Today we arrived at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and we had one of the best days of our trip. It wasn’t because we went on an exotic excursion or because we were immersed in the culture, although I do love those as well. It was because Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort and a 55 metres water slide and a huge pool. It’s like having a water park at the hotel. Continue reading
There are a few things that I expect when I’m staying at a luxury hotel and there are a few things that stand out as exceptional even for a luxury property. We arrived at Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas yesterday for a five day stay and I’ve noticed reminders that I’m truly staying in luxury. There are plenty of options when looking for Phuket pool villas. These are a few of reasons I chose Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort & Villas. Continue reading
We’re very active when we travel. We like to try as many new things as possible but it can be difficult to find an activity that the whole family can enjoy. Today, at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, we tried Batik Family Painting and we can’t stop talking about how much fun it was and how proud we are of our painting. With Batik painting, you don’t have to be a skilled painter or have any experience at all to create a beautiful keepsake from your trip. It’s the perfect family activity. Continue reading
JW Marriott Phuket offers a daily schedule of activities for adults, teens and children. We don’t usually participate in kids club activities because they can be pricey for something we could do at home but some of the activities at JW Marriott Phuket are so unique that we couldn’t wait to participate. We just arrived yesterday and before even checking into our room, we went directly to the kids club for seashell wind chime making. Continue reading
I’ve always heard Thai massages were the best, but I wanted to save my first Thai massage for Thailand. I arrived at Renaissance Phuket a few days ago and the first planned experience was a Thai massage at Quan Spa. Quan signifies energy, prosperity, wholeness and a sense of well-being. Quan Spa offers a range of relaxing and invigorating spa treatments, but there was no question which treatment I wanted to have. The Thai massage combines rhythmic massage, acupressure, gentle twisting and deep stretching to aid tension-relief and promote the balance of Qi energy in your body. This is an art with ancient traditions and you can feel an extraordinary sense of well-being afterwards… but during is another story. Continue reading
After a 13 hour flight to Beijing and another 6 hour flight to Phuket, I worried that Athena would be a nightmare to be around today. Actually, if I’m being completely honest, I worried that I would be a nightmare to be around today and then I’d have to deal with a cranky child on top of that. Once again, Athena has shocked me with her positive attitude and ability to cope with long flights and changing time zones. Today was our first day at Renaissance Phuket, Thailand and it was magical. We walked on the beach, swam in our own private pool and the resort pools, played at the kids club and tasted Thai food. It’s only the first day and we’re jet-legged, but I’m already in love with Renaissance Phuket. Continue reading
What a whirlwind adventure I’ve been on in the last two weeks. From swimming in the Dead Sea in Israel to trekking gorillas in Bwindi, Uganda, I feel like I’ve been part of The Amazing Race. I have so much to share, both good and bad, but I’m still sitting in the airport in Israel waiting to continue my long journey home so you’ll have to wait just a little bit longer to see what’s really happening on my end. The hurry up and wait attitude of airport life is taxing, but it’s worth every second when you get to experience such things as trekking chimpanzees and gorillas, touching the Western Wall in Jerusalem, floating in the Dead Sea, and watching elephants roam alongside the road. Have you always dreamed of seeing apes in their natural habitat? Have you ever wondered what it’s like to walk through Jerusalem? Stay tuned this week for it all. Here’s a quick teaser to bring the last two weeks of my life to you. Continue reading
Featured writer: Donna Amis Davis
Beaches, boats, bats and caves – for an experience like no other, put the Puerto Princesa 
Underground River on your bucket list! The Underground River, as it is also known, or shortened even more to PPUR, was recently officially named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Where else can you combine tropical white sand and waves, outriggers and canoes, stalagmites and stalactites, monkeys and monitor lizards all in one experience? Oh, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, besides! Continue reading
Featured writer: Bama
Hinduism in Bali is world-away from the one in India. In Bali, the balance of the nature is one of the main principles in life. That explains why many Balinese traditions are heavily influenced with animism which emphasizes the respect to the nature and the creatures that dwell in it. One of the creatures which enjoy a rather special treatment from Balinese people is the gray long-tailed macaques who live in almost every forest in Bali. The story of Ramayana also helps keeping their population healthy because it is said that when Ravana kidnapped Sita, monkey soldiers led by Hanuman fought against the king of Lanka to rescue Sita.
Featured Writer: Karina Schroeder
Bright green fields stretched to my right and left, scattered with small wooden shacks with 
resting farm animals, drying clotheslines and barbed wire fences. A bright red dirt path stretched in front of me. The air was hot and extremely humid, a combined feeling of refreshing and stifling. There were no cars and no mopeds, only bikes running over the million little rocks stuck within the country road.
The vivid colors, open air and bicycles were all in the Cambodian countryside I had the privilege to travel through in October. The experience taught me an important and unforgettable lesson: One of the best ways to spend time exploring a new country or city is to do so through bike riding.
Bucket List Publications 