PRICELESS GIFTS

by Gail S. Bernstein, Ph.D.
The season is here once again. No matter what holiday, if any, you celebrate, no matter what you believe, you're being bombarded with exhortations to celebrate, to love, to buy and to give. The airwaves are filled with stories about miracles and family gatherings that may be more fantasy than reality. Here are some suggestions for nonmaterial gifts that capture the spirit of the season.
Give yourself the gift of realistic expectations. So many of us understand others are human and imperfect, but forget the same is true for ourselves. Forgive yourself for being human, and for having limited time, energy, and resources. Remember that gifts do not have to be homemade or extravagant to be loving and important.
Give the gift of time.
Offer to babysit for someone with small children. Go to lunch with a friend you haven't seen in a long time. Plan a special evening with your lover. Take time for yourself.
Give the gift of life.
If you haven't done it already, fill out an organ donor card and carry it in your wallet.
Give the gift of unusual sights and sounds.
The world is filled with them, and many are free or inexpensive. Take someone special on a tour. There are lights and decorations everywhere, free concerts at shopping malls, free days at the zoo.
Give the gift of laughter.
There's plenty of pain and suffering in the world, and laughter helps us cope. Go frolic on a playground, listen to a child tell silly jokes, take someone to a funny movie. Laughter isn't just for kids.
Give the gift of an open mind.
Listen carefully to someone who disagrees with you. Watch a television show you've never seen. Listen to the words of a song you've always ignored.
Give the gift of love.
Tell the important people in your life how much they mean to you. I've never heard anyone express regret for having said "I love you" too often.
With best wishes for the holiday season,

Sun and culture on the Costa Brava

Whitewashed fishing villages. Crystalline seawater. Underwater paradise areas and nature reserves with deep green, untouched landscapes. Small coves, hidden between rocky outcrops. Tourist towns like Lloret de Mar, Cadaqués and Roses. The Costa Brava forms a large tract of the Catalonian coast. It is proud of its traditions, birth-place and source of inspiration to Salvador Dalí, and home to impressive monuments and a wealth of history.
With rugged cliffs, pine forests, hidden coves and dream beaches, this is one of Spain's most picturesque areas: the Costa Brava. A land of sea, light, north winds and fishermen. History and art in the form of archaeological sites, monasteries, churches, bridges, monumental sites, fiestas and age-old celebrations, which all give a unique character to this area, stretching more than 200 kilometres over the north of Catalonia, in the province of Girona. Thanks to its excellent climate, this part of the Catalonian coast has been one of the most sought-after destinations for tourists from all over the world for decades, enjoying a wide range of cultural activities all year round. Concerts, festivals and popular celebrations fill its towns and villages with music, colour, and joy. Come and savour a rum cremat as you listen to habaneras (traditional songs that evoke sea journeys of times gone by) on summer nights in Calella de Palafrugell. Travel back to the middle ages in Verges and watch the frightening Dança de la Mort (Dance of death). Discover the spectacular firework competition (one of the world's most important) in Blanes, or visit the unique Peralada Castle during its prestigious, internationally renowned music festival.
The Costa Brava also has an impressive variety of priceless historical-artistic heritage. This is the area's artistic and cultural inheritance. Take your time to explore the area's villages, enjoying exceptional landscapes all the while, including Romanesque churches and monasteries such as Sant Pere de Rodes, in Port de la Selva, the ancient citadel at Roses, the Greco-Roman ruins at Empúries, Catalonia's most visited archaeological site - the medieval town of Pals or Palamós, the walled town of Tossa de Mar, or, a little further into the interior, loose yourself in the unique old town of Girona, with its winding, age-old cobbled streets. Alternatively, in Figueres you can admire the art of surrealist genius Salvador Dalí, the Costa Brava's great international ambassador. This wonderful part of the Catalonian coast inspired great artists such as Picasso, Klein and Marc Chagall, but it was surely Dalí who brought international fame to this corner of the Mediterranean. He was born and died in Figueres and the artist's mark can be seen throughout the village. Here you will find the Dalí Theatre-Museum, a work in itself, it is a must-see with its "egg-topped" towers and the huge dome beneath which the painter's remains lie at rest. Just a few kilometres away you will find Cadaqués, one of the Costa Brava's most emblematic villages, with its white fishermen's houses, home to the Salvador Dalí House Museum, in Portlligat, the artist's refuge, where he painted the majority of his greatest works. In the interior once again you will find the Castell Gala-Dalí House-Museum, in Púbol, with its garden of surrealist elephants and the crypt where Gala, the genius' muse, is buried.
Every year the Costa Brava, with its exceptional leisure and hotel infrastructure, attracts thousands of tourists. Places like Lloret de Mar offer the ideal place to spend a few days of sun and sand. The quality of its waters and coastline, with protected nature reserves, unspoilt coves, wide open beaches and paradise dive sites such as the Medes islands in L'Estartit, or the Formigues Islands in Palafrugell are a must for nature and water-sports lovers. From Portbou, on the border with France, all the way to Blanes, a universe of culture, tradition, coast, sun, sport and unspoilt nature awaits you - spots that will captivate you from first sight and villages packed with history and art.

Majorca, a privileged destination in the Balearic Islands

Majorca is synonymous with world-renowned beaches and coves, but is also a perfect destination to enjoy countryside, culture, water sports, entertainment... There are many reasons to visit the island, the largest of the Balearics.
Majorca is an island that measures almost 80 kilometres from one end to the other, outstanding for its diversity. It has 550 kilometres of coast, where you will find some of the Mediterranean's most beautiful coves and beaches: white sand beaches with a full range of services, as well as small coves set between cliffs and pine groves in the north of the island. Its clean, crystal clear waters are ideal for bathing and for water sports such as scuba diving, water skiing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing and surfing. These are not the only sports on offer here, however: golf is widely available. There are many well-designed courses, harmoniously set in their natural surroundings, suitable for all levels.
This Balearic Island is packed with wonderful spots. Hiring a car or going on group tours are two good ways to explore the island. Majorca has a broad range of hire cars on offer, although you can also get about using the scheduled bus services that operate between the island's main towns. There is also a train that runs between the capital, Palma de Mallorca and Sóller. This trip is well worthwhile - the train affords delightful views of the beautiful Majorca countryside. If sports are your thing, then cycle touring and hiking are the healthiest ways to get to know this Mediterranean island. Why not explore the tracks and trails that criss-cross Majorca? There are many routes, both along the coast and inland, fully signed with information panels. These itineraries are a wonderful way to get to know the rural side of this land. This is the way to discover the most authentic flavour of Majorca, savouring its unspoilt countryside... It is well worthwhile, rest assured. Nature has an outstanding role on the island. Almost 40 percent of Majorca is protected countryside, and the landscape is marked by contrast: caverns, pine woods, green hills, abrupt mountains... Of the many nature areas, special mention should be made of the Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains in the north, with peaks reaching more than 1,400 metres above sea level. Close to these mountains you will find some of Majorca's most picturesque towns and villages, such as Deià, Pollença and Valldemossa, whose unique atmosphere has captivated artists for centuries. Another highly recommended outing is to the Cabrera National Park (Marine and Terrestrial), a group of islands and islets less than an hour by boat from Majorca.
Culture is an ever-present element in the life of the island. All year round there are festivals, concerts, literary competitions, exhibitions, recitals, theatre performances… The city of Palma de Mallorca is the cultural and artistic centre of the island, and is outstanding for the excellent conservation of its historic centre. Be sure to take a stroll around the old town and enjoy the varied, entertaining nightlife. Every year, Majorca's charm attracts famous politicians, film stars, personalities from the world of fashion... they make the island their holiday destination. Majorca has excellent communications by air and sea. Airlines from numerous countries operate out of its Son Sant Joan international airport, eight kilometres from Palma. The island also has transport links with the rest of the archipelago and the Spanish mainland via boats and scheduled ferry services that sail from the ports of Palma and Alcúdia. These excellent communications mean that from Majorca you can make visits to other Balearic Islands, such as Ibiza and Minorca, with return day-trips possible.

Beaches, art and leisure on the Costa del Sol

The perfect setting for leisure and relaxation where you can enjoy wide open beaches with warm waters, modern hotel facilities and exclusive golf courses, not forgetting the passion for life to be found in its towns and in its people. Forget your daily routine and spend a few magical days in one of the world’s most prized tourist destinations.
Sun and sand are, without doubt, the trademarks that have made the coast of Malaga province into the ideal destination for more than eight million tourists who come to this privileged part of Andalusia every year. Initially attracted by its exceptional climate (the average annual temperature is about 18ºC), visitors to the Costa del Sol end up being seduced by its attractive towns and villages, many with quiet coves, kilometres of clean sand, unusual natural settings and the Mediterranean sea, perfect for swimming and all sorts of water sports. Any spot on the Malaga coast is perfect to enjoy the good weather, peace and quiet, cool streets and squares, friendly local people and delicious flavours of the finest fish in a variety of dishes – an essential ingredient in the light, exquisite local cuisine.
The life of leisure and luxury also stand out on the Costa del Sol. Towns like Malaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Marbella, Mijas and Estepona are important centres for shopping, culture and business, as well as being some of international high society’s favourite destinations. Casinos, concerts, museums, fiestas, theatres, water parks and theme parks are just some of the leisure activities on offer by day, while by night the fun continues when the bars, discos and nightclubs open. The Costa del Sol’s setting is also perfect for a wide range of open-air sports and contact with nature. If there is one dominant sport in Malaga province, however, it is golf. The Costa del Sol is a Mecca for thousands of enthusiasts. There are almost fifty courses to be found over a relatively small area – in places like Marbella, Malaga, Estepona, Guadiaro, San Pedro de Alcántara, Alhaurín de la Torre, Artola, Mijas and Puerto Banús.
The perfect way to relax and tone up the body is in one of the many new spas and hydrotherapy centres that have appeared recently along the Malaga coast offering sauna, massage, Turkish baths and jacuzzi. There are two traditional spa-centres in the province. They can be found in-land at Carratraca and Tolox, with good access from the coast. The Costa del Sol, like all of Spain, has a wealth of art and history to enjoy. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga and the city has just opened a new museum dedicated to this universal artist. It also has historic buildings and monuments like the Cathedral, Moorish “Alcazaba” (Fortress) as well as its old town, full of palaces and stately town houses. It is also well worth visiting nearby towns such as Antequera, Ronda, Marbella and Nerja whose beautiful, mysterious pre-historic caves are not to be missed. It is definitely worth taking time out from your relaxation by the sea to discover the historic/artistic heritage of this welcoming region, worthy of being one of the world’s prime tourist destinations.

Beaches with the Q for Quality award

Clean, safe, accessible and environmentally friendly. This is what Spain's beaches are like, and for this reason they are the chosen destination for thousands of people every year. Their quality is recognised internationally. Did you know that Spain is the European country that received most blue flags in 2007? Some of them also have the demanding Q for Tourism Quality award. Come and discover what a first-rate coast is like - a coast with the Q award.
With almost 8,000 kilometres of coastline and 3,000 catalogued beaches, Spain is the perfect destination for those in search of sun and sand at any time of year. Proof of this lies in the thousands who return year after year. Here you will find a broad, varied array of attractions, with beaches offering a multitude of options for entertainment with the family, water sports and fun by day and by night. Whichever region you choose, here you will find excellent facilities and clean, sandy beaches, with approved security services, excellent access and respect for the environment. All this is guaranteed by the quality certificates granted to Spanish beaches after evaluation of these parameters. The blue flag rating is the most widely known, but there are other highly prestigious, demanding systems also in place. These include the Q for Quality distinction, awarded by the Spanish Tourism Quality Institute (ICTE).
When this award was created it was a pioneering innovation at world level. It is different from other standards in that it focuses especially on the tourism sector, with specific emphasis placed on the needs of the end user. Q for Quality does not only mean that the beach in questions meets the necessary quality requirements, but also that its facilities and services are in constant search of improvement and customer satisfaction. Some fifty beaches in Spain currently have the Q for Tourism Quality award. They are in the Balearic Islands and on the coasts of Andalusia, Asturias, Region of Valencia, Catalonia and Murcia, although many others are on the way to receiving it. Once they have earned the award, beaches must pass an annual review to maintain it. Environmental education, leisure services, removal of architectural barriers and assistance to disabled persons are some of the aspects taken into account.
In Spain you can enjoy beaches designed just for you. Come and discover them: they are beaches with the Q for Quality award.

Flush With Cash, More Asian Tourists Flock to Japan

SHIRETOKO NATIONAL PARK, Japan — Once prohibitively expensive, Japan is suddenly drawing soaring numbers of Asian tourists who splurge at the nation’s department stores, lounge in its hot spring resorts or explore remote corners, like this stretch of pristine mountains and forests on Japan’s northernmost tip.
While a boon for Japan’s faltering tourism industry, the new tourists are also a sign of larger economic changes in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
Japan itself was once known for its free-spending tourists, who flocked to boutiques from Hong Kong to Fifth Avenue. But as Japan’s economy stalled for the last dozen or so years, rapid development in countries like China and South Korea raised living standards there.
Those countries are now catching up with slow-growing Japan, long the region’s dominant economic power. Indeed, Japan’s dwindling, but still potent, lead in technology is a major draw for Asian tourists, who are as likely to visit a Toyota car factory as a Zen temple.
At the same time, there has been a decline in the number of people going abroad from Japan. The number of Japanese traveling abroad has fallen 3 percent from the peak in 2000 of 17.8 million, the government-run Japan National Tourist Organization said.
The decline was particularly pronounced among Japanese in their 20s, whose trips abroad fell to 2.8 million last year, down 40 percent from a decade ago. Officials from the tourist group attributed the drop among the young Japanese to falling wages and more modest lifestyles.
By contrast, the number of visitors to Japan from South Korea, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong almost doubled last year from five years earlier, to 5.36 million, according to the tourist group. Those four regions alone accounted for nearly two-thirds of all foreign visitors to Japan last year, the organization said.
But far from being concerned about yet another sign of their nation’s declining status, many Japanese seem to embrace this change. The government helped open the gates five years ago by waiving visa requirements for tourists from Taiwan and South Korea.
Asian visitors are now regarded by a growing number of Japanese as a financial shot in the arm for Japan, whose vitality has been sapped by economic maturity and an aging population.
“Asia has closed the gap in economic power,” said Yukiko Fukagawa, an economics and politics professor at Waseda University in Tokyo. “And Japan is slowly realizing that maybe this is not such a bad thing.”
In the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo, the excitement these days is all about the large numbers of rich Asian tourists, most from China. This has pushed stores to begin hiring Chinese-speaking clerks and keep stacks of Chinese bills by cash registers.
At the marble-columned Mitsukoshi department store, one of Tokyo’s fanciest stores, wealthy Chinese buy Japanese and European-brand clothes and handbags by the dozen, and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, apparently on a whim, for a watch or painting in the store, said Shoji Saito, manager of overseas-related business.
Mr. Saito said the store had not experienced such big-spending shoppers since Japan’s own go-go era in the 1980s.
“Asian tourists are our new growth market,” he said.
Many Asian tourists interviewed said they liked to shop here because Japan has the latest fashions first, and at prices way below those in many other Asian countries, where tariffs are steep. They also said they liked visiting Japan because it was close, safe and cleaner than much of the rest of Asia.
But many also say they are drawn by a deep fascination for Japan. Now that they can afford to come, they say they want to see the country that has long been the region’s front-runner in high technology, fashion and other realms of popular culture. They said they felt envy and respect for Japan as the region’s only fully developed nation, even if they did not always see eye to eye on matters like the events of World War II.
“We feel very close to the Japanese culturally, but they are also still ahead,” said Kao Yu-jeng, a 50-year-old schoolteacher who was part of a Taiwanese tour group visiting Shiretoko park, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. “We want to know more about what makes them tick.”
According to the Taiwanese government’s Tourism Bureau, Japan passed Macao last year to become the second-most-popular overseas destination for Taiwanese going abroad, after Hong Kong.
“Japan used to be a very distant presence,” said Hsu Ya-shan, assistant director in the Tokyo office of the Taiwan Visitors Association, a Taiwanese government-run tourism promotion agency. “Now, it feels a lot closer.”
Officials at the Japan National Tourist Organization called the surge in Asian visitors an unexpected result of their Visit Japan program, a 2003 advertising campaign whose goal was to double foreign visitors to 10 million by 2010. While they initially envisioned planeloads of arriving Westerners, it was Asians who actually showed up, officials said.
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During the 1980s, Americans were the largest group of overseas visitors to Japan, but have now fallen to fourth behind South Korea, Taiwan and China.
“Japan always had this huge, unnatural imbalance of sending out far more tourists than it took in,” said Daisuke Tonai, a senior assistant manager at the tourist group. “The situation is finally becoming more normal.”
Mr. Tonai said surveys also showed Asian tourists came to Japan for different reasons than Westerners. While Americans said they came to see cultural attractions like temples, Asians cited shopping, followed by hot springs and nature. Visits to factories are also popular, he said.
Recently, a top draw for Asian tourists is Hokkaido, Japan’s least developed major island, with open spaces and picturesque farms reminiscent of the American Midwest.
Mr. Kao, the Taiwanese teacher, called Hokkaido’s natural beauty a welcome change from pollution-choked cities in Taiwan, and China, where he has visited.
As the group’s bus wound along Shiretoko’s rugged coastline, the tour guide, Yu Li-fang, warned the travelers of the dangers of entering a true wilderness area.
“What do you do if you see a bear?” she said.
“Run,” one voice said.
“Kill it,” said another.
“Do you know how to kill a bear?” Ms. Yu asked, only half jokingly.
While the group did not encounter a bear, many members did experience a different kind of shock at a gift store, where the prices were far higher than in Taiwan.
“Taiwan is getting closer, but Japan is still ahead when it comes to prices,” Lin Hsiao-ching, a 44-year-old homemaker, said with a laugh. “We still have to keep an eye on every bill.”

A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures

THE FILM: Steven Soderbergh came of age at the 1989 Sundance Film Festival with sex, lies, and videotape, but even he would have to admire the chutzpah of Chris Waitt, whose directorial feature debut premiered at the Holiday Village Cinema in Park City on Saturday 19th January. A commendably honest look at the director's less-than-successful love life, Complete History was probably the Brit buzz films of the festival and looks certain to land a US distributor in the very near future.

Phi Phi Island Beach

phuket trip - (moby porcelain soundtrack)

Owning Real Estate in Puerto Vallarta: by Joshua Geary

Imagine the joys of a summer home that makes you money whenever you are not staying in it. This kind of place would be beautiful to visit, comfortable and easy to live in, and ready for you whenever you want because it would be yours. A timeshare cannot offer you all of that no matter how desirable the location, since it can be difficult to get the time slots that you want and even harder during peak vacation time. A timeshare cannot give you everything you need to have the perfect getaway whenever you want, but a condo in a place like Puerto Vallarta, Mexico can.
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most incredible real estate location in Mexico. Invest in Mexico and you can retire to your beachfront condo whenever you wish to enjoy days filled with sun, sand, golfing, fishing, and anything else you could desire from a tropical paradise. Your oceanfront condominium will be waiting for your return whenever you are away, and you will surely wish to retire to Puerto Vallarta's idyllic setting after spending vacation after vacation in sunny bliss.
Owning real estate in Puerto Vallarta can also be a greatly profitable adventure. The typical American has only two to four weeks of vacation time per year, and for the other forty eight weeks, your vacation property would normally sit empty, awaiting you. To keep your property on the Pacific Ocean working for you, hire a local property management company to keep your place looking fresh and lovely and rent your condo out as a vacation rental to others looking to enjoy the wonders of Puerto Vallarta.
Real estate in Puerto Vallarta is a flourishing business because of the high profitability and constantly increasing prices of the local properties. Even just a couple of years of property ownership could translate into big money for interested investors, and getting a great vacation home that pays for itself is no small benefit either. You may become so enamored with your property in Puerto Vallarta that you will not be willing to sell it!
Owning real estate in Puerto Vallarta means living in the lap of luxury. You can enjoy a tropical paradise on the Pacific Ocean and never worry about a thing. The beautiful and luxurious condominiums and other properties in this city are made for the comfort and delight of their residents, even short term residents like yourself. Glance out the window of your Puerto Vallarta condo and watch the dolphins play in the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy sunshine on the beach or adventures beneath the waves, and fall in love with this incredible location.
Prices on properties in Puerto Vallarta seem to rise by the day, so now is the time to do your due diligence and learn more about investing in Mexico. Your investment property may be just waiting for you in sunny Mexico, but it won't wait forever. The time has come for you to make the smart move that you have been dreaming of and invest in Mexico.
Investing in a condominium in Puerto Vallarta could be a smart investment choice for those who are looking to invest in Mexico. You will have a vacation home to enjoy that practically pays for itself, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful Pacific Ocean on your future vacations, and you could potentially be able to resell the condo for a great profit if you don't decide to retire to Mexico entirely. With all of these incredible benefits, what could be better?

Eat Cheaply in Paris

It's easy to eat cheaply in Paris.
Eating out in Paris does not have to be an expensive or an extravagant thing - you can eat well and very cheaply if you know where to look. Whether you want to eat al fresco in the parks and quiet places of the city - or whether you prefer to sit and laze the day away in a cafe or bar or bistro - follow the great ideas and tips you'll find here. Paris does not need to cost you the earth and - with some local knowledge - you can eat cheaply in Paris every day.
In Europe in general - and Paris is no different - it's a good idea to make lunch your main meal of the day. Almost all cafes, bars, bistros and restaurants offer fixed price menus at lunchtime and will often throw in a glass of beer or wine for free included in the price. Even at dinner time if you look around you can find restaurants with menus offering three courses for less than fifteen euros.
Students who have an international student card can use the dining facilities of the Paris university campuses - and the local student food caterer called CROUS also provides food outlets around the city. Just search for CROUS Paris online for a list of addresses. You can also buy a copy of the necessary card at any of the CROUS outlets - provided you have your student identification with you.
Good places to eat include:
Cafe Berthillon on Rue St-Louis-en-I'lle. This is the most fantastic place for ice cream and sorbet with flavours and styles like you couldn't even imagine. Expect long queues for the most popular ice cream shop in Paris.
Cafe de la Mosquee on Rue Geoffroy-St-Hilaire provides authentic mint tea and middle eastern flavours in it's savouries and cakes.
Cafe Very is in the famous Jardin des Tuileries right in the very beating heart of the city. This is the best of several cafes in the gardens and delivers the most perfect toasted croques you'll ever find.
For a more restaurant level nosh up then try some of these great places:
L'as Du Falafel - no prizes for guessing what the dish of the day is here! The falafel is the most famous of all middle eastern treats - look out for the pitta special - with pitta bread, cabbage, aubergine, hummus and tabasco sauce - wonderful.
The Foyer Du Vietnam is on Rue Monge and is a very popular purveyor of vietnamese curries and noodle dishes. Popular with students and locals alike.
Goldenberg Restaurant on Rue des Rosiers is the best known Jewish eating place in the city. You can stuff yourself on borscht, blinis, strudels and - of course - chicken soup! Great food in an authentic atmosphere.
These are only a few suggestions on how to eat cheaply in Paris. The main tip is to remain flexible and - if you can - chat with the locals and ask for their advice.
Enjoy your trip to Paris.

Phuket, Thailand 2005

Koh Samui Thailand

Whale Jump WOW

ASSOS KEFALLONIA SHOWN BY FRANCESCA