I recently had the opportunity to travel to the far west end of Richmond, Virginia, to an area called Short Pump, so named for a pump that was located at a tavern built by Revolutionary War veteran Robert Hyde Saunders. The affluent area is a shopper's paradise, with shopping malls as far as the eye can see and the Hilton Richmond Short Pump Hotel & Spa, was a comfortable and convenient basecamp for exploring the small town of Ashland, located … [Read more...]
Exploring Paramaribo, Suriname the Fun Way!
After a nearly 13 hour car + van ride from Georgetown in Guyana which began at 4am and included a 4 hour border crossing (slow ferry a big part of this), I arrived in Paramaribo in the late afternoon. Exhausted after eating only an energy bar I found tucked away in my backpack given to me weeks ago by Jacki Ueng I checked into the Guesthouse Zin & Grand Cafe. For only $23/night it included a private room with AC and use of their pool. I soon … [Read more...]
Best Ways to Promote Your Business to Tourists
Tourists come into your sphere oblivious of what to expect. Most of them rely on their friends about the holiday experience they had. Today, most tourists interact with companies through electronic platforms. Thus positioning yourself in a vantage point gives you an edge. Since the electronic platforms are many, you are at liberty to pick whatever works to your advantage. If your scope allows, you can operate on social media, electronic and email … [Read more...]
John Muir Slept Here
The best place to walk in the footsteps of John Muir is Yosemite National Park, where the famed naturalist and conservationist hiked and climbed granite domes, lovingly surveyed plants and animals, studied with rapt eyes “cloud mountains” in the sky, and developed his passion for wild spaces. Another place that evokes feelings for one of the visionary creators of our national park system is his old home in Martinez, California, about an hour … [Read more...]
A Little Bit of Malta on my Mind
I proceeded to a tiny room at my hotel in central Valletta, oddly enough having to pass through the restaurant first. Many elderly ladies were absorbed in a riveting game of Bridge and I had to slink past their tables without bumping into them. Finding a balcony I stood overlooking the scenic water and Fort Saint Angelo in the distance while absorbing the smells of the salty water, the warmth of the Mediterranean sunshine and the tantalizing … [Read more...]
My Trip To NY NY in Las Vegas
Recently my husband and I took a trip to Las Vegas so we could get a few days away. We weighed our options carefully and decided to stay at the New York-New York, Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. We both love playing casino games and have been going there for about 20 years. From home, we're only a short 45-minute flight from the strip. It's a no brainer. Some people go to Vegas for the shows and other entertainment, but we only go for gambling. … [Read more...]
All Aboard the Australia Bandwagon
Sitting on a 17-hour flight I felt like an ungrateful child. I had the opportunity to take an amazing trip halfway around the world. UK office blocks are full to the dropped-ceilings with dreams of Down Under. Australia had just never been on The List. My husband and I were visiting friends who had fallen in love with Sydney and emigrated. I assumed it would be very similar to the UK, and when we landed, it was. Everything is in English, … [Read more...]
Misadventures of a Gringo in Colombia
Upon leaving the unexpectedly small Cartagena airport, I was welcomed by a huge billboard featuring a Colombian Elvis impersonator. The other passengers who had also just arrived were poppin’ into little yellow micro-machine cabs and spinning off into their own assorted narratives. I stood and watched their numbers dwindle. Soon I was one of only a few prey left for the desperate transportation peddlers. A husky, determined Colombian man … [Read more...]
Five Reasons Why You’ve Got to Love Thai Culture
Not sure what to think of Thai culture? I tell you what: once you immerse yourself in it, you’ll come to love it. For Buddha’s sake! Wait! This isn’t a platitude. Thai culture has a squillion of aspects that make living so much easier and less complicated than westerners’ way of life. Like what? Well, here’s what will make you grow fond of Thais’ traditions sooner or later. Eating on the floor, the table, or whatever is flat … [Read more...]
By a Single Thread
A birthday card from our kids shows the front paws of a tiger; a cub is peeking out between two protective legs, cub eyes full of mischief as if saying, "is anybody out there silly enough to dare touch me, with my big daddy around?" I gaze at it for a while. Gradually, a decisive fraction of a second once upon a time starts to cross my mind... * * * Entering deep relaxation after some yoga that morning, I've planted gratitude in my mind for … [Read more...]
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