Chinese New Year celebration is in the air and one of my favourite places to enjoy it is in Chinatown, Singapore. 2015 welcomes the year of the sheep on February 19th and Chinatown is abuzz with activities as locals prepare for their annual holiday in...
Among the many traditions of the Lowcountry around Charleston SC few are as fascinating or as rich in history as basketweaving using sweetgrass—native bulrush. These baskets are displayed for sale by their makers on the steps of the...
It's hard for non-Canadians to understand just how beloved ice hockey is in Canada. Do you think football is popular in the USA? Soccer in Ireland? Cricket in India? Well, hockey is comparatively bigger than that in...
One morning, whilst visiting the World Heritage site of Ksar at Ait Ben Haddou, beyond the Atlas mountains and into southern Morocco's desert region, we awoke to blustery winds that made the fine sand race across the dried river bed...
One of the things I love best about traveling are those great unexpected moments that you will never forget, moments that make you say "Wow"! Such was the case when my family and I recently traveled to Las Vegas, Nevada. We decided...
Many regions of France are known for their wines, and Provence is one of them, located at the lower end of the Rhone Valley. Some Provence vineyards ship far and wide; others are far more local, and go out of their way to promote locally....
Recently I attended a medical course in Scottsdale, Arizona. Using one afternoon, a few late afternoons plus evenings, I got chance to explore the area around Phoenix and Scottsdale. The clear...
When you see a group of them at a distance in the "Cholla Cactus Garden" (Joshua Tree National Park), they're a memorable site. With their arms outstretched, these cacti seem rather fuzzy, almost soft, and hence the name "teddy...
My first solo trip was to Madrid and Toledo in Spain. I had been travelling for years, but always in a group. This time I was on my own, and a little petrified. I shouldn't have been as Madrid is easy to get around and the...
I enjoy visiting local markets on my travels and do so often. One of the most unique I've ever visited was this market in Iquitos. A poor city in the Peruvian Amazon, it had an amazing assortment of food (and other items) for...
I have a 'thing' about interesting doorways, whether it is the colour, texture, shape - whatever. So when I came across this excellent metal door in the little Berber town of El Khorbat during a photo tour into the southern Moroccan desert regions....
This is the River Conway on the coast of North Wales. It has its source high in the snow capped mountains of the Snowdonia National Park. Its entrance from the Irish Sea is protected by Conway Castle. The Kings of the middle ages were always fearful...
I recently visited the west coast and took in a sunrise at the White Rock Pier. Stretching two and a half kilometres across the waterfront, the White Rock Promenade and its adjoining pier is built into Semiahmoo Bay. The infamous...
A visit to Paris is not complete without spending a few hours wandering around the historic district of Montmarte . Originally a haven for artists and bohemians alike, the area is now more geared for tourists. Located in the north of...
Carnival season 2015 is in full swing. To the world Carnival may be most popular in Brazil, but Trinidad and Tobago has a massive celebration that may just be second biggest. The Carnival season starts immediately after the...