I read an interesting article in the Ottawa Citizen the other day, about how Nepal has set up a travel agency for gay and lesbians. It’s called The Pink Mountain Agency, and one of its founders is the only openly gay member of parliament in the country. There will be adventure sports, safaris, treks on Everest (you can even get married up there if you want – if your partner doesn’t die on the way up).

Although Nepal is considered old-school when it comes to homosexuality, they have become a lot more gay-friendly in the past few years.

Read the Ottawa Citizen article.

The menu is quite large, with everything from Surf and Turf to lasagne to quesadillas. Try the frozen cosmos, which are often on sale for something like $3. You will pay a $5 or $7 cover fee for shows (except on Tuesday and Wednesday nights), which will be added to your bill.

Lips in Florida is located at 1421 East Oak Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. For event info and menu, see their website.

Read our other post on gay and lesbian Fort Lauderdale.

The good news is that gay and lesbian bars are growing in the North Clark St. area, and neighbourhood bars like @mosphere are becoming favourite spots to grab a drink and maybe even a date.

Like most other gay and lesbian Chicago drinking holes, this place is small. There’s a small dance floor across from the one bar, and the French doors in the front open into the street (it’s great in the summer). There are the dance club staples – drink specials, DJ’s and dancers – however, @mosphere is also offering various dance lessons, theatre group performances, piano players, and even Tea Dances. They are definitely trying to go for a more upscale spot, but without the attitude and pretentiousness that seems to affect some of the gay Chicago spots.

Where to go now? You can head to Posh (405 West 51st St) – the name should really not be Posh – for some drinks and dancing. It has a friend’s-stylish-apartment feel to it, and Happy Hour is from 4-8 if you want to get your drink on for less before everyone arrives. A lot of locals and Broadway actors stop by Posh in New York, and the staff are friendly and laid back. The dance floor gets crowded on weekends.

Another favourably-reviewed haunt is Sugarland in Williamsburg (221 N. 9th St). This place has an old time saloon bar, exposed brick and low lighting, making it feel cozy and more like a neighbourhood pub than club. G Lounge in Chelsea (223 W 19th St) is also relaxed, but is way more trendy than Posh or Sugarland. There’s no cover – a definite bonus in pricey New York. Happy hour is from 4-9 on weeknights, and various nights have different things going on (DJs, electric parties) and unlike other clubs in lesbian New York, G Lounge is open and airy, not dark and divey, so if you’re thirsty for a cosmo, this is the place to get it.

Besides seeing people strolling around in outrageous leather garb, there will be 250 vendors, food, and entertainment, including DJ’s and a dance area.

San Francisco’s Folsom St Fair is in the South of Market district, on Folsom St between 7th and 12th Sts.

Mandalay Bay has got to be the best pool in Las Vegas. It was actually voted just that back in 2006 (TripAdvisor.com), and has a wave pool, lazy river you can float down on inner tubes, three swimming pools, and tons of real sand. Now with the Splash Sundays, there’s really no reason not to hang out poolside, is there?

Gay marriage is not legal in France, unlike neighbouring countries Holland, Belgium and Spain. There is an open-minded attitude towards gays and lesbians in Paris, and it is one of the most gay cities in the world. In March 2008, openly gay mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë was re-elected.

The gay district in Paris is called Le Marais. Le Marais is vibrant, fashionable, and expensive. If you live in Le Marais, you better have a great job or a generous benefactor, or you won’t be set up in stylish digs in this historic city centre.

One thing that might surprise you is the late-night culture. Parisians sit down to dinner around 9 or 10, taking a few hours to enjoy different courses, wines and plenty of conversation. If you’re accustomed to a six pm supper at home, you’ll want to grab a granola bar and wait to eat, as there’s nothing better than sitting in an open air cafe, dining and watching the glamourous people walk by.

This means that clubbing generally starts later as well. You’ll find that most clubs stay open until about 5:30 am! (Take that, BC Liquor laws). Many locals simply party all night, rather than cabbing home, and wait for the Metro to reopen the next morning.

Like lots of tourist spots, gay Paris used to be more for the boys. The lesbian community in Le Marais has really grown in the past few years, with a few more clubs and restaurants popping up that cater to lesbians.

Whether or not you want to check out a sex club while you’re in Paris depends. You might want to stay away from the older, sleazier types and hit one of the newer ones, which are more posh. With over 40 sex clubs, you’ll find one that suits your mood and comfort level, whether it’s an upscale salon, gym, or a giant stage with go go dancers.

If you want to find out more about lesbian Paris life in Le Marais, a great resource is La Maison des Femmes, 8 Cité Prost, 11e (01-43-48-24-91; Métro: Charonne, which offers info for lesbians and bisexual women. Call on a Wednesday or Friday between 4 and 7pm. Or, pick up a copy of Illico or Double-Face for event listings. There are also other lesbian publications to help you navigate gay Paris!

The Glasgay Film Festival kicks things off from Sept. 3 until Sept. 11. WIth 12 titles, SHANK opens the films – a gritty portrayal of British youth and gangs.

Also at Glasgay will be a Halloween ceilidh and the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art’s visual arts sh[OUT} exhibition. Visit the Glasgay site to find out more.

I first heard about the Maui Sunseeker Resort being a good lesbian hotel in Hawaii on a message board, then started looking into it more. Located in Kihei on the south shore of Maui, it welcomes travelers of any orientation, but does cater to gays and lesbians.

The Basics:
Pacific Ocean Views (seasonal whale watching)
17 room gay owned and operated hotel
Close to beautiful Little Beach, the Iao Valley, Hana, Lahaina and the volcano, Haleakala
Clothing optional rooftop deck
Two hot tubs
Massage therapy available

From what I read, the cons some travelers mentioned were a lack of bars, shops and attractions near the hotel, so you will need to drive if you stay here. Also, there have been a few mentions of “motor lodge” type accommodations, though there are many, more that say the facilities were amazing, so I guess it depends on the type of room you opt for. Gay and lesbian single Hawaiian travelers may be disappointed, this is definitely more of a couples place.