Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Empirical Psychology and the Vehicle Dream

 

 

When confronted with a recurring symbol, especially when it comes from a dream, there is something that the person is consciously avoiding, or it has a meaning that is buried very deeply and is making an attempt to come to the surface. It is impossible to really analyze any dream symbol in any meaningful way, especially given the legacies of empirical psychology which make these meaning-making systems dependent on the individual dreamer. There are some speculations, however, where the simple image might suggest larger meanings which are somewhat common. So it’s not totally off the mark to say that in general tires will have something to do with movement, metaphorical or otherwise.

It’s also common to interpret a car, or a truck, as meaningful representations of the dreamer’s body. Again, the trouble with cultural definitions does come into play, where there are many ways of thinking about the body in general. This has become particularly apparent in the past century of psychoanalysis, where experiments with subjects from various backgrounds have demonstrated that although the subconscious may have its own language, that language is particular to the culture in which it is born. This is enough so that the specific details of vehicles in dreams are also significant, and rarely incidental. If the dreamer only remembers a red truck, then the analyst can pick up from that point. But if the dreamer remembers the kind of truck, the hankook tires, and specific names of other characters in the dream, one must assume that they are also significant.

This all points to that very elemental idea that everyone is much more complex than they would first appear. The old symbol for the ego, represented by the iceberg, is an apt one. That material that is below the surface is much more than the visible tip suggests. It is easiest to access the illustrations of the complexity of the psyche through looking at dreams and symbols, because every interpretation is not only possible, but very likely to be part of the picture. Even empirical psychology, in its purest form, if there is such a thing, is capable of revealing only a shadow of the shadows that are contained in every human subject. A car may very well only be an extension of a body, and a car crash in a dream might mean a life out of control, but there is also more to the story, and very likely more symbols that are active and apparent, but will defy any attempt at reasonable understanding.

 

Different Kinds of Travel Insurance

If you’re looking for insurance for an upcoming trip overseas you’ve likely come across a variety of companies and sites offering to give you a policy. How do you choose between Reliance travel insurance and other options? You need to make sure that you’re looking at the right type of insurance. Otherwise you’ll be comparing apples and oranges or worse yet, buying bananas when you needed pineapples.

There are two general types of insurance associated with traveling abroad. You can get policies that include both components, which is probably the safest bet, however you still should understand the elements of both so that you can make sure you’re getting exactly what you need.

Global health insurance, visitor medical insurance, and visitor health insurance are different names for the same thing. This type of insurance provides for medical treatment when you are in a foreign country. Basic plans will cover you in the case of emergency illnesses or injuries and should also help you replace lost medications, glasses, etc. They will likely have provisions for emergency dental care and for medical evacuation. If your trip is going to be longer, you can find health policies that cover preventative care, mental health, and special conditions.

Travel insurance is the term for insurance that is directly related to travel. This insures you against things like losing your luggage, having your passport stolen, or being stranded due to travel delays. This type of insurance may even cover things like hijacking, natural disasters , and terrorism. Travel insurance is sometimes the term used for the combined policies that include travel and health components.

 

Road Trips in the American Southwest

Many imaginations are caught by the idea of cross-country road trip. Seeing America through the windshield of a car is a more immediate experience than flying over it. Auto travel allows people to see the spaces between instead of just taking off in one place and landing in another. Seeing roads, fields, houses, rivers, trains and everything that makes up the country is an amazing and, in many parts of the land, a breathtakingly beautiful experience.

An interesting way to see the country is to divide it into regions and take one vacation a year to cover each. In the Southwest, there are plenty of old highways that offer an off-the-beaten track view of the region. Old Route 66 remains a popular part of the American imagination and travelers can follow it across much of the Southwest. Another way to road trip is to go from one National Park to another, though looking at a map of california there are probably too many parks to visit them all in one trip. Picking one national park in each state and visiting them would be a good vacation.

For those who want their road trip to be more spontaneous, it’s best to just grab a texas map and randomly choose a place to start the trip. Once there, they can let whimsy and intuition lead them to their next destination and then the next until they’ve made their way through the Southwest — or their vacation time ends.

 

Hong Kong is a Shopper’s Paradise

Hong Kong’s vitality and diversity is visible in one of its favorite pastimes: shopping. Renowned worldwide as a shopper’s Paradise, HK is truly an ‘everything under one sky’ retail experience. For example, Hong Kong Island is the home base of the nation’s premier malls such as Causeway Bay, which houses super-type department stores including the World Trade Center, Island Beverley, Times Square, The Lee Gardens, Fashion Island, Lee Theatre Plaza and Lee Garden Two. Next to a fantastic Hong Kong hotel is the Wan Chai Spring Garden Lane, where a host of local markets are located. Also at HK Island is the Admiralty, which specializes in luxury brands and exclusive items.

In Hong Kong’s Central District is where you’ll find the most luxurious shopping venues in the entire city. Including The Galleria , The Landmark, the IFC Mall, Alexandra House and Prince’s Building where atriums and marble surfaces create a fantastic shopping atmosphere.

Kowloon is another great retail Mecca with Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard and the trendy Nathan Road. Other ‘must-see’ spots include Cheung Sha Wan Road Fashion Street and Apuli Street, where consumer electronics and accessories reign supreme. The local markets in Kowloon are not to be missed as well. They offer local delicacies and a great way to experience cultural exchange that will be as memorable as the bargains you’ll find.

 

Los Angeles gets Economic Boost from ESPN Games

A recently completed impact study has concluded that Los Angeles gained at least $50 million from the recent ESPN X Games. The 16th edition of the summer sporting event, held July 29th – August 1st, featured four days of extreme sports including BMX, Skateboarding, and Moto X and Rally. Events were held in Downtown Los Angeles venues such as the Staples Center, LA Live, the Nokia Theatre, and the LA Memorial Coliseum.

The biggest direct bump to the economy came from increased tourism. An estimated $12 million flowed into the LA economy by athletes, coaches, and spectators adding as many as 58,000 visitor days including money spent at top Los Angeles hotels . An additional $6 million was spent in staging, set up and the television broadcast of the events. Another $12 million was credited to multiplier effects, which is a fancy way of categorizing direct spending associated with X Games 16 .

Micronomics, who conducted the study, Economic Impact of the 2010 ESPN X Games , also identified $20 million in value associated with the broadcast of over 30 hours of Games programming that reached over 380 million homes in 175 countries.

 

Famous People Who Were Married in Las Vegas

If you want to plan a trip to Vegas in order to get married, you are in good company. More people choose Las Vegas as their choice of wedding destinations, than any other place in the world. This is due in part to the romanticized history of the quick Vegas wedding and its notorious status as the elopement destination for young couples that wanted to escape the oppressive rules of their parents. Meanwhile, Las Vegas continues to be a preferred location to get married regardless of the specific reasons for this. And people from all demographic backgrounds and of all ages travel to Vegas just to get married. Of course they are more than likely to also enjoy some casino gambling and maybe a great show or two while they are in town.

Not only are Vegas weddings popular with the common population or those seeking a quick and inexpensive service. It has also been the location of nuptial exchanges for famous people throughout history. In 1966 Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra were married here, which is a not only a little known fact in regards to the location, but also a surprise to many that these two were ever married. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were another powerhouse celebrity couple who married in Vegas. In more recent years Kevin Dillon, of Entourage fame, married model Jane Stuart. And Pamela Anderson married Rick Salomon in Sin City. So, if you plan to get married during your stay in a Las Vegas hotel , it’s nice to know you are in good company.

 

Sydney’s Lizard

When the music scene in Sydney gets moving, it seems to do so with only the least amount of work required. This is not a bad thing. Those who are proponents of the Alexander Technique recommend people use the most minimal work necessary in order to move the body where it’s supposed to go, and it’s even a science. The punks in Sydney may not know everything about the science, but they’ve got the principles down solid.

What this means for music fans is a rather eclectic cultural scene in the city, and one that warrants checking into the hotels Sydney offers just about any time of year. Because despite the despondence in the musicians, the music is extremely exciting.

Swamp Lizard is a testament to this. It’s a three-piece band, with two guitars, a vocalist who also plays, and a drummer, and the sound is as rough as it gets. It’s also as interesting as punk can be these days, and in Sydney, this is working out to be a rather fascinating new wave. It’s uncertain whether this might be the third, or perhaps even fifth wave, but it’s a strong one, and it seems to be happening whether the artists like it or not.

 

Jeff Myers of Atlanta has done it again!

Atlanta’s Jeff Myers who owns the hip resto-lounge ‘Top FLR’ has opened ‘The Sound Table’. The elements that has made Top FLR successful are also at ‘The Sound Table’; small plates, attentive and yet laid-back service, exquisitely made cocktails, and a instantaneous mood-altering atmosphere and d ©cor. What makes The Sound Table distinctive from Myer’s Top FLR is the d ©cor. The Sound Table has an urbanized sophistication with simple, clean lines, expansive ceilings, exposed ductwork with warm wood accents, whereas Top FLR has the monochrome, vampire-chic baroque ambience. The Sound Table is casual where Top FLR is definitely evening gear.

The Sound Table offers respite to the Edgewood corridor. Located next to some brilliant Atlanta hotels and some very upscale establishments, The Sound Table is a welcome ‘in-between’ that grunge or snooty vibe that Edgewood is known for. Parking can be a hassle, there’s more room inside The Sound Table than there is parking spaces outside, but for guests staying at the hotels, it’s within walking distance and is a great opportunity to experience the best of what Atlanta has to offer in the way of great cuisine and cocktails.

Chef Shane Devereux menu stands out from the regular fare served in Downtown Atlanta . For Instance, the Spatchcock Grilled Chicken is a testament to the fact that simple cooking can be the most exciting. With cuts of bone-in chicken cooked over open flame with simple flavoring of lemon juice, salt, pepper and a hint of herbs.

It is a little on the expensive side, more than what you’d usually find in a bar, lounge atmosphere, but the sheer quality of the dishes and the overall experience is priceless.

 

Seattle Theatre Schmeater

There are cities where the cultural scene is blossoming so much that the energy is palpable. In most of these places, the energy also translates into a very heavy competition among the artists who live there, and the ones who come to town to do projects. There is some of that in Seattle, but it’s more characterized by a kind of openness, and civic-mindedness, and this doesn’t really exist in other places.

It’s an unusual city, to be sure. It attracts people from all walks of life, whether they’re slumming in town and couch-surfing, or staying at the five star hotels Seattle offers. These lives do intersect, and sometimes in very profound and meaningful ways. In places like Theatre Schmeater , where the level of artistic excellence is matched by its commitment to community involvement, it’s not unusual to find very diverse audiences.

Likewise, in productions like their recent Pageant Play , seasoned actors work with new and upcoming talents, and the different walks of life are washed out in the name of a unified production. It’s something that makes the city particularly distinctive, and also immensely interesting. This isn’t to say that there are no barriers between people, but there is a sense that some of them are being crossed with intelligence and compassion.

 

Take a Boston Urban Adventure

Boston is a city of dreams and nightmares. For some people this urban jungle is a maze of buildings and unknown structures, for others this place is a paradise full of new places to explore. Aimed at those who want to explore and good for those who dread the big city, there are a few tours of the city that will make this place no longer feel like such a strange place and will make everything a little more comfortable.

Urban adventures is one of these tours. Unlike many of the other tours this one lets you get up close to many of the sites, because you are on bicycles. It also makes it easier to pause for a little bit and take in the sites. Like many other tours you can take a couple of day tours, or see the lights of the city as you bike around. The nice thing about taking a tour though is that it gives you an idea of where you might want to visit and with a bike tour you know for certain that you can bike there and back without too much hassle.

Finding an alternative tour like this isn’t all that hard. If Urban Adventures is too far away from the luxury hotels boston has many other alternative tours all over town. Or you could just rent a bike from a nearby bike shop .