We arrived at the tiny aerodrome on the island of Rangiroa in the Tuamotu archipelago of French Polynesia - marveling at the narrow air strip surrounded on both sides by aquamarine waters. Unlike all passengers we did not have any hotel reservations and we lingered around until all the passengers left and the steel gates began to close - completely locking down the small airport building. One guy walked up to us and asked us if we needed … [Read more...]
The Vawter Family – Vawters on the Water
Q. Please introduce your family to our readers. We are the Vawter family. In 2015 we sold or gave away everything we owned and moved aboard our 43ft sailboat. We have been living a location independent life ever since. The girls were 7 and 8 when we moved aboard and now, our eldest is about to enter high school! It’s been a pretty crazy ride. We had intended to do a 5 year circumnavigation, but we ended up taking a much more circuitous … [Read more...]
The Most Unique Vineyard & Winery in the World
In 2002, Oenologue, Sébastien Thépénie responded to an ad to work at a winery in French Polynesia. Wait a minute. There is vineyard and a winery in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean? The answer is yes - on the remote Rangiroa atoll, one of the world's largest coral atolls. And certainly one of the most isolated vineyards on the planet. Today Sébastien oversees the viticulture and winemaking for Domaine Vin de Tahiti. This extremely unique … [Read more...]
New Zealand of My Thirst
Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand stayed in my head days after I inhaled its poetry, its wild forest, its volcanic lake in a caldera, the slow, gentle rhythm of its longest river, Waikato and its multi-cultural people. The North Island floated in my landscape that wanted to hear its voice during fall. There I was introduced into the polyglot voices of the Pasifika experience of Karlo Mila, a poet who captures the essence of … [Read more...]
James Asquith, Youngest to Visit all 196
An accomplishment certainly worth highlighting - world traveler, James Asquith remarkably completed visiting all 196 UN recognized countries by the time he was just 24. An even more remarkable was he started this epic and ultimate road trip when he was just 18. Recently we had a chance to ask him a few questions about his time on the road (he no longer has a permanent home) and he recently built and launched an app that has introduced an … [Read more...]
My Thoughts on Cruising
I've been on a number of cruises over the years from a wine-centric river cruise in Bordeaux France, to an adventure cruise in Antarctica to a more relaxing tropical cruise in the Caribbean. However one cruise that has eluded me to date is a cruise around the world. I remember as a young child visiting with my grandparents at one of our local ports - just before they were set to embark around the world on a several month trip of a lifetime, … [Read more...]
Three Memorable Experiences on St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Young Island Young Island is home to a private resort that is located a very short boat ride from the 'mainland'. Once you arrive you are treated to beautiful views from the private beach. A bar floats slightly off shore. Several tables set back from the beach among the gardens are ideal spots to enjoy a buffet lunch with paired with some sort of tropical drink. Passion fruit rum perhaps. Best activity after lunch - do nothing and enjoy … [Read more...]
Visit Pearl Harbor and be Moved
It is hard to predict when the sadness and solemnity will hit you when you visit Pearl Harbor. For me it was when we set out on the Navy vessel across the channel that on a December morning in 1941 turned into hell on earth, a bloody chaos of explosions and smoke and fire and bombs. December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day, and 2014 will mark the 73rd anniversary of the attack that brought the United States into World War II. Ceremonies will … [Read more...]
Freak Show Without a Tent by Nevin Martell
This book is a fast, engaging and at times humorous read - highlighting stories from the author's childhood trips gallivanting with his family around the world. They visit exotic destinations - remote islands in the middle of the South Pacific and fish in Piranha infested waters - always in search of "local" non touristy experiences. The author's father was infected with wanderlust, taking trips without making many plans and always bringing … [Read more...]
Amelia Rose Earhart Poised to set Record as Youngest Woman Ever to Circumnavigate the Globe in a Single Engine Plane
OAKLAND, Calif. (July 11, 2014) – In just a few hours, Amelia Rose Earhart will set the record as the youngest woman ever to fly around-the-world in a single-engine plane. Upon the 31-year-old aviatrix’s historic landing in Oakland, Calif., she will symbolically complete the unfinished 1937 flight of her namesake, Amelia Mary Earhart. Amelia Rose, with her copilot Shane Jordan, has logged nearly 100 hours of flight time on this journey, stopping … [Read more...]
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