Jan 11
Howie HolbenTravel Tips destinations, gay, Gay Holidays, gay retreats, Gay Tours, gay travel, Gay Vacations, leisure, recreation, sexuality, Tips, tourism, travel, Travel Tips, Vacations
The diverse geography and culture of New Zealand has always made it a hotspot as a destination for gay tours, due in part to the accepting, open mindset of the locals and important laws that forbid discrimination against LGBT community members, as well as the country’s natural allure and numerous adventures and activities available in every region of this awe-inspiring nation.
LGBT folks looking for gay holidays to New Zealand will find a wide variety of choices, including opting for a relaxing beachside respite, hiking through breathtaking wilderness, snowboarding and snow skiing at popular resorts or indulging in the exciting nightlife of New Zealand’s cosmopolitan towns and cities. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly vacation at the beach, or a raucous week of Pride events, New Zealand has much to offer for gay vacations of all sorts.
Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton are just a few of the cities of New Zealand where you will find visible, large LGBT communities, Pride celebrations and a wide variety of clubs, businesses, pubs and restaurants all catering to the community. Those interested in a city gay vacation will find that these metro areas provide numerous options that are sure to please travelers interested in a lively nightlife and a plethora of entertainment, dining and shopping options from which to choose. If you want to include skiing or snowboarding into your gay travel plans, you will be pleased to know that there are various ski resorts on South Island and North Island, which makes it easy to take a day trip to the mountains between sightseeing tours, cultural events or visiting New Zealand’s smaller islands.
New Zealand gay vacations can be centered around spiritual awakening or renewal, spending long days at beautiful beaches, snowboarding and skiing, or partaking in enticing adventures that appeal to families, groups of friends or couples. While there is simply too much to see and do to manage to fit it all into just one trip, planning to partake in a gay vacation with an organized tour group is one of the best ways to make sure you do not miss some of the best sights and experiences that New Zealand offers.
For folks who would rather travel solo, planning your trip through a gay vacations agency is the best way to stay up to date on the latest LGBT goings-on, as well as current information that is helpful to the members of the LGBT community when traveling in New Zealand.
Score by Howie Holben about New Zealand gay couples travel. Spirit Journeys also offers gay rafting adventures.
categories: gay travel,gay vacations,gay tours,gay holidays,gay retreats,travel,tourism,tips,gay,sexuality,destinations,vacations,recreation,leisure
Dec 24
Howie HolbenTravel Tips fitness, gay, health, inspiration, metaphysical, motivation, self-improvement, society, spirituality, travel, Travel Tips, Vacations
If you are looking to plan gay romantic getaways you have a decision to make. You can go straight to a destination and find out what the tolerance climate is once you get there or you can book a vacation that has already plowed the tolerance climate for you. Sometimes choosing between the two can be harder than you think, as each has its benefits.
Planning a gay romance getaway for two can either be inspired by the desire to fulfill a wish like surprising your partner with that special trip they’ve always wanted, or it can be about spending time together. When it’s about spending time away from home and responsibilities, going through a structured getaway for gay travel can be a great idea. It simply gives you more freedom and it gives you options.
If you’re inspired by the desire to fulfill a wish, you have to put a lot more research into your destination. There are still countries that mandate the arrest of anyone expressing gay behavior. Unless you’re sure of your destination’s laws you would do yourself a good deed by checking everything thoroughly before booking an independent trip.
What do want to get out of your romantic getaway? Are you looking for fun and adventure or would you rather lock the door and not come out again until it was time to leave? When you realize how many options you have through a structured getaway you may be surprised to find that you can create the vacation that you dream of. Perhaps you’re the type of couple that wants to blend romance with adventure.
Structured packages give you a chance to find some of the most impressive destinations. You can not only find incredibly fun things to do but you will most likely experience the freedom that you just can’t find anywhere else. There is no need to steal glances, remain a respectable distance apart, or refer to each other as “friends.” You get to be completely and totally yourself. You can even explore the different sides of who you are and you can do it without fear. That type of freedom is something very few of us get to live with.
Of course, most of us have heard of gay cruises and we know that those who go come back with some really great adventures under their belt. It is in fact a one of a kind vacation and there is something about doing it that is becoming a rite of passage. It’s definitely a top pick for those who just want some time together and some fun choices.
You can take a safari or you can end up on a romantic island. You can go off exploring other countries and you can find themed vacation for your and your partner. Sometimes making a gay romantic getaway turns into nothing more than the ability to be romantic. Yet you have to admit the scenery can add quite a bit to the romantic ambiance.
In today’s world it is hard enough to plan a gay romantic travel that gives you the privacy and the freedom you’re going to want. Sometimes you want to actually take the romance outside of the hotel room and into the world. Structured gay vacations give you that very simple but extremely valuable option.
Thoughts authored by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys focuses on gay spirituality and has resources to assist on spiritual journeys.
categories: metaphysical,spirituality,travel,vacations,self improvement,gay,society,inspiration,motivation,health,fitness
Dec 10
Howie HolbenTravel Tips fitness, gay, health, inspirational, metaphysical, motivation, recreation, self-improvement, spirituality, tourism, tours, travel, Travel Tips, Vacations
Vacations are something that everyone takes in order to get themselves out of the hustle and bustle of the real world for a little bit of relaxation and rejuvenation. This time away is very important to both our physical and mental health. There are many different types of vacations that one can take in order to fill these needs.
There are solo vacations, or vacations that include family or a small group of friends. Travelling with people that share your interests and life experience, is another way to go. This is where gay spirituality exploration becomes important for the gay community.
On gay vacations, our gayness is one thing we all have in common. This shared life experience can only add to our vacation experience. Bonds are quickly formed in the group due to our shared experiences in life.
People that were at first strangers, become friends quickly and easily. This is one reason gay vacations are great way to travel. Knowing that we are understood by those around us adds an immediate sense of comfort to the group.
This understanding helps us to relax and open ourselves up and allows us to be a little more vulnerable. When we’re relaxed and open, we’re able to go a little deeper into the vacation experience. This allows us recover from life’s stresses more quickly and more fully.
A vacation with men and women that also share our intentions for the vacation deepens our sense of recovery. Spiritually connecting to the world around us and to ourselves is one shared intention. Now we share two important things, our gay spirit and a desire to grow spiritually.
Exploring our spirituality while on gay tours visiting special places throughout the world is a wonderful combination. With the other group members by our side, we are encouraged to step outside our box and live free. Living freer is the main goal of all vacations, is it not?
Essay penned by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys provides gay retreats and gay romantic packages.
categories: metaphysical,spirituality,self improvement,motivation,inspirational,gay,travel,vacations,tours,tourism,health,fitness,recreation
Dec 10
Howie HolbenTravel Tips fitness, gay, health, inspirational, metaphysical, motivation, recreation, self-improvement, spirituality, tourism, tours, travel, Travel Tips, Vacations
South Africa has long been a gay tours destination, even before it became a human rights frontrunner with the abolition of apartheid, having the first constitution in the world that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation and becoming the fifth country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage. Of course, after these landmark events, the interest in traveling to South Africa significantly increased in both the gay and straight communities. Today South Africa is the most accepting and gay-friendly country on the African continent with a growing gay culture that stretches from the pristine beaches of the Western Cape Province to the exciting, fast-paced lifestyle of Gauteng and is an increasingly popular gay vacation destination.
Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cape Town are must-see stops on gay vacations to South Africa and offer a variety of establishments, events and activities that are gay-centered or gay-friendly. Gay men will find a plethora of establishments that cater exclusively to them from lodging options that include gay-owned exclusively male guest houses, Pretoria’s Camp David, which is a private nude bar exclusively for gay men, and Cape Towns bathhouses, which are generally referred to as steam saunas or steam baths. While South Africa’s gay scene is mostly geared towards men, lesbians and families will also find plenty of activities to enjoy on gay vacations in this historically- and culturally-rich country, including many tour options offered by gay-friendly tour companies committed to providing a great gay vacation for gay travelers.
Gay travelers interested in designing a gay tour around pride celebrations and gay events may want to plan their trip for September, which is South Africa’s gay pride month and offers a full calendar with multiple gay pride events, as well as the Out in Africa South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, which draws over 16,000 attendees from around the world. Those visiting in December will have the opportunity to experience Cape Towns Mother City Queer Project annual costume party, which draws more than 10,000 visitors. Gay men who enjoy a beach lifestyle will also want to check out Clifton’s Third Beach and Sandy Bay nudist beach, which are very popular spots among gay men in Cape Town. There is also a gay area in Cape Towns Green Point where travelers will find a selection of gay-owned and gay-friendly eateries and establishments, as well as local gay publications like Outright and Exit, which list events and goings on in the area.
No gay vacations would be complete without experiencing authentic South African cuisine and taking the opportunity to dine in some of South Africa’s many welcoming restaurants. When visiting Johannesburg, travelers will not want to miss Bellgables Country Restaurant offering delicious meals in a renovated farmhouse sitting on 21 acres of farmland. In Cape Town there are many dining options, including Lola’s, a gay-owned vegetarian restaurant, and Emily’s an award winning fine dining restaurant featuring South African cuisine, a wine bar and a beer bar.
Working with a travel agency that is accustomed to planning gay tours to South Africa will help ensure that you get the most from your gay travel experience and that you have the information you need regarding where to go, what to see and which areas may have certain safety concerns for gay travelers.
Info post about South Africa originated by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys suggests gay vacation spots and is a place for gay spiritual singles.
categories: metaphysical,spirituality,self improvement,motivation,inspirational,gay,travel,vacations,tours,tourism,health,fitness,recreation
Dec 08
Howie HolbenTravel Tips fitness, gay, health, inspirational, metaphysical, motivation, recreation, self-improvement, spirituality, tourism, tours, travel, Travel Tips, Vacations
Tucked between Tibet and India in a remote region of the Himalayan Mountains, lies a tiny Buddhist kingdom called Bhutan. Visitors to this spiritually and culturally-rich country will find a simpler way of life that is largely unaltered by Western culture and modern attitudes. Every aspect of life in Bhutanese villages and towns is steeped in the age-old traditions, beliefs, customs and practices of Buddhism, which is the basis of this country’s conservative, traditional way of life.
However, while Bhutanese culture may be traditional and conservative in many ways, the people of Bhutan warmly welcome tourists on gay travel tours, just as they do any other guest. The number of tour groups and tourists allowed to enter Bhutan each year is restricted by the government as part of an overall effort to preserve the cultural heritage and breathtaking natural beauty of this long-isolated country, so those who have the opportunity to venture into this mystical land as part of an organized tour group should take advantage of the chance to experience all that Bhutan has to offer.
Bhutan has no LGBT scene to speak of; therefore, a gay vacation planned to this magnificent mountain kingdom would certainly not be planned with the intent of experiencing a distinct LGBT community or visiting LGBT establishments. Of course, this is not to say that same-gender behaviors and relationships do not occur. These activities are actually common and accepted and there is a significant amount of bisexual sexual behavior practiced among Bhutanese men.
There is a noted level of bisexual behavior among men, most of who are either married to women or monastic monks, and this is not considered taboo. There is technically a very old law on the books in Bhutan that states that homosexual activity is punishable by imprisonment with the possibility of a life sentence; however, most residents are not even aware of this law and there are no records of it ever being enforced.
Choosing gay vacation destinations in Bhutan opens visitors up to a chance to fully experience a culture that has been isolated from the outside world until just three decades ago. From hiking in the majestic Himalayas to visiting mountainside Buddhist monasteries and exploring the valleys below, Bhutan is an ideal atmosphere for spiritual travel or awakening.
To fully enjoy all that Bhutan offers, it is recommended that you plan your gay adventure travel tours to Bhutan very well. This will help to ensure that you are given the opportunity to discover the beauty and spirituality of this magnificent country, while respecting Bhutan’s natural and cultural richness.
Advice about Bhutan initiated by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys puts forth gay adventure travel and has resources for gay spirituality.
categories: metaphysical,spirituality,self improvement,motivation,inspirational,gay,travel,vacations,tours,tourism,health,fitness,recreation
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