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 ON THE WRITE PATH: travel journal for Around-the-World in 2015, 16, 18. |
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For there are many paths.  A tlog. A travel blog. A keeping-track of my trials, er.. travels. February 26, 2015 until ... June 18,2015. January 12, 2016 until February 15, 2016. November 13 to 30 2018 ... 2019, 2020: Taiwain. I went nowhere in 2021. 2022: Portugal, Thailand. Will include: Hawai'i, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Untied Arab Emirates, Portugal, Norway, Ireland and... (2015) ... Norway and Estonia (2016), México (2018), Taiwan, Balkans, Baltics, Turkey, Costa Rica, Nicaragua. Vi får se.  "Where I have traveled, stayed and visited. Over 181 places."     |
 @ Peach Springs, Arizona. Who needs a raft when I've got the boat I sleep in, snug-as-a-crypt and certified that it's sealed against intrusion by water, light or the deadly aroma of Greeks cooking Garlic. I know a white-water guide, said hello to her today. Mandela was wearing a captains hat. The Grand Canyon? What's that. Level 3? Piece of cake, except for those that don't pay attention and do what she says. Their lives are in her hands and she refuses to lose any. Ah... the Colorado... No worse than some flights during thunder-and-lightning or a hearse with a bad suspension. I have motion sickness, even after all these years... Sing it Simon!  |
| Wisdom found on the internet about Rick Steves: "When trying to converse with someone who speaks another language, Steves says to “Use what Voice of America calls ‘simple English.’” Just like you might know a few very basic words of the native language of the country you’re in, most people know at least some common English words. “Speak clearly… no contraction. No slang,” Steves advises. Speak slowly, for one, articulate your words and stick to the basics—both in English and the country’s native language. Full sentences are overwhelming and harder to follow for anyone new to a language. Steves gives a good example of what he’d say if trying to convey that his car was broken in Portugal: “Auto caput.” These words are pretty universally used and understood regardless of language, so it would do the trick." In essence: 1. speak slow 2. speak clear 3. basics I manage but I'd add: 4. patience is a virtue and 5. if you are frustrated don't show it. I know about these because I've broken the rules many times. I would also say: look people in the eyes, notice their reactions (facial and body), be careful using your hands (not appropriate in Japan, inadvisable in many places as gestures are not universal, don't point with the fingers, motion with an open hand). Oh... and good luck. Remember that you can depend upon the kindness of strangers most of the time. |
| Bueng Phlan Chai, Roi Et island within an island — sunset across water [42a] On the riverbank of the Pasak, Ayutthaya slow river eddies — herons perched on garbage bags [42b] Bueng Kaen Nakhon, Khon Kaen small white poodle — coffee and chit-chat [42c] Earth in Udon Thani making roti with banana — a sunny smile [42d] Phimai ruins behind ruins — a rush to the rest room [42e] Korat unshod devotion to Ya Mo — butter buns [42f] Thao Suranari (Thai: ท้าวสุรนารี; 1771–1852) is the royally bestowed title of Lady Mo, also known as Ya Mo (ย่าโม, "Grandma Mo"), Bangkok Slur out loud — volcanic outrage erupts [42g] Suzie in Phuket a tatted foreigner — bikinis poolside [42h] |
🚀 Whatever you pack for me! Bought the tickets yet? I'm available 366.  🛩️ Most connecting flights have no food; airport food is expensive; so, I'll pack something like cookies or sandwiches. ✈️ Long flights have food so I don't worry but layovers can be tricky and entering another country with food is often forbidden (looking at you Australia). I eat everything on a plane (drink lots of juice, water, coffee) and usually travel with an empty bottle for water (however, some airports didn't have fountains... CDG). 🚌 If they stop for a break I can carry less. Water is sometimes provided. Some buses have snacks! Stations in Thailand usually have vendors inside and outside. Jojos (potato wedges) are common in the NW US.    Various snacks (a sackful) but some have dining cars (US) or vendors who walk through (grilled chicken in Thailand, especially Khon Kaen). There's usually a place to buy snacks on ferries in Norway: lapskaus, svele, pølse... What's riding in a car like? As a child: M&Ms to settle my stomach.Truthfully? I try to figure this out beforehand. Travel is tricky and one should never assume. |
| I'm leaving this open but will add as I go along. 2025 is tricky... will there be some kind of government shut down affecting travel or will Tsar Vladimir and Dictator Donald make holders of american passports vulnerable to being persona-non-grata? Emperor Xi is a wild card. Me personally... 1. multiple short trips versus a couple longer trips? 2. visit old friends and places I've missed. 3. make a list of places I haven't been to / experiences I haven't had. Anyhoo: Costa Rica (Central or south America) Morocco (and SW Europe or Afica) Thailand (SE Asia) USA (Alaska, Kentucky, North-East) Alaska: Inland ferry (cheaper than a cruise) or fly? Possible destinations: Sitka, Petersburg, Fairbanks. SIT (Sitka) as cheap as $197 one-way but stops in Juneau or Ketchikan and possible overnight in Seattle? KTN (Ketchikan) 7 hours and $263 one-way. JNU (Juneau) $233 and 5 hours. JNU - SIT $109 JNU - KTN $143 KTN - SIT $183 direct; $113 through JNU (2 1/2 hours) SIT - KTN is similar. JNU - FAI $285 thru ANC (5 hours) JNU - ANC $181 direct JNU - ANC (through YAK (Yakutak) and CDV (Cordova) $176 4+ hours. ANC - FAI $112 direct Lodging is very expensive. Very little under $100/night. Juneau/Ketchikan around $90/n; Petersburg $200+; Sitka more. Nothing listed in Yakutat or Cordova. Billie's in Fairbanks is $46/n. No direct flights to Iceland. Alaska cruise: Norwegian Jade: 542/7days April 28 Viking: 5,000. Ferry: Alaska Marine Highway Year-round but season begins in May March 7, 14, 21... $968 Bellingham-Skagway $435 Juneau March 9 $182 Wrangell-Juneau ADDED 3 APRIL MSO 4/20-5/14 -Rabat 746/946 -CMN 746-956 -OPO 731/931 -LIS 834 (KLM/AF) -HEL 614/814 MSO 4/23-5/20 -OSL 625 (KLM/AF) MSO 4-21-5/20 -Oaxaca 546 -PUJ DR 608 -SJO 600-700 on UA, AA, AS no Delta seen -LIR 500-600 ditto MCO -SJO 451 on Jet Blue MSO-MCO 393 on DL or UA MEX -SJO 300 AM AV MSO -CNX 977 AS-Eva about 1000 on ExP Hanoi, Saigon, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore similar -HND 974 ANA (Cheaper on Delta) -DXB 1105 AS EK (2 flights) -Karachi 1300 -Oman 1492 -JoBurg 928 AA BA Hahaha -NBO 930-1276 -Cairo 967 AS QR -ATH 807-1007 DL MSO -Quito 961 DL ADDED APRIL 15 I'm concerned. I'm back into routines and my writing is doing better imho; but, if I don't travel soon I may give into this old body grumbling about getting on a plane. It already doesn't want to get out-of-bed. Traveling in the USA is dicey as there are few places to visit that I can afford to pay for a bed. Hotels are expensive and hostels are few and not-so-cheap. In the US I'd want to visit Alaska and Kentucky. Mississippi and Baltimore are still on my list but since they've been talking about a train ... forever ... my options are few. Even bus isn't cheap. Baltimore: one place under $50 Kentucky: 10 places under $50, only one rated 8.0+ Lagos, Portugal: 22 under $30. TAG is $115 for 4 nights. (29/) Evora, Portugal: 5 under $40. Old Evora is $75 for 3 nights. (25/) Lisboa, Portugal: 107 under $40. The Independente is 98 for 3 nights. {33/) Porto, Portugal: 33 under $40. Best Guest is $81 for 3 nights. (27/) Faro, portugal: 12 under $30. Tilia $89 (30/); Faroway $68 (23/); Madalena $83 (28/) Added 4/25 MSO-POS Trinidad May 13-20 $798 MSO-Barca 789 MSO-ATH 809 MSO-DXB 1.000 MSO-Delhi 1.117 MSO-BKK 1.101 MSO-Denpasar 1.107 MSO-Cebu 1.160 MSO-Sydney 1.407 MSO-Tahiti 1.135 MSO-Nadi 1.153 Florianópolis 1.213 Santa Cruz BLV 784 La Paz 861 Quito 733 Calí 687 Bogotá 678 SJO 410 Guate 432 Guadalajara 396 Santo Domingo 639 Rabat 954 Accra 1.214 6726-7342 |
| An answer to my friend Jean when I asked about her favorite places in México: "So... a thumbs up to Mérida and a thumbs down to Guadalajara. Extra points for mentioning the Mayan train. I don't do groups nor tours but as I age I may have to consider that. I try to stay as close to the historical center as possible as I prefer to walk. In Taiwan I prefer Tainan and Chaiyi. In Thailand I fell in love with the smaller cities of SiSaket and Roi Et (Udon Thani was home). In Costa Rica, I really liked Turrialba and Orosi (Pérez Zeledón was home). In Norway, Solvorn and Lillehammer. In Portugal, Lagos and Évora. Lagos is the only beach town on my list; although, I also like Montezuma, CR. Two I would avoid: Prague (too touristy), Cape Town (lovely but a sense of hostility; I didn't feel safe)." Other places to revisit: Tromsø & Trondheim & Ålesund, NO; Göteborg & Ystad, SE; Tallinn, EE; Vilnius, LT; Delft, NL; Paris; Turin, IT; Porto & Lisboa & Tomar & Tavira, PT; Phimai & Nong Khai, TH; Georgetown & Taiping, MY; Luang Prabang, Laos; Gdansk, PL; Lincoln, UK; Cashel & Cork, EI, Beograd, SRB; Sofia, BG; Kotor, MN; Brisbane, AUS; Puebla, MX; Ciudad Quesada & Quepos & La Cruz, CR; Granada, NI; Nara & Yamagata, JP. Why bother? Førde in Norway (nothing there); Luxembourg Ville (beautiful but cold people); Sydney (not my cuppa) & Melbourne (meh), AUS. 6686 |
| Pannya asked me: Why do you travel all the time? I like learning about culture and people. I like seeing new things. The world is a beautiful place with beautiful people. I have much to learn. When I was a child I knew every house and who lived there. When I was a teenager I rode my bicycle everywhere. I knew all the streets. When I worked I knew how to get there when it snowed or when there was too much traffic. This is oversimplified. But it's part of an answer. In Thai: ทำไมคุณเดินทางตลอดเลย ฉันชอบเรียนรู้เกี่ยวกับวัฒนธรรมและผู้คน ฉันชอบเห็นสิ่งใหม่ๆ โลกเป็นสถานที่ที่สวยงามที่มีผู้คนสวยงาม ฉันยังมีอะไรให้เรียนรู้อีกมากมาย เมื่อตอนเป็นเด็ก ฉันรู้จักบ้านทุกหลังและรู้ว่าใครอาศัยอยู่ที่นั่น เมื่อตอนเป็นวัยรุ่น ฉันขี่จักรยานไปทุกที่ ฉันรู้จักถนนทุกสาย เมื่อทำงาน ฉันรู้ว่าจะไปที่นั่นอย่างไรเมื่อหิมะตกหรือเมื่อรถติดมากเกินไป To Jamie: "Part of me wants to wander. Part of me wants a cottage with a garden, a dog at my feet, a cat on my lap and coffee brewing." 6543 |
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