I’ve Misplaced My Wednesday

I seem to have misplaced Wednesday. I got on a flight from Dallas to LA on Tuesday evening and a few hours later boarded a plane headed for Hong Kong. When I landed twelve hours later, it was Thursday morning. And after a short ferry I was in Macau, on of my favorite places. Crossing the International Date Line is a strange experience, no matter how often you do it. There’s something truly bizarre about calling home after... [Read more]

Collectors Rejoice in the Cook Islands

On Rarotonga, I spent the day in downtown Avarua, which is less a city than a handful of shops where tourists and locals can load up on food, clothes and the Internet. It is quaint and charming enough. It also overlooks some wonderful beaches and could not be more relaxed if it tried.

While changing money, I discovered something fun. The Cook Islands use New Zealand Dollars as the principle money for the islands.... [Read more]

R Ē S ↓ in Montréal

The snow is just starting to fall and I am told by locals that it is only going to get worse. “The weather will just keep getting colder. Then it is really going to freeze.” Still that didn’t stop me from exploring Montréal. I just bundle up like everyone else and took my visible breath into the streets. Downtown Montréal is like most big city centers — lots of shops and eateries and things to do and see.... [Read more]

Mexico Tourism Reports No Tourists Hit by Swine Flu

Mexico City, Mexico; April 29, 2009- In spite of the health crisis resulting from the Swine Flu (H1N1 influenza) detected in Mexico as well as the travel alerts issued by the U.S. and other countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not contemplate the closing of borders or restrictions of trips.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending that people “avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico,”... [Read more]

Combating Swine Flu: Tips to Travelers

April 28, 2009 (Radnor, PA) — In the wake of media reports on the outbreak of swine flu, HTH Worldwide, a global health and safety services company, is offering advice to travelers who may already be in Mexico and are concerned about what steps to take.

Over one million American businesspeople, expatriates, students studying abroad and vacationers are already in Mexico. For those travelers, HTH Worldwide offers... [Read more]

Jamaica Live for 2009 (video podcast)

For the third time in as many years, I caught up with Dian Holland of Jamaica Tourism at the Los Angeles Times Adventure Travel Show. Hear what she has to say about travel on her island.

As with all of our videos Quicktime 7.0 or better is required to see our great videos in all of their luster and highest quality. However, we have now added a new feature so YouTube users can see this video here as well.

We... [Read more]

Miletos, Ephesus’ Little Sister

As far as historic importance is concerned, the title of this story is incorrect. It rather refers to the amount of tourists and visitors who bother to dispense with the trodden tourist path, neglect the ‘must see’ of Turkish historical sites and make judgments of their own. Just as I have done and was rewarded with a fantastic experience.

Miletos is situated approx. 60km west of the Turkish town of Söke... [Read more]

Moscow: Magical Mystery Tour

For a moment I am lost in a dream. Sitting at a hand painted eighteenth century table, in a gilded Damask chair that might as well be a throne, I accept a glass of champagne from a man wearing a brocaded, gold buttoned vest, buckled shoes, and velvet knickers. Venetian mirrors reflect two white wigged chamber musicians in elaborate party dresses. Their efforts at their instruments, a harpsichord and golden harp, turn... [Read more]

Lots of Good Crack to be Had?

Is that what she said? Did my sweet little Irish friend mention doing CRACK with me in Ireland? I mean, at times in my life I’ve been up for all sorts of various pleasantries, but CRACK? Huh?

Surely this couldn’t be what she meant. So, instead of making a complete fool of myself by asking if she had actually thrown out the suggestion of us becoming drug addicts together on the green isle, I decided to do the... [Read more]

My Mexico, part two

My welcoming hours in Mexico were a complete success. After those nocturnal events, the first true day of the Mexico City adventure was on stage. Luckily it fell on a national holiday. Talia, my new local friend, had the time to show off parts of her city. However, the ensuing 12 hours of memories aren’t so focused on the historic center of El Zócalo or the Museum of Frida Kahlo or any other sight that one reads about... [Read more]

Heathrow - Terminal 5 - Arriving/Connecting

If you are flying with British Airways to London Heathrow, you will arrive at Terminal 5. If you have a connection to make, I would allow at least 45 minutes from the moment you land to the time you can reasonably expect to be at the departure gate for your onward journey.

If you are flying from North America, you will probably land at the ‘B’ Gates. You will then catch the shuttle train to the main terminal... [Read more]

To Give Or Not To Give in Uruguay

I have been torn many times on what to do. I sit on a bus, hear some guy singing horribly, and then he approaches the passengers for a few coins. The voice bothered me, the ambiance of the ride changed for the worse while the tunes were belted out, but I know that this guy is hurting for cash and trying his best to make ends meet. Should I give him money?  How about on the next bus ride later today and the two tomorrow?

And... [Read more]

Backpacking Wellness

The term “backpacking” has changed over the last several years as travel has become more accessible to a greater number of people. It refers to travellers who organize their own trips and usually stay in cheap accommodation. This type of traveller can be exposed to additional health risks.

Vaccinations
“It is now generally accepted that no other measure taken by man, apart from... [Read more]

Heathrow, Terminal 5 Facts

The main Terminal 5 departures/arrivals building at Heathrow Airport is the largest free-standing structure in the UK. It has five storeys above ground and more below, including its own Tube station on the Piccadilly Line (central London around 50 – 60 minutes). This main terminal is where all the ‘A’ gates are. Two further sets of Gates, ‘B’ and ‘C’, are connected to the main terminal by dedicated connecting... [Read more]

Lion Overdose

As I entered the gates of Kruger National Park, it took less than a minute to spot a lion. Lions in Kruger are traffic-jam animals – the herd of cars around them being a dead giveaway. I wonder what lions think when their sleep under a thorny tree is disturbed by engine roars and an occasional angry outburst from a tourist whose view becomes abstracted by yet another inching car. I didn’t even bother slowing down.... [Read more]

Apollo Oracle in Didyma, Turkey

Turkey is paradise for ancient history fans. It’s packed with historical sites, but some of them, like Ephesus and Troy, are vast and often overrun with tourist groups, which makes it difficult to enjoy the place and get that particular thrill which comes when imagination runs riot and you feel like following the footsteps of Greek or Roman heroes.

A wonderful alternative is visiting the Apollo Oracle in Didyma,... [Read more]

Lower Zambezi, Higher Cost

Africa’s national parks differ a lot from country to country and they are run in very different ways, so I never know what to expect next. In South Africa and Namibia, the parks are over-organized operations with gates, curfews and strict rules, though I found them somewhat bendable despite constant ranger patrols. In bureaucratic Botswana, the seemingly dead plains of the Kalahari Desert are empty from any regime,... [Read more]

The Small Things of Uruguay

I am not speaking of the country’s geographical size (that of Missouri, if you are curious).  But rather in their detail to life, taking it easy, and at times appreciating the simpler side to the day.

Specific examples:
1) Yesterday I walked through the  main Plaza of Independencia on my way home.  A young boy kicked his soccer ball a bit too hard and it was about to go flying into the busy street. ... [Read more]

Private Parts in Zambia

I am far from a nun, extremely comfortable with my body, and if you describe me as “shy” in front of anybody who even remotely knows me – they’d laugh in your face. That said, I would like to think I’m all about respect. Respecting other cultures and their degrees of modesty are highly important during the sort of travel I enjoy most. However, in Africa I officially declare myself confused by modesty... [Read more]

The Accent of South America’s Switzerland

I grew up about an hour and a half from Mexico’s border…and the border town of Tijuana.  Yes, I made desultory visits to this town when underage to, um, check out the local artisan crafts.  But the point being that I arrived speaking a Mexican Spanish with a Gringo (or Yankee as they say down here) twist.  I pronounced the double “L’s” like a “Y” sound in English (example:... [Read more]

“Los Gordos” in Uruguay

After spending close to a month here in Uruguay, I have made my conclusion.  Although the cultures and roots of the people in Argentina and Uruguay are very similar, as expected, people here are bigger.  Do they eat more of the delicious meat that both countries boast of?  Is it the different strain in the mate?  I don’t know - but I have seen enough to come to arrive at this observation.

Gordo... [Read more]

Five Fabulous Foods in Greece

As the pine-green tour bus wound its way through the tree-laden mountains of central Greece, I had to bite my lip and focus on deep, cleansing breaths. No, I was not hyperventilating from the height, and our driver was a model of road decorum. I was attempting to restrain myself from inquiring of my seat mate what on earth had possessed her to travel all the way to Greece—the land of olive oil and antiquities—to order... [Read more]

Dinner at Montevideo

It’s 12:43 in the morning here in the Ciudad Vieja (the touristy part of the center of the city).  I have just returned from eating dinner with a new Uruguayan friend.  This doesn’t sound strange, does it?  Dinners always can run late with a few drinks and good times had right?

Except by the time we finished walking around and decided on a place, it was already 11PM. 

“Do you usually... [Read more]

Montevideo’s Banking

I’ve become a bit tired of getting charged five dollars, at least, on every transaction I enter into on the ATMs out here.  Well, I haven’t used them that much yet, but I will get tired of them very soon.  So off to the Banco Republica de Uruguay I went today.  I went to open up a bank account.

I walked into the bank at 1:15 PM, fifteen minutes after it apparently opened for the day. Is that... [Read more]

Back to the Kalahari Desert

I’m back to the Kalahari Desert, now in Botswana, trying to remind
myself that my feelings about authoritarian governments and regimes
are not to be confused with my feelings about Africa. Travel is harder
here. The National parks are expensive to access, and bush-camping is
dangerous – too many elephants walking around. I try not to get too
annoyed with the armed men who stop the car... [Read more]

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