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...]
Volunteer Abroad in Samoa with Projects Abroad
NEW YORK - July 27, 2012 - Starting in September 2012, Projects Abroad will host its first volunteers in Samoa, the newest destination where the organization offers international volunteer programs to volunteers of all ages, from students and professionals to families and retirees. Projects Abroad’s volunteer opportunities in Samoa are located in the capital city of Apia. While Samoa may be known as an attractive travel destination thanks to … [Read more...]
Moon Seoul
Moon Seoul by Jonathan Hopfner Forty pages of in depth maps, itineraries and notes covering the main highlights in Seoul preface this guidebook. The core of the book is devoted to insider tips on restaurants, accommodation, what to see and regional highlights. Author Jonathan Hopfner's brings a perspective to the country that only a local can bring. He was first introduced to South Korea in the late 1990's and has lived in Seoul since … [Read more...]
Robert Young Pelton: Author, Filmmaker, Journalist, Adventurer
We recently had a chance to ask Robert about his travels, current projects, his life spent traveling to "dangerous places" and the unique perspectives he has gained from his years on the road. Q. When did you get hooked on traveling? Was it a particular trip or event? I lived in a car when I was 16 and picked fruit for a living. A year later I bought a $150 ocean liner ticket from New York to Southampton on the SS Canberra and … [Read more...]
Cherry Blossoms, Korea
Cherry blossom viewing in Korea is met with the same sort of enthusiastic hedonism that I've previously only encountered in American malls on Black Friday morning. "Please do not pick the cherry blossoms," a woman's voice pathetically pleads over an intercom. "If you pick the cherry blossoms, we will have nothing for our festival. Enjoy with eyes only," she announces in Korean, English, and Japanese at regular intervals throughout the … [Read more...]
Lee Abbamonte: Global Super Traveler
Lee Abbamonte is on a global quest to visit all of the world's countries and furthermore complete this task before the age of 37 years, 9 months, 17 days. In doing so, Lee would be the youngest person on the planet to have visited all the countries in the world. We recently had a chance to ask him about his globe trotting exploits as well as his unique advice. Q. You are quickly becoming one of the world's most traveled individuals, … [Read more...]
Bradt North Korea
Bradt North Korea by Robert Willoughby Bradt guidebooks are the standard must have travel books for adventurous tourists who plan on visiting countries off the normal guidebook route. Author Robert Willoughby has done an excellent job sharing his first hand insights about travel and life in North Korea. This book does a good job exposing the facts and debunking the myths behind this sometimes mysterious country. Good maps, in depth … [Read more...]
Touring Brunei
Today I traveled with Michael, a tour guide for for a small local travel company ( info@travelhub.com.bn ). I signed up for one of their very niche tours - sightseeing the part of Brunei that produces all of its oil and natural gas under the control of Brunei LNG. Travel Hub offers a variety of day and multi day sightseeing tours within Brunei. This particular tour may not appeal to a lot of people but oil and gas are what drive Brunei's … [Read more...]
Hawaiian Launches Service to Seoul, South Korea
HONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines today spread its wings deeper into Asia, with the launch of its new nonstop service between Honolulu and Seoul, South Korea. Seoul represents Hawaiian's first destination on the Asia continent and its third Asia destination overall, having previously launched service to Manila (April 2008) and Tokyo (November 2010). Hawaiian's inaugural flight today to Seoul's Incheon International Airport began with a pre-flight … [Read more...]