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It’s a long bleak road to Bodie, a ghost town left abandoned in the arid high desert plains of the Eastern Sierras, California. It’s a day trip out of Mammoth Lakes on the Scenic Highway 395 North. The lonely 13-mile stretch of dirt road to Bodie clings to the edge of the dreary desert ridge, as you climb to 8,375 feet. The landscape is dry, barren and feels hostile. There… Read More
Raleigh is often called the Smithsonian of the south, for good reason. The city has world class museums and the admission for a number of them is rather reasonable as in free! Downtown Raleigh is a city center easily made for walking and most of the major museums are easily within walking distance of each other. In addition, a free bus service runs daily (the R-Line). Three museums we visited… Read More
The royalty of Old Siam is full of romance and mystery, a la The King and I. One way you can experience the ambience, surroundings and traditions of Thailand’s royalty is in a stay at Chakrabongse Villas, an intimate boutique inn along the bank of the Chao Phraya River in central Bangkok. Chakrabongse is owned by Narisa Chakrabongse, the great-granddaughter of King Rama V, and this bygone era still permeates… Read More
11th Century Bagan, land of a thousand ancient temples, lies northwest of capital city Yangon along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. The town is divided into three sections: Old Bagan, New Bagan and Nyaung U. The bulk of the temples and archaeological zone is situated in Old Bagan, as is the quiet, secluded Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort. The resort is indeed a sanctuary, its riverside location and landscaped gardens a… Read More
On my fifth visit to India, I finally made it to Darjeeling – a place I had wanted to go since my first trip five years ago. It takes dedication to get to the town in the Himalayan foothills, developed as a summer hill station during the British Raj and famous for its deliciously floral tea. After flying into Bagdogra, or taking a train to New Jalpaiguri station, you must… Read More
The essence of Darjeeling, developed as a summer hill station during the British Raj and famous for its deliciously floral tea, is exemplified in the Mayfair Hotel. Once the summer home of the Maharaja of Nazargunj, the Mayfair is today a luxury resort perched high atop a hill overlooking the town – and overlooked, in turn, by the awe-inspiring Himalaya Mountains. The Mayfair has all of the luxury and service… Read More
“Welcome to 1816. Enjoy your stay,” Madame LaFramboise’s spirit said.
"Get out of the water! A shark!”
We had been in for only a few minutes when we saw the telltale shark fin slice through the water directly toward us. This was something we hadn’t bargained for. We’d signed up to swim with stingrays off Grand Cayman, not sharks.