Travel Expert Voices Today

Come Out of Your Comfort Zone and Grow

I’m just back from a trip to Australia and New Zealand. Truth be told, these were never destinations that were on my short list. The motivation to go came from the fact that my daughter has been working in Australia for almost a year and I wanted to see her. The timing of the trip was determined by my school calendar -- I was in between semesters. Well, that had both an upside and a downside. It gave us enough time to do this lengthy voyage (both in getting there and in order to see the sights) but it took us away from the usual holiday festivities with friends at the Holiday Season. So, in all honesty, I was not making this journey in total excitement; rather, there was a bit of anxiety or discomfort. It is the latter that provokes the theme of this blog. More…

Why Would You Say That?

American Express has announced that it is going to tighten its belt, in light of the economic downturn. Cardholders aren't spending as much, and so the firm is going to lay off people, the announcement read. I understood that part. They also said they are cutting back on corporate travel and entertainment. Even if that is true, if a huge part of your business is based on getting your customers to travel and enterain, why would you tell the world that YOU are against the things that make up the core of your business? More…

Traveling with a Demented Elder

Welcome back all my caregivers! Recently I was so dismayed to see a sweet little elderly lady (obviously suffering from dementia) and her devoted adult daughter, being delayed and searched at an airport checkpoint. The daughter was a bit heavy and apparently her underwire bra kept setting off the alarm, which finally embarrassed her to tears. The mom, seeing her daughter getting so upset, got so frightened and confused that soon she was in a frenzied panic. More…

Enjoying New Relationships

How very fortunate I am! I’ve just returned home from a vacation to Eastern Europe. It was certainly a whirlwind tour. In just one week, we saw Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. So much history, so many stories, and so many facts to digest. The more the merrier Aside from all the beauty and splendor of the actual sites, I truly believe that what made the trip so enjoyable was the group of people who were touring together. If you have ever been on a tour, you know that if people are not punctual, it can be quite upsetting. Or, if there is someone who is negative or annoying, it will absolutely impact the rest of the group. More…

Northern Vietnam: Culture & Community

Last fall I spent a week in Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sa Pa and Halong Bay) traveling with a local guide researching this area for a potential tour for my company, The Dragon's Path. More…

Northern Vietnam: Culture & Community

Last fall I spent a week in Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Sa Pa and Halong Bay) traveling with a local guide researching this area for a potential tour for my company, The Dragon's Path. More…

The Dog Who Chased Rainbows and The Astrologer From Down

ThirdAge Blogger Jed Diamond provides another glimpse from his trip Down Under. I must tell you about Bella, the canine mistress of the house where we've been staying in Sydney.  Chris, the human mistress of the house, claims Bella is neurotic, which may be quite true, but there is something quite wonderful about a dog who chases rainbows. More…