I get a 'dressing down' from readers



Princess Grace looked angelic.

Oops! For the past 24 hours I’ve been getting a “proper dressing down”, as the British would say, from readers upset over the “Plain Jane” comment I made yesterday about Kate Middleton’s wedding dress.

“Zip it!” is what readers are telling me. Hey, I warned you I was no fashion critic.

So I went back and had another look at the wedding dress designed for the woman who will be queen by Alexander McQueen’s top designer Sarah Burton to see what left me unimpressed yesterday.

On second look, the lace-lined gown with the V-neck meant to accent Kate’s lovely long neck - it looks a lot like the wedding dress Grace Kelly wore when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco so many years ago (I’ve supplied proof with the accompanying photographs) – was indeed a knockout.

But the longer I looked, the less impressed I still was.

Why?

Then it hit me. By comparing Duchess Catherine’s dress – no more Kate for this girl - with Princess Grace’s wedding gown, I was able to pin it down – the veil.

While Grace’s wedding veil flared out to make the gorgeous Grace look angelic, Kate’s just laid on her head like mosquito netting

It’s almost as if Burton forgot to account for the veil in the design and just grabbed something at the last minute.

I challenge you to have another look.

From now on, though, I’m sticking to reviewing Tilley travel gear!

Royal wedding dress disappoints me


 I’m back home after my 26-hour flight from Singapore via New York and through blurry eyes I watched the Royal Wedding this morning – damn jet lag has thrown my clock off again.

I’m no fashion critic but after all the hype of who would and would not design the wedding dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge (formerly plain old Kate Middleton) and what it would look like, I must admit I was somewhat disappointed – a bit too Plain Jane in its design. Maybe Princess Di’s elaborate wedding dress has ruined me forever.

However, London looked radiant!

No other city in the world looks as good as London when it puts on its regal look.

William and Kate’s wedding will certainly help inject new energy into the Royal Family and the wedding ceremony and the pomp and circumstance surrounding it will no doubt have many tourists booking passage to London.

CBC and other networks offered feeds from St. Andrews, where Prince William met Kate while attending the ancient city’s renowned university.

I was there a few years ago and TV pictures today reminded me how beautiful the campus there is. I soaked up the sun in the very courtyard where crowds gathered today to watch the wedding on giant TV screens.

London, St. Andrews and Kate’s hometown of Bucklebury – located 80 kilkometres west out London – will be overcrowded with tourists in coming weeks and months as the wedding ceremony hysteria continues well into the future.

Reminds me that it’s almost time for me to return to England.

Go to http://www.travelife.ca/ for my stories on St. Andrews.

Time to return home after eight days exploring Singapore and Malaysia

Singapore's St. Regis was a true delight.

DATELINE SINGAPORE - Just finished packing my backs and will soon be checking out of the ritzy St. Regis Hotel - a true wonder of the hotel world - to start my long journey home: an 18 hour flight to New York aboard Singapore Airlines; then a one hour flight to Toronto with Porter Airlines.

Accounting for airport waiting time, I should be home in about 24 hours. And you know what, every minute of travel time to and from Asia is worth it.

What an amazing eight days this has been.

I got to stay in the new Disneyland of the hotel world, the Marina Bay Sands Resort here in Singapore; then I journed to Malaysia to sample some of that wonderful country's genuine hospitality at the fabulous Four Seasons Resort on Langkawi Island; got to experience Langkawi's mangroves and came face-to-face with some of the most fascinating wildlife on Earth; then the cherry on top of the cake was the time spent at the St. Regis.

Of course, it may take me a few weeks to overcome the third degree sunburn I suffered while tracking down stories that I'll soon be sharing with you at travelife.ca and in TraveLife magazine. The pain and suffering I go through for you devoted readers.

Of all the wonders I saw on this trip, Langkawi and its natural beauty were the most memorable.

The sweet, hard working people of that island are truly lovely and their Muslim beliefs make them one of the most welcoming and accommodating people I have ever met. Of course, because Malaysia is a Muslim nation, some people shy away from it. Which is a crying shame.

I will return to Malaysia very soon to see Kuala Lumpur, its capital and one of the biggest and most dynamic cities in the world. And after getting a sample of jungle life in the mangroves of Langkawi, I definitely want to experience Borneo. But most of all, I want to get to know the Muslims of Malaysia better because they opened their hearts to me.

That's why I love travelling. People are what make places so special. And it was the people of Langkawi who made this trip so special for me.

I'll be in touch as soon as I get home.

Until then, safe journeys.

I bid Langkawi a fond farewell



The sun dropping into the Andaman Sea was our signal
that is was time to leave Langkawi this evening.



DATELINE LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA – Seems we just arrived in this Asian paradise and already it’s time to return to Singapore where we’ll prepare for our long journey home Thursday.

While packing our bags earlier today, we were interrupted by a knock on our Four Seasons villa door.

Standing on the other side of the glass was Aidi Abdullah, the charming Four Seasons naturalist who introduced us to the wonders of Langkawi’s delicate eco-system on a tour he lead just a few days ago.

Aidi, knowing that our Silk Air flight wouldn’t be leaving Langkawi until later (8:45 p.m.) decided he would offer to show us some of the local villages where we sampled lots of great Malay food.

What a wonderful gesture – especially considering it was Aidi’s day off.

“I could not let you leave without showing you the same hospitality that your country showed me when I lived in Edmonton,” said Aidi, who worked in the Alberta capital a few years ago before returning to his homeland.

“Canadians were the only people who ever accepted me for who I am, not what I am,” said the proud Muslim.

You have no idea how my heart swells with pride when I hear those words spoken about our country by people of other lands who have sampled our hospitality and generosity.

The sun dipping behind one of the 99 treasured islands that make up Langkawi and dropping into the Andaman Sea this evening indicated it was time to head to the airport.

We leave here with many wonderful memories – our stay at the fabulous Four Seasons Langkawi Resort was a true delight; our tour of the mangroves where we were eyeballed by strange creatures was life changing for me; and our tour of the local towns where we met creative islanders making amazing crafts – but the hospitality shown us by the mostly Muslim population is what we’ll remember most about Langkawi.

Langkawi is Malaysia's magical island made up of mountains and myths

Swimmers at the Four Season Resort on Langkawi look out on the Andaman Sea and nearby Thailand .

DATELINE LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA – I’ve been so fortunate over the years to have visited some of the most magical tropical islands on Earth.

The Seychelles … the Maldives … Thailand’s Phuket – visits to those islands are the ones I treasure most.

And now I can add Langkawi, Malaysia’s island of mountains and myths, to that list of my all-time favorites.

Since arriving here Sunday and checking into the fabulous Four Seasons Langkawi Resort, it’s been one thrill after another.

The Four Seasons Resort is itself a treasure that comes wrapped in beautiful Moorish and Malay architecture. Its luxury seaside villas – 228 square metres big - and rooms feature outdoor showers and plunge pools with breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea strait that separates this Malaysian outpost made up of 99 islands from Thailand. On clear days – that’s well over 300 here – you can see the mountains of Thailand clearly.

The Canadian-operated resort is a favorite with families from neighbouring Asian countries as well as Europe – Russians really like it here – and North America. It has great restaurants, a world class spa, and some of the friendliest staff this traveller has ever encountered.

Today’s poolside promotion was three cans of Carlsberg for the Canadian equivalent of $11.

I think I’ve found paradise folks!

Langkawi – Lang means “eagle” and Kawi means “stone” in the Malay language – is an eco-paradise where eagles, monkeys, tropical fish, poisonous snakes and rare birds thrive in the island’s treasured mangroves. The Four Seasons arranged a three-hour trip through the mangroves this morning with their resident naturalist Aidi and it may have been three of the most enjoyable hours I’ve ever spent.

The island’s myths come from ancient legends that surround locations like Tasik Dayang Bunting – the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden – whose waters, when drunk, is said to promote fertility in women; or the Mahsuri Mausoleum, the fabled white tomb set in a rice paddy where the body of an innocent young bride apparently rests; or Lagenda Park, a garden museum that tells the story of heroic giants, mythical birds, evil ogres and beautiful princesses.

This place, made up of granite mountains and where once marble was mined, has given me many story lines that will soon show up in TraveLife magazine and at travelife.ca.

So stay tuned for more on this treasured island.

Special moments on Langkawi

This is the scene that greets me each morning
outside my luxurious Four Seasons seaside villa.

Langkawi is a botanical wonderland.

Each morning local women sweep up debris that
the Andaman Sea spit out overnight.

I visited a craft shop where Malay women were
busy handpainting some fabric.

On my mangrove tour, I came across these cute little monkeys.

The island's mangrove is one of the most fascinating places
I've ever visited - it's the lifeblood of Langkawi.

I've arrived in Langkawi, Malaysia



The view from my Four Seasons beach villa in tropical Langkawi.



DATELINE MALAYSIA – The second leg of my Asian odyssey began today (Sunday) with my arrival from Singapore (aboard Singapore Airlines’ excellent subsidiary carrier Silk Air) in Malaysia’s tropical paradise Langkawi.

We were greeted by warm weather (34C) and warm smiles from the mostly Muslim population.

The island is located on Malaysia’s west coast just south of the Thai border and flying into this mountainous wonderland was pure eye candy.

The island is noted for its caves, delicate eco-system and myths and in the next few days I intend to check them all out.

I’ll also be touring some of the local villages where I’m told the craftsmanship is something very special.

Oh, did I mention that I’ll be staying at the Four Seasons Langkawi – one of the most talked about properties in Asia – and reporting back on how special this Canadian-managed property is.

So stay tuned as I take you along on my latest adventure.

Batali's Singapore eatery disappoints

DATELINE SINGAPORE – Spent a good portion of last night (Friday) trying to secure a reservation at one of the restaurants at the Marina Bay Sands complex.

The 2,500-room hotel has lots of restaurants on sight and there’s plenty more located in the massive retail mall next door known as the Shoppes of Marina Bay. However, with that many rooms comes a lot of mouths to feed.

After pleading and flashing my baby blue eyes at the hostess at celebrity chef Mario Baltali’s much ballyhooed Osteria Mozza restaurant, she agreed to seat us at the counter overlooking the kitchen - a spot I relish in restaurants because I can see the chefs in action.

When the wine list arrived, however, I needed a stiff drink to get over the prices - $25 for a glass of humble grape.

None of the appetizers were very appetizing from a price standpoint – most were north of $20. And the pasta entrees were all in the $25-$30 range and that was for the “small” portions.

I must admit my ravioli dish was excellent – the pillows of homemade pasta were stuffed with a beef mixture that melted on the tongue – and the room’s mozzarella bar was fun the watch but the mozzarella was a bit too salty for my liking.

However, the bill for two came to $230 and that was hard to swallow.

Mario’s prices at Osteria Mozza are as inflated as his waistline!

The Sands company likes to invite TV chefs like Batali (Wolfgang Puck also has a restaurant in the Shoppes at Marina Bay) to showcase their talents in the properties they manage. However, Batali of Po fame in New York and a regular on the Food network, does not impress with this pretentious Singapore room.

The best eating option at the Shoppes of Marina Bay is the food court next to the skating rink where you can eat well-prepared, hearty local dishes for about $10 a person.

Sharing photos of my Good Friday walk around lovely Singapore

I started the day watching the sun come up over Marina Bay
 where offshore dozens of ships, waiting to enter port, were anchored.

Then I walked around Marina Bay and got this photo of the
 city's new  lotus flower-shaped Arts and Science museum.



Then I took this shot of the Esplanade entertainment centre,
 now a rival to Sydney's famed Opera House in good looks.

As amazing as Singapore's new designs are, it's still ther city's
old shuttered homes that are being revitalized.

Singapore's skyline, seen from the famed Singapore River,
is one of the most dramatic in the world.

Then I watched a chef at a local dining spot make
fresh paste  for my noodle soup.

What makes Singapore such an amazing city
to walk is its great downtown parks.



Then I came upon this film crew making
a movie in the downtown core.



The streets of Singapore are filled with amusing
art that visitors just love photographing.



Singapore turns into Swingapore!





That's me in the infinity pool  at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

DATELINE SINGAPORE – I finally got to swim in the incredible pool at the $6 billion Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the experience was priceless.

The infinity pool, located on the hotel’s 57th floor, is as long as an Airbus A380 double-decker and is three times the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. From ground level, it takes the shape of a ship.

It’s not the highest hotel swimming pool in the world – that honour goes to the new Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong,  which is located on the 108th floor of the recently-opened hotel on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong.

The only thing higher than the Marina Bay Sands Hotel swimming pool are the prices being charged at the restaurants and bars located on property. I just paid $25 (Cdn.) for a glass of New Zealand wine and meals at the Marina Bay run around $100 (Cdn.) – and that's just for appetizers.

The Marina Bay Sands rooftop pool has become the new gathering spot in Singapore – the first thing guests do after checking into Marina Bay is head to the swimming pool to take pictures and email them back home – that’s me in the photo that accompanies this blog.

Despite the high prices, Singapore remains one of my favourite cities on this plant – it’s certainly one of the most colourful cities in the world and the Marina Bay Sands project, with its first-rate accommodation, high end shopping complex, entertainment venues and gambling casinos is a welcome addition.

Finally, Singapore has shed its redneck reputation (you could get flocked for spitting on the streets here not so long ago) and it’s become more “Swingapore” than Singapore.

The Maina Bays Sands, operated by the Sands group out of Las Vegas, is too big and imposing for my liking – it took me 20 minutes to walk from check-in to reach my 14th floor room in Tower 3 – but it does add some life to a city that has often been described as being too boring.

I’ll be in touch tomorrow after enjoying some local chili grab at Jumbo Seafood on Clarke’s Quay.

Singapore Airlines makes me smile!

Singapore Airlines crew are the prettiest
and the most efficient in the skies.

DATELINE SINGAPORE – We touched down in Singapore a few minutes ahead of schedule – at 5:05 a.m. local time Thursday morning (Wednesday evening back in Toronto); 17 hours and 50 minutes after my Singapore Airlines flight took off from Newark’s Liberty International Airport.

And, as usual, I didn’t want to get off.

Once again, the Singapore Airlines crew proved to me why they earn top marks in the aviation industry with their service with a smile attitude, no matter what the situation.

People often ask how I can stand being cooped up in an airplane for so long?

Actually, I love it! Airplanes and golf courses are great escapes for me from the real world. They are my fortresses of solitude, where I can catch up on work or catch up on some “me” time.

And besides, when you fly first-rate carriers like Singapore Airlines, the time passes quickly – lots of good food, good entertainment, a good sleep and some good conversation with the worldly crew makes the time fly by.

Can’t wait for the return flight – another 18 hours of blissful relaxation!

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

My precious pooch Paolo digs up great air deals!

Seoul Airfare

$617

Return from Toronto
Airline: United

Air Taxes: $337.96 (approx.)

Travel period:

April 20-30, 2011

Ticketing until: April 28, 2011

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good Boy Paolo!

Hotels putting towels under wraps

As much as 20 per cent of hotel linens are stolen each month.

I have to come clean about something – I take soaps and shampoos from hotel rooms.

In fact, I haven’t had to buy a bar of soap or a bottle of shampoo for almost 10 years now.

I’m not alone, of course. Many other people help themselves to “designer” soaps in high-end hotels like the Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons and one executive with Fairmont hotels once told me that amenity thieves actually pay the hotel a compliment because by taking soaps and shampoos the guests are actually letting the hotel know they approve of the brands stocked in the property’s bathroom.

Towels, however, are a different story.

I’ve never tucked a towel away in my suitcase at checkout but apparently many others do. And the practice of stolen towels and bathrobes has become such a problem for hotel chains that some are now employing anti-theft devices - radio-frequency tags stitched into towels, robes and other linen which triggers an alarm if removed from the premises – to try and keep the thievery under wraps.

The “Linen Technology Tracking System”, which is similar to shop security tags, has been patented by a Miami-based company and is now being employed at hotels in Hawaii, Miami and New York.

A hotel industry source says that properties lose between 5 and 20 per cent of their linen inventory per month and that something has to be done to cut down on the losses.

I just hope they don’t embed detectors into soap.

Toronto rocks to a Brazilian beat

One of the "fun" events I attend each year here in Toronto is the Brazilian Ball, held to raise funds for the Royal Ontario Museum.

It's a charity event that breaks out into a carnival thanks to the appearance of dozens of samba dancers flown to Toronto from Rio de Janeiro just for the event. The performers are the same ones who compete in Rio's annual carnival.

The Brazilian Ball's mini-Rio Carnival comes complete with small replica floats and scantily attired dancers who samba to a Latin beat.

Besides raising lots of money for the museum, the event conjures up memories of my visits to Rio - one of my favorite spots in the world with its naughty nightlife, sun kissed beaches and fun-loving citizens.

Rio will be the centre of the tourism universe in the coming years thanks it being awarded both a World Cup of soccer and Summer Olympics - mega global events that are sure to draw millions of visitors to that crazy city with the awesome skyline.

I still remember arriving one night at Copacabana Beach to find myself being swallowed up in a crowd of a million people. It was just a "normal night" of fun in the world's fun capital and on New Year's Eve night, the locals told me the crowd swells to well over 2 million people.

Boy, I can't wait to visit that city again!

Any way, I thought I'd get you in the carnival mood by sharing some of the pictures I took of Saturday night's event with my iPhone.

Paolo's Travel Deal Today



My precious pooch Paolo digs up great airfares every day!



Rarotonga, Cook Islands

$898

Return air from Vancouver

Airline: Air New Zealand

Air Taxes: $325

Travel Period: April 15 – Nov. 30, 2011

Ticketing until: April 22, 2011

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good boy Paolo!

No-fly zone ordered over France!

French President Sarkozy and wife Carla demand privacy!

Here’s some news items from today that I thought might interest you:

- First French President Nicolas Sarkozy imposed a “no-fly” zone over Libya and now he’s added one over the French Rivera – more precisely the retreat where he and his wife Carla Bruni will be spending the Easter holidays. Who does this guy think he is – Napoleon? An official decree threatens pilots with a fine of up to 40,000 euros or six months in prison for descending below 3,000 feet above Sarkozy's large seaside villa at Cap-Nègre, Lavandou. The decree came a year after France's first couple irked locals by declaring beaches surrounding the residence off limits.

- Dubai tourism officials are on full damage control alert and scrambling to reassure travelers that the Disneyland of the Desert is still a safe place after reports surfaced early today that a British holidaymaker was beaten to death while in police custody. Reports surfaced today in the British media about Lee Bradley Brown, who was on holiday at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai. It is alleged the holidaymaker was beaten up by police officers in his cell after being arrested for assault, intimidating behaviour and using abusive language on April 6. He died in custody. The claims are now being investigated by the British embassy in Dubai.

- Union leaders representing British Airways cabin crew have ordered their members to hold off from strikes over the Easter and Royal Wedding holidays, raising hopes of a final settlement in the long-running dispute. The two sides said that a 28-day extension had been agreed to allow for further talks, and that lasting peace was essential for the good of both parties.

- Icelandair will commence seasonal flights from Toronto – starting today - with flights from Pearson International to Keflavik, Iceland. Finnair is also offering flights from Toronto to Helsinki. Suddenly, Toronto has become the centre of the aviation world and that's great news for Canadians looking for competition when it comes to air deals.

Paolo's Travel Deal Today

My precious pooch Paolo digs up great airfares every day!

Fiji Airfare

$1,144

return from Vancouver

Airline: Air Pacific

Air Taxes: $139 (approx.)

Travel Period:  April 14 –  Dec 31, 2011

Ticketing until: April 28, 2011

Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good boy Paolo!

My visit to Dallas was too short

The Dallas skyline is truly charming.

DATELINE DALLAS – The longer I stay in this city, the more I like it. Of course, what’s not to like about a city that has the most vibrant arts and fashion scene south of New York; the best collection of southwestern chefs in the world whose culinary delights are presented in chic rooms that are true eye candy; a skyline that features three – count ‘em, three I.M. Pie-designed delights and a host of other award-winning architecture; and some of the most polite people I’ve ever met – I think Texans say thank you to ATM machines.

On my last night in Dallas, my delightful guide Pippin asked what the highlights of my whirlwind two-day stay had been?

Honestly, I told her, everything I saw and did on my visit here is now a treasured memory to me.

This is a city that charms from the moment you arrive – yes, even the airport Dallas shares with neighboring Fort Worth is welcoming thanks to its easy maneuvering.

The city’s wonderful collection of museums, which span European, Asian and Modern art worlds, have all been brought to life thanks to private funding by oil-rich Texans who give so much back to the community here.

The Dallas Arboretum and its ambitious plans to add a “Child’s Adventure Zone” - it will open in 2013 - where kids as young as toddlers will be taught how to appreciate the environment in which they leave is one of the most insightful projects I’ve ever seen. Who knew that oil-loving Texans were so committed to our fragile environment?

On my two-day visit here I honestly did not have a bad meal – even my Southwestern-style breakfast at the charming and historic Rosewood Mansion at Turtle Creek, where movie stars and former presidents have dined in 1920s splendor surrounded by delicate architecture that must be seen to truly appreciate, was wonderful.

The city's collection of new hotels - the W and the Ritz-Carlton are WOW! chic - are truly dazzling but the old-world charm at the Rosewood Mansion, with its wine cellar dining option and secret passages through oak-panelled walls, is what charmed me the most.

The dinners at upscale rooms like Fearing’s in the Ritz-Carlton and Stephen Pyles next to the delightful Fairmont Dallas where I stayed, now rank among the best I’ve ever had – right up there with meals I’ve enjoyed at the Georges V in Paris.

The few hours I spent wandering the halls of the Meadows Museum where my eyes feasted on treasures that few have seen from the vaults of the Sistine Chapel, will stay with me for the rest of my life.

And the moment I looked back on my life through the window of Dallas' infamous Sixth Floor Museum from where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the fatal shots that killed President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1961 – the day before my 11th birthday – brought back a flood of memories that had me choking back tears these many years later.

I arrived in Dallas not knowing what to expect and I leave this amazing city expecting I’ll be back very soon – because I know Dallas has so much more to offer a visitor like me.

I'll be reporting on all I've seen and done in Dallas in the coming weeks online at http://www.travelife.ca/ and in upcoming issues of TraveLife magazine,which you can also access free at http://www.travelife.ca/.

 

So stay tuned!

Sharing photos from my visit yesterday to Dallas' Arboretum

Paolo's Travel Deal for Today



My precious pooch Paolo digs up some great air deals every day!

Tel Aviv Airfare

$653

Return from Toronto
Air Taxes: $535 (approx.)

Travel period:

15 May – 16 Oct 2011

Ticketing Until: April 19
Call: 1-866-929-6688

Good boy Paolo!

Busy day ahead touring Dallas



The Meadows Musuem entrance is fun.

DATELINE DALLAS – On the second day of my visit to wonderful Dallas, Pippin Clifton, my outstanding guide from the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be introducing me to the Rosewood Mansion at Turtle Creek , the Sixth Floor Museum from where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed president John F. Kennedy, the Dallas Arboretum, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Dallas Museum of Art and the city’s AT&T Performing Arts Center before we sit down for dinner at trendy Stephan Pyles restaurant.


A busy day ahead and I’ll be reporting back on what it’s like to stand at the window and look out on the place that changed the world forever.

First impressions of Dallas yesterday ware that this is a city I could easily live in –world class in every way and with an arts scene that has few equals. It exudes a worldly sophistication few other American cities have but yet keeps its small town charm.

The SMU campus (Southern Methodist University) is one of the loveliest I’ve ever seen and if your read my earlier blog on the Sistine Chapel exhibition at the Meadows Museum opposite SMU you’ll know how impressed I was with that facility.

Dallas’ dedication to the arts and the fact that its world class venues – some designed by the great I.M. Pei – are mostly financed by private funds – those oil men know how to give back to the community – has really impressed me.

Pippin is excited about the “overpass” park that the city is building and will connect the arts district with Dallas’ vibrant downtown, which boasts an amazing Ritz-Carlton Hotel where renowned celebrity chef Dean Fearing serves up culinary delights in a room that combines chic and comfy very nicely. The chef’s tortilla soup and shrimp tacos are to die for!

I’ll be reporting back later today on what else I see in Dallas so stay tuned.

Houston gets snubbed by NASA

DATELINE DALLAS – Houston, you appear to have a problem.

This cross-state rival to Dallas awoke this morning to the news that it won’t be getting one of the recently retired space shuttles from NASA, even though Houston was the mother ship for the space agency – Houston’s Johnson Space Centre was “mission control” for the space program.

The cities who will get the retired shuttles – which will certainly enhance their tourism industries – were Washington (for the Smithsonian Museum, of course), New York. Los Angeles and the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, home base for the shuttles and from where the space ships were launched.

I can certainly understand why Florida and Washington got one each, but New York and Los Angeles?

Did the shuttles even fly over those cities on reentry?

Sky's the limit for Saudi project

While sitting at Pearson International waiting to board my flight to Dallas, I came across this story out of Saudi Arabia.

“The Saudi Royal family has unveiled plans to start construction of the world’s tallest skyscraper. The Kingdom Tower will measure 1.6km high, making it twice the height of the current world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The mixed-use development will consist of hotels, offices, luxury apartments and a shopping centre. It will take 12 minutes to reach the top in a high-speed elevator."

And we wonder why there are riots in the streets of just about every Middle East country these days?

Just imagine what good in the world the Saudi royal clan could do with the $20 billion U.S. they plan to spend on this needless structure – maybe build a home for every person in Japan who lost theirs in the recent earthquake/tsunami disaster or build schools, hospitals and factories for the people in their own region that so desperately need jobs and education.

Instead, the oil-rich kingdom would rather get into a bragging war with Dubai.

I don’t think I’ll plan a trip to Saudi Arabia just to see another high rise!

Next stop for this traveler - Dallas




Cowboys Stadium was where
2011 Super Bowl was played.

I’m off to Dallas tomorrow (April 12) on assignment for TraveLife magazine and travelife.ca.

By the way, have you all signed up for our “smart phone contest?” As of last night we cracked the 1,000 barrier in entries and the contest is open until April 25 – the winner will be named April 28. To enter, just go to www-travelife.ca and follow the instructions.

I’m looking forward to my trip to Dallas – I’m a long-time Cowboys fan and the NHL Stars have always had a special place in my hockey heart. And from what I hear, Dallas has grown to become quite a shopping hub as well as cultural oasis thanks to the many different nationalities who now call Big D home - 80 per cent of the city’s population is made up of Hispanics.

That means I’ll be dining on some great food and enjoying some great neighborhood restaurants. Yippee!

Some of the places I’ll be visiting during my 2-day stay:

- Highland Park Village, the first shopping centre in the U.S.;

- The Meadows Museum, which houses a great collection of Spanish art;

- The Dallas Arboretum, America’s Garden of Eden;

- The Dallas Art Museum, home to 23,000 works;

And of course, no visit to Dallas would be complete without a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, from where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed president John F. Kennedy.

I’ll be reporting on my visit to Dallas in the July issue of TraveLife magazine and no doubt will find a few stories to share with you at http://www.travelife.ca/.

So stay tuned and don’t forget to enter our “smart phone contest” and tell your friends to enter, too!

Tokyo wants to host Olympic Games

Put this item under the heading "Being optimistic."
Tokyo intends to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics as a “big catalyst” for Japan’s recovery from the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami which hit the country last month, according to breakingtravelnews.com. Tokyo lost out to Rio de Janeiro in the race for the 2016 Summer Olympics in 2009. Candidates for the 2020 Olympics are required to submit their bids to the IOC by September 1 this year. The host city will be chosen in Buenos Aires in September 2013.

It's too soon for lift travel ban to Egypt

Just a few days after the Canadian government lifted its travel advisory to parts of Egypt – Luxor to be exact – demonstrators were back in the streets of Cairo today clashing with police.

Anyone travelling to Egypt has to land in Cairo and the situation there remains too volatile. I know the Canadian and American governments are trying to curry favor with the new Egyptian government but aren’t we jumping the gun too quickly here. As long as Cairo remains off limits, then Egypt has to remain off limits to Canadians.

It’s a shame – Egypt is my favorite country in the Middle East to visit and I know for a fact that several Canadian tour companies are chomping at the bit to send people back to that amazing storehouse of history.

But let’s be sensible here. It’s still early days in the Egyptian uprising and people should not be put at risk.