Vichyssoise.  The first time I had a healthy chilled soup, my third grade vocabulary bastardized the pronunciation. My ever so proper grandmother corrected me by rounding her lips and whispering  a drawn out Alison it’s viiishy swaaaa. In the sweltering August heat, we were on our annual trek into Manhattan to buy my winter coat at Bonwit Tellers.
As we approached Iquitos from the air, the river snaked below and started to come into focus. Colored shades of coffee, chai and caramel, it forked and stretched into the distance as far as the eye could see. I started to imagine the adventure ahead. For the next 5 days, I would be off the grid responsibly cruising Peru’s Amazon in luxury.
Stepping off the plane, I was immediately struck by the humidity. Almost oppressive with intensity, I recalled the cold temperatures back home and immediately chilled out.
The rugged coastline of  Spain’s Catalunya has to be one of the dreamiest vacation destinations I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Stretching from the charming town of Blanes, north of Barcelona, up to the boundary of France, one would be hard-pressed to find another 900 mile stretch as spectacular and lovely for a luxurious getaway as Costa Brava.
These days, my thoughts often turn to group travel with friends. As more and more baby boomers become empty nesters, travel has become a bigger piece of our lifestyle. I can’t help but think of Costa Brava as the perfect place to plan a getaway with my inner circle. This is a special location where you will be transported.
Fish soup for breakfast? It took me three days before I could muster up the courage to try the traditional mohingha in Myanmar. The Burmese word means soup snack. Those who know me are well aware of my weak stomach, but how could I travel half way around the world and not give the national morning staple a try. The aromatic soup is  usually served at breakfast, but can also be found throughout the day at tea houses, restaurants and street vendors.
The broth itself is quite flavorful with a sight taste of fish and delicious aromas of lemongrass. What I like most was the opportunity to add in the condiments. Peanuts, hard boiled eggs, cilantro, various chilis and a squeeze of lime.
You might have noticed my recent conversion to cruise lover. Let me correct that, small ship cruise lover with companies that focus on responsible travel.  I couldn’t think of a better way to island hop and discover the Aloha state then aboard the Safari Explorer for an UnCruise adventure in Hawaii.
To date, my only experience with Hawaii had been a stop-over during one of my many trips to the Philippines in my previous life as a clothing designer. Green and lush from above, with that Jurassic Park feel that attracts me, I knew it was a landscape I wanted to someday explore up close and personal.
