Edwin

Sound of Music is our family’s favorite movie. We love it so much that during my first trip to Salzburg, Austria a few years ago, I researched all the important addresses used in the movie and drove to a few of them. The trip took a scary turn when I ended up in the wrong part of town and my car got stuck in a small, deserted, muddy road and it started getting dark and cold.

So when my family and I visited Salzburg for the holidays recently, they suggested we take the official Sound of Music City tours run by the Salzburg City Tours (http://www.salzburgcitytours.com). The tour, which has been Salzburg’s most popular tour for over 35 years, lasted about 4 hours at only 40 euros per person. It was worth every penny! We all had an amazing time, and we learned a lot of facts about the movie that were not available online. The guides were very funny, helpful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable (and we even sang songs from the movie on the drive to the different locations.)

Read More›

I was walking across a bridge in Frankfurt so I can photograph the financial district of the city when I started noticing that the tourists were taking photos of the bridge railing instead of the city skyline.

There were thousands of padlocks all along the bridge from people all over the world telling their story of why they were there; to announce an engagement, profess their love, celebrate an anniversary, announce the birth of a child, or to remember a loved one. Eiserner Steg have become a symbol of ever lasting love for romantic couples.

The bridge also offers amazing views of the city’s skyscrapers on one side and historic buildings on other side.

Someday I will profess my love to my future husband on this bridge … after all, fairy tales do come true (And it can happen to me!).

 

While my American friends were celebrating a peaceful Thanksgiving in the US, I’ve decided to sign up for “Dart River Cruise.” I thought- “Wow, how relaxing.” Little did I know that this is what Dart River Cruise is.

The ride lasts for about an hour and 15 minutes at a speed of 50 miles per hour (I’m pretty sure it can go even faster). The river is quite shallow and has lots of twists and turns, with massive boulders at each turn. Dart River is in a very windy valley, and the boat has no protective glass or seatbelt.  As you can see, I was very calm. (NOT!)

To experience this, visit www.dartriver.co.nz/ and live on the edge.

 

Cruised the majestic Marlborough Sounds aboard E-Ko Tours’ vessel on a scenic journey to Mortuara Island. Their catamaran boat was so comfortable and their staff were so knowledgeable and friendly (they even made us hot chocolate, tea and shortbread cookies for the trip- YUM!). We saw some dusky dolphins, fur seals, penguins, king shag (one of the rarest birds in the world), yellow crown kakkariki, saddleback and numerous sea birds from the deck of the boat- what a great experience!

As part of the tour, we hiked up Mortuara Island where the view was spectacular! This tour is a MUST! To book, go to www.e-ko.nz

You won’t regret it! It’s a life changing experience!

 

Any Kiwi will recommend you try New Zealand’s famous green-lipped mussel (or sometimes simply called the New Zealand mussel). That’s because you can only find them here in New Zealand and everyone’s proud of them.

While on the water taxi to my hotel in Raetihi, I asked the driver what makes them so famous and he offered to take a detour to take me to his very own mussel farm. “You should have a taste,” Pete insisted.

After our short adventure, he gave me all the mussels and told me I can give it to the hotel chef at Raetihi Lodge and they can prepare it for me in time for lunch.

WHAT AN AMAZING DAY! I had an amazing lunch and met an amazing guy- thank you Pete! (Kiwi hospitality at its finest).

I asked 6 of my Australian friends which, in their opinion, is the most beautiful part of Australia. I would have bet my house they would all say the Great Barrier Reef or Whitsunday Island, but I couldn’t be more wrong. They unanimously voted Tasmania.

I was working in Melbourne and I had 4 days off between photo shoots, so I booked a flight to Tasmania. From Melbourne, it is a short 55 minute flight and several major airlines including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, flies to Hobart, the capital and most populous city of the Australian island.

I have my travel basics: My cameras, driver’s license, iPhone/GPS, hiking shoes, American Express cards and my passion for adventure. Once in a while, I like to travel this way; There was no set itinerary, no travel companion, no hotel reservations, and no agenda other than take gorgeous photos and enjoy the scenery.

For 4 days, I drove from Hobart to Swansea and Freycinet National Park. I would like to say that I saw so much of Tasmania. Unfortunately, 4 days wasn’t long enough. Over 40% of the island is protected in national parks and reserves and there is so much to see and explore.

The island is roughly the size of Switzerland and ranks as the 26^th largest island in the world. If you are interested in visiting, make sure you have the most essential element of all … time.

Here are a few images from the trip:

Read More›

https://vimeo.com/138131242

The minute I saw it, I just have to have it. The MonoRover is kind of like a Segway without the handlebar.  They range in price from $200 to $1000, but they’re pretty much all the same. I bought mine from Amazon at almost $300 and it took about 3 weeks to ship. They’re manufactured in China, so the instructions were in Chinese (I kid you not. LOL). But you don’t really need an instruction book to learn how to use it. You plug to charge, and a few minutes later, you can zoom around the neighborhood with it.

PS: Wear a helmet!

Portraits of Hope’s latest community art project tossed over a thousand colorful, inflatable spheres in LA’s MacArthur Park Lake. All of the gigantic, playful balls were hand painted by 3,500 to 5,000 members of the community, both young and old. Entitled “Spheres at MacArthur Park,” this public art and civic initiative has been seven years in the making.

Los Angelenos were treated to this delightful exhibition early this week at MacArthur Park (Address: 2230 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90057). The inflatable floating spheres were painted in brightly colored floral and aquatic designs and ranged in size from 4 – 6 ft. in diameter making for fantastic vistas at the park.

Read More›

Nicole, her boyfriend of over 6 years Kris and her family, walked 60K in Montreal at the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers to help raise money and awareness for cancer. They flew all the way from BC to do this event in Montreal.  It was such a great day – they met some wonderful people, had a lot of fun (despite the scorching weather) and enjoyed the sights of Montreal. At the finish line, Nicole was so excited to have completed the 60K walk. Then, she got the surprise of her life.

https://vimeo.com/137151085

At the finish line, her mother nudged me and said, “You may want to take a picture of this! I did better, I got videos and photos. This you have to see.

 

 

While on a business trip in Toronto, my client gave me a rather small hotel budget of $150 to $175/night. If you’ve ever been to Toronto, you know that the only way you can get a hotel room at that rate is to stay at the hotels/motels by the airport, right under the flight path of the planes.

Every trip, I would stay at different Toronto hotels hoping to find a place that I love- a hotel that is trendy, offers great service, cool ambiance, great value, and ideal for having clients over for  cocktails or coffee. I came across Gladstone Hotel through Travelocity and I was able to get a room for $150/night. For the price, the accommodations turned out to be fantastic.

Room 301: The Skygazer Room

The Gladstone Hotel was built in 1889 and named after Gladstone Avenue, next to the hotel. It was designed by local architect G.M. Miller in the Romanesque revival style. The Gladstone Hotel is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Toronto. The Gladstone is a fine example of a Victorian Hotel with beautiful plaster moldings in the grand hallways.

What makes the hotel unique is there is art space or gallery on every floor and each room has been designed by a Canadian artist.  It offers 37 one-of-a-kind hotel rooms from the winning artists. I stayed at room 301, otherwise known as “The Skygazer Room.” The room, decorated in all white furniture, sheets, curtains and accessories, has a meditative or pure ambiance created by the 3D wall treatment of specialized plaster relics shaped like parts of a robot. Yes, the rooms are quite small, but its character makes up for it.

 

Aside from the unique art hotel rooms, Gladstone Hotel has over 70 art exhibitions a year, 3 dedicated gallery spaces and 1 full-time Director of Exhibitions. Art is on display in all corners of the hotel which are open to the public like gallery spaces. The lobby and the lobby bar and restaurant are filled with interesting and cool guests. It has that music or art industry type scene, without being the least bit pretentious.

Since each room represents a different artist’s vision, no two stays will be the same! I can’t wait to visit again and discover other artworks.

Common Area is ideal for having guests over

Each floor has a gallery

Gallery and reception area on the 3rd floor

If you’re an art lover, you would love exploring each floor.

The bar on the first floor has so much character.

 

The restaurant is buzzing at night!

You have to take the elevator – it is quite an experience.
You can learn more about this hotel at: http://www.gladstonehotel.com