TRAVEL FEATURE: The Island of Bonaire
Nov30

TRAVEL FEATURE: The Island of Bonaire

The island of Bonaire, about 38 by 4 km in size, sits 80 km off the north coast of Venezuela, in the South Caribbean. Originally a submerged coral reef, over time, its undersea remnants have pushed up and out of the sea fostering a limited flora and fauna, yet below surface, it is an undersea paradise. Snorkelers and divers come here for the warm turquoise waters, around 28 C, and the variety, over 350 species, of marine life. The...

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Pursuing wilderness in Canada’s western Rocky Mountains
Aug30

Pursuing wilderness in Canada’s western Rocky Mountains

Few places can match the allure of Alberta’s majestic vistas, mountain peaks, glaciers, rivers, evergreen forests and unique wildlife. Banff National Park, an outdoor paradise, draws millions of visitors annually. It’s one of my favorite places to visit for its natural wonders and a playground for outdoor experiences, set among a backdrop of spectacular mountain scenery. Waterfall near Johnston Canyon Driving the Trans Canada Hwy....

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Mongolia … vicariously!
Feb26

Mongolia … vicariously!

Since my Grade 8 speech on my life’s ambitions, I have always wanted to go to Outer Mongolia. Well, last year my husband, David Dorward, did get to go as a volunteer with a Canadian government agency, so I at least got the benefit of vicarious enjoyment! It is everything you do and do not expect, and a country that will surprise you, he says. SOME BACKGROUND We think of Mongolia as the land of wide-open spaces and few people. It is...

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TRAVEL FEATURE: The Daintree Rainforest, Australia
Feb25

TRAVEL FEATURE: The Daintree Rainforest, Australia

Paradise & Peril In Australia’s Ancient Daintree Rainforest In my quest to discover unique wilderness habitats, upon visiting Australia’s biologically alluring Daintree rainforest I am fascinated with its unusual foliage and terrifying creatures. Located in Queensland, north of Cairns, this narrow belt of land, about 1200 km in size, is mostly inaccessible as it’s hemmed in by the steep Great Dividing Ridge to the west and blue...

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TRAVEL FEATURE: Meanderings & Wanderings in the Highlands of Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Jun03

TRAVEL FEATURE: Meanderings & Wanderings in the Highlands of Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Be it the historical battles for supremacy, the allure of its people, the exhilaration of its mountain scenery or the romance of its castles, Scotland will embrace you in its magic of curiosity, intrigue and wonder. To accurately appreciate the breadth of Scotland’s history, let’s start back when its oldest habitation, a place known as Skara Brae, was discovered around 1850, on the shores of the Bay of Skaill, Orkney Islands. When...

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