Walking the South Downs Way

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Ever since the South Downs National Park announcement on 31 March 2009 I’ve seen a surge of people searching for information about the South Downs Way arrive at The Travel Cooler. I’d like to take the opportunity to welcome these new visitors.

In order to make it a little easier for you to find the information you are seeking, this is a summary post of the articles that I’ve written about the South Downs Way.

I walked the entire lenght of the South Downs Way with two other people back in 2006. We divided the 159 km trail into 9 walks and spread the walks over several months from July to December. This way we got to enjoy some of the seasonal changes along the trail.

I wrote the following articles about the walks:arrow made of rocks on South Downs Way

* Sweltering South Downs Way Walks
* Lost on the Milky Way
* The Walk of Changes
* For the Love of Sheep
* Devil’s Work?
* Crossing the Greenwich Meridian
* Eastbourne never looked sweeter

Each article includes some of our photographs, but next week I’ll publish a South Downs Way photo series, which I hope you’ll enjoy.

If you have any questions regarding walking the South Downs Way, please just ask by leaving a comment and I’ll do my very best to answer your questions.

Travel the world with confidence with international travel insurance

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The farther you are from home, the more likely it is that you will need international travel insurance. Traveling abroad without insurance is dangerous, and
doesn’t make a lot of sense, since the cost of obtaining travel cover is so reasonable. If you are traveling anywhere around the world, you should do yourself a huge favor and get travel protection.

Don’t become a victim of circumstance

There’s no worse feeling than knowing you need assistance and can’t get it, only because you can’t afford it. This feeling can be a million times worse if you are traveling abroad and are without your insurance. Millions of travelers find themselves in foreign countries without the financial or medical backing they need in order to get the care or other critical assistance.

How can international travel insurance help you?

International travel insurance offers many of the same coverage options that domestic travel insurance does including coverage for:

• Lost and/or stolen baggage                                                           
• Trip cancellation/delay
• Medical care/repatriation
• Credit card fraud
• Rental vehicle excess
• Repatriation and accidental death
How to get the right travel insurance plan?

Choosing the right insurance plan can be overwhelming if you don’t properly plan or research all of your options. Before you purchase any travel policy you should consider:

• How much do you want to spend?- The coverage you receive will be in direct relation to how much money you spend for it. Establish a budget, but just know that you may have to spend more than anticipated in order to get the coverage that will best protect you.

• Your destination- If you are traveling to a high risk, remote, or other area that may require special coverage, you should probably get more coverage than usual.
• How long you’ll be traveling-Will you be visiting on holiday, for schooling, or a business trip? Will you be staying for a few days, a couple of weeks, or longer? Knowing these facts can help you decide between a single trip policy or an annual multi-trip one.

• How many people are traveling?-If you are traveling with a large number of people, having insurance is even more important, as the health and safety of all parties is crucial for the sake of the trip. Young and older people should definitely be insured. And don’t forget to ask if you qualify for a group discount.

• What activities will be participating in?- Will you be lounging on the beach or hiking up mountains? Taking a stroll along historical walks or kayaking down roaring rapids? If you are participating in any adventure or high risk activities you’ll need to check with your insurer that they are covered beforehand.

Spa in Thai Style

For many consecutive years Thailand is one of the big winners of numerous spa awards. Thailand’s spa industry continues to look healthy and evolve with the changing requirements of spa clientele to a focus not far removed from the ancient purpose of traditional Thai massage and herbal healing techniques. Even with the need to mingle with Western practices, the Thai spa industry’s edge is its ancient heritage: the rituals, treatments and massage techniques that have survived down through the ages. It has an authenticity that spas elsewhere in the world look to duplicate and “Thainess” has also become a focal selling point of Thai spas. It is relatively vital to discover why Thai spas with Thainess or in Thai style have contributed to many awards and have also astounded the world!

Thainess refers to both the therapists and the cultural qualities that have made Thailand the spa capital of the Asia-Pacific region as well as a must-have component for spas all over the world. Whilst it can mean different things to different people, when applied to Thai therapists, Thainess seems to encompass ancient healing techniques, folk wisdom in its rituals and, perhaps above all, graciousness. Maintaining wellbeing through an improved balance of the body, mind and spirit and with the environment has become the key protocol for Thailand’s award-winning spas and emerging ventures. Thailand is now set as a medical hub featuring traditional and alternative treatments.

Dubbed as the “Land of Healthy Smiles”, Thailand affords its health and beauty minded tourists the wonder of the pampering and holistic spa treatments of the body, mind and spirit. The revelation of health and wellness comprises a full-fledged array of world-renowned day spas, destination spas, hotel/resort spas and medical spas to choose from. Spa treatments in Thai style will help you to get in touch with inner you at numerous places across the nation. Rewarding yourself with a Thai spa is certainly a valuable treat that provides an ultimate spa experience. This, without doubt, makes meticulous tourists and recipients always fall in love with Thai spas with Thainess or in Thai style!

A delicate blend of cultural heritages and diversities is the central element that makes Thailand a spa destination in the world. A focus of health and beauty, Thai spas involve the method of relaxation and health promotion both physically and spiritually. They blossoms in Bangkok and major tourist cities countrywide. The Thai spa experience embraces a choice of indigenous resource, unique tradition and local wisdom that have been passed down through centuries. Recognizing the lucrative market niches for spa business, spa operators look into this ancient trove to create and present the best Thai style spas to ensure worldwide spa recipients a lasting spa expectation.

In fact, the spa theory in Thailand is adopted and adapted into traditional Thai style, making its spa treatments a whole lot different from that of offered at leading spa centers in the globe. An imported spa recipe combined with an exotic Thai touch has impressed the world! Spa facilities in Thailand too are of premium and great value for money. A tropical haven boasting natural and cultural richness, Thailand is considered one of the world’s most famed holiday getaways. This is a remarkable plus that helps develop the country’s basic strength as an eternal spa paradise. In addition, first-class spa products truly open a new notion and familiarity to foreign spa recipients.

Thai spas allow recipients to capture various essences of traditional Thai living. The Thai spa experience is notable as spa practitioners are naturally service-minded and always smiling. Gracious hospitality and quality service are complemented by the caring nature as well as gentle manner of the Thai people, thus enhancing a unique Thai touch to worldwide recognition. Gentleness, compassion and the act of comforting to others, as advocated by the Theravada Buddhist tradition, is very much part of everyday life. The gesture is intuitive and genuine as well. Besides, most of spa venues are designed with typical Thai characteristics intrinsically admired by all foreigners.

Boasting a variety of spa offerings, the Land of Healthy Smiles has devised a vast range of retreats, alternative therapies, personal consultation and life coaching. The common Thai spa menu includes traditional Thai, Swedish, Javanese and Sports massages, foot reflexology, aromatherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, hydrotherapy, skincare treatments like facial scrubs and body wraps, treatments for face, skin and hair, herbal steams and floral baths. The Thai spa experience also comes with body and mind activities – be it meditation, yoga, tai chi, pilates, stress management, holistic wellness, spa cuisine and physiotherapy, along with healthy eating and detoxification.

The Thai wellbeing therapy also makes Thai spas popular globally. Many of the healing techniques, holistic remedies and wellbeing programs are mainly based on the therapeutic power of Thai herbs and plants specially formulated to rebalance, restore and rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. A variety of other curative treatments meanwhile accentuate meditative practices which reflect deep-rooted Buddhist influences. Significantly, the traditional Thai massage is regarded as an act of compassion in which the therapist performs the physical application of loving kindness and renders a curing touch in the spirit of giving. The traditional Thai massage exerts substantial health benefits.