When I was in Cusco, Peru, a guy called Angel crossed my path and told me about his work at a Shamanic healing centre. Shamans (medicine men) perform ancient healing ceremonies, praying to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) and dwelling in the spiritual world.

What intrigued me most was the “Ayahuasca ceremony”. Ayahuasca is a Quechua word meaning “vine of the soul,” and is a powerful, vile-tasting drink made from a jungle vine. The shamans use it as way of unraveling the self, and it is supposed to be able to cure anything, from physical illness (like cancer) to psychological pain (depression) – or put simply, it is a good way to clean up any baggage, big or small, in your life… I felt like fate had thrown an unusual opportunity onto my path. Read more

Hot, tired and sweaty, Daniela and I flopped onto our hotel beds, turned the air con on, smiled and breathed a sigh of relief to be back from “Jungle Boot Camp”. This is the “affectionate” term we gave the three days we had just spent in the Peruvian Amazon jungle at an eco-lodge, where the wearing of gumboots was compulsory and we were “forced” to do all manner of drawn-out jungle activities from dawn til well after dark in the sticky, oppressive jungle heat. Not only that, we had paid for it. You do these crazy things when you are travelling. Read more

Moksha is India’s first woman to become a professional in motor-biking. She has set up a motorcycle touring company in India and offers 11-22 itineraries for biking around India. Get a group of 10+ together, and head off with Back and Beyond – a journey beyond imagination

Motor-biking has been Moksha’s passion since teen-age. She was never encouraged to have her own bike in a conservative Indian society.

Her father had a progressive thinking and was aware of the confidence Moksha had her in driving skills. He taught her how to ride a scooter. From there, she never looked back. She never learnt riding a motor-cycle from anybody.

She used to ride her friends’ bikes around. Now she has her own Royale Enfield 350cc mo-bike and she enjoys riding it for hours together. Woman, riding a bullet, is not a common sight in India and she gives a bright smile when she finds onlookers watching her in amazement.

For 18 year Moksha worked in hospitality industry and adventure tourism. Her job took her to different places in and around India. She got valuable experience in travel & tourism industry. Being very well qualified and well read person, she worked in middle and top management level with different organizations. She always wanted to venture into motor-biking as a professional which was her passion. As there is a saying,’ Dreams do come true. We should never stop dreaming’. She started her own co. three years back in Manali. Since then, she has led various groups to Lahul & Spiti, Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal and Tibet. She plans to expand her tours in the other parts of India and Bhutan.

Contact: Back and Beyond – a journey beyond imagination

Mark Baldwin saw the potential to match cash strapped travelers with people who need a hand and has set up Helpandhost.net Read more

Julie of Venus Adventures for women reports that that Emirates has released a special deal for those who live Down Under and who yearn for a trip to Morocco…

“Emirates have released an early bird special for sales in NZ until the 17th of December 2009. For your Morocco trip, a fare ex Auckland would be $2310 including taxes.” Read more

Julie Paterson from Venus Adventures travel for Women writes:

Salam from Morocco!

Well, we have just completed another 14-day extravaganza of Morocco and thought you might enjoy a few photos!

Highlights of the trip were riding camels across the orange dunes of the Sahara whilst the sun set in the distance and then sleeping under an African sky, hiking up into the Atlas mountains to stay in the basic home of a Berber family and see how they live, experiencing the old medinas of Fez and Marrakech, meeting lots of friendly locals including Nezha who is a Moroccan 5W member (5W = Women Welcome Women Worldwide, an international hosting network) who lives in Fez and joined us for dinner one night. It was great to meet Nezha, who is an English teacher at the American school in Fez, and to learn more about Moroccan life from her. Read more

Karen Jettmar runs Equinox Wilderness Expeditions and SkiGrlz out of Alaska and I guess that sometimes they want to wallow in the sunshine, because she has just arranged a trip for 17 women to Ecuador in mid-November for 3 weeks of activity, including trekking, natural history, coast beaches and dry forest hiking and biking, Galapagos sailing.

Someone has dropped out, and there is room for one lucky woman to join this trip – especially the week sailing in the Galapagos. Read more

Lyn Baker the founder of Tiger Travel spent many years travelling extensively throughout India as a professional photographer  – she has an eye for the country, for its people and its culture.

The idea of sharing India with small groups of women travellers seemed a great way of adding to her relationship with India.  So Tiger Travel was born. Read more

$250.00 trip discount for last spaces on the trip Jan 30 – Feb 6

HUMPBACK WHALES of the Silver Bank

Life changing encounters
Marine Mammal Sanctuary
Dominican Republic

Some spaces available on other weeks through Feb. and March….not discounted.

Gayle Lawrence Writes: My first snorkeling encounter with the humpback whales in Silver Bank was in 1999….  it changed my life.

I’ve been back 7 times to spend very intimate, very up-close-and-personal encounters with one of the worlds most captivating and awe-inspiring creatures…..the humpback whales.

This is an experience that mere words cannot begin to describe. For me it is a sacred encounter with these intelligent, gentle beings of the sea.

click on this link, video and complete trip details:

Picture yourself swilling wine in a hot tub at the end of an invigorating day’s bush hike, or relaxing in a country pub having biked the classic Otago Rail Trail, or taking a dip in the turquoise waters of the glorious Abel Tasman after sea kayaking to a golden beach…

do these things sound like something you would like to experience? Well, read on, because your prayers have finally been answered!

As busy women we often have a myriad of (often feeble) excuses why we don’t do things for ourselves. But let’s face it: there is never an excuse good enough for not doing something positive for yourself – like taking a well-deserved short break somewhere!

Venus Adventures – Trips for Women – is now offering a range of short breaks within New Zealand (and Europe) for women who, well, just need a break! The breaks include anything from culture to adventures, and are always a lot of fun, and the website is a one-stop shop for short breaks for women.

The idea behind women-only trips is to help women escape their everyday roles and routines as busy mums, wives or workers, and to get away with the girls and have some fun!

“More and more women are realizing the importance of getting away from it all and letting someone else do all the organizing for a change”; says Julie Paterson, founder and owner of Venus Adventures Trips for Women. “Women naturally bond and network easily. Doing a trip which gets you out of your comfort zone a little is easier in a supportive women’s group. It’s a great environment in which to try new things. But, depending on the trip, we also indulge in fun things like spas and a little retail-therapy! Age also doesn’t matter as long as the spirit is there!”

All you have to do is get yourself to the trip starting point and all the rest is taken care of. So what are you waiting for? Your next adventure is just a mouse click away…for more information visit www.shortbreaksforwomen.com.

By Julie Paterson

Venus Adventures – Trips for Women

www.venusadventures.travel

www.shortbreaksforwomen.com