I have some exciting news!  Recently, I was generously gifted a Canon 30D, my first DSLR camera.  As winter transitioned into spring around me, I set out with my new favorite possession to shoot a nearby cherry blossom tree that had just bloomed.  Many years ago I was fortunate enough to visit Tokyo during Sakura.  It was a travel experience that I will never, ever forget.  In tribute of the recent events in Japan, I dedicate the following photos to its brave citizens.  Please feel free to save these photos onto your computer and to use them as desktop wallpaper.

Break open a cherry tree and there are no flowers, but the spring breeze brings forth myriad blossoms.

~ Ikkyu Sojun ~

Iceland is one of those mysterious countries I had always wanted to travel to, without ever quite getting the opportunity.  Besides being the home of Björk and Sigur Rós and being a heavy victim of the economic downturn, there was not much I knew about the country to be honest.  Upon further research, I learned that its capital, Reykjavik — that is Reykjavik, Iceland and not Reykjavik, Manitoba — is the northernmost capital of the world and in the process discovered a slew of pictures of pretty, multi-colored roofs dotted along a scenic coastline.  In retrospect, I had next to no idea where I was going.

The pictures I share do not convey the full appeal of Iceland’s capital.  There is more to it than beautiful Scandinavian-inspired architecture and snow.  If that was all the charm the city has to offer, I would just suggest you save some money and buy a snow globe instead of a plane ticket.  Reykjavik is so much more than that!  There is beauty in the tang of its salty air; beauty in the culture; beauty in the open smiles which always greeted my broken Icelandic; beauty in their replies in perfect English and in the chilled-out atmosphere.  To cut a long story short, Reykjavik is nice. Really, really nice.

It is not the cheapest place to visit, thus when my wallet was feeling uncomfortably light I opted to go on long walks.  This is by no means solely an activity for the broke; no one should pass up a lengthy stroll through the city’s Old Town or a wander through its many free museums.  I spent a day making my way across what is probably the most scenic path in Reykjavik, as it circles the city and offers a fantastic view of the Atlantic.

Even though I was always trying to eat on the cheap, I did not have to bore myself with a week of non-stop McDonald’s action.  Oddly enough, cheap Reykjavik restaurants seems to include a bounty of hot dog and Thai places.  Not that I am complaining!

I saved up for one of my last night’s, when I sampled some proper Icelandic fish at Sjavarkjallarinn, a high-end seafood restaurant.  I also partied the night away in the clubs, which have made this sleepy-by-day capital so renowned for its vibrant night-life.

Peaceful yet vibrant, Reykjavik is probably one of the most unique destinations I have ever traveled to.  I would not hesitate to recommend this city to anyone willing to splurge a little.

Just do not eat the shark.

Louis Jobin is an undergraduate studying English and Japanese Studies.  His passions are European literature, Asian cuisine, and Scandinavian music.

Despite not going to sleep until around 8AM, I forced myself to get up at noon since it was our last day.  We decided to head back into Nassau to do some last minute shopping for my Mom, as she could not join us on the trip.

The shades are a girl's best friend after a late night out.

Unfortunately, we arrived just as all of the stores were closing for the day, thus no presents were bought.  However, we did take a lovely stroll along Bay Street, the main street on the island.  We also made a quick stop at probably my favorite Parliament house in all of the world (one guess why!), so that I could take a picture.

Then it was back to the Atlantis.  My Dad and brother headed to the casino, whereas I headed to the beach to watch the sunset.  The journey into the unknown is about as exciting as it gets, but there is also something special about returning to a place that truly feels like home.  And this is exactly what Paradise Island is to me, home.

Once the sun faded into the night sky, I decided to explore the massive aquarium that the Atlantis boasts.  They have just about every type of marine creature you could imagine.  It is easy for me to become transfixed with life under the water, thus I was not surprised when I looked at my watch and saw that an hour had passed by.

Sadly, it was time to return back to my room, as we had an early flight back to my other home in the morning.

Paradise Island from the air.

Although it is several months into 2011, I would still like to wish you another year full of ooohs and ahhhs, unexpected surprises, daily misadventures, opportunities of a lifetime, roads less traveled, plenty of friends to toast a glass of champagne with, and most importantly that all of your wildest dreams come true!

In these post-credit crunch times, holidays are just as important as ever.  While people may find that they are pushing their budgets to the limit in order to be able to afford a getaway, the additional stresses and strains most households are suffering as part of their daily life mean it is even more imperative that people find some outlet at least once a year for some rest and relaxation.  With this in mind, people should begin to consider where they would like to travel this summer and it is essential that people choose their destination wisely.

Best Entertainment Destinations

Individuals, couples, and families who like to have a packed program during their time away may wish to consider holidays in the following locations:

• Florida – A long standing family favorite, Florida has it all from family friendly theme parks and attractions to beautiful beaches offering water sports of all types to a stunning natural environment home to some very exciting species.
• Ibiza – The Balearic Island has long been a place of pilgrimage for those who love their nightlife.  It boasts some of the world’s best nightclubs and caters to a young crowd with an interesting selection of daytime activities on offer as well.
• Thailand – Catching cheap flights to Bangkok opens the gateway to a wonderfully entertaining holiday experience.  Stay in the city itself to experience everything from puppet shows and traditional dance to go-go bars and Lady Boy cabaret, or head for the islands and join one of the legendary monthly full moon parties before sleeping off all the excesses on a gorgeous tropical beach.

Best Relaxation Destinations

For those who use their holidays as an excuse to do nothing, a relaxing setting is the order of the day.  Great choices include:

• The English Riviera – Head to the South West of England for a soothing UK holiday in traditional seaside towns.  Relax on one of the many sandy beaches, try a pint in a local hostelry, or take a walk out on the moor.
• Tuscany – Hiring a self catering cottage in the Tuscan countryside is a great way to relax.  With stunning scenery in plentiful supply, enjoy an Italian dinner al fresco before watching the sun set over the Tuscan hills with a glass of local vino.
• Maldives – The archetypal tropical paradise, the islands of the Maldives know all about relaxation and much of the accommodation on offer is perfectly geared towards disconnecting and indulging.  Rent a stunning stilt build cabin sitting over the crystal clear sea and spend days out on the deck enjoying the sound of silence and stunning  sea views.

Whatever travelers are looking for from their summer holiday in 2011 there is a destination to fit the bill and choosing carefully can make the difference between a good getaway and a great getaway.

Anna Dewinter is a writer who is obsessed with traveling, that is why she loves writing about it.  She also enjoys reading and spending time with her crazy dogs.

The following are 10 reasons why you should visit Lisbon at least once in your life:

• Lisbon has the unique charm of an ancient colonial city.  It is colorful and sea-flavored, only comparable to La Valletta.

• The history goes back more than 3000 years.  After Athens, it is the oldest city in the European Union and it is 400 years older than Rome.

• The pastéis de Belém are typical Portuguese pastries and they alone deserve a visit.

• The Bairro Alto is an elevated district that is picturesque and full of bars, restaurants, boutiques, and people on its streets.  You must take a walk and taste typical Portuguese dishes at the restaurant Bota alta, en Travessa de Queimada, 37.

• Traditional Portuguese music called fados. Fado means fate and in popular belief this genre is usually associated to a feeling of loss.  Hence, the melancholy sounds will touch your soul.

• The calm and relaxed atmosphere that you will notice.  Particularly on sunny days if you rent one of the Lisbon apartments with the sea right in front of you.  You will see locals going to bakeries and taking their dogs for walks.  I have no doubt you will find the peace you are looking for.

• Lisbon is saturated with cobblestone streets, thus streetcars, trolleybuses, and funiculars help to get people around in the city, especially up and down the hills.  They are an indisputable pictorial part of the city.  You can see the ancient streetcars mixed with the modern ones, which make the city so visually interesting.

• Cod is the most typical dish.  Lisbon is estimated to have more than 4,500 genuine cod recipes.  So, if you like fresh fish, especially cod, this is your place.

• Because of the sound of Portuguese.   How can you not love it?  I could listen to anyone speaking this language forever, well, at least for a couple of hours with a glass of wine in my hand and the city’s skyline in front of me.

• There are many beautiful beaches close to Lisbon.  I will not tell you about their charms, I prefer to show you this picture and let you decide whether or not you want to see the sunset there:

If you do not know yet where your next vacation will be, remember this post and think of Lisbon accommodation.

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.

While the Alice and Wonderland ball in itself would have been the perfect way to celebrate New Year’s Eve, I had insider’s information that the best way to celebrate the holiday in the Bahamas was to attend Junkanoo in downtown Nassau.  Junkanoo is the pride and joy of the Bahamians.  It is a street parade, similar to Carnaval, that begins around 2AM on January 1st and continues for almost 12 hours.  On January 2nd participants already start planning next year’s event.  It is done in complete secrecy and thousands upon thousands of dollars are spent on the costumes and floats.

Our Dad decided that it was past his bedtime (can you blame him after all of the dancing he did?), thus it would just be my brother and I attending.  We quickly changed and then hailed a taxi to take us across the bridge.  By the time we arrived it was nearing 2AM and the streets were saturated with some of the happiest people I have ever seen.  While we were waiting for the parade to begin, we struck up a conversation with some locals who explained to us that while this is a joyous celebration, it is also a competition and is taken very seriously.  They tried to convince us to cheer for their group, however we decided that we would stay neutral for the time being.  In the distance we could hear the steel drum bands approaching and we knew we were in for yet another great show!

First up was the group The Prodigal Sons:

Next up was the first group’s biggest competitors, The Shell Saxon Superstars:

Around 7AM, after our voices from cheering for countless hours had disappeared and our energy that was once exuberant was now exhausted, we knew it was time to return to the Atlantis.  In the end, our favorite group was The Shell Saxon Superstars (and no it was not because they had a giant butterfly float as seen above, though I did get extra excited when I saw it).

Instead of taking a taxi, we decided to do something we had never done before — we took a boat ride back.  A new year, a new experience!  As the sun began to rise, I closed my eyes and let the salty water spray against my face as I reminisced about everything  I had just experienced.  While the magnificent ball was something I will never forget, it was true, the best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve when in the Bahamas is Junkanoo.  I travel to engage with the place and with the people.  Junkanoo allowed me to do both, it felt deeper and more meaningful. . .the perfect way to end a year and begin a new one.

The clouds rolled over charred mountains and seeped around crevices like the incoming tide.   The dramatic landscape of Tenerife, Canary Islands took me pleasantly by surprise.  I thought that week spent there was just going to be the sun, sea, and lively bars.  I was mistaken.  Do not get me wrong, there is plenty of said fun to be had, but there is so much more to the island than I ever imagined.

The natural world fascinates me, especially the likes of volcanoes, so spending a day at Teide National Park was a must.  Mount Teide is the third highest volcano on the third largest volcanic island in this world.  The spectacular array of lava flows, volcanic domes and caves are only a part of it, mixed in amongst the rich flora and fauna they make this world heritage site one of the most breathtaking geological phenomena in the world.  The wonders of my destination Tenerife don’t stop there either, with sweeping valleys of lush vegetation, wide ravines, and not to mention the rugged coastline.

I just cannot decide which of the beaches I liked most; walking along golden Playa de Las Teristas in San Andres or standing on the black sand of remote Roque Bermejo, the salty water crashing against the rocks and spraying my suntanned face.  What I can tell you, is that as a land of perpetual summer, Tenerife does not disappoint.

If you are looking for something more man-made, then there are plenty of lovely towns to visit.  Historical San Cristobel de La Laguna was my personal favourite, another of this island’s World Heritage Sites.  Its pretty streets are a mass of colour and Spanish architecture.  Being a University town it also has a commercial edge with a chilled atmosphere and lively nightlife.  And do not miss a visit to the capital Santa Cruz where you can see the elegant sail of Tenerife’s modern icon, Auditorio de Tenerife.

Tenerife lodgings are easy to come by everywhere, whether you are looking for a golf resort, apartment, hotel, or guesthouse — there is an excellent, wide selection.

Want to know more, check out: http://www.tenerife.mydestinationinfo.com for inspiration and everything you could possibly need to know about Tenerife!

Liah S. Thorley is a travel writer and novelist from the UK.  She has traveled extensively and particularly enjoys history and the arts.

When you book Heathrow airport parking there is more on offer besides the great price, convenient location, and top notch security.  HolidayExtras.co.uk is a great place to sugar-coat your experience, as there are a host of parking upgrades you can include in your booking to make the start of your holiday extra special.

1. Meet and Greet – Why park your car yourself when someone else can do it for you?  With the Meet and Greet service there is no need to keep your eyes peeled for a space.  Just drive yourself to the terminal and leave your car in the capable hands of your driver and off you jet.  When you are back, your car will be waiting at the terminal so that you can head straight home without delay.
2. Traffic Assistant – Perfect for a smooth ride to the airport, drift past jams and side-step queues thanks to the Traffic Assistant upgrade. You will get texts on the day of your flight letting you know about any congestion or traffic problems on your route in order for you to be ahead of the game and take a clearer path.  Add this to your parking or Heathrow airport hotel package and you are sure to arrive on time,relaxed, and ready to begin your holiday.
3. Holiday Insurance – Although not the most exciting topic, holiday insurance is something you have to have.  Thus, why not get it sorted when you book your parking.  It will save you time, effort, and most of all money.  HolidayExtras.com offers Worldwide, European, Single, or Multi-trip insurance and it is the same low price no matter how many of you are travelling.  It is a great upgrade, so make the most of it.
4. Heathrow Airport Lounge – Treat yourself to a taste of the VIP life and escape the hustle and bustle of the airport.  Relax in a little airport haven with complimentary drinks and snacks, internet, TV, and a selection of magazines.  The Heathrow airport Lounge is a calm oasis for you to slide into holiday mode and away from the stresses of life.
5. FairFX Card – The most practical upgrade around, the FairFX Money Card is simply the best way to handle your money abroad.  Who wants to carry wads of foreign currency with them or get slapped with a big charge for using a card abroad?  The FairFx card is free and it works just like a debit card.  Top it up with some money and start spending anywhere you want, easy.

London Heathrow Airport

30. . .5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . . HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Besides the fact that I was over the moon excited to be ringing in the new year in such a fabulous place, I was also ruminating over the fact that this would be the last year (hopefully ever) that I would be celebrating as a single woman.  Next year, my fiance and I would finally be spending a New Year’s Eve together and this time as a married couple.  I wonder what country we will choose to visit for the special occasion?

I do not believe that I have ever shared a video of me before, thus this is a first on My Beautiful Adventures.  Enjoy seeing Andi post lots (and lots) of bubbly!

Soon after the clock struck midnight the next show for the evening began.

This time, however, most of the show was centered around the dance floor.

Who better to get the party started than the Perullo tag team: my dad and brother?

Just so you know, my Dad is 70 years old.  I sure hope I am partying like this at 70!

And if it could not get any better than the above picture, just watch this video:

The ball exceeded every single expectation that I had, so much so, that I am willing to say it was almost as incredible as my previous New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro.  But, the night was definitely still young. . .

Remember when we were kids and our parents sent us to some relative’s house to spend the summer?  A couple of weeks later we would return home either a little chubbier or thinner than before, but never the same weight.  It is a well known fact that when we “shake up the routine” our metabolism is usually affected.  This happens because we change habits and one of our most important acquired habit’s is eating.

So, if you are constantly traveling, you are constantly adapting to different food, which may lead to weight gain or loss.  It obviously depends on your metabolism, as well as the place where you are going to; you will definitely not get the same food in the US than when you travel to the Congo.

Here are some tips for staying in shape regardless where your adventures take you:

• When you are in a foreign land either you will like the food or you will not.  In any case, you must try to eat a “normal” amount.  Just because you are in India and love Indian food you cannot be eating curry chicken (with one or more of the gazillion types of sauces) and drinking coconut milk all day long.  Otherwise, not even your own mother will recognize you when you come back.  The same goes for the contrary, if you are in a lost region of Brasil with an Amazonian tribe and dinner consists of insects and muddy stew and you cannot get yourself to eat it (which I fully understand), you simply cannot stop eating.  Search for something you can eat like fruit, bread, rice, etc.

• Wherever you are try to eat five times a day.  It is better to eat more small meals throughout the day than eating a lot at once with hours in between meals.  If this is not possible because you are on an excursion or for whatever reason, always try to carry something with you to snack on.

• Another good solution is looking into Paris apartments or in any other city for that matter, since you will have a kitchen and can then cook.  You can go to the closest supermarket and buy the things you would normally buy and cook in a healthy and balanced way.

• If you go to a country where hamburgers and fries are on top of the list of delicacies, do not forget about vegetables and fruits.  And of course water!  Sodas are not healthy.

• If you are in an exotic region and you cannot stomach the food, I have no doubt that you can find a a nearby fast food restaurant like McDonald’s, but remember they offer salads too, not just Big Macs.

• Try to have a varied diet, including all of the foods you normally eat, which will most likely be prepared in a different way.  Now is your chance to eat your favorite foods, however in a new light.  Gastronomy is culture too!

• If, instead of renting apartments in Paris, you are on a cruise or staying in different hotels, you will probably eat at restaurants a lot more frequently than usual.  In this case you should take long walks, go jogging, swimming, surfing, etc.

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.