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The Fortress of Louisbourg is a National Historic Site of Canada and is the largest historical reconstruction in North America. Surrounded by Cape Breton’s rocky shoreline, the site brings you back to French colonial life between 1713 and 1758. Our visit provided us with the unique opportunity to experience life during the French occupation of Canada. I was very excited about this excursion because it was like stepping back in time. After a brief overview of the site, we tour

Sydney is known as the ocean gateway to Cape Breton Island, which lies at the eastern end of the province of Nova Scotia. Cape Breton is famous for its breathtaking coastal scenery, vibrant Celtic music, Gaelic culture, rich Mi'kmaq heritage, fresh seafood, and historical sites. As the primary entry point for visitors wishing to explore this island, Sydney has become Cape Breton’s largest urban centre and busiest harbour town. Standing strategically on the waterfront, propped

We had a day to explore the capital of Canada’s smallest and most charming province, Prince Edward Island (PEI). Famous for its red earth, white beaches, lighthouses, and fertile farmland, I was still surprised by the palette of autumn colours that welcomed us as we docked at Charlottetown. The thick foliage bursting with colours, from the fieriest reds to the brightest yellows, contrasted with the bright blue skies and rust-toned soil. It was like walking into a living paint

Our next destination was Saguenay National Park, situated along the east end of the St. Lawrence River and encompasses the regions of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Charlevoix, Côte-Nord, and Bas-Saint-Laurent. I must admit I had never heard of this place prior to the cruise. It was (and still is) not well-known and not well-explored, which made it less touristy, but it is special. The 146-mile-long Saguenay Fjord is a glacier-cut fjord and the only one in North America that is inh

Since it was my first time in Quebec City, we chose a shore excursion that focused on Old Québec, the historic city within the fortified walls, as opposed to other day tours that took would take you to the outskirts of the Old Town. When we docked at 7:00 am that day, the first thing I noticed was the imposing silhouette of the Chateau Frontenac, the most recognizable landmark of this city. After a hearty and relaxing brunch, we disembarked to join the tour that would introdu

And so, our cruise, with Holland America Line, had officially started. Halfway through the queue to board the cruise ship, there was a gigantic city view backdrop installed in one corner for the passengers’ initial photo-op session. This was going to be one of the “official” cruise souvenir shots. Since this was our very first cruise, my husband and I posed and ordered a print-out. I realize now how smart the cruise line was for doing this because aside from alleviating the b

There is always a sense of romance associated with cruising. It conjures images of breathtaking sunsets, balmy moonlit nights, gently rolling waves, seagulls spiraling in the blue skies, idyllic islands, and exotic ports admired from a luxurious balcony suite, while enjoying a fancy dinner and sipping expensive champagne. No wonder, a number of newlyweds opt for a honeymoon cruise. It is the perfect romantic get-away where you could create magical moments with each other, awa

The next morning, we packed our bags, took our eggs and some muffins and cookies along, and put our luggage and lunch containers in the car. The first order of the day was our big breakfast at the Wickaninnish Inn as planned. We saw the same friendly server, and he once more gave us a nice table by the window. All three of us ordered Eggs Benedict again, but we switched it around. I tried the shaved ham and cheddar this time. The next stop was our other B&B where we were to s

An easy early afternoon hike meant a short and flat trail, literally a “walk in the park.” And it’s a bonus if it is also beautiful. Thus, my housemate took us to Shorepine Bog Trail, a less-than-one-kilometre hiking loop that consists entirely of boardwalks. It sounded perfect. The trail is a simple loop on a rickety boardwalk that offers a unique, open-landscape contrast to the nearby dense rainforests. The main attraction is the bog itself, which is a unique ecosystem beca

After our hearty breakfast, we decided to visit Tofino’s downtown area, which was so small, that it’s more like a village core. We heard that despite the influx of tourists, the local folks prefer to leave the town as is, without the invasion of franchised establishments. I am glad they stood on their ground against commercialism. The town has retained its village charm and it actively promotes local shops and Indigenous artists, since it has an vibrant artisan community with

We reached Tofino a little after lunch. Our bed-and-breakfast house was a cozy Cape Cod-style house close to the beach. The owners did not normally stay there, and we were the only guests, so we had the entire house to ourselves. My housemate and her friend shared one big bedroom with two double-beds and I had the smaller bedroom with a double-bed. As soon as we unpacked and got settled, we ate cold-cut sandwiches for lunch then wasted no time. The beaches were waiting. We fi

During my fledgling years as a new immigrant in Vancouver, the first step that I took towards independence was moving out of my aunt’s house and partially trying it out on my own by living with room mates. I had lived in three different apartments with different sets of people, most of whom have become my good friends. On my last year at the last apartment where I stayed at before eventually moving to my own place (a one-bedroom condominium unit that I purchased in an up-and-

The title, “Chief” inspires awe. It denotes status or leadership. In North America, leaders of Indigenous peoples carry the title of “Chief.” When I was a child, the image of a “Chief” in my mind was that of a tall, red-skinned man, dressed in full regalia – an elaborate headdress with eagle feathers or maybe buffalo horns, a buckskin shirt decorated with geometric patterns, a vest with elaborate beadwork, or perhaps, a bone breastplate or a feather bundle, bear claw necklace

On our last night in Chiang Mai, we were treated to a traditional khantoke dinner at a local cultural centre. Khantoke refers to a traditional Northern Thai (Lanna) dining experience and was named after the toke , the round, wooden (or sometimes, rattan) serving tray in which several small dishes are laid out. We had a long, low table set up in front of a stage and as we dined seated on floor mats with small pillows, we watched a show featuring local and indigenous dances.

On our last full day in Chiang Mai, I felt as royal as I did the previous night when we had our “Thai Royal Family” photo shoot with the whole tour group. At breakfast, my journalist tour mate asked me if I was interested in tagging along with him again to another private excursion while the rest of the group went shopping. This time, he wanted to visit the Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens located in the outskirts of the city for another feature article on the lifestyle sectio

On our walk back to the hotel from the night market, my tour mate and I passed by a photo studio that was still open. We saw people in colourful northern Thai costumes right by the door. Curious, we moved closer and noticed a gallery displayed by the window. It featured photos of tourists wearing traditional Lanna regalia and posing like royalties against different Thai-inspired backdrops. That caught our attention. We exchanged one look and knew we were thinking of the same

Chiang Mai is known for several arts and crafts that have been passed on from generation to generation and have survived and thrived, even after the golden age of the Lanna Kingdom withered. This is evident everywhere you go in Chiang Mai, but concentrated along San Kamphaeng Road, dubbed as the “handicraft highway.” Here, you will see stores and workshops showcasing a mix of artistic traditions – wood carving, umbrella-making, silk weaving, lacquerware, and Celadon pottery m

The next day, we went to the famous Mae Sa Elephant Camp, located in a lush, tropical jungle in Mae Rim, around half-an-hour from Chiang Mai, where the largest assembly of elephants in northern Thailand lives side-by-side with their mahouts (elephant caretakers). We watched a very endearing elephant show. The star performers, the elephants, paraded, “danced,” and played music. If this was not enough to impress us, they also showcased other talents such as painting (not just

We had a short domestic flight from Bangkok to the north of Thailand to our next destination – Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a completely different world from Bangkok, so different that it was almost like being in another country. This is partially true, for Chiang Mai was the capital of a once prosperous self-ruling kingdom in the north, the Kingdom of Lanna, which was the powerbase of the northern territory and completely independent from the central Thai kingdoms. Due to its p

I met my fellow travellers only on the day of our departure. A cocktail party was thrown for us by the tour sponsors at the airport lounge hours before our flight. We met representatives from the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International, and the various travel agencies that brought us there. There were fifteen of us joining this tour. The Marketing Manager from Thai Airways, who would be travelling with us, w