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Victoria Is Canada's Most Romantic City: Amazon

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Victoria truly is queen of hearts after being crowned Canada's most romantic city for the second year in a row, according to an Amazon.ca ranking that looks at sales of amorous items.

B.C.'s capital ranked highest in every category including romance novels, relationship books, romantic comedies and CDs by artists such as Michael Buble, Dean Martin, Barry White and Luther Vandross, said a Monday news release.

B.C. had the second-most entries on the list with five cities ranking among Canada's most loving communities, coming behind Ontario, which had seven.

Check out B.C.'s most romantic cities:


North Vancouver, which was ranked fifth, bought the second-most romantic CDs. Kamloops ranked seventh while Langley, which was new to the list, came in eighth and Nanaimo was 18th.

Vancouver, which ranked seventh on last year's list, did not make the top 20.

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Most Romantic Cities In Canada From Coast To Coast

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If love is in the air, you must be on the west coast.

Whether you're looking for love or the perfect romantic vacation, according to a recent ranking by Amazon.ca, the top 20 most romantic cities in Canada (based on romance and relationship book sales, of course) are generally out west.

Edmonton, Kamloops and Saskatoon all made the top 10, while small cities in Ontario helped round out the list. Looking back at last year's results (spoiler alert if you don't want to see number one), some things have changed. Several cities like Niagara Falls and Cambridge, Ont. are new additions, other cities have dropped in their rankings (what happened?), but the one thing that didn't change? No love for any of the Maritimes, east coast provinces and Quebec.

It's possible, however, that this could just mean those areas of Canada have better relationships. As one psychologist's study found in 2011, romance novels might give women (the vast majority of readers for the genre) unrealistic expectations of what a partnership should truly be.

So while this list truly doesn't define how romantic people actually are, if you're looking for reasons to love some of these cities (especially with V-Day coming up), other interesting data from the report found residents of Winnipeg enjoyed regency romance, gothic romance, and historical romance books, while people in North Vancouver bought the most Dean Martin, Barry White, Luther Vandross, Miguel and Michael Bublé CDs.

Did your city make the list? Check out all 20 and let us know in the comments below:





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Australian Man Charged In Vancouver-Bound Plane Violence

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RICHMOND, B.C. - An Australian man accused of becoming violent on an international flight to Vancouver's airport has been charged.

Twenty-five-year-old Abdul Zain Ali was scheduled to make a court appearance in Richmond, B.C., on Monday.

The RCMP were called to Vancouver's airport on Sunday after reports that a passenger on a China Southern Airlines plane had become violent on a flight from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

Ali has been charged with causing a disturbance, mischief and assault.

Meanwhile, police are releasing details about an unrelated incident on a domestic flight that landed in Vancouver in late January.

The Mounties say Peter Lafond has been given a conditional discharge for causing a disturbance after two off-duty officers intervened when a man became intoxicated and refused to leave the plane.

241 Reasons To Travel To Alberta (VIDEO)

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Make this the year you visit Alberta.

Why? This video from Travel Alberta, with 241 stunning photos of the province's most gorgeous vistas and skyscapes, should be all the reason you need.



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Boeing 787 Dreamliner Makes Vancouver Airport Debut

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RICHMOND, B.C. - A Boeing 787 plane touted as the future of air travel has made its first scheduled landing at Vancouver's airport.

The Dreamliner arrived from Tokyo's Narita Airport at about 10 a.m. on Monday, with 186 passengers aboard.

The plane operated by Japan Airlines features extra-large windows equipped with an electronic dimming system instead of pull-down blinds and lower air pressure to reduce jet lag.

It's also 20 per cent more fuel-efficient compared to its rivals.

The Dreamliner is expected to make a weekly flight to Vancouver every Monday in February before starting daily trips in March.

Boeing's next-generation 787 airliner has run into several problems, including issues with smouldering batteries that prompted the plane to be grounded temporarily last year.



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CheapAir's Rob Ford Rehab Offer Is The Latest Stunt To Get Toronto Mayor 'Help'

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The road to rehab is never an easy one but one travel agency says it's willing to get the process started for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and fly him to rehab.

Over the last four months, the embattled mayor of Canada's largest city has admitted to issues with substance and alcohol abuse, leaving his critics questioning his competency and providing plenty of material for late-night comedians.

In an open letter addressed to Mayor Ford, CheapAir.com, a travel booking site, offers Ford a free ride to and from his location of choice for rehab. You can read the entire letter here:

Dear Rob,

With horror we've watched the incidents of the past year. The crack smoke, the slurred, inebriated episode at Steak Queen, the crashing of the Board of Trade dinner.

Listen, we're not saying you have a problem (a unique leadership style, perhaps?) but, CheapAir is here for you. We sometimes hear from individuals with heart-wrenching stories who ask for assistance with flights, but your story has struck a chord like few others.

We're offering you a FREE roundtrip ticket to the rehab of your choice, courtesy of CheapAir.com!

You'll be bathed in luxury onboard with features like recline, seatback pocket, underseat storage, wall-to-wall carpeting and personal reading light. Let's just keep it to seltzer water onboard, eh?

We can't promise that our world-first voice recognition flight search app will understand your Steak Queen ramblings, but in sober tests we've found it works great.

Sincerely,

CheapAir.com


The letter, while serious in its offer to fly Ford to rehab, pokes fun at the mayor's past follies, including showing up at a Toronto Board of Trade meeting uninvited and two videos of Ford ranting and sluring in Jamaican patois. Ford called the later incident a "setback".

Ford has yet to address CheapAir.com's offer.

This isn't the first time travel companies have used Ford for fodder. Last year, a Spirit Airlines lampooned the mayor as part of an online ad for its airfare by proclaiming "we're not smoking crack" followed by a puff of smoke and insisting its prices are "real", a reference to a video of Ford using drugs now in possession of Toronto police.

But while companies are having fun at the mayor's expense, new details have emerged to suggest some people are worried about the his well-being.

In Crazy Town, a new book by Toronto Star reporter Robyn Doolittle, Ford's wife Renata reportedly expressed concern over her husband's drug use.

“He still thinks he’s going to party,” Renata allegedly said. “He thinks that he, oh, you know, ‘I’ll get off the pills, but I’m not giving up the blow,’” the Toronto Star reports. Ford's lawyer, Dennis Morris, told the paper Ford's wife now denies her alleged comments.

Vancouver Cat Cafe Coming Soon

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After the news that Montreal was getting its own version of the popular cat cafe (yes, literally a cafe filled with cats), we were suffering from some feline envy.

But BREAKING MEWS: Vancouver is pawsibly getting a cat cafe of its own.

Dubbed the Catfe, the establishment is coming to downtown Vancouver as early as the fall of 2014, Metro News reports.

People will meet the cats, fall in love with them and maybe want to adopt them,” Catfe founder Michelle Furbacher told the newspaper. "[The cats] have to have the right kind of personality, that likes hanging out with a lot of humans and a lot of other cats.”

Popular in Asia and even clawing into Europe, the cat cafe model is also on its way to America.

And really, it's no surprise this catmosphere is so popular around the world; who wouldn't want to cuddle up with a kitty as they sip on their tea? The idea sounds purrrfect. We wish we were at one right meow.

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Rome In All Its Black And White Glory

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There is something to be said for a black and white photo.

The stripped down shots can take an already beautiful place and turn it into a mystical destination. They've made us fall in love (over and over again) with Zurich, and become mildly obsessed with Turin, Italy. So now it's Rome's time to shine in the black and white spotlight.

Without further ado, awaken your wanderlust with Rome in all its black and white glory.


36 Reasons Seattle Not Only Won The Super Bowl, But Also Wins At Life

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Between the Super Bowl, Macklemore's Grammy, and the ever-increasing popularity of recreational marijuana use, Seattle is pretty much winning 2014 so far.

It's no wonder, when you realize what an incredible city all these incredible things are coming from. Seattle is, quite simply, the best.

And as Richard Sherman would say, "don't you open your mouth about the best."

1. Seattle is home to the world's first Starbucks.
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2. ...but Seattleites are our country's coffee experts, and Vivace is where they choose to caffeinate.
Even Emeril calls Vivace -- BAM! -- the best coffee ever.
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3. Seattleites welcome people of every race, creed, and belief system.
Pride parades for daaays.
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4. The rest of the country drives cars. Seattleites commute on ferries.
...which, of course, got their names changed to Seahawks players for the Super Bowl.
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5. If you're from Seattle, you're probably not afraid to get naked.
At one of America's most secret nude beaches, you'll find grandmas swimming laps around buoys... completely sans Speedo.

6. In Seattle, nobody even blinks when you talk about your backyard chicken ranch.
The city allows residents to have eight chickens per coop, as long as they're 10 feet from the house.
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7. The Goodwill outlet store
Yes, they are "The Bins" Macklemore digs through in "Thrift Shop."

8. Every legendary and/or teenage-guilty-pleasure band you could imagine got its start in Seattle.
Pearl Jam, Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, Nirvana... need we go on?

9. Orcas love Seattle. And Seattleites love Orcas.
It's a match made in Northwest heaven.
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10. The Fremont Solstice Parade
Where ELSE would people get naked, paint themselves, and ride bikes in full public view?
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11. Seattleites see the good in everything.
They successfully turned a grimy coal gasification plant into the urban wonderland that is now Gas Works Park.
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12. When it (rarely) snows, Denny Way just becomes a madhouse of giddy sledding excitement.


13. The Pike Place fish throwers.
Touristy? Yes. Overrated? Not one bit.
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14. Dick's.
Yes, it really is the most life-changing burger joint on Planet Earth.
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15. Obama likes his chocolate Seattle-fied.
Reportedly, our nation's commander-in-chief feeds his visitors the milk chocolate and smoked salt caramels from Fran's Chocolates. Michelle prefers the gray salt ones.

16. Chances are you know someone whose gum is on this wall.
Thousands of wads ooze all over the Post Alley Gum Wall, which is right under Pike Place Market.
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17. "Seattle-area residents are 46 percent more likely to do yoga than the general population."
That's what we call mindfulness.

18. It rains 140 days per year here.
...which makes Seattle one of the rainiest, coziest, snuggliest places on Earth.

19. People actually live in floating houses.
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20. Marijuana dispensaries
...and the Seahawks-themed pot within them.

21. Only from Seattle could you spend a day visiting Canada or skiing or hiking a million mountains, and still be back in time for oyster dinner at Aqua.

22. The Fremont Troll.
Don't ask, just look.
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23. In Seattle, biking to work is totally normal.
It's just another shining example of how much Seattleites care about the beautiful environment they live in.

24. Gourmet, made-to-order donuts at Lola
...with vanilla mascarpone and cranberry dipping sauce. Who said Seattle was only for stoner munchies?
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25. Real Seattleites don't use umbrellas.
They embrace nature. They're one with it. Ain't no big thang.

26. Seattle is responsible for one of the greatest, cheesiest 1990s love stories ever told.
...and we're still sleepless.

27. People here are smart.
Seattle is basically Silicon Valley without the uptight, competitive, techie vibe. Everyone works at Microsoft, Amazon or Boeing but wears flannels on the side.

28. Drinking on boats, saluting the Blue Angels, and running around in pirate costume are tradition during the majestic summer miracle known as Seafair.
torchlight run

29. The Fremont Sunday Market is every Seattleite's go-to for glass-blown flowers, organic apples, and braised BBQ pork hoagies.
AND it's open year-round.

30. Seattle is one of the best beer cities in America.
We won't even try to pick our favorite craft brewery.

31. ...JK LOLZ we will.
Fremont Brewing, because their beer garden provides unlimited free pretzels.
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32. Screw touristy rowboats.
In Seattle, you can take a canoe out on Lake Washington and get in touch with the area's Native American roots.
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33. Once a month, The Stranger throws a silent reading party in a hotel, and Manhattans flow for $5.
They call it "the unexpected sexiness of many people quietly reading and drinking in public." And oh, how bookishly sexy it is.

34. The San Juan Islands are just the most perfect, woodsy, blissful escape from Seattle.
...not that we need an escape from Seattle.
san juan islands

35. In Seattle, your old friend Mount Rainier is always in view.
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36. The great, powerful, and SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Seattle Seahawks.
Boom.
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10 Foods No One Should Eat On An Airplane

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We've all been there: as you're settling into your seat on a flight, the person next to you pulls out an elaborate meal whose odor immediately assaults your senses and soon fills up the entire cabin. The smell lingers for all eight hours of the flight. It's beyond inconsiderate. The total lack of respect or regard for other people exhibited by bringing something like a tuna fish sandwich on board an airplane is downright rude.

It's high time people started showing a little more respect and stopped bringing smelly or otherwise offensive food onto airplanes. It's no secret that cramped quarters on planes are becoming even tighter, making any semblance of personal space a thing of the past.

Miraculously, this move to maximize capacity and minimize seat size and leg room has coincided with two other important changes: Expanded and upgraded dining options in airports all over the world, and the rapid disappearance of complimentary, on-board meals (remember those?) for passengers not shelling it out for a first-class ticket.

This confluence of events -- fewer in-flight meals, more food available in the airports and closer in-flight quarters -- has created the perfect storm for bringing offensive food onboard. If your taste buds are diminished anyway while you're flying, can't you do everyone around you a favor and wait 'til later for that tuna fish sandwich?

There are some foods no one should eat on an airplane. Here are some of the worst offenders.



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Drunk Flight Outburst Was Potentially Disastrous: Passenger

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A former military man on an international flight to Vancouver says he had to help subdue a drunk passenger because the aircrew didn't seem to know what they were doing.

James Leigh was on the China Southern Airline flight 329 from Guangzhou with the "crazy" guy who headed for the emergency exit, reported The Province on Monday.

"Everyone was asleep and the lights were turned off in the plane, and he ran down the aisles, screaming and yelling at someone and alarming everyone and waking everyone up," passenger Tanya Truong told CBC News.

The man started throwing punches at the flight crew and passengers, Leigh told CTV News.

Witnesses said the suspect appeared loud and belligerent during boarding, and apparently kept drinking during the flight.

The crew was struggling with the man, so Leigh said he helped to get him into handcuffs, said The Province. Leigh kept the unruly man under control in the gallery and then later sat next to him for the rest of the 11-hour flight.

Abdul Zain Ali, 25, of Australia, has been charged with causing a disturbance, mischief and assault.

Leigh told The Province that "the potential for disaster was high" because the suspect could have opened the back door.

Isla Mujeres Is A Tiny Mexican Oasis 30 Minutes From Cancun

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ISLA MUJERES, Mexico (AP) — A half-hour ferry ride from the nonstop party that is Cancun sits an island seductively named Isla Mujeres, or Island of Women.


Less than 5 miles long (8 kilometers) and just a half-mile (.8 kilometer) wide, the tiny Mexican island is an oasis that caters to every set except the rowdy students sowing their oats across the bay. They most certainly would get bored.


Frankly, there just isn't that much for them to do on the island. For everyone else, that's kind of the point.


The escape begins as soon as the cab from the airport drops you off at the dock, where there is, of course, a bar. Grab a couple beers and relax until it's time to board.


Some hotels, such as the idyllic, Italian-themed Villa Rolandi or the perfectly located Avalon Reef Club, will cart you directly to their doors. For others renting a house or staying at a budget hotel, ferries go to the island's main pier downtown.


Try to find a spot on the back of your ferry in the open air to enjoy the view and fresh sea-salt air as Cancun and its thumping music fade slowly away. It's the perfect introduction to your new temporary home in the Caribbean.


Once you arrive, first things first. Get to a beach. Now. Don't worry about where you'll eat, don't worry about unpacking, just throw on that bathing suit and get out there. You'll never forget your first sunset in Isla.


At some point in the first couple days, you'll want to rent a golf cart, the most popular mode of transportation on the island, along with scooters. The cheapest options — roughly $40 a day — will be downtown and include carts styled like Jeep Wranglers and pink Cadillacs.


The next few days depend on how much energy you can scrounge up amid the seductively slow rhythm of the island.


My plan had been to go swimming with whale sharks, play with dolphins, go on a few runs along the ocean, maybe hop over to Cancun for a day trip.


None of that happened. Like I said, island rhythm.


My boyfriend and I would wake with the sun around 6 a.m., eventually wander out to the private beach at our hotel, Villa Rolandi, sip our hot mugs of coffee and stand up to our knees in the warm-enough water as we listened to the ocean and stared in the sky.


The rest of the day would include some combination of lying in the sun, reading, napping, eating fresh lobster, drinking beer and swimming in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.


Outside of the private beaches at house rentals and hotels, there are public beaches on the southern side of the island, facing Cancun, with calm, beautiful waters but not a lot of sand or space.


There's the popular and sprawling North Beach on the tip of the island near the tiny, quaint downtown, excellent for people-watching or finding a game of beach volleyball, if you're into that sort of thing. This beach has the closest thing to a party vibe you'll find on the island.


For a calmer experience, head to the easternmost section of North Beach at the end of a tiny road called Zazil-ha. You'll find just a handful of people lounging on beach beds for a modest price or on a towel in the sand for free. Everyone seems to have such a content, sleepy look on their face here, it's almost comical.


The water is calm, shallow and heavenly. It's easy to forget everything here.


During one of my days at this beach, I got a blissful, hour-long massage about 10 steps from our lounge chairs. Walking to get a bucket of water to wash the sand off my feet before the massage was the most strenuous thing I did that day.


At some point amid the endless, intoxicating relaxation, we found the energy to drive our golf cart the Punta Sur, or South Point, at the southernmost tip of the island. Once there, pay a nominal fee to explore Garrafon Natural Reef Park, a series of paved trails that lead to the very edge of the ocean.


The park's designers have managed to make it feel like you're standing in the middle of the wild ocean. It's humbling and beautiful.


Other popular activities on Isla include swimming with whale sharks, docile, beautiful and enormous creatures. That may very well be a once-in-a-life, unforgettable experience, but it's a minimum of $125 U.S. dollars per person, takes up an entire day and some lose their stomachs on the two-hour boat ride it takes to even reach waters deep enough for the sea creatures. The season runs from June 1 to Sept. 15.


Others swim with dolphins, a much easier and slightly cheaper feat on Isla, though it also requires breaking away from the near-irresistible, do-nothing vibe that permeates the island. The swim will cost at least $100, but it's conveniently located in water just 50 feet from Isla's beach.


Between January and September last year, Isla Mujeres saw 227,540 visitors, according to statistics kept by the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Cancun had 3.2 million visitors in the same time period, proving that Isla is still a well-kept secret.


Or maybe that it simply doesn't appeal to the partying masses who swarm Cancun. Those less interested in bottomless blue cocktails and grinding in clubs until the break of dawn prefer it that way.


___


If You Go...


ISLA MUJERES: Official tourism site, http://www.isla-mujeres.net/tourism/home.htm .


VILLA ROLANDI: http://www.villarolandi.com/


GARRAFON NATURAL REEF PARK: http://www.garrafon.com/


Follow Amanda Lee Myers on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmandaLeeAP

5 Reasons Why You Should Travel Thailand in Time of Crisis

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Thailand is a country of myriad cultures and a favorite with backpackers and regular tourists alike. The ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok have made many change their travel plans to Thailand at the last moment. While the peaceful demonstrations are taking place in the central Bangkok areas, life in most other parts of the Thai capital remains open to travelers, including the majestic Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok. Here are the top five reasons why you should go to Thailand now:

Experience the Regal

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Thailand takes pride in a large number of fascinating temples in the country. The illustrious Wat Pho (Temple of the reclining Buddha) and the majestic Grand Palace in Bangkok is home to many ornate architecture and sculpture depicting Thai beliefs and folklore, and their ever eternal love for lord Buddha. Situated one hour by flight from Bangkok is Chiang Rai, where the beautiful temple Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple, attracts large numbers of visitors everyday. It's striking white radiance and unusual expressions and sculptures designed by famous Thai artists is a must-visit.

Be Wowed by Tropical Beaches

Imagine a vast expanse of white-washed beaches teamed with stunning nightlife or high limestone cliffs lapped by clear crystal water. Situated 150 kilometers from Bangkok facing a wide bay is Pattaya. Once a tiny fishing village, it is now a dazzling kaleidoscope of recreation and fun. Situated one-and-a-half hours by flight from Bangkok is the tranquil island of Phuket, famous for its 24/7 nightlife and beaches. Krabi, now popular with honeymooners, is a boat ride away and has unique beaches with the limestone cliffs attracting rock climbers from across the world. The other beaches are Koh Samui, the Phi PhiLeh islands, Hua Hin, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Savor the True Spices and Learn Some

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Each dish in Thailand is exotic and in harmony with the natural spices. Take a ferry across the Chao Phraya river to indulge in some traditional Thai delights at Supatra River House. Now that the famous Thai dishes like Tom Yam Kung (a spicy broth laced with lemon grass and fresh shrimps) and Phat Thai (Thai-Style Noodles) have become globally renowned, many enthusiasts are enrolling for culinary adventure. One such cooking school across the river is Amita Cooking Class where students learn to prepare their favorite Thai dish.

Call of the Wild and The War

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A two-hour drive away from Bangkok is Kanchanaburi. Experience the Thai countryside with waterfalls and river camps, or play with tigers at the Tiger Temple at the historical site of Kanchanaburi.

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Visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial dedicated to allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers who suffered and died during the second World War and the bridge over River Kwai.

Take a dose of Muay Thai & Massage

Muay thai is Thai martial combat that demonstrates fighting spirit. The heart of Muay Thai is to make wise moves to knock an opponent rather than just using force without the clear target. Muay Thai attracts people around the world who want to try and practice it for health, defense and even world championships. In Bangkok, you can learn Muay Thai at Sovorapin Boxing Camp. Hands-on original Thai massage to soothe your nerves can be enjoyed at Wat Pho Thai Massage School, and at the award-winning spa at Rarin Jinda Wellness Spa.

Bangkok is a large city and so it is possible for local residents and international visitors to avoid the demonstration areas which are Pathumwan intersection, Ratchaprasong intersection, Lumpini Park, Asoke intersection, the Government Complex (Chaeng Wattana Road), Phan Fa Bridge and Chamai Maruchet Bridge. All airports and businesses (shops, traffic, tourist attractions, etc.) are open as normal and those who wish to enjoy the wealth and culture of Thailand are warmly welcomed by the ever-smiling Thai people.

Happy Traveling to Thailand, everyone!

Rename Union Station For John A. Macdonald? Toronto Councillor's Proposal Panned On Twitter

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An iconic Canadian railway station and travel hub could get a very different name if one Toronto politician gets his way.

On Tuesday, Toronto councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong made a motion to the city's executive committee to rename Union Station after Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister.

"In the spirit of recognizing this Canadian giant, I am proposing that the City of Toronto consider renaming Union Station after Sir John A. Macdonald. His association with nation building and Canada is clear and unassailable. His links to railways is clear. Furthermore, given the current reconstruction of Union Station and its rebirth, the timing could not be better," Minnan-Wong wrote in his motion

The councillor also tweeted that the current name isn't exactly unique to the city.




The station's current name commemorates the point where some of Canada's oldest railways— Northern Railway, the Great Western Railway and the Grand Trunk Railway — met and while the terminal's current location is no where near that point, the name has since stuck. The station earned a designation as a national historic site in 1975.

Today, Union Station serves as a transportation hub for commuters and travellers alike, with Via Rail, Go Transit, and the TTC all using the building. The station will soon have a new rail line to shuttle travellers to and from Terminal One at Person International.

While Denzil Minnan-Wong says the timing is right, other Toronto councillors say the move is unnecessary.

I don’t think you obliterate history to honour history,” said Councillor Adam Vaughan. “I think you find ways to take things that aren’t named. There’s a new plaza in front of Union Station that’s being built. Maybe it’s the plaza that’s appropriately named for Sir John A. Macdonald.”

Reaction on Twitter was less kind to Denzil Minnan-Wong's idea, some questioning the whole point, others saying Macdonald is a poor choice.



What say you? Should Toronto Union Station change its name? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @HPCaTravel

When Is Spring?

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For those of you who are ready to leave winter behind, the official first day of spring is Thursday, March 20, 2014.

While the days of blooming flowers, an Easter long weekend and rainy weather are still over a month away, this past weekend two out of three groundhogs (Canada's Wiarton Willie and Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil) both predicted six more weeks of winter. However, our personal favourite groundhog, Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam, predicted spring could come early this year.

The first day of spring, or the spring/vernal equinox, has about 12 hours of day and night (woo hoo). These light-filled hours can even start a few days before the actual beginning of the season, according to Almanac.com.

An early spring is definitely something we all could use. Most of Canada experienced one of the harshest and coldest winters in recorded history, along with a North American polar vortex, so it's going to feel extra satisfying saying goodbye to winter boots and shovelling this year.

And in the spirit of putting away your winter things, we also know spring marks the season for spring cleaning. Giving your home a quick detox will not only benefit your health (and get rid of all those dust bunnies that can irritate spring allergies), you'll be able to donate things you don't want, find things you've been missing and clean the spots you ignored all winter.

What's your favourite thing about spring? Let us know in the comments below:

Most Romantic Restaurants In Toronto For Valentine's Day

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Valentine's Day is coming up fast and furious, and since it falls on a Friday night this year, you know restaurant reservations might be tough to attain in Toronto. But besides just acquiring two seats, there's also the question of whether even the most romantic restaurants will be as private as you want them to be on this night of love.

And for those of you not in a relationship? We're going to come right out and suggest you don't head to any of these spots on Valentine's Day — but instead, take advantage of some of these other amazing spots in Toronto that might just have seats available that night.

Here's a list of the most romantic restaurants in Toronto (that can work any date night of the year, not just Valentine's Day), where you'll get a semblance of privacy, and most importantly, an amazing meal:



What: Il Mulino
Where: 1060 Eglinton Ave. W. (Eglinton and Bathurst)
Romantic vibes: Chandeliers, widespread tables and
Price point: Three courses (including dessert) average $60 per person.

What: Jacob's Steakhouse
Where: 12 Brant St. (King and Spadina)
Romantic vibes: Low lights, sink-into-and-stay-there banquettes and arguably the best steak in the city
Price point: Let's just say — there's a 25 oz. T-bone on the menu for $93

What: Rendez-Vous
Where: 1400 Danforth Ave. (between Greenwood and Coxwell)
Romantic vibes: Red-themed decor, cozy tables ... and eating with your hands is inherently sensual
Price point: Dinner for two for $45

What: Weezie's
Where: 354 King St. E. (King and Parliament)
Romantic vibes: Heavy curtains, blink-and-you-miss-it location, gourmet comfort food
Price point: Dinner for two for $80 easily

What: Adega
Where: 33 Elm St. (Yonge and Dundas)
Romantic vibes: Sultry red walls, a serious wine list and delicious Portuguese seafood
Price point: Mains between $20 to $30, according to Toronto Life

What: Spuntini
Where: 116 Avenue Rd. (between Davenport and Bloor)
Romantic vibes: Candles on every table, curtains allowing for privacy, tables tucked into nooks
Price point: Three-course meals for $50 per person

What: Cava
Where: 1560 Yonge St. (north of St. Clair)
Romantic vibes: Well-separate tables, low lighting and plates meant for sharing
Price point: Dinner for two for around $130

What: Frank's Kitchen
Where: 588 College St. (between Bathurst and Ossington)
Romantic vibes: Intimate tables and a hard-to-get reservation means you'll have tons of privacy
Price point: $120 for dinner for two with wine, tax and tip, according to the Globe and Mail, though it's probably closer to $160

What: Donatello Restaurant
Where: 37 Elm St. (Yonge and Dundas)
Romantic vibes: The three rooms of this spot provide plenty of options — not to mention an ideal place to eat if you're heading to the theatre after
Price point: Four courses average about $45 per person

What: Five Doors North
Where: 2088 Yonge St. (between Davisville and Eglinton)
Romantic vibes: The patina and dim lighting of this spot make this a more casual, sexy dinner
Price point: Dinner for two can be had for $80

What: George
Where: 111C Queen St. E. (Queen and Church)
Romantic vibes: There's a lot of tables, but also, a lot of space between them — and the decor is simply swoon-worthy.
Price point: Three courses will run each person a pricey $60 each; five-course tasting menus starting at $80.

What: Kalendar
Where: 546 College St. (College and Bathurst)
Romantic vibes: Decor that combines wood and glam, an accessible (read: delicious but original) menu and cozy booths
Price point: You could easily have dinner for two for $110

What: La Palette
Where: 492 Queen St. W. (east of Bathurst)
Romantic vibes: Dim lights, French food and a real love for champagne
Price point: A very filling three courses for average of $50 per person; three-course prix fixe for $35 a person

What: Auberge Du Pommier
Where: 4150 Yonge St. (Yonge and York Mills)
Romantic vibes: Wood-burning fireplaces, dining room chairs that feel more like armchairs and the general ambiance of a French country home.
Price point: Three courses (including dessert) average $75 per person.

What: Mogette Bistro
Where: 581 Mount Pleasant Rd. (north of Davisville)
Romantic vibes: Lovely plating, plenty of room for couples and a decor reminiscent of (what else?) a French bistro
Price point: Two can dine for $100

What: Julie's Cuban
Where: 202 Dovercourt Rd. (west of Dundas and Ossington)
Romantic vibes: Twinkle lights? Plastic tablecloths? We love it!
Price point: Dinner for two for $80

What: Canoe
Where: 66 Wellington St. W., 54th floor (just west of Bay)
Romantic vibes: A view that literally no other restaurant in the city can compete with
Price point: Dinner can easily cost $180 per couple

What: Caffino
Where: 1185 King Street West (at Dufferin)
Romantic vibes: It's hard not to feel romanced by the fireplaces, cafe-style chairs and flowers on each table. There's a reason it's also a popular (small) wedding venue
Price point: Dinner for two for $110

What: Lola's Kitchen
Where: 634 Church St. (at Bloor)
Romantic vibes: Lots of space for pairs, and lots of space between tables makes for intimate dinners
Price point: Dinner for two for $75

What: Local Kitchen & Wine Bar
Where: 1710 Queen St. W. (at Roncesvalles)
Romantic vibes: Chalkboard menus, cozy tables, incredibly good pasta
Price point: Mains between $20 to $30, according to Toronto Life

What: Pic Nic
Where: 747 Queen St. E. (east of Broadview)
Romantic vibes: Say it with us — wine bar. That, plus cozy tables and great sharing plates make this an ideal date spot.
Price point: Dinner for two for $65 — though it all depends on how much wine you drink

What: Joso's
Where: 202 Davenport Rd. (at Avenue Rd.)
Romantic vibes: Filled with the owners' art and music (which yes, features plenty of naked women), this classic spot seems built for couples.
Price point: It's easy to spend a lot (like $80 a person a lot) for dinner

What: The Fifth Grill & Terrace
Where: 225 Richmond St. W. (Queen and University)
Romantic vibes: A great view, a wood-burning fireplace, and for such an expansive room, a surprisingly intimate feeling
Price point: Dinner for two can easily run to $140

What: Union
Where: 72 Ossington Ave. (north of Queen)
Romantic vibes: Dining in a couple but still want a crowd? Union always suits pairs without needing to get all dark and cozy about it — and there are plenty of shareable plates
Price point: Dinner for two for approximately $110

What: Pomegranate
Where: 420 College St. (at Bathurst)
Romantic vibes: Lighting via stunning Persian lanterns, jewel tones and food that truly satisfies
Price point: Dinner for two for $70

Python Pizza: Florida Pizzeria Offers Snake Meat On Menu

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Alligator and frog have long been on the menu in Florida, but a new delicacy has slithered its way onto dinner plates in the US state.

A pizzeria now offers Burmese python meat on what it calls the "Everglades Pizza" -- named for Florida's vast national park, where the snakes are being hunted to protect the nature preserve.

"It was just to create talk about the shop and being creative and this thing literally just went viral," says Evan Daniell, the owner of
Evan's Neighborhood Pizza in the Gulf Coast city of Fort Myers.

"People talk about it all the time and whether it's negative or positive, it really doesn't matter because the fact is: we can make it and it's delicious."

So, the big question: what does it taste like?

"It's good but a little chewy," says Mike, a tourist taking the python plunge from Minnesota.

"It tastes like chicken but chewier," his wife Becky adds.

Daniell admits that python meat "can be gamier." The chef tenderizes the slabs of snake meat by marinating them for several hours. They are then sliced thinly into what he calls "snake slivers".

Before laying it onto the pizza, making sure "each slice has a piece of python," Daniell pre-cooks the snake in the oven for a few minutes.

"There is some pink into the snake, and as it turns white, it will be done," he explains.

Despite its steep price tag of $45, the "Everglades" pizza certainly has its fans.

Daniell's pal Mike Gookin says he came up with the idea of using the snake meat to spice up pizzas after seeing a news report on the python problem in the Everglades.

Pythons galore

The pizza also features alligator sausage and frog legs. Both are native to southern Florida. The pythons are definitely not, but they are everywhere.

"There could be thousands or tens of thousands of Burmese pythons in the wild here," explains Roberto Torres, a field officer with The Nature Conservancy.

The snakes can measure up to 20 feet (six meters) long and they are believed to have made the Everglades their home after being released by their owners.

"They get them as pets and when they get too big, they release them here," Torres says, his feet deep in the mud of the wetlands near the suburbs of Miami where pythons have been spotted regularly.

Burmese pythons have no known predator in Florida, so they sit atop the food chain in their new home. As a result, environmental experts like Torres fear their presence could end up threatening biodiversity in the Everglades.

"It's a perfect habitat for the snake -- it's wet, there is plenty of food. (...) They'll eat anything they can catch -- birds, fish, mammals, cats, dogs," Torres says.

To raise awareness about the python invasion, chefs in Miami have held several events with python on the menu along with other non-native species.

But current food safety regulations do not allow the invasive snakes captured in Florida to be slaughtered and processed regularly to be sold in restaurants.

As a result, Daniell's python meat is not local.

"I buy it frozen from a wholesaler who imports farmed python from Vietnam," the restaurateur explains.

Hawaii Clouds Dance Over The Islands In Gorgeous Time-Lapse Video

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Photographer Julian Tryba spent some time in Hawaii last December and became obsessed with the "complex relationship between the volcano and the clouds" on Mount Haleakalā, Maui's dormant volcano. Capturing foootage on the island of Oahu as well, Tryba wove together clips from 150 time-lapses, edited them down to 2 minutes, and proved that the clouds really do dance over Hawaii.

House of Clouds from Julian Tryba on Vimeo.

6 Incredibly Gorgeous Features We'd Steal From Bob Hope's 'UFO Home' (PHOTOS)

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The last time we checked in with the magnificent Bob Hope estate back in March, it was up for sale for $50 million.

Now it's back again, with a bargain price of…$34 million.

Frequently referred to as the "UFO House," the home has a dramatically curvaceous exterior that stands out against the Palm Springs desert. The interior, of course, features high ceilings and plate glass windows that offer stunning views of its surroundings. Though this is a home that wouldn't really work out in our reality, that doesn't mean we don't actively covet a few features from the property.

Here's what we wish we could have for our own homes.

Margaret Vanderlaan, Wilhemina Paul Dead: Ontario Seniors 'Mowed Down' In Florida

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A tight-knit community of snowbirds in Florida was in mourning Tuesday after three elderly women — two of them Canadians — were killed in what appeared to be a horrific freak accident.

Residents of the mobile home community of Bradenton were leaving a Sunday church service at the Sugar Creek Country Club when a 79-year-old woman driving an SUV backed into a group of seven people at high speed.

Seventy-two-year-old Margaret Vanderlaan and 70-year-old Wilhemina Paul, both from Ontario, and 80-year-old Johanna Dijkhoff, who was visiting her Canadian sister from the Netherlands, were killed.

Four others, including a 67-year-old Ontario woman, were seriously injured in what bystanders recalled as traumatic chain of events.

Vanderlaan's husband was standing just steps away from her when she was run over.

"I can't believe it's over," he told a local paper. "She and I have four kids and they are all devastated...I called them yesterday and they're all screaming. We have 15 grandkids and they are all nuts about her."

Gerrit Koedoot, a pastor who delivered the service that took place mere minutes before the accident, said the community was still reeling.

"It's almost like you're losing somebody from your own family with something like this," he told The Canadian Press in a phone interview. "There are so many things that need to be digested emotionally by everybody."

Koedoot recalls an SUV backing out of a parking spot, pulling forward and then needing more room to clear another parked vehicle. At that point he said the SUV began backing up again "at great speed."

The vehicle ran straight through a group of pedestrians, over a curb, collided with some trees and finally came to a stop after splashing into a canal.

It was clear that the three women who died had been struck the hardest.

"They were just mowed down," said the 79-year-old. "It was just an awful scene. It was emotionally almost impossible to measure."

Vanderlaan and Paul, both good friends, had been spending the winter in Florida for years, as have most of the community's other residents.

Members of their families rushed to Bradenton after hearing of the accident, said Koedoot, adding that Vanderlaan's husband and children were believed to be headed back to Canada Tuesday for her funeral. Paul's family was expected to do the same later this week.

"They're really devastated by the loss of a dear wife," Koedoot said of the men who had lost their spouses.

"They both had been long marriages and good marriages. It's just been unreal."

The community is now trying to recover from Sunday's events, a task made harder by how close the residents are.

"All these people that were standing there are all friends and family. They all know each other," said Koedoot.

"We're coping well but that doesn't mean the pain is gone. The loss is still very very fresh."

Florida police have said the incident wasn't alcohol related, and no charges have been laid against the driver of the SUV, who has been identified as Doreen Landstra, of Palmetto, Fla.

Witnesses told the local paper Landstra apparently thought she had the car in drive — and not reverse — when she pressed the gas pedal. Neither she nor the passenger in her vehicle were injured.

The investigation is ongoing.

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