The World Less Traveled

WLT Travel Blog: Jamon y Madrid

2009-12-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Ham in Madrid is like gelato in Italy. You can have it whenever, wherever and however you want in any style, shape or form for prices varying from 1 Euro to hundreds of Euros (for an entire pig shank).

A fairly common cornerstone restaurant known as the Museo del Jamon actually could be a Museum of Ham if it wanted. Each "Museo" differs from its brothers, although the inventory is always the same: Ham.

The Museo del Jamon that we happened upon was in Northern Madrid, close to the Mailboxes Etc. we had to wait two hours for...while they took a siesta...with our Real Madrid tickets.

So, we dropped in to our first Museo del Jamon experience and standing at a counter, as gigantic, dusty hindquarters of pig hung above us, we picked from the 1 Euro menu. I chose the buttery croissant with ham and cheese shown below with a new drink that intrigued me.

Right and left, old ladies, old men, young people, everyone was ordering a beer and pouring lemonade to top it off. Tangy, sparkling, crisp. Actually, pretty good!

You can see the drink behind the appetizer that comes with a drink...which I mistook for my croissant. Luckily, when I asked the lady behind the counter, all she did was laugh hysterically at me.

Travel and learn something new every day. Or get laughed at. Or both at the same time.

WLT Photography: Nat Geo Photo's of the 2009

2009-12-08T18:02:00.001-08:00

Another year means another set of awe-inspiring National Geographic Global Contest photos. Nat Geo, when will you ever stop producing ridiculously cool images for the world's ceaseless viewing pleasure?

Probably never. Cause you're great.

And I love you.

A panel of three National Geographic judges sifted through over 200,000 submitted photos and chose a winner in the categories of People, Places and Nature. The winners have been chosen, and the photos are, as expected, outstanding.

If I EVER see a manatee passively floating along in the wild while dozens of awesomely striped fish eat algae off his back, I will definitely die happy.

To see all contest photos, past and present, you can do so here.

[Photo: National Geographic]

WLT News Feed: December 8, 2009

2009-12-08T09:35:00.001-08:00

Porn Star Karaoke - News.au.com

Genius.

Megabus Offers Free Tickets - Intelligent Travel Blog

One megaoffer, if you ask me.

COP15 201 - Cool Green Blog

Inside scoop on inside issues

Best New Species of 2009 - National Geographic

Blob fish, Ghostshark, Silky Cuscus and more!

Five Non-Fugly Carpets - Hotelchatter

Non-fugly FTW

[Photo: News.au.com]

WLT Travel Blog: El Rastro

2009-12-07T23:31:00.000-08:00

[Compasses for sale in El Rastro]

The most popular open air flea market in Madrid is called El Rastro, or "The Trail," and is 3500 stalls strong. Every sunday and public holiday the stalls of antiques, clothing and goodies open shop from 9am to 3pm along Plaza de Coscorro and Ribera de Curtidores.

According to legend, the open air market got its name from the trail of blood left by slaughtered cattle on their way to the tanneries located in Ribera de Curtidores which means "Riverside of Tanners."

[Dyed, leather sandals hang on a fence]

Today, the marketplace is filled with anything you can imagine. Unfortunately, however, no food. But just about everything else!

[Wooden crafts]

In the cobblestone squares, merchants set up shop with old swords, vases, coins, dressers, you name it. It's like an organized, simultaneous, Spanish garage sale. It was an amazing array of the most random assortment of goods. Yet, even in its randomness, it wasn't chaotic or entropic, it was a community.

El Rastro is a staple in Madrileno life in the center of Madrid. The largest open air flea market is sure to draw treasure hunters and curious tourists, but locals also frequented the market buying everyday household goods like blank CDs or measuring cups or silverware.

[Anything you could imagine]

El Rastro is an open air market that welcomes everyone into its winding pathways, leading them through discovery after discovery and spitting them out with untold stories and armfuls of who-knows-what. What more could you ask for?

WLT Spotlight: Four Square!

2009-12-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

Foursquare is the newest, latest, social media phone app.

...and it's actually kind of cool.

Foursquare is kind of like Yelp meets Twitter meets Pokemon. Foursquare currently works for iPhone and Android and can be accessed via Blackberry through mobile web. They do have a Blackberry app in the works - so stay tuned Blackberriers!

Here's how it works:

By accessing the Foursquare app on your phone, you can "Check-in" to a place while you're visitng. No, this isn't one of those creepy apps that let's EVERYONE know exactly where you are ALL THE TIME. You can "Check-in" voluntarily and at your discretion.

Once you "Check-in," Foursquare sends your whereabouts to your friends who can then meet up with you or recommend other things to do in the area.

Example:

Kind of cool, right? It's like Yelp on the go from your nearest and dearest. But WAIT, there's MORE!

Here's where Foursquare transforms you into Ash Ketchum whilst you go abouts your travels through the Kanto Region of Pokemon Red and Blue.

The more you "Check-in" the more points you earn. The more points you earn, the more BADGES you unlock! WEEEEEE! If you find a new place in your neighborhood, +5. If you drag along a friend, +1. Etc... There are all sorts of badges from hitting the gym to too much karaoke.

Now, if you frequent any place more times than anyone else, you can become the mayor and get awesome deals like this:

If anyone's interested in a little Foursquare action, hit me up! I'm down for some good old fashioned fun.

WLT News Feed: December 7, 2009

2009-12-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Mongolia Opens First Ski Resort - NYT

Ghengis Khan would be so proud

Thinking About Traveling in 2010? - msnbc.com

Here's your unofficial guide.

Archival Disneyland Photos = Creepy as Hell - Jaunted.com

Cuteness has come a long way

Five Trips for Inspiring New Careers - Afar

Research, cooking, teaching? Do it abroad!

[Photo: NYT]

WLT News Feed: December 4, 2009

2009-12-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

Buy Clothes, Help Stuff - TreeHugger.com

Change is so fashionable.

$82,000/night Thai Resort - Kayak.com

Remember when we all thought SouthEast Asia was cheap? NOT THIS GUY!

Pirate Booty on Display in Virgina - msnbc.com

Hehe...booty.

America's Coolest Small Towns - CNN

Modesto? Modesto? Anyone?

Travelocity Savings - upgradetravelbetter.com

Fail.

[Photo: TreeHugger]

WLT Must-See Video: Why I Love Soccer

2009-12-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

This trailer proves that soccer is much more than a sport or a game, but a universal language. Like music or art, it's something we share over continents and oceans and can be understood without explanation.

WorldHum, you've done it again. Check out Michael Yessis' interview with the filmmakers and travelers.

WLT News Feed: December 3, 2009

2009-12-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Virgin Galactic to Begin Test Flights - News.au.com

To infinite, and beyond!

Reasons to go to Wisconsin - Geekologie

#1 on my list

CityCenter Begins Opening - msnbc.com

Vegas' largest property to date

New Years Eve in New York - Venere.com

Never gets old

JetBlue to Offer All-You-Can-Jet-Pass next year - JetBlue

Success! Who's with me?

[Photo: News.au.com]

WLT Must-See Video: Leap Year Rom-Com

2009-12-01T22:37:00.001-08:00

I just couldn't help myself. Here you go: A travel-based Rom-Com. (It actually looks really good.) Thanks again, WorldHum.

WLT News Feed: December 2, 2009

2009-12-01T22:15:00.000-08:00

Dubai Marvel Theme Park? - Neatorama

They just think of everything!

Celebrity Cruises Implementing All-You-Can-Drink - Jaunted.com

What do you do with a drunken sailor?

How COP15 Will Change the Way We Travel - eHotelier.com

Carbon neutral in Copenhagen

6 Roadtrip Games for Kids - CNN

Or really bored adults.

2010 Travel Menu Trends - eHotelier.com

#4 meet #10. In my stomach.

[Photo: Chimera Design]

WLT Must-See Video: Why I Hate Soccer

2009-12-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

'Nuff said.

Thanks MetaCafe.

Tornado Forming In The Middle Of Soccer Field - The top video clips of the week are here

WLT Must-See Video: Everest

2009-12-01T00:24:00.000-08:00

I've never really understood why people wanted to risk their lives to climb Everest. Sure, it's the tallest point on Earth. Sure, it's a milestone in human history. Sure, you get massive street cred. I still never understood it.

However, this video posted by WorldHum sheds some light on the victorious summit made by these climbers and the inexpressible view from the top.

Congratulations, fellas. I'm impressed, but I still think I'll pass.

WLT News Feed: December 1, 2009

2009-11-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

Freediving World Championships 2009 - Adventure World Magazine

85m? Psh...

Dalai Lama Calls for Climate Change - Treehugger

And when the Dalai Lama calls, you better freaking listen

Travel North for a New York Past - NYT

196 acres of Manhattan shrubbery goodness

V Australia and Accor Hotels Team up for Good - ehotelier.com

Needy children in Thailand benefit from mid-air auction

World's Friendliest Countries - Forbes

Canada comes in second, eh?

[Photo: Adventure World]

WLT Must-See Video: Change the World

2009-11-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

This is a great video from the Nature Conservancy's "Planet Change" Campaign.

For why this campaign is different than other climate change web campaigns, check out the Cool Green Blog.

WLT News Feed: November 30, 2009

2009-11-30T11:16:00.001-08:00

JetBlue's Cyber Monday Sales - LA Times

Sale ends tonight at 10pm PST

The DC Power Lunch - CNN

Where DC's power players chow down

Las Vegas Calendar of Events - LA Times

Tis the season

Is Travel Bad for the World? - Lonely Planet

Hm.

[Photo: LA Times]

WLT Travel Blog: 100 Montaditos

2009-11-29T23:35:00.000-08:00

[So, I'm kind of late, but here are the catch up blogs I never got to post from my latest romp in Europe. Enjoy!]

Our first official meal overseas was at a place called Cerveceria 100 Montaditos. The chain which has become somewhat of a Andalusian franchise began in Islantilla in 2001 and had reached 100 locations by 2007, 39 of which are in Madrid.

[Crisp, refreshing and cheap bearing the 100 Montaditos logo]

The Cerveceria gets its name from the 100 varieties of small sandwiches otherwise known as bocadillos or montaditos from which diners choose from on a piece of paper and hand over to the cashier.

The petite subs were basic, but delicious. A crispy mini baguette formed the vessel for all sorts of fillings from the normal ham and cheese to salami to small shrimp to salmon and cream cheese. While one may not be enough to fill you up, a six-sandy party platter will certainly do the trick for around 5 Euros. Do not underestimate these little guys.

[Party platter of deliciousness]

However, the best part about Cerveceria 100 Montaditos:

1 Euro beers. What better way to celebrate our arrival in Madrid than a pre-noon brewski from Madrid's McDonald's.

[Fellow traveler Matt trying to catch up on his beer intake]

For more on these travel-sized subs and other Madrilena ponderings, check out Tapasdealyssa.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

2009-11-25T17:11:00.001-08:00

It doesn't matter where you go in life, where the winds blow you or where the roads take you. A good meal among family and friends always feels the same. While traveling the world, the back roads and mountaintops is enlightening, exciting and breathtaking, there is nothing quite as satisfying as coming home to the people who know you best.

No matter who I meet or where I go, there can never be a replacement for friends, family and places I call home.

So, to all those out there who have played a part of my life, I am deeply thankful for you and the impact you have had on my life and I wish you the very best.

Have a good Thanksgiving everybody!

Let the agony of early and incessant Christmas music commence.

[Photo: Google Earth Blog]

WLT News Feed: November 25, 2009

2009-11-25T08:31:00.000-08:00

[Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!]

China Sends Two Pandas to Australia - Treehugger

Koala population dwindles.

Catalina Island Hotel Deals - LA Times

Still not affordable. Sorry.

WLT's Long Lost Brother FLT - Coastal Living

Reunited at last!

6 Stupid Traveler Tips from Pauline Frommer - Bing.com

She calls it like it is.

Visit Greenland! - Kayak.com

I would.

[Photo: Treehugger]

WLT Travel Blog: Thank God for Stewardesses

2009-11-24T16:47:00.000-08:00

[So, I'm kind of late, but here are the catch up blogs I never got to post from my latest romp in Europe. Enjoy!]

You know you're about to set off on an epic cultural experience when you find your first two meals consist of a Sausage McMuffin and a slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza. I mean, let's face it, both are delicious and, well, we weren't out of the States yet.

The pizza was a prelude to our nearly nine hour ride from Atlanta, Georgia to Madrid, Spain. Despite landing the exit-row seat and semi-delicious in-flight meal, it was on that plane, Delta Flight 108 I encountered the first obstacles of the journey.

I could talk on and on about the red-eye eight hour and 40 minute flight, the worst turbulence I've ever felt (seriously.) or the massive time difference between Madrid and Los Angeles, but those all pale in comparison to the freelance meteorologist sitting next to me. That's right.

Midway through the flight I jotted down these notes:

Striking up a conversation on the plane is always risky. Much like the proverbial 'box of chocolates,' you never know who you're going to get.

You might end up with the quiet reserved guy who deflects your questions with simple one word answers, either unwilling to share information or just too lazy to contribute. Or you could get the guy who never stops talking.

Such was my fate today.

Sitting in my palace of an exit row on Delta's Flight 108, I struck up a conversation with a freelance meteorologist from Tampa Bay. This means he goes from weather channel to weather channel on a freelance basis and forecasts, well, weather. Yup.

Initially, I asked him loads of questions because I was intrigued at such an occupation as freelance meteorologists, but soon the questions stopped and his continued lecture on traveling, frequent flyer miles and clouds commenced.

Halfway through our conversation, I slipped into smile-and-nod mode and began drafting this blog in my head. Luckily, a stewardess sat down in front of us and he found his new chatter pal while I drifted off to sleep.

Thank god for stewardesses.

Here is CNN's advice on how to deal with what they call the Talkative Airplane Seatmate and if you want to share your own chattery stories you can post them on the website Flights from Hell.

[Photo: CNN]

WLT Spotlight: Fast Track to Fast Food

2009-11-24T10:19:00.001-08:00

If only I had one of these in college, my decision making would have been far less strenuous. The blogger of Eating the Road has graced our lives with the beauty of "Where should I eat: Fast Food Edition."

It's a simple flowchart that will make all of your tough semi-drunk, late night or early morning fast food decisions. My favorite? Question #1: Are you in Canada? which, if 'yes', yields only one choice. Oh, Canada.

Click photo for better detail.

[Photo: Eating the Road]

WLT News Feed: November 24, 2009

2009-11-24T09:52:00.001-08:00

Vomiting Snake Reveals New Species - TreeHugger

New survey: Baby Otter vs. Shiba Pups vs. Snake Vomit

More Than 100 Icebergs Headed Towards New Zealand - The Independent

Causes slow-reacting but inevitable concern.

Top 5 European New Year's Celebrations - Venere.com

Fairly predictable, but still cool.

Hawaii's Beaches Disappearing - Intelligent Travel Blog

Only Coach and ABC stores remain.

EasyJet Withdraws Holocaust Museum Photoshoot - Breaking Travel News

Tropical beach, thumbs up. Holocaust Museum, ehhh...

[Photo: Treehugger]

WLT Spotlight: Looping Water Slide

2009-11-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

Yes. It's finally coming to the US. A looping water slide. A what? A looping water slide.

According to this LA Times article, Europe and Asia already have the Aqualoop slide in various watery locations and Noah's Ark in Wisconsin and Jay Peak in Vermont may open America's first looping slides Memorial Day weekend 2010.

WhiteWater is the designer/builder/mad scientist behind these awesome creations and have been around since 1981. According to their website, they are the largest and oldest builders of waterparks and water attractions.

Some of their other new products? The Giant RainFortress, the Family Boomerango, and the Flowrider Double.

WLT News Feed: November 20, 2009

2009-11-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving for the next couple days without Internet, but I wanted to leave you with this. And really, this is all the travel news you need for today.

Jaunted.com Analyzes UCLA vs. USC Football Matchup - Jaunted.com

Where to play, party and pass out on November 28.

The rivalry is not always competitive, but it sure is a helluva good time. Some unforgettably great images from our last UCLA vs. USC tailgate.

[Photo: maveric2003]

WLT Spotlight: Lava Plane

2009-11-19T12:06:00.000-08:00

Reasons not to go to Congo:

1. Gorillas will eat you.

2. These things exist. (Are you kidding me.)

3. Planes land on lava instead of runways. (Above)

[Photo: MSNBC]

WLT Photography: LA Without Cars

2009-11-19T11:52:00.001-08:00

Brooks Institute of Photography student Tom Baker has put together a photo series of Los Angeles, without cars. Baker is an avid traveler who has been through Europe, South America, Asia and North America and has lived in both Brazil and London.

I'm jealous.

See all the photographs here.

[Photo: Tom Baker]

WLT News Feed: November 19, 2009

2009-11-19T11:31:00.001-08:00

Strippermobile Shut Down on Vegas Strip - Jaunted.com

Partially see-thru truck + scantily clad women. What could go wrong?

More Scantily Clad Women - News.com.au

This time on top of crocodile trap. Classy!

Top Five Bargain Destinations this Winter - USA Today

Sun, skiing and public bathing.

Virgin America Begins Golden State to Gold Coast Service - Breaking Travel News

Going gold gets gooder.

16-year-old Girl Crosses Equator on Solo Trip Around World - News.com.au

My Mom would NEVER let me do this.

[Photo: Jaunted.com]

WLT Now Reading: Walden and Civil Disobedience

2009-11-18T23:24:00.000-08:00

Henry David Thoreau's Walden is an uncontested American classic and Thoreau's retrospective account of self-reliance and spiritual discovery.

In response to America's rise in commercialism and industrialism, Thoreau, in 1845, leaves Concord, Massachusetts for the nearby Walden Pond where he sets up shop isolated from the community he critiques.

Over some 300 pages, Thoreau observes and comments on the balanced ways of nature and the life unattached from earthly goods. He says, "Indeed, the more you have of such things, the poorer you are."

Much like the fervent traveler, the more things one carries, the harder it is to move about carelessly. This is only one of Thoreau's musings and many such quotes have been taken from this account. As an unemployed post-grad, the idea of following one's rightful path, pursuing one's dreams and maintaining a balanced life without reliance on material 'things' hits home.

Here are some of my favorite quotes thus far:

"In the long run men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high." (69)
"I mean that they should not play life, or study it merely...but earnestly live it from beginning to end." (94)
"This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it, reminds me of the Englishman who went to India to make a fortune first, in order that he might return to England and live the life of a poet." (97)
"I would have each one be very careful to find out and pursue his own way, and not his father's or his mother's or his neighbor's instead." (114)
We may not arrive at our port within a calculable period, but we would preserve the true course." (115)

[Photo: Amazon]

WLT Must-See Video: Baby Otter

2009-11-18T13:47:00.000-08:00

This isn't really a travel-related video, but the last time I posted something on the ludicrously cute Shiba puppies I got way more popular. In my next desperation attempt to get friends, I present to you: Baby Otter.

Whether or not keeping a baby otter as a pet is wise...well, let's not go there. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Thanks to my friend Gabriela, I've decided to post a one-question survey. Would you rather have a Shiba Puppy or a Baby Otter? You be the judge.

Click Here to take survey

WLT News Feed: November 18, 2009

2009-11-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

Antarctica Tourism Season Opens; Ship Stuck in Ice - The Adventure Blog

I mean, what could you expect?

Cheap Holiday Flights Still a Possibility - Rick Seaney

Book a flight to Modesto and visit yours truly!

Spirit Airlines Apologizes for Crappy Service...Two Years Later - Jaunted.com

Spirit Airlines, basically slow at everything

Cosmic Rays May Have Hit Qantas Plane - News.au.com

Passengers walk away with ability to stretch and turn invisible

The Mafia Goes Green - Treehugger.com

Fraudulent wind farms are the Mafia's latest investments

[Photo: The Adventure Blog]

WLT Must-See Video: The Cove Trailer

2009-11-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

National Geographic Adventure recently released its list of 2009 Adventurers of the Year. Suffice it to say, these guys and gals are studs and studettes.

For the first time, however, Adventure is allowing readers to vote for a Reader's Choice Adventurer of the Year and to kick it off, the National Geographic Adventure Blog will be featuring profiles of each Adventurer.

This incredible trailer of The Cove movie should explain all you need to know about NGA's first profile, Louie Psihoyos, and his testament to true storytelling in spite of, well, you'll see.

For more, hit up NGA's blog on the filmmaker and don't forget to vote!

WLT Now Reading: The Old Patagonian Express

2009-11-17T15:13:00.000-08:00

In his second major work of travel non-fiction, Paul Theroux hops on a train from Boston and ends at the end of the rail in Patagonia, southern Argentina. From the outskirt town of Laredo through Central America to the "Canal Zone" of Panama and to the Andean mountain towns of Ecuador.

Soccer riots, suffocating dust-filled trains and endless geography are enhanced by Theroux's impeccable ability to capture place and dialogue, forming them effortlessly into narrative.

Theroux's work transports the reader to the time and place at hand. We become attached with the characters he meets, the places he visits and the cultures he both criticizes and embraces. Theroux's text allows us to see, smell, taste and touch the excitement, terror, spontaneity and curiosity accompanying travel and giving the reader historical and cultural background along the way.

The Old Patagonian Express is as much a travel narrative as it is a critical analysis of the world around us and the places we often overlook as tourists and not travelers.

[Photo: Amazon.com]

WLT News Feed: November 17, 2009

2009-11-17T14:39:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Hide and Seek - T+L

Where A-list celebs go to play. Clue: Not my house.

National Geographic Adventure Names Adventurers of 2009 - NGA

Educators, Surfers, Astronauts, Oh My!

Coke Sponsored Round the World Trip - Jaunted.com

Heroine, Ecstasy and 8-ball to follow

Weirdest Things Left Behind in Hotels - T+L

#2 French Maid Outfit. Nice.

How to Celebrate Christmas in New York - Venere

With lots of layers

[Photo: Ritz-Carlton; T+L]

WLT Must-See Video: Dubai Fountain Brings World Peace

2009-11-13T17:41:00.001-08:00

Ok, maybe it doesn't really bring world peace, but I'm convinced if all the warring countries in the world sat down in front of this watery masterpiece, we could all get along. The Dubai Fountain is the centerpiece of the Dubai Mall set on the 30-acre Burj Dubai Lake.

The Dubai Fountain performs daily by shooting water as high as 500 ft across its 900 ft width. California-based WET was enlisted to design the largest dancing fountain in the world (and, I'm sure the most technically advanced), the same company that designed the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Enough of my yapping. Go enjoy the greatest water spectacle you will ever witness.

...until WET strikes again.

Update: If you would like to see the fountain from a bird's eye view...well...how about from the top of the TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD?

WLT News Feed: November 13, 2009

2009-11-13T17:21:00.001-08:00

China's Adventure Tourism Takes Off - Guardian.co.uk

Yangshuo soon becoming China's adventure capital

Travel + Leisure's Ultimate Wine Tour - T+L

Bruce Schoenfield uncovers Oz's wine regions

NYC Restaurant Week 2010 Dates Set - Jaunted

Eat at some of the world's best restaurants for less! Seriously. Do it.

Man Caught Trying to Smuggle 1000 Spiders - news.com.au

Yes, it really happened.

[Photo: Guardian]

WLT Must-See Video: I Love the Earth

2009-11-12T06:04:00.001-08:00

Discovery channel thinks the "The World is Just Awesome." I kind of have to agree.

You gotta see this:

WLT News Feed: November 12, 2009

2009-11-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

Ryan Air Bikini Calendar Raises Money for Children - news.com.au

Despite labor criticism, nudity continues to provide benefits

Roundup: SF Green Museums - CNN

Environmentally friendly learning done good

New Disney Wait Time App - NY Times

New app shows real time wait lengths in the Happiest Place on Earth

NYC Drop Prices this Winter - Times Online

January and February the time to visit because 1. Cheaper prices, 2. I'm there.

10 Travel Twits - NY Post

Tweeting for travel tips

[Photo: News.com.au]

WLT Spotlight: Hotels...in SPACE!

2009-11-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

For just $4.4 Million, you maybe be able to spend 3-nights in space via the Galactic Suite Limited, a private "space tourism company." Their goal: to have a fully integrated space experience up and running by 2012.

Travelers will spend a training period at Galactic Suite's "SpacePort" situated on a tropical island preparing to board their "SpaceShip" that will transport them to the "SpaceResort."

Once aboard, visitors will orbit the Earth every 90 minutes, experiencing sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes akin to a slow motion, weightless rave.

[Photo: Exclusive Lifestyle]

WLT Must-See Video: Paul Theroux on Travel Writing

2009-11-10T06:07:00.000-08:00

ThinkTalk.com, Career TV for College has posted this clip of my recent idol and acclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux. His advice for aspiring travel writers? "Leave home, travel alone, and stay on the ground."

WLT News Feed: November 10, 2009

2009-11-10T04:51:00.000-08:00

Britney Spears Is on a Virgin (airplane) - Jaunted.com

Britney Spears begins touring in Australia on VAustralia - Look out for her in airports wearing revealing blue costumes

Plane Hits Bushpig - News.com.au

What the heck is a bushpig?

Stuff My Stocking, Please - Los Angeles Times

San Diego Omni Hotel special for $99/night!

On Vacation? Go to a Drug Lord's Home - News.com.au

Tourists visit Columbia drug lord, Pablo Escobar's home; hang out with 27 hippos

Japanese Trawler Tipped by Giant Jellyfish - Treehugger

Sort of. Read on.

Risk: The Movie? - WorldHum

Don't tease me!

[Photo: Buzznet]

WLT Travel Blog: Takeoffs and Landings

2009-11-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

(From left to right: Me, Matt and Justin trying to survive at Oktoberfest, Munich: Photo Alyssa Bricklin)

As of yesterday, two of my dear friends returned from a trip around the world. It was a trip that we all started together, but a trip that they finished, in epic (wink, wink) style, without me.

We left LAX on September 23rd and after three countries, loads of beer and more cultural misunderstandings than I care to recount, we parted ways on November 2nd: me to Dusseldorf and eventually America's East Coast, them to leave their mark on Asia.

Along the way, we walked in circles around Madrid, got chased by a scary dude in Paris and took an international survey of beer games.

To commemorate their safe return to the States, I felt it was finally time to get back into the blogosphere.

This is our story.

...well what we remember, anyway.

Wandermelon Article #1

2009-08-25T23:17:00.000-07:00

Three months ago I took a class on Travel Writing through a publishing resource called Media Bistro. Three months later I contacted the teacher who was starting his own website called Wandermelon to see if he needed contributors.

Today, the first story about the luxurious Eco Beach Retreat was published online. See it here!

Afar

2009-08-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

Earlier today one of my friends was asking me what I was doing in the future. It's a question I often ask myself and something I think about more often than not. In the last couple of months I have really had a chance to solidify what it is I want to do. It probably won't be lucrative right away, it may not even be lucrative in the long run, but it's something that I get excited about.

Despite worldwide depression and an even greater depression in the publishing industry, a travel magazine called Afar has been launched. In the last months, magazines are struggling to stay alive, yet here, a magazine is counterintuitively going against the grain and making its origins.

This is the kind of stuff that excites me. It's an overwhelming urge to express experiences and share the world, the cultures, the people. This video explains how the magazine came about and why I get excited every time I think about the publishing industry.

Let's Watch a Magazine

2009-08-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

This doesn't have much to do with traveling, but it does have to do with publishing. And it's something I want to complain about. This was posted in the Wall Street Journal Tech section today.

CBS Ad Puts Video Inside a Magazine

BY SAM SCHECHNER AND SHIRA OVIDE
Video is invading a new medium: print.
In a marketing stunt to promote its fall TV series, CBS Corp. is inserting thousands of tiny screens in copies of the Time Warner Inc. publication Entertainment Weekly.
The screens measure two and a quarter inches diagonally and play about 40 minutes of clips from new and old CBS shows.
The video begins with a cheeky intro to the "video-in-print" technology, starring characters from the show "The Big Bang Theory."
After that, the reader/viewer can push a spot on the cardboard ...

The ugly truth is I bet this is actually going to work. If the actual advertising isn't effective, the fact that there are tiny screens embedded in magazines will, I'm sure, cause quite a stir as "the latest in print technology" - which actually has nothing to do with print at all. I'm a fan of keeping video to video and print to print. Thoughts?

Two New Articles!

2009-08-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Two more stories have been published! Woowoo! Read about the hotel on Kangaroo Island we stayed at that cost $730/per person/per night! It was AMAZING! Seriously something out of a movie. (Teri Hatcher stayed there the week before)

Check out the new article here. Sign up for an account - they don't spam. It's all good.

You can also find the Web Exclusive section on Broome's latest luxury boutique property, Pinctada Cable Beach here.

Enjoy!

Home Is Home

2009-08-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

(Royce Hall during a UCLA photoshoot which quickly turned boring: Michael Lowe)

When you live somewhere for a while, things quickly become too familiar. You take things for granted - places outsiders view as beautiful and fascinating are just cornerstones to every day life. Multiple times, I've attempted to go out and explore Los Angeles in hopes that a restaurant or landmark will inspire creativity or excite me in some way, but the motivation is just not there.

Especially in Los Angeles where driving is such a drag, it's easy to become sedentary in your own neighborhood. I know I have.

However, two fellow Bruin bloggers have hit the streets, taking nothing for granted and exploring the city surrounds.

(Photo from Janice's blog, The World is Your Oyster...: Janice Jann)

I'm not quite sure how I met Janice, but she's someone you don't easily forget. Goofy, quirky and fun, she's the type of person that bounces alongside you after a late night class or never fails to crack a snide joke during a long study session in Powell.

In her latest post, she recounts discovering LA's oft-overlooked skyline. True, LA's downtown speck of high-rising skyscrapers in the midst of an expansive flatness pales in comparison to New York or San Francisco, but that doesn't mean it's not without its good side.

Read Janice's blog, The World Is Your Oyster... here.

(The header to Don's blog, Relax. It's a blog: Don Kang)

Don writes dry, quippy entries about 27 times a week ensuring ample reading material. On top of that, it's really interesting, insightful stuff. In between posts on modern fashion, design and movies, he'll blog about the occasional exploration to hidden food gems and neighborhoods in Los Angeles complete with some pretty sweet images.

Check out Don's blog, Relax. It's a Blog. here.

Maybe someday I'll find motivation to go explore Los Angeles, but, until then, keep up the good work guys.

Return to Australia

2009-08-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Australia is a big continent. I think, as Americans, we have this perception that Australia is this island continent that you can hop from one place to the next in just a matter of an hour or two, but that's really not true. Australia is the size of the continental United States, so it's about a five hour flight cross-country.

All five state capitals are on the coast, which means amazing seafood in the cities and the center is a lot of nothing except for Ayers Rock - a huge red piece of rock in the middle of the Outback. (Alien outpost? Probably.) That big chunk on the left, Western Australia, is three times the size of Texas and occupies half of the continent, but only has 2 million people. 1.7 of which live in Perth. That just gives you a sense of the expansive nature of Australia.

The red line on the map was my 30-day route through Australia. I think I've seen more of Australia than I have of the United States, but it still feels like I've just touched the surface of both countries - which is why I'm buying the all-you-can-fly Jet Blue ticket for $599. (See post below)

Just kidding. I wish.

Back to Business

2009-08-12T13:01:00.001-07:00

For the last couple weeks I've been busy (and lazy) here in Los Angeles. But here's something I couldn't pass up posting. My brother found something of a ridiculous deal on Jet Blue. Check it out:

Between September 8 and October 8, fly an unlimited number of times with JetBlue's new All-You-Can-Jet Pass. For $599 including most taxes and fees, hop any of JetBlue's routes from 57 cities and more than 600 daily flights for an unlimited number of times for one month. By purchasing a pass, you will earn thirty-five (35) TrueBlue points good toward future travel, too.

You could go to a new city almost every day! That's freaking nuts! Check out the official story here. Or just skip that and sign up here: 1-800-538-2583.

If anyone actually does this, I want to know! Until then, check out all these cool places you could go in ONE MONTH!

2009-07-25T16:38:00.001-07:00

After surviving a seven-second spinout on the frozen Tibetan Plateau, Paul Theroux, one of our generation's most venerated travel writers, wrote, "There is something about the very fact of survival that produces a greater vitality" in Riding the Iron Rooster, an epic train journey through China.

Even a moment's danger is enough to create a heightened sense of appreciation for living. I suppose that's why there is a great thrill in rollercoasters, cliff jumping and other seemingly stupid things.

Three years ago, after studying in Italy, I traveled to one of Europe's extreme outdoor sports capitals - Interlaken, Switzerland. Clear blue skies lifted floating white clouds over the greenest mountains I have ever seen. It was hardly a question why so many visitors flocked to this pristine location to jump out of planes and dive off of waterfalls.

From the many possibilities Interlaken provided, I chose to bungee jump from a gondola over Lake Stockhorn. As the cherry red metal box inched its way over the blue green water, the 12 people on board nervously chattered.

One by one, we were strapped in by our ankles and placed next to the open door. "Hold onto the rails," said the guide. My hands grasped the metal made cold by the altitude as shivers ran up my forearms and through my back.

As I peered over the edge I heard the group begin to chant. "5...4...3..." I looked down. "2..." Shit. "1..."

The wind blew past my face and any attempt to scream was stifled by lack of air. I was hurtling toward the lake, but it was oddly peaceful. After the initial drop, a sudden weightlessness took over and as my smell, hearing and touch dulled, my sight sharpened on the vivid colors of the mountains surrounding me.

It was a moment of both fear and adrenaline, but nothing compared to the sense of impending doom I would feel when I told my Mom what I had done.

TravelAge West Blog #2 Published!

2009-07-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

The second of three blogs have been published on TravelAge West's website.

Read the story here! (You may have to create username and password, doooooo it!)

Pamplona 2006-2009

2009-07-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

(Getty Images)

Almost exactly three years ago, I met up with a couple friends in Pamplona and decided to do something stupid. Traveling from Florence to Pamplona in a day to sprint down an unnecessarily narrow alleyway with unnecessarily large bulls garnering unnecessarily large horns was memorable, sure, but stupid. Well, I guess I would do it again, anyway.

(Getty Images)

After surviving the run, I wrote this in my journal:

When you look back on Spain, remember the transfers and travels on the way to Pamplona, the bull run, the stadium and the exhaustion, the loneliness, the travelling and the homesickness, but most of all, remember to keep your head up and move on. Live with no regrets, take the bull by the horns, and take care of business.

When you think of Spain, remember to live.

It was one of the most spontaneous (and probably irresponsible) excursions I have ever been on. After returning from Pamplona and getting kicked out of the closing train station in Barcelona, I slept on a piece of cardboard on the sidewalk. After the adrenaline rush of the run and the absolute misery of sleeping on the streets, it was an emotional rollercoaster and I wanted to call it quits.

Unfortunately, my plane didn't leave for another two days. Luckily the next morning I felt a bit better and manned up for a couple days of exploration in Barcelona (not that I really had a choice) where I was fortunate to see old European men in speedos sauntering along the Mediterranean.

(Reuters)

Here's a photo series from this year's Pamplona Festival of San Fermin.

The Great Ocean Adventure

2009-07-11T21:27:00.000-07:00

Swish, swish, swish. My windshield wipers had been going for thirty seconds now only succeeding in smearing dust across the glass of my blue Ford Falcon and providing strobe-like lapses in sunlight.

Tick, tick. Nope, that’s the right blinker. Tick. Nope, that’s the left blinker. As if learning to drive on the left side of the road from the right side of the car through Melbourne’s one-way streets, skinny alleyways and traffic-heavy grid wasn’t hard enough, they had to complicate matters even further by switching the blinkers and windshield wipers. Some kind of sick joke, if you ask me.

Swish, swish, swish. It wasn’t even a matter of mechanics anymore; those two skinny black blades were mocking me.

Moments earlier, I had been spit out of an underground parking lot in the heart of Melbourne for my crash course in Aussie driving. I surfaced disoriented and hyperventilating as cars sped through the laneways and made left hand turns on red. Not surprisingly, I thought I was going to die.

Once I had gotten the windshield wiper situation under control and my GPS decided to finally connect to satellites, I turned in the right direction and it was off to the open road, first stop: Torquay.

The beach town of Torquay wears its heritage proud with the largest surfing museum in the world called, well, Surfworld, and is home to legendary surfing brands Quiksilver and Rip Curl. Although not disorganized, Surfworld feels like more of surfing scrapbook than a museum. After a quick tour with museum curator, Craig, it was round two of driving.

With a Filet-o-Fish in hand, I sped down the road towards Lorne. I had graduated to the confidence level of “eating while driving,” but even as I focused on that sweet, succulent fried fish smothered in tartar sauce I couldn’t help but notice the big billboard announcing “Funeral and Bereavement Services” available for cheap at the small, brown building along the side of the highway. Let's face it, if there was any time I was going to need their services, it would be on this road trip.

Even though my itinerary Tourism Victoria had set up suggested a coffee break at Lorne, I whizzed past the strip of a town and continued into Apollo Bay for a lunch stop at Bimba. True to Tourism Australia form, the time allotted for each stop was insufficient and reluctantly took my Bimba burger for the road. I wasn’t really hungry anyway and knew it would come in handy as the trip progressed, plus it made my car smell a delicious bbq and bacon.

* * *

When I approached Tourism Victoria a week prior to ask for a hand in setting up this trip, I had two objectives. I wanted to see the famed Southern Coast of Victoria made famous by its winding road and the 12 Apostles and I wanted to make a stop at the Great Ocean Ecolodge and Conservation Center, a five-room, fully sustainable property on the edge of the Great Otway National Park that doubles as a research station and animal hospital.
In 2004, Lizzie Corke and husband Shayne Neal opened up the Conservation Center shortly followed by the Great Ocean Ecolodge. The property is a vast landscape of rolling hills for grazing and dense forest punctuated with the small two-story building.

As I walked through the grass with Lizzie and Shayne kangaroos sunbathed in front of massive solar panels supplying 100 per cent of the power to the property. Rain water was caught and stored for every day use and a new herb garden was being cultivated in a patch in the back of the Center.

It seemed as soon as I arrived that my allotted hour was up and had to jump back in my blue bullet and head to the poster boys of the Great Ocean Road, the 12 Apostles. Years ago, water and wind eroded these striped golden rocks from the sheer cliff faces creating pillared sentinels just off shore. Now, the helicopter pilot told me, they are the second most visited site in Australia next to the Great Barrier Reef.

Wha? Helicopter pilot you say? Yes.

The propellers thudded as we climbed above the coastline and the Great Ocean Road, now just a small strip of black weaving along the blue water. Although not the best time for photo ops, flying above the rugged coastline is the only way to grasp the sheer magnitude of nature at its finest. Here, above mere mortals, the coastline appeared etched out by an exacto-knife creating caverns and inlets – a sailing ship’s worst nightmare.

Back on the ground we waited for sunset and the perfect shot which, evidently never came. The way to see it was at sunrise. Battling windy 40 degree weather, I set up shop between a couple who were driving back to Melbourne from the Murray River and a guy who used to work in camera retail on his way back to Perth. Together probably experienced the slowest sunrise ever.

As per my itinerary, I couldn’t wait for the sun to completely light up the front of the pillars, but before I hit the road, I managed to pull off this shot. Beautiful pinks melt into the clear blue waters that wrap around golden blocks of rock. Even though my hands were numb, it was a beautiful morning. (Looks even cooler not on Blogspot)

Port Fairy looked like a 1970s beach town. The entire town was only about the length of a block with little shops and diners lining the quiet town. It was the type of town where everyone seemed to know everyone else. It almost seemed like small town America – the type of place where everyone gathered on a Friday night to watch an outdoor movie or had an old-school rock concert at the State Theater with poodle skirts and slicked back hair.

Needless to say, besides the two whales wandering around the bay, Port Fairy was a nice stopping point, but nothing more than that. So, some 400 plus kilometers later, it was time to go home. I had seen what I wanted to see along one of Australia most famous highways. I had braved the left side of the road and completed the stretch of winding blacktop even few Australians have experienced.

As I departed Port Fairy there was a sense of awe for the road behind me; four hundred kilometers of what must have been one of the most tedious road projects in Australian history.

As Port Fairy faded into the distance, I merged back onto the highway and turned my windshield wipers on.

(The moon descends into the ocean at the 12 Apostles)

Luna Park and The Scenic Railway

2009-07-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

(The entrance to Luna Park; the gaping mouth of a disgruntled clown. If that's not a warning sign, I don't know what is: Michael Lowe)

A couple nights after I returned to Melbourne, I met a girl shooting photos on the same bridge as me. Her name was Virginia and she lived in St. Kilda (a beachside suburb of Melbourne) although she was born in Connecticut. She was the first American I had met, so I was pretty excited. Everyone else was mostly English, Aussies or New Zealanders.
Virginia (or Gin, as she liked to be called) worked for a corporate printer (whatever that means) and before we went our separate ways, she left me with a bit of information, “Luna Park, in St. Kilda, has one of the oldest roller coasters still in operation. It’s called The Scenic Railway.” Then she paused. “But don’t go on it unless you’re really comfortable with yourself.” I looked at her. Surely a rollercoaster built in the 1910s couldn’t be that terrifying.
“It’s not because of the drops or the loops, but because it feels like it’s going to fall apart any second.” That made more sense. I discovered that the Melbourne icon was built in 1912 and is the longest continuously running roller coaster not just in Australia, but the world and one of only two coasters in the world that still requires a brakesman to stand in the middle of the train and control when it stops.
When I arrived at St. Kilda via Tram 16, Luna Park was too big to ignore. A gaudy paint job, flashing lights and a random assortment of thrill rides reminded me of any State Fair or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Needless to say, between Gin’s tactful warning and the $8 ticket price, I decided to pass on what seemed like a sure trip to the chiropractor.

(Just inside the entrance was a miniature sled park which was actually a publicity stunt for a mountain resort: Michael Lowe)

(Who wouldn't want to ride on the tentacles of a freaky octopus wearing a top hat?: Michael Lowe)

(The iconic Scenic Railway: Michael Lowe)

The Short, Sweet and Skinny on Sydney

2009-07-09T03:47:00.000-07:00

(Opera House just after sunset: Michael Lowe)

Sydney was a whirlwind. To be honest, it was just nice being able to hang out with people my age and not have a to-the-second itinerary. However, staying in a hostel (and probably one of the worst hostels I’ve stayed in) wasn’t easy after the royal treatment, but I got used to it.

To me, Sydney was too touristy and too busy for my liking. It reminded me of Los Angeles – some place I wouldn’t live or visit if it wasn't for my friends. It’s a city always on the go and, because of that, friends are a must. You just can’t come home from a long day and be by yourself every night – same with LA.

Although a Taiko-infused version of Pericles at the Opera House, a great trip and long hike through the Blue Mountains (a must one-day tripper) and a lot of fun hanging out with Jordan and her friends made Sydney what it was, I left shortly after Jordan did. Here are some photos of the short stint in the City.

(Bondi Beach, just steps from my hostel at dawn: Michael Lowe)

(The first lookout point from the Blue Mountain trail: Michael Lowe)

(Jordan and I along the trail in the Blue Mountains: Michael Lowe)

(A beautiful shaded pool in the Blue Mountains: Michael Lowe)

(Water cascades down the side of the Blue Mountains: Michael Lowe)
(Posterboy (or girls) of the Blue Mountains, the Three Sisters rock: Michael Lowe)

(Taken on my last night in Sydney, once again, the Opera House and the Harbor: Michael Lowe)

Fim Fam - Day 9

2009-07-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

(Our good ol' seaplane: Michael Lowe)

Day 9 – June 27, 2009

0530 Transfer to Horizontal Falls Adventure Tours
This tour was absolutely “mental,” as they say down here. First you’re flown on a one engine water plane where, after forty minutes, you land in Talbot Bay. You’re transferred onto a floating dock attached to a yacht and then hustled into dingies to brave the only Horizontal Waterfalls in the world.

(Nurse sharks circled our yacht; luckily they were harmless, but still very cool: Michael Lowe)

As the extreme tides change, water is forced through small gaps in the landmasses creating a temporary surge of water at a rate of 100 gallons/sec. Well, of course we couldn’t just look at them from afar, we had to race through them upstream. It’s a bit like reverse whitewater rafting between cliffs.

The flight back was, possibly, my favorite part. Instead of a straight shot back to Broome, the pilot takes everyone on a twisting and turning scenic route above Buccaneer Archipelago and the rugged coastline of Australia's Northwest.

www.horizontalfalls.com.au

(Just a glimpse of the beautiful Buccaneer Archipelag0: Michael Lowe)

1200 Approximate return from tour

1230 Check in to Cable Beach Club Resort
Cable Beach Club Resort is the oldest resort property in Broome and reminded me of Disneyland. With 5 restaurants, god knows how many rooms and a full-on playground for kids, I got lost more often than not.
www.cablebeachclub.com

1245 Lunch

1330 Make way to onsite spa – Chahoya Day Spa

1600 Site inspection of property
The site inspection revealed another layer to Cable Beach Club Resort. I guess it served its purpose. While my initial opinion of the property was family oriented, hidden suites with their own spas and plunge pools allow couples their privacy. Some suites have their own personal concierge that will make house calls upon request or surprise visits with goodies.

1900 Dinner at Sunset Bar and Grill

Fim Fam - Day 8

2009-07-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

(Broome's beautiful red rock: Michael Lowe)

Day 8 – June 26, 2009

0800 Breakfast
(Willie Creek's blue waters: Michael Lowe)

0900 Transfer to Willie Creek Pearls
I’m not a big fan of jewelry, but when you’re in the pearling capital of the world, you can’t help but notice a bit of shiny. Decades ago, divers found huge oysters and pearls off the coast of Broome and, soon after, immigrants from, you guessed it, Asia, swarmed in to reap the latest minefields. A combination of nutrient rich waters and extreme tidal movements allow pearls to grow at an extraordinary rate producing pearls well into the thousands of dollars.
www.williecreekpearls.com.au

(Our tour guide shows off a rack of oysters: Michael Lowe)

1200 Return to Pinctada
(Maite stares off into the ocean at Eco Beach: Michael Lowe)

1230 Transfer to Eco Beach Wilderness Retreat
The one-hour drive from Broome out to this newly reopened property is a small sacrifice to make for a stay at this sustainable ecolodge. Sustainable architecture meets untouched nature in a combination of luxury, the outdoors and very reasonable prices. More to come:
www.ecobeach.com.au

(Just a short hike away from the Eco Beach property: Michael Lowe)

1845 Return to Broome

(Another perfect sunset in Western Australia with the Moon punctuating the darkness: Michael Lowe)

1930 Dinner at Pinctada

Fim Fam - Day 7

2009-07-06T14:02:00.000-07:00

(Atop a camel's hump at sunset, Michael Lowe)

Day 7 – June 25, 2009

0700 Breakfast

0800 Transfer to airport

0955 Depart Perth on Qantas flight QF1928

(Broome became famous for its pearling culture back in the day and remains the pearling capital of Australia (if not the world) today: Michael Lowe)

1220 Arrive in Broome and transfer to Pinctada Cable Beach Resort
Pinctada Cable Beach is Broome’s newest and only 5-star hotel. A very boutique feel, by the time we checked in, the property still had not quite finished. Despite its incompletion, guests were already staying (mostly locals for what resorts call their ‘soft opening’) and the service and food was great. You really wouldn’t be able to tell it hadn’t worked out its kinks yet.
www.pinctadacablebeach.com.au

1300 Lunch

1430 Meet Robyn Maher for tour of Broome

1600 Drop at Cable Beach for Camel Ride

1615 Red Sun Camels sunset camel ride

(Yeeeeehaw!: Michael Lowe)

Broome is known for two things: its pearls and its sunsets. So, what better way to enjoy a world-famous sunset than on the hump of a camel? Once you got the hang of it, it was quite relaxing and the sunset really was spectacular. It was a far easier ride than those freaking spastic horses up the side of Ecuador’s volcano, Quilatoa.

1800 Return to hotel

(Broome's famous sunsets did not disappoint: Michael Lowe)

1930 Walk to Zanders at Cable Beach for dinner
One of the many perks of being a writer is being able to meet people you normally wouldn’t. As Maite and I attempted to make a dent in the $150 seafood platter for two consisting of at least 3 whole fishes, muscles, scallops, calamari, fried barramundi and chips, oysters and an entire rock lobster (which was amazing, by the way), a burly man with a few piercings walks up to the table. His name was Amin (I think) and he was the executive chef.

He greeted us warmly with an Aussie-Scottish hybrid of an accent and welcomed us to Broome. As he retreated back to the kitchen, I half hoped he would have grabbed one of the fish and taken it with him. Despite our best efforts, we were forced to leave a couple fishies on the plate.

Two nights later at a beach party, I would run into someone who was a waitress at the restaurant who remembered us when I spoke about how the platter was impossible to finish.
“Oh! You guys were the corner table.”

“Yea, it was kind of embarrassing how much we left on the plate.”

“Thank god you didn’t finish that thing. I took some home at ate it that night!”

I laughed. Normally I would have been a bit more judgmental, but, to be honest, we probably didn’t come close to touching half the plate. Why let it go to waste?

Fim Fam - Day 6

2009-07-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Day 6 – June 24, 2009

0800 Breakfast

0900 Pick up and Transfer to Kings Park
At 400 hectares of natural bushland and park area, it is the largest inner city park in the world. (Yes, larger than Central Park). However, unlike Central Park most of the terrain is inaccessible or more of a reserve area than a park.

0930 Kings Park Indigenous Heritage Tour

1100 Transfer to Cottlesloe Beach

1145 Transfer to Fremantle
Fremantle is one of those places where I could definitely live. The locals call it “Fre-o” and it’s a charming seaside city famous for its seafood and cosmopolitan street life.

(Little Creatures Brewery: Michael Lowe)

1200 Lunch and beer tasting at Little Creatures Brewery
You just can’t go wrong with beer tasting and a brewery tour. Despite the common notion that Little Creatures was named after the crocodile pit that used to occupy the brewery’s current location, the name actually came from the natural yeast placed in the bottles that would eat the sugar. The restaurant itself really has some character as well as delicious food. Tapas style Aussie seafood served with a nice tall pint of freshly brewed beer and you’re all set to go.

(My kind of tour: Michael Lowe)

1330 Fremantle Prison

(Impending facade of the Fremantle Prison: Michael Lowe)

After 136 years of continuous use, the Fremantle prison finally closed only in 1991. Modern day prisoners were subjected to an 1850s prison. Cold stones, few amenities, and small cells without toilets were just a few of its nuances.

(Looks like fun, doesn't it?: Michael Lowe)

1500 Captain Cook Cruises
With the weather being amuck, we decided to skip the harbor cruise and take some alone time to catch up on work and other things. Good choice. Finally, some down time!

1830 Pre-dinner cocktails at the hotel

1900 Dinner at the hotel

Fellow Bruins!

2009-07-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

A few other Bruins are busy blogging as we speak, here you can read about their travels and experiences overland and overseas.

Pat West, part of the Red Cross Youth Council, recently traveled to Europe speaking with international volunteers and doing cool international stuff:

http://redcrossyouth.org/

Connie Woo is attending institution in Philadelphia for Teach for America and will be located in Washington D.C. for the year.

http://misswootoyou.blogspot.com/

Both of them are making an impact and a difference in today's world while I bumble around Australia. Nice.

Fim Fam - Day 5

2009-07-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

(A solitary lighthouse stands guard along the coast in Flinders National Park: Michael Lowe)

Day 5 – June 23, 2009

0730-1000 Enjoy Breakfast

1000 Check out and depart for Exceptional Kangaroo Island tour

1000-1550 Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks, Admirals Arch
Kangaroo Island is a combination of unique wildlife and spectacular landscapes. Along the way to three of K.I.’s most popular areas, we come across beautiful birdlife, wallabies and echidnas – a member of the same family as the platypus; mammals that lay eggs.

(An echidna bumbles up a bank of sand and into the brush: Michael Lowe)

Flinders Chase National Park, at 74,000 hectares, is one of Australia’s largest parks and home to koalas, Kangaroos and the like.

The Remarkable Rocks don’t look like much until you approach them. Giant granite boulders formed by volcanoes years ago balance precariously on top of a rocky mountain as waves crash into the wall of stone beneath them.

Admirals Arch is a naturally bored arch in the K.I. stone. The Southern Ocean pounds through the gap in the rock floating spray onto resting New Zealand seals. The silhouetted figures hanging from the arch are not stalagmites as one might think, but actually tree roots hundreds of years old.

(Waves crash through Admirals Arch: Michael Lowe)

1630 Depart Kingscote on Air South flight AS6

1710 Arrive Adelaide

1955 Depart Adelaide on Qantas flight QF599

2150 Arrive Perth

2200 Transfer to Hotel

2230 Check in to rooms at The Richardson

The Richardson is one of Australia’s newest business luxury hotels. My room consisted of two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, washing machine and living room. Pretty intense and a very good product for those traveling in groups or with family, probably not for my personal use.

Their largest suite overlooked the world’s largest inner-city park, Kings Park, and had a telescope for stargazing. How “suite” is that? Muahahaha.

www.therichardson.com.au

Fim Fam - Day 4

2009-07-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

(Rush hour on K.I.: Michael Lowe)

Day 4 – June 23, 2009

0500 Wake up and Check out

0530 Pick up and transfer to airport

0600 Check in for Qantas flight QF671

0710 Depart Melbourne

0800 Arrive Adelaide and meet Maite Conway at the base of the escalators

0815 Check in for Regional Express flight ZL4753

0925 Depart Adelaide

1000 Arrive Kingscote, Kangaroo Island

(A kangaroo hops around overturned grass: Michael Lowe)

Kangaroo Island has been called the Galapagos of Australia due to its similar formation years ago. Unlike most of the mainland, kangaroos here run rampant and have grown to an exceptional size due to no native predators on the island. K.I. (as they called down under) is the third largest island off the coast of Australia and has so much to offer. From a seal conservation area to a gnarled shipping history, the island is a beautiful example of man’s inevitable respect for nature only found in few places. As the Southern Ocean crashes against cliffs, you can’t help but think: Next stop, Antarctica.

1015 Meet with Exceptional Kangaroo Island Tours

1030 Transfer to morning tea
“Don’t touch that wire,” said Rob our tour guide. “It’s an electric fence and will definitely wake you up.” It was his way of saying “It will probably kill you and I don’t want to drag your dead body back to the airport” nicely.

The owner of Exceptional Kangaroo Island Tours has an incredible network of friends and colleagues allowing for a unique touring experience. In exchange for bottles of wine, his tours are allowed access to normally roped off private properties.

(Morning tea on a private property: Michael Lowe)

Here, at morning tea, a small table was set next to a bubbling stream in the middle of a field used for cow grazing, but the nature and wildlife had been kept in such pristine condition, you could imagine yourself a downright pioneer.

www.exceptionalkangarooisland.com

1115 Transfer to Seal Beach

1145 Arrive Seal Beach
You guessed it – lots of seals. Not much more to say here, but, yup, seals.

(Seals making out. Nice.: Michael Lowe)

1300 Transfer to Southern Ocean Lodge

1400 Lunch at Southern Ocean Lodge and Site Inspection
The Southern Ocean Lodge is the most beautiful property I have ever seen. I will be writing a story on it for TravelAge West shortly, so you’ll just have to wait for that. Until then you can check it out for yourself here:

www.southernoceanlodge.com

(View from the patio of Southern Ocean Lodge: Michael Lowe)

1630 Massage at Southern Ocean Lodge

1800 Sunset Canapes

1930 Dinner at Southern Ocean Lodge

Photo Ops

2009-07-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I need to take a hiatus from writing; clear my head from the research I've been doing and the letters to editors I've been sending. I try and stop thinking about how I'm going to make the trip out to the coast to get that interview and whether or not it's a good idea to hop on board another Fam trip. It never ends up that way, but I like to think I can get away from it once in a while.

On those nights I just like to take my camera and focus on the city and its subjects (or whatever landscape is ahead of me). Here are a few from last night:

(Cars drive past in a flash around historic Flinder's Station: Michael Lowe)

(The full moon shines through wired red glowsticks in Federation Square: Michael Lowe)

(City lights bounce of the snaking Yarra River in the heart of Melbourne: Michael Lowe)

(Fireballs ignite pillars in the hourly display put on by the Crown Complex; an apt finale to a great night: Michael Lowe)

Fim Fam - Day 3

2009-07-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

(A koala balances precariously on a branch after being awoken from its 20 hour slumber: Michael Lowe)

Day 3 - June 22, 2009

0730 Breakfast in hotel

0845 Check out

0900 Transfer to Moonlight Sanctuary

(A Kookaburra sits on its roost: Michael Lowe)

1000 Visit Moonlight Sanctuary
Take an Australian zoo and a conservation center and you’ll end up with the Moonlight Sanctuary. The property might not look like much, but there sure are some cool animals and one of the largest frog conservations in the world.

(Wallabies hopped through the park and ate straight from the hand of visitors, myself included: Michael Lowe)

1130 Transfer to Mornington Peninsula

1230 Visit Montalto Winery

(Inside the beautiful Montalto Restaurant: Michael Lowe)

(Floor to ceiling windows allowed beautiful natural light into the dining area: Michael Lowe)

Set on 50-acres of rolling green hills covered in 23-acres of vineyards, 1500 olive trees and a beautiful restaurant that utilizes herbs and vegetables from the garden out back. The great thing about Montalto wines is that you can only get them at the Montalto restaurant. Talk about exclusive.
www.montalto.com.au(Vineyards snaked their way down Montalto's green hills: Michael Lowe)

1430 Transfer to Peninsula Hot Springs

1530 Visit Peninsula Hot Springs
www.peninsulahotsprings.com

Lots to say about this property, but that will be for another day.

1800 Return to Melbourne

Fim Fam - Day 2

2009-07-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

(Outside Chateau Yering: Michael Lowe)

Day 2: June 20, 2009

0830 Check out and transfer to Chateau Yering

0930 Site inspection & breakfast at Chateau Yering Historic House

(Chateau Yering's classical Victorian interior and vaulted ceilings: Michael Lowe)

The cool thing about Chateau Yering wasn’t the historic Victorian style or the original 18th century paintings, but the stuffed animal cat that comes with each room instead of a flimsy, plastic “Privacy Please” sign. Simply place the cat in front of your door and, voila. Pretty inventive for a nearly two hundred year old property.
www.chateau-yering.com.au

(Do not disturb: Michael Lowe)

1100 Transfer to the Dandenong Ranges 1130 Visit William Ricketts Sanctuary

(Aboriginal child molded onto the rock at William Rickett's Sanctuary: Michael Lowe)

This story is pretty wacky and cool. This guy, William Ricketts, fell in love with Australia’s aboriginal culture and sought to portray them in art – specifically clay. Unfortunately, depiction of aboriginals was against their culture so Rickett went to the Dandenongs and, from memory, set to work recreating their likeness and molding it to the environment around him.
www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

(Clay gateway molded by Rickett: Michael Lowe)

1230 Transfer to Sassafras

(Handmade marionettes in the small mountain town of Sassfras: Michael Lowe)

1245 Enjoy lunch at Ripe

1400 Transfer to Phillip Island

1530 Check in
All Seasons Eco Resort
www.theislandecoresort.com.au

1630 Ultimate Penguin Experience

We were ushered into vans after being outfitted with weatherproof jackets and a backpack containing radios to hear our guide and night vision goggles. The door swung open and crisp, cold air swarmed into the van. We were on the beach. It was cold.

Down to the beach we marched as the sun melted into the horizon. For as long as scientists have been recording, penguins have been coming and going from this beach on Phillip Island via the Southern Ocean. Floating in groups called rafts, thousands of penguins have made the trip out to sea in search of food spending as long as three weeks at a time at sea swimming up to 50km a day.

The sun was all but gone and the beach began descending into darkness when our guide instructed us to put on our goggles and sit in a line.

The first penguins slid onto the shore hidden in the waves squeaking rather than chirping. As we sat on the beach in silence with the guide speaking through the radio, the penguins stumbled awkwardly along the sand head swiveling looking for predators. Only about 3 feet tall, they arrived in hundreds, regrouping at the water’s edge and waddling up the sand dunes into the coastal brush where they find their mate and hole themselves in their den. Romantic, eh?
www.penguins.org.au

(Little penguins head aswivel on Phillip Island: Phillip Island Photography)

1845 Transfer to the Esplanade for dinner

1900 Dinner at Harry’s on the Esplanade

2300 Return to All Seasons Eco Resort

TravelAge West ATE Story Published!

2009-07-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

The first of three blogs have been published on TravelAge West's website.

Read the story here! (You may have to create username and password, but don't worry, they're harmless)

Fim Fam - Day 1

2009-07-03T00:15:00.000-07:00

(Front counter to Innocent Bystander: Michael Lowe)

Armed with my camera pack, a carry on luggage and over 100 business cards I had collected from the Australian Tourism Exchange, it was finally time to hit the road. What happens, apparently, after these travel expos is the tourism boards will send media off to familiarize (they call them “fams”) themselves with the area, see new properties and experience tours in order to get their region in a magazine. No complaints here.

Despite an early pickup, I was all for getting out and exploring what the state of Victoria had to offer. With that, I was whisked away in an unmarked van with 9 other journalists on what was very uncreatively named “Media Post West: Melbourne South East Touring Triangle Familiarisation.” I can tell you’re on the edge of your seat now, aren’t you?

Anyway, the following posts will be a basic play-by-play highlighting some of the interesting (and not-so-interesting) hours of the day in itinerary-esque fashion. (This is basically what my itinerary looked like)

Day 1: June 19, 2009

0815 Check out and pick up
Please be ready, with luggage, in the hotel foyer for pick up by Tourism Victoria.

1030 Morning Tea
Innocent Bystander

This was the probably one of the more interesting stops we made. Smooth jazz weaved its way around stacks of wine bottles, a foosball table and a vintage Pac-Man arcade game. Long tables invited guests to sit down for breakfast, tea or a glass of wine from the tap. We had entered one of Victoria’s most prestigious wine countries: the Yarra Valley.

The Innocent Bystander was a café and winery wrapped in one with a character all its own. A giant rubber band ball hung from a kitchen light while plastic dinosaurs, Legos and a Batman Pez sat atop a heat lamp. In the bathroom, a Monty Python soundtrack echoed against the stalls, the words “Decaf coffee is like kissing your sister” was written in chalk next to the café and a hanging sign announced “Unattended children will be given double espressos and made wild promises about what Santa is bringing them.”

(Rubber band ball at Innocent Bystander: Michael Lowe)

Such was the atmosphere within the Innocent Bystander.

1200 Leave for Yarra Valley Wine Tour

(Wine barrels from Innocent Bystander's winery tour: Michael Lowe)

Now, you’re probably saying, “Oooo! A wine tour! How glamorous!” Yes, it’s all fine and good, but after doing a wine tasting at Innocent Bystander, we commenced to go wine tasting at the Tarra Warra Estate, Dominique Portet, De Bortoli, Balgownie Estate and I’m sure I’m missing one more. All very tasty and fun, but when I was asked what I wanted with dinner, there was no doubt in my mind I was getting a beer.

(Dominique Portet, himself, pouring us wine to taste: Michael Lowe)

1730 Check in Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort and Spa

Five and a half hours later we were allowed to check into our accommodation, smack dab in the middle of the Yarra Valley. The estate felt like a classy summer camp with fresh air, bright stars, and a seven-course meal to be finished off with about four pounds of deluxe cheeses. They had that at your summer camp, right?

(Whirlpool shower with window exposing your behind to the living room: Michael Lowe)

It was when they brought out a shot-glass filled with a frozen pesto sorbet, topped with foam and garnished with a vertical fried spaghetti noodle between courses three and four that I learned what an amuse-bouche (literally translated from French as “mouth amuser”) was.

Oh, the things you learn at summer camp.

New Beginnings

2009-07-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

(From left to right: Buccaneer Archipelago, Sydney Opera House, Red Rock in Broome, Cascades in the Blue Mountains, Koala: Michael Lowe)

My arrival in Sydney a couple days ago signified two things: the exact halfway mark of my trip and my separation from Tourism Australia and their spectacular 7-course meals and five-star accommodations.

No longer do I have up to the minute itineraries and appointments with owners of hotels and executive chefs. Instead, I have a new sense of independence, freedom and the Australian landscape at my fingertips. Now, don’t get me wrong, staying at beautiful, boutique hotels and fancy restaurants isn’t half bad, but to say being dragged around for two weeks straight on a strict schedule unable to explore and wander isn’t easy.

Eleven flights, nine hotels and five time zones behind me it’s time to catch up on this blog in the comfort of free internet and good beer in Melbourne.

First stop: McDonalds.

De Bortoli's Viognier

2009-06-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

(De Bortoli's 2008 Viognier: De Bortoli Website)

Last week, ten media representatives, including myself, left for what Tourism Australia calls “Melbourne South East Touring Triangle.” It’s basica

lly a post-Australia Tourism Exchange tour for the media to get familiarized with the area outside the windowless convention center.

Part of the trip is touring the Yarra Valley – a wine region just outside Melbourne with rolling hills and vineyards as far as the eye can see. As you can imagine, we tasted a lot of wine – one of which is one of my new favorites: De Bortoli’s Yarra Valley Estate Grown Viognier.

Now, I’m not very knowledgeable about wine, but the Viognier variety is new to me. Usually mixed with another varietal, De Bortoli’s was a pure Viognier wine that was light, refreshing and smooth with complex lychee and apricot flavors.

(The White Viognier grape on the vine: Wikipedia)

No one quite knows where the Viognier grape originated, but some rumors include originating in ancient Dalmatia and brought into Rhone by Romans or captured by a group of outlaws en route to Beaujolais. Whatever its origin, the grape is now quite rare.

Viogniers are generally crisp and dry with floral aromas and pairs well with spicy food such as Thai or Vietnamese. Go figure.

Market Mayhem

2009-06-15T16:07:00.001-07:00

(Melbourne Design Market in the Federation Square Parking Lot: ML)

As I wandered around Melbourne, I couldn’t seem to escape the massive amounts of markets. It was as if the entire city was for sale all at once.

First, on the way to Federation Square, Melbourne’s newest and most prominent art center, I passed by an arts and crafts fair setting up for a 9 am opening. Although I’m much too boring to buy anything, the aboriginal art and glass mushrooms were far more interesting than the Federation Square book fair I sprinted through.

I found myself at the twice-a-year Melbourne Design Festival which had engulfed half of the Federation Square underground parking lot. Nestled into the cement confines was an array of goods from clothing to specialty prints to lighting fixtures that looked more like glowing sculptures. Children scampered through the galleria with “Melbourne Design” balloons while trendy Melbournians purchased the latest in design to trance music that was pumped through speakers completing the modern art, multi-sensory experience.

(A vendor sells tights balled up in stunted parfait cups: ML)

Needless to say, I was, once again, too boring to purchase anything. Instead, I hopped on the free bus shuttle to the most famous and largest market in all of Melbourne: the Queen Victoria Market.

To be honest, it was like any open market buzzing with both locals and tourists alike. Think the International Marketplace in Waikiki except instead of dolphins there’s Kangaroos and instead of ukuleles there’s boomerangs. Further along there was a meat and fish market, cheese and wine market and fresh produce market similar to Los Angeles’ Grand Central Market. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but the Chinese butchers yelling, “Good meat! Half off!” at anyone and everyone was pretty entertaining.

(Loads of delicious cheese for tasting at Queen Vic Market: ML)

Suffice it to say, the Queen Victoria Market was nothing special. It was then that I stepped out of the produce aisle and into a street where wafts of fried, doughy goodness filled my nostrils. A sweet odor led me around a corner and through a fabric vendor and into the sunlight, and there it was.

The Holy Grail of Melbourne’s markets: the American Doughnut Truck. Nearly 60 years old, the American Doughnut Truck serves up light, crispy, sugar-coated balls of deliciousness for 90 cents or six for five dollars. Airy, yet quite the opposite of Krispy Kreme, the center holds gooey raspberry jam that compliments the doughnuts fried shell.

(The Famed American Doughnut Truck: ML)

With the ingenuity of a taco truck and the move along of the Soup Nazi, it’s no wonder this find is a crowd favorite. Despite instantaneous service, the line often remains 20-30 deep.

(Raspberry jam fills this fried, little puff balls: ML)

As I exited the Market, I discovered on the far side the American Doughnut Truck’s obvious competitor: The Spanish Doughnut Truck. With genius come copycats, I guess. However, despite hip Spanish music pumping through a stereo, corny, oversized Christmas lights and its best efforts, the Spanish Doughnut Truck just couldn’t deliver. Slow service, higher cost and the fact that these “Doughnuts” were actually freakin’ churros ended in high marks against them. Just call it a “Churro truck.”

(The Spanish Donut Truck: ML)

So, kudos to the American Doughnut Truck for fast service, a great price and a delightfully crispy product.

Neighborhood Niche: De Graves Street, Melbourne

2009-06-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

(A look down De Graves from Flinders Lane: ML)

De Graves Street, just off the main road Flinders Lane, is one of Melbourne’s many hidden alley ways with a character all its own. Lined with cafes, outdoor seating under umbrellas and heaters and a mish mash of odds and ends shopping including a barbershop and a Christian Science reading room, De Graves has the big city feel of London or New York with the quaint neighborhood seclusion of the back alleys in Nice or Florence.

(Umbrellas and wooden chairs fill the narrow cafe alleyway: ML)

The café and deli-lined alley is a great place to sit and people watch, enjoy your favorite tea or brew or grab a bite to eat on a Sunday morning (I nibbled on the “Aussie” which is scrambled eggs over a thick piece of sourdough bread with a rich side of mushrooms and a couple fatty strips of bacon).

(An organic cafe with lots of treats down De Graves: ML)

The narrow alley is so crammed with eateries, the foody fragrances mesh in the middle combining organic Thai and chili con carne with coffee and fresh eggs leaving De Graves so thick with aromas you’re hard pressed to pass on without at least one second look.

Pamp and Circumstance

2009-06-13T01:05:00.000-07:00

(Melbourne's Flinder's Station after sunset: Michael Lowe)

Being pampered has its ups and downs. Now, I know what you're thinking - Michael, you're crazy. Of course there aren't any downs to being pampered! And, true, there aren't many bad things about being pampered. It's really nice.

As part of the international media, I was flown to Melbourne from Los Angeles in a $7500 business class seat on Qantas where, after the o.j. and hot towel wipe for our hands and face, we were given full on designer pajamas and sleeping kits.

Following take off, we were served porcini encrusted steak and pan fried gnocchi followed by a blueberry cake with some of the most delicious whipped cream I've ever tasted. And then I mechanically made my chair lie flat and fell asleep.

Ok, ok, so that's all fine and awesome, but seriously, doesn't that make you feel guilty at all? To know that people are riding on these things daily when kids need books for school and some countries still don't have clean water?

What if, instead, people paid $7500, they didn't get, say, designer pajamas or facial wash and maybe they gave up dessert and unlimited booze (which I will take advantage of on the way back) and $500 went to some charity?

Which brings me to my hotel room. I've been put up in the Crown Towers, one of three Crown properties. The other two are a casino and the soon to open mega-hotel, 650-room Metropol. I've found that the Crown complex is less of a hotel, and more of a shopping center, megamall, debaucherous pit of gluttony with rooms. A very nice debaucherous pit of gluttony, mind you.

The shopping center just beneath the hotel itself is glitzed with pricey shops and restaurants such as world-famous sushi restaurant, Nobu, and some place called The Waterfront which offers giant lobster for $95 for 1/2 kilo (about a pound). Seriously, $95 could feed a small child for a year.

Anyway, here are some photos of the unnecessary, but very comfortable, extravagance that I do not wish, but feel obligated, to enjoy.

Here goes:

Imagine you step out of the elevator, turn left and walk down a hall. You enter room 1502 on, you guessed it, the 15th floor and step foot on polished, shiny tiled floors. Immediately to the left are two glass doors opening into a spacious bathroom decked with hanging lights, a bath tub facing an LCD screen and one of those sweet showers that dumps water on you straight from the ceiling.

You continue down the short hallway and, right next door, is a walk in closet with semi opaque glass filtering in light from the bedroom. Slippers, a bath robe and exorbitant costs for laundry await in drawers and cubbies. (No joke, like $9.50 for a shirt to be LAUNDERED)

Then, the room opens up and you're faced with a 15th floor view of Melbourne's Yarra River (see top), a king-sized bed and a 50" (about) flat screen TV. An iPod radio, desk and little lounge chair rest next to the huge window.

With all these options, it was clear what to do first. Hit the restroom. It was very pleasant. Just goes to show even in the face of luxury, some of life's simplest actions are still high on the priority list.

Melbour-ed

2009-06-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

(Federation Square Light Installment in Melbourne, Australia: Michael Lowe)

To me, Melbourne is a lot like London. Cars drive on the left, there's a brown, dirty river flowing through it with several bridges and weird-looking, colorful bills are exchanged for goods instead of bland, green, dirty paper. The wind whips through the city, probably a byproduct of being right on a harbor and people walk around in scarves and mittens.

Much like London, cloud cover and an overall gray facade create a gloomy, cold atmosphere, but when the sun begins to peak around the cloud, the sunlight brightens up the entire city flooding the angular high-rises with gold.

The actual town area is only about eight blocks squared and, unlike London, I have yet to really find something that piques my interest. Although, to be fair I just got off a 15 hour flight and am friggin tired and cold. The museums do seem sparse and spread out, rather than concentrated in one area and, although a true metropolitan area, feels quite slower and less densely populated than any other big city I have been in. It's also funny because all of the areas they call "Gardens" are actually just big plots of grass with a few trees.

(Fountain at the end of Carlton "Gardens": ML)

However, despite a first humdrum day, I already managed to stumble upon a Environmental Rally at the Victorian State Library and tons of free stuff. Perhaps the city just needs a little prodding to share its secrets.

(Environmental rally and lots of spirited people at Victoria State Library: ML)

Apparently THIS GUY was speaking while I was there.

Oh, one more crazy thing. Sometimes, cars have to go into the far left lane to make a right turn. WTF is that? Crazy Aussies....

Michael is in Australia for one month on assignment for TravelAge West magazine.

Welcome to the World Less Traveled

2009-06-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

(Photo of Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, Australia: Michael Lowe)

What you have discovered is a living account of the comprehensive travels and adventures as told by current or recently graduated UCLA students. With the domestic and international economy in the state it is, it's no wonder students are foregoing the traditional post-grad job plunge and heading overseas or across continent in search of experiences that may pay less, but carry their own veritable rewards.

Here, you will find firsthand stories from an extensive network of diverse voices from Econ majors teaching English in Chinese suburbs to those studying abroad around the world in Southeast Asia, Spain and Latin America. Regardless of where they come from or who they were back at UCLA, World Less Traveled's contributors are a world away from their old routines and out of their comfort zones only to explore new ones.

Whether its popular tourist traps or a more local view of neighborhood niches, it is through their eyes and words that we can hear each of their stories and experience the World Less Traveled.