Blogs

The main attractions of Maylasia's sprawling, paradisiacal archipelago of Langkawi are its beautiful sandy beaches, and lots of experienced tourists consider this is the best place in the whole country for diving, snorkeling, sunbathing, and relaxation. And they are absolutely right: the beaches of Langkawi are so diverse that anyone can find one (or more) to satisfy a range of needs and desires. My top five:

Tanjung Rhu

A long, wide beach with soft white sand, surrounded by ancient limestone ca

The sun, the white dunes of the desert which merge with the unique blue water of the sea, stunningly beautiful landscapes, flavorsome food, hospitable and friendly people - the most beautiful island of Cape Verde is all this and much more.

Facing the coast of Senegal, Boa Vista is the biggest island of the Cape Verde archipelago and belongs to the Barlovento islands. Its very long, unspoiled beaches are an endless succession of white sand dunes, studded with picture-perfect palm trees. This is

"Best islands in the world," "America's greatest main streets," "top ten US. beaches" - on list after list of media and travelers' choice polls, those who know continue to agree that the Massachusetts island of Nantucket is among the best place in the US and the world.

Main Street, Nantucket is one of America’s most prestigious addresses, as well as boasting one of its most beautiful main streets, according to Travel & Leisure. Walking along this enchanting thoroughfare from the Harbor, one e

“So where in Scotland are you going?” a British colleague asked over lunch. “Edinburgh? Glasgow?”
“Isle of Skye,” I said.

“Ah, the Scottish Highlands,” he sighed. Leaned back and said, slowly,  “We always think of Skye as a spiritual place. I really envy you.”

It was only after we boarded First ScotRail’s  middle-aged cars at Glasgow’s Queen Street Station that I felt the first intimations of the Highlands as a spiritual precursor to Skye.

The train slipped through rolling, rugged hills and moo

“Inspiration 911” Sculpture – Porscheplatz Stuttgart Germany

We began part 1 of this adventure by selecting and purchasing a Porsche Macan S for our road trip of a lifetime, and continued in part 2 by developing an inspired travel itinerary for the entire month of September.

This segment of the series is focused on some last minute fine tuning, and the lead up to the "big day" - picking up the car at the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany.

Ready… Set… Go!  Well, Almost

Once an itinerary

by blogger BertBo 
Amsterdam,  Netherlands 

   It was GREAT! Luxury boat , excellent service, nice cabins, great program, fine sun deck with deck chairs, cool lounge, sunny clear weather and above all the stunning beauty of Halong Bay . 

  
Halong Bay is actually quite a risky location as is is often foggy

Described as being like “Jurassic Park” or a fairytale land of elves, the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica is a special place on the planet.

The rare ecosystem of Monteverde in Costa Rica is part of only one percent of the global woodlands known as cloud forests, rainforest at such high elevations they are essentially in the clouds. In Costa Rica, tropical warm air condenses at high altitude (above 5,000 feet) into persistent fog and mist, and moisture is more consistent drizzle than rai

Gjirokastra (also spelled Gjirokastër) is a town in southern Albania which in 2005 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a highly historic city and placed on slopes of the Drino River valley, with beautiful scenery and bordered by high mountains.

Known as the "City of a Thousand Stairs" Gjirokastra is characterized by cobblestone streets and Ottoman-era houses with stone roofs and wooden balconies. Gjirokastra's historic castle is located on top of a hill. The city has a troubled p

Walking tours are wonderful especially if they have a specific topic and cover only a small area.  Thus it is with “Burgh Bits and Bites” tour of Pittsburgh’s Strip District.  At one time the Strip District, located along the Allegheny River, was home to many mills and factories that later became an area of wholesalers of fresh produce and meat with restaurants to serve shift workers at any hour of the day. Things change and today most of the produce industry, manufacturing plants and mills ha

Designer boutiques, chill-out lounges, vintage clothing shops, organic brunches, pop-art T-shirts – SoHo in London or New York’s East Village? Try the historic, somewhat melancholy senhora on the Tagus River. Even amidst economic crisis, Portugal’s capital Lisbon is doing its best to cast off its image of spalled buildings and little old ladies dressed in black, adding young hipsters dressed in black and reinventing itself with a wave of youthful energy.

These days, traditional and cutting-e

In 1992, I traveled to newly-independent Latvia and the neighboring Baltic republics as a tourist, as my partner and I had long been interested in those three little countries in the far northwest of the then recently defunct Soviet Union. I wanted to see and feel the joy for myself, not to mention the beautiful architecture and historic sites -- and, of course, to support their fledgling economies with our tourist dollars.

While sightseeing in Riga, a city I especially remember for its extrava

Dining Journeys  (part 2 of 3)

Denmark

Pølsers in Copenhagen at Tivoli Gardens, where everyone seemed happy

This was our first trip to Europe together, we stayed across from Tivoli Gardens, the whimsical entertainment park enjoyed by young and old alike. It was Walt Disney's inspiration for Disneyland.  We had pølsers (the national sausage) and beer and noted that everyone seemed happy. On the Strøget cobblestone shopping promenade, we ate smørrebrod, open-faced sandwiches. We both like Danish

On a lovely reent repeat visit to this gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage city, and the previous night, although on my various travels I’ve been hit up (and once literally stuck up) for cash, this one took the cake (the flan?). 

A local friend and I were enjoying a drink at one of Old Cartagena’s landmarks, the outdoor bar/restaurant Café del Mar (below), perched up on the ramparts of the 17th-century stone city walls. Afterwards, taking a slightly roundabout stroll over to a taxi stand, at one po

The archipelago of the Kerkennah Islands is a paradise for rest and relaxation. Essentially made up of the islands of Chergui and Gharbi, and facing the coast of Sfax, they stand just three meters above sea level. With a population of just 15,000 and having been recently declared a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, particularly as a habitat for aquatic birds, they are a perfect destination for lovers of the sea, diving and fishing.

Their unpaved streets and incredible outlines, only v

Dining Journeys  (part 3 of 3)  

Jamaica

A private cook for one week in our villa in Montego Bay

We went to Jamaica before the high season. Round Hill in Montego Bay was not yet open, except for villas occupied by permanent residents. General Manager Michael Kemp gave us a two-bedroom villa, with its own pool, for seven days. Because its restaurants were not yet operating, he arranged for us to have a cook who made family-style Jamaican meals. We had cocktails with a very proper British re

Our favorite travel season is upon us. The summer heat has ebbed, the kids are back in school, traffic is a bit more tolerable, and most lodgings are dropping their prices in anticipation of winter. Best of all, the leaves are putting on their autumnal extravaganza of color. This is an exceptionally rewarding time to visit New England.

We are particularly fond of everything Cape Cod in the fall. There is a certain serenity in the air as October ushers in the cool breezes off the bay.

Last fall w

Rye whiskey, an American original, came to life out of necessity during the American Revolution when rum supplies dried up. Scottish and Irish settlers in western Pennsylvania and Maryland came to the rescue using their longstanding expertise in distilling rye grain while a post-presidential George Washington popularized the endeavor distilling rye at Mount Vernon.

Today's American rye whiskey must by law be distilled from at least 51 percent rye grain. Other grains like barley and corn are oft

“You don’t choose where you are born, but you can choose where you live” wisely states the message from the town hall of Atenas, Costa Rica for its 147th birthday celebration this past August 7.

This pastoral coffee town in the mountains just west of the capital city of San José, is known for its ideal location and great weather. That, plus its location and small-town ambiance that make it a special place to live for its 15,000 residents (27,000 including outlying neighborhoods).

“Everyone is

St. Augustine is a very old city - so old, in fact that it is celebrating its 450th year in existence.  Because of its age and rich history, people often come here looking for spirits, like the one at The St. Francis Inn, the oldest continuously operating inn in North America.

The Inn, owned by Joe and Margaret Finnegan, is purported to have its own real ghost. Lily, a slave girl that had an illicit affair with a military man and committed suicide when found out.  Lily’s room is on the third floo

When you go on holiday, try to remember the following :

- Dress respectfully and be aware of local standards.

- Dress modestly at the religious sites.

- Before you leave home, check as much as you can about the religions, culture, traditions and local rules of the country you are visiting.

- Favour local foods. Local food is always part of the fun.

- Bargain if it's a local practice but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be very important to the seller

- Shop for local artisan