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GNOMESVILLE IS REAL! A QUIRKY SPOT IN FERGUSON VALLEY Located in the Ferguson Valley, Gnomesville WA may not even be the most bizarre spot in Western Australia, but that’s a story for another day. As the name implies, this is a city of gnomes. Try to imagine over 10,000 gnomes, busy and active, all living on one roundabout’s bend. Even your wildest imagination will fail. OOSTERDAM: A PHOTO TOUR OF THIS 5-STAR HOLLAND AMERICA SHIP The ship has several entertainment areas, bars, a casino, restaurants, pools and a spa. It seems to have everything one could want. Holland America’s ms Oosterdam is a five-star ship carrying up to 1,916 passengers and 817 crew. The ship was christened in July 2003, by her royal highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. 25 PRINCESS CRUISE TIPS AND TRICKS YOU SHOULD KNOW • ALBOM Cruising will be back before you know it, and while there may be a few changes, most things will remain the same. If Princess is your choice, and it’s usually ours, we offer below 25 Princess cruise tips and tricks that can make your sailing even better. CARTAGENA PORT OASIS: SEE THE WILDLIFE WHEN YOU CRUISE TO Toucans, iguanas, howler monkeys, and other regional animals greeted us at the Cartagena port oasis. This was an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise as we disembarked a cruise ship in Cartagena. This award-winning sustainable port oasis is part of a 1,000 square-metre garden, sharing samples of Colombia’s flora and fauna. SHERATON RAROTONGA: ABANDONDED HOTEL WITH A CURSE IN THE Not your typical tourist attraction, the ruins of the never completed $80 million Sheraton Rarotonga Resort is a series of derelict hotel buildings on the largest of the Cook Islands. While there are plenty of beaches to visit, hiking, watersports, and other things to do on the island, we found ourselves strangely drawn to this abandoned hotel 30 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND AT NIGHT IN 2021 • ALBOM Outdoor active things to do in Auckland at night + −. Auckland night activities: kayaking and bicycle tours. Evening hikes and night walks: glow worms and city views. Indoor active things to do in Auckland at night. More things to do in Auckland at night – sunsets and stargazing. Tasty things to do in Auckland at night. BEHEADED AT THE TOWER OF LONDON No worries, we were not beheaded at the Tower of London, but we did learn about so many of the others who were.Some of the more famous ones we can remember from our visit: William Hastings 1483, Queen Anne Boleyn 1536, Catherine Howard 1542, Lady Jane Gray 1554 and Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex 1601. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND Fun facts about New Zealand. Did you know . . . Queen Elizabeth II is New Zealand’s Head of State. As queen of the UK, she is the queen of 15 countries (including NZ) that were once part of the British Empire. New Zealand is currently tied with Denmark as the least corrupt country in the world. Wellington is the world’s southernmost capital TRAVELLING WITH INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION: CAN I STILL FLY? The following is a list of tips from my doctor for my case. Your situation might be different. Reduce stress. Reduce weight to normal range (my doctor suggested weight loss can sometimes put IIH in remission).; Get more sleep (I used to average 5 hours per GOATS IN TREES AND THE MAKING OF MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL Oh, Rhonda, those goats in the trees are so cute! You take the best photos ever! Is the Morocco the only country that makes argan oil? I buy some body lotion and shower gel with organ oil but they are made

in Italy.

MEGALITHIC SITES IN EVORA PORTUGAL OLDER THAN STONEHENGE The larger of the two Portugal megalithic sites we visited is Almendres Cromlech (Cromeleque dos Almendres). Here, 93 huge remaining stones form two concentric rings. They were strategically placed here from 4000-5000BC making them about 2000 years older than Stonehenge. Visiting here is quite surreal. To our surprise, there are no fences. NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIPS: ITINERARIES FOR NORTH OR SOUTH The South Island is magical. It's home to glaciers, New Zealand's highest mountain, fiords, waterfalls, and interesting bird and marine life. Our New Zealand South Island road trips tend to be longer than our North Island trips above, only because we live in Auckland, so have the option of taking shorter trips out the door. 25 PRINCESS CRUISE TIPS AND TRICKS YOU SHOULD KNOW • ALBOM Cruising will be back before you know it, and while there may be a few changes, most things will remain the same. If Princess is your choice, and it’s usually ours, we offer below 25 Princess cruise tips and tricks that can make your sailing even better. EATING ONBOARD: HOW TO CRUISE WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT Similarly, order a plate of fresh fruit with your breakfast. Drink water, rather than soda throughout the day. If you don’t want to gain weight on the ship, you need to make healthy choices and get some exercise. The latter is easier, as there is both a gym and a walking

track.

NORTH HEAD: EXPLORING OLD MILITARY TUNNELS IN AUCKLAND North Head: Exploring Old Military Tunnels in Auckland. North Head historic reserve lies across the bay from Auckland city, at the end of Devonport. It’s one of the first places we tend to take visitors to enjoy the expansive panoramic views of the city and the surrounding waters. We also bring a torch (flashlight) and explore the abandoned CARTAGENA PORT OASIS: SEE THE WILDLIFE WHEN YOU CRUISE TO Toucans, iguanas, howler monkeys, and other regional animals greeted us at the Cartagena port oasis. This was an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise as we disembarked a cruise ship in Cartagena. This award-winning sustainable port oasis is part of a 1,000 square-metre garden, sharing samples of Colombia’s flora and fauna. TRAVELLING WITH INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION: CAN I STILL FLY? The following is a list of tips from my doctor for my case. Your situation might be different. Reduce stress. Reduce weight to normal range (my doctor suggested weight loss can sometimes put IIH in remission).; Get more sleep (I used to average 5 hours per RARAWA BEACH: WALK ON WHITE SILICA SAND IN NORTHLAND, NEW Rarawa Beach is pure white silica sand, crystal clear turquoise water, and a quiet that seems out of place. While gentle waves and the occasional squawk of a nesting bird disrupt the silence, there is an innate peacefulness about this stunning beach that enhances its

tranquility.

in Italy.

track.

tranquility.

in Italy.

ALBOMADVENTURES.COM

TRAVELLING WITH INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION: CAN I STILL FLY? The following is a list of tips from my doctor for my case. Your situation might be different. Reduce stress. Reduce weight to normal range (my doctor suggested weight loss can sometimes put IIH in remission).; Get more sleep (I used to average 5 hours per GOATS IN TREES AND THE MAKING OF MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL Oh, Rhonda, those goats in the trees are so cute! You take the best photos ever! Is the Morocco the only country that makes argan oil? I buy some body lotion and shower gel with organ oil but they are made

in Italy.

INSIDE THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE- TOURING AN AUSTRALIAN ICON The one hour tour that we took, is available daily between 9 am and 5 pm. Advanced booking can be made clicking here to schedule a guided tour. Or get the total experience and take a tour with a show and dinner included. If you are visiting Sydney as a cruise port, check out this shore excursion guided tour of the inside of the Opera House. OOSTERDAM: A PHOTO TOUR OF THIS 5-STAR HOLLAND AMERICA SHIP The ship has several entertainment areas, bars, a casino, restaurants, pools and a spa. It seems to have everything one could want. Holland America’s ms Oosterdam is a five-star ship carrying up to 1,916 passengers and 817 crew. The ship was christened in July 2003, by her royal highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands. J-WARD: INSIDE A LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE This is J-Ward asylum’s calm exterior that hides the horrors that went on inside these walls. It opened in 1859 as a goldfield’s prison, but when the gold ran out, the miners moved on, and the building was acquired by the Lunacy Department of the nearby Aradale Asylum. It became the hospital’s ward (J-ward) for the worst and

most

ALBOMADVENTURES.COM

in Italy.

most

LIGHTWEIGHT AND USEFUL TRAVEL GIFTS FOR 2021 This is it! I believe that the OM-D E-M5 Mark II is the perfect travel camera. It's compact, lightweight and weather-sealed. It has a 14-150mm lens, advanced image stabilization, speed up to 1/8000 sec, ISO to 25600, lightning-quick autofocus, and manual override. ARATAKI VISITOR CENTRE: GATEWAY TO AUCKLAND'S SUBTROPICAL Visiting the Arataki Visitor Centre. Find the Arataki Visitor Centre at 300 Scenic Drive, Titirangi. It is open 9 am to 5 pm in summer and 10 am to 4 pm in winter (winter weekends 9 am to 5 pm) and always free. Arataki Visitor Centre is open during the Rahui and will remain open even if Auckland Council has closed some of the trails. 4 NEW ZEALAND WATERFALLS: AUCKLAND TO BAY OF ISLANDS Driving north from Auckland to the Bay of Islands we made four detours, each rewarding us with stunning New Zealand waterfalls. It doesn’t take long to realize that this country’s landscape is some of the most vibrant and dramatic in the world. TIPS FOR VISITING HAMILTON GARDENS, NEW ZEALAND • ALBOM Concept Garden. This garden’s motivation came from two Maaori whakataukii (proverbs)and map legends. The whakataukii on the wall reads, “He peke tangata, apa he peke titoki” (The human family lives on while the branch of the titoki falls and decays.)While the second whakataukii is on a pipe and reads, “Whatungarongaro te tangata toituu te whenua” (As man disappears from sight, the NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIPS: ITINERARIES FOR NORTH OR SOUTH The South Island is magical. It's home to glaciers, New Zealand's highest mountain, fiords, waterfalls, and interesting bird and marine life. Our New Zealand South Island road trips tend to be longer than our North Island trips above, only because we live in Auckland, so have the option of taking shorter trips out the door. 30 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND AT NIGHT IN 2021 • ALBOM Danny Doolans – 204 Quay Street An Irish bar featuring craft beers on Viaduct Harbour. HeadQuarters or simply HQ – 115 Customs Street West With an ideal location on the Viaduct, this is the place to go for dinner, drinks, or often for live music. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND Fun facts about New Zealand. Did you know . . . Queen Elizabeth II is New Zealand’s Head of State. As queen of the UK, she is the queen of 15 countries (including NZ) that were once part of the British Empire. New Zealand is currently tied with Denmark as the least corrupt country in the world. Wellington is the world’s southernmost capital BEHEADED AT THE TOWER OF LONDON No worries, we were not beheaded at the Tower of London, but we did learn about so many of the others who were.Some of the more famous ones we can remember from our visit: William Hastings 1483, Queen Anne Boleyn 1536, Catherine Howard 1542, Lady Jane Gray 1554 and Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex 1601. J-WARD: INSIDE A LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE This is J-Ward asylum’s calm exterior that hides the horrors that went on inside these walls. It opened in 1859 as a goldfield’s prison, but when the gold ran out, the miners moved on, and the building was acquired by the Lunacy Department of the nearby Aradale Asylum. It became the hospital’s ward (J-ward) for the worst and

most

EATING ONBOARD: HOW TO CRUISE WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT Similarly, order a plate of fresh fruit with your breakfast. Drink water, rather than soda throughout the day. If you don’t want to gain weight on the ship, you need to make healthy choices and get some exercise. The latter is easier, as there is both a gym and a walking

track.

THINGS TO DO IN BAY OF ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND: ADVENTURE Things to do in Bay of Islands – adventures on the water + −. Take a boat to the Hole in the Rock. Dolphin watching. Other adventurous opportunities (links to discount options, where I can find them) Or, take an organized day trip to Cape Reinga. Hike 25 PRINCESS CRUISE TIPS AND TRICKS YOU SHOULD KNOW • ALBOM Cruising will be back before you know it, and while there may be a few changes, most things will remain the same. If Princess is your choice, and it’s usually ours, we offer below 25 Princess cruise tips and tricks that can make your sailing even better. CARTAGENA PORT OASIS: SEE THE WILDLIFE WHEN YOU CRUISE TO Toucans, iguanas, howler monkeys, and other regional animals greeted us at the Cartagena port oasis. This was an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise as we disembarked a cruise ship in Cartagena. This award-winning sustainable port oasis is part of a 1,000 square-metre garden, sharing samples of Colombia’s flora and fauna. TIPS FOR VISITING HAMILTON GARDENS, NEW ZEALAND • ALBOM Concept Garden. This garden’s motivation came from two Maaori whakataukii (proverbs)and map legends. The whakataukii on the wall reads, “He peke tangata, apa he peke titoki” (The human family lives on while the branch of the titoki falls and decays.)While the second whakataukii is on a pipe and reads, “Whatungarongaro te tangata toituu te whenua” (As man disappears from sight, the REPOSITIONING CRUISES: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU? • ALBOM Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service. Only have to unpack once. This is an advantage of all cruising. 30 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND AT NIGHT IN 2021 • ALBOM Outdoor active things to do in Auckland at night + −. Auckland night activities: kayaking and bicycle tours. Evening hikes and night walks: glow worms and city views. Indoor active things to do in Auckland at night. More things to do in Auckland at night – sunsets and stargazing. Tasty things to do in Auckland at night. SHERATON RAROTONGA: ABANDONDED HOTEL WITH A CURSE IN THE Not your typical tourist attraction, the ruins of the never completed $80 million Sheraton Rarotonga Resort is a series of derelict hotel buildings on the largest of the Cook Islands. While there are plenty of beaches to visit, hiking, watersports, and other things to do on the island, we found ourselves strangely drawn to this abandoned hotel SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING IN NEW ZEALAND: FINDING YOUR BEST Skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand by region – large fields and opening dates for 2020. Cardrona Alpine Resort. Treble Cone Ski Area. The Remarkables Ski Area. Coronet Peak Ski Resort. Mt. Hutt + −. Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu. Tūroa on Mt Ruapehu. Compare New Zealand ski

fields.

OBIDOS PORTUGAL: A MEDIEVAL TOWN WITH A PADLOCKED ENTRANCE Ginja is a local speciality sour cherry liqueur that was initially made by Benedictine monks. For hundreds of years, the recipe remained secret until the 20th century. Ginja (more officially called Ginjinha) is now made only in the Obidos region. Ginja is even better when served in chocolate cups. CRUISING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES: AZAMARA’S EPIC FAIL • ALBOM Cruising with Food Allergies: Azamara’s Epic Fail. Let’s face it, cruising and culinary excellence intertwine so tightly that many people wonder if it’s possible to do one without the other. However, cruising with food allergies can be scary. Many brands do it well, but even within that, sometimes things go wrong. THINGS TO DO IN BAY OF ISLANDS NEW ZEALAND: ADVENTURE Things to do in Bay of Islands – adventures on the water + −. Take a boat to the Hole in the Rock. Dolphin watching. Other adventurous opportunities (links to discount options, where I can find them) Or, take an organized day trip to Cape Reinga. Hike 25 PRINCESS CRUISE TIPS AND TRICKS YOU SHOULD KNOW • ALBOM Cruising will be back before you know it, and while there may be a few changes, most things will remain the same. If Princess is your choice, and it’s usually ours, we offer below 25 Princess cruise tips and tricks that can make your sailing even better. CARTAGENA PORT OASIS: SEE THE WILDLIFE WHEN YOU CRUISE TO Toucans, iguanas, howler monkeys, and other regional animals greeted us at the Cartagena port oasis. This was an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise as we disembarked a cruise ship in Cartagena. This award-winning sustainable port oasis is part of a 1,000 square-metre garden, sharing samples of Colombia’s flora and fauna. TIPS FOR VISITING HAMILTON GARDENS, NEW ZEALAND • ALBOM Concept Garden. This garden’s motivation came from two Maaori whakataukii (proverbs)and map legends. The whakataukii on the wall reads, “He peke tangata, apa he peke titoki” (The human family lives on while the branch of the titoki falls and decays.)While the second whakataukii is on a pipe and reads, “Whatungarongaro te tangata toituu te whenua” (As man disappears from sight, the REPOSITIONING CRUISES: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU? • ALBOM Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service. Only have to unpack once. This is an advantage of all cruising. 30 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND AT NIGHT IN 2021 • ALBOM Outdoor active things to do in Auckland at night + −. Auckland night activities: kayaking and bicycle tours. Evening hikes and night walks: glow worms and city views. Indoor active things to do in Auckland at night. More things to do in Auckland at night – sunsets and stargazing. Tasty things to do in Auckland at night. SHERATON RAROTONGA: ABANDONDED HOTEL WITH A CURSE IN THE Not your typical tourist attraction, the ruins of the never completed $80 million Sheraton Rarotonga Resort is a series of derelict hotel buildings on the largest of the Cook Islands. While there are plenty of beaches to visit, hiking, watersports, and other things to do on the island, we found ourselves strangely drawn to this abandoned hotel SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING IN NEW ZEALAND: FINDING YOUR BEST Skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand by region – large fields and opening dates for 2020. Cardrona Alpine Resort. Treble Cone Ski Area. The Remarkables Ski Area. Coronet Peak Ski Resort. Mt. Hutt + −. Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu. Tūroa on Mt Ruapehu. Compare New Zealand ski

fields.

OBIDOS PORTUGAL: A MEDIEVAL TOWN WITH A PADLOCKED ENTRANCE Ginja is a local speciality sour cherry liqueur that was initially made by Benedictine monks. For hundreds of years, the recipe remained secret until the 20th century. Ginja (more officially called Ginjinha) is now made only in the Obidos region. Ginja is even better when served in chocolate cups. CRUISING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES: AZAMARA’S EPIC FAIL • ALBOM Cruising with Food Allergies: Azamara’s Epic Fail. Let’s face it, cruising and culinary excellence intertwine so tightly that many people wonder if it’s possible to do one without the other. However, cruising with food allergies can be scary. Many brands do it well, but even within that, sometimes things go wrong. REPOSITIONING CRUISES: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU? • ALBOM Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service. Only have to unpack once. This is an advantage of all cruising. MEGALITHIC SITES IN EVORA PORTUGAL OLDER THAN STONEHENGE The larger of the two Portugal megalithic sites we visited is Almendres Cromlech (Cromeleque dos Almendres). Here, 93 huge remaining stones form two concentric rings. They were strategically placed here from 4000-5000BC making them about 2000 years older than Stonehenge. Visiting here is quite surreal. To our surprise, there are no fences. TIPS FOR VISITING HAMILTON GARDENS, NEW ZEALAND • ALBOM Concept Garden. This garden’s motivation came from two Maaori whakataukii (proverbs)and map legends. The whakataukii on the wall reads, “He peke tangata, apa he peke titoki” (The human family lives on while the branch of the titoki falls and decays.)While the second whakataukii is on a pipe and reads, “Whatungarongaro te tangata toituu te whenua” (As man disappears from sight, the LIGHTWEIGHT AND USEFUL TRAVEL GIFTS FOR 2021 Photo Credit: www.getolympus.com. This is it! I believe that the OM-D E-M5 Mark II is the perfect travel camera. It's compact, lightweight and weather-sealed. It has a 14-150mm lens, advanced image stabilization, speed up to 1/8000 sec, ISO to 25600, lightning-quick GNOMESVILLE IS REAL! A QUIRKY SPOT IN FERGUSON VALLEY Located in the Ferguson Valley, Gnomesville WA may not even be the most bizarre spot in Western Australia, but that’s a story for another day. As the name implies, this is a city of gnomes. Try to imagine over 10,000 gnomes, busy and active, all living on one roundabout’s bend. Even your wildest imagination will fail. OBIDOS PORTUGAL: A MEDIEVAL TOWN WITH A PADLOCKED ENTRANCE Ginja is a local speciality sour cherry liqueur that was initially made by Benedictine monks. For hundreds of years, the recipe remained secret until the 20th century. Ginja (more officially called Ginjinha) is now made only in the Obidos region. Ginja is even better when served in chocolate cups. EATING ONBOARD: HOW TO CRUISE WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT Similarly, order a plate of fresh fruit with your breakfast. Drink water, rather than soda throughout the day. If you don’t want to gain weight on the ship, you need to make healthy choices and get some exercise. The latter is easier, as there is both a gym and a walking

track.

CRUISING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES: AZAMARA’S EPIC FAIL • ALBOM Cruising with Food Allergies: Azamara’s Epic Fail. Let’s face it, cruising and culinary excellence intertwine so tightly that many people wonder if it’s possible to do one without the other. However, cruising with food allergies can be scary. Many brands do it well, but even within that, sometimes things go wrong. KIWI SLANG: FUNNY NEW ZEALAND SAYINGS Kiwi Slang: Funny New Zealand Sayings – Visitors Beware! The longer I live in Auckland, the more natural the New Zealand language feels. They call it English, but the Kiwi slang creates a variant that is often amusing. This article took first place in a contest years GOATS IN TREES AND THE MAKING OF MOROCCAN ARGAN OIL Oh, Rhonda, those goats in the trees are so cute! You take the best photos ever! Is the Morocco the only country that makes argan oil? I buy some body lotion and shower gel with organ oil but they are made

in Italy.

PORT GUIDE

Toucans, iguanas, howler monkeys, and other regional animals greeted us at the Cartagena port oasis. This was an unexpected, yet wonderful surprise as we disembarked a cruise ship in Cartagena. This award-winning sustainable port oasis is part of a 1,000 square-metre garden, sharing samples of Colombia’s flora and fauna. TIPS FOR VISITING HAMILTON GARDENS, NEW ZEALAND • ALBOM Concept Garden. This garden’s motivation came from two Maaori whakataukii (proverbs)and map legends. The whakataukii on the wall reads, “He peke tangata, apa he peke titoki” (The human family lives on while the branch of the titoki falls and decays.)While the second whakataukii is on a pipe and reads, “Whatungarongaro te tangata toituu te whenua” (As man disappears from sight, the REPOSITIONING CRUISES: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU? • ALBOMALASKA CRUISES FROM LOS ANGELESCRUISES FROM LA 2020CRUISES FROM LOS ANGELES 2020CRUISES FROM LOS ANGELES CACRUISES FROM LOS ANGELES PORTCRUISES TO HAWAII FROM LOS ANGELES Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service. Only have to unpack once. This is an advantage of all cruising. 30 FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUCKLAND AT NIGHT IN 2021 • ALBOMFUN THINGS TO DO IN NEW ZEALANDTOP THINGS TO DO IN NEW ZEALANDWHAT TO SEE IN NEW ZEALANDWHERE TO STAY IN AUCKLANDSIGHTSEEING IN AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND Outdoor active things to do in Auckland at night + −. Auckland night activities: kayaking and bicycle tours. Evening hikes and night walks: glow worms and city views. Indoor active things to do in Auckland at night. More things to do in Auckland at night – sunsets and stargazing. Tasty things to do in Auckland at night. SHERATON RAROTONGA: ABANDONDED HOTEL WITH A CURSE IN THERAROTONGA COOK ISLANDS NEWSWEATHER RAROTONGA COOK ISLANDSRAROTONGA COOK ISLANDS HOTELSRAROTONGA COOK ISLANDS MAPRAROTONGA COOK ISLANDS VACATION PACKAGESRAROTONGA COOK ISLANDS AIRPORT Not your typical tourist attraction, the ruins of the never completed $80 million Sheraton Rarotonga Resort is a series of derelict hotel buildings on the largest of the Cook Islands. While there are plenty of beaches to visit, hiking, watersports, and other things to do on the island, we found ourselves strangely drawn to this abandoned hotel SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING IN NEW ZEALAND: FINDING YOUR BESTTOP PLACES IN NEW ZEALANDTOP PLACES TO VISIT IN NEW ZEALANDPLACES TO SNOWBOARD IN Skiing and snowboarding in New Zealand by region – large fields and opening dates for 2020. Cardrona Alpine Resort. Treble Cone Ski Area. The Remarkables Ski Area. Coronet Peak Ski Resort. Mt. Hutt + −. Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu. Tūroa on Mt Ruapehu. Compare New Zealand ski

fields.

PORT GUIDE

fields.

OBIDOS PORTUGAL: A MEDIEVAL TOWN WITH A PADLOCKED ENTRANCEOBIDOS PORTUGAL SHOPSOBIDOS PORTUGAL IMAGESOBIDOS PORTUGAL HOTELSOBIDOS PORTUGAL CASTLEOBIDOS PORTUGAL HOTELOBIDOS PORTUGAL BEACH Ginja is a local speciality sour cherry liqueur that was initially made by Benedictine monks. For hundreds of years, the recipe remained secret until the 20th century. Ginja (more officially called Ginjinha) is now made only in the Obidos region. Ginja is even better when served in chocolate cups. CRUISING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES: AZAMARA’S EPIC FAIL • ALBOM Cruising with Food Allergies: Azamara’s Epic Fail. Let’s face it, cruising and culinary excellence intertwine so tightly that many people wonder if it’s possible to do one without the other. However, cruising with food allergies can be scary. Many brands do it well, but even within that, sometimes things go wrong. REPOSITIONING CRUISES: ARE THEY RIGHT FOR YOU? • ALBOM Generally, repositioning cruises are less crowded. As they often sail below capacity, there are fewer passengers. However, the staff size is the same, resulting in a higher staff to passenger ratio, and the illusion of better service. Only have to unpack once. This is an advantage of all cruising. MEGALITHIC SITES IN EVORA PORTUGAL OLDER THAN STONEHENGE The larger of the two Portugal megalithic sites we visited is Almendres Cromlech (Cromeleque dos Almendres). Here, 93 huge remaining stones form two concentric rings. They were strategically placed here from 4000-5000BC making them about 2000 years older than Stonehenge. Visiting here is quite surreal. To our surprise, there are no fences. TIPS FOR VISITING HAMILTON GARDENS, NEW ZEALAND • ALBOM Concept Garden. This garden’s motivation came from two Maaori whakataukii (proverbs)and map legends. The whakataukii on the wall reads, “He peke tangata, apa he peke titoki” (The human family lives on while the branch of the titoki falls and decays.)While the second whakataukii is on a pipe and reads, “Whatungarongaro te tangata toituu te whenua” (As man disappears from sight, the LIGHTWEIGHT AND USEFUL TRAVEL GIFTS FOR 2021 Photo Credit: www.getolympus.com. This is it! I believe that the OM-D E-M5 Mark II is the perfect travel camera. It's compact, lightweight and weather-sealed. It has a 14-150mm lens, advanced image stabilization, speed up to 1/8000 sec, ISO to 25600, lightning-quick GNOMESVILLE IS REAL! A QUIRKY SPOT IN FERGUSON VALLEY Located in the Ferguson Valley, Gnomesville WA may not even be the most bizarre spot in Western Australia, but that’s a story for another day. As the name implies, this is a city of gnomes. Try to imagine over 10,000 gnomes, busy and active, all living on one roundabout’s bend. Even your wildest imagination will fail. OBIDOS PORTUGAL: A MEDIEVAL TOWN WITH A PADLOCKED ENTRANCE Ginja is a local speciality sour cherry liqueur that was initially made by Benedictine monks. For hundreds of years, the recipe remained secret until the 20th century. Ginja (more officially called Ginjinha) is now made only in the Obidos region. Ginja is even better when served in chocolate cups. EATING ONBOARD: HOW TO CRUISE WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT Similarly, order a plate of fresh fruit with your breakfast. Drink water, rather than soda throughout the day. If you don’t want to gain weight on the ship, you need to make healthy choices and get some exercise. The latter is easier, as there is both a gym and a walking

track.

in Italy.

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