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Wednesday 29 April 2015

News and Tips #33 - April 29, 2015

In this issue:

-5 countries to visit this Spring - A Luxury Travel Blog
-The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Canada
-My Top 5 Best Travel Destinations In Central America - Nerd Travels

5 countries to visit this Spring - A Luxury Travel Blog


Daffodils are out and blossom(s) (are) slowly appearing on the trees. It's finally Spring. Many will flock to the Netherlands to see the tulip fields in full bloom but we have some other suggestions for where is best to visit this season. From the blossoms in Japan to wildflowers in Jordan and whales in Argentina, there's something for everyone...
Read more...






The 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Canada


The landscapes of Canada's town range from arctic tundras and snow-capped mountains, to beautifully desolate prairies and rugged coastlines.  Combine those dramatic settings with interesting architecture that incorporates a wide variety of cultural differences, and the result is towns too beautiful to imagine...
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Wow! A State-by-State Guide of America's Natural Wonders


Photo: Thinkstock
The USA is one of the most diverse and beautiful places on Earth. From the sweeping vistas of Big Sur, California to the breathtaking drama of Niagara Falls, New York, the country contains some of the world's most incredible natural wonders. Here are the most spectacular from all 50 states...
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Eating Abroad: The Cultural Resonance of Food | IndependentTraveler.com


Wherever you go, there you are, as the saying goes.

You and a McDonald's, that is.

We've all seen it - a group of Americans traveling abroad, new foodstuffs everywhere you look, and they turn tail into every McDonald's they see...
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This past winter break I made it my personal goal to escape the "Christams spirit" and "holiday cheer" by traveling somewhere that is not too obsessed with Christmas related festivities. So I packed one backpack, got on a plane, and then spend almost three weeks exploring one of the most historically rich and politically complex places in the world - Israel....
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My Top 5 Best Travel Destinations In Central America - Nerd Travels


So as people who have been following this blog for a while will know at the end of last year I started my Latin American Adventure where I solo backpacked through over 11 countries. While each place I visited had something about it that made it great, there always some places that just stand out from the rest and when looking back on the trip were my favourite. So with that I present....
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My TO

The Allen Lambert Galleria
Brookfield Place 
Toronto, Ontario

This is one of my favourite spots in Toronto. It is located in the financial core of the city. The six-storey high glass arched atrium has a very open feeling within its tall buildings and those surrounding the area. It has been referred to as the 'crystal cathedral of commerce'.

The galleria includes the facade of the Merchants Bank, and also a former Bank of Montreal which now is part of the Hockey Hall of Fame giving a historical contrast to the modern architecture.

Although in the financial heart of the city, and often bustling with people there is something quiet and relaxing about the galleria.

A 360 view of the galleria




Tuesday 28 April 2015

News and Tips #32 - April 28, 2015

In this issue:

-Passport Safety Tips for International Travellers | Travelance
-Before Booking That 'Perfect' Vaction Rental, Make Sure It's Not a Scam
-The world's fastest train journeys
-Top 5 Reasons to Go to Puerto Rico Now
-City Bike Riding For the Whole Family | Fix.com


Your passport is an internationally recognizes document used to prove your citizenship and identify. You will need your passport to board international flights to visit other countries or when returning to your homeland. Therefore, passport safety should always be one of your top priorities while travelling internationally...










When paying for a vacation rental, be careful of wire transfers and other methods of payment outside the system set upon recommended by the booking platform.

I know I'ver written about vacation rentals recently. I don't want to be redundant, but in the last six weeks I've received several letters from readers who have run into difficulties with properties...



A 375 mph maglev train from Central Japan Railway has broken the world speed record during a test by using electrically charged magnets to 'float' above the track.
The trainline is now going to devote its resources to developing a maglev track that will by 2027 link Tokyo and Nagoya in 40 minutes - a journey that currently takes 90 minutes...
Read more...



I'll admit it: I was a little late to the Puerto Rico game. Thankfully, due to Snowmageddon this year, I finally cottoned on to our cousin in the Caribbean. Now that I've drunk the Kool-Aid, I'm bound and determined to get everyone there - if only so that when people ask me, "Where should I go for a quick, easy, cheap getaway?"...

Tell kids they're going on a walking tour of a city, and they may be interested for a while - until their legs give out and boredom sets in. Tell them they're biking around a city,...
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16 Crazy Things You Can Do on a Cruise Ship - Cruise Critic

Cruise activities typically garner one of three responses:
1. "Isn't that actually a Coast Guard requirement?"
2. "That was fun! Don't they have this on [insert competitor cruise line here]?"
3. "GENIUS! I've never seen anything like this on a cruise ship before." (Or, as expressed in a gloating photo-text to friends back home, "OMG, WOW!!!!!")
Read more...

Friday 24 April 2015

Where in the World? Week 23 - April 24, 2015

Where in the world is this?

Enter your answer in the comment box below.



Check back next Friday (May 1) for the answer, and another photo.
















Where in the world was last week's photo?

Azadi Monument
Tehran, Iran

Thursday 23 April 2015

News and Tips #31 - April 23, 2015

In this issue:

-The 5 Most Spectacular National Park Road Trips | Conde Nast
-A Guide For How To Explore Beijing | We Blog The World
-Packing for 7 Days in 1 Bag in 5 Minutes
-8 Cruise Lines With the Best Internet Service | Travel Pulse
-10 Tips For Travel Photography - [Infographic]
-What Kind of Carnival Cruise Should You Take


The 5 Most Spectacular National Park Road Trips | Conde Nast

Dennis Frates / Alamy
Nothing get us more excited for summer than the prospect of an epic road trip: wind whipping through open car windows, highways flanked by stunning landscapes. Luckily, this is an easy reality in the U.S., thanks to an abundance of amazing national parks. Here are the 5 most road trip-worthy...
Read more...







A Guide For How To Explore Beijing | We Blog The World

Smog, sprawl and the ghosts of the Tiananmen Square protesters be damned: Beijing is one of my favourite cities on the planet.

It isn't priceless world heritage - the Forbidden City, Temple of Heave or the nearby Great Wall of China - although that helps; nor is it the towering skyscrapers lurking in their shadows. It isn't the way Beijing's over enunciate...
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Packing for 7 Days in 1 Bag in 5 Minutes

I have watched in wonder as families wheel large luggage carts around the airport. They seemed to have packed as if their cross country trip were by wagon train instead of by airplane. Similarly, I have watched people board cruise ships with suitcases and trunks large enough to carry a spare sailor or two...
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8 Cruise Lines With the Best Internet Service | Travel Pulse

A cruise vacation allows travelers to unplug from the modern world for a while, but life at home doesn't stop, and checking in can be cumbersome. Finding internet access in ports cuts into already limited short time, and access at sea is slow and expensive. There's hope on the horizon: A number of luxury lines recently unveiled ...
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10 Tips For Travel Photography - [Infographic]

Travel photography is the perfect avenue to keep those fab trip memories alive for years to come. But how many of us are professional photographers? Trained professionals skilled and practiced in the fine arts of capturing special travel moments with our cameras? How many of us would love to step up our game, to improve upon or refine our photo snapping skills?..
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What Kind of Carnival Cruise Should You Take

When it comes to planning a cruise one of the biggest decisions that a person will make is deciding what type of cruise to take. Carnival Cruise has so many different places that it cruises (to) that it's hard to know which one to choose. You can visit places like Alaska, Bermuda, Canada and the Bahamas all while having a blast aboard the ship...
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Wednesday 22 April 2015

Heads Up - UK and Ireland Air Traffic Strike

There are massive headaches in air travel today in the UK and Ireland.



Read more....
Flights hit by air traffic controller strike

News and Tips #31 - Earth Day - April 22, 2015

In this issue:


-7 Eco-Travel Tips for Earth Day and Every Day! | Budget Travel
-Best Ecotourism Destinations - National Geographic Adventure Magazine
-How to go green when you travel - Lonely Planet
-10 Amazing Green Cities - HowStuffWorks
-Global Good: Your Ultimate Guide to Responsible Voluntourism - Jessie on a Journey
-Carbon Neutral Airports On The Rise Thanks to Airport Carbon Accreditation - EcoWanderlust

7 Eco-Travel Tips for Earth Day and Every Day

Smart travelers, rejoice! You already know that the best vacations aren't just about you, right? That seeing the world brings a new appreciation for that world, and a natural desire to leave it a better place? Well, it's never been easier to be good to yourself...
Read more...



Best Ecotourism Destinations - National Geographic Adventure Magazine

One afternoon in 1978 I found myself standing on the roof of a Land Rover in Kenya, watching the Samburu National Reserve - an arid stretch of the northern frontier roamed by rare wildlife and camera-wielding tourists - go up in flames. This was the heyday of mass safari resorts, and while large operators raked in millions, the Samburu people, the ones the park weren't...
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How to go green when you travel - Lonely Planet

Traveling green takes a little extra effort at first, but is soon becomes second nature and those extra steps can enhance every trip you take. Not only will you feel better about your travels, but you'll also leave a more positive impression on the place you visited and often have more meaningful experiences along the way...
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10 Amazing Green Cities - HowStuffWorks

Reykjavik is the smallest amazing green city on our list, with only about 115,000 people living in the city and roughly 300,000 people in the entire country of Iceland. But its impact on the world has been impressive.

Iceland plans to unplug itself from all dependence on fossil fuels by 2050 to become a hydrogen...
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Global Good: Your Ultimate Guide to Responsible Voluntourism - Jessie on a Journey

Dear Potential Volunteers,

Do you want a great volunteer travel experience and truly want to help? But you don't want to get involved with unethical practices or bad "volunteerism?" You want to "volunteer abroad" and that's different, right?
Read more...





Off The Beaten Track Hikes around the World - THE CROWDED PLANET

There are so many amazing off the beaten track hikes around the world, two articles weren't enough to list them all! After our African and the Americas piece and the Asia/Pacific instalment, welcome to Off the Beaten Track Hikes around the world - the final instalment of this series, with trails from Asia, Saudi Arabia, Australia and New Zealand.
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2015's Top Travel Destinations via 5 Ecotourism Experts

The New  Year bring with it an annual rite of passage as reliable as the swallows returning to Capistrano or the Great Migration of Kenya and Tanzania. Every travel magazine under the sun feel it their moral obligation to predict the top travel destinations for the coming year, while every travel blogger (including us) waxes rhapsodic about the wanderlust adventures that dance like so many sugarplums in their heads.
Read more...




Carbon Neutral Airports On The Rise Thanks to Airport Carbon Accreditation - EcoWanderlust

Today, the Airport Carbon Accreditation program provided an update on its progress since it went global in November 2014.

Seven years ago, the international airport sector committed to the reduction of carbon emissions, and has been since seen as an increase in the number of airports applying for Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Read more...

Tuesday 21 April 2015

News and Tips #30 - April 21, 2015

In this issue:

-Hidden City Tours in Barcelona - Giving Opportunities to the Homeless
-40 Reasons to Travel Now | Travel + Leisure
-CheapAir Launching First Direct Flights between US and Cuba | TravelPulse
-Walking the Fife Coastal Plain - The "Scottish Cinque Terre"
-Niume - Chefchaouen,Morocco | Posts
-21 Visual Reasons - Hot Air Balloons Over the Cappodocia's, Turkey | Contented Traveller

Hidden City Tours in Barcelona - Giving Opportunities to the Homeless

Homelessness is a growing problem in barcelon. According to Arrels Fundacio, an organisation dedicated to helping the city's homeless, in 2013 there were about 3,000 homeless people in Barcelona (900 of these sleep on the streets, 600 use irregular settlements and the remainder rely on public and private resources). This figure increased by 47% since 2008, when the economic recession...
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40 Reasons to Travel Now | Travel + Leisure

We'll go ahead and say it: there's never been a better time to travel. The dollar is stronger, the flights are easier, the concept of luxury is actually within reach, and there are surprises at every turn. whether it's airport food from a Michelin-starred restaurant brands or cities such as Brisbane, Sarajevo, and Oslo achieving the can't miss...
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CheapAir Launching First Direct Flights between US and Cuba | TravelPulse

CheapAir.com is launching direct flights from the U.S. to Cuba this week, becoming the first travel agency to offer such service in the wake of the Obama administration's recent reform of restrictions to the Caribbean island.

According to a blog post on the agency's website, it will offer authorized...
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Walking the Fife Coastal Plain - The "Scottish Cinque Terre"

On the spur of the moment and off the back of a local's recommendation, both Franca and I found ourselves walking in Scotland along the Fife Coastal Path and what we've nicknamed, "Scotland's Cinque Terre".

Much like our unplanned walk along the Cinque Terre in 2012, our latest unforgettable travel memories that feature nature at the heart of them is owed entirely to...
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Niume - Chefchaouen, Morocco | Posts

Chefchaouen is one of the prettiest towns in Morocco, an artsy, blue-washed mountain village that feels like its own world. While tourism has definitely taken hold, the balance between ease and authenticity is just right. The old medina is a delight of Moroccan and Andalucian influence with red-tiled roofs, bright-blue buildings and narrow lanes.
Read more...


21 Visual Reasons - Hot Air Balloon over the Cappadocia's, Turkey | Contented Traveller

The Cappadocia's are located in Central Anatolia, in Turkey.

This entire area is a geological phenomena. The fairy chimneys and the unique and very Escher like formations make this a place where it is best seen from the air, via a hot air balloon.

These hot air balloon rides tend to go at dawn to allow you to see the light play on the shapes of the unique landscape.
Read more...

Saturday 18 April 2015

News and Tips #29 - April 18, 2015

In this issue:

-Off-the-grid, remote travel destinations - A Luxury Travel Blog
-5 Reasons Why I Love Bali | Going Awesome Places
-How not to Fry Your Electronics Overseas: A Quick Guide | The Barefoot Nomad
-20 Cruise Photos that will Entice You to Cruise
-Disneyland Diamond Celebration Preview: Part 1 | TravelPulse
-5 Family Road Trips to Take this Summer | Local Travel Life
-The 13 Most Influential Craft Cocktail Bars in the USA


Off-the-grid travel destinations - A Luxury Travel Blog

What could be more luxurious than chartering a jet to the world's untainted stretches of land, only accessible once you've touched down at the nearest airfield or airport? Once you've touched down, you might need some guidance - a boat ride or some other form of overland transport to arrive at your predetermined destination. To get the full experience, it's always best to have a local with you that can walk, sail or drive you through the various secluded spots and show you all the hidden gems that are waiting to be discovered.
Read more...


5 Reasons Why I Love Bali | Going Awesome Places

I'll tell you the truth, when I planned that 4 month trip to Asia, I had low expectations going into the Bali leg of the trip. It's the kind of place that looks beautiful in the photos but as a haven for foreign tourists, you wonder if it's also lost (its) charm being over developed and overrun...
Read more...


How Not to Fry Your Electronics Overseas: A Quick Guide | The Barefoot Nomad

Does anyone else find travel adapters and voltage converters confusing as hell?

Even after travelling the world for the last 10 years, I still need a quick brush up on how converters and adapters work whenever we travel somewhere new.

So I thought I'd write a short, easy guide for all of us who just want to keep from frying our electronics overseas.
Read more...


20 Cruise Photos that will Entice You to Go on a Cruise

Who knew a cruise could be so exciting. Yes, we did it and trust me we had loads of fun. One of the main benefits of going on a cruise is the fact that you get to visit many countries in one trip. We went on a seven-day cruise and we visited five countries. If we had to visit each country separately it would cost a lot more money. Even more money when we factor in food and other stuff. You can read about that cruise here.
Read more...


Disneyland Diamond Celebration Preview: Part 1 | TravelPulse

The Disneyland Resort revealed more about the 60th anniversary Disneyland Diamond Celebration event on Tuesday in Anaheim, giving a glimpse of the magic that lies ahead.

During the media preview event, some of the major creative minds of the anniversary event spoke about what's in store, including Steve Davison, executive, parades and spectaculars, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment; Sayre Wiseman, executive producer, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment; John Addis, show director, Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts Creative...
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5 Family Road Trips to Take this Summer | Local Travel Life

Spring Break has taken over the Denmark household. While we don't have any major plans on Spring Break other than relax this year, we are starting to plan our summer road trip.

Summer is the ultimate road trip season. Hundreds of thousands...
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The 13 Most Influential Craft Cocktail Bars in the USA

Many of the drinks on today's cocktail menus owe a debt to history: specifically, the power-player bars of the last decade or so. From barrel-aged Negronis to mescal-spiked libations to a simple dram of bourbon chilled by a tremendous hunk of ice, here are 13 craft cocktail bars that helped shape what and how we drink today.
Read more...

Travel and change of place...




Friday 17 April 2015

Where in the World? Week 22 - April 17, 2015

Where in the world is this?

Enter your answer in the comment box below.



Check back next Friday (April 24) for the answer, and another photo.









Where in the world was last week's photo?

The Baroque Staircase
Art Gallery of Ontario
Toronto, Ontario






Thursday 16 April 2015

User beware! - A Travel Tip for city centre-airport connections in Rome (and other European cities)

The purpose of this blog is to share tips, thoughts and news about travelling. On occasion, in an effort to provide accurate information, I will share some not-so-good news. The purpose is to help other travellers avoid an unpleasant experience that I have had.

To this end, I am sharing my experience while travelling in Italy a couple of weeks ago. While I related my experience to the company in question - Terravision.eu, I made one simple request for follow up. To this point, even after a reminder, they have not done this. The request was that they acknowledge the receipt of my email. How difficult is that? While it would have been advantageous for the company to investigate the matter further, I figured it would not likely happen.

I am fortunate to have been in Italy a few times. A few years ago in making transfers from the centre of Rome to the Fiumicino Airport, I became aware of Terravision. It provided good, prompt service at a reasonable cost. The buses used were comfortable and had wi-fi if you wanted to use it. I have shared this information in many different situations with others. Terravision also provides similar service in other European cities, and I used it in London.

I had travelled by train to Rome early in the morning to make my flight. When I arrived at Termini Station I had more than 4 hours before my flight left.

There was a long line at the Terravision office, which was okay. We can wait our turn. However, they have a policy of allowing people who have already printed tickets jump to the front of the line. If two agents are on duty, it can make sense, but with only one agent, it is ridiculous. Large groups, smaller groups, couples, threes, and singles jumped in front many times. I did not have access to a printer...no I don't carry one in my suitcase...so I was out of luck.

When I got to the counter, I made my request for Fiumicino. I was told the next bus would be at 11:10. That was two and a half hours, yet there were buses listed on the schedule on the counter. There was no way an 11:10 bus would get me there on time. I panicked. Good customer service would have posted a sign for all to see, rather than making customers wait in line wasting precious time. I had seen an customer further up the line become exasperated. I now knew why!

When I asked what I could do, I was told there are options. To this I asked what they were and the response I got was a shrug. This is customer service?

Yes, I did swear at the agent in front of the people in line, but rude staff like this person are responsible for bringing on whatever response they get from customers. 

It seems that Terravision has lost sight of the fact that their business is to serve people. Many of us are not local and we may not know what the options are. We are travelling and dealing with timelines, and maybe additional stress. We don't need to encounter a reply like I received from this woman.

Yes, her job could be stressful dealing with people in a panic, running late, people who cannot speak the language and all sorts of matters. However, that is the nature of the job. If it is too much then perhaps she should find some other type of work where a display of common decency and courteous service are not required. 

In the end I took the train. I highly recommend it.  I will be readily sharing this on various sites and in conversations with others.  Quick, efficient, however it does cost more. You can buy your ticket from a machine - not the personal touch, but definitely not rude and ignorant. I believe there is at least one other bus company; however, in my panic this morning I did not know where to find it.

Since sending my first email, on March 31, I have sent another one on April 10. To this point, April 16, I have not heard anything from Terravision. It would seem that the customer service attitude is more systemic, and not just unique to the agent in Roma Termini.

It would be nice to think that the matter would be dealt with so that future customers wouldn't have to experience what I and other customers did.  The least I expected was an acknowledgement of receipt of my email. I guess that was even too much to ask.

Wednesday 15 April 2015

News and Tips #28 - April 15, 2015

In this issue:

-4 of the Remotest Vacation Spots on the Planet | Thrillist
-Street Artist Mehdi Ben Cheikh Takes His Visions to Djerba
-Truly Authentic Cultural Food Experiences Around the World - SmarterTravel.com
-Germany Reunified. Filled with discoveries for an unforgettable trip | Tourism in Germany
-20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
-6 stops for a colonial tour of Asia - A Luxury Travel Blog


4 of the Remotest Vacation Spots on the Planet | Thrillist

Flickr/Chris Zielecki
Remember when you vacationed in Cape Cod and ran in to Bob from accounting? And then, next year, when you vacationed in Myrtle Beach and ran into him again? Well, you might have a more serious problem, but you also might want to try going somewhere a little more remote to get aways from it all. "All" meaning Bob and his ilk.
Read more...




Street Artist Mehdi Ben Cheikh Takes His Visions to Djerba

Aline Deschamps - Galerie Itinerrance
Mehdi BenCheikh, veteran of the Paris street art wars, has taken his vision to Djerba, an island off the coast of Tunisia. Ben Cheikh is the founder of Galerie Itinerrance in Paris and has spent ten years building an organization dedicated to the work of street artists.
Read more...






Truly Authentic Cultural Food Experiences Around the World - SmarterTravel.com

Antony Stanley via flickr/CC Attribution/Share Alike
Tempt your palate with more than just new flavors on your next trip. Immerse yourself in a local culinary tradition, one that whisks you via motorbike between Saigon's street-food vendors or sends you into the forest with a truffle-sniffing dog in Italy. These 10 cultural food experiences will give you a truly authentic taste of some mouthwatering destinations around the world.
Read more...



Germany Reunified. Filled with discoveries for an unforgettable trip | Tourism in Germany

Germany's status as a travel destination has gone from strength to strength since reunification. Popular sites of cultural or natural interest have been revived or reconstructed. This brochure takes a fresh look at Germany through 25 perspectives that have taken shape in the 25 years since the fall of the...
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20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know

Matt Long/LandLopers
I've been thinking a lot about what makes a good traveler lately. Usually, those thoughts tend to go into higher levels of personal philosophy and self-improvement. At its base though, no matter where we go, there are a few things we should know - not just to make us better travelers, but better people. Here are my top 20.
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6 stops for a colonial tour of Asia - A Luxury Travel Blog

There's something so modestly beautiful about colonial travel; the contrast of grand architecture agains the backdrop of an Eastern sunset is remarkable indeed. Western imperialism in Asia was born with the Age of Sail in the 16th Century when trade routes were builty between the East and the West. And today, we have the vestiges of exploration and conquering in the form of Asia's finest colonial destinations. For the ultimate East meets West experience with all its majestic features, here are the 6 must-see stops for a colonial tour of Asia.
Read more...