The Somali pirates are the modern day face of an enterprise that has existed for centuries. Piracy has been part of seafaring culture since man first took to the open water. As early as 1400 BC, Lukka sea raiders from Asia Minor began committing acts of piracy throughout the Mediterranean. These early pirates were known simply as the "Sea Peoples." Aside from these early innovators of seaward sabotage, many groups and clans have sailed under the banner of terror on the high seas. The Vikings innovated the craft, the Barbary corsairs elevated it to an art, and the pirates of the Caribbean made it famous. Many other groups, operating in the shadows of history, took to piracy on the high seas. From dark age plundering to modern day terrorism --
Monday, May 26, 2014
10 types of pirates - from antiquity to modern day
The Somali pirates are the modern day face of an enterprise that has existed for centuries. Piracy has been part of seafaring culture since man first took to the open water. As early as 1400 BC, Lukka sea raiders from Asia Minor began committing acts of piracy throughout the Mediterranean. These early pirates were known simply as the "Sea Peoples." Aside from these early innovators of seaward sabotage, many groups and clans have sailed under the banner of terror on the high seas. The Vikings innovated the craft, the Barbary corsairs elevated it to an art, and the pirates of the Caribbean made it famous. Many other groups, operating in the shadows of history, took to piracy on the high seas. From dark age plundering to modern day terrorism --
3 days on the Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol lazily stretches out along the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain. Not really committing to the industrious ambitions of Barcelona or Madrid, the coast is a land of perpetual siesta, where work orders are responded to with a simple "manana," and beaches gradually disappear into salty azure waters. It is the kind of place that convertibles were invented for.
To tackle it in 3 days would be a shame, but better than having not visited at all. To really cover the ground necessary along the Costa del Sol, an automobile is necessary. Luckily, car rentals in Spain are very affordable, as cheap as 15 Euros per day. Inexpensive flights also abound from all over Europe on Easyjet and Ryanair. It is possible to fly to Malaga for under 20 U.S. dollars from Barcelona round-trip. Once you have arrived along this golden coast of white villages and luxurious beaches, there is much to do and see.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Top 10 Bali experiences
Located just south of the equator, Bali bombards you with beauty, beaches, and culture. The entire experience feels at once effortless and nonpareil – the apex of tropical living. Sure, the beaches provide a gravity that draws travelers from all over the globe to this tiny Indonesian Island, but the culture brings them back. The lure is as persistent and persuasive as a boiler room hustler. There's a saying that God lives in the Himalayas. I have a feeling he vacations in Bali.
There are no direct flights from the United States to Bali. The easiest way to get to Bali is through Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, or Jakarta. From any of these locations, it's simple to hop on a direct flight to Bali's airport in Denpasar. The cheapest international flights to Bali are from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur on Airasia or Jetstar. It's possible to fly from the United States to Singapore or Kuala Lumpur for under $1000 round trip, and onward to Bali for around $100 round trip. This is the cheapest way to get to Bali.
The rich cultures of Indonesia
Indonesia is a sprawling island nation with a rich cultural heritage.
From the temples in Bali to the unique street food, it's easy to immerse
yourself in all the aspects of Indonesia.
If you've ever wanted to know about the culture, scene and surroundings
of one of the world's most intriguing destinations, read on...
The top of Mt. Sinai
It seems like another lifetime. The sun disappearing across the mountains of unforgiving rock. From high on this holy mountain, we looked out across the world and none of it seemed to matter - nothing as far as we could see. The sun went down and billions of stars followed us on our stumble away from the summit.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Sintra Castle - bright, bold, and high
The path to the top is rarely straight. Creating something special, putting it on a hill all bright and bold and ridiculous, and then climbing, really climbing, to find it...well for that - the journey is the reward. The beauty is in the struggle. The way up, the long breaths, having imagination guide expectation towards the truth, calibrating, re-calibrating, earning it.
Here at the top, just outside of Lisbon is Sintra Castle, we climbed to get there.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Top ten most crowded islands in the world
From an island microslum in Colombia to a haute enclave in central Paris, the ten most crowded islands in the world bear scant similarities in class or culture. In fact, every entry in the top ten comes from a different country. But being islands, each shares the common thread of scarcity - whether it be land, resources, or housing. In general, these islands are prophetical microcosms for an overcrowded earth - finite spaces where self sufficiency governs and demand pierces supply.
With the world's population racing higher and higher, and the "megacities club" accepting new members yearly, some day the earth could bear the traits of one of these densely packed islands.
Haunted! - Scariest Castles in the World
From a Czech forest castle reported to house the gates of hell to a gargantuan castle right here in the United States, the world's most haunted castles boast histories rich with frightening details. Specters haunt the halls of these old castles and travelers visit to experience brushes with the paranormal. Some of these castles possess secrets darker than a moonless night, and when darkness comes, the spirits stir.
These are the ten places to go and meet ghosts. Covering nine countries, each of these castles has a past that may just try and make a ghostly impression on your present.
Friday, May 2, 2014
But the day has just begun
Well, well, well. It has been months. Eons in the online world. Since my last post, lots of strange lands have been visited. Many companies have been launched. Work has been done. Time has flown. But now I am back. Double spacing after each sentence.
And.
I need an outlet. Too much is going on right now, and I need a place to go to talk about past trips, current trips, business, etc. So, I will give it a try. A post a week? Maybe? Maybe not. Welcome back to my world.
And.
I need an outlet. Too much is going on right now, and I need a place to go to talk about past trips, current trips, business, etc. So, I will give it a try. A post a week? Maybe? Maybe not. Welcome back to my world.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
The Acropolis of Athens
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Temple of Zeus in Athens
All that is left of the grand ancient structure is a a few columns in the middle of a raised pedestal. Once, a massive statue of Zeus stood amidst the pillars.
Now, the ruins are situated between a bunch of hotels, and it feels like a spectacle of something forgotten and lost - a courtyard of a bruised memory translated by archaeologists and left for the tourists to fawn over. This is where the west began it says, like a warning or a prelude to a forgotten wish.
Friday, June 21, 2013
What is Meteora?
Meteora in northern Greece is a land of escape. The orthodox priests stole away to its strange natural rock towers, fleeing the Ottomans and building strange monasteries in the process that look every bit an affront to gravity. There, they were safe.
The towers are still used today. We visited this strange place, weaving up from Athens in a miniature Citroen, stopping to smell the sweet olive air along the way. Escaping.
I hope you enjoy these pictures of odd Meteora as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Goats! Goats! Goats!
As the sun began to drop in the sky, we took some old country roads back from Meteora to Kalabaka for dinner. On our way we encountered a street completely filled with goats. It was magical. They all shouted and clonked and stopped to eat trees. Then a small man on a motorbike came and yelled at them and they all ran into a field. Oh goats.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Creepy skull room in Grand Meteora
Meteora is a region filled with monasteries and nunneries, built precariously on dramatic rock formations to deter the Ottoman invaders of years passed. In the largest monastery in the region, Grand Meteora, there was this room filled with skulls. It felt very eerie and like something was not quite right in there.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Beautiful Oia
Santorini on a map looks like a dragon embryo, and Oia is the village at the head. It is photographer heaven. I have never been somewhere so small that packs so much punch. It is overwhelming at times, and I had to be mindful of my obsession so that I could actually stop to enjoy its beauty. There are no bad angles or dull walks, only beauty.
If you visit Santorini, then be sure to stay in Oia. Its splendor is best savored over several days of careful inspection and and exploration. Like a movie that needs to be seen again and again with new points seen each time, Oia has a sort of charm that seems infinite.
And here is a big Oia photo dump. I have to move on to our next stop - Meteora.
That one blue dome in Santorini
Before arriving in Santorini, I felt like I had already been. With all of the famous pictures out there, it is easy to conceive what it looks like. Or so it seems. While I did see a lot of familiar faces, like this blue domed church, the sheer impossibility of Santorini is something that must bee seen to be completely appreciated.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Stars over Santorini on a hot night in 2013
On a clear Santorini night, the stars light up the sky. Kristin and I checked into our room, left, and came back around 10:30pm to find that our cave house was sweltering and our AC did not work. It is not a traditional hotel, so we had no idea what to do, other than sleep in a warm cave and deal with it in the morning.
This was all before two things happened - we got lucky and then we met Rado.
Magical Bohinj
The Bohinj basin is a magical area of Slovenia with old alpine houses, a very clear lake, absolutely perfect hiking. There are many legends associated with Bohinj. The Ottomans thought is was the end of the world. There is another legend that the devil built a bridge here in exchange for the soul of the first to cross it. The locals sent a dog across, enraging the devil.
My favorite, and probably the most fitting explanation for Bohinj is this:
"God was giving land to people and, as he finished, he realized that he had forgotten about a small group of people, who were silent and did not insist like the others. Because of their modesty and patience, he felt pity for them. That is why he decided to give them the most beautiful land of all, which he had set aside for himself. It is called Bohinj."
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Crossing the Julian Alps
I believe Slovenia is the prettiest country in Europe, as far as natural beauty is concerned. This year, Kristin and I have driven in 15 European countries and on some of the most picturesque roads in the world. Slovenia takes the cake. Check out these pictures of us traveling by car through alpine Slovenia.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Reka Hisa in Slovenia
In Slovenia, we (Kristin, Grandma, Grandpa, ,me) all stayed at a spot just outside of Bled called Reka Hisa. It is a guesthouse ran perfectly by a London couple named Clive and Myrn. Clive is an ex-fashion executive who always had a dream of running a guesthouse and cooking for guests. As a professional chef, he whips up the best meals we have had all trip. We ate 3 courses every night at a big community table with everyone under the roof. The homemade desserts were a favorite among our clan. It was the perfect arrangement, and we will no doubt be back.
The house is right on a clear emerald river world famous for its fly-fishing. The river is filled with trout and some of the biggest salmon in the world. The Huchen Salmon that hunt these rivers grow up to 5 feet long. Clive told me that when you kayak the river, the Huchen will swim with you downriver like dolphins.
Friday, June 14, 2013
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