All Leisure & passions Q&A

I often travel alone when I am setting up new tours. I do go through times when I get a bit lonely but in general I love to travel solo as there seems to be more of an opportunity to meet locals than if I am with one other person and appear as a unit.
To avoid getting lonely I'd stay at B&B read more...

Having just returned from 3 week in Portugal and Croatia I remain excited about Europe.
I've seen some amazing deals on TravelZoo.com which are all inclusive holidays at very reasonable prices. This site scans the internet to find the best deals, they sell our quickly but if you are flexible on read more...

YES YES YES!!! Most of the 3,000 folks I've traveled with are 50-70+, you are young!! Africa is a top destination for your age group.
I'd suggest joining a reputable small group tour. They can provide you with references, have made all the necessary safety precautions, offer you a "through read more...

Almost every place is great in Autumn!
If you talking September/October here are some of my favorites: For years I led bike tours in NE. Vermont, particularly the North East Kingdom, is one of my favorite destinations. Across the border in Quebec you have the Eastern Townships which offer an read more...

There are so many options for you! One of the first things to do might be to spend some time writing down what you would want to have as part of this experience. Here are a few questions:
Do you want to be alone or with others (in a small group or at a retreat)?
If with a others, would you like read more...

My favorite source for non-traditional travel books is a little company called Longitude Books (http://www.longitudebooks.com) run by two friends of mine, Darrel Shoeling and Daniel Kaizer, out of a loft space in NYC. They actually create the reading lists for most of the top small travel companies read more...

For me, Peru and Ireland are two of the most musical places I've traveled.
Peru is such a sacred place. Whether I'm listening to a quena, a traditional Andean instrument, played by porters along the Inca Trail, or hearing and experiencing the traditional festivals such as Inti Raymi, the read more...

Almost every place is great in Autumn! For years I led bike tours in New England. Vermont, particularly the North East Kingdom, is one of my favorite destinations. Across the border in Quebec you have the Eastern Townships which offer an International experience close to home. Later in the season read more...

There are so many options for you! One of the first things to do might be to spend some time writing down what you would want to have as part of this experience. Here are a few questions:
1) Do you want to be alone or with others (in a small group or at a retreat)?
2) If with a others, would read more...

For me, Peru and Ireland are two of the most musical places I’ve traveled.
Peru is such a sacred place. Whether I’m listening to Aquena, a traditional Andean instrument played by porters along the Inca Trail, or hearing and experiencing the traditional festivals such as Inti Raymi, or the read more...

I recommend "Linda Goodman's Sun Signs" by Linda Goodman (Bantam, 1984) for an entertaining introduction to the zodiac signs. You might want to look at Steven Forrest's "The Inner Sky" (Seven Paws, 2007) as another introductory text. Some people also recommend "Astrology read more...

Where astrology and spirituality cross paths is different for each person. Many naturally spiritual people are attracted to astrology because it gives evidence for a divine order at work in our everyday lives. Astrology also confronts one with the mystery and beauty of cosmic forces, and for many read more...

Absolutely. Literally millions of religious people around the world follow astrology without any contradictions to their faith. In fact, you don't have to 'believe' in astrology to find it useful. It might help to know that astrology is simply the study of natural cycles in the universe.
So read more...

Because the current financial crisis is ongoing, there has not been a definitive book written yet that explains it. That said, there are a few good resources out there that are worth looking at, to provide some context. Among them are these two recently released books: "The New Paradigm for read more...

Admired by many for his integrity as a broadcaster, Hugh Downs likened getting old to the ebb and tide of the sea. "The older you get, you find there's a tide that kind of goes out and leaves the rocks that are important. You see what are the big rocks and what are the little rocks. When read more...

You're right. China is very much in the news right now -- for a variety of reasons. And, whenever something is in the news, there are bound to be a lot of books coming out about it. There are a ton of great books out about China right now, and an equal amount of lousy ones. We can recommend three read more...

There are plenty of good options out there. Since your question is fairly general, we will suggest three very different books and you can choose the one that best suits your tastes and interests.
First is Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full by Conrad Black. This thousand-page tome by a disgraced media read more...

If you are short on time and want to have a through-the-back-door experience, I recommend signing up with one of the small tour operators. Trips range in price based on your accommodation needs (and often the size of the brochure, so ask for references). Each one should connect you with a local read more...

I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Luang Prabang, Laos, and loved every minute of it. I stayed at Ammata Guest House (37 Khunsua Rd., Phonheung village; 856-71-212175 or 020-7607304; phetmanyp@yahoo.com), which I loved, for $15 a night (here’s a tip: room four on the second floor is a corner read more...

Yes, this Lithuanian city is indeed worth a visit!
The village and lake resort of Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, was first established in the 13th century as a The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and today is one of the most popular attractions in the country. The castles of Trakai (yes, read more...