I'm walking on Maputo Beach, a beautiful, litter-strewn stretch of coastline to the north-east of Mozambique's capital city. It's overcast, so most of the tourists have stayed away. I am among a group of ex-pat stragglers, making their way to the ubiquitous piri piri chicken stands dotted all along the coastline. We feast on the chicken, sitting on plastic chairs on the beach. After we finish, a group of four children between the ages of six … [Read more...]
Beware of Camels and Mysterious Shisha
I thought to myself, “I knew this was a bad idea.” I was officially stuck on top of a camel. Even after two weeks in this scandalous country, I had managed to fall into yet another obvious scam. A young boy had approached me at the base of the Great Pyramid in Giza and sweet talked me into climbing onto his camel for a picture. It seemed harmless enough; camels are pretty docile, and I was not obligated to pay for a ride. Just a quick … [Read more...]
How to enjoy Paris on a Budget
When most people think of Paris, they probably picture the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the bright lights of the Champs-Élysées. It is a city which evokes romance, not to mention a certain amount of decadence. The words ‘Paris’ and ‘budget’ are two which probably seem highly incompatible. However, is this notion of Paris as a destination for the rich a myth? We’re inclined to suggest it is in fact a misconception… After all, there are over two … [Read more...]
Touring Downtown Chicago with Chicago Detours
When you really know something and are passionate about sharing it with others - in this case the intricacies and stories of downtown Chicago, its history and its architecture - your enthusiasm and knowledge is contagious - and what looks like the mundane becomes intriguing. Such is the case of a tour with world traveler, Founder, Executive Director and Tour Guide of Chicago Detours, Amanda Scotese. Not only is her love for this city evident but … [Read more...]
Greetings from the Village – Eastern Thailand
We are back in the village for the next month - enjoying some fine R&R after a hectic schedule from this past year. The kids are learning Chinese in school and are happy to practice. Our niece of almost 5 years old informed us today that she is "tired of being a Thai girl and wants to be an American girl". We asked her to speak some English but all she could say was "thank you" over and over again! There is a rash of road accidents this past … [Read more...]
Trekking in Remote Papua New Guinea: Kokoda Homestay
Kokoda Homestay was set up by several villages around Kokoda with the help of Bruce, his wife Rosemary and her son Mark (who lives in Australia) as a way for travelers to experience the authentic lifestyle in the area and as a way for travelers to immerse themselves within the local culture. Rosemary taught school in the 1960's here and much later reconnected with some of her students. Bruce will help arrange your homestay and answer any … [Read more...]
Back to the Wonderful City of Angels
We flew in last night over a sea of lights spread as far as one could see. It was Bangkok - one of the planet's greatest cities. At midnight along Sukhumvit it was a mix of lights, traffic and people wandering the streets in search of sleep, sex and alcohol. This latest visit was a throwback for me offering a nostalgic reflection on my first trip to the Kingdom in 1996 (on the way to Nepal). Then as now, we landed at Don Muang airport. I … [Read more...]
Exploring Port Moresby
Port Moresby is a bit difficult to explore on your own - the city is spread out and there aren't that many attractions to visit right in town. However we caught up with the energetic folks from Cold Media Productions who are covering my visit to PNG. We headed out in their Toyota Land cruiser for the top of a nearby mountain - Sogeri which affords one excellent views overlooking all of Port Moresby in the distance, the Stanley-Owens range (the … [Read more...]
Rough Transportation Day, Kokoda to Popondetta
After a restless rat filled sleep - we woke up at 1am this morning to catch the PMV back to Popondetta. By the graces of the good earth, it was not raining - a real stroke of luck. However we would soon find out this was to be of no use because all the rivers were swollen far above their normal flows due to heavy rains in the mountain. As a result it took us 9 hours to reach Popondetta including stops (compared to the 3.5 hours the first time we … [Read more...]
Exploring Misima Village Papua New Guinea
We spent most of today exploring the hilly jungle covered countryside around Misima Village with Seli. Seli is about 60 years of age (when we ask people's ages here we get approximate answers) and has the stamina of someone half his age. Like most people living in the mountains in this area he walks everywhere barefoot - even on the rocky, steepest of trails. And he will climb much faster than most people in shape who are wearing shoes! Walking … [Read more...]
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