California Globetrotter
In and around World
Welcome to my Travel Blog site!
From here you will be able to see photos, read stories, and keep track of where I am in the world. From time to time you will get email updates when a new story is posted, but that doesn't mean you can't come back on your own. And, for you blog-challenged, I'll still be in touch over email.
Off we go...
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler GWiZ
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1
Farewell, U.S.A...
"Bittersweet."
This is how I'd respond during the last few days I was stateside when someone would ask how I was feeling about my trip. ... Continue reading »
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2
Ni Sa Bula Fiji!
Fantastic location to start a trip around the world, especially for a US citizen. The climate is warm and relaxed. Different languages... Continue reading »
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3
New Zealand - The North Island
Of my friends who had traveled to both islands of New Zealand, all of them had told me that I should devote a large percentage of my time strictly... Continue reading »
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4
New Zealand - The South Island
The South Island. Northerners vacation here and Southerners hardly leave. With places like Abel Tasman, the Franz Josef Glacier, Milfor... Continue reading »
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5
New Zealand - Lord of the Rings
Beware! This blog entry is not for the faint of heart. The following passages contain some very dorky facts and photos. Parents should screen the c... Continue reading » -
6
The Land of Oz - Melly and Briz
Welcome to Oz, Aussie, or Australia!(for those of you as unfamiliar with the lingo as I was) The home of "skippies", chunder, and irukan... Continue reading »
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7
A Noo kind of Christmas
Merry Christmas from Noosa!
After six days of solitary exploration through Mel and Briz, I was ready for some company again. Christmas... Continue reading »
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8
The Saga of Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island, a World Heritage area, and known for self-guided 4x4 trips with ten other people whom one may or... Continue reading »
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9
Island Redemption
No more islands and stories of cyclones or soggy sleeping bags. This entry focuses on the Whitsunday Islands. A 74-island chain a few h... Continue reading »
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10
Diving in Queensland
One of the principal reasons I got dive certified in Fiji was because of its reputation for beautiful dive spots. The other reason is so I'd... Continue reading »
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11
The Wet Tropics and the Big City
I arrived in Cairns largely to do three things: go diving, go to the rainforest, and experience the town's infamous nightlife. I arrived at t... Continue reading »
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12
Selamat Datang Bali!
When I say 'Bali', what do you think of?
Do images of white, sandy beaches come to mind? Do activities such as surfing, scuba diving, o... Continue reading »
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13
The Underwater Bali
Arguably, some of the best diving in the world occurs in the South Pacific Ocean. Like Fiji, Bali is one of the reasons it has this reputatio... Continue reading »
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14
Bangkok: Asia's Number One City
I picked up the JetStar magazine as the plane departed from Denpasar because the cover featured an article on Bangkok. One of the first facts... Continue reading »
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15
Koh-mpanions
In the last 30 years for many Westerners, Thailand has become synonymous with tropical paradise. This is only true in the Gulf of Thailand an... Continue reading »
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16
A New Favorite and an Old Capital
In my Bangkok entry, I mentioned that the city was the second-rated city in the world to visit, according to several travel magazines and agencie... Continue reading »
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17
Angkor
The anchor on a ship is a lifeline. In turbulent times, it provides hope through surer ground. Angkor does just that for the Khmer people of Cambod... Continue reading »
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18
Smiles, Sales, and Sorrows
I must admit the idea of Cambodia excited me less after being in Thailand. I wanted to see Angkor, and the Killing Fields were important for humani... Continue reading »
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19
The Vertical City
Been to New York City? Los Angeles? I hope so, because using them is the only way in which I can properly describe my first impression... Continue reading »
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20
Cultural Soul
The regions of Japan are wonderfully unique from each other. Each takes pride in its geography, language specifics, and culinary delight... Continue reading »
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21
Intercontinental Shock
As my plane took off from Osaka bound for Beijing, I felt the typical rush of excitement for an unknown destination and a new adventure.&... Continue reading »
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22
Western Relief
Many people who have yet to visit China may not know this city. Those that do often know it for its famed Terracotta Warrior Army. Odds... Continue reading »
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23
A Whirlwind Tour
After eight days in Beijing and six in Xi'an, the leisurely pace of my China experience subsided for the next ten days. I traded depth for br... Continue reading »
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24
Family Reunion
Family exists without bond of blood. Its ingredients taste of virtue: trust, loyalty, faith, and sacrifice are but a few. If home is wh... Continue reading »
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25
More Than Carpets...(and War)
"If there is a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here, it is Kashmir." A once great Mughal emperor once said this and it is hard to disagree... Continue reading »
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26
The Brothers Dandoo and WWII
Delhi is a fair city, in my opinion. I've seen several metropoli on these travels and while it is no Tokyo or Sydney, it does have a dozen... Continue reading »
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27
Rajasthan and the Other City by the Bay
Sometimes destination are squeezed out of an itinerary. That's what happened with Rajasthan on this trip. It is one of India's most hea... Continue reading »
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28
The Beautiful Game
I began actively planning my trip one year before I thought it would commence. I read books on how to travel independently for extended perio... Continue reading »
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29
Pairs in Paris
Arrogant. Pretentious. Rude. Classist. Have you heard these things of the people living in France's capital? If you h... Continue reading »
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30
Sensual South
Ever hear someone say they were in or were going to the "south of France"? Did you wonder where the "south" was? I hadn't contemplated... Continue reading »
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31
Lisping the Esses
I really enjoyed Paris. Entertainment ranged from opera to public park. Food from l'escargots to kebab. And people from look-down... Continue reading »
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32
The Black Pool and Dark City
More than 1000 years ago, Vikings landed on the island of Ireland. They inhabited a spot near the sea supplied by a large river. They n... Continue reading »
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33
Southwestern Craic
The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland is a must-see destination, but it is not the typical Irish coast. It is odd and intriguing but not t... Continue reading »
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34
SweCal
Some of the world's most beautiful places are in New Zealand. Rocky fjords and white-capped peaks. Coasts teeming with marine life and... Continue reading »
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35
Hamburgers, Beetles, and Swamp Rats
I have several friends who have traveled through Germany and met many more along this adventure. Their lists of places to which they'd return... Continue reading »
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36
Never-Neverland
According to one of my favorite sitcom characters, The Netherlands is the place where Captain Hook duels with Peter Pan, there is a group of kids c... Continue reading »
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37
In Beer We Trust
I looked all over Munich and narry a building, plaque, or publication had this written on it. A grievous error, if you ask me. Beer is... Continue reading »
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38
Testing the Waters
With its boot plunged into the Mediterranean, it is no surprise that Italy is a water country. At the height of the Roman Empire, everything... Continue reading »
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39
Roam
That's exactly what you should do when in it. Not only are metro lines out of the way (for the obvious problems of digging beneath 2000 year... Continue reading »
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40
Return to Water
Rome lived up to my expectations. Its stars, both brilliant and subtle, fulfilled my vision of its imperial universe. Sound, however, w... Continue reading »
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41
A Dose of (sur)Reality
The Italian region of Tuscany is a stop on many travel itineraries. It is home to the popular destinations of Pisa, Siena, and Florence.&nbs... Continue reading »
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42
Beautiful Life
As much as I fight it, I am a planner. More than two years before beginning this adventure, I began planning it. I toyed with where to... Continue reading »
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43
Living History
To say that Greece has a rich history is an understatement. To us western countries, it IS history. The beginnings of it anyway. ... Continue reading »
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44
East Meets West
If I asked which continent Turkey is on, what would you answer? The Lonely Planet includes it in their "Europe on a Shoestring" guidebook, ye... Continue reading »
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45
Where are you from?...Welcome!
Despite having seen so much on this trip, I must admit I had my prejudices before coming to the Middle East. I hadn't yet met anyone who had... Continue reading »
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46
IsReal
I spent three weeks in Israel, but I didn't get used to the reality of it. I kept asking myself, "Is this real?" When I'd pass road signs... Continue reading » -
47
Scuba Dahab, Do
The Sinai peninsula has many towns, but I can comment on three in rapid succession. Taba is a border town...'nuf said. Nuweiba is quain... Continue reading »
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48
Pharoah Me, Oh My!
For thousands of years, the lotus has been an important symbol to Egyptians. It represents life, probably at least in part due to life source... Continue reading »
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49
Beyond Bogie
When I first laid out my travels in Africa, I imagined myself covering just one north African nation, Egypt, before penetrating the Sub-Saharan cul... Continue reading »
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50
Virginity
Eight months. That was the time I spent circumnavigating the Mediterranean. Through Europe, Asia, and Africa, I realized wishes born a... Continue reading »
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51
Wealth
In the Old San Juan, there exists a plaque commemorating the town's 500-year anniversary. Part of the inscription reads, "...the oldest city... Continue reading »
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52
Forget What You Think You Know
If I say 'Colombia', you think...cocaine? coffee? emeralds? FARC? Unless you've been here recently or know someone who has, I'll bet your opi... Continue reading »
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53
Discover me
I continue the story of Colombia but with reluctancy. I am happy to report that, at the present, the country is a diamond in the rough. ... Continue reading »
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54
Rounding Out
Being a quintessential Libra, I seek balance in my travels. The tablecloth dinner complements the greasy food stall. The novel in the h... Continue reading »
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55
Size DOES Matter
In certain regards, the following analogy can be accurately made - Brazil:South America::Texas:United States. Both places speak a different l... Continue reading »
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56
Save Time for the South
Long have I desired to see Brazil's southern states. I just hadn't realized it before arriving. As with many other countries, I had con... Continue reading »
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57
Empire of the Sun
The great conquerors of the world, who were they? The Persians? The Romans? The French? For most of us and our knowledge of... Continue reading »
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58
EST
Titles have always fascinated me. On this trip, I've been drawn to places that are unique in the world. I've enjoyed walking through th... Continue reading »
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59
Salt, Sweat, and a Sea (of sorts)
Reluctantly, I eventually pulled myself away from the clutches of La Paz. I had earned the comfortable status of "long term guest" at my host... Continue reading »
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60
T Minus Ten
KonstB
on
Aug. 26, 2009 @ 02:12PM said
halo. please email me.
jackholiday
on
Jun. 23, 2007 @ 03:58AM said
I just read that you were in Central China a couple days ago. Chengdu? Are you okay? I sincerely hope you are well. I don't even know you, but I just heard of the disaster.
mombot
on
Jun. 23, 2007 @ 03:58AM said
Remember to breathe deeply and often. Your journey will begin when it is the right time for you.
the Ma
on
Jun. 23, 2007 @ 03:58AM said
I'm so excited, just wish it was me riding along in your backback with you.Would you like to comment or ask a question?
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