Sinterklaas, a fascinating cultural tradition celebrated every year in the Netherlands, is arguably the most exciting event of the year for Dutch kids. And their parents. Big and small, young and old, we ALL get excited when mid-November rolls around. He is “back in town” to bring us presents!
Thanksgiving in America: Food, Family, and Football…
Thanksgiving is about food, family, and football. The holy holiday trinity. Sure, there’s a whole murky historiography of thanksgiving festivities that we could be analyzing here. From various European harvest festivals, to Canada’s befuddling Thanksgiving origins, and America’s own Pilgrim and Indian Utopian feasting.
What is it about receiving regular mail that makes it so exciting?
Last night, I received mail. I am talking about actual real regular mail. The type that arrives to your mail box, not your inbox. You know, after being delivered by a phenomenon called the mail man. I was fascinated by my own response. You feel it, you shake it, you wonder. What is it? Who […]
La Quebrada de Humahuaca: a valley of color & culture in northwestern Argentina
Argentina has stolen my heart many years ago. From Lakes and Glaciers in Patagonia, to tropical rain forest at Iguazu Falls, you won’t find a place in the “Country of 6 Continents” that isn’t stunningly beautiful. But my favorite spot lies in the northwestern province of Jujuy. A place so colorful and culturally rich, it […]
Spontaneously spotting spectacular bird species in Australia
Australia is home to some of the most amazing exotic bird species. Colourful and loud, black and bold, tiny and shy. All of them equally fascinating. Before you picture me in all beige ‘armed’ with binoculars and a telescopic lens on my professional SLR camera, I haven’t quite reached THAT level of bird-spotting fanaticism. Yet.
Sea Shepherd: Steve Irwin docked in Williamstown
My father, like many other parents I suppose, has always taught me not to watch “nonsense” programs on TV. Personally, he is a huge fan of channels such as Discovery and National Geographic. What started off as an act to please him, soon became an addiction to programs like “Auction Hunters” and “Whale Wars” [on Animal […]
Rocks, Roos, and Rolling Hills in The Grampians
Once upon a time, there was a girl who went walking in Wonderland. Together with 4 friends, they wandered off into the mountains of Victoria. My dear readers, join me on this real-life fairy tale to Wonderland. An incredibly beautiful hiking area in Gariwerd, the aboriginal name for a gorgeous display of nature known as […]
Happy Halloween? The What & Why of this Horror Holiday… And a fun tip for families with kids!
Halloween in the United States. An absolute freaky frenzy for kids… and adults! Stores are obviously more than happy to hop onto the commercial bandwagon, but do you think any of these retailers would be able to tell the history behind this somewhat strange celebration? Would you?
Stop! Pumpkin time. You can’t carve this…
In the United States, the Jack-o’-lantern is one of the most ubiquitous and fun-filled traditions when October rolls around. Kids cannot rightfully pass the Halloween season without getting their hands messy carving up the biggest local pumpkins. And thankfully, that doesn’t much change come adulthood either.
The time I was taught how to make Tamales in the slums of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Tamales. A traditional Mesoamerican dish that comes in all shapes and sizes, filled with whatever tickles your fancy. A popular street food snack from Central America to the southern parts of South America. But do you have any idea what it takes to actually make these delights in a leaf?