John M. Edwards survives a psychedelic breakdown--and hubris--on a backpacker’s hub off the coast of Thailand. . . . In Thailand, it is not necessary to have an actual full moon shining down on you in order to throw together a “Full Moon Party”—just loads and loads of magic mushrooms. The decidedly pagan, almost “Glastonberry,” Halloweeny atmosphere of the event, featuring a wild bunch of fragrant hippies—proud of their piercings, … [Read more...]
T Up: Thank God for the Oil Companies!
JOHN M. EDWARDS, part owner of a privately held oil and natural gas concern based in Houston and New Orleans, gushes on about one of nature’s most valuable resources: petroleum! You can’t get to a rainforest without any transport to get you there. Luckily most major oil companies like Chevron and Shell have absolutely no interest in damaging the primary rainforests of the Amazon and Congo, although there is always some drilling on the edges … [Read more...]
Places Every Sports Fan Must Visit
Sports fans today have dozens of ways to catch up on the action. There are dozens of satellite and cable TV channels showing live events or highlights, and some of them broadcast 24 hours non-stop. Websites can provide insights and up to the minute statistical analysis, and live streams allow several games to be watched at once. However, there are some events with an atmosphere so unique that they have to be experienced live and in person to … [Read more...]
Turkey Day in Turkiye
John M. Edwards, a Mayflower descendant, becomes a pilgrim in Turkey Originally I was going to write about haggling with friendly, but aggressive, Turkish merchants over carpets and kilims, amidst endless rounds of little glasses of thé du menthe–until I realized everyone else had already exhausted this topic. The gist: you end up getting ripped off, but you like the carpet anyway. Then I thought I’d write about the wonders of Instanbul, … [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...]
Turks and Caicos and the Atlantic Kite Challenge
Blue Haven Resort and Marina in Turks and Caicos Selected as Official Arrival Destination For the Atlantic Kite Challenge PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS - Oct. 275, 2013 – Christopher Columbus was alleged to have made first landfall in the Western world in 1492 on the shores of the Turks and Caicos Islands. While this fact has not been proven, the six riders of the Atlantic Kite Challenge will leave no doubt once they arrive at Blue Haven … [Read more...]
Waltzing through the Kaffehaus Kultura Vienna
“The [Café] Central is a place for people who have to kill time, so as not to be killed by it. . . .” --Alfred Polgar “I AM SIGMUND SPIELBERG!!!” The obviously unemployable flaneur with umlaut eyes landed at my marble-topped table without a proper invite, brusquely pushing aside a Thonet wooden chair. Brandishing a copy of Der Spiegel on a wooden rolling pin in his left hand, and reeking from an unfortunate cologne resembling turning … [Read more...]
The Luxurious MGM Grand, Las Vegas
As a guest of the MGM PR team I was in Las Vegas to cover the iHeartRadio Festival and a number of related activities. I stayed at the MGM Grand for 3 nights. MGM Grand exceeded my expectations. A waiting limousine whisked me from the airport to my room. The driver was friendly and we soon struck up a conversation; he grew up only less than 5 minutes away from my hometown. Besides the driver being personable, it was a pleasure to enjoy the … [Read more...]
Halloween Hell
“If you don’t give me your candy, I’m going to bloody your nose!” menaced the big kid who had chased me down and tackled me onto a driveway. “Here, take it, I don’t want it, I don’t want it,” I whimpered miserably, adrenaline on overtime, phlegm and tears dripping like candlewax down my Pumpkinhead face. I quickly handed over my pillowcase jampacked with Hershey’s, Sweet Tarts, Razzles, Doublemint Gum, Milk Duds, Candy Corns, icky … [Read more...]
A Weekend in Niagara
A weekend in Niagara was a great way to wrap up the summer. Bright lights, attractions abound, shows, casinos and the beautiful landscape of parks and the world famous Niagara Falls made it feel like an amusement park for adults and children alike, or like Canada's Las Vegas. A trip to Niagara affords an endless supply of things to do and see, from the thundering Niagara Falls where you can Journey Behind the Falls and ride the Maid of the … [Read more...]
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