I often ask people I meet if they could go anywhere in the world, where they’d choose. One of the most common answers is often a place that the majority of travelers are unlikely to visit- a game park in Africa. For many of us, just mentioning the name of the continent conjures up images of lions chasing gazelles on the Serengeti and giraffes...
I first saw a picture of Antelope Canyon on a Windows screensaver. I wondered if it was even a real place since it looked more like a CGI image than something that could actually exist on our planet. As I looked up more information about this remarkable canyon, I realized that I had a growing list of beautiful places in Arizona that I never knew existed. Two weeks...
The most famous western shootout in American history lasted less than 30 seconds. Almost 140 years later, the town of Tombstone daily relives the gun battle between Doc Holliday, the Earp brothers and “the cowboys”. Visiting Tombstone is like being at a cowboy renaissance festival where you’re not sure who’s acting and who just really really likes to pretend to live...
I had been traveling in Asia for the last 2 weeks with a friend of mine. We were booked on all the same flights except for getting to and from Kuala Lumpur from Los Angeles. On our return segments we were traveling alone but both had long stopovers in China. My friend had 11 hours in Shanghai and I had 10 in Shenzhen. We both had almost run out of US...
When I tell my friends about Bali, their eyes glaze over like I’m talking about visiting Mars or Timbuktu. Bali conjures up exotic images of crystal blue waters, dancers, temples and seems so far away. Well, yes it is far away, but it’s not that expensive to get to, and once you’re there, you’ll want to keep coming back. Bali has it all. Now is the perfect time to go...
I had been obsessing about snapping some photos of Brunei’s most famous denizens, the Proboscis monkeys. Besides the fact that I’m fascinated by one of the weirdest creatures on the planet, I could hardly wait to visit The Royal Kingdom of Brunei to tag my 172nd country. There’s always been something mysterious to me about this little monarchy sandwiched together...
“Where did you come from?” the official asked. “San Luis Potosí” I answered. “Why? Do you have family there?” “No” I replied. “I just wanted to see some waterfalls and get away from the cold weather”. He eyed me suspiciously. Very few people do such a thing and he thought I might be up to questionable activities. I got sent into the “check them extra good” lane...
After the September 11 attacks, airline travel was forever changed by new regulations and tightened security. To make things worse, in 2001 Richard Reid unsuccessfully tried to light a bomb hidden in his shoe on an American Airlines flight. The incident spurred a new rule requiring passengers to remove and screen their footwear. Then, in 2006, a plot was uncovered in...
I visit cemeteries. Not so much because I have a fascination with them or dead people. I have just found it extremely interesting to visit a city and see if there’s anyone notable buried there that I may have heard of. Then I go visit them: rock stars, movie stars, famous magicians, or even presidents have ended up on my list. I don’t know if I like the...
“A goal not written is only a wish” Anonymous A fellow traveler and I were discussing upcoming trips and she proudly announced that she was going to be a passenger in a hot air balloon at the Albuquerque balloon festival. I had been there 2 years before and and it was amazing. We started comparing must-see lists and then she pulled out what looked...