Nana Banana

Just back from Peru

Zow. People.  Two weeks in Peru and I don't feel like I even came close to scratching the surface.  Saw parts of the Amazon, Cusco, Lima and, of course, Machu Picchu.  Missed the northern surf beaches, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca. Clearly another trip is in order. Until then, a few photos.

Don't stop Belize-in

Just back from caving and hiking in Belize. BBC Travel story to come out in a few weeks.  In the meantime, a few pics.

Fleas, Road Trips and the Kalahari Bushmen

I wrote a few pieces for Travel + Leisure's 40th Anniversary Issue. Read on to learn:

• How to kick it with the Kalahari Bushmen
• Where to find circle skirts and porcupine quills
• How to sleep with Frank Lloyd Wright

Mr. Lohan Explains It All

I chatted with modelizer, sometimes Lohan paramour and hip kid hotelier Vikram Chatwal about his favorite hangs for Travel + Leisure.  Check out the article here.

Botswana & Namibia: A Trip That Floated My Boat

 

The first time I went to Africa, I got molested by a Sri Lankan man and stranded without food or water by a malaria crazed woman.  The second time I went to Africa, they lost my luggage and I got laid off. But I keep on coming back for more.  And it's a good thing I did.  My most recent trip through southern Africa included a dreamy float down the Chobe River between Botswana and Namibia on the Zambezi Queen riverboat. You can read about it in this article for BBC Travel.

Typography and wanderlust

A treat for fans of either or both. This makes me want to hop on a plane.

 

Piss ups, fur hats and the mob

Greetings friends,

I'm gearing up for my next jag of travel assignments. I'll be spending most of the month of November working from scenic locales like:

Also, London, Kiev, St. Petersburg and Moscow.  I'm full up on London ideas, but if you know anyone that lives in or knows people in the Ukraine or Russia, I'd love to chat, get ideas and perhaps meet up. I'm not above begging for wodka-sipping partners. Drop me a line with any travel tips!

-Colleen

PS - Photo above is from Prypiat, the Ukranian town frozen in time after the Chernobyl disaster. I wrote about it for a Concierge.com story on abandoned places and urban exploration.

Photo of by Ben.

Japan=Black light dolphins jumping over rainbows

I could lie and tell you that I came to Japan for the temples, or the history, or the tonkatsu.  But lets be honest, I came to Japan for this:

Eight-floor karaoke mega-plexes...

...with black-light dolphins jumping over rainbows and waterfalls.

Silently weeping with joy.

Smooches,

Nana Banana

Man Candy Tuesday: Keep 'em where they belong...in the kitchen

We here at Man Candy Monday think it's important that a man know his place.  And that place is in the kitchen, cooking us a steak dinner.  So we knew that we'd fall in love with Argentina, land of men in leather chaps, wrastlin cattle, grilling it on a spit, and serving it with a nice strong red.

"Here's how today's gonna go little lady.  I'm gonna hop on this here filly, round us up some grub."

"I'll invite over some really, really, really ridiculously good looking friends."

 

"And get a nice slow burn over this fire."

"Oh and don't worry, I'll do the dishes."

And after dinner, I will show you the "conquering dance." (Yes, that is the name of the dance. Only in Argentina could a man in hammer pants and heels conquer a woman armed only with a scarf and his eye smolder).

What was that?  You want to see more pictures of hot dudes cooking?  Funny you should ask...

How about one that speaks softly and carries a big...rolling pin.

Resort wear 2010

Nana Banana is gearing up for several weeks of sunshine--first in San Juan, then heading further south to Argentina.  My pasty skin and difficulty finding appropriate swimwear has never made selecting beachy clothes an easy task, but it hasn't stopped me from being a sucker for resortwear.  Give me a psychedelic caftan and hubcap-sized shades or nautical stripes and sweetie espadrilles, top with messy vacation curls, and meet me at the cabana. 

I've been daydreaming outfits all week while swaddled in my Stay Puft Marshmallow sleeping bag coat, and I got even more excited today when I saw these sundrenched shots from The Sartorialist's recent trip to Rio.  Oh to be able to pull off that effortless Brazilian beach look.

What I would like to look like while traveling:

Sights I would like to see:

Yum.