Steuben County, New York

Corning - City of Glass
Clock tower in Gaffer District
Revitalized Gaffer District

Rockwell Museum of Western Art - The End of the Trail
Rockwell Museum of Western Art - features art from all eras
The Patterson Inn Museum

Corning Museum of Glass - Evening Dress with Shawl by Karen LaMont
Corning Museum of Glass - glass blowing demonstration
Corning Museum of Glass - making a flower

Hammondsport town square
Lime Berry shop
Dining at Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn with over 130 beers

Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Curtiss was the "fastest man on earth"
Curtiss plane

The Black Sheep Inn - an octogon house
Chef Debbie at Black Sheep Inn
Octogon ceiling detail

Pleasant Valley Wine Company - on the National Historic Register
Bully Hill Winery
Hiking in Stony Brook State Park

Steuben County, nestled at the southern end of Keuka Lake, is full of trails – trails of all kinds. Imagine trails that feature hot glass, cool wines, and decadent chocolate. They are all waiting to be explored.

Museum Trail
Corning is home to the world’s most comprehensive glass collection. Learn the story of glass making from ancient times to the present at the Corning Museum of Glass. The numerous exhibits trace the history of glass making around the world. The eclectic collection includes outstanding pieces such as one of the earliest known glass portraits. The Egyptian piece from circa 1450 BC is only two inches high and most likely the head of Amenhotep II, who ruled about 60 years before Tutankhamen. Contemporary works such as Karen LaMonte’s life size ethereal "Evening Dress with Shawl," which she describes as "…a window to the interior," is just one example of the modern glasswork on display. Family-friendly handheld audio guides offer insightful commentaries on more than 60 works of art. Visitors can watch a master glassmaker make a beautiful glass vase out of molten glass then head to the workshop to create their own personalized glass souvenir.

A free shuttle takes visitors to downtown Corning where the museum trail continues at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. Not to be confused with Norman Rockwell, this museum has been declared "The best of the West in the East." Housed in the old City Hall, an architectural gem in its own right, with a buffalo sculpture breaking out of the upper floor, the museum is hard to miss. The collection, most of which was donated by local residents, Bob and Hertha Rockwell, includes works by the great nineteenth and early twentieth-century painters and sculptors, including Remington, Russell, Dallin, and Catlin. New acquisitions of recent works by Native Americans give a total perspective to the collection. The exhibits range from beautiful panoramic landscapes to Dallin’s sculpture, "Appeal to the Great Sprit;" to "NDN for Life," Quick-to-See Smith’s painting of a Native dress emblazoned with NDN. James Earles Fraser's provocative sculpture "The End of the Trail" featured in Legacy of the Vanishing Race Gallery is not the end of Steuben County’s museum trail.

Corning’s Benjamin Patterson Inn Museum captures a moment in time. At the turn of the 19th century travelers at the Patterson Inn could find themselves sleeping in a rope bed with someone they didn’t even know. Next to the Inn is the log cabin where the Mack family of five lived. Cooking, eating and sleeping took place in one small room. It gives new appreciation to today’s modern conveniences.

On July 4, just north of Corning in Hammondsport, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum will celebrate the centennial of the first pre-announced flight in America of a heavier-than-air flying machine, the June Bug. The nearly one-mile flight brought fame to Curtiss and Hammondsport. His early work on seaplanes, plus his association with the U. S. Navy, earned for Curtiss the title of "Father of Naval Aviation." Curtiss first gained fame as "The Fastest Man on Earth" when, in 1907, he set the world motorcycle land speed record of 136.36 mph. While the main focus of the museum deals with aviation there are changing displays that include miniature dollhouses and local memorabilia.

Wine Trail
Hammondsport is the starting point for the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. The Pleasant Valley Wine Company is the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes region. Established in 1860, the winery was the first U.S. bonded winery. The winery’s fascinating history includes its beginnings as a family business to its survival during Prohibition relying on sales for sacramental wines to corporate takeovers, and finally becoming a family business again. Eight of the winery’s stone buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places making it of architectural interest.

Wine lovers should raise their glass in thanks to Dr. Konstantin Frank who ignited the "Vinifera Revolution," a movement that changed the course of wine growing in the United States. He discovered that a little bug in the soil, not the climate, was the cause of the area’s poor grape yield, which he solved by grafting preferred vinifera onto local bug-resistance rootstock.

Just like each wine has a distinctive flavor so does each winery. Greyton H. Taylor, whose family had been growing grapes since 1878, started Bully Hill Winery in 1958. The winery’s museum complex houses the Cooper Shop with a video on barrel making, The New York State Wine Museum of Greyton H. Taylor, and the Walter S. Taylor Art Gallery. Raise your wine IQ at Keuka Lake Vineyards, a small estate winery that produces world class wines and offers Wine Aroma and Taste classes, a hands-on experience geared towards identifying wines.

The Keuka Wine Trail is more than wine tastings it is also about dining and shopping. In the quaint village of Hammonsport check out the handcrafted items, including rugs woven by Afghan refugees, at Lime Berry. It is Christmas every day on the second floor of the Cinnamon Stick. Grab a quick lunch at the Crooked Lake Ice Cream Parlor or dine at award-winning Village Tavern Restaurant where Chef Lerman has created his own product line and it isn’t all about wine. They serve over 130 different beers.

The Chocolate Trail and more
Corning’s Gaffer District and Marriott’s Fairfield Inn have partnered to create the Chocolate Trail. Upon checking in at the Fairfield Inn participating guests receive chocolate treats and coupons for samples from merchants in the Gaffer District, the city’s historical business area. Sonya at The Tea Chest makes her own chocolates, Beyond Baskets features locally made chocolates, the School House Country Store has chocolate candles, and the ultimate chocolate lover’s delight is the decadent Chocolate Pate at Three Birds Restaurant. Steuben County is home to many nature trails including those in Pinnacle and Stony Brook State Parks along with sections of the Finger Lakes Trail.

Hit the trail and discover glass, art, handicrafts, dining, wine, and more – all in Steuben County. For more information check corningfingerlakes.com or call 866-946-3386.

Hong Kong - Revisited

Harbour Plaza Hotel
The Clock Tower where the train from London use to stop
Visiting the HK Historical Museum

Hong Kong Park
Tea Museum
Tea Appreciation

Peninsula Lobby
Our sitting room
Our Jacuzzi tub

Cooking Dim Sum - Peninsula's Chef
It's all the how you fold it
Evening in Peninsula's Salon de Ning

Hong Kong is considered an expensive destination with many high-end hotels but there are many free things to do. So my idea is to pick an awesome hotel then take the free tours offered by the Hong Kong Tourist Board. Their Kaleidoscope offerings focus on culture, history and nature. A couple years ago John, my husband, and I took the Cantonese Opera Appreciation Class. It was incredibly informative, and while it will never be our favorite music, it led to an appreciation of an art form that has lasted more than eight centuries. The tour started at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum's Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall where we learned that the high pitch of the actor’s voice allowed everyone in the very large crowds to hear and the artistic makeup made it easier to see facial expressions. We learned to identify specific characters by the color of their attire. The opera companies would travel by boat stopping at villages where they would build their own stage and put on a performance. Our tour ended with attending a performance. Amazing, once we understood what was going on it was quite enjoyable.

On this trip I wanted to take the tour to the Wing Wah Cake Shop where chefs teach visitors how to make Wife and Moon Cakes but there was no room in the tour. Some free tours fill up fast. So, we took the Tea Appreciation Class. There is so much more to tea than sipping it. I was surprised to learn that all tea comes from the same plant. The difference between green, oolong, and black teas has to do with the fermentation and temperature during drying process, with green tea not being fermented at all. We learned the proper way to drink the tea and about flower teas. Watching the dried jasmine flower opening up after pouring hot water on it was beautiful. Of course, the tea it made was delightful, too. Another day we took the subway to see one of the oldest homes on the island, the small Hakka House was an incredible contrast to the skyscrapers. There are a slew of other free programs that include tai chi, learning about Feng Shui, and nature tours.

Most museums have free admittance once a week – usually Wednesday. We visited the Hong Kong Museum of History with its permanent exhibit called The Hong Kong Story. The eight galleries detail the development and culture of Hong Kong. Right next to the History Museum is the Science Museum with a variety of displays dealing with motion, the body, and electricity.

There is always something free to do near to a hotel. The Harbour Plaza fronts on a walkway that goes all the way down to the Walk of the Stars with a Bruce Lee Statue. From the Conrad Hotel, on Hong Kong Island, it is just a short walk to beautiful Hong Kong Park where there is a bird park, waterfalls, and a tea museum that is free. The Peninsula Hotel is a near Kowloon Park and across the street from the Museum of Art where works of art are displayed outdoors. Next to the park is the best place to watch the nightly laser show that lights both sides of the water. More than any other city we have visited, Hong Kong has more free things to do.

Guam - Where America's Day Begins

The Hyatt where we crashed for five days
Enjoyed the awesome pool
Happy Hour and sunset - great combination

Tour with Cindy Hanson - Fort
Riding the caraboa at historical village
weaving at historical village

Annie and Blue visit Ezekial's school
Attended an assembly on local wildlife
The Ko'Ko' Bird

Using our free frequent flyer ticket John and I spent five idyllic days at the Hyatt Regency in Guam. Our flight left Palau at 2:35 AM! Who schedules these flights? We arrived at 5:30 AM, and after a short nap, we met Cindy Hanson who works for the tourist board and volunteered to take us on a morning tour of the island. It was her day off. How nice is that! Along with her son, Ezequiel, and Cindy’s friend, Jackie, we set out to explore the island.

Our first stop was Gef Pago Chamorro Cultural Village, a living museum of thatched huts featuring activities associated with the daily lives of the Chamorro, the native people of the Mariana archipelago. There were demonstrations on cooking, rope making, and basket weaving. Tony, the guide, explained that the coconut tree is the "tree of life" and showed us how easy it is to open a coconut. Various parts of the coconut palm were used for clothing, food, shelter, beauty aids, and as fuel. He went on to explain, "Coconut milk is so pure that it was used to sterilize surgical instruments during WW II." We even got to ride a carabao, the native water buffalo.

Plaza de Espana and Fort Nuestra senora de la Soledad, with a panoramic view, are remnants of the Spanish era. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a WW II site where there is statue of several men from Guam who performed heroic acts during WW II. One of the men preserved in bronze is Jackie’s father, Francisco Jesus Cruz, who after killing an enemy soldier and donning his uniform, was able to gain entry to the enemy camp and blow it up.

There is plenty to do in Guam but we felt drawn to the Hyatt’s three free-form lagoon pools. We had been traveling for three months and needed some R&R. We found a spot at the edge of a pool near one of the waterfalls where there were only two secluded lounge chairs and staked our claim. We read, dozed, went swimming, and were amazed at how fast the days passed. The Hyatt has a great beach where we could walk out for a long way while catching sight of colorful tropical fish as they went swimming by. In the evening we went to the club lounge and sat on the balcony watching the sun set. The hotel has everything including six restaurants, nightly shows, children’s camp and a shopping mall. There was no reason to leave – and we didn’t, except for one morning when we visited Ezequiel’s school, Tamuning Elementary School, to do a program on schools around the world. It was multi-cultural week at his school. After our presentations we were invited to the auditorium to see a nature presentation by Miss Cheryl from the Guam Department of Agriculture. The high point was seeing the flightless and endangered Ko’ Ko’ bird. There are only about 100 in captivity. The introduction of the brown tree snake to the island after WWII has decimated the native bird population.

There are many things on Guam we didn’t see and do. We felt a little guilty about spending most of our time enjoying the Hyatt but vowed to return to Guam, the place where American greets the day.

Wow! It's Palau

Pictures do not do it justice... it is beautiful

View from our room at Palau Royal Resort
View from a restaurant
The capitol... look familar?

Looking at the jellyfish
Fruit bat
Blue starfish

Relaxing on Carp Island

Free mud treament on a snorkeling trip

Kayaking in the mangrove... awesome!

Folkloric show at Palau Pacific Hotel

Sunset

Happy Birthday on Carp Island

My husband, John, and I have been to many eco-tourist destinations but no place that surpasses Palau. Fortunately we were able to use our frequent flyer miles to fly round trip from Manila to Palau and it included a stop in Guam.

The tree-covered Palauan islands are in a sea of turquoise and blue filled with brilliant tropical fish. There are only 20,000 people in the Republic of Palau so most of the islands are uninhabited. Palau is a diver’s paradise. While snorkeling I saw things I had never seen before including giant clams – over three feet wide – brilliant blue starfish, and black tipped reef sharks. The all-day trips included lunch on a sandy beach of a deserted island. One day after lunch I saw snorkelers in the shallow water obviously viewing something interesting. So I joined them and snorkeled with 18 black-tipped reef sharks. Another day we stopped at a place where the white muddy sand is so fine that people use it as a curative mud bath. The most amazing day included climbing up then down a rocky trail to a Jellyfish Lake, a secluded saltwater lake. The lake became landlocked over 7,000 years ago trapping jellyfish that had no natural enemies so they lost most of their tentacles making them virtually stingless. Snorkeling with the thousands of jellyfish was like being part of a beautiful underwater ballet. It was surreal.

One of the newest eco tours is Ann Singeo’s "Sense of Wonder." We started with some traditional native tea, which she explained would "…prevent heat stroke and loss of energy from the heat." When a coconut falls on the ground and begins to sprout the white meat inside becomes soft. Spis, one of the guides, split a sprouted coconut and we rubbed the soft coconut meat on our exposed areas to prevent sunburn and keep the mosquitoes away. Then we set out in kayaks to explore the mangroves, which serve as a nursery for sea life. We made one stop and walked a short distance into a "sacred" place where Ann pointed to large upright stones in a dry creek bed and explained the story of the Taro Goddess. It seems the goddess created taro patches on all the islands and brought back one plant from each island, planted them, and they are now the stones. The tour included lunch, which was an amazingly wonderful array of seafood and taro-based recipes.

There are two great museums on the island that detail the island’s history and its connection to the other islands of the Pacific. We have been to Easter Island, home of the giant stone statues, and were impressed with the large stone artifacts we saw in Palau including monoliths, the "taro garden," and a five-foot long stone purse of a goddess. We wondered if there was a connection with Easter Island and other huge stone carvings we had seen elsewhere.

We visited the Capitol which looks a lot like the U.S. Capitol and no wonder. After WW II and until 1994, Palau was an United Nations trusteeship administered by the U.S. From WW II, there are downed Japanese and American planes, mainly in the sea, including one called "George Bush Wreck." In fact, one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific was fought on the Palauan island of Peleliu. Today the Palau is the most beautiful and peaceful place imaginable.

Manila - Rest Stop

Sofitel Manila
View of Makati from the balcony of Executive Lounge
Awesome pool

Making and eating halo halo
Folkloric entertainment
La Vida Imelda walking tour with Carlos Celdran

My husband, John, and I travel for extended periods so we plan rest days. It is a time to pay our bills, catch up on e-mails, laundry, and writings. One of our rest stops on our recent Asian trip was in Manila. In 2008 we spent five weeks in the Philippines so this time we only scheduled four days in Manila before catching a flight to Palau. We checked into the Sofitel Hotel, which is a unique city hotel because of its prime location on the water creating a resort location at the edge of the city. Each day started with breakfast at the Spiral Restaurant, home to one of the world’s most extensive buffets with multi-cuisine open cooking stations. In fact, so vast was the buffet that there were stations we didn’t even notice until our third day. There was something to suit all nationalities.

We spent three days enjoying the large lagoon swimming pool. In the evening the hotel has a poolside barbecue of fresh seafood and marinated meats plus a colorful cultural song and dance show. It was the perfect place to recharge our batteries.

Our only touristic activity was taking a walking tour with Carlos Celdran. Celdran’s "Walk this Way" tours are as much street theater as they are informative. In 2008 we took his walking tour of the Intramuros, which was so enjoyable and entertaining that we considered taking it a second time so we could glean – and remember – some of the told and untold stories of the historic center of the city. However, we could not resist his "Living La Vida Imelda!" tour. Lucky for us the tour started a short walk from the Sofitel Hotel at the Cultural Center. All of Celdran’s tours start with the singing the Philippine national anthem.

There is more to Imelda Marcos other than being the "Lady of Sole," as in the soles of her shoe collection, one of which was a pair of plastic disco sandals with three inch high flashing battery operated heels. She is quoted as saying, "I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty." The shoes became a symbol of her excesses, which might be explained by her provincial upbringing. In 1952 she was first runner up for Miss Manila but by contesting the decision she became Miss Manila and continued on the road to fame and fortune. We came to understand Imelda Marcos and what she did for the Philippines. She not only wanted the best for herself but she wanted the best for the Philippines. Along with her husband, she wanted the Philippines to be seen as a world player in economics and culture. To that end she had the Cultural Center of the Philippines built to promote and preserve Filipino arts and culture. Manila hosted the Miss Universe contest which was held in the Folks Art Theater that was completed in a record 77 days. Just days before the pageant, a cyclone threatened to cancel the event, Mrs. Marcos deployed the Philippine air force to seed the clouds and diffuse the tropical storm. Her efforts succeeded and the pageant was held under clear blue skies. Nothing was beyond her control. Celdran’s tour gives insight into the Philippines of the 1970’s and changed the way we look at Imelda Marcos – and the Philippines.

Vietnam: HCMC, Dalat & Nha Trang

Chef John at Vietnamese Cookery School
You have to eat what you make
Graduation time

Ho Chi Minh City - City Hall
War Rememberance Museum
Rooftop Bar at Rex Hotel

Welcome basket in our room at Sofitel Palace Dalat

The classic Citroen at Sofitel for special requests

The cable car across the countryside to the hilltop temple

Thrilling coaster car to waterfalls

Dalantla Waterfalls

Crazy House

Beach at Nha Trang from our balcony at Novotel

The pool at our private villa for the day - Six Senses Hidaway

The alfresco bathroom in our private villa for the day - Six Senses Hidaway

Sofitel in Dalat, Vietnam is magnifique! When my husband, John, and I stepped off the airplane at the Dalat airport we took a deep breath of the cool fresh air. It was a wonderful relief from the heat and humidity of Ho Chi Minh City. On the 30-minute up hill drive to Dalat we passed green fields and evergreen forests before arriving at the magnifique Sofitel Palace Hotel with a view of Lake Xuan Huong. The line "We’ll all come out to meet her when she comes" from the children’s song "She’ll be coming Around the Mountain" popped into my head. Waiting on the steps of the porte-cochere was a lady in a pristine white ao dai, the elegant traditional Vietnamese dress, along with several other staff members ready to take care of our luggage and facilitate check-in. One young lady carried a long tray with a steaming selection of local artichoke, green, lotus, jasmine, and oolong teas and asked us to select a welcome drink.

Everything oozed elegance. Built in 1922 in France Colonial style there are crystal chandeliers, gold and red velvet furniture, an inlayed marble floor in the vestibule, dark highly polished wood, and paintings everywhere.

Room 205, our home for three days, was elegant with a small foyer, 12-foot ceilings, gleaming wood floors, and a crown valance above the bed. When the staff threw open the French windows the view to the lake was magnifique. Red is the color of happiness in Asia and everything on the welcome tray was red from the champagne to the cookies to the mousse. It made us very happy.

John and I love afternoon tea so we headed to Le Rabelais Restaurant stopping along the way to view the many paintings done by Vietnamese in the style of the French masters. The restaurant has a view of the expansive tree-studded lawn sloping to the water. We tried to recall where else we had enjoyed such a pleasant scene. Was it in France, or maybe Switzerland, or maybe in the Finger Lake region of New York? Possibly it was in a painting because I could envision ladies in long diaphanous white dresses playing croquette or just relaxing in one of the lawn lounge chairs.

We opted for High Tea ($15) with cucumber, egg, and smoked salmon tea sandwiches, plus waffles, pancakes, muffins, and scones with jams made from locally grown fruits along with a wide choice of teas including Dalat specialty teas. While we were relaxing I read the history of tea on the back of the menu and was surprised to find that tea was introduced into France prior to its arrival in Britain. Do the British know that? It seems that afternoon tea, called Tea Muse, appeared in the gossipy writings of Madame de Sieving in the mid-1600s prior to the arrival of tea in London with Catherine of Braganza in 1662.

There was a lot to learn about the Sofitel Dalat. It seem the Dr. Alexander Yersin, a protégé of Dr. Louis Pasteur, visited Dalat in 1893 and found the place perfect for improving ones health. A sanitarium was built which led to the growth of Dalat. In 1922 the Langbian Palace Hotel opened and much later became the Sofitel. The hotel was host to many important people and events. A gentleman’s agreement left Dalat untouched during the many wars that have occurred in Vietnam in the 20th century.

Afternoon tea left us quite sated so we decided to dine lightly at Larry’s Bar. With an outside entrance, Larry’s Bar is a wonderfully cozy hideaway with several small rooms, a low beamed ceiling, and comfy couches and chairs. While sipping our Happy Hour cocktails I was once again drawn to the story on the menu. The bar is named after Larry Hillblom, the American lawyer who co-founded DHL delivery services. In 1990, Hillblom visited Dalat, which had long been the favorite honeymoon destination for Vietnamese. He saw the tourist potential and through a joint-venture partnership spent $40 million restoring the original Langbian Palace Hotel as well as the Dalat Palace Golf Course. Other investments included the Novotel Dalat and 16 colonial villas. The hotel opened under the management of Accor in May 1995. Several days later Hillblom was killed in a private airplane crash. Hence, the name Larry’s Bar.

The last day we arranged for a city tour with the hotel car which turned out to be one wonderful adventure after another. The Dalat Cable Car gave us a panoramic view of the fields, heavily forested hillside, and a beautiful turquoise lake. At the ride’s end it was a short walk to Truc Lam Monastery. Down the hill toward Dalat we stopped at Datanla Waterfalls. And what a fun stop it was! On my personal coaster I went from one exciting curve to another until I reached the bottom of the steep hill and the beautiful Datanla Waterfalls. According to local legend it is where the fairies from heaven came to bath. Going back up on the coaster wasn’t as exciting but it was sure better than the 15-minute climb up the steps. I asked the driver to stop by The Crazy House so I could just take a couple of pictures. However, I was drawn in by its uniqueness. In a city where the French Colonial architecture has been preserved and restored Crazy House defies description. A truly phantasmagoric vision. It seems incongruous to find it in Vietnam where out-of-the-box activities are not encouraged but it becomes more understandable when one realizes that the architect’s father was the president of Vietnam in the 1980s. Our next stop was Bao Dai Palace, the summer getaway of the last emperor of Vietnam. I had expected to see a lavishly decorated house but the residence is one of simplicity and comfort. Our last request was for a drive around the lake. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. People were peddling their swan boats, the Dalat Palace Golf Course, one of the finest in Asia, was busy with people knocking around a little white ball, families were strolling along the walkway, and fishermen were trying their luck.

We had saved our coupon for a complimentary Sparkling Rose Wine Cocktail for the last night. In the coziness of the L’Atelier Du Vin Room we sipped our wine wishing we never had to leave and vowed to return someday to do all the things we did not have time to do. Hotel Sofitel Palace and Dalat are truly magnifique!

For more information check http://www.vietnamtourism.com/ and http://www.sofitel.com/. Price range: $185 (USD) for a luxury double to $400 for a suite.

Melaka, Malaysia

View from our room
Manager's Reception
Cooking lesson

Cooking with Chef Alfie
A little sugar will make it less hot
Prawns with pineapple

Trishaw ride of historical district
Historical center
Dutch Church

Chinatown
Bound feet shoe makers
Portuguese ship

Independence Square
Boat ride on the river
The mall

In 1998 we took a day trip from Singapore to Melaka. In 2005 we spent a couple of days in Kuala Lumpur, commonly known as KL, before visiting Taman Negara, a remote jungle area. We have fond memories of both trips. This year we decided to revisit Melaka on our way to KL to catch an inexpensive flight to Vietnam. What a difference a decade makes. Melaka is only a four-hour comfy bus trip from Singapore. On board they showed a low-budget American film released in 2008 that probably never made it to theaters. The film was so badly made it was embarrassing.

When the bus reached the Sing-Malaysia border everyone got off with their luggage, walked through passport control, and the bus was waiting on the other side – so smooth. Bus travel is not only cheaper but it is easier and sometimes faster than the airplane, plus we get to see some of the countryside.

We checked into the Holiday Inn Melaka where we had scheduled a cooking lesson on Paranakan foods. Paranakan, or Nonya, cuisine combines Chinese, Malay and other influences. It was developed by the early Chinese settlers on the Malay Peninsula who intermarried with the local Malays. They created fusion cuisine before the term fusion was popular. Chef Toney taught us to make Chicken Capitan, which was derived from the Portuguese, and Ayam Pongteh, a Malay favorite traditionally served during Chinese New Year. That evening we attended a Manager’s Reception, which is becoming a weekly practice in many hotels. It was a chance to meet other guests and tour the hotel.

The Holiday Inn has a great view of the Straits of Melaka and yet it is only a short walk to two large modern malls where we had Annie Anne’s pretzels with our Starbucks coffee! The mall is located between the hotel and the historic center so everything is convenient however the hotel offers shuttle connections to the malls and the historic center.

The beautiful brick-red Dutch church built in 1744 is still the center of the historic city, which was recently named an UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. Unlike ten years ago, there are many tourists with a bevy of brightly decorated trishaws waiting to transport tourists to all the sites. While a trishaw ride is a must-do, everything is within easy walking distance. There are many new attractions including a narrated boat tour on the river, a revolving sky tower, and an Eye on Malaysia, which is a smaller version of the London Eye Ferris wheel. It seems every city wants a huge viewing Ferris wheel.

There are several churches, mosques, and museums to visit. We’ve been to a lot of museums but never one called The Museum of Enduring Beauty. It is on the third floor of the People’s Museum. On display are the many ways people have beautified themselves from tattoos to lip plugs to foot binding. Beauty is what our culture teaches us is beautiful and definitely in the eye of the beholder.

From Melaka we took another four-hour bus trip to KL where we checked into the Pan Pacific Hotel at the airport. The hotel is more like a resort than an airport hotel with plenty of greenery, a pool, and several restaurants. The hotel was offering a special for upgrading to Club Level, which included the Internet, breakfast, and cocktails in the afternoon so our stay became a wonderful rest stop.

Uniquely Singapore

View from the Flyer
The Flyer
The Science Center - Great illusion area

The Merlion - the mascot of Singapore
The Sentosa beach
Fort at Sentosa

Night Safari... Fire show
Incredible fire show before the tram ride through the zoo
Native dances

Walking tour of Chinatown - Buddha Tooth Relic Temple

Shop houses

herbal medicine shop

Valentine's Day at the Conrad's Club Lounge

The Fountain of Wealth - now we will be rich!

Dinner with Nella and Richard

Palate Sensation Cooking Class

Tastes just right!

Look what we prepared!

Singapore is a picture perfect country and it is due to the first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who turned a malarial island into a modern financial center making it a model for all of Asia. Singapore is the country that bans chewing gum and enforces its littering laws.

There is much to do. One day we took the cable car to Sentosa Island. During World War II it was a strategic area that saw heavy fighting. Today Fort Siloso is a museum that depicts the Japanese conquest and loss of Singapore. After the war the island was developed as a recreation area and named Sentosa, which means "peace." It is an improvement over the former name, which meant "death from behind." There is a long sandy beach, golf courses, amusement rides, nature trails, a variety of other attractions, and in 2010 Resort World, featuring Universal Studios is scheduled to open. My favorite attraction is the Images of Singapore where the story of Singapore is creatively displayed. It is a walk through the very heart of Singapore explaining their cultural diversity, unity of values, and perseverance.

The Original Singapore Walks is a wonderful way to learn about the ethnic heritage of Singapore. The "Red Clogs Down the Five-foot Way" tour of Chinatown took us pass beautifully restored shop houses. At one shop we learned about traditional medicine while sipping flower tea. At Thien Hock Kheng Temple, the oldest Chinese Temple in Singapore, the guide explained the various aspects of ancestor worship and the meaning of the temple’s ornamentation. Dragons offer protection. Every design has a special meaning. Each step was another step toward a better understanding of the culture and influence of the Chinese in Singapore.

The city’s star attraction is Night Safari, a nocturnal zoo tour. John and I arrived in time to see the impressive performance by the Thumbuakar Tribe from Borneo. The tribal dances and blowpipe demonstrations are great but the fire eating displays were unbelievable. There are trails to walk and a very quiet tram to ride. We hopped on board for the 45-minute ride with a live commentary and saw Asian Rhinos, jackals, hyenas, cats, elephants, and many other creatures. On the way out we watched another Uniquely Singapore experience – Fish Reflexology. People dangled their feet in a warm pool of water while tiny fish nibbled at the dead skin– a novel and ticklish exfoliation treatment.

The newest addition to the Singapore experience is the Singapore Flyer, currently the world's largest observation wheel. Rotating up to 541 feet from the ground each of the 28 capsules holds 28 people. Before we rode the flyer we walked around the Yakult Rainforest Gardens, put our hand in the water and made a wish. When we were at the top we also made a wish bringing together the elements of land, water, and air.

There is no better way to experience a culture than by taking a cooking lesson. John and I learn to cook Malay food at Palate Sensations. Chef Alfie and his wife, Lulu, taught us how to make Singapore chili crab. My favorite was vegetables cooked in coconut gravy. Chef Alfie explains, "This vegetable dish is always served for breakfast the first day after Ramadan, our month of fasting."

The hotels in Singapore are world class, espcially the Conrad and InterContinental. There are still many things we didn’t get to do… we will just have to visit again.

Amazing Myanmar

Pool - Governor's Residence
Along the river to Mrauk U
Sunset on the river

Temple with 80,000+ Buddhas
Princess Resort
She makes 80+fans a day

Sunrise breakfast
Sunrise
Carrying everything down the hill

Chef Nu
John and Thin Thin
Chef John cooking prawns

Chin village house
Elderly Chin lady
Chin students singing for us

Amazing Resort Ngapali

Our beach with all our friends

International School in Yangon

Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, is just a short $50 flight from Bangkok and a fascinating tourist destination. Yangon lost many trees during the cyclone in September but it is still a city of trees. A gong announced our arrival at the Governor’s Residence, a beautiful hotel with traditional teak verandas, a pool and gardens. It is one of our favorite hotels. From Yangon we flew one hour to Sitwee on the Bay of Bengal in the Rakhine State where we boarded a classic teak boat for the 6-hour ride up the river to the new Princess Mrauk Oo Resort. The scenes along the river were mesmerizing and the sun set beautiful. Other than three boatmen, a cook and two waitstaff we were the only people on the boat so service was outstanding. The Mrauk Oo Princess Resort is new but built in typical Rakhine style. We toured the ruins of Mrauk Oo, an important Buddhist site, which had its golden days in the 16th and 17th centuries. One morning we got up before dawn, climbed a temple hill, where the hotel staff had breakfast waiting. Watching the sun come up and the mist rise up out of the hills was mystical.

Another day we hopped into a 1940s Willys Jeep, the most common motor vehicle, other than the motor bike, and bounced along to a jetty where we took a 3-hour boat ride to a Chin Village. The older village women have heavily tattooed faces. They say it was to prevent them from being kidnapped. Needless to say the practice has been discontinued. It was a neat village of thatch and bamboo houses on stilts and quiet as the men were off harvesting bamboo and the children were in school. We stopped by the one-room school where one of the subjects is English.

While much has been written about the government of Myanmar and very little of a positive nature, it is a wonderful tourist destination. The government has little to do with tourism and we organize our travel locally so the money goes directly to the people. As Western tourists who are free to travel I feel we show the positive side of an open society. Because Myanmar has remained isolated the people have retained much of their culture. Both men and women still commonly wear the longyi, the traditional wraparound skirt. A light yellow powder called thanaka is still used on their face to protect it from the sun and even as a form of makeup. Myanmar has no fast food chains. In fact they joke that they do have fast food because all Myanmar cooking is fast. There are many fascinating places to visit. Last year we visited Bagan, Mandalay, Lake Inle, Kalaw, and Ngapali Beach. The country is extremely safe and the people are very welcoming. The only problem we encountered was with the Internet. The government has blocked Yahoo, Hot Mail, and many other sites.

Last year we loved Amazing Resort Ngapali Beach located on the Bay of Bengal so we included it on this year’s trip, too. The sea is warm, the sand is soft, and the long sweeping is beach virtually deserted. Our room had a large balcony with a sea view and came with inner tubes for playing in the waves. John and I decided five days is not enough so Ngapali Beach is on next year’s schedule – for a week or more.

Dubai - Where the Future is Present

Bollywood filming near the world's most expensive hotel
The Dubai Museum
Mosque tour explaining the dress

A UNESCO nature park
Dubai by night from Dhow dinner cruise
Sharjah Islamaic Museum in a former souk

One small portion of the Sharjah Univerity City
Sharjah souk
Sandy Beach Hotel in Fujairah - Snoopy Rock

Desert bashing on Desert Safari
John camel riding on Desert Safari
Belly dancing on Desert Safari followed by BBQ

Ski Dubai
John tobogganing at Ski Dubai
The Spice Souk

Traditional cooking at Heritage Village
Young girls dancing traditional dances
Arabian horse show

I have seen the future and it is called Dubai. Dubai claims to have the tallest building but it is not finished. In fact, Dubai, is an ongoing project and quite impressive considering it has all taken place since the 1960s when oil was discovered. Dubai is an expensive destination but there are reasonable and excellent Holiday Inn and Ibis hotels plus plenty of interesting heritage sites that have very low admission prices.

For non-Moslem people the Jumeriah Mosque’s "Open Doors, Open Minds" mosque tour is a must do. It offers insight into the Islamic religion including the basic tenets. The guide explained that the clothing is more cultural than religious as the Koran only states that clothing should be modest. Interestingly, in Dubai, bling has come to the abaya, the coat-like covering, and sheyla, the headscarf.

When John and I entered the Dubai Museum we thought the courtyard was the entire museum considering the entrance was so reasonable. Then we entered the excellent air-conditioned underground exhibition with a multi-media presentation and dioramas that record Dubai’s development from the early pearl divers to the discovery of oil to the massive island-creating projects that includes one in the shape of a world map.

One day we went dune bashing in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Seat belts buckled, some air let out of the tires, and off we went, charging up one dune and careening down another arriving at the top of a dune, along with scores of other vehicles, in time for sunset. Then it was off to a desert camp for a camel ride, a belly dancing show, and a BBQ. For a completely opposite experience the next day we went to Ski Dubai located in one of Dubai’s many malls. Cold and snow do not normally excite us but Ski Dubai is really quite astounding. Winter coats and boots are provided. There are three ski runs accessed by a chair lift along with several toboggan and tubing areas.

One of my favorite evenings was also the least expensive. After a walk through the souks, we took the ferry across the Deira Creek and strolled down the corniche to the Heritage Village stopping at Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum's House, one of the oldest residences in the city and grandfather of the present ruler. Of interest were the wind towers constructed to keep their homes cool. Wet cloths were hung in the towers and the when the wind blew it caused evaporation and cooler air. At the Heritage Village there were school children performing traditional dances, Arabian horses, camels, craftspeople, and ladies cooking traditional treats. It was a popular evening out for local families. Admission was free.

Dubai has beautiful beach resorts including the world famous Burj Hotel but most are out of our price range so went to Sandy Beach Resort in Fujairah, another emirate, for a relaxing three days. We are always amazed at the pervasiveness of American culture. Just a short distance off shore from the beach is a rock formation called "Snoopy Island" because it resembles a reclining Snoopy. The resort had many cottages frequented by families on the weekend giving us an insight into the local lifestyle, which is very family-centered.

Dubai may be suffering from the same economic woes as the rest of the world but they have diversified so I wouldn’t close the book on their development.

Thailand: Cooking Thai

Meeting Chef Yingsak
Getting instructions from Hoon
Getting instructions from Mai

Chopping hot chili
Num grinding spices
Everyone helps everyone

Sajeerrat making green curry
John adding ingredients
Tasting

Green Curry with Chicken Sausage
Chef Maprang demonstrating Rice Noodle Parcel
Making Rice Noodle Parcel

Thai food is popular the world over and one of our favorites so we decided a cooking lesson was in order. Just mention the name "Chef Yingsak" and Thais break into smiles. Flamboyant Chef Yingsak is the most popular chef in Thailand with his own TV show and cooking school. My husband and I joined one of his classes for the morning. First we watched a video on how to prepare Miang Kwuay Tiao (rice noodle packets), Kaeng Keow Wan Sai Kok (green curry with sausage) and Kaeng Liang Pak Ruam (clear spicy soup with vegetables). Chef Hoon, one of Chef Yingsak’s assistants, then went over the instructions verbally. Luckily there were students with an excellent command of the English language to help us when we needed translations. Then it was off to the kitchen where we all helped to prepare various parts of the food – chopping, slicing, stir frying, and, the best part - tasting.

Thailand: River Boat Cruise

Our home for two days
Relaxing on the deck with Pacharin and Oak
Our "room"

Up with the sun
Giving food to the monks
Off to the morning market

Morning Market
Our Cook
Breakfast

A very busy river
Visiting an orpanage
Visiting a brick making family

Visiting a school
Visiting an incense making family
Tied up at dock of a Buddhist temple

Bangkok is the one of the major hubs of Southeast Asia. We have visited many times because there is so much to see and do. In Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, the Chao Phraya River flows through the city. We usually stay at a hotel on the river because we find the river mesmerizing. The Chao Phraya is a working river with small colorful tugboats pulling three to five heavily loaded barges, water taxis crisscrossing the river, and many other boats. We have often wondered where the barges come from and where they are going. On this trip we found out.
An hour from Bangkok in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya we boarded a teak rice boat turned houseboat for a two-day cruise on the Chao Phraya River. Our boat could accommodate 12 passengers; however, we were lucky because there were two other guests along with our two guides, a cook, and the boat’s pilot. Interestingly, the other couple was from St. Catherines, Ontario, not all that far from our New York State home.

Along the way we visited small handicraft villages, usually by bicycle. Most farmers still grow rice but during the growing season when they are not busy in the fields some families have created small businesses to make extra money. Everyone in the family works together. Some were making bricks, others drums, incense sticks, charcoal, or growing mushrooms. One day we visited a Buddhist orphanage with about 1000 children. Another day we visited a school where the children were on recess and they all clamored to have their picture taken.

When our houseboat was traveling down the river toward Bangkok we relaxed, waved to people on the shore, and watched the activity along the river. People were fishing, watering their crops, or just resting by the river. The barges were especially interesting because families live on the barges so they went about their daily activities: cooking meals, doing laundry, and other daily chores. I imagine it was similar to the barges on the Erie Canal 100 years ago.

Oxnard, CA - A Suite Place

Embassy Suite Pool
Mandalay Beach at Embassy Suite

Channel Island Harbor

Maritime Museum

Heritage Square

CArnegie Art Museum

Island Packers Whale Watch

Sun-lovin' seas

Sunset from our Embassy Suite room

One the joys of traveling is discovering new places. John and I are familiar with many places in California but we had never head of Oxnard and when we hear the word Mandalay we think of Myanmar. Mandalay is in Myanmar but there is a Mandalay Bay in Oxnard, CA. Located on the famed California Highway One, about 90 minutes north of LAX airport, Embassy Suites Mandalay Bay became our home for three days. Located right on the beach it was a wonderful choice. The hotel has bikes and tandem vehicles for exploring the paved paths that hug Oxnard’s seven miles of beaches. The free-form swimming pool is heated and beautiful. Each evening the hotel offers a two-hour Manager’s Reception with complimentary drinks and snacks. Many nights there is musical entertainment in lounge and often a pianist during dinner.

Embassy Suites proved to be the perfect base for exploring Oxnard. The best place to learn about a new destination is at local museums. The Ventura County Maritime Museum is home to a permanent collection of extensive marine art, featuring works by the Dutch, Flemish painters, along with modern artists. The museum also houses a collection of antique ship models that depict three thousand years of maritime history. Exhibits on whaling, sailors' artwork, the history of the Channel Islands Harbor and Port Hueneme round out the collection. See the remains of a shipwreck that took place April 13, 1970 when a northwester struck the Channel Island Harbor. The connection to the sea continues as is evidenced by the many man-made canals allowing homeowners to be just steps away from their boats.

We were in Oxnard during the time of the year when the Pacific Gray Whales pass by on their migratory path between the Alaska and Mexico. Our Island Packers tour started with information about baleen whales and their 10.000-mile migratory trip. In the Channel Islands area cold and warm currents come together creating a buffet of food for the behemoths. On the way to waters around Anacapa Island we passed seals basking in the warm sun on a buoy and a working oilrig. I didn’t realize there were so many oilrigs off the coast of California, but as the guide explained, "There has never been an accident with one of these rigs." And, then we were instructed, "Everyone keep on the lookout for water spouts. If you see one, shout ‘Thar she blows.’" It wasn’t long before the call went out, "Off the port, or left side for you land lubbers." We spent the next 45 minute watching the whales surface and dive again. On the way back we were treated to a brilliant sunset with the dolphins surfing in our wake. The fresh air created a hunger that was duly satisfied by a new restaurant located right next to the dock. The new Brazilian restaurant, Moqueca, was irresistible and so were their caprinias – the signature cocktail of Brazil.

One day might be called "Heritage Day" as we drove through the Oxnard Historical district named for the area’s founding father, Henry T. Oxnard. The beautifully maintained homes, many from the Arts and Craft era, on the tree-lined streets offer a glimpse into a more relaxed time.

In nearby Heritage Square 11 historic homes, a church, water tower, pump house and a storehouse have been moved to a single block, restored to their original condition, and now serve a variety of functions. The church, a popular place for weddings, is across from the Queen Anne Justin Petit Ranch House that is now home to an intimate theater, and between is one of the area’s popular restaurants, La Dolce Vita, in the Colonial Revival Laurent/McGrath House. We were sorry we were not there on the weekend when tour guides dressed in 19th century style give walking tours of the area.

Sitting proudly across from Plaza Park is a vision of ancient Greece, the Carnegie Art Museum. Founded in 1907 by Andrew Carnegie, the museum houses rotating exhibits from their permanent collection and from guest artists. New to their permanent collection is the thought provoking "Quiet Steps Approaching Thunder," Alexey Steele’s pastel on paper.

Oxnard is the place where Rudolph Valentino and Clark Gable played, and where so many films were shot that one area is now called Hollywood Beach. We will have to visit Oxnard again because we did not have time to see and do everything. We will visit the Herzog Wine Cellars, the largest Kosher winery on the West Coast, with tasting rooms, a visitor’s center, cooking classes, and a restaurant. We will hop aboard the Channel Islands Harbor Water Taxi for a Progressive Dining adventure and visit the Murphy Automotive Museum with its eclectic 50-car collection that includes Packard’s from 1927-1958, and the Children’s Gull Museum. There is even a small museum dedicated to the F. W. Woolworth stores.

Channel Island’s National Park, called the American Galapagos is only 11 miles off shore, and Packer Tours offers daily excursions. It is a top scuba diving area with naturalist led hikes, plus camping and wildlife viewing. The eight Channel Islands span 160 miles along the coast of California and are home to more than 2000 species of plant and animals, 145 are found nowhere else on earth.

And, of course, the Oxnard area offers golfing, ice skating, birding, biking, sailing, surfing, kayaking, diving, fishing, and shopping. It is even possible to rent a Segway and take it all the way to Ventura. So much to do, so little time. Truly an exciting time to visit would be during the California Strawberry Festival held the third weekend in May featuring their most famous produce.

The Mediterranean climate makes it a perfect destination any time of year. When Portuguese explorer discovered Oxnard in 1542, he found the area dotted with round, grass-covered huts of the Chumash Indians, and declared it "the land of endless summers."

Lake Mohave, NV - Family Fun Afloat

Forever Houseboat 413
Fishing in pjs
Carving the beast

Playing checkers
Hiking
Putting a puzzle together

End of the day
hot tubbing
Campfire

One of the best ways to enjoy the water is on a houseboat and houseboating in the desert is an especially unique adventure. John and I met up with several family members in Las Vegas, went grocery shopping, packed up the vehicles, and headed south through the Mohave Desert to Cottonwood Cove, one of the many properties of owned by Forever Resorts. When I caught a glimpse of our 70-foot houseboat from the top of the hill my first thought was, "I hope we return it in one piece!" The houseboat had four bedrooms, two baths, a hot tub, satellite TV, fully equipped kitchen, and plenty of space for the seven of us.

Happily, we opted to board the night before debarkation. After dinner we all watched the orientation video - even the grandchildren. The next morning after a hearty breakfast that included a family camping favorite – fried dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar – and, with a stuffed turkey in the oven, Mark, the marina man gave us operating instructions and piloted us out to open waters. We headed up the Colorado River toward Hoover Dam. Lake Mohave is part of the Lake Mead Recreational Area and the lake below the dam. The amazing landscape of barren rock in shades of browns and purples against the deep blue sky and the blue black of the river held our attention as we looked for the perfect cove to call home for the night.

They say driving a houseboat is not much different than driving a car. That may be the case but our car is not 70-feet long and 22-feet high, plus our car has brakes. However, the river is wider than the highway and John soon had things under control. Later in the day we found the perfect spot and tied up in Owl Point Cove. It was low season so were the only people there. We liked it that way. There are so many coves that even during the peak season it is possible to find a secluded cove.

Securely tied, the captain gave the orders of the day to the grandchildren. "Build a fire ring here in the sand then you can play Columbus and go exploring." Thus began several days of family fun and bonding. The sun was warm, the nights were cool, the variety of things to do were many. Even though the waters were too cold for swimming the grandchildren, Jenna and JJ, became member of the Polar Bear Club on New Year’s Day with a very short dip in the frigid Lake Mohave. Quickly they exited the water, rushed up the ladder to the top deck where their Uncle Jim had the hot tub ready. Each morning, still in their PJs, the grandchildren fished off the back of the boat. Drowning bait was more like it.

Each day included at least one exploration hike. Once we scrambled up the hill it was easy walking along the ridge. We even caught site of some wild burros. We put a puzzle together, played checkers, read, thoroughly relaxed and ate too much.

Each night we made a campfire and spent time in the hot tub marveling at the amazing number of stars in the black sky with no artificial lights to wash away some of the fainter stars.
An interesting side note to Forever Houseboats is that they are "green." Most of the boat is made of recyclable material. And, all the facilities have been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid Lodge
Olympic Museum
Trials on the Sliding Track

View from our room at Golden Arrow
The ski jumps
Santa's House at the North Pole

The arena where the US hockey team created the miracle of the 80 Olympics

Our suite at Whiteface Lodge

Kanu dining room

Picking out ice skates

Roasting marshmallows at the campfire on the edge of the rink

W!ld Center in Tupper Lake

Lake Placid is the perfect destination in any season and for any reason. But it is the winter season that puts Lake Placid on the map. Lake Placid, in the High Peaks area of the Adirondack, is considered the birthplace of winter sports in America and hosted the 1932 and 1980 Olympics.

Regardless of the reason or the season, visitors can create the perfect getaway. Ecology-minded travelers will approve of Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, which is rated Four Leaves by Audubon International for their sustainable programs that includes a Green Roof that bursts into color during the summer. Drivers of hybrid vehicles get preferred parking and once at Golden Arrow there is little need to drive. The hotel is in the middle of Lake Placid village, with ski-in rooms, and a beach on Mirror Lake. Ironically, the village of Lake Placid is on Mirror Lake Across the street from the Golden Arrow is the Olympic Center, home of the Miracle on Ice. On February 22, 1980 the US hockey team, made up of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the Soviet Union team, which was considered the best international hockey team in the world. The U.S went on to win the gold medal by beating Finland. A tour of the complex visits the three indoor ice rinks where recreational skaters and Olympic hopefuls practice and includes a short video of the Miracle on Ice. While in the Olympic Center, experience the thrill of bobsledding from the drivers point-of-view, alpine skiing, ice hockey as the goalie, and ski jumping from the 120m tower in the Center’s all-in-one virtual reality simulated experience.

The 1932 & 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum explores the legacy of the Lake Placid Winter Games in many exhibits including video highlights, athletes' uniforms and equipment, and historical information about all of the area's Olympic sites. Along with the display on the 1980 hockey team relive the glory of Olympic favorites Sonja Henie, Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, and Erik Heiden along with other Olympic champions.

A free shuttle makes many stops within the village including the Olympic Ski Jumps, which are daunting from any angle. The 120-meter tower’s Sky Deck looks like a shoebox from the ground but can accommodate 100 people.

The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex, a short way out of the village, is a Mecca for world class athletes but it is also the perfect place for recreational athletes to enjoy an Olympic outdoor adventure including an exhilarating bobsled ride with a professional driver and brakeman. The cross country ski area offers over 32 miles of meticulously groomed world class ski trails along with two dedicated snowshoe trails.

A free shuttle from the village takes skiers, and leaf-peepers in the fall, to Whiteface Mountain, the fifth-highest mountain in New York State with the greatest vertical drop in the east at 3,430 feet. Take the gondola to the summit for a 360-degree view of the area.

Before the Olympics and the popularity of winter sports the Adirondacks were home to the Great Camps, those rustic but luxurious family compounds of the wealthy. For those looking for Great Camp solitude it is still possible to slip into the mode of the Gilded Age at Lake Placid Lodge. Even though the main lodge is new due to a disastrous 2005 fire it has been rebuilt on the same footprint as the original lodge and has all the ambiance and trademarks of a Great Camp. Guests can enjoy luxurious accommodations with rustic natural furnishings. There are cozy cabins in a deep woods setting. All accommodations have a fireplace with spectacular views of Whiteface Mountain and Lake Placid. Lake Placid Lodge is the only hotel on Lake Placid. During the summer there are boats, kayaks, and swimming but during the colder season there are 17 blazing fireplaces in the public areas including some on the sprawling porches where guests will find snuggly shawls to fend off the chill.

Guests can step out of their accommodations and explore wonders of the Adirondack Forest Preserve on the Jackrabbit Trail, one of the most popular ski/snowshoe trails in the North Country. The 25-mile long trail links the Village of Keene at its western end to Saranac Lake and passes right by the Lodge. In the late afternoon lodge guests can warm themselves and enjoy hot tea and pastries in front of a fireplace before heading to the dining room for a gourmet dinner.

Located between Lake Placid Lodge and Golden Arrow Resort is Whiteface Lodge where guests can participate in a myriad of activities and never leave the lodge. Built in 2005 in the Great Camp-style Whiteface is much like the early compounds of the wealthy. The all-suite accommodations have a state-of-the-art kitchen, washer/drier, sitting room with a fireplace, and a porch or balcony. Similar to some of the Gilded Age compounds Whiteface Lodge has a bowling alley, game room, and an ice rink with a fireplace for toasting s’mores around the evening fire. Unlike the camps of yesteryear, Whiteface lodge has an indoor/outdoor pool with several hot tubs, a workout room, a movie theater that shows three movies a day, an ice cream parlor, and full-service spa for rejuvenation and relaxation. There is no need to leave. Guests can enjoy gourmet dining by one of the four massive fireplaces under a soaring 20-foot ceiling with mounted wildlife looking down and a view of Whiteface Mountain.

Lake Placid is a beehive of activity all year-round and has been since the Games put the Adirondacks on America's recreation map. Besides all the winter fun activities there visitors enjoy shopping, great dining, and wine tastings at outlets for CNY’s Goose Watch and Swedish Hill Wineries. Summer brings hikers, bikers, and paddlers, while wintertime beckons skiers and snowboarders to the state's best mountains. The Lake Placid region offers visitors a rich variety of historic, artistic, sport, and cultural attractions making it the perfect destination for any season and any reason.

For more information check http://www.lakeplacid.com/, http://www.golden-arrow.com/, http://lakeplacidlodge.com/, and www.thewhitefacelodge.com.

Honduras - Always Surprising

Crowne Plaza in San Pedro
Herando Merano's Cooking Tapado Olanchono
Tapado Olanchano

Sambo Creek - cooking with Orel
Fish Soup with machuca
Dancing the Punta and playing drums

Traquility Bay - Cabin 5
Our property from "our" soccer field
The road in front of our property

Roatan - Infinity Bay
Roatan - Infinity Bay - the beach
Roatan - Infinity Bay

Anthony's Key Resort
Folkloric Night at AKR
Anthony's Dolphin

Two monkeys at Gumbalinda
Welcome at IC San Pedro
Antique door entrance to lounge

Roatan – The Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret

In the western part of the Caribbean there is an island that has long been the secret of the dive crowd. But things are changing and changing fast. Roatan Island, the largest of the Honduran Bay Islands in now a stop for Carnival and Norwegian Cruise lines. The original inhabitants along with the English, French, Spanish, and AfroCaribbeans, and pirates have left their fingerprint on this little island that is only 36 miles long and three miles at its widest point. Roatan has its own unique culture where the English language is as common as Spanish.

My husband, John and I, spent eight days in two different hotels. At Infinity Bay we had a beautiful condo that had everything including a washer and dryer. It was a lazy time. We wandered the beach and lounged around the pool, and dined in our "home" by requesting that meals be delivered to our room. It was the easy life.

Our stay on Roatan became more active when we moved to Anthony’s Key, the premier dive resort on Roatan. Scuba diving is not my forte but I love snorkeling. And snorkeling on Roatan, which is located on the second largest barrier reef, is excellent. For me, swimming with the parrot fish, barracuda, eels and other colorful denizens of the coral reef is a surreal experience.
Anthony’s Key is home to a small museum, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, and to 20 dolphins kept in an open-sea corral. When questioned about confining the dolphins, the guide explains, "They could easily jump out if they wanted to. Taking them out for a deep sea dive is more trouble than getting them to return to their home."

One day John and I went to Gumbalinba Nature Park where there is a zip line, a cave where guides use displays to tell the history of Roatan, a tropical garden, and a mini-zoo. After the short history lesson in Coxen’s Cave that told of pirates and conquerors my husband, John, and I walked through the gardens where the guide pointed out a Monkey La La. Startled by our chatter the Monkey La La rose up on its hind feet and scurried off. A Monkey La La is a lizard with the unique ability to "walk" on water and, because of this, they have been dubbed "The Jesus Lizard." Due to webbing between their toes, they can run about 15 feet on water before sinking at which point they have to resort to swimming. We marveled at the brilliance of the scarlet macaw and kept an eye on playful Pedro, the free-roaming monkey, who tired to swipe something from the bag John was carrying.

One night the Anthony’s Key had a barbecue followed by a folkloric show. The fire dancers and the Garifuna dances mesmerized us. The Garifuna are an AfroCaribbean that live in the coastal areas of Central America. The dance enacted a story called El Yancunu. It was the same tale we heard in the cave at Gumbalimba. Masked warriors don masks and women’s clothing to avoid being murdered or captured during a 18th century battle that took place on Roatan. We have visited Roatan many times in the last 15 years. There are now many lavish homes, more hotels, and plenty of new activities for visitors.

Maryland's Wisp Resort

Rafting
Mountain coaster
Wall climbing

Ski resorts can not survive by offering only snow fun so many have added summertime activities but few resorts have embraced the multi-season concept so completely as Wisp Resort in Maryland.

Wisp is located in the westernmost county of Maryland on top of Marsh Mountain overlooking Deep Creek Lake, the largest inland lake in Maryland. It is just south of the town named Accident.

The place is an amazing one-stop destination with something for everyone in the family to do in every season. There are 132 acres of skiable terrain, a championship golf course, the Sewickley Spa, and the Adventure Sports Center.

John and I had a hard time deciding what to do first. We love river rafting and have done so in many places but nothing compares to rafting at the Adventure Sports Center (ASCI). All the things I found most daunting about river rafting have been eliminated. They have created a whitewater course that is accessed from the pond by an automatic ramp – no more carrying the awkward raft down a gravely path to the river. ASCI has eliminated all the typical river hazards such as downed trees and undercut rocks that are places for foot entrapment but left the thrills. They offer rafting from Class 1 to 4. The course is also used for kayaking. They have traditional kayaking and also one-person inflatable kayaks called duckies.

We had lunch at the top of the mountain and returned to the main part of the resort. The chair lift was an excellent way to get an overview of the resort. On the way down we had an excellent view of the resort and lake. It was panoramic and the 25-minute trip giving us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.

John and I decided to give the mountain coaster a try. I was a bit nervous because I could hear the screams of the passengers while we were on the chair lift. "You are in complete control. Just use the brake. You can go as slow as you want," explained the attendant. At the top John just took off and was gone. I however inched my way along. In the curve I felt like I was going to fall out and was thankful for the seatbelt. Then I realized that going real slow meant I did not have centrifugal force working in my favor in the curves so I went faster, then faster. When it was over I was ready to go again once I learned a few little tricks to make the trip more fun. But John was eyeing the climbing wall.

Typical of all ASCI "adventures," wall climbing includes all the thrills and skills but with excellent safety measures. When John reached the top on the first try the attendant said, "You can climb down or just push off and the pulley will let you down slowly." John was surprised at how much trust it took to push off, but push off he did, and the lowering mechanism worked perfectly as it slowly lowered him to the ground.

Once again we learned that no matter where we go there are great adventures waiting to be experienced. For the more adventurous there is mountain biking, fishing, disc golf, mountain boarding, and hiking. Before we headed home we took one more ride on the chair lift for one last look at the beautiful scenery.

Prince William County, VA

Potomac National's game
Marine Corp Museum
Marine Corp Museum - Frozen Chosen

Manassas Museum
Historic downtown Manassas
Chocolate dessert at the Foundation - Yummy!

Manassas (Bull Run) Battlefield
Rippon Lodge
Occoquan River Festival

On a warm July day in 1861, two armies of a divided nation clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run, a small stream near the little town of Manassas. So confident that the Northern army under the command of General Irvin McDowell would be victorious, the wealthy elite of nearby Washington came to picnic and watch the battle. The Battle of Bull Run, referred in the South as the Battle of Manassas, was a rude awakening for Americans. Soldiers, mostly raw recruits, were stunned by the horror of battle. When the Union army was driven back in a disorder, panicked civilians attempting to flee in their carriages blocked the roads back to Washington. After 10 hours of heavy fighting, nearly 900 young men were dead and so were any thoughts that the Civil War would be over quickly.

Today, standing on the battlefield looking over the pastoral countryside it is hard to envision the battles but the film in the Visitor’s Center, "Manassas: End of Innocence," vividly depicts the First and Second Battle of Manassas along with a museum with many artifacts on display. A ranger guided walking tour helps bring alive the events that took place on the battlefield. It was during this battle that Gen. Thomas J. Jackson rallied his troops to hold their position, causing Gen. Barnard Bee to shout, "There stands Jackson like a stone wall!" However, Bee did not survive the battle. A statue of Jackson overlooks the battlefield where the rebuilt Henry House stands. It is where the first civilian was killed during the battle. Mrs. Judith Carter Henry, in her 80s and bedridden, refused to leave her home during the battle and was killed by a bullet meant for the snipers.

Manassas was critical during the Civil War because it was at the junction of two railroads that linked Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. with the Shenandoah Valley and Richmond. The Old Town historic district has retained a charming small town feel.

The small Manassas Museum contains a wealth of information regarding the history and culture of Manassas and the Northern Virginia Region with displays of prehistoric tools, Civil War weapons, uniforms, railroad memorabilia, photographic collections, and more. One display highlights the very first peace rally in the US. It was held in Manassas in 1911, fifty years after the First Battle of Bull Run. Pres. William H. Taft commemorated the event with speeches. As part of the annual Fall Jubilee a Peace Jubilee was held bringing together Civil War Veterans, both Union and Confederate. As the guide, Margaret Binning explained, "They shook hands with one another symbolizing the end of animosity."

Exiting the museum a walkway leads to the rail station with a gallery of exhibits representing 150 years of railroad history in Manassas and continues to historic Old Town Manassas. Today the streets are lined with unique shops like the Kilted Nation offering kilts for every occasion. It is also home to the Candy Factory, now the Center for the Arts. And, not to miss is dining at one of the great restaurants like the Okras with a unique Louisiana menu.

From Manassas it is only a short train ride to DC and other great Virginia destinations. For more information check visitpwc.com or call 800-432-1792.

Go Orange! Orange County, NY

Cromwell Inn
Brotherhood Winery
Harness Racing Hall of Fame

Purple Heart Hall of Fame
West Point
Boat Ride of the Hudson

Of eight counties named Orange in the United States, Orange County, NY, was the first. And, that is only one claim to fame for this county on the Hudson River. It is home to America’s oldest continuously operating winery, America's oldest continuously garrisoned Army installation, the oldest active harness racing track for trotters in North America, and Washington slept here.

From the vines
"Put on your drinking boots!" said Colleen Hughes of Brotherhood Winery at the beginning of the tour of Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville. Established in 1839, it is the oldest continuously operating winery in the nation. John Jaques, a French immigrant, who produced the first commercial vintage, started the winery. The winery changed hands over the years and in 1886 the large stone building with underground cellars were added. The cellars are the largest in the U.S. Brotherhood, on the NY State and National Register of historic places, is just one of the six wineries in Orange County, most of which are included on the Shawangunk Wine Trail. Each Orange County winery has it’s own special flavor. Try Doc’s Hard Apple Cider at Warwick Winery tucked away on the country road south of Chester and Palaia Winery in Highland Mills serves up music with it’s wine several times a week.

Duty, Honor, Country
West Point is America's oldest continuously garrisoned Army installation, the nation's first engineering school, and the home of the United States Corps of Cadets since 1802. Built in January 1778 it was the first military post after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The motto of West Point "Duty, Honor, & Country" has not changed. The West Point Museum and bus tour of the Point is a trip through American history. At Trophy Point see a few links of the chain that crossed the Hudson River preventing the British from invading the rest of New York State. Pointing to the sports field, the guide shared, "Eisenhower was a member of the Century Club. This is where he had to walk off his demerits." In the West Point chapel is the world’s largest church organ with free concerts held at three on Sundays.

After Benedict Arnold’s act of treason there was no way to be sure that the security of West Point had not been breached so Washington set up his headquarters in nearby Newburgh. He spent more time at his Newburgh headquarters than anywhere else during the Revolutionary War and it is where he created and awarded the original purple heart badge. Not far away in New Windsor is the new, interactive National Purple Heart Hall of Honor remembering those who received the award throughout America’s wars.

Shop ‘til you drop
The village of Sugar Loaf has a rich and colorful history. It once served as the sacred burial ground for the Minisink Indians but the Wawayanda Patent and the building of King's Highway in the late 1730's led to the founding of Sugar Loaf by colonial settlers. Sugar Loaf became known as a craft and provision center for farmers and as a horse trading area. By 1830 the villagers of Sugar Loaf prospered providing the nearby farmers with supplies and services, boasting a wagon maker, cabinet maker, carpet factory, cheese factory, tannery, two coopers, a blacksmith, general store, a grist and sawmill. In the late 1960's, America experienced a craft revival. With a history of over two centuries as a center for handmade goods, Sugar Loaf symbolized this craft renaissance. New artisans moved in and the hamlet's population doubled. Now, in the 21st century many of these creative people still live and work at their crafts with the same commitment and skill as their predecessors. Wander the boardwalk, stroll down the alley, smell the aroma of scented candles being made, and chat with the artists. Most of the working studios are housed in quaint homes over 100 years old and are open to the public.

If a designer label not the personal signature of the designer is of more interest then head to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley where they claim to have the "world’s largest collection of luxury designer and name brand outlets." Looking for something old? No problem. In every quaint village, around every turn is a shop to thrill the antique hunter.

Get your heart racing
Before baseball, there was harness racing, the sport known as "American’s Original Pastime." Founded in 1838, Goshen is the oldest active harness racing track for trotters in North America. At the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, Gail Cunard explained, "Harness racing has no boundaries. Drivers are black, white, male, female, and we have a driver in his 80s." Thanks to the world’s only 3-D Harness Racing Simulator even visitors can feel the thrill of being a driver – bumps, turns, and all – all except dirt actually flying in their face. Nearly all of the harness racing trotters today can trace their lineage back to Hambletonian 10 – a stallion bred on a farm in Sugar Loaf.

Need to rev up your engine to get your heart racing? Orange County Choppers is in New York not in California as many think. The custom motorcycle manufacturer opened their new international headquarters designed to combine their production and retail facilities in Newburgh in April 2008.

It’s natural
America’s smallest forest has only one tree, an eastern cottonwood that’s over three hundred years old. The Balmville tree outside of Newburgh is on the National Register of Historic Places. But, over 25 percent of Orange County is made up of parks, reservoirs, and nature preserves with trails for hiking and biking. It is home to the Shawangunks, low, undulating mountains that border the Hudson River. The area has been designated by The Nature Conservancy as one of the "75 Last Great Places on Earth." Nearby is The Storm King Art Center, a museum that celebrates the relationship between sculpture and nature. The five hundred acres of landscaped lawns, field, and woodlands are the gallery for over 100 post-World War II sculptures by internationally renowned artists. Take a sightseeing cruise through history and the majestic beauty of the Hudson River on the Pride of the Hudson. For more information on things to see and do check www.orangetourism.org or call 800-CALL-NYS.

Lovely Lancaster County, PA

Welcoming Artist's Inn in Terre Hills
The subline country side
The amazing owner of the Cafe Chocolate in Lititz

"Living the Experience" - the story of the Underground Railroad
One of the covered bridges
Lace making at the Landis VAlley Museum

On our recent trip to Lancaster my husband, John, and I learned there are two Lancasters – the county and the city. This time we explored Lancaster County and fell in love with the countryside. We immediate felt at home when we checked into the Artist’s Inn in Terre Hill. The Victorian B&B is on a quiet street in a quiet town where the most common noise is the clip-clop of the horse and buggies. We arrived on Sunday in time to borrow two lawn chairs from Jan Garrabrandt, the innkeeper, and headed to Long Park where they have a free concert every Sunday. It was a beautiful evening to sit on the hillside and listen to some light jazz.

The next day, after a leisurely gourmet breakfast at the Artist’s Inn, we headed to Lititz, which quickly became our favorite town and the smell of chocolate in the air had a lot to do with it! The factory responsible for the delicious smell was Wilbur Chocolate where Wilbur Buds were the inspiration for the Hershey Kiss. The factory has a show kitchen where we watched the ladies who have the sweetest job in Lancaster County hand-dipping chocolate. We spent time in the museum featuring early chocolate making equipment and watched a great video that started with the discovery of the "Food of the Gods" by the Spanish explorers who then spread the love of chocolate across the world. The entire process from raising and harvesting the cocoa to the fermentation followed by the drying and shipping of the beans to the factory gave us a new appreciation for chocolate.

Next to Wilbur Chocolate is the Tourist Information Office where we picked up a brochure for a walking tour of Main Street, which is lined with 18th century buildings. Many, like the Moravian Congregational Store dating from 1762, have changed little. Our goal was the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, the home of America’s first pretzel bakery. One of the wonderful things about the factory is that it was founded in 1861 in the same location and is maintained by the fifth generation of the Sturgis family. While we were waiting for the tour to start we read the wall posters and learned that in ancient Egypt if a baker was caught selling underweight or adulterated baked goods he was nailed by the ear to the door of his shop! Guess that kept them honest. We joined the tour where Carol, our guide, showed us how make the pretzels which symbolize hands at prayer. It was especially fun watching the children learn how to make the pretzels then proudly display their diplomas. We left with John’s favorite – cinnamon stick pretzels – and my favorite – caramel filled chocolate covered pretzels.

On the way back to the car we could not resist stopping for lunch at Café Chocolate. What a wise choice. John had toasted peanut butter & banana panini with dark chocolate while I opted for Chile Con Chocolate, Oaxacan style. But it was more than the great lunch it was the great conversation with Selina. Selina is an amazing woman who exudes happiness and energy. From Hong Kong to Toronto to Princeton to Lititz, her personal story is amazing. We wished we had more time to spend with her but she is always on the move and we, too, had to move along.
Just a bit south of Lititz is the Landis Valley Museum, a living history village and farm, depicting the Pennsylvania German rural community from 1740 to 1940. I was mesmerized by the display of scherenschnitte, the art of scissors cutting. How could anyone have the patience to make such intricate cuttings? But then we stopped in the textile building where a lady was making bobbin lace. Another example of amazing concentration and skill.

Before dinner at Good ‘N Plenty, an all-you-can eat family style restaurant featuring authentic Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking, we had just enough time to stop at Kitchen Kettle Village for some shopping. Kitchen Kettle is another one of those heartwarming stories. Kitchen Kettle was started in 1954 by the Burnley family and is still family owned where all the products are made on site except the apple butter and peach butter which are made by a local lady. They make about one million jars a year all by hand. We were back at the Artist’s Inn in time to watch the sun set from our porch while enjoying shoo-fly pie from Kitchen Kettle.

The next day after our divine breakfast we headed to Bird-in-Hand where we took a buggy ride with Aaron and Jessica and learned that Aaron was the name of Jessica’s horse! The gentle ride took us along country roads through a working Amish farm. Before leaving we visited the horse barn and watch a horse being shod – a common occurrence in Lancaster County.

The tolerance and acceptance that the people of Lancaster County have offered to the Amish was also extended to the slaves during the days of the Underground Railroad. At AME Cultural Center the performance of "Living the Experience" brought tears to my eyes as we learned about the Freedom Trail through Lancaster County.

In downtown Lancaster we visited art galleries, the Quilt and Textile Museum with brightly patterned Amish quilts, and a walked through America’s oldest farmers market. The Lancaster Central Market has been in continuously operated since the 1730’s.

Lancaster is home to many theatrical experiences and we wanted to attend one of the famed Bible presentations at the Sight and Sound Theater but there were no performances while we were there. That will give us a reason to visit again. Instead we went to the American Music Theater where we felt right at home recalling our youth with a performance of "Classic Crooners." Finally, a show where we knew all the songs!

The next morning we lingered over our gourmet breakfast and took time to look at some of the artwork of Jan’s husband, Bruce. We loved his out-of-the box humor. The cow on the swing was titled "Mood Swing." But our favorite was the picture of their cat sleeping on the back of a chair with parts of the fringed lampshade draped on his head titled, "Furry with the Fringe on Top!"
Wistfully, we said our "Good byes" and Jan pointed us in the direction of the covered bridges. The drive through the well cared for countryside and across the covered bridge made us wonder once again about the serene lifestyle left behind with the advent of technology. We were thankful that there was Lancaster County where we could get a glimpse into a simpler time.
For more information check www.padutchcountry.com and www.artistinn.com.

The Jersey Shore

Monmouth Race Track

Jenkinson's Boardwalk
Allair State Park

Over 100 miles of beaches

The Laurita Winery
Show Place Ice Cream Parlour

There are many great places along the New Jersey Shore. One of our favorites is Long Beach Island. Most people have heard of Long Beach on the southern coast of California and New York’s Long Island, but few are familiar with New Jersey’s Long Beach Island. Fondly referred to as LBI by those who live and visit there, it is a barrier island off the coast of Jersey’s Ocean County connected to the mainland by the Manahawkin Bay Bridge. Approximately 20 miles in length and only a half-mile wide at the widest point. It a beach-lovers dream. But it is more than beaches, it is New Jersey at its very best.

The Beaches: On LBI the beach is the draw. The beaches are the widest at the northern end where reclamation has put about half a mile of sand and dune between houses that used on the beachfront. But all the beaches are wonderful. Beach passes are not necessary for seniors. Others can purchase day or season passes at a variety of places. Daily passes range from $3 to $5 a day.

Old Barney: Located at the north end of LBI, the Barnegat Light, the second tallest lighthouse in the United States, was commissioned January 1, 1859. No longer active the lighthouse is now part of a state park with a barrier-free walkway on the jetty, an interpretive center, and a self-guided maritime forest trail. Visitors can climb the 217 steps to the top for a panoramic view of the area. Even though the lighthouse is no longer operational the essence of the fishing community still remains. Mike, the tour guide, explained, "Barnegat was and is a small, close-knit community. It is necessary in a fishing community as the fishing ships were at sea for days on end so everyone looked out for each other."

Historic Viking Village: Viking Village is one of the largest suppliers of fish and seafood on the eastern seaboard. Each year the scallopers, longliners, and gillnet boats catch over five million pounds of seafood that are packed at the commercial dock and shipped worldwide. Every Friday at 10 a.m., the Viking Village offers a free one-hour guided tour of the commercial fishing dock explaining how the different types of fish and scallops are caught, how the product is prepared for shipping, and the current fish management programs. Several tiny fishing shacks have been revitalized as unique shops offering clothing, antiques, toys, and take-out seafood.

Beach Haven: The island is dotted with small towns from Loveladies in the north to Beach Haven in the south. Beach Haven is the busiest beach town on the island during the summer. This community is a bustling tourist center with many fine hotels, motels, and B&Bs. The town also boasts a historical district with Victorian seaside houses on streets leading to the bay and some of the islands' best beaches. Step back in time and savor the character of a late 19th century coastal resort town by taking a tour of buildings constructed before 1900. Each is marked with a white plaque inscribed in blue, "Bicentennial, Pre-1900."

Learn respect: The Alliance for a Living Ocean offers several programs to help people learn about the ecology of the area. Learn how poor water quality can affect the health of the creatures in the bay, and what people can do to protect the bay’s eco-system. Then sein (using hand nets) the bay and experience the sea creatures up close. Learn how baby clams are raised first in land-based nurseries and then in water-based upwellers. On Mondays during the summer they offer special Stories-by-the-Sea featuring stories and crafts for children 3-6.

Try it: No need to cart your bike or kayak as there are many rental places where bikes, kayaks, jet skis, body boards, para-sailing and other fun "toys" are available. The land is flat for easy bike riding and the bay is often calm making it a perfect place for novice sea kayakers. Scuba divers can explore WW I and WW II wrecks along with an 1890s passenger ship known as the "Spanish Wreak." Those with an artistic flair can take lessons at Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences in Loveladies. They offer a variety of workshops and classes for adults and children.

The big one: Visitors looking to hook the big one or those who just want to enjoy a day on the water L.B.I. Fishing Charters provides family fishing charters on the Pop's Pride and Sand Witch. They go offshore, inshore, or into the bays where it is possible to catch a wide variety of fish.

Live your fantasy: Fantasy Island Amusement Park is an old Victorian-style amusement park. Ride the turn-of-the-century carousel featuring the famous Bradley & Kaye molds of horses that date back to the early 1900's. There are children’s rides and clown shows. Adjacent is Thundering Surf, a large waterslide park. Fun for the young and young at heart.

Broadway at the Beach: They sing. They dance. They serve ice cream. At the Show Place Ice Cream Parlour the waitri belt out all 12 flavors to the tune of Handel's ''Hallelujah Chorus." Show Place entertains ice cream lovers with song, dance, and vaudeville comedy. The waitri are professional entertainers and any excuse is a good excuse for a cabaret performance. And it isn’t just the entertaining waitri that perform, customer participation is part of the show. Some of the entertainers also perform at the Surflight Theater where all the seats are "Isle" seats.

Dining: After a day at the beach nothing rounds out the day better than a relaxing dining experience. From fudge at Lucille’s to crab shacks to fine dining on the porch of The Gables - one of LBI’s beautiful "Painted Ladies." Or dine at trendy Daddy O’s or the for an island flavor – Caribbean Island, that is –check out Cinnamon Bay Caribbean Grill in Harvey Cedars.
For more information on fun things to do on New Jersey’s Long Beach Island check discoversouthernocean.org or visitnj.org.

Cape May

Mission Inn
The beach
Dolphin watching

Elegant tea
Physick House
Celtic festival at Cold Spring Village

In the 1800s, during the hot summer days before the advent of air conditioning people from the city resorted to cooler places like Cape May – and people still do. Cape May is America’s first seaside resort and reached its pinnacle of elegance during the Victorian era.

1. The history: Start with an overview of the history of the city on one of several narrated trolley tours. The tour is designed for the first-time visitor to Cape May who wants a quick introduction to the many cultural, historical, and natural attractions on the island.

2. The Victorian era: The Physick Estate offers a peek into the area’s Victorian past. The Physicks' distinctive home illustrates the changing tastes as well as the particulars of the Victorian lifestyle in Cape May. It is just one of the many Victorian houses that give Cape May its unique character.

3. Shopping: People who recall the days when towns had active Main Streets will love wandering Washington Street Mall. Most of the Mall's shops are privately or family owned. Looking for antiques? Antique shops are scattered throughout Cape May and the rest of the Jersey Cape.

4.The lighthouse: The newly restored 1859-vintage lighthouse is one of the oldest continually operating lighthouses in the United States. Climb the 199 steps to the watch gallery for a breathtaking panoramic view. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible visitors' orientation center with a video.

5.The beaches: The beach is the reason for the season and there is a lot of beach to enjoy. But it is more than tanning in the sand. Head to Sunset Beach to look for Cape May diamonds and beach glass. Each day at Sunset Beach they fly the flag from the casket of a veteran. At sunset the flag is retired in a special ceremony that concludes with Kate Smith’s stirring rendition of "God Bless America."

6. The water: The sunset boat trip aboard the Cape May Whale Watcher is a two-hour narrated sightseeing cruise around the island of Cape May out into Cape May Harbor, along the Victorian oceanfront, into Delaware Bay, and returning via the Cape May Canal. Sightings of dolphins, porpoises, or whales are quaranteed.

7. It’s natural: Cape May is on one of the great migratory flyways. From the wildlife viewing platform at Cape May Point State Park to osprey nests in the salt marshes to the eagles nest along the canal, Cape May is definitely for the birds. Other nature related activities include Beachcombing at the Cove, a Harbor Safari, and a Queen Victoria Gardens Tour.

8. The pre-Victorian era: In Cold Spring Village, an early American open-air living history museum, walk the clamshell lanes. Experience life before the Victorian era and learn about the day-to-day activities of villagers living in South Jersey during the "age of homespun." (1790-1840).

9.The theater: When the sun goes down the curtains go up on several stages. Cape May Stage is a professional equity theater offering a variety of presentations from "Private Lives" to "It’s a Wonderful Life."

10. The festivals: From strawberries to Celtic Festivals, from music to the Revolutionary War, there is always some special festival or fair. Any season is a reason to visit Cape May. Special themed weekends are offered year round.

For more information on more things to do www.capemaymac.org, 800-275-4278, and/or www.thejerseycape.net. www.thejerseycape.com, 800-227-2297

Experience the Philippines

Carlos Celdran's walking tour
Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor
Pan Pacific's Lounge

Cebu-Plantation Bay Resort
Cebu-Island Hopping - beach lunch
Bohol-Chocolate Hills

Bohol-Pangloa Island Resort-view from our Jacuzzi
Bohol-Tarsiers-world's smallest mammals
Boracay-Regency Hotel

Pearl Farm Resort
Mindanao Night at Pearl Farm
Lobby of the Peninsula Hotel

"I can’t change how Manila looks but I can change how you look at Manila," explained our guide, Carlos Celdran. Manila is not a city that immediately wins one over. The heat and the traffic can be intense. The city’s colonial history was bombed into oblivion during WW II. But, our walking tour with Carlos definitely helped to change our impression of Manila. His tour starts at Intramuros, the walled portion of the city and is as much street theater as history lesson. Carlos began by leading our group of 20 in singing the Philippine national anthem. With a rapid-fire mix of history and humor he kept our attention right up to when he donned sunglasses, put a pipe in his mouth, and waving the American flag, became General Douglas MacArthur fulfilling his promise, "I shall return." The tour ended at Casa Manila, a typical upper class Philippine home of the colonial period restored under the guidance of Imelda Marcos. Carlos quipped, "She furnished it by mining. ‘This is mine. This is mine.""

One evening we went to dinner at Kaldekaldero where all the waiters and cooks took turns singing familiar American classics that are popular throughout Asia. We had adobo, the national dish of marinated chicken and pork. For dessert John and I shared Halo Halo, the yummy Philippine dessert is a that is a mixture of shaved ice, milk, sweet beans and fruits topped with ube, sweet yam ice cream. "Halo" means "mix" and the dessert could be the icon of Philippine culture. The Philippine culture is a fascinating mix of Asian, European, and American, with the American culture currently dominating. The national language is Tagalog but most people also speak English. Manila is home to the largest mall in Asia. It would be right at home in any large American city. After WW II, the American Jeeps were elongated and brightly painted to become Jeepneys that are now the typical means of inexpensive transportation. As one guide explained, "We sit knee-to-knee in the Jeeps so we call them Jeep-neys."

At the mouth of Manila Harbor sits Corregidor, the second most bombed island during WW II. I found the new tourist slogan a bit disturbing. "Visit Corregidor: A whole new fun experience!" There is a resort at the top of the "rock" and the island is promoted as a wedding destination and for corporate team building exercises. But most tourists take the 40-minute boat ride to the island to learn about the Battle of Corregidor. The guide explained, "The American base on the island was the pride of the military before WW II with the best facilities, including the Mile Long Barracks. It was considered a choice assignment. Then the war came." The light and sound show in the Malinta Tunnel tells the story of the battles on Corregidor from the Japanese and American perspective. The 835-foot long tunnel had dozens of laterals and held Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters, a 1000-bed hospital, and supplies. The war memorials and ruins of the Mile Long Barracks are a testament to the fact that there is no way to put a pretty face on war.

We were in Manila three different times and stayed at three different hotels. Some nights we sat in the Pacific Lounge on 21st floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel with a panoramic view of Manila realizing that Carlos was right, learning the history of Manila had changed our perspective of the city. Our last two nights we sat in the lobby of the elegant Peninsula Hotel listening to the beautiful live music by the hotel’s resident band realizing there are many Manilas!

Taiwan Suits Us to a "T"

Fast train to Taichung
Globee, Annie, and Blue lunch with Sandy, Alva, Jimmy, and Nick
Checking the tea plants

Teng Ting-Sou - tea ware artist

Pine House - One of Ten Rural Stay Village

Coffee plantation visit

In the 16th century, when the Portuguese visited Taiwan they named it Formosa, their word for "beautiful." The island is so green it could be dubbed the "Ireland of Asia." Taiwan is advertised as a place that will "Touch Your Heart," and it does. With an excellent road and rail system, Taiwan is easy to get around and English is commonly spoken. During our first visit in 2005, we stood in awe at the Taroko Gorge and rode the world’s fastest elevator to the top of the world’s tallest building.

On this trip Taiwan’s High Speed Train, the newest engineering marvel, reached 180 miles per hour as we sped to the tea and coffee area south of Taipei. As great as the wonders of man and nature are it is the people that make a trip memorable.

In 1865, Lin Feng-chih traveled to China to sit for the imperial civil service examination. After successfully passing the exam he returned home with 36 tea plants that were the beginning of the waves of sculpted tea plants that now cross the undulating hills. The leaves are picked by hand in the time-honored tradition but teapots have taken on a new look. Teng Ting-Sou, has dedicated his life to creating innovative teapots. "I wanted to be the first teapot maker to break away from the traditional idea that a teapot must have a spout and handle," he explained as he demonstrated his Gu-yi teapot in which the tea flows out from the bottom of the pot. Now he teaches his art to others.

At the Tea Culture Museum, our guide proudly explained more about the history of tea production and the area’s culture. "To preserve our tea tradition we teach the schoolchildren the proper way to make and serve tea."

The area is also good for producing high-grade coffee. After visiting a coffee plantation we had lunch at Shan Hai Guan Coffee Grove Restaurant where we learned coffee is not just for drinking. One of the desserts was coffee-flavored yams. Years ago, on the way to work, the owner bought small thin yams from an elderly woman. Not knowing what to do with them he started experimenting until he came up with the yummy coffee-coated roasted yams. And, it didn’t stop there; his family also makes chocolate-covered coffee beans, coffee toffee, a variety of other coffee products, and developed an inventive way to brew one cup of coffee at a time.

Nearby we visited the workshop of Mr. Tsia, a ceramic artist, who had completed the delicate face of a statue when the devastating 7.3 earthquake of September 21, 1999 stuck. The statue toppled to the floor causing the face to be flattened on one side without destroying the beauty on the other side. Lives were lost and buildings destroy but in the aftermath the government helped the hard-hit farming area by promoting agri-tourism. The statue is a metaphor for the area pointing out the good and bad effects of an event.

Our tour was one of the ten rural-stay village tours available to tourists; now we want to visit the other nine villages. We spent the night at Pine House, a modern log cabin complex that looked like it belonged in the Adirondacks. In the evening we shared dinner with our guide and several people from the community during which one guide entertained us with the song, "Beautiful Formosa."

Mini-vacation in Bangkok

The Peninsula and their shuttle boat
Our home away from home!
Welcome goodies!

Spa room with Jacuzzi tub.
The Royal Residence where the king's sister is lying in state.
The reclining Buddha.

During our three-month trips, my husband, John, and I plan mini-vacations. On this year’s Asian trip we decided to treat ourselves to a stay at one of the world’s most famous hotels, The Peninsula Bangkok. The award-wining hotel is so tech sophisticated that there are buttons for everything from closing the drapes to dimming the lights. The bathtub has a built-in TV and a valet button. I wonder, "Why does one call for the valet when in the bathtub?" There is a small box that can be accessed from the hall. Shoes placed in the box at night are returned shined in the morning. When the red light is on it means the box contains a message or the newspaper. Very cool!

Besides being an amazing hotel the Peninsula has the three most important aspects of any property – location, location, location. The hotel is located on one of our favorite rivers, the Chao Phraya. All the Peninsula rooms have a river view. Watching the Chao Phraya is as mesmerizing as watching a campfire. It is a vital river with tiny tugboats pulling barges up and down the river. Long-tail boats zip along reminding us of a James Bond movie. Ferryboat attendants whistle their arrival at a dock. Thai-style boats from the Oriental and Peninsula Hotels crisscross the river. In the evening the lights of the city are reflected in the river, plus the brightly-lit shuttle and dinner boats add a festive look. We started each day with breakfast at the water’s edge and ended the day lounging in a sala by the pool with the river always in view.

We have transited through Bangkok many times and there is always something to do. This time there were many colorful signs wishing the Thai monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej a happy 80th birthday, so we felt a visit to the Grand Palace was appropriate. He has been king for 61 years making him the world's longest serving monarch. He is much loved by his people for creating royal projects including tree-planting programs to protect the environment long before it was popular to do so.

The expansive grounds of the Grand Palace are awash with golden temples and glittering mosaics. The most revered temple in Thailand is the one that houses the Emerald Buddha. The small Buddha is actually made of jade and has a fascinating history of being captured and recovered, then lost and found. The last time it returned to Bangkok was when a rainstorm washed away the plaster that had kept it hidden for a century.

We have so much to learn about other countries’ religions and cultures. I am always embarrassed by our ignorance of Thai culture and the Buddhist religion. We try to learn a little more each time that we visit. Within the palace grounds are scenes from Ramakian, the Thai version of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. The scenes depict the Thai creation story. I liken our learning to the beautiful and intricate mosaics that decorate the buildings and statues. Each time we visit Bangkok we learn a few more pieces of their colorful history. Maybe someday we will have the whole picture. Regardless, I appreciate the beauty and intricacy of the temples and find the impressive statues of the mythical guardians especially intriguing. So much to know, so little time!