Cappadocia, Turkey People often ask me: “You’ve been around the world…so what was the ONE best country?” It’s a straight-forward question but I don’t have a straight-forward answer. Visiting 80 countries it’s hard to name just one “best.” Each is unique and awesome for different reasons. So, in an attempt to answer that hard-hitting question, [...]
After meeting our tour guide 'Kara Van Park,' a hairy-chested, 40-year-old ‘dude’ decked out in a red sequin gown, a pink frilly boa and a Tina Turner wig, I realized that Sydney by Diva is not your typical tourist attraction. Hosted by some of the city’s top female impersonators, this three-hour bus tour dishes out unconventional Sydney facts with a comedic, drag queen twist. It's part city tour, part diva crash-course.
With jam-packed traffic, winding roads, sheer drops and shoddy mechanics, it’s no wonder Bolivian drivers need the help of a priest. For good luck and safe passage, local commuters visit the shores of Lake Titicaca, in the small town of Copacabana for one main reason – a car blessing. The Bolivian car blessing ceremonies happen [...]
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.
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
Our story unfolds with a loitering young man, an invalid ticket and an overbooked train. My friend Jenny and I were sitting comfortably in our supposed seats, preparing for the overnight, 27-hour journey from West Bengal to India’s capital city. We were approached and told we were in the wrong berth. I argued belligerently. The conductor was summoned and, surprise surprise, he informed us that our second class A/C tickets are for the right day but the wrong month. Duh. Lesson #1: When buying a train ticket, confirm all details and check the date before making a fool of yourself.
Newsflash. The 140 character social networking phenomenon can be used for more than just telling the world what you had for breakfast this morning. Twitter is a great way to scope out online travel deals and stay in the loop about last minute specials. Here are a few tips to tweeting your way to cheaper travel:
The 5th century philosopher St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” For those looking to read all the “chapters” this world has to offer, consider booking a holiday with an inspirational element. There are plenty of places to inspire, from the tops of Machu Picchu, to the rose-red rock of Petra’s canyon-like Siq, from gorilla trekking in the Ugandan mountainside, to living with holy men in the divinely-inspired churches of Northern Ethiopia.
I never thought I’d be caught eating out of a toilet bowl, but there I was, scooping out chunks of brown stuff from a lime green loo. The loose watery goo looked remarkably like you-know-what, but I tried not to think about it. Instead, I chose to wash the slop down with yellow liquid served from a plastic bed pan. This is a typical lunch at the Modern Toilet restaurant, a kitschy café in the heart of Taipei’s Shilin district.
I've been around the world four times, to over 80 countries, across six continents. Here are some of the video highlights: learning how to fight like a gladiator in Rome, overlooking the inspiring vista of Chile's Atacama desert, spending a night of 'torture' in a Latvian prison, sucking back the Sour Toe Cocktail in Yukon and, of course, eating Moriche worm in the jungles of Venezuela. Check out my compilation video of my adventures around the world, and enjoy!
