Author Charles Kosman

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Charles Kosman
Charles, along with wife Micki, is the co-founder of this blog. He's the resident tech expert, and loves to write articles that help people travel more and better. You can find his writing here, and on Medium and Canadian Affair Travel, among others.Born and raised on the prairies in central Canada, Charles has been in IT for well over a decade. Besides for his love of tech and his family, he loves to travel and feels the pull of the ocean at all hours of the day.Whether he's sailing, playing in the surf, kayaking, or snorkeling, there's nowhere he'd rather be. Throw in a hammock, a cold beer and a laptop with WiFi and he might just decide to call the place home.
The best iPad Drawing Apps for Kids

Five Best iPad Drawing Apps for Kids

Charles Kosman
Family
19
Most kids love to draw and paint. While nothing beats the feeling of being elbow deep in finger paint, the digital equivalent is sometimes just easier. This is especially true when we travel, since a tablet or smart phone is faster to set up, quicker to clean and the kids usually enjoy it just as much as the real thing.Our daughter (who's turning four soon) loves to draw and paint, so we've reviewed her five favorite drawing or painting apps for the iPad. We've used each app and all five are currently on our tablet. Some of the apps are also available on the iPhone and iPod, but these reviews are strictly for the iPad versions. She uses and loves all of these apps (and so do we!).
Snorkelling at Hanauma Bay, Hawaii

Snorkeling and the Beach at Hanauma Bay in Oahu

Charles Kosman
Hawaii
4

A few months back, we had the pleasure of spending time in the Hawaiian Islands with some friends. It was a hectic and fun vacation that ended much sooner than we would have liked. The day after our epic road trip around the island of Oahu, we finally got the chance to don our masks and snorkels and check out Oahu's premiere snorkelling destination, gorgeous Hanauma Bay. With the wind in our hair and the sun overhead, we buckled the kids in tight and drove our convertible Jeep the short trip from busy Waikiki to the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.

At the suggestion of our hotel's tour desk, we arrived at the park around 8:30 a.m. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve only...

Cottage Life with The Barefoot Nomad

Canadian Cottage Life – A Simple Vacation or Something More?

Charles Kosman
Canada
6

To say summer in Canada is a big thing is definitely an understatement. After months and months of cold weather, the average Canadian emerges in late Spring with a vigor unlike anything they've felt in the past eight months. There's a strange electricity in the air as everyone gets ready for a few great months of weather before the inevitable cold returns. As such, the majority of us tend to cram as many fair weather activities into our summers as humanly possible.

With that in mind we head to the prairies and cottage lake country where I find not only a healthy dose of back to nature enjoyment but also a reminder of the way I spent my youth...

Tech We Like To Travel With

Tech We Love To Travel With

Charles Kosman
Tech
15
In this day and age, anyone that travels seems to be defined by what they bring (or don't bring) on their travels. As a result, this digital age has brought another term to the backpack scene: flashpacker. Flashpacking is simply backpacking with more technological toys. It also usually refers to travellers with a few extra dollars to spend while on the road. The term affluent is sometimes associated with it as well however in this day and age almost everyone has a few tech toys with them. As such I suppose you can call us flashpackers but in truth, I like to refer to us simply as travellers or even nomads since we tend to follow the seasons. Our little ones tell everyone we're Barefoot Nomads and to be honest, it puts a smile on my face every time they say it.When we first started seriously travelling back in '02 one of the first places we stopped was Singapore. At the time Singapore was said to be miles ahead of the West in terms in technology. It usually took a few months for products to show up in Canada and the US that were already collecting dust on the shelves in this Asian country. As such, we had decided to pick up both a digital camera and a new laptop while we were there. Though we were far from pioneers at the time, a traveller with a decent laptop was still a rare sight.These days, finding a serious traveller without a laptop is a rarity and digital cameras are cheap and plentiful. Some of the equipment the typical backpacker takes and uses could probably...
Fountains in front of the Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Travel Photo: Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Charles Kosman
Asia
7

In the heart of Malaysia lies a metropolitan city redefining traditions and expectations. With its modern façade and quick way of life, Kuala Lumpur is a jewel of a city and one of the busiest and most metropolitan in all of South East Asia. With its close proximity to Singapore and world class airport, the city is thriving and its technological infrastructure is one of Asia's most prized assets.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and is the most developed city in the country. With over 1.6 million residents it's also a decent size.

The city is rife with energy and richness. Both in its food, culture and in its people. It also boasts gorgeous year round temperatures due to...

White Sand Beaches in Punta Cana Dominican Republic

Travel Photo: White Sand Beaches in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Charles Kosman
Caribbean
5

Sparkling, crystal clear ocean waves, long, powdery white sandy beaches and gentle tropical trade winds to cool off in the afternoon sun define Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. This Caribbean Sea community is comprised mostly of all inclusive hotels and tourists lazing the day away on their long anticipated vacations.

Who can blame them when the weather, the water and the relaxing lifestyle all converge to give them a trip they'll always remember. From it's dozens of freshly manicured world class golf courses to it's string of spas and boutique shops that Sulis Minerva herself would envy, Punta Cana has everything that a modern paradise seeking tourist could...

Statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba

Travel Photo: Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba

Charles Kosman
Caribbean
4

The capital city of Havana in the Republic of Cuba is known for its history, monuments, architecture and its culture. Founded in the 16th century and claimed by the Spanish, the city was the perfect foothold for Spain's colonisation of the island. It was also a major stopping point for the famous treasure filled Spanish Galleons that sailed the waters in that time.

La Habana, as it is called in Spanish, is typically divided into three areas. Vedado, Old Havana and the suburban districts.

Old Havana is where the architecture and the history truly come alive. It's columned buildings, grass filled courtyards and stylized gateways done in neoclassic and baroque architecture add to it's many sights. It's a place where pirates once dreamed of gold filled plunders and daring escapes. Where Hemingway spent long days drinking cool mojito's at the historical El Floridita bar. Where unhappy politicians plotted to...

Bakery Cafe - Montezuma, Costa Rica

Montezuma – Artisan Paradise or Failed Hippie Rejuvenation Project?

Charles Kosman
Central America
17

Of all the places on the southern tip of the Nicoyan Peninsula, we had heard the most about Montezuma. Of all the people we had talked to, there was never a negative word said about it. We really hadn't done a lot of homework on the place but we knew it had a few hotels and restaurants and had pre-decided that if we spent the night, it would probably be in Montezuma. Neither one of us knew what to expect as we drove down the steep road leading into town and to be honest, we still have mixed feelings about the place. It is at once greater and lesser than we expected.

It is greater in that it is quite a cute little offbeat town tucked on the sides of a mountain with gorgeous beaches running along both sides of it. There are a dozen little restaurants and shops hidden along its curving streets and lanes. There is a nice park and play center right smack in the middle of it all. The people in town seem friendly enough and the prices, though not amazing, seem on par for that area of the world. There is a definite "earthy" feel to the town with yoga classes, all natural foods and organic fare available at a bunch of places. We even had decent healthy food at The Bakery Cafe while watching a pair of monkeys descend from the treetops to entertain us while we ate a late lunch.

That all being said, there seems to be an hidden undercurrent to the town. Both ends of the beach have...