Public transit is the way to go! The more we use it, the better it (and the planet) gets. We are constantly banging on and on about why we should leave the car behind, when we can. As if we even need to say this in this day and age, here are…
Mindfulness
Those of us who visit sites like ours (and so many others) sometimes take our travel trips for granted. Many of us are fortunate to be able to explore locations that may not be "standard issue" destinations. There are many poor countries around the globe, with kind, wonderful people and, when we can,…
Ever since the "end" of the Covid 19 pandemic, it feels like prices have gone up and up and up, almost with no justification nor abatement, and they keep going up. From the start of the pandemic consumers and retailers have faced shortages in a wide range of goods, from toilet paper to electronics…
When we're young, and in school, we learn some of the basics of history, of life and some topics that may completely slip our mind. One such topic is plate tectonics. It's there - and always has been - right under our feet, with us blithely never thinking about it, even though, over millennia,…
Are you the type where, when you're flying somewhere, you never quite seem to get it right when it comes to packing your suitcase, or you goof up what kinds of socks and pants to where? Do you always manage to overfill your carry-on to the point where it almost doesn't fit in the…
At the time of this writing, it's May of 2023. There are multiple wars underway. The environment is in utter turmoil. The number of billionaires has shot through the roof. And the poor are fighting for their lives. And, as if that isn't bad enough, women still encounter challenges when…
India is a land with a rich historical and cultural heritage, and it is home to numerous magnificent mansions that hold fascinating stories from the past. These forgotten mansions, often referred to as havelis or palaces, showcase the opulence and grandeur of bygone eras. But where have they gone . . . and why?…
Thanks to social media, the world can sometimes get smaller as it swells in size. Instantaneous communications is the norm now, and it's a luxury that so many can still afford, no matter their station. Many of us will remember a time where using the post, a telephone or, if we were lucky,…
Even as we approach our "sunset years," it's clear that most of what we used to be is still with us. Our playfulness. Our sense of humour. Our love of life. Our desire to travel. Seeing live music and enjoying it just as much as we did when we were…
We don't need to spend too much time discussing how proud, clever and efficient (not to mention kind) the people of Japan are. Similar to the Koreans, the Japanese strike a balance between efficiency and personal pride, for the good of all. As a refresher, Japan is an archipelago, or string of islands, on the…
Like many modern, progressive countries, Japan has its eyes wide open when it comes to the environment and what we need to do to save it. In addition to Japan's willingness to live in smaller, more sensible dwellings, they are also world leaders when it comes to rail versus auto travel. And, this…
Soon enough, this post will transform into a travelogue about a place in Texas, USA. But, for now, we simply want to say goodbye to a true gentleman and legend, Harry Belafonte, who passed away last week at the ripe old age of 96. Ninety-six. If you're of the same age as…
Boy, you read the news every day and it seems like there is an endless parade of people who make flying miserable. Here are some examples. Prepare to be amazed. "I was on a flight with really bad turbulence. It went on for about 10 minutes, and then the old lady next to…
If you've been around a while, like we have, you'll surely have noticed that the world is not necessarily heading in the right direction . . again. It seems like - just a few years ago - anger and despair, wars and dictatorships were on the way out and "humanity" was on the…
Does trying to book a flight on an airline sometimes feel like witchcraft? That is, you poke around on dozens of travel sites, pull out your calculator, plug the figures into your spreadsheet, compare with other sites and then end up with different costs as you go from site to site? (Don't blame…
I believe in miracles! Where ya' from? Even though they take things quite seriously when in comes to the environment, incarceration, living clean and being kind to each other, the Swedes are no sour-pusses. And a good example is the talking garbage bins in Malmö. Poke them in the right place…
If you're a history lover like we are, you search for "must see" locations, or even those that could be considered off-the-beaten trail. And, there are so many choices, that you will likely run out of breath or out of money before you even consider yourself "informed." This post highlights a beautiful, but haunted…
Thailand is so many things to so many people. Historically known as Siam and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bordered to the…