Oceania

Esperance: The Gem of Western Australia

Kangaroos living on the beach, pirates, explorers, gold, and the biggest wave in Western Australia; ‘The Cyclops’. It seemed like my childhood story books were starting to come true. I was on my way to Esperance, in a clapped out 80’s model BMW named Delilah, chasing...

Driving Up Gibb River Road – Western Australia

Gibb River Road Standing on the side of the road, I heard the welcome sound of a roar of an engine. Soon after, a vehicle came careering around the corner, and halted to a stop after I flagged it down. “I don’t suppose you have a working jack, do you?” I asked. The...

Hiking the Gorges of Karijini National Park

Winter runoff has come to Karijini National Park Winter has come to Karijini National Park. A chilling wind whips across my face as I check into Dales Campground, my home for the next week. The once lovely campsite is a shadow of its former self after a recent bush...

All the Birds on Guam Were Eaten by All the Snakes!

“There are no birds on Guam; they’ve been eaten by all of the snakes.” A Legend of Guam With my head full of dire sailor stories, I imagined many things before making the 20 hour, three-legged flight out from California to Guam to meet my husband’s ship. Frankly, the...

Festival of the Pearl – Australia

A kaleidoscope of colour and culture, the 46th annual Shinju Matsuri - Japanese for “Festival of the Pearl” – is a celebration of Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian and Aboriginal cultures that shaped Broome during the peak of the prosperous pearl industry. A nine-day...

10 Things to Know About Fiji

My Insights into Fiji Since Fiji Airways flies from LAX (Los Angeles) on a brand new A330, I thought with more people having an opportunity to visit I would offer some of my insights for travelers from my last trip. 1. In Fiji, Bula is the word. 2. Bula is a Fijian...

Learning About American Samoa

How American is American Samoa? I learned lots about American Samoa from Eleitina, who is one of their tourism representitives at the 2016 Los Angeles Travel and Adventure show. Some of the topics we discussed includes the Samoan language, the differences between...

Still Fantastic: Fiji After the Hurricane

Hurricane Winston chooses best path through Fiji Yes, there was damage to Fiji but the hurricane's path left the vast majority of the islands unharmed. To learn more about Fiji and how Fiji is waiting for travelers watch my video interview with Ruth of Tourism Fiji....

Mount Cook National Park: A Whisper of Peace

New Zealand's National Park Stretching Out in Cook National Park Reclining on cushions I had wrested from my couch the previous morning, I stared out the open hatch of my Subaru past my outstretched legs. Somber clouds descended down; the undulating peaks faded to...

Roadside Kindness in Queenstown

Hitchhiking in Queenstown Preparing for Queenstown So there I was—optimistic thumb outstretched, a sign that read “Queenstown,” an overweight backpack tipped over on the ground, and a cheery smile that I hoped didn’t look psychotic. I, like many, am a hitchhiker. It’s...

The Food and Wine Trails of Australia

What isn't apparent for the first time visitors to Australia is the gourmet food and wine culture. This is the stuff beyond the good old sausage sizzle and the 'shrimps' on the barbie. We are talking food, real food that can be raved on by celebrity chefs local and...

Mining the Dining Boom of Perth Australia

Perth Australia In Perth, Australia, the queue outside Jamie Oliver's Italian Kitchen was in a for two hour wait, yet even in the cold of the early evening, the crowds stood huddled against each other with smiles on their faces. It is their culinary treat and not even...