I was featured by TV New Zealand when Lonely Planet picked New Zealand as one of its top destinations in 2015. I really enjoyed my trip to Auckland- seeing myself on TV was icing on the cake.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/new-zealand-recommended-gay-and-lesbian-tourists-video-6113375
Thanks TV NZ for the great coverage, and thanks New Zealand for the warm hospitality!
The El Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore located at 1860 Sante Fe Ave, Buenos Aires, Argentina is not your ordinary bookstore. It has been voted one of the most beautiful bookshop in the world.
What makes this bookstore unique? It opened as a theater called Teatro Gran Splendid in May 1919 and in February 2000, the building was renovated and converted into a book and music shop. With 21,000 square feet of retail space, it welcomes over a million guests each year from all over the world.
The cinema seating was removed and in its place book shelves were installed. The stage is now a coffee shop (You have to try their meat empanadas! They are to die for!). The box office is now a cashier.
Upon entry, you step up into what used to be a large performing arts venue. The main floor is split wide open by the staircase down to the music and children’s section. The upper levels have a smaller rotunda and then an open section facing the main stage.
Despite the renovation, the architect was able to maintain the grand elements of the theater – The frescoes on the ceiling, the ornate carvings, the grand staircase, the crimson stage curtains, the auditorium lighting and many architectural details remain. The building still retains the feeling of the grand theatre it once was.
Read More›I’ve stayed at a lot of hotel rooms and Bungalow 232 at the
intercontinental Hotel Thalasso Bora Bora is by far the most beautiful one!
While prices vary depending on the season, it averages at $700-$1,500/night.
Is it worth it? Most definitely! Let me show you around my room!
What are you looking to do on your vacation? Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, adventure, beach & sun, casinos, fabulous resort, family trip, relaxation, spas, architectural wonders, ancient cities, skiing, food tripping or shopping, there are many amazing options for all interests and budgets.
Perhaps one of these images I took from around the world can help you decide where to spend your vacation. (Not in any particular order)
1) ROME, ITALY: Pilgrimage, museums and great food
2) BALI, INDONESIA: Fabulous (and inexpensive) hotels/villas, spas, family getaway and relaxing vacation
3) VENICE, ITALY: Romantic getaway and great food
4) LAKE LOUISE, CANADA: Picturesque landscape, road trip, hiking and majestic mountains
5) NAPA, CALIFORNIA: Great wine and cuisine and beautiful scenery
6) PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES: Beaches, snorkeling, family trip, and diving
7) LONDON, ENGLAND: Architecture, history and art
8) MARRAKESH, MORROCO, : Adventure, fabulous hotels and landscape
9) SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA : Wonderful shopping, cool restaurants and landmarks
10) RONDA, SPAIN: Great weather, architecture, and breathtaking mountains and beaches
11) CARMEL, CALIFORNIA: Dramatic shoreline, world-famous golf, and spas
12) CANCUN. MEXICO : Adventure, parties, beautiful beaches and pyramids
13) LAKE COMO, ITALY : Outlet shopping, picturesque lakes and alps, wonderful architecture
14) ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: Picturesque city, great people watching and beautiful lakes
15) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Hot surfers, great beaches and party town!
16) SALZBURG, AUSTRIA: Beautiful town, quaint shops, charming architecture and history
17) BEIJING, CHINA: Great Wall of China and Olympic Village, and culture
18) GRAND CANYON, NEVADA : Nature, landscape, road trip and family trip
19) SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: Adventure, cultural immersion, religious trip and relaxation
20) OIA, GREECE: Breathtaking landscape, beach, sailing, food trip and relaxation
I’d like to take credit and say that I discovered this incredibly decadent hotel after a long, exhaustive research. But the truth is, a friend I was traveling with booked it for us.
When my friend Ethan told me that he has booked our hotel, I immediately asked for the website. “You don’t understand Ethan,” I warned him, “I want something straight out of the ‘King and I’ set … I want a hotel that has Balinese charm, but with Western amenities.” Sure enough, Arma Hotel Bali provided both. Arma Resort is what you have envisioned your magical Balinese vacation to be (and more).
ARMA RESORT offers beautiful, comfortable accommodations in a serene and lush environment. The resort is set amidst 10 acres (4 hectares) of landscaped gardens, rice fields, lotus ponds, pools, stream and fountains. This place truly reflects the essence of Bali in sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
Read More›The main attraction at Changi International Airport in Singapore is not its fancy duty free shops, state of the art lounges, or its fancy architecture – but its art sculpture.
“Kinetic Rain” was created by Berlin Firm ART+COM. It consists of two sets of 608 suspended raindrops made from lightweight aluminum covered in copper and is computationally controlled by complex programming and computers. Each raindrop weighs 180 grams (6.3 oz) and is suspended by a thin wire. These beautiful raindrops are raised and lowered in a 15-minute computationally designed choreography controlled from motors embedded in the ceiling. The raindrops morph into different shapes such as airplanes, kites or hot air balloons.
This unique moving sculpture was installed in early July 2012 in the Departure-Check-in hall of Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi Airport.
According to Art+Com, the sculpture “aims to be a source of identity for its location, and provides a moment for passengers to contemplate and reflect.”
Planning our trip to Coron, Palawan was kind of difficult and frustrating. I asked a few friends, Googled it and read blogs, and no one could really explain how to plan a trip to Coron.
Having visited the island, I can go on and on about the beauty of Coron, but instead, I’d like to dedicate this article on helping you plan your trip. Just follow these simple steps and you’re guaranteed to have an amazing time:
1) Book your plane ticket thru Philippine Airlines (www.PhilippineAirlines.com). There are two flights from Manila to Busuanga (Coron) daily. Flight takes 45 minutes and costs anywhere from $90 to $350 depending on how far in advance you book your flights.
2) Book your hotel at Asia Grand View (AsiaGrandView.com). It’s one of the best hotels on the island and it’s pretty reasonably priced from $100-$150 depending on the season. And for $7/person, their van can pick you up at the airport. Just give them a call to arrange for pick up.
3) Upon arrival, the front desk will ask you if you would like to book an island hopping/beach excursion. They have four options and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. They have an amazing team of people who picked us from the hotel, took us on a boat to the crystal clear lagoons, and cooked us our lunch on the boat while we snorkeled. Menu included grilled fish, grilled pork chop, pork steak, cucumber salad and drinks. Packages start at P1200/person ($30). You have an option to join a tour group or have a private boat.
4) Pack your bags.
Yes, it’s that simple! So book your flights today before the entire world discovers these islands.
One of the largest Halloween street parties in the world happens in West Hollywood, California, just 6 blocks from our house.
On October 31st, you will see the craziest, most creative, most artistic and most absurd costumes you’d ever see. Over 300,000 people attend the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval street party on Santa Monica Boulevard (from La Cienega to Robertson). Visitors prepare to bring your camera – you will have a blast! Admission is free and the event starts at 6 PM and runs until 1 AM.
Here are a few of the best costumes of 2014.
Read More›
ADVENTURES IN LIFE. ADVENTURES IN LOVE. ADVENTURES IN GIVING.
It took a lot of friends to convince me to join Facebook. I resisted because I’m actually quite a private person. But my friend Brian advised me to open an account – so for good measure, I did. I didn’t know it would change my life.
My Facebook account soon replaced email as my way to communicate with my family to keep them abreast of my whereabouts. Sometimes, I over share because I lose sight that I am not just talking to my family anymore- there are 2,500 others reading this. Luckily, many friends didn’t mind my posts, in fact, got engaged.
Last year, a friend who was going through chemo wrote me a note “When I was going through my treatments, I would try not to log on for a week. That way I can read your posts and your friends’ witty comments when I am on my treatment. They made me laugh.” Another friend who was going through a bad divorce wrote, “Your posts were the only thing that could make me laugh during my tough divorce.”
I was glad to make small impact, but the truth is, it has changed me as well.
Facebook has allowed me to bask in the kindness of friends and strangers. It pushed me to the limits of my abilities. It enabled me to venture into places I’ve only dreamed about. It has allowed me to showcase my art. It became a medium to share my stories and adventures. Above all, it allowed me to impact over 16,000 poor children in the Philippines.
With that said – I want to introduce my new travel blog – EDWINTURE. I am hoping that with this blog, I can make you laugh a little, live a little and love a lot.
Whether I am scaling the pyramids in Giza, exploring ancient civilization in Greece, or cruising down the Thames, I hope you can join me in my edwintures. I can certainly use the company …
Lesson 1: They don’t have ketchup, they have tomato sauce.
Lesson 2: “E” is pronounced as “I” so if someone says “Wanna come see my dick?” that’s not what he meant in Australia.
