Time stands still in Tongli Water Town – an ancient village carefully preserved amidst the modern urban sprawl that connects Shanghai and Suzhou. Once inside this living museum, there is little to do but enjoy the feeling of time travel back to a life of cobble streets, canal boats, elegant gardens and food vendors. I spent four days and it took all four to walk … Continue reading Timeout in Tongli
Travel adventure is my life, but I do not need to rush around anymore. I don’t want to carry a backpack and race to see all the attractions in a place before marching on. I don’t “do” places like young travelers. I was so privileged and pleased to “live” on Penang Island for an adventure holiday. I have a very dear friend to thank for … Continue reading Penang – 35 days, 35 reasons to stay
I am enraptured with Chinatown, the heart of Georgetown on Penang Island, Malaysia. I cannot deny my shameless bias for all things Chinese in multicultural Malaysia. Because I spend part of every year in China, I feel right at home in Chinatown everywhere but this one is special. Living in Penang for a month, I was drawn back almost every day to the streets and … Continue reading My Love Affair with Georgetown Chinatown
Doha is an amazing city. It didn’t even exist a few decades ago. And look at it now!! Here is that pyramid-shaped hotel today – still vibrant, still iconic on the Doha skyline. Doha has had wise leadership and lots of resources, so, as an ultramodern city, it offers every conceivable opportunity to make memories – many that the world knows all about. I am … Continue reading Making Memories of Qatar in Doha
For most people, Qatar – the country – is synomymous with Doha – the main city. But there is more to Qatar, and there are memories to be made driving out to explore.Your first stop should be the camel racetrack where the camels are penned and trained. You can plan to see the racedays, but you appreciate the care given to these prized animals every … Continue reading Making Memories of Qatar’s Countryside
Qatar was my home for 2 years, and I have so many fond memories, especially of Souq Waqif – the heart and soul of Doha old and new. Here are my suggestions for making memories of your own.Visit and revisit the souq at different times of day as the light changes. Sometimes you may have the souq all to yourself! Sometimes you will get swept … Continue reading Making Memories of Qatar in Souq Waqif
Oman offers a delightful mixture of things to do and see, taste and hear, feel and enjoy. Here’s a sample of 7 different delights I would share with you if you were here. 1. Beach time. The sea is fresh and cool in March, the sand is smooth and clean, and I know where to go to avoid the crowds. We would pause to watch … Continue reading 7 days, 7 delights in #OmanMy2Home
Even I wasn’t sure it could be done: a tourist driving all around Sri Lanka in a car. Not a car with a driver. A rental car! Lots of Sri Lankans laughed… no…the drivers, they said, were too bad. But I was determined and I’m so glad I persevered. Rented a little car and headed out to semi-circumnavigate Sri Lanka. Here are some tips and … Continue reading Driving Sri Lanka – Tips and Tales
I drove all the way through Colombo from south to north – something that had been unimaginable when I started driving in Sri Lanka! It wasn’t easy, but I have learned the game of how to drive here. We were able to return our little rental car, after driving 2000 kms, with not a single scratch! The final leg of the circumnavigation was from Galle … Continue reading Coming full circle – back to Negombo
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