After doing all the more touristy things in San Antonio, which really impressed me, I mean, San Antonio really has done a fantastic job with making this a great place to visit and to live. I wanted to see if there were some non-touristy things to do. I did a bit of research on the Internet in my hotel room, thanks to the free wi-fi offered by the best luxury hotels. San Antonio , I’ve found has this great fresh farmers market called Pearl Farmers Market , located at 200 E. Grayson Street, next door to Pearl Brewery right behind Full Goods. Pearl is only open on Saturdays from 9am to 1 pm regardless of weather.

When Saturday finally rolled around, I made sure I got to Pearls right at 9am. This was such a sweet treat for me, knowing I was doing something the locals do, and not something for the tourists. After a few inquiry’s with some of the vendors, I found out that Pearl was named after its backyard location, the city’s iconic Pearl Brewery . The market is outdoors and has a real inviting atmosphere. I felt like I was transported in time, where all your shopping was done by going into town on every Saturday to buy fresh produce and supplies for the week, then pack it all up in the wagon and head back to the homestead. Well, maybe not that far back, but you get what I mean.

It was great to actually meet and talk with all the farmers, they’re right there waiting for you to buy what they picked fresh that morning, and they’re only too happy to tell you how to cook it or bake it and what other produce would go well with other produce, or they’ll tell you to go a couple of stalls down to pick up some hand-made preserves or seasonings that will enhance their produce. There was all kinds of staples like fruits, vegetables, eggs, artisan cheeses, spices, even humanely raised beef sold frozen on site. There was freshly baked artisan breads and hand-made soaps.

I wish I could’ve bought the fresh produce, it looked so much better than what I’d find in the grocery stores. But, I did end up with some home-made jam, soap, dry rubs, and a beautifully done ceramic colander. I think from now on, where ever I travel, I’ll check out the local farmers market first, because they really have a way of making you feel right at home.

There are many myths about Singapore. It is rumored that you can be fined for more things there than in any other place in the world. While this may or may not be true, you can be true; you cannot be fined for chewing gum, at least not today. In 1992 Singapore banned chewing gum. This is not a myth . The manufacturing and distribution of distributing gum was banned. Importing and exporting the product was also banned. The government cited that it was a product used to deface the city streets and buildings. In 2004 the government decided to lift the ban. Even though the ban was lifted, it was not sold in general stores. Persons wishing to purchase gum in Singapore had to show their I.D. and register their names with the pharmacist who then sold it to them. Failure to properly register someone carried a sentence of up to 2 years in prison for the pharmacist.

Another myth is regarding Indian food in Singapore. It is believed by some that all Indian dishes are spicy. This is not true. A large number of Indian dishes have no heat at all. Many Indian restaurants in Singapore will ask the degree of heat you prefer your dish to have, mild, spicy or extra spicy. Some even use a number system, one being very mild and three being super spicy. Those dishes that do contain spice are traditionally countered with coconut or another sweet ingredient. Saffron is another spice that is commonly found in Indian cuisine, and does not bring any heat at all.

It is true that you can be fined for many things, like urinating in elevators and carrying combustible products on the subway, but aren’t these things common sense? Since the lifted ban on chewing gum, there do not seem to be any extraordinary fines that are in place for things that people would commonly want to do.

Amarillo, Texas is a place with an awful lot of character, inducing a constant supply of pride among the locals, and a sense of quiet pleasure for visitors. It’s too big to be a small town, and still doesn’t quite seem like a city, but it’s in-betweenness gives it a charm that is pure Texas. It’s still the wild west out here, or wild enough that there are traces of a ranching past that don’t seem exotic enough to place them in a museum. There’s an old-fashioned sensibility, one that couples tradition with common sense, but there’s no careless disregard for innovation either.

When new inventions come along that are useful to the people, Amarillo is happy to adopt them. But common sense will still take precedence over anything new and shiny that might happen along. This is exemplified in one of its most famous residents. A few years back, Oprah made a comment about cattle ranchers and mad cow disease, and although the link was already in the public’s minds, there being a very common thread here and that thread is the bovine creature, it was deemed damaging to the beef industry. They were suffering a horrible time of it, of that there can be no doubt, but that didn’t come from any great revelation from the great talk show host.

However, it was necessary to get some kind of legal help, and she even relocated here for a year. Maybe some folks remember, and maybe some folks have forgotten, but she hired a lawyer to help in a fair jury selection, such was the gravity of the situation, which was being misread in a hundred directions, and that laywer’s name was Phil McGraw . His own brand of horse sense appealed to Oprah, who always had a good eye for these things, and it turned out to be an extraordinary bout of foresight on her part, because this was none other than Amarillo’s own Dr. Phil. An event that would surely attract visitors to the fine hotels Amarillo has to offer. That’s good sense.

The fog had begun to set in. It was a warm night, it always was here. With bare feet and vibrant cover up, she strolled down to the sand. She liked coming here on nights like this. A full moon lit up the sky and the stars seemed to be smiling down on her. Everything around her seemed so peaceful. The honolulu luxury hotels were strung along the coastline soaking up the islands peace and tranquility. Everyone came here to experience the warmth of the island.

This island had been the only home she had ever known, and now she would have to leave. The peace of the island that she had counted on all her life was now going to be a distant memory. She knew there was no other place like it on earth. She had never ventured out too see, she didn’t need to, she knew. In her heart of hearts she knew that her soul belonged to this island now and forever.

In her early years she would take trips to the zoo and hike the trails behind beautiful waterfalls. She would play in the lagoons and float on her back for hours until her body was wrinkled and pruned and could absorb no more sun. She loved this island and all its history and secrets. The snorkeling and scuba diving trips she would take all by herself. She was a special breed of person who liked to do things on her own. This island had always been her best friend.

She had never needed anyone else, until now. After the first night she spent in his arms, she knew she could never leave. The first two years had been the best years in her entire life. They frolicked together on the sand, day and night, never tiring of each others company. They made plans to open up a little bed and breakfast on the south shore and raise their family there.

Standing under the moonlight, watching the silver dance in the folds of the waves, she let out a deep breath. She dropped her watermelon and watched it bob up and down out to sea. This was her offering to the mother that had always watched over her. This was her saying goodbye.

Philly? The city known for the Liberty Bell, Cheese-steaks and the Philly is also a great place for outdoor drinking! This past New Year’s celebration, I went to experience one of Philly’s most popular outdoor events, the Mummers Day Paraded . It happens every January 1st, the people of Philly put on a great show for all the city to see!

Any other day of the year, I would’ve gotten kicked out and ridiculed for wearing gold shoes and a sequined outfit, but not during Mummers! All the people parade around in colorful costumes, there’s all kinds of crazy floats and ensemble brass bands. Some of the people will run around screaming, which is okay by me! Hundreds of thousands of people crowded in downtown Philly all along Broad Street to watch this crazy parade and the trucks that rolled up behind each and every Mummer group was filled with Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer cans, which they gladly give to anyone along the parade route. I can’t tell you how many PBR empty beer cans that were strewn along Broad Street.

I hopped into a bar afterwards, and ordered a South Philly Special (a shot of whiskey and a PBR). The bar was in one of the better known Philly hotels , where I thought there would be some semblance of sanity, but apparently, the entire city really gets into celebrating Mummers. This definitely wasn’t a bad way to end the day. While I was at the bar, I over-heard this years Mummers Parade might not have happened due to all the budget cut and the slumping economy, but thanks to the Mayor, Mike Nutter, he knew if Philly didn’t have an outdoor drinking event to kick off the New Year, he’s pretty sure he would’ve had a lot more to deal with than just the cities budget: an angry mob!

So, if you’re looking for a good reason to crack open a brew mid-day on the street, just head on over to Philadelphia. They’ll have a cold one waiting for you.