In the summer of 1994, I fell in love at first sight. It was a true summer romance in all its glory, white hot in intensity, and I remember every moment. Passion completely consumed me from the first glance. I was hopelessly, irretrievably -- joyously -- lost. There was so much to know, and so little time. The depth of my love transformed my life forever. And then, all too soon, it was over. The parting broke my heart. I have never … [Read more...]
Squid on the Floor
At sunrise the buzz of motorbike traffic has not yet begun, and the street is oddly quiet. We come out of the alley and onto the sidewalk where shop owners are opening up and iced coffee vendors await their first customers. We're out here at this hour waiting for a van, which soon arrives. The four of us shove our bags in the back and groggily climb in. The previous afternoon we booked a Halong Bay tour from one of the hundreds of vendors in … [Read more...]
Travelling with Kids: 10 Best Hostels for Families
Offering a practical and affordable place to stay, hostels are becoming increasingly appealing to travelers with children. Family hostels can offer private rooms with en-suite bathrooms and to really keep costs down, the self-catering kitchens are ideal places to prepare packed lunches. Most hostels offer games rooms and children will be happy watching TV in the comfortable lounge areas after a busy day of sightseeing. Hostels often organize free … [Read more...]
Alta Moda in Rome
Although I think of Paris when thinking of European fashion capitals, as the fashion show in the French capital might be the most prestigious fashion show that exists, I can't help but notice a majority of the label names are Italian. The most important Italian cities when it comes to fashion are without a doubt Milan and Rome. I have never been to Milan, but I stayed in apartments in Rome twice. The first time I was there I went in to some … [Read more...]
Once in a Lifetime
What did I know about birds? Enough to feed spinach greens, not stale muffins, to the domestic ducks at Recreation Park in my hometown of Long Beach, CA. Enough to avoid annoying the thirty-pound swans in London's Hyde Park. Enough to understand that silence was golden while trailing knowledgeable birdwatchers in the woods near The House of the Doves at Uxmal. And once, at my grandmother's house in Los Angeles when I was ten, I learned the hard … [Read more...]
Island Escape, Roxy Maldives Resort
A stay on a private island in the middle of the Maldives can make the rest of the world seem mundane, pedestrian in comparison. Such is the case of Roxy Maldives Resort (formerly Zitahli Resort & Spa Kuda-Funafaru) on its own private island in the heart of the Noonu Atoll, accessible via a 50 minute seaplane ride from Male (the capital city of the Maldives). The "welcome pier" at Roxy Maldives "Remote" Maldivian resorts such as these … [Read more...]
Breezing through the Windy City
This last weekend in lieu of the Easter Holidays and my Uncle's 50th birthday I flew down to Chicago to spend the weekend with my family and go on a little adventure. Chicago is a huge city and a fairly popular one in North America; although last year alone I transited through the city 14 times I have never actually set foot outside of the airport, so needless to say I was quite curious and excited to grab a camera and have my cousin host me … [Read more...]
ASTA Conference, 2011 Puerto Rico
The ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) 2011 Conference, held in Puerto Rico, was attended by more than 700 travel agents from around the world. The honorable Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis G. Fortuno, gave the opening remarks. This four day conference focused on the Caribbean region and included a number of tourism talks relating to specific countries as well as additional tools for selling niche trips. Recently we had the opportunity to … [Read more...]
The Wizard of Christchurch
EVERYONE knows J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed entirely on location downunder by Kiwi director Peter Jackson. But did you know that a real sorcerer, a magi of magic realism straight out of the Oscar-winning series, only rather recently left New Zealand after the nasty Christchurch Earthquake of 2011. Born Ian Brackenbury Channell in London (4 December 1932), "The Wizard of Christchurch" is an inspired soap-box … [Read more...]
GranMonte Vineyards, All in the Family
After returning from Brunei and a quick day of rest we set out for the jungles of Khao Yai National Park and part of Thailand's "wine trail". GranMonte Vineyards located in the heart of the small Asoke Valley was the highlight of our day. This winery was founded by Thai couple Visooth and Sakuna Lohitnavy. Their daughter Visootha (or Nikki) is Thailand's first female winemaker (only in her 20's, she has many harvests ahead of her). The entire … [Read more...]
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