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FUN in the SUN... and then some!
Dear Soul Adventurers,
Whether it is summertime or wintertime, SUNSHINE time is most always welcomed on a travel journey. The locals are happy, you are thankful, the lovely weather compliments your photographs, and sometimes the search for sunscreen, shade and a cool beverage become top priority... life is simple. I remember playing around with the desert sun atop an arch rock formation in Spitzkoppe, Namibia with some friends during sunset - this is when I took this shadow picture of us (at the very top of this newsletter.) It was an ideal moment. The sun had been intense all day... we had hiked and explored endlessly in a few parts of Namibia, and this photograph summed up the spirit of the group, as we were rounding into day 7 of a 21-day camping and roadtrip adventure together. There was nothing better than a little FUN in the SUN! (And in the desert, you sometimes feel that sun is the only other thing that exists around you!) To explore new landscapes and cultures with the spirit of playfulness will most certainly enhance all of the experiences you are bound to encounter wherever you go. Sunshine somehow promotes this playfulness as it beams through the treetops on the first run of a day while skiing; warms you as you step out of the water; assists you with your tan while kicking back amongst sand, grass or rocks... or simply causes you to smile! It tends to give us that little extra kick of energy to cease the moment, wherever we may be. Eighteen months ago I traveled with two guys from Holland along the NE coast of Brazil, from the little beach town of Praia da Pipa to Natal. We decided to turn our sand dune adventure into our simultaneous method of reaching our next destination. At one point atop a dune overlook, we were greeted with the opportunity to "ski-doo" (the photo featured in this article.) Is there anything other than FUN involved with this sand and water sled & surf experience?! It is a great representation of the random array of adventures we can indulge on when traveling to various destinations around the globe... and to know how much fun it can be, you'll just have to come give it a 'slide' for yourself! Isn't it great to think that maybe your biggest decision for a day may be whether or not to "ski-doo"? Wishing you continued FUN, sunshine-filled, and soulFULL travels ahead! Live it up TODAY,  Kate LaCroix, Founder & Director |
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Our Soul Adventures.... TRIPS to Consider
Queensland, Australia - Sep 3-6, 2009
Adirondack Mountains, NY, USA - Oct 2009
Bahia, Brazil - Nov 2009
N. & S.E. Thailand - Jan 2010
Mountains of Queensland, AUSTRALIA
with Yoga Instructor Jo Tastula, of Venice Beach, CA / Freemantle, W.A.
Tucked high up in the mountains, where the Atherton Tablelands meet the Daintree; where you can retreat into eco-friendly timber cabins; where you are only a 25 minute drive from Port Douglas, and access to the Great Barrier Reef, awaits the ultimate 4-day, 3-night mountain spa retreat getaway. Indulge on scrumptious foods made by our retreat chef and pamper yourself with massages and other spa sessions!
Adirondack Mountains - USA
We are lining up a few weekends of "GSA Base Camp" adventures for small groups of 8 people or less... keeping the cost to a minimum, and the fall fun to a maximum during the best colors of the season in this very special region. Our concept is to offer you 3 different 3-day travel camps this coming October... 1) Beginner Yoga & Eco-Adventure Base Camp; 2) Intermediate Yoga & Eco-Adventure Base Camp; 3) All Eco-Adventure Base Camp.... please e-mail us if you have an interest in any or all of these above adventure camps. They will most likely run from Fri-Sun and will be accommodated in a more home-style location with special visits to the GSA Base for bonfires, and other gatherings.
Bahian Island Hopping - Brazil
We are considering leading an island-hopping trip to Bahia, Brazil in November 2009... if you have a serious interest in exploring tropical islands by jeeps, boats, and hiking... swimming, snorkeling, surfing & sunbathing... and are possibly enticed by coconut water, turquoise waters and bright sunshine, then this adventure may very well be calling your name! Please let us know if you may want to join us and we'll begin to plan a trip based on Soul Adventurers interest!
From the tribal hills to the tropical islands - Thailand
We are teaming up with a dear friend and yoga instructor to offer our Soul Adventurers the chance to explore Thailand during a 10-day yoga & eco-adventure that will take you north of Chiang Mai, to the islands in the SE, and give you the opportunity to get to know some of the highlights of the bustling city of Bangkok. We're talking bamboo rafting, elephant riding, hiking to secluded beach coves, more massages than you can count on your hands, Thai cooking lessons, and more!
On each of the above mentioned journeys, you will have the opportunity to relax, sleep and unwind, or take to daily adventures - your choice! The yoga style is Vinyasa Flow, and is open to all levels.
Our August 2009 trips to both Copan & Roatan Island, Honduras AND Ubud & Nusa Lembongan, Bali have been postponed until new trip dates can be established to allow for more soul adventurers to join us (most likely in early to mid 2010.) If you have an interest in traveling here, just let us know and we'll add you to our list and keep you updated.
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Something to play with... "Wisdom Pose"
As I've practiced yoga over the years in Venice Beach, CA, my dear friend and teacher, Shiva Rea, has taught us a more appropriate name for "Child's Pose" asana (posture) or Balasana, as it is known in Sanskrit... she calls it "Wisdom Pose". The name is perfect, as it reflects the wiser decision we can make for ourselves when we need to take a break in our yoga practice (prior to, or following, any asana) - relaxing our muscles, regaining our breath, and simply allowing us to 'melt' into the ground beneath us.
As you come into this posture, you can actually use the heel (lower palm) of your hands to help gently press your sit bones back towards your feet (I thank teacher Eric Schiffman for this instruction)... when you reach a comfortable edge, allow your arms to go limp and rest in front (as shown above here) with your forehead on the ground, or you may also bring your arms alongside your body with your palms facing up... it's almost as if you are wrapping your elbows perfectly around your knees on the floor. As you breathe, you can play around with a variety of breath melodies... maybe you are inhaling from your fingertips, or the crown of your head back to your feet, and exhaling the other direction... maybe you are counting your breath to equalize your inhale and exhale to the same length... or possibly even pausing between the inhalation and exhalation. You can create your own pattern of breath based on what works best for you and your body... what makes you feel good??? Explore!
Photo courtesy of Wen Bunny
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Did you know?... Monthly Travel Tip: Internal Flights & Air Passes
As you travel to various countries around the world, one thing to consider in making your plans is that you may often times find internal flights to be cheaper if purchased separate from your international ticket. For example, if you are flying to Delhi, India, but then want to travel to Kerala (Trivandum) in the south, or Darjeeling (Bogdagra) in the Northeast, or anywhere else for that matter, you may find your best option to be the local airline carriers (such as Kingfisher, Jet Airways, etc...) to offer you better rates on your desired route. You can easily double check this online these days by using a search engine to look up the local airlines, and then compare the rates to that of a multi-stop international ticket.
Additionally, if you plan to take more than 3-5 internal flights, then most certainly look into whether the country you are traveling in offers an "Air Pass". Sometimes it may be one country (such as Brazil) or may be a conglomerate of countries (such as SE Asia.) As you research this, please note whether or not the country requires you to purchase the Air Pass prior to arrival. Taking the few extra minutes to research your options will be sure to save you a bit of money, and quite possibly offer you better schedule options (as you will not only be limited to your international airlines partners.)
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May you follow your SOUL to your next adventure....
Happy travels,
Kate LaCroix
Global Soul Adventures |
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Group
Discounts
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If you and your friends, a social group, or an organization are looking to travel to a choice destination together, you can actually team up to custom build a trip with Global Soul Adventures for less money. When traveling with 4 or more people in a group, your costs begin to lessen on an individual basis. So the question is - where do you all want to go?
We look forward to hearing from you and having you travel with us!
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Offers this good are available now!
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