(Los Angeles, CA) – 2016 is looking to be a big cultural and international year for Guam, a US territory in the Pacific. With two major international events, Festpac and PATA, plus the many other unique amenities of the island, 2016 is the perfect year to plan a visit to this tropical destination and to discover the things visitors can find only on Guam. Guam Visitors Bureau is proud to announce that Guam has been selected to host the 12th … [Read more...]
Visit Saipan – October 2014
Saipan has certainly gotten some bad press in the last number of years with its sweat shops (now closed), Jack Abramoff scandal with the Northern Mariana Islands as a client, high joblessness rate etc, gambling & alcohol addictions etc. This aside, the small island has a unique variety of outdoor activities and attractions that will appeal to the outdoor enthusiast. The Grotto, a deep dive spot connected to the ocean by several tunnels is … [Read more...]
Visit Palau – September 2014
Palau is truly the remote destination for nature lovers and outdoor and marine enthusiasts. It is not an easy destination to reach from Europe or the states. Non stop flights connect in Japan or Guam - this is part of Micronesia - about 800 km as the crow fly's from Manilla, Philippines.This island nation has not yet been overly developed with strip malls, high rise condo's, fast food restaurants that plague many island nations. This is uniquely … [Read more...]
9th Annual Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show Returns
THE 9TH ANNUAL LOS ANGELES TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW® RETURNS TO THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER FEBRUARY 8-9, 2014 Rick Steves, Travel Channel's Samantha Brown, Todd Carmichael, Don Wildman, Peter Greenberg, Pauline Frommer, Patricia Schultz among exclusive featured speakers (LOS ANGELES, CA) - L.A.'s favorite and the country's largest travel show will return to the Long Beach Convention Center on February 8 and 9. Named as one of Southern … [Read more...]
The South Pacific Cargo Cult of “John Frum”
Dispatch: Coconuts and Campbell's: John M. Edwards traces the origins of the wackily hybrid South Pacific cargo cult of “John Fromm” (or “John Frum”) from the world’s most useful conversation starter. . . . “Where are you from?” “United States.” “What is your name?” “John.” “Hey, I am John, too!” Although the polite fisherman was dressed like a native, in imported out-of-date garb straight out of “That Seventies Show,” I … [Read more...]
Chasing Change
Standing on the cliffs at La Jolla Cove Friday, September 16th, 2011: I flew the 2500 miles to San Diego, California on the premise that I would find my future there. After an especially tumultuous year – full of uncertainty about my career, debilitating heartbreak and unstable friendships – I was left feeling empty, despondent and indefinable. I had no idea who I really was and vowed to spend the next year in search of her. A multitude of … [Read more...]
So, Saipan…Surprise Me!
So, Saipan - we heard there wasn't much to see on your small island and our expectations were low after reading a number of negative reviews online. Sure there is poker in nearly every laundromat, an inordinate number of empty buildings, some falling into disrepair, an underlying problem with a gambling addiction, hence several 24-hour pawn shops - and nearly every market displaying permanent signs indicating "we accept food stamps" with … [Read more...]
Dropping onto Saipan
Dropped into Saipan in the dead of night - starry skies, the blackness of the sea greeted us - disturbed only by the lights emanating from this small island. I had only done cursory research before our visit here and after speaking for nearly 2 hours to my seatmate who lives here now - I wasn't really sure what to expect. He spoke of sweat shops (now extinct), high alcoholism, a hub for smuggling drugs in from China, unemployment, gambling … [Read more...]
Exploring the wonders of Palau
The island nation of Palau is located about 500 miles east of Manilla in the Philippines and about a 2 hour flight from Guam. A number of airlines fly to Palau including United, Delta and China Air. There are numerous flights from Japan. Local car rental companies maintain offices in the small arrivals lounge of the International airport. Unlike some airports where you find only major car rental companies and or more expensive pricing - these … [Read more...]
No Journey, No Perspective
We touched down in Koror Palau on a cloudless evening - with a full moon blazing and reflecting off of the wings of the plane the entire flight over from Guam. We had arranged a homestay ahead of time and the owner was going to pick us up. We arrived at 130am, waited until 2am then called our homestay. The father of the owner spoke no English. We called back with someone from the Visit Palau doing the talking. He told us, "oh she's not here - she … [Read more...]