Hole In The Donut Travels

I first learned about HotelPal from my friend Anil, who publishes the travel blog foXnoMad.com. This free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch allows users to search for accommodations at more than 100,000 hotels, inns, resorts, and B&B’s worldwide, making it’s among the most complete hotel databases available anywhere.
Immediately, I downloaded it and browsed [...]

The first time I ever heard cello music was at a screening of the Chinese film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Although the movie featured astonishing cinematography and mystical martial arts scenes set against a background of exquisite Chinese landscapes, it was the music that made my jaw drop. I stayed for the credits; I had [...]

Come join the fun! It’s time for our weekly Blogging Boomers Carnival. See what’s on the mind of baby boomers from all over the country and all walks of life! Check out the summary of articles at Contemporary Retirement and visit the various boomer’s blogs to read the full articles.

I am absolutely blown away! A while back I entered a contest being hosted by Travel Wonders of the World, one of my all-time favorite travel blogs. Travel Wonders had partnered with Priority Club Rewards, the program that allows members to accrue award points for stays at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood [...]

When I traveled around-the-world for six months in 2007, many friends advised me to buy travel insurance. Normally I would not even consider such a thing. Frankly, I believe that most people in the U.S. are overly fearful about travel. In all my years of traveling I have had only one instance when insurance might [...]

It’s that time again. Another Monday, when our little group of baby boomers let their opinions fly! I am constantly amazed by the variety of subjects being discussed and this week is no different. To check out what’s on everyone’s mind this week, cruise on over to The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur.

Trinkets and souvenirs rarely interest me when I travel, but I find it almost impossible to pass by a farm stand selling local honey. Each of the half dozen varieties lining my kitchen shelves has a particular use: a thick, full-bodied Blackberry honey from the Virginia hills is best drizzled over fresh fruit, while scarce [...]

Amazon.com has just introduced a new addition to their Kindle family of wireless reading devices: Kindle with U.S. and International Wireless. With this new Kindle, I can receive books, newspapers, and magazines wirelessly while at home or abroad in over 100 countries. Whether I’m in New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Beijing, Tokyo, or Sydney, [...]

The sound of Bok Tower’s carillon bells was so mesmerizing that I did not notice the snake. I stood at the far end of the tower’s reflecting pond, enjoying the ethereal music, until suffocating midday heat drove me to the shaded concrete benches surrounding the semi-circular clearing. Suddenly, a movement. A black snake lying beneath [...]

Carnivals always make me think of the words ‘circle’ and ’round,’ perhaps because I associate a carnival with Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, and Tilt-A-Whirls. Though not a real carnival, the Blogging Boomers Carnival in which I participate each week is also a circle of sorts; it’s a ring of bloggers who share a common interest (in [...]