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Postcard: From the Wedding

In my touring around Tokyo, I was fortunate to happen upon a number of traditional weddings, giving me an opportunity to learn more about the customs and traditions involved. In this post-wedding reception, a helpful mom assists with her daughter’s wedding kimono.

Postcard from the Air: ANA Dreamliner at 40,000 Feet

I flew from Seattle to Tokyo on ANA’s inaugural Dreamliner flight. There was plenty of mood lighting, during boarding as well as this peaceful post-dinner evening lighting. This aircraft, and ANA’s business class service, has me spoiled about luxury flying. See more pictures in my Tokyo flickr stream.

I’m Going to Tokyo #ANASEA

Yes, I’m going to Tokyo and I’m very excited about it. But I jumped to the end of the story before telling you about how this came to be, why it’s important to me, and how you can help make sure my trip is everything I want it to be. So let’s rewind just a little bit. . . . All Nippon Airways (ANA) is launching a new service between Seattle and Tokyo on July 25th, 2012. The daily flight departs Seattle at 1:15 pm and ten and a half hours later arrive at Narita at 3:45 pm (the next day). For visitors interested in traveling on to other cities within Japan, or making connections to other destinations in Asia, this arrival neatly coincides with outbound flights. The outbound flight leaves Tokyo at 5:25 pm and arrives in Seattle at […]

Dubai Mall Offers More Than Shopping

Sure there’s a lot of historical sites, intriguing architecture, refreshing beaches, and a panoply of culture in Dubai, but still, the primary tourism draw is centered around shopping. Dubai is the most populated of the United Arab Emirates (there are seven emirates) and is the emirate most focused on tourism. With over 70 shopping malls, as well as an impressive souk district, Dubai has rightly earned the moniker of the “Shopping Capital of the Middle East.” Your Dubai holidays will give you a chance to sample both modern and traditional types of shopping. For modern day shopping, the Dubai Mall has everything you could possibly want. It is the world’s largest shopping mall (based on total area) and attracts over a million visitors per week. That’s more people than visit any of the U.S. theme parks, Times Square, or Niagara […]

Dubai Delights Shoppers

One of the seven emirates of the UAE, Dubai is probably better known for its shopping than for its many cultural sights and activities. What is it about this spot in the desert that has earned it the reputation as the “shopping capital of the Middle East” attracting shoppers from around the world? Dubai has over 70 shopping malls, including the huge Dubai Mall, offering everything from jewelry to electronics to upscale fashion. Most of the shops and boutiques in the mall operate on a a fixed-price basis, so if it’s some friendly haggling you’re looking for, head to one of the souks. The souk districts are located on both sides of the Dubai Creek and are traditional Arabic markets (in photo above). Although perhaps not as over-the-top as those found in Marrakesh or Istanbul, it’s still a shopping experience […]

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam

For many Baby Boomers, a visit to Vietnam represents both a cultural exploration and a reconciliation of political beliefs from the 1960’s. It can be voyage of discovery, exploration of history, an answer to long unanswered questions, and the turning of a new page on a country deeply embedded in US history. One way to learn more about the country is a visit to one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, many of which are included on Vietnam tours. There are four cultural and two natural sites on the list. Hue, in Central Vietnam, is the former capital of the country (until 1945), and is the cultural, intellectual, and spiritual center of Vietnam. The city is packed with pagodas, temples, citadel and royal tombs, or at least what remains of them, all blended into the incredible natural landscape. Here you’ll […]

Thailand is on My Bucket List

I’m in the process of putting together my “bucket” list for travel destinations and experiences, and will be posting it in a couple of days. A bucket list is a list of those must-do and must-see things that you want (or need) to accomplish before you die. The expression comes from the movie The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, where their two characters created a list of things that they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket. My travel bucket list is long, and every time I cross a few things off, it seems like I discover something new to add. Perhaps that doesn’t make it a true bucket list, but it’s my list and I get to call it what I like. One of the destinations that’s on my bucket list is Thailand. Best gal […]

Luang Prabang, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Today I have a guest post from a recent friend, Sue Henly. Sue and I met at a travel event and charmed me with her Australian accent. I think she’ll charm you with her writing as well. — In the soft grey light of early morning, we sit quietly on a bamboo mat, wicker baskets of sticky rice beside us, across from a shuttered colonial mansion heavy with bougainvillea. Birds chatter in the flame trees until a gong sounds, momentarily startling them into silence. Around a corner, dozens of barefoot monks and novices appear in a swish of saffron, golden bowls hanging from orange shoulder straps. Next to us, locals show us how to earn merit. Men adorned with scarves over one shoulder as a mark of respect and kneeling women in traditional shawls put fistfuls of rice into the […]

Sihanoukville Express, Bus Ride from Hell

Today I have a guest post from fellow blogger Ken Dunlop from The Vancouver Traveler. Ken spent several months traveling around Southeast Asia, and he graciously offered to share a bit of his trip with you. This is one of what I am sure is many anecdotes about getting around in Southeast Asia. So, you find yourself in Sihanouk Ville in Cambodia, and you are desperate to get into Thailand. Not wanting to travel the four hours to Phnom Penh in order to fly, the lady at the Internet Café presented a great plan, “Mr Ken, take the bus…it is good ride and only 8 hours.” Yup, you have it I took the bus. The day began at 07:00 for the tuk tuks ride to the bus depot, for the 07:50 bus departure. The bus is one of those huge […]

Loi Kratong Festival in Thailand

One of our travel bloggers, Ken at The Vancouver Traveler, is traveling around Asia right now. He’s had some difficult with electricity, let alone an internet connection, but he was recently able to send me this beautiful photo of the Loi Kratong Festival. The festival is celebrated annually in Thailand, usually during the month of November. One of the traditions is to decorate a raft and then release it on the night of the full moon. It looks like the raft launching is what is happening in the photo. I thought it was a beautiful photo of light, dark, and something else. . . something mysterious, or maybe mystical, going on. Thanks, Ken. Safe travels. Photo credit: ©Ken Dunlop, used with permission _____________________________________________ Technorati Tags: b5media, Flyaway Café, flight attendants, travel, vacation, travel information, travel tips, travel blogs, travel & […]