Tihar, or Diwali, came and went last week and I went to Pokhara for a mini vacation. After a rainstorm, dinner at a Nepali family’s house, and an impromptu whiskey with an old friend passing through Kathmandu, Kendra and I headed out to Pokhara via microbus on Tuesday morning. A day of travel on each end, we spent three full days in the town and it was a relaxing respite. We didn’t realize we chose to travel on the biggest day of the Diwali … [Read more...]
Learning to Fly at the End of the World: Travels Down the Yucatan Peninsula
A second huge palm frond hits my left shoulder, catching a little of my face this time. It smacks the woman behind me dead on. She squeals and leans down to her daughter, placing the girl’s little hand on the offended cheek. The salsa pounds and the colored flashing lights pulsate to the beat of the blaring music. The top of the bus sways as we follow the curve on this part of the Bahia Boulevard, a beachfront drive that snakes down the peninsula … [Read more...]
Touring Downtown Chicago with Chicago Detours
When you really know something and are passionate about sharing it with others - in this case the intricacies and stories of downtown Chicago, its history and its architecture - your enthusiasm and knowledge is contagious - and what looks like the mundane becomes intriguing. Such is the case of a tour with world traveler, Founder, Executive Director and Tour Guide of Chicago Detours, Amanda Scotese. Not only is her love for this city evident but … [Read more...]
Trekking in Remote Papua New Guinea: Kokoda Homestay
Kokoda Homestay was set up by several villages around Kokoda with the help of Bruce, his wife Rosemary and her son Mark (who lives in Australia) as a way for travelers to experience the authentic lifestyle in the area and as a way for travelers to immerse themselves within the local culture. Rosemary taught school in the 1960's here and much later reconnected with some of her students. Bruce will help arrange your homestay and answer any … [Read more...]
Rough Transportation Day, Kokoda to Popondetta
After a restless rat filled sleep - we woke up at 1am this morning to catch the PMV back to Popondetta. By the graces of the good earth, it was not raining - a real stroke of luck. However we would soon find out this was to be of no use because all the rivers were swollen far above their normal flows due to heavy rains in the mountain. As a result it took us 9 hours to reach Popondetta including stops (compared to the 3.5 hours the first time we … [Read more...]
Exploring Misima Village Papua New Guinea
We spent most of today exploring the hilly jungle covered countryside around Misima Village with Seli. Seli is about 60 years of age (when we ask people's ages here we get approximate answers) and has the stamina of someone half his age. Like most people living in the mountains in this area he walks everywhere barefoot - even on the rocky, steepest of trails. And he will climb much faster than most people in shape who are wearing shoes! Walking … [Read more...]
Trekking in the Papua New Guinea Highlands
Today we trekked for about 5.5 hours - most of it all uphill over a steep, rocky, muddy slippery trail. Arriving at a plateau (and a small village) we were greeted by the entire village welcoming us with a cheerful song. We busted open the heavy glass jar of Prima Scelta Chargrilled Artichokes that we dragged up here from when we bought them in Sydney. Food had rarely tasted so good despite these chockes being saturated in the heaviest of … [Read more...]
Foke Village Kokoda
Today we trekked to Foke Village - a collection of several thatched huts and a total population of 30. We waded through a strong river and walked in the shade through hundreds of palm oil trees - all covered with moss and a ferns. This beautiful village is set right at the base of the mountains - on a plateau surrounded by pristine rainforest. We arrived at the village and noticed how eerily quiet it was. We kept walking through and then we … [Read more...]
Hanging out in Belini Village
Taking survey of our trekking injuries so far, we decided to spend a rest day around Beleni Village. Still recovering from falling against some sharp rocks in Australia a week ago, open sores from hiking, a nasty sunburn, a piece of a thorn stuck in the finger, flu like symptoms including a fever and back spasms from riding the sides of the PMV for three hours on a brutally bumpy road. As we've experienced before, its hard to decide on … [Read more...]
Popondetta Arrival
Our 25 minute flight on Air Nuigini from Port Moresby was nearly empty and we arrived 20 minutes early, landing on the rough landing strip that is surrounded by jungle. We thought we were going to overnight it in Popondetta but the lady who was meeting us persuaded the driver to wait for several hours - along with all the passengers. Talk about patience and being way cool! A terrible cyclone six years ago destroyed all the bridges from … [Read more...]
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