My first three days in Austria had already been action-packed, full of hiking excursions and culinary delights. My next adventure was going to be a full-day driving tour with my friend Gary, who had also grown up in Austria, but, like me, had emigrated to Canada more than 40 years ago.Garys native region is Upper Styria, a mountainous and heavily wooded part of my Austrian home province. He came to pick me up in his rental car in my home town of...more
For several months now I had been planning another trip to Europe, to visit my family in my home town in Austria, as well as to spend eleven days on the beautiful island of Mallorca and three days in the fascinating Czech capital of Prague, both destinations I had long wanted to visit.On May 15, 2009 I finally landed in Graz, after an uneventful flight from Toronto via Dsseldorf. The only notable detail was the inspection by the swine flu police...more
Today was our relocation day: we moved from our vacation apartment in Solana Beach in San Diego to the chic Sofia Hotel in downtown San Diego. On another brilliant day we arrived at the hotel at about 10 am, but our room was not ready yet, so we decided to embark on some brief local explorations.Seaport Villages Victorian, Mexican and East Coast style architecture and its four miles of meandering cobble-stoned walkways create an inviting waterfront environment for shopping and dining. The assortment of merchandise includes souvenirs, clothing, kites, wind chimes and unique gift ideas. Galleries and art retailers round out the offering, and live music is offered frequently throughout the year. An original 1895 carousel with hand carved animals enchants adults and children. Culinary options include four fine dining restaurants and thirteen casual eateries.An outdoor exhibit of oversized globes currently adds extra interest to Seaport Village. Cool Globes Hot ideas for a cooler planet features 40 inspiring globes that depict simple solutions to global warming. The globes were designed by local, national and international artists and have been traveling on the road in places such as...more
Okay this place is Backpacker Central! To give you a quick rundown it has the best drinks specials, the best backpacker style entertainment (meaning fake orgasm contests, hooking up with randoms on stage and all kinds of funny stuff.At the time of writing this article, entry was $10 and included a meal and 2 drinks. Not sure if that is still on but...more
If there is one word that describes Scuffy Murphys then that word would have to be... MESSY! Make no mistake of it, this place is not for the pretentious, classy or faint of heart. If youre at Scruffy Murphys (or Scruffs) then you are there to either get drunk of pickup so leave your inhibitions at the door.With live bands on the weekend, the early...more
Hugging the shores of Darling Harbour, the Cargo Bar and Lounge is a destination of choice for the 30 and under crowd looking for a great night out. Located on the King Street Wharf strip right next to Wildlife World, for years Cargo bar has attracted crowds of bar and nightclub enthusiasts, including some of the sexiest girls in Sydney to its dance floor.In case you are wondering Cargo as it is known to the regulars is in fact to distinct venues, being Cargo Bar (the main bar downstairs) and Cargo Lounge (Upstairs), both with extremely different atmospheres as well as requirements to get in.Cargo Bar is for the people looking for a great night out in a classy yet vibrant atmosphere. The unique half indoor/outdoor open plan venue caters to clubbers of all taste, with a centrally located dance floor that gets pumping after 11 oclock.If you are heading there, make sure to dress to impress, and for guys, if you are in a group it is recommended you get there early to avoid disappointment, as chances are you will get turned away any time after 9pm. In saying that, do not mistake this for pretentiousness, rather its a biproduct of and extremely popular bar that is the function venue of...more
Report - Incredible India: now for medical tourismIs travelling abroad for treatment a good idea? That is what many westerners are doing—exploring cheap and world-class medical care in India. The western medical care system is so...more
Being a traveler and adventurer places that are commonly visited are sometimes boring; you can hear a lot of those places from people who have already been there. Thus, if time comes you come to such places, you already knew what to...more
Are you looking for a nice gift idea to give your mom this coming Christmas season? This is the perfect time to start looking around at what would make Mom very happy, and because it is a fact that moms are hard working, so they deserve a treat...more
Many UK families have relatives or even family friends who now live abroad, either travelling for work or simply to enjoy a different way of life (and the more favourable weather!). Staying in touch has been made a lot easier these days...more
I love Sydney, but then of course I am biased. If you are intending to go to our great country for any prolonged time period of time, I propose that you get by yourself an Australian SIM credit card. If you are travelling here for...more
For Newtown locals, the Marly as it is known as is probably the most popular and well known venues on King Street. For everyone else who has been there, it is just another top notch venue that is quintessentially Newtown.With 3 floors each sporting...more