Woke up this morning on some straw mat in a room I had never seen before. This was fine as I'm used to sleeping on hard surfaces. The confusion became clearer as the fog lifted from the sleep deprived mind and I vaguely remembered landing in Narita, Japan last night. The drive to this guesthouse was a blur - but I do remember the driver turning off his engine at every stop light, turning off his lights every time he stopped and driving with both … [Read more...]
Moon Moscow & St. Petersburg
Moon Moscow & St. Petersburg by Jennifer Chater & Nathan Toohey This book is a must have for any visitor planning a trip to Moscow or St. Petersburg. We had a fresh perspective on Moscow having just returned from this huge sprawling city and finding this book in our stack of newly arrived travel books. Moscow is definitely big and can be overwhelming to the first time tourist however this book does an excellent describing the main highlights in … [Read more...]
Lost in the City of Dreams
I had long been promising myself a visit to Istanbul, European Capital of Culture for 2010. So with the Bayram festival now approaching and the summer sun warming the earth, I couldn't resist a visit to this most ostentatious city of spires, a fabulously inspiring metropolis of imperial dreams; and it was only a magic carpet ride away. I arrived exhausted but excited, my heart in my hands here at the epicentre of three empires. Straddling two … [Read more...]
Red Square & the Kremlin – Moscow – April 2011
The Red Square and the Kremlin are super important attractions and we went back to this part of Moscow 3 days in a row. You need at least 2 days to hit the main museums and attractions in this area and or just sit down and people watch. The Kremlin is unbelievable - with its golden spired domes, many cathedrals and amazing murals inside the curved walls of the churches. Red Square is one of the most impressive squares in the world anchored by … [Read more...]
Taras Bulba Restaurant, Moscow – January 2011
For an interesting dining experience try Korchma Taras Bulba, an authentic Ukrainian restaurant with multiple locations throughout Moscow. During one visit we found ourselves eating Ukranian food in Russia while ordering from a menu written entirely in Vietnamese. This restaurant seems to have menus in most of of the major languages of the world and the staff wanted to know what language we spoke as soon as we entered the restaurant so they could … [Read more...]
Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Sahara & the Nile
Started the day bright and early with a hot air balloon ride above the never ending sands of the Sahara and the bright greeness of the water rich Nile River valley. Temps were already in the upper 20's at 530am. It was going to be yet another hot day. Arriving to the "balloon field" we spotted about 25 balloons in various stages of setup and groups of people milling about. With 32 people in our basket we were supported by the largest commercial … [Read more...]
Houdini Seance Evening at The Magic Castle, Los Angeles
"Open sesame." I asked the secret passageway through the bookcase to reveal itself. "Open sesame!" I commanded, an octave lower. Nothing. I looked at my friends, the ten of us pressed close together in the bustling hallway, but they were all there for the first time as well. I stomped my foot. "OPEN--" The creaky bookcase swung open, and we hurriedly followed the guide inside. For my fortieth birthday I had decided to celebrate with the Houdini … [Read more...]
Amazing Moscow
Amazing Moscow. A visit to Moscow only leaves you wanting to spend more time here. Moscow delivers beautiful architecture including incredible onion domed cathedrals, world class museums, shopping and nightlife. We recently spent a few days in this amazing city. We recommend at least 4-5 full days to experience the highlights of Moscow. First things first; all visitors to Russia must acquire a visa before entering the country and the tourist … [Read more...]
Moscow
My sister had been working with a charity organization in Moscow, Russia for several years. Throughout that time we had been corresponding with her by mail and were fascinated with her tales and interesting stories and experiences in Moscow! It was at that time, to our surprise, she sent a message to my mother inviting us to come and help with some of the projects she was working on. After several months of preparation we were off to embark on … [Read more...]