Swimming in the cool, clear waters of the Hubiku Cenote in the Yucatan region of Mexico.
Hubiku Cenote, Mexico
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Swimming in a Cenote
Categories: Blog, North America, Photo, Where in the World
Tags: Hubiku Cenote, Mayan, Mexico, Yucatan
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Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Looking for a change of pace from Cancun’s busy strip? Then, Playa del Carmen is the place to be! While it’s no longer the small fishing village is was until the 1980s, Playa (as the locals call it) is still definitely more laid back than nearby Cancun. Less than an hour from Cancun’s International airport, and only a ferry ride from Cozumel, Playa has become a busy vacation hot spot.
The clear turquoise waters and white sand beach, is filled with beach volleyball, sunbathers and beach bars, along with numerous hotels and resorts.
Just up from the beach is Quinta Avenida or 5th Aveunue, Playa’s main drag. This street is a see-and-be-seen spot. Spread along the avenue are mutli-coloured shops, restuarants, bars, cafes, hotels and nightclubs. While strolling along here you almost feel like you could be somewhere in Europe- but with tastier Mexican dishes!
Looking for the less touristy side of Playa del Carmen? All you need to do is head a few blocks away from 5th Avenue. Suddenly, the delicious homemade tacos drop from 80 pesos or more down to 10 pesos, the beer to 15 pesos and the crowds of people almost disappear.
Colourful artwork along the avenue
Delicious Mexican food at La Vagabunda
Unique street signs
Church on 5th Ave.
Brightly coloured souvenir shops can be found all along 5th Ave
Beautiful statue greeting you at the beach
Strolling along Quinta Avenida
10 Peso tacos!
Categories: Blog, Caribbean, Photo, Where in the World
Tags: beach, Mexico, Playa del Carmen, Riveria Maya
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Hiking to the A-Ma Cultural Village.
The world’s tallest statue of the goddess A-Ma (also known as Tin Hau) stands on the peak of a mountaintop on Macau’s Coloane Island, where the nearby A-Ma cultural village celebrates the beloved goddess.
A-Ma has long been revered in Macau as the protector of people who make their living at sea. The plaque by the statue tells the legend of A-Ma saving sailors during a fierce storm and ascending afterward into heaven near the site of the historic A-Ma temple.
To get to the village you can take a bus or hike the Coloane Trail beginning in Seac Pai Van Park.
We opted for the hiking option and after stopping by to see the panda, we headed up the trail and the many, many stairs through a leafy forested area coming to a opening with an incredible view looking back across at Macau. Then, the trail continued up to the top of the mountain to the A-Ma statue before heading over to the nearby Cultural Village. The detail in the paintings and carvings on the buildings and gateways here are so incredibly ornate you could spend hours just taking in all the detail.
If you are in Macau, be sure to check this place out, you won’t be disappointed!
Opening hours of Tin Hau Palace: 08:00 to 18:00 daily. Free Admission
The A-Ma Statue
A-MA Statue
Heading into the A-Ma Cultural Village
Categories: Asia, Blog, Photo, Where in the World
Tags: A-Ma Culture Village, Coloane, Coloane Trail, Macau
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Gamcheon Culture Village- The Santorini of Korea
Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan is located on a hillside in Saha-gu, that was first settled in the early 1900’s by followers of the Taegeukdo religion. Over the years, the village continued to deteriorate until 2010 when the community was brought back to life as an arts and culture village, with several abandoned homes being converted into exhibition spaces, art shops and cultural facilities.
Categories: Asia, Blog, Photo, Where in the World
Tags: Busan, Gamcheon Culture Village, South Korea
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Exploring Hong Kong
Categories: Asia, Photo, Video, Where in the World
Tags: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Park, Peak Tram, Victoria Peak
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A magical day at Hong Kong Disneyland
In my quest to visit all the Disney Parks, this fall I took the Disney tram to Hong Kong Disneyland and checked another one off my list. While Hong Kong Disneyland may be the smallest of them all, with only one park to visit, it’s still a magical way to spend a day.
Paris….I’m coming for you next!
Categories: Asia, Blog, Photo, Video, Where in the World
Tags: Disney Parks, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland
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Beautiful Beomeosa
Heading into the colourful Beomeosa Temple
The beautiful Beomeosa temple is definitely one of Busan, South Korea’s must-see sights. Although it’s located within the city, nestled high in the hills, the temple seems miles away from Busan’s busy streets.
While Beomeosa is a nice place to visit at any time of year, the colourful changing leaves on the surrounding mountains during the fall make the temple’s backdrop truly magnificent.
The surrounding area is a popular place to go hiking for both locals and tourists and when the weather is nice it’s a busy place with trails leading to the temple, the northern starting point for trails across Geumjeongsan.
Temples in Korea have been a place of refuge for Korean people for more than 1,700 years. Tradition has been that these temples open their gates to allow everyone to experience the traditional Korean Buddhist culture.
Here at Beomeosa, the temple offers both overnight “Templestay” programs and 1-day “Temple Life” programs for visitors to learn about and get a feel for Korean Buddhism. The sign at the gate states “You can cleanse your mind through a meaningful journey to search your true nature while staying at a beautiful temple.”
Beomeosa is known as a Comprehensive Training Monastery and was built by Great Master Uisang, a leading monk at that time, in the 18th year of King Munmu of the Silla Dynasty (678 C.E). It is one of 25 major temples in Korea and has 11 hermitages on the mountain and more than 200 branch temples around the nation.
For more info click here
To get to Beomeosa Temple:
Metro line 1 to Beomeosa, Exit 5. Walk 200m. Catch bus 90 (1200won) or walk up the steep slope for a nice hike in the woods.
The temple is open from 8:30-5:30pm.
Categories: Asia, Blog, Photo, Where in the World
Tags: Beomeosa Temple, Busan, South Korea
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Coney Island Fun
On a recent trip to NYC, I finally made it down to wander around Coney Island. With over 50 rides, lots of shops, restaurants and a boardwalk along the beach, it was definitely a great way to spend a sunny, summer day in New York City!
For more info and directions check out http://www.coneyisland.com/tourist-information
Categories: Blog, North America, Photo, Where in the World
Tags: Coney Island, Luna Park, NYC
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Panama City
Strolling along the boardwalk
Heading into the Casco Viejo area
Iglesia de San Jose’s Golden Altar
Old Ruins around the city
Panama Hats
Wandering through the Parque Natural Metropolitano
The Panama Canal turns 100!
A trip to the Panama Canal
Celebrating 100 years
The Panama Canal Museum
Demonstrating how the locks work.
2014 marks the 100th year anniversary of the Panama Canal. Known as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats, the Panama Canal is 80 km long stretching through the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. It took more than 75,000 workers over ten years to complete. Finally, on August 15th, 1914, the SS Ancon officially inaugurated the Panama Canal.
Currently around 14,000 vessels pass through the canal each year and since it opened over 1 million ships have made the journey through the canal.
Ships passing through pay according to their weight. The average fee is around US$30,000. The most expensive ship to pass through was the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, which paid US$ 376,000 in 2010. This fee has since been surpassed. The cheapest fare was US$0.36 paid by Rich Halliburton in 1928 when he swam through the canal!
Panama took over full operation, administration and maintenance of the canal on December 31st 1999 and they are currently working on a US$5.25 billion expansion project.
You can visit the Miraflores Locks visitor’s centre (admission $15) which has a four-story museum, viewing platforms and a movie theatre showing a 3-D movie about the locks.
Tales of a Travel Addict 
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