Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) is one of my favourite cities in the world to visit. My best friend lives there so that’s always a great reason to visit. However, the city’s stunning natural surroundings, glitzy skyline, leafy neighbourhoods and vibrant food and craft beer scene are equally good reasons for me to keep going back. […]
Experiencing the Iguazu Falls
The Iguazu Falls (or Iguaçu Falls) are arguably the most impressive waterfalls I’ve ever seen, even compared to the Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls. Straddling the border of Brazil and Argentina (map), the falls are one of the prime attractions in both countries. The falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted as one of […]
Driving the Estrada Real in Brazil
The Estrada Real or Royal Road is a series of historic routes in Brazil, spanning the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Built in the 17th/18th centuries by labourers enslaved by the Portuguese colonists, these roads (a total of 1,600km in length) were important to facilitate the transportation of gold, diamonds […]
Exploring Rio with locals
Rio de Janeiro is one of my favourite cities to visit and I’ll jump on any opportunity to go there. I’ll never tire of its spectacular natural setting, the beaches, the architecture and street art, and its unique vibe. When I received an invitation to speak at a conference in Belo Horizonte (read about my […]
Inhotim park – where art meets nature
“What’s this Imhotep place about?”, I asked my good friends Claudia and Mauricio as we left Belo Horizonte on our road trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Claudia laughed and corrected me: “It’s Inhotim! And it’s a botanical garden and modern art museum in one”. I was intrigued. I enjoy strolls around botanical gardens and […]
Visiting the Beautiful Horizon
The first settlers in what is now Belo Horizonte (map), Brazil‘s sixth largest city, were so in awe of the horizon, with the peaks of mountains in all directions, that they called the city Belo Horizonte or ‘Beautiful Horizon’. It was the first thing I looked out for when I arrived there: views of the […]
Ten things to do in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital of the province of British Columbia on the Pacific coast of Canada. Situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is popular as a day-trip destination for visitors to (the city of) Vancouver. I’m one of those visitors – prior to my last visit, I’d been to Victoria several times […]
Cool glitz and a phenomenal view
The doormen opened the doors with a smile and a “Good Afternoon” as I entered the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver. As the doors opened, I found myself in a cavernous lobby with a shining marble floor and an impressive marble wall which ran the length of the lobby. I made my way to […]
Cool street art in Rio
Rio de Janeiro is best known for its spectacular setting, glorious beaches like Ipanema and Copacabana, the Sugarloaf Mountain, the iconic Christ Statue and the samba, but as you explore the city, one other thing will certainly grab your attention: the city’s stunning street art. I didn’t see much of it during my first trip […]
A Shangri-La in downtown Vancouver
The Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver is something of an anomaly in this vibrant Canadian city, at least, that’s what I soon discovered. Located in an impressive 62-storey tower of glass and steel, British Columbia’s tallest building, the Shangri-La Hotel may look daunting from afar but once you step through its doors, a completely different experience awaits. […]
About Keith Jenkins
I'm Keith Jenkins. In July 2008, I left my ten-year banking career to travel around the world. I've not looked back since.
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