Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures

Bay area Indian restaurant offers ambiance, art, films, family history, great fresh food Artful touches abound in Juhu Beach Club in...

UNIQUE AUSTRALIAN ARTWORK JAZZES UP MELBOURNE'S HIDDEN VENUES The variety and caliber of Melbourne's graffiti varies greatly, but the center portrait especially caught our eye. Bruce Keller poses with an enchanting mural painted on a Melbourne, Australia, alley wall.  Above right, Cookie listens while a guide shares fascinating tidbits about her city.  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER WE ALL  know the sadness and frustration of seeing a beautiful wall, bridge

Expressive hands of a Maori elder welcome visitors and enhance a story in a village on a Waimaramamaori.com tour. Our guide, Denise, ponders a question in a pensive and reflective moment before a musical show. TRAVELERS LEARN OF ANCIENT CULTURE, ENJOY MUSIC, GAMES, TATTOOS, ART, TALES STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER  THE MAORI  people are a proud and noble race, descending from warriors, farmers, healers, astronomers and explorers.   The people go back as f

We stopped for a spot of ale, after touring Hobbit homes. Where else, but at The Green Dragon? A trek through Hobbiton in New Zealand's...

The bridge climbing group wends its way carefully above the waters of Sydney, Australia's, world famous harbor. RECOVERING COWARD TICKS A BIG ONE OFF HER LARGE BUCKET LIST WITH TWO BRIDGE CLIMBS At the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Keller and Cookie celebrate with a wave and a victory cheer. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I MUST HAVE  been dream walking the morning I went on line to book two tickets to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  I sent a text to t

Project Hope in Columbus, Montana, offers hope for the new year and beyond to anyone in need in Stillwater County.  Here, the Project's next-door sister  shop, Laughing Ladies, aids the effort through antiques and vintage clothing. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I'VE ALWAYS  been proud of the warm-hearted spirit of small towns. Project Hope in Columbus, Montana, is proof that good deeds and generosity can change lives. The non-profit organization provides

MINSTREL, TEACHER PLAYS ENGAGING RANGE OF STYLES, PERIODS Greatly gifted Josiah Diallo plays and teaches in the San Diego area. STORY By...

You're sure to find a wilderness preserve or wildlife and bird refuge near you. Check it out for a relaxing, cheap diversion.   STORY By...

Glacier Park's beauty reflects millions of years of change in ancient rock formations.  Here, summer meets winter!  Snow has already come...

BACK ON TERRA FIRMA IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE! Sydney's famous Harbour Bridge as seen from our veranda earlier this morning.  What a...

Julian's famous Julian Cafe and Bakery has delicious pies and ice cream flavors.  Here, Cookie shares with Nick & Nora. TRY JULIAN,...

Famed Kiwi director Lord Peter Jackson created Hobbiton, on which his award winning films were made. A Maori tattoo was given to Cookie...

QEII lecturer Josh Logan gave tips A poster for "Annie Get Your Gun'' inspired the creation of Lilian in "Lilian's Last Dance." on making a character come alive Click here ==> Lilian's Last Dance STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS CROSSING  the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II, in the summer of 1986, famed Broadway producer and director Josh Logan was one of the guest lecturers. He was one of my idols, for I'd grown up with the music of "Annie Get Your Gun," and "South Pacific," bo

THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL posting is one of several recently published newspaper articles.  It ran in the hometown paper of novelist Christene Meyers, a Montana native launching an international book tour in Australia and New Zealand.  Meyers grew up in Montana, where the novel is partly set. It is garnering praise on Amazon as an eBook. "LILIAN'S LAST DANCE" features a love triangle, and a troupe of actors in New York, Europe and Los Angeles during the transition from silent mov

San Diego Rep scores again with comic, provocative work about racism CLICK HERE ==>>to buy Lilian's Last Dance STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS...

NOVEL TELLS STORY OF EARLY AMERICAN FILM, STAGE STRUCK PERFORMERS, LOVE, REVENGE, WITH WORLD TRAVEL AND MORE -- Montana outlaws, California connections, Paris, London, actors, painters, bank robbers   Lively characters from France, England, Hawaii, Australia and the U.S. are featured in "Lilian's Last Dance," on its way to eBooks Wednesday! Editor's Note, 2025: The novel is available by contacting the author directly at: whereiscookienow@gmail.com STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS P

IF YOU HAVE ONLY A BRIEF TIME, MAKE EVERY ROMAN MINUTE COUNT BY HIRING A TOUR GUIDE Rome's Trevi Fountain has been drained and fenced...

Falling into disrepair, there is still beauty in the abandoned Castle buildings. Buildings were beautifully built, apparently intended to...

NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE OPENS BRILLIANT TWO-PERSON PRODUCTION STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER  (and courtesy North...

The Barrister Bed and Breakfast in Helena offers a warm, history filled stay in a stately mansion near the cathedral. BROTHER AND SISTER...