2010 May
May 31
Tantric Sex: A Beginner’s Guide
icon1 valenciablogger | icon2 Valencia | icon4 05 31st, 2010| icon31 Comment »

Multiple orgasms for men? An orgasm that lasts 30 minutes? The best sex you’ve ever had? Welcome to Tantra – it’s old, it’s famous, and it works, but you don’t have to read the thousands of volumes that have been written about it.

Tantric Sex Guide

Tantric sex, or Sacred Sex, is sex that is not only about the body. Without wanting to sound too airy-fairy, we’re talking about soul sex that goes beyond the usual recipes of foreplay/ five miutes of sex/ sleep. It is a way to break the usual bounds of shyness and distance from your partner.

Most Tantra practitioners will tell you that Tantric sex is best between two people in love, and interested in giving it a try. Start by maintaining eye contact. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds, as we are almost programmed to keep our eyes closed during kissing and orgasm. You don’t need to stare your partner down like you’re about to start a fight – This especially applies to the moment of orgasm, when Tantra tells us we are at our most vulnerable.

Tantra is about using the whole body in the sexual experience, not just the genitals. The idea is to take your time (although you don’t have to spend hours and hours on a single ear-lobe as many true Tantra practitioners do). Imagine that you are a kid again, and are not used to going ‘all the way.’ Remember when kissing was were it stopped? Try spending some time in physical intimacy with a rule of ‘No genital contact.’ This can help you focus on other areas of the body – ever tried spending a little time your partner’s shoulders, or the back of their neck, without feeling rushed to move on to the next thing?

Try sitting face to face, completely naked, with the idea of pressing as much skin as possible against the other person. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and as a woman’s is only a tenth the thickness of a man’s, this is a really good way to bring her arousal up to her partner’s level– chicks dig intimacy.

Tantra likes us to focus on every aspect of our partner’s face and bodies and appreciate all of them – from the sexy shape of their bodies to the fine lines around their eyes, the key here is awareness and acceptance. Until you are comfortable with your own body, and appreciate your partner’s body, it’s hard to fully let go of inhibitions during sex. It’s especially difficult to do that thing where you maintain eye contact! Really, these things do take practice, but what a fun hobby to have. Rent secluded apartments in Valencia and take your favourite bed-buddy away for a few days of Tantra practice.

May 26
Did the Moon Landing Really Happen?
icon1 valenciablogger | icon2 Valencia | icon4 05 26th, 2010| icon31 Comment »

When the US was racing Russia to the moon, there were plenty of good stories going around. For instance: the US spent millions of dollars developing a pen that could write in zero gravity (ink doesn’t run when it’s floating). The Russian answer? They used a pencil.

the-moon-landing-fraud

Point is that the Americans were under pressure, a lot of pressure, to get to the moon before the Russians did. So some people believe they faked the whole thing, and that the footage was shot in the Nevada desert. The 3 astronauts on the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin have turned 80 years old this year. If they have something to confess, they better do it fast.

When Neil Armstrong made his famous speech in 1969, everyone with a TV stopped to watch in wonder. No-one noticed that the flag was waving in the wind (what wind, it’s space!), or the shadows that pointed in opposite directions (there could only have been one light source – they flew there in it) or the dark sky behind them (erm, where did the stars go?). And how about the fact that there is no visible blast crater, while the rocket engines should have blown away tons of moon dust in the ultimate seconds? It does not make sense because the footprints in the dust are extremely well preserved (as if they were made in wet sand).

What about all those people at the Mission Control in Houston? Are they all part of the conspiracy? Not necessarily. Maybe they are convinced they really sent that shuttle to the moon. After all, we saw them leaning back at looking at their screens, just seconds before the launch. But we don’t know what they were looking at, nor what they were doing. Is it possible that they just read the (fake) information on their monitors and made decisions based on pre-arranged simulations?

Although detailed rebuttals have been made, and Neil Armstrong is such a nice guy that it’s difficult to not believe him, rumours still persist. Unless it’s just misinformation being spread by the Russians…!

What do you think? Take a good look at the immense infinite universe before you decide. In Valencia, there is a great planetarium (L’Hemisferic) where you can enjoy an outstanding show of the stars, galaxy and solar system. Rent the best apartments in Valencia and decide for yourself if the story is true or not!

May 20

It’s going to be tough to leave George W. Bush out of this collection, but let’s break with tradition and remind ourselves that he was not the first politician to say really stupid things, and unfortunately he won’t be the last!

political-sayings

Ronald Reagan:
“Facts are stupid things.”
“Trees cause more pollution than automobiles do.”

Nguyen Co Thatch (Vietnamese foreign minister)
“We are not without accomplishment. We have managed to distribute poverty equally.”

Dan Quayle
“The internet is a great way to get on the net.”
“It isn’t pollution that is hurting the environment, it’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”
“If we do not succeed, then we run the risk of failure”
“I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made”

The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger
“I think gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman”

Charles de Gaulle
“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.”
“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians”

Jacques le Blanc, French ambassador on nuclear weapons
“I do not like this word ‘bomb.’ It is not a bomb. It is a device that is exploding.”

John McCain:
“I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, in the dark, fed with scraps. Do you think I want to do that all over again as vice president of the United States?”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (President of Iran)
“In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals, like in your country”

Barack Obama
“I’ve now been in 57 states – I think one left to go”
“It was also interesting to see that political interaction in Europe is not that different from the United States Senate. There’s a lot of — I don’t know what the term is in Austrian, wheeling and dealing”

Oh, ok, just ONE by George W: “I’ll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office.”

Rent apartments in Valencia where at least if the politicians are dumb, you probably won’t understand what they’re saying.

May 14

This does not refer to the “One too many drinks” one night stand that you wish to forget about. Or this scenario: “Honey, was that good for you?” – “I don’t remember what just happened.” Probably the worst answer you could give to this question right after you had sex, right?! But what if it wasn’t just a dumb line? The term ‘sexual amnesia’ is not the latest lame excuse to forget about your last awkward sexual encounter or Bill Clinton’s pathetic attempt to publicly justify his infidelity.

sexual-amnesia

Sexual amnesia or more formally “recurrent coital amnesia” is actually a common and existing problem. Ok, I definitely exaggerated when I used the term ‘common’, but as rare as it is, it does really happen. This phenomenon occurs during or right after sexual intercourse. Most commonly right after having an orgasm. It wipes out memories and not just memories about the sex. The memory loss is caused because the blood flow to the brain is restricted. The memory is usually lost for 6 hours but sometimes the memories can even be lost forever. Doctors classify sexual amnesia as a type of transient global amnesia (TGA).

Luckily the risk to develop this condition is low. So for any of you out there that thought about trying to use this as an excuse when the next sexual encounter isn´t to your liking, FORGET IT!

Here are some facts about sexual amnesia: It only affects less than 12 out of 100,000 people. Men are at higher risk to suffer an episode of sexual amnesia (go figure?!). Mostly it affects people in their 50s and 60s. Usually there is no relapse of sexual amnesia, but 1 out of 5 will experience a repeat attack.

Prevention: Abstinence
A condom for the brain has not been invented yet and I doubt that people would like to see a neurologist every time before they want to have sex. Relax everyone! It doesn’t automatically mean that staying away from sex will keep you from experiencing this type of memory loss. It can be caused by any activity that leads to hard physical exertion. But also migraine headaches, mini-strokes and seizures have caused TGA episodes before. Other causes include severe pain, emotional distress and even sudden hot or cold water immersion.

Maybe the best way to avoid sexual amnesia (or any type of TGA) is to relax. Pack your bag and get ready for a vacation to make some memories that you won´t t want to forget about. For the best accommodation, rent Apartments in Valencia.

May 12
Valencia, Painting the sea
icon1 valenciablogger | icon2 Valencia | icon4 05 12th, 2010| icon32 Comments »

Valencia, though it might not be able to compete with other Mediterranean cities like Barcelona or Marseilles as far as maritime traffic is concerned, and despite being smaller centre, has gained a reputation as being an important maritime city, due in part to its role in the legendary America’s Cup boating competition and other aquatic sports.

valencia-art

A rich and interesting exhibition at the IVAM (Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderna) “Pintar sobre el mar” (Painting the sea) is on display until May 18, 2010, and collects paintings which reflect on the sea. The exhibit reflects on the sea, its vastness, beauty, mystery, danger, as well as the sense of freedom that it can awaken. The sea has always been a source of inspiration for artistic masters, just think of works like “Typhoon” by Joseph Conrad or “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai.

In the halls of Valencia, the exhibit in IVAM address several aspects of the marine environment through paintings and photographs by artists such as Joaquin Sorolla, Josep Renau, Robert Frank, Grete Stern, Team Reality, Gabriel Basilico, André Masson, Herbert List, Joan French, Joan Fontcuberta, Oscar Molina, Richard Hamilton, Eduardo Arroyo, Karel Appel, Gerhard Richter and America Sanchez. Several masterpieces are part of the IVAM collection, while others have been brought to Valencia exclusively for the exhibition. It is divided into five sections: Sea as a figure; Sea as an icon, Sea as distance, Sea as matter and Sea as disappearance

Let yourselves be conquered by the magic of the Mediterranean Sea and charmed by Valencia, famous for its enchanting sites and white posts in the distance,in a gul that has ben graced by a race with the sailing world’s most sophisticated boats and best skippers.

May is an ideal month for a trip to Spain, and Valencia is the perfect city to experience the best in culture, sea and good food. For lodging, choose comfortable and affordable apartments in Valencia and relax to the sound of the waves.

May 4
Tattoo conventions Valencia
icon1 valenciablogger | icon2 Valencia | icon4 05 4th, 2010| icon34 Comments »

Perhaps you’ve realized that tattoos are an increasingly more popular form of expression. If you’re curious about this world, there is no better way to get to know it than attending a tattoo convention. But if you have never attended such an event, it can sometimes seem like a different world, with its own codes and rules.

tatoo-valencia

Here are five reasons why you should go, and five basic rules to follow

First, why should you go to a tattoo convention?

1. There is something very special about seeing so much body art in places generally reserved for business conventions. Conventions break the preconception you might have had that tattoos are just for bikers and punks; you’ll see families, people with lots of tattoos or none, fashion types, university professors, etc. The world of tattooing is above all a world that is open to art.

2. They are a great opportunity to get work done by an artist whose style complements your own even though they live in another city. Tattooing is an art in which all (ok, maybe just the best) work done is custom, and the normal canvas is your skin. Given that, it’s very important to choose an artist with care. If you want a masterpiece on your pack, it’s possible that the corner shop which offers two-for-one piercing on Wednesdays might not be the best place. It’s definitely worth it to attend a convention and get to know the artists, and decide to get a tattoo with someone whose work you truly admire.

3. They aren’t just about tattoos, typically there are vendors of clothing and merchandise, concerts, exhibits, shows and lectures.

4. And very cheap beer. It’s worth mentioning that the beers are almost always cheaper than in your typical bar or café…. Which leads us to point number 5

5. The parties are often, very, but very, memorable.

So what should you do once you are inside?

1. be polite. Like anywhere else, it’s important to be respectful towards the people you know or don’t, even if their aesthetic is different than yours.

2. If you know in advance that you want to get a tattoo with a particular artist in advance, get in touch before the convention. Popular artists often work non-stop during a convention.

3. Don’t go looking for a “discount”. Although the prices might sometimes be lower than in a shop, depending on the artist, work and convention, sometimes they are more expensive, keep in mind that artists have had to pay an entry fee, transportation and a hotel just to be there.

4. Although I said the beer is very cheap, nobody likes to work when a slobbering drunk is making dangerous circles around the room.

5. Enjoy the atmosphere. There is art all around and over every surface. Look and get inspired. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask artist’s about there work, get tattooed and have a good time.

This year celebrates the tenth anniversary of the international tattoo expo of Valencia, which will be held the 11th, 12th and 13th of June 2010. Special this year you can expect to see the world’s reining queen of tattoo, Isobel Varley, who according to the Guinness World’s Records is the most heavily tattooed woman in the world. Rent affordableapartments in Valencia, and have a comfortable place to rest up after getting tattooed.