GoNanaimo.com announces the creation of the Nanaimo 50-Kilometer Holiday with seven self-guided tours within a 50-kilometer radius of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. As gasoline prices continue to rise, vacationing locally becomes more attractive and Vancouver Island has so much to offer. The 50-Kilometer Holiday includes two walking tours within Nanaimo and five driving/bicycling tours to nearby mid-island destinations. Each tour is carefully … [Read more...]
ALO’s guide to Morocco, Outpost of the Middle East
"Sure," I said, waving goodbye. I hadn't the heart to remind her that the film was shot on a Hollywood sound stage in the 1940s and that Rick's Cafe opened in Casablanca only three years ago. Nine short miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Southern Coast of Spain, Morocco, the world's westernmost Arab country, looks both ways'to its ancient roots in the Middle East and north to its European neighbors. Long an outpost of the Roman … [Read more...]
The Great Pillow Conspiracy – And Other Mysteries of the Cutback Crisis
As long as there have been planes in my life, there have always been a few inalienable rights I have taken for granted as an air traveler: My soda will be free, pillows will be present, and the interior climate of the plane will usually be twenty degrees cooler than wherever we just took off from, because Lord knows it's beastly hot outside when you're 3000 feet above ground, and that much closer to the sun. Well, newsflash: These rights have … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Beaches
One of the most sought after places in Los Angeles for visitors and locals alike are the beaches. With world class surfing opportunities, miles and miles of wide strips of soft sand, and a climate to match the interests of sun, sand and surf enthusiasts, Los Angeles is a world class beach destination. The Strand connects the miles of beaches via a paved bike path from Pacific Palisades to Torrance, 22 miles. Numerous beaches are dotted with the … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Beverly Hills
Los Angeles, CA - Beverly Hills is a wealthy community much loved by locals and visitors. Drive around some of the local neighborhoods and into Bel Air. Whoooee. Fancy. You can see the homes in the flats, and each one has a clearly showing security sign on a stake driven into the ground somewhere in their front yard. Drive up into the hills and you are lucky if you can even see the homes - as often they are gated or protected in front by large … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Shopping
The following are a few shopping districts and or shopping centers that we have visited in Los Angeles and Orange County. LOS ANGELES Los Angeles is one of Southern California's hubs for shopping and fashion ranging from high end shops in Beverly Hills to the mega sized shopping+entertainment centers. Many of these shopping centers do not just feature shops but are lifestyle destinations in and of themselves - boasting other attractions set … [Read more...]
Maun, Botswana
I remember looking out my window on the night flight from Europe to South Africa and seeing nothing but black below. No city lights for hours. Not until the next morning when the plane was over South Africa, were any signs of civilization present. On that flight I tried to imagine what it would be like to actually be in one of those areas that seemed so dark from above. Well, we finally entered this part of Africa when we crossed the "veterinary … [Read more...]
Windhoek, Namibia
The last time I signed off, my brother Abdul and I had just arrived in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia by bus from South Africa. We decided to pony up some extra money and take a Greyhound type coach and survive the trip, as opposed to paying next to nothing on one of the ubiquitous minibuses but putting our lives into the hands of a crazed driver hell bent to make it to his destination in the shortest time possible. Our guidebook called … [Read more...]
Bunbury, Western Australia
Bunbury and the South West area of Western Australia (or WA) is one of the world's great places to live, with a Mediterranean climate, sandy-white beaches, beautiful native forests and all the infrastructure expected of a modern western society. Bunbury is the major city in WA's South West region, that is also home to other centres such as Busselton, Margaret River, Donnybrook, Manjimup, Augusta, Pemberton, Collie, Harvey and Bridgetown. … [Read more...]
Busselton, Western Australia
The first recorded mapping of what is now Geographe Bay and the eventual town of Busselton, was in 1801 by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin, from the ships the Geographe and Naturaliste. The Bay was named after his ship whilst the river was named the Vasse after a sailor who went missing in mysterious circumstances. The area was settled in 1832 when families from the Augusta area, led by John Garrett Bussell, traveled north to farm the … [Read more...]