If that “spark” has left your sex life, and you’re looking for a little something extra to put it back in, then your search is over. In this article, I’m going to share with you some of my time-honored, sure-fire romantic, creative foreplay ideas to get you and your partner out of your rut and start enjoying sex again!

Idea #1: Red Gold

Roses are fantastic. Not only do we all have a fairly strong association of sex when we think of red roses, you can also use them in powerful and creative ways in the bedroom.

One of my favorite things to do is go to my local florist and pick up some rose petals and a couple of red roses. Strip the covers off your bed and sprinkle the petals over the bed. It’s quick and easy and you’ve just created a killer backdrop for a night of sensual lovin.’ Add some soft music and some nice incense, plus a bottle of wine and you just created the perfect environment for a night of steamy hot passion.

If you’re feeling extra creative you can even use the petals to write a message. For bonus points, you can write words with petals of one colour and use different coloured petals as a “backdrop”. Personally, I find that doing this makes me almost not want to spoil it, but if I ever (heaven forbid) wanted to propose, this would probably be the way I’d do it.

Idea #2: Fruity

Sex, and especially foreplay, requires a fairly active sense of touch to be able to fully appreciate the benefits it offers. To get you and your partner’s touch receptors working again, why not try playing a game? One of you closes your eyes (or wears a blindfold), whilst the other one uses various props to re-awaken that dormant sense of touch. You can try running fruit such as berries of slices of various fruit up and down your lover’s body, eventually into their mouth where they can savor the taste. For added effect, try licking up any juices it leaves behind, and alternate between using the fruit and your finger or genitalia.

Idea #3: Touchy-Feely

Another great game to play with a blindfold, this requires you to have some props handy that you can use for stimulation. Feather ticklers, your fingers, and your tongue are always a sure hit, whilst other couples may like to experiment with vibrators, candle wax, paddles, riding crops, ice cubes – whatever gets your blood racing. This is particularly good when you use opposite stimulation in quick succession or together – for example, running an ice cube along your partner’s nipples and then running your warm tongue over the cold area to warm it up.

If you use these tips tonight, I guarantee you will soon have more passion and excitement back in your sex life – and your relationship – than you would have thought possible.

What could be more exciting than Belize cave tubing? It just sounds mysterious and fun. Along with a Belize cave tubing tour during the day, there are overnight trips as well. All tours are full day unless specifically noted beforehand. Since the start, cave tubing in Belize has become one of the country’s most popular tourist adventure excursions. But plan to do it during the rainy season (August through January) when water levels are high.

You may be wondering what Belize cave tubing is. It involves you being seated in the middle of a tube. That’s right. Your floating down the river on an inner tube. You are going through caves with others in the comfort of your own inner tube.

Talk about exciting. When it comes to things to do in Belize as far as cave tubing is concerned you have so many interesting sights to see. Expect some underground and jungle hiking as part of the package. This will be contingent on the high water levels of the rainy season. If you arrive during the dry season, there are plenty of expedition tours available that you may want to look

Belize cave tubing has got to be at the head of everyone’s vacation list. As you follow the rivers into the subterranean caves, it’s just you, your inner tube, and headlamp, which you will be required to wear in order to light the way. Stalagmites sticking out of the water and stalactites hover from above. Chambers, terraces, and altars stand in silence on the banks. You will be glad you chose this particular tour. There are tours for various age groups and stamina (couples, kids, and families are welcome). Certain tours will require fitness and agility. But be assured there is a Belize cave tubing tour that is just right for everyone.

In addition to tubing, consider adding a zip line adventure. It is mostly for those who want to stay dry. This is a fast-paced experience that will have you rushing over the treetops of the rain forest. Stay alert – you may hear the barking of a howler monkey or see a flock of parrots. There’s absolutely no better way to experience the lush flora and fauna of Belize’s rainforest. There’s adventure for everyone in Belize, and plenty of opportunities to make a lifetime of memories.

When it comes to sexual intimacies, foreplay may be associated much with women. If you are married for how many years and you need to put more effort in making your sex life exciting like before, learning some ideas on foreplay for couples can be something that makes marriage more exciting as well.

 

For Women

 

You may think men just want to have it and just roll over, but some men also want to be seduced. If you can pull off a good foreplay, it could be a great thing for both of you in reaching the height of sexual pleasure. So here are few ideas on some foreplay for couples that you might find useful in your sex life.

 

– Have a Little Strip Tease. Men are easily stimulated by what they see, so if you want to make extra effort to make lovemaking exciting, or you just want to make a variation of what you usually do, you can try to do foreplay by doing a little striptease. You can put on your sexy lingerie and free yourself from any inhibitions. You can add a little romantic music at the background and do a little dirty dancing for him.

 

– Talk Dirty. Men sure loves to hear what you want to do to him and what you want him to do to you. Just be creative and learn the things that can turn him on. You can also learn a few lines from some erotic magazines to turn him on, but just make sure your partner is not the very conservative, old-fashioned type who believes women are not supposed to talk dirty even during sexual intercourse.

 

– Be the first to say you want to make love to him. Some men love women seducing them. You can call him before he gets home, tell him about what you are wearing, and make his imagination run wild.

 

– Learn to caress the many erogenous zones of a man’s body. By stimulating these zones, foreplay can be enjoyed more wonderfully by men too.

 

For Men

 

The tips above are somehow things that women would also love to experience as well during foreplay, or before foreplay, but here are some other things you can do to excite her.

 

– Women love to hear the ‘feel good’ statements before you think about sliding your hands down there. Women are turned on by what they hear, thus sexy words can be a good way to excite her as well. Whispering sweet nothings to her ear and caressing other parts of her body aside from those sensitive parts will surely heat up the woman’s body into the act.

 

– Know other places of a woman’s body to touch and caress. Women feel wanted if they are being appreciated with small kisses on different parts of the body.

 

– An amazing lovemaking for women does not only mean penetration, so do not rush. You can use your tongue, your hands or you can talk dirty… there are actually creative ways to help build a woman’s sexual desire.

 

A little foreplay for couples could just be what they wanted to make their sex life exciting.

Himalaya is a power house of so many activities. It is a place where people go for meditation in the serenity nature and at the same time this mighty Himalaya is the venue for many adventurous activities. Adventure freaks around the globe visit Himalaya to have the contentment of their favorite activities. Some popular adventurous activities in Himalaya are:

Trekking:

Trekkers delight Himalaya offer variety of trekking routs to all types of people. It provides excellent opportunities to the trekkers to a huge variety of landscapes. Trekking is the best way to discover the pristine beauty of nature.

Mountaineering:

Himalaya is the greatest range of mountain on earth and thus a great venue for mountaineering. There are quite a few mountaineering destinations in Himalaya, these are Leh and Ladak, Manali, Sikkim, Darjeeling and some places in Uttaranchal. For mountaineers the call of Himalaya is just irresistible.

Mountain biking:

Mountain biking in Himalayas in very much exciting and thrilling. Only the adventurous bikers can feel the charm of it. The best biking routs in India are Ladakh, Manali and some places in Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh.

River rafting:

The rivers in Himalayas are best for rafting. The most exciting rafting sites in India are – Zankar river in Ladakh, Chandrabhaga in Lahaul, the Satluj near Shimla, the Ravi near Chamba and the Beas near Kullu, Spituk and Saspol in Jammu, Rishikesh, Dev Prayag, Tista in Sikkim and some more tributaries. There are different levels for different people in river rafting. The excitement, thrill and pleasure in white water rafting allure every adventurer.

Besides these there are other adventure available in India, like – camping, rock climbing, jeep safari, jungle safari etc. A fun filled person find many activities in Himalayas and frame them in their for ever.

Our society today talks of glamorous women while the Bible, the book of Proverbs talks about clamorous women. Proverbs 9:13 says “A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple and knoweth nothing”. Being a woman, the question is are you a glamorous woman or clamorous woman?

According to Encarta Dictionary’s definition, glamorous means

1. Artificially good-looking: dressed or made up to be good-looking, especially in a high-fashion manner.

2. Secondly, it also defined it as an exciting and desirable: desirable, especially in an exciting, stylish, or opulent way.

While Thesaurus defined glamorous women as stylish, fashionable, trendy (informal), glitzy, dazzling, splendid, beautiful, desirable, exciting, opulent.

As for clamorous women, the same Encarta has three definitions:

1. Demanding attention: demanding attention loudly and insistently

2. Loud: loud and excited or angry

3. Noisy: making a loud noise

Thesaurus on the other hands defined clamorous women as noisy, vociferous, loud, rowdy, boisterous, deafening, riotous, and raucous.

Putting all the above definitions together, glamorous women’s dressing are made up to be good-looking, especially in a high-fashion manner. Their dressing is desirable, especially in an exciting, stylish, or opulent way.

When glamorous women appear anywhere, you will normally see that their dressing is always stylish, fashionable and trendy. Their appearance is splendid, beautiful, desirable, exciting or opulent as compared to clamorous women or ladies.

On the other hands, clamorous women dressing are always demanding for attention loudly and insistently. The appearance of clamorous women is noisy, vociferous, loud and rowdy. You always see clamorous women appearing boisterous, deafening, riotous, and raucous.

Clamorous women are said to be raucous and looking at the meaning of raucous I was thrilled of the meaning. Thesaurus defined raucous as wild, loud, boisterous, harsh, disorderly, rough, unruly, hoarse, riotous, rowdy, and noisy.

So, going by the definition of glamorous woman, then one will judge some of the pictures or images Google and other search engine are posting as a direct opposite. That is to say, Google is posting the pictures of clamorous women in the name of glamorous women.

Practically, as said, the dressing of clamorous women or ladies are always demanding for attention loudly and insistently. That is clamorous women or ladies can never dress or wear clothes that did not expose parts of their bodies that suppose to be covered.

Some of them put on so transparent dresses or short skates that you are literally seeing their pants, all because they are demanding for attention. Some of the clamorous ladies always dress to show off their cleavages. In fact, one of such clamorous lady is so notorious in dressing to show off her boobs and she is so proud to answer the queen of boobs.

My lady, you should not be a clamorous woman but rather try to be a glamorous woman. The Bible in the book of Proverbs chapter 9 verse 13 said, “A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple and knows nothing”.

That is, according to the above, these women are foolish and that is the reason why they are clamorous. They are as well simple and as the above verse puts it, they knows nothing.

If you are still single, pray hard that you don’t end up marrying a clamorous woman. Those who married clamorous women, many of such men died before their time while some are quick to divorce their clamorous wives. As said, clamorous women are foolish and as such they are not marriageable.

However, marrying a glamorous woman is the same thing as marrying a virtuous woman. Proverbs chapter 12 verses 4 “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband”. In other words, it is far better to marry a virtuous and glamorous woman than to marry a foolish clamorous woman.

In conclusion, remember that House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife (a glamorous woman) is from the LORD. Proverbs 19: 14. So, pray that God will give you a glamorous woman as a wife (a prudent wife). Shalom.

I sometimes hear from faithful wives who are worried about their husband’s feelings after he has ended his affair. Many worry that even though their husband seems to be committed to the marriage, he is going to miss the drama and the excitement that the affair brought about. They worry that by comparison, their marriage is going to seem boring.

A wife might say, “my husband and I have been doing pretty well after his affair. I’m pleasantly surprised because he has been very cooperative with everything that I have asked of him. He comes home after work. He doesn’t go out anymore. And he hasn’t complained about this. But I worry that he is going to see just staying home as boring. I do know that my husband spent a lot of money on the other woman. They went out and did things all of the time. My husband and I have dinner together and care for our children. So I worry that he is going to miss the excitement of the affair. I have always thought that we had a pretty good sex life. But sex after you’ve been married for years probably can’t compete with forbidden affair sex. Am I right in thinking that men tend to miss the excitement when they end the affair?”

I suppose that some men might. But others are actually relieved to let it go because it was stressful to live with that kind of secrecy and lies. I am not a man who has had an affair, but I have spoken with (and have heard from) many of them. Granted, because of my articles, I am probably more likely to hear from those who want to save their marriages. But frankly, many of them are living in a sort of pretend fantasy world during the affair. They keep the affair and their marriage separate in their minds as much as is possible. However, once the affair is discovered, this deception and cover up can’t continue. And that is when the husband must actually see the reality of what he is doing. It is usually only then that the seriousness of his actions can no longer be denied.

Putting This In Perspective: Many men in this situation become extremely afraid of losing their wife and their family. They suddenly see the affair for what is was – nothing more than pretend. And worse, now they have put their family at risk. Once a husband has faced losing his wife and his cozy, comfortable family, he can actually start to put both on a pedestal, which may be why you’re seeing him being so cooperative about staying home.

That is not to say that there aren’t some men who truly want to save their marriage, but who are also almost addicted to the affair and to the other woman. So although they tell their wife that the affair is over and they believe that their words are sincere, this doesn’t stop them from continuing to communicate with the other person because they just can’t seem to let the whole thing go.

But that is not true of every man. Since statistics show us that most couples actually stay together after an affair, it’s my observation that the majority of men want their wife and their marriage. Many are happy to be participating in their family rituals again because they were afraid that they’d no longer be welcome to do so. Because of this, many are actually happy with (and comforted by) your nights eating side by side and spending time with your kids.

Easing Your Mind: Of course, any marriage can benefit from spicing things up if you think that this might help. After my husband’s affair, my husband and I did make a point to step outside of our comfort zones. We traveled more. We spiced up our date nights by agreeing that we would try something new every week. We found joint hobbies that we could pursue together. These things were very beneficial because it felt like we were discovering something new during our recovery and this was fun for both of us.

However, there was no way around the fact that we were parents with children. Our family came first. We couldn’t pretend that we were newlyweds with no responsibilities, although we did make an effort to keep things fresh. Ultimately, neither of us were bored or felt that our lives lacked excitement. After all that we had been through, just spending quiet nights with our family in our home felt like a privilege because there were times when neither of us were sure that our marriage (or our family) was going to remain intact.

So to answer the original question, sure, there are some men who miss the excitement of the affair. But in my observation, most men are relieved to be back in their family’s lives. They realize their mistake and they realize that there is a sweetness and comfort in their family and marital history, which they take solace in. When something that you value is put at risk over your mistake, you often are so happy to still have it, that you don’t see it as boring. You’re just glad that it is yours. However, if excitement is something that you worry about, there is nothing wrong with trying to spice things up so that neither of you are bored or lacking in excitement.

Take another deep breath and feel the bliss of complete relaxation as the air moves in and out of your blissfully relaxed body. You are now ready to move on to the next phase.

Picture a blackboard in front of you. Grab a piece of chalk and write the number 10 on it. After you have looked at the number 10 on the blackboard for a moment, grab a sponge and wipe it off. Every time you see a number on the blackboard, it is going to take you to a deeper level of relaxation.

Next, write: ‘I love pink lipstick’ in the right corner of the blackboard. Look at it for a while and hold the image in your mind. Then take the sponge and wipe it off.

Write the number 9 on the board and take in the image in front of you. With every number you write, you will feel more and more comfortable, and more and more relaxed. Wipe off the number 9 and write ‘I love wearing pink lipstick’ in the left corner of the blackboard. Save the image in your memory and wipe it off.

Write the number 8 on the blackboard. Wipe off the number 8 and write ‘Wearing pink lipstick turns me on’ on the left side of the blackboard. Take in the sentence you have written and wipe it off.

Write the number 7 on the blackboard. Take a deep comfortable breath as you look at it and feel a deep sense of calm permeate every part of your body. Wipe off the number 7 and write ‘I love my lips pink and moist.’ on the right side of the blackboard. Take a good long look at what you have written.

Then, wipe it off and write the number 6 on the blackboard. Feel how looking at the number 6 softens any tensions you were holding in your muscles and allows you to feel pliant and lubricated. Wipe off the number 6 and write ‘I love playing with myself when I wear lipstick’ in the middle of the blackboard and look at it for a few seconds enjoying the effect of your words.

Wipe them off and write the number 5 on the blackboard. Feel another gentle wave of relaxation calm your body. Wipe off the number 5 and write ‘I want to wear lipstick more often.’ at the top of the blackboard. Look at this great statement and notice how happy it makes you.

Wipe it off and write the number 4 on the blackboard. You are feeling truly at home in your beautiful body. Wipe off the number 4 and write ‘Wearing lipstick makes me feel very excited.’ near the bottom of the blackboard. Look at the words on the blackboard.

Wipe them off and write the number 3. Feel another gust of peace and happiness permeate your body. Wipe off the number 3 and write ‘Putting on lipstick arouses me.’ in the left corner of the blackboard. Look at the sentence good and hard.

Wipe it off and write the number 2. You are feeling ecstatically relaxed. Wipe off the number 2 and write ‘I can’t wait to wear lipstick again’ in the right corner of the board. Look at what you have written and agree with the statement.

Wipe it off and write the number 1. A deep sense of joy and heaviness pervades your body.

You are feeling sluggish yet you can also feel the tickle of something exciting vibrate in your cells as you look at the number 1. Wipe off the number 1 and write one last sentence in the very center of the blackboard. This is what I want you to write: ‘When I put on pink lipstick, I get so turned on’

Core Visualization

Picture a yard stick standing upright in front of you. As you look more closely, you see that it contains numbers from 0 to 100. 0 is the bottom number where you find yourself in a complete state of hypnotic trance. At 100, you are completely awake and alert.

First, I want you to show me where on the yardstick you are now. How deep is your present state of relaxation? As you choose your number, you will see a marker slide to this number.

I am now going to count down from 10 to 0. Each number I say will make your marker slide down further as you become more and more relaxed. I am going to guide you towards a deeper and deeper state of hypnosis as the marker moves down.

You will feel wonderful listening to my voice as you become more and more relaxed and comfortable. The more you allow me to guide you towards perfect relaxation, the more you allow the marker to slide down, the more successful you will be, the more excited you will get about wearing lipstick.

Let me begin to count, and as I count, watch the marker slide down.

10 – Watch the marker slide down and feel what a wonderful change this causes in your body. You are so relaxed already!

9 – You feel incredibly relaxed and comfortable.

8 – You love wearing lipstick.

7 – The beauty of lush, pink lipstick is thrilling.

6 – Wearing lipstick turns you on.

5 – Sink deeper and remember how wonderful you look and how excited you feel when you put on lipstick.

4 – You are excited about wearing lipstick and want to wear it more often

3 – Feel your strong desire to wear lipstick

2 – You want to wear lipstick!

1 – Feel the moist lipstick on your lips and rub it between your lips to make it spread and let your lips appear plump and full.

0 – Very good. You love wearing lipstick and you remember how much you want to wear lipstick. Feel yourself getting more and more relaxed. Your eyelids are extremely heavy, and you allow them to rest in this deep, deep state of trance. Your forehead is relaxed and your mind is open to any ideas you want to implant in it. You are ready to get excited. You want to wear lipstick.

Your entire body sinks deep into the utmost reaches of relaxation. Let every tension in your body disappear and relax. In this complete state of relaxation, feel your strong desire to wear lipstick.

Now that you have reached the deepest level of relaxation, your body is ready to get turned on and let desire permeate its very core. While you remain completely relaxed, I will now guide your receptive subconscious towards the excitement you want in your life. Being fully relaxed, you will be able to cherish the arousing experience triggered by putting on lipstick, and let it permeate your entire body.

We will start with 1 to begin your exciting lipstick adventure and guide you towards 10, where you will be so turned on that you will be ready to cum hard like a girl. At that stage, you will be ready to repeat this experience any time after you come out of your trance.

1 – What is the most exciting experience for you? That’s right, putting on lipstick. Picture yourself carrying your favorite lipstick and feeling excited at the mere thought of putting it on.

2 – You are already on your way to a mirror where you can finally put on your lipstick and begin your adventure.

3 – You are now in front of a mirror. You are very excited as you get ready to put on your lipstick.

4 – Take your lipstick and feel its weight in your hand. Notice how the way your fingers play with it and connect with its surface is sending shivers of stimulation and excitement through your body.

5 – Open your lipstick and bring it closer to your face. Feel how its vibrant color send thrills of excitement through your body.

6 – Notice in the mirror how your lips have already parted with sensual arousal, and guide your lipstick towards your sensually parted lips. When the moist lipstick touches your mouth, you feel yourself getting very excited. As you spread the vibrant color across your lips you can feel yourself getting very aroused.

7 – Visualize yourself in front of the mirror as you put on your favorite lipstick. As you continue putting it on your lips, you can feel yourself becoming very aroused. You run the lipstick across your lips and your excitement continues to grow. Rub your lips together and feel how wonderful it is to be wearing lipstick. You want more of this feeling. You want to do this more often.

8 – Let your lipstick work its final touch of wonder and slowly and gently let it slide across all areas of your body in which you feel excited and aroused. Feel how it sends an electric charge through these areas, and turns you on so much now, you can no longer wait. You need to touch yourself.

9 – Slide your hand down your panties and very gently touch yourself. You feel incredibly turned on by your lipstick, by your beautiful image in the mirror, and now by your gentle, titillating, teasing touch as you play with yourself like a girl.

10 – Finally, you can no longer wait. Allow your fingers to add more intensity, to become stronger. Now that they know exactly what to do, how to turn you on, how to tease you, and how to please you, you can push your own buttons, you can let your fingers push down as they stroke the most exciting spots, and rub yourself harder and harder.

You can feel how your body wants to push against your fingers and turn inside-out to get every last bit of pleasure it can possible achieve. You rub, slide and swirl, rub harder and more swiftly. Your roller coaster ride of excitement is now in full swing. You can take this feeling anywhere you like as long as you bring your lipstick. You can revive it any time. Remember. All you need is lipstick.

You have arrived where you want to be. You know how you feel when you are aroused as a girl. You know what you want, and where your desire is heading. Remember: all you need to get this feeling is lipstick. All you have to do is put on your lipstick. You want to do it more and more often. Doesn’t it feel fantastic to be wearing lipstick?

In a moment I will count to five. When I say five, I will snap my fingers, and you will wake up feeling energetic and fully present, young, healthy, and revitalized.

One – feel yourself rise from your deep state of hypnosis further towards the surface.

Two – Notice how a refreshing energy spreads through your body, waking up your heavy tissue, filling it with new energy.

Three – In a moment, when I snap my fingers you will feel much better and much more alert than you did before this session

Four – Your Eyes are getting ready. Open them and look at the world from these alert eyes, feeling young, healthy, and refreshed.

Five (snapping fingers) Come out of your trance completely now and notice how you are feeling much better than before. Allow this feeling to sink in and affect your day: you feel like a million bucks!

You have a choice in life: You can make it boring, or you can make it exciting and wonderful. Torture and misery are really in perception and the mind as a rule. Sure, there are some circumstances that we seemingly cannot control, but overall, the more discipline, thinking, knowledge, responsibility and control you have within you, the better.

I view excitement or boredom though as a thing you create within yourself that projects outside, and not the other way around. All causes are most important in that we are the genuine leaders of our own consciousness as a whole. In this sense our thoughts do rule reality with an “iron fisted” working out of them in every nuance and turn of our lives.

Recently, I was thinking about atoms, electrons, molecules, energy, also what makes up reality and everything. At very deep levels, it does not control us, we control it. Some know it, some do not. When our deep consciousness is active, we are in control, and life becomes exciting and sometimes even great. When we are genuinely asleep in consciousness, that is when the boredom and all of that kind of thing happens. Indeed, this is not just my opinion, this is a reality in life: For, I am saying the more awake your causing consciousness, the better life can be. Indeed, effects are just effects, but causes are always most important when really understood.

So, when I think of the words: “We are happy as we make up our minds to be.” They take on the best new meaning when the cause is fully considered, and the effect to be understood as the effect and not the cause itself.

Boredom and excitement are simply effect, but the chairperson of consciousness or you is the cause of either, and should be considered the most important equation in the reality of the cause and effect of boredom or excitement. Realistically, why do you think the term “cause and effect” is never, ever said as “effect and cause”anyway? The cause, even to those unconscious of it is most important, and to those conscious of it, it is most important in every way. What do you think the Richard Bandler and John Grinder books about “The Structure of Magic” were about anyway? So, I end with Arthur Charles Clarke’s most famous quote paraphrased: “High magic and high technology become indistinguishable from each other at a certain high level, especially to those lower in awareness of it.” Take from this article what you may, but either way everything has a cause and it is more important that the effect.

Head to the Beach

Retreat under the shade of a beach umbrella during the sweltering morning sun, or take a cold dip in the ocean at Mount Lavinia Beach. During weekends, this is an excellent spot to meet up with friends, fly kites, or just chill with a cool drink in hand. The beach is also one of the top places to visit in Colombo for couples, thanks to the romantic setting. Come sun down, the bars and restaurants that line the beachfront come alive with music, and several EDM parties are held in this area as well. To find out time and dates, keep an eye on social media.

Chill out at Barefoot (or any other cafe!)

Cafe culture has really picked up in the city, and there’s no shortage of places to go that not only provide a decent cup of latte, but some really good entertainment as well. Barefoot cafe has several options from a quiz night held every Wednesday, to live jazz performances at noon every Sunday. If they’re showcasing a new artist, you may even be able to pop into the gallery to view the work. Other cafes like Barista, Bakes by Bella and Aura Cafe hold open mic night performances at least one a month, check out their Facebook pages for dates and times since these aren’t routine gigs. If you’re a poetry buff, gather with other poets on the first Sunday of the month at Hansa cafe, from 2pm onward for Poetry Pilau – you can read your own work or simply sit back and listen to readings. Thanks to cafes like these, Colombo’s weekend events options are steadily rising.

Wander the streets of Pettah

While this may not be the first point in your list of places to visit in Colombo, exploring the streets of Pettah can be quite fun. Full of sound, colours and smells – plunge into the chaos that makes up Pettah, from endless rows of shops, stalls filled with colourful handbags and sarees, or open markets where you can find designer knock offs at bargain prices. People watch as they go about their day buying and selling everything conceivably under the sun. When the madness around you starts to get too much, duck into one of the numerous Bombay Sweet houses for piping hot beef samosas and a tall icy faluda, before venturing out again.

Go on a weekend Break

If you are in the mood to travel, then head out of the city on a weekend break. Sri Lanka has plenty of incredible travel destinations on offer, from affordable villas along the golden beaches of Bentota and Hikkaduwa on the southern coast, to cosy bungalows amid the lush green hills of Hatton and Nuwara Eliya in the hill country.

One of the most anticipated events in February in Pampanga is the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. This colorful festivity, started in 1994 and has increased its popularity since, is considered as the biggest aviation event in the country. At Php200 per person, this is one great idea of a pre-valentine bonding with your loved one.

While it has become quite famous, there are people who might not still be familiar with this colorful and exciting event in Clark Freeport. So what to expect during this event? Well, first of all, members of the Philippine Air Force, together with their counterparts in the ASEAN member countries as well as the United States Air Force, will be holding sky jumps, air exhibitions and displaying military equipment and hardware to promote their roles in national security. A series of skydiving expeditions are lined up throughout the whole festival. The expert parachutists of the members of the Air Force from various countries always have a surefire way of impressing the crowd as they showcase their daredevil ways to the public.

Another popular attraction in the Hot Air Fiesta are the paragliders. Now, these equipment might look breakable and cannot hold a single pilot, but they are surprisingly sturdy and can be maneuvered easily. Pilots on board this small craft are allowed to fly lower and can get as close to the crowd as possible. Another cool gadget that visitors will definitely see here are the remote-controlled aeroplanes. Watch them dive, buzz and do acrobatic movements.

Visitors are also given the chance to see amazing kite designs and are given the opportunity to fly one. The Kite Team Philippines and the Philippine Kite Association are teaming up for the kite show, showcasing their best kite fliers in the country. They use multistring kites and are able to fly them in formation, dance and even land in the palm of the visitor’s hand.

The main highlight of this event, expectedly, are the colorful hot air balloons that adorn the early morning sky. This 2012, more than 20 hot air balloons, including six that are sponsored by known Philippine brands, will be flown starting the first day of the festival.

For those who are not familiar how to get to the venue, visitors from Manila and are driving can either take NLEX (via Dau Exit) or via SCTEX. For those who are taking the former, they need to make a left turn (towards Angeles City) after the Dau Exit. Take another left at the intersection, just past the bus terminal leading to SM City Clark. The venue is right after the entrance of SM.

For those visitors who are taking the SCTEX, take the southbound lane towards the Subic/Olongapo area and exit towards “Clark South”. Make a right turn after the toll booth and make another right once you get to GCLC Fountain. Follow the road until you reach the main road and turn right.

To those who are coming from other parts to Asia to participate in the event, the nearest airport is the Clark International Airport. The venue is just very near the airport, specifically within the same freeport area.

So pack your bags and head out to one of the most exciting festivals of the month. Who knows, this might be a Valentine weekend that will be most memorable.