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Visit Astonishing Takayama: Opulent Festivals, Sake and the Art of Onsen

1 Comment / Asia, Blogging, Shopping, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

A morning walk along the Miyagawa River finds farmers and craftspeople selling sansai (mountain vegetables), wasakana (river fish) along with selections of local pottery and vintage kimonos repurposed as ornate handbags and a subtle rainbow of silk jackets. This remarkably preserved city of 80,000 is in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Takayama retains a […]

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Japan’s Ultimate Shopping Experience at Tsukiji and Nishiki Markets

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Food and Wine, Shopping, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

An afternoon at Tokyo’s Tsujiki Outer Market introduced me to the art of Japanese shopping. This is Japan’s “Food Town,” featuring every imaginable traditional Japanese food. It’s raucous and noisy but in a very polite, Japanese way. One main and three side streets feature stalls of the finest, just off the hook sushi-grade fillets in

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Borders of a Sacred Place: Visit Tokyo’s Incredible Meiji Shrine

1 Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Minutes away from the ultra-modern steel and glass skyline, uber efficient ramps and highways in the Shibuye Ward of Tokyo, visitors can find the sublime peace of the Meiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū). Wooded, with pea gravel walking paths (the Japanese encourage serenity by paving with tiny stones mimicking the sound of water) this is

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Amazing Istria: Opatija to Rovinj and the Mystery of St. Euphemia

3 Comments / Blogging, Europe, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Opatija, Croatia is a beautiful seaside town with a long tradition as a tourist destination and a 7 mile shoreline promenade called the Lungomare offering sparkling vistas from sunrise well into the indigo evenings. Hotels all offer breathtaking views. And of course, there are the legends. Every town in Croatia has at least one. Here,

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Croatia’s Ultimate Summer Refreshment: Hike Plitvice National Park

1 Comment / Blogging, Europe, Natural Wonders, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Since most of the world is dealing with scorching summer temps, here’s a cooling visual reprieve. Croatia’s first national park since 1949 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Plitvice Lakes is the country’s oldest and largest with sixteen lakes and innumerable waterfalls. Located very close to the Croatian border with Bosnia, it’s about a two

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Hvar and Korcula Islands: Brilliant Jewels of the Adriatic

1 Comment / Blogging, Europe, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

My first stop along Croatia’s coastline was a ferry ride to Korcula, only 20 miles long but 6th largest of the collection known as the Dalmatian Isles. It’s old town is charming with streets designed in a fishbone shape and walled since the 13th century. Built for protection from the sea winds in the winter

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Nine Really Remarkable Things I Discovered in Dubrovnik

Leave a Comment / Blogging, Europe, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

It’s impossible not to be impressed by (1) the sheer immensity of this walled city and it’s legendary fortress. But an impressive distant past beginning with 7th century onslaughts of Slavs, followed by Saracens, 11th century Venetian rule and, through canny diplomacy, good relations with neighboring countries…even the Ottoman Turks, allowed the city to flourish.

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Visit the Most Holy Relic of Thailand’s Most Sacred Temple

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

The climb is a 306 step staircase bordered by mythical serpents called naga. Presiding over the city at the top is Wat Phra That, one of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. The golden spire glitters near the summit of Doi Suthep, a 5,499-foot mountain outside Chiang Mai. Lanna was an ancient Thai state located in

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How to Have an Amazing Time in Mystical, Magical Bangkok

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Thailand is known as “land of a thousand temples”, each stunningly unique and overwhelmingly beautifully Buddhist. It’s also known as the “land of a thousand smiles”. I think there’s a connection… First, it’s hot. Plan your adventures for mornings, late afternoons and evenings. Not during the heat of midday. The city comes alive at night.

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The Absolute Best Game Drives to See “The Big Five’ in South Africa

Leave a Comment / Africa, Blogging, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

A veteran of African game drives in Kenya and Tanzania, I thought South Africa and Zimbabwe would be much the same. I was wrong! Let’s visit Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, a Big 5 Game Park in the KwaZulu Natal region of South Africa. Join me on my recent safaris in South Africa in search of

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