What a way to relax with some sea salt of Bajan, brown sugar, and some tamarind oil rubbed down your skin? These are some of the local ingredients used for an intimate spa experience at the Tamarind Hotel in the West Coast of Barbados. The Elegant Hotels announced that this spa offering will be available at the Tamarind Hotel and at The House boutique hotel.

You can opt for the spa treatment and avail of the same for a loved one with 50% off its price. If you are single, you can also keep the half priced deal for some more pampering. The Tamarind will offer this spa promotion from March 1 through June 1 of this year.

The Tamarind Spa offers the unique spa experience in their world class facilities unmatched in Barbados. They boast of relaxing treatment rooms, a tranquil pool, and a very warm and well-trained staff.

Guests can also have their treatments outdoors if they wish too. You can also choose from a mini menu of spa treatments like reflexology, back massage, and sun treatment.

Tamarind is proud of their line of spa treatments which makes use of local ingredients and well known brands from all over the globe. Couples can also enjoy their treatment together. You can even ask the staff to light some candles and scatter rose petals if you want to surprise your partner.

You should try their Sugar + Oil Scrub, Salt+Oil scrub, and Seaweeds wrap. They also have a line of signature massages to treat your jet lag, make use of relaxing aromas, deep tissue kneading, and prenatal massage.

The Tamarind Hotel was formerly known as the Tamarind Cove Hotel. They reopened back in November 2010 after a major renovation.

After discovering the big sites in the Big Apple, you should try to drop the New York guide book and try to discover the place like how the locals do.

Enjoy the Seafoods at City Island

City Island is a small community off the coast of Bronx. This fishing village was practically moved out of New England. They alsohav shp yards famous for building award winning yachts.

The place though is popular for its excellent line of seafood restaurants which line the main street. Try the dishes of The Lobster Box . Enjoy their steamed, broiled, stuffed, marinara or fra diavolo lobster . They also have very good pasta specials like their chicken and shrimp primavera, lobster ravioli in light cream sauce with some sun dried tomatoes.

If you want a good snack of fish and chips, go to The Snug, an Irish Pub, which serves, you guessed it right, great beer! Cap your food trip on the City Island with some homemade desserts at The Black Whale.

Enjoy the city view from the High Line

This is the old rail line going through Chelsea used to bring freight to the warehouses in the area back in the 1930s. The elevated rails were abandoned in the 80s and have been a good place to wander at for the locals. Back in 2009, the High Line was converted into a park.

Get fresh produce at the Farmers Markets

If you are tired of the microwavables you eat thru the days of your New York holiday, try getting the best of fresh goodies from fruits, meats, cheese, baked goods, and vegetables. You can go to these farmers markets located at plazas and squares and open several days per week.

Visit the vintage shops at the East Village

New York also has some great shops if you want to look for retro items. Explore the 6th and 14th St. and the Third Avenue thru Avenue A. Checkout the Atomic Passion and the Metropolis Apparel. Too bad the iconic retro shop Love Saves the Day closed its doors back in 2009 after almost being on business for half a century. Enjoy the music of the 1920s and 30’s at Club Cache.

Watch art films

You can forget the mainstream movies for a while and enjoy the creativeness of experimental and independent films. These films come from all the corners of the globe and shown during film festivals in New York City. Everyday you can enjoy short and full length films at the Film Forum, Angelika, and the IFC Center.

by the government of New York and lined it with plants, trees, and installed benches as well.

South Africa took the spotlight last year because of the football. We might not hear the loud vuvuzuelas anymore but there are still a lot of reasons to come to South Africa. Here are the best activities you can do this month:

Visit the Basotho Cultural Village

Immerse yourself into the ways of the Basotho people who were the early settlers of the land. The cultural village is within the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Park. Travel back in time as you visit the courtyard exhibiting the different huts of the Basotho’s evolving from the sixteenth century to the modern times. You wil be able to interact with locals dressed in the tradtional clothes of the Basothos. Those who are really interested to know about their culture will be able to witness an accurate depiction of this group’s architecture and lifestyle.

There are also music and dance performances which is essential to Basotho life. Most social activities and rituals come with dances and songs. You will learn about mohobelo, mokorotlo, and mokohibo.

When you visit the village, you will visit the place where their men meet and you might be asked to drink their traditional beer to show their warm hospitality. You will also be able to talk to the ngaka or the advisor of the captain. The ngaka will be able to enlighten you about light and heal your inner being.

During the tour, you can also sign up for a guided tour of the Matlakeng Herbal Trail where the village healer can guide you thru the different uses of the herbs.

Explore the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn

Outdtshoorn is famous for its ostrich farms but there is more to this place than our non-flying brid friends. You can take a tour of the Cango Caves and explore the magnificent dripstone caverns. You can choose from Standard and Adventure tours which take guests every hour to discover the wonders of the caves.

You might not like the pungent odor at the entrance because of the colony of bats living in the cave but you can catch your breath as you walk through Van Zyl’s Hall, Botha’s Hall, Rainbow Chamber, Bridal Chamber, Fairyland Chamber, and Drum Room when you take the Standard Tour.

The Adventure Tour requires a bit more effort where you will have to negotiate more than 200 steps of the Jacob’s Ladder. The Grand Hall houses hollow stalagmites called by the guides as the throne of King Arthur. You will have to crawl your way through the Lumbago Alley where the ceiling of the caves are as low as 1 meter. You can stretch your aching back as you visit the King Solomon’s Mine. From this part of the cave, you will have to climb up to the Devil’s Chimney via the Tunnel of Love which is another low passage route. You will explore next the Coffin, Devil’s Kitchen, and the Post Box

Nature tripping at the Augrabies Falls

One of the most impressive falls that you can find in South Africa is the Augrabies Falls which traces its origins from the wide Orange River just west of Upington. The name of the river literally means " the noisy one" and indeed it roars.

February is a perfect time to visit so you can appreciate the strong waters rushing through the cleft and rush down a 146 meter drop. You will hear a lot of stories about the river. Some local folks will even tell you that Augrabies is where you can find the Loch Ness monster of South Africa.

Aside from the main waterfalls, you can drive around the park to check out the sceneries and vegetation. You will see the Moon Rock, the Fountain, or you can also join a group to hike the 39.5 kilometer long Klipspringer Trail.

Go bird watching at the Limpopo Birding Route

If you will visit South Africa this month, you will be able to see the wide array of bird species in the Limpopo region. There are hundreds of species of birds considered as local to the area. Do not forget to bring your camera and your long lenses to take pictures of doves, parrots, and fish eagles roaming around the area.

You really do not have to worry if you are just a beginner in bird watching since there are tours that you can take which will guide you.

Rediscover Shakespeare at Maynardville Open-Air Theater

One great way to undwind in Cape Town is by reliving the classic works of Shakespeare at the Maynardville Park. While waiting for the performances, the wooded park is a great venue to enjoy a picnic with friends or loved ones. The Shakespeare performance has been attracting thousands of patrons for the past fifty years. There are also ballet performances for the public.