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New Zealand's North Island has long been shadowed by the adventurous South, with its fjords, mountains and dramatic settings, boasting every watersport known to man. But the North is well worth visiting, too – so much so that the Traveling 
Reporter decided to dedicate a series to the forgotten island. This is the first part of New Zealand's Lost Island.

Paihia, Northland, New Zealand — The captain of our tour boat edges the ship up close to the huge cave that nature has carved out of a rock, ris

I have a travel-editor friend whose open enthusiasm for Detroit I’ve always found hard to comprehend. Sure, it’s got a good cultural and arts scene and a vigorous melting pot going for it. But the larger picture overshadowing it all has always seemed to me that notorious blight, the derelict buildings, the stench of what to many is practically a failed city.

But when I found myself having to make a sudden trip to New York with a six-hour layover in Motown courtesy of Spirit Airlines, I decided

One of the most brilliantly beautiful tropical birds is definitely the scarlet macaw (Ara macao). Its loud, raucous squawks carry for miles, so usually you hear them before you see them. When you do sight a Scarlet Macaw in the wild, they are breathtaking – fire engine red bodies with sunshine yellow and royal blue wing feathers tinged with a bit of green, and a distinct stark white patch around both eyes.

An endangered species, scarlet macaws live in tropical forests from Mexico to South America

Bac Ha market

Previously, Bac Ha market took place on a sloping hill, but then this market was bu

Business road warriors have at least this much in common with ET: Calling home while away is their top priority.

But it seems in the 21st century, just hearing a voice on the telephone no longer suffices.

And that means they expect free Internet connections.

The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) says it very clearly: "being able to connect online with family and friends is now the top priority for travelers." Conversely, not being able to do so, says Hotelmarketing.com  (which reported on the

           Celia featured in a wall mural in Miami's Little Havana

“Ay, no hay que llorar
Que la vida es un carnaval
y es más bello vivir cantando…”

Today marks exactly a decade since the world lost one of its most memorable pop music giants. In the lines above, from one of her signature songs, Carnaval, the late Celia Cruz sang, “No need to cry – life is a carnival, and it’s more beautiful to live singing” (hear it in the video below).  It's this positive philosophy in life that won her milli

por Andrés Figueroa

El piragüismo o canotaje es un deporte acuático que se practica sobre una embarcación ligera. Por norma general, la canoa se fabrica en diversos materiales: fibra de vidrio o plástico (para los aficionados); y fibras de kevlar o de carbono (para los profesionales). Para impulsarse se emplean remos empujados por una, dos o cuatro personas. Un dato curioso es que jamás se hacen viajes de tres sujetos. Los medios de transporte más comunes suelen ser el kayak y la canoa.

En tanto

Nepal is an astonishing country with a diverse landscape. Surrounded by the great Himalayas and dotted with gently-flowing rivers and serene lakes, Nepal travel truly mesmerizes its visitors. It is not only a great adventure destination but also a place with much spiritual significance. The birthplace of Lord Buddha, Nepal is filled with numerous gompas and ancient Hindu temples. Many Buddhist and Hindu devotees come to Nepal on pilgrimage tours to seek blessings and pray for salvation. Mention

Lincoln Highway display at the Joliet Historical Museum

If you live anywhere along the Lincoln Highway  you probably are aware that this year marks its 100th anniversary. It was the first paved coast to coast highway, an idea conceived by a man named Carl G. Fisher, an automobile and racing enthusiast who built the Indianapolis Speedway.

CCCA Grand Classics on Tour

It had been a year since our last vacation. My mother’s condition had worsened ever since she began her stay in a long term healthcare facility.

My father who was home at the time of her fall said it happened quickly. She was in the shower and he heard a bang. He rushed in to find her lying on her side. She had broken her hip and that was the beginning of the end.

What if I told you there was an animal without lungs that lives on land and can grow back any limb of its body?

Crazy, you say? Well, in the Costa Rican Caribbean rainforest, there is a species of salamander that can.

Salamanders are amphibians that are typically characterized by a lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, short noses, and long tails, according to Wikipedia. There are approximately 550 species of salamanders that live in Temperate and Neotropical zones around the world.

Unique a

Welcome to your paradise in Tulum

Travelers to Tulum seeking to get away from the hustle and bustle of busy partying in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen can find solace and immerse themselves into a tropical forest and ocean setting. Located 150 kilometers (around 100 miles) down the coast from Cancun, the Be Tulum Hotel is etched into a natural  setting with 20 exclusive suites in a tropical forest leading up to white sand and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, its architecture designed up to gre

Nepal is undoubtedly a trekker's paradise. Home to the seven highest peaks of the world, the country has some of the most exciting trekking trails that offers excitement and adventure. It provides the backdrop for the most amazing adventure in some of the world's most remotest mountain peaks to test your endurance and stamina. Various treks are available which are arranged by different trekking companies who also take care of your security and safety. Mentioned below are the five treks to the di

Sometimes when you watch a lousy movie, the only compliments you can muster are about the scenery. For many people this was the case with the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans, widely criticized for the quality of the 3-D graphics as well as the dubious plot. In fact, the landscapes of the Canary Islands were the only feature of the film to have emerged with credit. Even the actors spoke very highly of their own surprise in discovering the natural diversity and dramatic views across Gran Canari

Most people think New Mexico is called the “Land of Enchantment” because of its breathtaking scenery. I was most enchanted, however, by the state’s unique heritage and culture. Many people in the state retain their Native American culture while others still honor their Spanish or pioneer roots.

And no wonder -- New Mexico is relatively a newcomer to statehood. It’s celebrating only its 100th anniversary as a state in 2012, but its Pueblo heritage dates back thousands of years. Santa Fe itself is

Mstyslav Chernov


When Christopher Columbus and his merry band dropped anchor for the first time in the “New World” in 1492, they found the the Taínos and Arawaks of Hispaniola (now two-thirds occupied by the Dominican Republic) smoking some funny kinda  dried brown leaves. And the DR has been a tobacco producer ever since – yet for much of that time, for reasons of history and economics, cigarwise it’s been overshadowed by Cuba, turning out mostly fodder for cigarettes.

Miguel González

 
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