Best 10 Ways To Spend Valentine Day

1. Pop the question
If you’ve been thinking about asking her to marry you, there’s no time like Valentine’s Day for a romantic proposal. The day is meant for lovers, after all, and getting down on one knee with a ring is one of the best ways you can profess your love for her.

2. Dress up
Pull out all the stops and dress up in your finest. No matter what your plans are -- whether you’ve got reservations at a posh restaurant or you’re eating a meal together at home -- dressing up and good grooming will make the occasion feel extra special. Most women love having the chance to get all dolled up, and you can both enjoy looking your best while spending time together.

3. Get away
If you’ve got the time, money and freedom, stretch your Valentine’s Day into a Valentine’s weekend away at a romantic resort or bed-and-breakfast. This way you can combine the relaxation of a mini-vacation with time spent alone together getting amorous.

4. Have love in public
It’ll be a Valentine’s Day to remember if the two of you get naughty in a public place.

5. Be homebodies
Sometimes the best Valentine’s Day gift you can give is the gift of uninterrupted time together. You don’t need to leave the house to make Valentine’s Day special. Think of how great it could be to spend the entire day in bed together. Turn off your phones, don’t answer the door and enjoy each other.

6. Drive
Go For a Romantic drive.

7. Make a path of rose petals
Anticipation is half the fun of a romantic surprise. Start the excitement when she walks in the door by leaving a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom, where she’ll find Valentine’s Day gifts. Feel free to go all out with the heart-shaped box of chocolates, red-and-white teddy bears and candy hearts. She’ll love the corny romance of it all.

 

8. Go for a massage
Massage is a must-do activity for Valentine’s Day. You can either treat her to a full-body, sensual massage with scented (and even edible) oils or lotions, or give yourself a little pampering and book a couple’s massage at a spa. A relaxing massage is just the thing to get both of you in the mood for Valentine’s Day.

9. Go For A Trip
<3 this one


10. Reenact your first date
There’s a good chance that the beginning of your relationship was the time when you made the most effort to show her your romantic side, so why not turn back the clock and remind her how charming you were when you were wooing her?
Women love it when men remember details from when they were still getting to know each other. Think back to your first date, and take her to the same place, eat the same food and do the same things that first sparked your romance.

10 Most Popular Once In Life Time Experience

1. Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Oktoberfest is possibly the most famous beer festival in the world.  The festival is the world’s largest fair, with over 6 million visitors attracted to the beer tents every year. But it is more than just large quantities of Bavarian Beer, lederhosen and beer halls.

Whilst Munich offers the famous steins (the drinking tankards) and German sausages, the true enjoyment factor comes from the generous German hospitality. Sitting amongst the locals you can chat and sing along to traditional German songs, all performed by Oompha Bands who perform to a crowd of thousands of happy drinkers, who in return cheer them on.

2. Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Fringe Festival has had a history of finding the comedians of the future. Many of the current British stars have emerged through the festival which has a knack for discovering and promoting fresh talent.

Edinburgh is a city with a great atmosphere which is further enhanced during the festival. During this time the city is rife with street acts and performers. It is an energetic place that is guaranteed to excite.

As for the Scottish people, they are friendly and hearty, and have an affinity for good humor and alcohol, two of the main themes of the festival. Whilst in Edinburgh embrace the culture and try their national dish of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (Sheep’s offal, parsnips and potatoes).

3. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Rio Carnival has become synonymous with Brazil. Our perception of Brazilians seem to stem from this energetic, free-spirited parade. The colorful event is celebrated all over the country but Rio’s remains the biggest and most spectacular.

With the famous parades displaying a spectacular array of shapes and colors, the beat and energy of this event naturally encourages anyone who attends to throw themselves full-heartedly into the spirit of the Carnival. Recently voted the happiest city, it is easy to see why the people of Rio de Janeiro hold the most vibrant and famous of carnivals.

4. New Year Celebrations in Sydney Harbor, Australia

Possibly the best place to see in the New Year, the world famous fireworks display from the Sydney Harbour Bridge is now an iconic view just as much as the opera house that sits opposite.

The energetic personalities of the Australians, coupled with a great setting and climate, ensure you have the best New Year party possible. The crowds on the shore give the evening a electrifying atmosphere, however if you want to get a different perspective consider spending the evening on the water, with boats to hire or cruises to indulge in you can have a truly memorable occasion and get away from the crowded shoreline.

5. Boryeong’s Mud Festival on Daecheon Beach, South Korea

The Mud Festival in Boryeong, on Daecheon Beach, is an event which allows the most mature person to embrace their inner child. Rebelling against the famous maternal saying, “don’t get your clothes dirty”, this festival encourages smearing mud all over yourself.

You can equally justify your submersion into this culture of mud through the participants claim that the mud contains important minerals which reduce wrinkles and remove excess oils. Also, as any of you spa regulars will know, mud baths enhance blood circulation and encourage fresh skin growth.

Needless to say the modern day festival doesn’t revolve so much around well-being. There are competitive events including mud body painting, mud beauty contests and mud sculptures, though I imagine that all entrants into the sculpture event would resemble something from ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’.

6. Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Phangan, Thailand

Haad Rin Beach is located in Koh Phangan, and has earned its reputation as the hot spot for hedonistic nightlife in Thailand, due to the fact that a party is held every time there’s a full moon. It is rumored that the Full Moon Party tradition started with a local throwing a farewell party for his Australian friend.

It proved to be such a popular concept that it now attracts anything from 8,000 to 30,000 party-goers every month. This is hardly surprising due to the white sandy beach setting, alcohol by the bucket and an amicable, bohemian attitude shared by all.

7. Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, China

The Chinese New Year is a lively affair where millions fill the streets to celebrate peace and happiness. It generally starts with a banquet which includes significant dishes, for instance prawns represents liveliness and happiness, whilst traditionally red clothing is also worn as this is intended to warn off any evil spirits.

In Hong Kong a spectacular fireworks display lights up the evening sky, and for New Years Day there are floats and traditional performers complimented by music and dragon dancers. Victoria Harbor, with its world-famous skyline, lends itself to the ideal backdrop for experiencing this oriental event which is steeped in heritage and a must-see!

8. The Festival of Light in Amritsar, Punjab, India

The Festival of Light, Diwali to the indigenous people, marks the commencement of the New Year for Hindus. This five day festival celebrates good over evil, light over dark. Each day of the festival brings its own meaning. The third day is where the ‘Festival of Light’ title has emerged as lamps and candles are lit, and fireworks are set off. Traditionally gifts are exchanged between the nearest and dearest.

Diwali is a celebratory event which demonstrates the warm and considerate nature of an entire culture. Amritsar, where the Golden Temple is located, is a great place to witness the third day of Diwali. The Temple is a site to behold on its own, although is enhanced to a phenomenal spectacle during the Festival of Light where you can experience a foreign culture at its best.

9. The Burning Man Festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA

The Burning Man is an annual event which places emphasis on community, creativity and self-reliance. The community turn up and create ‘Black Rock City’ which lasts for one week, after that the ‘citizens’ are proud to depart without a trace.

The community welcome all newcomers with open arms. Their ethos believes that the more active the participant is the more they will gain from the event.

This is a surreal phenomenon which sees the birth of a city and community, in a peculiar location, only to be returned to its original form just seven days later. This festival is all about the experience and to truly benefit from it you must throw yourself wholeheartedly into it.

10. The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain

Known to the locals as The Festival of San Fermin, due to the location. This internationally recognized event has grown massively since its believed origins back in the 13th century, and now attracts tens of thousands who wish to run with the bulls.

The running of the bulls allegedly originated from men using fear and excitement to hurry the process of taking cattle to market, although this quickly turned into a competition amongst them. Nowadays though the event is a lot more organised and isn’t just limited to farmers, in fact thousands now run through a barricaded course being chased by a thundering herd of bulls!

Why To Have Party On Groundhog Day

1 Spring: No, it's not here yet. But we're making progress, aren't we?


2 Self-respect: When Atlanta — yes, Atlanta, Ga. — is paralyzed by snow, it's time to take a stand. Even a totally pointless one.


3 Chocolate: Cupcakes with candy-bar groundhogs are mandatory in some circles. Check out the Disney version (familyfun.go.com) of the Groundhog Day cupcake.

4 Cocktails: Options include the West Virginia Groundhog (barmeister.com), a green apple martini and, for die-hard fans of the movie, sweet vermouth on the rocks with a twist.


5 Party supplies: You can make half the party room "winter" with white streamers and paper snowflakes, the other half "spring" with green streamers, flowers and hula hoops or outdoor toys, Kejriwal says.


6 Party games: Chris Kejriwal, whose Web site PurpleTrail.com has a great section on Groundhog Day party ideas, suggests having little kids make groundhog masks out of paper plates. Or there's always Toss the (Stuffed!) Groundhog.


7 You don't have to make your guests wear brown. If you like them, and they like dressing up, you can even ask them to dress up as either "winter" (fun for pessimists) or "spring" (fun for exhibitionists).


8 You can make your guests wear brown.


9 The ground rules are simple: You're celebrating that magic moment when an oversize ground squirrel decides whether or not you'll be forced to endure six more weeks of winter. (If he doesn't see his shadow, you're off the hook.) That's all you need to know.


10 There's no easier theme party: Just show the 1993 Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day" (on mute if you want to actually talk to your guests), and you're there.

10 Most Strange Christmas Trees

1. Chocolate Christmas Tree

Isn’t this Christmas ‘tree’ looking…delicious? The French chocolatiers never cease to amaze us with their artistry, passion and colossal chocolate creations.

Patrick Roger, meilleur ouvrier de France, created this year a ten-meter-high chocolate Christmas ‘tree’ to raise money for France’s annual Telethon. The artist and his team worked for one month on this awesome project that weighted four tons. The impressive ‘tree’ was accompanied by legendary Christmas figures such as Santa Claus and his reindeer, all made of delicious dark chocolate. Roger’s idea was to create a winter wonderland, which should please and intrigue both adults and children.



2. Diamond Christmas Tree

Soo Kee Jewellery came first with the idea of creating a Diamond Christmas ‘tree’. This magnificent creation is literally worth a million bucks, since it’s one of the world’s most expensive Christmas trees. Encrusted with thousands of dazzling diamonds totaling 913 carats, 3,762 delicate crystal beads and decorated with almost 500 lights,  the ‘tree’ weighted more than 3000 kg. Its value has been estimated at US $1,550,000 in 2007.

The most expensive Christmas tree is actually a sixteen inches tall miniature tree worth $1,800,000. It is composed of preserved roses festooned with precious diamonds. The Christmas ‘tree’ was available to buy at Takashimaya, one of the largest department stores in Singapore.





3. Environmentally Friendly Christmas Tree

One of the most crazy Christmas ‘trees’ of the list is the environmentally friendly ‘tree’ created with 5 gallon recycled water bottles and PVC pipes. The goal of the eye-catching display was to raise people’s awareness on recycling. Another interesting Christmas ‘tree’ is Paprika’s Ice Tree made from more than 280 recycled water bottles suspended in the air. The quote one person’s trash is another person’s treasure turns out to be true.











4. Murano Glass Christmas TreeItaly’s Murano Island  is a glassmaker’s paradise. Treasured for more than 1000 years and distinguished by its intense colors, exquisite designs, and centuries-old blowing techniques, the Murano glass remains one of Italy’s most appreciated contributions to the art world.

The tallest glass tree in the world was exhibited in Murano on December 2006 and one year later in front of St. Mark’s Square, Venice. Architects Gianmarco Ferro, Paolo Dedemo and Alessio De Lazzari greatly contributed to the success of the project, but the monumental Christmas ‘tree’ was sculpted by Simone Giovanni Cenedese, master glassmaker and main designer. The ‘tree’ was “a modern interpretation of the traditional colors and symbols of the festive season”, said Cenedese.





5. Swarovski Christmas Tree

Swarovski, one of the world’s leading crystal manufacturer, unveiled also this year some really elegant Christmas tree designs. One of the most glamorous Christmas trees of this year is decorated with over 2000 Swarovski crystal beads. The Christmas ‘tree’ is located at the Siam Paragon Shopping Mall in Thailand. You can admire the 2010 majestic Christmas ‘trees’ by visiting one of these locations. Another favorite of mine is the natural evergreen that lights up Zurich’s central station every Christmas since 13 years. It is decorated with over 7,000 Swarovski crystals. The goal of these campaigns and stunning displays is to promote the company’s products and initiatives.






6. LED Christmas Tree

A 60ft LED Christmas ‘tree’ lighted Dublin’s skyline during the 2008 winter season. It weighted five tons and was made of 100,000 bulbs of different sizes. The elegant and energy-efficient installation was designed by Blachere Illumination. Blachere, a leading supplier in outdoor Christmas and decorative lighting, was responsible along the years for creating the famous light shows at the Eiffel Tower, the illumination on Champs Elysées, the Christmas lights of Monaco, St. Petersbourg and Toulouse. Their portfolio includes many other remarkable projects.







7. Potato Christmas Tree

A very special and unusual Christmas tree made of potatoes was shown during the 2007 Christmas holidays at a local institute in Lima. The Peruvian students used almost 100 kg of potatoes to create it. What’s really fascinating is the fact that the Aymara people of the Andes cultivate more than 2000 varieties of potatoes which grow at 13,000 feet above sea level. “Best black woman,” “makes the daughter-in-law cry,” “best red woman,” “like a deer’s white tongue,” “like an old bone” and “red shadow” are some of the potato types found in this unusual Christmas ‘tree’. And yes, these are the true names of Peru’s multi-colored and shaped potatoes.

8. Upside-Down Christmas Tree

Upside-down Christmas trees are gaining popularity among people who enjoy fun and creative alternatives. The origins of hanging fir trees go as far back as the Middle Ages. Eastern European people hang their trees upside down to symbolize the Holy Trinity. Nowadays, these trees are either attached to the ceiling like a chandelier or placed upside-down in a special tree stand. Are we living in an upside-down world?

9. Mountain Dew Christmas TreeSeen from distance, it looks like a wonderful, traditional Christmas tree, but look closely and you will notice that it is actually made out of 400 empty Mountain Dew cans. If you are planning to construct your own Mountain Dew Christmas ‘tree’, take in consideration David Barshow’s instructions: you will need 400 Mountain Dew cans, a PVC pipe for the trunk, construction markers for its branches and a drill to get the constructions flags into the PVC pipe. David Barshow, the creator, and his three friends needed four days to construct the bizarre ‘tree’.









10. Underwater Christmas Tree

The divers of Manila’s Ocean Park installed a beautiful decorated underwater Christmas tree. They surprised their visitors by posing as Santa Claus and mermaids in front of the underwater evergreen, as part of the park’s Christmas show.