Featured Member Blog Posts – June 2012 Archive (52)

I watched “Eat, Pray, Love” for the second time last night (okay, third - plus I read the book). Here are the effects it had upon me:

• It made me hungry for Italian…

When you visit the local towns, museums, and awesome Mayan ruins on the Riviera Maya and the rest of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula (or for that matter in Honduras and Guatemala)…

Spain is one of Europe's most popular destinations, receiving thousands upon thousands of tourists every year. Some people like it so much that they actually decide to stay, and statistics show that foreign residents are something like 10% of the population.

Driving in Spain doesn't…

What’s all the buzz about stand-up paddle surfing?

It’s one of the fastest emerging global water sports, that’s what.

Also called stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP for short, the sport is popular with surfers as a way to keep fit when surf is low and also as another way to catch…

Many would-be tourists have failed to conquer their fear of traveling to Africa with many misconceptions. Malaria and mosquito bites are very much feared by these tourists, however malaria can be avoided on your trip to Africa. Malaria, spread by the anopheles mosquito, kills millions of people in tropical and sub-tropical Africa every year. As a visitor to Africa you are also at risk of getting this disease. But with the right precautions you can…

A unique wine tasting phenomenon is going on in the Temecula Valley Wine Country, located about an hour north of San Diego.  While it’s not surprising that the wine aficionados here get together and drink good wine, eat good food, and discuss what they’re eating and drinking, it is interesting that there are several organized groups that meet not just for socialization but for the specific purpose of tasting and reviewing wines from all over the country and the world.  These groups are…

 Rappelling 300 feet down a cliff into the Black Hole

When the Belize Tourist Board asked me to come to Belize to get a taste of their “slice of paradise,” I gladly accepted. As a scuba diver I was well aware that Belize is the world’s second largest barrier reef, only…

When travelling, it's always important to take every necessary precaution in order to ensure your safety and that of family. Driving is no exception. Whether your touring the Costal del Sol, or visiting the…

by Cristóbal Ramírez



Intenté hacer un cálculo: contar el número de veces que se le abrirá la boca en San Petersburgo. Lo más probable es que termine perdiendo la cuenta. Peter, como la denominan sus habitantes igual que si estuvieran llamando a un colega, está construida para…

Undoubtedly the best way to experience other countries and cultures is to visit them in person. But no need to despair if lack of cash or time have you restrained! Virtual travel is alive and well especially with our ever burgeoning technological advances. But don’t just bury your head in your tablet or smart phone vicariously living off other traveler…

Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia's corner of beautiful Borneo, is the capital of Sabah State and the gateway to visiting Sabah and Borneo. Known as KK, it is the largest city on Borneo and the sixth largest in Malaysia.  It is accessible…

With summer in full swing, this year's series of Dragon Boat Festivals is underway today throughout coastal China; called Duan Wu Jie in Mandarin, they're normally held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Historically, this festival marked the beginning of summer and was celebrated to honor the gods in hopes of a good season. While Hong Kong is said to be the best place to go to take part in the festivities, each major coastal city on the mainland holds its own…

“So where in Scotland are you going?” a British colleague asked over lunch. “Edinburgh? Glasgow?”

“Isle of Skye,” I said.

“Ah, the Scottish Highlands,” he sighed. Leaned back and said, slowly,  “We always think of Skye as a spiritual place. I…

The San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Celebration, usually known as San Francisco Pride, is dedicated to education, to the commemoration of LGBT heritage and to the celebration of LGBT culture and liberation. The parade and festival are celebrated every year, for the past 41 years, in the city of…

 It’s 6 AM and the call comes in. It’s the only time these calls come in.

Sometimes the hot summer months do not lend themselves to a desire for a rich, hot meal. Rather, you would prefer to delight in something light and fresh to contrast with the heat and humidity of the season. One such recipe can be found in our BBAV cookbook:

Peach & Pecan Salad with Raspberry Dressing

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp butter

½ cup…

The tours to Tanzania is like adventure tours in the capital of Africa’s safaris origin. Tanzania is a country of magnificent natural splendors, astonishing wildlife, romantic beaches, charming olden…

by Nellie Huang



So what has Malaga got to do with world-renowned artist Pablo Picasso? Malaga is, after all, a place on Spain's Costa del Sol more famous…

New York State is historic.  No matter where one goes in the state there are connections with the past.  Visit some of the 37 historic state parks to learn about the state’s historic role. Oriskany, Johnson Hall, Schuyler Mansion, and…