Espiritu Santo was an important base of operations during WWII. The Allies used the island as a support and supply base. Santo eventually became the second largest US base in the Pacific with 40,000 troops stationed there. They had airbases, repair facilities and a naval harbor. Today reminders of the war are scattered throughout the … Continue reading Espiritu Santo WWII Tour
Exploring WWII ruins, wandering cities, diving shipwrecks, visiting pristine beaches and snorkeling reefs in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu on the trip, Pacifying the Pacific. Solomon Islands Leaving Papua New Guinea, I was on a Air Niugini flight to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. The landing was so hard we bounced a bit. … Continue reading Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India India Day 1 – Leaving Bhutan and arriving in Calcutta, India. Country 57 complete! Dealing with Indian airport bureaucracy, visiting Dakhineswar Kali Temple, and catching a flight to Varanasi. Thimphu to Paro Airport The metallic ring of my smartphone reminded me we had a plane … Continue reading Route to India: Paro to Calcutta and Varanasi
Four Countries in 2 Weeks: Turkey, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India Day 3 – Arriving in Bhutan, country 56. Meeting our guides, passing through Paro and hiking to the incredible Tiger’s Nest! Arrival An hour or so on the Drukair flight from Dhaka, beautiful mountain peaks appeared outside our window. The Airbus A319 weaved through the … Continue reading Bhutan’s Incredible Tiger’s Nest Monastery
Burmese Days and Indo Nights – Indonesia and Myanmar Day 11: Traveling from Mandalay to Inle Lake followed by a tour of the lake before relaxing at the Paramount Inle Resort. With another morning of traveling, we were up around 5 a.m. and packed up. The buffet breakfast had attentive service and made-to-order eggs which … Continue reading Exploring the World of Inle Lake
Burmese Days and Indo Nights – Indonesia and Myanmar Day 4: Travel from Bandung to Jakarta to Depasar and Lovina, Bali all in a day. Checking out Sunda Kelapa in Jakarta on the way. Bandung to Jakarta With an early start at 4:30 am, we had a quick bite to eat before catching our bus … Continue reading A Long Way to Bali
March On, Bahamaland! Day 1: Arriving in Nassau and spending the day exploring all the main sights before taking a flight to Freeport and settling into our hotel. The direct flight from Newark arrived at Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport at noon. Christina and I stepped off the airplane staircase onto the runway and took … Continue reading Top Sights of Nassau in a Day!
Cruising for Saints in the Caribbean Day 5: Flying to St. Thomas and fighting for a chance to get onto the cruise then visiting Magens Bay for a moment of respite. My alarm cruelly brought me back to reality and I throw my stuff in my bag and headed downstairs. It was 4:40. I had … Continue reading USCIS and Magens Bay, How I Spent a St. Thomas Day!