We jetted from Bangkok to Addis Ababa yesterday on Ethiopian Airlines. I wasn't too impressed with the two planes we were on - they were just plain old. Both times I used the restroom the broken doors swung in on me even though it said "occupied" on the outside. The video/light control console was broken on both flights and on the second flight my seat had a scant view of the video screens. But, they just joined Star Alliance in late 2011 so more … [Read more...]
Tales from the Desert Kuwait
Staring out at the blackened waters of the Persian Gulf from high atop our hotel room near old town Kuwait City. The sun has obviously set and we are free to go out on the streets and eat food. 8 more days of Ramadan await us and our daylight appetites. Upon flying in our flight attendant enthusiastically made an announcement, "If you would like to see a spectacular view of desert sand, please pull down your window shades". Based on her tone … [Read more...]
Visit Kuwait – July 2011
While Kuwait is certainly not as well known in tourism circles as some of its other middle eastern neighbors (Jordan, Israel, Syria etc), it is a friendly, small and easy to navigate country. Kuwait City is the heart of the country and is spread out along the edge of the Persian Gulf. The major highways are modern and efficient and gas is very cheap. During our stay we rented a car and drove through much of the country. This is a flat desert … [Read more...]
Madrid, Once Upon a Time
Maybe it was a bad omen that I'd memorized Cinderella before I could read. By winter 2004, I had to accept that my life was turning to ashes. Single, living alone in Manhattan, I found myself without steady income, and few, if any employment options. My seemingly endless supply of crazy ideas to otherwise help keep me clothed and sheltered had long gone up in smoke. Factor in frequent, lengthy illnesses and my lifelong propensity for being … [Read more...]
Dancing with Elephants and Gods: Kandi, Sri Lanka
It's not everyday that you get to frolic with elephants and gods. Let me remind you that God supposedly sent Adam to Sri Lanka after his expulsion from heaven, as it was close to what he had left behind. After this visit, I have no reason to doubt this, as Sri Lanka truly is a paradise on earth and I was happy to get a taste of it. A pineapple and coconut shack we found while going to Kandy "Guess what! Change of plans! We are going to … [Read more...]
The Cyprus Tug o War
The first thing that drew me to Cyprus is that they are another of those countries that "doesn't exist". The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey itself. It's also known as "North(ern) Cyprus". According to the European Union (and much of the world), the whole island is one country. The reality of this is pretty clearly in dispute, as the TRNC runs its own border control at its (internationally unrecognized) … [Read more...]
Bradt North Korea
Bradt North Korea by Robert Willoughby Bradt guidebooks are the standard must have travel books for adventurous tourists who plan on visiting countries off the normal guidebook route. Author Robert Willoughby has done an excellent job sharing his first hand insights about travel and life in North Korea. This book does a good job exposing the facts and debunking the myths behind this sometimes mysterious country. Good maps, in depth … [Read more...]
Hawaiian Launches Service to Seoul, South Korea
HONOLULU - Hawaiian Airlines today spread its wings deeper into Asia, with the launch of its new nonstop service between Honolulu and Seoul, South Korea. Seoul represents Hawaiian's first destination on the Asia continent and its third Asia destination overall, having previously launched service to Manila (April 2008) and Tokyo (November 2010). Hawaiian's inaugural flight today to Seoul's Incheon International Airport began with a pre-flight … [Read more...]
You are a donkey. I am a monkey. Sometimes we go up, and sometimes we go down. Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp.
I felt like I was caught up in a wild storm these past 2.5 weeks, in the middle of a flurry of constant adventure, sensory stimulus, and physical exertion. One constant though, was my experience of contrasts - contrasts between 1st class seating on flights (the benefit of standby travel with an airlines employee) and $2/night lodging; the incongruity between awe inspiring mountains and "checklist travelers" apparently unmoved by the quiet beauty, … [Read more...]
The Heart of the Buddha
The Heart of the Buddha by Elsie Sze This is a story of twin sisters who find themselves in Bhutan for different reasons. Marion goes to Bhutan to direct and improve a local library but instead becomes passionate for a Bhutanese monk, overstays her visa, and then disappears. The story takes place in the late 1990's before email comes to Bhutan and Marion shares her story with her sister Ruth until the letters mysteriously stop. Fearing the … [Read more...]
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