I'd always fancied myself as a bit of an outdoors-type, and what better way to prove it than a trek through the Himalayas. "Why would I want to walk for that long?" said a startled friend when I asked if he wanted to come along. Obviously he hadn't pictured it in his mind like I had. There it was; snow-capped peaks looming over pine-forests, twinkling stars dancing across the dark Northern skies, Tibetan prayer flags fluttering in the wind, … [Read more...]
Lahore
If you take a fact file about Pakistan you will see the Islamabad is the official capital with its planned streets and neatly organized suburbs. You will also find Karachi mentioned as the economical and industrial capital with its huge twelve million people, bustling streets and polluted atmosphere. A city you may not find mentioned in that book is Lahore the cultural and spiritual heart of Pakistan. This ancient city on the bank of river Ravi … [Read more...]
A Thai Wedding Story
Sawasdee kha friends! Part I I find myself writing this email several hours after my brother's village Thai wedding, while sitting in the comfortably air-conditioned "business center" of our hotel. It's not often on my travels that I am left without words to describe my experiences, but for once I feel that this email can never fully articulate the feel of the last 24 hours. When we left Bangkok yesterday I was eager to return to the … [Read more...]
Iquitos, Peru – Attractions
We have visited or participated in the following attractions or experiences in Iquitos or the surrounding region. Amazon River - what can you say about the Amazon River except its the world's greatest river. Its mind boggling to think that it supplies nearly a quarter of all the world's freshwater! From the Atlantic Ocean in Brasil, vessels make the entire trip up the Amazon River to Iquitos (some 3,600 kilometers of navigable waterway). It … [Read more...]
Saigon, Vietnam – Restaurants
Overall, compared to Thai food Vietnamese food is much less spicy and more bland. You can choose from a variety of soups (called Pho's), seafood dishes, vegetable dishes, rolls, and rice dishes. You can have an excellent dinner for around $10 - you can however, eat much cheaper than this if you like. There are also some excellent French restaurants in Saigon as well as coffee shops. The following are a few restaurants that Dave frequented … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Food
Thai food is incredible in it's flavors and diversity. Street vendors are everywhere in Bangkok. Depending where you are in this city, you can eat at most any hour of the day or night. Most of these food vendors setup shop on a street sidewalk - they have a small glass container for displaying the food, maybe a few plastic chairs/tables and they will have a small stall for cooking the actual food - which is done by using a stove hooked into a … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Bars & Nightlife
Bangkok is a great place to party - with its mix of bars, night clubs and both locals and expats staying up until the wee hours. With weather that is warm in the evenings rooftop bars have finally become a 'thing' in Bangkok - delivering great views over the city skyline paired with a variety of cocktails, wines and beer and usually small bites. So grab a friend, choose a bar and head out for a fun evening of conversation, drinks and … [Read more...]
Key West, FL
Key West is the southern most city in the United States. It sits on the last major island at the end of the Florida Keys. The weather ranges from balmy, hot, & humid to quite pleasant in the winter months. The rainy season is in the summer time. The dry season is during the winter months. Temperatures in Key West during the middle of January often are in the low 80's when the rest of the nation is being blanketed by snow drifts or is fighting … [Read more...]
Key West, FL – More Info
One of the best recommendations I can give - before blindly trying to see Key West is pick up one of the numerous travel guides found on the island. In addition to helpful tips about traveling in the area, these often contain valuable coupons for lodging, restaurants, ferries, museums, and other attractions. One of the most informative travel guides to the Florida Keys is the official tourism guide. This is available on the web at … [Read more...]
Colima, Mexico – Festivals
Colima City is the home to several neat festivals. These are always a highlight and very colorful. Ferias Charro Taurinas San Felipe de Jesus is held in late January and early February every year. It is held to celebrate the Virgen de la Candelaria. It actually takes place in the Villa de Alvarez - about 2 and a half miles north of Colima. Giant figures parade around, representations of the mayor and his wife. These large figures are … [Read more...]
