I had a bit of a revelation this weekend. I was cleaning out the storage area in my apartment and noticed something a bit disturbing…I discovered I have an addiction to airline amenities kits. After going through a bunch of empty suitcases and carry on bags, I realize I had saved close to 10 kits from… Read more
It was nearly a year ago I left this…Sad cubicle farmfor THIS…Cherry Blossoms in Kyotoand THIS…Beautiful resorts in Lebanonand THIS…Celebrating with the World at the 2012 Summer OlympicsAnd now, 10 months later, I find myself here…Back in the cubicle again…*Sigh!* When I looked into the future on April 1, 2012 (my escape date) did I see… Read more
Want to recapture your youth and feel like a child again? Simply head to a foreign country, especially one where you don’t speak the language, and you’ll suddenly rediscover the joy of not having any responsibilities. Has anyone else ever experienced this? When you’re at home, you’re clearly a capable adult and you make decisions for yourself… Read more
Two weeks ago I was heading of to Brasil for a few days to just “be” in one of my favorite countries. With the possible exception of England, I have revisited Brasil more than I have any other country. This was my 8th, and God willing, not my last trip to this country that I enjoy… Read more
Nothing, I repeat nothing, is quite like a night at a samba school rehearsal in the weeks leading up to Carnival. You can certainly have a great night at a corner bar or at the most exclusive night club in New York City, but the experience you’ll have at a samba school trumps both of those… Read more
My very first trip to Rio back in 1999 was unusually short for a first visit. I wanted to surprise my mother on her 50th birthday with a trip to a city she’d only heard about in books and on records, but seemed to love as if she were a native Carioca. Due to limited funds… Read more
I often find myself torn. I like the finer things in life: 1st class cabins, high end food and beverage, luxury hotels. I mean, who doesn’t like to be pampered from time to time? But I also want to get the most out of my travel and really get to see “real life” in a country… Read more
Do as many things that scare you and take you out of your comfort zone as possible. That’s one New Year’s resolution that I renew every year. While the actual “things that scare you” might change from one year to the next, the feeling of overcoming them never does. Its a surefire mental cocktail of excitement, relief… Read more
While I love curling up with my laptop or iPad to get absorbed in a 20 minute TED Talk segment, its not something I do regularly enough. I love learning and even if it is on a topic that I have no general interest in (molecular biology, for instance) I can always come away from… Read more
As I sat in the American Airlines Admiral’s Club Lounge at Miami International a few weeks ago, I quickly realized something. Though the customers may wear more expensive clothes and their bags may have names like Louis Vuitton or Prada, one thing seems about the same as in the regular waiting area…people are kinda dirty. Crumbs… Read more