Ever wonder what the true meaning is behind a prayer flag? Well, I’ve got your answer.

“Prayer flags are not just pretty pieces of colored cloth with funny writing on them. The ancient Buddhist prayers, mantras and powerful symbols displayed on them produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind [...]]]>

Prayer Flags

Ever wonder what the true meaning is behind a prayer flag? Well, I’ve got your answer.

“Prayer flags are not just pretty pieces of colored cloth with funny writing on them. The ancient Buddhist prayers, mantras and powerful symbols displayed on them produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the countryside. All beings that are touched by the wind are uplifted and a little happier. The silent prayers are blessings spoken on the breath of nature. Just as a drop of water can permeate the ocean, prayers dissolved in the wind extend to fill all of space”. www.prayerflags.com

Sounds complicated but the truth is this cultural tradition is all about giving love and peace. Hailed from Tibet, prayer flags are a symbol of universal peace and global harmony.

Around the World begs the question – how do we teach and pass on this cultural practice to our children?  We think one way is to teach children the gift of GIVING. Check out the World Bank cards in the Around the World boardgame, www.aroundtheworldgames.com, and your children will begin to learn that in order to get ahead in the game (ahem, world!)  you’ve got to give.

Peru has become quite a popular destination. Specifically, Machu Picchu. It’s always in travel magazines and on the backpackers list of places to go. But besides the usual reasons people are traveling there – like for life-altering hikes, high altitude highs or they read about it in the Celestine Prophesy – who are the people [...]]]>

Peru has become quite a popular destination. Specifically, Machu Picchu. It’s always in travel magazines and on the backpackers list of places to go. But besides the usual reasons people are traveling there – like for life-altering hikes, high altitude highs or they read about it in the Celestine Prophesy – who are the people of Peru and what is the history behind such a mysterious places?

Since I have yet to travel there, I thought this website was a good place to start. Check it out at http://www.peru-travel-adventures.com/people-culture.html. I’ll get back to you once I visit, but in the meantime share your stories and pics if you have them.

Let’s thank our friends at Travel and Leisure for this beautiful photo.

Cherry blossoms. Sushi. Geisha girls.

 Today I want to share a little cultural tid-bit about Japan’s geisha girls. Geisha girls are pretty much synonymous with Japan and quite controversial in character, but do we really understand this custom? I, for one, am intrigued.

Geishas have been around since the 1600 and [...]]]>

Cherry blossoms. Sushi. Geisha girls.

 Today I want to share a little cultural tid-bit about Japan’s geisha girls. Geisha girls are pretty much synonymous with Japan and quite controversial in character, but do we really understand this custom? I, for one, am intrigued.

Geishas have been around since the 1600 and are traditional female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. It is an incredibly difficult career, requiring years of training in many artistic areas and endless physical energy to keep up the the routine. 

As someone said, “It is a dying art, because it is so demanding.” Foreigners often mistake Geisha for inappropriate entertainers, but I hope this clarifies that being a Geisha is an artform and has been a cultural tradition in Japan for hundreds of years.

HMMM. What do you think?

Dreaming of your next trip? So am I. Upon wondering where most people take their Dream Trips I sought out the world Tourism Organization’s 2010 data report on the top ten travel spots.

1. France – 76 million 2. Spain – 55.6 million 3. United States – 49.4 million 4. China – 46.8 [...]]]>

Dreaming of your next trip? So am I. Upon wondering where most people take their Dream Trips I sought out the world Tourism Organization’s 2010 data report on the top ten travel spots.

1. France – 76 million
2. Spain – 55.6 million
3. United States – 49.4 million
4. China – 46.8 million
5. Italy – 36.5 million
6. United Kingdom – 30 million
7. Mexico – 21.9 million
8. Germany – 21.5 million
9. Turkey – 20.3 million
10. Austria – 20 million

Go figure that my destination is not on the list. I think we need to start thinking outside the box and dig deeper when we set out to travel. What environments inspire us? Where will we learn most about our own culture? How can our tourism dollars influence the  people of those countries. Last I heard the Balkans was one of the most beautiful places to visit and I am betting since the war that the people of Eastern Europe would welcome some foreign cash. Just a thought!

Ever wonder about picking up and moving to another country? The exotic touch of having an international address is intoxicating, at least to me. One issue: living expenses. I came across this article out of Travel Leisure and it provided the global perspective I needed to come back down to earth. Check out how [...]]]>

Global Perspective

Ever wonder about picking up and moving to another country? The exotic touch of having an international address is intoxicating, at least to me. One issue: living expenses. I came across this article out of Travel Leisure and it provided the global perspective I needed to come back down to earth. Check out how different cities stack up to each other and how much a cup of Joe is around the globe.

Did you know that Canada, home of the Winter Olympics 2010, is one of the most populated cities of ethnic Chinese people? An article in Travel and Leisure comments on how Canada is winning gold in the culinary world of authentic Chinese food EVEN over cities in China.

When we travel we get the most extraordinary exposure to our world’s most important collectibles. The next time you travel don’t be so quick to throw out your extra foreign coins, bills, stamps, postcards, etc. They hold stories and these stories help others understand the global experience. Plus we think having a collection [...]]]>

When we travel we get the most extraordinary exposure to our world’s most important collectibles. The next time you travel don’t be so quick to throw out your extra foreign coins, bills, stamps, postcards, etc. They hold stories and these stories help others understand the global experience. Plus we think having a collection of exotic coins and stamps is so darn cool.

If you’re still wondering why it’s so important to learn about other people and places, think about this: Wouldn’t it be a bit annoying if someone from Europe or wherever described the US as one big country. As if we’re all the same? Because the way I see it, a person [...]]]>

Traveling Around

If you’re still wondering why it’s so important to learn about other people and places, think about this: Wouldn’t it be a bit annoying if someone from Europe or wherever described the US as one big country. As if we’re all the same? Because the way I see it, a person from Texas may as well be on a different planet as someone from Manhatten or a Californian and an Iowan.

This is just to demonstrate that it’s important to delve a little deeper into the world and know that THE MIDDLE EAST or ASIA are rather huge places with hundreds of different people, languages and religions. Too bad our current media outlets can’t catch up with this notion.

At least you have us. Smile. 

The holiday season is already here and for most of us that means scurrying around and buying our little ones gifts. Take note, anytime we have the opportunity to give to a child, there is also an opportunity to teach. This year,  opt for something that is a gift that [...]]]>

Around the World boardgame

The holiday season is already here and for most of us that means scurrying around and buying our little ones gifts. Take note, anytime we have the opportunity to give to a child, there is also an opportunity to teach. This year,  opt for something that is a gift that keeps on giving…our award-wining board game can be played throughout the year and takes your kids on a trip of a lifetime. See for yourself. www.aroundtheworldgames.com.

Can you name the top three currencies used in the world today? The dollar, euro and the yen. Money is as complicated and as simple as you make it. If we [...]]]>  Worldwide money may be on the horizon as a way of simplifying the planet’s 190 currencies — the Esperanto of money.

Can you name the top three currencies used in the world today? The dollar, euro and the yen. Money is as complicated and as simple as you make it. If we teach kids about money and its relation to the world at a young age, the more power to them. Do me a favor and ask your family the question posed here and see if they come up with the world’s top currency – because the dollar, the euro and the yen aren’t going anywhere soon.