Category: Activities
Contemporary Art in Communist China
Factory 798 isn’t necessarily what you’d expect to find in a communist country. This arts district is peppered with industrial spaces turned art galleries, showcasing contemporary art, photography and abstract sculpture.
Located in the Dashanzi area, this former state-owned factory can be tough to find but, those who venture beyond central Beijing will be rewarded with trendy cafes and awesome art designed by Chinese and Taiwanese artists.
Are You A Spielberg Wannabe? Learn to Make Movies and Travel
Ever since I was little, it’s been a dream of mine… I always wanted to become a famous filmmaker. Calling the shots, directing the crew and strolling down the red carpet at Cannes with the likes of James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino.
Instead of signing up for four years of filmmaking school, I hunted on-line for an intensive film course that would teach me the craft, quickly. New York Film Academy offers a four-week workshop that teaches Spielberg wannabes how to write, shoot, direct and edit. Their programs are all over the world, from Paris to Milan, London to Seoul, Tokyo, Florence and Shanghai. www.nyfa.com
How to Hike Peru’s Inca Trail
Peru’s world famous Inca Trail annually draws thousands of curious hikers looking to retrace the steps of ancient civilizations. I was one of them. Huffing and puffing, I sweat my way to the top of the famous ruins of Machu Picchu.
The journey along the Inca Trail was awesome but it ain’t easy. It was a four-day, 25-odd km hike that wound along a schizophrenic terrain: sheer cliffs, misty cloud forests, lush jungles and nose-bleed-causing mountain peaks. The scenery was stunning, the ruins historic but the actual hike… well… it was a real workout.
Spy in the City: Espionage and Intrigue in Washington DC
In the spy capital of the world, it’s no surprise that the International Spy Museum is a hot ticket. In downtown Washington D.C., just steps from the FBI building, this one-of-a-kind tourist attraction has been educating the masses and instilling paranoia since it first opened in 2002.
This past weekend, between schmoozing and stage presentations at the Travel & Adventure show, I had a chance to check out The Spy Museum.
An island paradise: spear fishing in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Sunset beach vista from my beach bungalow on Kendwa beach
Not a dinner party goes by without someone asking me, “Out of all of the places you’ve been around the world, what’s your all-time favorite destination?” For me, the answer is simple. Tanzania. Home to the Serengeti, Mt. Kilimanjaro, rich Maasai traditions, welcoming people and Lucy [...]
In Boston this weekend?
If you’re in Boston this weekend, check me out at the Boston Globe Travel Show! I will be speaking about two hot topics:
Travel Writing 101: where I offer a step-by-step guide on becoming a travel writer. In this interactive discussion, I’ll take you from proposal to pitch, providing tips and tricks that will help get your articles published. I’ll also offer social media secrets on how to promote your writing.
The Reality of Reality Travel TV: where I talk about the behind-the-scenes reality of filming a travel show across some 36 countries. I also offer advice to those looking to break into the TV travel industry for themselves.
Witches market in Mexico City… is love in the air?
Drug, kidnappings, violence and Swine Flu. It’s been a hard year for Mexico. With these kinds of reports coming out of the country, it’s no wonder tourists have shied away from traveling south of the border. But, as The New York Times recently reported in their feature travel piece “36 Hours in Mexico City,” Mexico is on an upswing, with chic restaurants, new galleries and hotels at huge discounts (some luxury hotels slashing their room rates by up to 65%.)
Heli-Yoga in the Rockies
The best part about starting a new year is the chance to wipe the slate clean and achieve a fitter, slimmer, richer, smarter you. If fitness, natural beauty and all-round relaxation are on your resolution “to-do list” for 2010, consider a trip to Canadian Rockies’ snow-capped mountains. While they boast some of the world’s best skiing and wildlife viewing, this region is also home to an unusual tourist activity called heli-yoga, a practice that combines the meditative properties of yoga with a traditional helicopter sightseeing tour.
