Perhaps you remember when you were a kid splashing through puddles of water after a heavy rain or playing in the mud. Remember how it felt? Carefree, happy, and just plain fun! Turns out that playing in the mud is good for you. You can recreate that childhood experience as an adult (sort of) in the spa town of Calistoga, California, located in the north end of California’s famous Napa Valley. The volcanic soil that provides such a perfect … [Read more...]
Reflections on Bangkok
I initially came to the "City of Angels" in 1996. It was my first big trip outside of the United States - to a country that was so different compared to the lifestyle I was used to. I was in my early 20's; everything about the city was new, exiting and unfamiliar. Mundane things I take for granted when traveling in Asia now - made a huge impression on me at the time. Writing these words while sitting under part of the Sirat Expressway near … [Read more...]
Charles Addams Family Values
John M. Edwards, a paparazzo of the paranormal, stalks the The New Yorker’s most famous and fiendish poltergeist cartoonist back to his moody hometown: Westfield, New Jersey. “Give me a place to stand on, and I will have the earth.” --ARCHIMEDES In Westfield, New Jersey, I finally found the moody manse of cartoonist Charles Addams, probably The New Yorker’s most famous and fiendish cartoonist, and also the inspiration for the TV series … [Read more...]
Finding Peace and Relaxation at The Oaks at Ojai
The sky was clear blue. It was another beautiful and warm day, like how most days are here in Southern California. The road ahead finally opened up. After about an hour of driving through congested Los Angeles traffic, it was a relief to enter the stretch of the 101 Ventura freeway where it looked like a deserted highway. Taking a road trip on a Monday when most people start their work week certainly has its advantages. I arrived at my … [Read more...]
St. John’s Tomb: Travel Tales from Turkey
Greetings from Cappadocia! We are rapidly adapting to the troglodyte lifestyle of the modern cave dweller! Cappadocia was a perfect hideaway for the early persecuted Christians because they fled here to hide away in caves and they built their churches in caves as well. It almost appears that every family had its own church, sort of like a second living room to their cave dwelling. These early churches comfortably fit only about 10 people in … [Read more...]
The Power of Experiential Travel, Speech in Seattle
When my friend invited me to make a speech to some of his investment clients at a location in downtown Seattle about some of my travel adventures I jumped at the opportunity. With the challenge of creating a speech for his "mixer" I came up with one titled, "The Power of Experiential Travel" - in summary highlighting a number of my interesting adventures from around the world and finishing with some lessons learned from all these … [Read more...]
VenturaCountyWest: Laid-Back Fun
It may be hard to believe, but not far from Los Angeles (about an hour’s drive depending on traffic) are thousands of acres of avocado and lemon groves, fields of strawberries, raspberries, celery, tomatoes, peppers and cut flowers--not to mention a palm tree farm or two. Where is this place? It’s Ventura County, in particular, the three cities of Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura known as VenturaCountyWest. Because of its agricultural roots … [Read more...]
West Sweden & Skane: Volvo’s Car plus Vacation – Day 3-4 of 14
DAY 3 Volvo Tour, pickup vehicle, drive to Lysekil Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel. A driver will pick you up in the morning and take you to Volvo's headquarters. Volvo offers a unique experience for buyers overseas interested in purchasing a new Volvo. They combine picking up your new car with a personal trip in which you get to test drive your new vehicle. Then when you are finished exploring Sweden, simply drop off your car … [Read more...]
Without An Address, You Can’t Go Home
When I lived in Las Vegas, my title at United Parcel Service was "Bad Address Clerk." Because Vegas is a town of drifters, grifters and shifters of identity, packages would continually go astray, paralleled by the wanderings of their addressees, who in a month's time in Vegas might have changed their residence—and their jobs, spouses and perhaps even their sex—two or three times. And then disappeared. So my shelves were filled with boxes large … [Read more...]
Our Family’s History with Volvo – Anticipating the Volvo Factory Tour in Gothenburg Sweden
In anticipation of our Volvo Brand Experience tour at the Volvo factory in Gothenburg Sweden today (in conjunction with their Car + Vacation offering), I thought I would reminisce a little about our family's pleasant long history with this particular automobile. As long as I can remember, my family has owned a Volvo, usually two and sometimes three. But I did not receive my first Volvo until my last year of college. My sister let me use it for … [Read more...]
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