Saudi Arabia, the largest sovereign nation in Western Asia and the 2nd largest country in the Arab world, is a country rich in history, culture and beauty. Although most tourism to Saudi Arabia has involved religious pilgrimages, that’s rapidly changing. The Saudi government is investing in tourism and cultural events. Additionally, laws and policies are changing to...
Beijing (北京) is one of those cities that you need at least a week to explore, if you want to become at least a bit familiar with it. It is so rich of culture, history, entertainment, even nature (although it is not built in a beautiful mountain, island or valley). Being a capital of China, it is a proper destination to get a glimpse of this country if you visit it...
There’s so much to see in Cairo, from Ancient Egyptian treasures to Islamic architecture, that fitting everything into one day seems impossible. First-time visitors often say they didn’t get to see everything on their wish list. I’ve been living in Cairo for nearly 7 years and I’m still making new discoveries. But if you set some priorities...
Tibet as a tourist destination may not be on everyone’s bucket list. But once you know more about the natural beauty of Tibet, you will likely put it at the top of your list. It is known for Mount Everest but is often called the “roof of the world” because of its elevation of an average of 5000 meters. The Natural Beauty of Tibet Tibet is home to...
Our first visit to the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados took place last spring. We visited this incredible island with our three teens/pre-teens. I had been wanting to visit Barbados since I was a little girl and my mother and father visited without me. Their photos showed an amazingly lush and beautiful island…and despite the passing of years since their...
Africa has always been known as the world’s foremost destination for finding big game. Big-game hunting has been the sport of the wealthy for centuries. But as Africa has become more accessible to the average tourist, the sport of “big-game hunting” has changed as well. Hunting for meat or for trophies is on the decline, but many more tourists...
The Crazy Horse Memorial, located outside Custer, South Dakota, was designed to honor the memory of one of the greatest heroes of the Native American people who inhabit the Great Plains. Unlike its nearby (and better known) rival Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial is a privately-funded and owned site. If you’re in or near South Dakota, the Memorial is...
Tokyo, Japan is one of my favorite cities to visit in the world. Visitors often describe Tokyo using words like “vibrant”, “active”, “ultra-modern”, “crowded”, and so on. However, because the city is on the go around the clock, “tranquil” is a word I never thought of to describe it. However, my first...
I’ve always been the type of traveler typically packed at the last minute, and I invariably end up packing much more than I needed to. But a trip I took recently had some pretty stringent restrictions on luggage weight. I was allowed one soft-sided luggage bag and one carry on bag. The two bags in combination had to weigh less 15 kilos (around 33 lbs). Because...