We jetted from Bangkok to Addis Ababa yesterday on Ethiopian Airlines. I wasn't too impressed with the two planes we were on - they were just plain old. Both times I used the restroom the broken doors swung in on me even though it said "occupied" on the outside. The video/light control console was broken on both flights and on the second flight my seat had a scant view of the video screens. But, they just joined Star Alliance in late 2011 so more … [Read more...]
Moon Beijing & Shanghai
Moon Beijing & Shanghai by Helena Iveson Two of China's powerhouse cities are covered in this new edition from Moon Handbooks. We are on our way to Beijing soon and will be using this guidebook during our travels. Beijing is the capital city and has long been the source of attractions including Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven - more recently Beijing was in the global spotlight for the 2008 Olympics. This up-to-date book includes … [Read more...]
iSafe Fanny Pack
iSafe (Reviewed: Jan 2012) The iSafe fanny pack is always armed and ready for use. By quickly pulling down on the hidden draw strap you will immediately produce a mind numbing shrieking sound that is sure to draw attention, startle your attacker - gaining precious time to with an advantage over your attacker. iSafe is advertised as being the world's loudest personal alarm system - containing two 125 decibel sirens and a high intensity LED strobe … [Read more...]
Hana, Maui – Hawaii – January 2012
Hana is located on the Eastern side of Maui. The "Drive to Hana" is popularized on t-shirts and is often discussed among tourists. This "drive" usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours although it can certainly be done in a shorter time if there is little or no traffic. Many tourists make this drive out and back in one day and as a result the morning can see quite a bit of traffic out and in the afternoon much of this traffic returns. If you can swing … [Read more...]
Fishing Time
Every year around this time the villagers drain one of the local ponds into an adjoining rice field. This takes all night - a couple guys stay up all night with the pump. Then in the very early morning about 15 people gather at the banks for a mud infused assault on the fish. This is not clean work - they jump into the mud, sinking up to their waists and crawl around with small nets and buckets collecting all the fish. By mid morning its … [Read more...]
South Pacific Films by David Stanley
Over the past eight decades the paradise isles of the legendary South Seas have provided a backdrop for many Hollywood productions. French Polynesia has been the most popular location by far, followed by Fiji and Samoa. Both Hollywood films set in Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal Diary (1943) starring Anthony Quinn and The Thin Red Line (1999), were about the Pacific War. Easter Island features in Kevin Costner's Rapa Nui (1994) while The Other Side … [Read more...]
Changes in the Village
I've been coming to our village in Eastern Thailand every at least once a year for the past 10 years (we own property next to the village). Things change so fast here. In the last 4 years we now have land line service and a 10mb Internet connection (that's 4x as fast as we have at our place in California). Oh and we have 24/7 running water. Prior to this we had to walk 5 minutes to the local pond, turn on the pump for water and then walk back … [Read more...]
Village Updates
Our niece Puk Boong shows up promptly every afternoon around 4pm dressed in her school uniform. She is attending a private school where English is taught at a younger age than a public school. The scope of her English so far is in song - she can vaguely sing the words to a number of songs - and has perfect tone. Today, the 29th of December apparently was Christmas Day at her school. She had to wear the "Christmas" uniform and happily performed a … [Read more...]
7th Annual LA Travel & Adventure Show Packs Heat with an International Fiery Foods Challenge
New demos and competitions at the Culinary Stage announced LONG BEACH, CA - Any travel experience would be far from complete without exploring the destination's cuisine. Accordingly, the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show TM, taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center on January 14-15, will feature delicious, interactive demonstrations at the Culinary Stage. The International Fiery Foods Challenge invites guests to take their taste … [Read more...]
Bangkok Day Tripping
We are always going into Bangkok for something. This time for yellow fever vaccinations - I had mine last year for Cote d'Ivoire (good for 5 years) - this time around for Syy for our January trip to Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. Its not easy getting Yellow Fever vaccs in Bangkok - only available on the weekdays - hospitals don't offer it so we ended up going to the Red Cross Clinic at the Snake Farm. This time of year Bangkok is … [Read more...]
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