Deepak and Jate at the temple with begging bowls. Photo courtesy of Deepak

By Deepak Chopra

This lifetime of ours is transient as autumn clouds.
To watch the birth and death of beings
Is like looking at the movements of a dance.
A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky.
Rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.
— Buddha

By Eric Vengroff
Even the ancient Egyptians knew you had to make hay while the sun shines. Since recorded time, as a species we have noted and catalogued our dependency, and ultimate lack of control over the weather. Motorcycling and golf are generally two activities that, given the choice, are more enjoyable in sunny weather, but if given no choice, you can tough it out. Judging by the warm weather pattern the northeast continent has been in, the odds are very good, or so I’ve been told by those ostensibly in the know, that I’ll be drier than average if I take another bike trip this summer.

Follow in the footsteps of explorer Shackleford, and cruise Antarctica, while doing some good for Mother Earth. Adventure travel specialists Intrepid Travel is setting sail starting this November to discover the real South Pole. The trip features four different itineraries, from 10 to 19 days, to choose from, plus exclusive passage on the Canadian-built Polar Star, a small, expedition icebreaker ship, purpose-built for polar travel.

By Bonnie Baker Cowan

When I took my grandson Jack to Disney World when he was four years old, I secured my place in his heart forever. His parents took him again when he was older, but I was lucky enough to take him the first time and I don’t recall his feet touching the ground the entire time. That special place in his heart was further solidified a few years later, when on a family trip to Italy, Jack was allowed to sit with me in business class while the rest of the family sat in regular passenger seats.

Chi, the word for energy in Chinese, is also a brand of spas found in many of the Shangri-La hotel’s outposts around the world, including the lush Rasa Sayang Resort on the island of Penang in Malaysia, and right here at home in Vancouver. Like most spas, the energy here is of the positive, relaxed and serene variety, but at the Rasa Sayang, privacy is also top of mind.

…especially if you’re 66 years of age or older. The reason? The folks at Tourism Ireland are helping travelers discover the country by train for free. They’re offering the Golden Trekker Pass for unlimited travel throughout the Republic of Ireland this summer.