Every traveler dreams of superlatives - and I'm no exception. I've been to Death Valley National Park, the hottest place on earth, as well as Perth, Australia, the most isolated city in the world. I've also made it to Bagan, Myanmar, home to the largest concentration of religious structures in the world - and even to Nackawic, New Brunswick, site of the world's largest axe! After all, who doesn't love seeing the biggest, largest, highest, and best when they travel?

Therefore, you might be a bit surprised when I tell you that I fell in love with the SECOND best pad Thai in Bangkok - and I couldn't be happier that I did.

What exactly makes the pad Thai created by The Market Experience very nearly the finest in all of Bangkok, save but one? We'll get to that shortly! First, you need to build up to the moment, which is exactly what we did when we had the privilege of joining The Market Experience's Thai Cooking With A Twist cooking class and market tour.

As long time readers know, Ryan and I adore cooking classes and market tours. And it's not just because we're obsessed with great food! Nothing can compete with the delectable combination of culture and community, along with the chance to chat with locals, see their work- and even say hello to their cats! With Chef Kwang and company owner Simon encouraging us, we had the most immersive and delicious experience imaginable - and it was one that included the city's second-best pad Thai! Suffice it to say, there's nothing like it in all of Bangkok.

To begin, take a step into the Yodipman Flower Market with us.

Did I ever tell you about the first time Ryan and I saw a Cirque du Soleil performance? We were in the 4th row to see “KÀ” in Las Vegas and the entire experience was nothing short of spectacular from beginning to end. We were so enthralled with the performance that we easily forgot that it WAS a performance. During the middle of one particularly daring trapeze act, I was so exhilarated and terrified that I squealed aloud, convinced that the artist was going to fall!

Our fantastically great tickets were all thanks to a generous Christmas treat of gift certificates to a ticket booking office. Hey, this was a while ago - ticket offices used to be a big thing! The gift not only allowed us to boldly pick an activity we normally would have dismissed due to its higher price point - we could also enjoy it in style, with terrific seats. And it meshed perfectly with our philosophy to celebrate holidays and special occasions with gifts that create memories, not clutter.

I’ve since realized that it’s easy to say you want to give experiences, not objects. But so often people are stumped about what exactly ‘giving an experience’ means. Let’s face it - sometimes “experience” doesn’t exactly mean something that the recipient REALLY wants. Coupons for car washes and back rubs, anyone? And can anything really replicate the feeling of opening a beautifully wrapped gift, tingling with anticipation about what could be inside?
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You know what? Tinggly can. Nobody knows the art of gorgeous travel experience gifts better. Here are three reasons why I love Tinggly.

There’s a particular vibe that distinguishes Brussels, Belgium's capital, that makes it a fascinating destination for tourists around the world. Its stunning architecture and rich history can be appreciated in every street. It combines its bureaucratic and formal atmosphere as administrative centre of the EU with a more laid-back and playful attitude found in places like the Manneken Pis statue and  the Comic Strip Centre.

Brussels invites visitors to discover its multiple layers and there’s definitely something for everyone, from delicious and top-class chocolate to  world-famous comics such as Tin Tin and everything in between. At Bonzah we’ve curated a list with the top things to see and do in Brussels. Read on!

When is it good manners to snort, grunt, and guzzle your food with no regard to your company? Only when you're a wild rhinoceros and your guests are part of a walking safari! This walk on the wild side definitely stands out as one of the most unique and exciting things we've ever done.

A walking rhinoceros safari can only be experienced in Livingstone, Zambia, at Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. "Mosi-oa-Tunya" translates to "the smoke which thunders" in reference to the power of Victoria Falls. And during our visit, it wasn't just the water which was thundering. Between our beating hearts and the stomping of feet and hooves, there was a lot going on during our morning with the rhinos. 

There's nothing I love quite like a layover, the chance to discover a city and explore a destination all while you're in between flights. New York City is the perfect layover location. There are easy transportation connections to every nearby airports, there is plenty to see and do no matter the weather, and it's the kind of place that never gets old.

I've learned a bit about New York City and layovers since our first round the world trip in 2013. New York was our first stop! Once again, on this round the world trip, we were in New York first and, like last time, we had a scant 12 hours to explore. Fortunately, I knew exactly what to do. On Location Tours offers bus and walking tours that highlight television and movie scenes that were filmed in New York City. We boarded their signature TV And Movie tour several years ago and loved it. It was the perfect way to discover the city! This time, I knew I wanted to dig a bit deeper, discover some new neighbourhoods, but still enjoy all the amenities that their bus tours offer. Their Sex And The City tour was the perfect solution. I was a fan of the show AND it would take me into brand new areas of New York. Perfect!

As lead character Carrie Bradshaw might say "I couldn't help but wonder...." what I'd discover along the way. Turns out it was a lot! Here is everything I loved about On Location Tours' Sex And The City bus tour.