Archive for the ‘Travel’

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    Moonshadows in Malibu
      Moonshadows neon on Malibu beach Moonshadaows lounge with view of Pacific through windows What’s the best way to cap off a fabulous afternoon at the Malibu Getty? Easy, hands-down answer requiring no thought at all: drinks and dinner at Moonshadows in Malibu. It starts when you walk in the door and see the Pacific Ocean just out the window. A little on the...
    by Sandra at February 14th, 2012 at 03:02 pm
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    Ancient Egyptian novels in Red Mirror Series 4 Kindle & iPad
    Red Mirror Series Isis cover for Kindle & iPad Red Mirror Series Athena Kindle & iPad Elektra of Red Mirror Series Kindle & iPad After a several month hiatus from writing as I supported the Libyan Revolution and Arab Spring through twitter, I’ve finally gotten back to editing my ancient Egyptian novels for the Red Mirror Series in preparation for Kindle...
    by Sandra at January 10th, 2012 at 10:01 am
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    City Ramparts and Upper Barrakka Gardens Valletta Malta
      View from Upper Barrakka Gardens Vallerta Malta Upper Barrakka Gardens Barrakka arches Valletta view guard tower Upper Barrakka Gardens Valletta Buried in style in Upper Barrakka Gardens Repairing the ramparts Modern Bench on Valletta ramparts Rescue Ship Upper Barrakka Gardens Play Me piano in Upper Barrakka Gardens Saluting Battery Designer Trash can on the ramparts Jesper...
    by Sandra at October 16th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
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    Valletta Malta at the Valletta Boutique Hotel
      Arrival at Valleta 1:30 am Valletta Boutique Hotel by night Chandelier in room View from room onto St John's Cathedral Hotel Coffee Bar giving onto plaza Breakfast with delicious Italian coffee Rainy Day Valletta Malta Valletta St John's Cathedral tower Valletta St John's Cathedral balcony
    by Sandra at October 16th, 2011 at 04:10 am
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    Microbrewery amid skycrapers and open space in relaxed beautiful Perth Australia
    Perth - photo by Britanny du Boulay The most populous (and pretty much only) city on the West Coast of Australia, Perth was very different than the other Aussie cities I’ve traveled to with a much more relaxed feeling and a lot less people around.  The place felt kind of empty. While there were people walking the streets and cars on the road, it seemed like a ghost...
    by Rex at October 6th, 2011 at 11:10 am
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    Legalize it! Medical Marijuana in Venice Beach
    We all do know what I”m talking about, right? Medical Marijuana in Venice Beach is about as close as you can get without just legalizing it.
    by Sandra at August 9th, 2011 at 04:08 pm
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    Venice Beach Couples – All shapes and all beautiful in the Sun
    Couples in Venice Beach come is all shapes and ages. They are all beautiful in the California sun.
    by Sandra at August 9th, 2011 at 04:08 pm
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    Venice Beach Street Life – What I call Freedom
    The Land of the Free - California USA - Venice Beach I’m going to let the pictures tell a thousand words. When I watched the people in Venice Beach California, I couldn’t help but think this spot has got to be one of the most free places on the planet. I’m dividing my photos from this glorious Friday afternoon into three articles: Street Life, Legalize...
    by Sandra at August 9th, 2011 at 04:08 pm
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    Rex going going…back back…to Cali Cali
    I’ve landed in Korea and have a 6 hour layover now. Think I’ll just pay and hit up one of the transit lounges where they got wifi, powerports and free food.  Just gotta find it and see how much it costs. The airport here in Korea is very nice! Im using a computer right now for free in a mini internet cafe, but theres a 30 min limit so others can use it as...
    by Rex at August 7th, 2011 at 09:08 pm
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    Last days in Bali and a killer cheap hotel
    Found a new place to stay for the last days in Trawangan for 150K [$17.60] a night with a ceiling fan and two beds. We found it just by walking around the back areas of town. The villagers are more than happy to try and show you rooms; the place I booked was the 2nd one I looked at and was a much nicer room than the first place. Make sure you negotiate though, as with...
    by Rex at August 7th, 2011 at 09:08 pm
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    Advanced Open Water Dives in Trawangan
    I’ve been progressing well in my dive course. I got two more dives left: nitrox (enriched air) and a night dive. The  underwater photography course I did today was real basic, but they loaned me a camera, so should be getting a CD tommorow with my photos. I’ll try to post them online. Going to do one more additional dive on top of packet. The one more nitrox...
    by Rex at August 2nd, 2011 at 08:08 am
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    Dive Shops in Trawangan Gili Islands Bali
    The diving is apparently very good here on the island with several dive shops all with identical prices. It was explained to me that they all decided on a set price to keep compeitition between the shops friendly and prevent a pricewar from breaking out. So their main focus now is to provide the best service to attract customers.  It is 2,700,000 or about $315 all inclusive...
    by Rex at July 31st, 2011 at 06:07 pm
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    First impressions of Trawangan, Gili Islands, Bali
    The Gili Island of Trawangan itself is much much different from what I was expecting. I think the good old days of relaxed backpackers, drinking mushroom shakes and hanging out on the beach in bean bags like what was described to me by Indonesian locals in Sanur is long gone. I’m not sure how often they update the Lonely Planet guide, but the one we have is from...
    by Sandra at July 31st, 2011 at 05:07 pm
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    Rex, hustled, hassled and hot, arrives safe in Gili Trawangan
    Trawangen Ferry At last I have arrived safely on Gili Trawangan. It was a real mission to get here.  Got into a cab at 8am and arrived at the island probably about 6:30pm, so almost a full 12 hours of traveling. We pretty much got hustled by a “tour” company which really pissed me off, but overall cost wasn’t too bad getting here. It’s  just...
    by Rex at July 31st, 2011 at 05:07 pm
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    Rex taking off for Trawangan Gili Islands
    Everything affordable on Trawangan island is booked. I got a Lonely Planet and tried to find some places that don’t have websites. It seems a lot more people want to go there than there is accommodation. Affordable places to stay, that is, like not $150 a night! Perhaps that’s a business opportunity? Open a backpackers! haha Decided just to head out tomorrow...
    by Rex at July 29th, 2011 at 02:07 pm
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    Little Ethiopia on Fairfax south of LACMA
    Messob's on Fairfax Ave There’s a string of Ethiopian restaurants and food shops in one short block on Fairfax south of LACMA on the Miracle Mile in LA. In fact, you don’t really need the sign that says you’ve arrived in Little Ethiopia. Picking a spot to eat was strictly right-brained and we were so lucky to stumble into a lively eatery filled with...
    by Sandra at July 28th, 2011 at 09:07 pm
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    A social day at LACMA with Ray’s Stark et al
    There’s plenty of art to see, but there’s also a social life to be enjoyed at LACMA (Los Angeles County Art Museum). Ray's for lunch White sails in the noon sky Topiary in the plaza Kinetic interactive sculpture Free Afro-American-Latino Jazz concert Stark's bar with video of The Mourners Ballet   Happy Hour  
    by Sandra at July 28th, 2011 at 08:07 pm
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    Rex looking at a quick trip to Gili Islands off the beaten path
    On a side note, I may be traveling over to one of the Gili islands near Bali with someone from the hostel. Going to do some research today, but the main island, Trawangan, largest of the three, is supposed to be full of backpackers, bars and just a really friendly fun atmosphere. Lots going on. It’s both a romantic getaway location and a party destination for backpackers. Most...
    by Rex at July 28th, 2011 at 07:07 pm
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    LACMA permanent collection of Islamic Art is almost as impressive as Gifts of the Sultan
    Carved Ivory tusk, Moghul India with human figures from the permanent LACMA Islamic art collection (as all photos on this page.) At LACMA, we visited the Gifts of the Sultan exhibit with an impressive collection of gifts either given by various Sultans of the Ottoman Empire to other crown heads, such as the Tsar of Russia, or received by them. Photography was not allowed...
    by Sandra at July 28th, 2011 at 04:07 pm
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    1001 Inventions at LA Science Center: Islamic Science in Golden Age plus Arabia 3D
    1001 Alchemist tents The interactive exhibit at the LA Science Center is definitely worth checking out. Geared to kids, as most of the Science Center is, there is something there for all of us children at heart. The achievements of the Islamic World during the time of the European Dark Ages are impressive. Too often we think of the Arab-speaking world as the repository...
    by Sandra at July 28th, 2011 at 03:07 pm
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    Kuta Bali Nightlife of T-shirts, Epedrine, mushrooms, and Bintangs
    Kuta Nightlife Part 1 photo credit: http://www.jakarta100bars.com/2010/05/bali-nightlife-vs-jakarta-nightlife.html Going to the core area of Kuta at night was a very different scene than the daytime beach area.  There are tons of clothing and souvenir shops, all of which try to drag you inside to look around.  My friend from the hostel wanted to pickup some shirts, so...
    by Rex at July 21st, 2011 at 09:07 am
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    Kuta, Bali beach resort
    We ended up taking a taxi to Kuta for $7 over and $8 to get back. It’s always the best to negotiate before you get into the cab what the fare is going to be. Cab drivers here will often try to rip you off. Kuta was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be.  It has a very long beach with a nice surf break, but was clogged up with 100′s of people in the...
    by Rex at July 19th, 2011 at 08:07 am
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    Changed my air ticket home
    I had a flight booked from Bali back to San Francisco July 18. But am extending my visa, so needed to change flight. Tried and tried to figure out how to contact Korean Airlines. There was no way that I could see to change this ticket via the website and the offices for the telephone number are closed on the weekends. Didn’t know what to do except try get hold of...
    by Rex at July 16th, 2011 at 10:07 am
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    Extending my Bali visa
    Visa extention is in the works. Guy came by the dive shop yesterday and I gave him my passport and 500,000 rupiah [US$58.]  [8500 rupiah roughly to the US dollar or 9000 to the AUS Dollar]. He said it takes about a week  for everything to go through, so he’s going to send me a txt when its done. The process is underway, but I won’t have my passport for the...
    by Sandra at July 15th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
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    Open Water Scuba Diving Certificate Bali
    It’s official!!!  I just finished my Open Water Scuba course and passed! (not that it was that hard). The dive today was pretty amazing. Went to Tulamben (the same place I went snorkeling the other day), but got to see way more of the wreck since I was under the water. The wreck site is the USAT Liberty. The 2nd dive was at Coral Garden – both at Tulamben,...
    by Rex at July 14th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
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    Beer, massage and Irish pub and music in Sanur Bali
    Last night had a pretty big adventure here in Sanur. I started just kinda wandering around, trying to get a feel for the area, and somehow ended up walking in circles like 3 times. By this point, I was getting really overheated and started feeling light headed. So I popped into a bar and got an ice cold beer and sat under a fan for a while which cooled me down. At this...
    by Sandra at July 13th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
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    Strumpton Coffee Roasters in NYC serves up great brew
    Strumptown Coffee Roasters, Ace Hotel, NYC I love a good coffee shop and am always looking for the right place to get the right foam in the right atmosphere. This article was posted by Christine C Quinn who has been New York City Council Speaker since 2006. She represents the council’s 3rd district with all the great neighborhoods of Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Hell’s...
    by Sandra at July 12th, 2011 at 08:07 am
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    1st day of diving class in Bali
    Diving Sites Bali Today was the first day of my diving certificate class at Bali Scuba in Sanur. I’m the only one currently taking the class, so everything went smoothly and quickly.  My instructor said it can sometimes take a while if there are 4 or 5 people, because everything needs to be 1 at time and if one person is struggling, then everyone else has to wait. The...
    by Rex at July 11th, 2011 at 09:07 am
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    Whitewater rafting in Bali
    Over the dam Went whitewater rafting for the first time today, which was really fun and exciting.  They were supposed to come pick me up between 9 and 10am, but they ended up coming at like 10:45 – right when I was about to give up. The driver apparently couldn’t find the villa – which turned out not to be the last time that day he would get lost. I...
    by Rex at July 9th, 2011 at 07:07 am
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    Rex in Bali
    Bali has been pretty good so far, though weather has been kinda crappy: intense rain last night and today so everything is flooding. It’s still very warm and humid. Jamo’s mom’s house is amazing. You would absolutely love it! Literally right on the black sand beach.  Little weird living with house servants, but I can get used to being spoiled –...
    by Rex at June 27th, 2011 at 09:06 am
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