Articles in Blogging and Vlogging
Trains and Lady Bird and Greyhound: an adventure

A snowstorm whites-out the highway. Do three solo travelers, abandoned in Sacramento, abort their respective journeys—or unite and make a …
Life’s a FroBlog for Warsaw Foodie blogger Joanna Mroz

Warsaw is rich in culinary luminaries. One of them is Joanna Mróz, prolific founder-author of Poland’s popular food blog, FroBlog, “FRO” being the acronym for Fine Restaurants Only. She is also co-founder of Warsaw Foodie, which follows and comments on Warsaw’s culinary scene. We nibbled on small plates and swilled some good wine with Poland’s top restaurant blogger at Warsaw wine kitchen Kieliszki na Próżnej where she shared stories of food trends, changes, successes and more.
Elixir Dom Wodki pairs vodka and Polish nouvelle cuisine

Vodka is the most popular drink in Poland. Twenty years ago (during and immediately after the Soviet era) people were drinking shots, to get drunk. Now, they’re back to vodka for flavor, appreciation and enjoyment, says Pawel Matczak, our host at Dom Wódki in Warsaw, the first restaurant in the world to do menu pairings with vodka.
Petra Epperlein talks about her film Karl Marx City at DIFF2017

Documentary filmmaker Petra Epperlein’s Karl Marx City is a personal journey that takes her back to the East Germany of her childhood.
South Africa launches ‘I Do Tourism’ at Indaba 2017

South African Tourism launches ‘I Do Tourism’—a new responsible tourism initiative—at Indaba 2017 in Durban. The strategy is geared to showing South Africans the relevance of tourism in the greater scheme of things. How ‘everybody’ benefits from tourism.
Qadasi & Maqhinga at St. Clements: Two

David Qadasi Jenkins and Maqhinga Radebe perform their traditional Maskandi at St Clements in Durban.
Welcome to Berlin: now beware the U-Bahn station bandits

At the risk of inserting a spoiler at this point, my yoga friend’s Berlin Welcome Card didn’t serve as a lifeline when she was robbed — of her passport, credit cards, debit card and entire stash of cash — the first time she used it. Embarrassing as it is to admit, it was ‘streetwise’ and travel-wise me who fell prey to pickpockets. On the ‘up’ side, getting back on track was not the train-smash I imagined it might be.
Thailand Travel 36: Blast… and Thailand’s worst breakfast

The text messages about the bomb blasts come after I conclude that this dry whiter-than-white unbuttered bread with a couple of withered brown tears of lettuce and about eight minute slices of what I presume is chicken and a dry small roll and a wizened small citrus fruit of indistinguishable nature must be the worst brekker ever served in food-loving Thailand. Thanks Nai Yang Beach Resort.
Thailand Travel 33: When in doubt, take the road less traveled to Nai Yang Beach

In the morning I read in my Lonely Planet that Nai Yang Beach is exceptional and part of Sirinat National Park. It is 15 minutes from the airport, but no plane noises to be heard. To quote: “This is one of the sweetest slices of the island.” Lucky me!
Thailand travel 27: Wat Plai Laem, Mr Pong and the Big Buddha

My outsize shibori scarf is the most useful item in my luggage. You can use it to cover your shoulders at the Big Buddha temple in Koh Samui, sit on it on grubby bus seats, keep the sun off your arms and shoulders with it, don it in the evening to add a touch of elegance, dry yourself with it, wipe your hands on it when you’ve eaten, use to to keep you warm when the breeze comes up of an evening and lots more.