Holidays

Hello World

Are we all ready now to talk about our holidays?

Are we in the mood to discuss what holidays mean?

Are we still enjoying holiday mode, as it is not yet fall?

Are we already busy planning our next getaway?

Are we using holidays as a form of self-medication?

Are we only working to just get time off for holidays?

Are we lost until we know our next holiday is booked?

Do we hate it when others have more holidays than us?

Do we always get into debt when it comes to holidays?

Do we go the el cheapo holidays and then Regret it?

Do we love the indulgence that a holiday gives us?

Do we only think of holidays as sun, sea and sex?

Do we like the idea of boozy days and nights on holiday?

Do we make sure we are drunk and out of it, as that to us is what holidays are about?

Do we go with our mates with the intention to get laid and make the locals know we rule the town?

Do we start our holidays before we even get to the airport, with our supermarket stock up of cheap booze?

Do we plan with detail every step of our journey, but somehow things never turn out great?

Do we like to go on holiday with others, but soon find we don’t like their habits and ways?

Do we want a holiday just because it gives us something to talk about at work?

Do we find holidays a way of escaping from everyday life, which we finding Boring?

Do we insist we have a holiday in the hope it will deal with all our issues?

Do we get back from holiday with some sort of drama or tension, because things went belly up?

Do we always go for cheap flights and cheap hotels as that is how we like it?

Do we go over the top and splash out with our Champagne Holiday on our Lemonade Budget?

Do we like to do the extra airport shopping and go over the top before we get on our holiday flight?

Do we indulge in the ‘extras’ for the kids and call it ‘treats’ when it comes to holidays?

Do we create stress to find a last minute holiday, as we tend to live life in this way – do things last minute?

Do we try and book a honeymoon holiday to impress the guests, but never for what we truly want?

Do we like the excess distractions that our holidays bring us, because daily distractions don’t seem enough?

Do we make sure our holiday mood starts months before, with images filling our minds?

Do we use our holidays to dull us, but somehow we are just not aware of that?

Do we always moan and complain about our holiday no matter what, as this is how we normally behave?

Do we book the same place, same dates, every single year for our holiday in the sun as we don’t like change?

Has anyone had a look at what the adverts are selling us?

Have they covered each and every one of us that might have dreamt of a fantasy holiday?

Check this out below – all taken from Real advertisements

Global Gourmet Dining up to 16 Restaurants per Resort

Unlimited Land and Water Sports

Lotion On, Flippers On, Summer’s On

YOU Deserve a Break
Escape this Summer
We Call it our Happy Place

Great Yoga Holidays
Omming in the Orchards
Tea Ceremonies
Temple Meditation

Boutique Asanas by the Beach

Mountain Wellness

Tropical Re-Balancing
Holistic Haven
Hillside Healing

Mongolian Yurts
Organic Veggie Meals

Remote Eco Village
Digital Detox
Adobe Huts

Family Yoga in the Forest

Breathing and Bathing in the Highlands
Wild Escape
Woodland Bath Beside Waterfall
Underground Sauna
Solar Powered Hot Tub

Coastal Hikes
Rocky Coves
Stark Cliffs
Surrounded by Flora and Fauna

Celeb Circuit
Expansive views of bay and villa where Ursula Andress lived in 70s
Rewarded with pristine cove accessible only by boat or foot
Watch sun set – parts of 1958 Hollywood South Pacific were filmed

Pastel Coloured Fishing Villages
World Class Coastal Trek
Eight-Mile Walk of the Gods

Exotic Cruise Holidays
Go in Search of Giant Land Tortoises
Marvel at the Paradise Islands, Sublime Beaches
Experience Lush Forests
Coral-Rich Lagoon
Escape the Winter

Explore the High Flyer in You
You Can Be Whoever You’d Like to Be in Places You’ve Always Dreamed Of

Flying High in a Seaplane
Lounging on a Golden Beach
Indulging in a Spot of Boutique Shopping
Priceless Memories that Last a Lifetime

Extra On-Board Spending Money When You Book an Outside Cabin, Balcony or Suite
Add a Little More Magic to Each Memory You Make

Panoramic Helicopter Tour Included
FREE Drinks Package and Unlimited Wi-Fi
Exclusive Free Stateroom Upgrades
Remarkable Landscapes
Sunset Balcony
Indulgent and Thrilling Entertainment
FREE Upgrade to Gold Leaf Service Train Seat

This Week’s Dream – Remote, Wild and Majestic
Walk in the Mountains for a Week Without Seeing a Vehicle
Turquoise Lakes
Alpine Meadows Festooned with Wild Flowers

Nature is Bountiful and Guests are Treated Like ‘Royalty’
Beachfront Villas Have Private Pools, Rainforest Showers
Butlers Entrances

New Wave of Gentrification Including –
Micropubs, Organic Delis ‘Shabby Chic’ Cocktail Bars
Enjoy This “Goldilocks Moment” While it Lasts

Volcanic Landscape is “Heart Stopping” in its Grandeur
Walk for Hours through a Dessert of Lava Dried into Grottoes

“Impossibly Beautiful” Ribbon of Fjords, Sea Cliffs and Bleak Hillsides
Stylish Hotel and an ‘Effortlessly Cool’ Craft Brewery
“Raw, Unforgiving” Landscape

Your Holiday, Your Way
Carefully Planned and Meticulously Organised
Flexible Arrangements to Suit Your Own Requirements

Great Railway Journeys
Breath-taking, Dramatic Nostalgic Trip, Unforgettably Scenic
History Heritage and Unrivalled Beauty
Outstanding Scenery

Promenades Fringing the Bay and Sandy Beach
Traditional Horse Drawn Trams
Famous Steam Railway

Panoramic Views from Roof Top and Terrace
Beauty Studio and Leisure Centre with Pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi and Gym

River Cruise
Breath-taking Beauty

Sun-Kissed Holiday Haven
Perfect Place to Rest and Relax
Tree Lined Avenues

Laid Back Atmosphere of Homely Tavernas, Bars and Cafes

Offshore Island and Majestic Castle

Picture-Postcard-Perfect Lake

Christmas Breaks
Picturesque Markets
Memorable Coffee and Cake
Giant Illuminated Tree, Christmas Music

Festive Break with a Difference – a Magical Delight

Private Santa Experience
Snowmobile Adventure
Husky Dog Experience
Reindeer Sleigh Ride
Tobogganing, Snowballing
Snowman Making

Picture Book Shores
Explore Idyllic Surroundings
Enjoy Opportunities on Optional Excursions

Discover Two Island Paradises in One
Stunning Beaches Fringed by Azure Waters

Savour the Blue Waters and White Sand Beaches

Ultra-Chic Plush – One Time Writers’ Retreat

Truly Wonderful Holiday to Savour and Enjoy

Unforgettable Journey through Musical Heartland where Rock N Roll was Born

Irresistible Holiday Full of Unforgettable ‘Must-See, Must-Do’ Highlights

Take an Extraordinary, Languid Journey Through One of Southeast Asia’s Evocative Corners

Crammed with Extraordinary Sights, Some Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunities
Truly Memorable Moments

Safari Drive – Experience Open Air Vehicle with Knowledgeable Guide

Plush Superior Room Overlooked where there is a Slow Buzz of Traffic and Ambling Tourists

A Wide Tree-Lined Boulevard Featuring Designer Brands and Luxury Shops

Outdoor Pool Set in a Leafy Botanical Garden

Village Set Amid Verdant Paddy Fields – Complete with Grazing Water Buffalo

Enjoy a Wellness Area with Outdoor Infinity Pool

Indulge in Vintage Liqueurs and Premium Cigars in a Century-Old Farmhouse

Luxury Holidays Made Affordable
7 Nights Half Board from £6,899 per person

You Deserve the Best and That’s What You Get

Holiday on the Best Beaches, Where the Waters are Always Calm and Impossibly Blue
Perfect for Indulging in every Water Sport under the Sun or Simply Relax on the Sand

Indulge in Exclusive 5-Star Global Gourmet Dining at up to 16 Restaurants
Endless Pours of Premium Cocktail Always Included

Explore Hidden Gems from Across the World With our Fantastic Selection of Offers
Explore the Winding Streets, See the Sights as You Sail Along
Unwind Surrounded in Luxury

4 Star Getaway Includes a Free Hydro Massage

Crystal Blue Waters with Lavish Green Gardens

Luxurious Facilities and Gourmet Restaurants Blend Effortlessly with the Romantic Atmosphere Created by the Surrounding Countryside

Everything from State-of-the-Art Spa to Onside Water Park
Mouth Watering Cuisine Served up in All the Restaurants

Adventurous Cruise Along this Ancient and Inspiring Waterway

An Array of Major Attractions to Enjoy
Gothic Cathedrals, Majestic Monasteries and Quaint Museums

Romantic Colourful Dream Made Up of Medieval Relics, Soaring Bell Towers and Extravagant Churches

Charming Village Style Plazas

Picturesque Countryside, this 5 Star Resort Hosts Weekly Cookery Courses
Traditionally Decorated Rooms Ensure You Will Relax in Style

The Alluring Architecture and Fascinating History is Clear for All to See
Marvel in its Sights Across Grand Open Squares Before Enjoying a Pint of the Famous Beer

Baroque Streetscapes and Imperial Palaces Amid a Thriving Coffee House Scene

This Resort Offers Great Facilities for Couples and Families Alike
Three Swimming Pools and Onsite Splash Park will be a Hit with the Younger Guests
All-inclusive Service and Spa Facilities is Perfect for Adults

Drop Anchor in a New Destination Each Morning on a Jewels Cruise

Let’s Talk Summer Escapes

Visit Two of the World’s Most Popular Luxury Destinations on One Unforgettable Holiday

The Ultimate in Glamorous Getaways Where You Can Indulge in a Slice of Paradise
Relax and Soak Up the Sun

Free Upgrade to Half Board
Save up to £2,700 per couple

Six Acres of Tropical Gardens, Mediterranean Seafront with Stunning Views of Harbour

Dial a Flight

Single Travellers – Quality Holidays Especially for You
We Specialise in Escorting Small Groups of Like-Minded Mature Single Travellers

Fabulous Golden Beaches

Worldwide Five-Star Voyages

The Maiden No-Fly Grand Voyage
Buy One Get One Free

Make the Most of the Warm Weather

Sizzling Summer Deals

Fantastic Reductions on a Host of Alluring Holidays
Many Tempting Destinations Available
Warm Home-From-Home Atmosphere
You are Sure to Find a Cruise Getaway to Tempt You
Enticing Itineraries on Offer

Go for it – Group Glamp
Cheeky Weekend Away

Glamping in Rustic Rugged Pretty Wooded Hollow

Caravans and Bell Tents Charmingly Set Out
All Fairy-Lit and Punctuated by Rope Swings

Horsebox Glamping Offers Unusual Alternative to Rooms

Stylishly Converted Train Carriage has King Size Bed
Barbecue Hut is Adorned with Reindeer Rugs, Candles and Fairy Lights

Fly and Flop
You Can Sail, Cycle – and Make Chocolate

You Don’t Feel You Are in a Hotel at All
It is More Like the Home of a Very Wealthy Friend 

Dramatic Volcanic Landscapes and an Ancient Way of Life
Made up of Lagoons and Cloud-Covered Peaks

Cruise of Seven Remote Islands
Balmy temperatures of about 27c

The Marina has Seven Restaurants
The Prestigious Where Groups Can Savour 7 Degustation Courses

On Board Luxury – Lalique Staircase

Older Couples –
Women often with that Slightly Surgical, Windblown Look –
Doing on Board Cooking Courses, Walk the Deck or Relax in the Spa

Those Dark and Magical Places
The Forest Represents a Place of Retreat and Reflection

Go Deep into the Heart of the Woods and it is Easy to Get Lost
Dusk can suddenly fall and then in the darkness that follows a mass of unseen, scurrying creatures, real and mythical, comes to life.

This Tiny Country in the Green Heart Has Much to Offer Visitors

Best known for its Mountain Gorillas
Permits to see the gorillas cost £777 for one hour
You face a tough hike through the jungle to find them

Volcanoes, Rainforests and a Lake Shore

The Savannah, Swamps and Mountains Have a ‘Strange Magic’

Afterwards Retire for Some R&R Beside Vast Expanse Blue, Warm, Croc Free Water
Cheerful Lodges, Beachside Grills “Specialising” Unexpectedly in Fish and Chips

Fabulously Lavish and Enjoyable – Old Style Opulence

A Sign at the Main Harbour Reads ‘Welcome, No One Will Find You Here’
Indeed, a Wonderful Escape from the Modern World

Trips Inspired by Works of Fiction
Fishing Villages, Tavernas, Ruins
Fascinating Collection of Relics from the 20th Century

Derelict military buildings adorned with amazing murals painted by bored squaddies
A labyrinth of tunnels and off the coast, the wrecks of ships and warplanes, now dive sites

Dream Destination for Film Buffs Anxious to View Locations

Airbnb for Mountain Huts Located in Forest Glades, Villages or Hillsides

Slick Modern and Minimal Interior
Outdoor Hot Tub from Which You Can Gaze at the High Peaks

Tropical Retreat Where Guests Are Invited to Use Magic Mushrooms
Explore “issues” in their personal or professional lives in a supportive legal setting

Participants take mushrooms – ground down into capsule form – 3 times
Overseen by six facilitators who provide expertise and make sure no one wanders off

On rest days, indulge in herbal steam massages or go on island excursions

What happens outside of each mushroom trip “is just as important as the trip itself”
Everyone shares their experience and reflects on their “new perspective”
Having with luck, “unplugged” emotional blockages that may have been “festering for years”

Magic Mushrooms are prescribed as Class A drugs in the UK

Tasting Ants on a Bush Tucker Tour
Smorgasbord of Treats from Smoked Kangaroo. Pickled Crocodile and Roadkill Emu

Blowing Away the Cobwebs in Cowboy Territory
No Stinting on Creature Comforts
Rooms Have Private Plunge Pools
Ranch Boasts Five Star Rated Restaurant

Horses Have Their Own Trainers, Masseurs and Personal Chef
Spend the Morning Riding Them Along Rocky Trails
Then Shooting Practice, Fishing and Archery

After Soak in the Tub to Soothe Aching Limbs
Evening around a Campfire, Toasting S’mores Under Blanket of Stars
The Fresh Air and New Challenges Will “Put a Swagger in your Cowboy Boots”

S’more is a sweet snack consisting of a chocolate bar and toasted marshmallows sandwiched between graham crackers.

Rising from the Sands at the Heart of this Desert
Fantastically Remote and Quite Magnificent
Volcanic Craters and Spectacular Dunes

Make the Expedition Here a Fascinating and Haunting Experience

Call on Expert Help in Planning Your Own Trip
The Distances are Vast, the Terrain Harsh and Landmines Here and There
You Will Need to Camp
Lack of Washing Facilities Can Be “Trying”

From the Capital a Four-Day Drive to a 44,000 Sq. Km Wilderness
The Horizons are Huge, the Landscape “Endlessly” Shifting

Ice-swimming
Reaching to Within a Whisker of the Arctic Circle
On a Half Day Cruise You Can See this Mesmerizing Icy World
Swim in it – in a Channel the Ship Has Cut

Holiday of a Lifetime, Every Time

Iconic Cities
Luscious Landscapes
Tempting Cuisine

We Handpick All Our Accommodation to Perfectly Complement Your Tour

World-Renowned Restaurant and Cutting-Edge Japanese Cuisine

Be Amazed by Incredible Water Slides, River Rapids and Even a Zip Line
17-Hectare Water World Provides Excitement for Travellers at all Ages

Embark on an Unforgettable Holiday to Two of the World’s Most Spectacularly Scenic Regions
Discover the Natural Majesty of the Mountains Before Climbing Aboard the Train
Watch a Backdrop of Snow-Topped Mountains and Emerald Blue Lakes Unfold

Sit back and Soak up the Beautiful Scenery on this Breath-taking All Daylight Journey
Beside Glacial Lakes, River Canyons and Verdant Forests

Upgrade and Enjoy Panoramic Views from the Comfort of your Seat

More a Boutique Hotel than a Family Escape
Popular for Special Occasions and Team Building            

A Dizzying Mix of Ancient Cultures
Breath-taking Natural Beauty and Dynamic Urban Landscapes
Feast for All the Senses – Offer an Unforgettable Experience

Back to Nature – Sleeping in a Telephone Box in Outer Hebrides

Field of Dreams
All the Comforts of Glamping but not the High Prices – Heavenly Stay
No Need to Flap – Pre-Erected Tents Come with Tables and Deck Chairs

Unspoilt Nature, Majestic Mountains and Stunning Waterfalls
Most Powerful and Awe-Inspiring Sights

Experience True Wilderness
Explore Some of the Most Spectacular Scenery on Earth

Choose from Our Collection of 16 Meticulously Planned 2019 Itineraries
Enjoy a Wealth of Tantalising Inclusions on Every Cruise
Includes Delicious and Diverse Dining
Unique Selection of Unforgettable Onshore Experiences

Volcanic Landscape That Offers Year Round Activity Holidays
Lakes to Swim and Sail
Restored Farms to Stay in
Hearty Mountain Cuisine

Extinct Volcanoes, Glacial Valleys and Lakes Over 5 Million Years Old

Adrenaline Rush of Water Sports
Drama of Rocky, Sea-Sculpted Coastline
Tranquillity of Golden Beaches and Crystal-Clear Waters

Weather-Sculpted Rocky Pools and Coves that Feel Like Hidden Secrets
Fine Pale-Gold and Terracotta Sandy Beaches

Gems – Best-Selling River Cruise Promotion
Staterooms Sell Out Fast – Please Do Not Delay
Book Now for Special 2019 Savings

Award Winning River Cruise with a Contemporary Twist

Walking Holiday – Some Real Blue Sky Thinking

A Numb Bum and Sunburnt Calves on an Open Road
A Tuk-Tuk is the Ideal Vehicle

This is Full Beam Exotic Asia
Breathe in the Aromas of the Country
Composting Jungle, Wood Smoke, Incense

The Route Twists High into Jungled Hills
Passing Ramshackle Teak Villages
Rivers That Wind Slowly Between Banana Trees

Enviably Hard to Find Beach
Revel in Stunning Shores
Private Paradise

Relaxing Effect of Being Unplugged from the Modern World
Clear Silent Brightness of Snow, Blue Sea and Striated Mountains

Icy Water Following a Sauna Generating an Endorphin Rush
This Will Keep You on a High for Hours

Relaxed Group Trips with a Non-Macho Ethos
You Can Ride for Days Through a Remote Wilderness

Wild Camping Under a Dark Sky Full of Stars
Raw Simple Authentic Way of Travelling

Airs and Graces on £25 million Luxury ‘Blimp’
Luxury Cruise with a Difference – at Altitude
Plush En Suite Bedrooms, Fine Dining
Lounge with Views to Die for will be on Offer

Part-Plane, Part-Airship Making a Journey a Joy    

Note
August 2016 – aircrafts cockpit severely damaged when it crashed during test flight
November 2017 – aircraft collapsed after coming loose from its moorings

HELLO

What is the vacation industry selling us?

Are they simply supplying what we demand?

Do we go for it as that is what life is for – a holiday?

Do we see this stuff as a holiday of a lifetime?

Do we make sure we get a few of these treats in every year?

Do we work hard and do what it takes just to take the mrs on her dream holiday?

Do we treat our partners to a holiday of our dreams – not what they would really want?

Do we live for a family holiday, where we go Crazy and spend way over our budget?

Do we take our pick because we can, as money has no limits when it comes to holidays?

Do we drag our adult kids on holiday with us as we feel sorry for them?

Do we take the school friend and pay for them, so our child has company on our summer holiday?

Do we try and find a mate fast, as we want a holiday and don’t fancy going alone, as we think that’s not cool?

Do we honestly think a holiday is going to give us the comforts we crave for a week or two?

Do we just wake up one day feeling overwhelmed and just book a holiday and hope, it will sort everything out that sucks in life?

Do we wake up not knowing what to book, as there is so much to choose from and we think time is running out?

Do we get hooked with all these words that are calling us to just book it up and think about it later?

Do we use work time to book our exotic destination, so we can show off to all those who will never get to have a holiday like that?

Do we think once the mortgage is paid off, we have the licence to use that monthly payment on extravagant holidays as we now have the cash?

Do we spend our holiday sleeping and eating on those ‘all in one’ deals where they use cheap food?

Do we always put on weight when we are on holiday because we starved ourselves with the latest Diet just before we left?

Do we love our overseas holidays but suffer with the Jet Lag stuff?

Do we always avoid holidays, simply because we hate the airport delays?

Do we prefer holidays in our own country because we hate foreign food?

Do we go away and come back from a holiday feeling like we need another break soon as we are exhausted?

Do we wish we could end work now and live in holiday land forever?

Do we ever consider how life would be if there was no holiday on the agenda?

Do we really think our holiday is going to de-stress us and take away all the problems we currently have?

Is it possible for us to imagine having a good time on holiday without Alcohol?

Is a holiday for us all about taking more Drugs with alcohol and not worrying about the consequences, as we are in foreign land?

WHY do we get bold with our Vices and Secrets when it comes to holidays?

WHY do we deliberately book a Christmas holiday abroad because we just can’t stand the thought of spending time with the rellies?

WHY do we plan our holiday all around our Social Media and how we could get more likes?

WHY do we try and copy the celebs when it comes to holiday destinations?

WHY do we make holidays a Priority in our life above anything else?

WHY do we seem to get Sick before or during or after a holiday?

WHY do we always suffer with Heartburn during our holiday time?

WHY have we got a sense that our Fatigue after a big fat holiday feels like it has got to chronic stage?

WHY are we not asking Questions about what it is about holidays that we need?

WHY have some of us seriously Lost the Plot when it comes to holiday locations?

WHY do we go on holiday and ignore the poverty that we see around us in that country?

WHY do we think that faking and Lying is normal, because we can get the holiday insurance to pay out for something and save us some bucks?

WHY do we always have Complications when it comes to holidays?

WHY does the thought of a Simple holiday never cross our mind?

Could it be possible that the only Passport we really need is to get real?

Next –

World’s Most Extreme Holidays for Adrenaline Junkies

Skydive

13,000 feet in temperatures as low as -35C
Highlight of this seven day expedition
Activities include ice climbing, cross country and downhill skiing, snowboarding and fat tyre biking across the snow-covered wilderness.

Prices start from £22,095 for seven night package

Strand Yourself on a Desert Island

You can be stranded on a small deserted island for as many days as you want, sans-guide, where you will have to build your own shelter and fish for your own sustenance.

An emergency contact will be ready to step from a neighbouring island if required.

Several packages and different islands on offer, ranging in intensity from “low” with the option of having a rustic cottage to stay in, basic food and a guide to accompany you; to the “extreme” and “survival” experiences.

Bounce into an Active Volcano

You will be dropped from a helicopter bringing you within “700ft of the actual pool of molten lava”

This six-day tour includes skydiving and whitewater rafting

Prices start at £12,500 per person

Surf Down an Active Volcano

The youngest volcano in this country has been one of the most active and attracted avid “volcano boarders” who hike up to the top of it, which takes an hour – then hurtle down it, which takes a few minutes on a snowboard.

Swim with Orcas

These are killer whales – not known to be dangerous to humans unless in captivity.

Swimming amid these six ton creatures, is unlikely to be a banal experience.

Dive with Sharks

You will be in a cage, roped to the side of a boat, but those bars will not do much to ease your heart rate as you are being circled by these imposing creatures.

Sleep on the Edge of a Cliff

 This company will assist you in abseiling down a rock face off the coast and set you up for the night on a “portaledge” – a fabric covered platform suspended horizontally on a vertical cliff.

The sort of open-air camping experience that barely qualifies as camping.

Most Radioactive Place on the Planet

Tours and accommodation of Chernobyl.
Visitors are checked for radioactive particles when they leave.

Next –

Cruise Ships

Pool decks on cruise ships are getting ever more elaborate with everything from pool-side movie theaters to outdoor bars and lounges, casual dining venues and even private cabanas.

Competitive Globetrotting

An online company exists to document the travellers who have ticked off nearly every corner of the globe.

The website breaks the world down into 871 places – from countries and territories to island groups, enclaves and exclaves.

They have over 18,000 members who have all signed up to see them all.

Dear World

Would the following questions be worth considering if after every holiday we cannot feel any real change in our daily life –

Could it be possible that we made the most of the all-inclusive breakfasts on holiday, which is loaded with breads and pastries full of Gluten?

Could it be possible that the War Inside Us continues, but on holiday we were able to simply bury it with our distractions and excess drink and food consumption?

Could it be possible that our Pot (marijuana) smoking got worse on holiday and we get back to realise we are super addicted to it?

Could it be possible that we turn a blind eye to those countries we visit where modern day slavery is even worse than the old days and they call it People Trafficking?

Could it be possible that we visit a country where FGM is not something we want to know about, even if it is going on under our nose?

Could it be possible that we lose ourselves in the Sports holiday and do not care about looking after our body, our environment or anything for that matter?

Could it be possible that when something goes wrong on holiday we just Blame, as that’s the easy option for us?

Could it be possible that even knowing there are Earthquakes happening, we hope we are going to be ok if our holiday is in that country?

Could it be possible we observe stuff on holiday, but have this habit of Doing Nothing instead of Doing Something?

Could it be possible that we would never call it a holiday if there was no Alcohol, as that’s what makes it a break away from life?

Could it be possible that we just do not want to know the real truth about Alcohol – that it is a scientific proven poison?

Next –

Would it bother us if others knew about our behaviour on holiday?

Would we die at the thought of our parents finding out about our wild holiday behaviour on Social Media?

When it comes to booking our next holiday is wanting More More More the only thing on our minds?

Are we Careless when we are on holiday because we just know it’s not our land so we can Get away with it – like no one is watching us?

Are we worried about going on holiday because we are not sure the latest quick fix Diet is going to work?

Are we being Fooled by all the adverts that keep creating new and exciting ways to grab our attention until we book that holiday?

Are holidays for us part of our desire for a Perfect Life?

Do we make sure we are celebrating the New Year far away from home land, as it might help us forget the awful year that just passed?

Do we wish we had a simple easy Recipe for Life that brings us value and meaning, so that we can stop trying to find this in a holiday?

Do we make sure we record all our TV soap operas, reality shows and the sports channels, so we can catch up when we get back from holiday?

WHY are we loving even more Fast Food and Junk Food when we are on our holiday?

WHY are we masters of overdoing the eating and drinking on our hols?

WHY is it that after every holiday we feel under the weather, run down and have the Common Cold symptoms?

WHY is it that some of us still come back from our sun filled holiday with Cold Hands and Cold Feet?

WHY do we have this habit of making our Focus at work about our next holiday instead of the job we are paid to do?

WHY are we so Bored with Life that the only thing that perks us up from our butts is going on holiday – anywhere?

WHY do we dream about one day having the wonga to go Business Class on holiday but coach class seems to be the standard so far?

WHY are we being ripped off with the currency exchange rates and who really benefits?

WHY is a summer holiday not enough, that we need to book a getaway in D E C E M B E R before Christmas descends on us?

WHY do some of us dread the thought of a Family holiday because we just don’t like being around them?

WHY do we suffer so badly from the Just Incase Syndrome when it comes to holiday luggage?

WHY are we using our holidays like a Solution to fix us from the ill choices we have made up until that point?

WHY have we put so much emphasis and effort on a holiday, in the hope it will bring us the Happiness we have longed for?

WHY do some of us genuinely come back from holiday with Depression?

WHY do we hate the thought of making a Commitment to Life and that means Getting on with it when it comes to daily living?

WHY do some of us like the holidays where we just Sit on the Fence and let the world go by, like it has nothing to do with us?

WHY do we have this insatiable need to travel all around the Earth?

WHY are we busy Listening to Other People and what they do and don’t do on their holidays?

WHY are our holidays a licence to smoke even more cigarettes or the new Vaping flavours, which are just as addictive?

WHY do we choose a holiday location where we know that the authorities turn a blind eye to Drugs?

WHY do some of us avoid group holidays as we have an Eating Disorder and want to be sure no one ever finds out?

WHY is Truth not on our radar when it comes to telling the world about our holiday and what we got up to?

WHY do we feel leading a Double Life on holiday is ok as no one knows us, so it does not matter?

WHY do our Vices and Secrets come out to play even more on holiday?

WHY are all our days on holiday turning into Crazy Days?

WHY are we always Overdoing it just before we go away on holiday?

What happens after a bombastic so-called holiday, that makes us just want to Give Up on Life?

What happens on holiday that makes us avoid looking in the Mirror at our self when we get back?

What if we made a choice to live a See Through Life – how would we be on holiday?

What is it that we don’t like about our obsession of taking selfies and uploading them instantly when it comes to holidays?

What is it about Social Media that takes over our moral compass when it comes to holiday snaps of us in crazy mode?

What would our Heart truly want for us when it comes to the subject of holidays?

What would our Kidneys communicate to us on holiday, if they could really speak to us?

What would our Blood Pressure be telling us when we are on holiday about what we are choosing?

What would happen to us if we knew how to Plug in and Connect to the field – which is way beyond this earth realm?

Would we then learn to Do Less and Be More?

Would we know how to Stop – Just STOP when our body tells us?

Would we know how to Close Our Eyes and feel our internal world?

Would we know about the value of our natural Sleep rhythm?

Would we innately know how to Be Gentle with everyone and everything?

Would that support us to simply GET ON WITH IT?

Dear World

There is so much more that could be said but for the purposes of this blog – enough has been expressed.

Reading what this tablet of Truth has presented thus far can leave us in no doubt that the vacation industry is booming simply because we are demanding more and more of what we want.

We are a race of beings that need to escape and forget the worries of daily life and we hope a vacation will end our misery and agony that we wake up with every day.

We all have different forms of self-medication and most of us use holidays as a medicine to make life better.

But what if our real everyday life is to be the medicine?

In other words, we make every single day of our life so great and deal with our stuff, that we no longer have a need to take the rest, respite and break away from life because we feel content and have joy inside of us, which remains constant.

What if there is Another Way?

What if there is a Purpose to Life?

What if life in the future for all of us will not be about distractions and escaping but simply about evolution?

 

 

 

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Comments 31

  1. Metro News – 22 August 2018

    10 hikers drowned on a trek through a narrow gorge and a criminal investigation was launched.

    23 people were saved by rescuers.

    The 7 mile gorge boasts aquatic trekking along the stream that cuts through rock faces as high as 2,300 ft, where hikers pass by waterfalls and natural slipways.

    Guides typically supply helmets, wet suits and other equipment.

    If there is a crime here who will be to blame – mother earth for filling up 8ft of water?

    The fact that this is a trekking experience and obviously organised with guides and helmets, we cannot say anyone was forced to endure this type of experience without making their own choice.

    What is it about us that wants new and different experiences that are very dangerous and yet we go ahead?

    We all like to blame the suppliers but they would be out of business tomorrow if we the customers stopped the demand. In other words, we no longer book or want this type of holiday.

    When anything goes wrong we all have this habit of finding anything or anyone we can blame and then we settle and accept a situation.

    But what if we need to look at our own choices and the individual responsibility that each and every one of us has to ensure we not only take deep care of ourselves, but equally make sure nothing or no one else gets harmed too?

    This may be too way off and whacky but is this not what real responsibility is about?

    Back to the news story – when we choose to hike, is there not always some sort of risk involved?

  2. The Telegraph – 13th August 2018

    How Well Travelled Are You? The Curious Club of Competitive Globetrotting
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/worlds-most-travelled-people/

    There are many reasons why we travel – be it business, pleasure, escape or adventure – but for some of us it is a competition – to be crowned the most prolific voyager on the planet.

    A dedicated website exists for that very reason, to document the travellers who have ticked off nearly every corner of the globe.

    The site breaks down the world into 871 places – from countries and territories to island groups, enclaves and exclaves, and its 18,400 members have signed up to see them all.

    The members are judged by the amount of places they have been to and are labeled a “couch potato” if they have visited 24 places or less and if they have seen more than 400 are placed in the hall of fame. There are six categories in between.

    • 25-49 – Tourist
    • 50-74 – Visited
    • 75-99 – Ambassador
    • 100-199 – Senior Ambassador
    • 200-299 – Gold
    • 300-399 – Platinum

    One member sits at the top of the table with 852 places visited.

    In the top 10, there are 8 from America, one from Spain and one from Switzerland.

    Most people recognise that you can never truly cross a country off your list on the basis of a single trip, but that’s not how it works with this website.

    The proof required of a “visit” to a country is, ideally, a passport entry stamp, an airline, rail or boat stub, credit card receipts at the destination, signed affidavits or photographic evidence.

    To make a “visit” count, broadly speaking, one must pass through immigration or passport control, but if it is not possible “the traveller must stand with both feet on land fully within those borders. This includes landing on islands. Sailing through territorial waters alone does not count, nor does flying through territorial airspace.

    This website is aware that the nature of its box-ticking challenge is somewhat at odds with the horizon-broadening benefits of travel. It asks – How can anyone really define “most travelled”?

    This website says, “It uses the phrase ‘Most Travelled’ to mean pure geographic coverage of the land on earth. There is no further subjective criteria because different people have different travel goals and different travel styles.”

    The site goes on to say that, even if you have never been anywhere, you are still very welcome to join. “The most important thing is that you are interested in travel, in geography and in life experiences around the world. As long as you truly aspire to be well-travelled, you can be one of the Most travelled.”

    This doesn’t make sense to me.

    Although I haven’t been on a ‘going abroad’ holiday in over 15 years – because my life feels so rich and I no longer feel the need to escape or self-medicate – I do understand why people feel the need to ‘get away from it all’.

    The website itself states that this is a box-ticking challenge.

    It also says that, “The important thing is that you are interested in travel, in geography, and in life experiences around the world.”

    How is it possible that we can say we are well-travelled if we are going to go to all of these destinations just to pass through immigration and not actually see the country or get the experience of what the country is all about?

    What is the purpose in this exercise?

    Does this actually help humanity or is this all about ourselves?

    Does this actually help us to evolve as human beings?

    Is it possible that this competition is simply about who has got the most money and or free time?

  3. Another sterling article – exposing our obsession with holidays and the total hooking marketing behind holiday advertisements.

    This makes me remember why I stopped the retail marketing degree that I did. It was the marketing aspect of it that put me off as, very early on in the course we were told that the whole idea is to hook people into your product. Personally I felt this to be very disturbing, as I really value transparency and people being upfront and I felt that I could not work in an industry, where this was blatantly not going to happen.

    What I love about this article and this website, by Simple Living Global, are that they are transparent, upfront and there are no hidden agendas.

    I wonder how many holidays would be sold if upfrontness and transparency were at the fore of any advertising campaign and then arises the question – why do we fall for all of these glitzy and glamorous holiday advertisements and what does it fulfill in us to regularly escape on holiday?

    It’s unpopular and unfashionable to not go on holiday, but what if there are people in the world who live a full life filled with joy, vitality and a zest for life who have no exhaustion and are super committed to life and take no holidays?

    What if we live a life that is so full that there is no need for a holiday?

    I know people like that and they are very real and do exist. They are role models for all of us about how life can truly be.

  4. Daily Mail – 18th August 2018

    Today I read an article about a European country that has recently experienced a financial crisis. This has been seen as good news for British holidaymakers, as it means because things are much cheaper, there is now a surge in holiday bookings to this destination.

    It is interesting how we are quick to take advantage of a situation, by seeing what we can get out of it. There has been a currency sales surge of 198% compared with the same time in 2017 for this country.

    What is important to note is that the reason for the financial crisis is due to a fight with another country.

    Reading this news story I felt great appreciation for this brilliant article by Simple Living Global on Holidays.

    Whilst we are basking in the sun, do we care what we are supporting and what is actually going on around us or are we too fixated on getting that suntan and that summer break, so we can escape from our daily lives?

    All of this has prompted me to re-read this article called The War Inside Us
    https://simplelivingglobal.com/the-war-inside-us/

    Is it possible that if there is any fighting or war between people and countries, it is because on an individual level we have a war within?

  5. The Guardian – 1 September 2018

    There are fears of tourists taking part in shamanic rituals.

    In recent years, a growing number of people have taken trips into the jungle to take ayahuasca, which is a strong hallucinogenic plant-cocktail, long revered by remote indigenous faith healers.

    The drug has drawn people from all around the world, who contact tribal shamans to administer the ceremonial potion, in the hope of experiencing a spiritual awakening.

    It contains an active ingredient DMT, that causes extreme changes in perceptual awareness.

    The drug made headlines last week in the UK when a 19 year old died after taking a dose of ayahuasca in a Columbian jungle.

    Ayahuasca is gaining popularity worldwide. Clandestine meetings are held in New York with traditional shamans in attendance.

    Celebrities have experimented and talked about their experiences.

    DMT sold in tiny crystals is available illegally from London to Sydney.

    So whilst Columbia advocates this substance ‘albeit psychoactive’ for their indigenous people, do we need to question WHY any person seeking a holiday to take such a strong drug is doing so?

    Are our tourism guidelines going to be enough or will the serious seeker just ignore it?

    What is it that we want to get from escaping with a strong hallucinogenic?

    WHY does any person want an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present?

    What is this actually telling us about our life, if this is the vibration we are seeking?

    What is going on for someone who needs to feel something that is not real?

    Is this extreme type of drug just coming into the public eye because of news stories like this where a death has occurred, OR are there many more that just go under the radar?

    Do we really know the long term impact and effects this drug has on the mind and body?

    What is it about our holidays that we look for more and more extreme forms of experience to move us away from our natural state of being?

  6. The spectrum of holidays and holiday advertising is mind blowing. Seeing it all listed out above like that really exposes the holiday industry and the truth of what we want to buy and therefore what it sells.

    Promises of distraction and experiences, dreams and pictures.

    I have read that these days it is all about experiences – that’s what everyone wants. Things you can buy don’t cut it any more, it has to be things you can do and then say you have done and post about online.

    So why do we love holidays so much?

    I remember a relative years ago saying people only went on holiday to escape their lives. At the time this annoyed me, as I like to travel, but when I reflected on it, I realised how much truth there is in that observation.

    And doesn’t the endless list above, of increasingly crazy holiday options simply confirm that?

    Why else would we need to go to these places and do these things?

    1. This is a good point you make JS about how we now want experiences because stuff you can buy just doesn’t cut it anymore.

      And this bit that really stuck out for me is WHY – so we can say ‘done it’ and post it on our social media networks like it is some achievement or accolade in life.

      Next – thank you for sharing and being honest that you were annoyed when a relative told you that people go on holiday to escape their lives.

      I know there is truth in this because I was one of them and now that escaping stuff is not on my radar.

      Instead I spend that time writing and researching and the real truth is I do not feel exhausted, over-worked, whacked out or in need of a break to escape daily life.

      Each day for me is like a holiday.

      I do not live near a bubbling brook, a meadow or the beach but my life is incredible, amazing and full of joy. I am content and it has come from my choices.

      I never suffer from post holiday blues or have any FOMO when I hear of what others are doing or where they are going on holiday.

      It has been 15 years now so that’s a confirmation it has worked.

  7. We recently had a family trip to the British countryside with relatives.

    My husband and I work long hours and being together as a family is something we cherish so we were all looking forward to a week away.

    There were, however, downsides of the trip.

    Our kids’ behaviour changed for the worse – they found it hard to listen and pull their weight around the holiday rental.

    We made poor food choices, away from our healthy home eating.

    Everyone expected treats and increased spending ‘because we were on holiday’.

    We enjoyed being together, but it took a full week to get back on track and re-focused on our return.

    It made me question why do this – what are we really doing holidays for? Are we clear?

    And if what is truly needed is dedicated time together and an opportunity to deepen our relationships and rest and rhythm, then doesn’t that bring a clarity and simplicity to the choices we make all year round, not just in the holiday season?

  8. Talking to a few people back from summer vacations these last weeks.

    Most were resigned to or lamenting being back and talking about their next trip or the want for one.

    Common themes in the stories were big life experiences, relaxation, visiting family and connecting with nature.

    It is clear that holidays give us relief from life and I’m interested in why we need that.

    What is it about how we are living each day that makes time off so appealing?

    Why are we drinking in the intensity of life and is this where we need support and focus?

    This website contains much wisdom on this subject and a recipe for living that can help drop the stop-start/run-relief life model to which so many of us are currently subscribing.

  9. Talking to one of the teachers at my kids’ school about the new term. He was pleased to be back.

    He said he likes routine and finds the holidays hard. Being at work is what he likes best.

    This struck me as refreshing and honest and it made me question how much more he and people like him could contribute during what is otherwise considered to be ‘time off’.

  10. Holidays is such big business with the travel and tourism industry being a trillion $ industry.

    In reading a news article recently, it said that in order to enhance their guests experience a number of hotel companies are looking through people’s social media accounts, to find personal information – the kind of information that used to only be known to those close to us.

    For example, if one were to tweet about their favourite drink, this is an opportunity for the hotelier to pop it into the minibar before our arrival.

    So here we have something again to tantalise and stimulate us. It is like we are always looking for something new, both as consumers and as suppliers, so it makes sense that the holiday industry is huge and why we have such a plethora of different types of holidays.

    One hotel even admitted to having staff monitor social media sites 24/7, so as to “surprise and enthral guests” and I bet it works.

    I know that previously when I was very unhappy and unsettled in my life, I would have craved these kind of treats and surprises. Anything just to pep me up and so I totally understand why the travel and tourism industry is booming.

    These days I do not have cravings for pepping up. Being able to work and contribute to society in a way that is not adding more ill to this earth is my greatest joy and that joy is so much more than any happy, or pepped up feeling that I ever had.

    It is a joy that fills my whole body with a sense of purpose and so there is no desire for any time off or time out.

    Yes rest, when it is needed and my body needs this to regenerate, but no time off from life.

    I never thought that I would ever say this, but through making lifestyle choices that have focused on taking care of myself and living my Truth and being honest in relationships, these have all allowed me to clearly feel and see what my priorities are and holidays really are not on the agenda.

  11. My gosh – trillion dollar industry
    Thank you Shevon for telling us this.

    What does this tell us really about human beings?

    We need holidays and its big business all over the world.

    My last holiday was 14 years ago and we missed the flight and had to travel the next day and of course pay extra.

    We ended up at the wrong airport and spent almost the whole time sleeping or eating, from the vast dining areas in the hotel which were eat as much as you like.

    On our return we had our passports stolen.

    Today, I can say that holidays are not something I choose for myself, but I do travel if I feel there is purpose and that means it is work related.

    What I have found for a long time now is when people talk about holidays and I tell them I don’t go on holiday, I am met with this invisible ‘attack’.
    Sounds weird but I feel like they are furious, literally slamming me down and telling me I have to have a holiday and how ridiculous that I do not.

    The thing is they have nothing to say when I claim my life is a holiday, check me out and have a feel of how I look and do I look like I need a holiday. Most people I know have to have 2, 3 or even 4 holidays a year now and that is all they talk about or look forward to.

    How I live and what I choose is polar opposite and makes no revenue for the holiday industry.

    I don’t feel like I miss anything by not seeing the spectacular sights that planet earth has in different countries.

    The long list on this blog of how adverts are coming at us, is nothing short of bombardment when it comes to holidays.

  12. Have we ever considered what it is that we are really longing for when we want a holiday?

    I know many of us talk about needing a break – but a break from what?

    Is it the intensity of our everyday lives – work, home, family, study?

    If so, have we ever asked – why things are so intense?

    Is it possible that there might be another way to deal with day to day life that is not as intense, or where the intensity around us does not get to us as it often does?

    Reading a news article about a floating hotel, it got me thinking about ‘experiences’ and how we long for something new and different to bring an edge to our lives.

    Do we long for the luxury of doing nothing?

    Do we long to escape and be swept away by the sea breeze?

    Do we long to be surrounded by the picturesqueness of nature and not have to interact with other people?

    Do we long for the days when we can do what we like, eat what we like and have no responsibilities in life?

    If we are truly honest, what is it that we are seeking that has created this trillion-dollar travel and tourism industry, that is showing no signs of slowing down?

  13. The Week – Issue 1138
    19th August 2017, p.5

    Dubrovnik, Croatia

    ‘Tourist caps: Dubrovnik has become the latest tourist hotspot to announce a cap on visitor numbers in a bid to avoid ruinous overcrowding.

    The mayor of the city, where cruise ships unload thousands of tourists at a time, has announced a daily cap of 4,000 tourists entering the old city, which will come into effect within two years. This summer has seen anti-tourist marches in Venice and Barcelona, while last week the regional government of Spain’s Balearic Islands announced new caps on the number of hotel beds and stricter rules on short-term rentals such as Airbnb.’

    Some of us may say that it is simple mathematics and as the world population has increased, this equals an increase in the number of people seeking to go on holiday, but is that the Truth?

    Somewhere like Croatia at one time would not have been a popular holiday destination, due to the warfare and so potentially we have more holiday destinations available, so why the need for a cap?

    Is there more to this, with further questions to be asked?

    Why are we getting to the point, where in one country we could reach tourist overcrowding that could ruin a city?

    This is very serious.

    Whist we can put caps in, how easy will this be to police and will corruption ensue, by those willing to break the law for monetary gain?

    Will this solution make any difference to the numbers?

  14. Has anyone heard of ice hotels?

    Ice hotel are literally that, hotels that are made out of ice including the bed, furniture, art and décor.

    For winter travellers who are looking for something different, staying at an ice hotel is deemed to be an important hallmark in their travelling experience.

    Artists and architects are employed to cut out and design these hotels and so
    This does deserve the question – Have we Lost the Plot?
    https://simplelivingglobal.com/have-we-lost-the-plot/

    Why would we choose to go to an ice cold holiday destination?

    Are we so bored with everyday life that we need something extreme to keep us engaged in life?

    Have we ever considered what happens to the human body when we place it into such extreme temperatures or are we so cut off and disconnected from our bodies that we don’t feel the cold?

    How far are we willing to go with our holiday destinations and what else are we planning as another way to escape from human life?

  15. This advert seems to be popular at this time.

    A woman at night, full moon and on a beach in high heels with a long red dress flowing in the wind, at a perfect angle with split to the thigh. Perfect hair and jewellery – you get the picture.

    In the distance a butler in red jacket and hat holding a black long dress on a hanger and the other hand a pair of black high heels.

    So what is the advert selling us?
    Title in large font says “Escape the everyday, with a little extra from us.”

    All I know is the picture did not tell me it was for a famous cruise ship holiday and the title did not tell me the little extra was a complimentary massage, wine tasting or boutique gift.

    Who thinks of this type of advertising and how much goes into it to hook us in?

    I say hook us in deliberately so because why else would holiday companies bother to come up with a hollywood red carpet dress and high heels on a beach at night so we can book their cruise ship ‘voyage like no other’.

    Last year I listened to a presentation about marketing and advertising and how they know what to do in images to get us to “escape” as this is what many of us are seeking.

    So they are the suppliers and they know what we want and bingo it works.

    Imagine the cost of advertising constantly to get more revenue from the customers.

    Imagine if we spent that half page spread in a national newspaper educating the public on health matters and presenting the stats and facts.

  16. I was reading online about the 2019 best spas in the world.

    They talk about high-tech Alpine institutions to glamorous retreats in Bali deep in the jungle.

    Once upon a time I would be hankering after my next spa retreat and when I was there, actually on a mission to enjoy it, all me and my mates could think about was how much we could eat and plotting the next spa. During fine dining we would be complaining, moaning or gossiping about something that was going on there or the list of things we brought to the spa to vent off.

    The article I was reading is in a famous magazine for the well to do and by that I mean those who can afford any type of getaway, as cost is not something they need to think about or plan.

    Spirit needs recharging and chakras are out of whack then you go to a spa in Mexico for shamanic healing and the latest buzz word in the health and wellness sector called mindfulness and add to that emotional harmony.

    Not sure how we achieve that but from lived experience – having been there, done it and seen it, I can honestly say with hand on heart it does not work – none of it.

    I got caught on the spiritual stuff for decades, learning about chakras and trying to sort out my emotions and nothing got to the root of it and stopped the yearning and fantasising for the next retreat spa holiday.

    The thought of going to a tiny island in the Maldives to indulge and gaze out to sea as the dolphins swim by sounds like something of a dream and for me now reality, real life is what I want to invest in.

    I see no point going anywhere in this world to get something or pretend all my issues will melt away because I am in spa zone in my mind.

    As I have said previously – I have done it all and spent vast amounts trying to change my diet, detox my mind, my body, my home and it still never changed anything in the long term other than got me into more debt and wanting the next Michelin star restaurant to dine out.

    That was over a decade ago and it is with great authority that I report now that whilst these images that are fed into my mind about the various fantastic, mind blowing spa locations in this world on offer to escape and get away to re-treat, it has zero pull inside me.

    This is the dream – something I never imagined would be possible.

    I feel like my whole life is a holiday and I don’t need a single day to go away to get something to make me better or fix me or make me feel rejuvenated.

    Each day I choose to make the effort to go to bed early and that has been a big factor in knocking out my exhaustion forever. This means I have great vitality levels consistently.

    So my mind can focus more now than ever before and I have no need to want an escape or a retreat to get me away from everyday life.

    The other bonus is I don’t feel overworked, overwhelmed or run down.
    With sleep mastered, I enjoy a body that is not lagging in ways like a poor immune system.

    No need to visit the GP or hospital as taking care of me and my body to the best of my ability means I contribute to society. This has been consistent for over 11 years.

    In other words, I am no longer a liability or a statistic adding to my overstretched health system because the way I choose to live requires no need to get sick or ill.

    Finally, the pictures alone would hook most people, but I no longer have any attachment or need that I can feel saying WOW it’s time to go here or there. ADD to that the enticing words that lure you in it’s quite an art if you ask me.

    I heard a presentation last year about how marketing is done in a way that they know what feeds our mind and would fuel it to book a superb bespoke retreat with tumbling waterfalls and ultimate peace.

    On that note – is it possible that no retreat in this world can give us ultimate peace as how we live everyday comes to greet us like a suitcase in the morning when we wake up, with all the things we have not dealt with and that un-settlement stops the ultimate so-called peace that we are after at all costs?

    Possible?

  17. I was talking to someone who just had a big Caribbean holiday and the week they got back they have booked for next year to another Caribbean island.

    We could say they have money and so it is affordable and leave it at that.

    What was interesting was listening to what they do for food.

    They buy the cheap pot where you add hot water and that’s the breakfast. There are more expensive versions but they will only buy if it is on offer.

    They tend to eat a tin of beans on toast in the evening so again more savings.

    My question was – where is the nourishment and how supportive is this type of eating for the human body which goes out to work doing long hours?

    Back to the blog which is about holidays. I pondered on why we get hooked into these holidays and the deals they offer, so no sooner are we back, we are already in the momentum of seeking the next escape and break away from daily life.

    I also thought about how we prioritise and what is important to us – in other words our values.

    For me, eating home cooked food that is deeply nurturing for my body is more important than most things and getting to bed early most nights also helps to support my vitality levels.

    Having a holiday in the sunshine or getting an experience in another country has lost its appeal and dazzle for me. I know I used to need it as something to look forward to, talk about and be like the rest of my friends.

    My values have changed – eating sensible and eating well and not looking at the price of a ready made breakfast, just so I can have a big holiday in the sun is not my standard of how I live.

    It made me think, how many I know who have beautiful homes, gardens, cars and expensive holidays, but when it comes to food shopping the el cheapo will do as the body is not seen as something that requires deep honouring in every way.

    What is it about the holiday industry that really grabs us year in and year out?

  18. Metro – 27th August 2019

    We Love to Take a ‘Scroll’ on Beach.

    A poll found we spend three and a half hours a day on our phones on holiday – but just 57 minutes reading.

    On a week-long holiday, the average adult is on a well known social media site for four hours and streams videos for almost seven hours with 38 per cent more likely to pick phones over books at the poolside.

    But nearly a fifth worry what others think of them for looking at their screens while they sunbathe.

    People who read are viewed as more intellectual with 37 per cent judging those on their phones as ‘social media obsessed’.

    1 in 10 like the idea of hiding their holiday phone use so a well-known phone company has developed a ‘Phone Book’ prototype, which looks like a novel but conceals a device inside.

    The phone company said: “It’s no secret Brits love to look at their phones but often feel self-conscious doing so. People should be able to relax however they like on holiday.”

    I haven’t taken a ‘typical holiday’ holiday in over 12 years but even when I did go on the traditional overseas sunbathing resort type of establishment or even the national holidays, I was never one for sitting around a poolside for one or two weeks.

    Is it possible that we take these holidays just so we can get away from our mundane lives?

    Talking to friends and colleagues at work after they have taken their holiday, they tend to come back more miserable and lacking energy than before they left.

    If we come back more depressed and tired before we went away, is it possible that our, so-called needed break away from it all, is not the truth?

    I agree that people should be allowed to relax however they want whilst on holiday but my question is, why do we need to take a holiday in the first place especially if all we are going to do is lie down and do social media or stream videos?

    We can do that at home and it will be a lot cheaper, so there must be something in the ‘getting away’ aspect of booking a holiday.

    Lying by the poolside for one or two weeks engrossed in social media or videos is something strange to me but if that is what we truly want to do, why would we then worry about what other people think?

    Is it possible that, if we are hiding something, we know what we are doing is not true?

  19. If I paid myself a dollar for every time someone tells me I must have a holiday, I would be very rich right now.

    What is it about people that they get rattled if someone says they are not interested in holidays, because they feel their life is a holiday and they do not feel like they are missing out on anything.

    Generally I get anger or a very harsh tone which is like a telling off – I need to take a holiday and I must not go without.

    Well 16 years on I have not missed it yet.

    This week I was told I am missing great scenery and countries worth seeing in the name of holidays and this person said they would like to be on holiday every week, but real life and paying bills means that they cannot do that.

    In my world, I see heaps of people come back from holiday exhausted and add to that the jet lag, boozing, over eating and over spending (no different to how I was in the past) and I really cannot see the purpose in that now. What a waste it was for me and no sooner was I back, all I could think of was how I could escape life and when was that next holiday going to be.

    I know many people now who take longer holidays and more often so it adds up why we have such a giant industry. The weekend newspapers have huge supplements every week totally devoted to advertising holidays of every kind we could imagine.

    Back to mrs here who is not remotely interested in getting on a plane unless I can feel a real purpose to my trip. There seems to be no urgency, need, priority or pull inside and the good news is my partner is the same. However, I stay open as there are places I will go to no doubt in the future because I know there is something in the name of purpose, but never ever will anyone catch me on a beach or in a bar somewhere in the sun.

  20. This is not new as I have seen and heard it heaps of times but nevertheless it’s time to express it.

    I have been having conversations with someone who is a serious runner and they mentioned how tired they have been feeling as they work hard. Good news is they are about to book a holiday.

    Well today I noticed they were really pushing and running far more longer than usual and so when we talked I said “what’s up and why the excess running?”

    Response was holiday just got booked, have to work even harder, which means run even longer as they want to eat lots and lots on holiday and of course feel better about their shape and body BEFORE the holiday.

    Hmm – I hear this a lot and I see the over exercising taking place with an agenda, a goal, a picture, so to speak about the holiday.

    What happens to our body when suddenly we make a choice and make it run way past what it has been used to?

    Is it like a car engine where we push the accelerator as much as we can because we can?

    What happens to our physiology when we go to extremes in the name of “holiday”?

    Does our excess dieting, excess exercise or anything that is not natural actually ADD to the quality of our holiday experience?

    What gets into our heads that alters our rational steady behaviour to that which has no regard or consideration for our body – the human vehicle that has a job to do until the very end?

    Is it because society just accepts all our behaviours, no one ever says anything or questions if this is supporting the body or not?

    What if we plan and prepare for our flight by taking responsibility with our sleep quality once we book the ticket and not wait for the week before to try and fit in more sleep or other solutions that we all know will never work?

    What if the regular exercise can support our fitness but to use it simply to get an end result is not the answer for our body?

    Holidays are a huge consciousness and by that I mean there are heaps of ideals and beliefs that we, the masses subscribe to.

    I have seen this type of stuff happening for decades, we want to look a certain way and we want to scoff ourselves silly because we think the flight ticket is our passport to excess indulgent eating.

    I know – because I did it and came home even more exhausted and fed up as we missed our flight, ended up at the wrong airport next day and lost our posh hotel. Then on the way home, we lost our passport. Well that was the last holiday and zero regrets since.

    Yes I am big into fitness to keep the body moving and stretching but nothing more.
    The thought of over exercising because I want to look good for a 2 week vacation and get my licence to eat and eat and eat seems a total harmfull way to treat my body.

    If I ever find anyone who is energised, re-vitalised and truly settled and steady after a holiday, then I would sign up and follow but until then – no thanks.

  21. The Guardian – 18th January 2020

    Happy Hours Banned: Balearics Clamp Down on Boozy Holidays

    The regional government in the Balearic Islands has passed a bill at clamping down on alcohol-fuelled holidays. The law bans happy hours, free bars and two-for-one drinks parties and makes it illegal to advertise bar crawls.

    There will be no new licences for party boats and existing boats are banned from operating in designated areas. Shops selling alcohol that currently stay open all night will have to close between 9.30pm and 8am or risk fines of up to £51,000 or the threat of being closed down for three years.

    The restrictions apply to the worst affected areas of Magaluf, Mallorca and Ibiza.

    The tourist minister of the Balearics said: “It’s an exceptional law for a particular area and a specific problem.”

    All-in-one packages, often with a free bar, are popular among young British tourists who have helped to make places such as Magaluf notorious.

    In a press release the government claims it is the first European law restricting the sale and promotion of alcohol in specific tourist areas. It also seeks to outlaw “balconing”, – the practice of jumping into a swimming pool from a hotel balcony that kills several people each year.

    In future, hotels will have to evict anyone doing it or encouraging others to do so. The law, which goes further than measures introduced in 2015, was drawn up in consultation with the tourist industry, itself conscious of the damage caused by drunken holidaymakers and the rise of turismofobia among local residents.

    We can easily cast judgment on the young for signing up to these holidays, but it stands to reason that if they weren’t there in the first place, no one would go.

    It’s a well-known fact that lots of alcohol and lots of people invariably leads to some sort of altercation.

    It appears that these holiday locations are a victim of their success and with that success comes a lot of abuse.

    Alcohol is a scientific proven poison and takes us away from our natural state.

    Unfortunately, when we mix alcohol and people – the penchant to do something irresponsible is very high.

    Is it possible that these holiday locations are what the local trades people want?

    Is it possible that the bar owners want this sort of business?

    Is it possible that the regional government wanted this business before?

    The regional government allowed these party, boats, happy hours, two-for-one drinks, all night alcohol shops.

    Is it possible that, if you mix the young (or any age), alcohol and holiday mode the consequences are going to be all too obvious?

    Is it possible that closing down the entertainment side of these places is just going to send the tourists elsewhere, where the laws are not so strict?

    Does it make sense that the local tourist industry is conscious of the damage caused by drunken holidaymakers but yet still allow holidaymakers to go there?

    Is it possible that we want the money that the tourists generate but don’t want the aggravation that comes with the holidaymakers?

  22. Ah, the topic of the perennial holiday.

    It’s as if we humans have a built in right to have this once yearly – or for some people, several times a year – time away from everything.

    I work in a bus garage with many staff and whenever someone comes back from holiday I ask if they had a great time and if they are glad to be back at work.

    The responses I get for the first question is generally lukewarm or simply alright/OK but the responses I get for the second question, not one person has indicated any joy for coming back to work and most of them complain about being too tired.

    But why do we feel this way?

    Why do we think going on our annual holidays, whether it is abroad or in the UK, will change the way we feel?

    Because if it did change the way we feel, why does everyone come back from their holidays wishing they could still be on them?

    Why is three weeks away from work never enough for some?

    Why do people come back from their holidays even more exhausted than before they went?

    Is it possible that we put too much emphasis on what this holiday is going to give us?

    Is it possible that the way we are living before going on our holidays has an effect on what our holiday gives us?

    Is it possible that we crave our holidays because we think ‘getting away from it all’ is going to solve all of our problems?

    Is it possible that, whatever problems we had before our holiday, are still going to be there when we get back?

    Is it possible that we use our holidays to self-medicate, to indulge in alcohol and food and to simply just get away from our mundane lives?

    Companies are going to advertise their products and we are going to fall for them because we want to escape

    But what if we lived our lives in a different way so we didn’t feel we needed to escape?

    What if we lived in a way that made us feel full and complete so we wouldn’t need to fill it with dreams of what we want?

  23. What on earth is staycation or holistay?

    Well it’s a time where an individual or a family stays home and involves day trips to local attractions or participates in leisure activities and does not require overnight accommodation. This is also saying it is in one’s home country.

    So these are current buzzwords as the country has been in lockdown. Many fear going abroad and the boredom has well and truly set in.

    We are bombarded with adverts where they want you to buy their products and services and there seems to be a new language that goes with it.

    Example today – ‘our staycation top picks will help to transport you to a sunny state of mind this bank holiday weekend, whatever the weather’.

    And then the list of products to buy (not cheap) starts…

    Revive dehydrated tired-looking skin and regain a healthy glow
    Take time to indulge in a relaxing soothing soak
    Rescue lack lustre locks with a shot of radiance
    Turn relaxation levels up to maximum with a calming scented candle

    So if we have a plastic card, which let’s get real the masses today have one or many – we can click the “shop now” and bingo it will arrive in the next 10 days.

    Hello

    Can we join the dots here – it’s bank holiday and we are not going anywhere.

    Staying in or a day trip, so let’s use the mind to escape somewhere sunny and these expensive products will help.

    How is this possible if next day delivery is a no no as it’s an official bank holiday and the country’s postal service does not deliver? In fact, due to lockdown, this company says up to 10 days for delivery.

    We could say all these products would be cheaper than paying for a holiday but who would think like that and would it actually be enough – indulging products instead of sun and sea?

    Would it be a wise move to ask WHY our skin is dehydrated and tired looking?

    What has our sleep patterns been like these past 5 months and what about our lifestyle choices?

    WHY does our hair lack the lustre – is there a link here to our lifestyle choices?

    Can a very expensive candle help us relax to the max, or will there still be an internal tension and un-settlement because we seek for something outside of us (in this case a candle) to fix us on on the inside, but make no effort to commit to real change that would support us to deepen our state of being – example early nights every single night?

    Are we aware that the country is now officially in a recession and the debt is over £2 trillion before we go and buy a bath foam for £27?

    Enough said, the point is we are all fed up with being forced to stay indoors with government restrictions and as some journalists have said it has been one big holiday and now it has become the norm as the masses are not really interested in working as they want a proper holiday and there are plenty available inland and abroad.

    How many of us will get into even more debt because of the current job situation, furlough schemes coming to an end and offices not being used as working from home seems to suit the masses.

    Will our need to escape the current existence nail it, cut it and do the job, or will we get back from our holidays feeling no different and in some cases even worse off?

  24. Have we heard of the new word for a holiday – Staycation?
    Popular in the UK and the name meaning stay put in your vacation.

    Of course the suppliers are ready for the demand with ads calling us like “Glamping in a shepherds hut and trekking with Ilamas”.
    Glamping (another new word) for glamorous camping.

    We get told the staycation is uniquely different as each hut is kitted out with a bathroom, log burner and kitchenette. Of course they have to mention alcohol for your mini fridge and the high standard hut comes with top of the range kettle (they even give us the brand name), flat screen TV with the famous streaming service to view TV shows, and movies without commercials on an internet-connected device.

    So if the narrative doesn’t do it then the colourful images like the neon light-up heart sign in the cupboard of the coziest staycation might just get us booking whilst stuck indoors with this lockdown restriction.

    Still not buying it, then how about the outdoor fire pit and the sound of a water feature in the pond, or neighing of the horses in the field next door to calm you? Add to that a luxury champagne picnic for an extra fee and you get to take the resident Ilamas for a walk.

    For the record, all the wording thus far is from the article in a glossy magazine featuring celebrities and famous people and stories about their life.

    So what is the purpose of reporting this by way of comment on this blog?

    We are not content with having to work from home or stay at home and holidays are part of our life and to have that stopped, those suppliers have to think big and get us engaged once again and spending money on holidays, albeit in the same country.

    The question is WHY do we need so much narrative and images to get us to sign up, so to speak?

    What is it about our senses that hooks us into doing things and without those images, sounds and words we may not make the movements to book a holiday?

  25. Metro News – 10 November 2020

    With a global pandemic and lockdown restrictions, a new research study tells us that a cold drink by the pool, trying different food, walking into a hotel room for the first time are among holiday memories. Not having to cook or clean is also part of the thrill of travelling according to 2,000 adults.

    64% of Britons miss being able to create new memories and as a result 24% plan multiple holidays next year.

    We all know of people who have gotten used to multiple holidays, so this survey is telling us more will be joining that ‘more holiday’ mode.

    What has happened to us that we need even more holidays and WHY are so many reporting that they come back and are already wanting to plan another holiday?

    Is something not right if we keep wanting to escape away from daily life?

    Has work become something we are no longer enjoying or actually want to run from?

    Our ancestors were not able to fly around the world or travel long distances in their own country to go on holiday, but in the modern era it’s a given. Those who do not take a vacation are seen as the odd ones but history tells us there was less illness and disease back then and now we have lifestyle illness and disease to the point where are health systems are facing bankruptcy.

    If holidays are a time for reflection, relaxation, rest and repose then how come we are having more illness and dis-ease than ever before?

    Is this a question we all need to be asking as something is not right?

  26. The Guardian – 30 August 2021

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/30/uk-tourism-boom-sparks-backlash-against-tripadvisor-warriors

    Hotels and campsites have reported record bookings across Britain as travel restrictions imposed upon mean millions swapped their overseas holiday to stay inland.

    The UK tourism boom sparks backlash against those that make complaints, who are known to be angry and impatient visitors.

    A restaurant owner in Cornwall said customers were being a lot more aggressive since the pandemic. Holidaymakers were also struggling to adapt to change from their usual all-inclusive getaway abroad.

    This is a widespread view from hospitality staff in tourist hot spots.

    The Director of the Tourism Network said “Businesses had reported an increase in grumpy customers who were more demanding and even abusive when they cannot get a table in a restaurant or have unrealistic expectations of service.”

    The chair of Cumbria Tourism said hotel owners had noticed grumbling from young first time holiday makers who are surprised they have to ‘generate their own itinerary’ because they are used to booking a package deal where ‘everything is laid on for you at the resort’.

    So we are getting told – the nation is in a fragile state and we need to be ‘kind’ to people.

    Where is our basic standard of decency and respect?

    Did we leave it at home or do we not have such standards these days?

    Why are we venting with our demands and what is really going on for those that feel entitled to treat others in an abusive manner?

    What we all need to do is take a dose of Responsibility as our medicine every day. That way we know we are accountable for everything and that means everything. If we are aggressive and have ‘lost our sense of humanity’ then it’s high time we learn some lessons, deal with our unresolved issues, hurts and everything else that we choose to ignore and bury, so that others are not at the receiving end of our ill behaviour.

    We should not have to be urged or be reminded to treat hospitality staff with respect – this should be our normal and yet this news story confirms it is far from normal.

    If lockdown and restrictions imposed by the government have affected us in any way then we need to ask questions and keep asking questions until we find out why and how our behaviour has changed. Yes get support if it is needed, but it is well worth asking common sense questions and that means what would granny have to say about this in her simple, no nonsense, old fashion back to basics style?

    And finally, to be told that the first timers on these holidays are the younger generations, who only know of packaged holidays, where everything is done for them, they need role models and the elders in the community to tell ‘em straight that this behaviour is not acceptable and there needs to be a big dose of Responsibility to be taken from the medicine cupboard every single day.

  27. Dear World

    Have we all heard about “Leisure Sickness”?

    So we tell ourselves we need a break from the daily grind and make a decision to go on holiday. But what happens in reality is that much needed time off ends up being sick time off as we get ill or have symptoms showing up in our body that tells us we are ill.
    Some of us feel an overwhelming sense of guilt about not being productive.
    Apparently, this is what experts call “Leisure Sickness”.

    It has been described as ‘the affliction that arises when time away from work, such as weekends and vacations do not offer a respite, due to an inability to relax and let go’.

    Do we already know this or is this a kind of revelation? Maybe not eh?

    Most of us don’t like working and we certainly don’t like the daily routine which requires that word we really don’t like – Responsibility.

    Yes indeed, we generally want to avoid that Responsibility that is required to deal with life every single day and keep things moving and on track.

    So instead of getting our butt into gear and doing the so called chores and boring jobs, we go to our minds to escape and look forward to that time off, be it a weekend or that holiday we so long for. We forget that the body does not simply switch because the calendar states it’s another day and it’s holiday time and neither can it just switch over to “relax mode” like we do with our gadgets and other tech stuff.

    No no no, our body shows us our choices. Like it or not, there is simply no getting away from this. So if we have an internal momentum of being crazy busy and no off switch and never do we stop long enough to take a deep breath, or we overwork and not value the so-called mundane things that need action in daily life, then chances are we are going to get this thing called ‘Leisure Sickness’.

    What if that “need to be productive” has some truth in it and we explore it from another angle?

    What if our bodies are actually designed for purpose and that means we know sitting around for no reason other than to burn our skin or ingest copious amounts of poison in the name of alcohol, or indulge and over eat because it is time off, the weekend or holiday mode does not and will not work for our bodies?

    What if our body wants to maximise its vitality levels and that requires proper sleep every day and adhering to the natural sleep wake cycle?

    What if we did make the most of our natural cycles and find out that we have a great immune system and not one that is depleted and open to catching something out there?

    What if real purpose in our everyday life actually holds us steady and naturally relaxes us so the need to have that vacation is simply not there?

    What if the reason we get Leisure Sickness in the first place is because it is the first time our body has been able to have a stop moment, so it brings on the exhaustion (which was always there in the background, getting worse by the day because of our dis-regarding choices)?

    What if Leisure Sickness shows up with that sore throat, cold or flu like symptoms because our body got the stop it was waiting for, so it could communicate we are way off track and need to rest up?

    What if we resent having to get sick on our time off, day off, weekend off as we planned to indulge and instead we end up doing very little as our vitality levels are almost zero?

    What if the aches and pains we feel or the migraines and headaches when we take time off for a holiday were there buried and this ‘away from daily life’ just brings it to the fore?

    What if our vacation is not really spoiled but showing us that our anxiety, insomnia, depression or whatever symptoms show itself, are just a reminder of what we have made sure we are not dealing with?

    What if our solutions to combat Leisure Sickness will never work because all solutions never do anything to get to the root cause of WHY and HOW we end up with the issue or problem in the first place?

    What if our solution to have a vacation or book extra time off to extend our weekend will not work, if we have a body that has not been honoured and that means we are not looking after it or taking deep care in our everyday life?

    What if our visualisation techniques and tips we read (because we are seeking solutions) will not be anything other than a band aid response to a bullet wound?

    What if hanging out in our mind to imagine this or that, like it is somehow magically going to deal with and make our stresses disappear, will do nothing more than bury our stuff further into the body to come out stronger at a later date?
    In other words, we don’t deal with it by exploring and considering how on earth we got to that point but instead buy into the ‘quick fix’ model of dealing with life and expect the body to adjust and change instantly.

    What if those words like ‘relaxing and rejuvenating’ are empty if they are not lived every day in the true sense and essence of those words?
    In other words, we need to learn to develop a routine and rhythm that honours our natural way of living with the cycles on offer – like the circadian rhythm.

    What if the great advice from those that profess and preach that they know better like staying away from the electronic stuff will not work, as number 1 – they do not live what they bang on to others about, 2 – we have a momentum of checking our screen every few minutes and no airline ticket or exotic destination or a weekend under the duvet will change that. Try it – never will it fail to confirm this to you.

    What if it is not productive in the true sense if we burn out doing, doing, doing on our vacation, if all our body wants is early nights with no alcohol or drugs or foreign food that we have never tried before?

    What if our hidden agenda that comes like a narrative fed inside our heads which tells us what we should and should not be expecting from this holiday fails us miserably?

    What if it all sounds well and good but in truth we have yet to know and live what true wellness is and eradicate that word good, so we stop the barometer that determines our moods – none of which serve us to evolve?

    What if the only marker we have that will never lie is our body and it is high time we paid attention to this vehicle that will be with us until our last breath?

    Could this change the way we live human life on earth?

    Could this be the answer to never getting Leisure Sickness?

    Could this website hold some answers in the posing of questions throughout the articles presented, that lead the reader to another way of living human life, which is polar opposite to the current model of life?

    ALL this is worth considering before we move on to the next thing we seek.

  28. UK Parliament – 7 July 2022

    https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/disruption-and-delays-at-airports/

    Passengers are facing long delays, large queues and cancellations at UK airports.

    This article is on the UK government website – House of Commons Library.

    We all know there were restrictions on travel both in and out of the UK during the pandemic. This significantly affected the number of people able to travel.

    The CAA – Civil Aviation Authority stated there were 255.2 million international passengers in the UK in 2019, averaging 21.2 million each month.

    In 2021, the annual figure was 49.8 million.

    Passenger traffic has accelerated since the restrictions eased.
    As travel increases, the aviation industry has been unable to rehire quickly enough to cope.

    Airlines, airports and ground handlers laid off thousands of staff during the pandemic, when travel restrictions were in place, with 2.3 million fewer jobs in the global aviation industry in September 2021, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

    Employees have left for different industries, there is high demand in the labour market, low wages in the industry and training and security clearance requirements can take up to 16 weeks between staff recruitment and actual employment.

    These recruitment issues mean there is a mismatch between traveller demand and staffing levels.

    Companies have overestimated how many flights they were able to operate.
    The Transport Secretary said airlines have “seriously oversold flights and holidays” relative to their capacity to deliver.

    Thousands of passengers have been affected by last minute flight cancellations over the recent Easter holidays.

    To reduce disruptions, some airlines have cancelled scheduled flights.

    United States – 1,400 flights cancelled and 14,000 delayed over 4 July holiday weekend.
    Europe – 25% of all flights cancelled at Paris airport on 9 June.

    Among Europe’s Airports:

    66% expect flight delays to increase
    16% expect flight cancellations to increase
    35% expect operations will be affected by staff shortages during summer 2022

  29. The Guardian – 9 July 2022

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/09/us-cruise-ships-using-canada-as-toilet-bowl-for-polluted-waste-alaska-british-columbia

    Environmental laws in Canada which are less stringent, have led to U.S. cruise ships en route to Alaska discharging toxic mix of chemicals and wastewater off British Columbia.

    Alaska cruises are the most booked U.S. holiday.

    It is estimated that over 31 billion litres (8.5 billion gallons) a year of pollution is discharged off the west coast of Canada by cruise ships on their way to and from Alaska.

    Across Canada’s 151,019 miles of coastline, ships generate 147 billion liters of harmful waste each year. This is equivalent to 59,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Based on data from more than 5,000 vessels, the report by WWF-Canada found cruise ships were the largest polluters, despite making up only 2% of the marine traffic analysed.

    Cruise ship pollution includes large volumes of toxic sewage from toilets, grey water from sinks, showers and laundries and bilge water – the oily liquid that collects at the lowest part of the ship.

    The largest source of pollution identified in the WWF report was from so-called scrubbers – devices installed to remove exhaust gases such as sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide as well as particles, from heavy bunker oil used as marine fuel. The scrubbers create an acidic wastewater containing a cocktail of chemicals.

    A one week trip cruise ship to Alaska and back along the Canadian coast will generate 200 million litres of waste from scrubbers. Ships can decide whether to discharge at sea or within a port, most waste from scrubbers is dumped as it is generated.

    Dear World

    There is more on this news story but enough has been said.

    How many passengers that like a cruise to the pristine and picture perfect uninhabited Alaska but have no idea how the ship deals with their waste?

    What if there was a levy – a payment for pollution so the ships take the responsibility needed to dispose of their waste and not dump it in the ocean?

    We all want our holidays and very few of us are even concerned how it all happens and what is actually involved.

    Most of us expect our costs cover for all this and that should take care of it and that’s the end. But what if profit is the name of the game for the business which of course it is for almost every business?

    How much profit do we want and at what cost?
    Do we really care about our clean precious waters or do we just pollute as that is the simple option and it takes care of any additional costs?

    Are we the ones that champion on about our environmental concerns but never give any attention to the fact that our cruise ship could be dumping its waste into our seas with no regard to those that inhabit the waters and those that rely on those waters for their source of living?

  30. Express News – 25 January 2023

    https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1726056/travel-holidays-work-office-employees-easyjet

    50% of employees plan their holidays during work time –
    65 hours a year
    £1,225 being paid in the process

    1,000 office workers poll found 1 in 10 of those who plan their holidays at work have even been caught red-handed in the office.

    64% experience January blues
    61% feel the need for a warm beach holiday the most during this time of year

    The feeling of the warm sun, beautiful scenery and sound of crashing waves are the things most missed about being on holiday.

    The research was commissioned by a low cost airline group, which is one of the largest airlines in the world, with 336 aircrafts, operating 1,024 routes across 36 countries and 155 airports.

    They have also designed a virtual holiday for those that want to keep the holiday dream alive during the darker and colder months.

    In addition, researchers found the following things that those polled imagine themselves doing:

    • 70% find themselves daydreaming about their destination and holiday plans
    • 49% have even dreamed that they were already away on the trip
    • 47% being on the beach
    • 41% seeing the sights
    • 36% eating out

    This comes as it has been an average of 6 months since the last break away
    1 in 5 it has been more than a year since their last holiday

    Escaping the UK, the feeling of sand between toes and swimming in the sea are other things people miss when they are not by the coast.

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