Headed out to Lisbon this week to catch up with my brother who is living in Verona, Italy - it was a good chance to deliver his mail from California as well as spend some time sightseeing in a city neither one of us have been to before. The airport is a small one and easily navigable. Oh and the metro connects right to the arrivals hall. I quickly jumped on the metro - found the hotel, buzzed up to the hotel room and we headed out. My brother … [Read more...]
The Mozambique of my youth, happening now
I'm walking on Maputo Beach, a beautiful, litter-strewn stretch of coastline to the north-east of Mozambique's capital city. It's overcast, so most of the tourists have stayed away. I am among a group of ex-pat stragglers, making their way to the ubiquitous piri piri chicken stands dotted all along the coastline. We feast on the chicken, sitting on plastic chairs on the beach. After we finish, a group of four children between the ages of six … [Read more...]
Beware of Camels and Mysterious Shisha
I thought to myself, “I knew this was a bad idea.” I was officially stuck on top of a camel. Even after two weeks in this scandalous country, I had managed to fall into yet another obvious scam. A young boy had approached me at the base of the Great Pyramid in Giza and sweet talked me into climbing onto his camel for a picture. It seemed harmless enough; camels are pretty docile, and I was not obligated to pay for a ride. Just a quick … [Read more...]
Jerusalem: the Lion of this Kingdom
In May of 2009, my mother and I traversed France over 10 days. On our final day, at a Paris hotel, I perused cheap flights on the Internet, chancing upon a low-cost Belgian airline, JetAirFly, with one-way flights from Liege, Belgium, to Tel Aviv, for 99 euros. In Jerusalem, my nephew, Guy, and his mother, Miri, agreed to shelter me from the incoming cultural storm. My nerves tingled as I considered the implications: Judea, Israel, Jerusalem, … [Read more...]
Peace, Love and Vodka
The Woodstock Festival took place in New York State’s Catskill Mountains in 1969. Whether you lived through it or were born decades later, Woodstock is the stuff of legends, three days of peace, love and music. Rock and roll giants such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Grateful Dead and many other icons preformed. Though called Woodstock, the concert didn’t actually take place in the town of Woodstock. It took place in the rural community … [Read more...]
A lifetime of local Knowledge – Thai Village Life
It is impressive the resourcefulness Syy's mom has at her disposal. We've been washing dishes from a liquid soap she's created from a number of mostly organic ingredients. She makes a lip balm out of coconut milk and wild bees wax collected from nearby hives. It smells quite pleasant and works very well for chapped lips. The rice wine takes her most of the day to make - and ferments for about 8 days before its ready to drink. We've had running … [Read more...]
Free Admission to Queen Mary, Long Beach CA
WHISTLE SALUTES, FIREWORKS CELEBRATION AND PUBLIC VIEWING OF HISTORIC MEETING OF SHIPS IN LONG BEACH HARBOR LONG BEACH, CA (March 5, 2013) --- On the evening of March 12th, 2013 in the Long Beach Harbor the world famous former Cunard liner R.M.S. Queen Mary, once the undisputed Grand Dame of the North Atlantic, will be visited by the youngest Cunarder Queen Elizabeth. In celebration of this historic moment, the Queen Mary will offer free … [Read more...]
Roxy Resort & Spa, Maldives – March 2013
Roxy Resort Maldives (formerly Zitahli Resort) is a beautiful resort located on a small private island about a 50 minute seaplane ride from the capital city of Male. This luxurious and secluded getaway is the perfect respite for "escaping" the world for a while in the middle of aqua marine waters. A stay on this private island in the middle of the Maldives can make the rest of the world seem mundane, pedestrian in comparison. The staff is part of … [Read more...]
Greetings from the Village – Eastern Thailand
We are back in the village for the next month - enjoying some fine R&R after a hectic schedule from this past year. The kids are learning Chinese in school and are happy to practice. Our niece of almost 5 years old informed us today that she is "tired of being a Thai girl and wants to be an American girl". We asked her to speak some English but all she could say was "thank you" over and over again! There is a rash of road accidents this past … [Read more...]
From the Outside In: My Reflections as a Non-Muslim Wearing the Burqa in Silicon Valley
My curiosity to try wearing the most conservative Muslim, black Burqa drapery in California overcame my dread that I would be found out by a Muslim who might eagerly approach me as any of us might do when we find "our kind" in a foreign land. I was fearful of offending, or appearing to make light of a serious cultural tradition. It took an immense amount of courage to overcome my trepidation. But at last I decided to just go for it. Logically … [Read more...]
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