London and York, two essentially English Hotspots! Many people celebrate the holidays in their own homes that can sometimes be absolutely marvellous, and sometimes not so especially when much planning and work are incurred. Of course, if you are smart, you will check the brochures and airlines for another way to enjoy the holiday season and I am happy to share two wonderful venues with you. Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill Set in … [Read more...]
An Inspirational Refutation of an Uncomfortable Stereotype
"People try to insult me by saying my success is from a falang (foreigner)," said Nate, smiling as she steered us through the moped-filled traffic, "but it's just me." The story that emerged as Nate (in her taxi-service capacity) drove me from her restaurant to the Phuket bus stop was inspirational. But was also a desperately welcome antidote to the uncomfortable Older-Western-Man-funding-Younger-Thai-Woman situation thick on the … [Read more...]
Kakum Rainforest Walk, Cape Coast
I just arrived in Ghana's Cape Coast for a few days of much needed R&R. The bus travelled with an armed guard. I'm not an expert in high caliber weaponry but the gun he was holding sure looked like an AK47. Here we were cruising through the jungles of the Cote d'Ivoire with a bunch of 25KG bags labeled “Uncle Sam” rice from Thailand strewn all over the floor. I soon found out this rice was for a humanitarian mission; apparently public … [Read more...]
Hitch Hiking through Jordan
There is the Arabic world, the Western world, the Indian world, the Asian world and the African world. we are loving every minute of our time in the Arabic world. Greetings from Dead Sea high on top of Mt. Nebo overlooking Jerusalem City and Palestine Territory. Can see lights of this old city already popping out, about 15 clicks from where we are standing. We are near the John the Baptism site and at the Moses memorial. One … [Read more...]
Huangshan Gems
"Since you are here in Huangshan, you must visit our two traditional villages, Xidi and Hongcun. They are little gems of elegance and tradition." A guide advised when I asked him his favourite attractions in the region. We had already made plans to visit these villages and his advice reinforced our decision. Both Xidi and Hongcun villages rest in the foothills of the Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain. They lay amid a landscape of greenery, … [Read more...]
The Island of the Eccentrics
You have to be a little eccentric to live here' - said Corinna as she welcomed us to her house. To many in the village she is more than eccentric: she is a witch. Dressed in a long black gown, her hair hidden in a headscarf, she is in no hurry to fight the rumour. When the superstitious villagers saw twenty foreign women getting off the water taxi, armed with an array of lotions and potions to fight mosquitoes and prevent sunburn, they had reason … [Read more...]
Pollo Campero
We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for God's grace to enter and do the rest. ~ Oscar Romero Pollo Campero Jackie, Trout, Molly, and I were on our way back from spending the week in Honduras and were physically and emotionally exhausted from our trip. We had … [Read more...]
Welcome to Hong Kong
"Welcome to Hong Kong. If you are connecting to another flight, we wish you safe travels. On behalf of my crew, we thank you for flying Cathay Pacific." The soothing -- we are here to serve your needs -- voice of the head flight attendant jolted me back to reality -- I had been staring blankly at the multi-colored seat in front of me. It wasn't her voice that caused the jolt; the official announcement that I had made it to Hong Kong was what … [Read more...]
Monkey in Hotel Room, Varanasi, India
Reluctantly we left Varanasi despite the naked people sitting in the dirty streets, the unbelievable amount of cow poop clogging the narrow streets, the CONSTANT power outages, the smelly garbage everywhere, the people urinating and defecating in open view along some of the ghats, terrible pollution, large bellied obviously malnourished children, incredible poverty, CONSTANT badgering and aggressive pan handling by the touts and "guides" (worst … [Read more...]
Almost alone in the Peruvian High Andes
I've been asked by several people why I'm spending all my time in the Andes and not seeing the rest of this diverse country. In my email below I provide my answer. I warn you that it's long, so if you are too busy or not interested, please delete now! I just returned from an incredible adventure in the mountains, and I'm at a loss for words... Whenever I visit spectacular scenery I always fail to find words to express the fullness of what I … [Read more...]
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