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Cuenca, Ecuador: Cured in Cuenca 

Cuenca, Ecuador…Our world is bursting at the seams with fascination, urging one to pursue surprises.  One strategy for chasing surprises is simple: afford time in your schedule to wander about where locals go about everyday life.  Applying this approach along travels has paid handsome rewards which prevent me from ever being cured of curiosity, especially after it led to discovering a pair…

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Cuenca Ecuador South America: Been there, done Hat 

Cuenca Ecuador….Anyone who has ventured to Ecuador knows this is where Panama Hats originated and continue to thrive, but it seems nobody else does.  Always seeking insights into a country I am about to explore, it was only a month before I headed to South America that I became aware of this myself.  The history of Panama Hats turned out to be a fascinating legacy and so I hope you will permit me…

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City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Walls and Walls of Hall 

City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania….Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in the United States and among its oldest.  The most profound elements of Philly history occurred during the Revolutionary War.  In addition to being where the Declaration of Independence was agreed to and signed, this is home to the Liberty Bell and the Betsy Ross House, where it is claimed the first US…

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Muttrah, Oman – I Get the Point at Muttrah Souk 

Muttrah, Oman  … A souk is an Arabic marketplace. You may be familiar with the term, and if you have ever been fortunate enough to visit one in the Middle East, these are fascinating venues – and this from an avowed non-shopper.  Souks are perfect examples of organized chaos.  Though retailers of like goods are typically clustered (e.g., sections devoted to jewelry, food, spices, clothing), no…

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Vientiane, Laos – Learning how to earn good Karma 

Vientiane, Laos ……When I found out that I was flying to Vientiane for work, I was very excited! I had never been to this part of Asia and knew that it was a developing country, coming out from obscurity. Apart from that, I was clueless and had no idea what to expect.   Continue reading

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Muttrah, Oman – Working for Scale at Muttrah Fish Market 

Muttrah, Oman ….Time marches on.  Perhaps it is a sin to converse about a site which has undergone significant change since my visit, but in a world where economies have been jeopardized by COVID I was happy to learn of good things around a previously enjoyed destination (yes, I keep tabs on places I’ve journeyed to).  The capitol and major ‘city’ in Oman is Muscat, but that is something of a…

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Asheville, North Carolina – Biltmore 

Asheville, North Carolina – Biltmore ….Sometimes travelers need to improvise.  I had not been seated on an airplane for eight months, but with a lull in COVID infections (though the next surge would hit just before my departure), arranged to fly for an overdue catch up with friends and family.  Tickets were purchased to jet down to North Carolina and spend time with friends living there and my…

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BORACAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES – Before, after and now covid 

BORACAY ISLAND, PHILIPPINES….. The pandemic situation has been slowly creeping through each industry, regardless of the country.  As a result, we are feeling the impact one by one. One of the worst hit industries in the Philippines is the tourism industry. Boracay is one of the worst affected islands. It has been crippled down to its knees because this island had gone through a lot even before…

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Ella WELCOMING SRI LANKA – PART II 

Ella, Sri Lanka….Shall we teleport, again?   A trip to Sri Lanka would never be comple without the scenic train ride to Ella or Nuwara Eliya. It is a must to try this ,not because it has been commercialized or endorsed by several influential bloggers.  However, because of the experience it has to offer, not to mention the glorious sights of nature and different tea plantations.   Continue reading

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Indianapolis, Indiana – Benjamin Harrison Presidential Home 

Indianapolis, Indiana….Presidential politics have weighed almost as heavily as the pandemic for United States citizens across the last half of 2020.  With COVID keeping things close to home and the presidential election dominating the news, continuing a pursuit of Presidential homes seemed to be the ticket.  Although I had exhausted these sites in my home state of Ohio (where there are eight!),…

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Sri Lanka...WELCOMING SRI LANKA – PART I 

Sri Lanka…WELCOMING SRI LANKA – PART I 

Sri Lanka….With all the lockdowns and travel bans that are currently happening because of the pandemic, I can almost guarantee that most of us are dreading travel. I mean, who isn’t?  I miss planning the itineraries,  packing my suitcases , flying  on airplanes to explore,  right down to bidding goodbyes to the place I had visited swiftly. I miss those times… but, I can’t afford to take risks.…

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Leib Restauran , Tallinn, Estonia, Old Town, – Take it or Leib it 

Leib Restauran ,Tallinn, Estonia ….Perhaps I have developed a taste for restaurant reviews?  My last Suja piece reviewed a lovely dining experience in Tallinn, Estonia, which is now begging something for dessert.  The traveler gets to pack a treasure chest full of splendid memories, and whenever that trunk gets cracked open it seems they come cascading out on one another’s heels.  Writing…

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New Year Special: The World: ‘Booking’ some Travel 

New Year Special:   A sigh of relief seems to be the primary way of celebrating New Year’s Eve after the debacle that was 2020.  While travel restrictions remain in place, there is hope is on the horizon and so long as I am not a patient I will be patient.  A primary coping mechanisms during these trying times has been traveling vicariously through literature.  To some extent this has been…

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Tallinn, Estonia – Why Grandma, what big teeth you have! 

Tallinn, Estonia….This is probably my first restaurant review for Suja and being no connoisseur of fine dining I will beg forgiveness up front.  There will be no discussion around the competency of wait staff or tender application of herbs to enhance the zest of a dish.  My yardstick for measuring eateries centers upon their offering a rich local experience and good grub.  Regarding either of…

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Atlanta, GA – Center for Civil and Human Rights 

Atlanta, GA….. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. is often the first name coming to mind when one thinks of Atlanta.  This giant of the civil rights movement was born here and despite countless days marching for freedom across the United States, Atlanta was always home.  His legacy is preserved many ways in the city, but possibly none as profound as the Center for Civil and Human Rights. 

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Atlanta, Georgia – Tightening the Beltline 

Atlanta, Georgia… 

While I doubt big cities anticipated the arrival of COVID-19, quite a few have installed impressive outdoor avenues over recent years.  Often these walkways are purely pedestrian, like NYC’s High Line, but others are mixed use, enabling bikers and skateboarders to join the fun.  One which I got to enjoy in 2020 before lock downs began was the splendid Beltline in Atlanta,…

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Oklahoma City, OK – Finger Picking Good at American Banjo Museum 

Oklahoma City, OK….I suppose it should have been no surprise.  After all, I had selected Oklahoma City to catch a band playing there over my travel dates.  As I started researching things to do it became apparent music was a key part of Oklahoma City’s heritage.  One discovery among the town’s attractions was the American Banjo Museum, and for lodging I reserved a flat just three blocks away. …

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