I had never heard of Ipoh before this trip to Malaysia. The town once known for its thriving tin mining industry is now staking its claim in other ways, including spa and wellness tourism. This water lily was in the gardens at The Banjaran, Malaysia’s first natural hot springs wellness retreat, providing peaceful bliss after a week on the road.
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Patria: Spanish Food in Toronto
Patria Address: 480 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario Rating: (2 out of 3 hearts) Features: Patria makes use of the open concept, with high ceilings, full-sized cross-stitch art on the walls, and and exposed beams. There is a narrow outdoor patio, great for warm weather and, with the addition of some heat lamps, could easily extend into the fall and winter season. The venue is sexy in a bright and bold way, rather than dark and intimate, and it had me longing for lingering warm weather meals on the Costa Brava. Price Range: Moderate to high. The beauty of tapas is that you can try so many different things. But that also means your bill can add up pretty fast. Consider making a mean of a meat and cheese platter with a glass of sangria if you’re looking for a value […]
Read MoreYoshida Udon: A Meal Fit for Mt. Fuji
It was hot and filling, and best of all – it wasn’t fish! I slurped up that bowl of Yoshida Udon like there was no tomorrow. I had been in Japan for a couple of days and had been treated to gourmet meals aplenty. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were beautiful works of art, masterpieces of flavor, and were eagerly devoured by my traveling companions. I, alone, appeared to be the one person who couldn’t face fish, often uncooked, for three meals a day. I felt bad as I pushed things around my plate, trying to be polite and look like I was both eating and enjoying this impressive presentation. This was beautiful food; it was expertly prepared and presented, but I just couldn’t face it. In that fleeting moment, I realized that I was more gourmand than gourmet. What I […]
Read MoreGoogle Hangout: Talking About TBEX, Travel & Tourism, & Dublin
This morning I had the chance to chat with some friends and colleagues about the upcoming TBEX conference in Dublin. A lot of people do a lot of work to make this all come together, and I’ll admit to lots of late night crankiness here at my house as well, but once I get on the plane on Sunday, it’s all smooth sailing. This Google Hangout was organized by Alastair McKenzie as part of his Travel Coffee Break series. It’s a lively and informative discussion on not only the TBEX conference, but also our thoughts on the evolution of travel and tourism and its relationship with the media.
Read MorePostcard from Wildlife Safari
It’s a road trip weekend and a chance to enjoy the baking hot weather of southern Oregon. These three brown bears at Wildlife Safari (in Winston, Oregon), were trying to beat the heat with a bear-sized popsicle – a large block of ice with berries and other fruit frozen inside.
Read MoreRolling Along in Antwerp Belgium
I rolled into Antwerp by train, like many visitors to the city, arriving at the city’s ornate Central Station. I’d heard that the station was impressive, it makes the most beautiful list often enough, and the stone, iron, and glass architecture didn’t disappoint. I’ll let the architectural community argue over the appropriate style of the station, and I’ll just appreciate the dome and the turrets, the marble and the glass, and the gold. The Central Station was completed in 1905, and although it has been refurbished and expanded a couple different time, the station’s opulence has not been diminished. Today the station has four levels and 14 tracks that connect Antwerp with the rest of the country and the rest of Europe. Does it look somehow familiar? Perhaps you’ve seen the Sound of Music flash mob video Belgium is one […]
Read MorePostcard from Roses
On rainy Seattle days, I enjoy thinking about how lovely the coast of Spain is. Roses, located on the north end of the Bay of Roses, is a great beach getaway spot. And the Hotel Vistabella, where I stayed, provides a lovely view of the sand and surf.
Read MorePostcard from Nickelodeon Universe
A theme park inside a mall? Yep, that’s just what you’ll get with Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Located near the Minneapolis-St Paul airport, this was the first stop on my theme park getaway weekend.
Read MoreDo This Weekend: Great Backyard Bird Count
Sometimes creating a great travel experience isn’t just about decide where you’re going to take a trip. Sometimes it’s about doing something to ensure that others who travel can experience things you might take for granted. This weekend, February 15-18th, 2013, you have a chance to enjoy a weekend and home, while at the same time performing a valuable service to the environment and future travelers to your home town. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. While here in the Pacific Northwest it’s easy to look outside and see birds in every tree, this environmental initiative is a worldwide event. As a bonus, you can count wherever you happen to be – even if you’re traveling. […]
Read MoreTalking Travel at the Seattle Golf & Travel Show
Beautiful and exotic, Japan often seems like a destination that will overwhelm travelers. The language, both written and spoken, is not easy to follow along in a guide book, the capital city of Tokyo is home to around 12 million people (in the greater Tokyo area), and food may be different that what we’re accustomed to at home. It’s understandable that some travelers may not want to rise to the challenge of visiting Japan. And as my recent trip to Tokyo proved, letting the myths of traveling to Japan get in the way of traveling there is a big mistake.’ I’ve written about the things that I didn’t know till I got to Japan, some of the things that surprised me, and later today I’ll be speaking at the Seattle Golf & Travel Show about how you can create a […]
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