Author: Heather Cassell

A woman traveler exploring Myanmar, also known as Burma. (Photo: Bagan, Myanmar © Warrengoldswain | Dreamstime)

LGBTQ Travel Officially Expands Eastward with IGLTA and PATA Agreement

Lesbian and gay travel experts are eyeing Asia as the next hot destination from Japan to Thailand and why not? Queer travelers have already been creating a path to destinations such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries in Asia.

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Daily and Transcendent: 25+ years of Photojournalistic Portraits Exhibit, November 1 – January 3, San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch, Jewett Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, Calif. (Photo: Girls That Roam)

Queer History Caught On Film In ‘Daily and Transcendent’ Exhibit

San Francisco’s queer community is getting a look at itself through the lens of two photojournalists at the “Daily and Transcendent: 25+ years of Photojournalistic Portraits Exhibit” currently on display at the San Francisco Public Library’s Jewett Gallery.
The exhibit opened November 1 and is on display free to the public in the Jewett Gallery at the San Francisco Public Library’s Main Branch until January 3.

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San Francisco MUNI's new app (Photo: www.sfgate.com)

San Francisco’s MUNI Mobile App Has Some Bumps In The Road For Visitors

Checking into San Francisco this week, I checked out the new MuniMobile app and found that it’s easy to use for the most part, but some might find it confusing and frustrating if not limiting.

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San Francisco's MUNI T-Line

San Francisco’s Public Transit System Goes High Tech

It’s about time! Technology is finally reaching the public sector: transportation, in the technology capital of the world. San Franciscans and visitors will get around the City by the Bay using their smartphones with the new MuniMobile.

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(L to R) Moksha Jetley, owner of Back ‘N’ Beyond Travels in India; Monica (Germany), Chritiana (Austria), Tina (New Zealand) on the way to Tsomorori Lake in Ladakh. (Photo: Courtesy of Back ‘N’ Beyond Travels)

See India By Motorcycle With Back ‘N’ Beyond Travels

Ever dream of cruising along the Arabian Sea from Kerala to Goa by motorcycle or riding up to the Taj Mahal? How about taking on the Himalayas roaring through the twisty mountain roads and going on some off-roading adventures?

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Sleep in charming old world luxury at Hofsas House in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. (Photo: checkinly.com)

European Charm in Carmel at Hofsas House

After more than six decades of European hospitality, the Hofsas House (San Carlos Street; 831) 624-2745; ; HofsasHouse.com) in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California continues to celebrate its commitment to travelers who enjoy charm and comfort. The Bavarian-inspired boutique hotel that is owned by the Theis family is uniquely located in the city that has been recognized as one of the most romantic cities in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine.

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Lesbians in Morocco have to choose to stay or go because coming out at home means a life of hiding or a life destroyed. Photo: (Marie von Hafften / GlobalPost)

Traveling Britons Free To Be Carefree When Vacationing Abroad

A lot of factors come into play when planning a vacation: where to go, where to stay, what to do, where to eat, how to get there, cost, weather and much more, but human rights and more specifically lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights? … That’s a low priority, according to a recent United Kingdom survey.

The rights of the residents who UK travelers encounter at the destination of their choice in question rated low, very low, like a 7% low, in a recent survey conducted by YouGov that was commissioned by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.

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International Wine Fair “Destination: Wine,” on November 7 (2 – 8 p.m.) and 8 (12 – 6 p.m.) on the departures level of Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport in Germany. The event is open free to the public at the departures hall A and B, but tastings are about $20 (15€, plus 5€ refundable deposit for the wine-tasting glass).

Frankfurt Airport Toasts To Its 2nd Annual International Wine Fair

OK. Girls That Roam has to love Frankfurt Airport. Why love an airport? They are hosting an international wine fair inside the airport. That’s right. A wine fair right in the middle of the airport.

This is the second year the German airport is hosting its wildly successful International Wine Fair, themed “Destination: Wine,” on November 7 and 8.

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The upstairs bedroom in The Bantam Roost casita at Casa Gallina in Taos, New Mexico.(Photo: Courtesy of Casa Gallina)

Casa Gallina Enchants Guests With Country Life New Mexico Style

The entire Casa Gallina is aesthetically pleasing to the eye showcasing local artists and antique pieces as well as sustainable retaining its functionality as a farm with gardens and fruit orchards along the Rio Fernando River.

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Cruising the high seas in luxury aboard Cunard Cruise Line’s the Queen Mary 2. (Photo: Courtesy of Cunard Cruise Line)

Cunard Launches First-Ever Fashion Week Cruise

Cunard Cruise Line Announces Fashion Week Cruise Across The Atlantic Along With Cruises Celebrating Big Bands and British Cuisine As A Part Of Its Sailing Calendar In 2016 by Heather Cassell Cunard Cruise Line, the British luxury cruise line, is bringing back fashion and style to cruising with its first-ever Transatlantic Fashion Week along with […]

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Dana Zzyym, right, the plaintiff in a federal discrimination lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal against the US State Department seeking more gender options for passports, responds to a question while Paul D. Castillo, staff attorney in the South Central Regional Office of Lambda Legal in Dallas, looks on during a news conference about the case Monday, October 26, 2015, in Denver, Colorado. Dana, an intersex person, was denied a US passport for refusing to check either male or female on the application form. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

US State Department Sued To Allow Third Gender Passports

Denied a passport, Dana Zzyym, an intersex activist, is suing the United States State Department.

The Fort Collins, Colorado resident, who doesn’t identify as male or female, filed a lawsuit refusing to have to be forced to identify themselves by the gender markers currently available to applicants for US passports October 26.

Monday also was International Intersex and Transgender Awareness Day.

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The Chicken Kabob at Khyber Pass Kabob Restaurant . (Photo: Super G)

Khyber Pass Dishes Up Rockin’ Afghan Cuisine

When my friend suggested Khyber Pass Kabob Restaurant (7467 Village Parkway, #9; 925-828-6000; KhyberPassKabob.com) and told me that it was a five-star restaurant on a popular review website located in a strip mall in Dublin, California I was definitely on high alert. So was Babes, who shares my feelings about restaurants and strip malls.

Babes however stayed silent and went with it in a highly unusual fashion for her. She even smiled with optimism when we stepped through the doors of Khyber Pass and were clearly in a whole other world.

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