We all treasure sensual experiences, such as a spa treatments to rejuvinate our spirits and bodies. Here I will share tips to create your very own sensual, relaxing and rejuvinating spa treatment at home. As resources I have used two books I love, Energy Secrets; The Ultimate Well Being Plan and Readers Digest Bathing for Health, Beauty and Relaxation.

Setting the mood; this is an essential part of creating a “spa experience.” I suggest candles and essential oils found in most natural health food stores for approximately four to five dollars per bottle. If cost is an issue a single scent will work nicely. Another option is to use dried herbs and flowers. These days many of us grow our own herbs in our window sills. If you are growing lavendar this is a delightfully relaxing aromatherapy scent to use for your personal spa day. A good tip is to take the dried lavendar flowers and tie them in a piece of cotton fabric with a ribbon or string and let the water flow over it, allowing the calming scent to fill the bath area.

If you prefer to use essential oils remember they should never touch your skin undiluted. Essential oils need to be mixed with an oil or added to bath water before getting in. An easy at home tip I found in the Bathing for Health, Beauty and Relaxation was to make camomile tea from tea bags and then pour it into the bath water. Camomile is good when we are restless or anxious, while lavender also has a wonderful calming effect. When using the essential oils I generally drop about ten to twelve drops into my bath. Sometimes I use one scent and sometimes I choose two to mix.

Spa touches; are an essential part of a spa experience.
1. A robe is a delightful touch and allows you to relax without feeling the need to get dressed, it allow you to extend the spa experience and continue relaxing.
2. Slippers are another touch that some times signal relaxation.
3. Music, most spas help create the atmosphere with relaxing music and relaxing spaces for sitting, reading and resting between treatments. If you can create such an area in your bath or bedroom for the day it will be an added bonus to your at home spa experience.
4. A pitcher of water with lemon or orange slices next to the bath on a tray is a nice addition, along with a piece of fruit to enjoy.
5. Choose your most luxurious towels for your at home spa experience.
6. Make a tray with your favorite bath/spa products and have them within reach.

At Home Spa Treatments, this first tip comes from the Energy Secrets book. I found this to be quite envigorating.
Salt Scrub Skin Brushing, ” a salt scrub stimulates the skin and promotes sweating. Do NOT use if you are diabetic or have any heart or skin problems. Never use salt on broken skin. Put a half cup of sea salt in a small plastic dish moisten it with enough water to make a stiff paste. Standing in the shower take a handful of the salt paste starting at your feet and rub it into your skin in a circular or up and down motion. Repeat on each leg, your arms, shoulders and abdomen, women should avoid the breasts. Rinse off the paste with warm water.”

Bath additives, according to the Bathing for Health, Beauty and Relaxation a few spoonfuls of honey can be added to the bath to make your skin soft. Rosemary leaves in the bath, tied in a piece of cotton fabric helps ease muscular aches and promotes better circulation. Rose petals added to your bath help to calm and soothe the skin. The beauty of the petals floating on the water is an added spa touch.

Sugar Scrub, recipes for these are plentiful online and take about two minutes to prepare! A GREAT spa product for very little money. I created this recipe from a couple I found online.

Two cups of sugar (more as needed)
Coconut oil (found in most grocery stores) Enough to mix the sugar into a nice paste, probably a half cup.
Choose essential oils of your choice, I would recommend at least six or eight drops, mix well and test the scent and decide if you’d like more. Another option is to add vanilla extract; many people find the scent of vanilla relaxing. Mix this sugar scrub in a non breakable container that seals. Keep it in your bath or shower for every day use. This is delightful!!

For other spa ideas check out The Delight of Massage at Home, if you have only an afternoon to escape this article Break Away For The Afternoon, offers some excellent ideas for creating an afternoon away. To explore some wonderful and sensual massage products take a look at my product review on Lush Massage and Body Products

Whether you’re looking to plan a trip or looking for some great escape reading check out Hidden Tahiti, a guide book on Tahiti and French Polynesia. This series of guide books is being redesigned but the current edition of Tahiti and French Polynesia is filled with great information. There’s a section on Outdoor Adventures that includes activities for the more adventerous. Shark feeding, sailing, diving, camping, fishing and wind surfing are all included.

The book includes a small section on words and phrases you might use in French Polynesia, they also include a section on the history and geography of the islands. I loved that they choose accomodations in all price ranges, they have researched budget hotels as well as upscale hotels and spa accomodations. The same goes for restaurants, Hidden Tahiti offers a well rounded view of dining options throughout the islands.

There’s a section on each of the main islands, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora as well as Huihine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Maupiti, The Tuamotu Islands and the Marquesas; as well as The Austral Islands and The Gambier Islands. Each section includes travel essentials such as interesting sights, internet access, outdoor activities, dining, accomodations and so much more. The book offers great maps and insight. The down side from my perspective, Hidden Tahiti lacks the glossy color pictures most of us enjoy perusing as we plan a trip. That being said, the guide books are being redesigned and the newest editions may well carry more of the photos I love! Definitely worth checking out!!

I recently had the opportunity to try out a program called Body Logos. Body Logos, created by Tammy Wise is a strength training and meditation video based on Taoist principles. According to the video, “Tammy hopes it gives participants an added dimension to their relationship with their body.” As a traveler I found the video to be both useful and unique. Tammy’s approach to exercising the body, includes what we carry with us in our mind about our life and our environment. I particularly liked that this video requires only a stretch band, which is provided with the DVD. This makes using Body Logos meditative strength training program possible nearly anywhere a travelers goes with electricity. I personally loved the meditative aspect of the program, which included meditative statements about our relationship to our body and our lives.

The program offers three exercise workouts, one to celtic music, one to jazz and a third to tribal music. I found the added touch of a live musician and instuments to add a calming dimension to the workout. Each of the three workouts is different, but all use a mat and a stretch band for strengthening exercises. I enjoyed the calming effect of the visuals; the flowers, candles, plants and symbols the video used add a sense of peace. This Body Logos program offers a unique way to calm the mind, while strengthening the body, as travelers we can all treasure that.

Most visitors to the islands love the discovery of delicious, fresh pineapple found at road side markets around the island, particularly on the North Shore of Oahu. The joy of discovering those fresh picked pineapples can sometimes turn to frustration if visitors aren’t clear on how to cut their farm fresh discovery. Here are my island girl tips for cutting and enjoying those fresh, juicy pineapples.

Step 1 Hold firmly on the green stem top and twist sharply, this will take the stem top off in one movement.
Step 2 Stand your pineapple up, as it would stand naturally alone.
Step 3 Using a large handled knife that is sharp slice through the skin from the top of the pineapple downward on the right side. You will end up with one long strip of skin and only a small amount of pineapple sliced away.
Step 4 Rotate your pineapple and repeat the process, starting at the top of the pineapple, slice through the skin and cut downward, until you reach the bottom of this edge of the pineapple.
Step 5 Repeat this process on all four sides of the fresh pineapple. You will be left with a few edges of pineapple skin to cut away, but four clean, cut sides.
Step 6 Lay the pineapple on it’s side and cut it length wise in half.
Step 7 You now have two pineapple halves that could be scooped out for a pineapple fruit boat or other island dessert.
Step 8 Take one of the two halves and cut it cleanly down the middle. This will leave you with two quarters and you simply slice down the pointed edge, top to bottom to remove the hard core on each individual quarter of pineapple.
Step 9 You are left with four beautiful quarters that are ready for slicing or adding to a fruit salad.

There are many treats to enjoy during a movie with family or friends yet popcorn offers a versatility that many snacks don’t and at a cost that is budget friendly. Last fall Readers Treats and World Eats posted her favorite garlic alfredo popcorn mixture. It got me thinking about my own taste twists on popcorn and what kinds of taste sensations the islands offer that will add to the mix for your next family movie night.

Island Nights Tropical Popcorn
1/4 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup chopped dry roasted cashews
1/3 cup chopped dried pineapple pieces
A bowl of hot popped popcorn

You can either use hot air or old fashioned stove popped. I personally prefer the old fashioned version. It also means I don’t have to add butter to the mix, because the oil used when popping the corn offers the necessary element to get all the ingredients sticking and mixing well.
This combination offers a salty sweet tropical taste with a nutty, crunchy kick. If you prefer you can mix it up with dried mango or papaya to replace the pineapple or even choose a tropical dried fruit trail mix that contains several tropical fruits.

One of Ann’s many island inspired recipes. Luperon Papaya Salsa

An Embarrassment of Mangoes is one of those books I’ve reread several times, each time delighting in a new part of Ann and Steve’s mid life island adventure.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes is Vanderhoof’s intimate account of this two year, mid life interlude during which they travel more than 7,000 nautical miles, drop anchor in sixteen countries (47 individual islands) and adapt to a new life on “island time.”

The book is filled with sailing adventures, real life challenges and moments of triumph over personal fear. The book delights the reader every step of the way with a real taste of caribbean life as Ann and Steve experience it over a two year period. Ann delights in the new island ingredients and creates island style recipes with her many new ingredients. The book is filled with outstanding recipes and tastes unique to the caribbean islands. I chose my personal favorite from “An Embarrassment of Mangoes” to include for my readers.

Luperon Papaya Salsa

1/2 large papaya diced
1 mango peeled and diced
(Ann says you can use both the papaya and mango or just the papaya. Both work well. )
1/2 cucumber peeled, seeded, diced
1/2 small red onion thinly sliced and cut
3 Tbsps finely chopped cilantro ( I used much more)
1/2 to 1 small hot red or green pepper (to taste)
1 lime juiced
3 Tbsps of fruity olive oil
salt and ground pepper to taste

Combine papaya, cucumber, onion, cilantro, and hot pepper (set aside).
Whisk together oil and half of the lime juice. Add salt and pepper, season to taste. Toss with papaya mixture.

I served this salsa as a side dish with grilled chicken and it was incredible. I’ve made it with just papaya and with a combination of papaya and mango. Both ways are fresh, tasty and delightful.

Chakaanab Park is a wonderful location to enjoy some R & R on the beach, or have a drink with your feet in the sand. I throughly enjoyed my visit and had an opportunity to swim with a dolphin while I was at the park. This is one of those escapes I would enjoy returning to again.

One in a series of tropical drink recipes….

This was a new one for me. I’ve tasted and enjoyed Mojito’s in the past, but I’d never experienced a flavored Mojito. I was astonished at how much I enjoyed a Pineapple Mojito. After tasting this tropical concoction I was on a mission to create my own.

So here is my version of a Pineapple Mojito.
This makes one drink.

1/3 C Pineapple Juice
2 shots of Coconut or Pineapple Rum
1/3 C Sprite
A large dollop of Crushed Pineapple
Fresh Mint leaves
A Sugar Cane Stick
Ice

Muddle mint leaves and pineapple,add ice, rum, juice and sprite. Garnish with additional mint leaves.
Here is a link to a company that sells Mojito products, including sugar cane sticks and Mojito glasses.

Atlantis Paradise Island is one of those magical places that delights you at every turn with it’s wonder. There are the stunning aquariums found in The Dig exhibit as well as glorious art and architecture stretching across the grounds, with a multitude of heavily flowered tropical paths to carry you around the extensive property. From there you can climp the Power Tower waterslides for an eye popping view of the beach from atop the Tower. This can be done without ever taking a plunge on the waterslide. It’s all there to stir your senses and leave you feeling like you’ve stepped into a true paradise. Check out these links to my previous posts on Atlantis Paradise Island and Traveling During Hurricane Season for Sweet Deals.

Living on an Arc is an unusual book about one man’s life and experiences on the caribbean island of Nevis as a VSO British volunteer. As one reads the book you uncover bits and pieces of the geology of the island as Brent Wilson studied geology and brings the reader into his explorations there. When I began reading I was baffled by his title, and it didn’t become clear what the title meant until mid way through the book. The book is enjoyable and interesting, particularly for those of us who love travel, adventure, off beat experiences and island life. I thoroughly enjoyed his story and the unfolding of his life on Nevis over a several year period.

Like most of us who have chosen to work and live on an island life can be filled with unexpected challenges, island pecularities and riotiously funny moments. He finds himself becoming more at home on Nevis and eventually finds he prefers Nevis to his home of England. Readers will be drawn in to his laid back style of writing about his life on Nevis.