Published in - Vacay Magazine - September 16, 2015
My Manly Massage “Out of my element and out of my clothes in the Dominican Republic!”
THE MELIA CARIBE TROPICAL, PUNTA CANA - The slippers didn’t fit. They were more like toe warmers on my size 12 flippers. My feet hung over the ends, heels dragging along the cool marble tiles as I shuffled my way down to the waiting area. Speaking of fit, I’m not sure the little, white, terry-cloth bath robe fared much better than the footwear. On my 6’2” frame it appeared kind of mini,...
The rush is on to hit Cuba before the Americans return en masse. But for many Canadians, the cigar-rolling Caribbean hotspot is already their favourite vacation destination. And while some love the convenience of its top-notch all-inclusive resorts, others prefer tapping the real Cuba – and saving a packet in the process.
“Casas particulares -- private homestays – typically cost $35 to $40 per night,” says Brendan Sainsbury, a B.C.-based author on the new Lonely Planet Cuba guidebook. “They’re a great way to meet Cuban people...
Carol Perehudoff -"Budapest, Hungary: Taking the Waters in a Steamy Historic City" ...
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Published in - Toronto Star - February 19, 2015
Budapest, Hungary: Taking the waters in a steamy historic city
‘Budapest is one of Europe's hottest destinations, and abundant natural springs and historic bathhouses make it even hotter. Here are the best places to soak.’
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY—I used to date a Hungarian. The relationship didn’t last, but my love for Budapest did. Or rather, my love for his dreamy descriptions of it did: the scent of paprika, the gilt and red velvet of the lavish New York Café, the romantic Danube River that...
Make no bones about it, Monty Wade was one pampered pooch. Until his passing earlier this year, the spritely half-cocker, half-bichon frise had logged more travel miles than most bipeds. He even enjoyed a retirement trip to California, where he relished lounging in a backyard pool in Palm Springs and strutting through Downtown Disney, before checking into his kennel at the park.
“Of everything Monty had done in his life, he still hadn’t seen the ocean. It...
Play hipster for a day in Portland by Joanne Blain
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Published in: The Vancouver Sun, April 19, 2014
The only thing cooler than Portland just might be Portlandia, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein's sketch-comedy sendup of the coastal Oregon hipster haven.
The hit indie show skewers some of Portland's best-known traits, including its love of dogs, DJs and coffee and its reverence for cyclists and recycling. And it's populated with enough oddball characters — including a slew of celebrity guest stars — to remind you that you're definitely not in Kansas any more.
The ultimate Doctor Who: fan-boy pilgrimage to Britain by John Lee
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Published in:The Globe and Mail, October 19, 2013
My replica Sonic Screwdriver doesn’t necessarily make me a nerd when it comes to Doctor Who, the world’s longest-running TV sci-fi show. But my TARDIS-patterned bathrobe and remote-controlled Dalek are conclusive evidence of a slavish love for all-things Gallifrey.
And if you understood any of those references, you’re likely just as excited as me about the weekend of November 23, when the show’s 50th anniversary special will be simulcast around the world.
The Happiest Place on Earth caters to guests with a range of abilities
I barely survived the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland when I was three, so I wondered if Bennett, my six-year-old autistic son, would embrace a pirate’s life or stage an epic tantrum in the middle of New Orleans Square from sensory overload when our family flew south to Anaheim, Calif., on vacation. But it turns out the famous resort, along with sister park,...
Published in British Columbia Magazine, Summer 2013
Urban Wrangler: A city slicker’s round-up of three dude ranches in Canada’s Cariboo Country
I’ve come to British Columbia’s Cariboo country to find my inner cowboy. But I’m not afraid to admit: I’m terrified.
The Cariboo, a wild, sparsely settled hinterland in Western Canada stretching from the banks of the churning Fraser River to the peaks of the Cariboo Mountains, is home to more than two dozen guest ranches. Options range from working farms to luxury retreats where more time is spent in...
DECK: Cultural adaptation can take many forms and for consultants working in different cultures, being aware of cultural norms – and taboos – can be invaluable. Feng Shui is one example.
In the centre of Hong Kong, on arguably some of the most expensive real estate in the world, stands a small, 10-storey parking garage. The only other low building in the vicinity is the old colonial governor’s mansion. This handsome building fronted by a large, busy open square, remains untouched, a testimony to history.
Published in Georgia Straight, Nov. 21, 2012 online, Nov. 22, 2012 in print
Want to see the Panama Canal? Here’s why it’s worth considering
staying on dry land rather than cruising through on a big ship
Juan Carlos is giving us the hard sell. As our boat approaches the first lock of the Panama Canal, he stands at the bow with his camera in the area roped off for crew members only. Excited passengers press against the barrier, as if a rumour just broke that George Clooney had stepped onto the red carpet. But the attraction isn’t Juan...
