It seems that Brazil is the place to watch. Its economy is thriving, its property market is booming and more and more tourists are choosing to experience its delights than ever before.

Brazil is also home to some of the most healthy and exotic foods available, no more so than the famous Amazon region where the trees of the rainforest simply groan under the weight of hundreds of different types of tropical fruit. Many of these have been discovered to offer significant health benefits and suddenly names such as pupunha, capuau and grumixama are tripping off peoples tongues in juice bars and cafs from North to South. It is the aai berry, though, that is unarguably responsible for the Brazilian health food revolution that is taking not just Brazil but also the US by storm.

The acai berry is small and purplish in colour and grows on the acai palm that is native to the Amazon. The berry has been used for centuries by those in the know to give them an energy surge and boost their physical strength. It is also well known for providing extra nutritional value to a diet.

Since its discovery by the rest of the world, acai has been hailed as the planets most-super superfood. It is one of the most nutrient-rich examples found anywhere, packed full of antioxidants, phytonutrients, anthocyanins, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein. And recent research even shows that it potentially has the ability to fight cancer cells.

The most nutrient dense part of the berry is the skin and the pulp but in Brazil every part of the berry is used for different purposes, even the seed. Its juice and pulp are frequently used in juice blends, smoothies, sodas and other beverages. It has become one of the country’s most popular ice cream flavors and in recent years literally thousands of dedicated acai cafes have sprung up, serving acai na tigela ” literally acai in a bowl, served with honey and granola as a health food and energizer.

Acai is now being exported heavily as seeds or in juice, frozen fruit pulp or in dried and freeze-dried form.

The US and Europe are increasingly embracing the potential of aai. It is now available as a dietary supplement in capsule, pill and powder format for use by those wanting to boost their immune systems, mental focus, energy and digestive functions. Its anti-ageing qualities are also being celebrated, as well as its new-found reputation as the Brazilian Viagra!

So whether you are already a fan or you need convincing and want to try this superfood out for yourself, get down to your nearest juice bar or health food store for your dose of acai today. But take it from me, acai tastes way better on home turf, so why not book your flight to Brazil and give it a try?

This article was written by Ginny Naish the Marketing Director of Property Dreams Brazil, a Brazilian real estate consultancy based in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba. Property Dreams Brazil can provide consultancy services with regard to property investment, land, re-location and property marketing. Please visit Property Dreams Brazil for further information on Brazil.

Tax is something we all have to pay on more or less every purchase we ever make. It is what fuels our economy and gives our government money so that they can run the country.

So tax is what makes our economy and more or less the whole capitalist system work by giving the government a slice of the profit from every transaction made in a store and every persons wage packet.

However, despite the fact that tax and its benefits are more or less what separates our country from the less economically developed countries and it allows the country to be run in a way that benefits everyone, but even so, at the end of the day, it is our hard earned money that’s being taken away from us, so aren’t we at least entitled to a little groan about it once in a while?

However if you are a citizen of a country outside the EU and you are visiting the UK (or one of the other qualifying countries within the EU) then there is a scheme in place that allows you to claim back tax that you pay on purchases from certain stores.

There are 5 steps you should take in order for you to claim back your tax, and they are:

1. Look out for the sticker in store windows indicating that they are part of the tax free shopping scheme.

2. Check the minimum purchase amount in order to qualify for a tax refund (this can vary from shop to shop)

3. Request and fill out the tax refund cheque form.

4. When you show customs your passport on your way out of the country, show them your completed tax refund cheque form.

5. Either go to the tax refund office in the airport to claim your money back, or you can send the form off in the post and receive the money in cheque form or have it credited to your credit card.

Times are tough at the moment, with a lot of us having a hard time juggling our mortgage, paying the bills and keeping the gas tank full. At the same time, people are being laid off by the thousands and wave after wave of home foreclosures are sweeping across the country. If you happen to own a timeshare, then things are even worse. The maintenance fees keep going up every year and owners are frequently invoiced hundreds or even thousands in special assessment fees. Now is the time to get rid of your timeshare before the added expense causes even more economic stress on your household.

If you still have financing on your timeshare, then it behooves you to pay off your mortgage as soon as you possibly can. You’ll not only be free of those high, non tax-deductible interest payments but it will be much easier to sell a timeshare which does not still have a mortgage attached. Since there are so many other timeshares on the market which are paid in full, most buyers will simply pass by a timeshare which still has a mortgage owed on it.

It’s never been easy for timeshare owners to resell — a FTC report reveals that over the last two decades, a mere 3.3% of timeshares listed for resale have actually been sold. With the current economic climate, it’s even tougher to sell and it can take a long time; during which you’ll have to pay for advertising and broker’s fees! With those special assessments coming ever more frequently, you can’t afford to wait a second longer than absolutely necessary.

You could try to rent your timeshare. Even if you are able to rent it, the income may not be enough to pay for your maintenance fees or that surprise special assessment. Is losing money and not going to your timeshare resort worth the hassle?

Furthermore, fewer charities are taking ownership of timeshares because of the inherent cost and liabilities. Again, like selling, donating your timeshare may take too much time to find a proper charity that will take it. Unfortunately, the clock is always ticking and the next timeshare bill may be just around the corner.

If you’d like to avoid these surprise charges for special assessments (which can be in the thousands of dollars), then you’ll want to get that timeshare of your hands as quickly as possible. Trying to handle the sale on your own can have mixed results; and the longer you wait, the more fees you’ll end up being assessed with and the more stressful the experience will be. The best way to go if you want to get rid of your timeshare in short order is to work with a timeshare transfer company to get rid of your timeshare right away.

A good timeshare transfer company will guarantee the transfer of a timeshare out of an owner’s name so that the owner is no longer responsible for any fees associated with that timeshare. This service is performed for a fee. The transaction is quick and should be binding the minute that you sign a contract. In other words, any fee that is mailed to you after the contract is signed should go to the transfer company and not to you. Your financial responsibility for the timeshare will be lifted upon signing the contract.

It’s important to choose a timeshare transfer company which is reputable. Look for companies which have been around for a minimum of 4 years, since this will help you steer clear of those companies which are run by dishonest operators. Also look into how the company is rated by the Better Business Bureau. No company will be entirely free of complaints — but you should check if complaints from customers have been resolved by the company and that the BBB gives the company a good rating.

No matter how you go about it, getting rid of your timeshare frees you from the financial and emotional stress of maintenance fees and special assessments — which lets you focus on more important matters like ensuring that your mortgage is kept in good standing.

In this current troubled economic period, many people have had to trim their budgets to make ends meet. Many people think that eating at fancy restaurants is one activity they have to eliminate from their budget. Fortunately, there are things you can do to greatly reduce your restaurant bill if you dine at a fancy restaurant.

1. The most expensive time to eat at a fancy restaurant is during the evening. To get a much cheaper meal, have lunch at an expensive restaurant. Most restaurants offer scaled down meals at lunch time at a much cheaper price. It is important to find out when the lunch hours end and dinner hours begin so you don’t end up paying for a dinner meal.

2. Many fancy restaurants will offer special promotions in the newspaper where they will provide a coupon for a discount on a dinner. Make sure you check the local newspaper to see if there are any special discounts being offered by a fancy restaurant.

3. Some fancy restaurants will offer a type of “happy hour” such as between 4:00pm and 6:00pm. During this time they will offer inexpensive items from their regular menu. This type of promotion may be offered in a lounge area.

4. Many fancy restaurants will offer brunch on certain days such as Sunday. They may have a buffet or special discounts on meals. These meals are usually much cheaper than their standard dinner meals. Don’t forget about cheap breakfast and brunch menus on during the off-season.

5. Fancy restaurants will have delicious appetizers. You can orders several different appetizers and share them with a friend or spouse.

6. Share the entree with the person you are dining with. Entrees can often be such dishes as a platter of different types of food such as seafood.

7. Considering drinking water instead of soda or alcohol. These beverages are expensive so drinking only water will cut down on the price of the meal. You can squeeze a little lemon in it for flavor.

8. If it is possible, order and eat an appetizer before you place your order. You will then be somewhat full and will be less likely to order more food than you need.

9. Desserts at a fancy restaurant can be very expensive. You can cut down on your dining bill if you cut out the desserts.

10. A great way to make the most out of an expensive meal is to take leftovers home. If you have enough food, you will have a meal at home the next day. Consider this option when reviewing the menu.

11. Eat a snack before you go to the restaurant. Such food as carrot or apple pieces will satisfy some hunger so you won’t over order. Consider it an appetizer.

Eating at a fancy restaurant does not have to blow your monthly budget. Just practice a couple of cost cutting tips and you can have a great meal at a great price.

If you are about to take a well earned holiday, have you thought about experiencing one of the many northern Europe cruises that are available? If you like the smell of the sea air and are looking for a different kind of adventure, then there are many European cruise deals to help you achieve this goal.

Northern Europe cruises are designed to take passengers to some of the furthermost northern points on the planet. You can visit countries such as Norway, Sweden and Finland. You may well find that countries including Ireland and Scotland are included in the northern hemisphere bracket. One of the biggest attractions of these types of cruises is the opportunity to witness what is known as the “Midnight Sun”. This phenomenon can be seen from a number of Scandinavian locations and is truly a spectacular sight. Imagine there being no darkness for a full 24 hours, only bright sunshine.

Northern Europe cruises are suitable for all types of traveler and for any purpose. Perhaps you would like to have your wedding aboard the ship, or are just looking for that family holiday with a difference. You will be hard pushed to find a cruise that does not suit you. There are European cruise deals that can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.

If you like the sea but also like to plat your feet on firm soil once in a while, then a cruise is not out of the question. Most cruises operate whereby there is an itinerary where they stop at various cities and countries throughout the length of the journey. This lets the ship’s passengers explore some of the most beautiful and interesting places in the northern part of the planet.

If you think that it may be impossible to fit it all in, it is worth noting that northern Europe cruises vary in length. You can book a short break, usually three or four days, but it is also possible to find European cruise deals that last up the three months! Whatever you are looking for, you will find a cruise to suit the amount of time you have to relax.

Most cruises will allow you to travel from any of the major ports in your home country. It is even possible to find European cruise deals that include flights. This means that you can fly to one of the stops in the ship’s itinerary and join the cruise for the remainder of the journey.

Hunting for northern Europe cruises is a simple task and many operators can be found quickly online. It will only be a matter of hours before you locate the perfect cruise deal for you and your group.

Once you have found the perfect cruise deal for you, you can book the trip online and reserve your space on the ship. You will be asked for important details such as the names of the people in your group and your insurance company details, so it is best to have these to hand. Make sure you mention any special requests such as dietary needs or medical requirements. You can also phone and book your trip directly if you prefer.

Once your booking is confirmed, you can be assured that you will have the time of your life on one of the fabulous and adventurous northern Europe cruises available.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to travel these days and still have a wonderful experience that you’ll always remember. With lots of places to choose from, you may have trouble picking where you want to go first. But can you travel within a reasonable price range and still enjoy your trip? Yes, if you plan carefully in advance you will find just the right balance of pleasure and financial responsibility without feeling deprived or over extended.

However, there are certain things that you should not neglect nor cut down on. One such thing is travel insurance. Rather than eating at the finest restaurants at every meal, it may be exciting to try the food of a local market on a few occasions. Though it may seem that insurance is an unnecessary expense, it is not recommended that you embark on your trip without it. Though there is a slim chance you will actually need the insurance, this is a situation where it is better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it.

First you establish what perks you need or want and then find a trustworthy company. There are existing cites that permit you to input data about yourself which includes age as well as other factors. Each company will offer several plans to choose from. Figure out what services will be necessary and proceed from there. For instance, if you are not traveling with sporting equipment, you may need less insurance. Upon your arrival, if these tools or apparatus are needed you may be able to rent them. Pay close attention to the plans, some plans include cancellation guidelines that may leave you at a lost in certain situations. If something arises that prohibits you from going on your trip as scheduled, you should have the ability to re-book at a more appropriate time without additional charges. Some plans refund with cash while others offer vouchers. Even if you budget doesn?t all you the most costly of plans, by securing a basic plan you?re granting yourself a much needed sense of security that would allow you to properly enjoy your vacation.

To reduce the price, there are many choices offered. Several travel agencies offer reduced prices for travelers of certain ages. Plans are presently available for those who may be 65 or older. Taking advantage of these plans may be as easy as calling companies in your area. In some instances, you may have to use the internet so that you may compare one company?s price to that of another.

Depending on where you would like to go, there are usually reduced prices offered for groups for either the actual travel fare or activities that may be available after your arrival. Therefore, you may benefit from traveling with friends not only through their companionship but financially as well.

Many airlines give special benefits to those who have ‘frequent flyer’ points accumulated. These can be saved up through programs offered by credit card companies, airlines or banks. Frequent flyers miles can save you tons of money and may even mean a free ticket or free hotel room. Look into joining a frequent flyer club through your airline or credit card company.

On average, the over 65 population may be able to save a minimum of 10 to 15% off their travel expenses, if they conduct a little bit of searching in the right places.

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The teenage olive ridley sea turtle was just 15 years old as she waited 500 yards offshore in the warm, tropical eastern Pacific ocean off Ostional Beach in a small land that, more than 500 years earlier, Christopher Columbus had discovered and named “Costa Rica”, the “rich coast.”

The nearly daily afternoon tropical rains of November had slipped away as the marine turtle waited in anticipation. The moon was in its final quarter and, though she did not know why, it was having an effect on her.

As it has done for uncountable eons, the moon was gracing the earth with its timeless phases. Though she could not know it, it was drawing this olive ridley turtle ashore. She was not alone. At first, a few yards away, another Pacific sea turtle joined her, then a third, followed by a dozen, then hundreds, thousands, now tens of thousands of marine sea turtles. For more than 100,000,000 years it had been thus: vast migrations of ancient creatures, culminating when the moon was in this phase.

Life is always magical. Just a few months earlier, this turtle was foraging in the middle of the Pacific Ocean more than 2,500 miles away. And the tens of thousands now alongside her were scattered across several million square miles of ocean.

Although there was plenty of food far out in the Pacific, something had begun to stir within her. Hundreds of thousands of marine turtles felt the same timeless need to return to Costa Rica. They, and she, were all going back to where they had hatched.

Now, months later, she waited in the soft moonlight just a few hundred meters from her destination. She was ready. Over the thousands of miles she had traversed, she had encountered several different male olive ridley sea turtles in the clear tropical waters and bred with them in the deep ocean. Like her, they too were being affected by something unseen, a force nearly as old as life itself. It was something so compelling that her species had been going back to the same Costa Rica beach since the days of dinosaurs.

In the tropical night this olive ridley sea turtle was waiting. She had somehow returned to the very beach where she had hatched in 1995. We do not know how a Pacific marine turtle finds the exact beach where she started life. There are only a handful of nesting beaches on earth and they are not very big. In fact Ostional Beach is only a few hundred meters long. Now part of Costa Rica’s Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, it is almost certainly the most important olive ridley marine turtle nesting site on earth. Incredibly, in 1995, the year this turtle hatched, some half a million female olive pacific sea turtles had come ashore to nest here in huge waves. These massive invasions are called “arribadas.”

For fifteen years, the mother of this hundred pound marine turtle joined massive Costa Rica arribadas annually and she would have done so again except that she drowned in an illegal shrimping net just a few weeks before. Thousands more were killed by long line commercial fishermen. Even more died needlessly by swallowing plastic bags carelessly discarded. So many have been killed, the race is endangered.

Of course, the hundreds of thousands of olive ridleys just offshore know none of this. In the tropical pale moonlight, we can see them even though they are still half a mile away. There are now so many gathered that it almost seems one could walk on their backs for at least a mile and never get a wet foot. We can only gaze in wonder and awe as they gather silently. These ancient beings will never know that they were here long before there was a dinosaur walking the earth. They cannot appreciate our capacity for destruction or efforts at preservation. They only know that this little stretch of beach is where they’ve always come.

Then, though no one knows why, it happens. As quietly as they first appeared, as silently as they gathered, their patience has been rewarded and they begin to come ashore. A single olive ridley turtle followed by a second. Then there are hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands—even more than that—each intent on one task: bringing new life. All night they come. And all day, day after day. It is a wonder of magnificent Costa Rica and as timeless as the phases of the moon. It is the spectacular display of life called Arribada.

If you intend to travel anywhere in Europe, including the UK, rail travel is the way to go. You’ll enjoy the speed, comfort and convenience of traveling by rail. You can rent a car at most stations in you need to get somewhere the trains don’t reach. It’s the best way to go for both personal and business purposes because it’s easy on the pocketbook. You and your business associates will enjoy first class comfort when traveling to large scale meetings and other annual events anywhere on the continent and in the UK. Trains take you to and from the UK and the mainland easily.

You’ll be surprised at the ease of booking travel by rail. You can conveniently plan, schedule and organize your trips online. Booking and exchanges are a snap. Group discounts are available. Full service trip organizers will easily accommodate everyone, including family, friends and business associates.

Eurostar navy tender quickly rein in and a suddenly tour between London and Paris or Brussels. Eurostar allows you to trek in high rapidity comfort, with champagne, drinks, and food presented at your seat in Leisure Select and Business Premier Classes. Business Premier may be a principle wealth for corporate hospitality or company journey to universal meetings, conferences and PR trial. Business Premiered offers even faster test in services as well as additional subject services. Standard category offers affordable and sensible tour between London and France. Eurotunnel can also recommend those traveling by car a valuable and rate effective rail choice as you merely push your car against the take and make a fast 35 tiny falter via take to Calais, France.

For business, travel by train offers options like wireless internet connections and laptop battery charging on some routes. Wherever and for whatever purpose you’re transporting clients, they’ll enjoy the amazing hospitality and convenience of rail travel. Your clients will be pampered with unparalleled comfort, convenience and corporate hospitality that allow free time for work or play.

While file trek workings well for shorter trips, it is also principle for longer trips. Sleeper cars are vacant on some exercise routes, allowing for a comfortable night’s catnap. While focus fares can be utterly economical, first seminar seats in the UK and Europe will tolerate travelers an enjoyable and relaxing pester to their destination. Long aloofness guided services are most liable to agreement first panache services. These may embrace more comfortable seats, tables, upgraded decor, meal services and more. Business travelers will also appreciate access to first lecture lounges in many guide stations with Wi-Fi, capacity outlets for charging mobile phones, laptops and other electronics, comfortable spaces for meetings, and more.

Rail travel in the UK is very convenient. It usually takes less than 30 minutes to check in. This can be especially important to business travelers who have schedules to meet. Three pieces of luggage are allowed for each passenger, two large items and one smaller hand bag. If a traveler has more than three pieces of luggage, a fee will be charged for the extra pieces.

For any type of corporate event, large or small, anywhere in the UK or Europe, rail travel offers the best of all worlds. Consult a corporate hospitality specialist to help you plan your next business meeting and make the most of the expertise offered to get the convenience of booking and check in, luxury, and comfort your guests will enjoy. You’ll make the best possible impression on your business associates and be seen as a leader in your field.

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I am a professional photographer in Costa Rica. The experiences on my tours are many since I never know what my group and I will happen upon. Let me tell you about one of these surprising events.

One of the destinations for my group in Costa Rica Photo Tours is the beautiful, pristine Osa Peninsula along the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, a place that National Geographic says is “the most biologically diverse place” on the planet. In order to reach this location by vehicle we drive through the tiny village of Ojochal, which is very near my home.

Let me tell you about a unique way to move that some rural Costa Ricans still use. One day, when my photography group was passing through the village, we noticed a most unusual way of moving. But, to help you better appreciate what we saw, let me provide you with some background on the man who was moving.

The fellow who was moving was one of my neighbours, Senor Wilson (real Spanish name, don’t you think?), who has brought my wife and me flowering plants since we moved in. It was really funny the first day that he stood at the top of the driveway with plants in hand. He was so polite that he would not come down to the house without our invitation even though he was there to give us a present.

After a sort of “conversation”, he in Spanish and my wife and I mostly in English, I realized that he wanted to give us the plants. We were new in the community and this was a welcoming from the neighbours who live at least a hour walk up the mountain. Yep, walk. No car. Senor Wilson walked an hour just to deliver a gift. Now, that is neighborly!

With the passage of time, Senor Wilson has given me flowering plants many times. Often he stands there waiting to see where I will plant it. I would probably do the same thing if I lugged it down a mountain for an hour. However, there are so many things to do that planting this gift is never one of my priorities. Certainly, I never thought that I would be tested on my ability to choose a location and plant something when I moved to Costa Rica from Canada.

A couple of days after Senor Wilson gave me plants one time, he came to the house with still another plant and visited while his two boys swam in the river by the house. Of course, he asked me where I planted the others that he had brought the last time he came.

Unfortunately, the flowering plants were still on my terrace in aluminium kettles with drainage holes stabbed in the bottom of the pot with a machete. When good neighbor Wilson saw that his previous gift had not been planted, he politely asked in his quiet way if I would mind if he planted all of them for me. Quite a fellow, my neighbor and friend, Wilson.

Now that you have some idea about the kind of fellow my friend and neighbor Wilson is like, I want to return to my photography tour group driving along the dusty road near my house. Suddenly, we came upon a man walking alongside his horse. The animal was carrying two white bags, two huge white bags, filled with clothes and household items. Between the bags, Wilson or his wife had wedged a blue broom that extended over the animal’s head, giving us the impression that the horse was wearing a bristle blue tiara. I wonder if the horse was enjoying his royal status or quietly suffering the indignity of wearing a broom crown.

Wilson, standing by the horse, was holding a bridle in one hand and a birdcage in the other. A man, his birdcage, a horse, his crown. Quite a sight! It was moving day in Costa Rica.

I started the conversation as usual with “Hola, que tal?” “How are you?” And then I asked if he was moving (only kidding). But, sure enough, the horse was neighbor Wilson’s version of a moving van. I believe it is called a grass-eating 4 X 4.

Wilson explained that his family would be babysitting one of the Bed and Breakfasts while the owner was going back to Germany during the rainy season. This was ideal for him because it was much easier for his wife and 3 children to live in the pueblo close to the school rather than walk down about 2 miles from their mountain home every day.

I thought that it was rather interesting that he was carrying the birdcage. I would have thought that on one of the previous trips down to their new digs one of the children would have wanted to carry the cage.

Carting flowering plants and birdcages is all in Wilson’s job description. He told me and the group that the little bird was very young (parrot or parakeet, I don’t know), that it just loved to talk and knew many words. As though he understood, the bird started showing off, chattering away while we are talking about it. I would tell you what it said but my command of bird Spanish remains very poor to this day. Sorry.

You can imagine that my group was very excited about taking pictures of a crowned horse, chattering bird, and Costa Rica family walking down a mountain, worldly possessions carried by their trusty steed. Moving day in Costa Rica. One never knows what one will see or experience on my photo tour of Costa Rica.

Frank Scott lives in tropical Costa Rica where he is a professional Costa Rica Photographer offering unique photography tours. Some of his work can be seen in Costa Rica Vacations, a very popular travel guide to this unique country.

These are very stressful times for all of us. Most of us have never experienced anything in our lives that even comes close to the fear and uncertainty that surrounds us these days. We are worried if we will have a job next week; if we will be able to keep a roof over our heads and put food on the table. All we hear from the media is how bad things are and that its likely to get worse. Who wouldnt be stressed?

Stress feels uncomfortable and is painful. Our natural instinct is to avoid anything that is painful. We run away from the pain as fast as we can. In the case of stress, we frequently turn to drugs or alcohol for relief. Escape also comes in the form of a vacation.

Yes, a vacation… thats what I need; a chance to get away from lifes stresses; to escape. We think, That way I can come home refreshed and ready to deal with lifes stresses with renewed vigor. A typical vacation can be a big help in dealing with stress. We get a chance to leave the worries behind us for a week or two, but do we really?

Unfortunately, a lot of our “vacation time” is wasted. The beginning of the vacation is spent “getting into vacation” mode. The end of the vacation is spent worrying about going home and all the stuff that is waiting for us to do when we get home. In the middle of the vacation, we do get a chance to relax a little.

When the vacation is over, we have to go back to all the stresses we left at home. We likely did not learn anything while on vacation to help us deal with the stresses of daily life. A typical gay vacation is only a quick and very temporary fix, like a drug. This is why Spirit Journeys is more important now in these stressful times.

Our personal experience has shown us that conscious gay travel with Spirit Journeys can be a life changing event. The introduction to new ways of thinking, the learning and practicing of techniques to handle stress or the building of a support network of friends, can all help us be less affected by lifes ups and downs; to be more confident as we move through our lives.

Also, at a Spirit Journeys event we get to meet and connect with people at a level simply not possible on an ordinary gay vacation. We are given the chance to learn new things and hear new ideas from the others in the group. The connections made on a Spirit Journey add immensely to the enjoyment of our time away. To be able to sit and have a real conversation with someone; for us to be listened to with genuine interest; for us to listen to others with our heart; the importance of these things cannot be measured and bring a deep sense of fulfillment. Yes, there is effort involved. We can’t just hide in our rooms. We will want to be “present”; we will want to be willing; we will want to be as open and honest as we can be.

But the effort we put out has unimaginable rewards. We know in our hearts that this kind of effort has the power to change us, and change us deeply. These kind of changes to our “way of being” in the world, can make everday feel like we’re on a vacation.

Written by Howie Holben, this is an article about the importance of spiritual gay travel in times of stress. You can learn more about gay vacations with purpose at www.SpiritJourneys.com.