Green Resorts' Development

An overarching ecological perspective drives Knut Willand, a Norwegian native and the developer of Eden Caribe in the Dominican Republic.

Willand’s philosophy is one where nature set the rules. For example, one of the principles is never to cut down an old tree. “The architect has to consider the impact on vegetation before he begins,” explains Willand. “If we have to cut down young trees, we plant new ones. We use only renewable energy: sun, wind and water. We treat all sewerage and black water with the Biodisc treatment system. We recycle the treated water and use it on the gardens. All garbage will be recycled where possible.

“We try as much as possible to use materials that are environmentally friendly. For example using natural stones, and making wooden fences from coconut palm trees that have been blown down by storms and strong winds. All houses are low energy properties, which means they are built with high-quality insulation. All road construction, digging and moving of materials like sand, stones and earth is done by hand, using no machinery, in order to minimise the environmental impact." Property prices start from £67,500.

In Belize, Central America, British company Someplace Else is developing a project covering almost 1,000 acres of sub-tropical rainforest. Currently under construction, Belize Reserve is an eco-resort that incorporates a wildlife reserve and a conservation and research centre. Natural springs and a river ensure water self-sufficiency; prices start from £35,000 for a one-bedroom house.

On the Cape Verde island of Santiago, Sambala Resort is a new eco-project in development where one-third of the land parcel has been designated for the nesting of indigenous turtles, allowing them to return freely to nest in the safety of a biological corridor. Social responsibility is part of the ethos too. Sambala has funded the construction of a school on the island, and employs 450 local people

Sustainable features of the resort include all properties are built using recycled steel from American cars such as Cadillacs. a biological RO desalination plant has been commissioned and is designed to recycle over 80 per cent of the waste water which can be used for irrigation purposes, and furniture packs are compiled from sustainable FSC certified reclaimed teak from colonial hospitals in India and other renewable materials.

ECO TEA !

Zip Heaters is delighted to be able to offer one lucky winner the opportunity to own a sophisticated HydroTap. Delivering instant freshly filtered boiling and chilled water from the same unit at the touch of a button.

Conventional methods of boiling drinking water, such as the overfilled kettle, often result in surplus water being discarded and unnecessary energy being used to heat the excess. With filtered boiling water available instantly from the Zip HydroTap at the touch of a button, the user can dispense the exact amount required each time.

A-Mei MAC Collection

MAC Cosmetics' latest collaboration brings major Asian pop star A-Mei into the international spotlight with a color collection inspired by her native Puyuma tribe in Taiwan. The line's rich palette and distinct cultural feel are a tribute both to A-Mei's Austronesian features (which means she has genetic ties in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia) and this spring's decidedly global ethnic influences.

Each product comes in a bold hue and a more subdued neutral: Eye shadows are electric blue or delicate beige, and on lips, the deep red "Ruby Woo" contrasts the flesh-colored "Siss." Meanwhile, the packaging's stitch motif was inspired by her tribe's traditional costumes. The line will be available in select MAC boutiques throughout the world—backup dancers and screaming fans not included.

BREATH

LUXURY HOTEL BUTHAN

UMA PARO
Po Box 222 - PARO - Bhutan

Uma Paro is an inland retreat, with an understated philosophy of quiet comfort in a culturally rich location. The setting, in all-Buddhist Bhutan, couldn’t be more spectacular: flower-filled valleys, jungle, terraced hills and dramatic ranges wrapped in mist. Uma Paro, a member of the unique Como Shambhala Retreats, is designed for guests seeking greater health through yoga and Asian-inspired treatments. There’s a yoga room overlooking the Paro Valley that can be opened up to catch the mountain breeze, a Jacuzzi, and an indoor pool with sundeck and gym. Also, the surrounding pine forest is home to a 90-square-metre bathhouse, which includes a private massage room for couples…

Accommodations range from rooms with views of the surrounding pine forests or beautiful Paro valley to Suites to luxurious Villas with private spas, hot stone bathtubs and their own private butler service.The restaurant, Bakhari, serves the wholesome cuisine (Western, Bhutanese and Indian) typical of Como Shambhala resorts. There’s also a bar, offering all-day dining and a meeting room with a capacity for 10 guests. The Spa offers Asian inspired holistic therapies including reflexology, Ayurveda and facials and features 4 treatment rooms, an indoor yoga studio with panoramic views of the mountains, gym, steam rooms and indoor pool with outdoor sundeck. Additionally, with Uma Paro, the Bhutanese countryside is easily accessible. Experienced guides provide the expertise to embark on fully-serviced treks, gentle or challenging mountain bike tours, or guided day walks around the cultural highlights of the surrounding hills.

The hotel is located on a 38-acre site atop a tree-clad hill, close to the town of Paro, which is one of the main cultural centres of Bhutan. It is also where the nation’s only airport is located with flights to and from Bangkok, Calcutta, Delhi, Dhaka and Kathmandu with Bhutan's national airline, Druk Air.

Site : http://www.splendia.com/

DREAMIN'

FENG SHUI GARDENS & DECORATING

Feng shui garden principles

Feng shui gardens have to be planned in a similar fashion as that of a feng shui house. The five basic elements of feng shui, bagwa or pa kua and the implication of the compass directions should be accounted for while designing a feng shui garden. Law of feng shui remains the same for all types of gardens, immaterial of their size. Feng shui encourages a lot of curves as these curves help in the easy flow of Chi thus bringing out the best of Chi or energy flow in the garden.

Feng shui gardens represent a combination of vegetation, bushes and foliage along with bright flowers. The Chinese love red flowers as they believe that bright colors induce brightness and cheer in our lives. Understanding the aspects of feng shui and implementing them in the garden helps stimulate prosperity, luck and wealth.
Feng shui garden plantsPlants are a key source of thought and optimism. Plants when related to the principle of feng shui can be categorized as woody plants, fire plants, earth plants, metal plants and aquatic plants. Each of them signifies a principle of their own:

Woody plants - modification and movement
Fire plants - beauty and humor. E.g. sunflower, daisy
Earth plants – stability and peace. E.g. clematis
Metal plants – strength and resilience. E.g. pampas grass
Aquatic plants – seriousness and strong will. E.g. summer aster

Feng shui garden tips

A typical feng shui garden consists of elements such as pond/waterway or fountains, red and orange flowers, trees and shrubs.Circular shapes in the garden are indicative of good feng shui, therefore try planting flowers with round shapes or place a circular pond in your garden.
Keep all areas of your garden well lit. Make sufficient place for sitting in the garden using natural resources such as wood or bamboo.

Statues made from stone, terracotta or any natural material can be placed to free any central spot or space in the garden. Flow of water along with wind is important principle in feng shui. Place a waterway along with wind chimes thus encouraging the free flow of chi or energy. Water also means wealth, success and purity as per feng shui. Red and any other bright colored flowers are important in a garden adapting feng shui principles as these bright colors are known for their vivacity and vigor. Yellow is associated with healing, pink bears a connotation on your relationships and purple is representative of fortune and prosperity.

Pleasant smelling and scented flowers such as roses and lavender and delicate plants that sway to a gentle breeze can be planted. Fish and birds are intrinsic to feng shui as fish is a sign of prosperity. Add a fish pond in your garden, preferably with goldfish in it. Position the lights for your garden in the southwest area as this helps improve marital and other relationships in your life.

A perfect feng shui garden should have a combination of shrubs, flowers and trees that will linger through all the seasons. Maintain them well as these plant shapes will have an influence over the family members of the house.
Southeast corner of the garden when planted with hale and hearty plants will promote prosperity, wealth and luck.

Don’ts

Roses should not be placed in the entrance as the thorns in the plant mean harm and damage to the owners of the house. The front garden or yang must be open and unrestricted while yin - the back of the garden should be personal and private. The pathway from the garden to the house should not be encumbered and should be clean from hurdles. Compost piles must be concealed. Water in the garden should not stagnate and should be clean from debris as this will hinder the flow of positive energy.

Don’t plant trees in front of the main door as this affects the flow of energy. Trees that need regular trimming should not be planted as they might lead to a financial crisis. Tips to balance your feng shui garden and houseYang the garden aspect and Yin the house aspect should be planned in a manner that they balance each other well.

Flower beds along with curved pathways will help maintain equilibrium with the straight lines of the house. Overtly straight lines for pathways do not confirm to the principles of a feng shui garden. Juxtapose the roughness of rocks with the smooth surface of water as this brings about harmony between stillness and movement. A waterway can be replaced with a birdbath or a fountain where space is a constraint. Using curved stones instead of straight ones will reduce negative energy, sha.

Replace straight tall hedges with flower beds or jagged shaped hedges; this will help maintain the balance of the garden as well as balance between the house and the garden. Choose plants with fat succulent leaves and avoid those with spikes. Soften edges with soft trailing plants taking care to see that they don’t overgrow or block light.
Herbs can add a powerful influence on your garden. In addition to their medicinal properties, they are said to promote good fortune. Be it basil and rosemary, lavender and jasmine, they can add color and influence your life.

Accessories to compliment the feng shui garden.

Use rounded off tables and curved chairs as they help in the flow of energy rather than blocking them.
Round terracotta and earthen pot ware can be used to encourage the earth element in the garden.
Wood is the best material among the rest when it comes to seating and other furniture preferences in your garden.
Wind chimes, gongs and gazing balls help in the flow of positive energy and the gaze balls are supposed to wade off negative energy. Lights can be used to energize stagnant areas of your garden. Choose ornaments that adhere to the proportion of your garden.

What is feng shui decorating all about? It's all about using space in your home or office effectively in order to attract and keep the chi in. Feng shui interior decoration encompasses the golden and practical rules of housekeeping as well as feng shui beliefs. Read on to find out how to decorate your feng shui bedroom to add some zing to your love life! We take you through the feng shui garden and its positive effect on your home and health.

Feng shui decorating.

Every room of our house plays an important role in our lives. Feng shui interior decorating tips that can have a great impact on many aspects of your life:Clutter and mess is anathema to the rules of feng shui interior decorating. A messy home or office can block and ward off positive chi. Plants can be used to good advantage in home decoration. It is best to avoid sharp cornered objects and excessive overhead lights when trying to incorporate feng shui in interior decorating. Strong drafts are also not considered to have a positive influence.

When using feng shui decorating rules for the kitchen, ensure that the kitchen is well ventilated and safe. The kitchen plays an important role in your life, as 'you are what you eat'. Overhead and exposed beams should be avoided in a feng shui home. They are considered to bring oppressive chi and breed distrust and dishonesty. Sharp and protruding corners in a feng shui house can be softened with cascading plants or wind chimes or even furnishings with rounded edges.

Feng shui house.

The first principle in any feng shui home is to allow space at the main door to be free and clear so as to allow chi to flow in. Avoid shoes near the door. A feng shui home should ideally have a water fountain positioned favorably so as to attract and trap the chi. Do not have a stove and refrigerator or washing machine in the kitchen together as this might cause disagreements on account of the fire and water crash.Feng shui bedroom tipA bedroom is a sanctuary for privacy, peace and intimacy. trying to get a balance of the five elements in a feng shui bedroom can be first step towards feng shui home decoration. Wooden beds are a better bet in your feng shui bedroom since metal beds can conduct electricity.

A feng shui bedroom should have an ideal lighting level, not too dim yet not too harsh. A feng shui tip to apply to your bedroom decoration is to avoid large plants and mirrors. The headboard for the bed placed against a solid wall of the bedroom makes for good feng shui. If you are seeking a new romantic partner, your feng shui bedroom must make space for that person in your home. Another feng shui tip for bedrooms is to avoid placing sports equipment here. Any paintings, imagery or sculpture of solitude, loneliness or aggression do not find place in a feng shui bedroom. Beautiful romantic artwork, fresh flowers and items in pairs are ideal for feng shui decoration of your bedroom.Feng shui officeThe first step towards getting your feng shui office in place is to select the right site for the office or business. Circular and horseshoe shaped plots are preferred.

Office sites on locations where they are exposed to the elements are not the right choice as per feng shui principles. Large monuments and sculptures in the immediate vicinity of your office can produce secret or poison arrows. A feng shui office entrance should face an open area creating a bright hall effect. You can use mirrors to good effect in feng shui interior decoration of your office. A mirror hanging by the cash register symbolizes a doubling effect and can be a harbinger of good fortune.

The reception of a feng shui office should be ideally open and well lit to encourage the flow of chi. Having a desk with your back to the window is to be avoided. A desk in a feng shui office ideally faces the door at an angle with your back to a wall for support. Use objects of the five elements to energize your work desk. A feng shui decorating tip here is to balance light and dark colors as well as smooth and rough textures in the office space. Feng shui gardenFeng shui principles can be applied to your garden too - be it your small kitchen garden or your large sprawling lawn. Metropolitan apartment dwellers need not despair since they too can enhance their limited space with the spirit of feng shui. Chi or the universal life energy flows in a meandering way and it can be invited into the garden and captured with a stream, pond or birdbath. All undergrowth and clutter must be removed so as to allow the chi to travel freely.

Balance the yin and yang in your feng shui garden by juxtaposing sun and shade or bright flowers in a shady corner. You can try and achieve balance in a feng shui garden by contrasting textures such as the roughness of rocks and the smoothness of water. A feng shui apartment garden can be set off with the presence of plants on a terrace or doorway thereby attracting vital chi. Potted plants, hanging baskets and window boxes can draw the energy of the garden into your home. A feng shui garden should ideally have boundaries of curved walls or irregular shaped hedges and flowerbeds. All aspects of the garden such as pathways, garden beds and fences and walls play a vital role in balancing feng shui.

SERENITY

TAHITI PEARL : Zen Athmosphere.

TOURISM
Welcome to the Magnificence of French Polynesia !!!

Uncover the beauty of French Polynesia, the perfect tropical getaway or a quiet romantic vacation. Discover what's most exotic and beautiful in the World. French Polynesia, offers an excellent honeymoon vacation spot, this little known destination will delight you more than you ever dreamed possible.

Imagine relaxing on the white sand beaches alone on an atoll in Bora Bora or in a Tahiti resort far from home and the stress of your everyday life. The color of lagoons, the luxury of Nature, the Generosity of the people. You will quickly find out that those particularly greeting Polynesian people will make you discover the numerous treasures of their hidden paradise and may be one of your best memories…
Take the first step and visit our treasured Islands!

SECRETS OF THE VAHINE

Tahitian women are known through out the world for their incredible beauty -beauty achieved from centuries of learning to utilize the natural , beautifying elements so prolific on the islands of French Polynesia.

Monoi : Monoi Tiare Tahiti is a French-Tahitian cosmetic oil consisting of pure coconut oil and the fragrance of tiare, the Tahitian Gardenia. The product is a refinement of an ancient Polynesian beauty secret and has been manufactured commercially since 1942. Centuries ago the people of Polynesia discovered that pure coconut oil is an essential secret for beautiful skin and hair. Coconut oil is a natural replacement for your body's skin and hair oils. The coconut oil used in Monoi Tiare Tahiti is so highly refined that it is quickly absorbed by your skin. This Tahitian beauty secret is now available to you.Please note that because of its tropically grown ingredients, Monoi oil solidifies at temperatures below 68 F (20 C). This is a natural process that occurs because genuine Monoi contains no emulsifiers to keep it in a liquid state.

Skin Moisturizer : For soft supple skin, use Monoi Tiare Tahiti as a moisturizer and bath oil. It massages quickly into the skin, smoothing away dryness and leaving behind only a delightful fragrance of island flowers.

Hair Conditioner : Monoi Tiare Tahiti may be used as a conditioner for dry hair. Pour a small amount into the palm of your hand and massage into the hair. Shampoo out after 10 or 15 minutes. The oil will enter the hair and replace the natural oils, giving your hair natural body and sheen.

Dark Tanning Oil : Pure coconut oil is the best product available for use as a dark tanning oil. Coconut oil actually increases the strength of the sun to speed the tanning process and enrich a dark body. Monoi has no sunscreen or other chemical additives, so apply frequently and avoid excessive exposure during peak sun hours. Once a basic tan is developed, Monoi oil will produce incredible results with the sun. Monoi is absorbed quickly by your skin so it does not feel oily or greasy. As an after sun moisturizer, Monoi protects against dryness and peeling. Monoi Tiare Tahiti is the original dark tanning blend.

Monoi soaps : will capture your imagination and transport you through fragrances to the beautiful islands of Tahiti. Each long lasting French-milled bar contains 55% coconut oil and 39% palm oil.

TAHITIAN SPA’S BEAUTY RITUALS

Tahiti has now become a world class spa destination and many of the resorts offer spa facilities.

Marù Spa at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort.
Discover the only treetop Spa in Polynesia. Marù Spa welcomes you to the lush environment of the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa. Located on a secluded motu in the middle of the most beautiful lagoon in the world, it is situated on the beachfront, surrounded with exotic basins, waterfalls and gorgeous lilies, in a peaceful and serene decor marked with Polynesian wisdom.

Manea Spa at the Taha’a Private Island & Spa.
This Spa is blessed with an exceptional site: it nestles in the shade of a coconut grove between the meandering waters of a small lake and the lagoon. It has been built from natural materials in pure Polynesian style to ensure that it merges perfectly with its motu environment.

Sacred Tamanu. Regenerating and protective. The Tamanu and its authentic perfume have been used for centuries in the Polynesian islands. It is well known to heal and promote the formation of new skin tissue. It has antiviral, anti-clotting, and antibiotic properties as well as being anti-inflammatory. Widely used as a traditional topic aid for burns and dry skin, it is especially soothing for the skin after sun exposure. A regenerating and energizing massage with sacred Tamanu oil concludes this treatment.

Te Ua Maohi. Power and Energy. Polynesian people are celebrating water as a symbol for Life, Pureness and Transparency. Pomare, the Queen of Tahiti, used to dance under the rain, representing for her the tears of Heiva, Mother of Gods. Te Ua Maohi, (storm in Tahitian), is an energizing experience. This treatment regenerates your body, hydrates and nourishes your skin, and boosts your tan. It is recommended to improve your skin’s firmness. The experience ends with a relaxing detox massage under the rain shower and the application of an exclusive moisturizing Noni Body Mousse on your body.

Interlude.

2008 should be a wealthy year, fulfilled with Well Being, Eccentricity & Beauty. Beauty of our Soul as this World does offer us its most secret treasures in order to charm our senses and our inner self. Our Daily way of Living opens itself without noticing it to a multicultural Universe. Consequently, this Ethnic Fashion does feed our Mind, as well as our senses and imagination.


Beauty, Sensuality, Authenticity, Natural Life & Well Being are thus at the centre of our daily preoccupations.

This Blog will offer you Ideas, Tendencies, Colours, Perfumes, Tastes, so that you will feel better within your Daily Life...