Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is the first new country I have experienced in a while. Coming off of my three month annual stay in Chiang Mai I looked to see what countries I could explore on my way back to Cape Town at the end of February 2019. Sri Lanka, Oman and Rwanda came up and had been on my list for a long time. I decided I would have an adventure in all three countries, and boy was it…
Do you stay in hostels all the time? This is one of the questions I get quite often, especially when people ask about the budget for an around the world trip. Quite often they are shocked when they find out that the average for the first three years was $23,000.00. The assumption then is that I only stay in hostels, and some fear I may be sleeping in bus stations. I am here to assure those family members and friends…
About four years ago I had a plane ticket to Bucharest and I can’t remember why I didn’t use it. I can safely say it was probably a work related reason. Work always got in the way of my fun. Well, not always but often enough. With a little freedom on my hands I chose to have another go at Bucharest, and I am glad I did.
I have procrastinated a long time on doing this post because I have so much to share. But if i do it all in Twitter-speak maybe I can make it a short read. Ha! Let’s see if that happens. After visiting South Africa over about 23 years ago I decided it was time to return. A lot has changed mostly for good. I spent three months in South Africa and stayed in a lot of places before I settled into…
When my friend Anne asked me to join her for a business trip to Prague I gave a tentative yes right away. I can’t commit too far out. It had been quite a few years since my first trip to Czech Republic. Back in the day my friends and I used to hop in the car and drive to Prague to shop for crystal chandeliers. I’ve never had an interest in crystal chandeliers so I was always along for the…
I ended up in Taipei, Taiwan in order to get a re-entry 30 day visa for Thailand. Most people go across the border to Laos, stay overnight or for a weekend. Having visited Laos about two years ago choosing Taiwan was easy because it was the nearest country that I hadn’t visited. Taiwan is a small island nation east of China. It was never on my radar until I started traveling and meeting people who were from Taiwan. I decided…
The Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed in Moscow Russia has always been on my travel wish list, long before they elected the current U.S. president. Too soon to make jokes? Sorry, this is really a no politics blog. Because of the logistics involved in taking this trip I chose to take a tour, and you know I hate tours. But I must say Katie’s tours are so great I have been with her to Russia and dog-sledding in Finland….
Peru was part of a 50th birthday present to myself. Spending a week in each country, I visited India, USA, Brazil, Peru and Argentina. It was a fabulous five week test of my travel planning skills and my first attempt at extended solo travel. I began this Peruvian adventure in the capital city of Lima. The city center was beautiful. Lima City Center The Train down to Macchu Picchu I flew up to Cusco from Lima. Cusco is a city…
Living Without Health Insurance! Oh my! (UPDATE: In 2020 I finally began to receive my healthcare benefits, but I stand by my views on the healthcare system stated below. I was without healthcare insurance for just over five years) I am one of many uninsured Americans. It’s a strange and unusual predicament for me. I have had the same health care insurer throughout my working life, thirty years to be exact. Now like so many others I wonder…
Okay cue the Indian Jones theme music! I have always enjoyed visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites so it should not be a surprise that I took this opportunity during Christmas vacation 2014 to visit Petra in Jordan, in the heart of the Middle East. I will also admit to the world that Petra’s connection to the Raiders of the Lost Arc was also a factor. Making a last minute choice I didn’t have time to research as much as I…
