Asia’s Novelty Act – Me!
I’m curious about South Korea -- and it seems South Korea is just as curious about me. From news television crews to young women asking me to pose for photos, I cause a stir everywhere I go. Here are some …
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Dead Malls – How to Revive Them
I got wrapped up in a story about dead malls via LinkedIn.com. Why are Malls Getting Mauled? says mega-shopping centers are endangered.
My city of Scottsdale, Ariz., is a shopping destination for travelers, especially for snowbirds. Within its borders are …
8 Hours in Stockholm
Sometimes when I travel, I don’t have long to linger. That was the case when we headed to Tromsø, Norway, for the Midnight Sun Run. We had a wee eight hours or so in Stockholm.
And there’s no way we …
Safeguard Your House While You Travel
Ever worry about your house when you travel? Or get that nagging feeling that something is not quite right as you head to the airport?
Well, my streak of luck ended. After years of problem-free travel, it all caught up: …
Music this Autumn: Concerts in Birmingham, England
Music lovers will know how fantastic an experience a live concert can be. Listening to your favourite albums at home is one thing, but seeing your idols on stage is a whole different ball game. The Midlands city of Birmingham
Traveler’s Overview: The Twin Cities
Wow, there’s something stinky on this Delta flight. Kind of like a bison pooped around seat 37D, and they used a dirty diaper soaked in Febreeze to clean it up.
This was the Facebook post that brought my trip to …
Fighter Pilot for a Day – Top Gun in Scottsdale?
[Sept. 15 Update:Â An alert Twitter user (Yes, I still refuse to say “Tweep”) pointed out an article on Aero-News.net claiming that Top Gun Fighter Combat Adventures is a scam. In short, it sells Groupon offers, but doesn’t have …
Curling – A First-Timer’s Story
Curling seems like a sport out of time and place in Arizona. So explain, then, about 50 people who have never curled before trooping to an ice rink near the McDowell Mountains on a Saturday night to try it.
The …
Linnanmäki Amusement Park – 6 Things to Know
When it comes to theme parks, Helsinki is no Orlando. It offers just one amusement park called Linnanmäki (“Castle Hill,” in English). About 1.2 million visited Linnanmäki in 2007 – that’s roughly the number of people in line for Space …
Social Media for Travel Geeks – About Trippy.com
A few days ago, I started playing around with a social media travel site called Trippy.com. In a nutshell, it lets you organize places you’ve been and places you want to go with a photo to represent each of …
Curiosity Mars Rover: Waste of Money?
Congratulations on wasting $100 million landing a remote-controlled buggy on Mars. Not sure how this helps us poor people here on Earth, but great job.
Nope. These aren’t my words. It’s just a turdy bit of meme humor oozing its …
Norway – First Few Travel Days
Traveling to Scandinavia starts with a 9 a.m. flight from Phoenix to Chicago a few Thursdays ago. There, we catch a 4 o’clock-ish flight to Stockholm on SAS. The flight lands at 8 a.m. on Friday.
What do we do …
Norway – A Quick Update
Norway is a good place to be in the summer. But I still wonder how that ‘good’ would turn really challenging in the winter. I’m still getting my head around the experience – I’ll have more to say when I …
Olympic Games Gone Wrong: The Brand Exclusion Zone
The Olympic Games have gone off their rocker.
[NOTE: I wrote this years ago, before the Olympic Games started doing even dumber things. Just look up Tokyo Olympics 2020 for all the examples you need.]
The games once celebrated the …
American Airlines and US Airways Merger – One Traveler’s Wish List
American Airlines and US Airways are destined to merge, if you believe the many airline industry talking heads. If the merger is inevitable, it opens many questions and concerns. But I don’t want to go there. Instead, I offer my …
Arizona Mountain Bike Racer’s Hanoi Bike Tour
Rich Maines is one of the faster mountain bike racers in Arizona. The guy absolutely flies on a singlespeed.
Even better, Rich makes a strong case for me to label him The Most Interesting Mountain Bike Racer in the World …
Scottsdale Night Run 2012: Quick Race Review
UPDATE (May 13): According to the Scottsdale Night Run Facebook page, someone stole the first water station. I’m still confused about why someone thinks it’s a good idea to just drop a bunch of stuff off for a race …
Hi Seoul 10K Race – A Running Adventure Abroad
Being a large Caucasian guy in South Korea is a weird experience. As I warm up for the Hi Seoul 10K run, a TV news crew fixates on me. The camera sweeps over me. Records every move. Captures every lunge, …
4 Helpful Facts About a “Love Hotel” in South Korea
The amenities in a South Korea love hotel are not what you’ll see at your local Holiday Inn: flashing colored lights over the bed, a higher-than-average number of mirrors or a “personal massager” for sale in the minibar.
If …
Aviation Photos – The 161st Air Refueling Wing/Phoenix Sky Harbor
Aviation photographers love any chance to get close to the action. And being on the ground level next to one of the runways at a major airport? Excellent. And if the vantage point is at a military installation? Jackpot!
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