Major shopping districts in Bangkok include parts of the Suhumvit and Silom areas of Bangkok. Shopping here can be a serious affair for some people - with a number of patrons getting decked out in their finest. And of course there are always a number of dressed down phone toting tourists (looking for the ideal selfie spot), expats and those people watching. It is not hard to shop till you drop in this town - although you won't be dropping from … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Restaurants
In Bangkok, some of the street food can be as good as any of the sit down restaurants and certainly much cheaper. In addition, Thai's pride themselves on cleanliness. Compared to our street food experiences in other countries where we have often gotten sick, we do not get sick from street food in Bangkok. In many parts of Bangkok street food vendors are seemingly everywhere and in certain districts they stay open very late. For example if you … [Read more...]
Xcalak, Mexico – Activities
Banco Chinchorro Banco Chinchorro coral atoll is about 30 miles off shore. This is the largest coral atoll in the northern hemisphere and is littered with the wrecks of sunken ships. As a result it is an attractive area for Scuba divers. Kayaking The coastline near Xcalak offers numerous opportunities for kayaking. The shoreline in this part of Mexico is protected by an offshore coral reef - the second largest in the world just behind … [Read more...]
Catalina, CA – History
Human history on Catalina Island dates from about 7000 BC. The Gabrielino Indians were the first humans to live on the island. Soapstone was plentiful on the island and the natives created bowls and other implements from this rock (and then traded with natives living on the mainland). Juan R. Cabrillo became the first European to set eyes on the island in 1542. In the 1790's the sea otter population suffered tremendously due to the over … [Read more...]
Catalina, CA – Avalon
Avalon is the urban center of Catalina. It is a mix of day trippers, at times - cruise ship passengers and locals. The town is centered around the beautiful waterfront and for good reason - most passengers arrive here and it is a visually stunning part of town that at times almost looks European. The town spreads out into the surrounding hills - featuring older and often colorful wooden buildings. Brightly colored flowering flowing … [Read more...]
Paros, Greece – Ferries
There are many ferries to choose from when sailing to and from Paros. Some are extremely large and are cruise ship like while others are much smaller and transfer passengers to Paros from Athens in several hours. Prices range from 50 Euros to over 85 Euros depending on the class of service you choose. The following site is an excellent source of ferry information including prices, ferry routes and timetables: Greekferries.gr Ferry Service … [Read more...]
Paros, Greece – Attractions
If you rent a car or moped on Paros you can easily discover attractions on your own. Many small quaint towns are located in the center of the island and on the southeast side. Several beaches are best accessed by a moped because of their rugged and more remote locations. Looking for some time to relax, see Parikia, other small towns on the island while also visiting some beaches? I would highly recommend at least 5 days on Paros. Do not just come … [Read more...]
Redding, CA – Nearby Lakes
KESWICK DAM Lake Shasta gets all the recognition, and rightly so, but less then 15 minutes from downtown Redding is another 1940's era dam and reservoir. Keswik Reservoir was named after Lord Keswick, the president of a mining company. This area is rich in mining history (and we have even discovered some small pieces of gold in the surrounding region). Located directly south of Shasta Dam, this reservoir stretches for miles and it's width is … [Read more...]
Europe – Transportation
Finding one's way around a foreign city in the time of pre-Internet was a challenging situation at best taking significant time to avoid getting lost (which invariably happened anyway). One had printed maps that one had to determine their location on before being able to route a course to a desired destination. Not always easy without a digital blue dot to guide you. And road signs were often missing further causing complications. Later some … [Read more...]
Reno, NV – Casinos
For those serious gamblers, for those who perhaps just dabble in gambling, and for those who don't gamble but want to see the action - Reno offers a pleasing diversity of casinos. And most of these casinos feature a large hotel, often in a separate building from the casino (sometimes connected by walkways). The majority of the casinos feature doors that must be pushed open - and once you push through a second set of doors, you are deposited into … [Read more...]