World Reviewer blog

Someone somewhere once said ‘You should try something new every day’. I don’t know who they were but mothers everywhere must love them and subscribe to their newsletter. If you’re looking for something really new to try in the next day/ week/ month/ year, you might want to have a bash at snowkiting? Apparently it’s still new enough so that you’re not going to be the only grown up learner, or so says Expert Reviewer Adam Jones. He says if you can stand up you can pretty much snowkite - the hard flat snow means no resistance and you can just let the wind push you along. Maybe you should suggest your Mum tries it with you…

A nice quick response to my pleas for fisher-reviewers: we’ve hooked a few new fishing recommendations and reeled them in already (sorry about the Grandad worthy joke.). Apparently there is more than cod to Cape Cod (that’s the limit of my fishing jokes you’ll be glad to hear…see I told you I know nothing about fishing.).

Ever on the hunt for people in the know to invite to join our team of Expert Reviewers, I have suffered the worst rejections from people who know about Fishing.  There are so many different kinds of fish and ways of fishing for them that one of the common responses I have been getting is that we need an entire site just for the Fishing category…  I don’t know a lot about fishing so when I’m asked about what kind of great spots I want to hear about I’m ill equipped to answer: “Places where there are lots of fish to catch and the surroundings are interesting and it’s a bit challenging and a bit fun…?” doesn’t seem to explain it enough for them and we seem to be on either side of a river full of fish that neither of us can cross…

So I’m very pleased to introduce our newest Fishing expert (who specialises in ocean fishing), Robert Emmerton (no point linking you to his profile - he hasn’t had a chance to put in his details yet.).  If you’re like me and you need all the help you can get regarding fishing here is his first recommendation: Bluewater fishing in Fiji

If you know anyone who you think may be able to recommend some great fishing spots - feel free to be quite general as Robert has, I know they won’t want the rest of us showing up at your favourite spot scaring away all the fish - please let me know or get them to join us reviewers.

In an attempt to include experiences from some of the world’s less travelled pockets I’ve been looking for Expert Reviewers who have explored some very remote regions: cue Swedish explorer, Mikael Strandberg.  Mikael has ridden his bike from Chile to Alaska, New Zealand to Cairo and Norway to South Africa.  In 2004, he explored the Kolyma River in North-Eastern Siberia: 3500 km’s by canoe and skis (an Expedition which is considered one of the coldest ever in the history of exploration), he spent his honeymoon riding horseback through Patagonia and in 2000, Mikael walked through Maasailand in Eastern Africa, visiting clans of the Maasai people.

If you’re interested in finding out what an explorer would recommended check out his Reviews.  If you want to find out what Mikael’s planning next (in addition to helping us uncover some great experiences of course) check out his blog: Preparing for The Next Major Expedition

It’s always nice to appear in a list of things to watch…
‘10 Best Travel Websites to Watch’, Times Online 20.02

Gardens expert, Donna Dawson will be appearing on screen changing the world one garden at a time (sounds like a good plan.) :

Recreating Eden, VisionTV’s Gemini Award-winning spiritual gardening series, is about people who have learned that the secret of finding paradise is to create it yourself.  VisionTV presents the brand new fifth season of Recreating Eden on Mondays, starting Jan. 7 at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.  Produced for VisionTV by Merit Motion Pictures of Winnipeg, Recreating Eden profiles men and women dedicated to the idea of changing the world one garden at a time.  Season five puts the focus on Canadian gardeners and their handiwork, taking the viewer on a journey across the country and to far-flung locations from Panama to Tuscany.  Recreating Eden is produced by Merit Jensen Carr. Joan Jenkinson is the Executive Producer for VisionTV.

For information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca .

A lot of people probably envy me, I get to hear about some fantastic experiences over the course of my days.  One of the places I’ve know about for a while and really wanted to see is the forest of stone in Yunnan, China.  I’ve seen so many unbelievable images of it that I’m almost worried I’d be disappointed by the real thing…  But Gardens expert, Donna Dawson says I won’t be.  She’s just been there: Yunnan Stone Forest.  I’m jealous.

Marc Mekki, one of our newest Expert recruits has suggested a way of seeing one of the world’s ‘Must See’ sights without the feeling of seeing it with the rest of the world (always a bit of a disappointment and it can seriously ruin your photos.): The Great Wall without the crowds.

If you’re living in the northern hemisphere you’re probably getting really sick of the average weather about now so I have chosen the most tempting beach photo and review from World Reviewer that I could to cheer you up.  Aren’t I nice.

If, like me, you’re against the idea of St. Valentine’s Day in principal (why should I celebrate love just because Hallmark says I should!) but your partner isn’t, here are some cheesy and romantic but original ideas to value-add to the sentiments you include in their card:

Heart Reef An unimaginatively named heart shaped section of reef making up part of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. You could say ‘My love for you is so strong it can bend nature in it’s wake.’ ?

Taj Mahal Built to commemorate the passing of an inseparable companion. You could draw a picture of the grand building you would construct for your lover if you only had the means at your disposal? This one requires you to be able to draw something more lovely than the Taj Mahal… How much time do you have…?

For film fans a choice reference to the apartment used in Roman Holiday, Tiffany’s, as in Breakfast at or the I’ll have what she’s having cafe may be enough to secure your good favour (well at least it proves you’ve been paying attention to their interests!).

And if all else fails there is always Paris . The mere mention of which can be enough to melt the most cynical (but travel loving) heart… Just write the word PARIS in a card and I’m sure you’ll be understood…

Good Luck.