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Looking for balmy weather, surf, sand and relaxation then the Hawaiian Islands are the destination to choose.

I can confirm all of the above on my recent stay in Hawaii.

There are a total of 132 islands in the Island Chain of which 6 are tourist destinations.  These are Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Hawaii Island, Molokai and Lanai.

Some Hawaii repeat visitors advise to shun Oahu, where Honolulu is located, because it’s a bit too bustling and “urban”. But if you haven’t visited Honolulu lately, you might be in for a surprise. Sure, some things never change, such as the iconic Halekulani Resort. (Well, that’s not exactly true: the Oahu’s best hotel has undergone a massive renovation and looks better than ever).  If you want to take advantage of what this property offers, but not pay price you can stay at the sister property "The Waikiki Parc" hotel acorss the street.  I stayed there and was delighted in the service plus the free breakfast.  On weeknght evenings they offer a complimentary cocktail hour.   But you don’t have to spend a lot to sleep comfortably. There is also the budget-minded, centrally-located Holiday Inn Beachcomber, and equally impressive is the glam and stylish Modern Hotel.

If you enjoy sightseeing there are a variety of options.

I will fill you in on my next post.

We traveled throughout the villages and cities of Colombia and along the way we were introduced to some of the best musicians in the country. This nation with so much history and soul is represented perfectly by the music and spirit of Toto La Momposina and her band. We asked her to share a traditional Colombian song with us, and this version of "los Sabores Del Porro" performed beneath an ancient tree is the result.

So start planning your next trip as soon as possible!

Doha City at Night

If there is one thing that comes to mind when mentioning an Arab country, then that is the impression that most Islamic nations are too strict with the forms of entertainment  that grace their country (to the extent that nightlife, booze and cinemas are virtually inexistent in its boundaries) and that extreme precautions must be done when visiting such places.

While these presumptions seem to be true (especially the last part), one Muslim country in Western Asia is not too strict with the type of entertainment that goes around the nation. Most travelers are not aware of this, but Qatar allows the performance of standup comedians in its territory.

Learn the list of countries safe for travelers.

As mentioned by New York Times writer Peter Savodnik, there is one group called Stand Up Comedy Qatar (SUCQ) that performs regular gigs in Doha City (“Yes, There are Comedians in Qatar”). He noted that the culturally-diverse group is composed of one woman and five men, the youngest of which is a 15-year-old Palestinian boy.

Below is an excerpt from his article:

By 6:30, the audience was lining up outside the auditorium for tickets, which went for 30 riyals, or about $8. Most of the comedians, in jeans and T-shirts and sneakers, milled around the entrance, going over their routines and talking about their favorite “mocktails.” Mohammed Fahad Kamal, the funniest comedian in SUCQ, explained the unofficial rules of comedy in Qatar: you can make fun of only things that only you can make fun of.

The author mentions that the comedians are sometimes “worrying about the possibility that someone might joke about Islam or the emir or sex, which most of them say they have never had.” Apparently, this is a big no-no to them due to the sensitivity of the issue and taking into consideration that they are still performing in an Islamic country.

Check out the rest of his article here. After all, even with the non-inclusion of particular tabooed topics, it is still worth a try to visit and see this stress-reliever scene in an Arab nation.

Photo Credit

Talks With Travellers

Bringing the World to You

The Novack’s community travels the world and loves to share pictures, travel ideas and tips from their adventures.

From the local trails to small Asian villages, Novack’s can show you the world.

Talks With Travellers takes place at Novack’s on Wednesday evenings from October to November, and from March to April in the spring. Up Next...

Trekking in Nepal

Nancy Chapman-Hansen & Rick Mommersteeg

Date: February 29, 2012 @ 7pm

Chinese cuisine is foodie heaven: savory, unique, diverse and wonderful. Beijing is overflowing with top-notch restaurants and out of this world street food, perfect for gourmet tours. Why not experience Chinese culinary culture directly, from inside the kitchen? Cooking classes are a delicious education that will fill your belly and give you some skills to take back home.

The brainchild of nationally certified Chinese chef, Jen Lin-Liu, Black Sesame Kitchenoffers cooking classes and fine dining with explanations of major flavors and ingredients given in English.

Your guides are some of Beijing’s kitchen masters set up in an intimate and fun culinary setting. Get an insider experience about the cultures and traditions of Chinese food in a small group setting. The open kitchen and dining room invites you to cook, socialize, wine & dine - a great way to meet new people.

Here are the private event options.

All visits by appointment only. You need to book your reservation at least 48 hrs in advance - You can contact any one of our Travel Consultants to help you plan this and any other part of your trip to Beijing!

Address: 3 Black Sesame Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, PRC 100009 
Map 
Tel:             +86.1369.147.4408       
Email: blacksesamekitchen@gmail.com