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...
I’ve been to Vegas a lot of times. I’ve never considered myself a high roller except maybe by third world country standards. I’ve never flown to Sin City by helicopter, had afternoon tea with Steve Wynn or played blackjack in the high stakes room. I normally stay in whatever hotel I get on sale, run down to Fremont street at some point and see a...
To be honest, Minneapolis wasn’t high on my travel list until I came across a Spirit Airlines promotion that seemed to good to be true. From Houston, the round trip fare was $46. I can’t even get an Uber to the airport for that. I tweeted the deal and asked my friends and followers if there was anything worthwhile to do there. The response was fast and...
Some of my friends chide me about my world travels and refer to me as Indiana Jones. Maybe it’s the hat I wear when I’m traveling, my bizarre adventures or seemingly near death experiences that I always seem to escape from unscathed. If you saw Raiders of the Lost Ark you probably know that Indiana Jones had to journey...
As I crossed the Arkansas state line into Tennessee, I played “Memphis” by Johnny Rivers. I hoped that the song might put me in a good mood in spite of the speed trap ticket I’d just received from a Arkansas trooper in a one horse town with more police than residents.I passed a giant chrome pyramid as I turned south for...