Filed in archive
A World Away
, Hidden Gems
on April 23, 2008
While it is Spring in The U.S., here in the Philippines is summer time. Meaning, time to hit the beach. Beach. We have too many of those here, in practically all the islands. However, most of them hav...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on April 2, 2008
Even many historians are unaware of the story of Pondicherry. The former French colony sits on India's Southeast coastline. Its colonial history is a bit more troubled than that of Goa or Mumbai....
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on March 7, 2008
Las Vegas was built around The Strip. While the bright lights and glitzy casinos are still the main draw, many people seem to be seeking the quieter side of Sin City.
The city's urban sprawl ha...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on February 22, 2008
The Azores are owned by Portugal. You've probably seen them on the map. Their those little islands that are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They sit, quite literally, in the middle of the oc...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on February 20, 2008
Portugal is popular with European tourists. The industry is important to the country's economy and perhaps equally important to Europe's north-dwelling snowbirds. Portugal's beach towns ...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on February 18, 2008
China is obsessed with lucky numbers. This dates back to elements of Taoism, which was, if you consider it a religion, one of the world's first religions. Liam Fitzpatrick of Time points out tha...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on February 6, 2008
Most people come to Saint Lucia aboard cruise ships. The island has a stereotypical Caribbean island feel. There are idyllic beaches, tropical scenery, and, the requisite amount of colorful, paper-um...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on January 10, 2008
Amongst travelers, little is known about Namibia. The sparsely populated nation in Southern Africa is dominated by the desert, dry grasslands, and a rugged coastline. So why is it a good place to vis...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on January 3, 2008
If you are hankering for a cocktail under a disco ball, Lanai is probably not your best option. The sparsely populated island is part of Hawaii, but not "resort Hawaii." Lanai's cool Hi...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on December 27, 2007
Unless you already live in Scandinavia, going to Finland simply to experience a famous Finnish Sauna might be a little impractical.
However, if you look at the importance of the sauna to Finnish cu...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on December 19, 2007
Jingle Bells. You're dreaming of a white Christmas.
But in the southern hemisphere, Christmas is a summertime holiday.
According to Travel and Leisure Magazine, Christmas Down Under can be gr...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on December 15, 2007
According to the International Herald Tribune, Laos is going to be one of the hottest destinations of the next year. I pointed out the attractions of Laos a couple of months ago on this site (*Here, ...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on December 11, 2007
Greenland is cold. That's a certainty. The world's largest island sits almost entirely above the arctic circle. It is officially an autonomous region of Denmark, but is actually closer to Can...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on December 9, 2007
Prince Edward Island is a rugged piece of land off of Canada's eastern coastline. It is known for its shell-fish and for being the setting of L.M. Montgomery's famous Anne of Green Gables nov...
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Hidden Gems
on December 3, 2007
Taipei is Taiwan's showcase city. It's museums house impressive collections of art, both old and new. Tea plantations and hot springs are a mere hour from downtown via bus, faster by taxi. It...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on November 28, 2007
Ishigaki is one of the most popular of Okinawa's islands. Okinawa? You ask. That's the place where all the people live to be old because of their diet of kelp and tuna. Isn't it?
Yes, bu...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on November 25, 2007
Tunisia is a small country which is situated between Libya and Algeria. The country is mainly Arabic speaking, though travelers with even a limited knowledge of French should be able to get around qu...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on November 15, 2007
Cape Verde was not inhabited until the 1500s when it was colonized by Portuguese and used first as a strategic port for naval vessels and slave traders. It wasn't until the 1970 that Cape Verde ga...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on November 10, 2007
Iceland is well-known. At least, the name is. Iceland. Shivers. That's a place I never want to go. If I want ice, I'll get it from my freezer, thank you very much.
That was my thinking, unt...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on November 4, 2007
Bali is known for its beaches, its surf, and its party scene. Few people know, however, of the island's interior.
The interior highlands are not filled with resorts, but are arguably more exoti...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on November 1, 2007
Tampa is the place where your grandparents go during the winter, isn't it? Where shuffleboard and square-dancing are considered nightlife. Want a real winter vacation? Try south Beach (if you'...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on October 20, 2007
Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Laos is definitely the most laid-back. The frenetic traffic and the sheer mass of humanity found in Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, and even Phnom Penh is m...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on October 17, 2007
The Florida Keys is one of the more unique places in America. Sure, the Keys have their share of tourist traps and resorts, but they also have an ample amount of sights, both above and below the wate...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on October 9, 2007
Kansas City was the epicenter of the 1930s jazz revolution. The standard big band styles of The Roaring Twenties gave way to the more improvisational sounds of Bebop.
How did this non-descript, mid-...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on October 7, 2007
Those of you whoa re frequent readers of this blog know that I am a (big) fan of Time's China Blog. Perhaps I am living vicariously through the blog's writers, who have the enviable task of, ...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on October 4, 2007
For casual tourists, the Middle East is usually not even considered an option for a getaway. Unfortunately, conflict and anti-western sentiment in the region usually makes the news. Though violent act...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on September 23, 2007
The Black Hills of South Dakota are known for the gold that was discovered there during the 19th century. The stories of this period were recently given a retelling by the makers of the violent, but ...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on September 22, 2007
Belize is the only country in Central America that uses English as its official language. Though it does not share the notoriety of the Caribbean's island destinations, Belize has its own its own...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on September 12, 2007
Dalian, a city on China's Northeast Coast, recently hosted a meeting of the World Economic Forum. Time correspondent Simon Elegant covered the event, but seemed more impressed by the city than by...
Filed in archive
Hidden Gems
on August 30, 2007
Unless you have seen the movie hoosiers, you might think of Indiana as a place of endless farm fields. If you've seen the movie, then you might think that Indiana is a land of basketball obsession...
