Ireland's Ancient East: that phrase suggests all sorts of intriguing ideas -- which is why it has been chosen as a way to encourage visitors to spend time at places in the eastern parts of the island, much as the Wild Atlantic Way is helping to connect and bring attention to communities and locations along the island's western sea coast.

Pecan pie. Bananas foster. Red velvet cake. Lemon meringue pie. Doctor bird cake?!

Desserts in the South are well known for their sumptuous ingredients, bright flavors, and a dash of flare. And yet one dessert seems to stand apart—Doctor birds cake, more commonly called Hummingbird Cake.

I first heard of--and sampled--this sweet concoction a couple years ago in downtown Roanoke, Virginia. The combination of ripened bananas lapping up the sweetness of crushed pineapple gives the cake its signature sweetness, and dense yet airy texture.

Robert Burns (1759 – 1796) is Scotland’s National Bard, but he is also one of the world’s most widely commemorated poets.

In the maelstrom of facts and myths that is history, dates, personages, and events both cataclysmic and small swirl throughout time, gradually losing force as new events take place, new rulers ascend, new wars obliterate memories of past battles.

Sometimes, even though history is unbearable to revisit, we must. We must to change the future, to honor those that have lost their lives, to make sure that this never happens again. One such history is the tragegy that is still unfolding in Cambodia.

A HALF DAY SEEING THE TERRACOTTA WARRIOR MUSEUM IN XIAN, CHINA

“Hi there.”

Oh no, not another guide trying to sell me his services, I turned around to give another resounding no but was greeted by…

“Don't worry, I'm not a guide.”

Scotland is an incredibly gorgeous country, with so much history to soak in.  Let's take a day trip to Stirling, and see what happens along the way.