The Ottawa of today is a beautiful little city (one can walk across the city centre quite easily) with its parks, architecture and the Rideau Canal. There is something for everyone, as the saying goes. For the more culturally inclined, Ottawa has the National Art Gallery, the National Art Centre and the Bytowne Cinema. One can keep the kids (and parents) amused at the Bytown Museum, the Currency Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Experimental Farm and the Aviation Museum. For a spot of reflection, visit the War Museum and the Canadian War Memorial. Elgin Street and the Byward Market are full of restaurants and bars. Athletes can run or bicycle to their hearts’ content along the Rideau Canal or boat on Dow’s Lake. There are plenty of hotels that cater to all types of people and many have suites, which include a kitchen (the Byward Market sells fresh local fruit and veg in the summer… time to fry up a fiddlehead).

Technically, Ottawa is in a temperate climate and therefore has four seasons. I have been visiting the capital of Canada for years and I think of it as having two seasons – weather- wise and culturally. Currently, I am in summer – the time of Open Doors Ottawa, Canada Day and – if you stretch the season a bit – the Tulip festival. Music and cultural festivals rule the summer season in Ottawa. At times, the list seems endless: Chamber Music, Bluesfest, Folk Festival, Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Capital Pride, Ottawa Fringe, CHIN Picnic, Carnival of Culture ….

In 1953, the Ottawa Tulip Festival became a date on the city’s calendar. The Tulip Festival occurs each May and brings to Ottawa colour so desperately needed after the long (exceedingly long) grey winter. It brings in visitors from all over the world (a sight in themselves). The tulips are planted all over the city but the majority are to be found along Dow’s Lake, which is part of the Rideau Canal. Other main sites are Parliament Hill, the Capital Infocentre, Commissioner’s Park, Major’s Hill Park and the banks of the Canal. At City Hall can be found wooden four-foot tulips, each painted with a different motif. The Tulip Festival owes its beginnings to World War II. Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and her family were evacuated to Ottawa and here she gave birth to her third daughter in a hospital room declared Dutch territory for the day. In gratitude, tulips were sent and are still being sent.

Ottawa’s Open Doors Day is a yearly event that I attended for the first time. Over one weekend in June, buildings of historical or architectural significance open their doors to the public and volunteers lead tours. One of the most popular places to enter is the Ottawa Hostel, probably because of its appearance on the TV show Creepy Canada. Formerly the Carleton County Jail, this hostel (yes, you sleep in a cell… really) is noted for being the execution place of Patrick James Whelan for the murder of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a member of the first Canadian Parliament. It is thought Whelan was framed, so his rather perturbed spirit is said to still reside within the thick walls on this 19^th Century structure. If ghost sighting is not for you, there are plenty of other places to see like the Cartier Square Drill Hall, the Laurentian Club, the Conference Centre, the Heritage Building of City Hall – hmm, there is a ghost there too.

Canada Day is the country’s birthday celebrating Canada’s becoming a self-governing Dominion on 1 July, 1867. The city is covered in red and white and maple leaves – on people as well as places! The main part of the celebration takes place on Parliament Hill where one can see the Mounties perform the Musical Ride, the raising of the Queen’s Flag, the presentation of the Ceremonial Guard to the Governor General (Queen Elizabeth’s representative), various musical acts and, to me the most stunning and dramatic event, the flyover of the Snowbirds. In addition, at Rideau Hall, a select group of immigrants attend a special citizenship ceremony. A recent addition to the day is the CHIN picnic. The CHIN multicultural radio station is the creation of the late bandleader Johnny Lombardi.  His experiences in World War II led him to believe that by learning about other peoples’ cultures through music and dance we could develop understanding and acceptance. One mustn’t forget the fireworks – the best place to see them – the new Corktown Footbridge.

Summer is not to be outdone in Canada’s capital. Winter boasts its own attractions in the Christmas Lights, Winterlude and the frozen Rideau Canal. As long as one is bundled up (winter is indescribably bitter and not for the fainthearted – frostbite awaits the unprepared), there is no stopping one enjoying an Ottawa winter.

From early December to early January, Parliament Hill is as colourful as it is during the Tulip Festival but with colour of another kind. As part of the Christmas Lights Across Canada, the Hill is festooned with thousands of bulbs. Varying images and hues are cast against the Parliament buildings themselves. There is nothing quite like standing in the queue for the free hot chocolate and the pastry known as Beavertails, while you wait for the illumination opening ceremonies with its dignitaries and choir.  Afterwards there is the chance to toast marshmallows on the Hill and munch on popcorn at the Infocentre (a good place to defrost fingers and toes). Get to the Hill by way of Confederation Boulevard, also a sea of colour in lights.

February sees the arrival of Winterlude and often then the Rideau Canal Skateway is at its best. Winterlude was created to celebrate the northern climate and culture. The best parts of Winterlude are in the city centre. At City Hall, the visitor will find musical entertainment and an ice cafe. During the day, head to Confederation Park to see the ice sculptures in progress – try to guess what they will be when finished and check back a few days later. Artists from all over the world create the sculptures and they range from the hilarious to the fantastic to the poignant. At night they are illuminated and the park takes on an ethereal atmosphere – it truly is a Crystal Garden. More musical events occur in the Snowbowl and if you are lucky you will get to see waiters on skates compete in races on the canal.  In winter, part of the Rideau Canal is lowered and it freezes creating the “world’s largest skating rink” – 7.8 km (4.8m) from Dow’s Lake to Parliament Hill. Once the ice is thick enough and the temperature is low enough, the ice is prepared for skaters (and we walkers). At night, holes are drilled through the ice to allow water to flood the surface and provide a fairly smooth skating ice sheet. Stalls (those Beavertails once again) are set up along the canal’s length for Winterlude. Once the canal is officially open, everyone is on it (including me, but rarely do I stay upright on the ice for long)!

With so much to do – summer and winter – check out the National Capital Commission’s and the city’s websites. You never know what you might be missing!

Believe it or not, this Island exist but as part of Australia. The population is about 3000 people live in various areas called the “Settlements.” The main ethnic population in the island is Chinese (70%) and the Europeans make about 20% and the Malay people make about another 10% of the population. The majority of the people practice Buddhism, followed closely by Islam and Christianity. This Island is relatively close to the Sunda Islands of Indonesia. This Island is perfect for birdwatchers and nature lovers since about more than half the Island is a national park.

Cocos Islands

Yes, yet another Island owned by Australia in the Indian Ocean but these Islands are significantly lower with about 1000 people living on these Islands. Majority of the people are either European or Cocos Malay with English as the major language spoken and Sunni Muslims making up 80% of the population. This island also uses the Australian Dollars are its official currency and is a close neighbor of the Christmas Island. The total number of Islands in the Cocos chain is about 27 Islands with only 2 Island inhabited. Europeans on one Island and the native malays on the other Island.

Comoros

The Union des Isles Comoros or the Comoros Island Union lies above the Madagascar Island near the entrance of the Mozambique channel. Even though Comoros gained independence in 1974, the people chose to stay with the French until 2004, where conflict led to the creation of 3 capitals with its own presidents and government systems. Currently about 700,000 people live on these 3 volcanic islands with Arabic and French as the major languages spoken. The religion composition of the Island is 98% Sunni Muslim and 2% Catholics. The main capital is Moroni and even through the civil strife is over, much of the country remains poor and is only a minor exporter in agricultural products.

Maldives

This island nation composed of over 1200 mini Island chains (202 Inhabited) is Asia's smallest nation and remains as one of the poorest nations in the world. About 400,000 people live in Maldives with South Indians as the largest ethnic group along with Arabs and Sinhalese. The major language is English with a dialect of Arabic and majority of people are Sunni Muslims. Maldives is working closely with its largest neighbors - India and Sri Lanka. At one point, Indian troops were deployed in these Islands to stop a coup against the government. The Islands are marred by violence and they have has only 1 president since 1978 because political parties are banned and only 1 candidate runs for the “elections.” Thus Abdul Gayoom is still the president of the Maldives with little to no progress with regards to political freedom or human rights issues.

Mayotte

Mayotte still remains are a territory of France with 200,000 people living in the largest two Islands. The main language is still Swahili dialects and French with 97% of the people as Muslims. The ethnic group is made up of a mixture of Bantu, Arab and African populations.

Reunion

The Island of Reunion is a volcanic Island with over 800,000 people living under the French rule. However, recently there has been talk of the need for independence but this country relies heavily on French foreign aid for survival. The unemployment rate is extremely high and the country if poverty stricken. Creole and French remains the major language with Roman Catholics as 86% of the population. The country uses the Euro for its currency needs and has a wide variety of ethnic groups including French, Indian, Pakistani, African and Chinese.

Seychelles

This is a Island chain that has four large islands, 36 small islands and a variety of other small islands. Overall, 14 islands are inhabited by people and there are 82,000 people in these Islands. The government is a republic style government with Creole and English as the most spoken languages, Roman Catholics make up 82% of the population and the ethnic groups is as variant as the island of Reunion. The currency used here is called the Seychelles Rupee. Both Britain and France has ties to this nation historically.

There are the classic Santas that look like they have just dropped in from the North Pole and there are funny Santas that make us laugh with that good old fashioned holiday spirit. There are dress-up Santas where everyone from cats and dogs, kids, a lizard and sexy babes put on that festive red pointy hat to get in the spirit of Christmas.

Then there is the weird stuff. There are Santa clones, Santa weirdos, crazy Santa toys, and some funny, strange, and alternative festive Santa Claus pictures and decorations that are not your every day Santa. Is he getting a little crazier every year, or maybe just a little weird? And what about that house full of elves?

OK, let's not get into all of the details but it is important to share this special tribute with the lady behind the man - we'll throw in something special to give due credit to the lady that makes her home with this celeb the other 364 days of the year - Mrs. Claus.

Yep, Santa is one of those stars that won't go away, he comes back every year and just seems to get hotter and hotter. The kind of guy that makes even the North Pole sound cool. So enjoy this Santa Claus extraordinaire, and get yourself into the holiday spirit.

Classic Santa Look

OK, we will at least start off with a few great shots of the classic Santa Claus, that jolly old man with a furry beard that blows in from the North Pole once every year on Christmas Eve.

Santa Christmas Pets

It seems that it only takes a red pointy hat placed on the head of our favorite pet to get us into the holiday frame of mind, although again, everyone has their own idea of what that holiday spirit is exactly...

OMG Santa, Is That You?

Santa is on his way, although once he gets here, he may look a little bit different than you remember him. Is that really the Santa Claus we know?

Is Santa Getting Weirder or What?

Maybe it is the long nights at the North Pole, maybe it is the isolation from mankind, or maybe it is that crazy band of elves he keeps around him, but it seems like Santa Claus has picked up a few crazy quirks and peculiarities along the way.

Everybody Wants to Be Santa Claus

In spite of what anyone may think, Santa Claus is still a very famous person, and everyone wants to be him. Some are a little more suited for becoming Santa impersonators than others, but every year, it seems that even more want to try on that famous costume.

Santa Claus is Cool

Like any other massive celebrity, Santa gets to hang out with the cool folks, and it seems that he is becoming hipper with every coming year.

A Tribute to Mrs. Claus

One of the reasons that we may have not considered for Santa's self imposed isolation on the North Pole is the fact that his wife Mrs. Claus is one hot babe, and Santa has a hard time leaving - knowing that he is leaving this lady home at night.

Crazy Santa Toys

Some of these are cute, some of these are a little bit unique, and a few of these are some of the weirdest Santa toys around.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Originally the word "wassail" referred to the drinking of cider and the associated merriment but this was confined to the cider making districts of England, like Cornwall and Devon. The custom spread to other parts of the country and beer and mulled wine became the drinks of preference.

The words of this Old English Carol tell the story of the Christmas Wassail:

The Gloucestershire Wassail

Wassail! wassail! all over the town,
Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown;
Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree;
With the wassailing bowl , we'll drink to thee.

Here's to our horse, and to his right ear,
God send our master a happy new year:
A happy new year as e'er he did see,
With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee.

The full lyrics to this old English carol which was written in the days of landed gentry and serfdom can be seen at the website below. This Carol is a real record of social history.

English Wassailers dressed in Elizabethan costume can be seen and heard here:

Anyway, back to the mulled wine. It's very simple to make mulled wine and the resulting drink is the perfect warmer on a cold winters night, or for a family party.

1. Take a bottle of red wine. Any bottle will do. There is no need to use expensive wine for this.
2. Pour it into a large pan
3. Add a cut orange. Cut it into segments but don't peel it.
4. Add a cinnamon stick, or a good pinch of ground cinnamon
5. Add an unpeeled, quartered lemon
6. Add a good pinch of ginger if you like it
7. Mull your white over a low heat until it is very hot. Keep a close eye on it as you don't want it to boil.
8. Pour the hot wine into a jug and it's ready to serve

You can vary this recipe and use other fruit and spices, depending on what you prefer.

Be very careful, though, this mulling process make the wine go to your head a lot quicker!

As you're sitting roasting chestnuts on an open fire, after Jack Frost nipped your nose so it's red like Rudolf's, have you ever wondered what Christmas is like for people at the opposite side of the globe? Have you considered that when Santa comes to the southern hemisphere it's summer? In fact he would already have been to New Zealand wearing his shorts and jandles (flip-flops). We're a day ahead of the rest of the world in terms of time. So when you in the northern hemisphere are having Christmas, it's Boxing Day here and we're sunning ourselves on the beach. On Christmas day, Santa would have had his work cut out trying to figure out how to find places like Hokitika, Paraparaumu, Papatoetoe, (pronounced Papa-too-ee-too-ee) Whakapapa (pronounced Fukapapa) Putaruru and Otorohanga.

And there'll not have been milk and cookies left for the old rotund one, because nobody will have been home. New Zealanders aka Kiwis will be found at campgrounds and baches (cabins) by the beach. In fact Santa has been known to arrive by jet boat or helicopter to deliver the kiddies their toys and lollies (candy). Christmas is the summer holiday season for Kiwis when they disappear for a three to four week break to the sea or the mountains. Their tents and caravans decorated with tinsel, will give a vague indication that it's Christmas time.

Christmas Food

Forget about roast turkey with Martha Stewart's special stuffing. No mate, steak on the barbie and plenty of salads, that's the way we do it. Some will treat themselves to cold chicken or turkey with a touch of sand to add to the texture if they're camping on the beach. As for dessert, no Kiwi Christmas is complete without Pavlova, a dessert made of fluffy baked meringue filled with whipped cream and topped with berries. The Aussies like to lay claim to its origins, named for Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who danced in Australia a long time ago, but Kiwis are adamant that Pavlova originated in New Zealand. If you're not into Pavlova, there's always the old stodgy Christmas fruitcake pudding, a throwback from British colonial times. A sixpence coin used to be put in it for the lucky recipient to find in his/her serving.

The Kiwi Christmas Tree

New Zealand has a spectacular native Christmas tree that shows off bright red blossoms in December. The Maoris call it Pohutukawa. Legend has it that when the Pohutukawa blooms before Christmas, we're in for a long, hot summer. We don't do blizzards and snow in December - so as the saying goes, we have “no worries, mate.”

Six Flags, San Antonio, Texas

Six Flags, Fiesta Texas offers a Fright Fest this Halloween and Holiday in the park. Check web site or call for time and day. The Tony Hawk's Big Spin roller coaster with whirling cars that drop, twist, and lift is a big hit for brave riders. The Superman Krypton Coaster spirals you through the air at 70 miles an hour. There are other entertainment events at the park if you are not into extreme rides.

General admission is $46.99 for adults, $31.99 for 48 inches and under.

Sea World, San Diego, California

This is the first marine park, featuring wild life encounters, and killer whales shows as well as rides. It opens year round. Sea World offers sleepovers where you bring sleeping bags, pillows, and camp out next to the manatees, sharks, dolphins or Beluga whales. There are currently seven sleepover locations. Call or check web site for information. You can also book parties which include dinner and breakfast, and the price is $120 person.

General admission is $57 for 10 years of age and over, $47 for 3 to 9 year-old.

Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

The Olympus Water and Theme Park is open year round, since it offers both indoor and outdoor parks. There are 36 water slides, wave pool, kiddie area, 6 roller coasters, and 8 go-cart tracks. Disko offers speeding, spinning, and rotating for the thrill seekers. There are many other rides to meet all members of your family.

If you buy your tickets online, it is only $23. Unlimited admission is $27, and children under 2 years of age are free.

Hershey Park, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hershey Park offers Hershey Park in the Dark for Halloween, and Christmas Candy Lane in Hershey. This candy theme park has 10 gravity-defying coasters, and a Hershey museum.

The Hershey Park will be a big hit for your children. The Christmas Candy Lane will be opened from mid-November through December. One million lights and holiday decorations will transform Hershey Park into a winter wonderland.

General admission is $9.95 per person for operational rides and events. Take advantage of the 3-mile Hershey Sweet Lights spectacular display for $20 per car.

Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, Virginia

Busch Garden has over 50 rides, 10 main stage shows, and a magical children's area. “Curse of DarKastle” ride won the park its best theme park in the world attraction in 2005. Busch Garden also won four consecutive awards as the “Favorite Theme Park.”

From September 14 to October 28, the weekend nights turn spooky at Busch Garden Europe, which included in general admission. Haunted houses, ghouls, and rides through darkness, and chilling effects will give you a frightening atmosphere.

General admission is $54.95 for 10-year-old and up, $47.95 for children from 3 to 9, and less than 2 years of age is free.

Theme parks are not just for summer time any more. If you want to experience something different this year, these five destinations are worth to check out. Dress for the weather if you live in colder climax. It could be freezing when the sun goes down. Bring extra sweaters so you could enjoy the festivities in comfort.

Hordes of people thronged the store, so cramped that people felt they were in a prison cell. Teenagers armed with tokens that jingled as they raided the video game arcade, coin after coin was inserted into the console, their eyes carefully focusing on the screen. Mothers brought their young to the children's section at Carrefour, scouting the area for bargain buys, some of them heaving a sigh of relief after making their purchase Women both young and old thronged the cosmetics departments eager to buy cheap products. A myriad of smells some pungent, some sweet smelling, filled the air. The once empty ice-cream store outside had also not been forgotten! People were patiently queuing up for ice cream to escape the blistering heat.

The busiest spots in Suntec City were probably the toy stores. Children dragged their parents along as they rummaged through for their favorite toy. They would force their parents to buy it and when it was denied, you know what would happen? Yes, the tears.

Each hour and every minute flew by as night approached. The children were already yawning by 8 or 9 o' clock, their energy drained, and soon, few of the stores were already closed. Only Carrefour and several others were open for the “Late-Night Sale”. Close to midnight, after the countdown, many of the weary people began to leave the shopping centre. One by one, the stores became empty as the happy owners called it a day.

When I was ten my mother took us on a spontaneous road trip. We had no set destination but eventually landed at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina. For those of you who don't like to fly by the seat of your pants, planning a trip to the Biltmore is easy. Driving in is super convenient with the home sites Regional Driving Directions page. The Estate is about 15 minutes from Ashville Regional Airport which is serviced by most major airlines and car rental companies. Or you could Greyhound it, landing about four miles from the Estate.

Being there…

The Festival of Flowers is being held until May 20th. You can listen to classical music under the arbor, ask gardening questions to the masters, or enjoy wine and chocolate while your children stomp the grapes. During their summer evening concert series you can watch the sun set over the Blue Ridge Mountains while you watch Chicago perform, yes, Chicago. Fall hosts the Harvest Celebration with abundant activities and the changing of the leaves in the mountains, need I say more? It was Christmas time when I went so the Mansion stood in stark contrast to the evergreens surrounding it. Inside a choir sang in the recessed greenhouse-like entry and the smell of cinnamon filled the air from the kitchens below. These days you can experience their Candlelight Christmas Evenings, but it is best to purchase those tickets online at biltmore.com where you can find lots of other details.

Building memories…

As Americans we are the “young country” and as such are starved for true old world culture. The Biltmore embodies the opulence of antiquity fused with American modernism. Treat yourself to a unique and unforgettable experience.

See America's only true castle for yourself.