Seduced by Sri Lanka

EARLIER IN THE MORNING, we’d boarded the blue train in Kandy for the seven-hour journey – considered one of the world’s most beautiful train rides – to the mountain village of Ella. After three days of hiking and touring tea...

You Are Very Welcome in Jordan

When my flight landed in Amman at 1:35am, I was tired and mildly concerned about making my way through customs, finding my driver and retrieving my luggage – such are the joys of international travel. I needn’t have worried. There, smiling broadly...

Getting Personal with California Gray Whales

THE MEXICAN FISHERMAN operating our Panga, a small fiberglass fishing boat, knew what he was doing as he scanned the horizon. With keen eyes, he was looking for signs of California gray whales. He pointed. My fellow guests and I...

Tales from the Serengeti

WE ARE DRESSED FOR THE PART; swaddled in shades of khaki, greens and browns, multi-layered against the chill of our early morning drive in the Serengeti. The sun has taken over from a starlit night in which we slept peacefully,...

Magical Moloka’i: The Hawaii You Never Knew

“Slow Down, this is Moloka’i,” read the hand-painted sign that greets me on the road leading out of the airport. With nary a car in sight, I can see why there needs to be a reminder, as the wide open...

Summertime in Switzerland

IN MY MIND, Switzerland is always snowy – and I imagine myself schussing down an alp. In reality, my chance to tour Switzerland came in summer and while the Alps were definitely there, no skiing was involved. Instead, my time...

Provence: A Feast for the Soul

IN MY WORLD of daydreams, owning a second home in the South of France is a forever fantasy. Not the southern France of shimmering beaches, bling boutiques and chic villas along the Riviera, but inland, in Provence with the perfect...

On an African Safari with Tauck: Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

Almost constantly on the move, Vanessa has just arrived home from a fantastic African safari with Tauck in Tanzania followed by a few days on the tropical island of Zanzibar – birthplace of Freddie Mercury. Here’s a quick overview of...

Breathing ‘Ha’ in Hawaii

If you learn one word while visiting Hawaii, make it “aloha” which translates to “al” – face-to-face and “ha” – the breath of life. Not just an all-purpose island greeting and farewell, aloha means love, friendship and responsibility – not...

A River Less Travelled with Avalon Waterways

Vanessa has returned from an Avalon Waterways trip sailing along the Moselle River, which runs through the Mosel Valley and is considered to be the best place for Riesling in the world, and here are her impressions: The Moselle river, with...

Spring Skiing… It’s Epic!

If this year’s frigid temperatures have made the ski slopes seem a little less appealing, take heart. We’re about to dive into the absolute best time of all on the hills – spring skiing! And there’s no better place than...

Hotel 71 Québec City: A Boutique Beauty in a UNESCO World Heritage City

Marvellously located on rue Saint-Pierre in the heart of historic Québec City’s lower, old town, the Hotel 71 – also known as the Soixante & Onze – is utterly charming and ideally situated across from the cruise port. The hotel...