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...]
National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossoms, March 20 to April 11
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Feb. 25, 2021— National Harbor has become known for its spring display of hundreds of cherry trees lining the waterfront. The trees bloom each year in March and are some of the earliest blooms in the D.C. region. To celebrate the spectacular display, National Harbor is hosting a Cherry Blossom Celebration beginning March 20 through April 11. The water taxi, opening just in time, is a great way to view the blossoms from … [Read more...]
Hands-on Ecuadorian Artisans Are Hands-Down Amazing
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...]
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