Dream Vacation Vision Board

Dream Vision Board by Micaela Copyright 2011 Miraclecatcher Photography

Tip #18

Make a Dream Vision Board

Where would you like to go, see, do? Whom would you like to go with?
What does it look, taste, feel like? The first step in manifesting is to create it in your mind. 
 A great tool is a vision board. I make them every year detailing what I want to  appear in my life. The most important thing to remember is that  "if you can conceive it, you can achieve it". So don't play small.  Don't worry about the how or how much. Let the universe figure that out. Your job is to dream BIG and receive BIG!! You can go to polyvore.com to create your vision board online. Or you can use magazines at home. I love to have a visioning party. Everyone brings a magazine and you get a "mastermind group" to envision your dream trip with you!
 A must do for the new year!

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Ready, set, let's go! Happy creating!! MMM

Top 10 Beaches in the World

http://www.weather.com/activities/travel/vacationplanner/destination/top10/beaches.html?id=5

Manifesting Your Dream Life

Travel Tip #17

Frequently I hear people say what they want, and then they
 give me reasons why it is not possible. So I would like
to share with you how I manifest things in my life:

• Everything is possible. Start from that premise.
• Make a wish list. Be specific: where, when, what, how much, location, size, it’s all in the details.
• Ask, Ask, Ask. The worst thing that someone might say is  no. So ask someone else.
• Make a collage with pictures of your wish list on a vision board where you can see it every day. Think BIG!
• Become better at receiving. Even small things, say YES and thank you. Let it in.
• Study the masters. Look at people who have what you want and learn from them.
• Don’t give up too soon. Some things manifest very quickly, while others take time.
• Believe that you actually have power over your own life. Victimhood keeps you stuck. 
• Trust that somewhere there is a force supporting you behind the scenes.
• Let it go. Be happy. The fastest way to manifest is not to worry about the outcome. 

How to Travel the World for Free--Part 6

Travel Secret #15

“Trade Your Frequent Flier Miles”

If you are like me, you have lots of different miles on several different carriers. Many people lose their miles because they don't use them. Recently, I stumbled upon this site www.points.com which allows you to sell, trade, or exchange your miles with other travelers. What is great about this site is that it allows you to get rid of those miles that are languishing in accounts that you do not use. Moreover, it allows you to accumulate more miles in the ones you do use, so you can get a free flight faster! Also, an added perk is that you can use those old miles to obtain other products: 3,000 miles can be redeemed for a gift card at Starbucks, Amazon, or other stores. 

I recommend that you maximize those miles before they expire!!

N.B. * Each mileage carrier has its own retail partners so check for availability. * 

Travel Secret #16

“Swap Your House”

If you don't have money for a hotel or vacation, consider swapping your house with someone in another country. This site  http://www.homeexchange.com/  has listings of houses, studios, apartments, villas, and condominiums all over the world. There are currently 40,000 homes to exchange on this site. You do have to pay a membership fee of $15.95 USD for three months.  But if you are serious about trading your house, you will probably be away for at least a few weeks or a month, so it works out as a bargain. This option is best for people who own their own home, not those who rent. This concept was made popular by "The Holiday"  a movie where 2 women in LA and England swap homes and find true love... ;-). This idea is excellent for people who would like to spend some time immersed in a new culture, such as going to Paris for a month to learn French. Teachers, this is a great option for you since you get several months off in the summer and love to learn about other cultures. You could bring your whole family!! If you have a home in a location that many people would like to visit, this is a perfect way to travel for free and experience what it is like  to "live" in another culture. Let me know if you find true love on your trip. After all, falling in love is the best way to learn a foreign language, n'est-ce pas?!

Love to hear your comments! Thanks for reading and sharing! MM

Test Your Cultural Awareness

How much do you know about world cultures? I always love to learn more! 
Check out this site http://www.kwintessential.co.uk to test your cultural knowledge.
 Lots of fun facts too!! Enjoy! 

Thank You Readers!

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Top 10 Countries:

United States 709 Japan 61 Italy 53 South Korea 23 Canada 20 Brazil 17 Malaysia 14 Germany 11 Spain 10 Switzerland 9 Other Countries Representing: Russia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Uganda, Angola,  France, England, Sweden, Austria, Mexico,  Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and more... A BIG shout out to my old friends and new ones! Happy Travels!! MM

20 Things To Pack

Think function and fashion: utility, light, low cost, durable, easy to wash, multi-use, ready for anything, comfortable, reversible, warmth, keep the mosquitoes away at night, easy to pack, roll-up-able, head-gear for places where bathing is optional, high chic-low maintenance!

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How to Travel The World for Free--Part 5

Travel Secret #11


“Get a Free Night at a Time Share Resort”


If you have some time on your hands, and want to stay at a resort for free, listen to a sales presentation at a time share resort. You do not have to agree to buy. You can just listen, and then decline. I have stayed in some very nice resorts in Arizona and Florida this way. Hawaii and Las Vegas are also popular for time-share presentations. This option is available to people who make a certain income and live in a specific area. Here is the math break-down: 45 minutes of listening gets you a 1 night stay at a 4 star resort (value$150+). So if your hourly rate is less than $150 per hour, what do you have to lose? I have gone to these presentations while I was on vacation.  If you are already in these places, ask the travel agencies about time share promotions. The sales people will find you! Remember this strategy is not for the meek: you must be able to say NO if you are not willing to buy. Be strong! ;-) 


Travel Secret #12


“VISA Rewards Programs—Free Airline Tickets”


So most of you have a VISA card that you are already using, right? 
Well, I earn VISA points on my credit cards. If your credit card is not working for you, it is time to change cards. There is so much competition in the credit market, it pays to learn to play the game to your advantage. Usually to start you get 20,000 bonus points just to open up an account. That is enough for a free flight already! Then everything you buy accrues points towards free flights or other gifts. So, the way to work the system is to charge everything you usually buy each month, such as groceries, gasoline, dinners out, on your mileage points VISA, then pay it off each month. Important caveat: this is NOT a good method if you do not pay off your balance! "Free" does not mean with interest. :-)  Depending on how much you buy/charge, you could earn at least one free ticket per year. Inquire at your bank.  


Travel Secret #13


“Take On-line Surveys and Get Free Stuff”


Here are two more ways I attract free stuff: 
www.emiles.com and www.erewards.com.
I take online surveys at home and get 500 to 1000 miles added to my frequent flier account each month. These miles add up fast! No joke. Let’s be honest, how many of you sit around surfing the web in your pajamas ?? Sometimes, I could waste a whole day just putzing around on the internet. What about you? If so, why don’t you use this free time to get paid? 
My motto is "you do not have to work more, just more productively".


Travel Secret #14


“Refer a Friend"


This phrase has a whole new meaning to me these days. Over the years, I have recommended tons of books, programs, and products to thousands of people. As a teacher, many people ask for my advice; hence, the birth of this blog. All this time, I was selling for other people without a thought of being compensated . Wait a minute! I teach business. Business! I was not following my own advice." How much is your time worth? How much is your opinion worth?" I realized that I could and should be getting paid for all the referrals I make.
Many companies will pay you for referrals. Everyone wants more clients. Everyone wants advertising by word of mouth--it is the cheapest and best way to advertise by far! So look around, where do you want to go/stay/be? Become a sponsor or representative. You are going to need some initiative for this one! Go to the person in charge and say, “What would you give me/trade me/pay me for referring clients to your business?” Lots of websites already have the “refer a friend” payment plan built in. For example, Groupon which sells gifts/travel/classes at a discounted rate has a friend referral program. Go to  www.groupon.com, it is a win-win for everyone. 
However, I do NOT recommend that you advertise for products that you do not believe in just to get free stuff. If you do like the product and/or service, reward the company and yourself by sharing.

Spotlight Country: CUBA

In the summer of 2000, I went to Cuba as a Cultural Representative with www.globalexchange.org. At that time I was teaching Spanish and I was eager and excited to learn more about this country that has been off-limits for Americans since the 1950s. I can say nothing but great things about the Cuban people. They are warm, friendly, lively, musical, fun, generous, and optimistic! What a trip! What an adventure!


Let’s start with the dancing!! From 9am to 11am every day I twisted, turned and spun doing Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Rueda, Mambo, and Afro-Cuban dance. Afro-Cuban dance, by the way, comes from Western Africa, brought over to Cuba during the times of the slave trade. The movements, songs, and costumes tell the story of  the Yoruba religion. After the morning dance practice, I actually got to sit down for a bit!  We studied percussion from 11-12 (conga and bongo drums, maracas). Following lunch, a short nap, then off to the afternoon salsa clubs. After dinner, we headed to a concert for more dancing!! I think I was in the best shape of my life, not to mention the pounds lost in high humidity. Imagine something like Birkram Yoga, but with loud music and a partner.  LOL! Most nights we came back at 2 am and sat on the hotel patio until dawn for the dominoes competition. Intense players with their cigars and rum, eyeballing each other to see who would be victorious. Dominoes is a fierce sport in Cuba!


  It gets better:  August is Carnival month along the Malecon Beach. Carnival is celebrated in August for Fidel's birthday.  During Carnival, people everywhere dance on the sand, in the streets, in the bars, and in the cafes.  There are floats, parades, fireworks, and costumes. Not as much skin as Rio, but just as fun! I will post some pictures below so you can see for yourself.


 Notice the 1950s style American cars left over from another era, the omni-present image of Che Guevara, the Spanish architecture from colonial times, the brightly colored houses, the amazing street art, and of course, the famous bar El Floridita in Old Havana, where you can create your own graffiti message. I left my mark on the wall just like another famous writer, Ernest Hemingway. 
Can you see my message on the wall?? Enjoy a mojito while you are there. ;-)

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The best part of my trip, besides meeting the wonderful Cuban people, was seeing The Buena Vista Social Club perform live. These amazing octogenarians dancing and singing their hearts out were such an inspiration. So much energy!! They are living examples of how music keeps us young, unites us, and empowers us!! Viva la musica de Cuba! See them live at Carnegie Hall singing here: http://youtu.be/UXwLBS3yUkA








In sum, Cuba is an island of contrasts:  vitality and oppression, poverty and wealth, laughter and malaise, free medical treatment but no medicine, African religion in Catholic churches under an atheist government, stunning architecture and ancient decay, pristine ocean waters for tourists only, black skin, white skin, mulatto skin, communist economics mixed with capitalist dollars, where rum is cheaper than water, and every Cuban is fascinated and curious about the rest of the world because they cannot leave.  All of this, and more, juxtaposed on this small island in the Caribbean. I am left, in awe. 


How do they live in a world with so many contrasts?  

Ay, no hay que llorar, que la vida es un carnaval,

-Y es mas bello vivir cantando.

Which means, there is no reason to cry, life is like a Carnival, it is better to live singing.


Until the next time... MM

How to Travel The World for Free--Part 4

Happy New Year to everyone around the world!! 
First, I would like to share my Miraclecatcher New Year's Wishes with you:





May 2011 be your best year yet!! 
As you know, I am sharing my tips on how to Travel 4 Free all over the world. So here are more tips that I hope you will use to follow your dreams and go anywhere your heart desires. 



Travel Secret #8


Become an Aupair, Nanny or Child-Care Giver


I have several friends who have come to the USA as aupairs (or nannies). You must love kids and live with the family. The benefits are that you get free room, board, and sometimes a car!! You will also get days off to travel on your own, plus a salary. This site www.culturalcare.com was recommended to me.  Moreover, you not only get to live in another country for free, but you get to travel with the family that you work for. Some of the places that my friends have gone as nannies are: Hawaii, Cape Cod, and Miami. As an added bonus you can accumulate  frequent flier miles to get more free flights on your days off!! You will, no doubt, need excellent recommendations and complete interviews and questionnaires to apply.  If you are young, responsible, adaptable, love kids, and can move to another country for at least a year or more, this is a good way to go. 




Travel Secret #9


Get A Job On A Cruise Ship


I would like to try this option. You can work for short periods of time or long ones. Every cruise ship has hundreds of employees and jobs available. Even though you will be working while on the ship, you will get days off to explore the many ports of call. Plus, the salary is pretty good! One site quoted $10-55 USD per hour, plus tips for cruise ship jobs. Furthermore, since most cruise lines are in partnerships with airlines and travel companies, you may get big discounts on other travel ammenities like flights. This is a good way to see many places and meet many people from around the world. Maybe you would like to move to another country, but are not sure where?? I recommend checking out many possible places first on a short visit. To get a job on a cruise ship, you need to apply directly to the cruise line company, such as Carnival or Royal Caribbean http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ourCompany/career.do. Here is a site with more info on jobs http://www.cruiselinesjobs.com/ It says that you need a valid passport and be proficient in English. 


Travel Secret #10


Be A Contestant on a Game Show


This is a funny story... 
One of the benefits of growing up in Los Angeles is that many TV shows are filmed there. In 1997, I was at the beach in Santa Monica and was approached by a recruiter. He asked me if I wanted to be on "The Dating Game" TV show. I said, "Hmmm...What do I win?" He said, "You win an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the USA." I said, "Do I really have to go on the date?" He said,"No, you get your own ticket and your own hotel room." So I thought it would be fun. I had to fill out a questionnaire about my life, go to a group interview, and do a on-camera test. It was all very silly and fun. The upside--I got a free makeover and had a great laugh while filming. When they asked me where I wanted to go, I chose Chicago. I went on the trip alone and stayed a beautiful hotel downtown overlooking Lake Michigan. If you want to try your luck on a game show, here is the website to be a contestant on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire http://www.dadt.com/millionaire/auditions/index.html If you cannot get on a show as a contestant, you can be in the audience instead. They usually film these shows in LA or NY. So being in the audience might be a fun thing to do while you are there on vacation. Check out this site for FREE "Price Is Right" Tickets http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_price_is_right/tickets/  !! Have fun!! 



**Travel Spot of the Week: Italy**


Of course, I have a weak spot for Italy because my dad is Italian. But even if I weren't Italian, I would still love Italy. Let's start with: lemon gelato in the summertime, Renaissance art, pizza alla diavola, the romance, the wine, the olive oil, the food; did I say the food? the country-side, dining al fresco by candlelight, the beautiful clothes and beautiful men, oops I mean people (;-)... I could go on and on...  Here is a video of some of my favorite places in Italy. I was lucky enough to live in Florence, Rome, and Milan in the early 90s. 



Here are some of my Must-Dos in Italy:  ride a motorcycle/or even a bicycle through Tuscany, sail to the island of Elba, dance at the Carnavale di Venezia, enjoy" bacio" gelato in Florence, marvel at Botticelli at the Uffizi museum, sample the wineries of Montepulciano, Trentino, Udine, stuff yourself with mozzarella affumicata in Campagna, walk the winding streets of Le Cinque Terre, kiss someone in Positano on The Amalfi Coast, go fishing in Sicily, listen to opera at La Scala, relax on a gondola in Venice. And without exception, befriend the warm, hospitable Italian people who are always ready to invite you into their hearts.
Grazie Italia, sei sempre nel mio cuore. 
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**Packing Secrets**


For those of you who travel a lot or who travel a little, I have some great packing tips for you.


1. Only bring what you can carry by yourself. I can remember crying in the Narita airport one time because I had too many #^%$#&(&( suitcases!! 
2. Bring old clothes with you, so if you are in a place where people have less, you can give them all away when you leave. Giving makes the world go 'round. 
3. Roll, roll, roll. Yes, it really does work!! Roll your clothes into small balls and squeeze them into all the tiny little corners of your bag/suitcase.
4. You never need as many clothes as you think you do. Heck, if you are going to a warm place, all you need is a bathing suit and a sarong (a wrap). One piece of fabric has a plethora of uses. In Asia, my sarong served as a towel, a dress, a skirt, a blanket, a curtain, a head-wrap, etc.. You get the idea. 
5. This is the best one!!  When you carry your whole life in a backpack for a year, you learn that life is not really about stuff. So I made a rule. If I buy one new item, I need to give one item away, i.e., if I get a new pair of shoes, I need to give an old pair away. This way my bag never gets heavier. 
By the way, I still use this rule in my house. It keeps things very simple and Feng Shui-ed. :-))


Well that is all for today my friends. Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you a new year filled with bliss, adventure, and expansion. 
Spread your wings and fly higher.  MM