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Activity Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Inspiration Meditation Mixed Categories Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

It all comes out in the washi

Every summer, giant warriors roam the Japanese city of Aomori. Lit from within by lanterns, these formidable paper floats are the centerpiece of the Nebuta Matsuri, a weeklong evening festival in August and one of Japan’s biggest seasonal events. Accompanied by taiko drummers and dancers, the floats depict scenes from kabuki and Japanese mythology. Each…
2021-06-300Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Mindfulness Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Italy: back in black

You may not think of Italy as a particularly diverse country, but its history includes a Black Roman emperor, Septimus Severus, and, in the 19thcentury, colonies in the North African countries now known as Eritrea and Ethiopia (from where Italians’ beloved caffè originates). I arrived here from New York two years ago, and have found…
2021-06-270Comments

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Activity Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Brescia refresher

Raise your hands, those of you who have visited Brescia, Italy. If you haven't, let us assist you in exploring this rich and varied place. Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. With a…
2021-06-260Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different History Inspiration Middle East Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

It’s a numbers game

Those of us who learned arithmetic using pen and paper, working with the ten digits 0–9 and place value, may take for granted that this is the way it’s always been done, or at least the way it ought to be done. But if you think of the amount of time and energy spent in…
2021-06-210Comments

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Activity Adventure Do Something Different History Nature & the Environment North America Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Wilderness World Culture

Pueblo crews

The USA is not a place normally associated with ancient dwellings.  Most of its history ostensibly started around 1776, and it has always fashioned itself around its "newness." But, like anywhere else, the country has its surprises, one of which is the stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mesa Verde national park in Colorado.  The park…
2021-06-210Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Health History Inspiration LGBTQ Mindfulness Relaxation Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Equal rights, equal wrongs

Most of us live in social worlds that are profoundly unequal, where small elites have vastly more power and wealth than everyone else. Very few of the have-nots find this congenial. As experimental economists have shown, we tend to enter social situations prepared to take a chance and cooperate in collective activities. But if others…
2021-06-190Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Europe Food and Drink Fun Health History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

A walk and a cheeky pint

One of the many joys of the United Kingdom is an afternoon walk.  Much of the UK's land has been set aside for the public to use freely for walking.  And, it is a tradition that families do that, usually on a Sunday, and perhaps after a rather over-generous lunch. The paths are always well-marked,…
2021-06-180Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Do Something Different History Meditation Nature & the Environment Pacific Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

It’s literally Nauru . . . and you

Chances are good that you have never heard of Nauru.  That's not surprising, as only around 10,000 inhabitants live there, and the island country usually gets only a couple of hundred visitors each year.  It is the smallest country in the world. But, you might want to give the island nation a go, as its…
2021-06-180Comments

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Activity Adventure Fun Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Travel Unusual Virtual

Jane, stop this crazy thing!

Plastics.  Carbon fibre. Airloys. Atomic layer deposition. Nano putty. Aerogel. Memory foam.  Metalized polyethylene terephthalate. Your travel future relies on the space-age materials listed above.  They play their part in making planes, trains and automobiles better, lighter, stronger and faster. Why  does this matter to you?  Both American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic recently signed deals…
2021-06-110Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History Life of Luxury Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Can you Canfranc?

War is hell.  There have been too many.  But, humans always find a way to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start again. After the end of the First World War, during the euphoria following one of the most awful periods of world history, the Pau-Somport rail tunnel had been driven beneath the Pyrenees…
2021-06-050Comments

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Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Inspiration Meditation Nature & the Environment Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

There’s a place

In his documentary, filmmaker Paul Saltzman retraces his journey of 50 years ago when he spent - almost accidentally - a life-changing time with the Beatles at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram on the banks of the Ganges River. In 1968, he discovered his own soul, learned meditation, which changed his life, and hung out with…
2021-06-040Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun History Nature & the Environment Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Luvlee!

We periodically write about Wales, the oft-forgotten member of the United Kingdom's family.  The country sits in the background, reinventing itself over and over. Once known only for coal and sheep, Wales has been transforming into a destination, as both of those means of putting food on the table are diminishing. The natural path is…
2021-05-300Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun Health History Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

Irony Curtain

At its heart, Russia is a fabulous place.  With so much history, expansive terrain and the sheer diversity of its population, its lure as a place to visit is often obscured by politics and other kinds of maneuvering. When we talk about history, we must remember that the Soviet era is now history, too.  And,…
2021-05-290Comments

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Alternative Lifestyle Asia Design and Art Do Something Different History Inspiration Meditation Mindfulness Nature & the Environment Relaxation Rest of World Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

You see Phou Si

Asia has so many wonders, and so much rich and deep history. One that is well-known, but not always on at the top of everyone's list is Mount Phou Si in Laos.  It is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town of Luang Prabang in Laos. It lies in the heart of…
2021-05-280Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different Europe For Women Only Fun LGBTQ Outdoors Relaxation The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo Unusual

Take you on a slow boat to Stratford

All apologies to Ella Fitzgerald. England is surrounded by water.  And, as you might imagine, there are rivers and streams that course through the country. Some are tiny and some are navigable. Even better, some are big enough to accommodate boats.  And even better than that, some of these boats have beds and kitchens and…
2021-05-270Comments

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Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Nature & the Environment North America Partytime Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller

The Biltmore is now built even more

If you spend any time on our site, you will know of our unabashed love of the architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.  His influence on architecture and design are still preeminent to many designers, architects and builders. When you enter one of his creations, you will never forget it. Sadly, some of his work has been…
2021-05-140Comments

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Activity Caribbean Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Outdoors Partytime Relaxation The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Fond Doux Eco Coco

As if you need any encouragement to visit the glorious island of St Lucia, we have further tasty reasons might you might want to stay at a certain place -  Fond Doux Eco Resort.  The reason?  Chocolate. Located within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Soufriere Saint Lucia on a historic 19th-century working cocoa estate,…
2021-05-100Comments

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Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Nature & the Environment Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Large home – 414 years old. Six careful owners.

We recently watched a fascinating documentary about Kumamoto Castle on the Curiosity Stream channel. This impressive Japanese dwelling for six generations of Japanese monarchy has survived battles, earthquakes . . and more earthquakes, the most recent by another Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016.  The last quake unearthed unexpected damage to the building, to the point of…
2021-05-090Comments

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Alternative Lifestyle Asia For Women Only Health History Inspiration Meditation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Be here and now

When people outside of Asia think of Buddhism, they tend to think about just philosophy and meditation. Buddhists are often said not to have gods, wars or empires. Their religion isn’t about ritual or belief, but a dedicated exploration into what causes suffering and how to end it through meditation and compassion. Although there’s some…
2021-05-070Comments

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