If you’re thinking about studying abroad to better grasp and appreciate another language or culture, or you simply want to take an opportunity to expand your horizons and see a bit more of the world, your options are incredibly diverse. Let’s take a look at some of the great places you could choose and everything…

I am as guilty of wanderlust as anyone. I can scroll through travel photos on Pinterest for hours making plans for future trips, envying the exciting adventures of other travels. But the truth is, travel isn’t always wonderful and amazing. Like anything else, it has its ups and downs. I recently read this inspiring post…

So you’ve been flirting with Spanish. When people ask you how long this has been going on, you tell them it’s been about a year or two, your eyes glued to the floor. The truth is, you barely have enough courage to order at your favorite taco stand in Spanish! If there were a way…

Going abroad isn’t always possible, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on experiencing new foods, exciting music, or on exploring different cultures. Living in Southern California, I don’t have to go far to get a taste of what it might be like to visit Greece, Romania, or Lebanon. Various international festivals are…

San Antonio, Texas is known for many things. It’s home to the Alamo, the Natural Bridge Caverns, and historic manners. But one story beneath the streets of the city, you’ll find a lively, bustling scene. It’s here that the San Antonio Riverwalk, a commercial development of a bend in the city’s river protected from flooding…

Paraguay is a wonderful country so often skipped or passed through quickly on multi-country trips to the region. But that’s a shame as the place has a lot to offer. Take the capital for example, Asunción. It’s not quite as huge and daunting as other capitals in the region, and can easily be enjoyed in…

With only a few hours before our flight back to California, M and I were whisked away to Lulu’s Bakery to share a three-pound cinnamon roll by my aunt and uncle. We arrived only to discover that the wait was more than an hour; it wouldn’t work. We quickly whipped out our phones, scrolling through…

After navigating my way to Wangfujing in Beijing, China, I was greeted with the bustle of hungry bodies, navigating their way through the food stalls that made up this night market. As I made my way down the street, my senses were bombarded with smells, sights, and sounds that were all new. I was hooked.  I enjoyed…

With even just five days in Singapore, you can accomplish a lot. The excellent and convenient transportation system connects you to several key locations and makes getting around the city a breeze. Recently, I spent five days in Singapore and here are just a few of the things that I enjoyed on the trip. 1. Visit…

In 2017, Raffles Hotel celebrated its 130th anniversary. Over the past century, it has housed guests such as Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplan, Elizabeth Taylor, and several other figures of note. The hotel is steeped in history, and even has its own resident historian – Leslie Danker – who himself has more than 45 years of…

My trip to Seminyak was my first time in Bali and it was a relaxing trip. The villas are gorgeous, the beach is a site to see, and the local food is delicious. If you find yourself in Seminyak, Bali, here are a few of the things that you can do. 1. Hang out on…

One of the things I enjoy doing at home is cooking. Every so often, my mother and I attend a local class, and we enjoy it immensely. When I was planning my trip to Bali, I discovered cooking classes were offered at one of the villas in Seminyak so we decided to sign up. A…

For the first time in my life, I stood in two states. Straddling the Arizona/Nevada border, I looked out at an incredible human construction, the Hoover Dam. I was driving back from Las Vegas after a performance, and decided to make a quick side trip. The Hoover Dam was only an hour out of the…

Located within the Outram district in Singapore is Chinatown, or 牛车水 niú chē shuǐ, as it’s known to locals.  The Singapore Chinatown is made up of four distinct areas, each developed over different times between the 1820s – 1920s. They are Telok Ayer, Kreta Ayer, Bukit Pasoh, and Tanjong Pagar. Each has its own history and…

One of the most awe-inspiring adventures I had in Singapore was my trip to the Gardens by the Bay. Particularly upon entering the Cloud Forest, a cooled dome conservatory with an incredible design. The Gardens by the Bay spans 250 acres of reclaimed land near the Marina Reservoir and serves to enhance life with added…

When visiting Singapore, there are two structures that stand out – the Marina Bay Sands hotel and the Singapore Flyer. Both offer breathtaking views of the city, and both are, on their own, amazing sights. At 541 feet, the Singapore Flyer was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until the High Roller in Las…

From Marina Bay in Singapore, there’s one building in particular that catches the eyes of visitors – the Marina Bay Sands. Three buildings connected by a ship-shaped pool and dining area at the top, this hotel is often #1 on visitors lists when they visit the city.  But the gorgeous infinity pool and exotic drinks…

Delicious food, fun decor and the chance to dress up as your favourite characters from Harry Potter. It’s all part of the experience of dining at Platform 1094. Located on Serangoon Road, the interior is beautifully decorated with wood and brick. You certainly feel as though your in the Hogwarts dining hall or somewhere similar.…

Getting out and traveling the world is a popular bucket list item, something which many of us aspire to throughout life. Whether it’s planning a visit to a particular place or doing a grand worldwide tour, the thirst for travel is something the majority of us will experience at some point. But while you are…

I travel for a lot of reasons. I travel to experience new things. To try new foods. To see new places. To become a better person. To get outside of my comfort zone. To overcome fears. To meet new people. To practice the languages that I speak. To learn. I travel because experiences are more…

One of the only three gardens honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site are the Botanic Gardens in Singapore. And their they only tropical garden with the title. Founded in 1859, the Botanic Gardens played an important role in the rubber trade boom as it served as a major research location. Spread over 82 hectares,…

Too often we assume that you need to buy a pricey plane ticket to go on an adventure. We often forget that sometimes people visit the places that we live in order to have their adventures. So why don’t we do the same? Let’s Go on an Adventure at Home After getting back from my…

When I travel, I admit, I visit a lot of tourist attractions. Well, historical attractions. And while there’s so much more to places than these sites, they are attractions for a reason.  My mistake, in my opinion, is not that I go to these places. It’s that I often forget that I have a fair amount…

I first earned my diving license at the age of fourteen. It’s something that I’ve done for a while. And it’s something for which my adoration and awe has yet to fade. Each time I slip below the surface, it’s, to use what is probably and over-used metaphor in terms of diving, like entering an…

While I always enjoy traveling abroad whenever and wherever I can, I’ve learned that you don’t always need to pop on a plane to have an adventure. Becoming a parent has forced me to get more creative in my explorations, and I’ve started looking closer to home for fun things to do. Especially if they…

In French, Bouchon means “cork” or “plug”, but in Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s the French brasserie tucked away behind the reception desk at The Venetian. On my last trip out to the city, I had a little bit of time to myself and decided to stop in for a late breakfast before my schedule took…

When I first started studying ethnomusicology as an undergraduate student, one of teachers often shared his experiences studying the music of Trinidad and Tobago. The films he played in class were exciting, energetic and impressive feats of musicianship. I learned a lot about Carnival, but I wasn’t prepared for the beauty of the beaches when…

Experiencing local culture is an incredible way to fall in love with a place and its people. When you do that with someone who has insider knowledge and a vast expertise, that feeling of falling love with the city is inevitable. Especially when food is involved. With an afternoon to spare, I decided to try…

Originally named Fort Royal, Fort-de-France, is the capital of Martinique and a stop for Carnival cruise passengers. For those who love history, sightseeing or shopping, there’s plenty to do and see. Plus, the cuisine is incredible! The language spoken in Fort-de-France is, as you probably guessed, French, but you can find help in English in…

While performing as a part of the World Youth Jazz Festival in Putrajaya, Malaysia, M and I stayed in Kuala Lumpur. Although we didn’t have a lot of free time available to explore the area, we were able to spend a day in the city and visit the Batu Caves. We were only there for…

Local fare on the water in Puerto Rico? Why yes, thank you! Our cruise ship left from Puerto Rico, so we had a day on the island before heading out. Rather than hiding from the heat (and rain) in our hotel room, we decided to venture out and enjoy lunch on the water at Alambique,…

After arriving in St. George’s, Granada, and a short walk up a hill near the shore, you arrive at a French fort originally built in by the French in 1705. A reasonable fee earns you entry and the views from the old fort are breathtaking. Many of the buildings are currently used by the police,…

Since leaving Ireland, I’ve become fascinated with visiting places where you can learn about, see, or experience the process that goes into creating something. It all started when I got the touristy experience in Ireland, taking friends or family down to Guinness or Jameson in Dublin when they visited. Seeing the history and process that…

The Covered Market, or Spice Market or even Grand Marché in Fort-de-France, Martinique was established in 1886. It is known for its wide variety of spices, and it’s the perfect place to go to find fruits, vegetables, spices, rum, madras fabric or clothes, and local handcrafts. There are several small restaurants located within the market…

Normally, when I travel I like to spend a few days in each city I visit, having the time to enjoy the food, the people and the energy. But on occasion, I like to change things up and do things a little different.  As a musician, I’ve had the opportunity to perform on cruise ships…

While I was at university, I began trying out my travel wings. I lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and it was the perfect starting point for a variety of adventures because of the access I had to budget airlines to get around Europe.  But one of the things I always dreamed of doing was of…

The Citadelle de Besançon, or Citadel of Besançon, is a 17th century fortress designed by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Perched at the top of Mount Saint-Etienne, the Citadel covers about 27 acres and it hosts an incredible view of the city below. The Citadel hosts several museums – the museum of the Resistance, a natural history museum…

In the east of France lies an architectural complex known as Saline Royale or the Royal Saltworks. This project, conceived by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, was not only built to accommodate large-scale salt production but as an aesthetic masterpiece. Named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982, the Royal Saltworks have since been restored and opened to the public.…

A short while back, I wrote about my trip to the Guinness Storehouse, and today I’d like to share a bit about a similar, yet entirely different, tour in Dublin, Ireland. The Bow Street Distillery in Dublin is one of two Jameson locations that are open to the public and it was one of the…

One of the things many learners aim to do at some point along their language journey is immerse themselves abroad. But for those without much travel experience, it may be tough to figure out how to do that. Do you enroll in an immersion program? Simply travel to the country and hope for the best?…

I probably told this story once before, but before I ever fell in love with either music or language, I wanted to be a marine biologist. From the time I first ever saw The Little Mermaid until my first year of university, I was certain that was what I was going to do. But then…

When I was in Venice, Italy, I quickly learned a very important lesson. If we wanted to know where the good local restaurants were, we needed to ask the receptionist at our hotel. Her first recommendation to us was excellent and on our last night in the city, we knew she’d have an equally excellent…

One of my favourite ways to get a bit of unexpected language practice in is by taking tours in one of my target languages. Or at the very least, picking up the guide in one or two languages. Since I love travel, and usually love the focus of the tours that I’m taking, there’s quite…

Beijing, the capital of China, is a pleasant mix of historic and modern sites and architecture. There are so many things to do in and around the city, so here are a few of my favorites from my recent (and first) trip to the country. 1. Visit the Summer Palace // A short metro ride…

As some of you may know, I studied martial arts for some time. More specifically, kung fu. Upon visiting China, I knew that one of the things I wanted to do was explore China’s martial arts and I thought one of the ways I could do it would be to join up with those practicing…

In my opinion, one of the best things about Beijing are its hutongs, or alleys. These narrow streets are lined with old homes and shops, particularly in the traditional courtyard style. Sadly, these areas are slowly disappearing. Many of the hutongs have been demolished to make way for more modern constructions, roads or buildings. Thankfully,…

Houhai Park, literally ‘rear lake’, is a neighborhood in the Xicheng District of Beijing. Houhai is the largest of three lakes that comprise Shichahai, the other two, Qianhai and Xihai. The area around the lakes has recently become known for its nightlife with bars that feature live music that are particularly popular amongst expats. Both…

With an incredible view of the entrance to the Forbidden City and a moving political history, Tiananmen Square is one of the most visited, albeit controversial sites in Beijing, China. To enter the square, you need to pass through security and armed guards are posted around the area. But upon entering Tiananmen, you can see…

The holiday season is upon us! Have you finished your holiday shopping already? I sure haven’t, but I’m getting pretty close. Finding the perfect gift is (almost) never easy! Especially for someone with particular tastes or interests. If you have a few travel lovers or adventurers who you still need to shop for (and it’s…

Sometimes some of the most interesting things you see when visiting a new place are those you find by chance. And the Military Museum of the Chinese People’s Revolution (中国人民革命军事博物馆) was definitely one of those things for me during my trip to Beijing, China. Located in the Haidian district of Beijing, the Military Museum showcases…

Originally closed to the public, the Forbidden City is now one of the most visited sites in not only Beijing, China, but the world. With 980 buildings that span over 180 acres, the Forbidden City served as the Imperial palace from the 1400s to the early 20th century. It was declared a World Heritage Site…

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a huge fan of street foods, and so, I couldn’t miss out on a trip to one of the most famous street food spots in Beijing – the Wangfujing Night Market. The Wangfujing Night Market is located in the Dongcheng district and it’s both a popular tourist hotspot and…

Constructed in the early 1400s, the Temple of Heaven or 天坛 is a complex that was created for leaders to pray for a good harvest. It was built during the reign of the Yongle emperor (who was also responsible for the Forbidden City). The Temple of Heaven was named a World Heritage site in 1998.…

One of the great things about Barcelona is that most everything is within walking distance. But there’s also a really fantastic public transport system if you’d prefer. There are so many incredible things to do in Barcelona that I had a hard time narrowing them down for this list! A photo posted by Shannon Kennedy…

While going on our self-guided walking tour in Barcelona, we accidentally (and happily) stumbled across Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia, Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the Cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona. A photo posted by Shannon…

Have you all heard the Jim Gaffigan joke that a vacation is just eating somewhere you haven’t been yet? It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I often feel like a lot of my trips revolve around food. But for me, a big part of travel is experiencing the culture of a new place and…

A trip to 北京 Beijing, China wouldn’t be complete without going to see the 长城, the Great Wall. It’s certainly worthy of all the attention it deserves, and it is definitely worth spending a day 爬 climbing it. Like most other attractions in China, however, the Great Wall is often packed with tourists, especially during…

Food is seriously one of my favourite things about travel. I love trying out new dishes and snacks whenever I’m abroad (and even when I go on a local adventure near home). While I was in China, there were so many opportunities for me to try out different cuisines, street foods and snacks and I…

My first full day in Beijing called for doing something epic, so after debating whether or not we’d visit the Great Wall or the Summer Palace, we decided to opt for the latter. So we made the quick walk from the hotel to the subway station and navigated our way to the 1.1 square mile…

Paris, the capital of France, is one of the most populated and visited cities in the country. It was founded in the third century BC by Celts known as the Parisii and by the twelfth century, it was one of the largest cities in the world. To this day, it is still an important center…

Established in Marseille, France in 1723, Maille has since opened boutiques featuring its mustards, cornichons, salad dressings, and oils in Paris, London, New York, and Bordeaux. Antoine-Claude Maille, a distillateur-vinaigrier (distiller and vinegar-maker), saw great potential in vinaigre (vinegar) and so he invented the “Vinaigre des quatre voleurs” (Vinegar of the Four Thieves) meant to be…

Each time I go back to France to visit family, we try to experience new things, eat at new places, and visit new sites. Our trip often falls on a special occasion, so we always take the time to go somewhere special. On one of our outings, we decided to visit La Table des Gourmets…

When it comes to pastries, chocolates, and macarons, there are an endless number of shops to choose from in Paris. But when it comes to the Breton pastry kouign amann and its bite-size companion, kouignettes, there’s one particular spot that comes to mind – Maison Georges Larnicol. The location on Boulevard Saint-Germain is one of…

Les Galeries, or covered passages, are something that are tucked away all across Paris. And while I’m sure I’ve unknowingly wandered past quite a few in my time there, it was really only on this last trip with my belle belle soeur that I had the opportunity to discover and explore a few of these…

When one thinks of France, one of the images that often comes to mind – along with Paris, the Eiffel Tower, and cheese, of course – is that of Champagne. The historic Champagne region is located in the northeast of France and is best known for – you guessed it – the bubbly, white wine…

The holiday season is upon us! Have you finished your holiday shopping already? I sure haven’t, but I’m getting pretty close. Finding the perfect gift is (almost) never easy! If you have a few travel lovers, adventurers or language learners who you still need to shop for, here are a few items that I absolutely…

Over the past few years I’ve collected quite a few fond memories of time spent in the cuisine with friends and family, stirring crêpe batter over friendly banter. I’ve learnt the trade, racking up time taste-testing for Mamie, while toning arm muscles, working the spatula through a bowl of batter large enough to serve a…

After visiting Le Printemps, a rooftop café in the heart of Paris, France, a new travel obsession began for me. The search began. Paris couldn’t be the only city with incredible rooftop views. When we started planning our trip to Barcelona, one of the first things I researched were rooftop cafés and restaurants. Lo and…

I don’t quite remember where I heard about it from, but on my last trip to Paris, France, my sister took me to a place with the best view of Paris. And the most awesome thing about it? It’s totally gratuit. (Don’t worry, I have a glossary of French words used in this post at the…

After having visited Paris on numerous occasions, we’ve started looking a little bit outside the City of Lights for our more recent adventures. It’s not that Paris doesn’t have a lot to offer, for one could spend a lifetime wandering it’s streets and never see the same thing twice, but more that we’ve grown fond…

A trip to Barcelona, Spain wouldn’t be complete without a trek down to El Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, more fondly known as simply, La Boqueria, to indulge in some of the best-known items in Spanish cuisine. With an entrance off the city’s most popular street, La Rambla, the market isn’t hard to…

Tucked away on a little side street in the heart of the vibrant, picturesque Barrio Gotico (Barri Gotic), is a hidden culinary jewel. When one thinks of Spanish cuisine, the first things that come to mind are likely paella and tapas, and its the latter in which this restaurant specializes. While visiting the beautiful city…