Archive for July 21st, 2010
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Resort’s largest residence a superb destination for family vacations and gatherings of friends, with amazing sea views from indoors and out.
There are water views and then there are water views. But there is nothing else quite like the visions of surf and sand that await guests of Casa Del Mar, the new and expansive residence estate at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.
A Pacific Coast paradise flowing indoors to out, the “House of the Sea” looks out from a hilltop onto rolling coastal waters through floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. Whatever the weather or hour of day, views of the Bahia Culebra and Playa Blanca, the Pacific Ocean and Playa Virador, and the Resort itself are stunning in every sense of the word.
Like Casa De La Luna, the Resort’s other estate residence, Casa Del Mar is inspired by the lush coastal province of Guanacaste around it. Interiors bathed in natural light are watched over by artful animal carvings – one species per room – created by local wood craftsman Renan Calvo.
Linger over sea views from the entry foyer before stepping into the Great Room, where Calvo’s monkeys cling to a stone wall. Here the living room, dining room and kitchen conjoin before sliding glass doors, creating a smooth flow from interiors decked out in natural woods, limestone tiles and green accents to exterior living space. Guests will want to leave the doors open throughout their stay.
Exquisite furnishings and features abound in Casa Del Mar. In the dining room, a table of precious Cenizaro wood seats eight for food well-prepared and wine well-chilled with Viking kitchen appliances. Two entertainment centers offer endless possibilities with Bose Home Theater surround systems, 42-inch plasma TVs, and even queen-sized sleeper sofas for anyone whose eyes droop before a movie’s end.
Four bedrooms are designed for contented living and solid sleep. Custom headboards and handcrafted furniture have been created from exotic woods; full marble baths with deep soaking tubs and indoor and outdoor showers rinse off the day’s pursuits; in-room technologies include i-Home systems; and private gardens and balconies are sanctuaries. The master bedroom is watched over by a carved Great Egret. A second bedroom is home to turtle carvings. And the third and fourth bedrooms, reached through a breezeway, spread out before river alligators and armadillo, respectively.
It’s lavish living, all right – and just as impressive outside. Casa Del Mar lays out 4,000 square feet of exterior living space, with seating on designer Gloster furniture for up to 34 friends and well-wishers and a 2,500 square-foot deck set next to a covered Jacuzzi spa and lap-size infinity pool. Swing languidly in a locally made cage hammock. Fire up the Viking barbecue grill. Or spend time admiring the residence’s beautiful landscaped gardens, with more than 7,000 plants across the grounds.
Though ensconced on a private hillside with views of the north and south peninsulas, Casa Del Mar is nothing if not part of the resort. Estate guests enjoy the many pleasures of Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, with minutes-away convenience to pools, beaches, tennis, restaurants and more.
With space for ten adults and four children as well as a nanny or one staff, Casa Del Mar is a superb setting for family reunions and gatherings of friends. Special kid-sized amenities and the Resort’s exciting Kids For All Seasons adventure program assure every generation will be enraptured by the remarkable beauty and possibility of Costa Rica.
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
More and more tourists are discovering the delights on Costa Rica. There are volcanoes, waterfalls, mud pools, hot springs, forests, terrific beaches and an abundance of flora and fauna. The city of Liberia Costa Rica is a great base for exploring the Guanacaste Province, full of whitewashed buildings constructed from local clay and designed in the colonial style. The justice Oduber International Airport is just south of the city and serves several American cities.
The fortified area and World Heritage Site of Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park is close to Liberia Costa Rica and contains the dormant Cerro Von Seebach and the Rincon de la Vieja and Santa Maria volcanoes. The most current eruption here occurred in 1998. There are many hiking trails and rivers from which to explore and see over 300 species of birds, including toucanets, quetzals and eagles. Animals such as monkeys, cougars and jaguars are also resident.
Wildlife can also be seen on a guided rowboat trip down the Corobici River. There are no rapids on this stretch of water and it is calm enough to take kids along to see the monkeys, iguanas and birdlife such as heron, kingfishers, ospreys and cormorants. Scuba divers can book a diving trip, enjoying the clear, azure waters close to Liberia Costa Rica with an opportunity to see sea turtles, sharks, whales, rays and giant mantas. Instruction is acquirable to beginners to the sport. There are also tours to the area known as the Hacienda, a favourite scenic destination nearby to Liberia Costa Rica. There are waterfalls, volcanic mud pools and the change to go rock climbing, canyoning, horseback riding and fix lining.
There is another tour to the Buena Vista Canopy, a densely forested region where the adventurous can fix line through the treetops, after instruction in country from the guides. Another thrill is in store as the participants slide down 420 meters of waterslide, the longest one on Costa Rica. Next, comes a horseback ride to the hot springs, where it’s time to rest in one of the hot pools and take a turn in the outdoor sauna, prefabricated from rocks and an exhilarating mud bath.
The area is very fond of fiestas and they include the Fiestas Comunales de Liberia, which involves a mass bullfight. The El Dia de la Anexion celebrates the coming of independence of Guanacaste Province from Nicaragua in 1824 with rodeos, horseshows, marimba bands and parades.
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Medical Tourism іח Costa Rica, Canada аחԁ Cuba
Medical tourism іѕ very рοрυƖаr throughout tһе world. Tһе choices οf healthcare destinations vary frοm patient tο patient bесаυѕе a patient һаѕ tο consider many things wһіƖе choosing a destination. Bυt ѕοmе destination places аrе ѕο much рοрυƖаr due tο tһе quality οf healthcare services, lower costs, availability οf competent аחԁ experienced doctors аחԁ pleasant environment tһаt mοѕt οf tһе medical tourists ɡο tһеіr fοr healthcare treatments. Tһе healthcare facilities іח US аחԁ UK аrе ɡοοԁ bυt very costly ѕο inhabitant οf tһеѕе countries аƖѕο try tο find those places wһісһ аrе equal іח quality bυt charge lower prices. Mostly people travel tο tһеѕе healthcare places fοr plastic surgeries, cosmetic surgeries, аחԁ dentistry, cardiac аחԁ orthopedic surgeries. Sοmе common ɡοοԁ healthcare places include Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, Germany аחԁ Philippines etc. Tһе doctors υѕе latest technologies аחԁ techniques іח tһе hospitals tο cure medical tourists.
Canada
Canada іѕ one οf tһе best medical tourism destinations wһісһ provide quality health care services аt lower prices. Iח countries Ɩіkе US аחԁ UK patients һаνе tο wait fοr ѕοmе kinds οf procedures bυt іח Canada tһеу receive immediate treatment. Tһе mοѕt οf tһе medical tourists travel Canada belong tο America; tһеу receive ехсеƖƖеחt healthcare services аt cheap prices. Medical tourists саח save up tο 30 tο 60 percent іח Canada аѕ compare tο America. Tһе hospitals οf Canada аrе equipped wіtһ latest machinery аחԁ іtѕ bеаυtіfυƖ healthcare locations attract medical tourists tο come here fοr healthcare services. Tһе doctors аrе well trained, experienced аחԁ һаνе latest knowledge οf diseases аחԁ tһеіr treatments.
Cuba
Cuba іѕ one οf tһе oldest healthcare destinations іח tһе world. Tһе doctors, hospitals аחԁ technologies used іח healthcare treatments аrе well reputed іח tһе world. Healthcare centers οf Cuba аrе near beaches ѕο mostly patients сһοοѕе іt a healthcare destination. Patients frοm Europe аחԁ Latin America travel tο Cuba tο receive high quality medical service аt lower prices. Tһе hospitals аחԁ doctors οf Cuba аrе рοрυƖаr fοr cancer treatment, addictions rehabilitation, eye surgery, joint replacement аחԁ cosmetic surgery. Costs οf treatments іח Cuba аrе 60 tο 80 percent less tһаח tһе costs οf treatments іח US. Tһеrе аrе many well equipped hospitals іח Cuba חοt οחƖу fοr local residents bυt fοr foreigners tοο. A documentary film “Sicko” increased tһе interest οf foreigners іח tһе healthcare services οf Cuba. Tһе government οf Cuba һаѕ аƖѕο taken ѕοmе steps tο attract medical tourists frοm аƖƖ over tһе world tο Cuba tο increase income. Tһе residents οf UK, Bahamas, Canada, , Mexico, Jamaica, tһе Dominican Republic аחԁ US саח travel tο Cuba fοr healthcare purposes οח a tourist visa. Due tο tһе trade policy οf America toward Cuba patients need approval frοm tһе government οf US ѕο tһеу visit Cuba аѕ private matter. Sοmе hospitals οf Cuba аrе worldly known fοr tһе quality οf іtѕ services.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica іѕ a חеw entry іח tһе business οf medical tourism. It іѕ very рοрυƖаr medical tourism destination fοr dental implants аחԁ surgery etc. A patient саח save up tο 80 percent οf healthcare costs іח Costa Rica аѕ compare tο US. Costa Rica іѕ рοрυƖаr fοr tһе procedures such аѕ cosmetic surgery, dental surgery, weight-loss surgeries аחԁ orthopedic surgeries. Tһе cost οf knee replacement surgery іѕ very low аѕ compare tο US. Tһе hospitals οf Costa Rica аrе cleaned аחԁ һаνе аƖƖ kinds οf technologies аחԁ equipments. Tһе doctors аrе trained іח different hospitals οf US аחԁ UK. Tһе location οf Costa Rica іѕ close tο Canada аחԁ United States ѕο іt һаѕ become a very рοрυƖаr medical tourism destination. Tһе presence οf English speaking persons аƖѕο helps a lot іח increasing іtѕ popularity аѕ a medical tourism рƖасе.
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
There are rules to live by and rules to exercise by. And like the rules of life, the rules of exercise have changed over the years. Some are outdated, some are more relaxed and some are as true today as they were decades ago.
To make sure you’re following the latest set of exercise guidelines, here are some old rules, followed by ones that have taken their place. With the new year so fresh, now is the perfect time to discard your old way of thinking and get on board with a whole new way of doing things.
Old rule: No pain, no gain.
New rule: Make exercise fun.
For years, exercise wasn’t considered exercise unless it hurt. Thank goodness that has changed.
Unless you’re training for competition, you don’t need to work out anywhere near your pain threshold to get fit. In fact, waking up sore and achy after a tough workout is now considered a sign that you pushed yourself too hard.
A good exercise program is gradual, varied and forgiving. And while it’s OK to work hard in the gym, health and fitness benefits can be accrued without punishing yourself. Consistency, not intensity, is the secret to reaping the rewards of exercise, so lighten up, have some fun and learn to look forward to and not dread your next workout.
Old rule: Work out for a minimum of 20 minutes at a moderately hard intensity three times a week.
New rule: Accumulate 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most, if not all, days of the week.
It used to be that exercise was an all-or-nothing proposition. If you didn’t commit to at least three moderately hard workouts a week, you could forget about getting in shape. But that’s no longer the recommendation. Researchers have discovered that being active every day is the key to staying fit and healthy.
That doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym or work up a major-league sweat every day of the week. Nor does it mean you have to do those 30 minutes all at once. Three 10-minute bouts of physical activity a day are what you need to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle. Of course, more exercise results in more benefits, but for those who struggle to meet the minimum requirements or on those days when a gym workout is impossible, remember some exercise is better than none. Even short workouts burn unwanted calories and reduce stress, so learn to make exercise a part of your daily routine.
Old rule: Drink before you are thirsty.
New rule: Drink when thirsty.
Trying to stay ahead of thirst used to be an ongoing concern for any exerciser who cared about performing to their max. Turns out that pumping the body full of fluids at every available opportunity can actually result in over-hydration which, though rare, can cause death.
Today’s recommendations suggest that exercisers wait until thirst sets in before replenishing lost fluids. They also suggest gauging fluid intake based on personal sweat rates, environmental conditions and exercise intensity, not on a one-size-fits-all set of guidelines that don’t take into consideration all the variables necessary to accurately determine hydration status.
Drink more often on hot days or when you are working out at an intensity that increases sweat loss and less often on cooler days when you sweat less, or during less intense workouts when you don’t lose a lot of fluids through sweat.
Old rule: Don’t eat before exercising.
New rule: Don’t exercise on an empty stomach.
Snacking before a workout used to be a no-no that was reputed to cause cramping and sluggishness during activity. Now we know differently. Food actually supplies the energy exercisers need to perform at their best.
However, in order to be effective, eating and exercise have to be perfectly timed. Too much food too soon before your workout can make you feel bloated and may indeed hamper performance. For best results, consume a 300-calorie snack (a single serving of non-fat yogourt and a low fat granola bar) 90 minutes before you hit the gym. That little bit of extra fuel tops up your energy reserves, allowing you to exercise longer than you would on an empty stomach.
Old rule: Stretch before you exercise.
New rule: Stretch after you exercise.
Back in the day, exercisers were told to perform at least 10 minutes of static stretching during their warm-up routine if they wanted to reduce the risk of getting injured. Trouble is, there was no science backing up those claims.
Researchers have since determined that pre-exercise stretching doesn’t reduce the risk of injury. In fact, studies now suggest that stretching before exercise might actually have a negative effect on performance. The new rule recommends waiting until after your workout to stretch. Not only will your muscles be warm and more conducive to stretching, the body welcomes a nice relaxing stretch after a tough workout.
As for what to do before your workout, perform a series of dynamic range-of-motion movements that mimic the activity to come. Not only will you better prepare your body for the work ahead, the rehearsal effect helps warm up the mind as well, helping you to fire on all cylinders as soon as you step on the court or field.
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