Driving out in the morning from Mission Viejo to Lake Elsinore mid week, I thought for sure I would have the poppy fields all to myself. I could not have been more wrong. Pulling off the 15 on Lake Street and heading onto Walker Canyon Road I soon found myself in a 'zoo'. Seemingly all of Los Angeles had made the trek out this Wednesday morning - traffic offers were directing cars, cars were backed up all the way into Walker Road - with no outlet … [Read more...]
The California “Poppypalooza”
“It’s everywhere,” he whispers to himself as he finally puts down his tablet and looks out the car window. For once, nature has won over my son’s attention. He puts the electronics aside and sweeps his gaze across the rolling hills surrounding Lake Elsinore. Expansive blankets of orange and yellow paint the otherwise green hills and canyons, with blotches of purple and white laced in between. After months of drenching winter rains, southern … [Read more...]
Biggest Super Bloom in Decade Blooms at Diamond Valley Lake
Hemet, CA (March 2019)—The largest super bloom in over a decade has finally arrived at Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California. According to officials, the most jaw-dropping views of the super bloom, caused by record rains, are from the Wildflower Trail, accessible from the Diamond Valley Lake Marina. Park officials recommend coming mid-week to avoid crowds, and ask visitors to please stay on the trail to protect the flowers. "While our super … [Read more...]
Biggest Super Bloom in Over a Decade Expected at Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California
Hemet, CA (Feb. 2019)—On the heels of record rains, officials at Diamond Valley Lake anticipate the biggest super bloom in over a decade in the coming weeks. The most jaw-dropping views will be from the Wildflower Trail, which opens March 2 and is accessible from the Diamond Valley Lake Marina. "This is the payoff from all that rain," said Kelly Lam, director of marketing for Basecamp Hospitality, which operates concessions at Diamond Valley … [Read more...]
A Glimpse Of Davao City
This busy metropolis on the southeastern island of Mindanao is one of the world’s largest cities in terms of land area. Since the 1970s when the city gained the earmark of being the “killing fields” of the Philippines —a “murder city”— Davao has dramatically transformed. But since 1988 it has become the safest city in the country and one of the most livable cities in Asia. Famous as the home turf of once legendary mayor (and now Philippine … [Read more...]
How to Tell if House Sitting is Right for You
In the past six months, I lived in a land-locked nation where Mercedes and BMWs rank in the top five most popular cars, enjoyed endless sunny days on golden sandy beaches along the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, and for a week called a tiny New York apartment home. Digital nomads, retirees with free time, and travelers hoping to live like a local have embraced the house sitting lifestyle. Despite this trend, it remains a generally untapped … [Read more...]
Magical Mo’orea – a Stay at the Hilton Mo’orea Lagoon Resort & Spa
Words that come to mind when referring to the island of Mo'orea include ethereal, mysterious, remote, undeveloped and exotic. I've long built up the mystique of this island in my mind based upon stories my mother related from a several month trip she took to the South Pacific in the 1960s. Mo'orea was by far her favorite island in the French Polynesia. While Mo'orea has certainly changed since those days, a visit to the island is like walking … [Read more...]
10 Days of Greece Holidays – 1Girl, 1Guy, 1Crazy Adventure
Recently I visited Greece for a 10 day holiday. Before planning our travels, I had some questions: - What are the best islands to visit in Greece? - Where to stay? - What to do? We had only 10 days and wanted this to be a dream trip. So we carefully chose to visit Santorini island, Mykonos island and Vikos Gorge in Zagoria. Although we had multiple flights through Athens, we did not really explore the city. Here are our favorite places … [Read more...]
Open Cremation at Pashupatinath Temple
It was a crisp Friday morning in December; I was standing on a temple compound in Kathmandu thronged by hundreds of sombre-looking devotees offering prayers with garlands and fruits. The air was scented with a mixture of fragrance from the flowers and incense. The sidewalks were bustling with vendors hawking a wide variety of religious souvenirs and infested with stray dogs scavenging for food through piles of garbage. The place was overrun with … [Read more...]
Essential Smells, Essential Oils, Exploring the Lavender Fields of Provence with Viking Cruises
A highlight of a Viking cruise to Provence is a full-day excursion to the heart of southern France's lavender country. However, plan your trip accordingly - timing is everything when it comes to this aromatic plant. It must be sown at a certain time of year and harvested precisely during dry warm conditions. And for those coming to be inspired by its visual appeal, there is a certain time of year for that as well. The lavender fields hit their … [Read more...]
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