Category: Life & Times
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Toronto Travel Guide: What to See, Eat & Explore
Toronto is Canada’s biggest city, and there is no shortage of things to see and do. The challenge for a first-time visitor is deciding what deserves your time. The good news is that many of Toronto’s best-known attractions are concentrated in and around the downtown core. You can see quite a lot on foot, then…
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London Travel Guide: How to Make the Most of 3 Days
London is one of my favourite cities, but it took me a few visits to figure out the best way to get around. I’ve now been four times. On my earlier trips, I relied far too much on taxis. Coming from suburban Toronto, where we drive almost everywhere, that seemed like the easiest option. In…
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Dubai: 10 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
When most people picture Dubai, they think of skyscrapers, luxury hotels, enormous malls and man-made islands. And yes, Dubai has all of those things. But spend a little time exploring beyond the obvious attractions and you’ll find a city full of surprises—from a one-dirham boat ride and an enormous gold ring to ambitious engineering projects…
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San Francisco Outdoors for Casual Hikers: 10 Easy Walks & Scenic Trails
You don’t have to be a serious hiker to experience some of the best outdoor places in San Francisco. In fact, some of my favorite San Francisco walks and easy hiking trails require little more than comfortable shoes and a willingness to slow down. Within a relatively small area, the city gives you Pacific coastline,…
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The Lost Empire of Hampi: A Travel Guide
I’ve explored Machu Picchu and the ancient Maya cities, but nothing prepared me for the sheer scale of the ruins of India’s Vijayanagara Empire. Located in the southern state of Karnataka, Hampi is a surreal landscape of granite boulders, 14th-century temples, and long-forgotten streets. Spread across 26 square kilometers, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was…
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A Short List on a Long Night
The bar at the Hyatt Regency was swanky, but deserted. Not quite the Saturday crowd I had expected in Kerala’s capital city, a place I still call home even after years in Toronto. “Perhaps, the regular crowd was yet to shuffle in,” I mentally gave a nod to the Piano Man, Billy Joel, as I…
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Split, Croatia: Where 1,700 Years of History Lives and Breathes
Imagine wandering through 1,700-year-old Roman ruins one minute, then stepping out to a bustling modern waterfront to sip a cold drink by the sea the next—that’s the essence of Split, Croatia. This stunning Dalmatian city is an intraregional transport hub and a popular tourist destination, drawing over a million visitors each year. However, what truly…
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On Shoes: The New Nike? How a Swiss Brand Is Disrupting the Footwear Market
I wasn’t aware of On, the Swiss shoe and accessory manufacturer until Roger Federer became their brand ambassador in 2019. Nearly fifteen years after its debut, On remains a lesser-known brand compared to giants like Nike, Adidas, and Asics. But, that’s quickly changing. Walk down any street, hit a running trail, or glance at the…
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Dubrovnik, Croatia: A Timeless Adriatic Gem
There are places you visit, and then there are places that stay with you long after your journey. For me, Dubrovnik, Croatia, is unequivocally the latter. Perched gracefully on the southern tip of Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, this “Pearl of the Adriatic” isn’t just a city; it’s a living testament to history, resilience, and breathtaking beauty.…
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Driving While Canadian (and Brown): My Potential Tesla Road Trip to the US
I was shopping for cheap airfares to Chicago when my wife piped up, “We should make it a road trip.” “I’ll drive,” she added, preempting any objections that I might have. My wife’s a good driver, albeit a tad lead-footed. She knows I do not enjoy driving. To me, it’s just a means to an…