Archive for July 22nd, 2010
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Troubled Hollywood star Mel Gibson has an unlikely shoulder to lean on as he faces the fall-out from his leaked tapes scandal – Britney Spears, according to reports.
Gibson famously flew Spears to his family compound in Costa Rica after she was hospitalised for mental-health issues in 2008.
And now insiders have claimed that the singer is repaying the favour and has been talking regularly on the phone with Gibson, who has reportedly poured his heart out to her over the spectacular public backlash he is facing over the leaked audio recordings of his violent, angry tirades towards ex Oksana Grigorieva.
A friend of the pop star told In Touch magazine “Mel has been talking to Britney a lot.
“They speak on the phone all the time, usually late at night.”
The friend added: “Mel was one of the only people to reach out to help Britney when she was at her lowest point, and she believes that demonstrates what a loving and wonderful man he is.
“She wants people to give him a second chance — just like he gave her one when everyone else turned away.”
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team travels to San Jose, Costa Rica, for a seven-day volleyball tour beginning Aug. 4.
During the visit, the women, who return to New York on Aug. 10, will play a trio of Costa Rican teams and practice daily. Potsdam players and coaches will also tour local attractions, outdoor activities, community service and other presentations and entertainment.
As part of their community service project, the Bears will spend time with over 200 children living in an orphanage.
The volleyball tour is conducted by Costa Rica Sports Tours, Inc.
The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team has never before traveled outside of the United States.
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Ever wondered what it feels like to glide through the trees of the rainforest canopy like Tarzan? Well, Costa Rica’s Wingnuts Canopy Tour in Playa Samara will take your family vacation in paradise to new heights! A rainforest canopy tour is a must if you are on a family vacation in Costa Rica, giving you a birds-eye view of Costa Rica’s vibrant flora, exotic fauna and crystal blue waters. This rainforest canopy tour is certainly an unforgettable family vacation experience.
Located just five minutes from Playa Samara and in between the popular family vacation destinations of Playa Nosara and Playa Bejuco, the family-owned Wingnuts Canopy Tour has a total of twelve platforms, 10 cable zip-lines and a cable bridge. Experienced, bilingual Costa Rican guides will help you along the three-hour rainforest canopy tour following stringent procedures to ensure the safety of you and your family.
Wingnuts Canopy Tour has been operating in Playa Samara, Costa Rica, for over ten years and has an excellent reputation for providing fun canopy tour vacation adventures for families and tourists of all ages. The canopy tour platforms have been integrated into rainforest to ensure minimal impact on the surrounding tropical environment.
You and your family will be given plenty of time to take in the sights and sounds of the surrounding tropical rainforest while on the canopy tour. Costa Rica’s rainforest is home to monkeys, iguanas, butterflies and many different species of birds, so make sure you don’t forget your camera to document this exciting part of your family vacation! Additionally, the friendly Costa Rican guides are known to tell a few funny stores that ensure a few laughs along the way.
As with most adventure tours in Costa Rica, it is advisable to dress appropriately bring along some good walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Don’t worry; if you forget any of these items there are plenty of stores around Playa Samara where you can pick them up!
A minimum of two people are required when making canopy tour reservations. The Wingnuts office is located on Playa Samara’s beachfront, 150 meters east of the Hotel Las Brisas Del Pacifico. Call 1-800-340-2407 for additional information.
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Cultures are often known for their importance to the constructs of a given society. Costa Rica is not an exception to this theory on culture. Costa Rica is rich with culture, and there are many different venues that Costa Rica has to offer which shows their culture. Costa Rica has a vast history of music, food, and morals. Music in Costa Rica is often associated to Spanish –style music. Spanish music is highly affluent in Costa Rica. Often times, the Spanish music is played with mariachis, and can be heard in restaurants, concert halls, and on the pedestrian lined streets. Costa Rican’s take pride in their food, which is evident in their cooking. There is a lot of passion and care that is placed into every meal, as the natives believe that every meal that is eaten should be satisfying. The foods that are offered are very flavorful, and have incorporated the spices of the land. Cumin, commonly referred to as cumino, and other spices such as chili powder, season every Costa Rican dish, and give it that extra bit of flare that Costa Rican meals offer.
A sense of family and religion are very important morals in the Costa Rican culture. Costa Ricans are known for their tight-knit families, and their deep devotions to their desired religion. The morals that are given in the Bible often dictate how a family operates inCosta Rica. Churches, commonly referred to as iglessias, are always packed every Sunday as mass is in session. Families convene into churches to worship, and carry on the morals of the culture that was passed down to them from previous generations. The Costa Rica culture is multi-faceted, but overall, there is a main thread of loving one another that is evident in the communities. Learning how one culture can learn from another is what Costa Rica offers. For those that are visiting, there are a lot of different backgrounds that can be appreciated in Costa Rica.
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
World Connect, a non-profit organization founded five years ago to empower the leaders in underserved communities worldwide, has awarded a grant to Chamisa MacKenzie, originally from Kalamazoo, to support her work with a women’s group in Costa Rica. She will help the organization construct a greenhouse and nursery for fruit, vegetables, medicinal and ornamental plants in hopes of improving nutrition in a vitamin-deficient community and generate income for the women’s group, a press release says.
MacKenzie, who is serving in Costa Rica with the Peace Corps, is working in partnership with a community leader in her host country dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women and children in their village. World Connect began its grant program earlier this year to connect mothers to mothers worldwide to address social problems affecting women, children and communities through health, education and income generation projects. MacKenzie’s project is among one of the first to receive support through this new program.
To learn more, donate or volunteer with World Connect, visit www.worldconnect-us.org.
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Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Whatever else you bring along to Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica, don’t forget to pack your civic spirit — and your heart of gold. The Resort recently joined in partnership with its corporate ownership group, Peninsula Papagayo, to provide guests and incentive groups with opportunities to spread good will and good works through the region it calls home. Though newly available to resort guests, Growing Together was actually launched ahead of its time in 2001 by Peninsula Papagayo.
The new program, Growing Together, presents guests with custom-designed volunteer experiences: from supporting local schools and environmental conservation efforts to donating backpacks filled with school supplies and even “adopting” local families during their stay. While Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica has long assisted in arranging philanthropic opportunities for guests hoping to take their travel to a more meaningful level, Growing Together takes the process further with convenience and considerations for volunteers to better aid local beneficiaries.
Getting Growing
The Growing Together resort program was introduced in January at an annual Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Incentive Partner Summit, an annual conference for incentive meeting planners to advise Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts on the state of the incentive industry. Summit delegates put talk into action at the Tablazo School in nearby Sardinal, a town of 30 households including a number of resort employees.
Six-dozen Summit delegates boarded buses for the 50-minute drive to the Tablazo School, which counts 55 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Incentive planners and Four Seasons employees spent the better part of the day painting the school and putting up a fence, efforts that proved so rewarding the volunteers were moved to launch a fund to raise money for new desks and chairs for the school.
Guests Take the Lead
Volunteer experiences are customized by the resort based upon each individual’s goals, budget and time.
Philanthropic possibilities include:
* Become a Backpack Buddy
* School Outreach Programs
* Conservation Programs
* Family Care
All guests can join the Growing Together effort upon arrival at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica. Pre-advance booking is required for individual or family travelers as there is limited availability. Group clients can contact their conference service representative. For more on Growing Together visit www.fourseasons.com.
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