We first popped into Riga on a bus from Tallinn - the old town is a short few minute walk away but we didn't yet know this. After we located the word "old town" in Latvian on the Internet and showed a taxi driver our phone screen - he just laughed and pointed in the direction of where we needed to walk. Two minutes later we walked into the Riga Old Town Hostel & Backpackers Pub where we immediately spotted the reception; it was located inside … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2014
Halifax Highlights: Old, New and Deja Vu
Lush greenery and countless bodies of water dominated the serene view I saw as my flight descended into Halifax Stanfield International Airport, providing evident contrasts to the dryness of my drought-ridden state of California and the bustle of making a connection in Detroit. I was excited about my upcoming road trip through part of Nova Scotia, but first would be a day in this Maritime province’s capital city of Halifax -- a return to a place … [Read more...]
Freak Show Without a Tent by Nevin Martell
This book is a fast, engaging and at times humorous read - highlighting stories from the author's childhood trips gallivanting with his family around the world. They visit exotic destinations - remote islands in the middle of the South Pacific and fish in Piranha infested waters - always in search of "local" non touristy experiences. The author's father was infected with wanderlust, taking trips without making many plans and always bringing … [Read more...]
Visit Detroit Today: Summer in The D
Explore Detroit this summer and submerge yourself in the traditions that articulate America’s great comeback city. Detroit offers plenty of summer activities combining cars, culture, gaming, music and sports. Watch as hydroplane boats race down the Detroit River at speeds over 200 mph to compete for the oldest trophy in the history of motor sports, the American Power Boat Association (APBA) Gold Cup. Vintage race boats, a hot rod show, live … [Read more...]
Living the Search for Peace
Probably the biggest lesson that has shown itself to my wife and me since our launch from material life into a wanderlust spin is, simply, peace. We thought we were setting out to explore the world and, on a deeper level, to shed attachments to the lives we had individually created, which were then brought into our new marriage. Not that those things haven’t happened. It’s just that the higher purpose seems to have been what Gandhi notoriously … [Read more...]
Stepping off the path + A train ride to Hampi, India
"Chai chai chai!" "Pakora! Samosa! Pakora!" I'm on a train heading east from Goa to Hampi. Food hawkers jump on and off at every stop rushing through the cars shouting, selling refreshments. I want to taste everything that passes—samosas served from a worn cardboard box, crispy masala rice snacks in a giant plastic garbage bag, fresh mango lassis carried in a tattered milk crate. Yet I cringe as the vendors grab food with their bare hands, … [Read more...]
Amelia Rose Earhart Poised to set Record as Youngest Woman Ever to Circumnavigate the Globe in a Single Engine Plane
OAKLAND, Calif. (July 11, 2014) – In just a few hours, Amelia Rose Earhart will set the record as the youngest woman ever to fly around-the-world in a single-engine plane. Upon the 31-year-old aviatrix’s historic landing in Oakland, Calif., she will symbolically complete the unfinished 1937 flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart. Amelia Rose, with her copilot Shane Jordan, has logged nearly 100 hours of flight time on this journey, stopping … [Read more...]
Constant Motion: Ghana, West Africa
Part One: The Edge I walk out the gates that creak in the colour orange. I don’t know if its the rust binding the brackets or if its the ever present sand that causes the creak, or causes the colour I hear it in. My sandals land over the rocks that have emerged from the worn down path. It’s not the sun, but the air, that causes me to sweat. Drips instantly begin to build along my shoulder blades, and the nape of my neck. Soon, my hair will … [Read more...]
Other Attractions To Visit In Your Orlando Family Vacation
Orlando, Florida is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the United States due to the prevalence of world-class theme parks like the Disney World. Because of this, it is flocked by families who want to have a blast during their holiday break. Bear in mind, however, that there are a myriad of other fun and exciting places to visit in Orlando other than Disney World. Like this award-winning theme park, the said attractions can … [Read more...]
Journey To Merida Mexico
Three key ingredients make up charming places - People, pride and respect. In my travels to Merida Mexico I found the perfect blend of all three. The Yucatan culture takes pride in their families, ancestors, and their rich history. Truly living for each day, they respect who they are, who they are with, and what they are doing. With respect for oneself, there is a respect for other people. Providing a place of safety, security and … [Read more...]