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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."     |
| 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 |
| Time to rest The wind is tired like I am tired. I only muster enough oomph to walk slow — then sit, rise up — sit down, collapse in bed under an a/c breeze. It's upper Eighties by day, upper Sixties by night; but, my old bones just want to rest — all day — all night. I've only been gone seven months but shops have disappeared and a tree cut down; yet, the bees are back. There are seasons here: hot, wet, cool. They move slowly — back and forth. I've seen Eight friends. I have no energy to hunt for others. But in time —if I have time— there'll be time enough. © Kåre Enga (4.desember.2024) Original A response to Wordsmitty: The wind is tired like I am tired I can only muster enough oomph to walk slow than sit rise up sit down lie in bed under the a/c breeze It's upper 80s by day upper 60s by night but my old bones just want to rest Only gone 7 months but businesses gone a tree cut down the bees are back There are seasons here but they move slowly back and forth I've seen 5 friends I have no energy to hunt for others but in time if I have time 6341 |
| Stik asks about travel... What first comes to mind when you see or hear the word travel? Movement from one place to another for any reason; destination doesn't matter. But traveler? Not the same as a destination tourist or someone with a bucket check list. A traveler is someone who is interested on the road taken and what surprises await one on the journey. i'm more of a traveler than a tourist. That said... wish I were more flexible with schedule and money. How much time and money do you think travel requires? Many who want to learn French go to Paris but would never go to Québec City or Dakar. Many who want to learn Spanish think Sevilla but shudder at Bogotá and would never cross the street to the Mexican or Dominican side of their hometown. Most here at WDC insist that the locals speak English. So... VERY EXPENSIVE for middle-class middle-age Americans who are traveling for the first time to London, Dublin, Sydney or Auckland and must stay in a 'decent' hotel or AirBnB. Not as expensive to visit English speaking enclaves in Mexico or the Americas; but, one or two weeks is a vacation or a beach holiday. Yes, it's technically travel but 'beam-me-up-beam-me-down-catch-the-hotel-shuttle' barely counts imo. Me? It takes more time to arrange than money as I travel cheap. I prefer to stay in hostels. I also prefer one-two months especially on long trips with not-so-cheap airfare. As I age my lack of energy limits me more than time or money. What do you make of the term wanderlust? I don't think adventure tours or cruises or resorts usually count as they seldom have anything to do with wandering. Me? I always want to see new places but I have no energy. I'm a tortoise with wanderlust not an energizer bunny with a sugar-daddy and a six-figure bank account. Do you think travel is important? There's nothing wrong with living in the same house all your life. You can read. You can invite people to see you! Me? I did that for years (specifically 1981-2003) but I've traveled extensively since. Others watch videos of exotic places; but I can tell you what Taipei tastes like, feels like, smells like. Travel brochures and Vlogs only show a certain p.o.v. Going there gives you personal stories and perspective. 4829 |
![Merit Badge in Travel
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For giving great travel advice in my newsfeed challenge! Thanks!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Travel-1975.gif) Travel I wrote back to IceSkatingSugarCube: Thank you. I could write a travel tome (but I won't). Your trip is "your trip". You will notice that the language isn't the same. You'll hear accents you may have heard before (Irish is common in Montana) on television or elsewhere. You'll notice reality doesn't square with pictures or what you were told or believed. There will be a (hopefully hilarious) misunderstanding along the way. Relish it! Take notes. I travel solo and groups are difficult for me. But... it will be easier getting around with a guide and if the guide is chatty and knowledgeable it might be a joy. Personally, I like getting 'lost' but that's not a good idea with a group. And weather... nothing like Idaho!!!! Caution: one of you might catch the travel bug; one of you might hate the experience. Regardless, learn from it what you can. Enjoy! Jen is going on a trip with her son and husband to Scotland, Ireland and England. She might be amazed that it's seldom like gothic novels and Brit-coms.  But that's okay! My vacation to England in 2011 was just that... a vacation. 3 weeks of history, odd places, eccles cakes and one dear friend trying to kill me with a full English breakfast. Not to mention ducks, chocolate, longboats, a rope factory, minsters, museums... Still vivid after over 12 years and I have pictures to remind me of when we all were a tad younger. But... no tome today. I could go on-and-on about the many places I've visited. I've learned something from all of them. 4459 |
| Just around the next bend? Truthful wisdom? A fool's end? Hard to say before one tries. Sky's the limit? Landlubber here, but I've visited 46 countries, flown through more. Go around the next bend? YES! Even if there be monsters. |
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