COME ALONG AND EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH US
My wife and I love to travel and experience other cultures from around the world. Although we most often get a street-level view of the places we travel, this doesn’t mean we don’t occasionally splurge. Travel along with us as we explore the world!
A Taste of Indonesia in Bali
The town of Ubud proves to be the perfect place for me to relax and recover from surfing injuries. Full of spiritual and kind Hindu vibes, it has so many temples that some of them have turned into guest houses. Meanwhile, the intrepid Marilynn braves scooter clogged...
Bali, Indonesia for Beginners
Sit in a surf bar. Sip a Bali Hai beer. Stare at the ocean bobbing with surfer hard bodies and string bikinis. Even a breeze over the waves cannot cool our sweat soaked bodies. Eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit has a feel of one-hundred-one degrees (38 C) in this...
Final Few Days to See Sicily
We must cram in more activities before our time in Sicily ends. Start with a no-brainer, a final visit to the local fish market. I opt for squid rather than octopus. Gently pull off the little fella’s slimy head, save the savored tentacles, skin the body, and then cut...
Mt. Etna, Horsemeat, and More!
Time to rent a car and go hike Mt. Etna. Need to pull ourselves away from this comfortable room with a view and at least do reconnaissance. Driving in Sicily will freak you out at first with all the unwritten rules of disregarding street lines, red lights, and stop...
Buongiorno! From Catania, Sicily
After a sleepless night of continuous New Year’s fireworks, we took a seven-hour fast train from Naples to Catania, Sicily. Did not bring any food. Oops. No food is available on this train, except for a snack vending machine. It will not hurt us to “fast” a bit...
Christmas to New Years in Naples, Italy
“You geta outa right here.” Our taxi driver from the airport stops. “Canna drive no more too many people.” He points to the general direction of our hotel. We trudge and twist through jubilant crowds that cram the streets and alleys of Naples on Christmas evening. Di...
The Isle of Crete
“Let’s go see Crete,” Marilynn says, “It has cool temperatures in the mid-sixties and seventies, and we’ve never been to Greece.” Sounds great. I am in. Anything to get out of this sweltering heat in Tbilisi, Georgia. Off we go to Crete. A most beautiful, historical,...
Armenia: On a Tour of Life
Meet two tour guides that we have utilized during recent travels - Pavel, from Russia, and Oksana, from Ukraine. They share their different perspectives and experiences relative to the war in Ukraine. Pavel, who led us through the Greater Caucasus Mountains for about...
Finding Peace in Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains (Lesser and Greater)
A car comes speeding towards us head on. I grab our driver’s shoulder from the backseat and scream, “Look out!” He swerves at the last minute to avoid a head on collision. “Put down that ‘friggin’ phone!” He shrugs as if it is no big deal. And it is not a big deal...
The Booming Beach Town of Batumi on the Black Sea
Welcome to Georgia’s bustling seaside resort town of Batumi. We look forward to a long rest in an extended stay in one place. Need to do laundry (every piece of clothing could grow mushrooms), workout, and sleep to the sound of Black Sea waves. Not so fast. Our 31st...
Hiking the Greater Caucasus Mountains of Georgia
Glaciers and snow-capped mountains in the distant landscape fire us up. Bouncing around in the backseat of a minivan on twisty mountain roads for hours never felt better once we enter this remote Svaneti region of Georgia. We will hike through the Greater Caucasus...
Travel To Georgia (The Country)
Travel is not always easy and fun. Several hours prior to our red-eye flight from Warsaw, Poland to Tbilisi, Georgia, we must have eaten bad mussels. I now agree with Anthony Bourdain’s advice to never order mussels in a restaurant. A Junior High wrestling team from...
Walking in Warsaw, Poland
Looking for cheap airfare to Tbilisi, Georgia, Marilynn books a last minute flight to Warsaw, Poland. "It's not that far away from Georgia," she says. "Get us a nice hotel where we can recover from jet lag for a few days." Okay, I reserve a four-night stay in Warsaw,...
GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!
Dramatic changes strike us on the golden beach of Nha Trang since last being here over twenty years ago. High rise condo-hotels line the road like a mini-Miami beach. This once sleepy town has grown up. We book a sea view, studio condo for one whole month and are...
Fantastic Finish in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The sheer size of Kuala Lumpur (KL) shocks us at first sight. Coming from our historical wooden boutique hotel with just eleven rooms in George Town, Penang (pop 150,000), to the modern “Hotel Stripes,” in the center of Malaysia’s capital city of 8 million-plus,...
STREET FOOD, ART AND LIGHTS: Penang, Malaysia
Sizzling woks, boiling pots, and crowds at food stands overwhelm our senses while walking the streets in George Town, the multicultural capital of Penang. Exotic scents carry a mixture of chilis, spices and curries that combine with meats, fish, soup, and incense. A...
Next Stop is not Vietnam, it’s Singapore
After four hours of waiting at the airport, the airline cancelled our flight to Vietnam. Another hour of trying to negotiate with overwhelmed airlines for an alternative flight leaves us hopeless. Time to call for a ride back home. Not flying anywhere on this day. We...
UGANDA AND RWANDA: Giraffes, Gorillas, and Genocide
Feeling quite the cultural contrast landing in Kampala, Uganda after five weeks of travel through Scotland and Wales. Intrepid Travel shall accommodate us for the next week along the way to trek, with hopes of spotting mountain gorilla families. Pretty nice having a...
Welcome to Wales!
We walk on cobblestone streets through a village that could be an illustration in a book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Legend has it that this northern mountain town of Beddgelert derives its name from an Irish Wolfhound, by the name of “Gelert“, a dog of medieval Welsh...
Goodbye Scottish Highlands, Hello City Life!
Driving into Scotland’s “Fair City” of Perth provides advanced training for left side driving skills in more populous traffic. So far so good. Home of the Scone Palace and the Scottish Black Watch Museum, we are on a mission to track down information about my Scottish...
Blowing in the Wind on Scotland’s Isle of Skye
Just when we think that the Scottish scenery cannot get more enticing, well, it does. Welcome to the Isle of Skye. We look forward to taking a break and resting a bit in a remote, self-catering cabin. This one sits in farm country on a coral beach at one of three...
Walk and Drive the Scottish Highlands
The lure of fresh seafood, mountain walks, and harbor views pulls us on a long drive from John O’Groats to the coastal town of Ullapool. Our room with a view sits above the Ferry Boat Inn restaurant in the heart of this small town. A leisurely walk to the lighthouse...
HELLO SCOTTLAND!
Finally, we make it to Scotland! After three previous arrangements were cancelled due to COVID, our plane arrives in London for the last leg of our journey. Not so fast, Gatwick airport bulges with confused crowds, and all flights out have been cancelled due to...
Madeira Island, Made for Mountain Hiking
We have one final week to finish tramping around the mountains of Portugal's Island of Madeira. Must wake early tomorrow for a drive up to Madeira’s third highest peak, “Pico do Areeiro,” and catch sunrise over the jagged mountains. Shades of light over the rocks need...
Making the Most of Madeira Island, Portugal
After two months of travel in the Canary Islands, we fly to the Portuguese Island of Madeira. We will end our three-months of international adventure here with another stay in a "Cliff Residence" that hangs over the ocean. Ships pass below while planes zoom above the...
Finishing Marilynn’s List (The Canary Island of La Palma)
Steel “fence nets” give us protection from falling boulders and broken branches as we drive the twisted road across the lush northern tip of La Palma Island. Ominous clouds, patches of fog, rain and gusty winds keep us trapped in the car. Thus, hiking to see the...
Chillin’ on the Canary Island of La Palma
Whew. What a relief. We relax among the lack of crowds on La Palma Island. Much less traffic, and rarely do cars ride our rear while driving the twisty roads. Our new rental car comes with an automatic transmission that relieves a bit of stress on these ninety-degree...
Advance Travel Plans Are Overrated
Good thing that we purchase one-way tickets most of the time when traveling. Our tour to trek and sight Gorilla families in Uganda and Rwanda has cancelled. Among legitimate reasons for the cancellation, the overwhelming one for us concerns the possible transmission...
What Goes Up Must Come Down On Tenerife Island
Sip a refreshing brew and listen to the ocean waves crash on the rocks below. Sit on the edge of a cliff at the aptly named “Cliff House” in Tenerife, one of Spain’s Canary Islands and gaze at the rugged volcanic coastline. Breathe in the fresh wind current. Hard to...
Terrific Travel in Tenerife, Spain’s Canary Islands
A few months ago, Marilynn purchased one-way airline tickets to Madrid, and then onward to accommodations on Spain’s Canary Island of Tenerife. That was back when international travel opened up to several places in the world with great discounts. Since then, she has...
Adventure to Madrid, Spain
This adventure marks our first time traveling international in exactly two years. (Click for Dijbouti Adventure). All the angst leading up to the date of departure multiplies by ten times with yet the latest known mutation of Covid-19. Thousands of cancelled flights...
From the Pennsylvania Wilds to the Catskills of New York
We have grown tired of truck camping. Seems like spending the summer looking for a cool place to sleep has also turned into looking for a dry place to sleep. We got chased out of the northwest by smoke from massive wildfires, and now have gotten rained out of the...
Primitive Glamping Near the Oregon Coast
Finally, we find a dive bar. Amidst all the breweries with their eight-dollar thick beers, upscale “bar food," and revamped downtowns, the American icon dive bar is facing extinction. Nice to find a place where they open the doors before eleven o’clock in the morning,...
A Cool Place to Sleep in the Summer of 2021
I write this from the desk of a hotel in downtown Portland, OR. What a welcome luxury after about a month of camping in the woods. In-between Wagyu burgers, oysters, craft beer, pizza, sushi, martinis, live music, and dancing in the streets, trying to remember our...
Feeling Fine in Florida
Neither one of us thought that we would like Florida very much. It brings up images of grumpy old pensioners and wild spring breakers. Time to splurge on a penthouse condo anyway, just for somewhere different to go. Take a break from our road trip and hang out for a...
EMERGE AND SPLURGE: Road Trip USA
After many months of camping during “lockdown” last year, much of it dispersed and remote, Marilynn sets the rules straight for this year. “It was a great summer, but I’m burnt out on camping,” she says. “The last thing I need to do is get remote. It’s time to go out...
The Majestic Mount Rainier
The United States has some of the most beautiful wilderness in the world. In the midst of madness lose yourself for a few minutes in the peace and serenity of the mountains and woods that surround us. Breathe in some of Marilynn’s photos. Welcome to Mt. Rainier...
Our Private Oregon
After leaving Phoenix two months ago, we find ourselves a bit exhausted from primitive camping. Lifting coolers, constant shifting of our gear from the back of the truck to the front cab to “bear proof” camp, sleeping like canned sardines in the truck bed, cooking,...
Feast on Oregon’s Coastal Delights
Huge RV’s dwarf our tiny Tacoma pickup truck in McKinley's Marina & RV Park. “This could be the only campsite left on the Oregon coast,” Marilynn says. “Everybody comes here on the weekend when it is hot in Portland, especially since coronavirus. We’re lucky to...
Oh, Idaho!
Cool nighttime temperatures provide our main destination point for truck camp navigation. After leaving Phoenix, AZ about seven weeks ago, we wondered how long we could live in the truck. Little did we know that campsites and scenery keep getting better. Each time we...
Camping and Glamping Montana
Let's go truck "glamping." Our friend Dawn's lake house sits smack on the shore of Echo Lake. The Beartooth Mountains surround this relatively small lake situated in the Flathead Valley. The area is also home to Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the...
Montana Road Trippin’
Great to get back on the road again in our Tacoma pickup truck. As we approach an intersection of routes, I ask Marilynn, “Which way should I go?" She shrugs. “I don’t know.” We have googled so many campgrounds, forests, and parks that the infinite number of places to...
The Woods Be The Place To Be
As temperatures soar in Arizona, we decide to head out and see how long we can live in our Tacoma Pick-up truck. Any high altitude and cool woods will suffice for our survival. We have to get out. I know that a lot of you know what I mean. The woods keep proving to be...
Blazing Trails in Djibouti, Africa
The Afar people who live in the mountains near Mt. Goda haven’t seen such a green landscape for the past twenty-five years. Rare, torrential rains this past November surprised many. Our tour group walks through Foret du Day National Park (Dead Forest), which takes its...
Getting High and Low in Djibouti, Africa
The ride back seems faster, as we backtrack and bounce over the road that brought us to the limestone chimneys. After a repeat of yesterday’s lunch in Dikhil, we soon roll down the windows through twisty mountain roads and let cool winds refresh our faces. We’re on...
Into the Boonies of Djibouti, Africa
After seeing all there is to see in Djibouti City, we meet with the tour group and guides arranged through Intrepid Tours. Introductions reveal nine tourists: two from Canada, three from Germany (one originally from South Africa), three from the USA (including us)...
Djibouti, Africa: Djibouti City
“Where’s Djibouti?” Says everyone who asks where we’re going next. I first heard of this Northeastern African country about fifteen-years ago when reading a report about a man who was arrested for smuggling “khat” into the United States. My research revealed that khat...
Travel On…, Camp in West Virginia and Kentucky Bourbon Country
Hello, readers. It's been several months since we have posted anything about travel. My father passed away last July, while we were traveling in Columbia, and we came back to my hometown for several months. The hearthache will never go away, but it's time to get busy...
Argentina, From Solar Eclipse to Freaking Out in Iguazu Falls
A one-hour ferry ride takes us from Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since we’re in the area, let's chase the solar eclipse! I thought about taking Tango lessons, but where would I ever Tango? Nah, let’s eat. One cannot go wrong with “Bife’...
Uruguay, “Because Here Nobody Is Better Than Anybody Else”
"Where nobody is better than anybody else" is Uruguay's motto. It rings in our ears as a powerful statement. The smallest country by population (3.3 million) in South America and about the size of Oklahoma, only Suriname is smaller size-wise. With more sheep than...
Along the Way to Banos and Cuenca, Ecuador
Riding in a speeding bus swinging around “S” curves for hours, climbing through 14,000 feet altitude equates to extreme nausea, at least for me. Meanwhile, Marilynn marvels at the high-altitude scenery, snaps photos, and chats with others as if at a party. The reality...
Getting High in Otavalo, Ecuador
Let’s get high. Way up in an Andean forest. Our driver, Julio, points out groups of Venezuelan families walking along the road from Otavalo to Quito. They left their devastated country on foot in search of work and a better life. A harsh reminder of nearby troubles....
A Taste of Quito, Ecuador
The slightest effort makes us huff and puff in the 9,350 feet altitude of Quito, Ecuador’s second largest city. Quito also ranks as the second highest capital city on earth. Our stomachs feel great, so out we walk to La Ronda street in Old Town searching for a taste...
Chillin’ on the Beach in Canoa, Ecuador
Sipping a few beers on a third-floor balcony overlooking the ocean brings temporary relief to our healing stomachs. Watching the fishermen provides all the Zen chillin’ we need. “Fisher people” describes the scene more accurately, as “it takes a village” to prepare...
Stumbling Around Guayaquil, Ecuador
Whew, the travel warnings for most of Ecuador create expectations of getting robbed while walking the streets. Don’t take out your cellphone for photo while near a crowd. Don’t carry anything you are not prepared to lose to a thief, etc., a theme of petty crime from...
Copenhagen, Denmark
Bicycles dominate the city of Copenhagen. More folks bike to work than drive cars, by a long shot. Tourist beware, because stepping into a bike lane could get you a scolding or bruising. Walk with your head on a swivel, and you’ll be just fine. Once off the bikes...
West Coast of Greenland – Final Chapter!
Snowmobiles sleigh us through snow covered mountains and tundra hinterlands to a small colony of igloos, where we shall sleep tonight. Immediately we notice a toilette made of snow, with a green bag hanging under a plastic seat. A “loo with a view” for sure. Anders,...
Welcome to the West Coast of Greenland (Part II)
After a “stick-to-your-ribs” dinner of local delights, including musk ox, reindeer, cod, and halibut, it’s time to gaze at the northern lights before bed. Our tour group celebrates boarding a two-prop plane in the morning for a flight up the west coast to the town of...
Welcome to the West Coast of Greenland (Part I)
We rarely travel with tour groups. A guided tour makes sense in a place like Greenland, if you want to see a lot in a little amount of time. So, off we go, on a four and one-half-hour flight from Copenhagen, Denmark to Kangerlussuaq (which we call the “K town"),...