Category Archive for: ‘Writing’

• A Brief Visit to Amsterdam

  I’ve been to Amsterdam before, but never to its airport, Schiphol, which is pronounced “skipple” (by the Dutch, anyway, and they’re the ones who matter in this context. Silly British pronunciations need not apply). I’ve been through numerous airports on four continents, but this one’s …

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• Departing for Amsterdam

  For me, a trip always begins with the packing. I had a list, but I was still stressed I’d forget things. The list kept morphing. As I write this on the 20th, I don’t think I forgot anything critically important, but there certainly are some …

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• Small Hawaii Businesses

  I thought I’d bring up some small Hawaii businesses I’ve run across on my two trips to the big island. The first two you can only enjoy from the island, but the rest you can enjoy almost anywhere. First, two tour companies. Lava Ocean Adventures …

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• Evolving Tastes: Chickpeas

  As a kid, the only chickpeas I ever saw came in a can and were labeled garbanzo beans. I loathed them with a passion I still reserve only for lima beans, brussel sprouts, and (most especially) asparagus and quinoa. I have to admit: part of …

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• Nine Hotels

  I’ve previously expressed my love for Ladera, set among the incredible beauty of St. Lucia’s pitons. Eight other hotels around the world I’d love to stay at. Kona Village, on Hawaii’s big island, is temporarily closed due to tsunami damage, but I’m hopeful it’ll return. …

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• Signs You Travel Too Much

  Funny items from this long thread on flyertalk: When you are brought in by immigration because you have more entries and exits into that country than anyone else, native or foreigner, for seven of the last 8 years and you are not from that country. …

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• New Luggage Report

  In the last week-ish, I’ve done both a flight vacation and a car trip with my new Tumi Vapor luggage. The first piece I got, as you may have seen, is the International Carry-On in pink multi with the breast cancer awareness luggage tag. Very …

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• Hilo Wednesday (done)

  Stuff to do and see: 1) Finish packing (ugh) 2) Farmer’s market (6 am – 4 pm), specifically for jam/honey guy and soap guy 6) Imiloa (9-5, $17.50, but this is the most interesting of the museums  for me) 7) Place that sells unrefined Hawaiian …

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• Hilo Wednesday (To Do)

  Stuff to do and see: 1) Finish packing (ugh) 2) Farmer’s market (6 am – 4 pm), specifically for jam/honey guy and soap guy 3) Zoo, specifically Namaste’s feeding at 3:30 (zoo’s open from 9-4, free) 4) Pacific Tsunami Museum (9-4:15, $8) 5) Lyman museum …

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• Hilo Tuesday

  First, a bit left over from Monday: I went out to Hilo Bay Cafe, which is a more high-falutin’ place than the name suggests, and had an awesome beef short rib dinner. Now, I’m not normally a beef person (except for hamburgers) and I generally …

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