The Holy Grail of Hokey: Inside The Holy Land Experience (Part One)
The Holy Land Experience, Orlando, Florida “We get accused of being a little too Catholic,” Jane from Guest Services confesses to me as we enter the pearly gates (okay, so maybe it’s just a turnstile). As a former altar boy, Vice-President of the Corpus Christi Youth Committee, and – are…
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5 Quirky Things to Do In Paris
Unique, Unusual, & Offbeat Things to Do in Paris Paris is famed for its architecture, museums, and food, but there’s so much more to explore in the City of Lights than just the guidebook must-sees. Here are some of the more quirky things to do in Paris to really make…
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How to Kill a Buffalo (or a Herd of ‘em)
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta, Canada A place where hundreds of bison stampede to their deaths clear off the brink of a cliff? Then locals carve up every last bit of the carcasses? Well that’s cool – in an grisly, sadistic, do-you-really-need-all-those-buffalo sort of way. Practiced by natives on the plains…
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5 Quirky Things to do in Brisbane
Offbeat, Unique, & Unusual Things to do in Brisbane If the life of a Brisbane beach bum is getting a little old, and you’re open to experiencing some of the more quirky things to do in Brisbane, check out this list guaranteed to give you something besides your tan to…
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Travel Photo of the Week — Cockles & Mussels, Alive, Alive, Oh!
Dinh Cau Night Market, Phu Quoc, Vietnam Who am I kidding? I don’t know a cockle from a clam. And I can barely identify a mussel from an oyster. All I can recall is that Molly Malone song from elementary school choir practice. But in my defense, I’ve confessed in…
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Supersized: Orlando Home to World’s Largest McDonald’s (For Now)
The World’s Largest McDonald’s, Orlando, Florida Okay yes, I went to McDonald’s, so shoot me. No, seriously — someone please shoot me. I think there’s a gun shop around the corner. I mean, this is America. I had heard that the World’s Largest McDonald’s restaurant was in Orlando, and since…
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12 Mildly Disturbing Miniland Scenes from Legoland, Florida
Miniland USA, Legoland, Florida Charlie Chaplin once said, “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” That may be true of the movies, but the reverse is the case at Legoland Florida’s Miniland USA. According to the Fun Facts posted around the park, over 100…
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The Pompous Porpoise and the Wallflower Whale: A SeaWorld Saga
SeaWorld Orlando: Dolphins vs. Whales There’s something vaguely smug about dolphins. That eternal smirk. Those DiCaprio-esque dimples. That glossy coat. Is it even called a coat? Probably not. In any case, they are just too shiny. Too smarmy. Too…perfect. That’s it. They’re too perfect. They’ve got to be up to…
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Spotting Spooks and Paranormal Pursuits — Ghost Hunting with American Ghost Adventures
Hands-on Paranormal Activity in Orlando Okay, hands up if you’ve seen those Paranormal Activity movies. Keep ‘em up if you’ve ever wanted to investigate the paranormal. Yeah, me too. And even if you didn’t put your hand up, I hope you’ll find this entertaining. Whenever I visit a city where…
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5 Quirky Things to do in Rome
Offbeat, Unique, & Unusual Things to do in Rome If all those Roman ruins are starting to blend in, and all those Catholic churches have you praying for something more offbeat, check out these things to do in Rome to get your quirk on… 1. Gladiator School Ever wanted to…
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5 Quirky Things to do in Orlando
Unique Attractions & Offbeat Things to do in Orlando If you’ve finished with the normal Florida theme parks, and are stuck for things to do in Orlando, check out these out-of-the-ordinary, offbeat Orlando attractions. #1 — The Holy Land Experience If your pursuits lean towards the biblical, the Holy Land…
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Travel Photo of the Week — Souped-up Golf Carts
The Golf Carts of The Villages, Florida Billed as The World’s Friendliest Retirement Hometown, The Villages about an hour north of Orlando, Florida near Lady Lake is a lot like other retirement villages – and that means lots of golf carts. Everywhere there be golf carts. When I first heard…
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Cruising from Ayutthaya to Bangkok with @GetYourGuide
“Today I would like you to try something different. On the boat today we have appetizer – special appetizer. Do you know durian? We have a saying in Thailand, ‘durian tastes like heaven, but smells like hell.’ It’s not durian. The appetizer today is fried grasshopper. We say, ‘Smells like…
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Travel Photo of the Week — Face Time with Jesus
The Face of Jesus Statue, Holy Land Experience Theme Park in Orlando, Florida The Greater Scheme Theme Park in Orlando The Face of Jesus statue is located at the entrance to the Holy Land Experience Biblical Theme Park in Orlando, Florida. So basically, Jesus is watching over the parking lot. …
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The Other Rat Race: Rat Hunting (and Rat Eating) in Indonesia
How to Hunt and Eat a Rat Dweller of sewers. Abandoner of ships. Conduit of the plague. No matter what descriptor you attach to the lowly rat, one thing is pretty much universal — it’s the critter everyone loves to hate. Except, that is, in Tomohon in North Sulawesi, Indonesia….
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Travel Photo of the Week — Bats! (wings sold separately)
Bats at Tomohon Traditional Market, North Sulawesi, Indonesia The market in Tomohon, Indonesia is one of those places that you can smell before you see. And it’s pretty much a grisly experience for both those senses. One of the most ghoulish looking creatures on offer is the lowly fruit bat….
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I’m Going to Legoland!
Aeroplan Welcome Aboard Event I’ve been sitting on some big news for a couple of weeks, and it’s time to spill the beans. I’m going to Legoland Florida! Okay so maybe not just Legoland. I’m also going to SeaWorld, and to Blue Man Group at the Universal Orlando Resort, and…
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The Buzz on Burma
Myanmar’s been getting a lot of attention these days, and for once, it’s in a good way. The recent government reforms are leading to a kinder, gentler Burma and The Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is engaging in a big push for more tourists – their goal is to…
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Putting the Grrr back in Green
Garbage Really Gets My Goat A couple of months ago in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, I noticed a kid — no more than 7 years old — take an ice cream sandwich his parents had just purchased, unwrap it, then waltz right past a garbage can and throw…
