Woke up this morning on some straw mat in a room I had never seen before. This was fine as I'm used to sleeping on hard surfaces. The confusion became clearer as the fog lifted from the sleep deprived mind and I vaguely remembered landing in Narita, Japan last night. The drive to this guesthouse was a blur - but I do remember the driver turning off his engine at every stop light, turning off his lights every time he stopped and driving with both … [Read more...]
Back to Thailand
We landed back in our home base of Thailand after an amazing time in Africa - enjoying such a variety of activities and experiences that only this continent can deliver. This was in my top 5 best trips taken so far. My heart is still in Africa while my body is in Thailand enjoying the Thai spices of life which include the food and the 5+ hour spa's in Bangkok. We arrived back in Bangkok mid day from Ethiopia. Lucky we had our yellow fever cards … [Read more...]
Visiting Narita and Tokyo
Narita Airport is a major hub airport for both Japan and all of the Asian Pacific rim. Hundreds of flights arrive and depart daily. We have flown here a number of times and on long layovers enjoy visiting both nearby Narita and the Tokyo metropolitan region. The airport itself has two major terminals (1 and 2) and a bus provides transportation between each one. The airport is modern, has free WiFi in a number of selected WiFi stations and for … [Read more...]
Tales from the Desert Kuwait
Staring out at the blackened waters of the Persian Gulf from high atop our hotel room near old town Kuwait City. The sun has obviously set and we are free to go out on the streets and eat food. 8 more days of Ramadan await us and our daylight appetites. Upon flying in our flight attendant enthusiastically made an announcement, "If you would like to see a spectacular view of desert sand, please pull down your window shades". Based on her tone … [Read more...]
2011 DietDetective.com Airline Food Investigation
NEW YORK, NY (NOVEMBER 22, 2011) According to Airline Transportation Association, there will between roughly 23 million passengers traveling over this Thanksgiving season. Knowing what are the "best" and "worst" choices is a valuable tool for any traveler, so DietDetective.com once again rated the best "Calorie Bargains" and "Calorie Rip-offs" at 35,000 feet. DietDetective.com issued the 2011 Airline Food Survey rating foods for eight … [Read more...]
The Lovely Inishowen Peninsula and More
As our plane dipped down below the mist, patchwork fields of green came into view. Then we went in for the landing in Belfast and could see sheep in a nearby pasture. This was hard to explain, but I felt like I was entering into an ancient homeland. Maybe because my family had distant Irish ancestry. My sister-in-law met my mother, sister and I and we went by car to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal along the coast to Moville. The … [Read more...]
Travel like you’re in First Class without breaking the Bank
Six Luxury Travel Tips From The Experts Who Brought You The "Virtual Visits" iPhone App Want to travel in style but don't have the budget? The free "Virtual Visits" app, from the luxury boutique travel provider Spirit Quest Tours, lets you live the dream from the comfort of your own home, taking you to 26 exotic locales around the world, right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. The simple, elegant app contains a mix of familiar spots, … [Read more...]
Travel Therapy
Travel Therapy by Karen Schaler We had just arrived home after yet another long International trip and were suffering from the throes of jet lag when we spied this book sitting on top of our pile of books to review. The cover looked nice, an empty beach, clear water and an empty beach chair just waiting for us. Sure, this is what the Dr. ordered, more travel as a kind of therapy to recover from travel! This is the latest book from Emmy award … [Read more...]
TIME Style & Design “Jetsetters”
Time.com has interviewed 12 fairly well known jet setters and asked their opinions and tips for jet lag, places they will not revisit again, travel companions, favorite cities, packing tips, airport suggestions and much more. Each "jet setter" also lists some of their favorite travel items. Superstar tennis pro Maria Sharapova says her favorite carry on item is her phone charger, because "...if my bags get lost, I would be more upset about … [Read more...]
Polar Dreams Iceland
I land with jet lag after a simple 4 hour flight. Too short for sleep and too long to stay awake. There quarters of Iceland is covered in ice yet when we arrive to sparkling Reykjavik, there is no snow. Surely global warming is a reality if there's not even a flake in mid-February! We embark on a city tour to see the famous sites followed by hotel check in and grateful that we are in the heart of town. Everyone enjoys the Viking style … [Read more...]