Journeys With Stephen

Tag: travel reflections

  • History comes alive at Sweden’s Vasa Museum

    History comes alive at Sweden’s Vasa Museum

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” column_structure=”3_4,1_4″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Acke didn’t want to be one of the 145 seamen aboard Sweden’s Vasa warship for its maiden voyage in 1628. The work was hard, wages were low, and living conditions were atrocious. And this voyage was to last just 1,300 meters before he would have to swim for his life.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vasa-museum-warship-bow-view.jpg” alt=”Vasa museum warship bow view” title_text=”Vasa museum warship bow view” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Vasa museum warship bow view” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Imagine being transported back in time nearly 400 years to stand aside a real Swedish warship, the only surviving vessel of its kind from the 17th century. You can do just that at Sweden’s Vasa Museum in Stockholm, arguably the greatest maritime museum in the world. It’s not just the impressive ship, but also the amazing story behind it that enthralls more than a million visitors per year.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vasa-museum-warship-gun-port.jpg” alt=”Vasa museum warship gun port” title_text=”Vasa museum warship gun port” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Vasa museum warship gun port” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Acke was a gunner taken on active service by conscription. The Vasa was equipped with a prodigious 64 guns occupying an unheard of two rows of heavy gun ports. It was to be one of the fateful design flaws.

    Acke made about 57 dalers in annual wages before food on board and material for clothing were deducted, leaving him with only about a quarter of that sum. Like all seamen, one set of jacket and breeches and a linen shirt were all that he owned and the only protection against the harsh weather. It was up to him to patch his one pair of gloves and shoes.

    When not stationed at the gun carriage Acke would remain deep in the battery deck. There, in semi-darkness, he would share space with the other seamen and typically 300 additional soldiers. He would also sleep there. But on August 10, 1628, there would be no sleep.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vasa-museum-warship-stern-carvings.jpg” alt=”Vasa museum warship stern carvings” title_text=”Vasa museum warship stern carvings” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Vasa museum warship stern carvings” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Sweden was a naval power in the 1600s, protecting its interests in the Baltic region with a fleet of royal vessels. The Vasa was to be the crown jewel of the fleet, with a hull constructed of 1,000 oaks, masts more than 50 meters high and enough art carvings and sculptures to create the floating museum it would become. It took three years to build the magnificent ship.

    It was not a magnificent life for Acke. He used his wooden spoon and sheath-knife to eat out of a communal bowl. Food was a porridge made from barley groats and various dried foods, such as beans, peas, salt beef, pork and fish. The food was cooked in a cast-iron cauldron over a smoky open fire below deck. He washed it down with a daily ration of three liters of ale.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vasa-museum-warship-model-cutout.jpg” alt=”Vasa museum warship model cutout” title_text=”Vasa museum warship model cutout” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Vasa museum warship model cutout” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]In general, the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables and poor hygiene contributed to rampant illness, with only primitive means of treatment. The ship’s barber was also its sole medical resource. In 1628, on one ship, two-thirds of the men were sick or dying or had been “cast overboard” (the term used for buried at sea).

    Still, King Gustavus II Adolphus and good people of Stockholm were immensely proud of their new warship. The King arranged for the maiden sailing to take place on a Sunday, so families would have the day off to watch the proceedings. Women and children joined the hundred-plus crew on board. Sailors set four of the Vasa’s ten sails and the guns fired a salute from their open portholes as she left the harbor.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/King-Gustavus-II-Adolphus-Vasa-museum.jpg” alt=”King Gustavus II Adolphus Vasa museum” title_text=”King Gustavus II Adolphus Vasa museum” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”King Gustavus II Adolphus Vasa museum” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Acke knew that, in spite of the hardships, he would have to watch his tongue. Anyone who complained about the food was put in irons and given bread and water for ten days. Keel-hauling was a common punishment. The offender was dropped head first into water and pulled with a rope under the keel to the other side of the ship. If he did not drown, his injuries often still led to his death.

    There was no keel-hauling on Sunday, August 10. It was a beautiful day to launch, with light winds. But when the Vasa left the harbor a stronger wind entered her sails and she began to heel over severely. Worse, water gushed through the open gun ports and the now unstable ship quickly sank.

    There was nothing Acke and the other seamen could do but try to escape flooded decks and swim for their lives back to shore. Fortunately, most of them lived.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vasa-museum-warship-cannon-deck.jpg” alt=”Vasa museum warship cannon deck” title_text=”Vasa museum warship cannon deck” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Vasa museum warship cannon deck” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]This is just the beginning of the story of the Vasa. She was to lie at the bottom of the Stockholm harbor, enduring 333 years of failed salvage attempts. It wasn’t until 1961 that technology and innovated techniques were available to raise her.

    Then came the enormous job of dealing with the “world’s largest jigsaw puzzle” and the complexity and hazards of preservation. That preservation effort is still an ongoing challenge, engaging experts from around the world. In the meantime, we can marvel at this piece of history that has come alive for us in the 21st century!
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Vasa-museum-warship-stern-view.jpg” alt=”Vasa museum warship stern view” title_text=”Vasa museum warship stern view” align_tablet=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Vasa museum warship stern view” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” align_phone=”center”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Pictures can’t really do justice to the scale and wonder of this ship, submerged for more than 300 years. Watch my short video below for more perspective.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_video _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” src=”https://youtu.be/SXqFOP01gzk” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_video][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Footnote: There is so much more to see and learn about the story of the Vasa. This article can only, I hope, peak your interest in visiting. I made two trips there, including a press event for the TBEX travel bloggers conference and left wanting to explore more. There is nothing like it in the world.

    Credits: Many thanks to the guides at the Vasa for their stories that inspired this article. Also thanks to Lisa Mansson, Vasa Museum Director. Finally, many facts and figures were gleaned from the Vasa Catalogue and its author, Erling Matz.

    Have you been to the Vasa Museum? Do you have any questions? Feel free to comment at the bottom of this post.
    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    What’s upscale?

    Sweden has spared no expense in developing this incredible museum, which was literally built around the ship.

    Splurge for a Stockholm Pass, which includes transportation and museums such as the Vasa.

    What’s budget?

    The museum is easily accessible as a stop on the #7 Tram line or a walk to the ferry that connects to Gamla Stan.

     

     
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow follow_button=”on” admin_label=”Social Media Follow” _builder_version=”4.16″ link_shape=”rounded_rectangle” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”http://www.instagram.com/journeyswithstephen” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#517fa4″ bg_color=”#517fa4″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”] Instagram [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”http://www.twitter.com/journeystephen” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_color=”#000000″ bg_color=”#00aced” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”] Twitter [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”http://www.facebook.com/journeyswithstephen” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#3b5998″ bg_color=”#3b5998″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”] facebook [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • How to see Budapest in two days

    How to see Budapest in two days

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]More and more people now want to visit Eastern Europe, and that puts Budapest and Prague near the top of their travel list. Given enough time, Vienna is the perfect third stop. But what if you are limited to only a week? I will show you how to see the highlights of Budapest in just a few days.

    To be clear, these cities deserve much more time. However, I realize that some people have a precious number of vacation days and want to make the most of them. My approach will at least give you a good first impression – enough that you will be satisfied, even if you can’t wait to come back for more.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Parliament-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Parliament Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Parliament Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Parliament Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    I first visited Prague and Budapest in 2015 and spent about a week in each city. I have already written about how to see Prague’s Old Town in a day and also how to see the castle side of Prague, across the Vltava River, in another day. Check. Or Czech. Budapest lends itself to a similar approach, as it is neatly divided into Buda, on the west side of the Danube and Pest, on the east.

    First, we settle into our hotel and enjoy authentic Hungarian folk dancing during our dinner. Watch the short video below.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/a6OvnM2I864″ admin_label=”Authentic folk dancers video” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    For the upscale traveler the secret to making this 2-day whirlwind itinerary work is to employ a private guide. Yes, you can follow my plan here by yourself. You can also, like me, use a guidebook to help (I used Rick Steve’s Budapest). To truly appreciate Budapest and begin to get a deeper understanding of its culture, I highly recommend a personal guide from a small agency.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Castle-Hill-Budapest-Hungary-tour-guide.jpg” alt=”Castle Hill Budapest Hungary tour guide” title_text=”Castle Hill Budapest Hungary tour guide” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Castle Hill Budapest Hungary tour guide” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]I used Zsofie, the owner of Fabulous Budapest for the Pest side and her colleague, Juli, who has lived in Buda her whole life, for that side. As they say on their site, “buildings are not made of stones, they are made of stories and formed by people.” A private guide will also allow you to make intelligent decisions, tailored to your personal interests.

    Day One, Morning: Town Center, Pest

    Good news. Pest is flat, and many main tourist sites are within walking distance. More good news. Budapest has a clean and efficient transit system. Use the metro or trams to get anywhere quickly when you don’t feel like walking.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Great-Market-Hall-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Great Market Hall Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Great Market Hall Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Great Market Hall Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Town Center has everything from trendy boutiques and interesting commerce buildings to an old market. It is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. If you walk from north to south, you will end at the Great Market Hall, where it is also convenient to grab a bite to eat. If nothing else, this is a great place to buy one of a myriad of kinds of paprika, perfect for small gifts.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/St-Stephens-Basilica-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”St Stephens Basilica Budapest Hungary” title_text=”St Stephens Basilica Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”St Stephens Basilica Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Day One, Afternoon: Leopold Town, Pest

    Leopold Town is a district that sits to the north of Town Center. Start your tour at St. Stephen’s Basilica. This church is impressive from both the outside and inside. I highly recommend taking the elevator to the dome and then climbing to the top (the views from the outside are worth it, even for those of us with a fear of heights).

    The remainder of your afternoon can be spent at Parliament and the surrounding area. The Parliament buildings are impressive, but a tour of the inside probably isn’t necessary. If you have nice weather, it is better to spend some time in Liberty Square. It is home to both the Soviet War Memorial and a quirky statue of Ronald Reagan.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Imre-Nagy-statue-and-Stephen-Henson-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Imre Nagy statue and Stephen Henson Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Imre Nagy statue and Stephen Henson Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Imre Nagy statue and Stephen Henson Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Budapest loves its monuments and probably has more per capita than any place I have visited. I like the statue of local hero Imre Nagy, who keeps an eye on the government from his own little bridge near Parliament. I also recommend going underground to visit the tiny museum that honors the events of 1956 in Hungary’s turbulent history.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungarian-flag-1956.jpg” alt=”Hungarian flag 1956″ title_text=”Hungarian flag 1956″ align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Hungarian flag 1956″ _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Day One, Evening: Hungarian Food

    Budapest has thousands of restaurants, with a surprising variety. Our time is short in the city, so the smart choice is traditional Hungarian food. My favorite place is Hungarikum Bistro. It is small and reservations are an absolute must, but you will be delighted.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungarikum-Bistro-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Hungarikum Bistro Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Hungarikum Bistro Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Hungarikum Bistro Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]At home I make an excellent Hungarian goulash. At least I thought I did. It turns out the thick stew that I make (with both sweet and hot Hungarian paprika) is what goulash is like everywhere except Hungary. The real dish here is more of a spicy paprika soup, peppered with chunks of beef and potatoes. It’s different, but still delicious.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hungarian-goulash-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Hungarian goulash Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Hungarian goulash Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Hungarian goulash Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Goulash is also more of a starter dish to the rest of the comfort food served here – from pork to duck, with sides of spaetzle or noodle; dishes similar to those cooked in Hungarian homes. Wash it down with a surprisingly good Hungarian wine. Who knew Hungary has 22 wine regions?
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Budapest-Hungary-Parliament-from-Castle-Hill.jpg” alt=”Budapest Hungary Parliament from Castle Hill” title_text=”Budapest Hungary Parliament from Castle Hill” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Budapest Hungary Parliament from Castle Hill” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Day Two, Morning: Castle Hill, Buda

    Most people stay in Pest. My recommendation for luxury travelers is the new Ritz-Carlton Budapest, formerly a splendid Le Meridien Hotel. Its town center location is perfect. From there we take a tram and a funicular to reach Castle Hill on the other side of the Danube.

    I will leave the history of this place to your guide, but suffice to say you can walk through the sites in a couple of hours. They include the Royal Palace, Matthias Church, and Fishermen’s Bastion, with its seven pointy towers. And yet another statue, this time St. Stephen on horseback.

    The panoramas are some of the real highlights of this tour, looking back across the river and Chain Bridge to view Parliament, Gresham Palace, St. Stephen’s Basilica and other photogenic Pest architecture.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Budapest-Hungary-Pest-from-Castle-Hill.jpg” alt=”Budapest Hungary Pest from Castle Hill” title_text=”Budapest Hungary Pest from Castle Hill” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Budapest Hungary Pest from Castle Hill” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Day Two, Afternoon: More Pest Sites

    As we wrap up our last day there is still so much that could be experienced. You can research what might be of special interest to you. Rick Steves claims that the Szechenyi Baths are one of his top attractions. For me, not so much.

    I am also suggesting, in the interest of time that you skip the Opera House (unless you attend a performance), Hero’s Square (21 more statues!), and the overrated Vaci Utca shopping area (older, touristy stores).
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Great-Synagogue-interior-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Great Synagogue interior Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Great Synagogue interior Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Great Synagogue interior Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]I do recommend a visit to the Great Synagogue, the second largest in the world. The interior is simply magnificent. There is a Jewish Museum, a Memorial Garden, and fascinating Tree of Life sculpture, a willow with more than 4,000 metal leaves, each inscribed with the name of a Holocaust victim.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tree-of-Life-Great-Synagogue-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Tree of Life Great Synagogue Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Tree of Life Great Synagogue Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Tree of Life Great Synagogue Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Day Two, Evening: Finish With Palinka

    If you end your afternoon in the Jewish Quarter you are all set to crawl the “ruin pubs.” Occupying what was previously a sort of rundown industrial area, a huge number of bars and casual eateries have sprung up. Derelict buildings have been transformed into kitschy places, with mismatched furniture and mismatched patrons.

    We end the evening with the most famous drink on the Hungarian landscape, palinka. It is essentially a fruit brandy, made from plums, cherries, apricots or other local fruits. I was lucky enough to be in Budapest for a palinka festival, which featured more than a dozen stands selling hundreds of varieties of the liqueur.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Palinka-shop-Budapest-Hungary.jpg” alt=”Palinka shop Budapest Hungary” title_text=”Palinka shop Budapest Hungary” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Palinka shop Budapest Hungary” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]The cheap palinka are drunk like shots, the expensive ones are sipped and savored. It is sort of a metaphor for our brief visit to Budapest. The sites, consumed quickly, are a little bit of a blur now, but we have the longing to return again to explore and appreciate the culture and the people at a slower pace next time.

    Do you have any comments? If so, I would like to hear from you at the bottom of this post.
    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    What’s upscale?

    Hire a private guide to facilitate a brief visit with a deeper understanding of Budapest from a local’s perspective. I used Fabulous Budapest.

    The Ritz-Carlton Budapest has recently opened in the perfect Town Center location.

    What’s budget?

    Being a temporary local is easy on the wallet – consider a Budapest Card for public transit; food and drink are reasonably priced, as are public attractions.

     

     
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow follow_button=”on” admin_label=”Social Media Follow” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ hover_enabled=”0″ link_shape=”rounded_rectangle” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”http://www.instagram.com/journeyswithstephen” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#517fa4″ bg_color=”#517fa4″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]Instagram[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”http://www.twitter.com/journeystephen” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_color=”#000000″ hover_enabled=”0″ bg_color=”#00aced” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on” sticky_enabled=”0″]Twitter[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”http://www.facebook.com/journeyswithstephen” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#3b5998″ bg_color=”#3b5998″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • Which Hawaiian island for the first-time visitor?

    Which Hawaiian island for the first-time visitor?

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Do you want balmy, soft sand beaches and plenty of ocean activities? Do you want mountainous interiors with jungles and waterfalls? Do you want good food and drink to go with a genuine Hawaiian spirit? Guess what? You haven’t narrowed your choice of islands. It’s going to take some more effort to figure out where to go first. I will help you make that “upscale on a budget” decision.

    Let’s start by narrowing the field. Hawaii consists of eight major islands, but only four are considered single tourist destinations. They are Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii (The Big Island). Now it gets more difficult. I will discuss the options, along with their pros and cons.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Oahu-Hawaii-Waikiki-Diamond-Head.jpg” alt=”Oahu, Hawaii Waikiki Diamond Head” title_text=”Oahu, Hawaii Waikiki Diamond Head” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Oahu, Hawaii Waikiki Diamond Head” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Why not cruise to all four islands?

    In fact, all the major cruise lines serve up an itinerary of four islands in a week.

    Pros:

    • If your goal is to get a little flavor of each island to determine for yourself which ones to come back to, then this could be your answer. I’m adopting this strategy for a Scandinavian cruise to 5 countries, for example.

    Cons:

    • The cruise ports are in the worst parts of the islands; Kahului, Maui, for instance, is a good 1-hour+ drive from anything worth seeing, and you only have so many hours in port.
    • It’s difficult to watch sunrise at Haleakala or sunset from Kona when you’ve got to be back on the boat.

    Conclusion:

    • I think the upscale traveler on a budget will be happier selecting one island and spending a week there, really kicking back and settling in to the Hawaiian lifestyle. There are better cruise options elsewhere in the world.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hawaii-shoreline.jpg” alt=”Hawaii shoreline” title_text=”Hawaii shoreline” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Hawaii shoreline” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Hawaii (The Big Island)

    The island of Hawaii is normally called the Big Island as to not confuse it with the State of Hawaii, which is made up of all the islands. Got it? And it is big, as large as all the other islands put together.

    Pros:

    • There is a lot of diversity, from the Kona coffee plantations on the west coast to wetter Hilo and nearby Akaka Falls on the east coast to Volcano National Park in the south.
    • This is one of the few places in the world where you can walk on lava flows and actually experience new land being created; or take a helicopter ride over the volcano – these are bucket list items.

    Cons:

    • Big means a lot of time traveling. It can take several hours by rental car to travel between these natural attractions. Most people wind up staying on the drier west coast.
    • The volcano can be spectacular or not, depending on its whim; it is possible to have expectations exceeded or to be underwhelmed.

    Conclusion:

    • Volcano National Park is a must see, but leave it for a future Hawaiian visit. You will be back.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Wailua-Falls-Kauai-Hawaii.jpg” alt=”Wailua Falls Kauai Hawaii” title_text=”Wailua Falls Kauai Hawaii” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Wailua Falls Kauai Hawaii” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Kauai

    In many ways Kauai is like Hawaii before all the development changed the landscape. It lives up to its nickname, The Garden Isle.

    Pros:

    • This island is so beautiful it almost begs the upscale traveler to view it all from a helicopter ride and is a spectacular way to see the Napali coast (which can also be rafted).
    • Be mesmerized by Waimea Canyon or Wailua Falls, and then go tubing in an old sugar cane irrigation ditch.

    Cons:

    • Part of Kauai’s beauty comes at the expense of activities. There aren’t as many things to do here as on Maui or Oahu, for example.
    • Kauai’s populated areas also tend to get more rain than their counterparts on other islands. It takes rain to create a garden isle, after all.

    Conclusion:

    • If your idea of Hawaii is a laid-back paradise where you can spend much of your time on pristine beaches, this could be the place for you. And Kauai certainly has unique things to do. But the first-time visitor might need to experience more. Make Kauai your next visit.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Waikiki-Hawaii-from-Westin.jpg” alt=”Waikiki, Hawaii from Westin” title_text=”Waikiki, Hawaii from Westin” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Waikiki, Hawaii from Westin” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Oahu

    There is a popular tourist magazine called Oahu – 101 Things To Do. The title alone describes the appeal of this island to nearly 5 million annual visitors – it offers a little of everything.

    Pros:

    • If a cruise ship can offer you a taste of the Hawaiian Islands in a week, Oahu can do that without leaving the island. History, such as Pearl Harbor and Bishop Museum, check. Famous beaches, such as Waikiki, check. Shopping and nightlife in Honolulu, check. Amazing shoreline and surf, such as the North Shore, check. Well, you get the idea.
    • This is the one island where you can experience a lot without needing a car. Stay in Waikiki and much is available to you, including reasonably priced accommodations and tours to other areas. Hike to the top of Diamond Head crater for sunrise, stroll the beach, shop, eat in a fine restaurant, take a spectacular sunset cruise – all without stepping into a vehicle.
    • But if you do rent a car, circling the island is an awesome day trip.
    • There are more international flights direct to Honolulu and generally lower prices than to the other islands.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Honolulu-Diamond-Head-cityscape-Hawaii.jpg” alt=”Honolulu Diamond Head cityscape Hawaii” title_text=”Honolulu Diamond Head cityscape Hawaii” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Honolulu Diamond Head cityscape Hawaii” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Cons:

    • Did I mention Oahu was the most popular island? Some people get to Honolulu and are dismayed to find a large city with serious traffic jams, crowded beaches, and long lines of people just to get into a touristy restaurant. This is not their tropical island paradise.

    Conclusion:

    • If your traveling party wants it all or simply can’t agree on what it wants, Oahu may be your answer. There is something for everyone, although you might have to deal with the distractions to enjoy the attractions. A candidate for a first-time visit.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/North-Kaanapali-Beach-Maui-Hawaii.jpg” alt=”North Ka’anapali Beach Maui Hawaii” title_text=”North Ka’anapali Beach Maui Hawaii” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”North Ka’anapali Beach Maui Hawaii” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    Maui

    If there were a best of both worlds – popular, yet majestic – Maui would be the choice. More than 2 million visitors flock to this island because it offers the diversity of activities of Oahu without the urban drawbacks.

    Pros:

    • You can engage in every ocean-related activity you can imagine – kayaks, sailboats, catamarans, outriggers, snorkel, snuba, scuba, submarines, and more. Or just pick your color of incredible beach – white, gold, red, or black sand.
    • Haleakala National Park features a dormant crater that is like walking on Mars, with a breathtaking view at either sunrise or sunset.
    • You can even pilot a plane for a day over Maui!

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Haleakala-Maui-Hawaii.jpg” alt=”Haleakala Maui Hawaii” title_text=”Haleakala Maui Hawaii” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Haleakala Maui Hawaii” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    • Maui’s dry west side has charming upscale destinations, from Wailea to Ka’anapali to Kapalua, with world-class beaches, dining and golf courses. The wet east side enables the one-of-a-kind Road to Hana experience. And in the middle is everything from jungle to pineapple and sugar cane to cowboy country.
    • Despite the horrific 2023 fire that destroyed historic Lahaina town, most of Maui survives, thrives, and needs your tourism dollars.

    Cons:

    • The list of cons is a very specific one. If you must have a big city, there is none. If you want paradise without any people, it will be challenging to find.

    Conclusion:

    • It’s easy to see why Maui County is the fastest growing county in the United States. People visit here, and they want to come back; some decide to stay forever.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Westin-Ocean-Resort-Villas-Maui-Hawaii.jpg” alt=”Westin Ocean Resort Villas Maui Hawaii” title_text=”Westin Ocean Resort Villas Maui Hawaii” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Westin Ocean Resort Villas Maui Hawaii” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

    Which Hawaiian island for the first-time visitor?

    Not to waffle on this subject, but it is a matter of interest. If your travel group were keen on geology, it would be hard to pass up The Big Island, with Maui a close second. If you require a total laid-back atmosphere, consider Kauai. If you must have urban style to mix with the beach, the clear choice would be Oahu.

    My recommendation for the greatest appeal to everyone is Maui. Personally, I have been to every island, but Maui is where we return to more than the others combined. Luxury, convenience, nature, culture, cuisine, weather, activities – Maui has it all. I can’t wait to go again soon!

    Have you been to Maui before? Here is my post on 10 unusual things to do in Maui.

    Would you like some further help? Please comment at the bottom of the page. Here’s what helps me: What season you will travel and for how many days? A family? A couple? What are the things you most like to do? I try to respond to every comment!

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Code for map” _builder_version=”4.16″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]

    What’s upscale?

    The Westin Ocean Resort Villas on Ka’anapali Beach on Maui are popular luxury timeshare condos that can be booked like a hotel room from the Starwood website.

    My personal favorite for Honolulu is the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel, right on Waikiki Beach.

    Try numerous water activities, from snorkeling to snuba to kayaks to outrigger canoes to sailboats to catamarans; nothing is cheap, but the memories last forever.

    What’s budget?

    There are scores of timeshare properties in Hawaii, and the competition can drive bargains, especially outside of peak travel times. Try Airbnb, TripAdvisor and other vacation rental sites, and always read the reviews first.

     

     
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow follow_button=”on” admin_label=”Social Media Follow” _builder_version=”4.16″ link_shape=”rounded_rectangle” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”http://www.instagram.com/journeyswithstephen” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#517fa4″ bg_color=”#517fa4″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”] Instagram [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”http://www.twitter.com/journeystephen” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_color=”#000000″ bg_color=”#00aced” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”] Twitter [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”http://www.facebook.com/journeyswithstephen” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#3b5998″ bg_color=”#3b5998″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”on” url_new_window=”on”] facebook [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • China – U.S. tourism ready to soar

    China – U.S. tourism ready to soar

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Those L.V. and Michael Kors handbags going home with Chinese tourists every year represent more than half the exports the U.S. sends to China. Yes, 57% of U.S. exports to China are the money spent by the 2.5 million Chinese visitors. And nearly as many Americans are touring China each year.

    It’s no surprise that Presidents Xi and Obama declared 2016 to be the Year of China-U.S. Tourism. I was fortunate to be invited by the Chinese National Tourism Administration to the ceremonies that kicked off the year in China. The biggest event was held at the Jinshanling section of The Great Wall in late March, a few weeks after the beginning of the Year of the Monkey.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jinshanling-tourism-launch-ceremony.jpg” alt=”Jinshanling tourism launch ceremony” title_text=”Jinshanling tourism launch ceremony” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Jinshanling tourism launch ceremony” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]A launch ceremony entitled “1,000 Americans visiting The Great Wall” featured hundreds of local dancers in traditional costumes, speeches by officials of both countries and even a warm-up routine from 2014 Olympic ice dancing gold medalists, Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Stephen-Henson-Meryl-Davis-Charlie-White.jpg” alt=”Stephen Henson Meryl Davis Charlie White” title_text=”Stephen Henson Meryl Davis Charlie White” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Stephen Henson Meryl Davis Charlie White” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]I have climbed various sections of the Great Wall dozens of times over the years, but this venue was special. The restored Jinshanling section in Hebei province is spectacular, as was the blue-sky day and the costumed locals playing traditional instruments high above the countryside. What a way to kick off a year of tourism.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/ig5FyDcvOzg” admin_label=”Jinshanling string instrument video” _builder_version=”4.21.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_video][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Only 6% of Chinese have passports and only 3% of those people visited the U.S. last year. Yet they spent about $24 billion. With a growing middle class anxious to travel abroad, it’s no wonder China is expected to become the largest source of inbound tourism for the U.S. within the next few years. And appropo that visas between the two countries now carry a 10-year term!

    For a decade I have been hosting Americans who are seeking a custom travel experience in China. On this most recent visit, courtesy of the CNTA and Air China, I discovered even more places to take my fellow Americans.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Chengde-China-temple-travel-group.jpg” alt=”Chengde China temple travel group” title_text=”Chengde China temple travel group” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Chengde China temple travel group” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]I was part of a group of just 15 interesting people in the travel business from cities across the U.S. We spent a week together primarily in Beijing and Chengde, along with other Hebei cities. I had never been to where The Great Wall actually begins at the Bohai Sea, called Laolongtou or “Old Dragon’s Head.” If you imagine the shape of the Wall as it sprawls across northern China as a giant dragon, then this would be its head.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/China-Great-Wall-Laolongtou.jpg” alt=”China Great Wall Laolongtou” title_text=”China Great Wall Laolongtou” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”China Great Wall Laolongtou” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]Nearby is another famous section of The Great Wall, Shanhaiguan, which translates to mountain-sea-pass. Built in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty, this was one of the most significant and heavily fortified passes in China. It is also known as Tianxia Diyi Guan or “First Pass Under Heaven.”
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Shanhaiguan-Great-Wall-China.jpg” alt=”Shanhaiguan Great Wall China” title_text=”Shanhaiguan Great Wall China” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Shanhaiguan Great Wall China” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]I think it is fine for Westerners on a first trip to China to confine themselves to a Great Wall visit near Beijing, probably Mutianyu, but there are some amazing sections to be explored on subsequent visits! Read more about those in a future post.

    Surprisingly, this was also my first visit to Chengde, despite its close proximity to Beijing, only about 3 hours away by bus on a very good highway. In a few years, given China’s propensity for building out infrastructure, there will also be both high-speed rail and an airport.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Chengde-China-mayor-secretary-Stephen-Henson.jpg” alt=”Chengde China mayor-secretary-Stephen Henson” title_text=”Chengde China mayor-secretary-Stephen Henson” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Chengde China mayor-secretary-Stephen Henson” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]I was fortunate to speak with the mayor and the party secretary of Chengde, as well as many other officials during our days (and many banquets and baijiu toasts) there. At the heart is the Chengde Mountain Resort, an expansive complex built during the 1700s as the Qing Dynasty’s Summer Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offered a reprieve from the heat of Beijing.
    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/China-Chengde-Mountain-Resort.jpg” alt=”China Chengde Mountain Resort” title_text=”China Chengde Mountain Resort” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”China Chengde Mountain Resort” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” animation=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]As if the Resort weren’t enough reason to visit Chengde, the Outlying Temples provide the clincher. Together, they are largest imperial palace-garden and temple complex in China. I will devote another post entirely to this impressive and historic site.

    As we like to say, China is a big country, with a great deal to experience. The same can be said for the United States. I recently hosted Chinese travelers to places as diverse as Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon (40% of Chinese tourists to the U.S. visit a national park). Despite some of the challenges of language I write about here, travel embraces understanding and brings our cultures closer together. The Year of China-U.S. Tourism supports these efforts.
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    What’s upscale?

    I always try to stay at the Westin Financial Street in Beijing, with a hotel tower and executive residence tower and the finest staff.

    The Jiahe International Hotel in Chengde is a Chinese hotel offering a true 4-star experience (except for coffee).

    What’s budget?

    Visits to The Great Wall, the Chengde Mountain Resort and most other Chinese landmarks are quite reasonably priced to attract a mass audience.

     

     
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  • Best places to stay in San Miguel de Allende

    Best places to stay in San Miguel de Allende

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    Abrahim tends to his organic garden with pride. It will supply guests with fresh strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and more. What makes this garden unique is that it completely covers the rooftop of Hacienda el Santuario, a quaint hotel typical of many you will find in Centro San Miguel de Allende.

    I find myself climbing many wrought iron spiral staircases that lead to wondrous gardens, terraces, and of course, views of the marvelous pink Parroquia church in the city’s heart. This is a colonial city in central Mexico that deserves at least a 5-night stay, though some fall spell to its charms and stay forever. That is why there are more than 17,000 expatriates in a city of 140,000.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Hacienda el Santuario rooftop garden” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Hacienda-el-Santuario-rooftop-garden.jpg” alt=”Hacienda el Santuario rooftop garden” title_text=”Hacienda el Santuario rooftop garden” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    One of the more gratifying aspects of a visit to this remote city is the myriad of lodging options, from luxury boutique hotels to B&Bs to vacation villas. No chains here. Even more gratifying is a remarkable price point, made possible by the strong U.S. dollar. We can certainly achieve upscale on a budget when it comes to accommodations. I will go into detail about some of my favorite options, along with my personal recommendation.

    Let’s start with the length of stay, as that will play a significant role in the lodging decision. San Miguel de Allende (SMA) is about 4 hours by bus, van or car from Mexico City and a little closer to Leon. Locals from Mexico City descend upon SMA for the weekend, but if you are coming from abroad such a short stay is rather prohibitive. Some people feel that it takes at least a week or two to settle in and absorb what city has to offer. It is not unusual for Canadians and Americans from northern states to spend the entire winter here in the mild mountain climate.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Casa de la Cuesta courtyard SMA” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Casa-de-la-Cuesta-courtyard-SMA.jpg” alt=”Casa de la Cuesta courtyard SMA” title_text=”Casa de la Cuesta courtyard SMA” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    Vacation villa rentals

    For stays of a week or longer, I strongly recommend checking the vacation villa rental options. One company representing upscale properties is PremierSanMiguel.com. A quick check of their site revealed 50 rentals, with slide shows and videos. For example, Casa del Albaricoque is a 2-story, 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath home only a block from the main square (Jardin), including a kitchen and rooftop terrace. The price for a week is US$975. Two couples sharing this amazing home would each pay $69 per night! Some properties have been featured in Architectural Digest.

    The old standby, TripAdvisor.com, revealed more than 260 rentals to choose. Airbnb.com lists more than 300. I didn’t stay in a rental, but I did check out the fascinating Casa Blanca Dreams, aka Casa Dr. Seuss (pictured below). This playful 2-bedroom, 2-bath home might be a thrill for Dr. Seuss fans at only $675 a week. One downside: it is about a 25-minute walk to the center of town and not in a very upscale neighborhood either. The owner, Steven, suggested I consider the equally wild Artista Casa inspired by Gaudi. It is even farther away, so it comes with its own ATV to drive around SMA’s cobblestone streets!

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Casa Dr. Seuss SMA” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Casa-Dr.-Seuss-SMA.jpg” alt=”Casa Dr. Seuss SMA” title_text=”Casa Dr. Seuss SMA” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    Needless to say, you could spend many entertaining hours just exploring the rental options in SMA. This may be the best long-term rental city I have visited.

    But what about shorter stays? I have placed these accommodations into three categories: small luxury hotels, B&Bs, and premium boutique hotels.

    Small luxury hotels

    I visited a few amazing properties in this category. The Rosewood and Matilda vie for the top spot on everybody’s list of luxury hotels and with good reason.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Rosewood SMA courtyard breakfast” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Rosewood-SMA-courtyard-breakfast.jpg” alt=”Rosewood SMA courtyard breakfast” title_text=”Rosewood SMA courtyard breakfast” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    The Rosewood has that classic elegance of a fine resort property anywhere in the world, matched with arguably the best view of the city from the 4th floor rooftop bar, La Luna. The panorama feature of your camera will get a workout here. Best of all, with the sun behind you, the view is gorgeous in the morning. Then you come back later for a drink and spectacular sunsets beyond the city. Note: you don’t have to stay here to enjoy those views!

    You will be pampered at the Rosewood. I talk to one couple (pictured above) while they munch on a breakfast of fresh bagels and lox. The wife is an artist; so the staff promptly set up an easel, paints and brushes for her to use each day. They were staying for a month! The downside of all that pampering is a price tag of well more than US$300 a day – reasonable elsewhere, but pricy in this city.

    SMA is full of charming hotels and restaurants, where traditional flower-draped Spanish courtyards reveal themselves once you get past the main entrance. You begin to expect it as the norm. That’s why Hotel Matilda comes as something of a shock to the senses. Ultra contemporary, pure white, very artistic chic best describes this property.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Hotel Matilda SMA” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Hotel-Matilda-SMA.jpg” alt=”Hotel Matilda SMA” title_text=”Hotel Matilda SMA” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    Named one of the best hotels in Mexico by Conde Nast Traveler readers, Matilda (pictured above) checks a lot of luxury boxes. The restaurant, Moxi, is managed by a New York chef and features rotating artwork by Claudio Limon. You get the picture, literally. Sales Manager, Enrique, proudly points out their association with Siempre Hermosa, a non-profit organization that paints over graffiti in town. It’s the kind of place that quietly attracts celebrities, not concerned with prices ranging from $300 to $1,000 a night.

    B&Bs

    The street looks like any other extending out from Jardin, the central square of San Miguel de Allende. The doorway is typically non-descript. Step inside, and you are in a magical world full of masks and other Mexican artifacts. Oh, and this could be your lodging if you choose Casa de la Cuesta, a 7-room B&B owned by two Americans, Bill and Heidi Levasseur.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Casa de la Cuesta terrace” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Casa-de-la-Cuesta-terrace.jpg” alt=”Casa de la Cuesta terrace” title_text=”Casa de la Cuesta terrace” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    Bill has been collecting Mexican folk masks for 26 years and operates the Mask Museum on the property, a place so special I will devote an entire post to my visit there. But the entire property is warm and inviting, as are its hosts. It’s not a surprise that TripAdvisor rates it #1 of more than 120 B&Bs. Beautiful rooms are under $200 a night. The only drawback was that it requires an uphill walk from the Centro, which could be taxing if you want to keep making trips back to your room.

    I check out several other B&Bs, but frankly, nothing quite delivers the value of Casa de la Cuesta, although Casa Schuck is worth a look.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Hacienda el Santuario breakfast SMA” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Hacienda-el-Santuario-breakfast-SMA.jpg” alt=”Hacienda el Santuario breakfast SMA” title_text=”Hacienda el Santuario breakfast SMA” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    Premium boutique hotels

    While not luxury, for the best combination of upscale on a budget, my top recommendation comes from this category. I stay at Hacienda el Santuario. There are 24 custom-designed suites, some framing the charming courtyard, some more secluded. Although breakfast (pictured above) is not included, each morning we all gather like a big family in the courtyard. I start with a pot of hot coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, a fruit plate, organic bread and homemade preserves, followed by a choice of omelets, Mexican fare, pancakes, etc. All of that adds about 65 pesos to the bill or less than $4.00. And the charge for my suite – less than US$90 per night!

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Hacienda el Santuario entrance SMA” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Hacienda-el-Santuario-entrance-SMA.jpg” alt=”Hacienda el Santuario entrance SMA” title_text=”Hacienda el Santuario entrance SMA” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]
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    The hotel sits in a quiet neighborhood, just a flat, 4-minute walk to the Parroquia and center square. And the staff, who speak some English, are very friendly and help me with my pequeno Spanish. Like many old, restored buildings in this town, the walls of my room are a half-meter thick stone. While great for sound-proofing, I discover the only drawback – it makes for hit-and-miss Wi-Fi. No worries, as I step out the door onto the lovely patio and the signal reappears. We can only be off the grid for so long.

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    What’s upscale?

    For stays of a week or longer, choose a vacation villa rental from Premier San Miguel.

    For luxury hotels, choose the Rosewood (best view) or Hotel Matilda (closer to Centro).

    What’s budget?

    For B&Bs, choose Casa de la Cuesta.

    For boutique hotels, choose Hacienda el Santuario.

     

     

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  • Neon signs live forever in Las Vegas

    Neon signs live forever in Las Vegas

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    Las Vegas is the city that keeps reinventing itself. But where does the old Las Vegas end up? I remember the iconic Stardust Hotel’s futuristic sign and Sahara’s blazing neon logo. Don’t forget Binion’s Horseshoe. Well, lady luck is with us. They are alive and well at a place called the Neon Museum, and known locally as “The Boneyard.”

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    I have been to Las Vegas more than 50 times, and I don’t even gamble. Not that I have anything against gambling. In fact, I am in awe of what gambling has created in this patch of desert. But the town that gambling built has a lot to offer to us non-gamblers; so much that I have decided to create several posts on the subject. This one is referenced as #6 in my post: 8 Las Vegas attractions for non-gamblers.

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    You have already taken the obligatory photo at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Now its time to take your game to the next level and visit the Boneyard, where neon signs go to their eternal rest.

    The one-hour tour here (the only option for visiting) can be popular, so be sure to reserve online in advance for either day or night. I like a morning visit, when the bright colors of the neon signs contrast with the deep blue of the sky.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Las Vegas Neon Museuam Horseshoe” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Las-Vegas-Neon-Museuam-Horseshoe.jpg” alt=”Las Vegas Neon Museuam Horseshoe” title_text=”Las Vegas Neon Museuam Horseshoe” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    This can also be a history lesson, as you stroll past famous signs from Las Vegas of old – the Sahara, Horseshoe, Stardust and hundreds more. It’s fun and truly something that just fits in with the out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new Las Vegas mentality.

    You can imagine yourself in a time where Las Vegas was a strip of motels with beckoning vacancy signs. You can relive names like the Silver Slipper Gambling Hall, the Las Vegas Club Casino, and the Mon Bel Ami Wedding Chapel. There is a kitschy giant cocktail glass that could have adorned a bar where the Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. might have hung out.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Las Vegas Neon Museum cocktail glass” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Las-Vegas-Neon-Museum-cocktail-glass.jpg” alt=”Las Vegas Neon Museum cocktail glass” title_text=”Las Vegas Neon Museum cocktail glass” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Laid out like a maze, where signs are all around you, this is literally a trip down memory lane.

    Located downtown, at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Check neonmuseum.org for ticket information. I strongly recommend you book a day in advance, much longer for the popular night tours (which are not held every day and also cost more).

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    What’s upscale?

    This museum might have old signs, but the tour price reflects today’s Las Vegas (check the website for current prices).

    Las Vegas has some of the finest accommodations in the United States, especially the all-suite properties. Entertainment and dining can also be first-class.

    What’s on a budget?

    Those fine accommodations come at some of the best prices in the country, and there are deals to be found on everything.

     

     

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  • Welcome to China, where you can’t speak, read or write

    Welcome to China, where you can’t speak, read or write

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    I love China. I was on one of my early trips there, and the task was pretty straightforward: walk from my hotel to the nearest subway and ride it to my company’s office. I already knew that I couldn’t take a taxi in Beijing without being able to speak Chinese, but I wasn’t worried.

    For taxis, foreigners usually need someone to write down the destination address in Chinese characters on a slip of paper to hand to the taxi driver. The drivers don’t read maps either, so pointing to a spot on one is fruitless. If they get lost, they call a buddy for help. Now there are apps to show the address in Chinese from your phone – but even the app isn’t always correct, as streets keep changing. I know; I have used an app and been taken to the wrong place more than once.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Chinese you are here sign” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Chinese-you-are-here-sign.jpg” alt=”Chinese you are here sign” title_text=”Chinese you are here sign” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Fear not, I had been studying conversational Mandarin for a few months and could master some simple sentences in case I got lost. Which I did. My map, entirely in Chinese characters (which I don’t read), indicated the subway station should be close by, but I saw no signs. Of course the street signs are also only in Chinese, but I was looking for the little blue subway logo. Where was it?

    As the mid-morning sun beat down on me in my dark suit and no longer crisp white shirt, I sought the answer. I would duck into the nearby air-conditioned department store and simply ask someone. And I knew how to say it! “Laojia, ditian zhan zai nar?” Literally, “Excuse me, subway station is where?”

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Beijing subway station sign” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Beijing-subway-station-sign.jpg” alt=”Beijing subway station sign” title_text=”Beijing subway station sign” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    As expected, none of the sales clerks spoke English. What I didn’t expect was that no one understood a word I was saying. Should I speak more slowly? Louder? Use hand gestures?

    Well folks, the culture shock we feel going to China versus most tourist spots in the world, is that you are truly illiterate. You can’t speak, listen, read, or write. And English really isn’t a second language, like in much of the Western world. Yes, kids study English in school and have to pass a test to get into college. But the emphasis is on reading and writing, and of course they forget even a lot of that over time. The average person simply does not speak a word of English.

    The conversational difficulties are exacerbated by the Chinese tonal system. Every syllable essentially can be pronounced up to 4 different ways, yielding 4 different meanings. Hey, not that English is easy. Try saying this out loud: “Put some clothes on that animal. I can’t bear to see a bare bear!” We understand it because the words are in context.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Chinese hair salon sign translated” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Chinese-hair-salon-sign-translated.jpg” alt=”Chinese hair salon sign translated” title_text=”Chinese hair salon sign translated” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Here I was in a department store, where they expected me to be asking for men’s clothing or shoes, and instead I was saying something else. Maybe the puzzled looks were just over a Caucasian speaking Chinese.

    Finally, a customer who spoke some English interpreted my request. “Oh, you mean ditian (subway).” “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been saying.” It turns out that one of the many station entrances was less than 50 meters out the door. They pointed me in the right direction.

    I’m not alone in discovering this culture shock. Deborah Fallows has written a fabulous book about it, “Dreaming in Chinese.” My favorite story was of her walking into a Taco Bell and asking if they have dabao (takeout). They were confused to have a lady asking for a “big hug” or a newspaper or if there was a hail storm outside. Oh well.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Beijing subway route map” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Beijing-subway-route-map.jpg” alt=”Beijing subway route map” title_text=”Beijing subway route map” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    I don’t mean to scare the first-time visitor. Actually, there is an alphabet-based equivalent to the Chinese characters, called pinyin, which helps. I wrote the Chinese sentence above, “Laojia, ditian zhan zai nar?” using pinyin. The subways in major cities list every stop in pinyin, and the nice lady on the speaker says them aloud in an English sentence. “Next stop Fuxingmen.” They are not hard to maneuver.

    Even on an escalator you might hear the recorded voice say in English, “Please hold the handrail and get off” (in case you don’t know how to ride an escalator).

    Big hotels usually have English-speaking staff who can help in numerous ways.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Beijing menu sign mutton” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Beijing-menu-sign-mutton.jpg” alt=”Beijing menu sign mutton” title_text=”Beijing menu sign mutton” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    And menus often have pictures, which we know are worth a thousand words that we can’t read. That’s a real help in China that I wish more countries would adopt. One time in Paris I thought I was ordering a veal chop in French, but wound up with a plate of calves’ brains. A picture would have helped a lot.

    So, go with it. Language challenges are part of the adventure – and make for interesting tales to recount later.

    This story is one that appears in the mini version of my upcoming eBook, Pearls of Wisdom about China. You can read some others simply by signing up below for the free newsletter.

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    What’s upscale?

    Staying at luxury Western hotels generally increases your chances of having English-speaking staff who can help translate (and gladly help you practice your Chinese).

    What’s budget?

    All those transportation methods. Taxis are usually reasonable in China and subways are downright cheap (and fun).

     

     

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  • Why go to a travel show?

    Why go to a travel show?

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    Have you ever considered a trip to India? What about a cruise through the Mediterranean? Do you dream of going on a safari in Africa or maybe hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon? How would you decide? Who would you ask? Where do you even start? The answer is to attend a travel show, where hundreds of experts are gathered together to help you begin your research.

    You will come home with a head full of ideas and a bag full of glossy brochures. It’s low pressure. It’s entertaining. It’s informative. It’s a day of fun!

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Rock climbing Travel Show” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Rock-climbing-Travel-Show.jpg” alt=”Rock climbing Travel Show” title_text=”Rock climbing Travel Show” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    In the U.S., my favorite is the Travel & Adventure Show. Held on a Saturday and Sunday in some major market convention centers, they are just the ticket (and tickets are cheap). In 2016, the show is in San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Washington DC, Los Angeles (Long Beach), SF/Bay Area, and Philadelphia. A complete rundown can be found at travelshows.com.

    First, this show features hundreds of exhibitors across a wide range of interests and geography, from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau to Himalayan High Treks to the Zulu Nyala Game Reserve.

    Second, you can listen to keynote speakers, such as Samantha Brown, Patricia Schultz, Pauline Frommer, and Rick Steves, as they share their travel insights

    Third, there are performances from cultural to culinary – dance and music groups to cooking demonstrations from notable chefs.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Folklorico dancers Travel Show” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Folklorico-dancers-Travel-Show.jpg” alt=”Folklorico dancers Travel Show” title_text=”Folklorico dancers Travel Show” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Fourth, there are activities for you, which range from rock climbing to zip lines to Segway riding.

    Finally, there are prizes, show-only specials and other travel giveaways.

    The same company runs all the Travel & Adventure Shows. But some U.S. cities have their own travel shows, such as New York and Boston. You will have to do your own research to see if there is one in a big city near you.

    Of course, the U.S. isn’t the only country to get in on this act. For example, the International Tourism and Travel Show in Montreal covers three days in October. And ITB Berlin claims to be the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. These bragging rights are backed up some 10,000 exhibitors from 185 countries for this 5-day show for both the trade and public.

    A rather exhaustive list of worldwide specialty shows can be found at world-tourism-exhibitions.com. It is a great place to begin your search.

    So what have we learned from the celebrity speakers so far?

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Samantha Brown – Stephen Henson” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Samantha-Brown-Stephen-Henson.jpg” alt=”Samantha Brown – Stephen Henson” title_text=”Samantha Brown – Stephen Henson” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Shown above is the always enchanting and affable Samantha Brown, from the Travel Channel. She is someone I could listen to for hours. Why? Her speeches are always fresh and full of wide-eyed stories from the road. She really embodies all that is magical about travel in a down-to-earth manner.

    Some of Samantha’s messages this year:

    The most memorable travel is never in the must-sees, always in the mundane.

    Her two pillars when on a trip are 1) go for a walk and 2) create a ritual. After viewing artwork and monuments and history to the saturation point, she likes to just ramble – to take two hours and go for a walk. No expectations, except to encounter the local people.

    Samantha creates a ritual by doing the same thing every day – her way of settling into a new place. In her case it is often to visit the same coffee shop every day, eventually striking up conversations.

    I will have to agree that the absolute best travel memories for me involve people more than places; the special connections you make in an otherwise foreign environment.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Patricia Shultz – Stephen Henson” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Patricia-Shultz-Stephen-Henson.jpg” alt=”Patricia Shultz – Stephen Henson” title_text=”Patricia Shultz – Stephen Henson” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    I met Patricia Schultz, shown above, for the first time. She is the celebrated author of the best-selling “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.” She talks with passion about her love for Italy (she is half Italian, half German) and especially Venice. Who would disagree?

    Patricia’s speeches this year remind us to try new locales – not just Prague and Budapest, but Romania; not waiting for things to “settle down” before venturing to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv; seeing both St. Petersburg and Moscow; exploring Africa.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Pauline Frommer” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Pauline-Frommer.jpg” alt=”Pauline Frommer” title_text=”Pauline Frommer” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Pauline Frommer, pictured above in a pensive moment, is sort of travel royalty. Her father is Arthur Frommer, who practically invented the travel guidebook, and who, at age 86 is still quite the traveler. Pauline now runs the Frommer’s publishing empire, but is as approachable as she is smart.

    Her speeches are always a wealth of information, based on research done by the company:

    The best airline search engines for finding low fares are surprisingly, skyscanner.com and momondo.com.

    The best site for hotels is hotelscombined.com, followed by trivago.com, and Agoda.com for Asia.

    Rivercruising.com is the place for comparing those kinds of cruises.

    To simplify travel insurance, check out squaremouth.com and insuremytrip.com.

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Pauline Frommer on stage” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Pauline-Frommer-on-stage.jpg” alt=”Pauline Frommer on stage” title_text=”Pauline Frommer on stage” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”14″ use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    Peter Greenberg, the Emmy award-winning investigative reporter and CBS News Travel Editor also spoke at the show I attended, but unlike Samantha, Patricia, and Pauline, I didn’t get a chance to speak with him. He gives a no-nonsense speech about travel though, and delivers a lot of detailed advice on how to do battle with the airline and hotel industry.

    You should allow a half-day just to listen to these celebrity travel speakers. You will come away much smarter.

    Samantha Brown cited a study by projecttimeoff.com that found 4 in 10 American employees finished the year with unused time off. It resulted in 429 million unused days off. The rest of the civilized world thinks we’re crazy. They’re right. Get out there and travel! A travel show is a great place to get started.

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  • Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

    Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

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    Am I really 14 1/2 hours ahead of Los Angeles? Why am I now craving pizza in a land of delectable Thai food? Do I even care about the U.S. news anymore? These are just some of the reflections from a month on the road in Asia. And I spend a lot of months away from home. What reflections do you have when you change your latitude?

    Apologies to Jimmy Buffett, who ran into a chum with a bottle of rum, and we wound up drinkin’ all night. I have no such excuse for what I am writing now, but it strikes me there are some tips and advice in here somewhere. So here goes, still under the influence of jetlag.

     

    #1. I only suffer jetlag returning from Asia. Thanks, NASA!

    Yes, studies by NASA and others with lots of degrees behind their names have told us that it is harder to adjust our body clocks when traveling from west to east. NASA’s chief of fatigue management (nice title) also says it takes about a day to adjust for every time zone. So when I drop back 15 hours flying from China to the U.S., I’m supposed to take a couple of weeks to adjust?

    After a decade of those flights, I have yet to figure out how to beat the system. I have tried Ambien and Melatonin and eye masks and alcohol and abstention. Frankly, nothing works, although I am usually pretty normal in 4-5 days. If you have the magic answer, let me and countless others know by commenting below.

     

    #2. What time is it? In fact, what day is it? Do I even care?

    I’m sitting in Yangon, Myanmar contemplating a Skype call to California. My world clocks app tells me to adjust back 14.5 hours. So, I email the family to expect a call from me sometime yesterday. Except it is 3:00am there, so they don’t see the email anyway.

    That reminds me that I have lost track of what day of the week it is. I got to Myanmar on a Thursday, I think, but it was a holiday, and who has a holiday on Thursday? Oh yeah, Lunar calendar, full moon, got it. At this point do I even care what day of the Roman calendar we are on? I will just let people back home know I am hopelessly lost in time.

     

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Tom Yum Red Curry Duck Bangkok” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Tom-Yum-Red-Curry-Duck-Bangkok.jpg” alt=”Tom Yum Red Curry Duck Bangkok” title_text=”Tom Yum Red Curry Duck Bangkok” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    #3. Why am I craving pizza, pasta and Mexican food?

    The menu in Thailand is full of delectable items, from Tom Yum Goong to Pad Thai to Duck in Red Curry. So many wonderful choices. Why am I craving Italian and Mexican food? I don’t know if NASA has studied this, but after several weeks in Asia, I start dreaming about cheeseburgers in paradise.

    My theory, and I don’t have a PhD, is that Americans like to eat all kinds of cuisines on a regular basis. We will eat pasta one day, burritos the next, then Chinese, then pizza, then fish, then a salad, and so on. In China, they eat Chinese food – every day. OK, it’s incredibly delicious, but eventually even KFC looks good to me. Is that normal?

     

    #4. Security and shoes and chargers and Global Entry

    Airport security in the U.S. sucks. There, I said it. Please don’t put me on a watch list. On my recent trip to Asia I take 12 flights. The toughest security measures are in trying to leave LAX. I’m Global Entry and TSA Pre. It doesn’t matter. Stand in a long line. Take out every electronic device, in fact, anything sort of metal. Take everything out of your pockets.

    Take off your shoes. On December 22, 2001, a guy had explosives hidden in his shoes. Since then, about 10 billion American flyers have had to remove their shoes. It is the only one of my 12 flights where I have to do that. Then again, we don’t get blown up.

    To be fair, I have had device chargers confiscated in China. To solve the problem, I bought my latest charger in China. Also to be fair, Global Entry does work on returning to the U.S. from abroad. This time arriving at LAX, I make it from gate to kiosk to curb in 15 minutes. It’s the best $100 the government will ever take from you.

     

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Bangkok traffic jam” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Bangkok-traffic-jam.jpg” alt=”Bangkok traffic jam” title_text=”Bangkok traffic jam” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    #5. Am I looking forward to traffic on the 405 freeway?

    It’s 8:00pm, and I have naively waited for rush hour to clear a little. I’m taking a taxi from central Bangkok to the airport. But there’s a problem. I’ve been in the taxi for 20 minutes and haven’t made it from the hotel to the street yet; traffic is virtually stopped. Eventually we inch along a pace that is slower than walking. And I have a flight to catch. It’s like that every day here.

    Of course, it could be worse. I have come from Myanmar, where every form of transportation is an adventure. Yangon, which doesn’t allow motorbikes, is now overrun by cars, and without the roads to support them. Trains are the butt of all jokes. Busses are slightly better.

    Near Myanmar’s Inle Lake, I am faced with a 40-minute walk to the market. The solution is to jump in the back of a sort of motorized wagon, as we bounce over the muddy, rutted path. I ride on the back of a motorbike on the way back. It is one of the US$400 models made across the border in China. I tell him to “take it slow.” It hardly matters.

    Yes, when I encounter an accident and Sig Alert on L.A.’s 405 freeway on the final leg of my journey, it seems almost acceptable. I’m driving a Lexus on a real highway. I’m sure traffic will clear anytime now.

     

    #6. Why am I starting not to care about news from the U.S.?

    When I first leave the U.S., I find myself checking the ESPN website, reading The New York Times International Edition and searching for CNN on TV. With each passing day my interest in U.S. news wanes. “What was the score in yesterday’s football game?” becomes “Is my team still playing?” morphing into “Why is every football game on TV played with a round ball?”

    I am reminded just how U.S.-centric the news is in America by how many interesting stories are presented to me internationally that would never be covered in the States. I can’t avoid the global news – there’s a television built into my bathroom mirror. I become a citizen of the world. I feel more intelligent. Still not smart enough to understand rugby from Australia. “That guy was tackled and down! Why is play still going on?”

     

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Kayan women Inle Lake Myanmar” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Kayan-women-Inle-Lake-Myanmar.jpg” alt=”Kayan women Inle Lake Myanmar” title_text=”Kayan women Inle Lake Myanmar” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    #7. I’m still glad I carry a drug store in a Ziploc bag

    Bugs are attracted to me. Mosquitoes think I am dessert. How else can I explain the several bites that are showing up on my arm? And I am inside the convention center in Bangkok. Thank goodness a tube a Benadryl is as close as my hotel room inside my drug store in a Ziploc bag, fully explained in another post.

    How charming and quaint was the building on stilts as our longtail boat pulls up to the dock. Inside we find some ladies from Myanmar’s Kayan tribe, with their long neck rings, weaving and selling clothing. We have stepped back in time. Unfortunately, my stomach has taken a step back also. Nothing in that local store can take the place of the western medicine I carry with me. My drug store in a Ziploc bag comes through again, as it does time after time.

     

    [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image admin_label=”Flight map Incheon Los Angeles” src=”https://journeyswithstephen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Flight-map-Incheon-Los-Angeles.jpg” alt=”Flight map Incheon Los Angeles” title_text=”Flight map Incheon Los Angeles” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

    #8. It’s going to take 31 hours to get home?

    I enjoy looking at those old ads for Pan Am or TWA, showing well dressed people smiling as they are served their steak dinners in-flight. These days the romance is gone. We treat flights as almost a necessary evil.

    I am both upscale and on a budget, so I enjoy the comforts of a lay-flat bed on Asiana, but still endure an 8-hour layover in Seoul to save hundreds of dollars. I’ve done all the free tours of Seoul, offered as a nice perk by the airport, so this time I confine myself to the business lounge.

     

    #9. Final reflections

    Reading departure signs in some big airport
    Reminds me of the places I’ve been.
    Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure
    Makes me want to go back again.

    You got that right, Jimmy.

    I may be tired and jetlagged, but already dreaming of the next trip. On this one I make new travel friends from all over the world, visit old friends, see a new country in the midst of historic change, and as usual, come back a little wiser about this planet we inhabit.

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