International Man of Leisure's Photos

National Parks 2011

Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park, Utah

Arches National Park, Utah - Delicate Arch
Arches National Park, Utah - Delicate Arch

Arches National Park, Utah
Arches National Park, Utah

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

Monument Valley, Utah
Monument Valley, Utah

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Hoover Dam, Nevada
Hoover Dam, Nevada

Death Valley National Park, California - 119 degrees
Death Valley National Park, California - 119 degrees

Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park, California

Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park, California - Tom was here

Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park, California

Sequoia and King¿s Canyon National Parks, California
Sequoia and King¿s Canyon National Parks, California

Europe 15

Malaga, Spain
Malaga, Spain

Smacks - my new favorite cereal
Smacks - my new favorite cereal

Malaga, Spain
Malaga, Spain

Marbella, Spain
Marbella, Spain

Cordoba, Spain
Cordoba, Spain

La Mesquita-Cathedral
La Mesquita-Cathedral

Cordoba, Spain
Cordoba, Spain

Cordoba, Spain
P1060546.JPG 2009-08-08

Cordoba, Spain
Cordoba, Spain

Malaga, Spain
Malaga, Spain

Seville, Spain
Seville, Spain

Alcazar - Seville, Spain
Alcazar - Seville, Spain

Seville, Spain
Seville, Spain

Plaza de Espana - Seville, Spain
Plaza de Espana - Seville, Spain

Europe 14

Hanover, Germany
Hanover, Germany

Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg, Germany

Lubeck, Germany
Lubeck, Germany

Timmendorfer, Germany
Timmendorfer, Germany

Sanssouci in Potsdam, Germany
Sanssouci in Potsdam, Germany

Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany

Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate

Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany

Pergamon Museum
Pergamon Museum

My Bugatti Veyron
My Bugatti Veyron

Mini Cooper store
Mini Cooper store

Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie

Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall

Potsdam Platz, Berlin, Germany
Potsdam Platz, Berlin, Germany

Jewish Memorial, Berlin
Jewish Memorial, Berlin

Allied Forces Memorial
Allied Forces Memorial

Reichstag - Germany's Parliament Building
Reichstag - Germany's Parliament Building

Europe 13

Salzburg, Austria
Salzburg, Austria

Dachau, Germany
Dachau, Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial

Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle
Hohenschwangau Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle
Hohenschwangau Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle

Rottenburg, Germany
Rottenburg, Germany

Paul on our cousin's chopper
Paul on our cousin's chopper

Bamberg, Germany
Bamberg, Germany

Europe 12

Brugge, Belgium
Brugge, Belgium

Luxembourg
Luxembourg

Me - changing into my Superman outfit
Me - changing into my Superman outfit

Luxembourg
Luxembourg

Tongeren, Belgium
Tongeren, Belgium

Tongeren, Belgium - Roman ruins
Tongeren, Belgium - Roman ruins

Tongeren, Belgium
Tongeren, Belgium

Bilzen, Belgium
Bilzen, Belgium

Europe 11

Rotterdam, Netherlands
Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Hague, Netherlands
The Hague, Netherlands

Brussels, Belgium
Brussels, Belgium

Europe 10

Arhus, Denmark
Arhus, Denmark

Oslo, Norway
Oslo, Norway

Oslo City Hall
Oslo City Hall

Oslo University
Oslo University

Oslo Royal Palace
Oslo Royal Palace

Oslo, Norway
Oslo, Norway

Vigeland Sculpture Park
Vigeland Sculpture Park

Oslo, Norway
Oslo, Norway

Europe 9

Helsinki
Helsinki

"Rock" Church
"Rock" Church

Helsinki
Helsinki

Helsinki City Hall
Helsinki City Hall

Stockholm - Archipelago
Stockholm - Archipelago

Warnemunde
Warnemunde

Rostock
Rostock

Warnemunde
Warnemunde

Europe 8

Talinn, Estonia
Talinn, Estonia

Catherine's Palace - St. Petersburg
Catherine's Palace - St. Petersburg

Peterhof - St. Petersburg
Peterhof - St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg, Russia

Peter and Paul Fortress
Peter and Paul Fortress

Winter Palace
Winter Palace

Church on Spilled Blood
Church on Spilled Blood

Hermitage - Winter Palace
Hermitage - Winter Palace

St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg, Russia

Hermitage - Winter Palace
Hermitage - Winter Palace

St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg, Russia

New Hermitage building
New Hermitage building

St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg, Russia

Europe 7

Copenhagen
Copenhagen

Copenhagen sunset
Copenhagen sunste

Paul playing the ukelele
Paul playing the ukelele

The Royal Christianborg Palace
The Royal Christianborg Palace

Copenhagen
Copenhagen

Copenhagen - The happiest place on Earth
Copenhagen - The happiest place on Earth

Amalienborg, near Frederic's Church
Amalienborg, near Frederic's Church

Copenhagen - Royal Guards
Copenhagen - Royal Guards

Opera House
Opera House

Bronze Michaelangelo's David in Copenhagen
Bronze Michaelangelo's David in Copenhagen

Copehagen
Copehagen

P1030467.JPG
P1030467.JPG 2009-07-05

The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid

The New Mermaid
The New Mermaid

No locks needed
No locks needed

Bikes! Bikes! Bikes!
Bikes! Bikes! Bikes!

Europe 6

Stockholm
Stockholm

Stockholm - Gamla Stan
Stockholm - Gamla Stan

Royal Palace
Royal Palace

Parliament Building
Parliament Building

Royal Palace
Royal Palace

Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan

City Hall - where the Nobel Prize ceremony is held
City Hall - where the Nobel Prize ceremony is held

Stockholm
Stockholm

Stockholm - rental bikes
Stockholm - rental bikes

Stockholm - park
Stockholm - park

Stockholm
Stockholm

Stockholm at night - 11PM
Stockholm at night - 11PM

Vasa Museum
Vasa Museum

Skansen
Skansen

Skansen - Moose, don't mess with him
Skansen - Moose, don't mess with him

Stockholm
Stockholm

Stockholm public swimming pool
Stockholm public swimming pool

Stockholm - boats
Stockholm - boats

Europe 5

Basilica di San Lorenzo
Basilica di San Lorenzo

Florence
Florence

Florence - street stalls
Florence - street stalls

Il Duomo
Il Duomo

Piazza della Signoria - Uffizi Gallery
Piazza della Signoria - Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery
Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery - Michaelangelo's David
Uffizi Gallery - Michaelangelo's David

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)
Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)

Venice
Venice

Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge

St. Mark's Square and Campanile
St. Mark's Square and Campanile

Look mom, I made it to Venice!
Look mom, I made it to Venice!

Doge's Palace
Doge's Palace

Venice
Venice

Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge

Venice
Venice

Lido
Lido

View from Lido
View from Lido

Venetian masks
Venetian masks

Venetian glass
Venetian glass

St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square

Venice - gondolas
Venice - gondolas

Europe 4

San Peter's Cathedral
San Peter's Cathedral

Coliseum
Coliseum

Rome - nice little cars
Rome - nice little cars

The Forum
The Forum

Campidoglio - The Wedding Cake building
Campidoglio - The Wedding Cake building

The Pantheon
The Pantheon

Piazza di Navona
Piazza di Navona

Trevi Fountain
Trevi Fountain

Watching a movie in a Piazza
Watching a movie in a Piazza

Vatican - Swiss guards
Vatican - Swiss guards

Vatican
Vatican

Vatican Museum
Vatican Museum

Vatican
Vatican

Vatican Museum
Vatican Museum

Rome - how to park
Rome - how to park

Spanish Steps
Spanish Steps

Via Condotti
Via Condotti

Europe 3

Madrid at night
Madrid at night

Madrid - Museo de Jamon
Madrid - Museo de Jamon

Madrid
Madrid

Madrid - Prado Museum
Madrid - Prado Museum

Atocha Train Station
Atocha Train Station

Retiro Park
Retiro Park

Madrid street
Madrid street

Madrid Plaza
Madrid Plaza

Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor

Madrid
Madrid

Palacio Real
Palacio Real

Parque Oriental
Parque Oriental

Palacio Real
Palacio Real

Toledo
Toledo

Toledo - Alcazar
Toledo - Alcazar

Toledo
Toledo

Europe 2

Barcelona
Barcelona

Barcelona - Just arrived
Barcelona

Barcelona
Barcelona

Barcelona Marina
Barcelona Marina

Barcelona Gothic Quarter
Barcelona Gothic Quarter

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia
Barcelona Gothic Quarter

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

Barcelona Casa Batllo
Barcelona Casa Batllo

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia
Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

Gaudi's Park Guell
Gaudi's Park Guell

Barcelona022
P1010278.JPG 2009-06-14

Barcelona Beach
Barcelona Beach

Barcelona Bicing Bicycles
Barcelona Bicing Bicycles

Paella - yummy!
Paella - yummy!

La Boqueria Market
La Boqueria Market

Jamon Iberico - just like butter
Jamon Iberico - just like butter

Museum of Catalan Music
Museum of Catalan Music

Gaudi's Pedrera
Gaudi's Pedrera

Casa
P1010446.JPG 2009-06-15

Barcelona035
P1010449.JPG 2009-06-15

Europe 1

Ibiza beach
Ibiza beach

My left arm - scratched up. Nice one Tommy!
My left arm - scratched up. Nice one Tommy!

Ibiza - my hotel
My hotel in Ibiza Playa d'en Bossa. You can see airplanes fly right over you.

Ibiza beach
Ibiza beach

Ibiza Castle
Ibiza Castle

Ibiza center
Ibiza center

Ibiza port - I want luxury boats like these
Ibiza port - I want luxury boats like these

Alley way in Ibiza town
Alley way in Ibiza town

Ibiza rocks! Let's party!
Ibiza rocks! Let's party!

Pacha Club - packed in like sardines
Pacha Club - packed in like sardines

Pacha Club - David Guetta mixing his beats
Pacha Club - David Guetta mixing his beats

Iceland

Reykjavik airport
Reykjavik airport

Reykjavik airport - Roll in style
Reykjavik airport - Roll in style

Reykjavik at night - pretty much all day
Reykjavik at night - pretty much all day

Reykjavik downtown
Reykjavik downtown

Hotel Plaza - our hotel
Hotel Plaza - our hotel

Leifur Eriksson statue
Leifur Eriksson statue

Reykjavik airport - funky artwork
Reykjavik airport - funky artwork

Reykjavík - Hallgrimskirkja Church
Reykjavík - Hallgrimskirkja Church

Reykjavik Christmas lights
Reykjavik Christmas lights

Reykjavik Viking Sculpture
Reykjavik Viking Sculpture

My new Reykjavik ride!
My new Reykjavik ride!

Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon

Reykjavik pond
Reykjavik pond

Rolling in Reykjavik
Rolling in Reykjavik

Reykjavik
Reykjavik

Reykjavik - Kringan mall
Reykjavik - Kringan mall

Lining up for a sandwich at night (4AM)
Lining up for a sandwich at night (4AM)

Baejarens Bestu - best hot dog in town
Baejarens Bestu - best hot dog in town

Icelandic Horse
Icelandic Horse - the Human Mule riding a horse

Icelandic Horse
Icelandic Horse

Icelandic Horse - saddle up!
Icelandic Horse - saddle up!

Gulfoss Falls
Gulfoss Falls

"Geysir"
"Geysir"

Gulfoss Falls
Gulfoss Falls

Icelandic landscape
Icelandic landscape

Hallgrimskirkja Church
Hallgrimskirkja Church

Hallgrimskirkja Church - rehearsal
Hallgrimskirkja Church - rehearsal

Leifur Eriksson statue
Leifur Eriksson statue

Hallgrimskirkja Church
Hallgrimskirkja Church

Reykjavik
Reykjavik

Icelandic kids - blond and blue eyed
Icelandic kids - blond and blue eyed

Baejarins Bestu - best hot dog in town
Baejarins Bestu - best hot dog in town

Puerto Rico

Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus)
Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus)

Stairway to San Cristobal fort
Stairway to San Cristobal fort

San Cristobal fort
San Cristobal fort

View from San Cristobal fort
View from San Cristobal fort

Old San Juan
Old San Juan

Dress size proportional to booty size. I like!
Dress size proportional to booty size. I like!

Old San Juan
Old San Juan

El Morro, Castillo de San Felipe
El Morro, Castillo de San Felipe

El Yunque rainforest
El Yunque rainforest

Luquillo Beach
Luquillo Beach

Luquillo town
Luquillo town

Bacardi Rum factory
Bacardi Rum factory

Bacardi Rum - my bookshelf at home =)
Bacardi Rum - my bookshelf at home =)

Bacardi Rum (from left) Rum??, Cuba Libre, & Mojito
Bacardi Rum (from left) Rum??, Cuba Libre, & Mojito

Bacardi Rum - I need to remodel my wall to look like this =)
Bacardi Rum - I need to remodel my wall to look like this =)

Bacardi Rum - I haven't tried them all, I promise
Bacardi Rum - I haven't tried them all, I promise

Roosters at our lunch stop
Roosters at our lunch stop

Ponce Market
Ponce Market

Ponce - Fire Museum
Ponce - Fire Museum

Ponce - Catholic Church
Ponce - Catholic Church

No shortage of fast food in PR
No shortage of fast food in PR

Ponce - park statue
Ponce - park statue

Ponce
Ponce

Ponce - politcal rally by horse
Ponce - politcal rally by horse

Ponce
Ponce

Ponce - central park
Ponce - central park

Ponce from above
Ponce from above

Ponce beauty queen - not me, the girl!
Ponce beauty queen - not me, the girl!

Political rally
Political rally

Ponce
Ponce

Cruceta del Vigia - Ponce
Cruceta del Vigia - Ponce

Condado Beach
Condado Beach

Capitol Building
Capitol Building

El Condado
El Condado

Condom World ("Protecting the planet")
Condom World ("Protecting the planet")

El Condado beach
El Condado beach

Condado - Renaissance Hotel
Condado - Renaissance Hotel

El Condado beach
El Condado beach

Do we have to leave?
Do we have to leave?

Hawaii 2008

Kahala Beach
Kahala Beach

Custom bikes
Custom bikes

Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay

Sandy Beach
Sandy Beach

View from Diamond Head
View from Diamond Head

Kailua Beach
Kailua Beach

Sunset at Waimea (North Shore)
Sunset at Waimea (North Shore)

Surfing at Waikiki!
Surfing at Waikiki!

Kids hula dancing
Kids hula dancing

Duke Kahanamoku statue
Duke Kahanamoku statue

Hanging out with Duke!
Hanging out with Duke!

Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach

Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Waikiki
Royal Hawaiian Hotel at Waikiki

Catamaran in Waikiki Beach
Catamaran in Waikiki Beach

Moana Surfrider Hotel
Moana Surfrider Hotel

Kalakaua Ave. at Waikiki
Kalakaua Ave. at Waikiki

Tree at Kapiolani Park
Tree at Kapiolani Park

Police Car in Waikiki
Police Car in Waikiki

Rolling Down Under - Part X

Aotearoa, Land of White Cloud
Aotearoa, Land of White Cloud

Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo - Observatory
Lake Tekapo - Observatory

Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo

Aoraki - Mount Cook
Aoraki - Mount Cook

Queenstown
Queenstown

Queenstown - Sky Gondola
Queenstown - Sky Gondola

Queenstown - Paragliding
Queenstown - Paragliding

Queenstown
Queenstown

Queenstown - Steamboat
Queenstown - Steamboat

Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown
Queenstown

Milford Sound
Milford Sound

Milford Sound - Glacier
Milford Sound - Glacier

Milford Sound
Milford Sound

Rolling Down Under - Part IX

InterIslander Ferry to Picton
InterIslander Ferry to Picton

TranzCoastal Train - vineyards
TranzCoastal Train - vineyards

TranzCoastal Train - coast
TranzCoastal Train - coast

TranzCoastal Train - Kaikoura
TranzCoastal Train - Kaikoura

TranzAlpine train
TranzAlpine train

Christchurch Cathedral
Christchurch Cathedral

Parliament House
Parliament House

Captain James Cook
Captain James Cook

Christ College (High School)
Christ College (High School)

Christchurch Cable Car
Christchurch Cable Car

Punting on the Avon River
Punting on the Avon River

Christchurch Art Museum
Christchurch Art Museum

Cantebury Museum (My new SUV)
Cantebury Museum (My new SUV)

Botanical Gardens - Roses
Botanical Gardens - Roses

Valley to Akaroa
Valley to Akaroa

Akaroa
Akaroa

Akaroa - French shop
Akaroa - French shop

Akaroa - learning to sail
Akaroa - learning to sail

Akaroa - learning to row
Akaroa - learning to row

Canterbury Valley
Canterbury Valley

Rolling Down Under - Part VIII

Wakarewarewa Thermal Village
Wakarewarewa Thermal Village

Haka - don't mess with this guy!
Haka - don't mess with this guy!

Wakarewarewa Thermal Village
Wakarewarewa Thermal Village

Whakatane
Whakatane

Agrodome - variety of sheep
Agrodome - variety of sheep

Agrodome - dogs ride on sheep
Agrodome dogs ride on sheep

Agrodome - variety of sheep
Agrodome - variety of sheep

Agrodome - my long lost brother
Agrodome - my long lost brother

Agrodome - sheering wool
Agrodome - sheering wool

Agrodome - baby sheep
Agrodome - baby sheep

Rainbow Springs - Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Springs - Rainbow Trout

New Zealand Fern
New Zealand Fern

Rotorua Bath house
Rotorua Bath house

Waitangi Treaty House
Waitangi Treaty House

Maori Dance
Maori Dance

Waitangi Treaty - Translated
Waitangi Treaty - Translated

The original Waitangi Treaty
The original Waitangi Treaty

Hole in the Rock
Hole in the Rock

TranScenic Overlander train
TranScenic Overlander train

TranScenic - view of aquaduct
TranScenic - view of aquaduct

TranScenic - view of countryside
TranScenic - view of countryside

Mount Ngauruhoe
Mount Ngauruhoe

Mount Ruapeha
Mount Ruapeha

Wellington City
Wellington City

Wellington Parliament House
Wellington Parliament House

Wellington - Cuba Street
Wellington - Cuba Street

Te Papa Museum
Te Papa Museum

Wellington Cable Car
Wellington Cable Car

Cable Car Museum
Cable Car Museum

Botanic Gardens
Botanic Gardens

Old St. Paul's Cathedral
Old St. Paul's Cathedral

Rolling Down Under - Part VII

Auckland City
Auckland City

Auckland Town Hall
Auckland Town Hall

Britomart Transport Station
Britomart Transport Station

Ferry Terminal
Ferry Terminal

Canterbury Road - like Rodeo Dr.
Canterbury Road - like Rodeo Dr.

Memorial
Memorial

Mission Bay
Mission Bay

Mission Bay - view of city
Mission Bay - view of city

Cornwall Park
Cornwall Park

One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill - view
One Tree Hill - view

One Tree Hill - view of city
One Tree Hill - view of city

One Tree Hill - view of bay
One Tree Hill - view of bay

Devonport - is that a volcanoe?
Devonport - is that a volcanoe?

Devonport
Devonport

IMG_0231.JPG
IMG_0231.JPG 2007-11-16

Single person sailboats
Single person sailboats

Lighthouse in the bay
Lighthouse in the bay

Kiwi Naval Ship
Kiwi Naval Ship

"City of Sails" - Sail away!
"City of Sails" - Sail away!

Auckland Harbour Bridge
Auckland Harbour Bridge

Container lifts
Container lifts

Harbour Bridge - bungee jump?
Harbour Bridge - bungee jump?

Auckland - Sky Tower
Auckland - Sky Tower

Sky Tower - not a job I want
Sky Tower - not a job I want

Auckland - "City of Sails"
Auckland - "City of Sails"

Sky Tower - view
Sky Tower - view

Auckland Museum
Auckland Museum

Auckland Museum - Maori Art
Auckland Museum - Maori Art

Auckland Museum - Kiwi Bird
Auckland Museum - Kiwi Bird

Rolling Down Under - Part VI

Melbourne at Night
Melbourne at Night

Flinders St. Train Station
Flinders St. Train Station

Federation Square & Tram
Federation Square & Tram

Melbourne CBD (downtown)
Melbourne CBD (downtown)

Melbourne River Boats
Melbourne River Boats

Victoria State Public Library
Victoria State Public Library

Melbourne Treasury Place
Melbourne Treasury Place

Melbourne Tram
Melbourne Tram

Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum

Yarra Valley Wine Country
Yarra Valley Wine Country

Captain Cook's Cottage
Captain Cook's Cottage

Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail)
Old Melbourne Gaol (Jail)

Outlaw Ned Kelly's Armor
Outlaw Ned Kelly's Armor

MCG - Melbourne Cricket Grounds
MCG - Melbourne Cricket Grounds

St. Kilda - Luna Park
St. Kilda - Luna Park

Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula

Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse

Flemington Racecourse Derby Da
Flemington Racecourse Derby Da

Aussie Chicks Rule! Derby Day
Aussie Chicks Rule! Derby Day

Rolling Down Under - Part V

Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour

Sydney at Night
Sydney at Night

Darling Harbor Bridge
Darling Harbor Bridge

North Sydney
North Sydney

Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains - coal mining
Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains

Cronulla Beach
Cronulla Beach

Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park

Rolling Down Under - Part IV

Darling Harbor - Sydney
Darling Harbor - Sydney

Darling Harbor
Darling Harbor

Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House

Opera House - Sydney
Opera House - Sydney

Sydney Bridge
Sydney Bridge

Harbour Bridge
Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge

Hyde Park
Hyde Park

The Rocks
The Rocks

Manly Beach
Manly Beach

View from Sydney Tower
View from Sydney Tower

Luna Park
Luna Park

Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach

Hugh Jackman and I at Bondi
Hugh Jackman and I at Bondi

Taronga Zoo - Red Kangaroos
Taronga Zoo - Red Kangaroos

Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo

Tarong Zoo
Tarong Zoo

Sydney Aquarium
Sydney Aquarium

Nemo! and Marlin!
Nemo! and Marlin!

Nemo!
Nemo!

Sydney Aquarium
Sydney Aquarium

Rolling Down Under - Part III

Brisbane Chinatown
Brisbane Chinatown

Brisbane
Title:

Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo - Don't touch Joey
Australia Zoo - Don't touch Joey

Australia Zoo - Dingos
Australia Zoo - Dingos

Australia Zoo - Croc Hunter
Australia Zoo - Croc Hunter

Noosa - Sunshine Coast
Noosa - Sunshine Coast

North Stradbroke Island
North Stradbroke Island

Meter Maids and Me
Meter Maids and Me

Brisbane - Story Bridge View
Brisbane - Story Bridge View

Brisbane - view from Mt. Cootha
Brisbane - view from Mt. Cootha

Surfer's Paradise
Surfer's Paradise

Burleigh Heads Beach
Burleigh Heads Beach

Byron Bay - Hang gliding
Byron Bay - Hang gliding

Byron Bay Beach
Byron Bay Beach

Byron Bay - Lighthouse
Byron Bay Lighthouse

Rolling Down Under - Part II

Smile for the camera!
Smile for the camera!

Scuba diving the Great Barrier
Scuba diving the Great Barrier

Get out of the way fish!
Get out of the way fish!

My Scuba Instructor is rad!!
My Scuba Instructor is rad!!

Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef

Onboard my dive ship
Onboard my dive ship

Let's gear up
Let's gear up

Ship sailing to dive the GBR
Ship sailing to dive the GBR

Snorkeling at Michaelmas Cay
Snorkeling at Michaelmas Cay

Bird Sanctuary at Michaelmas Cay
Bird Sanctuary at Michaelmas Cay

Fish feeding from the boat
Fish feeding from the boat

Drive-Thru Liquor Store anyone?
Drive-Thru Liquor Store anyone?

Rolling Down Under - Part I

Relax in Fiji Denarau
Relax in Fiji Denarau

Get married in Fiji, many do
Get married in Fiji, many do

Bula! Bula! Fiji songs
Bula! Bula! Fiji songs

Poolside - ready to get wet!
Poolside - ready to get wet!

The "Whale's Tale" snorkel ship
The "Whale's Tale" snorkel ship

Aboard the "Sailing" ship
Aboard the "Sailing" ship

On board, do I look tan yet?
On board, do I look tan yet?

Fiji "Sunset" Cruise
Fiji "Sunset" Cruise

Fiji - travel in style
Fiji - travel in style

Cairns, Australia - harbor
Cairns, Australia - harbor

Kuranda Scenic Train
Kuranda Scenic Train

Kuranda Train cabin
Kuranda Train cabin

Kuranda Train - view from top
Kuranda Train - view from top

Kuranda Skyrail
Kuranda Skyrail

Kuranda Skyrail - view from top
Kuranda Skyrail - view from top

ATWorld 6

Geongbokgung Palace, Seoul, Korea
Palace, Seoul, Korea

Old Traditional House, Seoul, Korea
Old Traditional House, Seoul, Korea

Folk Village, Seoul, Korea
Folk Village, Seoul, Korea

National Museum, Seoul, Korea
National Museum, Seoul, Korea

Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan
Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan

Emperor's Palace, Tokyo, Japan
Emperor's Palace, Tokyo, Japan

Night sky, Tokyo, Japan
Night sky, Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan

Underground Metro, Tokyo, Japan
Underground Metro, Tokyo, Japan

Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan
Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan

Baseball Game, Tokyo, Japan
Baseball Game, Tokyo, Japan

Roppongi Hills, Japan
Roppongi Hills, Japan

Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan

Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan
Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan

Hachiko the Dog, Tokyo, Japan
Hachiko the Dog, Tokyo, Japan

ATWorld 5

Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Bukhara, Uzbekistan

The Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
The Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Trelej Natl Park, Mongolia
Trelej Natl Park, Mongolia

Buddhist Temple, Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Buddhist Temple, Ulan Bator, Mongolia

ATWorld 4

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Ski Dubai, Emirates Mall, Dubai, UAE
Ski Dubai, Emirates Mall, Dubai, UAE

IBN Battuta Mall, Dubai, UAE
IBN Battuta Mall, Dubai, UAE

Tehran, Iran
Tehran, Iran

Tomb of Poet, Shiraz, Iran
Tomb of Poet, Shiraz, Iran

Mosque, Shiraz, Iran
Mosque, Shiraz, Iran

Persepolis, Iran
Persepolis, Iran

Bazaar, Isfahan, Iran
Bazaar, Isfahan, Iran

Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

Persepolis, Iran
Persepolis, Iran

Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

ATWorld 3

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Sphinx at Giza, Egypt
Sphinx at Giza, Egypt

Abu Simbel, Egypt
Abu Simbel, Egypt

Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor, Egypt
Hatshepsut Temple, Luxor, Egypt

Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt
Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt

Nile River, Luxor, Egypt
Nile River, Luxor, Egypt

The Treasury, Petra, Jordan
The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan
Petra, Jordan

ATWorld 2

High Speed Ferry, Greece
High Speed Ferry, Greece

Island of Serifos, Greece
Island of Serifos, Greece

Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece
Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece

Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Aghia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
Aghia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

Spice Market, Istanbul, Turkey
Spice Market, Istanbul, Turkey

Boshporous River, Istanbul, Turkey
Boshporous River, Istanbul, Turkey

ATWorld 1

Sintra, Portugal
Sintra, Portugal

Moorish Castle in Sintra, Portugal
Moorish Castle in Sintra, Portugal

Moorish Castle, Sintra, Portug
Moorish Castle, Sintra, Portugal

Palacio de Pena, Sintra, Portugal
Palacio de Pena, Sintra, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal

Castle Lisbon, Portugal
Castle Lisbon, Portugal

View from top in Lisbon, Portugal
View from top in Lisbon, Portugal

Cascais, Portugal
Cascais, Portugal

San Jeronimo Church, Lisbon Portugal
San Jeronimo Church, Lisbon Portugal

Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morroco
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morroco

Marrakech, Morroco
Marrakech, Morroco

El=Fna Square, Marrakech, Morroco
El=Fna Square, Marrakech, Morroco

Marrakech, Morroco
Marrakech, Morroco

Bahia Palace, Marrakech, Morroco
Bahia Palace, Marrakech, Morroco

El Badu Palace, Marrakech, Morroco
El Badu Palace, Marrakech, Morroco

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

View from The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
View from The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Temple of Zeus, Athens, Greece
Temple of Zeus, Athens, Greece

SAmerica 4

Punto Lomo, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Punto Lomo, Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Trelew Dinosaurs, Argentina
Trelew Dinosaurs, Argentina

Evita Peron's Tomb, Buenos Aires
Evita Peron's Tomb, Buenos Aires

Recoleta Cemetary, Buenos Aires
Recoleta Cemetary, Buenos Aires

Caminito, San Telmo, Buenos Aires
Caminito, San Telmo, Buenos Aires

Tigre Island home, Buenos Aires
Tigre Island home, Buenos Aires

Gothic Church, Montevideo, Uruguay
Gothic Church, Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo Park, Uruguay
Montevideo Park, Uruguay

Argentine Steak, Now we're talking!
Argentine Steak, Now we're talking!

Argentine Gaucho, Estancia, Argentina
Argentine Gaucho, Estancia, Argentina

Argentine Tango at Estancia
Argentine Tango at Estancia

Gaucho riding a Bull at Estancia
Gaucho riding a Bull at Estancia

Gaucho pinning rings at Estancia
Gaucho pinning rings at Estancia

Amusement Park, Montevideo, Uruguay
Amusement Park, Montevideo, Uruguay

End of World Train at Ushuaia, Argentina
End of World Train at Ushuaia, Argentina

End of the World at Ushuaia, Argentina
End of the World at Ushuaia, Argentina

Lake Escondido, Ushuaia, Argentina
Lake Escondido, Ushuaia, Argentina

Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Whale watching at Puerto Madryn, Argenti
Whale watching at Puerto Madryn, Argenti

Puerto Piramide, Puerto Madryn, Argentin
Puerto Piramide, Puerto Madryn, Argentin

Sheep, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Sheep, Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Symphony at Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires
Symphony at Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires

Iguazu Falls, Argentina
Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro
Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

View from Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro
View from Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian Girls adore me!
Brazilian Girls adore me!

Young Brazilian Volleyball Players
Young Brazilian Volleyball Players

Metropolitan Cathedral, Rio de Janeiro
Metropolitan Cathedral, Rio de Janeiro

Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro
Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro

View of Copacabana Beach, Rio
View of Copacabana Beach, Rio

SAmerica 3

Bariloche, Argentina
Bariloche, Argentina

Hotel Llao Llao in Bariloche
Hotel Llao Llao in Bariloche

Arrayanes Forest
Arrayanes Forest

Isla Victoria, Bariloche
Isla Victoria, Bariloche

Villa La Angostura, Argentina
Villa La Angostura, Argentina

Perito Moreno Glaciers, El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glaciers, El Calafate

Husky Sled Dog, my next Ride
Husky Sled Dog, my next Ride

Ushuaia, End of the World
Ushuaia, End of the World

Ushuaia Prison at the End or the World
Ushuaia Prison

Parilla Asador, Best Meat in the World
Parilla Asador, Best Meat in the World

Perito Moreno Glaciers, El Calafate
Perito Moreno Glaciers, El Calafate

Wineries, Chile
Wineries, Chile

Valparaiso, Chile (Steep Hills)
Valparaiso, Chile

Stone Carving from Easter Island, Chile
Stone Carving from Easter Island, Chile

Vina Del Mar, Chile
Vina Del Mar, Chile

SAmerica 2

Centro Santiago, Santiago
Santiago, Chile

Military Building, Santiago
Santiago, Chile

Ritzy Neighborhood, Santiago
Park, Santiago, Chile

Park, Santiago
Park, Santiago, Chile

Congress Building, Santiago
Congress Building, Santiago, Chile

San ��Something��, Santiago
San __Something__Santiago, Chile

Park Statue, Santiago
Santiago, Chile

View from San Cristobal, Santiago
View from San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile

Las Condes, Santiago
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

SAmerica 1

Ollyantanbo
Ollyantanbo

Casa Ariaga
Casa Ariaga

Lima Cathedral
Lima Cathedral

Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu

Helping Hands
Helping Hands, Machu Picchu

Aguas Caliente
Inca King in Aguas Caliente

Maras Salt Pond
Maras Salt Pond

Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley

Peruvian Children
Peruvian Children

Maras
Maras

Cusco
Cusco

The Cusco Gang
The Cusco Gang

Llamas and Alpacas
Llamas and Alpacas

Traditonal Weaving
Traditonal Weaving

��Cuy�� Guinea Pigs
__Cuy____ Guinea Pigs

Chicha Corn based Alcoholic drink
Chicha Corn based Alcoholic drink

Ollyantanbo
Ollyantanbo

Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu

Lima Centro
Lima Centro

Top of Cusco
Top of Cusco

Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley

Sacsayaman
Sacsayaman

China 3 & Japan

New Business District, Qingdao, China
New Business District, Qingdao, China

Pier, Qingdao, China
Pier, Qingdao, China

Pagoda on top of Hill in Background
Pagoda on top of Hill in Background

View from Hotel, Qingdao, China
View from Hotel, Qingdao, China

Catholic Church, Qingdao, China
Catholic Church, Qingdao, China

Path to Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan
Path to Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan

Meiji Jingu Temple, Tokyo, Japan
Meiji Jingu Temple, Tokyo, Japan

Modern Geisha Fashion Girls, Meiji Jingu
Modern Geisha Fashion Girls, Meiji Jingu

Shinjuku District, Tokyo, Japan
Shinjuku District, Tokyo, Japan

Mikimoto Store, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
Mikimoto Store, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

Entrance to Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan
Entrance to Meiji Jingu, Tokyo, Japan

Omotesando Street, Harajuku, Tokyo
Omotesando Street, Harajuku, Tokyo

View at Night, Tokyo, Japan
View at Night, Tokyo, Japan

China 2

Beijing Road, Guangzhou
Beijing Road, Guangzhou

Pearl River, Guangzhou
Pearl River, Guangzhou

Downtown, Guangzhou
Downtown, Guangzhou

Bai Yun Mountain Tram
Bai Yun Mountain Tram

Bai Yun Mountain aka White Cloud
Bai Yun Mountain aka White Cloud

Top of Bai Yun Mountain
Top of Bai Yun Mountain

Beachfront, Sanya, Hainan Island
Beachfront, Sanya, Hainan Island

Park, Sanya, Hainan Island
Park, Sanya, Hainan Island

Beachfront, Sanya, Hainan Island
Beachfront, Sanya, Hainan Island

View of hotel, Sanya, Hainan Island
View of hotel, Sanya, Hainan Island

Front Hotel Beach Access, Sanya
Front Hotel Beach Access, Sanya

Beach Access, Sanya
Beach Access, Sanya

China 1

European Quarter
European Quarter

Cobblestone for Blind
Cobblestone for Blind

Shanghai Art Museum
Shanghai Art Museum

Shanghai Grand Theater
Shanghai Grand Theater

Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum

View from Peoples Square
View from Peoples Square

Shanghai Museum
Shanghai Museum

View from Condo
View from Condo

Condo
Condo

View from Condo
View from Condo

Pearl Oriental Tower
Pearl Oriental Tower

Jin Mao Tower
Jin Mao Tower

Road Trip 5

Banff Ski Lodge, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Banff Ski Lodge, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Fairmont Hotel at Lake Louise, Alberta
Fairmont Hotel at Lake Louise, Alberta

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Banff Lodge, Alberta, Canada
Banff Lodge, Alberta, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Mount Rainier, WA
Mount Rainier, WA

Road Trip 4

View from CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
View from CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

Looking Glass, CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
Looking Glass, CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Looking Glass, CN Tower, Toronto, Canada
Looking Glass, CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

Toronto Island, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Island, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

James Dean Gravesite, Fairmount, IN
James Dean Gravesite, Fairmount, IN

Fairmount, IN
Fairmount, IN

Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, IN
Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, IN

Buckingham Fountain, Chicago, IL
Buckingham Fountain, Chicago, IL

Sears Tower, Chicago, IL
Sears Tower, Chicago, IL

Badlands Natl Park, SD
Badlands Natl Park, SD

South Dakota Skyline, SD
South Dakota Skyline, SD

Mount Rushmore, SD
Mount Rushmore, SD

Wind Cave Natl Park, SD
Wind Cave Natl Park, SD

Glacier Natl Park, MT
Glacier Natl Park, MT

Road Trip 3

Vanderbilts The Breakers, Newport, RI
Vanderbilts The Breakers, Newport, RI

Newport, RI
Newport, RI

Boston Common, Boston, MA
Boston Common, Boston, MA

Boston, MA
Boston, MA

Bunker Hill, Boston, MA
Bunker Hill, Boston, MA

USS Constitution, Boston, MA
USS Constitution, Boston, MA

Boston, MA
Boston, MA

Portsmouth, NH
Portsmouth, NH

Acadia National Park, ME
Acadia National Park, ME

Somwhere, Maine
Somwhere, Maine

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada
Quebec, Canada

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Road Trip 2

Old Railway Station, Montgomery, AL
Old Railway Station, Montgomery, AL

Capitol, Montgomery, AL
Capitol, Montgomery, AL

Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Martin Luther King Memorial, Atlanta, GA
Martin Luther King Memorial, Atlanta, GA

Savanna, GA
Savanna, GA

Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC

North Carolina Skyline, NC
North Carolina Skyline, NC

USS Missouri, Norfolk, VA
USS Missouri, Norfolk, VA

Colonial Williamsburg, VA
Colonial Williamsburg, VA

Washington, DC

US Treasury, Washington, DC
Washington, DC

White House, Washington, DC
White House, Washington, DC

Vietnam War Memorial, Washington, DC
Vietnam War Memorial, Washington, DC

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

Korean War Memorial, Washington, DC
Korean War Memorial, Washington, DC

New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA

Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD
Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA

Road Trip 1

Flagstaff Observatory, AZ
Flagstaff Observatory

Petrified National Forest, AZ
Petrified National Forest

Petrified National Forest, AZ

Petrified National Forest, AZ
Adobe

Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque, NM

New Mexico Sky, NM
New Mexico Sky, NM

Carlsbad Caverns, NM
Carlsbad Caverns, NM

The Alamo, San Antonio, TX
The Alamo, San Antonio, TX

Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX
Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX

Galveston, TX
Galveston, TX

Kemah Boardwalk, Galveston, TX
Kemah Boardwalk, Galveston, TX

Petrified National Forest, AZ
Petrified National Forest, AZ

SE Asia 2

Vientiane, Laos Temple
Vientiane, Laos Temple

Lao Chinese School
Lao Chinese School

Laos Thai Bridge
Laos Thai Bridge

Lao Ancient Statues
Lao Ancient Statues

My Dads Old Family House
My Dads Old Family House

SE Asia 1

Phnom Penh Palace
Phnom Penh Palace

Angkor Wat Model
Angkor Wat Model

Girls holding Birds
Girls holding Birds

Phnom Penh Temple
Phnom Penh Temple

Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat

National Parks

Red Rocks Canyon, Las Vegas, NV
Red Rocks Canyon, Las Vegas, NV

Zions National Park, UT
Zions National Park, UT

Grand Canyon, UT
Grand Canyon, UT

Bryce Canyon, UT
Bryce Canyon, UT

Yellowstone National Park, WY
Yellowstone National Park, WY

Florida

Bradenton Beach, FL
Bradenton Beach, FL

Ringley Mansion, Sarasota, FL
Ringley Mansion, Sarasota, FL

Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL

Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, F
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL

Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL

Jupiter Island, FL
Jupiter Island, FL

Everglades National Park, FL
Everglades National Park, FL

Miami, FL
Miami, FL

Ocean Beach, Miami Beach, FL
Ocean Beach, Miami Beach, FL

Vizcaya Museum, Miami, FL
Vizcaya Museum, Miami, FL

Key Biscayne, FL
Key Biscayne, FL

Florida Keys, FL
Florida Keys, FL

Dry Tortuga Island, FL
Dry Tortuga Island, FL

Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortuga Island, FL
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortuga Island, FL

Dry Tortuga Island, FL
Dry Tortuga Island, FL

Key West, FL
Key West, FL

Hawaii

Beach
Beach

Downtown Honolulu at Night
Downtown Honolulu at Night

Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach

Honolulu
Honolulu

Downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu

Honolulu
Honolulu

Pearl Harbor Memorial
Pearl Harbor Memorial

Volcano Crater
Volcano Crater

Bay
Bay

International Man of Leisure's Travel Blog

International Man of Leisure's Travel Blog
Traveling the world for you so you don't have to leave your desk.
National Parks - Summer 2011

National Parks - 2011

I apologize about the length of my narration as this took course over 10 days and many miles.

Zipping along in my silver “Lightning McQueen” through the Bonneville Flats at twice the speed limit, I make my way to Provo for one of my cousin’s wedding. It’s a homecoming of sorts and I feel right at home. Having seen Bryce and Zion’s National Park already, my plan is to head my way southeast to the opposing parks and loop back home. Neglecting my cousin’s well heeled advice, I decide to drive south to Moab in the scorching summer heat anyways. Yes, I‘m not the sharpest tool in the shed. Well, here’s my “Captain’s Log” that a search team didn’t have to find along with my dried out bones.

Arches National Park, Utah: It’s definitely one of my favorite scenic drives! They say there are over 2,500 arches in the park, the most famous of which, Delicate Arch, you will see on some Utah license plates. It’s a long hike to get to it so I cheated and brought my best zoom camera.

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah: Although there’s really just one great viewpoint to see the horseshoe-like canyon, the $10 cost of entry was well worth it. For a better view, get off the main paved path.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah: The park is divided into 3 parts: the Maze, Island in the Sky, and Needles. The Maze is not easy to get to and, sadly, they didn’t give me a 4x4 for my expedition. Island in the Sky has fantastic viewpoints on top of the canyons. Whereas Needles is where you can drive through and along the bottom of the canyon floor. “Ground control to Major Tom. This is Major Tom to ground control:” … Needles is like another world altogether. It’s amazing to me to think that the canyons used to be full of water. It's like being in a dried up sea without SpongeBob SquarePants.

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah: It’s a small park and an easy loop to visit all three famous nature made stone bridges: Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo, in that order. Unfortunately, Kachina is a short hike uphill and I didn’t want more of a sunburn than I already had.

Monument Valley, Utah: If you’re adventurous, take Highway 261 south to Monument Valley. There’s a 3 mile gravel switchback road which kept me literally on the edge. It was spectacular! Traversing this vast red Mars-like landscape made me envision being part of an old John Ford classic western movie with John Wayne as my gun slinging sidekick. Approaching the Navajo Visitor Center, the vista of the famous scene filmed in “Forrest Gump” gave me the urge to "Run Tom, run!"

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: Having been here a few times before, I drove through the South Rim in Arizona this time. Some say the North Rim in Utah is more impressive, but nevertheless it’s one of the most amazing places mother nature has created. It’s on the top of my list for nature made beauty. Just breathtaking! What more can I say. I think everyone should visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetime.

Hoover Dam, Nevada: Visitor Center parking: $7, Entrance fee: $8, Air conditioning: Priceless.

Death Valley National Park, California: Spending a couple nights in Vegas, I head through the barren dry landscape in the blistering heat. I think I’m going to start a new boy band, “119 degrees.” I swear if it wasn’t for that cold frosty ICEE I slurped, I would have had a heat stroke while pushing my way through the salt in the lowest point in North America (282 feet below sea level). I have a brain freeze just thinking about it.

Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks, California: The drive through the park zigzags up and down the Sierra Nevada mountains. Once you get into the giant forest areas, you can view the “General Sherman” tree, the largest tree in the world, up close. I felt like I was in the movie “Honey I shrunk the kids.“ It’s quite impressive!

Pictures at: tompchun.shutterfly.com

Stay thirsty my friends!!!
Tom

Adventures in Europe - Final

Hola Amigos,

I’m back home now. Sadly, I didn’t make it to Eastern Europe as I originally had planned. I will have to return to Europe again shortly. From Berlin, Paul and I flew to Malaga, on the southern coast of Spain where we would depart ways. I am sending Paul to Columbia to get me some pharmaceuticals. How do you think I can support my traveling? Just kidding! From Malaga, I flew to Dublin on a layover on my way back home. Dublin’s summer is like California’s winters. The weather isn’t so pleasant there, but the Guiness beer is.

In Malaga, we hung out enjoying the sunshine and beach. Malaga is a medium sized city, about ½ million people. There’s a Moorish fort near the city center up on the hill with wonderful views of the city. Too bad I couldn’t climb the stairs, so Paul did that. The main shopping street of Malaga is where you will find everyone, day and night. Like all over Spain, parents even push their babies in strollers along the shopping streets around midnight. The Spanish are night owls.

One day we took the bus to Marbella. The regional buses are not wheelchair accessible so I had to scoot my way up to my bus seat. Marbella is where the wealthy, and many other tourists, from the U.K. and Germany party and live it up. The Spanish Costa del Sol is also known as the “Costa del Golf”. The old town of Marbella is very nice and quiet. Head down to the major beachfront and it’s quite different, full of hotels and condos.

Avoiding the regional buses, we took the train to Cordoba. Many of the shops in Cordoba were closed in August and also on the Saturday that we arrived. It was like a ghost town, but we didn’t mind. La Mesquita-Cathedral, like many buildings in Andalucia, was converted from a place of worship from Islam to Christianity. Before the Moors were in Spain, the Romans were. The Andalucia region is filled with white-walled small towns and agricultural farms. It’s very sunny and dry there.

Another day we went to Sevilla. It’s one of the bigger cities in Spain, but easy to walk around town. The main attraction is the Alcazar, the former Moorish castle that the Spanish kings later took over. It reminded me of the Islamic architecture that is so common throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East. The palace gardens were very pretty. Also, within the Plaza de Espana, we found a nice place to relax from the glaring sun.

Hasta luego amigos!

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe - Final“.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Adios,
Tomas =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 14

Hallo Friends,

Speeding along at 350 kmh (~220 mph) in my $2 million Bugatti Veyron on the autobahn....oh, wake me up! I’m dreaming. OK, with our cousin, Paul and I did make it to Hamburg driving at over 200 kmh (~120 mph) in his slick Volkswagen Golf. The diesel powered engine roared as we took it on the autobahn. I felt very safe at those speeds, but then again I’m a speed freak. I have one suggestion for California: open up the straight stretch of Highway 5 from SF to LA for unlimited speeds instead of building a multi-billion dollar high speed train that probably won’t recoup its costs for many years.

Hamburg is Germany’s second largest city and a beautiful city near the water. Many Germans come to Hamburg to enjoy its harbors. Like France, Spain, and Italy, many Germans get the whole month of August off for holiday (vacation). Sign me up for that! We dined on seafood and enjoyed a cruise up the canals. It’s nice to canoe, sail, or kayak as motor-powered boats aren’t allowed on the narrow waterways. Hamburg is a very green city. In fact, one third of the city is devoted to public parks or spaces. The city is also notorious for its crazy nightlife. If you’re a night owl, you will have to come here to find out what its like for yourself. From Hamburg, we drove through Lubeck, another Medieval town, and Timmendorfer, where Germans flock to the beach in the summer. It was very nice to be near the beach again.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, many people from all over Europe have been coming to Berlin to be part of this developing city. Only a small section of the Berlin Wall exists now. In Berlin, you will find wide Soviet era streets filled with new western style buildings. Make sure you go to the top of the Reichstag, Germany’s parliament building. From its amazing architecture, you can get a great view of Berlin. Also, the Brandenburg Gate is a great place to hang out at night. It’s when you can relax and get away from all the tourists. The Pergamon Museum houses relics from an ancient Greek city. From the reconstructed models, it looked very impressive. Berlin has a large and diverse population. Every district is unique here. One area reminded me of LA’s Universal CityWalk; while another, NYC’s Greenwich Village. I really like Berlin! “Ich bin ein Berliner!” On a side note, we visited Sanssouci in Potsdam. It’s a massive royal complex with multiple palaces and gardens. Unfortunately it rained a lot that day so we didn’t stay too long there. It’s worth visiting if you get a chance to.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 14“.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Tchuss,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 13

Guten tag Friends,

From Brussels, Paul and I flew to Munich. I love Germany! As a young boy, my parents sent me to France and Germany to live with my cousins for a summer. I can honestly say that some of my best childhood memories were left there. Thank you mom and dad! As it was my first experience traveling to and living in a foreign country, everything was so exciting to me. I think this is where I picked up the travel bug. Well, here I am in Germany once again. It has been over two decades since I have been back here. I don’t know what took me so long. It’s amazing how life passes by. I’m just glad I’m still alive to see this beautiful country again.

From Munich, we drove to Salzburg, Austria; Amadeus Mozart’s hometown. Salzburg is located in a beautiful location, along the Alps and near crystal blue lakes. The landscape surrounding Salzburg is dark green from all the rainfall. While waiting out a rainstorm, I got splashed on like a waterfall. I guess it was a hint I needed a shower. On top of the city, there’s a castle, but we didn’t make it up there. On our drive back, we got stuck in a major traffic jam for hours. It was like a long parking lot that stretched for miles. Many cars just parked on the freeway and people got of their cars to wait it out. Perhaps not on that particular day, but in my opinion, the Germans are the best drivers in the world. Look at Michael Schumacher. Germans are courteous drivers and will let you pass on the left lane. It’s actually illegal to pass a car in the right lane. I will have to wait to see if my dream to drive at unlimited speeds on the Autobahn becomes reality. Move over Porsches! I will be right on your tail with my two-seat Smart car.

In Munich, we took a couple side trips. One trip was down south to Neuschwanstein Castle in Hohenschwangau. The drive to there is spectacular. The castle is rumored to be the inspiration for Disney’s castle. We took a bus up to the bridge to overlook the castle. As it was high up over a canyon, some tourists who were afraid of heights walked on and off it quickly. Another day, we drove to see a couple of our cousins near Stuttgart. We stopped in historic Rottenburg. There were ancient stones and an old city wall that I believe were Roman. I couldn’t read the German inscriptions. As we left Munich, we stopped in Bamberg to visit a another friend of mine who I met in Australia, Manuel, to have lunch. We had typical Bavarian meals: a schnitzel and roasted pork leg with potatoes. Bamberg has a population of about 70,000 and is quite pretty. I would suggest visiting if its along the way on your travels. I found that there are an abundance of nice quaint towns in Germany. As we were pressed for time, we only had a chance to see Munich at night. Sorry, no pics of Munich.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 13“.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Auf Wiedersehen,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 12

Bonjour Mes Amis,

In Brussels, we left for a couple side trips. In Brugge, as in the movie similarly titled, I imagined myself in a different era where Brugge was once a mighty harbor town in the medieval world. In its prime, merchants from all over the world gathered here to engage in commerce. In town, externally, it doesn’t look like it has changed much in the last few hundred years. Though there are more modern stores and restaurants in the main square, including a McDonald’s. But what would you expect from such a high traffic tourist spot? Walk away from the main square and tower and you will see nice canals and alleys less spoiled by modern tourism. My human mule, Paul, pushed me around Brugge because it would have taken us twice as long to get over all the cobblestones.

It took us 3 hours by train each way to reach Luxembourg. When we got there, I found out that it was much smaller than I envisioned. It only took us a couple hours to walk around the city, although we didn’t get to the area below the city. There’s a little square in the city where the shopping streets meet. We weren’t too impressed with the city so we took a few more photos and hopped on the train back. You should visit Luxembourg anyways and add it to the countries you have visited.

One day, we took the train to Bilzen to visit some new friends who we met on our cruise. It was nice to get out to the countryside and see their hometown where they grew up. Among Bilzen, there are other towns in the Limburg region, including Tongeren (the oldest town in Belgium, once under Roman rule) and Hasselt. In many of the towns, the main square (usually you can find it when you see an old, big church) is where you will find the local residents, especially on a nice sunny day. Usually, one day a week, they have a street market that rotates among the surrounding towns. While being driven around the area, I noticed that most of the houses, as well as the farms, looked like they were groomed to perfection. It probably would be nice to live in the Flanders countryside when I get older and grow white hair. Give me a couple years.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 12“.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Au revoir,
Tom =)
“Homme International du Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 11

Bonjour Mes Amis,

Having left our cruise ship, Paul and I spent a couple days in Rotterdam. The Netherlands is definitely one of the more diverse countries in Europe that we have visited. If there’s a global economic recession going on, it sure doesn’t feel like it here. Rotterdam is bustling with shoppers. Besides joining the crowds in their shopping bonanza, there wasn’t much that we found to do except walk along the harbor at sunset. I guess we could have passed our time, or many days, smoking herbs at the coffee shop, but we skipped that in search of more natural highs. And, no, not everyone walks around like zombies with red shot eyes in the Netherlands. One day we took the train to The Hague (“Den Haag” in Dutch). At the Maritshuis Museum, we saw Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting, “The Girl with the Pearl Earring.” With two strokes, Vermeer was able to paint the pearl earring. His use of paint to convey light on objects is just extraordinary. Like some famous artists in history, his genius was not discovered until after his death. I hope to discover my talent, if any, in my next life. Also at the Maritshuis Museum, there are other paintings by famous Dutch and Flemish artists like Rembrandt van Rijn, Pieter Paul Rubens, and Paulus Potter

We are now in Brussels, Belgium. It is a city where new and old are intertwined. Like “The Little Mermaid” of Copenhagen, the little peeing boy, “Mannequin Pis”, is one of Brussel’s most famous attractions. Be nimble and agile as taking a picture with this famous statue in this coveted spot is a sought after souvenir. I think I got too close to him as my hair was a little wet after having my photo taken. In Brussels historical city center, the Grand Place, there’s a nice square. It’s medieval in architecture. Belgium is an interesting country. In Brussels and in the south and west, the inhabitants are mostly French speaking. In the north and east, they are primarily Flemish and speak Dutch. The Belgians have exported their taste to the world. You could get a full Belgian meal in the following order: “French” fries (Our Belgian friends like to claim this meal favorite), Belgian waffles, Belgian chocolates, and, to finish it off, a nice cold Belgian beer. I’m making myself hungry now.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 11“.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

A tout a l’heure,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 10

Ahoy Mates,

New pics posted. Finally! See tompchun.shutterfly.com.

Moving along, Paul and I sailed to Arhus, Denmark’s second largest city. I really like Arhus. It has a great shopping district with nice pedestrian-only streets. This is what urban planning should be like. Paul was able to use a city bike for free. It costs 20 Kroners (~$4) to unlock it and is refunded when you return it. My brother liked riding the bike in town so much, I thought he was going to leave the money and sneak a bike on board our ship. With the security after 9/11, I don’t think he would get far. Well, after a few more of our buffets, both of our bellies might be enough to hide a Mini Cooper.

Wow! Norway takes the cake when it comes to being the most expensive Scandinavian country. Mom, don’t send underwear. Send money! A bottle of soda is $6 at the convenience store. I found Oslo to be like a bigger version of Helsinki, except with more art and museums. In the City Hall, near the harbor, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded. In Stockholm, they award the Nobel Prize for other subjects, like Economics and Physics. From the city harbor, if you head north, you will bump into the main shopping street, Karl Johans Gate. It’s always fascinating to me to watch people go about their business. An added bonus is to see the street artists with their unique skills. Heading east, you will see the Royal Palace. It’s nicely perched on top of a hill. But it’s nothing that my sore shoulders can’t handle. If you keep on walking east, you will pass through beautiful residential buildings and homes and reach the Vigeland Park. It is a nice park with an abundance of human sculptures in curious positions, all sculpted by Emanuel Vigeland. For me, it was the perfect sunny day in Oslo. I had such a great time wandering around the city, I forgot to check out the famous glacier-shaped Oslo Opera House, the Munch Museum (where the famous painting “The Scream” was stolen twice), the Kon-Tiki Museum, and the Viking Ship Museum. Well, I didn’t have time to see it all anyways. I think once I hit the lottery, Oslo warrants a second visit, at least.

I have completed my cruise journey and am on land now. This time my trustworthy human mule, Paul, made it off the boat with me, unlike in the Greek Isles.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 10“.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Bye for now,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 9

Hi Friends,

In Helsinki, Finland, the city is not so big that you will get lost. The Esplanade is the main area where the Finns congregate. It is situated near a harbor, which I believe is always nice for a city to have. Although we didn’t venture far outside of the city, I hear that it’s green and pristine up north. Finns are known for their saunas. I didn’t get a chance to strip down naked and let someone else whip me with a twig until the brink of exhaustion just to open up my pores. But I hear it’s supposed to be good for your skin. I will skip it; perhaps, some other time. Besides strolling around town, Paul and I did see the “Rock” Church. It was built within some giant rocks. Disappointingly, we didn’t get a chance to hear the inside acoustics as no one played the organ when we were there.

Next, I returned to Stockholm. I didn’t have a lot of time to walk around the city. So I’m glad I spent some time there beforehand. Since I wrote a few words on Stockholm already, I will skip writing about it again. But I should mention that our cruise ship sailed through the archipelago. On many of the Islands of the archipelago, you will see the homes and summer cottages of Swedes. Tiger Woods’ wife is Swedish, so he also has a summer home in the archipelago. Summer in Sweden is a great place to be! It didn’t feel like the sun dropped below the horizon during our cruise ship. This was quite the opposite of what I felt in Iceland during the winter.

Warnemunde, Germany is a pretty harbor town. One can walk along a canal among the tourist shops and restaurants and head out to the lighthouse and sandy beach. It was a nice break from all the big cities we’ve been in. Warnemunde is 30 minutes by train to the nearby city of Rostock. Many people from the surrounding area go to Warnemunde to get to the shore. In Rostock, we encountered an outdoor event that promoted sports and an active lifestyle to kids. I think it would have been beneficial if we had this event on our cruise ship. Well, it’s too late now.

New Photos: To come. See “Europe 9” when posted.
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Tchuss,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 8

Privet Comrades,

I’m cruising now! No, really, I’m on a cruise. It’s my first time and it’s taking me all over the Baltic Sea. Being on a cruise is like being in Las Vegas. There are buffets, gambling, live shows (including comedy and music), and all kinds of entertainment. Fortunately, I can step outside on the top deck and get some fresh air whenever I want to. As we cruise, I wonder to myself: What about all the hard stuff? What about tugging my luggage from place to place? What about planning ahead and booking hotels and transportation in advance? I feel like I’m cheating. But you know what? I like it! I can get used to this. Hmm…I’m already thinking about where else I can go. =)

From Copenhagen, Paul and I sail to Talinn, Estonia. It’s a small city on the southeast corner of the Baltic Sea. The town square is very quaint with a church, a small outdoor market, and cafes surrounding it. Sound familiar in Europe? It still maintains its medieval charm. So much so, that some Estonian vendors dress up in medieval outfits to attract tourists. It almost felt like I was in Disneyland. Leaving this behind, we walked a short distance to the more modern shopping district of the city. This was where I saw true Estonians spending their time, eating and shopping. Paul and I were quite the novelty. One young Estonian boy abruptly ran from us after we gave him a wave and a hello. I guess its not often they see good-looking Asian brothers like us there.

St. Petersburg, Russia was our next destination. Having spent a couple weeks on the Trans-Siberian Railroad in Russia already, Paul was not very enthusiastic. But I was extremely excited! I couldn’t take my eyes away from all the people, buildings, and cars as we took a private tour of the city. Half an hour away in Pushkin, Paul had to pull me up 3 flights of stairs so that I could view the spectacular rooms of the baroque styled Catherine’s Palace. I can’t speak for Paul’s aching back, but it was well worth it! From there, we drove to the fabulous fountains and gardens of Peterhof on the Bay of Finland. Peter the Great built his fountains to surpass Versailles in France. I haven’t been to Versailles, but I believe he did it.

On day two, we visit the cathedral at Peter and Paul’s fortress (Named after the apostles. I like “Tom and Paul” better.) where the Tsar Peter the Great and his family are buried.
Our next stop was the unique Church on Spilled Blood, where the Russian people built a church to commemorate where Peter II was assassinated. It took 24 years to build the church and magnificent murals inside and 27 years to restore it after World War II. It is amazing! I don’t say that lightly. To end our time, we spent a few hours in the Hermitage Museum. It is a combination of five beautiful buildings, including the Winter Palace. It also has the largest collection of art in the world and could take many years to go through all the pieces. St. Petersburg is where the Russian revolution started by the Bolsheviks. And with Russia opening up under “glasnost” and “perestroika”, I see a new revolution beginning where tourists from all over the world have the opportunity to visit this great country in the near future.

New Photos: to come
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

From Russia with love,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 7

Hi Friends,

My human mule and brother, Paul, escaped the Siberian gulag that I sent him to and has followed me to Copenhagen, like a lost dog sniffing his way home. I hope if I feed him well enough he will once again become man’s best mule again.

Copenhagen is similar to Stockholm and equal in beauty, with its waterways and colorful buildings, but also it’s very different. It’s very flat, which I like. The first thing that caught my attention is the abundance of bicycles and bike lanes. This is what urban planning should be like. The Danes may be the most athletic Europeans I have seen. In the bike lanes, I have seen elderly in scooters, mopeds, electric bikes, and noisy exhaust pumping motorcycles. Oh, and me, on occasion. So, I’m not sure what qualifies but I hope I don’t get a ticket. Also with all the bike riding, I see a new trend evolving, talking on your cell phone while riding. It’s making me feel like I’m back at home. LOL! There are babies, on bikes and strollers, everywhere. It’s probably due to their friendly social welfare system. I just need to find me the right beautiful Danish girl now. =) Most of the residents take the month of July off (like the Swedes) so all we saw were tourists with their map on one hand and camera in the other. The city felt like a ghost town.

Some psychological studies have shown that Denmark is the happiest country on Earth. In brief, among other things, they say that Danes have lower expectations. So when they exceed them, they feel happy. It’s quite the opposite when you have high expectations and rarely achieve them. I like their point of view better. Well, a beautiful and wealthy country can help too. It’s the most expensive city I have been to so far and my dollars are worth pennies here. =( A Big Mac meal at McDonald’s is $10, plus you have to pay for the condiments. I was hesitant to ask for napkins. As for Copenhagen’s tourist attractions, the Tivoli Gardens is an old amusement park where you can have fun, young or old. Unfortunately, I didn’t raise my adrenaline there. It seems like everything here has “Christian” in their name: the Royal Christiansborg Palace; “The Little Mermaid statue” based off Hans Christian Andersen’s book, the trendy Christianshavn district, etc. There’s also the avante-garde Opera House, Frederick’s Church, Katellet, and many museums that you can admire. It’s a very safe and walkable city and can easily be seen in a day, as the Tourist Board says on their website. I don’t know why they would mention that, but maybe the Danes are honest people too. I like this country already!

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 7”
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Cheers,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 6

Hej Friends,

Summer in Stockholm is the best time to visit this city I hear. Around 11 PM the sun starts to set. Even when it does, the sky is blue and not pitch dark. Later around 4AM the sun rises again. Not that I’m up that early. Stockholm is a beautiful city with many bridges connecting its multiple Islands. They say there about 24,000 Islands within its surrounding archipelago. It is easy to walk around the city. The public transit system is great and there are many paths for bicycles. In the main shopping district, you will see what Sweden is probably most famous for, its beautiful blue-eyed blonde Scandinavian women. The old city center, Gamla Stan, has colorful old buildings and cobblestones. Within it, a few military guards protect the Royal Palace. It is still used as the residence by the royal family.

The Swedes were ahead of their time. Besides giving the world ABBA and IKEA, at the Vasa Museum, the Vasa ship was the Titanic of its time. It sunk on its maiden voyage in the 17th century. Nearby, at the Skansen outdoor museum, you can view houses that represent Sweden in various parts of the country at different times in history. It also holds a small zoo, including a moose; which I had never seen before. The moose is perhaps their national mascot. At Stockholm’s City Hall building, Nobel Laureates pick up their gold medallion and perhaps their big check. Is there a prize category for “Leisure” or “Travel”? LOL!

My last night there, I hung out with some friends at a hip bar on the harbor. Later that night, we moved to a bar known for playing nostalgic Swedish music from the 80s & 90s. It all sounded like ABBA to me. =) The Swedes like to drink and party! I guess that’s what you do when you have long cold dark winters. But also when the sun comes out and the weather is warm, it’s a good excuse to live it up in Stockholm. And with such a beautiful city, why not?

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 6”
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Bye,
Tom =)
“International Man of Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 5

Ciao Amici!

OK, last email I promise. For those of you who signed up for my blog (tompchun.blogspot.com) and have not been receiving it, please make sure that you click the link in the email that confirms your sign-up. It may have been sent to your spam/bulk email folder.

Florence is a smaller and more relaxing city than Rome. The Medici family helped Florence become a thriving city. I saw a documentary about “Il Duomo” and how the genius architect, Brunelleschi, designed the brick dome without the need for scaffolding. Inside, it’s quiet enough not to be bothered by everyday life or from the tourists gathered outside. The Galleria dell’Adcademia is a nice small museum with works of art, music, and other things. It’s famous for holding the original Michelangelo’s David. You’re not allowed to take pictures inside, so head over to the Galleria degli Uffizi. There’s a replica of David where it originally stood. You can snap as many shots as you want. The Uffizi is a big museum with lots of Italian artwork; probably the most famous painting held there is Boticelli’s “Birth of Venus”. Along with Boticelli’s artwork, I marveled at Caravaggio’s dark paintings. Just outside the Uffizi, you can walk over Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”) lined with vendors, mostly jewelry at one end.

When I first thought about going to Venice, I thought what was I getting myself into: A city with stair bridges and waterways as streets? I had imagined it was going to be the most challenging city in Italy. I was pleasantly surprised! In fact, I have seen more wheelchair users here than anywhere else. The streets are flat and easy to roll over. There are some great maps the Venice Tourist Board sent me that show me where I can go. Venice is beautiful! I don’t know how else to describe it. There are other cities that some compare to Venice (“Venice of the North” – St. Petersburg, Russia or Stockholm, Sweden and “Venice of the East” – Suzhou, China), but I think they are all quite different.

It’s easy to get around Venice using the Valparetto (the public water taxis). It takes you to most major stops. And if you are looking for a romantic ride, hop on a gondola down the narrow canals with your sweetheart. I was going to ask the first beautiful Italian girl I saw to join me, but I didn’t want to get slapped. LOL! Although I’m not able to see all of the various connecting Venetian Islands, I am just happy to be where Marco Polo started his famous world journey. The Rialto Bridge is full of tourists who stand and watch boats go by. St. Mark’s square is where you can sit down for a meal or coffee, go up the Campanile (there’s a few steps though), or visit the historical Doge’s Palace (the former Senate center). Can you imagine Andrea Bocelli singing in St. Mark’s Square? I will have to because I will miss his concert by a day. =( When you want to get away from the busy streets of Venice, you can go to the Giardini (Gardens) or Lido, a very nice Island nearby. Lido has a lot going for it: views of Venice on one side, a beach on the other, and a quaint town center where you can just relax.

To all my female readers: I would suggest you don’t bring many clothes here. You could do lots of shopping and buy enough to fill a big suitcase when you get to Italy. Don’t forget to end the day shopping with a gelato. It’s the perfect way to end a long day. =)

Clarification: Italians also use the word “disabili”, not just “invalidi”. I hope my Italian friends aren’t offended.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 5”
Ciao! Ciao!
Tommaso =)
“Uomo Internazionale di Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 4

Ciao Amici!

From Fascistas to Fashionistas, the Romans have moved into the new millennium with style. They definitely dress to impress here. It’s as if everyone here wears designer glasses. On Via Condotti, major Italian fashion houses line the street, including Prada, Gucci, Armani, Bulgari, etc. It’s a nice place to walk as there aren’t many cars allowed. But the best part is that it leads up to the famous “Spanish Steps”, where you can sit and watch the world go by. Nearby, another famous landmark, the Trevi Fountain, brings crowds from all over the world to marvel at its beauty. Having seen this landmark in many movies, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement as I was now in Rome. Rome was not built in a day and it definitely takes much more time to see.

Rome is perhaps a “Mecca” for international tourists. My mind tries to close off the fact that there are groups and groups of tourists at all the major attractions I visit. At the Vatican Museum, we all gather together in one room to view Michaelangelo’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel. I felt scrunched together like a sardine locked in a can. The Basilica at the Vatican makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger, even if you are not Catholic. Down the street from the Vatican City, there’s the Castel Sant’ Angelo. I was tired of struggling through cobblestone, so I skipped it. I don’t’ think I would have gotten far anyways.

The Coliseum is impressive! Although I couldn’t go up or around much of it. One night I rolled out to Circus Maximus. I envisioned myself as a noveau gladiator with my metal chariot racing around the ring as in the movie “Ben Hur”. If only I had my human mule, my brother Paul, to pull me. But I sent him off to Siberia to do some hard labor. Well actually he’s taking the Trans-Siberian Railway from the east to Moscow and we will meet up later. You can join his blog at: http://pchun88.blogspot.com/ OK, I’m getting off-track, pun intended. Nearby, you can walk and see what remains of the Forum. I had to imagine what it must have looked like in its glory days. When the Romans want to take a break from city life, they only have to drive an hour to Ostia, on the coast. It’s almost impossible to find parking if you come late. Another thing you can do to relax is to watch a movie outdoor at a “piazza”. It reminded me of the Italian movie “Cinema Paradiso.”

The only form of public transportation that I have found useful for me, as a wheelchair user, is the open air double-decker tourist bus. Fortunately, it is free for “invalidi”, the Italian term for disabled (I kind of like that word. It’s as if it invalidates my short existence. LOL!). The streets are difficult to navigate, but manageable if you are daring. Cobblestones, parked cars on sidewalks, lack of curb cuts on many streets, and aggressive Roman drivers are things I try to avoid but cannot. At the beginning, I was timid and felt like a new sacrificial lamb. By the end, I followed that famous saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” I was getting a bit aggressive, rolling in front of cars and hopping sidewalks like a mad man. I found kindness in Romans who offered help when needed. If you try to speak a little Italian and end it with a “Grazie” (Thank you!) and a smile, you will feel welcomed in Rome. Lastly, I want to mention that the pasta here is delicious, so bring your appetite. =)

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 4”
Ciao! Arrivederci
Tommaso =)
“Uomo Internazionale di Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 3

Dear Friends,

From Barcelona I flew into Madrid. It is a big city! It’s a bit hilly so bring your walking shoes. I stayed near Plaza del Sol in the city center. Madrid is full of plazas: Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Espana, etc. The plazas are where people like to gather and meet. At night, you can find a table at a café or restaurant, hang out with your friends, and people watch. In Retiro Park (something on par with Central Park in NYC), I notice people actually jogging or exercising. I didn’t notice one gym in Madrid, but somehow the Madrilenos stay fairly thin. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the combination of smaller meals, lots of walking, and puffing cigarettes for some. Near Retiro Park, there are a few nice museums with artwork from Goya, Picasso, El Greco, and some other famous Spanish artists. I enjoyed a day at the Prado and Thyssen Museums. The latter is a fairly nice accumulation for a private collection. Most of the tourist attractions in central Madrid are within walking distance. On the opposite side of Retiro is the “Palacio Real”, or Royal Palace. Inside, there were rooms after rooms of displays of wealth. Nightlife in Madrid is similar all over Spain, they start late and stay up late. One night, I met some new friends and we went out for drinks and tapas. At the end we ended up in a working class neighborhood, with people from all over Africans, the Middle East, and India. Madrid is a cosmopolitan city.

“Holy Toledo Batman!” Toledo, Spain is one steep town! I took the bus up into town and I’m glad I did. I tried to roll around but didn’t get very far. Some of the cobblestone streets were almost impossible to get up and down. So, I hopped on a little trolley that toured the city. Hold on tight because it was bumpy going over the cobblestones. It only takes 30 minutes on a high-speed train to get to Toledo from Madrid. This is what train travel should be in America. After a full week of sleeping late (well, early morning), I’m feeling the effects of sleep deprivation. It’s time for me to take a “siesta” on my flight to Rome.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 3”
Adios!
Tomas
“Hombre Internacional de Leisure”

Adventures in Europe - Part 2

Dear Friends,

From Ibiza, I flew into Barcelona to meet up with my friend, Michael. Barcelona is a city that never sleeps. This city is full of life and energy! Most nights, we eat late (9-11PM) and show up late, around 1 AM (which is considered somewhat early) to a club or bar. We usually make it back to our hotel around 5AM, but there are still stragglers who don’t go home. I don’t know how they party so late, but I’m guessing they take long “siestas” to recover to get ready for the next night’s (early morning’s) nocturnal activities. At Barcelona’s beachfront, after watching all the gorgeous Spanish girls (or guys – for my female readers) on the beach, you can sip cocktails or Sangrias (red wine with a fruit mixture). Then after that, you can find a nice trendy restaurant or local tapas bar to eat around 9PM. Then at 1AM, the clubs start to fill up again.

La Rambla is the main walking street that you can take a "paseo" down to the Marina. It is packed with people, vendors, cafes and restaurants, and artist trying to make a living. But be warned, this place is notorious for pickpocketers and thieves. After midnight, you should be a little more careful. About halfway down La Rambla, there is a busy indoor food market called the Boqueria. You can try all the Catalan delicacies that suit your taste. We tried the "Jamon Iberico" (Iberic Ham) and it is delicious. It’s a bit salty and the fat on it tastes almost butter-like. One night, we sat down for a nice "paella" (much like a risotto with seafood) meal. Washing it down with my favorite drink in Europe, Fanta Orange (not the same as the one in the U.S.), completed my meal. I think I’m going to petition Coca-Cola to sell me a lifelong supply. LOL!

As for sightseeing, we visit some of the most famous landmark in the city, including the architect Antonio Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Construction began in 1882 and it is still being built even after Gaudi’s death in 1926. It is quite unique architecturally. I learn that there were lots of various elements of nature and math that helped create this masterpiece. I couldn’t go up the elevator, so Michael took some pics for me. Another Gaudi creation is Park Guell up in the hills of Barcelona. The tiled benches of the park offer a wonderful view of the city. Our hotel is situated a block from Plaza Catalunya, the main square. Nearby are fashionable shops that cater to the European sense of style. The Barrio Gotic (Gothic Neighborhood) has narrow walkways that will lead you around Gothic Church, which is currently being remodeled. The Park de Cituadella is a great place to lay down, read a book, ride a bike, or relax. Barcelona is a city for party animals, food and art lovers, and just people who generally want to enjoy life. Barcelona has the combination of fashionable people, great nightlife, a relaxed lifestyle, proximity to the beach, an international contingent, and old world charm. There are many reasons why people fall in love with this city. =)

I'm in Madrid now. I will have to write more when I get a chance.

New Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com in “Europe 2”
Hasta luego,
Tomas
“Hombre Internacional de Leisure”

Test Feed
Hi All, sorry, but I need to test my blog feed. I hope this works. I am in Barcelona now and will have to write more about my trip soon.

Cheers,
Tom =)

Adventures in Europe - Part 1

Dear Friends,

Good news! No more spam from me about my travels unless you want them. You will have to sign up for my travel blog at tompchun.blogspot.com (top right corner, please enter your email). I will try to keep you in suspense because if I told you where I was going it would be like spoiling the end of a movie by knowing the ending.

Hola amigos! OK, let’s do this! =) Since high school, I always dreamed about visiting Spain. And here I am. =) It took me many years to finally get here, but here I am. Hurray! I can’t let a minor setback, like a Global Financial Crisis, get in the way of living out my dreams right? LOL! And as the U.S. Dollar is so weak against the Euro, what better time to go right? LOL! With all the money the Fed is printing, inflation may hit in the near future, the Dollar may even fall further. We will see.

Unfortunately, two days before I left, while riding my new handcycle at about 20 mph I crashed and wiped out. Couldn’t happen at a worse time. But hey, what are a few scratches and scabs? My only consolation was that I was flying to Ibiza, Spain to start my European adventure. On the plane ride, transferring through Dublin, Ireland, there was a “hen” (bachelorette) party on board. Irish girls sure know how to drink and party! I don’t think there was anyone onboard that didn’t have a sip, except for the pilot captain. Whew! Count my blessing!

Ibiza (I-bi-THA) is the major party Island in Europe located off the coast of Spain for tourists from all over the world, mostly British, German, Italian, Irish, and many others. Probably it became famous in the 90s from the MTV Ibiza show. World class DJs hold summer events in gigantic (sometimes 10,000 capacity or more) venues to cater to young party animals, like me. =) Well, nocturnal animals who are looking for a natural dance high and the occasional legal high of alcohol! Parties generally start at 1AM and end at 6AM. I went to sleep one morning and didn’t wake up until 4 in the afternoon. I went to club Pacha to hear David Guetta mix out beats one night and it was incredible! The sound system created thunderous beats that went right through my heart. I probably came close to having cardiac arrest. LOL!

The beaches are warm and beautiful, and the vibe is positive. Everyone there were there to enjoy themselves. For families who wish to visit the Island, they can find a little rest and relaxation while touring and doing other things (snorkeling, swimming, etc.) around the Island. One caveat, do some research on hotels. If you don’t want a party resort hotel like mine, where house/dance music starts at 9AM and you can hear the rumble of planes flying right every half hour above you starting at 5:30AM, you probably won’t get much sleep.

Thanks for all of those who have enjoyed my trips in the past! My friends who live or will be in Europe, let me know because I may be in a neighborhood nearby you. I would love to meet up and catch up with you. =)

New pics at: tompchun.shutterfly.com under “Europe I”
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Saludos!
Tomas
Hombre Internacional del “Leisure”

Happy Holidays from the Land of Fire and Ice!

Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays from Iceland! Since Iceland devalued its currency because it defaulted on debt payments, the US dollar is worth double against the Icelandic Krona versus last year. Things are still relatively pricey, just not exorbitant anymore. On the road from the Keflavik airport to Reykjavik, the country’s largest city and capital, the landscape is covered with lava rocks. Outside of Reykjavik, the land is rugged and beautiful, complete with waterfalls, glaciers, and other natural wonders. In fact, “geyser” is a word derived from a famous spot in Iceland. In our hotel, our hot showers came from this natural source, and along with it, the smell of sulfur. Some say it smells like rotten eggs, but it’s not that bad, it was bearable. On the opposite spectrum, cold water from the tap is pure and you can drink it directly.

Iceland wasn’t as cold as I had imagined. Perhaps my brother, Paul, and I were blessed by the Viking gods. It rained a lot and was a bearable 40 degrees F (5 C) or so most of the time. On Christmas day, it snowed, but we headed out to bathe in the Blue Lagoon anyways. Our faces turned into a rosy tint as the cold breeze froze our cheeks. The Blue Lagoon’s water is an amazing light blue color! It supposedly helps cure your skin ailments. Although it’s a huge tourist attraction, I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to savor the traditional Icelandic delicacy of ram’s testicles or fermented shark’s head to recommend that to you also. =) I would recommend riding an Icelandic horse if you can. Just don’t fall off it like Paul did! The Icelandic horse is a breed that hasn’t changed since the 9th century. It is smaller than I had imagined. Once exported, an Icelandic horse is issued a passport and can never return home. Poor horse!

Reykjavik is notorious for its nightlife and it certainly didn’t disappoint us in that regard. Nocturnal partygoers start at midnight and party until five in the morning on weekends and some holidays. The old city is filled with trendy restaurants and clubs. In one club, a sea of beautiful blond Scandinavian women, with their glowing yellow hair, took over the dance floor. I could not detect any form of intelligent life then and there. =) Many Icelandic women looked like models straight out of “Vogue” magazine.

During the winter, the sun shines for only 4 ½ hours. After a while, my brain played tricks on me and couldn’t determine whether it was morning or night. On a sad note, Paul and I weren’t able to see the Northern Lights during the time there. But there always is a next time! Hopefully, in the summer! We’ll that’s as long as the country remains somewhat affordable.

Photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Happy New Year!
Tommy Tonysson (My Icelandic name)“International Man of Leisure

Hola de Puerto Rico!

Ahoy Mates!

Welcome aboard my pirate ship as we seach for the elusive treasures of Puerto Rico. Last Wednesday, when my friend, Michael, and I arrived, we almost experienced a hurricane. But the eye of the storm veered northeast of us. Schucks! I was looking forward to having a wet and wild adventure. I had to settle for more of the latter, looking for hotspots to hit. We situated ourselves in the Condado Beach area, which has plenty of casino-hotels and restaurants. It's not Vegas, but Puerto Rico has its own unique charm and qualities. It's a hotspot for Puerto Ricans from mainly New York, but also from Miami & Chicago. Many "Gringos", like us, also visit the Island. You don't need to speak much Spanish because many locals speak English. In the Isla Verde neighborhood, the El San Juan Hotel has a flashy lounge and nightclub that we spent the night enjoying the decor, salsa music, the beautiful Puerto Riquenas, and a little bit of drinking, of course! In the Condado area, we hung out at the Renaissance Hotel, it has a hip bar with mouth watering "Mojitos" (a minty cocktail) and fashionable clientele.

In the historic Old San Juan district it has two of my favorite challenges, hills and cobblestones. (Note my sarcasm.) The buildings are painted in festive Carribean pastel colors that makes you feel like wearing flip-flops and a light white shirt. We wander our way through El Morro, the fort that has withstood attacks by the British, Dutch, but in the end ceded to American yankees, to future generations of tourists like us. LOL! Like El Morro, San Sebastian fort is fairly inaccessible due to stairs and its location on top of a hill. On a separate occasion we drive to the El Yunque rainforest, the only national tropical rainforest in the U.S. It is green, lush, and tropical! The trails are not wheelchair friendly, so Michael did the hiking and picture-taking. I took a nap from all the partying we did the previous nights. Since we wanted to see more of the Island, we drove to Ponce, about an 1 1/2 hour drive south. Roads are horrible in Puerto Rico, potholes and bumps everwhere, and the road signs are just as bad. It was a miracle that we could even find our way back. We wanted to visit Culebra Island, which is supposed to have some of most beautiful beaches, but we didn't make it in the end. Next time, I will have to skip the Bacardi Rum tour! But it's so hard to pass up a "Cuba Libre" (Rum & Coke), a Mojito, and a good time!

I'm back home again, but still have the travel bug inside me. I think I need to see a witch doctor to get it out of me. LOL!

Check out my photos at http://tompchun.shutterfly.com

Old blogs at http://tompchun.blogspot.com

Adios mis amigos!

Tomas =)

"Hombre Internacional de Leisure"

Rolling Down Under - Part X (The End)

Hi Friends,

From Christchurch I took a shuttle bus to Queenstown. On my way down, we stop for lunch at the Observatory above to view Lake Tekapo. The water is clear blue, as blue as the sky! Amazing! Arriving in Queenstown, a town of almost 15,000, you realize why there's such a strong attraction to be here. The location is perfect, lakes and rivers at bottom and mountains in the background. Unfortunately, it is a tourist mecca and highly commercialized. The town's population feels like it has doubled due to tourists, like me. LOL! Queenstown is known as the "Adventure capital of the world." You can do any adrenaline pumping activity that you dare to; from bungee jumping, skydiving, white water river rafting, canyon swinging, parasailing, hang gliding, etc, etc. They are inventing new crazy thrill seeking activities all the time. If you aren't into having a near-death experience, you can hike or mountain bike around the area, take a helicopter to view the region from above, hop on a real steamboat, take the Skyline Gondola to get a great view, or just wine and dine. I opted to hop into the Shotover Jetboat to swerve at high speeds through the breathtaking Shotover Canyon barely missing the canyon walls, while every so often, spinning 360 degrees to get splashed. The jet boat ride was amazing and the scenery matched it. A must do if you get down here!

It was the perfect storm on board the boat out in the Milford Sound fiords ("A long, narrow, deep inlet from the sea between steep slopes of a mountainous coast"). Perhaps the rainiest day the whole summer. One crew member told me he hadn't experienced waves this big since the three months he had been working there. In fact, a two-month pregnant lady fainted, but she was fine in the end. We survived it! Milford Sound is one of the most beautiful natural wonders I have been to. Some compare it to the fiords in Norway. It was pouring rain, but I was able to tilt my head back to see the misty peak tops of the steep mountains. Multiple waterfalls rushed their way down the rocky mountains like streaks of lightning thundering down. Overall, Aotearoa (New Zealand), "Land of the White Cloud" is a magical place. Everywhere I gazed was like a picture perfect postcard. From a travel book, I learn that 80% of New Zealand's flauna and 25% of its birds cannot be found anywhere else in the world. This is a unique place! Some of the top-rated hikes in the world can be found here. So bring your hiking shoes! =)

I am finally back home in California. Another adventure I will not forget. =) If you venture out on a long vacation/holiday, I would love to hear about it. Until next time......

New photos: tompchun.shutterfly.com

Old blog: tompchun.blogspot.com

Cheers mates!

Tom =)

"International Man of Leisure"

Rolling Down Under - Part IX

Hi Friends,

From the windy city of Wellington on the North Island, I took the ferry to Picton, on the South Island. The ferry is non-eventful until you enter the harbor where you meander through the peninsula harbor. After my arrival, I hop on the TranzCoastal train down to Christchurch. It is just as scenic, if not more than my first train ride. At one point, near Kaikoura, there were mountains on my right and beaches with rocky cliffs on my left. Spectacular!

I am now in Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island with a population of about 400,000. It is a nice (and flat =) ) city with parks, a beautiful botanic garden, and old English-style buildings about 150 years old. Compared to England, which most of the city is based on, it is very young. You can "punt" (take a gondola) on the Avon river or hop on a cable car (Which I really can't use. Darn!) to get about, if you don't want to walk around town. Using Christchurch as my base, I venture off to Greymouth on the west using the TranzAlpine train. This ride was probably the best out of all three. The train criss-crosses to take you across the rivers, aquaducts, small towns, and snow-capped mountains. The alpine valley is lush green with occasional tints of yellow, pink, and violet wild flowers. I just viewed out my cabin window in awe! On another occassion, I climbed into a van to head to the French influenced coastal town of Akoroa. The French landed in 1840, but I only saw very little of what was once French. The water was calm that day but the skies were overcast. It's a great place to learn to sail and row. On my return, we take the back roads, swerving and climbing up to the clouds, literally. I got amazing views of the Cantebury valley, Christchurch, and port town of Lyttleton.

New pics at: tompchun.shutterfly.com
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Cheers mates,
Tom =)
"International Man of Leisure"

Rolling Down Under - Part VIII

Hi Friends,

From Auckland I took a couple side trips out of the city. My first trip is to Rotorua to see the geothermal springs in the Maori Whakarewarewa Village. The boiling hot springs give out the smell of sulfur, some say it smells like rotten eggs. While on my way there, I stopped at the Agrodome where I was introduced to the many varieties of sheep and sheep shearing. "Mary had a little lamb", ...and the Kiwis have 40 million sheep. For a country of 4 million residents, that's heaps! I met up with some Kiwi friends who took me to Whakatane ("Wha-" pronounced as "Fah-", at first I thought they were swearing at me. LOL!) Whakatane is on the East coast in the Bay of Plenty. It is a picturesque beachside town that many people retire to. It took all but 1 1/2 hours to tour the town and vista points. And that was taking our time, including a picnic! =) On my second venture out, I head north to the Bay of Islands to take a boat cruise out to the "Hole in the Rock" and visit the Waitangi Treaty House. This is where the Maori and British signed the famous treaty. It is the only treaty agreed upon during peace and not war. Unusual huh? In Wellington at Archives New Zealand, I was able to see the original Waitangi Treaty up close and personal. It's like going down to Washington D.C. to see the U.S.'s founding document. Incredible!

All aboard! Choo! Choo! From Auckland, I took a 12 hour TranScenic train down to Wellington, New Zealand's capital. It was one of the most scenic train rides I have been on. Every view from my carriage was a picture taking opportunity. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to the rear open deck carriage to take unobstructed photos. Wellington is a harborside city surrounded by steep hills. You can take a cable car up the steep hills of Wellington to the Botanical Gardens for some fresh air, nature, and great views. The city is so steep, there are 400 box-like private cable cars that climb up to some homes. It's not just for the old or lazy. People have built private cable cars so that their aging dogs don't have to climb the stairs. Ah, how nice! =) The Te Papa Museum has 6 floors of amazing facts and museum articles of every kind. It truly is the country's museum! Cuba Street is the bohemian district and cannot be missed, literally, it's in the center of town. Inside Old St. Paul's Cathedral it is unique in that it is Gothic structure but built with wood, instead of stone that you see in other churches.

New photos: tompchun.shutterfly.com
Old blogs: tompchun.blogspot.com

Cheers mates!
Tom =)
"International Man or Leisure"

Rolling Down Under - Part VII

Hi Friends,

Kia ora!!! I have left the wonderful "Land of Oz" and am now in the mystical "Land of Middle Earth" (Lord of the Rings), New Zealand. In the movie "Wizard of Oz", Dorothy clicks her feet together 3 times to go home. I won't click my feet because I don't feel homesick yet (oops, forgot, I can't move my feet on command. LOL!) I'm in the biggest city, Auckland, with a population of 1 million people. "Holy Hills Batman!", this city is full of steep hills! The city as well as the north and south Islands of New Zealand are on or surrounded by numerous dormant volcanoes. The "Kiwis" (fond name for locals from the bird) call them "hills" and "mountains", but I know better. There has been activity from the volcanoes in the past decade. It's not a reassuring thought, but I'm not worried.

Auckland is a green city with many parks. It's a great city because it only takes less than 1/2 hour to get to the beach or get away from the city. Mission Beach is a wonderful spot to relax. I took a wonderful harbour cruise to get a view of the Harbour Bridge (underneath there's a pod where you can bungee jump from). New Zealand, of course, is where bungee jumping was invented. I guess when you are stuck on an Island you find some crazy ways to entertain yourself. The Auckland Museum has 3 levels of amazing art, artifacts and history, including Maori (original inhabitants) and Memorial War exhibits (Do we really need war to find peace?). The park, "One Tree Hill", undortunately had a historical giant old tree cut down a few years ago by a Maori activist. I think it was the impetus that is causing global warming now. Just kidding! The Sky Tower has clear 360 degree views of the city and you can even free-fall all the way to the ground from the top if you want. You just need to come over and find out for yourself. =)

New pics at: tompchun.shutterfly.com
Old blog at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Cheers mates!
Tom =)
"International Man of Leisure"

Rolling Down Under - Part VI

Hi Friends,

Melbourne is great city, very European, with lots of culture and arts. The streets are lined with cafes and restaurants. Newly built Federation Square with is avante-gard Museums, across from Flinders Street train station, is the main meeting grounds for the CBD (Central Business District). You can walk along the Southbank of the Yarra River and get a great view of the city at night. There's the Crown Casino there for those who enjoy gambling, and alot of people do apparently, about $5 billion was lost last year alone in Victoria. Further from downtown, St. Kilda has an esplanade to walk along the beach (and another Luna Park amusement park), but it's not a "real" beach, you have to drive further south for nicer beaches. There are coastal towns along both peninsulas south of Melbourne, Mornington and Ballarine, where you can enjoy the sun. Well bring a jacket if you do, Melbourne's weather is notorious for having four seasons in a day.

I'm staying near the Victoria Markets where local produce and meats, as well as everything else, is sold on the weekends. I attended a couple performances during the Melbourne International Arts Festival, one human circus act (no animals were hurt during the performance. LOL!) and a live hip hop/jazz band act. As well, I attended a play that almost put me to sleep (no sleeping pills needed unfortunately). One day, I toured the Melbourne Cricket Grounds where they hold both Cricket and Aussie Rules Football ("Footie") matches, both of which are popular here. Horse racing too is an extremely popular sport in Australia, so much so that the State of Victoria declared the Melbourne Cup a holiday. It's deemed as "the race that shuts down the nation." The day is somewhat like the Super Bowl in the U.S where friends get together for food and gather around a TV tube to watch the sporting event. During my stay, I attended Derby Day where men and women dress in their most dapper/posh attire to impress, and of course....you guessed it, they get pissed drunk. Not many people actually care for the races, they are just there for the party. Gotta love Australia!

When I first landed in Australia, someone said that I had an accent. Being the numbers guy that I am, I thought about it and determined that American English is more widely spoken as a first language: 300 million US Americans + 20m Canadians (eh?) is greater than > 60m British + 20m Australian + 7m Irish + 4m New Zealanders + etc (maybe I'm missing a few, hope no one is offended). So there you have it, Americans speak "correct" English! LOL!

New photos at: tompchun.shutterfly.com
Old blogs at: tompchun.blogspot.com

Cheers Mates!
Tom =)
"International Man of Leisure"

Rolling Down Under - Part V

Hi Friends,

I've left Sydney and am now in Melbourne. In Sydney, I got out of the city to get some fresh air in the Blue Mountains, about 2 hours west by train. At the bottom of the scenic viewpoint, the mountain was once excavated for coal, now it's a major tourist destination. The rest of my time spent in Sydney was eating out, hanging out at the beach, drinking at the bar/club, and sleeping, of course! Oh, and I even found the energy to attend a live concert at the Sydney Opera House, it rocked!

I find that Australia is a combination of things British and things American. Meat pies and "Fish and Chips" anyone? Sydney is a little bit like San Francisco and Los Angeles put together. Not a bad combination, huh? Before arriving here, some past visitor's raved about the country's accessibility for wheelchair users. I'm not too convinced. The positives are that often they have separate disabled toilets rather than inside with the Men's and Women's. Well, that's if you can find one. Most places it's difficult to find a toilet, you have better luck in a big shopping mall or nice hotel. Alot of stores still have one step to get over to get in. I usually bypass them. Many stores/pubs/clubs in older buildings have stairs to go down or up, sometimes with no lift (elevator). What does it take for a guy like me to get a cold pint of beer? Well, compared with other emerging countries I've been to, it's definitely much better. Perhaps it's like the older city areas of the U.S. (e.g. New Orleans Bourbon St.), so maybe I shouldn't complain too much.

Anyways, I'm in Melbourne now and will keep you posted on my extra-curricular activities. It's a little colder here, but it's spring now and it is warming up. Summer is just around the corner. Hurray for that!

No pics posted yet. I will have to do that later.

Cheers mates,
Tom =)
"International Man of Leisure"

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