Discover the Virtual Moroccan Cooking Class That Travellers Will Love

11/4/2022

This virtual Moroccan cooking class is perfect for travellers. It's fun, easy, and - best of all - delicious!

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

A scene from my virtual Moroccan cooking class: raw potato carrot and zucchini in a pot.

Kicking off my virtual Moroccan cooking class with potato, zucchini, and carrot.

There's nothing so lovely as a homemade meal when you're travelling and I learned firsthand just how delicious a Moroccan tagine with chicken, potato, zucchini, carrots, preserved lemon, and saffron can be when you share it with friends. But I wasn't in someone's home and I certainly wasn't in Morocco! Yet that's what it felt like when I took a virtual Moroccan cooking class with Khmisa and Kawtar, a mother-daughter team based near Rabat.

In pre-COVID times, Khmisa and Kawtar hosted in-person cooking classes. However, like so many small business owners, they've had to pivot with the times and now people from all over the world can join them in their kitchen - virtually, of course - to cook and chat with them. While I would have dearly loved to be cooking with them in person, connecting with them over Zoom was an absolute delight. I was the only person in the class and it felt like I was enjoying a wonderful time with my new girlfriends. In between instructions to marinate my chicken, prepare a delicious appetizer, and get my spices just right, we spoke about what foods are popular here in Ottawa, the challenges of lockdown, and - of course - food.

I booked this experience through Airbnb (you can see their class here) and it only cost me about $23 with the exchange rate, making this one of the best travel deals I've ever enjoyed. And I didn't even have to leave my house! Here's what it was like in my virtual Moroccan cooking class.

Death Sets With The Sun In Botswana's Chobe National Park

13/1/2020

On the banks of the Chobe River, an elephant mourning ritual shows that the cycle of life and death has never been so raw.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Elephant on a river bank examines the bones of a dead baby elephantPicture

The bones are loose and barely holding together. The meat and sinew have all but disappeared. What little is left threatens to slip away at any moment, taking what remains of the little elephant and scattering it along the river bank, letting it slip into the water, letting it melt away.

There's a sense the other elephant knows this. Though he uses his trunk to jostle and even toss what is left of the baby's remains, there's a gentle urgency to it. Wake up. Wake up now and you won't be left to fragment. Wake up and you won't be reduced to crumbs.

I am intruding. There is an intimacy here between the living and the dead that's palatable. This is a private moment. While our safari vehicle is a safe distance away - respectable, even - I feel awkward, embarrassed by our proximity, ashamed by how hungrily I suck back the scene. If asked, I would use my interest in nature as a shield. Exactly how often does one see an elephant mourning ritual? Perhaps if I cling to this I'll feel better about the moisture which goes everywhere save for my parched mouth.

The sun is starting to set. In less than an hour the park will be black. I am haunted by this jumbled-up pile of bones and by this adult who won't mosey on. I want to scream at it to move lest it spend all night next to a corpse, easy pickings for predators and ghosts alike. But its grief is a glue.

A distant passage I once read awakens in my mind, like a lazy cat indulging in a luxurious stretch after a very long nap. "Her face was like stone." It takes me more than a year to place it. It's from Bruce Northam's Globetrotter Dogma: 100 Canons For Escaping The Rat Race and Exploring The World and it reads:

"While visiting a hospital in Delhi, India, I observed a mother carrying her dead infant down a long dim hallway, out the front door of the hospital, and into her gruesomely impoverished neighborhood. Her face was like stone."

The beauty of Botswana's Chobe National Park contains an embarrassment of riches. It is a lifetime of journeys away from the grim hospital and tableau of death Northam observed decades earlier. But his words about grief won't leave me. I can hear them in the elephant's gentle grunting breath.

Her face was like stone. Her face was like stone. Her face was like stone.

What Can You Do in Victoria Falls: 15 Cozy Microadventures

23/10/2019

Eating, touring, exploring, and ... going to the Post Office? Here's what you can do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

What can you do in Victoria Falls? Hang out with this jaunty warthog, for starters!

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, is one of the world's great adventure travel destinations. Vic Falls arguably offers the most scenic and heart pounding zip-lining, bungee jumping, aerial adventures, and white water rafting in the world. For some travelers, this all takes place against a backdrop of incredible luxury - gorgeous, plush resorts, genteel and swanky cocktail bars overlooking the gorge, and elegant restaurants whose service recalls a bygone era of glamour and refinement.

I, however, experienced none of this in Victoria Falls.

I was far too terrified to take part in anything remotely adventurous and far too frugal to indulge in any luxury offerings. The truth is that Victoria Falls activities are a bit tricky for value-minded travelers like myself who are eager for cozy microadventures. There is a fair bit on offer for transcontinental backpackers eager for cheap hostels, beers, and thrills. There's also plenty for indulgent spenders to drop their money on. But when it comes to the modest-spending scaredy-cat (that would be yours truly....) figuring out what you can do in Victoria Falls can be a challenge. These 15 activities are a good place to start. The list includes both things I did personally as well as some that I haven't yet experienced but seem to fit the bill.

Searching Out Showers: Lessons from Botswana Safari Camping

5/6/2019

While in Botswana, safari camping was at the top of our travel list. But it wasn't without challenges, like how to stay clean.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

Botswana safari camping: How to keep clean

This picture of me, taken after one day of Botswana safari camping, says it all. I'm wide-eyed and smiling but you can see the worry in my eyes. You can also see plenty of sweaty hair and a cooling, wet handkerchief draped around my neck. And that was my northern Botswana and Chobe safari experience in a nutshell: awe-inspiring, monumental, a bit overwhelming, and really, REALLY sweaty.

In so many ways, I was ill-prepared for the rigors of Botswana wilderness safaris. I had done exhaustive research. I had been camping dozens of times. Heck, I had even lived in southeast Africa before. But the heat, sand, dirt, and sweat hit me like a ton of bricks. It wasn't that I was unhygienic, per se. I was just out of my element in so many ways and feeling cruddy sure didn't help.

Ryan, I suspect, was absolutely in his element. But I was at the outer limits of my comfort zone. And, trust me, life does NOT begin there, no matter what the philosophers say! This is the blog post about keeping clean on camping safaris I wish I could have read before my trip.

Adventures on Victoria Falls Bridge: Crossing the Zimbabwe Zambia Border

4/2/2019

We hiked the Victoria Falls Bridge on foot FOUR times in order to cross the Zimbabwe Zambia border. Here's everything you need to know so you can do it too.

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Victoria Falls Bridge: Crossing the Zimbabwe Zambia border

At 128 meters high, the Victoria Falls Bridge is a graceful, lacy arch, a throwback to the dreams of a Cape-to-Cairo rail link and what was once one of the most ambitious engineering feats in the world. Today, the beauty is still there, albeit faded and battered around the edges as commerce and trade push bygone nostalgia aside. Connecting Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Livingstone, Zambia, the bridge is a busy border post for commercial trade, as well as for travelers eager to explore both sides of Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, and the Batoka Gorge.

It wasn't long into our trip to southern Africa before the Victoria Falls Bridge border crossing felt like our old stomping grounds. All told, we crossed the bridge four times! We entered Zimbabwe via Victoria Falls Airport and after three days, we walked across the bridge into Zambia to spend four days in Livingstone. Crossing number one!

We then walked back to Zimbabwe (number two!) for breakfast and to meet up with our Botswanan safari guide. After a week in Botswana, we returned to Zimbabwe. We had lunch post-safari in Victoria Falls before leaving Zimbabwe and walking across the bridge (number three!) for an extra three days in Livingstone.

Finally, we crossed back to Zimbabwe a final time (number four!) for breakfast, some last minute shopping, and to catch our outbound flight. Whew!

Believe it or not, all travelers really need to explore the Victoria Falls Bridge and cross the Zimbabwe Zambia border is their passport and their own two feet. Having the right visa helps as well. For us, that was the Kaza Univisa, a relatively new option that allows unlimited crossings between Zambia and Zimbabwe (as well as day trips into Botswana via Kazungula Borders) for 30 days. We purchased the visa twice as we departed the visa zone during our extended time in Botswana. This proved to be an economical and convenient choice for us, but other options - including single entry and multiple entry visas - might be better suited to your bridge adventures.

Speaking of bridge adventures, here's all you need to know for your crossing, regardless of which country you start in.

Where To Eat In Maun, Botswana: Waxing Poetic About The Wax Apple Cafe

11/12/2018

Want to know where to eat in Maun, Botswana? The Wax Apple Cafe is the apple of my eye!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

Where to eat in Maun, Botswana: Enjoying a vanilla latte at the Wax Apple Cafe in Maun

Wondering where to eat in Main, Botswana? The look of true love between a girl and her latte is a hint!

In my early years of travel, I relied heavily on the advice and encouragement found in Lonely Planet's online "Thorn Tree", a messaging board for travelers to exchange information. Back in the olden days, each section of the forum had a clever, witty byline in its description. Case in point: For female travelers, there was a quip about covering everything from crampons to tampons. And in the section for Africa, they appealed to travelers "looking for a latte in Lesotho". This has always stood out in my memory, both in part because I so appreciated the alliteration and also because I was bemused. Who on earth would care about tracking down a latte when they were in a gorgeous African country?

Now I know, readers. NOW I KNOW.

I have become the very traveler I once eschewed, hysterically hunting for cappuccinos and vanilla lattes in the most implausible environments. And thus, when I had the chance to visit the Wax Apple Cafe in Maun, Botswana for an unexpected dose of espresso, I had a real moment of "latte in Lesotho" jubilation - albeit being just a little bit out of jurisdiction. If you're wondering where to eat in Maun, Botswana, you've got to add this spot to your list.

Walking With Rhinoceros in Zambia: A Safari to Remember

1/11/2018

Do you dream of walking on the wild side? A rhinoceros safari walk in Zambia is for you!

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

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.

15 Flights for $500: Inside Our Star Alliance Around the World Rewards Trip

18/1/2018

In 2013, we created the most incredible reward trip with Aeroplan, circling the globe with Star Alliance. And in 2018 we're doing it again!

2021 Update: Remember, rules change and Aeroplan has tweaked some of theirs since we wrote this post. So please use it as inspiration and a guide, but double check the fine print on FlyerTalk, our go-to online forum for all things Aeroplan.

Aeroplan rewards round the world flights on points. Picture

Sailing the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.

Aeroplan rewards round the world flights on points.

Hot air balloon ride in Bagan.

Landing back home in Ottawa.

Heading to New York.

In Mandalay.

In Bruges.

TurnipseedTravel debuted nearly six years ago (and does anyone else remember our very first green and grey template?). Nearly 18 months later, that debut became a fully fledged launch when Ryan and I took our readers along for the journey of a lifetime.

We cashed in all our points for what was technically a trip to Australia but instead embarked on an amazing round-the-world trip fueled entirely by Aeroplan. See, we had learned about all the reward flight loopholes needed to "hack" our travel plans and create a mini round the world trip with Star Alliance partners. With stops in Europe, Asia, North America (and, of course, Australia), we had 9 flight segments on Star Alliance flights (and visited about 15 different locations) and paid about $300 each for taxes and fees. As you can tell from our nostalgic photos, thanks to Aeroplan, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Or so we thought....

International Festival of Sousse - Tunisia

29/8/2013

There's a great arts scene waiting to be discovered in Tunisia. This is what makes the International Festival of Sousse so memorable.

Fesitval of Sousse fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net

Celebrating at the International Festival of Sousse - Tunisia. Image courtesy fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net

The last several years have been tumultuous for Tunisia and it's coverage in the press has reflected that. Tunisia was at the forefront of the Arab Spring, disposing its less-than-democratic ruler and triggering revolutions across the Middle East and North Africa.

But unlike its more tempestuous neighbours, Tunisia has made huge strides towards democracy and is no longer embroiled in the conflict it found itself in back in 2011. Once again safe to visit, Tunisia sits perched at the top of North Africa and has a lot to offer tourists. One event that’s certainly open for visitors is the International Festival of Sousse, that runs every year in July and August. Here' what you need to know about one of Tunisia's most popular festivals.

Discover the Virtual Moroccan Cooking Class That Travellers Will Love

This virtual Moroccan cooking class is perfect for travellers. It's fun, easy, and - best of all - delicious!

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

Death Sets With The Sun In Botswana's Chobe National Park

On the banks of the Chobe River, an elephant mourning ritual shows that the cycle of life and death has never been so raw.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

What Can You Do in Victoria Falls: 15 Cozy Microadventures

Eating, touring, exploring, and ... going to the Post Office? Here's what you can do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

Searching Out Showers: Lessons from Botswana Safari Camping

While in Botswana, safari camping was at the top of our travel list. But it wasn't without challenges, like how to stay clean.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

Adventures on Victoria Falls Bridge: Crossing the Zimbabwe Zambia Border

We hiked the Victoria Falls Bridge on foot FOUR times in order to cross the Zimbabwe Zambia border. Here's everything you need to know so you can do it too.

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Where To Eat In Maun, Botswana: Waxing Poetic About The Wax Apple Cafe

Want to know where to eat in Maun, Botswana? The Wax Apple Cafe is the apple of my eye!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

Walking With Rhinoceros in Zambia: A Safari to Remember

Do you dream of walking on the wild side? A rhinoceros safari walk in Zambia is for you!

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

15 Flights for $500: Inside Our Star Alliance Around the World Rewards Trip

International Festival of Sousse - Tunisia

There's a great arts scene waiting to be discovered in Tunisia. This is what makes the International Festival of Sousse so memorable.

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This virtual Moroccan cooking class is perfect for travellers. It's fun, easy, and - best of all - delicious!​This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

On the banks of the Chobe River, an elephant mourning ritual shows that the cycle of life and death has never been so raw. ​​Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Eating, touring, exploring, and ... going to the Post Office? Here's what you can do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

While in Botswana, safari camping was at the top of our travel list. But it wasn't without challenges, like how to stay clean.This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

We hiked the Victoria Falls Bridge on foot FOUR times in order to cross the Zimbabwe Zambia border. Here's everything you need to know so you can do it too. ​Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Want to know where to eat in Maun, Botswana? The Wax Apple Cafe is the apple of my eye!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

Do you dream of walking on the wild side? A rhinoceros safari walk in Zambia is for you!

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

There's a great arts scene waiting to be discovered in Tunisia. This is what makes the International Festival of Sousse so memorable.

Post Categories

Posts by Date

This virtual Moroccan cooking class is perfect for travellers. It's fun, easy, and - best of all - delicious!

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

On the banks of the Chobe River, an elephant mourning ritual shows that the cycle of life and death has never been so raw.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Eating, touring, exploring, and ... going to the Post Office? Here's what you can do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase.

While in Botswana, safari camping was at the top of our travel list. But it wasn't without challenges, like how to stay clean.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through said link we are paid a small commission.

We hiked the Victoria Falls Bridge on foot FOUR times in order to cross the Zimbabwe Zambia border. Here's everything you need to know so you can do it too.

Some links within this blog post are affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.