I'm standing at the edge of a mountain, taking in the gorgeous city sprawled below me. I hear the commands "Run, run!" The body instinctively resists but I take a leap of faith and go. I'm up in the air before I even know it, the parachute lifting me up and away. And just like that I'm paragliding in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. The name Dominican Republic more often than not stirs up images of a blue green Caribbean sea, and miles and … [Read more...]
About Preethi Chandrasekhar
Preethi lives in San Francisco, California and is a freelance travel writer. Often interested in exploring the off-the-beaten-path destinations, she describes her first experiential trip as being in Northern Thailand - living and trekking with the tribal folks in a tiny town called Mae Salong. Her aim is to share her travel stories through her writing to inspire more people to discover and explore this beautiful world.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – Experience the Pop Up!
I'm your typical eggs and bacon breakfast gal, maybe even a slice of toast and butter if I'm feeling adventurous! Recently I had a fantastic opportunity to visit the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Pop Up in Union Square, San Francisco at 9:00am in the morning and got to partake in the traditional Dutch Stroopwafels for breakfast! These are lovely chewy caramel cookies and are delicious with a morning coffee or heck just as a tasty snack anytime! A … [Read more...]
Discover Nakoma: A Guide to Mountain-Town Hospitality
When I was initially invited to be a guest at the Lodge at Nakoma, I admit I had to look up its whereabouts. I was very familiar with the Tahoe region of Northern California, what with the numerous skiing and camping trips I used to indulge in (and still do occasionally), but hadn't explored past Lake Tahoe. The Nakoma Resort is less than an hour northwest from Truckee/Lake Tahoe and is nestled amidst the pine trees, with the majestic Sierras as … [Read more...]
Greece’s Hidden Gem
I recently discovered a secret Greece has been hiding from the world. It’s called Meteora. The town is a hidden gem, a few hours from Athens. Fully prepared to be swept off my feet by the island of Santorini, I fell in love instead with this magical place, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. My dad was turning 70 in September. I don’t know about you, but that felt like a big deal birthday to me. I could buy him yet another full sleeved shirt, or … [Read more...]
Canada: The Road Less Traveled
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is a hidden gem. Less well known than its neighbor Alberta, it boasts a population of approximately a little more than 1 million and has roots in Aboriginal history. The province is named after the Saskatchewan River, which the Cree named Kisiskatchewani Sip, meaning “swift-flowing river.” In fact Canada, in the language of the Huron is from Kanata, which means “settlement.” Saskatchewan is also a … [Read more...]
A Foodie Walking Tour: Oakland
I've never been on a foodie walking tour so when I found out about Localite Tours in Oakland, I jumped at the chance to be a part of their tour on a gorgeous Sunday in November. The tour was starting at 2pm so I decided to start my day off with brunch near the Mariott where I was staying for the weekend, as part of my press visit to Oakland. My husband was the one who actually suggested we try nearby Cock-a-Doodle cafe on Washington st. in … [Read more...]
Italian Food Without Tomato Sauce
Living in San Francisco, there's no dearth of restaurants to choose from on a Saturday evening. A few weekends ago, I was given the opportunity to dine in Oakland and wondered what on earth the food scene would be like - was there even a food scene?! The answer is a resounding yes!! From the Temescal area to the streets around Broadway and Telegraph, Oakland surprises with top notch chefs, hipster bars and a thriving food scene! Then there's … [Read more...]
A slice of Venice in Oakland
I've lived in the Bay Area, in northern California, since I was a kid, but have rarely had a reason to visit Oakland over the years. Oakland often evokes images of a poverty ridden, perhaps even a crime inflicted town. I just never thought it had anything worth checking out. I recently had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Oakland as part of a hosted trip for Dave's Travel Corner and boy was I wrong about Oakland. The city is definitely up … [Read more...]
Istanbul: Trapped in an accessory store!
I was trapped in an accessory store on a balmy Saturday evening. It was my last night in Istanbul. I had only a few hours to shop and eat doner kebabs one last time before going home to the States. Oh and sit in a Nargile cafe with a mint flavored hookah! … [Read more...]
Ketut and me: An encounter with Bali’s medicine man
"You so pretty, your lips like sugar." The 98 year old frail man let go of my palm and made me turn around so he can read my neck and pronounced with a toothless smile that I would have great sex at midnight. Good to know. "Um Ketut, so what about my career?" Ketut coughed a bit, and said he had to go take a pee and got up to go inside. I smiled accommodatingly and looked at my friends patiently waiting their turn to speak to the most … [Read more...]