Evolving post – more to come!

We came to Japan for the specific goal of diving into the country’s legendary craziness. We had visions of pouty Lolitas posing in front of multi-story video screens, robots performing the Nutcracker, warehouse-scale electronic sushi emporiums, and Gozilla peeking over a skyscraper down upon the city’s legendary street culture. Did we find it? Absolutely, it’s everything we ever dreamt of and more.

Over time, we have been building the ultimate list of quirky, crazy, weird, wild and wonderful activities, a sort of must-do menu of fun and kitschy Tokyo delights. Hai, dozo! Continue…

It’s pretty safe to say that nowadays almost all of us return from a trip with hundreds of photos on their smartphone or camera. But what happens to them afterwards? You might show them to your loved ones, but usually they end up somewhere on your computer and you won’t look at them again much more – unfortunately. To avoid this, there are several different options for what you can do with all your travel pictures when you return from your trips. Continue…

Big cats are the ultimate wildlife thrill. In national parks and wilderness regions around the globe, hikers scan the hills and forests for fleeting glimpses of these elusive creatures. Successfully spotting wild cats requires equal parts effort and luck. As you can see from this post, we have put in the effort and we have had A LOT of luck.

In all, we have spotted 12 different types of wild cats, big and small. The pictures below represent 25 years of travel and trekking. They also represent a tremendous amount of good fortune and even better timing. While most of the big cat posts on the web have been cobbled together by people in a cubicle, this list is based on our experiences and our sightings. So if you are interested in fantastic beasts and where to find them, start reading. Continue…

If you’ve ever dreamed of kicking back in your own little slice of paradise – and let’s face it, we all have – then you’d be hard pushed to find somewhere more appealing than Costa Rica.

From the white sands and crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean to the promise of exotic animals and adventure among rainforests of exceptional biodiversity, this country of around 5 million people has surprises around every corner. What’s more, in a part of the world not necessarily known for its stability, Costa Rica is an oasis of calm. With a long-standing democracy, no military, and a well-educated workforce, the people are proud of their peaceful ways, and English is spoken to very high standards. All of this means that, aside from the great weather and stunning landscapes, Costa Rica is extremely welcoming to both tourists and expats. Continue…

For any snorkelling and scuba diving enthusiast, the prospect of diving under water with whales, sea turtles, tropical fishes, manta rays or even underwater statues is irresistible. This list of holiday destinations for snorkelling and scuba diving will thrill anyone interested in discovering exciting new underwater worlds.

Cuba

Any scuba diving enthusiast will be familiar with the names of these places – Bay of Pigs, Jardines de la Reina or Maria la Gorda. What do these places have in common? They all belong to the Caribbean paradise that is Cuba. Home to numerous remarkable diving sites, Cuba’s reefs have been astoundingly well preserved, and are thus the perfect place to go snorkelling and diving. Continue…

Whether it is the majesty of ancient Rome, the wonderful diversity of Sicily or the art and magnificence of Milan, Italy is a nation full of delights for travellers. As there are just too many places to explore in this historic country, here are Italy’s 4 most fascinating destinations that will leave every tourist amazed.

Sicily

What makes Sicily so very special is its astonishing diversity. Tourists can start their journey in Etna to fully enjoy Italian summers. Close to Mount Etna are the spectacular baroque settlements which are greatly complemented by the excellent Greek and Roman ruins. Since all of these spots are spread across the island, travellers also get to experience the joys of a road trip in order to visit them all. Continue…

There really isn’t a better way to truly realize the beauty of a place than by actually feeling its ground under your feet, letting the hills and valleys take a toll on your legs, and letting the sunshine bounce off your skin. Now walking is certainly not the preferred mode of travelling for most people, but in these six walking holiday destinations – all of which offer amazing sceneries – it certainly is the best option. Continue…

Many tourists whoosh through Cusco and the Sacred Valley on a whirlwind itinerary which leaves their heads spinning. While some might be content to shoot through as they tick off items on their bucket list, Peru’s most famous city and its surrounding valleys offer up a virtual smorgasbord of activities for those with longer attention spans.

During our more than two months in the area, we’ve had some time to get acquainted with not-so-little Qosq’o (Quechua name). What we’ve discovered is one of South America’s most unique and appealing towns in one of the continent’s most unique and appealing regions. No wonder UNESCO declared Cusco a World Heritage Site. Here’s just a tiny sample of all the great things to do in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Continue…

We first published this article on El Nido’s coral destruction in 2010 after our month-long visit to Palawan. Sadly, eight years later, we are still getting comments from travelers confirming further environmental degradation. Read on to find out what causes the coral destruction and make sure to check out the comments below documenting the state of El Nido’s corals in 2018.

Above water, the Bacuit Archipelago is one of the most stunning places on the planet. Below the surface of its perfectly turquoise waters, it’s a different story. A story of neglect, corruption, mismanagement and ignorance.

It is estimated that only 1% of the Philippines’ coral is still in pristine condition. Sewage run-off, anchor damage, shore erosion, a crown-of-thorns starfish infestation, and overfishing are some of the more typical culprits. And, of course, coral bleaching due to global warming is a huge problem. But to kill that much coral, you need to employ some of the more destructive practices such as Continue…

OK, you’ve made your way to Florence – the dream of a lifetime – and you want to visit the city’s incredible works of art and architecture. You walk up to the entrance of the Uffizi Gallery and ask a guard where you can buy a ticket. And he just laughs hysterically in your face. Suddenly, you notice there’s a line with hundreds of annoyed people who have been waiting for hours.

Florence Is Not a City for the Unprepared

Before you come to Florence, you need to do some basic homework, especially if you are showing up in the peak season. You don’t just walk up to the Uffizi museum, buy a ticket, and enter. After all, Uffizi Gallery tickets are popular. And even those magic (and somewhat pricey) Firenze Cards may not be the best option for everyone. To help you out, we’ve put together some quick tips and links to get you started. In our “Plan Your Trip to Florence” section, we also included a few tour recommendations for visitors interested in an expert guide. Continue…