With human activity on hold, Mother Earth has been allowed to heal and we are reaping the rewards. For the first time, many of us are basking in pristine, crystal clear  images of Natural Wonders as if we’ve never seen them before. Profound, majestic, ethereal; no words can describe their unmatched magnificence.

With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is customarily known for its tropical climate, beaches, rainforests, islands and dive spots. However there are also wide swaths of mountainous areas waiting to be explored.

Let’s look back at a tragedy which dramatically overshadows today’s current event. It is one of the most bleak and secretive tragedies in our past. It is so secretive that my thoughtful guide in Oklahoma knew nothing about it, and I had to direct him to its site. It is the worst race riot in U.S. history.

In this not-so-brave new world, adult men, regardless of economic factors, are increasingly living with their mothers until well into their 40s. Their ideal evening is sitting at home watching YouTube while they nibble away on Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Spice Milano cookies.

At a time when travel has come to a complete standstill, award-winning photographer Dennis Cox releases the perfect anecdote for cruise-starved readers – a luscious, photography-laden look at all aspects of the worldwide cruise phenomena that defined the last decades.

For decades the province of Masbate has been the cattle capital of the Philippines with its well-stocked ranches spread out over gently rolling hills. Cattle-raising here is so extensive that an annual rodeo festival in the provincial capital of Masbate City was launched beginning in 1993. But during our two visits to this province we discovered that Masbate offers so much more.

Admittedly, I’ve never heard of Lo-Wei, a unique exercise class that combines yoga, strength training and flexibility that stretched my body in ways my mind never thought possible. But it is only one of almost three dozen fitness classes at the Deerfield Health Retreat and Spa in East Stroudsburg, PA.

On May 15, 2020, the T-Boy Society of Film & Music met via Zoom for the final vote in members' favorite Architectural Wonders. This easily turned out to be our most popular poll. There were virtually no repeats in members’ top selections, with no clear winners.

There is a horrific period in America’s consciousness that is not generally covered in history books. It is a heart wrenching piece of U.S. history that is shrouded in greed, blood and injustice. It all started with the discovery of a single golden nugget.

On the other side of the English Channel back in WW 2 – 1943 to be exact – there was another imaginative and vibrant character – known as “The Desert Fox" to many, but also by his more recognized name, Field Marshal Rommel. I’ve always thought it was intriguing that Rommel was highly regarded by many of the higher echelon of the British and American military leadership.

You may not be traveling to far-away places in the immediate future, but we can bring them to you. Here’s T-Boy’s Fourth installment of Virtual Trips by our staff. We hope you’ll be able to put on your traveling shoes and experience the following distant destinations soon.

The storyline in “The Fundamentals of Caring” is not original.  Written and directed by Rob Burnett, it is based on the novel “The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving” by Jonathan Evison.  We saw a similar treatment of the subject of a severely handicapped person, whose caretaker changes his life, as well as his own, in  “The Intouchables,” a French film dealing with that theme.

The Mobo Mity Sport is a fabulous bike option for your little ones. This sturdy and innovative three-wheeled cruiser is designed for children 3-7 years old. Not only is it stylish, but it features a comfortable seat, chainless chassis, comfortable air tires and a sturdy, adjustable frame the that grows with your child.

So there I was in my white lab coat examining the 40 different vials and trying to determine which combinations to mix to get the best outcome. Admittedly, I wasn’t enacting some important scientific discovery or creating a medical breakthrough but it felt almost that significant. What if I screwed up, made ridiculous choices as to the most effective ingredients and came away with an awful smelling product?

Some stories seem too bizarre to believe but this did happen to me. It was 1999. We were working as missionaries in the Philippines. We developed a livelihood program which helped impoverished churches support their pastors in extremely depressed communities. One of the products we trained the people to make was handmade paper from banana plant fibers.

It seems everyone could use a pick me up. So whether it is by treating yourself or helping someone else brighten up their day – these items are sure to make someone smile. Perhaps treat a friend who is a first responder to a gift – a thoughtful way to help them and the economy. Here are my picks for the week.

On the morning of April 22, 2020, the T-Boy Society of Film & Music met via Zoom for the final vote in the Top Five North-American-English language novels where there is a focus or side focus on travel. Could we have been more specific?

You may not be traveling to far-away places in the immediate future, but we can bring them to you. Here’s T-Boy’s third installment of virtual trips by our staff, and we hope you’ll be able to go there and to other distant destinations soon.

Visitors can indulge their every desire in the ultimate expression of sensuality along Mexico’s West Coast, while enjoying a shimmering sun and the pulsating rhythm of Mazatlan. For those who wish to focus on one another and put the world aside Mazatlan has delightful pleasures that will keep the travel passion on edge.

If you grew up in New England in the 70s and 80s, you were exposed to an incredibly diverse music scene. Chart rockers abound, Aerosmith, J. Geils and the Cars filled the airwaves. Radio playlists were laced with alternatives like the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, Pixies, Til Tuesday and Watermelon Slim.

Fresh from catching glimpses of playful spinner dolphins navigating their way between Balicasag and Panglao Islands on an early Wednesday morning, we dropped anchor at a beach for a round of coffee and snacks. But our day was just beginning. Within an hour we were hauled off the beach in a small boat to a snorkeling spot not too far from Balicasag Island’s white sand shores.

On the morning of April 3, 2020, the T-Boy Society of Film & Music met for the final vote in the top 20 Songs of the Road of all-time. Due to the coronavirus mandated quarantine, the 15-member group transmitted their lists via zoom. The theme of Songs of the Road turned out to be both popular and all-inclusive for members. For some it meant fantasizing about taking the same Road Trip in the song or a remembrance of one of their own.

We may be stuck at home, but our minds and memories can take us anywhere in the world. So I would like to take this opportunity and look back at a memorable getaway from a couple years ago. It was a cruise through the Caribbean and an encounter with some of the most beautiful islands in the world.