to another. There is a fantastic international music festival of habaneras held annually at the end of July or the beginning of August. If you are in the area at this time of the year and wish further details, the Patronizer of the Competition ( Patronato Municipal del Certamen International de Habaneras ) can help you or look in the web.

Natural Parks to visit

When you leave Torrevieja on the highway marked C-332, you will be heading for the Natural park of the Lagoons of the Mata. To be sure you will be able to visit this paradise correctly, it would be recommendable to get information and book a date because there is a maximum of 35 people allowed at a time. The most interesting fauna are the birds like the stone curlew and in the winter there is a great concentration of the diving birds and important nucleus of storks, eagles and and avocets. On the other hand, the salt swamps export salt all over the world. And if that was not enough, salt baths are also recommended for some types of illnesses such as arthritis and skin diseases having become quite popular in the 19th century. But the best part of this excursion is when the sun reflects in these salt mountains.

Even though this city has a lot to do, it is easy and fun to make day excursion travelling up the Costa Blanca to visit Santa Pola on the outskirts of Alicante, then on to Benidorm with its fantastic theme parks of all kinds, Altea and Javea. Get the most out of your stay and travel.]]>