Medellin was a really pleasant surprise. Admittedly we weren't quite sure what to expect. We'd heard it was much cooler in central Colombia, spread out, and recalled all those stories from the '80s and '90s when the city was known as among the most violent in the world. Today's Medellin couldn't have been further from any of that. The weather was sunny and an agreeable 26 degrees Celsius the entire time we were there, it was easy to get around thanks to a super-clean and efficient metro system, and people were extremely friendly which, we learned, is especially characteristic of the region’s people, known as the paisas (people who inhabit a region over northwest Colombia in the Andes). We figured a great way to begin our time in Medellin, which was extremely lush and green, was ... read more

If I had to describe Cartagena in one word, it would be colourful. From the buildings, to the food, to the people, there's a vibrant, lively feeling that abounds in everything. Four days in this Caribbean gem offered a wonderful introduction to all that Colombia has to offer, including time wandering the streets of the Old Town, enjoying an Aguila or two along the way, and exploring some of the nearby neighbourhoods including the Getsemani and Bocagrande. There was also time for a good meal or two and some local Colombian specialties including arepas con huevos (fried dough balls with egg), patacones (plantains) and other tasty treats. What was also really agreeable was the weather, mostly a hot-but-sticky 31 degrees. Coming from Canada where it's a tad colder in December and it's anything but flip-flop weather, ... read more

Ucluelet, British Columbia. A stunningly beautiful place, seemingly at the end of the earth, and only a 2.5-hour drive from Naniamo (on Vancouver Island). Branded with the slogan, 'Life on the Edge,' it's about as far west as you can travel in Canada without finding yourself in the Pacific Ocean and en route to Japan. A small fishing community (population 1,652), Ucluelet (pronounced u-CLUE-let) is a local First Nations word that means 'people with a safe place to land.' Known as 'Uke' by the locals, it's a place where the air is fresh, the wildlife is abundant and First Nations roots are strong. It's an ideal — and idyllic — place to spend a long weekend, or longer. The photos here show the scenery near Little Beach (Ucluelet), some shots of Long Beach (Tofino) and one ... read more

A few of the more creative images I took on my three-week sojourn in this remarkable country. Thanks for checking out my Vietnam photos. Cảm ơn. ... read more

Part of travelling is seeing the people and faces that make up a given place. In my short time in this beautiful country, I was fortunate to meet many smiling faces such as the ones pictured here, to feel truly welcomed from south to north. Travelling by bicycle over 500 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City through Hue was the perfect way to experience this remarkable country first-hand and to interact with people in their everyday lives, if only for a moment. One of the memories that will forever remain with me is that of the older Vietnamese people, tipping their hats to us as our group cycled past, and the kids -- Vietnam's next generation -- who would come running out of their houses yelling "hello" and high-fiving us.... read more