Wild African Adventures

Although many of us dream of taking a wild adventure through an exotic location for a holiday, vacation or trip of self exploration, not many of us actually treat ourselves to such an exciting and wonderful experience. There has never been a better time to fulfill this worthy dream, and traveling through beautiful and enchanting Africa is something everyone should do in their lifetime.

Taking a vacation in Africa is like nothing you can possibly imagine, and it has never been easier or more enjoyable to plan a trip of this kind before. Whether you are interested in a wild, rugged walking safari through the wilderness of Africa to go animal watching or bird watching, or you desire luxury African travel of the more refined type, you will find that the open and welcoming arms of this incredibly diverse and magical continent are waiting for you to come and embrace them.

Africa offers so many options for the intrepid traveler that it can be overwhelming to decide where to go and what to do. Sea kayaking, animal safaris in a big game park, visits with fascinating indigenous populations and just about anything else you can imagine in the wild is juxtaposed with trips through the wine country, tours of vineyards, luxury train travel and dining and sightseeing in upscale metropolitan locations. Truly, something for everyone awaits the traveler or tourist who chooses to explore the magnificent continent of Africa. Imagine being able to choose from a range of adventure options as diverse as equestrian safaris, bird watching safaris, cultural tours, visiting locations of archaeological interest, luxury train travel, cycling through the wine country, and desert rhino and elephant walking expeditions.

Many locations await your presence, including Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Victoria Falls, Rwanda and Uganda to name a few. The adventures that await you are multitudinous and exciting beyond belief from the incredible great migration to gorilla trekking. Surely you owe it to yourself to not deny your spirit the adventure it seeks. Traveling through locations like the Serengeti and seeing the incredible array of wildlife and flora and fauna that flourishes in these unbelievably moving and exotic locations is a life altering experience you will not soon forget.

The amazing people of this region of the world are so warm and welcoming and span the spectrum from interesting indigenous cultures to international visitors and everything in between. Africa is truly a meeting place of tourists and travelers from every corner of the globe and has long set the standard for exciting and exotic travel throughout time and from one corner of the world to another. Interesting people and fascinating locations are the prime reason many people take a trip to Africa to make the most of any vacation or holiday.

Do yourself a favor and book a trip to Africa. Do not put it off anymore. If not now, then when? Perhaps this has been in the back of your mind for a long time, or is a new notion that must be brought into realization. Either way, you will thank yourself for realizing this dream and rest assured, you will never be the same again. Places such as these African locations have a way of bringing out the best in the people who experience them fully and embrace the adventure whole heartedly.

Wild Freeborn takes Girl Scout Cookie Policy National

On Jan. 21st when I broke the story of Wild Freeborn and her idea to sell 12,000 Girl Scout cookies by using online strategies, I never dreamed she would end up explaining her case on CNN or the Today Show this morning. (Today Show video here)

Wild's story broke nationally a few days ago when Newsweek print a article about the Girl Scouts of America forcing her to take her video off of YouTube. (Newsweek story here) I had to change the link in my post as well so that we could still show Wild and her reasons for wanting to use modern technology as a means to sell cookies and send her entire troupe to camp this year.

Using internet marketing methods developed at Top Floor Studios and MapPartners, Wild started using social networks and video internet marketing to promote her sales locally. Immediately there was strange reaction to her initiatives from local and the national Girl Scout Councils. Their reasoning for wanting Wild to stop her initiatives seems strange--the Girl Scouts are worried that a girl might get hurt selling cookies online.

That makes no sense to this reporter---how would online sales be more dangerous than door to door sales? Instead, it seems to me, that the Girl Scouts should use this as an opportunity to introduce safe web experiences to girls and to bring them into this century and modern marketing methods. I hope the National Council of Girl Scouts will be looking at updating their positions on this soon. I understand that sales are down nationwide with some areas reporting a 50% decrease in sales. Now would be the time to rebuild this fundraiser using Wild's ideas!

Fractional Home Ownership and Private Residence Clubs

Fractional Ownership vs Private Residence Clubs
Whats the Difference?


The following page provides helpful research and analysis clarifying salient characteristics of traditional Fractional Home Ownership and Private Residence Clubs.


DEFINITION: These are both forms of Fractional Ownership, in which a group of 10-15 owners share the costs and use of vacation property usually offered in a resort-hotel or luxury home. Fractional Ownership intervals are smaller as people generally buy only what they will use. This type of ownership is commonly offered by a real estate developer or hotel company. Typically, each co-owner owns a percentage of the property and is shown on the title and deed as an owner.

Private Residence Clubs are a more exclusive form of traditional fractional ownership.

Lack of clarity
Both Fractional Ownership & Private Residence Clubs (PRC’s) offer shared real estate ownership in a luxury vacation asset which is typically located in a resort. The distinctions between Fractional Ownership & Private Residence Clubs are unclear to most people. Furthermore, PRC’s are commonly confused with Destination Clubs. Generally speaking, PRCs are of a more exclusive nature than Fractional Ownership with fewer owners and brand name sponsors.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Fractional Ownership
Fractional Ownership properties offer equity for a fraction of the cost and no maintenance responsibilities.
Considering the average vacation home buyer uses the property just three to four weeks a year, Fractional Ownership tends to reflect an owner’s actual use of a vacation home. Buyers enjoy ownership privileges at high-end luxury resorts for a fraction of Sole (home) Ownership. Fractional Ownership (except Elite Fractional) buyers tend to purchase only what they plan to use vs. viewing the property as both a vacation home and an investment asset. Fractional Ownership buyers typically have a recorded deed and title.

If you are considering a second home in Charleston SC, check out sites and properties like www.thecharlestonclubdi.com or www.charlestonfractionalownership.com
These websites offer details about the amenities and agreement contracts and will help you decide if fractional ownership is for you.

Spring Decoration Ideas

Spring is on the way! The flowers will soon start to create little buds, the trees will begin to show signs of returning to the wonderful yellow green that signals the rebirth of the forests, birds will be coming back and serenading us each morning with the songs of life renewing itself. This is one of the greatest times of year for rebirth and transformation on many different levels. This is a great time of year to clean up the house and redecorate with some wonderful springtime accents.

There are many ways to spruce up the house and restore some vital energy to your living space. Of course a general spring cleaning is often in order, and doing such a deep seasonal cleaning is a great way to revive some of that springtime energy and welcome it back into the home. Opening doors and windows, dusting and clearing out clutter is a good start. Once this is finished, however, a redecoration of the home may be just the thing to get everyone who walks into your house in the springtime frame of mind. And it is not just the house…your office or work space may be calling out for a redecoration and revitalization as well. We spend so many hours of our lives in the workplace, yet we often forget to nurture these places right along with our home. A few seasonal accents discreetly placed around an office, within a cubicle or upon ones desk can greatly increase our state of well being during the hours we spend earning our living.

A good place to start is with potpourri. Potpourri can be found in many different colors, fragrances and combinations. The themes of different seasons can be found to bring the sight and smells of any season or holiday into the home or even the office. Choosing potpourri that is scented with particular springtime flowers and herbs is a way to create the ambiance of the season and start to dispel the stagnant energy of the deep wintertime. Potpourri is an ideal way to start the transition of the seasons, and the sense of smell is one of the most powerful ways to create a feeling of well being and happiness in the home.

Another item that combines the senses of sight and sound is a lovely scented candle. Candles are another item that is available in an infinite array of colors, sizes and smells. Lighting candles and allowing the fragrance to warmly waft throughout your home or office will help you and any visitors or clients relax and have a more enjoyable and peaceful day. Plus, the very nature of candle light is soothing, and in the world today where electric light is the primary source of luminescence, having some candles flickering nearby is an invaluable treat to the mind, body and soul.

If you really want to change around your space, another option is to find some hand made furniture. Furniture does a lot to create the ambiance and overall feel of a place and replacing some old and tired chairs or tables may be just the thing your sacred space needs. A great option is rustic or old fashioned furniture with a traditional feel. With so many homes and offices taking on more and more of a modern look, choosing to decorate with a more traditional look can create a different and often more relaxing mood in your space.

Fine Memorial Art

One of the most difficult things we ever have to deal with in life is the passing of a dear friend or close relative. The experience of losing someone close to us can be one of the greatest challenges that face us in life, and finding a way to move through the loss gracefully can be very difficult. One way to help yourself move through the grieving process when faced with the death of a loved one is to do so in a creative manner and celebrate the dearly departed through fine memorial art.

These days it is very common to memorialize a departed friend or family member in a creative way that celebrates the life they lived and the gifts they imparted to all of the wonderful people that surrounded them. No longer is the grave marker or tombstone the only object to stand as a memorial to the existence of a special person. These days there are many ways to memorialize a departed loved one including hand crafted funeral urns, beautiful memorial jewelry, hand made memorial textile art, memorial glass art and also custom commissioned memorial paintings.

Hand made art urns are one of the most common items to be created in memory of a special person, especially if the individual has selected cremation as a funeral option. Of course the custom cremation urn is an important item, but there can also be hand made urns that compliment the main urn and they can be distributed to members of the family and close friends to take home so that they may erect their own memorials. Oftentimes, bits of the cremated remains will be used in the creation process, allowing for the creation of elegant swirls among the glass of the urn itself.

Hand made memorial jewelry is becoming quite popular and offers a lasting and beautiful reminder of a loved one to be worn at any time. Necklaces, bracelets, rings and any number of custom made memorial jewelry can be created to reflect the personality and life of a person who is to be celebrated and memorialized. Many times a photograph can be combined with gold, silver and stones to create a unique, one of a kind locket with the person’s image enshrined within.

A custom made memorial quilt is a beautiful option, and personal items of any kind can be included and used as part of the creation process. Pictures, jewelry, trinkets or articles of clothing are good examples of items that can be sewn in or otherwise attached to a quilt or other hand crafted bit of textile art.

Of course, there is nothing to compare with having a custom commissioned memorial portrait of a departed loved one painted in memoriam of a departed loved one. This can be created with the person’s life in mind and be a true memorial to the life they lived. The medium of paint offers infinite possibilities when it comes to the content of the image.

In general, all of these options are just ways of using fine art to celebrate the process of grieving the loss of a departed loved one. Art has the potential to heal and celebrate simultaneously, and is often one of the best ways to assist loved ones who have suffered a deep loss to remember their friend or relative in a beautiful, creative and unique way.

South Africa and Surrounding Areas

Springtime in Southern Africa is an especially wonderful time of year to enjoy Africa, and making the most of your trip has never been easier or more pleasurable. Cape Town boasts an extremely wide array of things to do and see, from downtown fine dining and enjoyable night life, to adventures in the surrounding countryside. This is the place where the metropolitan tourist experience meets the exciting world of wild world travel.

Historic and beautiful Table Mountain is certainly one of the sights to consider, and the Table Mountain Cableway is the best way to see this breathtaking location. A part of Table Mountain National Park, the Aerial Cableway is a leisurely and exciting trip and will allow you to take in Table Mountain and the surrounding views. Once at the top, enjoy a free guided plateau walk and see some of the sites more interesting features in detail. Off the tram, enjoy a hike through one of Table Mountains many hiking trails and experience first hand the incredible flora and fauna of this amazing location. This is luxury African travel at its best.

Another place to enjoy the majesty of the African landscape is to visit one of South Africa’s botanical gardens, such as the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. These living museums are a monument to the blessings of the natural world, and boast some of the most exotic and amazing species of plants and animals anywhere on the planet. The South African National Biodiversity Institute maintains nine different botanical gardens, with Kirstenbosch being the largest of all. Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to conserve and promote indigenous flora of the southern African continent. Known internationally as one of the greatest botanical gardens anywhere in the world, and is situated on the eastern slope of magnificent Table Mountain.

If you are more interested in a cosmopolitan experience, then perhaps a tour of the wine country is in order. Cape Route 62 is a well known tourist route that runs through the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Winding its way from Cape Town through Langkloof, Port Elizabeth and Oudtshoorn, it is often known as the shorter alternative to the N2 Highway. The areas along this route also include Klein Karoo, The Breede River Valley, Paarl and Wellington. This is perhaps the longest wine route in the world.

Rustic accommodations, hot springs or luxury hotels are all options when traveling along Cape Route 62. This safe and scenic route passes through many of South Africa’s most quaint and appealing towns, and offers a relaxing and leisurely experience for travelers of every background and taste. From private game reserves which offer traditional African safaris such as the luxurious Lalibela Game Reserve, Kwantu Game Reserve and Sibuya Game Reserve to Camdeboo National Park, Addo Elephant National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park you will find the traditional African safari experience along this route. Yearly spring events such as the Splash Festival, Wild Trout Festival, Algoa Bay Week, Middleberg Karoo Cycle, East London Agricultural Show, Queenstown Mountain Race and the Science Festival are all seasonal attractions in this region.

No matter what you choose to do, an adventure in Africa is among the most exciting things you can do in your lifetime. Form animal watching to sea kayaking to safaris, Africa is an exotic and magical place to spend a vacation. A luxury African vacation will leave you with memories and experiences that are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Vacationing in Asheville, NC

Spring is coming to the Appalachian Mountains and it is one of the best times to visit the area for a little vacation. The Appalachians in Western North Carolina are one of the most bio-diverse regions of the world, and experiencing these beautiful mountains as the flowers and trees and wildlife return to the woods is one of the most amazing things you can do.

The woods explode with life as the trees begin to bud and the flowers start to peek up through the layers of leaves and dead grasses. Animals begin to roam again, and birds are returning from their adventures afar. These mountains are ancient and spring time here is nothing short of mystical and magical. The mountains of WNC are amazing, and one of the best ways to experience them fully is to take a vacation in Asheville, North Carolina.

Asheville, NC is one of the best places in the whole world to take a weekend getaway, a week long vacation or an extended holiday in the mountains. Friendly people, and charming and quaint downtown and access to some of the most pristine wilderness anywhere in the country make Asheville an ideal place to recharge your batteries and get a new perspective on life.

Whether you choose to stay in one of Asheville’s many wonderful and authentic bed and breakfast options, select a mountain cottage rental or stay in a vacation cabin rental, Asheville is sure to treat you right and make you want to stay a little longer and return often.

After waking up to the sound of flowers blooming and birds chirping, venture into town for a delicious cup of coffee or tea at one of Asheville’s many sidewalk cafés or restaurants. Enjoy a day of shopping at locally owned boutiques, art galleries or quaint shops of every sort. Asheville is a wonderful place to find the most eclectic gifts and treasures, and spring time brings out the most wonderful side of Asheville’s creative community.

Evening and night time brings an incredible amount of local talent and music, dance and theatre. From street performers to clubs and bars to fine theatre, Asheville is sure to astound even the most cultured art critic. Asheville has become known all over the country and indeed the world for its diverse population of artists, musicians and performers. Dance companies, theatre companies, comedy troupes and performance artists fill the eclectic venues of Asheville to overflowing and offer a cultural experience to rival any major metropolitan city without all the insanity that generally comes along with those larger cities.

A springtime vacation in Asheville is something you may end up planning to do year after year, as this charming little mountain town has a tendency to magnetize people who have had the opportunity to visit. There is a reason why so many people have permanently relocated after just a short visit.

Rent a cabin in the mountains, rent a cottage in the woods, enjoy a bed and breakfast or rent your own private little retreat for a weekend, a week or longer and you will see what the fuss is all about. Asheville has appeared on virtually every list of must see places and vacation locations. It sits right in the middle of the most bio-diverse region of the country and is nestled in some of the oldest mountains on the planet. The energy and culture is nothing short of magical.