From modern Asian malls to the 'Highway to Heaven' with its churches, mosques, temples and historical landmarks, British Columbia's Metro-Vancouver's suburb city of Richmond, the only Canadian city surrounded by dykes, is a place worth visiting. Emitting the sounds ands aromas of the mysterious Orient as well as a religious aura and structures oozing stories from the past, the city of 188,000 is made up from 17 islands, half of which are still … [Read more...]
Alive & Well: Experience The American Automobile Industry Through Factory Tours
As everybody too acutely knows, the American automobile industry has been driving on fumes lately, along with the rest of the world economy. However, while some notable factories have recently closed, it would be a mistake to think that car-making in the United States is completely in the breakdown lane. While the industry may need a tune-up and a refilled tank (along with an electric battery or fuel cell), the great American tradition of the car … [Read more...]
Architecture in Tokyo
From Fishing Village to Ultramodern Metropolis Tokyo began life as an humble fishing village but, having been effectively rebuilt after extensive damage sustained during WWII, today it is a futuristic blend of neon lights and towering skyscrapers. And there's far more to these modern buildings than functionality - from the giant advertising screens in Shinjuku to the technology stores of Akihabara, Tokyo's architecture is a chaotic mix of … [Read more...]
Day 2 – New Orleans
Breakfast Cafe du Monde ,located at 800 Decatur Street, is an ideal location for breakfast. This is the original Cafe du Monde location - with a number of other branches mostly in and around New Orleans, as well as a large international presence exclusively in Japan. The cafe is located near the shores of the Mississippi River in the French Quarter this is where you come for French-style beignet pastries and coffee. You can drive here or … [Read more...]
A Journey In The Gold Coast:In Ghana
It was breezy late afternoon as I descended boarding EK 781 in the fertile soil of Ghana, a country in Western Africa. Indeed, it was my first visit to an entirely Black African nation with hospitable people. The uniqueness of humidity caught my attention next as we steered through traffic. Accompanied by my Ghanaian lawyer from the airport going to the place I was to stay. Ghana has a typical tropical climate: two rainy seasons in the … [Read more...]
Go Nanaimo, British Columbia
Boomtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, is currently one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. Baby boomers all across the country are casting their aging eyes west in their quest for a retirement haven, and the many advantages of Nanaimo, BC, are becoming known. First off, there's the mild climate moderated by warm Pacific currents arriving from Japan. Nanaimo only gets a couple of weeks of snow a year, quite a contrast to central and … [Read more...]
The Land of Fire and Ice
I don't know how many times I have flown between Europe and North America and each time, about halfway over the North Atlantic, glanced down on a mysterious and rugged looking island. Big swaths seemed covered in glaciers. But not everything. It looked largely empty, but I could still make out clear imprints of humanity from thirty five thousand feet in the air. Mostly along the coastal lowlands, where the fields had a fresh green color. Just … [Read more...]
How to Avoid The Pitfalls of Using a Taxi
In general, this article is about problematic taxi drivers. It is really hard to put a percentage on the "bad" taxi drivers I've used on trips around the world as each country is different and it is these "bad" drivers who really stand out in your mind. If I had to choose a number, I would say maybe 30-40 percent of the taxi drivers I've used around the world have tried to pull something shady on me. In the same grain, there are many taxi drivers … [Read more...]
Los Angeles, CA – Pasadena
Pasadena is a sizable city located at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. You may have heard the popular 60's pop song, The Little Old Lady from Pasadena recorded by Jan and Dean...a classic that can still be enjoyed today especially with the windows rolled down driving down Colorado Blvd or part of the 210 or 134 Freeways! The city enjoys a high standard of living - it was founded when wealthy East Coaster's would build "winter" homes and … [Read more...]
Mt. Fuji Climb
Our trip to Mount Fuji began at 7 AM last Friday when Kathy and I left our apartment to catch our early morning bullet train to Japan's most famous mountain. After nine hours of traveling via taxi, bullet train, and bus, we arrived at Fuji-san's 5th station (7562 feet) at 4:30 PM. With our high tech graphite walking sticks and backpacks filled with rice balls, water, and winter clothes, we began our ascent up the mountain at 5:30 PM. The … [Read more...]