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Music and travel go together like Hall and Oates, Sonny and Cher, or Simon and Garfunkel.
There’s real power when it comes to music and travel that helps people further escape mentally, emotionally, or physically to a new destination. In fact, according to Expedia customer research conducted in 2021, 62% of people who book travel online list “music” and specifically “festivals” as a key passion point. This musical connection could get even stronger as travellers start to seek out transformational, meaningful experiences from their post-pandemic trips.
When we think of musical destinations, New York City comes top of mind. Here are five hotels to book a stay in for anyone looking to get out and explore this magical city’s musical past.
New York Hilton Midtown: 1335 Sixth Avenue
The New York Hilton Midtown has a bit of a home-field advantage when it comes to musical histories, thanks to its location just two blocks from Radio City Music Hall. However, the hotel itself has plenty of noteworthy musical moments as well. Elvis Presley was a favored longtime guest of the hotel and often held press conferences from the lobby. The Beatles also booked a few rooms in the hotel when they made their famed appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. In later years, John Lennon returned to the hotel and wrote “Imagine” on the Hilton’s stationery.
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The taste of red pepper, also known as bell pepper, red bell pepper, capsicum, or sweet pepper, is somewhat sweet and earthy. These peppers are fully matured green bell peppers, which are more bitter.
The red pepper belongs to the Capsicum annuum family, which contains cultivars such as jalapeno, cayenne pepper, chilli pepper, and a few more spicy peppers. While there are other red peppers, the red bell pepper is the only one that is commonly referred to as "red pepper."
Capsicum annuum is native to Central and South America, and it was likely domesticated some 7,500 years ago in central Mexico. Several variants emerged over time and are being used as cultivars today. Bell peppers were one of those kinds, and they were widely grown before the arrival of the Spanish in the 1400s.
Red peppers, which are now grown all over the world, are still popular because of their sweet flavours, which brighten up a variety of cuisines.
Magical illuminating caves, beautiful tiny towns, and enchanting hilltop castles may sound like images from a children's book, yet the globe is full of real-life fairy-tale locations. Start making plans for your perfect fairy-tale holiday to one of these 10 lovely destinations around the world.
1. The Isle of Skye, Scotland
The wing-shaped island in Scotland is very much real, and its fairy-tale landscapes are brimming with folklore. You'd think somewhere called the "Isle of Skye" would be an enchanted fictional place, but the wing-shaped island in Scotland is very much real, and its fairy-tale landscapes are brimming with folklore. Spend some time in the Fairy Glen, which is a small version of Scotland's mountainous highlands and the kind of environment where you might come across some fae beings. Then, at the foot of the Black Cuillins Mountains, stroll to the lovely Fairy Pools. You'll reach a succession of cascading waterfalls and stunningly clean pools where you may reward yourself with a swim by hopping between stepping stones along the route. However, be aware that the water is rather cold.
Visit The Old Man of Storr, a protruding rock feature purported to be the thumb of a long-dead giant buried there, to round out your journey. Make the most of your trip by joining a guided tour around the Isle of Skye to see all the hidden gems and hear all the local legends.
Visit The Old Man of Storr, a protruding rock feature purported to be the thumb of a long-dead giant buried there, to round out your journey. Make the most of your trip by joining a guided tour around the Isle of Skye to see all the hidden gems and hear all the local legends.
Melatonin supplementation for sleep improvement has increased 425 per cent over the last two decades, with the number of persons taking big doses (more than 5 milligrams per day) reaching an all-time high, according to a study published in the journal JAMA on Feb. 1, 2022.
These findings raise concerns about potential safety hazards. As with other supplements, melatonin products are not regulated or held to the same quality standards as prescription medications. The authors noted that the real amount of melatonin contained in a pill may be much larger than the amount indicated on the label. This can result in people taking too much, especially because many people use melatonin on a regular basis.
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Because everyone's reaction to a new drug or treatment is so different, it's nearly impossible to know whether your drug had an instant effect or if it was a placebo effect (an improvement in symptoms from the act of taking a drug independent of its biological effects).
This is why placebos are frequently employed in clinical trials to assess the efficacy of a particular medication, particularly when assessing how effectively a drug works. For example, one group receives the tested drug, while the other receives a "fake" drug, or placebo, that they mistake for the actual thing. By analyzing how both groups react, the researchers can determine if the medicine is effective. If they both have the same reaction, whether it's an improvement or not, the medicine is said to be ineffective.
Experts have decided, however, that a positive reaction to a placebo does not necessarily mean that a treatment is ineffective, but rather that another, non-pharmacological process is at work. The exact mechanism through which placebos work is yet unknown. It's likely that the placebo effect is more than just the power of positive thought. It's a complicated neurobiological reaction that encompasses anything from increased levels of feel-good neurotransmitters like endorphins and dopamine to increased activity in brain regions associated with mood, emotional reactions, and self-awareness.
When people respond to a placebo, their brain activity changes. In one study, researchers employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess the brains of people suffering from persistent knee osteoarthritis. After that, everyone was given a placebo and had their brains scanned again. The researchers discovered that those who experienced pain relief had more activity in the frontal lobe's middle frontal gyrus.
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From the rainforest to the reef, you can find bliss through these yoga retreats in Costa Rica that will change your body and your mind for the better.
Costa Rica is one of the most popular places to visit in Central America because it has a lot of amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery. More than 25% of the country's land is protected, so visitors can explore the beautiful rainforests, visit pristine beaches for surfing and diving, trek volcanoes, or just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Over the last decade, more and more people have been coming to Costa Rica to go on yoga retreats that will make them feel better. What's better than finding Zen in the depths of a rainforest or at the base of a volcano, after all?
Find out about 10 of the best yoga retreats in Costa Rica, which are great for everyone from beginners to full-fledged yoga practitioners.
Samasati Yoga & Wellness Retreat
How to get rid of a bad habit
We all have bad habits that we'd like to break, and each night we tell ourselves the same thing: I'm going to bed early. I'm not going to eat the cookie. I'm going to quit biting my nails. And when tomorrow arrives, we cave, and we feel even worse. We feel discouraged and guilty because we are aware of the dangers but powerless to resist them.
The cycle is comprehensible, given that the brain is notoriously resistant to change. However, it is possible to break a harmful habit. It requires determination, some white-knuckling, and some effective behaviour change strategies. However, even before that, it's beneficial to comprehend what's going on in our minds, our motivations, and our self-talk.
Certain behaviours make us feel rewarded.
Whether they are good or harmful habits, they are routines, and routines, such as showering or driving to work, are automatic and simplify our lives. The brain does not have to think as much.
While harmful habits differ, when we attempt to break one, we produce dissonance, which the brain does not enjoy. A part of the brain called the limbic system makes us feel like we're in danger, so we try to flee or freeze and go back to our old ways, even though we know it's bad for us.
Often, even bad habits make us feel good, as the brain releases dopamine. This is true of anything that aids our species' survival, such as food or sex. Avoiding change is a way to stay alive, and we keep retreating because we get rewarded (even if it's only for a short time). That is why it is so difficult.
The cycle is comprehensible, given that the brain is notoriously resistant to change. However, it is possible to break a harmful habit. It requires determination, some white-knuckling, and some effective behaviour change strategies. However, even before that, it's beneficial to comprehend what's going on in our minds, our motivations, and our self-talk.
Certain behaviours make us feel rewarded.
Whether they are good or harmful habits, they are routines, and routines, such as showering or driving to work, are automatic and simplify our lives. The brain does not have to think as much.
While harmful habits differ, when we attempt to break one, we produce dissonance, which the brain does not enjoy. A part of the brain called the limbic system makes us feel like we're in danger, so we try to flee or freeze and go back to our old ways, even though we know it's bad for us.
Often, even bad habits make us feel good, as the brain releases dopamine. This is true of anything that aids our species' survival, such as food or sex. Avoiding change is a way to stay alive, and we keep retreating because we get rewarded (even if it's only for a short time). That is why it is so difficult.
Dementia medical data can be perplexing. Here's how to make sense of the latest findings.
It's sometimes hard to determine if we're winning or losing the dementia battle. Some headlines proclaim that dementia rates are on the decline, while others warn that the number of dementia cases is rapidly increasing. Here are two new study findings and what they mean in terms of danger.
According to a study headed by Harvard researchers and published online by Neurology on July 1, 2020, dementia incidence rates have been continuously dropping since the 1980s.
What is the cause of the decline? It could be linked to improved treatments for atherosclerosis (the development of harmful plaques in the arteries) over the last 40 years, as well as healthier lives. Treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure at a younger age than in the past is encouraged, and we encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles. And anything we do to lower atherosclerosis in the heart is likely to lower atherosclerosis in the brain as well.
Rates are falling.
According to a study headed by Harvard researchers and published online by Neurology on July 1, 2020, dementia incidence rates have been continuously dropping since the 1980s.
What is the cause of the decline? It could be linked to improved treatments for atherosclerosis (the development of harmful plaques in the arteries) over the last 40 years, as well as healthier lives. Treatment of high cholesterol and blood pressure at a younger age than in the past is encouraged, and we encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles. And anything we do to lower atherosclerosis in the heart is likely to lower atherosclerosis in the brain as well.
Someone once told me that the most precious ring gifts she could ever be gifted with are anniversary rings for her. I can still picture her looking at blank spaces with so many smiles on her face and little tears of joy giving a full detailed explanation of the overwhelming joy she felt when being gifted anniversary rings. She spoke of rekindled memories of her wedding day, it was such a lovely moment to behold.
You could also tell a story, you reading this, and you have yet to have the feeling that an anniversary ring brings along. It is an undeniable fact that over the years we sometimes need a reminder of that precious moment at the altar and while we share memories and exchange other gift items the gifts of rings give this undefined joy to couples that no other gift can. You can imagine the joy and smile a brand new ring on every anniversary would give to your partner. A brand new ring to mark every anniversary that passes by annually is a reminder of all the vows on the altar and the beautiful moments shared on your wedding day.
If enjoy traveling but despise packing. Without a doubt, pre-trip planning is something you should do:put together itineraries, researching the finest places to eat local cuisine, and scoping out the best spots to take pictures when in a new place. Packing your suitcase, on the other hand? That's when your enthusiasm completely disappears.
Use washing services more often and pack less.
Most of us are chronic over packers, which means we carry way too much clothing on every trip. To avoid overpacking, I suggest taking no more than seven days' worth of clothing. This will not only drive you to reevaluate what products are truly required, but it will also reduce the amount of excess weight you carry around. Also, let's be honest: you can (and should!) wear your clothes more than once on vacation, with the exception of your underwear. There are other options if you don't like the idea of hand-washing your clothes in your hotel room's sink while you're on vacation.
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Stay away from the heavy jewelry, toiletries, and technological devices at home
Less is more, as always. The hefty chains, face cleansers, and cameras should be left at home. Scarves and shawls, which are often made of lightweight, breathable materials that are easy to travel, are great options if you like to accessorize. Keep your favorite K-beauty products handy in travel-sized bottles, whether you're a fan of the brand or not (no need to bring the originalpackage it came in). Smartphones are now so good at taking photos that they can match the quality of a high-end DSLR camera. What if I'm wrong? This could also be an ideal time to hire a local photographer to capture those memorable vacation moments.
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