Authentically Asian city readies for two-week Chinese New Year festivities Richmond, BC, Canada (January 23, 2014) – Already abandoned or forgotten those New Years resolutions? Don’t despair. Chinese New Year, celebrated this year on Friday, January 31, is just around the corner. It’s a second chance to say good riddance to nagging bad habits and usher in good ones. Also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the … [Read more...]
Cock-a-Doodle-Don’t, Cockfighting in the Philippines
John M. Edwards attends a horrific “cockfight” on Bantayan Island in the Philippines, only to end up wondering what exactly were the ingredients in the national dish of adobo. . . . The roosters swaggered around like Mick and Keith, with dangerously sharp spurs attached to their legs. While the apocalyptic poultry sussed each other out with malice, the excitement began to build. My two new Norwegian backpacker friends snapped photos with … [Read more...]
Brr-cold in Barbes-Rochechouart: Christmas in France
In Paris’s Muslim quarter, Barbés Rochechouart, John M. Edwards finds ho-hum Christmas cheer, but no champagne or beer. . . . Back when I lived in Paris, one of the most comically incongruous things I saw as a temporary expat was a pathetic Pere Noel with a guelle de bois (“face of wood” = hangover) peeing in the snow, with an excessively painful grin, on the legendary Boulevard St. Germain (namedropped ad infinitum in Hemingway’s elegy to the … [Read more...]
Biscuits, Booze, and Bodies – 36 Hours in the Florida Keys
Normally, I'm not big on cocktails before 10am. But when we blearily wandered in at 8am to the Blue Heaven, one of Key West’s signature restaurants, that’s what our server suggested. Sitting in the crazy-quilt courtyard, with its rustic artwork and scurrying chickens, looking up at the former bordello on the second-floor, and knocking back some booze seemed in keeping with all things Keys. I opted for the pancakes, which I found just as … [Read more...]
Martha’s Vineyard, on the cheap
Martha’s Vineyard, noted for its rich residents and famous for presidential vacations, is not a cheap place to visit, especially in high-priced summer. But there are places to see and things to do year-round that won’t break your bank. By far, my favorite was the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club’s thrift shop in the heart of Edgartown, on North Summer Street. The long-time nonprofit club that has been serving island children since 1937 … [Read more...]
10 Free Things to Do in New York City
New York is one of the most costly cities in the United States, but taking your holiday here doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Slash the cost of your New York City holiday when you enjoy some of these fun and free attractions. BAMcafe at the Brooklyn Academy of Music On Friday and Saturday nights from September through to June, you can enjoy free live music at BAMcafe Live, a program hosted by the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Since … [Read more...]
Should I stay or should I go? Bonaire
I mean you can’t beat hanging around a great Caribbean resort like Harbour Village Beach Club on the island of Bonaire. It’s got a great restaurant, stunning sunsets, a long puffy sliver of silky white sand for a beach, and tons of stuff to do, from diving to snorkeling to kayaking and more. There are also the super comfy ocean-facing rooms set amid tropical gardens, and an ever-gracious staff, never leaving you wanting for … [Read more...]
Quality Dining Palau Style
Since Jellyfish Lake and the Rock Islands were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2012, more and more seasoned travelers are choosing Palau as a vacation destination. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 100,000 people visit Palau annually. Holidaymakers who have not yet explored Palau’s charms may be yearning to ascertain if the above water cuisine experience matches Palau’s underwater treasures. During our ten-day stay on Palau, … [Read more...]
Cap Juluca, Anguilla
Sitting on the most comfortable lounger ever, watching fat white clouds scuttling by in the seriously blue sky above Cap Juluca on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, I’m wondering why I’d ever want to get up. I suspect the rich and famous who visit here, like Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, Jennifer Aniston and other cinematic superstars, don’t want to get up much either. This is one great beach, St. Maarten and St. Bart’s on … [Read more...]
First day on the Island of Trinidad in the West Indies
It is always a challenge and at times stressful just to show up in another country without any advance planning. Such was the case with a recent trip to Trinidad and Tobago - on the island of Trinidad. I found some wifi at the airport, called around a few guesthouses, and found one quite cheap. The 30 minute taxi ride was nearly the same price as the room. Upon getting dropped off, some old guy peeked out the gated door in a bad part of town and … [Read more...]
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