Rugby World Cup New Zealand - A Concise Guide Of Top Rugby World Cup City Destinations

2011 sees the seventh Rugby World Cup to date, with the first ever being played in 1987, jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia. England will host the eighth Rugby World Cup in 2015, but lots of English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish supporters will be enjoying the rugby and the hospitality in New Zealand in 2011.

Rugby supporters are well known for enjoying the activities off the pitch as much as the action on the pitch. Certainly New Zealand has a wealth of possibilities in both departments!

Visually New Zealand is very stimulating with absolutely stunning, diverse scenery, plus cities which have heaps to offer. Here is a selection of the gems in the top Rugby World Cup cities of New Zealand.

For England Rugby World Cup supporters, Dunedin will be the venue for the first matches. This means that those of you who enjoy a beer or two can head off on the Speights Brewery Tour, which is both an informational and fun tour with some beer tasting involved.

Located in the South Island of New Zealand, Dunedin is the second biggest city there and will have a totally different rugby tournament taking place there at the same time as the Rugby World Cup. This is the eighth Nude Rugby event, which started out as a bit of a laugh and has turned into a media attention grabber that is now an annual event.

For those who prefer nature as opposed to naturism, the protected wood lands, lush green spaces and amazing coastal area of Dunedin is a wonderful treat. It is possible to spot penguins, sea lions and seals, and to explore the scenery on horseback.

Spring Festival time is October so this makes it a very special time to visit. Ireland will play Italy in Dunedin on 2nd October, so the Irish and Italians will be able to enjoy the festivities as well as the rugby in Dunedin.

England and Scotland Rugby World Cup supporters will be in Auckland however for the match between the two countries on 1st October. But don't worry; Auckland has plenty of spring festivities happening as well. There is the Auckland Heritage Festival, Diwali Festival of Lights, the Kowhai Festival and the Auckland International Boat Show.

Soaking up festivities and culture will not be an issue, but for the rugby supporters who like an adrenalin rush then there is the Sky Tower sky jumping experience, or climbing up the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

To enjoy something a bit more relaxing, check out the village of Parnell which is an historical village with a fine selection of restaurants, or take a wine tour which visits great local wineries.

Last but very certainly not least is the capital city, Wellington, which has been elected one of the top 4 cities worldwide to visit, by the Lonely Planet.

Wellington has a stunning harbour and Botanical Gardens, as well as cable cars and an observatory. One of the big attractions is Zealandia which is an award-winning eco-attraction and well worth a visit. The Te Papa Tongarewa, which is the museum of New Zealand also deserves a visit. It is packed with treasures, history and art.

The highlight for some Rugby World Cup tour travellers will be the Cuba Street District. This is the King of Cool when it comes to the area's ambience, the trendy boutiques, bars, cafes, great food and entertainment, and generally it has an arty feel about it.

Wales will have its first match against South Africa in Wellington, so Welsh fans can enjoy the fun and festivities of this fabulous city. Let's see which Rugby World Cup teams will make it through to the Quarter Finals which will take place between Auckland and Wellington; where the festivities will continue throughout the Rugby World Cup tournament. If you're one of the lucky ones using Rugby World Cup packages to support your team, make sure you have the time of your life, both on and off the pitch.

Soul Filled Living - The True Source of Satisfaction and Fulfillment

As part of my ongoing exploration and development, a couple weeks ago I was at a conference where the featured speaker was Esalen Co-founder Michael Murphy. Michael is a modern day pioneer in the exploration of human potential and this Universe we live in. A real inspiration! The conference was "Integral Transformative Practice and the Evolution of the Soul."

What is "evolution of the soul?" From the Webster's Dictionary, the definition of evolution is: an unfolding; a process of development or change; a movement that is part of a series. Yes, this makes sense. An unfolding, a process of development or change, a movement that is part of a series. One could say that evolution is the process of the unfolding of the soul into and through the world.

So how is the unfolding of your soul going? I think that's a pretty important question.

In my experience, lasting happiness (joy) and true fulfillment can only come from your soul. This is living from the inside-out. You START with what your soul wants - this is your personal inside guide to your ideal life - your compass for navigating the terrain of YOUR life and living the life that is most fulfilling for YOU. Trying to lose weight, get more money, or have better relationships - as great as those things are - is living from "the outside in." This means trying to fill an emptiness inside with something in the "outside" world. It will feel good for a moment, then you'll be on to the next thing, and the next thing, and the next... never experiencing the satisfaction you really desire.

I recently tweeted a quote by Robert Collier "Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out." The key is to focus your efforts toward the success that you REALLY wish to create and experience - your SOUL'S desires. Until you tap into THAT place of desire, you're like a hamster on a treadmill going from one thing to the next, never satisfied. Until you are tapped into your soul's desires, you'll be grasping at straws like losing weight, getting more money, or having better relationships.

So how do we know what our soul wants for us? How can we live that deeply satisfying Soul Filled Life? Well, there are many aspects to it, but in this short article I'll share one of the most important: follow your bliss. This is the guidance we have often heard from author and teacher Joseph Campbell. Unfortunately, it is rarely appreciated or truly lived.

One of the keys to knowing what your soul wants for you in this lifetime is to pay attention to and engage things that you enjoy! This may not be easy at first, as many of us have gotten very good at "working hard and suffering to survive and feel deserving." However, we can begin choosing activities that provide the greatest likelihood or probability that the experience it offers (the people, the places, the conversations and words you use, the ideas, the actions, the impact and results in the world, the overall environment you are in, and as well as both the present and possible monetary rewards, etc.) will have at least SOME enjoyable aspect(s). As you do this, if you practice this time and time again, the fullness of your bliss will unfold over your lifetime like a beautiful flower coming into its own.

I want to further emphasize and support this notion of "following your bliss" and engaging activities where you experience the most joy. Joy is life-force filled. And what people want most on this planet (including yourself) is life-force. The more you embody and become a channel for life-force energy, the more you become of SERVICE to others - you are giving them what they most want and need.

This is the key to success. Becoming a channel for, and access to, what people want most: life-force energy. The most powerful way to do that is to follow your very own bliss. Isn't that divine?! And here's another reason to follow your bliss - when you do, you become more and more unstoppable. Another word for Joy, and for Bliss, is Inspiration. When you are inspired you are connected to the divine flow and intelligence of the Universe. Your personal energy is optimized, solutions and ideas come to you "from beyond" and your overall experience is amazing. When you are inspired, you have "spirit inside" - and when you have spirit inside you bring spirit and life-force energy to others.

This is operating from your soul - this is Soul-Filled Living. The person who operates from the soul and allows their truth to flow through them is inspired in the deepest sense. Such a man or woman is a rare and treasured gift for all of us. When an artist is touched by Spirit and creates something from that authentic place, we are all touched. It's like looking at something here in the physical world that came from and represents the beauty, mystery, and magic of the metaphysical world.

Wherever there is success AND joy, there is inspiration. You can have success with no joy or inspiration, but you cannot have joy without success because joy in and of itself is success! So are you going for the success "hoping for the joy" or are you going for the joy hoping for the success? If success in a material sense is important to you, I suggest doing both. Follow your bliss with a plan for manifesting material success.

Manifesting your soul's desire is a long term partnership with Spirit that unfolds over time. You are the instrument that Universal Life Force Intelligence is playing. Mother Theresa said it this way: "We are all pencils in the hand of God writing love letters to the Universe." What is your love letter to the Universe? What does God want to write with you and your life? Only YOU know the answer.

Try this: Look back over all the experiences in your life and see if you can identify your "Theme of Joy" - the common thread through all those experiences that attracted you to them in the first place. What is the common "Thread of Joy" that you loved about each of those roles and experiences in your life? These are HUGE clues to your soul's purpose and desires for you in this lifetime.

Congratulations! You're one step closer to tapping into your soul's desires, following your bliss, and experiencing the true joy, satisfaction, and mojo you desire!

Acquainting Yourself With Your Roller Skate

When I started roller skating, I really didn't know anything about the roller skate. My focus was on learning how to roller skate, not figuring out the different components. After you have been roller skating for a while, you probably will want to know more about the different parts of the skate. Perhaps you bought a skate that was not too expensive and now you want to upgrade. It is always wise to not begin your skating experience in an expensive skate. You might determine down the road that you might have wanted a different kind of skate. But because you invested so much initially, it is difficult to transition. So let's look at the different parts of the roller skate.

Boot

There are two types of boots. First is the artistic and recreational boot which is also called "high top boots". As the name implies, this type of boot is good for general skating at the rink or for dancing, etc. The second kind of boot is called "low top boots" and can be used for many things. You can use this kind of boot for speed skating, jam skating or roller derby skating. Like the "high top boots", the skate boots come in all kinds of prices. A few of the real good names are Vanilla, Riedell, Sure Grip and Pacer.

Wheel

Anything over 90A hardness should be used for the rink. If you purchase a wheel lower than 90A, the wheel would be very appropriate for outdoors on sidewalks, bike tracks or just plain concrete. If the wheel is close to 90A, it probably could be used for both the rink and outdoors. But it is usually better to get a wheel for either outdoors or indoors. Or better yet, purchase a set of wheels for inside and well as outside. The wheels also come in different sizes. If you are into aggressive skating or roller derby skating, look for a wheel no larger than 59mm. A child learning to skate should be careful not to get too large a wheel. I would suggest something under 72mm would be good.

Frame

This supports the wheels and is attached to the boot. A good frame or "plate" as some call it is important to having a good skating experience. When looking for a frame, make sure that it is light weight. Today a lot of frames are made of aluminum or other materials that are lighter even than that! An experienced skater will make sure that the frame is top quality and will support the type of skating that they would like to do.

Bearings

Bearings are used for the wheels to rotate smoothly and freely. They come in either 7mm or 8mm. Most skaters will want the 8mm. This refers to the inner diameter of the bearing and the size of the axle it is going on.

Toe Stops or Breaks

The top stops are lifesavers for beginning skaters! The breaks or stop can be on the toe or the heel or under the toe. If you are a beginning skater, make sure that your skate has one of these stops and someone tells you how to use it!

Most important of all, make sure that all your questions are answered before you purchase your skates. Once you have them, enjoy the experience. I hope that you will enjoy it for many years to come!

New York City Tourist Attractions - Making Your Rounds

New York City tourist attractions are not difficult to find or choose from. There is so much to see and do that you are sure to love whatever you stumble upon. Of course, part of your trip comes in planning the different New York City tourist attractions that you want to see, so you'll have to take time to plan in advance and make sure that you get everything taken care of so that you can see it all. It might seem easy just to come to the city and go sightseeing, but with operational hours, admission fees, and seasonal openings at various attractions, it's helpful to know what your options are and plan ahead.

The best strategy for seeing all of your most desired New York City tourist attractions is to choose which ones you need to see. Then, you can figure out when they are available and whether you have to wait to see them until a certain time. Once you know when everything is open, you can plan a trip that will allow you to sightsee across the city in a semi-orderly fashion so that you're not going clear across the city and back every single day to get to various destinations.

Of course, if one of your favorite New York City tourist attractions has unusual hours that cause you to have to go out of your way one day, it will be worth the effort. Just make sure that you do whatever you can to keep things orderly and see everything that you want while you're in town. For example, visit Coney Island on your way to the Statue of Liberty, and then head up to Central Park so that you're not doubling back. There is a lot that goes into planning a trip around New York, but if you plan well you can enjoy more while you're in town.

A trip to New York City gives you plenty to enjoy, no matter what you are looking for. Whether you prefer the classics like the Statue of Liberty and Rockefeller Center or you just want to get out and explore what 'real New Yorkers' get to live every day, there will be lots to choose from. Just remember to take the time to plan accordingly so that you can see more New York City tourist attractions and spend less time traveling around town on your trip.

Best Deals On Sports Equipment

Being able to save money with discount sports equipment is something that many people will be keen to get. But actually finding the best deals will often be a little more difficult, and will require some thought and care as to where to go buy these items. There are plenty of ways to cut the costs of buying sports equipment, and whether it is by choosing equipment made by smaller brands or by buying items from the end of lines, it is possible to pick up discount sports equipment.

Vouchers and Coupons

The boom in the number of vouchers and coupons which are available both online and in newspapers and magazines has become big business over recent years. Finding ones that offer discounts at sports stores can be the first way to find the best deals on discount sports equipment. The most useful coupons are the ones which can be combined with in store discounts to boost the savings, and are well worth consideration.

Sale Items

One of the other places to search for great value sports kit is by looking at the sales when they happen both in high street and online stores, and for those who are more interested in the price than the brand, there are some excellent deals that can be found on discount sports equipment.

As well as the individual sales when they are occurring, there are certain periods within the year when many stores will be hosting sales at the same time, so comparing the different prices on discount equipment can be great to help people to get the best deal.

Shopping Online

Depending on the type of sports equipment that is required, it may be the case that it won't be available on a discount in the high street sports stores. The more specialized a piece of equipment is, then the less likely you are to find it on sale, unless you're going to a specialist retailer which focuses on that sport.

By looking for deals online, there are going to be retailers who will specialize in equipment for one or two sports. And even for the more specialized retailers, they are also going to be looking to have a regular turnover of stock, so they will also have offers for discount equipment. This is because their prices are going to be naturally lower because of the nature of selling online, so people are likely to get an even better deal.

As well as looking at specialist retailers online, there are also plenty of stores, or even auction websites where it is possible to pick up discount sports equipment for next to nothing. These are certainly well worth considering for those who are looking for more general or popular items of sports equipment.

By taking time to look around for the best deals, and by focusing attention on sales and retailers that offer the best discounts, it is fairly straightforward for people to get discount equipment at prices significantly lower than the recommended retail price, and still have quality items which can be used for years to come.