Written by our dear client following an aLIVE experience discovering the best of “made in Italy”, in 2024. "All roads lead back to Rome, well at least in my life. Its captivating beauty, vibrant people, indulgent food, and convenient airport make it the perfect start to any good Italian holiday. The moment I landed, I was greeted with my favorite Roman pastry: a maritozzo."...

The explanation is very simple: when we are immersed in the present moment, we are living in the here and now. We are not thinking. At all. We are living. Moment by moment. We are aLIVE with what IS, and receptive to our present concrete reality. Immersive experiences do that because they inundate our senses - they TAKE OVER. We literally don’t have a choice. We are part of the experience and no matter how great of a multi-tasking / multi-thinking expert we believe ourselves to be - when we’re in the present moment, there is no multi-tasking. There is simply the NOW. And that’s when parts of the brain literally shut off.

I have spoken about this time and time again: the importance of a good guide. It can make or break an entire experience. No matter how well a journey has been crafted in advance, no matter how much work has gone in the “behind the scenes” - the people on the ground shape the journey’s perspective: the outcome lies in their hands.

The north-east of Brazil: a kiter’s ultimate paradise. But this time paradise got an upgrade… introducing “the reef”! The clear water, the orange - golden corals everywhere… patches across the flat ocean as far as the eye could see. Infinite. Freedom. And absolute beauty. A magical afternoon spent out on the water. Half an hour away from the shore, out into the ocean - kiting over the corals towards the horizon… beauty all around.

Herb. Marijuana. Ganja. Cannabis. Jamaica. Synonyms? You cannot go to Jamaica without interacting with the world of Cannabis in one way or another. Whether it’s seeing the people smoking around you on the streets, as a symbol on murals around or catching whiffs of it in the air on any beach you go to… cannabis is present here. But the Jamaican approach to the herb is unlike anywhere else: it is part of their spirituality.

I spoke to Ed about this… I asked him if there was any hunting going around. He told me not on this reserve, but there are regions in Tanzania where this is still permitted. I asked him how the animals react to humans and vehicles in those areas… he told me as soon as they spot them they’re off running away. Of course.. that makes sense. Here, they trust.

Tòla Dòlza. Emilian dialect for “take it easy'“ - the words that greeted us when we entered Bottura’s Gatto Verde. When you hear Modena, you hear Massimo Bottura. The two are linked. Modena is Bottura’s playground and both home as well as the main inspiration behind his creations. Massimo Bottura. 3 Michelin Stars. Osteria Francescana. Food. Modena.

The story of how aLIVE started is intimately entwined with my own story. It was born from my own experience and personal search for meaning. Human nature has always been the most fascinating topic for me - understanding people, why we are the way we are and do the things we do. How to become happier and more fulfilled individuals, and how to find purpose in life.

Spotted their “check your energy before you enter” sign at the entrance and walked in to what looked like a scene from Avatar. Surrounded by these beautiful plants that seemed artificial - turquoise blooms and clusters of claw-shaped flowers. A surreal scene. They’re called Jade Vines and are absolutely magnificent.

I’m a firm believer that whenever venturing into new territories, we should try and adopt the local customs and traditions as much as we can while being there. Experiencing the place “like a local” and trying to understand the meaning behind their customs. Acclimatising to the “place’s rhythm” - tuning in.

As I walked through the lush, fragrant garden towards our breakfast terrace, I was accompanied by a hummingbird and an incognito donkey that I later found out was not allowed to be there. This was my first encounter with Paracuru, a small fisherman village in the Northeast region of Brazil.