I love food, but I’m decidedly not what you’d call a foodie. Having put that little disclaimer out there, sitting down to a beautiful meal is a luxury, a sure-enough experience in the most complete sense of that word. Do you feel that way, too? Food sustains us, but it can also satisfy the curiosity of both mind and senses… View Post
Read Part Two, Guesthouse or Resort HERE We fly into the airport in Male’, and our first glimpse of the Maldives (pronounced Mul-deeves) spreads before us like the mecca of all enchanted places. As we take turns plastering ourselves to the window, we see nothing but a blanket of glistening sapphires below. Nestled within this swath of the Indian Ocean… View Post
There’s no elbow room, no shoulder room and certainly, no room for wiping your hot wet tears when you settle into your monkey-in-the-middle seat assignment on your next flight. No aisle for you, and no window either. A few weeks ago, I conducted a little [unscientific] poll. Guess how many respondents chose the middle seat as their favorite place to… View Post
What’s completely FREE, backed by the Department of Homeland Security and will expedite your entry into the U.S.? Thumb your nose at that snaking entry queue and sashay away to the dedicated Mobile Passport entrance. Cause lines are for chumps. There’s nothing I love more than waiting. And waiting. Even better if I’ve just gotten off of an international flight…. View Post
“You definitely think it’s this way?” I ask Mr. Twos, as we pass at least a dozen off-duty sled dogs in large runs by a solitary house. They’re barking the hallelujah chorus like it’s the end of days, as our explicitly ‘not-for-offroading’ rental car continues down the offroad. We’re searching for a man and his boat. We find the pick-up… View Post
“It’s actually more of an avocado green,” Julie observes as we leave the house and head to the Terrigal Haven Boat Ramp for our whale watching tour. She’s talking about Carolyn’s ‘beach shack’- as Carolyn herself calls it. It’s being repainted, and yesterday, someone had the gall to call it ‘lime.’ It’s the perfect place to come for a winter… View Post
Originally believed to be hoaxes created by clever taxidermists, the puzzling platypus is a jaw-dropper to see in person. Resembling a petite beaver with a huge duck bill and scrabbly webby feet (that sport serious nails), they are slick and dexterous in the river. They dive and leave bubbles before swanning across the water, and can disappear in a heartbeat… View Post
My holiday starts the minute I arrive at the airport. I’m contemplating the duty-free treasure trove, getting a prosecco at who-cares-what-time-cause-i’m-at-the-lounge and stocking up on my personal crack of reading material, AKA, magazines. I have my light carry on, and typically I’ve checked a bag. Or two. One thing I DO NOT EVER have is my bed pillow from home…. View Post
Oysters are polarizing. It’s either a yes or a hard no- rarely a ‘meh.’ Are you a lover of this sexy little bivalve or do you fear the slime? Known for pristine waters and an abundance of wildlife, this hamlet is an idyllic spot that’s quintessentially small-town seaside Australia. Only 35 minutes from Port Lincoln, South Australia, on the southern… View Post
There are those people who hate flying and then there’s Business Class. Nothing starts off a holiday (or ends one) like riding in the front of that sleek bird. Elbow room isn’t quite priceless, but it IS expensive. And who hasn’t given the stink-eye to the Airline Aristocracy lounging with their pre-flight mimosa’s and magazines while the hoi polloi file… View Post