European Snow Trip to the Arctic (part 4 - Sámi, reindeer and northern lights)

Posted by: Maria 6 days, 5 hours ago

We kept driving north and the days went by without any northern lights on the horizon... We started getting worried …

European Snow Trip to the Arctic (part 3 - Saunas, icebreakers and Santa Claus)

Posted by: Maria 1 week, 6 days ago

The day had finally arrived for us to hop again on a ferry and cross the Gulf of Finland from …

European Snow Trip to the Arctic (part 2 - The Baltic countries or a first taste of the Arctic)

Posted by: Maria 2 weeks, 6 days ago

After more than a week on the road, we finally arrived in the Baltic region! LITHUANIA, also known as “The …

European Snow Trip to the Arctic (part 1 - Our first snow in ages)

Posted by: Maria 3 weeks, 6 days ago

There are people who do not like the cold and I used to be one of them until Covid happened… …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 7 - The Seasons)

Posted by: Maria 1 month ago

Another thing we learnt during our visits in the Greatest City in the World was that while Hong Kong is …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 6 - The Cuisine)

Posted by: Maria 1 month, 3 weeks ago

While Hong Kong is first and foremost an Asian city with local culture, many parts of NYC feel like Europe, …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 5 - The Museums)

Posted by: Maria 2 months ago

Along with their parks and gardens, both Hong Kong and New York City have some of the world's finest museums. …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 4 - The Parks)

Posted by: Maria 2 months, 1 week ago

Contrary to its nickname, NYC is more than just a concrete jungle of towering skyscrapers, much like its Asian counterpart, …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 3 - Lady Liberty & Co.)

Posted by: Maria 2 months, 2 weeks ago

I envision a time, many decades ago, when immigrants left their native lands to embark on a journey to the …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 2 - The Five Boroughs)

Posted by: Maria 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Like Hong Kong, whose territory consists of the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories on the mainland and over 200 …

Chirping birds and Christmas bells in the Greatest City in the World (part 1 - The Nicknames)

Posted by: Maria 3 months ago

A friend once told me that Paris is “The Most Beautiful City in the World” but New York is “The …

"M" for Mexico (part 10 - Monarch Butterflies)

Posted by: Maria 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Last but not least, Mexico is the Monarch Butterflies! Each November millions of Monarch Butterflies fly more than 4,000 kilometers, …

"M" for Mexico (part 9 - Margarita and Mezcal)

Posted by: Maria 5 months ago

Mexico is Margarita and Mezcal as well! I am sure that it is easy to picture yourself on a beach, …

"M" for Mexico (part 8 - Mexican cuisine)

Posted by: Maria 5 months, 1 week ago

Mexico is of course the Mexican cuisine! The country is a whole new world to discover for the foodies that …

"M" for Mexico (part 7 - Mariachis and Mojigangas)

Posted by: Maria 5 months, 2 weeks ago

Mexico is also Mariachis and Mojigangas. We saw them for the first time in charming San Miguel de Allende. The …

"M" for Mexico (part 6 - Magical towns)

Posted by: Maria 5 months, 3 weeks ago

Mexico is its Magical Towns as well. Some of the country’s towns have “magical” qualities including beauty, historic importance and …

"M" for Mexico (part 5 - Museums)

Posted by: Maria 6 months ago

Mexico is also the Museums... Mexico’s museums are amongst the most stunning in the world. It would be great if …

"M" for Mexico (part 4 - Maya)

Posted by: Maria 6 months, 1 week ago

Mexico is the Maya as well! The Maya inhabited mainly southeast Mexico, Guatemala and Belize between 750 BC and the …

"M" for Mexico (part 3 - Mexica)

Posted by: Maria 6 months, 2 weeks ago

Mexico, and in particular Mexico City, is of course the Mexica as well. This is how the famous Aztecs used …

"M" for Mexico (part 2 - Murals)

Posted by: Maria 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Mexico is also the Murals. The Mexican Muralism movement began in the early 1920s after the Mexican Revolution. The Mexican …

"M" for Mexico (part 1 - Mexico City)

Posted by: Maria 6 months, 4 weeks ago

What is the first thing coming to mind if you think of Mexico? For those of you who have never …

A piece of France away from France or a French baguette in the Caribbean (part 4)

Posted by: Maria 7 months ago

Grande-Terre Island may be smaller and flatter than its big mountainous neighbor but it has some pretty stunning views as …

A piece of France away from France or a French baguette in the Caribbean (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 7 months, 1 week ago

Each island of Guadeloupe is different and has something special to awe you with! Les Saintes - Terre-de-Haut Les Saintes …

A piece of France away from France or a French baguette in the Caribbean (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 7 months, 2 weeks ago

The Guadeloupean architecture will be another clue that you are not in Europe. No Haussmann, Provence or medieval buildings around! …

A piece of France away from France or a French baguette in the Caribbean (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 7 months, 3 weeks ago

From an administrative point of view Guadeloupe is a French overseas region (département d'outre-mer). All shops, banks and administrative buildings …

Another World (part 6)

Posted by: Maria 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Hopping from island to island in the Falkland/Malvinas Islands When life on land had become a distant memory and all …

Another World (part 5)

Posted by: Maria 10 months, 4 weeks ago

A day in South Georgia After two days at rough sea, we saw the snow-capped peaks of South Georgia. Gracious …

Another World (part 4)

Posted by: Maria 11 months ago

Whales The third kings of Antarctica after the seals and the penguins are the whales. While we were still recovering …

Another World (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 11 months, 1 week ago

Icebergs The first view or feeling of Antarctica is always an iceberg… Its scientific definition is fresh water ice that …

Another World (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 11 months, 2 weeks ago

The Drake Passage We heard from one of our fellow expeditioners on the ship that ‘Antarctica is heaven but you …

Another World (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 11 months, 3 weeks ago

“Antarctica is a separate world.” Mark Jones, Wild Ice: Antarctic Journeys, 1990 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan, …

Pura Vida in the Tropics (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 5 months ago

Pura Vida means amazing encounters The highlight of Costa Rica are the animals who are vividly coloured like anything else …

Pura Vida in the Tropics (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 5 months ago

I don’t know about you but whenever I try to picture paradise, I usually see tons of surreal bright colours, …

The Little Red Dot (part 7)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 10 months ago

If Singapore was a ritual, it would be Yu Sheng.

The Little Red Dot (part 6)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 10 months ago

If Singapore was a house, it would be a shophouse.

The Little Red Dot (part 5)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 11 months ago

If Singapore was a neighborhood, it would be Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Katong and Orchard.

The Little Red Dot (part 4)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 11 months ago

If Singapore was a restaurant, it would be a food court or a hawker centre.

The Little Red Dot (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 11 months ago

If Singapore was a fruit, it would be a durian.

The Little Red Dot (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 11 months ago

If Singapore was a prohibition sign, it would be tons of them on a single board!

The Little Red Dot (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 3 years, 11 months ago

Out of the few city-states still remaining in the world only one is located in Asia. It is an island, …

The Island of the Gods

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 8 months ago

If you have watched the movie 'Eat Pray Love' you certainly remember that Julia Roberts starring as Elizabeth Gilbert, an …

Iguana Land (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 8 months ago

The following day on the oldest and southernmost island Española will offer you the experience of a lifetime! An even …

Iguana Land (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 9 months ago

There are plenty of wonders to discover on Santa Cruz Island! However, you should definitely explore some of the other …

Iguana Land (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 9 months ago

'Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?' is one of the most famous paintings of …

Castaway in paradise

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 9 months ago

Every kid has heard the story of Robinson Crusoe, a castaway on a tropical desert island who managed to survive …

The Land of a Million Elephants (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 9 months ago

The Royal Palace which was the residence of the kings during the French colonial era up until when the monarchy …

The Land of a Million Elephants (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 9 months ago

Everybody loves elephants but not so many people know that this beautiful majestic animal is also a symbol of greatness …

The Golden Country (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 4 years, 10 months ago

The soul of Myanmar is its people who are as colourful and diverse as its temples, colonial buildings, fishing villages …

The Golden Country (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 5 years, 2 months ago

Bagan (or Pagan, as you already noticed, everything has two names in Myanmar!) is an active religious site of thousands …

The Golden Country (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 5 years, 4 months ago

Do you remember the legend of King Midas who made a wish that whatever he touches turns into gold but …

Stone legends and dancing nymphs

Posted by: Maria 6 years, 7 months ago

Have you ever dreamed of joining Indiana Jones in “The Temple of Doom” or Lara Croft in “Tomb Raider” in …

Devil’s island

Posted by: Maria 7 years, 4 months ago

Everyone has heard of Taz, the Tasmanian Devil of the Warner Bros series of cartoons. The real Tasmanian Devil who …

Into the Oz-Wild

Posted by: Maria 7 years, 4 months ago

If you want to get off the beaten path in Oz, the Indian Ocean drive along the Coral Coast north …

Australia’s SouthWest - the meeting point of two oceans

Posted by: Maria 7 years, 5 months ago

Have you ever wondered how it felt to travel back in time?

Aussie farniente and prison break in heaven

Posted by: Maria 7 years, 5 months ago

‘G’day, mate! How are you today?’

Surfing through Great Ocean sculptures & Melb street art

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 1 month ago

There are roads and there are mythical roads! Even though the Australian coastline roads are all beautiful, there is one …

50 shades of golden and blue

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 2 months ago

People call it the Sunshine State because it experiences over 300 days of sunshine each year. Besides the always present …

From aboriginal art to opera arias Down Under

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 2 months ago

There is a place on our small planet which is a mystery and a dream for many people in the …

Planet Japan

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 2 months ago

Even after a few journeys, Japan remains a complete mystery to any foreigner.

Wonder-Land of the Long White Cloud... (the South Island)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 3 months ago

Crossing the Cook Strait switching from one gorgeous fjord to another is the preamble of what you will see on …

Wonder-Land of the Long White Cloud... (the North Island)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 3 months ago

Kia ora and haere mai (or ‘hello’ and 'welcome' in maori)!

Colours and smiles of the Pacific (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 3 months ago

Besides the SMILES , the COLOURS of Vanuatu will make you feel like you have been shaken in a magical …

Colours and smiles of the Pacific (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 3 months ago

Whether you are in a school, on a bus or on a playground, SMILES are everywhere! Even when you are …

Colours and smiles of the Pacific (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 3 months ago

Vanuatu can be defined with two words - COLOURS and SMILES !

A search for happiness above the clouds... (part 3)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 4 months ago

Happiness is also watching the pride in the eyes of the Bhutanese when they see their one and only CHOPPER …

A search for happiness above the clouds... (part 2)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 4 months ago

So, what is happiness?

A search for happiness above the clouds... (part 1)

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 4 months ago

The first and the last view of the Dragon’s Kingdom commonly known as Bhutan for any visitor is the white …

The Perfumed Harbour or the beginning of everything...

Posted by: Maria 8 years, 4 months ago

Some places could be defined with just a couple of words but these words say it all - this is …