When reading a menu in an unfamiliar language, Google Translate is usually your best friend. But in the Netherlands, the literal English translations of some Dutch staples will leave you scratching your head.
For these five Dutch foods, Google Translate is no help at all…
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As I walk under the mango tree at my hotel in Wellawaya, Sri Lanka, I hear a loud rustling. Looking up, I see a long tail.
"That's the naughtiest monkey,†says a passing hotel employee, looking ruefully into the branches. He says the monkey takes the fruits before they're ripe, eating just a bite or two before throwing the hard green lumps on the ground in disgust. "We never get to eat the mangoes.â€
Read the rest on the Vancouver Courier website
Karuizawa, Japan, and Whistler, Canada, will mark 20 years as sister cities in 2019. To celebrate, we've compiled 20 superlatives to highlight the bonds between these charming mountain towns.
Karuizawa, located an hour by train from Tokyo, hosted the debut Olympic curling competition for the Nagano 1998 Winter Games, while Whistler hosted Olympic sliding and skiing events for Vancouver 2010.
Visitors can ride the world's fastest ice track at Whistler Sliding Centre, home of the 2010 bobsled, luge, and skeleton competitions, or learn to curl like an Olympian with a lesson at Karuizawa Ice Park.
Read the rest on the G Adventures blog.
My short piece about missing the West Coast of Canada from Amsterdam appears in the latest issue of SAD Magazine.
Lying on stacked cushions on the roof of a lodge in Jordan's Dana Biosphere Reserve, I watch a beam of green light shoot into the sky as our guide circles a constellation with the most powerful laser pointer I've ever seen. "That orange star, that's the womanizer,†Ali says. "He's always chasing the seven sisters.â€
This is the Arab legend of the triangle in the east, Ali tells us: the seven sisters, the womanizer, and the bodyguard, forever chasing each other across the night sky.
Read the rest at WorldFootprints.com
My feature story “Deep in the Heart of Jordan” appears in the fall issue of Canadian Traveller Magazine.
Best known as a wine destination in B.C.'s Okanagan Valley, Oliver has plenty to offer foodies too. Local vineyards are getting creative with their cuisine, showcasing the abundance of the area's farms and fields in addition to award-winning grapes. From a quick lunch break to world-class dining, these wineries combine acclaimed wines with uncommonly delicious food, each in a vineyard setting that provides a feast for the eyes…
Read the rest at BCBusiness
With spectacular beaches, incredible food, and great travel deals, Mexico is a favorite destination for families. The big resort cities of Cancun and Puerto Vallarta have plenty to recommend them, but head just a few kilometers out of town and you'll find smaller communities with a completely different feel…
Read the rest in the Ensemble Travel E-zine
Mexico offers something for every family, from parents with young tots in tow to multi-generational travel with adult children. Whether you want to cut yourself off from the world to relax, or dive into the beating heart of a vibrant city, you'll find the vacation you crave…
Read the rest in the Ensemble Travel E-zine
Festivals in Mexico offer a unique way to connect to the culture. These colorful celebrations are a whirlwind of activity, and it's easy for visitors to participate. Ask your travel agent for advice on a guided trip to experience the festivities through the eyes of a local guide, or just stroll the streets and soak it all in…
Read the rest in the Ensemble Travel E-zine