Travel Adventures and Photography
Visiting Thailand for the first time was both exciting and totally out of my comfort zone. I sat on the airplane with my Lonely Planet guide book in hand and reminded myself that I spent months planning this solo adventure and had nothing to worry about. It turned out I was right. Many who visit Thailand make their base in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Koh Phi Phi, but my wanderlust led me elsewhere. My quest for an Read More
I've written before about the wonderful neighborhood that is Oltrarno in Florence, Italy, and I'm convinced that spending time here is the one of the best ways to experience the city. The town square that is named for the church which towers over it, Santo Spirito, is home to a daily market selling fresh food and common household items. But it's their monthly market that is most special, and some say it may be the best antique Read More
Tales of fragrant citrus orchards have drawn me to citrus towns around the world such as Sorrento, Italy and Mallorca, Spain but it was in my home state of California that the city of Redlands delivered on the promise. Did you know that the city of Redlands was once the hub of the largest orange-producing region in the world with over 15,000 acres of citrus groves? Upon stepping out of my car in 'Early Redlands Historic Read More
From the wild and rustic Chianti region to the manicured cypress trees of Val D'Orcia, there are a great many options when wine tasting on the Tuscan countryside. Over 25,000 wineries in fact. One winery I visited was not the best nor did I particularly care for the wine, but the scenery and ambience were iconically Tuscan and unforgettable. There's an important travel tip in there... let me show you. Recently I met several Read More
Light and delicate, sweet pea flowers (Lathyrus odoratus) were discovered in the 17th century by Italian monk Father Francis Cupani who was traveling through the Sicilian countryside. Sweet pea flowers' pronounced yet delicate fragrance means that they are excellent for perfuming a room, and are often prettiest when placed in a simple mason jar. If you had any wonder of their scent, just think of honey sometimes with a dash of Read More
"Savoring Mallorca is like a trip through the looking glass to see what life is really supposed to look like. Slow, quiet, rich with treasures from the land and local personalities that honor their heritage. They certainly live to enjoy each day." Have you heard of Mallorca? It's one of three islands off the coast of Spain and is known for its Mediterranean coves, old-world traditions and mountain villages filled with Read More
Pet establishments have been gaining popularity all over the globe. In an article from Forbes, feline-friendly coffee shops in the US were featured which draw in customers with the help of cats. On the other side of the world, the same phenomenon has been happening for far longer like I've shown here on Try Something Fun through one of my posts about Japan, wherein a whole shopping mall welcomes dog-lovers along with their Read More
Palos Verdes in Los Angeles is home to a lesser-known botanic garden that is quite the hidden gem, especially in spring and summer. The 87-acre property with 2,500 species of plants from all over the world particularly excels in California native plants, many of which have colorful blooms year-round. The most notable highlights of a day at the South Coast Botanic Garden include: Small but stunning Dahlia Garden with an Read More
Experiencing Capri from upon the sea is nothing if not alluring, something I've now had the chance to learn for myself. In October, my boyfriend and I had the pleasure of a private boat tour from a wild-haired Italian sailor named Gianni who loves being on the water and knows every detail of the island's history. I'm guessing that he would be out there on his boat even if he didn't have customers. From the padded sundeck of Read More
What an incredible display of California poppies at Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore! I arrived early in the morning with only a few people in sight and the poppies mostly closed. Scattered patches of tiny blue and purple wildflowers found their home among the poppies, which really made it feel like I had stepped into a Monet painting. With the sun bearing down as I made my way up into the hills, the poppies began opening before Read More
