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While I could have spent days luxuriating in the comforts of the Mandarin Oriental, Macau, I did not fly all the way across the world to not explore my exotic surroundings.  Macau is considered the gateway into how Western civilization first entered China.  The best place in the region to see this extraordinary symbiosis of cultures is in the historical center, which was classified a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005, and that is exactly where I spent the entire day with Macau Tourism.

Macau Museum is an excellent place to begin a tour, as it displays and explains the history and traditions of Macau through permanent collections and exhibitions.  It is also a lovely place to take a city break if needed.

Greetings from Rosalie Bay Resort in Dominica where we are celebrating our 1 Year Anniversary!  No one can hardly believe it has been a year since our wedding in Buenos Aires, Argentina, especially us.  I cannot wait to share details about our unforgettable trip to this tropical island paradise, but for now I will leave you with a little sneak peak into one of the best experiences my husband and I have had thus far here:

After much contemplation, I have also decided to share our wedding videos.  Unfortunately, we did not get the wedding video of our dreams, as you will see they are poorly edited and shot.  While it caused me a lot of stress and frustration at first, with time I have accepted that we still had the best day of our lives captured and that is really all that matters.

You will most likely not hear from me over the next couple of days.  It is simply because I am disconnecting from the world, so that I can give 100% of myself to my husband. . .

Confession: I had visited Hong Kong twice and had yet to make the short journey over to Macau.  Thus, when I was invited to visit Macau with Macau Tourism just 2 weeks after returning from my 2nd trip to Hong Kong there was not a moment of hesitation before agreeing — I was finally going to step foot onto the island where Western and Eastern worlds infamously collided.  Am I crazy to take such a long trip back to back or am I simply addicted to traveling?  You choose.

My trip began with a pleasant surprise, as I was the first person in the entire world to check into the inaugural Cathay Pacific flight, which was debuting its new “Premium Economy” seating.  Sadly, there were no balloons or music, but I was excited nonetheless and headed straight to the British Airlines lounge to celebrate with some champagne.

Thankfully, jetlag does not effect me until I return from a trip, because as soon as we landed in Hong Kong, we hit the ground running.  From the Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) we took a 45 minute ferry-ride over to Macau, which is where we went through customs.  Then we went straight to our first hotel of the trip, the glamorous Mandarin Oriental, Macau.

After a tour of the property, we were led to the hotel’s restaurant for some much needed refueling after traveling for over a day.  I knew the food was going to be sensational just by my surroundings alone.  The Mandarin Oriental chain is known globally for its overwhelming beauty and Vida Rica certainly was a perfect example of why they have this reputation.  Chef Dirk and his team have created a menu to reflect both the Portuguese and Chinese influences in the region and the end result is a fusion menu with a twist.

Over a dim sum lunch I befriended the other journalists that were traveling with me.  Besides the fact that I get to travel to extraordinary places on press trips, like Macau, the best part for me are the other travelers.  I feel so lucky to be able to explore the world with some of the most talented and creative writers and photographers that exist.

After lunch, I had an important date that I had been looking forward to since I had been sent my itinerary: I had a Mandarin Oriental 2 hour signature spa massage.

Spa treatments at the Mandarin Oriental are like no other.  Due to the fact that I am a Chinese Medicine Doctor, the therapies offered in their spas resonate with me deeply, as they are completely based upon the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Before each treatment, your therapist will have you fill out a questionnaire that assesses your current state of well-being.  Depending on your answers, they will then further customize your treatment to ensure that you get the best treatment possible.  And trust me, I got the very best treatment possible.

While I left the spa without a trace of feeling as though I had just flown all the way across the world, I was unable to fully enjoy my relaxed state of being, since I had a special evening ahead of me that required as much energy as possible.  Dinner was at a traditional Portuguese restaurant named O Manuel, followed by drinks at the Lion’s Bar at the MGM Grand.  My first night in Macau, however, simply had to be celebrated in the utmost of style, which meant front row access to the Taio Cruz concert at Club Cubic in the Hard Rock Hotel.
 

 
In the words of Mr. Cruz, my first impression of Macau was dynamite!

We knew the thunderstorm was coming.  A black cloud  had followed us our entire honeymoon and while we tried our absolute best to ignore it, it was always there looming in the distance.  The day had arrived, and despite being husband and wife now, we would have to say goodbye to each other yet again.  Even though we had said countless painful goodbyes over our 6 year long-distance courtship, this time was different, this time seemed impossible.

However, like always, we found the strength to survive our impending indefinite separation due to the profound love we share for each other.  Love truly conquers all.  What also helped was knowing that this was our last goodbye.  It might be months before Lucas would receive his visa that would allow him to immigrate to the United States of America, but once he did the long-distance would finally come to an end and we could begin our new life side by side.  The other thing that helped were the dogs of La Suite.  We had no way of knowing that they even existed when we decided to stay there.  We are both huge animal lovers and nothing could have cheered us up more than a group of dogs eager to give us their attention and affection when we needed it the most.

I get daily emails from followers of My Beautiful Adventures seeking advice on how to survive a long-distance relationship.  It is no secret that I am an expert when it comes to them, as I have had 3 great loves in my life and all 3 (yes, you read that correctly), were long distance.  One was 1,741 miles, another was 5,275 miles, and finally the other one was 10,355 miles.  At the end of the day, milage is insignificant as being even 1 mile apart from the love of your life is challenging.  Thus, here are some helpful tips for those that are in a long-distance relationship.

Have regular e-dates

Just because you are miles away from each other, does not mean you cannot have dates.  Even though you are not in person, you should still treat your e-date as a real date.  Get dressed up in your best clothes, light some candles, flirt shamelessly.  It is of the utmost important to keep the romance alive.

Start a co-journal

Pick out a journal the next time you are together and then send it back and forth when you are apart.  Do not tell each other what you have written or placed inside  – the element of surprise is half the fun!  It is always the best feeling to come home to a package from your sweetheart.

Communication is essential

One of the perks in being a long-distance relationship is that you are forced to communicate in a very deep and meaningful way, because when you are apart that is all you have to stay connected.  Couples in long-distance relationships probably communicate better than most couples who live in the same house.  Communication also strengthens trust and without it the relationship will fall apart quickly.  Make Skype the third person in the couple immediately.

Become experts in each others cultures

If you are from a different culture than your partner, then there are bound to be a lot of “lost in translation” moments that can be very frustrating.  Sometimes you are just not going to understand each other and that is okay.  Do your best to meet in the middle and you will discover that you will both become better people because of it.  The best way to have less of these moments is to do everything in your power to become acquainted with their culture.  Take language classes, read books on the history of their country, befriend people in your city that are expats from their city through social media or meet-up groups.

Always have another trip together planned

There should always be a date when you will be reunited on the calendar to look forward to.  Being able to count down the days, even if it is 6 months away (Lucas and I went over a year once), makes a world of a difference.  When the date is indefinite the situation seems hopeless.

Treasure every second when you are together

Since your time with your loved one is limited, when you are together make sure that you treat every second as sacred.  Willingly choose to not fight over anything insignificant.  Completely disconnect yourself from the outside world (if work allows for this) and give them 100% of your attention.  Time goes by fast when you are having fun, so make it count.

Endnote:  Thankfully, Lucas and I were rejoined several months later.  In case you missed the post that celebrates our reunion and which I labeled The Most Important Day Of My Life, make sure to check it out, as it is one of my favorites.  Long-distance relationships can seem insurmountable, but if the love is there, never give up.  We celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary in 2 weeks!

 To see the accompanying post click here.

I am delighted to announce that PrintRunner has offered one of my followers the opportunity to win 100 postcards!!!

I have no doubt that my travel obsessed followers would love the chance to print their favorite image on postcards to send to their friends and family during their adventures around the world.  I am also receiving 100 postcards and if you would like one, please email me at AndiPerullo@aol.com with your address and I will send you the following postcard from Charlotte, North Carolina:

 A message from PrintRunner: 

PrintRunner.com was established with little more than a small press and a dream.  Ten years later our company became one of the foremost quality printers in Southern California.  Our commitment to provide the best value and high quality full color printing at affordable price made our company grow.  PrintRunner is a full service high quality printing company located in Chatsworth, California.  Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Print online with PrintRunner.  Try their amazing custom postcard printing and get attractive yet affordable postcards.

Giveaway Information:

1. Leave me a comment describing the image you would choose for your postcards.
2. For an extra entry leave me a comment telling me that you have followed me on Twitter.
3. For another extra entry leave me a comment telling me that you have friended me on Facebook.
4. For another extra entry leave me a comment telling me that you have liked My Beautiful Adventures on Facebook.

I will announce the winner on May 7th, 2011.

Postcard Information:

To see the accompanying posts click here and here.

My husband and I had big, big plans for Fernando de Noronha — dare I say grandiose — since it was after all our ultimate dream destination.  However, before you get too excited about seeing pictures of us from different spots on the archipelago or about reading insider suggestions on things to do and see, let me confess: we did nothing on our agenda.  Not.one.thing.

We found it almost impossible to leave our sanctuary Pousada Maravilha.  What we did enjoy thoroughly though was the hotel’s infinity pool and quite possibly too many caipirinhas.

Would you have been able to leave these breathtaking surroundings?  I have no doubt that the rest of Fernando de Noronha would have dazzled us, maybe even changed our lives, but we were cast under our hotel’s magical spell.

My conclusion: sometimes you want to expand your horizons, while other times the most beautiful adventures are best experienced right where you are.  Oh, and here is a secret that I discovered, if you do not do everything you had set out to do in the first place, well, then you have a great reason to return.

To see the accompanying posts click here and here.

To see the accompanying post click here.

A couple of months ago I was invited to join TWIN: Toyota Women’s Influencer Network.  It is such an honor and privilege to have joined a community supporting a brand that I so passionately believe in.  Over the upcoming months you will see more posts regarding my relationship with TWIN, however, in my fourth post of the series I thought I would show you photos of what has to be the coolest Toyota Prius in the entire world.  You can read my other posts of the series here, here, and here.

I recently was on a press trip to Macau with the Macau Board of Tourism and was excited, though definitely not surprised, to see that the Hard Rock Hotel Macau was debuting a Prius in the front of their property.  Of all of the cars in the world they chose this one — if that does not prove to you how hot the car is, maybe these pictures will?

Disclosure: I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota.

On our last day at Pousada Picinguaba, we decided to venture into Parati, which was about a 30 minute taxi drive away.  I had heard rumors that this city was a “hidden gem,” but it was not until we were wandering throughout its plethora of colonial cobblestone streets did I know for certain it truly was.

This quiet coastal city is saturated with colorful 18th Century Portuguese architecture, however it still retains a strong Brasilian vibe creating a visual feast for the eyes.  My husband and I decided to bypass any tours and simply got lost inside the village.  We knew if we felt too turned around all we had to do was to look up for the spire of the local cathedral, as no building was permitted to be taller than it and it was located in the center of the city.

I treasured the fact that automobile traffic is forbidden within the city in order to preserve its peaceful ambience.  Despite having a population of 36,000, there was hardly any foot traffic either.  It seemed that no matter where we were in Brasil, we had the entire country to ourselves. . .maybe as a wedding present?  After an entire day of exploration, our bodies needed refueling, and when we heard there was a nearby restaurant that could only be accessed by boat, we knew immediately where we would be dining for the evening.

Kontiki Restaurante is not to be missed if you should find yourself hungry in Parati.  While, it might not be the most memorable meal of your life, the view and sangria make it an unforgettable experience.  Plus, the meaning behind its name is priceless.  Kontiki was the Sun King of the Incas and set off on a wooden raft sailing the Pacific Ocean 15,000 years ago.  Even though he did not quite believe he would find what he was looking for — another continent — he still crossed the dangerous seas in faith.  Today, Kontiki is the inspiration for those on an any kind of adventure.  Kontiki Restaurante believes why cross the world when you can cross a little of the Atlantic near Parati for a culinary adventure surrounded by a gorgeous landscape, as well as the watchful eyes of the enchanting Sun King.

As the sun began to set, we took it as nature’s cue that we should begin the long journey back to our pousada.

Parati has been described as a “virtual museum within a tropical paradise,” and after my brief visit there I could not agree more with that assessment.  This tranquil part of the world should definitely be considered a dream destination on everyone’s list.

To see the accompanying post click here.