【推荐2】If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend (November 9-11), there’s plenty of action happening around the Tampa Bay area.

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

When: November 9-12

Where: Siesta Beach

Cost: $10 per day

Info: The Siesta Key Crystal Classic kicks off this weekend at one of America’s best beaches! For four days, the international sand sculpting festival will feature artists creating life-size masterpieces out of Siesta’s sugar-fine sand. There will be plenty of food vendors, drink specials and live music. You can also learn how to create your own sand sculpture! The festival costs $10/day and it runs November 9-12. Come soak up the sunset as Siesta Beach transforms into an outdoor art gallery!

Tampa Greek Festival

When: November 9-11

Where: St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church at 2418 West Swann Avenue, Tampa

Cost: $2 General Admission

Info: OPA! Whether it’s freshly-prepared Mediterranean style food and pastries, an evening of live music and beautiful dance, or a unique shopping experience, the Tampa Greek Festival gives everyone the chance to enjoy life like a Greek.

Sponge Docks Seafood Festival

When: November 9-11

Where: Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard, Tarpon Springs

Cost: Free

Info: This 3-day outdoor festival will feature tons of fresh local seafood to tempt your taste buds, an art & craft show with up to 60 local and regional artists selling their work, continuous live music, unique retail shops and complimentary festivities for the whole family. New this year, specifically selected artisans, craftsmen and other vendors will show and sell nautical and food-related art, crafts, fishing apparel, kitchen and cooking items, samples and much more.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Redskins

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Raymond James Stadium at 4201 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

Cost: $50

Info: Get ready for some Sunday football! The Bucs are taking on the Washington Redskins at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

【推荐2】Plan your 2020 vacation. The following four places are your fantastic destinations. You can enjoy a completely different experience.

Costa Rica and the Caribbean often enjoy much more popularity than Panama, but visitors should consider the centre American country if they want a “less­crowded paradise”. The travel site states, “Here, horses are still the primary means of transportation and local fishermen serve fresh seafood and fruit from their home kitchens for roughly $ 6 a plate.”

If you’re looking for a once­in­a­lifetime experience, National Geographic Travel says visitors should head to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter with thousands of pilgrims (朝圣者). If the crowds get too huge, visitors are told to take a boat ride to King Herod’s 2, 000­year­old Masada fortress(要塞) or set off on a peaceful morning boat ride across the sea of Galilee.

If you’re a fan of winter activities, but are in need of some sun, then perhaps a trip to Svalbard is a good choice. National Geographic Travel notes, “The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is located about 620 miles south of the North Pole.In late spring, the sun never falls below the horizon—meaning you can take in all the Vitamin D you desire.” Popular activities in the area include hiking and wildlife spotting.

During spring, Namibia is regarded as the perfect destination with reduced travel costs on cooler evenings. In late May, National Geographic Travel says that the watering holes start to dry up again, which attracts giraffes and black rhino from their hiding spots. If you’re fond of adventurous exploration, head to the Namibia Desert for a spot of sand boarding.

【推荐3】Hong Kong isn’t the first place you’d expect to find a peaceful island. But in a quiet corner of Sai Kung district (西贡区), a tiny green island offers a rare glimpse into the past.

Nicknamed “Ghost Island,” Yim Tin Tsai (盐田仔) was once home to a flourishing Hakka (客家) community. They settled on the empty island and built salt pans (盐田) to earn a living. When the salt pans were shut down more than 100 years ago, most residents turned to farming and fishing.

In the 1960s, more and more families moved to other places. The last of the villagers on the island had moved abroad by the 1990s, and, in the following years, Yim Tin Tsai lay empty.

If travelers had visited Yim Tin Tsai a decade ago, they would have found nothing but overgrown weeds (野草) and crumbling houses. That’s exactly what villager Colin Chan saw when he returned to the island after 40 years. But, for him, the island represented something special — a unique side of Hong Kong’s history and culture that shouldn’t be forgotten.

“I came back here hoping to recover something I felt I had lost,” Colin said. “I found the island was in ruins and I was very sad. This is the place I grew up. This is my father’s home and his father’s home.”

In 1999, Colin was elected as village representative and began what would become a lifelong mission: to make the island come alive. Together with about 10 former villagers, Colin raised money to build a visitor center for travelers. In 2004, a charitable foundation donated funds to renovate the island’s historical chapel (小教堂). In 2005, UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation honored the chapel with an award of merit (优异奖).

Motivated by this, the villagers organized a regular ferry schedule to enable travelers to reach the island, and set out to showcase the village’s unique history. They built a heritage trail, repaired Hakka ancestral homes, created a museum, and even started an organic farm that sits at the foot of the church.