Tips for Tuesdays: Groupon

Today's Tip: Join Groupon for the next city you're visiting. It's a smart way to discover new places and get some great deals on restaurants and activities.

Photo Friday: Kyoto

When a traveler first encounters Japan, there appear to be two Japans: there is a Japan that exists now, not just modern, but post-modern, already shaping the 22nd century. Then there is a traditional Japan, the Japan of the flowering of Zen Buddhism, the arts and of the samurai warrior and the Shoguns. Both will dazzle and delight you. For the post-modern Japan, head to the super cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama. For the traditional side, you can't beat Kyoto. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

 The famous Golden Temple.

 More traditional Japanese architecture.

 Hanging with some locals.

 A famous geisha. Kyoto has the most active geishas of any Japanese city.

 Outside of cherry blossom season, Japan is the most beautiful in the fall.

 Fushimi-Inari Taisha. Love those orange torris!

Tips for Tuesdays: Power Cord Organization

From now on, I will be posting some of my favorite travel tips every Tuesday. 

Today's tip: If you're like me, you travel with a lot of electronics (cell phone, computer, camera, etc.) Pack a labeled Ziploc bag for each power cord. It prevents tangling and reminds you to retrieve them at the end of your trip. You'll never leave a charger behind again!

Photo Friday: Western Australia

Ahhh the open road...it has always called to me. The freedom, the vastness, the empty horizon stretching before me for miles. I love the romantic idea of it. Give me some wheels and a map and I'm into it.

And let me tell you, I have seen the OPEN road. I thought America was empty, especially the middle part, but it is nothing compared to what I experienced in Western Australia. Try to imagine the western half of the continental United States (around 1 million square miles) with a population the size of Houston (around 2.3 million people) and you've pretty much got W.A. There are hundreds of miles of open space without a person in sight. In fact, all that you have to tell you what century you're in is the black asphalt beneath you. And once you get onto some of their dirt tracks, you'll have no sense of time. 

It's a beautiful thing really. Though, I don't recommend seeing it the way I did. My husband and I thought that since we were going out into the "Great Australian Outback" that we would need to camp. And our idea of camping includes a full-service bathroom, a kitchen with a small refrigerator and a bed. I know, I like to think of myself as adventurous, but I do draw the line with real camping. I'm a sissy and I own it. Anyway, we decided to rent an RV for our W.A. adventure. We christened her Matilda after the national anthem of Oz and after a few days, she was renamed "the beast." While we thought that having an RV would allow us to feel a sense of comfort in remote camping spots, we ended up regretting it. First off, we couldn't really make it to those remote camping spots we dreamed about since Matilda couldn't exactly go off-roading. Most nights, we pulled into a lame RV park and "camped" right next to a dozen families on holiday. Not exactly the romance of the open road we were hoping for...

Secondly, Matilda guzzled gas. We wanted to put some serious road behind us and we ended up driving from Perth all the way up to Shark's Bay (2/3 of the western coast). In the end, it cost us quite a bit of money just in gas. By the time we hauled the beast to our destination for the night, we had spent enough money to stay in a nice little motel. At least then we wouldn't have had to assemble and disassemble our bed every day. Plus, there was the noise. Any divet in the road would cause the silverware packed haphazardly in drawers in the kitchenette to sound a symphony of clanging. I realize that I am not an RV person. I can say I've done it and I probably will never do it again.

That said, there were some marvelously beautiful parts of W.A. It really does feel like the edge of the world. And there's wildlife everywhere. We saw kangaroos, emus, sharks, pelicans and dolphins on multiple occasions. Here are some of the highlights...

Ryan and Matilda, aka "the beast."

Looking out from the famous suspended tree-top walk near 

Walpole in the Valley of the Giants south of Perth.

 Cuddling a baby kangaroo was a highlight of the trip.

(He was domesticated! Do not try this with a wild animal.)

An Australian icon.

These rocks once linked Australia to Antarctica 

when the continents were one as Pangea. 

What's a road trip with out a little roadside kitsch?

Australians have an obsession with making giant fiberglass sculptures. 

Around Oz there's also a a giant lobster, a koala, a bull and a banana. 

The natural splendor of the Pinnacles Desert near Cervantes.

I have never seen anything like this pink lake near Kalbarri. 

It must have been caused by some sort of mineral in the water. 

Pretty amazing sight.

The edge-of-the-world cliffs near Kalbarri.

 Truly the OPEN road.

Sunset at Monkey Mia.

Photo Friday: sLOVEnia

While most of my friends in college were going to Cancun or Florida for spring break, my husband (then boyfriend) and I decided we wanted more of an adventure. So, instead of packing bathing suits and flip flops, we packed our jeans and jackets and headed out on a road trip through eastern Europe. We started in Budapest, drove to Bratislava and Vienna, down to Graz (Austria) and on to Croatia via Slovenia. The tiny country of Slovenia ended up being the highlight of our trip. The people were friendly and active. Everywhere you looked, people were hiking, kayaking, skiing and biking. They put Californians and Australians to shame! Bordering both the Alps and the Mediterranean means that Slovenia is full of natural beauty. Actually, a third of the territory of the country is protected! Plus, the food is highly influenced by the divine cuisine of Northern Italy (it's neighbor). And to top it off, it was inexpensive! What more could you want? Here are some of the highlights...please ignore the cloudy weather. It was February...

 One of the most popular tourist destinations in Slovenia is the glacial Lake Bled.

 This was the stunning view from the room of our
modest guest house outside of Bled.
We were amazed at how far our money could go.

The oldest church in Slovenia. 

So serene.

Hitting the slopes in a winter wonderland. 

Walking around the streets of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

 The main square in Ljubljana.

Photo Friday: Scotland

There are places we dream about visiting one day as a child. Sometimes those places disappoint upon arrival. And sometimes those places carve an indelible place in our hearts. For me, a place that I wanted to go from a young age was Scotland. I had a nanny who had emigrated from Glasgow who became part of my family for nine years. When she joined our household, I was only 7 years old and she was only 23. At that point in my life, she was the most exotic person I knew and I was always intrigued by the mysterious land from which she came. What did I know about it except for the legend of the Loch Ness monster?! After a few months, I started getting used to her thick accent (now, I don't even notice it!). Little did I know that she would completely change my life in so many wonderful ways. She was the first one to introduce me to salt and vinegar chips, Maltesers, phrases like "cheeky monkey" and oddly enough, country music! Sometimes you don't have to even leave your own country to have a cultural experience...

When I finally made it to Scotland, I was 21 years old - almost the age she was when she came to the United States. I was bewitched by not only its stunning landscapes, but by its charming and kind people. My husband couldn't understand a lick the Glaswegians were saying, but I had no problem... It felt like coming home. 

Here are some of my favorite snapshots:

 The atmospheric Dunnottar Castle outside Stonehaven, Scotland. 

Of course, portions of Mel Gibson's Hamlet were shot here in 1990.

Where else?

The famous Loch Ness. I couldn't resist.

You couldn't help but pull over on the side of the road to look at the magnificent scenery. 

This was on a drive to Loch Torridon. 

Sometimes we felt like we had the whole country all to ourselves...

Well, almost all to ourselves. 

Enjoying some typical Scottish weather at Eilean Donan Castle.

Gorgeous waterfalls in Glen Nevis.

 Could the little lanes of Crail be any cuter?

Dreaming of Romance in Bali

What a great week it's been for Golden Key. I've had the privilege of planning a honeymoon in Bali! My clients are adventurous and looking for an unforgettably romantic experience. In addition to booking the couple's accommodation at the ultra-luxury Viceroy Bali Hotel, I found some incredible romantic dining experiences offered at another hotel. They can choose from a champagne breakfast on the terrace overlooking the rice patties, a sultry jungle picnic or my favorite, the 'Secret Romantic Dinner': 

"Enjoy a romantic dinner at a secret location deep in the jungle. Illuminated by the gentle glow of oil lamps, your private waiter will host the perfect evening. After dessert, enjoy a leisurely walk through the rain-forest to the holy water temple, where a priest will perform a purification ritual. End this magical night with a foot massage at our riverside bamboo deck."

Sounds divine, right?! After a day of exploring the artisan market of Ubud and taking a bike ride through the countryside, this couple will share an intimate private dinner in one of the most romantic places on Earth.

The Viceroy Bali.

Romantic candlelit dinner in paradise.