Meandering from the pulpit
New directions for gospel emerges in Barbados, comedy to jazz (Bridgetown) Finding oneself among throngs of believers singing songs of praise on the Caribbean island of Barbados was decidedly uplifting. The atmosphere at the Sunset Concert of Gospelfest in Barbados was a stark contrast to the urban secularism and its cynical attitudes towards just about [...]
Cuban alternatives
Cuba is not waiting for change, to change. Despite slow progress in normalizing relations with the United States, the island-nation is diversifying its tourism infrastructure. As far as tourism is concerned, despite difficult times for the nations economy; Cuba is following its own agenda.
Travels with tollbooths
With less flights taking off, airlines have increased prices and passengers are forced to grapple with a plethora of taxes, fuel surcharges, baggage fees and pay-for-service in-flight entertainment and even food and beverage services. Passengers are forced to acquiesce to a flying experience that has turned into tollbooth-style air-travel.
Northern healing
While I set out on a journey to experience luxurious spas in order to tiptoe into the good life, it did have the inadvertent result of undoing some of the tension that I had acquired during a long and painful year living with a severely herniated disc. More than pampering; this became a journey of healing.
Neighbourly visitation
When regional tourism ministers gathered last week for talks in the midst of masses of zipping mopeds in a bustling Ho Chi Minh City; the world economic crises was the furthest thing from their minds. That is because – fueled by growing inter-regional tourism – leaders here say that they have already moved into post-crisis mode.
Cowboys and elephants
There was something strangely reassuring sitting bareback high above a four-ton Asian elephant in the northern reaches of Thailand. With my legs tucked snugly behind her ears, being on top seemed more comforting than possibly being underneath. Holding on to an elephant’s bristly forehead as she bathed in a slow-moving river was pleasantly contemplative. That my elephant named Ewong was semi-retired and not quite as agile as the rest was just fine with me.
Faith in the Holy Land
Ironic as it may be, Christian tourism to Israel is fuelling this country’s economy like at no other time. It is this group – spurned on by popular evangelical pastors in the US – that have become the nation’s most ardent supporters.
Photography
MAY 2011 SCOTIABANK CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL A month-long festival of photography exhibits in Toronto, Canada. From photo-documentary projects to conceptual narrative approaches to image making, the examination of « Figure and Ground » as metaphor, allegory, composition or probe will fuel the focus for Contact 2011. Dates: May 1-31, 2011 City, Country: Toronto, Canada Tel.: [00] 1 [...]
Dance
FEBRUARY 2011 BACHATA FESTIVAL For the first time ever, the Bachata Festival comes to the Dominican Republic. The Festival has 4 days of workshops and 4 nights of parties. The focus is on the Dominican way of dancing Bachata. The will have only Dominican instructors, Dominican workshop attendees and a huge amount of Dominicans in [...]
Michael Flatley
For all of you who don’t relish the hype and hoopla of a new show from the Irish dance bonanza-king, Michael Flatley: brace yourselves. The Lord of the Dance and his well-bosomed patriotic tap-dancing chicks are back, and they are taking the stage by storm.