Mount Kinabalu, at 13,455 feet above sea level, is the world's twentieth highest mountain. Its peak often pokes its head above the clouds whilst its lower parts are shrouded with mist from the surrounding rain forest, which, in turn, rise and mingle into spectacular cloud formations. Sited in Sabah, Borneo, it draws both novice and experienced rock climbers from many countries, challenging them to tackle its formidable faces and traverses. This author was much too old to join those eager to try, those folk who awoke at three a.m., donned their gear and in the tropical temperature, began their quest to reach the summit (where numbing cold awaits) and return to base before what was left of the day's light turned itself off. My tour of Sabah was to be much less strenuous. I wanted to witness and savor some of the other tourist attractions that the country could offer, just…

The Venetian and The Palazzo, the world’s largest Five Diamond resorts, magically transformed into the most majestic winter surroundings Las Vegas has ever seen, creating Winter in Venice. An outdoor wonderland complete with a skating rink, charming string lights, brilliantly lit trees, holiday music, holiday treats, and displays set the scene. We were greeted by colorful characters wandering the property, spreading good cheer; we were dazzled by a spectacular light show performance; we were blessed with Santa's presence during the Santa Story Readings; we indulged in chocolate chips cookies and milk; we relaxed at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub; and we gazed into our future together while being serenaded by a gondolier. Winter in Venice made romance and our wildest imagination collide during our four night stay at the Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada.Located in the front of the resort, Doge's Palace offered plenty to see and experience. Surrounded by 30 larger-than-life snowflakes, ranging from 48 to 72 inches in diameter, more than 2,000…

Having one of the world's biggest backyards means that nature and Canada go hand in hand. Every season in this massive country trumpets a new outdoor adventure, due to the ever changing climates in various regions.  The glorious days of summer are no different as many Canadians (and thousands of travelers) take advantage of the hot weather by entering the wilderness and enjoying rugged or upscale styles of getting back to the simple things.In Ontario, there are a variety of small lakes where picturesque cottages, hotels, children’s camps and the great outdoors live together.  We stayed at the first ever J.W. Marriott Resort in Canada, located on Lake Rosseau in the Muskoka region about 2.5 hours outside of the city of Toronto. The resort balances the wild outdoors and amazing comforts. Each day a complete schedule of activities is available; many of these are complimentary. Between the power walks in the…

What to do in the city of love and lights with only three days and three nights? With such an incredible array of options—where does one begin? Luckily, this was my fourth time to Paris, so I’ve been able to visit many different neighborhoods and attractions, but for my new husband it was his first trip, so I wanted him to get a good feel for it in our short time and gear it towards what he likes best – primarily art, history, and food. Though it was tough to choose, this was our lineup for a fabulous stopover on our honeymoon.What to do:Walk the lovely streets until you get tired, and then find a sidewalk café with a view of a small square and people-watch. This is the quintessential Parisian experience and what I would choose to do above everything else if I only had one day. Two self-guided…

I had to get away, clear my head. The year had more than its fair share of stresses, and I was readily distracted to the point where reading, writing and thinking were more difficult than ever before. My concentration had been diminished. It was early May. I had arranged a house trade in the Dorsoduro section of Venice for a couple of weeks, followed by time in Switzerland: Five days in a remote farmhouse in canton Uri and then a week in Vals, in canton Graubünden. I had been to all these locales and properties before – the summer prior and the one before that, too – and wanted, I thought, to repeat the experiences. As the summer approached, I realized that neither Venice nor Switzerland would address my need for clarity. So I sent an email to my friend Anita Gurnani, who runs Format Travel, based in New Delhi.…

Nestled in the hills above Knysna (pronounced “nighs-na”), in the middle of South Africa’s Garden Route, is a lodge that blends luxurious accommodation with environmental responsibility. It’s called the Phantom Forest, and it’s one of the most unique places I’ve ever stayed.

Until the early 1950’s, the remote valleys, alps, and mountain villages of Switzerland were cut off from the rest of the country. An influx of unprecedented post-war capital, fed by frightened investors who had witnessed the destruction of neighboring economies, created a huge federal surplus. Rather than sit on the money, invest it abroad, or initiate private-public entrepreneurial projects, the Swiss federal government, in cooperation with cantons (states) and smaller communities, decided to create a transportation infrastructure which today is a global model of efficiency and environmental good sense.

Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-ee-ka) is situated between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, with the rocky Atlantic Ocean on one side and the calming Caribbean on the other. A former colony of the United Kingdom, Dominica is now an independent country, having gained its independence from Britain in 1978. However, the Queen’s picture is still on the Eastern Caribbean (EC) money, because printing and circulating new money would be too costly for the island.

The snow-capped Alps provided a striking background to the little town of Interlaken, allowing photographer Kelly Saunders to capture a glimpse into Swiss culture and culinary delights.

Arriving in Panama City airport at 10 p.m. December 22nd, we encountered immigration lines backed up to the foot of the down escalator, nearly causing a Three Stooges-style domino toppling effect as more and more people descended.  Almost two hours later we were barreling along crowded roads in the van sent to pick us up, the driver explaining the stores were open 24-hours now and the traffic was the last mad-rush of holiday shoppers.

Often called the “Las Vegas of the Middle East,” Dubai is a place where I’d heard it was possible to spend a lot of time and money indulging every worldly desire; including shopping, dining, sightseeing, pampering, even indoor skiing. All of which sounds exciting, but I was only planning a quick, shoestring trip to a few places around the world. My only indulgences would be to do an occasional load of laundry and maybe buy some chic French cigarettes. So when my travel agent suggested stopping over in Dubai for a couple of days

For the first three days of our safari tour, she has eluded us. Our host, Corbis, offers a simple explanation: as one of Africa's stealthiest animals, the leopard can choose whether she'll be seen. He cautions us not to get discouraged, insisting she's always around you, sitting in the tall grass along the road, or high in a tree, lazing on a branch. He urges us to keep looking, saying that at any moment, without warning, you could find yourself facing her.

As one of the millions of people who have loved all of the books and television serials of James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful and All Things Wise and Wonderful, I have been entranced by the Yorkshire Dales. After recently visiting London, my husband and I took the M1 north to see for myself the place that I had been so inexorably drawn to.

If you like wine, you must go to Mendoza, Argentina; Finca Adalgisa in particular. It is the smallest winery in Mendoza and the people are gracious, the place is lovely, and the wines are fantastic. A guide will bring you on a tour through the vineyard, estate, winery, and then lead you to the tasting area. My main experience with wine tasting had been in California and other places in the US, where you spend about 15 minutes standing at a bar waiting for the bartender to return so you can get another thimble-sized taste of wine.

Excepting childhood, I could lose a couple of digits and still count on one hand the weeks in my life I’ve spent barefoot. Xpu-Ha (ish poo HA) beach on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera was one of those weeks.