John M. Edwards trades in his Jeepney for a cab ride to a connecting flight through the traffic-jam capital of the world: Manila! On my way back from Cebu in the Philippines, with my then preggers girlfriend, we received word from the crackling cockpit that our plane was making an unscheduled stop in Manila, so all passengers could connect from another airport to their intended destinations. “WHAT?!” my now-ex girlfriend Susan Shrike (not … [Read more...]
War and Peace and Napoleon
I’ve always had a thing for Napoleon Bonaparte. After all, he was a pretty amazing guy. In addition to his military exploits, he oversaw the centralization of the French government, established the Bank of France, got the French people to accept the metric system (something I doubt even Barack Obama could do in the United States), reformed the law (the Napoleonic Code still forms the basis of legal process in a quarter of the world), and … [Read more...]
Lets do it! Enjoying Bermuda
We descended quickly through the clouds breaking out of the sky to views of gorgeous aquamarine waters and darker beds of corral below us. This is Bermuda - a tiny 21 mile long tiny island in the general shape of a fish hook, situated all by itself in the North Atlantic. With a geographical location of 32 degrees and being among the gulf stream the island benefits from rather mild temperatures in the winter - and warm moderate temperatures in the … [Read more...]
Onward And Upward To Machu Pichu – Part 1
My heart kept beating like a tom-tom drum feverishly signaling an imminent enemy attack. It kept racing, and thudding, and pounding – not allowing me to get a wink of sleep. I recognized the symptoms. I knew what was happening. I had tried to prepare myself for it. It was oxygen deprivation, and it could lead to altitude sickness. Although I wasn’t in any immediate danger of becoming stricken with the illness, I knew that I was … [Read more...]
Onward & Upward To Machu Pichu – Part 2
The morning sun had ascended to its throne in the brilliant sky. The mist had excused itself for the day. Before us lay the grandeur of Machu Pichu swathed in golden sunlight. Everyone whipped out their cameras and started taking photos of the venerable gift that history had unwrapped for us. One by one, we captured the sight that we’d seen only in books. Angle by angle, frame by frame, we sought to imprint the majestic vista into the … [Read more...]
Fiji Islands, Hot Weather and Warm Hearts
The humid, sugar cane sweetened air hit me with force as I moved from the airplane and into the small airport in Nadi. It made me smile with anticipation. This was my third trip to Fiji and I was determined not to let the almost suffocating weather be an obstacle this time. My previous visits had taught me to forget wearing make-up or styling my hair. Neither would last more than 20 minutes in the wet, high humidity air. In my travel journal I … [Read more...]
A Totally Different Light Over Manila
Docking at the wharf of Manila reminds me of my first arrival in the city many years ago: the first of many arrivals I have experienced in the Philippine capital. A sunny climate greets me. The sunlight is intense yet reflecting so vibrantly upon the waters of Manila Bay. Over the years, there have been critics moaning about the city - mentioning its smog and chaotic traffic, its crimes, not to mention the voluminous homes (if such can be called … [Read more...]
Visit Catalina – the Island of Romance
Hotel Packages Save Travelers up to 30 Percent AVALON, CA (January 30, 2013) – There’s nothing more romantic than spending time on an island. Catalina Island, located just 22 miles off the Southern California coast has been dubbed the Island of Romance and it fulfills that moniker each and every day, not just Valentine’s Day. Below are some packages for travelers looking for a unique and off-the-beaten track way to say I love … [Read more...]
How to Choose Day Tours
Over the years we have fallen into our share of pitfalls when it comes to arranging day tours on the spot. We haven't had as many problems as we have had with taking taxis (read our article on how to use Taxi's here), but we have identified several things to be aware of. This information is geared to those who have already arrived at their destination and want to go on a day tour. There are always some basics to consider when choosing day … [Read more...]
How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Using a Taxi
Chances are if you have traveled to other countries you have at some point used taxis in your travels. In general, this article is about problematic taxi drivers. It is really hard to put a percentage on the "bad" taxi drivers I've used on trips around the world as each country is different and it is these "bad" drivers who really stand out in your mind. If I had to choose a number, I would say maybe 20-30 percent of the taxi drivers I've used … [Read more...]
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