Last Sunday, I was at the Ipanema Hippie Market in Rio de Janeiro. The Hippie Fair has been a tradition since 1968 and one of the must-see attractions in Rio. You will also find many locals strolling through the Praca Gal (main square in Ipanema), shopping for gifts and everyday use items at the artisanal fair.

Here’s a recipe for a traditional fish stew from Brazil. It incorporates a lot of vegetables and can be cooked very easily in a crock pot. The recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare but has a lot of flavor.

Rio de Janeiro has taken concept restaurants to a whole new level. Outside of Brazil, we associate Brazilian cuisine with all you can eat steakhouses but that is only one of the offering you find here in Rio. In fact, the locals love to eat out and cannot afford the high end steakhouses every day. Neither is it […]

Another inspirational story of voluntrourism comes from an American chef in Vietnam. Chef Robert Danhi, a former instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and author of the cookbook Southeast Asian Flavors, leads culinary tours to Vietnam and other countries in Southeast Asia. After a few visits, Robert contemplated doing […]

My neighbors and good friends brought me gifts of flavor from their recent trip to South East Asia. Among the spice blends and recipes was a packet of Kari-Ikan fish curry powder. I decided to try it out using a little bit of my own experience of eating Malaysian food.

We often don’t realize the carbon foot print we leave behind when we travel (Not just from airplanes but even at the lodgings). In fact, most people tend to use more water, electricity and toiletries on the road versus when they are at home.

Recently I visited Crazy Horse National Memorial in South Dakota. It is the largest mountain carving in the world, located in the Black Hills. Chief Crazy Horse was the leader of the Sioux Nation that defeated General Custer in 1876 and the memorial is dedicated to showcasing the Native American heritage. 

The Black Hills of South Dakota is a destination like no other. It is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and families looking for adventure. While you can choose to drive along the mountains, fields and national parks for a self guided tour, a fun alternative is a day long Southern Black Hills Tour and Chuckwagon […]

Curry Masala is the only Indian restaurant in Rapid City. “Someone has to serve the vegans, vegetarians and gluten and dairy allergic people” says Al, who is doing the community a service as well as running a successful business in downtown Rapid City. Many of the local patrons are searching for options that are able […]

On the Costa Verde coastline of Lima, Peru, residents of the city stroll along the boardwalk, enjoying the view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Couples stop to kiss at the Parke del Amor, while joggers and skateboarders take advantage of the last light of day. And diners settle down for fresh seafood and […]

Until a few weeks ago, I had not even heard of the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN. The Gaylord Opryland is much more than a resort and convention center, it is an experience. When I arrived there, I had mixed feelings –  it looked like a tropical rain forest, had the creativity of Las Vegas, and […]

The second annual Atlanta Food and Wine Festival took place this weekend in Midtown Atlanta. With three days of over 80 demonstrations, private dinners and tastings, the festivals was one of the best experiences foodies could have. Chefs, authors and restaurant  owners from all over the south were showcased, while patrons from around the country came […]

Aquarium restaurant describe themselves as an “underwater dining adventure.” While the restaurant itself is not technically underwater, it boasts an enormous aquarium. Located at the newly re-opened Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, guests dine while seated around a 200,000-gallon tank, home to a wide variety of fish, sharks, stingrays and more. More than 100 species […]

A few more days still remain to tour the Decorators’ Show House and Gardens in Atlanta. Weather you are visiting Atlanta or a longtime native, it is always interesting to see how people live and what sort of art do they admire. While museums and historic homes offer you the opportunity to step back in […]

Southern Tennessee is known for down right authentic southern food – biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, BBQ and fried chicken. That is very true to an extent. You will see no shortage of Pancake Houses while driving around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. In fact, even the lodges and stores are named after pancakes! But Knoxville, […]

Crista Cuccaro, a law student at the University of Tennessee put together this very handy and comprehensive guide for visitors to Knoxville, TN. She shared it with me after learning about my visit to the area. I hope it helps you in planning your trip as well. If you enjoy it, please Tweet to Crista @cmc_bumblebee and […]

Last weekend, downtown Knoxville transformed into a lively street fair with one of a kind arts and crafts booths, demonstrations, entertainment, and food.  As part of the Dogwood Arts Festival, the entire month of April was being celebrated with parades, bike tours, block parties, art exhibits, live bands, cooking demonstrations and more. I was lucky enough […]

Toshii Cooper calls herself a dedicated humanitarian who is committed to sharing her gifts and passions with the universal community. Toshii’s passions lie in being of service through healing minds, bodies, and souls with her touch, energy, words, and artistic creative expressions. She runs a holistic mobile spa in metro Atlanta, called Infinite Healing. Originally […]