meeny's Blog

Facilities

By: Lyrene Zimmerman

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, an exclusive private game reserve in South Africa has added a restorative and pampering luxury spa to its long list of facilities that include a private plane, wine cellar and private chef.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is so exclusive that only 30 people at a time are allowed to visit this game reserve located on the largest private concession in Southern Africa.

Free from malaria and other tropical diseases, this Kalahari resort offers guests activities like horse riding, star gazing, hot air ballooning, meerkat watching, bird watching, sun downers and special activities for the children.

Of course the main activity at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is game watching from the private game viewing vehicle or guided walks or horseback trails across the red dunes.

With activities like these one can almost predict that deluxe facilities will include a well stocked private wine cellar, private plane, high powered telescope (for star gazing), a private chef, a library and a host of other luxuries.

The Sanctuary at Tswalu
And now, from mid - July 2007, a full-time Sanctuary Group therapist will be on duty to - indulge, treat and restore guests at The Sanctuary at Tswalu - the new five-star luxury spa.

Tswalu is justly proud of the success of its ongoing conservation projects in the game reserve, with the founder population of 7 000 animals having grown to more than 12 000 in the short space of five years.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve’s philosophy is "to restore the Kalahari to itself" and that is precisely what the therapists of The Sanctuary at Tswalu will do with the guests who come to them for treatment at the luxury spa.

The Sanctuary Group are creators, marketers and managers of five star spas throughout Africa and through the use of Eastern therapies and Western technology in this African location, their internationally trained therapist will “restore guests to themselves,” using both a locally-produced Fynbos body range, Moya and an internationally-renowned Elemis.

The Ultimate Safari Experience
This game reserve that offers the ultimate safari experience, is a conservation haven and a place of refuge for weary travelers. Tswalu is a Kalahari resort, an exclusive getaway in a brutally beautiful corner of Africa, seen and experienced by few. The luxury spa is an extension of the warm and generous hospitality that embraces guests and makes them return over and over again.

Tswalu - A Very Special Kalahari Resort
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, covers 1000km2 (100 000 ha) of land on the edge of the mysterious desert wilderness that is the Kalahari.

The largest private concession in Sub-Saharan Africa, Tswalu boasts 70 species of mammal including lion, cheetah, desert black rhino, sable and roan antelope. There are also more than 200 bird species here. Tswalu is the historical home of the San people (Bushmen).

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, which belongs to the well known Oppenheimer family, provides the ultimate game reserve experience.

By: Enrique Torres

Your Next Vacation Getaway in the Riviera Maya

It is about time to plan your next vacation and, trust me, the Riviera Maya is a great location for nearly anything you have got in mind. Riviera Maya is the title of the beautiful Caribbean coastline that stretches south of Cancun close to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere reserve. Regardless of whether you want to dwell in a stunning and fashionable beach town filled with people from all over the globe, or simply relax in a remote, tranquil paradise on the beach, you'll find everything you're looking for on the Mayan Riviera. For snorkeling and deep-sea diving, the Riviera Maya is graced with one of the largest reef systems on earth, and is home to more than 500 types of fish.

Because of what the Riviera Maya offers, we have no doubt that you'll appreciate and remember your stay in established areas such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum or to the other growing resort areas like Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, and Puerto Morelos. The diversity of this region provides a large variety of atmosphere, appeal, and personality to appeal to different vacationing styles.

If you stay or vacation in Playa del Carmen, you need to take a walk down the fancy and stylish 5th Avenue. On 5th Avenue, you will have the opportunity to go shopping and visit a great variety of stores with all kinds of things, from expensive jewelry to inexpensive handicrafts. Or you can choose to relax and have a seat in one of the many bars, restaurants and coffee shops in the area. When you are there, you can watch other people who have come from all over the world , and have an ice cold beer and take in the local music.

If you are looking for gorgeous Caribbean surroundings, white sand beaches, an easy-going atmosphere and clear water, then Akumal is just your kind of paradise. While Cancun is a busy, growing metropolis, and Playa del Carmen is a popular and busy tourist spot, Akumal is remote and peaceful.

Akumal is just a short half hour from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and many other fascinating places near the Mayan Riviera, which allows you to explore the region and then get back to the calm, relief, and peace of your Akumal villa. Additionally, if you are a watersport lover, there are beautiful spots for snorkeling or diving. Actually, a perfect place to go snorkeling is in front of your dwelling.

The Riviera Maya is quickly becoming one of the more popular tourist places on earth. The tropical climate and the Rivera Maya's environment generate many of the most complete ecosystems in the world. The zone offers the peacefulness of uncrowded beaches, a labyrinth of subterranean rivers, over a hundred cenotes, and eco-adventure sports such as scuba diving, biking, kayaking, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, bird watching and trekking. It is very close to Mexico's Mayan temples, different activities of the archeological eco- parks, and also gourmet dining, shopping, golf and a wide range of hotels and accommodations to suit every style and budget. All of these things will keep visitors to the Riviera Maya returning again.

Author: Enrique TorresBio: With more than 8 years of working and residing with riviera Maya vacationers, Enrique Torres is an established web master, businessman and travel guide in this growing area of Mexico. Akumal Rentals is one of his primary focuses in the area, providing helpful information and lodging opportunities to the visitors.

personalities

By: Stephanie Larkin

If your cruise ship stops at Sint Maarten/St. Martin, consider yourself very lucky, as you are really getting a 'two for one' deal! There is so much to see and do on this small, picturesque island with two capital cities, plenty of casinos, and more shops and restaurants than you can hope to enjoy.

The island was first discovered by seafaring Indians, who found abundant salt on the island. It was named by Columbus, as he sailed past it on the Feast of St. Martin. The Dutch and the French both wanted it for themselves, and they took it from the Spanish and carved it in two in 1647. The border has been moved several times due to border disputes, but relations between the two countries has been rather amicable for the past 200 years.

Ships generally dock at Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch Sint Maarten. From here you can take a taxi, public bus or rental car to explore the island. There is a road that goes around the outside of the island, connecting Philipsburg to Marigot, the capital of French St. Martin. Both Philipsburg and Marigot are only a few blocks wide, so it is an easy walk to explore either capital, its shops, restaurants or landmarks by foot. Great Bay Beach is within walking distance of where the ships dock, but if you would prefer something a bit more "European", Orient Beach on the north side of the island is called the "French Riviera of the Caribbean", for both it's beauty and the relative undress of it's bathers. There are plenty of sailing tours available, as the island experiences brisk trade winds. In general, if fine dining is what you are after, you will want to visit the French side, but for the casinos, the Dutch side is the place to be. Whichever country you choose, you are sure to enjoy your day at Sint Maarten/St. Martin.

By: Frank Vanderlugt

Are you sick of snow and cold weather? Perhaps you’ve retired and want to fulfill your dream of waking up each morning in a tropical paradise. Or maybe you’ve been a frequent tourist of the warm beachfront, multi-cultural community and you just know that it’s time to make the change in your surroundings permanent. While the decision should never be undertaken lightly, living in Hawaii could be the dawn of your dreams come true.

Living in Hawaii means living in a place with warm weather year round, a place where eleven of the thirteen climate regions on this planet are within miles of your front door. (This does include snow—but as it’s located on the highest peak of the dormant volcano Mauna Kea, you won’t have to see it unless you want to!)

Living in Hawaii means being able to visit tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, and botanical gardens ripe with distinctive flora. Living in Hawaii means being able to swim alongside dolphins, sea turtles, and tropical fish beneath the Pacific Ocean.

Living in Hawaii means being able to partake in the customs of a racially-diverse melting pot of cultures, of joining a hula dance class or making Friday night at the luau more frequent than Friday night at the movies. Living in Hawaii means living each day the Hawaiian Aloha way: carefree, laidback, and part of a warm, accepting community of people.

There are many potential setbacks to living in Hawaii that must be considered before you take the plunge into Hawaiian waters. The cost of living in Hawaii is higher than it is in most places in America and is similar to that of the larger cities on mainland America, like New York and San Francisco. Condominiums in Hawaii typically start at around $320,000, while even small homes can cost $600,000.

There’s also the fact that living in Hawaii means paying prices for shipped goods. Aside from the products like papaya and macadamia nuts that are produced in Hawaii, everything must be shipped to Hawaii by boat or plane. This shipping cost is passed on to consumers. Milk, for example, could cost you as much as $7.50 a gallon!

It is most expensive for citizens living in Hawaii’s most populated regions, like the island of O’ahu, which is comprised entirely of the capitol of Honolulu, but there are far more job opportunities there as well as larger chain retailers where prices are a little cheaper. However, if you envision living in Hawaii for retirement and supporting the local Mom & Pop shops are a part of that laidback life, you may find one of the smaller islands your ideal surroundings.

Living in Hawaii is not an impromptu decision. You should set aside years for saving up money, months for securing a job and searching for real estate in Hawaii, and weeks, if not months, for moving arrangements like shipping over your household items and even your car. In the end, though, people who have always dreamed of living in Hawaii will take one look out their window at the sunset fading over the ocean’s horizon and agree that everything was well worthwhile.