There is a specific sound that haunts every hiker who has set foot in Palauig, Zambales. It isn’t the howling wind of the Cordilleras or the rushing water of a river trek. It is the rhythmic, hollow crunch-clack-crunch of hiking boots striking loose stones. For 18 kilometers going up and 18 kilometers coming down, this sound is your soundtrack. Welcome to Mt. Tapulao, the "High Peak" of the Zambales Mountain Range. Standing at 2,037 meters … [Read more...]
Hungary in a Hurry: A Quick Adventure through Enchantment
Soon after landing in Budapest, a friend and I were promptly held in one of several contiguous rooms. People from other flights kept arriving, ultimately packing us in like sardines. One of the more curious souls decided to go talk to the well-armed security guards. Apparently we were under a lockdown due to a bomb threat and we were being held until security until bomb sniffing dogs had made a careful assessment of the situation. After about … [Read more...]
Nothing to Lose by J.A. Jance
This New York Times Bestseller is another slow building suspense novel by J.A. Jance featuring its main character, private investigator J.P. Beamont. He travels to Alaska to pursue a cold-case which has personal ramifications. While working for the Seattle Police Department nearly 20 years prior, his partner Sue Danielson was murdered by her ex husband. J.P. was on the scene of the crime and his quick thinking saved Danielson's two boys. Now … [Read more...]
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville Tennessee – April 2026
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum originally opened in 1967 in Nashville's Music Row. The museum moved to its current location in downtown Nashville in 2001 and features three stories in more then 350,000 square feet of space. A mecca and a must visit for all country music lovers - the focus is on the music of course but also the history and stories of country music. The building itself represents country music - from the air looks like a … [Read more...]
How to Fly Smart: Scoring Cheap Flight Tickets for the Journey of a Lifetime
There is a particular thrill that comes with watching a departure board flip from one destination to the next. Nairobi. Reykjavik. Bangkok. Lima. Each name is a doorway, and every seasoned traveler knows that the trick is not just choosing which door to walk through — it's knowing how to get there without leaving your travel fund in tatters on the airport floor. I've been booking international flights since the mid-1990s, back when you called … [Read more...]
Porto or Lisbon: An Honest Comparison for Travellers Planning a Long Stay
The Porto-versus-Lisbon debate has been running for as long as budget airlines have served both cities. For a weekend trip, the answer barely matters - both are excellent and you should visit both. But for travellers planning a month or longer, the differences between Portugal's two major cities start to matter in ways that no weekend can reveal. I have spent extended time in both. Here is what I have learned about living in each, rather than … [Read more...]
Lisa Steinmann, Minnesota Writer and Journalist on Nordic Sauna Culture
Lisa Steinmann is a textile artist, educator, writer, and student of fiber arts. She authors Bad Sauna/Good Stories, a blog exploring sauna as sanctuary and daily practice. She is developing a book examining how textiles have been integral to sauna throughout history -- as functional, sensual and creatively considered materials. Sauna bathing and textile-making are intertwined practices rooted in the natural environment and ancestral ways of … [Read more...]
Major Las Vegas Casino Operator Considers Takeover Bid
Reports suggest a major Las Vegas casino operator is thinking about a takeover. If it happens, the move could change the way the city’s casinos compete. Investors are watching closely, but so are employees and players who follow shifts in ownership. Even small changes among top operators can influence daily routines on the Strip. Thinking about scale helps. How many casinos are in Las Vegas may surprise some. Each property has its own … [Read more...]
Exploring Japan Without Connectivity Worries: Why Reliable Data Makes Travel Easier
Traveling in Japan has its own kind of rhythm. It is fast, organized, and remarkably smooth. But only if you can align with it. It all seems very simple on the surface. The country has trains that always run on schedule, signs that often have translations, and a broad range of organized systems. However, when you are traveling between places in the country, small details can become much more important than you might think. Locating a … [Read more...]
How Private Planes Transform Travel to Remote Destinations
Reaching remote destinations has always required patience. Long layovers, restrictive schedules, and unpredictable connections are often part of the process. For many travellers, the journey becomes more demanding than the destination itself. Private aviation removes that complexity, with a noticeable difference from the first trip. Accessing Places Commercial Flights Don’t Reach Remote destinations rarely align with commercial airline … [Read more...]