Aarti Ceremony, Varanasi, India

Varanasi: Evening Rituals on the Ganges River

Some people have asked us where the most fascinating place we have ever traveled. There are way too many.  But one that tops the list is the city of Varanasi, the holiest city in India. Situated along the bank of the sacred Ganges River, Varanasi is a place where Hindus aim to visit once in a... Read more
Jumbo Floating Restaurant at night, Hong Kong

Remembering Hong Kong

Occupy Central, Umbrella Revolution – whatever you call it; Hong Kong’s huge protest for universal suffrage is all over the news. We couldn’t help but be sentimental about our last visit in this vibrant city 3 years ago and wonder if that would be our last visit of Hong Kong as a democratic region. We certainly hope... Read more
Vineyards in Tuscany, Italy

A Day in Chianti: Wine and Beyond

Known for its undulating hills blanketed with picturesque vineyards, Tuscany’s popular wine region of Chianti makes an easy day trip from Florence.   Even if you’re not into wine, the region is worth a visit for its scenic landscape and for its charming, historic hamlets. Read more
Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

Florence At Leisure

“Been there, done that.”  Why go again? It’s actually very rewarding to revisit a city that boasts a long list of must-sees and -dos,  where your first visit was spent running around making sure you didn’t miss anything from the list.  It can be so hectic and stressful! But on the return visit, it can be more leisurely,... Read more
Towers in San Gimigniano, Tuscany, Italy

Jewels of Tuscany: Siena and San Gimignano

After we  said our bittersweet goodbye to the Etruscan Coast of Tuscany, where its lesser known hamlets enthralled us,  we headed into the Central Tuscany to revisit towns that captivated us on previous visit more than a decade ago. These towns are more touristed, but absolutely for good reasons. They are both UNESCO World Heritage sites and the... Read more
Castanegto Carducci, Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany: Charming Hamlets in The Etruscan Coast

“Come see us at my in-laws’ summer place in Castagneto Carducci, it’s on the Tuscan coast, around Bolgheri area, where the Super Tuscan wines are produced…..,” replied our beautiful friend Lynn, who just then moved to Italy from NYC with her Italian husband, when we e-mailed her about our plan to visit Italy. The idea of seeing Lynn and visiting part of... Read more
Wind Tunnel in Skyventure Montreal, Canada

SkyVenture Montreal: We Can Fly!

During our visit in Montreal, we had a great fun tasting the city’s culinary delight and attending the world’s largest jazz festival. But our gravity-defying adventure in SkyVenture Montreal took the fun into a higher level. What’s the adventure all about?  SkyVenture Montreal offers a wind tunnel that is the only one of its kind in Canada.  It is... Read more

A Taste of Montreal

We took a lovely  road frip from New York City to Montreal over the the 4th of July weekend. We enjoyed the preformances at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, some flying adventure, walking around the pleasant, manageable city, but most of all, we enjoyed eating! We found that French influence in Montreal can’t be more evident... Read more
Island of Huahine, French Polynesia, South Pacifc

Huahine: French Polynesia’s Off-the-Beaten-Path Island

It’s only about a half-hour flight away from both its popular sister islands, Tahiti and Bora Bora, but why is this paradise off the travelers’ radar? We had not heard of the island of Huahine until we started planning and researching our trip to French Polynesia.  We read up on the different islands in the archipelago and Huahine certainly... Read more