Upon leaving the unexpectedly small Cartagena airport, I was welcomed by a huge billboard featuring a Colombian Elvis impersonator. The other passengers who had also just arrived were poppin’ into little yellow micro-machine cabs and spinning off into their own assorted narratives. I stood and watched their numbers dwindle. Soon I was one of only a few prey left for the desperate transportation peddlers. A husky, determined Colombian man … [Read more...]
A Perfect Vibe, Koh Mak, Thailand
A number of islands in Thailand or beach destinations, especially in the southern part of the country can be over tourist-ed at times and or are destinations for travelers who want to party. For many years I've been attracted to some of the islands in the north closer to the Cambodian border including one of my favorite islands in Thailand, Koh Kood. However, recently I made the trip to Koh Mak, a tiny neighboring island accessible via one of two … [Read more...]
Grand Canyon Tour for Mandarin Speakers
MaxTour offers all-inclusive vacation packages to and around the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. What makes this company stand out from the dozens of others is that all of their tour guides speak fluent Mandarin. Many tourists visiting from Mandarin speaking countries such as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, often prefer to book tours with Chinese companies. This is also often the case for Chinese-Americans who have resided in the US for several decades … [Read more...]
An Off-the-Beaten-Track Island That’ll Blow Your Socks Off
Still hunting for beaches that you don’t have to share with any other foreigner? I know, the ticket touts promise you the moon. They show you leaflets with picture-postcard islands. White sands, abandoned shores, happy customers. They cajole you into going on a tour. You discuss it with your travel partner, eager to find Eden. And eventually, your urge to go on an adventure gets the better of you – you book the trip. The next day, the … [Read more...]
Visiting Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan is the land of ancient temples - these stone spires dot the dusty landscape of what is called the Bagan Plains. We are visiting in the middle of winter, yet the temperatures are very warm during the day and pleasant at night; apparently rain has not fallen here for weeks. Coming from Inle Lake, some 6 hours away by bus we were startled by the dramatic difference in landscape. Inle Lake has plenty of water - in fact villages are built above … [Read more...]
New Zealand of My Thirst
Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand stayed in my head days after I inhaled its poetry, its wild forest, its volcanic lake in a caldera, the slow, gentle rhythm of its longest river, Waikato and its multi-cultural people. The North Island floated in my landscape that wanted to hear its voice during fall. There I was introduced into the polyglot voices of the Pasifika experience of Karlo Mila, a poet who captures the essence of … [Read more...]
A Wild Ride in West Africa
Even the driver seemed surprised! Bad sign, these guys have seen it all. In the center of the brightly painted wheel, where the hub should have attached to the axle, was a jagged gaping hole. We’d already used our spare wheel and our jack wasn’t working anyway, so we did what anyone in West Africa would do in this situation: we settled in to wait for help. The merciless sun bullied most passengers into the shade of a nearby tree. They sat … [Read more...]
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex with July Special Events
10, 9, ignition sequence start,6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, zero. All engines running. Liftoff! We have a liftoff! Thirty-two minutes past the hour. Liftoff on Apollo 11!'" --Jack King, NASA Chief of Public Information, July 16, 1969 'Liftoff! We have liftoff!' CAPE CANAVERAL – KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – The countdown is on! This July will mark 50 years since the historic Apollo 11 mission launched for its journey to the Moon from LC-39 at Kennedy … [Read more...]
Why You Should Consider Traveling On A Shuttle Bus
Are you currently prepping for an upcoming vacation? If so, you’re going to have a lot of questions to answer. If you make a wrong decision, there is a big chance that you’re going to ruin your entire trip. Many people do not put a lot of emphasis on their form of transportation. This is definitely a mistake. After all, your form of transportation could very well make or break the trip. Within this guide, you’re going to learn a great deal more … [Read more...]
Five Reasons to Visit Medellin
Lonely Planet named Colombia 2nd best country to visit in 2017. I first visited Colombia a few years ago, when I set foot into the walled city of Cartagena. I had just finished reading Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ Love in the Time of Cholera, and as I moved through the old town in Cartagena, pages of his novel came to life, setting the tone for that trip. I discovered a colorful, romantic city where Latin music and dancing greeted me … [Read more...]
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