From The Rock

Families used to count on going on vacation once a year, but many are finding it too costly to travel on holiday these days. Even if you can’t afford a get-away this year, there are still many exciting activities you can indulge in for fun. Vacations might not be an option this year, so try a staycation. Here are some ideas to whet your appetite.

You might actually enjoy the process of renovating your home, preferring to do improvements instead of hiring professionals. Since you’ve got a week off from work, why not take one room and work on changing it into something bold and new. There are so many options to explore, including painting it a vibrant color with accent trim, shining up light fixtures and fans, and moving furniture around.

Get out and explore a museum, library or local art gallery for a day of culture. Check out historic sites near your town and investigate what it is that makes your city or state special. New Jersey is the “Garden State,” and Missouri is the “Show me State,” so go to the bookstore and find out why this is so. Not only will you learn something about your state, you’ll have fun doing research as you do.

During your week off, at least one day should be considered total “you-time.” Get self-indulgent for once and hit a day spa, and while you’re there, get a manicure and pedicure. Since you’re off the clock, how about a nice deep-tissue massage to really relax you? Consider getting your hair done in a totally new style, perhaps even changing the color. A bold gesture, if you’re up for it, is to try out a henna tattoo.

Set a theme to be followed on each night of your week off. ‘Picture day” would entail seeing a movie at the theatre, complete with popcorn and candy, then a rented movie for later that night. Before the day is over, get out your digital camera and capture that beautiful sunset. “Animal day” could start off with a visit to the zoo, then a night of watching animal shows on t.v. “Sports day” could be a day of throwing the football around with your kids, then renting “Rudy” to watch later on.

Check the local weather forecast and, if it’s going to be a nice day, get outside and get physical. Consider hiking, which will get you out into nature and will get your blood pumping, or camping out under the stars. Try to gather a group of friends who will camp out with you without the technological gadgets we’ve all come to rely on so you can be in touch with nature and each other while enjoying a night under the stars.

Even if money is tight for you right now, it is certainly possible to enjoy your time off from work without traveling far or spending a fortune. Looking around the area in which you live, you’ll find interesting sights to visit and things to do that don’t require much travel. Take a chance on a staycation instead of a vacation, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much fun you’ll have.

Ellen Parsons has written dozens of articles on accredited online colleges and online universities for mid-career professionals.

Thai women are renowned the world over for their beauty, their playful mood and amazing smiles, so it’s really no surprise that the thousands of men who each year go to the holiday resort of Pattaya fall in love instantly. Pattaya is a unique destination.

You decide. I’ll clue you in on what to expect though. Pattaya is famous for many things: The beach, the weather, but mostly for the nightlife and the beautiful girls. Pattaya has a vibrant and exciting nightlife that is not found anywhere else.

Romantic infatuation is one thing, but actually making a cross culture relationship or marriage work is something different.

The girl, now removed from her friends becomes bored and lonely and the guy may not understand how important the daily contact to friends and family is for Thais.

Bar girls in Pattaya can make very good money, particularly if several Western men are sending them money every month.

It’s important to understand this, if you’re going to be in a relationship with a Pattaya girl. Can you handle the expectation of not only girlfriend but also her family? The Pattaya beer bars are great fun, but they’re not the best place to look for love in Pattaya. There are so many girls who do not work in bars or even go there who would like to meet a Western gentleman.

If you want to know more about how to meet, attract and keep Pattaya Girls go ahead and click the link. I’ve written an ebook called ‘Pattaya Girls 101′, that I think offer some unique insights into dating Thai girls and the relationships that happen between foreign men and Thai women.

Boating can be a relaxing pastime, floating along on a river or lake without a care. For most people, the boating itself is the whole point of the hobby: once you’re in the boat, you’re set.

Plenty of people bring their boat to wherever they are going to be going boating on a trailer attached to the back of their automobile, provided the boat is small enough – larger boats have to be kept in marinas, which can be expensive. Even today, lots of people still build their own boats out of nothing over wood, nails and ingenuity.

There’s lots of different kinds of boats, from the small to the large. The smallest boats are those designed to be rowed effectively by two people, followed by family-sized small boats. Most people who are into boating tend to have been boating with their family, their friends, and the main reason they take their family and friends along is because they’ve had such fond memories in the past, they just want it to be far better.

Once you get above small boats, you start to get into powerboats (also known as speedboats and motorboats). They start off as only too large to row, but can go as large as fifty feet long with cabins and large engines – in other words, you can get powerboats that can be as big as a mid size vehicle and about as big as a truck.

Yes, boating can be exciting, however, it is as well a hobby in which you need to pay a lot of attention to safety. Lots of boaters die each year, mainly by falling overboard and drowning. It is important that you use common sense as well as making sure to comply with the relevant safety laws, notably by always taking lifejackets with you.

Without a doubt, boating isn’t entirely limited to just cruising around. You can also set up water-skis on the back of your boat and go water-skiing, or even enter boat racing events, if you think you’re fast enough. You can also fish, both in freshwater and in saltwater, with freshwater fishing being one of the most popular things to do with a boat.

Mallory is employed by a debt collection agency. Also, she writes articles on business and finance, and collections. .

They are also known as honey bear, because when tin captivity they seem to enjoy eating honey. Kinkajous are related with the raccoon and coati.

The kinkajou’s woolly fur consists of an outer coat of gold or brownish-gray overlapping a gray undercoat. Studies have shown that 90% of their diet consists primarily of ripe fruit. They may play an important role in seed dispersal. Leaves and flowers make up much of the other 10% of their diet. Also they sometimes eat insects, particularly ants.

These nocturnal animals have a short-haired, fully prehensile tail like some New World monkeys, which it uses as a “fifth hand” in climbing. Scent glands near the mouth, on the throat, and on the belly allow kinkajous to mark their territory and their travel routes. Kinkajous sleep in family units and groom one another. While they are usually solitary when foraging, they occasionally forage in small groups.

The kinkajou’s peak activity is usually between about 7:00 PM and midnight, and again an hour before dawn. During daylight hours, kinkajous sleep in tree hollows or in shaded tangles of leaves, avoiding direct sunlight. Also, kinkajous do not have a specific season for breeding. They breed throughout the year. Female kinkajous give birth to one or occasionally two small babies after a gestation period of 112 to 118 days.

This arboreal mammal is not an endangered species, though it is seldom seen by people because of its strict nocturnal habits. However, they are hunted for the illegal pet trade, for their fur and for their meat. They are forest mammals, native to Central and South America.

Marina K. Villatoro, has lived in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She’s traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. With her first hand experience, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

Many people would testify that after a vacation with the kids, they need a vacation. However, these people probably aren’t picking the right sort of vacation destinations. So many places offer activities that are enjoyable for both children and adults. These destinations include international locales. You see, applying for a USA Passport is even easier thanks to online services that allow you to apply right from your computer chair. Seeing the world with your children is a great opportunity to create memories that will not be forgotten. There are plenty of family friendly places to take the kids that are not only fun but also very educational. And who knows, you might even have a little but of fun yourself.

One of the top recommended international sites for children is Rome. The history that surrounds Rome, easily visible with the monolithic Roman architecture that still stands today, makes for a great history lesson that the kids will soak up like a sponge. Taking them from site to site and explaining the significance of each will not leave your kids bored or restless. Plus, what kind of kid could resist eating pizza and gelato all day?

In the US, Orlando in Florida is a fantastic place to vacation if you’re wanting something the whole family can enjoy. It has an international reputation of being ‘the’ place to go for theme parks. Visit for a day – or make it a week and make sure you visit Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios, where your kids (and the grown ups!) will come across their much loved movies.

Paris is advertised for romance; in reality, it’s great for a family vacation. Many of the best sites – l’Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysee, the Eiffel Tower – fascinate kids with their history, their mystery, and the great views of the city. The many green spaces are filled with statues, fountains, historic artifacts which spark kids’ imagination, while the flower gardens take their breath away. The famed beauty and charm of Paris, with its street food vendors and musicians, spreads its aura over the whole family for a restful – and often free – day with the kids.

Planning ahead can make international travel hassle-free. You can go online to get a passport for an infant, and apply for a new one for yourself if necessary. Check early to see if you need vaccinations or a visa to travel to your dream location. Scope out the cost of hotels, meals, and the sites you want to visit – then convert the cost to US dollars at the going rate. Find out about the electrical system and obtain necessary adapters. Where to find all this information? Travel agents or friends who have been abroad can help, but the computer in your home has most of the information you need.

One thing to consider is that applying for a U.S. passport is easy given the availability of the forms on the internet, so getting a passport isn’t that much trouble. Getting a new passport for an infant is readily accomplished and with the assistance of a knowledgeable friend or a quality travel agent you can be off on that family friendly vacation right away.