Photo by Alice Bourget [Note: this piece was written in pre-pandemic days, first accepted by the LA Times, but had a couple of long publication delays. And then the pandemic arrived. Ecuador was hit hard. Milton’s tours, listed at the end, are suspended. Here’s to travel to come!] When I was around 10, I tagged along to my brother’s Boy Scout meeting, where one activity was making art projects. Given instruction, I sprayed a clothespin with … [Read more...]
Impressions: Ulanbaatar, Mongolia
I landed in Ulanbaatar in the very early am. My pre-arranged ride was not waiting at airport so I found a taxi who promptly delivered me to my guest house, 20 mins to town w/o traffic. Two story guesthouse. I ended up on the second floor - frustrated because the inside door to the guesthouse was locked and it was 430am. Knocking over and over again resulted in no action from within. I began to prep a rudimentary sleeping arrangement in the … [Read more...]
Visit Ushuaia, Argentina – July 2020
El Fin del Mundo, or in English, the End of the World. Such is an appropriate phrase to describe the southernmost city on the entire planet. Several airlines including Aerolíneas Argentinas, TAM & LAN Airlines fly to the airport - the primary connector city is Buenos Aires. Ushuaia's tiny airport is located only about a 10 minute drive from downtown. If you spend any amount of time here, it is helpful if you enjoy seafood! A number of … [Read more...]
48 hours in Ko Samui – A short vacation with no prior planning at all
When the minivan pulled in at the station in Hat Yai, I got off the car and randomly made my way into one of the travel agent's offices lining a bustling street. At the desk sat a gray-haired woman with a warm smile, exuding the true hospitality spirit of the Thais. “Where are you going?” She asked with a heavily accented voice. I glanced at the clock. It was quarter past ten in the morning. “Where is the next bus leaving for?” I asked. … [Read more...]
Tips to Travel to Mexico City
The Mexico City Airport is located in the urban area, you can easily find transportation or a taxi site at the airport itself, they are safe, worth taking but are a little more expensive. Whenever you board a taxi, make sure they turn on the meter. - If you want to save, one option is to take the metro that is very close to the airport, especially the Puerto Aéreo terminal, but only if you travel with little luggage and do not arrive at rush … [Read more...]
A Beijing Trip with my Mother
Not long ago, I was enticed to watch a Netflix travel show - “Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father”. The show follows Jack Whitehall, a British comedian on a gap year. Jack thought it would be fun to bring his old-school father, Michael Whitehall on an epic trip around the world. Through endless funny scenes and hilarious exchanges, the show wittily portrays the conspicuous generation gap between the father and son. At around the same time, … [Read more...]
Exploring the Island of Efate, Vanuatu
Circling the island of Efate by vehicle takes about 2 hours without stopping. I wanted a more in depth experience so I joined a small tour hosted by Atmosphere Tours, based in Port Vila. As we left Port Vila on the only road that circles the island (built by the Americans) our guide duly pointed out the last electrical pole some few clicks outside of the city. Beyond that, the villages do not have government provided electricity and if they have … [Read more...]
A Crazy Stop in La Paz, Boliva
Upon arriving in South America I entered a very familiar airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport. I lingered in Lima for a refreshing shower in the hotel directly across from the airport. Walked back to the departures terminal and tried to sleep for a few hours on the hard floor. Loud music playing at 130am followed by staff cleaning the floors. No sleep tonight. Boarded next flight. Arrived in Cuzco - exited the airport with just enough time … [Read more...]
Top Three Scams In Thailand And Ways To Avoid Them
Thailand has always been a hotspot for travelers from across the world because of its delicious cuisine, iconic temples, tropical beaches, and more. Millions of people visit Thailand each year and some Thais have started taking an advantage of it. There are several travel scams that take place in every corner of Thailand, so you need to be extra careful while visiting ‘The Land of Smiles’ so that you can take back smiles as well as happy memories … [Read more...]
Getting Around Aswan Without Getting Fleeced
My trip to Aswan, Egypt to see the ancient Temple of Isis at Philae was a good reminder to always look on the positive side, even when you feel like you are being taken advantage of by locals. The temple itself is magnificent and dramatically situated on an island in the middle of a lake. Because the vast majority of visitors to Aswan go as part of an organized and guided tour, there is scant information available for the independent, … [Read more...]
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