The idea of travelling abroad alone has always intrigued me, because I believe I could discover so much about the country and myself with tremendous amount of flexibility. Japan seems like the perfect place for female solo travelers, given its safety, convenience, and culinary satisfactions. Nevertheless, I have to admit that the only knowledge I had of Japan was obtained from a couple of Pokémon episodes I watched during my childhood, if that qualifies as part of Japanese culture.

Shopping in Stratford, Ontario, during the holiday season just got that much better. The SHOP! STRATFORD Christmas Contest kicked off the holiday season on November 15, featuring a grand prize valued at more than $1,200 in gift items and certificates. 

What do the zero, shampoo, a button, and chess have in common? They were all invented in ancient India! Apart from these amazing inventions, India is also the birthplace of two great restorative traditions: Ayurveda and Yoga. Both Yoga and Ayurveda are gaining popularity across the world as people have come to appreciate their naturalistic approach to dealing with the body and mind holistically.

There's no doubt that travel certainly does broaden the mind, but sometimes the excitement of travel plans can cause the mind to forget some of the essentials that need to be purchased and packed!

I know you, dear wandering educators. I know you’re always on the lookout for bookshops while you travel (because, well, BOOKS).

Find the perfect piece of art, take a hands-on class, and enjoy great food along the Rural Routes to Main Street Cultural Trail, just west of Indianapolis. 

Eleven months ago, my family sold everything and left the US to travel the world, with no plan to return. Since then, we’ve visited ten countries on three continents, walked hundreds of kilometers through countrysides and cities alike, taken countless trains and planes, met amazing people, and made lifelong family memories.

Traveling is a wonderful adventure. But it involves spending, of course - and if it’s not well managed, overspending may occur, which is stressful and makes your travel experience much less fun. Creating a budget manually is time consuming and a daunting task for most travelers, whether they are on a budget or not.

Even the words European Christmas markets bring a smile to my face, and a head full of travel plans. I get dreamy, thinking of wandering the paths between rows of booths twinkling with lights, a mug of steaming hot yumminess in my hands, surrounded by the fresh scent of pine and roasted chestnuts, and the crisp night air nipping at my cheeks.