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.
Read MoreCategory Archive: Destinations
Postcard from The Blue Mansion, Penang
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also called the Blue Mansion, dates back to the 1880s and is a private residence as well as a 16-room guesthouse. It gets its distinctive blue color from mixing lime with a natural blue dye made from the indigo plant. Tours are offered, giving visitors the chance to peek behind the scenes and take a look at how the wealthy lived.
Read MorePostcard from James Bond Island, Thailand
James Bond Island is officially known as Khao Phing Kan, and is a part of Ao Phang Nga National Park just off of Phuket, Thailand. It would most likely have remained an obscure area were it not for the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun, where it was Scaramonga’s island. Do you recognize it?
Read MoreNorthern Ireland: Malmaison Belfast Hotel
Malmaison Belfast Address: 34-38 Victoria Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland Rating: Features: Located in two old seed warehouses, the Malmaison Belfast has retained some of the original features, including iron pillars, beams, and carved stone gargoyles. The boutique hotel has 64 luxury rooms and two suites. The rooms feature mood lighting, flat screen plasma televisions, upscale toiletries in generous sizes (you’re encouraged to take them with you), and FREE wifi. Giving a hat tip to Belfast’s maritime connection, the Malmaison Belfast features subtle shipbuilding décor features in its common areas. The hotel has a restaurant (Brasserie) and bar (MALBAR) on site. Price Range: Typical boutiques rates here, and with the dollar to pound exchange rate, it can add up fast. The best price we found was by taking advantage of one of their several promotional packages, resulting in a pre-paid […]
Read MorePostcard from Bangkok
It took me over 24 hours to get to Thailand and my first day was full of delicious food. Like this classic , and delicious dessert of sticky rice, coconut milk (to pour over it ), and mango. Lunch at Sala Rattanakosin in Bangkok.
Read MorePostcard from Kihei
Kihei, on the island if Maui, was the first place I went to in the islands. It’s changed in the past few decades, but it’s still a great beach.
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 MorePostcard from St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
The spire of hope, suspended above St . Anne ‘s Cathedral, illuminates the skyline of Belfast. Anne was the mother of Mary (for those unfamiliar with the list of saints).
Read MorePostcard from Belfast City Hall
This impressive stone governmental building is popular with visitors (free tours offered ) as well as the many photo ops.
Read More50 Years Later: Fort Worth Remembers President John F. Kennedy
I’m of that age where I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas. I was at school and it was recess. I didn’t really understand what the word assassinated meant, but I did know that it was very, very bad. Our teacher gathered the class together and then we were all sent home, where, for the next weeks, we bounced between emotions far greater that a grade schooler can navigate on their own. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of President Kennedy and there are commemorations and memorials aplenty. In Fort Worth, just down the road a piece from Dallas, the city will remember the life and legend of President John F. Kennedy with a number of events. In a bit of déjà vu, the […]
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