A Traveler's Journey Through Pictures

Wanted to share my travel and life's journey through picture and song. I captured the places that I have visited and seen in my life to help me appreciate where I am and where I have been.

Travel Tip of the Week...The All-Inclusive Resort Explained

Would love to get your questions and comments. What travel question would you like to see addressed in a future post?

Memo to the Travel Channel

I know this is somewhat of a departure from my normal travel tip or info posts, but I feel something should be said on behalf of all of us who love travel. So here it goes...

Travel Channel:

Please be aware that a few of your long time "loyal" viewers are becoming increasingly disgruntled by your show content. Don't get us wrong, we like (maybe even adore) Samantha Brown. You actually have her doing shows 100% related to travel. You let her show the various sites, hotels etc to see and stay at in each destination. We all like that because well…it is related solely to TRAVEL. And don’t get us wrong, we like Andrew Zimmerman and Tony Bourdain and that other guy who keeps trying to eat himself to death, but those are FOOD shows and frankly belong on the Food Network more so than on the TRAVEL Channel.

But worse yet, you have now seen fit to add movies to the channel-programming lineup and that may be the last straw for some of us. We may have tolerated the airing of poker tournaments for what seems like hours on end, but now you are wasting precious programming space by trying to become a movie channel as well.

You have lost your identity. You would think that a TRAVEL Channel would have shows actually derived around TRAVEL; shows maybe devoted to how to avoid travel mishaps, or shows about all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, or shows giving tips on how to make a trip less stressful, or shows following families as they go on various vacations here and abroad and on and on. You know…shows about TRAVEL. I have found that other channels, channels that don’t call themselves a Travel Channel, actually do have shows similar to the ones I just mentioned. So maybe you should look at their programming and figure out that they are filling a void that has been left by other channels who refuse to air such content which is surprising since there is a channel called THE TRAVEL CHANNEL on the air.

So this memo is to you, Mr. or Mrs. Executive of the Travel Channel. We urge you to get back to what your purpose was when your channel first aired so many moons ago and find your travel identity again.

One Traveler's Journey Through Japan

It felt like a dream as I made the 14 hour trip from the U.S. I had day-dreamed as a child of someday visiting this place. The reality is now setting in with me. I am here. I make my way through the corridors of Narita International Airport and I am already struck with the visuals and sounds. The many styles of Japanese writing are all staring at me. It is not long before I am reminded that I am now the visitor. This is not my home. As I make my way to the train, I can already see how some stop to take a look at who I am and maybe even conjure up in their own mind of where I am from. I assume they think I am from America, but later I understand the vastness of the city of Tokyo and the cultural diversity found there as well. Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain etc are all represented in the melting pot that is Tokyo.

But I am not headed for Tokyo. My journey is one beyond the comfort of such a big city where I can somehow blend in. I was used to being a chameleon since I was raised so close to San Francisco and spent so much time being one of the masses, a native even. My train ride would take me a to a place where I would be not only be the spectator, but also the watched. It was a city removed from Tokyo and with its own identity. It was famous for its own reasons and sites, yet few westerners ever walked it streets or frequented its shops and restaurants. The train ride is now etched in my memory forever. I will never forget the young girl who was in charge of providing food and drink during the trip from her little cart. I will no doubt never forget how patient she was with me as I held their currency out in my hand and trusted her to only take what was due her for my first Japanese coke. I was acutely aware of the sounds that you heard on the journey. Sounds I had yet to fully understand.

Thankfully the English language is still being taught as their second language in their schools. I was greeted with such warmth and courtesy. I had learned already that some of my pictures and dreams that I had held in my mind about Japan were indeed true. The bows. The thank you’s. The respect. It was prevalent at the outset. I was escorted to my room and made aware that service in Japan is expected and not something to be awarded. Tips were refused and a nice courteous bow bid me goodnight.

I was now headed for the more stressful part of the trip, which was to navigate one of Japan’s busier stations outside of Metro Tokyo. I can only explain it by equating it to a sea, a sea of men and women. At times I was swimming up stream as I tried to determine which train, which staircase to take, which line? I made my way to the platform and there it was again; the sounds, the chimes. They always then led to an announcement in which I was always thankful that I could make out the town or station name which gave me confidence that I was soon about to board the right train.

I did notice the stares but soon enjoyed the fact that I was the traveler now. I was the one on the journey.

The journey was well on its way. I now found myself sitting down, shoes off, a part of an experience that I could not have imagined. The owner of the small historic home, converted now to small restaurant tells my interpreter that she cannot recall any other westerner ever stepping through her doors. She smiled and bowed to let me know how honored she felt, but it was me feeling humbled and honored. One course after another made its way to my plate. I was granted immediate respect due to my advanced chopstick training that I did before stepping foot on the plane ride over. I learned and observed that food in Japan is not just something consumed; food is considered a cultural experience, an art form and a societal event. It was a meal covering 2 hours, but filled with a lifetime worth of memories.

On the walk back to my hotel, I was given my answer to the sounds that I heard every day and all around the city. I walked to a street corner and a chime let me know when it was time to cross. I came to another corner and a different chime let me know it was time to yield. I then noticed the street walks were lined with what seemed to be a form of Braille. It was at that moment that it hit me. I was witnessing a country that had built an infrastructure around a part of their society that was suffering from the results of war. The atomic bomb left a legacy of blindness so much so that their society needed ways of going about their daily routine. The chimes or bells I was hearing in the train station were letting those who could not see know that a train was either coming or going. The chimes in the streets were protecting their people from walking into traffic. The Braille on the walkways was giving freedom to those that some consider handicapped.

It would be these sounds and images that I would carry with me forever upon my return back home. I would forever remember the sites of seeing the tall skyscrapers of downtown Tokyo then contrasted with the ancient shrine in a quiet section of Omiya. I would remember the masses being pushed on a crowded commuter train by those designated to do so and recognized by their uniform and white gloves and then compare that to being able to see the beginning of a wedding ceremony and dress dating back thousands of years at a Shinto Temple. I will never forget the bows, the respect, and the honor given me just for walking into their shop or eating in their restaurant.

As I make myself comfortable in my airline seat preparing for the 14-hour return trip home, I cannot help from looking and re-looking out the window again. I am asking myself, “Was I really here?” “Did this just happen?” And then, almost as a way of answering my own question, I look back as we ascend out of the Tokyo area and off in the horizon is what some told me would be a rarity; I see above the clouds the entire top half of Mt Fuji. It was true. I was in Japan.

This journey changed me. It shaped my perspective and opened the world to me…

San Francisco--California's True Gem

I will admit right now that I am partial. I grew up in Northern California less than 2 hours away from San Francisco. We went there often when I was growing up and some of my best memories growing up are from our trips into the city by the bay.

I consider San Francisco to be California's best and most scenic city. For those that have never been, I hope this short post induces some wanderlust in you and causes you to want to include it on your near future travel plans. Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" really speaks to so many of us who have walked its streets and who have taken in its vistas. There are so many visuals and sounds that come to mind when I think of it. I can hear the distinct ringing of the Cable Car bells. I can smell the aroma of the fresh baked Boudin's sour dough bread. I can feel the cool salty air blowing in with fog off of the Pacific Ocean. I can hear a faint fog horn sound from Alcatraz.

It is so vivid and it makes me want to hop a plane and rush back. I want to hurry and scamper up the steps of Coit Tower so I can just sit and look 360 degrees in every direction and see the Bay, the unique downtown skyline with the famous Transamerica Pyramid Building, and on a clear day, look and see the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. I want to take a nice walk from Ghirardelli Square over to Little Italy and then on to China Town before finally making my way to Union Square. Once in Union Square, my next favorite must-do would be to enter the luxurious St Francis Hotel and hop on the elevator. It is one of best ways (and free) to see most of the city from a bird's eye view since its outside elevator takes you up 32 stories to the top.

If you are lucky enough to be in SF during the summer, you know that it is a cool oasis away from the heat that the rest of the Country is engulfed in. It can get as cool as 50 degrees during a foggy summer night in SF which is why you need to listen to those who tell you to pack a coat for your summer's visit.

One last vivid memory to share is the many walks I have taken down the area known as Fisherman's Wharf. You can walk slowly and sample fresh crab and shrimp that were pulled from the water just that morning. Don't get caught up in the tourist snares and commercialism that has come to the wharf, but stay near the areas where you can still smell the freshness of the catch.

The great thing about SF is that everything is either a nice walk away, a fun Cable Car ride away or a very short taxi ride away. The city is one of the easiest cities to navigate and everywhere is a new view to take in and capture by camera. So get out there and enjoy my favorite city in the whole wide world...San Francisco.

Travel Tip of the Week...Which cruise cabin should I choose?

The Best Time to Travel

"What is the best time to visit destination 'XYZ'?" That is a common question I get asked by travelers wanting to visit a variety of places. It is a logical question to ask. So I felt like I needed to take a few moments and address the question generally to show the different ways that the question can be answered.

Most people really expect someone to answer that question in relation to weather and crowds etc. Now here is the thing to consider, in most cases, the better the weather also means the larger the crowds. Europe's best weather months really coincide with their peak travel season. That also translates into higher travel costs.

So the best time to travel to somewhere in Europe is really during times that are considered the "shoulder season" or off-season. There are a lot of destinations in Europe where the weather is rather temperate all year and can offer great savings opportunities if you can travel during off-season dates which are usually early Spring or early to mid-Fall and not around major holidays.

But for almost every "pro," there is a "con" to also consider; traveling to Europe during off-peak times can have limited accommodation and activity options. Some hotels in Europe actually shut down during the off-season to refurbish or simply to take their own vacation so you need to make sure you plan well in advance and don't just show up in a town and expect to find a room to sleep in for the night. There may not be any. But if you prefer to walk down less crowded streets, then off-season travel in Europe may be the thing for you.

Ok...so what about places like the ever-popular Caribbean? What are the best times to travel to that region? This answer will cover all options (i.e. cruises to the area or staying at a resort). In my opinion, the best weather in the Caribbean is during the late Fall and Winter months. The temperatures are a little lower or less hot I should say and with much less humidity. Crowds are also lower in the late Fall months due to so many travelers still being concerned about traveling to the area during the hurricane season. So that brings up a con again. If you travel to the Caribbean between the months of August and the end of November, you are technically going during the region's hurricane season. That means great prices in most cases (big pro) and much lower crowds, but it also means you need to be prepared for changes to your itinerary if a hurricane were to develop and start heading towards your destination. Cruise ships will divert to other ports of call or cancel itineraries all together if their scheduled route is in the path of a possible hurricane. They have the right to change their itinerary at any moment if they feel the possible safety of its passengers and crew are in jeapordy due to weather. A good way to get some peace of mind if you are traveling during that time of year is by purchasing travel insurance. Most plans will cover delays or cancellations due to weather etc. (check each plan for details of what is covered before hitting the purchase button).

So are you seeing that the answer to the question can vary a lot? I really prefer to travel during those off-peak times and that may or may not coincide with the greatest weather etc. But it may offer a better overall experience because of less congestion and keeping more money in my pocket at the end of the day.

What have you experienced when traveling at different times of the year? Do you have your favorite time to travel to a particular destination? I am interested in hearing your answers or questions.