No matter where I currently live and what my favourite town is (which is definitely Cape Town), Landau was, is, and will be my so-called home town.
Although I have only lived directly in Landau for a couple of years it is at least the closest town to where I come from. It is where I went to school, where I started going out, where I return to when I live abroad. Landau is beautiful. It is a jewel in the south-western part of Germany. It is in the middle of the Südpfälzer winelands. It has a historic centre. It has charm. Continue reading “Landau – home sweet home”→
This past December /January holidays I decided to stay in South Africa and show my family where I live. My aunt and uncle flew in to spend 3 weeks here and of course wanted to see and experience as much as possible. South Africa has a lot to offer. Besides a beautiful scenery and landscape there is definitely a vast choice of excellent restaurants with creative menus and amazing wines. Knowing that my family are gourmets, I was quite surprised by their excitement about the South African restaurant landscape which they ended up calling one of the best although it didn’t really start off well.
I booked Christmas lunch at the Cradle Restaurant in the Cradle of Humankind just outside Johannesburg. Having been there twice before I was never disappointed. So, I gathered friends and family and booked a table about two months in advance. The view and the location is still spectacular.. but that’s about it! The food was below average, the service was bad and a friend of mine found a caterpillar in her rocket salad.. Last but not least, the waiter gave about 100Rand change to little.. of course, out of mistake!!!
It could only get better.. and it did. Especially in Cape Town. Proof enough that Cape Town is the better place to eat out? Maybe.
First stop in Cape Town was Five Flies. Situated in a national monument the atmosphere is already worth going. The food was delicious, the wine could even impress my Spanish wine loving uncle. We ended up with a five course meal and had an evening full of laughter and fun.
The next top-notch restaurant was Aubergine, run by a German chef and located in the historical part of Gardens it was in the German media shortly before my family’s trip and therefore on their wish list. We were lucky that other guests cancelled their reservations, so we got a last-minute call to confirm our booking. Brilliant wine pairing with delicious food was the outcome. The evening included a first for me. First time I had Abalone. Not quite sure what to think of it yet (on that note.. I actually once read a book in which they murdered for it, so maybe that was still stuck in my mind).
One of the most anticipated eat-outs was Reuben’s in Cape Town. Reuben Riffel is one of South Africa’s most liked chefs. His restaurant “Reuben'”s in Franschhoek well-known and famous for its creative cuisine. When I heard that he had just opened his first urban restaurant in the luxurious One&Only in Cape Town, I decided to book a table for uncle’s 50th birthday celebration. Situated right next to Nobu’s (world-class master chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa’s first African restaurant), I wasn’t sure if I made the right choice. All doubts vanished as we go there! They loved it. The interior, the menu and… the sommelier. Very knowledgable and a sales talent! He managed to sell us a more expensive chardonnay for starters then the red wine for main. I was told before that Chardonnay tastes like butter, but I was never able to get my taste buds trained enough. I think with this one, no taste buds need to be trained… it just tastes like… well, butter. If you feel like testing or tasting: Glen Carlou, Quartz Stone. Back to the restaurant experience. It was almost keeping up to the expectations, except that they didn’t give us enough time to finish our sorbet between second and third course.. maybe something to look past, given all the other positive experiences.
Final verdict: South Africa and especially Cape Town surprises tourists by its density of great restaurants.
Rishikesh is a small town in northern India. Aka as “the yoga capital of the world”. It is where the Ganges River comes down from the Himalaya. When you google Rishikesh most results will display the words “yoga” or “ashram”. Lonely planet explains it this way: “Rishikesh is very New Age: you can learn to play the sitar or tabla on your hotel roof; try laughing yoga; practise humming or gong meditation; experience crystal healing and all styles of massage; have a go at chanting mantras; and listen to spiritually uplifting CDs as you sip Ayurvedic tea with your vegetarian meal.
But it’s not all spiritual. Rishikesh is now a popular white-water rafting centre, backpacker hang-out, and gateway to treks in the Himalaya.” Continue reading “Rishikesh – Gateway to the Himalayas”→
Some time ago another opportunity came up to promote the airline I am working for.. and this time, I didn’t let the opportunity slip through of going with! So, two weeks ago, I went on this amazing trip to Switzerland with Top Billing (the local TV lifestyle show I was talking about).
The theme of the trip was “Summer in Switzerland”. It was all about activities visitors can do in Switzerland in summertime. Switzerland better known as a skiing destination, wants to promote its sunny side to the rest of the world. I guess in some parts of the world people think that it is snowing all year round in Switzerland. Well, we saw picture perfect Heidi-landscapes, lush forests, picturesque mountain ranges (yes, with snow-capped mountains) and post card like villages. The programme was packed.. in just 3 days we visited Lucerne, took a boat trop, adventured in a robepark, filmed how to make pralinés, learned about history, had a panoramic train ride, went up the mountains, blew the Alphorn, were taught how to make cheese fondue, stayed in one of the best hotels in Switzerland, did Paragliding, and rounded it all up with a local beer at Hooters (oh yes.. the boys…).
It was the first time that I had a view behind the scenes. It was rather interesting to see how a travel feature on TV is made. The crew was fun, too. We laughed so much and had a great time together – not always a given when you are forced together for 14 hours a day and longer. The presenter, who is a local celebrity was way too much fun, too. Down to earth and humble – so basically the opposite of what I expected him to be (I really feared, I’d have to deal with a male diva). It went so well, that we would like to plan more trips overseas. To promote the airline, obviously..
I spent a lazy Friday evening on my new couch and just watched TV – I was looking forward to a nice movie on it but there was nothing on. I have also put my plan to watch The Help thislong weekend on hold, after my dear friend ZKV recommended not to watch it.. when it comes to literature, she is one of the few whose judgement I fully trust.
So, I ended up on VUZU where “The Bachelor” was screening. I’m not proud of myself to admit that I actually watched it.. but it’s one of these things, although it is completely non-sense you somehow stick with it. ( The subject might even be new content for a future post.. watch the space!!!). Now, what made me stuck with the programme was that the episode was taking place in SOUTH AFRICA. The Bachelor and his 6 (or was it 8??) girls were all flown over and did the most amazing things: Safaris, Cape Town. Continue reading “South Africa – the media starlett”→
When you have it you don’t appreciate it enough. It is only once that specific something is gone that you realize how much you actually miss it! I guess it also applies if you replace the “thing” in something with “one”. In my case it often happens to places, cities, and that sort of things.
It started when I lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a teenager, I hated it!! From the bottom of my heart. I always used to compare my life to my friends’ lives back home in Germany. I was complaining that we didn’t have the freedom they had (to go out, to go to the movies and so on and on and on). Reality was, that we had a better live there: making friends from all over the world, living in an almost year-around summer climate (coming home from school, homework and meeting friends at the pool), being able to stay out late hours because we were living in these closed off compounds and so on and so on. So, looking at it from my point of view now, all I can say is that it was one of the best times of my life and my parents did us a huge favour by moving there.
The same applies to Mannheim — the city where I went to university to. Gosh, how most of us hated it. It offers one of the best universities in Germany but that’s about it what the city has to offer. Well.. at least that’s what most of us thought back then. Then, during my most recent trip to Germany, I made a pit stop in Mannheim. It was literally only a pit stop. I was on my way from Frankfurt to my hometown when I made a little detour and stopped in Mannheim for about 20 min. All I wanted to do was to check out that one shop that I liked so much when I used to live there. Even the parking ticket was valid for just the 20 min that I had planned to stay.
I did end up in that shop and then I ended up walking past my university. Have you had this before.. that some unknown power kind of pulls you into a direction you actually didn’t intend to go? So, I walked the same route again after years that I used to walk every day while living there. Wow! It was like a flashback.. so many memories coming back. And guess what: I realized that I spent (again) one of the best times of my life in Mannheim. We had a great student life back then.
Don’t they say: “Third time lucky”?? Well, I guess that Jozi could be seen as the third city. OMG, how I hated this place when I first moved here.. Coming from beautiful Cape Town, it was a nightmare at the beginning. But.. the older you get the wiser you become or I have just subconsciously realised not to make the same mistake a third time.. I really love Jo’burg now. It did take me about 2 years to do so but then it finally clicked. I am just glad it did so while I was still living here. It makes you enjoy the place much more.
I know though, that one day, when I’ve moved away, I will have this homesick feeling… Just like I have it when I think back of my time in Riyadh and in Mannheim..
First Cape Town, then Beirut and now Seattle: I seem to fall in love with cities instead of falling in love with men. Well, at least they are more reliable than most men (Won’t leave you, won’t cheat on you, won’t let you down). Oh, and another good thing is that you can basically be in love with more than one without having to choose.
Well, at the moment Seattle is the one I am having a serious crush on. It hit me out of nowhere. Love at first sight. Apparently, Seattle having more rainy days than sunny days, it must have been love at first sight the other way around too. How else must I interpret 3 sunny and unusually mild days in a row – beginning of February??? So, my introduction to this city could have not been any better.
Seattle and I are basically a match made in heaven: I love coffee – Seattle is based on coffee! I mean, I have never seen so many coffee shops in a city than in Seattle. Starbucks first coffee shop was opened at Pike Place Market! Still keeping the original look from 1972 and even the logo is still the old one. At least I can say, that I have been in any coffee addict’s heaven!
Second match point: Pike Place Market. I love markets. Cherries in chocolate, fresh fish (can be packed freshly to survive up to 48 hours of travelling), all sorts of fruits and of course gifts in all varieties. There is nothing more relaxing for me than walking over a market with my take away coffee in my hand. Perfect to do so in Seattle.
Third match point: Walking. At least on sunny days, walking through town is just delightful. I never thought I’d say that, but living in Jo’burg where no one who owns a car ever walks (not even to go to the shop around the corner), I really appreciate the freedom of walking through town. And so we walked… from the Waterfront all the way to Lake Union (and back). At Lake Union I had the pleasure of going onboard a seaplane and take a flight over the city – which was just amazing (so a big THANK YOU goes out to my pilot).
Fourth match point: Delicious food. Since Seattle is a coastal town fresh seafood of all sorts can be found anywhere. Not to miss the vast variety of oysters (all cultivated around Seattle of course).
Match Point #1: Coffee!!! First Starbucks Shop (image courtesy of starbucksmelody.com)
Match Point #2: Pike Place MarketMatch Point #3: Lovely Cityscape (taken onboard)Match Point #4: delicious Seafood (this pictures our second sample of oysters)
I only spent 48 hours in Seattle.. just enough to give me a glimpse into the character of this city and enough to give me appetite for more. I enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere, the coffee-culture, the architecture of downtown and the sneak-preview I had into Capitol Hill…
My verdict: I’ve spent the best 48 hours in a very long time in a city that needs to be explored more (maybe I should look for a job at Microsoft or Boeing). I have enjoyed great company and got spoilt rotten. 33 hours in the plane to spend 48 in Seattle were more than worth it!
Recently, I found Vicky’s blog (Vicky and I know each other from yeeeeaars ago when we both lived in Saudi Arabia) and today I finally took the time to read through it. I think it’s brilliant! Especially the posts about survival in Hong Kong! Having spent some months in Hong Kong as a student a decade ago, I would like to return to Hong Kong as a professional now. Should this happen (I’m trying to work something out!!!) – I will listen to your tips, Vicky!!! Thank you.
If someone had to ask my close friends what I really can’t stand, the answer would be homogeneously: “packing!!” I have probably mentioned it hundred of times in various conversations. To put some more emphasis on it, I want to shout out loud again.. I HATE PACKING!
Dubrovnik in Croatia is definitely in the top 10 on my must-see-places wishlist.
Since my job is to market an airline, I am constantly on the look-out for great opportunities to increase brand awareness. The last one that came up was to partner with a South African lifestyle TV show and to sponsor the flights to its travel feature destination. Pity, I wasn’t able to join the TV crew…
Here is a preview of tomorrow’s show.
It looks like I’m about to visit my third African destination. Considering that I am living in Africa this is actually a shame. Whenever someone asks me how many countries I’ve already visited in Africa, I always say the same thing: “I think I will come back to Africa to explore once I live in Europe again because at the moment I spend all my holidays mostly in Europe, mainly to visit friends and family”.
So, this morning I received the news that my visa for Angola was ready!!! After just 2 days!!! Record time, I believe! All ready for my business trip to Luanda and my visit to my third African country end of this month – to make it sound even more shameful: Angola will be my second sub-Saharan country (I’ve been to Egypt, but for some odd and unexplainable reason Egypt isn’t typical African to me).
I have no idea what to expect and to be honest I am even a bit nervous. It’s for the first time ever in my life that I’m nervous before a trip. It feels like I am going to the REAL Africa. South Africa is in so many aspects comparable to a first world country (at least the parts of Jo’burg I live and work in – coming back to my mission to make Jo’burg look more favourable) that I don’t feel like I am in Africa most of the time.
So, watch this space to hear more about Luanda after my trip..
Greetings from Cape Town (which also feels more like Europe than Africa..)
I spent last night with a great bunch of people at 44 Stanley Avenue. Whenever I’m at 44 Stanley Ave I get reminded of how eclectic Jo’burg actually is and to give the non-Jo’burgers a hint of this city’s vibe, I decided to post something about Jo’burg’s best kept secret. I was introduced to 44 Stanley Ave more than 4 years ago when I first moved to Jozi and fell in love with this hidden away piece of city straight away.
What was once a refinery and a series of industrial buildings is now a relaxed “Hinterhof-Culure” with boutiques, restaurants and design studios. Looking at it from the outside it does not reveal what’s hidden behind its walls: artistic flair, a meeting point for Jo’burg’s intellectuals, a trendscout’s paradise. Sitting under olive trees and sipping your coffee or a freshly-squeezed ginger-apple-carrot juice (my favourite at Salvation Café) makes you wonder if you are actually still in Jo’burg. For me, being a German, it reminds me a lot of Berlin, for a Dutch it could well be Amsterdam, and then there are two lanes to play Boule, lined with beautiful rose bushes and lavender, that makes you feel ike you are somewhere in France.
At 44 Stanley you can find a complete different vibe compared to those in Sandton, Melrose or Rosebank (Jo’burg’s other suburbs I usually find myself at). Some might call it more alternative, some others more intellectual, others say it reminds them a bit of the laid-back Cape Townian look and feel – whatever it is, it attracts more and more visitors and I fear that sooner or later it won’t be a secret spot anymore… which again makes me wonder if it is a good thing to post this post??? (I guess if you read this, I couldn’t hold back..) But then again, I made it my mission to show non South Africans that Jo’burg is a much nicer place than what the media portrays..
What’s a blog that is talking about travelling without recommendations for the most beautiful hotels and hippest hideaways? That’s why I just have to share my favourite website with you: i-escape.com A hand-picked portfolio of beautiful boutique hotels, B&Bs and houses for rent, in some of the world’s most stunning locations.
This site is more than just an online booking engine – it’s inspiration, it’s motivation, it’s stimulation.
"Lion's View" in Camps Bay, Cape Town
Isn’t planning your holiday part of the fun? The anticipation, the excitement, the “looking at the pictures and day dreaming” – for me, that is all part of a perfect holiday. Of course a perfect holiday can also consist of the unknown, the “go with the flow” and see where it takes you. Packing your bags and just leave to somewhere is most probably just as exciting as looking at pictures beforehand for a lot of people. Generally, I am not a spontaneous traveller. I need to plan, knowing where I’ll be staying and most importantly getting excited long before the actual departure date. That’s why this website is one of my favorite ones.
My dear colleague pointed out an interesting article in the Business Travel Now magazine today. According to the magazine “German tourism is booming! The destination has announced a record-breaking 60,3 million overnight stays by international visitors last year and expects the upward trend to continue in 2011…Germany ranks 2nd amongst the world’s top 50 countries in terms of image“
The article also suggests a couple of scenic self-drive routes. Amongst others, my home-route!!! The German Wineroute.
It is fascinating how you start to discover your country once you live abroad. It makes me want to go on a holiday to Germany!
With shame I admit that there was a time when I wasn’t proud to be German. For generations my family has been of German heritage. We come from the southwest of Germany, close to the French border. There might have been times when the region my family comes from belonged to France and then to Germany again, then France fought back for it and so on until it became permanently German after WW2. The family history goes back to the 14thcentury, wow, we even have a family coat of arms (which hangs on a wall in my grandparents’ house and since we were kids my cousins and myself have asked ourselves why there is an elephant represented??? We haven’t figured it out yet!).
I became more conscious of my heritage after the 2006 FIFA World Cup which was held in Germany and left a rather positive image of Germans to the rest of the world. The more recent events of the Euro crisis and Germany being seen as the economic power house of Europe and possible saviour of the Euro made me even more proud of being able to call myself German. Also, my last few trips to Germany made me aware how beautiful this country actually is, how efficient everything works, how I identify myself with the social virtues and the values lived. Although I’d describe myself as a cosmopolitan, having lived in a few countries, deep down I am carrying stereotypical German values and morals, like being on-time, hard-working, pragmatic, conscientious, etc…
Experiencing this new sense of patriotism, I was deeply touched by an article I read in the lasted edition of the Time Magazine (Volume 178, No 13):
In the article the question comes up why Germany is so reluctant to take the lead? “The answer is rooted in history. German leaders’ attempts to control the country’s neighbours haven’t ended well, and Germans are wary of being seen as trying to dominate Europe diplomatically or economically even today… Yet, if anyone likes it or not, Germany is dominating Europe.” says the journalist.
Is our historical background the reason why I wasn’t proud be German for about half my life? Having lived in Saudi Arabia for 5 years where Nazi-Germany is still glorified, might explain why Germany’s history has always been very present to me. Something no sane German is proud of, I am certain. So, I am proud that my fellow countrymen and -women were able to revise the general perception of Germans during the 2006 World Cup. I hope that I am able to portray a friendly, nice, generous, funny image of the Germans to all the people I have met and to the friends I have made across the globe.
I don’t know where my future will take me to – maybe I’ll move back to Germany, maybe I’ll get posted to another country first, maybe I’ll get married to a man with another nationality and follow him into his home country.. no matter where I’ll be, I will always be proud of my German heritage and culture and will take it out there into the world!
I FINALLY managed to watch “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” last night. Thanks to a nasty cold that robbed me off my voice I decided to spend another Saturday night on my beloved couch and get a DVD. Vicky Cristina Barcelona(VCB) was high up on my list since I watched “Midnight in Paris” recently. Some might like it, some don’t, I do – Woody Allen’s virtual city guides covered by romantic love stories. Just like Midnight in Paris, VCB shows you the most famous sight-seeing spots of the respective city.
I love Barcelona! I love the Barri Gòtic with its gothic architecture, I love El Raval with its medieval character and I love Baceloneta with its baroque charm. I have spent the first 8 summers of my life in Barcelona. Then, after a long time of absence, I returned when I was in my twenties and since then I keep on coming back on a more or less regular basis.
My favorite Spot: Parc Guell
My last visit to this city was somehow surreal and just like Vicky and Cristina I fell in love. Needless to say that just like Vicky’s or Cristina’s love story mine didn’t end with the happy end of a fairy tale either. Is it the influence of the likes of Picasso, Miro and Gaudi that shapes the way love goes in Barcelona? Thinking back, I realise that I already fell in love on the way to Barcelona in the plane (I can actually picture the exact moment). Not yet noticed by me back then, I was under the impression that it knocked me over at Parc Guell (Gaudi, another feature of Barcelona that makes it so unique compared to any other city). I finally melted away at the bar of the W. Where, in the spur of the moment and both of us already quite tipsy from all those Mojitos, I hear him say that he thinks he is falling in love with me. If he had only known that this had already happened to me (he would have probably not said anything at all ;)).
W Barcelona
El Palace Barcelona
I have a feeling that the hotel we stayed in played its magical part, too. The baroque building with its pompous entrance hall, heavy curtains in the rooms and yet mixed with temporary furniture makes you feel you have entered another era. Centrally located, it is definitely a place to stay for lovers! Totally romantic!
When I watched VCB yesterday there was something Maria Elena said that just wouldn’t leave my mind throughout the night: “Only unfulfilled love can be romantic”. ..No matter how my story ended, this trip to Barcelona has been the most romantic trip of my life. I was never so happily in love before; I don’t want to miss those spontaneous kisses in the streets, spending the mornings in bed and the feeling of being in love in this magical city. Therefore I can truly say that it was definitely one of the best trips of my life!
My conclusion: I have only the fondest memories of this catalan city and I will definitely go back. Next time, I will visit my childhood love: Floquet de Neu (Snow Flake). He is the attraction of the Barcelona Zoo, a snow-white Gorilla. I remember nagging my parents every summer we were there to visit him in the zoo. I would like to know if he is actually still alive?
I guess I’m becoming more and more helplessly romantic the older I get! My personal tip for everyone visiting Prague is a small bridge – I don’t even know if it carries a name – on Velkoprevorske Namesti. The railing is packed with love padlocks. Couples attach them to the bridge and then drop the keys in the stream below. In each padlock is either a date, or names, or both engraved. Locking their lives together, forever! Isn’t that just too adoring?
It’s a new habit all over Europe, so I have heard. A novel by Italian author Federico Moccia started this hype in Rome that then spread rapidly to neighbouring countries and beyond. Apparently, bridges like “my bridge” in Prague can be found all over Europe: Rome, Paris, Copenhagen, even Cologne (Germany definitely being the least romantic place). Padlocks in all shapes and colours, promising eternal love to Mr Right or Mrs Perfect in many languages, take over public fences, gates or bridges. Is this the secret key to an everlasting relationship or marriage?
What happens when the once honeymooners grow apart and continue living separate lives? Will they go back and dive in the river to search for their keys to unlock their chained hearts? Most probably not. This concerns me a little.. and here I allow myself to be very selfish! I would like to go back one day to “my bridge”, the one with the water wheel behind it, the one that our driver showed us in the middle of the night when no one else was there, the one that symbolises romanticism to me. I would like to lock my love into a padlock and throw away the key while looking into the eyes of the man of my dreams… one day.
For quite some time already I have this image of pilots wandering around my inner eye: good-looking, overly self-confident, charming, flirtatious, exciting, non-committed… short: PLAYERS. This image has mostly been shaped by stories I heard… “a friend of a friend whose flying husband cheated on her with this striking hot flight attendant while she was seven-months pregnant”… blah blah blah. All just unconfirmed stories since I actually never met a pilot myself. Then, FINALLY beginning of last year I did at a conference (nights in the bar included)! And since all good things come in threes, I met 3 at the same time!!!
All three of them extremely nice and all three of them heavily flirting with me. Two of them married – Preconception # 1 confirmed! The third one calling my room at 3 am (after the bar closed and we all wanted to catch some sleep) asking if he could come over because we didn’t really have a chance to chat. And his voice.. not stuttering at all – so this was definitely not the first time he called at a female colleague’s room in the middle of the night – Preconception # 2 confirmed! Oh yes…he is extremely good-looking, charming with a smile of note (I will only speak about the not married one here) – Preconception #3 confirmed!
But this is just my personal view, which might be influenced by my history with men and consequential trust-issues in general.So, what’s the other stereotypical image of a pilot:
Reader’s Digest’, manager magazine, Unispiegel and other more or less trustworthy sources all confirm through conducted surveys that one of the most trusted professions is the one of a pilot. I suppose there is some truth behind it.. Think about it: When you hear that someone is a pilot there is automatically some kind of respect involved. It might be because we know that their training programme is quite tough, starting already with the selection process of those who want to become one: Their eyesight must be perfect, they must have a certain height (although I don’t know why.. don’t they sit most of the time???) and they must be able to multi task (here, all male pilots definitely earn my portion of respect). Once the few chosen ones have been selected and successfully finished their training over the Arizonan desert, they will take over the responsibility of carrying up to 526 passengers (at least in an A380) safely from one airport to their other. Yip that also gives them a few more extra points! On top, the general opinion is that they earn their fair share of the huge responsibility they take over (well, this is definitely the case at the company I am working for). And often, respect for a profession comes with the income scale they are in.
Recently I came across a newspaper article that confirmed MY image. Titillating photographs showing two crew members, widely reported to be a pilot and a flight attendant, in decidedly compromising positions appeared in the Hong Kong news media. Both were fired and Cathay’s planned ad campaign which bears the slogan “meet the team that goes the extra mile,” had to be postponed.
I had sent this article to my pilot friend (yes, the one who called my room in the middle of the night) and he laughed his head of… mmhhhhh is this in agreement or in disagreement?????? I wonder….
I love coffee – Seattle is based on coffee! I mean, I have never seen so many coffee shops in a city than in Seattle. Starbucks first coffee shop was opened at Pike Place Market! Still keeping the original look from 1972 and even the logo is still the old one. At least I can say, that I have been in any coffee addict’s heaven!
Today I am busy packing for 3 upcoming business trips. All happening within the next 10 days…, 
I spent last night with a great bunch of people at 
Confessions of a Traveler 