Author archive
May 30, 2017
First published by International Living Magazine. I’m not a morning person. But waking up in the plush surroundings of an ocean-view room in a luxury resort on the island paradise of Bali is a breeze. I happily left my cozy bed to take in the view from my private terrace as the soft orange and purple […]
May 20, 2017
Danny Tang, 48 years old, has been the Chef de Cuisine for Viking River Cruises’ Imperial Jewels of China tour for 10 years. It’s a plum job. China’s flourishing inbound tourism has led it to become the world’s second-largest travel and tourism economy. The Asian country has sustained its international fascination, particularly in America, where […]
May 3, 2017
Phuket is Thailand’s tropical paradise. Dubbed “the Pearl of the Andaman,” it’s the largest and most well-known of the islands in the Andaman Sea on Thailand’s southern peninsula. It has a population of around a quarter of a million people. The island has a rich culture and history and was one of the major trading […]
April 19, 2017
“You’d better hurry!” said the concierge. We’d just returned to our hotel after at the end of our weekend in Shanghai. We wanted to see the Bund at night but had just been informed that the lights go out at 10:00 pm. Prompt. With a mere 15 minutes before lights-out, we took a right turn […]
March 26, 2017
Beijing is China’s colossal capital, with a rich and fascinating history dating back 3,000 years. It’s a location with architectural marvels from the ancient dynastic palaces to stunningly unique modern skyscrapers. It’s arguably China’s cultural center, offering a glimpse into the old hutong warrens of the past to the hustling mega-metropolis of the inner city, […]
March 20, 2017
“Aaarrrggghhhh,” I screamed when I felt something crawling on my head. “What is it?” “It’s a giant grasshopper,” said Alison. “Wait a minute, hold still. I want to get a picture.” “Get it off! Now!” I bellowed “No, leave it. It’s good luck,” she insisted. China is full of surprises, from superstitions to fascinating food […]
March 15, 2017
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from – or how you feel… There’s always peace in a strong cup of coffee.” ― Gabriel Bá, Coffee in the United States has become somewhat of pop culture. Get in line, order the most complicated, tongue-twisting combination of caffeine on the menu, and drink it from the paper cup […]
February 12, 2017
Ask a random sampling of people about their bucket list destinations, and virtually all of them will mention the Great Wall of China, probably near or at the top. “He Who Has Never Been to the Great Wall Is Not a True Man” I’m no exception. My two-week trip to China was prompted by my […]
February 10, 2017
A barrier island stretching along the northeast coast of Florida, there are so many things to do at Amelia Island for a relaxing romantic weekend or fun road trip during the chilly shoulder season. Car Rentals from $8.98 A Day: 7 Major Car Vendors, 15,000 Locations, Save Up to 40%. The island, named for Princess […]
February 8, 2017
Full transparency: I’m not a foodie. I’m an adventure traveler. So when our JayWay tour guide said we were going to take a cooking class while traversing Macedonia, I was not thrilled. I anticipated boredom. I was wrong, very wrong. Lake Ohrid We started out from our hotel on glorious Lake Ohrid where we’d spent […]
