Beautiful, Romantic Bora Bora

We badly wanted to escape the polar vortex that hit New York last winter and  thaw out somewhere nice and warm. I was thinking of an easy hop to one of the Caribbean islands, but Keith had a grander idea in mind. Since we were going around Valentine’s Day, he wanted a destination that was not only toasty but... Read more

South African Safari Experience

I went on an incredibly amazing safari in Tanzania in East Africa before I met Keith. So intensely magical was that experience that it overshadowed my euphoria from successfully summiting Mount Kilimanjaro during the same trip.  I had a safari fever and was looking forward to share the same great safari experience with Keith. So when... Read more

Iceland: Exploring the Lava Tube Cave of Leidarendi

 We followed our exhilarating glacier walk in Solheimajokul with yet any another amazing Icelandic adventure – exploring the amazing subterranean wonder world of lava tubes! Read more

New York City: The Christmas Lights in Dyker Heights

We love the festive air in our city during Christmas season. Rockfeller Center and its surrounding  areas are so magical in their illuminated glory. But they tend to be too packed with tourists that as locals we tend to shy away.  Instead, we head to Dyker Heights, a quiet neighborhood in Brooklyn that comes alive... Read more

Iceland: Glacier Walk on Solheimajokull

After our amazing road trip in Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the West Island, we headed to the South Coast for a fun glacier adventure.  We enjoyed the amazing sights of the glaciers in Iceland everywhere we turned and we thought that the best way to enjoy them is to be upclose and personal with one of... Read more

Iceland: The Fall/Winter Wonders of Snaefellsnes Peninsula

We spent our Thanksgiving week in Iceland. Our wish for going around this time was to see the northern lights. But the nights turned out cloudy and rainy, except for one when the sky cleared up briefly and we had a glimpse of the celestial wonder – faintly. We were not disappointed though. Iceland was... Read more

The Tsechu Festival in Wangdue

Women performing a traditional dance at the festival. On our Day 4 in Bhutan, we were once again treated to another colorful religious festival. Like the festival we attended in Thimphu, this one was also not part of our planned itinerary. It happened that the 3-day Tsechu festival was starting as we were passing by... Read more

My Philippines, the Beautiful

MY HEART IS BROKEN in the wake of the incredible devastation in my home country, the Philippines, caused by monstrous typhoon Haiyan. I’m deeply anguished  every time I see the news coverage and photos of the devastation on TV, newspaper and the internet. I feel helpless witnessing it from afar, wishing that there’s something I can physically do to help and to ease the victims’ pain. For now all I... Read more

Bhutan: The Temple of the Divine Madman and His Ubiquitous Symbol

On the same day we visited the majestic Punakha  Dzong, we also got to visit another highlight in  Punakha  Valley – the Chimi Lakhang.  It is  a temple dedicated to one of Bhutan’s revered saint and cultural hero, Drukpa Kunley.   It was a fun and interesting visit.  Firstly, we got to enjoy a beautiful short hike in the spectacular valley to reach the temple on a hillock. Secondly,  we  finally got to understand the hype about this legendary figure and the ubiquitous phallic symbols that are associated with... Read more