Let me introduce you to a corner of the world that daily transforms lives by delivering an emotional travel experience related to nature that you didn’t even know existed. Flanked by the Arabian Sea, Kerala, India has been known as a spice exporter to the world since 3000 BC! It is dotted with tea plantations, spice gardens, dense green forests, and mystic nature. And I
Have you ever heard of the small Balkan country known as Bosnia & Herzegovina? I hadn't really either, as it wasn't even really on my bucket list! But while visiting Croatia, my husband and I decided to take a day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar. And we were certainly glad we did. Mostar is considered the cultural and economic capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Oh,
Leaving the post-modern and futuristic city of Tokyo behind, one might feel the entire country would be paved with unique technologies and cyberpunk innovation, but heading north to the Tochigi region of Japan might also make you think you’ve entered a brand new country. It doesn’t take long to travel out of the city by train. You can head to Nikko Japan, located in the
Traveling to the most beautiful places in the world is a luxury that I believe most of my readers can afford. You may have seen places like Budapest and Vienna on television and thought, “How will I ever be able to visit these gorgeous cities?” But to be honest, once you are able to book a plane ticket, the rest of your trip can be
I recently visited Budapest, Hungary with Avalon Waterways to check out their new “Active and Discovery” excursion tours that are offered on their European River cruises. Since I have been on my share of European river cruises along the Rhine, the Main, and the Danube, I was excited to try out their new style of excursions. One of my choices for a "Discovery" excursion was
While it may sound creepy to visit a local cemetery while on vacation, but this cemetery is simply one NOT TO MISS when you visit the enchanting city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In fact, it is my number one recommendation of things to do when visiting Buenos Aires! Of course, there are so many things to see and do in Buenos Aires, but this is
Buenos Aires - A Comprehensive Guide on What To Do! Buenos Aires is the largest city in Argentina and currently home to more than 40 million people! It is also the capital of Argentina and known as the “Paris of South America!” I can honestly attest to that, as this city is absolutely gorgeous with its European-style buildings and architecture. It is as if you
I stepped onto the shores of the Normandy Beaches where I couldn't stop thinking about how World War II had finally ended in 1945. The end would have never happened if it was not for the bravery of the Allied Forces who landed on the beaches of Normandy in June of 1944, Codename Operation Overload. American, British, and Canadian soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for
Comprised of more than 160 islands, the Kingdom of Tonga is a stunning country to visit in the South Pacific. It is located about 500 miles south of Samoa and 500 southeast of Fiji, so somewhere in the middle of nowhere! At least 36 of the country’s islands are inhabited. I had a chance to visit Nuku 'alofa, Tonga on my Polynesian Crossing with the
✦ Bora Bora Guide ✦ Spring and Summer vacations are right around the corner and the perfect time to get away to a sunny holiday. I think a vacation should include adventure, a lot of relaxation, some exploration, and a few fun and scheduled activities. Places like Savannah, New Orleans, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and the Caribbean are a few of the most common places for
Da-Bach-na-Fahrt Raft Race, going "Wild on the Water!" As an American, I had never even heard of Schramberg, Germany much less any of the shenanigans going on during their famous Carnival river raft races. What on earth had I missed? Apparentlly people come from all over Europe just to see and experience such a fun carnival river raft race known as the Da-Bach-na-Fahrt Raft Race. Literally
✦ Things To Do and What To See in Positano as"Positano bites Deep!" Positano, Italy is a gorgeous slice of Heaven, ok, I mean "beach town" in Italy along the Amalfi Coast. It is famous for its colorful buildings, excellent restaurants, and perfect location for honeymooners, and really anyone who wants to enjoy the Italian sun! With its winding roads that lead down to the
There are many honeymoon destinations around the world to explore, but one that is off-the-beaten-path for Americans is the country of India. I have complied a list of best 10 Indian honeymoon destinations for couples. So ff you ever get a chance to go to an Indian wedding or be invited to one, be sure and go! They are certainly interesting from an American perspective.
Guide to celebrating Carnival in Schramberg, Germany The anticipation was thick in the air when we arrived mid-morning for our very first peek deep into Germany’s Black Forest where Carnival comes alive! Not the Carnival you may be thinking of with drunkenness and bead throwing like in New Orleans, but a traditional type that has been going for centuries in the forests of
Carnival Black Forest Germany Carnival - Enchanting creatures lurking in the Black Forest Ding, Ding, Ding! “What was that?” I hear it again. Ding, Ding, Ding! I glance over at the clock in the pitch-black hotel room and try to remember where I am. “It is 5 am!” I have been on a whirlwind tour of the Black Forest in Germany and being
Doha, Qatar is located within a tiny Arab nation that has unbelievable architecture, a huge expatriate population, and the highest per capita income in the world! As the smallest country in the Middle East, it has grown in population super fast over the last 40 years. Back then it was a desolate desert with virtually little going on other than a lonely Sheraton Grand Hotel
It was very late into the wee hours of a rainy morning when my plane landed at the Jiangbei Airport near Chongqing, China. After gathering my luggage, I handed the non-English speaking taxi driver the address to Tongjing Hot Springs Resort. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say he had no idea where to go, then plugged the address into his GPS. Some 45
Walking the city streets and along the St. Lawrence River of old Quebec City, I felt as if I could hear the sounds of the past from the old shipping boats that came into the harbor. In fact, Old Quebec City was built upon the St. Lawrence River, where the French merchants brought in goods from far away lands. Along with the stunning visual surroundings,
Make This Your Next Authentic Italian Vacation Americans love Italy Vacations. Yet many times when we go, we get bogged down in the massive cities and we begin to feel that the vacation becomes "too touristy". In Rome, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain are so busy that they are almost avoidable areas to go to anymore because of the massive crowds. Even Rome has
I had always wanted to go to Guadalajara, in fact, I had already purchased a flight and hotel to go there years ago, but a different trip came up for work and I had to cancel our trip to Jalisco. Believe me, my husband was not happy about it, as he was looking forward to going there as well. So here we are five years
I'd say the Amalfi Coast is right on up there with the top 10 places to see before you die! You have got to experience it for yourself. Take your spouse on a romantic getaway. Fly into Rome, rent a car, and drive from Rome to Positano by car. See it for yourself, at your own pace and leisure. That's what we did on our
Landing in Colombo, I had no idea what riches lie in front of me. Sri Lanka sounded to this American Girl like an exotic, far-off land. This trip for me was intriguing and mysterious all at the same time. Any country’s UNESCO World Heritage sites are always of interest to me, so I was ecstatic to learn I would take a visit to an ancient
An important part of any tourist experience visiting a new country for the very first time is the food. Guyana is one place where you can dive deep into the culture when searching for and tasting the local Guyanese food. In fact, in Guyana, the food appears to be a melting pot of age-old cultures, traditions, and flavors - many coming from Africa, Britain, the
From charming and colorfully painted fishing villages to beehive huts and stunning handmade pottery, the Dingle Peninsula offers a wide variety of things to do while visiting this portion of the Wild Atlantic Way. Dingle, Ireland has been isolated from the influences of the modern world until recently which has resulted in fun local culture and a dialect that is quite different than the rest
If you get a chance, go to Coronado Island for July 4th, it is a lot of fun. Make it a day on the silver strand! Although it is probably the busiest day of the year, you will want to come back when it is not so busy, You can take the ferry ride over from San Diego, if you don’t want to be bothered
Every year since I started this blog about world travel in 2012, I have written a travel year-end review showcasing world travel. I guess this year will be no different, although I do seem to get lazier and lazier about writing it and putting it off to the last minute! 2018 was a wonderful year of change, as I continued working with well-known travel brands
Chora Church - No Ordinary Place The sights and sounds that are Istanbul are so difficult to explain, I tried to show you this thru my streets of Istanbul photograph post. At first, I was so overwhelmed with the mass difference between the USA and Turkey, that I had a hard time describing my emotions and thoughts about Istanbul. It has taken me a while
I not only like to travel, but I love to travel. So imagine my surprise ,when even for me, I end up out of my comfort zone! Where on earth could this be? Where was I when I felt this was? It happened to be Montañita, Ecuador. It was just one of those places that made me feel a little uneasy. Montañita is a small
Petra, Jordan By Night - A Practical Guide Petra by night is an after-dark, guided excursion down the Siq to the Treasury in Jordan's famous carved city. It gets mixed reviews on the travel forums and Tripadvisor about whether or not it is worth it to go while visiting Jordan. I thought it was an amazing experience and one worth doing, so don't let the
Crowded in the back of a forest green jeep with the top down, I was hanging onto the metal bars of the truck. A slight breeze touched my face in the muggy weather when suddenly light droplets began to fall from the sky. Crouching down into the vinyl black seat below the metal racks, I covered my head, iPhone and DSLR camera with my scarf.
I fell in love with the Liguria region where Genova, Italia (Genoa, Italy) is located. It is squeezed in between Monaco and Tuscany and is the thinnest and the smallest of all the regions of Italy. It may not be the most popular area or an area you think of when it comes to a visit to Italy, but take it from me, you will
Have you ever heard of Lviv Ukraine as a tourist destination? I hadn’t really. It is a popular weekend retreat for many Ukrainians, Russians, and Europeans, but somehow it has not been discovered by the American tourist yet. It seems there are many cities in Eastern Europe that will take your breath away and Lviv Ukraine is now on my bucket list as one of
From its world-class art museums to its floating flower markets, the city of Amsterdam is reinventing itself from its hedonistic side to now focusing on its rich artistic heritage. Culturally, it’s one of Europe’s most diverse and eclectic destinations. I put together this list of Amsterdam points of interest for first-time visitors so that you will not miss a single thing. You can pedal your
Bonjour! Won’t you come with me to Provence in the South of France? Let the Romance Begin in Southern France Don’t blame Southern France; they just can’t help themselves with their lavender-filled shops, hilltop villages, old churches, and their seductively gorgeous coastline. Heck, even the Vatican transplanted to Provence in southern France during the fourteenth century, as they decided they just might like this location
Photo by Donnie Sexton Hands down, the most spectacular event I’ve ever witnessed has to be the Carnival of Venice. I didn’t rent a costume or pay to attend any of the masquerade balls, but I had the time of my life wandering this historical city and being utterly bedazzled by the continual parade of costumed people there to celebrate the Venice Carnival.
