Cultural Exploration
Visit the Star-studded Sunnylands in Palm Springs
Truth be told I didn’t expect to be so spellbound by Sunnylands. The name put me off. I rather expected a Hollywood set. The 200-acre historic estate, located in Rancho Mirage, CA near Palm Springs, is quite the opposite; filled with priceless art, gorgeous gardens, and renowned architecture where, for more than forty years, celebrities […]
My Favorite Walks in San Francisco
Despite its reputation for dizzying hills, San Francisco is a town for walking. Every weekend for seven years when I lived in San Francisco, I laced up my comfiest walking shoes and headed for varied neighborhoods and parks. Try a few of these walks and you too will be struck by the juxtaposition of urbanity and […]
Mother Daughter Travel to Machu Picchu – A Family Affair
Mother/Daughter Travel We thought we were prepared, but we really weren’t. Our first glimpse of the colossal pre-Columbian city, standing regally under a piercingly blue sky, moved us emotionally and physically. We were both surprised by our reaction to the 15th-century Inca site perched almost 8,000 feet above sea level. My 21-year-old daughter Annalyse draped […]
Myanmar: Photos, Reflections and Tips
When I traveled to “Burma” for the first time, an iron-fisted militant government ruled and people were suffering from the horrors of one of the longest running civil wars in history. Myanmar has been slowly emerging from a prolonged era of isolation and repression with new freedoms of expression, a new Constitution and elections. […]
Love is in the air. Candlelight dinner at 30,000 feet.
Dream on Marybeth.Who offers a romantic getaway that begins on a flight? Turkish Airlines, recently voted Europe’s Best Airline for the third consecutive year, that’s who delivers. I had the pleasure of flying Turkish Airlines to Istanbul a few months ago and I was amazed at the level of service and pampered pleasure I […]
Bali and Beyond . . . Trance Dance!
Watch this to the end to see what the men do when they’re in a trance. I got a chance to see this rare Javanese dance performed in rural villages and accompanied by gamelan music. Dancers are calling the spirits to possess them. When a dancer is possessed, he no longer performs regular dancing, but […]
In Fiji, Your Own Island, Barefoot Luxury, and Reefs to Roam
With over 300 islands set in crystal-clear waters, palm-fringed white sand beaches, lagoons and coral reefs, relaxation is big in Fiji–although there are loads of activities when you’re in the mood: amazing snorkeling, diving, jet skiing, white water rafting, swimming with manta rays or visiting local villages. I traveled to Fiji with my 16-year-old daughter […]