In 2007, I traveled from Oakland, California, to the Arctic Circle in Alaska in five days, using solely public transportation. These were my rides, and the people I met along the way. Continue reading
Travel
99 posts
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada: New China
It’s a frigid October afternoon. I’m walking towards a Chinese restaurant suggested by Lonely Planet. About halfway there, I see about a dozen middle aged Chinese men (obviously from Mainland China based on their hairstyle and the way they wear their white collared shirts) cramming themselves into a 15-passenger van. With toothpicks in their mouths and loud, satisfying burps, I can tell that they just ate. They came out of New China, which was not my destination. Continue reading
Captain James Cook (1728-1779) was arguably the greatest explorer of all time. In his failed attempts to find Antarctica and the Northwest Passage, he “discovered” the Hawaiian Islands, the east coast of Australia, and circumnavigated New Zealand.
If you’re a Cook fan or just a history buff, these spots in Hawaii are definitely worth checking out.
Carnival Cruises, the best place on the ocean to get the norovirus, recently announced that because turrism and 9/11, no passengers may dress in drag or “costume” on its upcoming “Drag Stars at Sea” cruise.
Carnival sent an email to passengers booked on their upcoming “Drag Stars at Sea” cruise, informing them that passengers will be banned from dressing in drag on the drag cruise, under penalty of being kicked off the ship. Continue reading
For avid travelers who like to cross places off lists, Niihau is a big deal. It is nearly impossible to reach and it has a fascinating story involving a contemporary feudal society, the cause of Japanese internment, and a lot of garbage.
Hawaii, a tourist mecca, has seven inhabited islands. Niihau, off the coast of Kauai, is closed off from the rest of the world. It has no hotels, no paved roads, not even an ATM. Having visited six of the seven islands already, I plotted for years to reach Niihau. I succeeded last year.
We have arrived! At 12,000 feet, Karakul Lake literally takes your breath away. After a surprisingly delicious meal in a concrete cantina next to the lake, we decide to take an afternoon stroll.
Though the lake is only three miles in circumference, my severe altitude sickness– pounding headache, shortness of breath, inability to concentrate– meant the walk took more than two hours. Miraculously, I was still able to take some decent photos. And to this day, eight years later, I remember the entire experience as if it were yesterday. Continue reading
By LaZiguezon and TS
Americans, tomorrow’s election results may very well be the moment you decide to move to Canadaland permanently. Of course, we will probably reject your application since “unilingual underemployed and heavily indebted bleeding heart Liberal” seems to secure very little leverage on our points-based immigration application. Nonetheless, if a few of you are lucky enough to garner TS’s or my love, you may have a stronger chance. So sit back and get to know an “off the beaten path” version of your new city, Toronto. Continue reading
These are my fondest/most mind-searing travel memories from each state. What are some of yours?
Alabama: (It’s the only state where I can’t think of anything, good or bad. This list gets better, I promise.)
Alaska: Sharing a salmon jerky on a bus with a Vietnam vet from Fort Yukon. He comes to town twice a year for a medical check-up. He has a baseball cap with the Intel logo that reads “Jesus Inside”.
Arizona: Running back and forth across Hoover Dam to reach the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones.
Arkansas: Getting room service (club sandwiches) at a Hilton Garden Inn outside Little Rock. Continue reading
We are heading south. A surprisingly well-paved, two lane road connects us from Kashgar all the way to our final destination. Ever since 9/11, China has made a point of making sure its borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, all within a few hours’ drive from here, are secure. To that end, this road has been paved and regularly cleared of falling rocks. On the way to Karakul, I see about a half dozen army trucks filled to the brim with stone faced, young People’s Liberation Army soldiers.
A few minutes out of Kashgar, the landscape opens up. Near the horizon stands the Pamir range, my destination. The road is lined with pencil thin poplar trees on either side. Parallel to the southbound lane is a narrow canal used for irrigation. It runs for miles. Continue reading
For the past eight months, the Five Abandoned Places series has showcased a total of 175 locations from around the world. Today’s “top 20” post will mark the last of the weekly series (which no doubt will take on a new form in the weeks ahead). Many thanks to the readers who have offered site suggestions or left comments. Continue reading