Got into LAX on Friday afternoon and it was so cold as I stood outside waiting for the Flyaway bus I could see my breath. The fog persistently hung next to this part of the coast most of the day while the inland was much much warmer. Classic California micro climates for you! Love the Flyaway buses - they get you right to Union Station downtown where you can connect directly with the metro or metrolink. So easy. Jumped on the red line and like … [Read more...]
Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel, September Meetup
Wanted to squeeze this post in between our continuing Europe trip posts. The Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel (for travel writers and bloggers and those who love to travel) is an excellent monthly networking event held in the Los Angeles area for those in the online travel industry in the LA area. In addition, a local charity is always featured at each meetup (this month its Project Angel Food and a representative gives a short … [Read more...]
Esotouric Black Dahlia Weekend
Go deep inside L.A. crime lore with LAVA's Phil Spector / Black Dahlia weekend Event #1: Saturday, April 16, 12-4pm - Esotouric presents "The Real Black Dahlia" crime bus tour (departs from The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071, $58/person) INFO/RESERVATIONS: Event #2: Sunday, April 17, 2-6pm - Professor Donald Johnson, in association with LAVA and Esotouric, presents a fundraiser lecture/tour … [Read more...]
LA Times Travel Show
The annual Los Angeles Times Travel Show is being held this weekend at the Convention Center downtown. This is the largest travel show on the West Coast of the USA. There's always a number of travel celebs giving talks and in attendance. This year look for Samantha Brown, Arthur Frommer, Huell Howser, Johnny Jet, Andrew McCarthy, Rick Steves, and more! There are more than 500 exhibitors, Trip giveaways and Cultural entertainment. Tickets … [Read more...]
Brunei Blogger Meetups
It was nice to meet up with a number of serious local food and travel bloggers in Bandar Seri Begawan this past week. I knew I wanted to visit Brunei for several months but bought my plane tickets 5 days before the actual flight! @zulfadly found me on Twitter at the last minute and was gracious to show me around the city, especially its culinary offerings as well as introduce me to several of his blogger friends. I met the following … [Read more...]
Kimberly Fisher: Model, Travel Writer & Philanthropist
Kimberly Fisher writes for a number of travel publications and is a prolific traveler. She is also involved with a number of charities (see her bio at the end of this interview). Recently we had the opportunity to ask her about some of her projects, travel advice and travel writing. Q. What was your initial inspiration for traveling? My family has always been very nomadic. We grew up in Alaska and my parents, being … [Read more...]
Travel Bloggers Meet up in Jamaica
JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD HOSTS FIRST-EVER BLOGGERS MEET-UP IN JAMAICA IN CONJUNCTION WITH SECRETS RESORTS & SPAS New marketing effort signals fresh approach to press visit, develops authentic, long-term rapport with influential travel bloggers KINGSTON, JAMAICA - July 23, 2010 - The Jamaica Tourist Board ramped up its social media and marketing efforts with its first-ever 'Bloggers Meet-up in Jamaica.' Jamaica hosted a four-night visit, … [Read more...]
The Huffington Post Launches HuffPost Travel
Online 'Hub' Features News, Opinion, Advice, Photos And Inspiration From Around the World STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS IS LAUNCH SPONSOR New York, NY, July 21, 2010 -- The Huffington Post ('HuffPost'), a leading social news and opinion site, today announces the launch of 'HuffPost Travel' (www.huffingtonpost.com/travel/), a new section featuring up-to-the-minute travel news, travel tips and advice, deals, reviews of hotels, cruises, spas, … [Read more...]
Unity and Help: The Lesson of the Tortoise
Chances are that you've heard the story of the tortoise and the hare before... at least you've heard ONE version of it. In this classic Aesop folktale, the speedy, cocky hare challenges the slow-poke tortoise to a race, and the tortoise shockingly agrees. The race begins! Halfway through the competition, the hare becomes so overconfident at his giant lead that he takes a nap, dreaming of his glorious and easy victory. When the hare … [Read more...]
An Inspirational Refutation of an Uncomfortable Stereotype
"People try to insult me by saying my success is from a falang (foreigner)," said Nate, smiling as she steered us through the moped-filled traffic, "but it's just me." The story that emerged as Nate (in her taxi-service capacity) drove me from her restaurant to the Phuket bus stop was inspirational. But was also a desperately welcome antidote to the uncomfortable Older-Western-Man-funding-Younger-Thai-Woman situation thick on the … [Read more...]