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Visit the land of snow monsters

Collectively, we are so used to seeing Japan as squeaky clean streets, gracious and polite residents and - almost - not a hair out of place.  Cherry blossoms.  Mount Fuji.  Bullet trains.  Mind-blowing food. And, of course all of that is correct.  But there are some places in Japan that don't always bubble up to the…

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IV drip trips

We're not sure if this is a trend, or a reaction, but we're seeing more and more wellness solutions appearing in the news and in our mailboxes. Why is this?  Are these jokes, snake-oil salespeople, misguided wellness gurus or . . . a real thing?  Something to think about when you click on a link or…

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G, where should we travel next?

Our affiliate friends, G Adventures, are always on the cutting edge of sensing what the world needs next in adventure travel.  They've been doing it for decades and, so, know their stuff. Well, given where we are in this point in time, travel has had to change and shape-shift.  But, that has given us time to…

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The German village that got lost

Europe is a very organised place.  It has to be, with 27 different countries, almost as many languages and 447.7 million inhabitants, it's pretty big, too.  Of course, that's also what makes it such a fun place to visit.  Peaceful, prosperous, progressive and ever-changing, it's a travel destination that never gets boring. But, even with those…

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Yes darling, but is it art?

Creativity takes courage, that's for certain. It's one thing if you send your masterpiece to your friends and family, but it's another thing entirely if you bare yourself to the world. That being said, some of the best artists were laughed at in their early days, and now we spend millions to buy them and…

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Why? Because we’re the VatiCAN!

If you haven't visited the Vatican in Rome, please be sure to add it to your list.  Not only are the Vatican buildings, themselves, incredible, but the Vatican museum will blow your mind. As you may know, the Vatican itself is an independent city-state and enclave located within Rome, Italy and it is a distinct…

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OMG . . LA is so HOLLOW

Los Angeles is often painted as being a vain and vapid place.  All looks and no substance.  Bring your alibis.  (We rather like the place.) But, to be honest, some of LA is, indeed hollow and in some places, shallow.  Some of its buildings, in fact. And they hide an interesting and still relevant and…

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Oiran Dochu

Oiran (花魁) is a word used to refer to the high-class prostitutes that worked in the Yoshiwara red-light district (Yoshiwara-Yukaku) during the Edo period. The Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri started in 2003 to preserve this piece of Edo history. It takes place along a 500m or so stretch of road with members in full Edo period dress…

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You’re on track: DIY rail opus

If you visit our site often, you'll know how much we love trains and the railways.  In these days of a worrisome climatic future, and the growth of the global population and diminishing resources, we need to be efficient.  Rail is just that . . and more. Recently, probably the longest train trip has been…

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Wherefore art now?

This may sound trite, but art is art, isn't it?  Artists follow their muse to amaze / amuse / surprise us with what the human mind can conjure up.  We may not always "get it" but there never seems to be a shortage of those who create something compelling. Interestingly, there are also those who…

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Roadkill

It is almost certain that you recently interacted closely with an invisible giant, as the Harvard landscape ecologist Richard T T Forman has described it. Others have called roads ‘the single most destructive element in the process of habitat fragmentation’, declaring that ‘Few forces have been more influential in modifying the Earth than transportation.’  But, the engineering…

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12th century DIY

Looking for a new home improvement project? Well, we have the projects for you! A choice of seven.  Perfect for any level of skills.  Building materials are easy to find.  Good bones to start of your project.   Includes helpful videos. What could possibly go wrong? Read more here courtesy of AtlasObscura.com You'll want to visit…

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Finally!

If you visit our site, you'll know that we are huge proponents of rail travel.  What's not to like?  High-speed, comfort and better for the environment. Most countries have highspeed rail options in place, and have had for many years.  But there has always been one rather glaring exception - the USA.  Train travel works there…

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VRtigo

Although the world is starting to open up again, from the Covid-19 pandemic, it can still be a bit of a dicey proposition:  you never know when someone won't be "cooperating" with the efforts to quell the pandemic.  And, there is always the chance that your flight will be surreptitiously cancelled. Well, if you're still clamouring…

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The fifteen minute city

The world is certainly not getting any smaller, that's for sure.  And its capacity to hold us all is starting to become a strain on the planet.  But, as ever, there are clever humans who have ideas. The 15-minute city urban theory received the 2021 Obel Prize in recognition of the concept's value for creating sustainable…

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NYC . . . thin on the ground

As if encountering wafer-thin fashion models as they strut down Fifth Avenue in New York City  isn't enough to discombobulate your sense of self, now the high-rise apartments are getting into the act. New York has always been home to some of the world’s tallest towers, but in the last 10 years the city has seen…

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