The opening up of China is a stirring idea. A foreigner traveling alone today is privileged to see more of China than almost any Chinese has seen in his or her lifetime. I wondered what we could learn-traveling alone. Our images and ideas of China have surely been contradictory and distorted over time. In the years of the Cultural Revolution after 1966 tens of millions of Chinese had become the instruments of their own terror...a million were … [Read more...]
A Thai Wedding Story
Sawasdee kha friends! Part I I find myself writing this email several hours after my brother's village Thai wedding, while sitting in the comfortably air-conditioned "business center" of our hotel. It's not often on my travels that I am left without words to describe my experiences, but for once I feel that this email can never fully articulate the feel of the last 24 hours. When we left Bangkok yesterday I was eager to return to the … [Read more...]
Welcome to Thailand: Where taxis, tuk-tuks, boats, elephants, sky train, motorbikes, and mini-buses merge for your convenient transportation.
December 7, 2002 Greetings all from Bangkok, Thailand!!! Bangkok leaves me speechless because it is so utterly different and fascinating. I have no words to describe it, but I'll do my best. The 30-hour trip began by wandering the solitary back roads of Oregon and ended in the heart of crowded, congested, and polluted Bangkok. We were met by Syy and Jim in the airport and whisked away to our "hotel." Outside of this hotel were the slums of … [Read more...]
Arequipa, Peru – Santa Catalina Convent
Santa Catalina convent is a city in and of itself. Visitors can choose a guided tour from one of several languages, wander among the convent individually, or as I chose to do - combine self touring with guided touring. Guides are all women, smartly dressed in gray/light blue suits. There is no set fee for their guiding services; visitors decide what to pay them at the end of the tour (lasting approximately 90 minutes). I spent 3/4 of my time … [Read more...]
Las Vegas, NV – Night Clubs
Hakkasan is located in the middle of the MGM Grand, one of the largest casinos in the world. NOTE: Studio 54 has now closed, essentially replaced by this latest casino hotspot, Hakkasan (a more intriguing, sensual and mysterious sounding name then Studio 54 ever was). Hakkasan is close to the pinnacle of Vegas nightclubs and party spots in North America, if not the World. First of all, to enter Hakkasan you have to pass through the largest … [Read more...]
Biosphere, AZ – July 2002
Near Tucson, Arizona is the Biosphere II, a modern-day $200 million dollar tightly sealed ecosystem. It was originally constructed to determine if people could live for a particular length of time in a sealed environment. Now its used for research, education and public outreach activities. General tours are given daily except on Christmas Day - Reservations are recommended for the "Under the Glass Tour." The general tours take about 2.5 hours … [Read more...]
Sherlock Holmes Museum, London – August 2001
Sherlock Holmes Museum London - If you are ever in London, England step back in time and be sure to visit the World's Most Famous Address which is the Sherlock Holmes Museum located at 221 b Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson lived at 221b Baker Street between 1881-1904, according to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Today the inside of the house is kept in the same style as in Victorian times. The museum is open … [Read more...]
Xcalak, Mexico – Tierra Maya Lodge
Mentioned as one of the top ten places to stay in Mexico by the Lonely Planet Travel Guide. Hotel Tierra Maya opened in December of 1998; the name of the property was later renamed to Tierra Maya Lodge (contact information here). This is a beautiful self-contained fishing resort not yet discovered by the droves of people that frequent more popular regions of northern Yucatan. As their brochure states, "a vacation here is a union of luxury and … [Read more...]
Bishop, CA – Annual Events
March - Blake Jones Trout Derby - More information about this event including pre-registration info can be found on the following website: www.bishopvisitor.com/blake-jones-trout-derby April - Annual pilgrimage of Japanese-Americans to Manzanar. Call (760) 878-2932 for more details. May - Memorial Day Weekend Mule Days. This is a major event for the town of Bishop. Thousands of people come from all over California and beyond for this. … [Read more...]
Key West, Fl – Events
The following are typical events held throughout the year. Some of these are annual and some are held off and on again depending on the year. All are in the (305) area code. January Yachting Race Week 617.639.9545 House and Garden Tour #1 294.9501 Annual Key West Crafts Show 294.1241 Half Shell Half Marathon 296.7182 February House and Garden Tour 294.9501 Key West Beer Fest 296.7611 Wesley House Benefit 292-7150 House and Garden … [Read more...]