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Overtourism: When Travel Takes a Toll on Locals and Visitors Alike
The global boom in travel, fueled by accessible transportation and social media, has turned iconic locations into overcrowded, homogenized spaces. While tourism boosts local economies, it often makes life unaffordable and intolerable for locals.
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Walking in Grace: A Journey of Faith, Friendship, and Self-Discovery
Four lifelong friends in their seventies embarked on the Camino de Santiago finding it to be a journey of spiritual renewal, deep connection, and personal discovery. The journey was filled with challenges but also simple joys- delicious Galician food, unique landscapes and heartfelt connections.
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New Year - New Story
New Year calls for a new set of resolutions. I have done this in the past, but I never thought it changed my life. This year, I will write a new story that shifts away from the negative to a more uplifting present and future.
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Top Places to Visit in the Golden City of Salamanca, Spain
Salamanca has many exciting landmarks and abounds with stories of its glowing sandstone buildings and its engaging scholars and writers. It has been a vibrant university town since the 1200s.
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Discoveries in the North of Spain
Northern Spain has a distinct topography with its peaks and valleys on one side and the coasts with their beaches on the other. It offers exceptional food choices and gems still waiting for interested explorers.
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9 Highlights of Oviedo, Spain: Tips for Visiting Asturias' Capital
Oviedo may not be as well known as other Spanish cities, but it is quite enchanting. The locally made cider, delicious dishes, fascinating statues, and being part of the Camino de Compostela are delightful.
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9 Reasons Why San Sebastián–Donostia Is Worth Visiting
Spain has many cities worth seeing, but San Sebastián–Donostia stands out in the north. The city has the second most Michelin-starred restaurants and has much more to offer visitors.
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The Trillium: Ontario’s Triple Threat of Beauty, History, and Resilience
Blooming with three white petals that turn mauve after pollination, the trillium, Ontario’s official flower since 1937, is celebrated for its beauty, resilience, and symbolism.
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The Changing Colours of Autumn
Fall has always been an intense season of colors, with Nature at its peak before it goes to rest. It is as if Nature is telling us it has reached its peak for the year and is giving its beauty in full.
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Top 10 Fun Things to Do in Prince Edward County, Ontario
Located on the northeastern shore of Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County has made it to Maclean's 8 top destinations in Canada. It continues to attract culture seekers, wine enthusiasts, art lovers, and food lovers to its towns and villages, including Picton, Wellington, and Bloomfield.
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How to Unleash Your Power Within
You are unique. Inside of you is the seed that empowers you to be truly yourself. Allow this power to make you blossom and grow to be the person you dream to be.
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Creating A New Me
Creating a new self is often a drag but also a challenge and a rewarding one at that. It is the single most selfless thing you can do. You spend time on your self, and as you work on your inner self, you transform it and it becomes your gift to the world.
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When Fear Holds You Back
Fear is in each of us. Whether we are conscious of it or not, it debilitates and cripples us. It enslaves us to misery, failure, and atrophy. It is a must to free ourselves from its hold and live a life of joy and success.
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Joy of Expression
This article is a canticle, an ode to full expressions of one's inner spirit.
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10 Amazing Experiences and Must-Sees in Québec City
Québec City never fails to fascinate visitors with its unique culture, European feel, beautiful location on the St. Lawrence River, entrancing festivals, painters, artists and street performers, and most of all, its joie de vivre. Here are the Top 10 wonder attractions of Québec City.
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Santa Maria del Mar Basilica in Barcelona
Many churches bless the people of Barcelona, but the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is the one closest to their hearts.
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How to Grow and Use Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal is a hardy perennial that can bring grace to your garden, especially the shaded areas where beautiful plants are often hard to find. With its beautiful foliage, graceful spread and exquisite flowers, this plant is a valuable addition to your garden.
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The Top Markets in Barcelona, Spain
Neighbourhood markets are often the nerve center of communities within a city and such markets are still well used and well visited in Barcelona. Locals shopthere daily and tourists enjoy the local colour and have a taste of the local produce.
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Top 10 Museums in Barcelona Spain
Museums may not be your thing, but when you're in Barcelona, you have to check out some of their museums and let them awaken the creative spark in you. The variety is impressive, and each of them tells you more about the city, the Catalan culture and the creative spirit.
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10 Stunning Attractions of Montjuic Barcelona
Parc de Montjuic has in the past been a significant site in Barcelona's struggle for independence and, recently, of two important international events. It offers varied attractions including a botanical garden, a castle, a sports complex, several museums and the most exhilarating views of Barcelona.
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8 Cool Things to Do in the Maldives
The Maldives is a paradise on Earth, offering pampering and water sports. The resorts offer cool things for tourists to do. Here are the top things to do in the Maldives.
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What to Do When the Accommodation You Booked Is Not Where You Want to Stay
Has this ever happened to you, when the accommodation you booked is not where you want to stay? This is even more upsetting when you have paid for your booking and there are no other vacancies in the city. What do you do?
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Barcelona Art Nouveau: A Unique Expression of Nationalism in Architecture
Nothing has marked the face of Barcelona more than the Art Nouveau Modernist architecture, which gripped the minds of many artists and architects at the turn of the century. It was a robust nationalist commitment to reviving the Catalan culture and heritage.
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Erik Vokel Boutique Apartments: A Review
There are legions of hotel apartments throughout Europe and what makes Erik Vokel almost a unique proposition is the imagination of the designer in working with the renovation of old buildings, giving the properties a Nordic simplicity and a Mediterranean flare.
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5 Top Interesting Things to Do in Zaragoza Spain
Founded by the Romans at the very end of the 1st century B.C., Zaragoza offers so much history. Its stunning basilica is in itself worth the visit. And time your visit at Christmas to enjoy the best market in Spain.
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Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain
Why has Santiago de Compostela been Galicia's most cosmopolitan city for over a thousand years? Why have hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walked the Camino to reach this obscure destination?
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Interesting Things to Do and See in El Born, Barcelona
Barcelona's most fun and stylish neighbourhood, El Born has interesting bars and restaurants, unique and artistic stores, engaging museums and galleries and captivating street scenes.
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3 Key Obstacles to Success and How to Overcome Them
Success is within your reach. You can make excuses, procrastinate, avoid responsibility, lose focus, give up, blame someone or overcome these through courage, consistent effort and learning.
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How to Be Adaptable in Volatile Times
With change happening so fast, the key skill to help us do well in this emerging new world is adaptability.
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Poble Espanyol in Barcelona
An interesting village in Barcelona constructed from 117 buildings representing the different regions of Spain and showcasing its diversity, heritage and richness in culture.
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Museum of National Art of Catalonia
Housed in the Palau Nacional of Barcelona, the National Art Museum of Catalonia is a well-designed museum with the best collection of Romanesque art, some used to adorn old Churches in the Pyrenees.
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The Roman Ruins of Tarraco (Modern-Day Tarragona, Spain)
As the former Roman colony of Tarraco, Tarragona has some of the most well-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy: a 2nd-century amphitheatre facing the Mediterranean, a necropolis, and a forum.
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Afurada, Portugal
Afurada is a working fishing village just below Porto. It opens the door on a piece of history that is an important part of our past but difficult to find outside of books and maritime museums.
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Top Attractions in Muskoka Canada
If you haven't yet been to Muskoka, it is time to discover this beautiful part of Ontario Canada. It is now a four-season destination with so many fun things to do even in the winter.
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The Magic of Seville
When we arrived, Seville appeared just like any other city of about a million or so people, full of tourists from various countries, but slowly unfolded its magic beautifully as the days went by.
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8 Top Skin Care Products for Men
Men are beginning to get the attention of products creators and the cosmetics industry is leading and pushing their skin care products. Some men are taking notice and here's why.
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Tips for a Mobile Lifestyle
Living on the worldwide road is a challenge that not many people would enjoy but with some tips, you can make this mobile lifestyle a fun adventure.
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Cordoba: Layers of History
What a gift to travellers Cordoba is. Two thousand years of history, still living, still vibrant, still easily accessible. So much of Europe's past is alive and reaching out in this Spanish city.
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Lacquerware of Vietnam
Lacquerware has been significant in Vietnamese art. They range from picture frames to boxes, trays, and bowls and traditionally embellished with mother of pearl or egg shells.
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Hanoi: A City Turned Inside Out
In Hanoi, one is constantly surprised by what attractions will turn out on the roadside. Often, they are beyond crazy but they are not wanting for interest.
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What It's Like Living With Raccoons
Years of living with raccoons have taught us that they share their habitat with us, and they want us to share our living space with them. They often visit and see what we have to offer.
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The Traditional Craft Villages Close to Hanoi
Around Hanoi, many villages have had the same craft skills for over a thousand years, long enough for legends to grow. Others are new with an eye on drawing tourists out of the city's heart.
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The Beach of My Memory
For me, beaches always recreate happy childhood memories. It has always been the place for family gathering and celebration. Today, my memory has even made it more special.
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Chance Discovery in Sicily
Three thousand years plus of history lies in crumbles around the entire Sicilian coastline. With all these ruins, what better place is there to engage in chance discovery than Sicily?
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How to Make Chung Cake for TET
In Vietnam, no TET or new year celebration is complete without Chung cake, a special savoury made from rice, meat, and mung bean paste. Every household gets busy preparing this special delicacy.
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Bat Trang: Vietnam's Traditional Pottery Village
Reaching back 700 years, the traditional pottery of Bat Trang continues to draw locals and tourists alike. The whole village is lined up with pottery of every design, both traditional and modern.
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How to Be a World Traveler in Your Own City
World travel is a dream for many of us, especially in today's shaky economy. Still, you can have a taste of the essential experiences of world travellers without ever leaving your city.
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Finding Michener
A new Michener novel was an event that shook the book world with its impeccable research, its incredibly creative narrative, and its linkages to generations of people you could visit and talk with.
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The San: The Oldest People on Earth
The San, the Bushmen of the Kalahari, hit our radar screens in the movie, The Gods must be Crazy, and as perhaps, the world's oldest memory of our ancestors, they've never moved off our screens again.
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Top Vietnam War Movies
Movies on the war in Vietnam tell us not so much about Vietnam and its people but about the psyche of the U.S in the 1970's and the post conflict agonies thereafter.
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Exotic Wood of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia’s exotic woods, such as teak, rosewood, ebony, and “meranti”, are renowned for their beauty, durability, and cultural significance. These woods play a key role in traditional crafts, luxury furniture, and international markets, contributing substantially to local economies.
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What Unique Value Do You Add?
What makes you "you'? What makes you different from the person beside you, expressing a unique gift only you have? This would be fun to find out.
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Summer Cottage in Muskoka
Cottages are special because many families have had their cottage for many years. Younger members grew up going there as far as they can remember. Life is simpler.
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Exploring Condom-en-Armagnac in Southwestern France
If you're an Armagnac lover, Condom-en-Armagnac in the Gascon region of France is just the place for you. And even better, it is on the route of the pilgrimage, the Camino, or the way of St. James.
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Top Travel Gifts for Women
Who doesn't want to travel in style? We all do but women seem to do so more than men so think of gifts that will set them apart from the other travellers.
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Top Gifts for Men Who Travel
Looks like every second house is rolling out the suitcases. Men who travel like their stuff. That means gadgets, new ones they can try out.
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Exciting Ways to Dress up Your Home for Christmas
Home is where most people go for Christmas and has become the main focus of our creative juices during the holidays. Let Beauty and Cozy dress up your home so the family can enjoy and relax.
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Gifts for Bosses
What gifts will you choose for your Boss this Christmas? Choosing what would be construed as personal may not be a good idea but if gifts are not personally useful and meaningful, what do they have?
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Surviving the Christmas Rush: Chaos or Calm?
The Christmas rush can feel like an epic battle. For some, it's a thrilling competition of speed, strategy, and stamina. For others, it's a nightmare of crowded stores, flailing elbows, and endless lines. The real key? Your attitude.
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Top Gifts for Little Girls
Little girls are for me the best group to buy gifts for. For Christmas, they often ramp up their excitement to a fever pitch often pulling the whole house into a new level of happiness.
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Concepcion Iloilo: Island Hopping Fun
Searching for island-hopping destinations? Look no further than the Philippines' most famous beach, Concepcion, where white beaches on different islands await.
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8 Key Tips in Preparing for an International Job
If you don't want to end up out of job and out of pocket in a country you have never ever visited, take extra care in preparing for your new international job by taking these steps.
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Mobile Technology: What's New?
Mobile technology is a boon and a challenge not only to our pockets but also to our brains and patience. No other development in the recent past has fundamentally changed individual lives.
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Beautiful Face for the New Year: 9 Proven Ways
Beauty is best when it is natural. Let your face exude its natural beauty. It is a beautiful soul in a healthy body. When you have this, your face glows. Somehow, you get people to notice.
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Human Encounters With Dolphins in the Bahamas
James the Dolphin on Porpoise tells the story of his group's interesting encounters, diving with humans in the Bahamas.
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10 Healthy Tips for Dry Skin
Dry skin happens when the body's water escapes fast and its natural oils get removed resulting into flaky and rough skin that can turn to scales and cracks. Before this happens, here are some tips.
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Top Ten Dive Sites in the Bahamas
Are you a diver? If you haven't yet tried diving in the Bahamas, it is time to go there. Some of the best diving sites are in this hodgepodge of islands, cays and islets.
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Elephants in Asia
Elephants are quite common in some countries in Asia and often, they are work animals. They laugh, cry, play and have incredible memories but, at times, when threatened they go on a rampage.
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Vientiane: The City of Sandalwood
Beautifully situated on the Mekong, Vientiane, Laos' capital city, still offers the village feel that most cities in Southeast Asia have already lost.
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What Flowering Plants Do for Your Home
Flowering plants not only bring sunshine to your home but they also bring other advantages such as clean the air and bring freshness and life especially in the winter.
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Kirirom National Park
Kirirom is Cambodia's first national park and it lives up to its natural beauty as it continues to escape the development frenzy. It is just a day's drive from Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh.
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Khmer New Year in Cambodia
Sometime around April, when the harvest is in, the annual Buddhist Calendar based Khmer New Year festival springs to life and it's time to look back with thanks and ahead with hope and confidence.
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10 Effective Ways to Promote Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable tourism helps make sure that future generations can still enjoy the world's beauty. Here are 10 ways of promoting sustainable tourism development.
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How to Choose a Hotel
How do you choose a hotel? Stars are no longer tops. Diamonds are up there. Reviews are at times paid for so how do you choose one that will suit your fancy? Here are some of the key criteria you can use.
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7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Restaurant
Choosing a restaurant can sometimes be straightforward. Other times, it can be daunting, especially when celebrating a special occasion for someone else. Primary considerations often pale when your guest has unique requirements, but this is no longer a problem in today's foodie world.
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7 Crucial Steps to Retirement Success
Unless you plan for life, you will live many of your retirement years in regret. A more remarkable life awaits with many more years in front of you. This guide will help you plan your retirement so that you can live it to the fullest.
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Khmer Wedding in Cambodia
For most Cambodian Khmer, weddings represent more than a nod to the traditions of the past. Each one is a victory for their culture, a promise to their families and a commitment to the future.
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Greeting Rituals in Cambodia
Each culture has its own rituals around greeting. For Cambodia, it is the Sampeah. The Sampeah is not just a form of greeting for Cambodians. It is not just to show recognition but respect to someone.
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Bon Pchum Ben
All cultures honor their dead but Cambodia makes this an art form! Bon Pchum Ben brings Khmer, both young and old, to the temples each year to remember the dead relatives and friends.
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The Changu Narayan Temple
Changu Narayan is dedicated to Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan, the preserver of creation in Hinduism. Originally built in the 4th century, the Changu Narayan temple is the oldest temple in Nepal.
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7 World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu
Tucked into the heart of the world's greatest mountains, Kathmandu hosts an absolute banquet of 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites offering trekkers to the Himalayas a unique peek into a unique culture.
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Powerful Start to Self Directed Investing
No one else has a special interest in your money but yourself. So, learn how to invest it wisely. But start easy. In self-directed investing, there is a learning curve...you will get there soon.
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Rosseau, Ontario: The Quaint Village on Lake Rosseau
Rosseau is a tiny village in Ontario perched on top of a hill that peers over the famous Muskoka lake of the same name. Join me on a photo tour.
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Skills for Today's Changing Workplace
Today's workplace has its demands and new entrants need to understand its expectations. Employers have expectations beyond just technical skills.
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14 Things to Do in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is a city full of charm. Sitting at the confluence of great rivers, the city offers varied things to do; experiencing these will be exhilarating.
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Top 16 Must Do in Bali
The must do list for Bali keeps getting longer as it continues to draw people to a unique experience of culture, spirituality and beauty.
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11 Fun Things to Do in Oman
Fascination with Oman did not only start when Vogue chose it as the destination of choice. Even as early as the 1st century, Oman has already been acknowledged as an attractive place to visit.
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Top Ten Destinations in Asia
Asia is so immense and so many of its top destinations are now in the radar screen of many tourists. But some places just stand out from the usual tourist draws.