This is one of those destinations where you can either go full force with your explorations of the area and outdoor activities, or you can just claim the slowest of slow speeds of daily life. Whether you are dipping your toe in one of the many gorgeous lakes, canoing along the shoreline while bird watching, or just lying on a blanket under the tremendous stars nature is their to be experienced.

If you are one who is primarily motivated by the words National Park, then you are in luck. Go east to immerse yourself in the Algonquin provincial Park, or west for the islands of the Georgian Bay Islands National Park. Oh, and if you are wondering how complex it is to get to this wonderland, it is just a two hour drive from the major city of Toronto.

Also, you will by no means have to forgo the nativity scene. In Spain they are called nacimientos, and these depictions of Christ’s birth are well revered, and a long held tradition.  In fact, you can go to the Real Monasterio de la Encarnacion to see a one that includes figures that date back to more than two hundred years ago. If you do make it to see these, you will be fortunate indeed, as they are only taken out once a year, and are real treasures.

As for the sweets, you may not recognise all of them, but you will have no trouble finding many that you like. Some will be only available at Christmas time, so snap them up and don’t worry about the calories, as you may never have the chance to enjoy them again.

With descriptions like, “See giant tortoises roam far off highlands, and prehistoric marine iguanas bask in the sun on shorelines speckled with black lava rocks. Observe cormorants and small penguins missile through the waters as nimble red-billed tropicbirds squawk up above. Who wouldn’t want to get there as fast as they can.

Personally, I am most looking forward to snorkelling with the sea lions, they are simply marvellous creatures. But, I also expect that it is the unexpected encounters that will be the highlights of the discovery trip. Let the countdown till take off begin.

Tibet has had many tumultuous periods, and for that you might not put it on your list of places to explore. It may seem that it could not be a place that has grand scale accommodations or much in the way of luxurious spas, but that will soon be proven a fallacy.

The Sacred city will soon be the home of a stunning St. Regis Resort that you would say was superbly designed, and perfectly situated upon arrival. Its design will be in the traditional Tibetan style, but accompanied by all the modern amenities you would expect from such a high end hotel. So, expect heated floors in the bathrooms, and you can even rely upon a personal butler to ease you into the good life.

Also, do not worry about the food either, Western cuisine will titillate your tastebuds. And there will be several little touches throughout the resort that you will encounter through out your stay which will remind you that you have come to a resort in a spiritual space like no other.

So, if you are unable to just hop a flight on over, then rest assured that LA will still hold the title for the world’s Electronic Kingdom next year too. In fact, it can be expected to grow, and strengthen in the next few years with more events and a bigger following.

If you enjoy exploration, then you will definitely have an admiration for the modern day explorers of our time. Of them, my personal favourite is the motivational speaker, author, television host, oh and I should probably include the title holder of the youngest Brit to climb Mount Everest, Bear Grylls. Many of his adventures have been televised, and while that can be very exciting to watch the best news is that now you can do more than just watch him push himself to the limits.

Wait for it, wait for it. He has announced that in August of this year he will be leading an expedition to the Northwest Passage in a rigid inflatable boat. It will be a long gruelling journey, he does not need to point that out, for he would not bother with something mundane and convenient. That is not what this former member of the UK Special Forces is all about.

What does this mean for the likes of we mere mortals who aspire to test our own fortitude, a lot. There is at least one company that is recreating this journey over the course of twelve days. Well, that is in a much larger boat and probably with many more safety precautions in place. But if you have been dreaming of living life like a true explorer, this is your chance.

Eventually, he began to contemplate making Bangkok his home, and setting up a business in the area. So, upon his discharge from the service he made the move to Thailand, a country he could see would become a destination for travellers after peace had been restored and air transportation pushed forward.

Ultimately he built a silk empire, and entertained everyone who was anyone travelling through Bangkok. However, he went missing while on a holiday and no trace was ever seen of or heard from him again. The house that he created, along with an extensive art collection is open to the public. It is a concealed oasis in the heart of Bangkok that takes visitors back to another time and place.