Every July, for the past 5 years, Retta Jitner and volunteers from America and Bali have been distributing uniforms and backpacks full of school supplies to children on the island of Bali. Loretta’s charity, Pencils for Kids, Inc. (www.pencilsforkidsinc.com) is based in Los Angeles and is dedicated to providing needy school-aged children with the basics … Continued
We left Kuta, Bali by taxi for the Southern or Bukit peninsula. Our first view of Balangan was that it was a beautiful beach. We climbed down the steps to find surfer shacks and giant waves. We had hoped to find an area to watch the surfers but still swim. Balangan was not it. We … Continued
The Three Gili’s, Indonesia Thanks to Dave’s Travel Corner for publishing my article on Slow Travel to Gili Meno. It begins like this: Sometimes traveling slowly can be more enjoyable than the “preferred,” faster transportation. During our return trip to Gili (a series of islands located just off the northwest tip of Lombok, Indonesia) … Continued
Susanna Quinn’s Glass Geishas is a compelling and cautionary tale. Just reading the sub-heading: “Every Girls Has Her Price,” I was drawn in. From the first lines of the prologue, “Breathe in, Breathe out,” I felt like I fell down a rabbit hole. What world had I tumbled into? The stories of young blond Western … Continued
Rambling during Ramadan When we arrived in Bali on July 3, 2012, we had plans for a big adventure to Sulawesi and the Banda Islands but then we found out the dates of the upcoming Ramadan month. I did not think traveling in a 98% Moslem country during Ramadan was a great plan. I had … Continued
Bangkok is, without a doubt, a paradise destination for all food lovers. Whether you are staying a couple of days in Bangkok or having a holiday on one of Thai stunning beaches, tasting Thai food will be an unforgettable travel experience you will never forget. Bangkok cuisine is well-known for its lightness and strong aromatic … Continued
It was March 2009. I had been working at my first “real job” in San Francisco for five months when I realized I didn’t want to sit in a cube. I wanted to travel. So, I quit. My new job, my new apartment, my new city, my new friends, and my new paychecks. I said … Continued
It is nearly my 45th birthday: Did you participate in my #45×45 Birthday Project yet? DO IT TODAY! We have helped nearly 45 families to receive Solar Cookers. Join in! My father, who is also a Penn grad and the reason I traveled from Los Angeles to Philadelphia for college, often says, “Sleep? I can … Continued
Off to a Siberian Village on the Shores of Lake Baikal Kay and I enjoyed Irkutsk and its pleasant atmosphere of a university city. But after a couple of days, we were off to Bolshoe Goludnoe, a Siberian village on the shores of Lake Baikal, not far from Irkutsk. Once again, we had pre-arranged this … Continued
Sukkot is a time when Jews choose to eat outdoors and remember what it was like to wander in the desert. George and I have chosen to give up our home and wander in South East Asia. Right now, October 2012 during Sukkot we are nomads in Myanmar. My 45th birthday is on October 18. … Continued