“I’ve got two tickets to paradise. Pack your bags and leave tonight” – Eddie Money In the evening we arrived to the Airai Hotel located conveniently near Palau’s international airport. The Airai hotel staff was welcoming and our hotel room that overlooked the coastline from a distance and the hotel waterpark below us was a spacious and comfortable midrange option. At the restaurant we sampled tasty white snapper pesto served over a bed of … [Read more...]
Touring Koror, Palau
Whenever we arrive to a new place, we attempt to learn about the country. Therefore, our first stop in Palau was the Belau National Museum where the exhibit: “A Cherechar A Lokelii: Palau Through the Years” gave us a detailed introductory education. Strolling through the halls we learned about the past presence and influences of the Spanish, Germans, Japanese and the United States from a historical context. The Spanish first visited Palau in … [Read more...]
Quality Dining Palau Style
Since Jellyfish Lake and the Rock Islands were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in July 2012, more and more seasoned travelers are choosing Palau as a vacation destination. Recent statistics indicate that nearly 100,000 people visit Palau annually. Holidaymakers who have not yet explored Palau’s charms may be yearning to ascertain if the above water cuisine experience matches Palau’s underwater treasures. During our ten-day stay on Palau, … [Read more...]
Puerto Princesa: Recommended Lodging, Eateries, and Sites
With 1,500 people a day arriving to see the sites in and around Puerto Princesa (Philippines), travelers need to know where to stay, what to eat, and where to visit. In the last twelve months, many new accommodation options have opened up including the boutique styled Acacia Tree Garden Hotel and Kamia Bay’s lovely resort. Long time restaurant favorites such as Ka Inato and Kina Buch continue to delight tourists and locals alike with tasty … [Read more...]
The Three Gili’s, Indonesia
Sometimes traveling slowly can be more enjoyable than the "preferred", faster transportation. During our return trip to Gili (a series of islands located just off the northwest tip of Lombok, Indonesia) we meandered rather than take the Gili Cat, a brand new speed boat. We had more time to meet people and ultimately arrived in the Gili's after several days in Senggigi. Gili T seems so different compared to our time here in 2008. Is that why … [Read more...]
Top Five Savvy Reads that feel like Traveling
Can't get away but want to feel like you've traveled? I recommend these five stories to get your Fall full of far-away places that will make you feel as if you did leave home, even if you don't get further than your back yard! The Newlyweds, by Neil Freudenberger This tale about all types of love captured my heart. The story features intercontinental online dating (New York to Bangladesh) and moments in rural Bangladesh, all set against … [Read more...]
Where is the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
Disoriented is a term that means being lost or unclear about where you are. It originated from when the East or the Orient was considered the center of the world. If you have lost the orient you are dis-oriented and are not sure of where you are. From a young age, I have been oriented to travel from when my family moved to Georgia when my dad was in the army or moving to California as a young child or my many years of living at sea. Parts of the … [Read more...]