Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones are identical storms—rotating systems with winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph)—named differently based on where they form. In our case, Tropical Storm 98P, starting around Vanuatu and moving south, became either Typhoon or Cyclone Tam. It was supposed to weaken as it headed south toward the Tasman Sea (between […]
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Ellen’s Postcard From Sydney
Hello everyone, we have made it to Sydney, Australia ! We haven’t had internet the last two weeks on the ship so no posts, but hopefully one soon. We’ve done a lot since Singapore. In all honesty though, we are both getting tired of being tourists. Sydney is beautiful but we may not tour it […]
Melaka
The above picture is a Melakan trishaw. I guess it’s a matter of taste, but I find them rather fun. At night they are all lit up. We’re staying at “The Sterling Boutique Hotel,” which is a more imposing name than hotel. It’s not terrible, just not imposing. It is also a nice location, near […]
Kompong Khleang
Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It is very near Siem Reap, so there are a bunch of tours to various fishing villages. We’ve been told that the closest one is a tourist trap, full of scams. Kompong Khleang is the furthest from Siem Reap, and the most authentic. We signed […]
Maeklong Railway Market
I’ve got to hand it to people that have found a way to monetize something that is ubiquitous throughout Southeast Asia. They make a big deal of the railway market, and how the shop keepers and restauranteurs set up over the tracks, only to put it all away when the train comes by. There is […]
Royal Palace, Emerald Buddha, Reclining Buddha
The Royal Palace is a huge jumble of buildings, wats (temples), stupas, and tourist infrastructure. 8 million people visit each year, and it seemed like they all came the day we did. It hasn’t been the residence of the royal family since the 1900’s, but is still used for some ceremonial events, like welcoming foreign […]
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Finally…We’re On Our Way!
We woke to the shocking and frightening news that DJT had regained the presidency. If you will permit me a short digression: I was raised in a time that character was the primary requirement for our nations leaders. That at the end of the day, citizenship is more important than partisanship. I’m not so naive […]
Air Panama Blues
We decided to fly back to Panama City, rather than busing it. We didn’t want to spend all day traveling. When I booked the ticket, the had the flight departing Changuinola (CHX). It is about an hour north of Almirante, the landside port to Bocas Town, the hub of the islands. Turns out there is […]
El Rio Encantado
The Enchanted River So of course Sharna signed us up for “quading,” or four-wheeling on New Year’s Day. Destintion, the fabled “El Rio Encantado,” a resort located on the banks of the Caldera River. We drove to Annie and Darin’s place where we mounted the quads. On the way we drove past Che, Sharna’s horse, […]
Puestas de Sol
Translation: Puts of Sun; Sunsets Most of you know that we are sunset junkies. Me, perhaps, more than Ellen. There is a significance to seeing the sun lower on the horizon, then disappear. Very much a transition, or passing of the day. These were taken over the Pacific from our beach in Las Lajas. [smartslider3 […]