Don’t worry – tips on being safe in Latin America

On my first trip to Mexico years ago, I remember my friends telling me that it was unsafe, full of drugs, hookers, bandits and that everyone would try to take my stuff at every turn. In Trinidad, the bandit copied the “Colombian” kidnapping habit, hence my Trini friends would tell me that they knew someone, [...]

A pick me up … Tikal in the morning!

Nothing like a reminder of lovely places and sunrises as a pick me up in the morning.

Toronto Nuit Blance 2009 – Ridiculously overrated!!!!

As I write this, I can’t help but be a bit confused about my thoughts regarding Nuit Blanche 2009 – the Toronto edition.  On one hand, it was amazing seeing so many people wandering the streets, energized by the prospect of seeing “Art” and seeing things that they hadn’t seen before. The mood on the [...]

Flowers are nice to look at.

So after a nice long drive from Nichael’s, we decided to head back to the Botanical Gardens for three reasons. Photographing flowers in great sunlight is great practice for someone fairly new to DSLR photography. It was a beautiful, warm summer day. It was FREE! It’s a shame that I didn’t spend more time in [...]

Basilicas have given me unrealistic expectations of what a church should look like.

For a couple years, everytime I passed by St James United Church in Montreal, it was closed for renovations. In fact, it was closed since 2005. So today, I decided that I would take Diane to the church to see the restoration work. I don’t why but I was quite underwhelmed with what I saw.  I have [...]

Skylines….

Last night I was looking at the Toronto skyline and I couldn’t shake the Hong Kong Skyline out of my head… when I think about three skylines….the CN Tower dominates The NYC skyline from on top the Brooklyn Bridge Then there is the Hong Kong skyline and the light show that accompanies it And a typical [...]

Valentine's Weekend in Montreal

Photolog: http://rishiray.smugmug.com/gallery/7388108_pGfMj#475845455_bX4Se

Kbal Speal… really?? While heading to Halifax!!!!

Sometimes we pick up travel magazines and they paint these wondrous images in our minds of far off exotic places all drenched in mysticism and light. So for instance, while on my way to meet Diane tonight in Halifax, I pick up the Travel & Leisure magazine and I read about one of the trips [...]

Carnival Sunday in Moka….$800 for a ticket, really?!!?

Man to tell you how inflation and demand has allowed promoters to assrape people into buying tickets for this fete! Over the year the price of Moka tickets has skyrocketed!!! 2004 : $300 2005 : $400 2006 : $600 2006 : $750 2008 : $800 This fete is exactly the same thing over the last [...]

Soca Monarch in Queen’s Park Oval – really? With all the natives?!?! Really!

Yes really!! I went to Soca Monarch in the Queen’s Park Oval. But we had Richard to guide us and give us the lay of the land! It was sooo funny though, since among Beena, myself and even Sal, we were a bit intimidated by the whole mass of humanity! So Richard gave Sal the [...]

So in Trinidad.. we fete…latest fete was the Tribe Ignite Fete

So really when you get to Trinidad, there are a couple things we Trinis are amongst the World Experts in. Some advanced Trini topics would be Liming / Feteing Carnival Wining Food Learning to drive without dying while going at 190 km/h on a potholed road Anyways so after a long, long drive all day [...]

First fete of the Carnival 2008… Eyes Wide Shut…. man do I love when it rains in a Fete!

Well when a fete is properly organized with the right people and what not, you have a fete like Eyes Wide Shut! So to start, Sal and I were properly hydrated from the beginning Fete was good throughout, then Machel came on and the rain came down too.. what can I say, that is when it [...]

Got home to Trinidad… anyone wanna have lunch???

So Sal and I finally got to Trinidad from Toronto and Cancun respectively. Of course, his flight gets in on time and my flight is about two hours delayed. Long wait for those guys so of course my dad and the persian get acquainted. We got home and had a nice dinner : Sada roti, [...]

Night walking in Cancun….

Well long day getting from Cancun to Miami… almost missed the plane in typical style and all…. but of course in the end I got the plane but I lost a 100$ bottle of tequila because the flight attendants from Cancun didnt remind me to check the bottles in the luggage. Anyway now I am [...]

Running around Chichen Itza

Well got in this morning quite early, right after midnight into Le Meridien. Nice hotel and lots of pools. It has been about 8 years since I was last in Cancun and I will say that it has changed a lot since then. Very very developed and chains and franchises everywhere to be seen. The [...]