The Marshall Islands are one of the planet’s most remote island countries, but even within ‘remote’ one can find places even further removed from people. And Eneko Island is the perfect example. For reference the Marshall Islands are closer to Papua New Guinea than Hawaii, are slightly north of the equator and are located west of the international date line. Nonstop flights are available from Honolulu, Guam and Kiribati. Unless you live in these places, there are no other non-stop flights. Conveniently, the owners of Eneko Island also own Robert […]

The post Day Trip to Eneko Island, Majuro Atoll appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Out in the middle of the Indian ocean, the water is shimmering in deep emerald green. A traditional dhow rocks gently against the lapping ripples. Next to the boat, a group of divers are flipping their fins in excitement and snorkeling alongside with a whale shark, the biggest fish in the ocean and a species now classified as endangered. This is not a typical scene on any tropical island. This experience – and all its other attractions in one place – is what makes Mafia Island unique and alluring. About […]

The post Living in the Archipelago That Whale Sharks Call Home – Interview with Founder of the Mafia Island Tourism Association, Peter Byrne appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Where are the Solomon Islands? This country is located in the Coral Sea close to Papua New Guinea and about a 3 hour flight north east of Brisbane Australia. Typically not a cheap destination, either flights, hotels, car rental or food (which in our experiences, was basic and bland). Known as the ‘hapi isles’ for its friendly people, for its marine life, and significant World War II history. The main airport is in Honiara, the capital city. I spent my time in a home-stay (Vavaea Ridge Apartment), in a neighborhood […]

The post A Week in Guadalcanal: Notes from the Solomon Islands appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

I left for the Tbilisi International Airport in the country of Georgia at 10pm. I arrived at my final destination, Shiraz, Iran some 20 hours later – the next day. If you look on the map this is about a 3 to 3.5 hour flight. As it were, the airport in Tbilisi is under construction; a new runway is being built so all day flights have been moved to the night. I spent all night in the beautiful fairly new Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan – nestled as […]

The post Arriving Into Iran and the Tests of Traveling appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

I must have picked up about 15 people today with my self titled new job on the island, “Dave’s Dominica Taxi service”. Getting around from place to place is dependent on the generosity of drivers – and this hitch hiking seems like an easy and cheap way to see the island. With bridges still out or damaged from the tropical storm in 2015 – one of the main roads was closed leaving a smaller road through the rainforest as the alternative way to get from one part of the island […]

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After retiring in 2005 from careers in law, husband and wife Dennis James (author) and Barbara Grossman (photography) decided to visit a number of countries often found on do not visit lists. There are numerous books written about one’s travels and reflections often authored by retirees however there are a few that focus on such unusual destinations. Dennis and Barbara are intrigued by these lesser visited countries and enjoy living and interacting with indigenous populations – despite the often physical hardships needed to reach their villages. Their travels would be […]

The post Songs of the Baka by Dennis James appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

After spending four relaxed yet still activity packed days on Dominica I find myself staying in the midst of sprawling apartment complexes on neighboring Guadeloupe in the city of Pointe-à-Pitre. Mere 25 minutes away by small jet, Guadeloupe feels worlds apart. World’s away from the unspoiled natural setting and the the pleasant feel of space when you have a low population density (only 72,000 people live on the entire island). Now I am surrounded by the hum you hear in all cities across the globe, the incessant noise of traffic, […]

The post Undiscovered Dominica, Too Short of a Stay on the Nature Island appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

A stay here is for the discerning traveler who highly values an intimate setting (4 acres total) combined with appealing natural surroundings, the utmost privacy and a property that maintains a beautiful silence. This clifftop location features merely eight villas and bungalows. The villas are more spacious then the bungalows; each villa comes with its own plunge pool. But all come with excellent views. Appropriately there is a secret beach at Secret Bay and one notices its beauty as soon as one has a chance to wander the property. This […]

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I recently counted the times I’ve either flown, ferried, or come in on a cruise ship to Sint Maarten in the last two months; my arrivals and departures added up to 14 times (interesting considering I had never visited the island until late 2015)! During my stops in Sint Marteen, my eye has caught glimpses of the intriguing, mysterious and prominent shape of Saba (a municipality of the Netherlands) in the distance, sometimes clear, sometimes covered in clouds. Tired of just seeing Saba from afar, and wanting to experience the […]

The post Saba Anyone? appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

This attraction on the outskirts of Port Moresby (mile marker 14) is well worth visiting. The gardens are meticulously maintained and there are always a number of orchids in bloom regardless of the time of year your visit. Workers are available to help guide you or answer any questions. The orchid gardens are part of a fairly new Adventure park which also contains a tall water-slide when you want to beat the heat. This nature park was founded by Justin Tkatchenko, a PNG gardener, politician and TV personality. In fact […]

The post Port Moresby Nature Park- Papua New Guinea – August 2015 appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Most people who visit Kokoda in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea do so to make the 8-10 day walk on the Kokoda Trek. This trek is the site of severe battles during World War II between the Australians and the Japanese with local Papua New Guineans often acting as “carriers” ferrying supplies for the troops. However, a visit to this area can have additional rewards by staying in local villages. Kokoda Homestay helps arrange your stay and trekking between a series of small villages in the area. You […]

The post Kokoda Homestay Papua New Guinea – May 2015 appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

One of these claims to be “The Most Interesting Blogger in the World” I was surprised when I picked up a copy USAToday and saw an item that cited me as “The first travel blogger.” I doubt it, though I was early to the game, not long after Al Gore invented the Internet. In 1993 the term “blogger” didn’t exist, so what I was posting was a real-time serialized account of my travels. If that qualifies, then perhaps the first travel blogger was Henry Morton Stanley, who sent dispatches back […]

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With the weather remaining dark, gloomy and at times spitting buckets of heavy rain scattering people under overhangs in downtown Nadi – it was a “weather weight off my back” today as the clouds parted and we finally had sunshine! Too much of this rain and gloomy weather is bad for my personal psyche. The cyclone watch was lifted a day or two ago and it was just a waiting game for the storm to dissipate. Today I set out for the hot springs and mud baths about a 20 […]

The post Mud Pond & Raymond Burr Gardens, Fiji appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

Arrival You are on a 10-seater looking out of the window. The azure waters glisten out of the side windows with spectacular coral reefs coming into view as the plane steadily makes its way to a small island in the Coral Seal – in the far northern reaches of Queensland. This tiny chunk of land is named Lizard Island and was named so by captain James Cook in 1770 after he climbed to the highest point of the island to look for a passage through the coral; he so happened […]

The post Lizard Island, Remote Luxury appeared first on Dave's Travel Corner.

What to do in Darwin on a rainy grey day? Going up in a Helicopter is perhaps not one’s first choice. It is the rainy season here. With that said, perhaps it was optimistic to think I could do a scheduled Heli Pub Crawl. Yes this is what you think! Five remote pubs accessed via helicopter – spread out over 250 miles – lasting much of the day. Meeting locals, meeting characters and perhaps making some new friends. Oh and enjoying great beer. Conveniently, the chopper lands right next to […]

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