I looked into a couple different cruise operators for our trip to Halong Bay. I settled on Signature Cruise Halong Bay for several reasons. I liked the interior and exterior, the cruise line ranked high on service and the food received top marks as well.
Year: 2016
Soft Opening at the Sanae Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand
Located just off Nimmanhaemin Road, a sought after area of Chiang Mai, the Sanae is in the midst of a renovation and within walking distance to a ton of restaurants and shopping. The temples of Old Town are just a 10 minute ride away. There are ton of bars, restaurants, massage parlors and coffee shops up and down Nimman (abbreviated by the locals) Road.
My 5 Favorite Hotels with Water Views
One of my favorite vacations involves water, shorelines and the sound they make when they come into contact with one another. While hotels and resorts have long leaned on Mother Nature to capture the imagination and attention of its guests, few have the capability of those with a water view picture window outward to the sea and beyond. Here are my top 5 favorite hotels with with a water view.
The White Temple: Visiting Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Rai, Thailand
The temple is always in a state of maintenance and construction. The artist wants Wat Rung Khun to have pilgrimagers that return to Chiang Mai not unlike those who return to Spain’s Sagrada FamÃlia or India’s Taj Mahal. And not unlike Antoni Gaudà and Shah Jahan, Ajarn Chalermchai does not expect to see his great work completed as its expected to take approximately 60 and 90 years to complete.
Why Reverse Culture Shock is a Real Thing
Don’t take it personally, living in a different country forces you to remove the cultural biases we are naturally inclined to possess. You see the world from the standpoint of another culture. Therefore expect to be told that you have changed. Certainly, you’re not the same person anymore. And be happy for that.
A Day In, Around and Under the DMZ
The DMZ isn’t your typical tourist destination. Learning all the things that happened there, watching them watch and photograph you and signing the “possible death” waiver adds to the tension. I did learn a lot and seeing it first hand put most of it into perspective.
Date Night at Vino Suave Wine Bar
In a country where soju reigns supreme, the addition of a wine bar is a welcome sight to this “wino”. So tonight it’s date night at Vino Suave Wine Bar. That wine and chocolate were worth getting dressed after I had settled in for the evening.
An Art-filled Day Trip to The Villa Borghese in Rome
The Wonders of Villa Borghese in Rome We strolled around the fountains, took a walk over to the Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain, ate a little gelato. I had yet to realize we walked so far and had to catch a taxi back to the Villa Borghese in Rome, now a museum for our 4 pm…