Travel Adventures and Photography
I watch a lot of travel shows. What can I say, it's one of my favorite things to do on Saturday mornings when I'm not traveling. My local public television network KCET has just aired what is probably the best travel show I've ever seen. It caught my eye because of the host—it's Sue Perkins, host from The Great British Bake Off!! Say whaaaaat?? It aired on BBC Two a couple of years ago and I'm not sure it ever aired in the US Read More
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
Sweets are their #1 souvenir, most of them originally created as a companion to tea. Almost every place you look you will find pastry and sweets shops but the Lawson convenience stores are an inexpensive way to try a variety of unusual treats.Even in fine hotels beds are nearly hard as wood. They will take some getting used to, but you might sleep better than usual.WiFi is hard to find though it's common for tourists to rent a Read More
Why You Should Visit a Floating Market: Thailand's colorful floating markets remain a unique part of Thai culture and should not be missed on any first visit to Bangkok. While the tradition of merchants trading their goods in canoes along crowded canals began many years before roads existed, it remains today as a method of distributing produce and wares, not to mention a great choice for lunch and sampling Thai Read More
With a whopping 32,000 hotel rooms in this northern Thailand city, where do you even begin? The truth is, many travelers who pass through Chiang Mai just rent a room from a guest house for weeks at a time because it's so inexpensive and there is plenty to explore. Some of us, however, are just visiting for a few days and are in search of more comfortable, but still affordable accommodations full of Thai charm and that's Read More
If you've spent any time in Chiang Mai, your visit was undoubtedly memorable. Though the city has an incredible amount of things to see and do, trekking is the number one thing that draws visitors. You'll find tour companies on almost every corner who offer multi-day trekking tours into the mountains of northern Thailand for a chance to experience authentic hill tribe cultures. There are some things I wish I had done Read More
An unforgettable getaway from Tokyo that offers stunning views of Mount Fuji, this destination is an exceptional one. The town is Hakone (haw-cone-ay) and its centuries-old hot springs (onsen) are located in the volcanically active Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Onsen are very popular across Japan and are a longtime fixture in Japanese culture. The number of Hakone visitors continues to grow while the number of visitors to Read More
In the famous Kyoto district known as Gion, you will find a theatrical stage show of the Japanese performing arts. Gion was originally developed in the Middle Ages (!) and eventually became one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan. After your day of strolling through the shrines, peeking into shops and sampling colorful sweets, I highly recommend an evening show at the Gion Corner. I've been Read More
I believe that taking classes of any kind when you travel can be one of the most rewarding ways to see the world; Kyoto is a fantastic city for this because you have the opportunity to learn so many different ancient skills from painting, to pottery, calligraphy, flower arranging, and much more. Kyoto was originally founded in the year 794 and for one thousand years, it was the imperial capital of Japan. The city is home to Read More
Visiting Kyoto, Japan recently I was in search of hidden gems off the beaten path. I'm drawn to local markets to see interesting things from other cultures and help support local artisans. There is no better souvenir to bring home than something handmade or an antique treasure from another country. I thought flea markets in ancient Kyoto would be a fantastic treat because their culture is so different from mine and they have a Read More
Kinkakuji, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen Temple in the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto whose top two floors are entirely covered in gold leaf. It is designated as a National Special Historic Site and is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site. The view was perhaps the most awe-inspiring sight on my visit to Kyoto. Beyond that is an education and immersion into one of the world's best Read More
The Jack Purcell Converse are an all-time favorite sneaker, both classic and modern versions. They are understated, stylish and ultimately timeless. Recent years saw some new Jack Purcell releases including a twill/leather combination and nubuck leather edition in earth-tones. Did I mention the cork footbed which is moisture-wicking, shock absorbing and with continued wear will conform to the shape of your foot to Read More
