Influenced by the food customs of other nations, the Japanese have refined their own, unique cooking style and cuisine. The Japanese are known for using very fresh ingredients in their cooking.  Since they prefer fresh, seasonal foods for their meals, they often buy ingredients the same day they will be cooked. We love the Japanese [...]

A dream of so many, viewing exotic wildlife in their natural habitat is a truly amazing experience to see. From trekking through the jungle to traveling as a passenger on an overland safari truck, here are our 10 favorite places in the world to view wildlife.

As one of the lucky visitors attending this year’s Travel Indaba in Durban, South Africa, we look forward to experiencing the throngs of product owners, fantastic exhibitions and many cocktail parties. Indaba brings together a showcase of southern African tourism products and services for the international travel trade. In addition to the dedicated following of local and international media who provide extensive coverage of Indaba through radio, television, newspaper and dedicated travel publications, the Brilliant Tips Travel Blog will be tweeting and blogging live throughout the event which takes place May 9-12, 2009.

There definitely are a lot of options out there these days when it comes to traveling around Europe by rail. Back in the old days, there were pretty much 2 types of rail passes; the classic (global) Eurail pass and the Eurail Flexi pass. However, now there are Youth passes (for travelers between 16- 25 [...]

In two weeks, I’ll be heading to the INDABA Travel Show in Durban, South Africa. Considered a “must visit” among events of its kind on the global calendar, INDABA brings together a showcase of southern African tourism products and services for the international travel trade. This year, the annual show will focus firmly on the [...]

Though I often think about where I’d love to explore next, I don’t always put a lot of planning into my travels. Incidentally, I stumbled upon one of my favorite destinations in a haphazard sort of way. My friend and I had taken a bus from Istanbul to Gallipoli and finally to Ephesus. I was [...]

Kotor is one of the oldest and most famous towns in Montenegro. The historical and picturesque town is located along one of Montenegro’s most beautiful bays in a very secluded part of the Gulf of Kotor. The ancient city, built strategically on a fortified edge of Kotor Bay, is surrounded by impressive city walls. The [...]

Salta is located in the northwest of Argentina bordering Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay. The colonial spirit from times past remains in its houses, streets, hundred-year-old monuments and narrow sidewalks. Its numerous statues, the San Francisco Church, the Cathedral and the many interesting museums are what set this city apart from others in Argentina. Salta’s traditional [...]

In 1825, the United States Postal Service started a dead letter office to deal with undeliverable mail. The term “dead letter office” is now often used in reference to any room of disused materials resembling a dead letter office. In 1987, the band R.E.M. released an album entitled “Dead Letter Office” that effectively mopped up [...]

Located in Oudtshoorn, South Africa, about an hour drive from George at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lies a spectacular underground wonder known as the Cango Caves. The caves are situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the Swartberg Mountains and have breathtaking drip-stone caverns with vast halls and towering formations. The show [...]

As part of #traveltuesday on Twitter, I noticed a tweet from @Marilyn_Res regarding submissions for National Geographic Traveler’s I Heart My City. While I realize that I happen to live in a town and not a city, I just couldn’t resist sharing the lovely town that I call home. If you happen to be visiting Boston this summer, I highly recommend taking the 17 mile trip north to Marblehead.

Famous for the sandy beaches that line its coast, Goa is a fascinating and distinctive region in India’s southwest. Brimming with Portuguese influences and bursting with fresh food, visitors from around the world travel to Goa for its natural beauty sprawled over a rustic landscape, silver sand beaches and serene fishing villages that give way to colorful markets filled with smiling people.