We arrived in at Beijing International, always an overwhelming airport based on its immense girth. But our gate was very close to immigration and we breezed through without much delay as officials kept opening new lanes as the lines swelled from the arriving flights. We discovered a small short-stay airport hotel and without hesitation spent the $40 for a two hour stay. Showers after long flights are one of the best things one can gift one’s body after long flights. Then it was a 15 minute shuttle bus to Terminal […]

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Sébastien Thépénier is a French oenologist and the winemaker behind Vin de Tahiti in Rangiroa, an atoll in French Polynesia. Originally from Burgundy of France, he moved to Tahiti in 2002 to oversee Domaine Dominique Auroy, a pioneering vineyard and wine estate on coral soil in the Pacific. He has since played a central role in developing and refining its unique tropical winemaking. Q. You are originally an oenologist from France. What drew you to come all the way to Rangiroa? I am originally an oenologist from France, trained in […]

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The wind hit the ridge hard enough that I leaned forward to keep my balance. Ahead of me, a narrow path followed the crest of the mountain like a thread pulled tight between two regions of Italy. On one side lay Tuscany. On the other, Emilia-Romagna. As the clouds shifted, a deep blue circle suddenly appeared below the ridge: Lago Scaffaiolo. At that moment it was hard to believe I was still in Tuscany. Most travelers imagine Tuscany as vineyards, medieval villages, and leisurely afternoons tasting wine in the Val […]

The post Tuscany Above the Clouds: A Guide to the Glacial Lakes and Ridges of the Northern Apennines appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

In the Philippine mountaineering community, there is a notorious concept known as the budol climb. It usually starts with a friend messaging you: “Let’s hike this weekend! It’s just a minor climb, rated 4/9. We’ll be down by lunch.” For thousands of unsuspecting beginners, that budol happens at Mt. Daraitan. Sitting on the windward edge of the Sierra Madre range in Tanay, Rizal, Mt. Daraitan has built a reputation that heavily contradicts its paper specifications. While its elevation peaks at a modest 739 Meters Above Sea Level (MASL), the reality […]

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Soon after landing in Budapest, a friend and I were promptly held in one of several contiguous rooms. People from other flights kept arriving, ultimately packing us in like sardines. One of the more curious souls decided to go talk to the well-armed security guards. Apparently we were under a lockdown due to a bomb threat and we were being held until security until bomb sniffing dogs had made a careful assessment of the situation. After about an hour, although in our tired state it seemed like 5 hours, the […]

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When most travelers dream of Tuscany, their minds immediately drift to the Val d’Orcia: sun-drenched rolling hills, neat rows of cypress trees, and sprawling vineyards. It is a beautiful image, a classic “Renaissance” landscape that has been manicured by human hands for centuries. But as a professional hiking guide living in this region, I know it is only half the story. If you travel just a short distance north of the famous art cities like Florence or Pistoia, the landscape undergoes a radical transformation. The vineyards disappear, the horizon rises, […]

The post Beyond the Rolling Hills: Discovering the Wild Heart of Tuscany in Acquerino appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Mount Makiling is an ASEAN Heritage Park rising to 1,090 MASL in the CALABARZON region. Managed exclusively by the UPLB Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME), the standard 2026 hike requires a mandatory guide (PHP 1,200), strictly enforced cut-off times, and a physical ID for entry. The Mariang Makiling Trail (MMT) is a 4/9 Difficulty minor climb, taking 5-7 hours to complete. Rising like a sleeping giant over the Southern Tagalog plains, Mt. Makiling is more than just a geological formation—it is a cultural institution. For decades, this dormant stratovolcano […]

The post Mt. Makiling Hiking Guide 2026: The New Rules, Limatiks, and the “Paved Agony” appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

New Magellan Jets Program Features In-Air Wine Tastings, Elite Golf Getaways, and Trips to Hidden Gems “Magellan Jets Journeys” provides Private Clients with extravagant travel experiences designed to celebrate their passions BOSTON, Mass. – Magellan Jets, a leader in private aviation solutions, today announced the launch of Magellan Jets Journeys, a program offering sought-after experiences tailored for the company’s Private Clients. This new initiative offers access to extraordinary travel escapes that extend far beyond the runway. Journeys are orchestrated by Magellan Jets to ensure that the company’s signature white-glove hospitality […]

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The Hunter Valley is a bit of a legend in Australia. As our oldest wine region, it carries a certain weight. But for a first-time visitor, it can be… overwhelming. On my first trip years ago, I made the classic mistake: I bounced between the three giant, famous wineries you see on every billboard, tasted the same two styles of wine, and left feeling like I’d missed something. I had. The real soul of the Hunter isn’t on the main road. It’s tucked down dusty driveways, in small tin sheds, […]

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(WALLA WALLA, Wash.) — As the hustle and bustle of summer fades, fall breathes new life into the scenic Walla Walla Valley. From crisp morning strolls through Pioneer Park and along the trails of Bennington Lake, to afternoons filled with family fun at local pumpkin patches and festive harvest celebrations, autumn wraps Washington wine country in cozy, seasonal magic. Farms, Orchards & Pumpkin Patches Fall is the perfect time to explore the Walla Walla Valley’s vibrant farms and orchards, and this season begins with Walla Walla’s inaugural Tour D’Farm (Sept. […]

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Last Sunday, I set out on a solo adventure that turned into one of my most memorable monsoon experiences in Nashik, my hometown. As a Nashik native, I’ve always been drawn to the Western Ghats during the rains, when the hills transform into a lush, misty paradise. This time, I chose to trek Brahmagiri and Bhandardurg Fort near Trimbakeshwar, a journey that blended nature, spirituality, and history in a way I hadn’t expected. Here’s my story, along with insights into why monsoon treks in Nashik are a must for any […]

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You don’t have to be a sommelier to know that wines from Burgundy have a certain prestige in the wine world.  Peruse a restaurant wine list, and you’ll notice that some of the featured wines or top shelf offerings are Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from Bourgogne, or Burgundy. Wine is grown worldwide, so what is it that makes Burgundy so revered amongst the well studied and introductory wine drinkers? Origins Winemaking in Burgundy can be attributed to the Romans! They brought the vines to Gaul, present day France, and taught […]

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When I told my brother in law that we were visiting Nashik in India to try their wines, his response was something like, “when I was growing up in Chennai, Indian wines were not considered very good”. That was in the 1970s and 1980s. Things have changed in this regard with a select number of Indian wineries having elevated viticulture practices and winemaking, Chandon India being on the forefront of doing so. I arrived in Mumbai from Bangkok; the Mumbai airport appeared to be located in the center of the […]

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Japan is often associated with its food, history and culture but not always with wine. However the country has a wine heritage dating back nearly 150 years with the Yamanashi Prefecture being ‘ground zero’ for Japan’s wine industry. Nestled in the heart of the Yamanashi Prefecture, Katsunuma makes a richly rewarding day trip from Tokyo for wine enthusiasts. Famous for its picturesque vineyards and stunning views of Mount Fuji, this charming town offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich heritage of Japanese wine. In this article, I will guide […]

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