Happy New Year! My New Years Wish is More Scuba Diving in 2012!

For all who know me, you will know that I am a passionate scuba diver. My PADI Open Water card never leaves my passport pouch. I had a good fortune in 2011 to have dives in Belize, Dominican Republic, Roatan, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico. I was lucky enough to receive all new diving equipment from my husband, so I am looking to more diving holidays. He is usually the camera man on these dives and they are all done in hi-def (he believes he is filming for National Geographic), but he never labels his videos, and we still have a wedding video from 1999 that he is ‘getting to’ so I’m not holding my breath on my underwater videos. However, I had a beautiful dive with dolphins that I had Anthony Keys film for me, although it’s not of the greatest quality, it was one of those ‘bucket list’ items that I checked off and I was hoping to share with you, but my technical abilities will not allow it at this time. I’ll have to wait for my computer guru Kayvan Mott of Infinite Communications to finish his New Years festivities before he can take a crack at it! 

Diving vacations can be very special for those who have been bitten by the scuba diving bug and now live to ‘breathe bubbles’. I am planning to organize more specialized holidays for diving groups, and I think 1st on my list would be Roatan, Honduras. It holds special place in my heart, as diving is fantastic and it is safe and affordable. I have also observed divers and their companions on my holidays and I think I came up with a winning combination. When you have a husband/wife that dives with you, it’s great. But if your significant other does not dive, it makes it a boring and lonely holiday for them. So, I thought why not mix the both of best worlds. Go to some of the finest diving destinations, but go there with like minded people. If the non-diving partner comes to the diving vacation with you the least you can do is make sure he/she is taken care of. Whether that will consist of spa days, with other non-diving companions, shopping excursions, or just some plain fun in the sun on the beach, I’d like to put the end to the boredom and loneliness for your non-diving companion. I am open to suggestions on locations, activities so feel free to e-mail me @ dc@cosmoplitantravels.com, Facebook me www.facebook.com/cosmopolitantravels or just call me (800) 303-7901. 

Happy New Year and Safe Travels!

Staying Healthy For Your Travel

You made it through the Holidays, winter and all this time something to look forward to is your vacation that you booked long time ago, and just thinking about it got you through the family dinners business Holiday parties, etc. What can you do to avoid getting sick just as you are about to travel?

This is what everyone says:

“Check on any vaccinations you might need by consulting your physician or the Centers for Disease Control  and get vaccinated prior to your travel. Keep a copy of your vaccination records and bring it along on your trip.

If you're prone to air sickness, ask for a window seat over the wing.

If a traveling child is recovering from a cold, use decongestant nose drops one-half hour before takeoff and landing.

Pack your medications in their original, pharmacy-labeled bottles to avoid problems with Customs and be sure to never pack it in baggage that you are planning to check.

It is strongly recommended that scuba divers wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before taking to the skies. This minimizes the risk of developing decompression illnesses such as the bends.

Consult your physician on any changes in timing of your medication—especially insulin—when you cross multiple time zones.”

But I will suggest on a little bit more:

Your immune system is what will keep you healthy and not susceptible \to viruses or cold just as you are getting ready to travel. Your best bet is to:

• add some zinc, echinacea, vitamin C to your daily vitamin supplements
• double up on the antioxidants such as berries 
• add cinnamon wherever you can
• sleep your 7-8 hours a day or get as close to it as you can
• and finally don’t underestimate the hand sanitizer and use it as much as you can

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays!

It is fitting that my first post comes on Christmas day, as I came up with a Caribbean Inspired Holiday Cocktail. 

I was in Bahamas recently (there will be a later post about that), and I came across Ricardo’s Coconut Rum, which is an absolutely a wonderful drink. Do not come back from Bahamas without it (more on duty free and liquor later). 

Ricardo’s Coconut Rum is a very potent drink it is a dark rum and can also be consumed as an after diner drink in a cognac snifter at room temperature. In case you are not so lucky to have it handy I also did a version with a regular white coconut rum, and have adjusted amounts. 

So here is DC’s Holiday Delight recipe:

*1/3 Cruzan Cream Rum
*1/6 Ricardo Bahamian Coconut Rum (in case you don't have Ricardo's -or any other DARK rum with coconut flavoring handy, Malibu or other coconut flavored white rum will do but adjust the amount from 1/6 to 1/3)
*1/2 heavy cream (if you are using other than Ricardo's that will be 1/3 heavy cream)
Mix and chill, serve in a chilled glass with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top.

Enjoy!

Get A Tan For Christmas

For this holiday season, what better way to de-stress after family functions than a warm tropical vacation, with a drink (with an umbrella) in your hand?

Click Here to see some great offers from Funjet Vacations.

And as always, feel free to call or email me if you have any questions.