This was Richard's Keynote to The European Travel Commission, presented on May 9, 2013. This also took first place in our 2013 travel writing competition. I once ran with the bulls of Pamplona....by mistake, involuntarily. I was at Microsoft, where we were developing a new travel product that would become Expedia, and we had the idea to use a new web technology called Live Chat to convey from the field the adventure of travel. I had the idea … [Read more...]
Budget-Friendly Excursions in Florida
Florida is an iconic state. When someone says Florida, they imagine sprawling Disney theme parks, bright sun and beaches that attract beautiful, chiseled people. One might also imagine a Florida holiday costing a fortune, but if you plan ahead you can have the trip of your dreams without emptying your bank account, from cheap Florida flights to lazy days on the beach. Try to avoid planning your trip at a time that will coincide with … [Read more...]
A Capital of Diversity
Berlin is a city with an interesting history and certainly one with a lot of stories to tell. After the erection of the Iron Curtain, and during of the Cold War, Berlin was the center of attention during and after the World Wars, (obviously it wasn’t a great tourist destination then with an attractive selling point at the time). However before the conundrum of world politics and crazy dictators, Germany’s capital offered a much vibrant bohemian … [Read more...]
The Country of Endless Opportunities
As well as being favored for its travel opportunities, when it comes to global migration, the US is still one of the most favored destinations of migrants all over the world. Despite the somewhat negative press coverage about the United States in recent years, millions of tourist and migrants dream of a life in the USA and the opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyle of this unique country. While tourists flock here for the country’s … [Read more...]
Wrinkles and Dimples
Entering through the gates of our destination, I stopped in my place. Through the gleam of nature in the dainty courtyard was a tiny old woman, approaching us. She was welcoming us but my heart wavered, quickening a beat or two. An earlier encounter with an old Chinese woman was one I would not soon forget. It had been only days earlier when we were waiting at a bus stop, fully laden with our backpacks, moving onward. People were going about … [Read more...]
A Traveler’s Passion
I had my first taste of travel back in 2007 when I went on a group tour throughout Europe to six countries in twenty days. It was a group of kids from all over New Jersey that I did not know, but after those twenty days we were like a family. At the time it was my dream to visit London, I was obsessed with the accent, the culture and seeing the sights. I always wanted to see the London Eye and when I finally did, it all hit me. That moment was … [Read more...]
Sumatran Blend, Ripples on the Edge of Time: Toba or not Toba?
An American backpacker treats Sumatra, Indonesia’s “Lake Toba”--filled with crunchy Elysian entrepots --as a writers’ retreat where backing off comes with the territory “Characters are just like black marks on paper. . . --William Gass, Fiction and the Right of Life I arrive by high-speed hydrofoil across the Malacca Straits to Medan, the ersatz capital of Sumatra, during Ramadan. I was, of course, on my way to flop down and relax at the … [Read more...]
Coober Pedy
South Australia is full of strange places and the mining town of Coober Pedy is no exception. On first sight there isn't much to see for a place billed the 'opal capital of the world'. But that is for a very simple reason: it's all underground. Due to the incredibly high temperatures in the area, the locals decided to escape to the coolness that underground dwelling affords. You'll find houses, museums, art shops, mines and gemstone shops and … [Read more...]
Orbitz Survey Names Cancun the #1 International Destination for Summer Travel
STR Also Reports Increasing Hotel Occupancy in Cancun Cancun, Mexico (May 8, 2013): All signs point to a glorious summer season as Cancun is named the top international destination for summer travel by Orbitz. Orbitz Summer Travel Insider Index analyzed air and hotel booking data from Orbitz.com and picked the 10 most popular summer destinations. Cancun was ranked number three behind Orlando and Las Vegas and was the only international … [Read more...]
Afghanistan Exposed
Just over one year into our odyssey, while headed overland to Europe, we ventured through Afghanistan. Rocking atop burlap sacks in the open-backed truck, I watched as Peshawar faded into the morning’s mirage. Knowing I’d never return in this lifetime, I felt history being made beneath my feet as upturned dust exposed ancient stories. With a mandatory armed-escort riding in the front, I knew I better play by the rules. At 50C, halfway to the … [Read more...]
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