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...]
What to do in Seoul
When traveling to East Asia Western tourists often hawk to Tokyo or cities in China, not to mention Hong Kong, which attracts an astonishing 50 million visitors per year. Largely left off the itinerary is Seoul, acting often as a stopover point (which is appropriate, as Incheon Airport has been named the best airport in the world.) But tourism in South Korea is gaining traction. It’s repeatedly been voted the world’s most wanted travel … [Read more...]
The Insanely-Tested Top Ten Travel Tips for Spring
Spring is the season hope is rekindled, when broken blades are renewed, and light washes the shadows. We can go barefoot in the grass, pluck the charms of flowers, whistle in the warming breeze, and hit the winding road. Jasper Bangs, who has been to 34 countries, with a spring in his step But, as with any venture, travel can have its pitfalls and pitsprings, if the traveler is not rightly attuned to or aware of warning signs. Many, and … [Read more...]
New Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card Launches with Bonus Miles and a Gift for Sustainability
Up to $100,000 Total Donation to the Polynesian Voyaging Society For All New Credit Cards Activated Between Today and May 31, 2014 HONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines® with MasterCard®, Barclaycard US and Bank of Hawaii today announced the official launch of the richly rewarding Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard® for consumers and the Hawaiian Airlines Business MasterCard for small businesses. In celebration of the new card, new consumer and … [Read more...]
Patrick Smith: Airline Pilot and Author
For those who travel often for business or pleasure - airports and planes are an integral part of our lives. Entire online communities have been formed around the airplane - FlyerTalk is the perfect example of this. When I was offered a chance to review a new book about air travel, "Cockpit Confidential" I jumped at the opportunity. For the better part of the past few weeks this book has been a constant companion in a number of airports during my … [Read more...]
War and Peace and Napoleon
I’ve always had a thing for Napoleon Bonaparte. After all, he was a pretty amazing guy. In addition to his military exploits, he oversaw the centralization of the French government, established the Bank of France, got the French people to accept the metric system (something I doubt even Barack Obama could do in the United States), reformed the law (the Napoleonic Code still forms the basis of legal process in a quarter of the world), and … [Read more...]
Uncovering Seoul
The best travel experiences are those of discovery. It does not have to be a life-changing discovery as those recounted in a lot of romantic stories nowadays. Simple, small discoveries will do. It was with the longing for a simple discovery that my friends and I planned our winter trip earlier this year. We were all born and raised in a tropical country where the sun shines all year through, so we wanted to find out what a snowy winter would … [Read more...]
Dandong, North Korean Border
We arrived in Dandong - in the mid afternoon. This tiny community of 1 million people line the banks of the Yalu River directly across from North Korea. This river divides the two countries. After a lunch of "meat" in which we cooked chicken heads, other entrails and beef over a gas powered stove built into our table - we headed out to the Broken River Bridge. This iron bridge was built over the Yalu River in 1911 by the Japanese. It was the … [Read more...]
Guilin the Glistening Gem of China
Driving out of the Guilin airport, you may immediately say to yourself, "Hey, where's all the beautiful scenery I was told about? All I see is flat ground, a highway and a dull 45 minute ride ahead of me to my hotel." Don't nod off just yet to take a nap because in about 20 minutes, peaks will rise out of the horizon and jut toward the sky forming a unique panoramic view that soon entirely engulfs your vision. At once, you understand why the … [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...]