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Alia Club Hotel is a 4 star hotel in Hersonissos, located in 20 N.Nearchou St.

Alia Club Beach Hotel Apartments is located exactly on the sea front of Hersonissos bay. The fully furnished and equipted rooms and apartments offer to guests all facilities that may be required.
The hotel has a long history back on excellent service and top accommodation. Sea view rooms, spacious inside, modern, new decoration and direct access to the beach, are something that guests are looking for and can be provided with. Enjoy yourself in a well organized environment, away from everyday’ s routine.

Alia Club hotel is the ideal choice for anyone visiting the town of Hersonissos.
It’s named after the goddess Alia, wife of the mythological god of sea Poseidon, and stands as an oasis of hospitality, ready to fulfil the highest demands of relaxation, calm and recreation.

It stands on the most preferential spot of Hersonissos’ bay, right in front of the sea and next to town centre and it broadens the meaning of the word comfort by offering its’ visitors 42 spacious 50 sq.m. apartments and 20 sq.m. studios

Description of type of room:

separate bedroom,bath or shower wc-hairdryer,fully equipted kitchen corner/table/microwave,fridge etc.Living room,luggage space,safe, fully airconditioned ,radio, wake up system,telephone,1-2 balkonies,satellite tv.suitable for 2-4 persons

Continental breakfast is included in room prise.
Is served in our sea view restaurant from 09:15′-11:00′

Facilities
• Beach 0 metres
• Hospital 100 metres
• Bus stop 150m
• Airport/port 25 km
• reception (speaking greek-english-german-italian-french)
• 24h taxi service
• 24h medical care/doctor available every day/
• 24h security guarded
• Free parking private area
• Fax service free
• Internet corner by hour charge
• Satellite tv in rooms and café area
• Tv corner in reception area
• Organized beach in 0 metres from us
• Restaurant/café/snack/open bar/menu for vegetarians also/
• Children amenities and services/babycots/chairs/menu/baby sitting
• Animation nights in café
• Billiards/games/
• Room service 12h/per day/ no extra charge
• Outside pool/umbrellas and chairs free
• Luggage space and showers for late departures
• Souvenir-sea shop
• Super market in 3 metres
• Bank in 5 metres
• Golf(18) in 2 km
• Water sports
• Diving
• Fishing
• Walking
• Horse riding
• bicycles
• Traditional tavernas/pubs/disco/café/bars/around the area
• Taxi transfer from/to on request on a cost,payed direct to the driver from the guests
• Post/mail box
• Hairstylist upon appointment
• Spa / body care/fitness centre in 10metres from hotel with 10%discount for the guests of ours
• Laundry service by payment
• Ironing service by payment
• Lifts (2)
• Luggage space for departure day
• Shower room for late departures.

Other than AccommodationZ.com, our network also includes Reserver.it (where we list more than 2500 Hotels in Italy with secure online reservation) and Siteseeings.com, where you can make reservations for sightseeings in Italy, tours in Rome and also in the Amalfi Coast.

I have visited umpteen French alpine skiing mountains e.g. Flegere, Val Cenis, Grand Massif and Courchevel, however through all the family’s ski holidays Chamonix France without a shadow of a doubt is my best European resort to go for skiing holidays in France.

The place of origin of alpine history and home to the magnificent Mont Blanc - at 4807m Europe’s most eminent peak - Chamonix France sports a brilliant snow register, a elongated ski season (December-May), incomparable steep telemarking, and perspectives to die for. Not withstanding Chamonix has an far reaching repute since it has a few of the most prominent, provocative, and exciting skiing accessible anywhere in the Earth.

The Chamonix valley is huge and every bit as bedeviling, and that’s before one count the close ski resorts; for example Luz Ardiden, Gourette, Les Arcs, La Grave and Val-d’Isere.

The Monte Bianco ski lift pass includes six near, and 14 departmental ski resorts; on skiing upwards of 3843 metres, all over 200 skiing lifts, and 780 km of skiing runs - with the majority of the ski mountains higher than 2040m. They provides for each tier from novices including professional skiers. Come to the skiing mountains section for detailed look at every the main mountains: Hautacam, Risoul, Samoens, Tignes-les-Brevieres, Chatel and Auron.

A brief guide to Rome Hotels, Accommodations plus useful sightseeing information.

Planning an Itinerary to Rome can be difficult if you are unsure of what to visit: sometimes it’s better to take a Rome Tour. This article gives some insight to some must places of the Eternal City.
Must see places in Rome:

Palazzo Massimo
The antique collection of greatest importance in Rome is kept in the interior of a building of the 19th century, which was a Jesuit college and now hosts the National Roman Museum. Statues and carving, of the imperial villas, precious and fantastic mosaics representing domestic and wild animals; the children will love it.

Campo de’ Fiori
In the heart of the Rome of the people and its floklore. The flower market and the piazza of the nobles Farnese, the statue of a heretic and the young people who gather there in the evening. many faces of the same city.

San Pietro in Vincoli
The statue of Moses, sculpted by Michelangelo with great verisimilitude and power to provoke its author to throw down his chisel crying “why don’t you speak?”. Among history and legend, the tale of a monument which was never finished but also very much re-touched by artists through the years.

Ponte Sant’Angelo
A walkway of angels which look down as you walk across the bridge, the memory of a past time in which the castle was a place of imprisonment and suffering.

To help you find accommodation in Rome, we have selected the best hotels in Rome, from cheap Rome accommodations to 4 star and luxury hotels in Rome.

Travel Stats

The World Tourism Organization reports the following ten countries as the most visited in 2007 by number of international travelers. When compared to 2006, Ukraine entered the top ten list, surpassing Russia, Austria and Mexico. Most of the top visited countries continue to be on the European continent.

A Little Bit of History

Wealthy people, of course, with abundance of money and leisure time, have always traveled to distant parts of the world to see great buildings and works of art, to learn new languages, to experience new cultures, and to taste different cuisines.

As long ago as the time of the Roman Republic, places such as Baiae were popular coastal resorts for the rich. The word tourism was first used by 1811 and the, the word tourist started to be used by 1840.[17] In 1936 the League of Nations defined foreign tourist as someone travelling abroad for at least twenty-four hours. It successor, the United Nations amended this definition in 1945 by including a maximum stay of six months.

RANK COUNTRY REGIONAL MARKET Intn’l Arrivals(2006) Intn’l Arrivas(2007)

1 France Europe 81.9 million 79.1 million
2 Spain Europe 59.2 million 58.5 million
3 United States North America 56.0 million 51.1 million
4 China Asia 54.7 million 49.6 million
5 Italy Europe 43.7 million 41.1 million
6 United Kingdom Europe 30.7 million 30.7 million ?
7 Germany Europe 24.4 million 23.6 million
8 Ukraine Europe 23.1 million 18.9 million
9 Turkey Europe 22.2 million 18.9 million
10 Mexico North America 21.4 million 21.4 million

AmazingJoyVacations.com

The Story of Leith On the Firth of Forth near to Scotland’s Capital city is the Port of Leith. Not a large Port by international standards but despite this one of the most famous ports not only in Scotland but also in the United Kingdom. Within its small compass the story of Scotland can be told. It has seen war and death, times of plague, battles on the Forth, Kings and Queens of Scotland, days of high adventure, the Reformation of the Church of Scotland started here and was completed in Leith in 1560 decided on the battle field between Leith and Edinburgh at the Siege of Leith, it has seen Trials for Witchcraft, The Knight Templars (Crusaders) and the Knights of St John from Torphican, The Industrial Revolution which brought wealth to a few and misery to the many (the industrial Revolution was the period from the late 18th century to throughout the 19th century which saw people move from the countryside into the large towns and cities to find work in the new factories driven by the newly invented steam engines, it also seen the development of steam trains, the replacement of wooden hull ships by steam ships (eg the Sirius which was built in Leith in the 19th century was the first steamship to cross the Atlantic), the list of famous people and events in the history of Leith is endless. So where to begin the Story….

Imagine in you minds eye a river running through a thick forest. Within the forest are deer, wolves, foxes, bears and the Great Elk. On the banks of the river is a small village of the Votandini these are a Celtic people who covered their bodies in Tattoos from head to foot. In battle they would cut of the heads of their enemies and drill holes in the skull (Trepanning) after which they were buried around sacred wells. The idea was that the spirits of the dead warriors would protect the sacred wells from evil spirits because in Celtic Mythology the wells were gateways to the other world. The world of Ghosts and spirits such as the earth spirits, the spirits of the nature. This was Leith almost 3000 years ago before the Romans ever saw our district long before the district was ever called Leith. Near to the village was a clearing in the forest and the people decided to hack a path from the village to the clearing and the clearing became the village Graveyard. The path from the village to the clearing became in time the “Kirkgate” and for centuries chapels were built along the Kirkgate. The Graveyard in time became the Churchyard of South Leith Parish Church. It is known from archaeology that South Leith Parish Church sits on an ancient Celtic sacred site.

The name Leith itself comes from two possible roots. If you look at old maps of Leith the spelling of Leith Changes in several different ways but the main spellings are “Leeth” and “Lyth” the meaning of “Leeth” is a crossroads and Lyth means fish in short Leith was the town which could be approached from the east or west along the coast or from the South and it was possible to catch a ferry to go north across the Forth it also had a fish market. The people paying their tithes (a tenth of their earnings were paid to the church) in fish, which was eaten on the many holy days of the Roman Catholic Church.

The first mention of Leith is in founding charter of Holyrood Abbey in 1128 in which it is called “InverLeith”. The word “Inver” meaning from the Gaelic, the mouth of a river. Leading to the assumption that the river got its name from a family called Leith. The only problem with this is there was never a family called Leith connected to Leith to give it its name. Also Leith was never a Gaelic speaking area it became Anglo- Saxon and formed part along with Edinburgh of Northumbria, which was made up of two Kingdoms Bernica and Deria with its capital at Bamburgh.

The first important family connected to Leith was the de Lestalric family who were Normans invited into Scotland by David I and they built a castle at Lochend giving the district around it the name in later years Restalrig. This family died out in 1382 and passed onto the Logan family until 1609 when James VI disinherited the Logan family for high treason. After which it was held by the Balmerino family until 1746 which because of their adherence to the Jacobite cause (ie supporters of the Stewart cause to claim the throne of Great Britain) Lord Balmerino was not only disinherited but was beheaded for treason. Leith was passed to Lord Murray until the 1920’s when all the remaining land at Restalrig and Lochend was passed to the Edinburgh Council.

The main trades in the past were Shipbuilding, the Wine Trade, flour milling, biscuit making, rope making and the Timber Trade. In Leith Ramage and Fergusons, Hawthorns did shipbuilding. Cran and Somerville, Robb and Mortons. Rope making was done at the Roperie at Salmander St. Along with these was sugar refining and Glass making.

So how did Leith become the Principal Port for Scotland? This happened in 1296. Edward I of England realised that the only way to defeat the Scots was by destroying the economy of the country. At this time wool from the Border Abbeys such as Melrose and Kelso was exported to the Low Countries (Belgium and Holland which were part of what was called the Hanseatic League) through Berwick. So in 1296 Berwick was destroyed, something like 7-9000 people were killed, and the trade was destroyed. The monks had a problem, which was solved by putting the wool on the backs of horses over the hills, up the Old Dalkeith road, around Arthur Seat, and into Leith and so from 1296 to 1707 Leith was the Principal Port for Scotland. In 1707 due to Union of Parliaments Glasgow gradually superseded Leith due to the Clyde being deeper and because of Trade with North America.

Some dates of importance:

AD 80 Agricola marches through Leith from Inveresk

AD 208 The Emperor Severus encamps at Cramond

AD 1128 David I founds Holyrood

AD 1296 The Abbot of Holyrood. Sir John de Lestalric, and the Parson of Restalrig swear fealty to Edward I

AD 1314 Edward II camps on Leith Links before Bannockburn

AD 1335 The English occupy Leith

AD 1434 James I builds the Kings Wark (Armoury for Scotland)

AD 1493 Robert Ballantyne Abbot of Holyrood builds St Ninians Church. This later becomes North Leith Parish Church

AD 1511 The Great Michael launched at Newhaven (this was the Largest warship of the Tudor age)

AD 1544/47 Leith burnt on the orders of Henry VIII during the “rough Wooing”

AD 1560 The Siege of Leith

AD 1593 Trials and executions for witchcraft

AD 1631 Balmerino House built in the Kirkgate

AD 1650 Battle of Dunbar. Leith occupied by Oliver Cromwell

AD 1698 The Darien Expedition leaves from Leith

AD 1751 Turnpike Act. Bonnington Toll erected

AD 1806 The Old Dock opened. The Queens Dock built 1817, The Victoria Dock 1852, The Albert Dock 1869, The Edinburgh Dock 1881 and the Imperial Dock 1904

AD 1822 George IV lands in Leith

AD 1833 Leith becomes an independent parliamentary Burgh

AD 1915 The Gretna disaster

AD 1920 Leith is amalgamated with Edinburgh

Leith has an extensive history going back several thousand years. The above is just a very small sample of what is available and known about Leith. For example the history of South Leith Church goes back several hundred years, The Preceptory of St Anthony founded approximately 1380 and was demolished in the Siege of Leith, Writers and Painters connected with Leith, The Templar connection the list goes on and on and is too large a subject to cover in this brief introduction.

Leith Historian and Genealogist.Owner of http://www.lineages.co.uk and http://www.leithhistory.co.uk. Married with two sons

While traveling on the Metroliner from a wonderful and relaxing trip seeing friends in Washington, DC, I realized how difficult it is for some many business owners and executives to take a vacation. Is the thought of a relaxing vacation an impossible dream?

As a sole practioner, I have learned that if I do not stop and smell the roses, enjoy my family and have some fun, I will be sabotaging not only my career but also my life.

Vacations and days off are an important part of any career plan. They allow you to think a bit differently and find that balance you need. Colleagues and clients also perceive you as a person who not only recognizes a need for balance but also is not a control freak.

I believe it’s really possible to leave the office both mentally and physically. It just takes a bit of planning and some very deep breathing.

Be Prepared

Look at your schedule for upcoming projects and deadlines. Try to take care of as much as you can before your trip and allow for emergencies when you get back. Schedule upcoming meetings and projects on your calendar early, so that you are not rushed when you return. I often create a To Do List and use different folders so that when I return from a trip, things are as organized as they can be. By being prepared, you will be able to put your project’s aside and enjoy your trip.

Delegate

Determine well in advance who will be taking care of your responsibilities while you are away. Ensure he or she has the information needed to answer questions and that if decisions must be made, what the appropriate comfort level is. For me, I have an administrative office that handles any emergencies for me. It’s a lifesaver. I know that my clients are speaking to real people who can help move the issue toward a successful resolution. If you don’t have an administrative office, speak to a few call centers in your area. If nothing else, your clients will hear a real voice and know that the message will be taken.

Notify Your Clients

Tell your clients in advance that you will be traveling. If you normally respond to email and phone messages within an hour, your clients need to know that you will not be readily available. If they know when you will be back and who to contact, emergencies are not as drastic and they will be able to gauge the level of importance. Be sure to give the same information on vacation emails and voicemails (office and cell.)

Extra Protection

If you are able to schedule a quiet day in the office for yourself, before your official return, do so. By telling clients that you will be back on Tuesday, when you will really be in the office Monday, allows you to answer those emails and return some of your calls without the stress of being rushed.

Being Connected

If you must be connected and check in with your office, either by phone or email, I suggest taking care of things every few days and in the morning or very late afternoon. Remember, you are on vacation and balance is important.

Relax & Day Dream

Bring books and magazines that are not related to your business. Vacations allow us to think about things we never would have dream of. Last December, while on vacation sitting in the sun in Bonaire, I thought of a fabulous idea for my business. After a few short minutes of thought, I decided to give it a try. I credit the success of that idea and successes in my business to the fact I was on vacation.

I wish you all a wonderful and relaxing summer vacation!

Beth Silver has been providing marketing and business strategies (http://www.doubetllc.com/services) to entrepreneurs and small business owner for over 10 years. For more great tips and to sign up for Doubet’s free monthly newsletter, The Target Advocate (http://www.doubetllc.com/newsroom), please visit http://www.doubetllc.com

Prologue

Malapascua is an island part of Daan Bantayan, North of Cebu. For Cebuano’s Malapascua is not an alien destination as it is very known to boast a next-to-Boracay Paradise without being overrated and as tourist infested as Boracay is. Going to Malapascua is a 5-hour bus ride from Cebu City where you will be dropped to Maya, place in Daan Bantayan where you can catch a 45-minute boat ride from there to the white sand coast of Malapascua.

Day 1

5:45 AM Saturday morning
We grabbed our backpacks and headed for the North Bus Terminal, where the assembly place is. The agreed time was 6 a.m. Irik and Karmil were the first to arrive there.

5:45 AM Saturday morning
We were the second to arrive, Glin and I at about roughly 6 am. We waited for the remaining of the group to arrive, Fatrik and Cilishti. The supplies and our food were with Cilishti. Fatrik was to help in bringing them.

6:45 AM Saturday morning
Still no sign of either two, the four of us were impatient to get to the weekend ahead of us and still no Cilishti or Fatrik in sight. Karmil, Glin and I then decided to grab a bunwich to fill our empty stomachs while waiting for them. Meanwhile, Irik impatiently called Fatrik in the office only to confirm that Fatrik was still asleep. Somebody was asked to wake Fatrik up.

7:10 AM Saturday morning
Cilishti and Fatrik arrived carrying the supplies which consisted of 3 big water containers each full with 5 litres of drinking water, canned goods, junk foods, a tent and some hammocks.

7:20 AM Saturday morning
We were then all set and were in good spirits getting ready to board the bus toward our November-weekend-to-remember Adventure in Malapascua. The memorable quality of that island adventure could be attributed to some silly, funny and memorable things that never ceased to plague our trip from start to finish. This is how it all started.
Episode 1: Bus Driver Fight. The bus drivers had this fight over whose bus to board and even a bit forcefully persuaded some of us to board another bus which resulted in getting us and our belongings so disorganized that the half of us boarded this bus and other half boarded the other bus. But eventually were able to agree on one bus. Whew, what a really a chaotic way to start an island trip.

7:30 AM Saturday morning
The bus we decided on started its engines and we were finally heading towards Maya. While the bus continuously headed towards the North, we were also content to happily watch reruns of Commando and Rambo at the bus’ plasma TV. Even though we groaned at the antics of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, we were nonetheless blissfully occupied with the scenery and the “classics” we were watching. In no time we arrived at the wharf in Maya where pump boats bob peacefully at the shore. We grabbed our belongings backpacks, litres of drinking water, canned goods, drinks, tents, hammocks and all and boarded the soonest pump boat for our island destination.

12:00 NN Saturday and the Rest of the Day
It was really a bumpy boat ride as there has been news of an impending storm. For us new to such strong current and thick waves, it was really just so marvelous to stare into the ferocious dark blue green sea. Nonetheless, the boat ride was filled with our incessant chatter and bubbling enthusiasm that never ceased to amaze the other passengers. As the island of Malapascua came nearer and nearer into view, the water became tamer and the waves were nowhere to be seen and soon after, the sparkling white expanse of the Malapascua Southern Shoreline winked a welcoming glitter.

We disembarked via a 1-foot wide plank and touched our toes to the hot, fine and pristine white island sand. We arrived at about past twelve not really caring what time it was but our hungry stomachs clamored for food. Heading towards the Tropical Beach Cottages- the least expensive beach front accommodation, we passed along a few of skimpy bikini clad tourists sunbathing along the shore. It was then when it finally dawned that indeed our island getaway has officially started. Upon reaching the cottage, we deposited our belongings and unanimously agreed to feed our stomachs first. We proceeded to Cocobana, a bounty beach resort offering a variety of mouth watering foods at a hundred plus per serving. We then hungrily ate our food mindless of the sky soaring price for each order. Even tap water was sold at 7 pesos per glass without ice. Maybe it is because fresh water and electricity are so hard to come by. Malapascua has no electricity during the day and powered by generators during the night. Electricity only lasts from sundown at until about 10 or 11 pm.

After eating, we began to set up the tent and hammocks that we brought along and slackened for a while. At about 4 pm, we proceeded to the Sunsplash floating bar, just about 25 meters from the shore. We were just in time for the happy hour where all drinks can be obtained at half the price. We lazed for a long while, sipping rum coke and taking in the afternoon view of the island. When we were just remarking about how great it is being away from everything else while leisurely enjoying the unhurried and nice little chitchats, guess who boarded the floating bar… it was our bosses, Nik and Tobi, ready to take their afternoon swim. We later found out that they are regulars at the island after all.

After a while we decided to head to shore again where we dipped, swam and relaxed into the afternoon water. The sand was really so white and the view was just so unspoilt that even a simple afternoon swim could ease all your worries. Then just as time flies so quickly it was time for dinner again, we were forced to take our dinner early as the way of life at the island is just as early as it would again be lights off. We changed our wet clothes and gotten ready for dinner. We ate at Ging Ging’s, a garden eatery which boasts of home cooked Filipino food. The prices were reasonable as the food were also just like ordinary home cooked food. But don’t get us wrong, the food was ok but they were not what we were really looking for. That night, there was a town disco in preparation for their upcoming fiesta celebration, but we decided against it as going there would require a long hike towards the other end of the island. We all voted for relaxing session near the shoreline.

A sleeping bag was laid near the shore with some lounge chairs and a tent and we began pouring the gin and biting lemons and eating junk food and at the same time counting falling stars, Glin and I have counted a total of about 10 falling stars that night. Cilishti and Fatrik were enjoying a silly game about things in a store together with Karmil and Irik. We all laughed our hearts out and contentedly enjoyed the fun-filled and outrageously nice night we are having.

We then prepared to retire after two hours of fun — eager to rest our weary bones. Just as we were about to sleep, the sounds of slapping here and slapping there, itching here and there awakened our drowsy selves. Oh, did I mention that the island also abound with a gazillion of blood sucking mosquitoes? In fact every cottage has an installed mosquito net at every bed as a desperate act to ward them off. But still, I guess their mosquitoes are hybrid or have just been toughened up by the mixture of blood they have sipped from foreigners, to locals to even us. Not surprisingly, they have gotten past the mosquito nets and have never ceased to suck our blood till morning.

Day 2

The second day was another fun filled lazy day; we woke up very late in the morning, not caring what time it was and ate breakfast which the owner of the cottage prepared for us. This is when the second episode of our a-November-weekend-to-remember adventure began.
Episode 2: Island tour. A local named Jun-jun offered an island tour for 600 pesos that would last for 2 hours which we graciously declined for another offer of 500 pesos for an unlimited time presented by another local who happened to overhear the initial island tour offer. By then Windil who was scheduled to arrive came and together with the rest of the group planned for the afternoon ahead. We were really excited for the afternoon in front of us and we were so thrilled to explore the rest of the island and to go snorkeling above some known boat wrecks.

Come lunchtime, the food was superb as a freshly caught fish was sold to us and was natively yet deliciously cooked by none less than the owner of the cottage. After taking lunch and enjoying the afternoon siesta, 2 o’clock came and our scheduled island tour was about to begin. A big tube of Sun block was passed around, sunglasses were readied, hats and caps as well as goggles and snorkels were carried. We went to the shoreline eager to board the Yahoo, the boat we are to use for the tour and to spend the afternoon snorkeling and exploring, only to find out that the Yahoo is still happily anchored at the shores of Maya. Such a disappointment, but that could not succeed in washing away the excitement of the group; especially Cilishti’s who at that time was halfway to being very very drunk.

After deliberating what to do, we again proceeded to the floating bar, since it was not yet time for the Happy hour; we just sat there and expectantly waited for any signs of the boat. After being on such good terms with the local bartenders due to Cilishti’s unabashed friendliness, we learned from them that the local named Basik, whom we negotiated with, about our island tour, was a bit of a scatterbrain and we entrusted our plans for the afternoon in her hands. What a waste, indeed! Luckily someone in our group was persistent enough to negotiate with another boat owner for our intended island trip but their boats too were still in Maya so we waited and waited at the floating bar until it became so straining to the eye to squint for an incoming boat.

That was when we thought to forego that doomed island trip. We resumed our bar hangout and some swam while the others just sat down and killed the time with endless gazes towards the island and still reeling from the fact that our island trip was never going to come true after all the preparations and the excitement and the endless squirts of the sun block we applied.

Late afternoon came and we headed back to the cottage where some local masseuses have waited for an hour or so. By the way, I forgot to tell you that we have arranged with some locals for an afternoon massage of an hour per person to be done after the planned island trip, but the island trip was cancelled so we proceeded with the massage. That’s when the third episode struck.
Episode 3: Masseuses fight. We learned that while we were at the floating bar, the masseuses were having this great disagreement because we haggled for the price of the full body massage from 200 to a hundred and fifty and some of the masseuses agreed just so they could have clients. But, the other jealous ones were so furious and indignant and were planning to report us to some local authorities because of the lowered prices. That was when we concluded, that we sure could stir some excitement of an otherwise boring masseuse’s life.

Yet, Boy, was the massage heavenly, yes it was … It was every bit as relaxing as it should be. The massage certainly managed to knead our tensions away and ebbed all the frustrations from that cancelled boat trip.

After the massage, we were again psyched up for the evening. Eager to take away the thoughts the impeded island tour behind us, we ate our dinner and filled our minds with plans for the night ahead. That night we planned to go to Maldito’s a famed local bar which boasts a big platform of cushion with pillows where you can practically do whatever you want. A huge flat screen monitor is strategically placed in front of it. Lying back, you can either watch TV, watch the people playing billiards or look at the shore while lazily sipping your drink. We played billiards, laughed a lot, posed for pictures, ate pizza and ordered endless shots of tequila, rum coke and baileys and simply had a helluva good time with the cool breeze blowing and the intoxicating feeling of exciting contentment. By the way, did I mention that Cilishti was left behind because the combination of alcohol she earlier drank and the relaxing massage sure did put her to sleep? We regretted leaving her behind though as Maldito’s would sure have been triple the fun if Cilishti’s boisterous laugh filled it halls. Then again 2 or 3 hours, it was time to head back to the cottage again as the breeze was almost intolerably very cold even with all the alcohol and the euphoria.

On the way home, we met Cilishti at Sunsplash, a restaurant where she ate late night dinner. We joined her for a few moments and some stayed and the rest headed back to the cottage to prepare for the long night of being mosquito food again. Indeed the mosquitoes never ceased to disappoint us. They showed on time, just when we were about to doze off, the buzzing started as well as the constant slapping of skin and mosquito. But that night, Irik and Windil decided to fight against our dreaded bedmates, they bought a whole pack of mosquito killer and some repellant lotion. That was when we were able to finally sleep at peace.

Day 3

Morning came and it was time to go home. We ate a leisurely breakfast and packed everything up after that. A storm was threatening to blow but still we are headstrong in our decision to go home and to resume our much loved office work. Nah…not really, we were so afraid to be stranded at the island with having consumed all our supplies and with very little money left. So we stubbornly made arrangements to go home despite the weather.

We contacted a local boat man and he informed us that the pump boat could not get us to Maya as the coastguard would not permit pump boat travels due to the approaching storm. They said that they could only take us to Talisay instead, a place a bit far from Maya but we could also get a bus from there towards Cebu City. So we agreed, we trotted our belongings carried our backpacks and proceeded to what I may call the bumpiest and scariest boat ride I’ve ever been to. The waves were hungrily lapping at us, while the wind whipped incredulously. We sure were glad to have finally reached Talisay alive after an hour or more. Luckily none of us were with motion sickness as it would have completed the excitement of that boat ride. Upon reaching Talisay, we then learned that episode four hit.
Episode 4: Never Trust Anyone. We were tricked again. We found out that it was just permissible to travel from Malapascua to Maya but the boatmen who proposed the Talisay route just needed passengers in going to Talisay where a foreigner couple awaits their service. That was really underhanded but we were just so grateful to finally have gotten over the big waves so it was a little okay even if a boat ride from Malapascua to Talisay took longer than a boat ride from Malapascua to Maya.

After Talisay, we boarded the bus towards our normal life again.

That 3-day weekend adventure and episodes in Malapascua sure did heal our boredom of the everyday office routine and renewed our eagerness towards life. It is so amazing how a single island trip could bond people like all seven of us did and could be as fun packed as it was. It is such a wonder how a 3-day relaxation renew your positivism towards everything and happily say that when things get too rough or too boring, all it takes is just a hop to the bus and a 45-minute boat ride to feel so alive, so young and so renewed.

Note: The author decided to change the names of the persons in this article to protect their interests. But if you would want to reveal their real names, you can simply change a few consonants and vowels to make them sound more civilized.

Gina Marie Capatar is the head writer of http://www.isnare.com and she also does freelance content writing jobs for Isnare Outsourcing Services. You can visit their website at http://outsourcing.isnare.com
and you may contact her at gina@isnare.com

Hampton Court Palace is placed to the south-west of London, on the banks of the River Thames, encircled by wood & attractive grounds. Hampton Court Palace, King Henry 8s wonderful riverside residence is located in well over four hundred acres of wood and grounds.

Stirring up the mood of well over four-hundred & fifty years of customs, costumed artists can be seen within Henry eights and King William thirds splendid personal accommodations. The scenes, noise and stink of the to die for Tudor kitchens where feasts were planned for Henry?s courtyard of over one-thousand visitors can also be viewed.

Hampton Court Palace has been separated into 6 individual routes or excursions. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace which is placed on the Thames to the west of the Capital is possibly the most famed hedge maze in the world. For a superb family day out, why not visit Hampton Court Palace with Enjoy England.

Hampton Court palace has a horrendous custom & is said to be haunted by quite a few phantoms, including two of Henry 8’s dead wives and a nursemaid to his family. Hampton Court Palace owners and employees will be close by to help visitors to their designated state accommodation for a champagne & canap?s reception. Uniformed staff will declare the evening supper and guests will be asked to go to their designated seats for a tremendous two course meal with top-quality fine red wines.

Hampton Court Palace has 60 acres of official private grounds besides the 600 acres of royal plants. The royal grounds go back to the sixteenth Century, when the first Privy Garden was installed between 1530 & fifteen thirty eight for King Henry the 8th.