Famed Dutch band to tour Canada

48th Highlanders of Holland will visit Canada next month.

One of the most moving and memorable tours I've ever taken was to the battlefield graveyards in the Netherlands, where so many young Canadians gave their lives to help the Dutch gain their freedom from the clutches of Hitler's evil.

The Dutch have never forgotten what Canadians did for them and to this very day care for our graves as if they were their own soldiers. The bond between our countries has grown ever stronger since World War II and every time a major WWII occasion crops up, the Dutch open their homes and arms to welcome back Canadian veterans.

In 1991, the Dutch created a living tribute to Canada when it established the 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes & Drums band, named after the famed Canadian regiment which helped liberate the city Apeldoorn in April 1945. The Canadian regiment had its own pipe band and its members led the regiment into battle that day.

Now, that Dutch band in coming to Canada for a seven-day tour between Nov. 2-9.

The visit of the Dutch band is timed to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the 48th Highlanders of Canada at their “Homecoming Weekend”, Nov. 4,5 and 6, 2011. (see http://www.48highlanders.com/ for more info on that event).

The Dutch Band will be performing in Burlington (twin city of Apeldoorn), Brantford and Toronto betwen Nov 2 – 9 and everyone is invited to attend the free performances.

Here's where they'll be performing:

Nov. 2 - Burlington: Branch 60 of the Royal Canadian Legion, 7 p.m.  

Nov. 3 - Burlington: 11 a.m., Mount Royal Plaza and Brant Street; 5.30 p.m. 501 Kenmar Crescent street party.

Nov. 4 - Brantford: 9.45 a.m., Brantford War Memorial. Laying of a wreath and Remembrance concert;

11.30 a.m., Canadian Military Heritage Museum. This will be followed by performances with the 48th Highlanders of Canada.
Nov. 5 - Toronto: 11 a.m., Parade in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Nov. 6 - Toronto: 11 am. Remembrance Day Parade Queens Park.

Nov. 7 - Burlington: Performance for the Seniors, 11.15 a.m. Burlington Senior’s Centre, 2285 New St. in Central Park adjacent to the Central Library.
Nov. 8 - Burlington: Performance at Burlington City Hall, 11.30 a.m., Laying of a wreath at the Burlington War Memorial at City Hall; 12 p.m., Performance for Mayor Rick Goldring and members of Council and citizens of Burlington, Burlington City Hall Square.

To find out more about the band and it`s Canadian Tour see www.48th-highlanders.nl/indexeng.html.

For further information contact: Jim Matz (Tour Organizer, Canada) jimmatz@cogeco.ca or 905-632 – 5752.

And if you ever get a chance to visit the Netherlands, make sure you visit one of the Canadian military graveyards - it's a moving experience you'll never forget!

October TraveLife magazine available!

Imagine, it's already October and another 12 months is about to come to an end and I'm another year older!

That's the bad news - the good news is that another issue of TraveLife magazine will be distributed this weekend in the Toronto Star (Oct. 22), my former employer and Canada's largest newspaper.

TraveLife magazine can be accessed online right NOW at http://www.travelife.ca/ and our team of excellent writers have been busy filing stories from exotic places around the world.

In the October/December issue of TraveLife magazine, you'll find stories on:

British Columbia's Sunshine Coast: Brian Brown and Laurel Rowbotham sail away on a 10-day cruise along B.C.'s breathtakingly beautiful waterways and tell us about their experience of fishing for crabs and shrimps and coming face-to-face with bald eagles and starfish.

Japan's Kyoto: George Millar tells us about his experience at a temple in that ancient Japanese city.

Israel's Eilat: TraveLife's photo editor Casey Nolin takes some back roads to get to Israel's "fun capital."

San Francisco: Karen Asp and her husband patrol the streets of San Francisco in some unusual vehicles.

India's Little Tibet: Our adventurous writer Amy Chung goes out of her way to find excitement in India.

Guam's food culture: Cynthia Dial attends a food festival on Guam and comes away with an appetite for more of this treasured island.

Bora Bora: Mark Dimitroff discovers the inner beauty of this South Pacific treasure with the help of an island icon.

China: Chloe Tse has the second part of her amazing journey to China, the land of her ancestors.

And it's been a busy time between editions for me - I've taken exciting trips to Panama, Taiwan, Malaysia and Miami and share my experiences in the October issue of TraveLife magazine.

So look for a copy of TraveLife magazine in the Toronto Star Saturday (Oct. 22) or go online and read it on your iPad or smart phone.

Osaka airfare for $580 return!

My memories of Osaka are all good ones!

Here's another great air deal I just came across:

Return airfare from Toronto to Osaka for $580!

Details:

Travel Period:

Oct 19 - Dec 15, 2011;

& Jan 1 - Apr 1, 2012

Air Taxes: $683

Ticketing Until: Oct 21, 2011

Call: 1.866.929.6688

Ryanair a "Euro-peeing" airline

Ryanair, which has been criticized severely, especially in this corner, for even contemplating turning their on board washrooms into"paid toilets" complete with a coin slot, has solved the problem - they're getting rid of the bathrooms.

The fly-by-night Irish carrier says it's eliminating two of the three washrooms on its planes so it can squeeze in another six seats.

Passengers will be given "pee" bags just in case, though. 

What next - get rid of one of the engines to make the plane lighter and save on fuel ... or how about getting rid of the pilots (auto pilot will do) so more seats can be added to the cockpit area.

Ryanair in now the worst "Euro-peeing" airline and one wonders why anyone would trust this carrier.

Japan offers tourists free airfare

Japan's beleaguered tourism officials are pulling out all the stops to get foreigners to return to their accident prone country.

Japan's Tourism Authority announced this week it is giving away 10,000 free flights in a contest that requires winners to write positive things about their visit to a country that has seen its fair share of disasters in recent years - culminating in this past spring's earthquake/tsunami that caused over 20,000 deaths and billions in damages.

Since the earthquake/tsunami, Japan has experienced a 50 per cent drop in tourism and a 47 per cent decline in foreign tourist spending.

The airfare giveaway - you have to submit an application online to get one - will be launched in April 2012 -  with lots of hoopla and help from Hollywood types - and will cost the Japanese government $14.3 million U.S. Winners are responsible for their own lodging, food and ancillary expenses.

Japan needs our help so let's hope this free airfare promotion works - I know I'm going to apply!

Egypt is still welcoming tourists

Steve Hope, second from left in back row, led this smiling group to Egypt last week.

With all the news reports coming out of Egypt that Cairo is ablaze with new anti-government and religious violence, I got concerned about a colleague who was escorting a Tour East Holidays trip to the land of the pharohs.

Then yesterday, Steve Hope, the Tour East tour expert, sent me this photo of his group standing in Tahrir Square in Cairo - the place CNN was showing as being the epicentre of the violence.

"We had a great time - the Egyptians treated us so well," reported Steve upon his return. Judging by the smiles on the faces in the photograph above, I'd say no one looks too worried or concerned.

Another contact I have in Egypt confirmed yesterday that life in Cairo and in the great cities along the River Nile is pretty much normal and that if there is violence, it's happening well away from the normal tourist routes.

It's too bad when headline-seeking news editors sitting in London or New York take isolated events and blow them out of proportion just to get more viewers. Decisions like this have far-reaching effects on tourism and people's lives in country's like Egypt that count so heavily on tourism.

Can we trust headline news anymore?

The photo above is worth a thousand words.

Old Montreal looking old and tired



The Hotel Nelligan is too much for too little!

 Just got back from Montreal where I spent a lovely weekend touring the city's famed Old Town (Vieux Montreal) and enjoying great food - Montreal chefs remain Canada's best - and soaking up the festive atmosphere that always surrounds this lovely French city.

To make the weekend a little more special I checked into one of Montreal's Old Town boutique hotels - Quebec hoteliers are the best at turning old period buildings into chic hotel properties.

The historic Hotel Nelligan on Rue St. Paul, named after one of French Canada's best known authors, was my property of choice.

Impressions: Very nice hotel - very average service - typical "boutique" property that christens itself a 5-star hotel and delivers 3-star service - the staff always seems to have their hands out for tips here - but their service does not warrant it.

Other impressions of Montreal:

* Judging by the number of "Louer" (to let) signs splattered about the Old Town, Montreal looks like an economic disaster area;

* Too many Old Town restaurants offer "set menus" - meaning you get three courses (all of which are fabulous) when you only want one or two; I hate chefs dictating how fat I will get;

* The provincial sales tax and other local taxes tourists must pay here are outrages - my $230 a night room (I stayed 2 nights) resulted in a $630 final bill - $430 for the stay and $200 in additional taxes and a two night hotel parking charge - ouch!

* The Old Town is looking old and tired - streets are littered with garbage and there's too many "chain" restaurants moving into the area - I liked Old Montreal when it was a bastion for up-and-coming young chefs.

Despite all the pitfalls, though, I can't wait for my next visit to Montreal!

 

Stories posted on www.travellife.ca

Meet the lovely people
of Bora Bora at travelife.ca

We’ve been busy at travelife.ca this week adding new stories to our front page for your enjoyment.

Four new stories have been posted – one on the delightful Caribbean island of Aruba; one of a family Christmas in Austria; one on the magical South Pacific island of Bora Bora; and one on a city in Taiwan where the local hero is a Canadian.

Regular contributor and dear friend Cynthia Dial shares her family’s last Christmas with readers – it was spent in fairytale Austria listening to Christmas concerts, sipping spiced liquids and sampling some local holiday cuisine in Vienna and Salzburg. Her account will make you want to book a ticket to Austria to spend Christmas this year.

Mark Dimitroff, a fine Canadian writer who now graces the pages of TraveLife magazine on a regular basis, takes us to Bora Bora, known as the Island of Gods and goes off the beaten track with a local legend where he got to see the island’s inner beauty.

It was a busy September for me – trips to Taiwan and Aruba resulted in two unique experiences, which I’m glad to share with you at travelife.ca.

While in Aruba, I met a delightful man who actually grows grapes and makes wine under the harsh Caribbean sun. Vino Vince may not be the best wine in the world but the man who makes it, Vincente Kock is a unique character and a great ambassador for the island which sits just a few kilometres off the coast of Venezuela.

In Taiwan, I ventured out of Taipei one day and found myself in Tamsui, a fishing town on the Dansui River where Canadian missionary George Lesley McKay is idolized for the good works he did there in the late 1800s. Museums, hospitals and schools bear his name and a statue of the great man dominates the city’s biggest park. Tamsui is an interesting place with an aboriginal history and has much to offer a visitor.

So go to www.travelife.ca and enjoy the stories we’ve chosen for your reading enjoyment this month.

Justice is served - jury duty is over!

Day IV of jury duty – Yea, it’s my last day!

A small medical procedure I must undergo means I’ve been excused from the fifth and final day of my jury commitment.

It’s been quite an experience.

My name was never picked as a perspective juror so I was never “challenged” in court by attorneys – the term “challenged” in legal parlance really means “we reject you” and is uttered by either the defence or prosecution lawyers when they don’t want someone to judge the accused.

I only got called to one case (a juicy one involving guns and gangs) but my name was not pulled from the drum used to pick jurors, so back to the waiting lounge I was sent with about 200 other unhappy citizens.

Observations: Jury selection has not kept up with the times – the antiquated system which has been around long before electricity, let alone computers, needs to be updated.

Yes, I agree with the principal of people doing their civic duty and that jury panels must be impartial – but at least give us free wi-fi so we can stay in touch with the outside world and  can stay connected with our jobs.

I will now be excused from jury duty for three years – maybe when my name is picked again, the system will be improved and brought into the 21^stcentury.

Marshals the victims of jury duty

Day III of jury duty – excitement fills the room as three jury panels –blue, purple and red - are called to court; but not ours – we’re green.

So we sit and wait – green with envy!

I feel sorry for the court marshals who police the room – very accommodating and friendly but under constant pressure from my fellow jurors who seem to hold them responsible for them being sent a summons to be here.

Some jurors are downright abusive – shouting at the marshals and demanding the system be changed; like the poor officials have the power to change the laws governing jury selection in Ontario.

Through it all, though, the court officials remain polite and never lose their temper.

“We’re used to it,” one of the officials tells me.

They are to be admired – not abused.

Jury duty hangs me out to dry

Day II of jury duty is over – still no trial to preside over for juror 1557.

Nerves are getting frayed. The grumbling is getting louder.

Biggest complaints: Why do we have to pay for coffee? Why is there no free Internet access?

There are 200 of us cramped in a jury lounge and in the last 24 hours we’ve been called to court just once -12 of our members were picked for a criminal trial from a pool of 50– the rest of us just sit and wait.

One perspective juror wonders why we are being kept from our jobs – “with so many people out of work maybe they should pick jurors from the unemployment roll instead of the tax list (which is what they do in Ontario).”

Some people are getting very cozy – I think one affair has started up in the back of the room.

There’s lots of sneezing and coughing – I’m sure I’ll be sick for weeks after this.

On my death bed, I hope I get credit for the days I’m spending here.

I’m finally getting my day in court

HELP! I’m being held hostage in the bowels of the provincial court house in Toronto.

I’ve been selected for jury duty.

I can’t win the $50 million lottery, but I get picked from the millions eligible for jury duty.

Isn’t democracy a beautiful thing?

I arrived at 8:30 a.m. Monday and after being processed along with about 200 others, I sit and wait to be called to a court room, where I may get a juicy criminal trial or civil case involving lots of money.

My fellow jurors come from all walks of life – there’s women carrying Gucci purses and men carrying lunch buckets. There are young and old and people of every colour and race. Isn’t Canada is a beautiful place?

Some of my fellow jurors look a bit suspicious – are they on the right side of the docket?

The video they show us extols the virtues of being a juror – “you are a privileged member of our society and you should be proud and happy to serve,” the voice on the video tells us.

But no one seems to be happy. Most grumble that they’d rather being doing other things and many have come up with lots of excuses not to be here – you can defer your appearance, but you’ll still have to serve as a juror at a later date, the court officials tell us.

So, I might as well get it over with.

I can’t even tell you what trial I will be selected for – that’s against the law!

So, I’ll just sit and wait to be called and hope my week as a juror goes by quickly. Maybe I’ll help take someone off our streets who is hurting people or help someone else get justice.

Whatever, I’m glad to be here – honest!

Toronto’s new Ritz passes my spa test

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto is modern but cozy.

Thank you Ritz-Carlton - for finally giving Toronto a world class spa.

We’ve been waiting a long time and putting up with inferior spas in this city that charge high prices but deliver low quality service and amenities.

No need to mention names – you “pretend” Toronto spas know who you are.

I don’t mean to be a snob, either, but after experiencing some of the best spas in the world, including the planet’s top-rated pleasure palace – Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental – I think I’m qualified to speak on the subject.

So I put the new Ritz spa to the test this past weekend and it passed my rigged grading process with flying colours.

The staff was welcoming and accommodating; the facility so new you can still smell the wet paint; the amenities, like showers, steam rooms, saunas and lounges were state-of-the-art but comfy; the treatment rooms were cozy and the treatment beds were the best I’ve ever experienced at a Canadian spa.

The most important part of any spa treatment, though, is the therapist. Sarah, the young woman who rubbed away my aches and pains, is a student of the art – she actually studied in Thailand; the Mecca of spa learning.

Sarah’s technique was first class and her approach to the treatment – first asking my daily routine and then progressing to what my major aches were on that particular day – was totally professional.

I know what you’re thinking – what else would you expect from the ritzy Ritz-Carlton?

Trust me, I’ve been in other 5-star hotel spas who failed to impress.

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto didn’t disappoint, though – I rate this Canada’s No. 1 spa. But maybe I should say “for now” because the Ritz will be getting competition from the new Four Seasons and Shangri La properties that are still under construction in downtown Toronto and will be opening with their own world class spas next summer.

But the new properties will have to be pretty good to unseat the Ritz-Carlton on my “My Favourite Toronto Spa List” which currently has only one member.

It’s not cheap – treatments begin well north of $150 but Torontonians have been paying those prices for years and getting little satisfaction.

NOTE: The Ritz- Carlton is also home to a new favourite dining spot of mine – TOCA. The chic room - TOCA is the shortened form of Toronto-Canada – offers up a fish and chips which features lobster instead of regular fish. Simply delicious!