My daughter and I were totally enthralled by the quiet but dramatic beauty of Gardenstown and its nearby neighbour, Crovie. Both villages clung tightly to the steep cliffs of Gamrie Bay. In fact the local name for Gardenstown is Gamrie.

Like so many of Scotland’s ports and harbours there is a lot of history there. Founded by Alexander Garden in 1790 as a fishing village, it was once home to a busy salmon and herring fleet. A hundred years ago the harbour sheltered a fishing fleet of over 90 boats. But as boats increased in size to become financially viable, small Gardenstown lost most of its fleet to larger centers like Fraserburgh.

The picturesque village of Crovie lies on the far side of the bay. It is connected to Gamrie by a charming small coastal foot path easily walkable at high tide. If possible, Crovie is even more charming and photographic as it nestles between the sea and the green cliffs. Its like being in another world. Quiet and impressive hugging the sea and 500-foot-high cliffs with terraced ledges above. So many pictures to take.

This area is quiet and not at all overrun with tourists. Another nearby village also attached to a narrow strip along the sea is Pennan. This town was used as the backdrop in one of my favourite movies, “Local Hero”. These small villages definitely have an “off the beaten path” experience combined with a rich fishing culture and fascinating history. Not to mention their natural beauty and the wonderful sea air.

Other fishing villages along the Aberdeen coast have wonderful names like Lossiemouth, Cullen, Elie and Portknockie. All are different and worth exploring. There is so much to do in the area, and we capped one day with a fantastic tour of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh. There we learned what a “wickie” really is. If you are ever questioned, it is a lighthouse keeper’s assistant who was responsible for trimming the wicks for the light.

There are also great beaches, interesting distilleries to tour and some spectacular coastal hiking paths like the Fife Coastal Path.

We stayed in an AirBnB in town facing the harbour but there are also charming cottages and glamping pods- basically one-bedroom huts – also available for rent. These small historic towns are a hidden gem well off of the tourist routes that should be included in any tour of Scotland.

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TGIF Joke of the Week

Raoul’s 2 Cents. October 16, 2026

The Japanese

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder.

I am back from my Japan tour. As I said in my previous email, we visited many of the tourist spots. We walked a lot and we rode a lot of trains. I will share some tips for you would-be travelers to Japan in an upcoming article in Travelingboy.com. For now, I’d like to focus on my observations of the Japanese lifestyle.

In the middle of the day, you can see high school kids wearing their school uniform walking the streets. Aren’t they supposed to be in school? I saw a bunch of them every day. Like every society, Japan has its share of rebels … I did see Japanese graffiti and several old dark spots of chewing gum on the pavements — maybe they were littered by the tourists.

The train conductors were interesting. Many were senior citizens. The younger ones would walk back and forth from one carriage to the other making sure everything was hunky-dory. When they enter the carriage, they bow. Before they leave the carriage they bow like they just did a performance. They take great pride in their work … no matter how repetitive and lowly it may be.

Japan may not have a caste system like India but I think their careers are dictated by the same job as their ancestors before them. If you are born in a family that cooks, chances are, that’s what you will be doing for the rest of your life. It’s so unlike America where every kid can grow up to be president. With their lack of ambition comes the contentment and determination to do their best in whatever their profession. I’m sure this is slowly changing as Japan faces a negative population growth.

The Japanese women can be charming or unbelievably beautiful. Many have pasty porcelain skins with tasteful makeup that make them look like anime dolls. They are fashionable with their bangs and side locks. Many wear very short skirts to show their white skinny legs and heavy elevator shoes. I expected them to talk with unnatural high pitched voices (as they do in anime cartoons and commercials) but they talk normal. Many talk broken English and have a phone app translator handy.

The men are not as fashionable. The unruly just-got-out-of-bed haircut, dark rimmed glasses and uneven teeth are common. Most dress simply with black pants and white shirts. Business suits are standard.

The little school children wearing their uniforms are adorable. Each group wears different colored caps to identify their school especially when they go on field trips. And they are well behaved.

Riding the train, I observed the tasteful compact architecture of the buildings and the houses. Narrow cars and trucks are parked outside. How ironic that a society so technically advanced still dry their clothes on outdoor clotheslines. Vending machines for food, beverages, money exchange were everywhere.

There are about 8 TV stations. You have the serious news, the fun shows and the zany commercials. Most of the low budget variety shows have a regular stable of men and women panelists who are the observers. Sometimes there are contests. Other times a roving reporter interviews people in the street and these observers nod or laugh and give their critique. It’s almost like watching a random polling about people’s lifestyles. If I spoke Japanese I would appreciate the shows more. Unfortunately, there were no English translations.

Clean, disciplined, respectful, honest, intelligent, friendly — that’s what they are … that’s what is expected. That’s obvious on the surface. But what is it like to live among them?

We bumped into a Filipina who has been working as a waitress for 3 years and she said her bosses are driven. Some are kind but some can be very demanding and condescending. Life for her is hard and stressful. She’s always on her toes and she works more than 8-12 hours a day. With so many tourists pouring in, it’s understandable. A recent poll said Japan is the number one tourist destination in the world. There were many non-Japanese working in different service-oriented businesses.

We went out for dinner around 9 and in a table beside us were 3 businessmen having a grilled dinner and chugging whisky between their laughter. If this is typical, that means after their regular official work hours, they have the unofficial socializing with the boss. I wonder about their wives and children waiting at home for them. The next day, I saw another businessman who passed out in the steps of a boardwalk.

Indeed, the Japanese are a curious lot. They remind me of industrious bees who (together) churn the Japanese economy.  One final observation: I didn’t see any spirituality. Buddhism is the main religion but even that wasn’t apparent. Like many religions, their religious festivals are more tradition than substance. Let’s face it. It’s a godless materialistic society. The Japanese are as complex and disorienting as their driving on the left side of the road.

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“The whole of Japan is a pure invention. There is no such country, there are no such people…. The Japanese people are… simply a mode of style, an exquisite fancy of art.”

— Oscar Wilde

“Japan never considers time together as time wasted. Rather, it is time invested.”

— Donald Richie

“I love Japan. I love the collision of the modern and ancient worlds coming together in that place. It’s so high-tech and cool.”

— John Lasetter

“Look at London or Paris: they’re both filthy. You don’t get that in Tokyo. The proud residents look after their city.”

— Tadao Ando

“The wise never marry. And when they marry they become otherwise.”

— Japanese Saying

“We were in Japan once where they had 30 kinds of green tea. I thought there was one.”

— Billy Corgan

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”

— 1 Peter 3:7

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Jess of La Jolla, Norm of Encino, Jan of Alhambra, Tony of Hacienda Heights, and Colleen of Arizona.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

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Or, ‘redneck,’ like ‘good ol’ boy:’ anti-government, far right, sometimes anarchists or even proudly unaware of contemporary politics. Here’s what I learned: ‘Rednecks’ were coal miners in Harlan County, West Virginia who were on strike due to inhumane working conditions. In a sign of solidarity, they would wear red bandanas around their necks. As they marched down the dusty street, corrupt owners and politicians in cohesion with law enforcement and ‘strike busters’ with ax handles would shout, “here comes those ‘rednecks'”, meaning here comes Trouble!

How about “Hat trick” which originated in cricket in 1858, when bowler H. H. Stephenson took three wickets with three consecutive balls and was rewarded with a new hat purchased from a fan collection.

Then:

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The idiom warns against forming opinions based solely on appearances, with roots tracing back to 19th-century literature.

In past Britain, book thievery was immense and booksellers would place worn and scratchy book covers on expensive books to avoid their theft.

The term “raining cats and dogs” derive from Victorian times when street drainage was so poor that pets left on the streets would drown during rainstorms. After the rainfall, the dead cats and dogs strewn across the streets made it appear as though it had been raining cats and dogs.

“Knock on wood” most likely comes from 19th century British children’s game Tiggy Touchwood, though older theories link it to ancient Celtic/Germanic tree spirit beliefs and later Christian symbolism. A superstition used to avoid tempting fate.

Naval Sayings – The Ultimate List of Nautical Sayings & Sailing Terms.

List from Gary Evans via MODELERS CENTRAL
Slightly edited by Traveling Boy, due to special concerns.

For 200 years the British Empire ruled 25 percent of the world. Why? Because they ruled 25 percent of the world’s waterways with efficient vessels and experienced sailors.

So, many British nautical terms are used today, but in an entirely different context.

Even Keel: To maintain calm and steady progress. Courtesy of The Ultimate List of Nautical Sayings.

Above Board: Referring to anything in open and plain view.
History: On a naval vessel, items and equipment could either be stored on deck or below in the ship’s hold. An item stored or viewable from the deck was said to be kept above board.

Aloof: To be in a state of indifference.
History: Coming from the Old Dutch ‘loef’, meaning windward, this term was used when referring to a ship sailing higher to the wind and becoming separated from the rest of the fleet.

Another Day, Another Dollar: A turn of phrase used with resignation to refer to a repetitive and tedious activity, such as the working week.
History: This expression dates back to the early 19th century when American sailors were paid a dollar for a day’s work. It was used in a similar fashion to today, in that sailors worked long hours in tiring conditions for only an extra dollar to their name.
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At a Loose End: To finalize the details or requirements of an activity.
History: This term refers to the final task of the sailor to secure the loose ends to ensure the vessel is ready and shipshape.

Bottoms Up: To finish one’s drink, often quickly.
History: This term comes from the common practice of tricking English sailors into joining the Navy when they didn’t want to. The sailor would be manipulated into “accepting payment” for joining the Navy by dropping a coin into his drink. Once the trick became well known, people would remind each other with the phrase ‘bottoms up’ to check their glass for hidden “payment”.

Cut and Run: To run away, to abandon something, to leave something incomplete.
History: Often thought to refer to the severing of an anchor line, the phrase cut and run is much more likely to refer to the practice of tying down the sails of a square-rigged ship with ropes that could be cut, rather than untied, if sails needed to be hoisted with haste.

Foul Up: To make an error or mistake.
History: Many nautical terms used the term ‘foul’ to refer to unwanted situations. Foul itself meant to be tangled up, or impeded of progress. A foul anchor is one that is entangled and unusable for the time being. A foul berth describes another vessel that has positioned itself too close to another and there is a high risk that the two ships will collide.

Figurehead: A noted leader with no real power or authority.
History: On a ship, a figurehead was an ornamental figure used for religious protection, or for purely decorative purposes.

First Rate: To be the best, of the highest quality, of the most skill.
History: From the 1500s through to the advent of steam-powered naval vessels, British Naval ships were scored from 1 through to 6, with first-rate having 100 or more guns, down to 6th rate, being frigates with only 20 to 48 guns.

Footloose: To be free to do as you please.
History: If unsecured, the bottom portion of a sail, called the foot, is able to flap and move about in the wind.

Gripe: To complain or have a problem
History: A gripe is a nautical term used to describe a vessel that has been poorly designed and so the bow tends towards the wind, causing the sail to flap, impeding progress and making the ship difficult to maneuver.

Grog/Groggy: To describe alcohol, usually of poor quality.
History: In the 18th Century, Vice Admiral Sir Edward Vernon decreed that each sailor’s half pint of rum a day should be watered down with an equal amount of water. The sailors nicknamed the Vice Admiral “Old Groggy” as he wore a Grogam coat on deck. The mixture of watered-down rum became termed ‘grog’, and those who drank too much of it were referred to as ‘groggy.’

Hard Up: To be in a state of need.
History: In nautical terms, to put the ‘helm hard over’ means to position it as far as it can go in a particular direction. The full saying. ‘Hard up in a clinch and no knife to cut the seizing’ was used by sailors to refer to the coming of grief with no solution.

Haze: To celebrate the arrival of a new arrival to a group by means of embarrassment or humiliation in order to instate authority.
History: In the seafaring times, captains and other levels of authority would demand their crew to work long hours during the day and into the night, even when necessary, for no other reason than to make them miserable.

Hunky-Dory: To describe a situation as being pleasant, moving as expected, going ok.
History: This naval saying is thought to come from American Sailors who used the term to describe a popular street in Japan called Honcho-Dori which was frequented by lonely sailors.

Keel Over: To fall over or pass away.
History: Even today, the keel is a fundamental component of most types of sailing ships. It acts as a counterbalance for the mast and keeps the boat stable in conditions that would otherwise cause the boat to capsize. If a ship “keeled over” it had rolled over and began sinking, or on land, simply fallen over.

To Know the Ropes: To be familiar/competent in a particular task.
History: Tall ships sailed by the navy prior to the advent of steam-powered vessels were operated by a series of ropes that controlled the mechanisms and pulleys that operated the sails. These rope-based systems were complex, and so sailors were required to memorize the configurations, so they were used correctly. This obviously took time, so a less experienced sailor might not “know the ropes” as well as one who had been sailing for longer.

Son of a Gun: An exclamation of surprise, annoyance, aggression.
History: In the event that a child was born aboard the ship from the wife or temporary companion of one of the crew members, often on the gun deck. If no one knew who the father was, they were logged as being the “son of a gun.”

To Let the Cat Out of the Bag: To unveil what was previously unsecured or secret.
History: In the early days of sailors, the ‘cat o nine tails’ was the name for a whip constructed from rope with unbraided ends that left wounds on the back similar to the scratches of a cat.

Long Shot: A situation where the intended or preferred outcome is considered unlikely to occur.
History: Old naval warships used cannons as their main form of weaponry, which often were hit and miss in terms of accuracy. Different cannons also had varying maximum ranges which depended on their design, age and quality. If a vessel was to fire beyond its range and deliver a long shot, it was unlikely that it would hit its target.

Loose Cannon: Used to describe a person, object or situation that is unstable or likely to cause trouble if left unattended.
History: Due to their massive weight, cannons on a sailing ship were secured to prevent them from moving about with the waves of the sea, as a loose cannon would cause immense damage to the sailing vessel or crew.

Overbearing: To manipulate a state of power in a fashion that makes others uncomfortable
History: This term refers to the act of sailing downwind of another ship, blocking or ‘stealing’ their wind, slowing them down.

Overwhelm: To be in a state of emotional overload or to be taken over by something
History: This naval term is derived from the Old English for a boat that has capsized.

Poop: To be washed out, tired.
History: In terms of the actual structure and layout of the ship, the highest deck at the back of the vessel was called the poop deck. If a ship were to become breached by a large wave that flooded the vessel from the back, she was said to have been pooped.

Slush Fund: An amount of money assigned to the use of bribe or influence.
History: In the 1800’s, a mixture of fat would be sold ashore by the ships cook that would be gathered from boiling the salted beef for food at sea. This money was then used for the benefit of the crew or the cook himself and called the ‘slush fund.’

Scuttlebutt: Rumour or gossip.
History: In seafaring times, sailors would exchange gossip in a scuttlebutt. This was a water barrel with a hole in it that was used to dispense drinking water.

Shake a Leg: To get out of bed, to get moving.
History: It is believed that in the early naval days, this term was used as a command for crew members to step out of their hammocks and begin preparations for the day. It is also believed that the term may have come from the fact that women were allowed on board when the ship was in port, and thus the crew knew when a woman was still aboard and needed to be woken up and moved ashore before setting sail.

Square Meal: A good quality, nutritious meal.
History: This term was most likely derived from the fact that sailors were served their meals on square shaped plates. However, from the 1500s onwards, the word ‘square’ meant that something was upstanding, proper or straightforward.

Three Sheets to the Wind: To be in a state of intoxication.
History: On a ship, a rope is called a sheet. If the sheets on a three-masted rigged ship became loose on the three lower-course, the sails would begin to flap about and the ship would lose all purposeful direction.

Under the Weather: To be feeling ill, not yourself.
History: On an early naval vessel, various watches were assigned to crew members to keep an eye out for danger. Often considered the worst watch station one could be assigned, the ‘weather’ side of the bow was often subject to the pitching and rolling of the ship, as well as the numerous waves that would break over the bow. The crew member assigned this watch would end their shift drenched and described as having been ‘under the weather.

Turn a Blind Eye: To ignore, to pretend you did not see something.
History: This commonly used saying originates from the actions of Admiral Lord Nelson in the Battle of Copenhagen. In the battle, a signal was given to cease fighting and retreat. In response, the Admiral held his spyglass to his blind eye and later insisted he had not seen the signal.

Hey, that was fun.
With thanks to 116 Naval Sayings – The Ultimate List of Nautical Sayings

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These amenities are great, but what brought my family here was the boats. That’s right, the resort also has real boats that cruise a giant lake, taking guests around the property and to dinner at the hotel’s signature restaurants.

Lakeside Luxury Meets Colossal Design

My family began a recent stay at the Marriott by checking into a gorgeous 7th-floor suite, overlooking the pool area and the lake. The beautifully spacious room came with two plush pillowtop queen beds, a comfortable separate sitting area, a sleek workspace, and a mini-fridge. In the bathroom we found a big soaking tub and a separate shower with a glass door. The highlight of the room was the private balcony, where we got a bird’s-eye view of the property, including the sparkling pools and calm lake below us.

Beyond the room is a colossal atrium lobby. The space is stunning, with soaring ceilings and a grand, open-air design. The resort’s vast, multi-acre internal lake system extends inside the building and the hotel’s electric gondola boats park directly inside the giant lobby, entering and exiting through massive, integrated sliding glass doors.

Gondolas, Flamingos, and Poolside Lounge Mode

Our favorite spot at the resort was the pool area, which features a lively main family pool, a chilled oasis pool, and relaxing whirlpools. Although it was 100 degrees during our stay, the refreshing water put us in vacation mode as we splashed and lounged. While at the pool, we snacked at the Oasis Poolside Bar & Grille. We split a fresh shrimp cocktail and a California Turkey Club Wrap, packed with greens, turkey, bacon, cheddar, tomato, and avocado herb aioli, paired with crunchy house-made chips and refreshing lemonade.

From the pool, we headed back to the lobby and boarded a fun electric boat. With a friendly and informative captain at the helm, we cruised around the lake, passing fountains, going under bridges, and encountering numerous feathered residents. The resort is a certified wildlife sanctuary and home to an iconic flock of brilliant pink Chilean Flamingos, several species of exotic ducks (like ringed-neck teals and whistlers), and a bevy of elegant, long-necked black swans.

As the boat glided along the edge of the lake, we were lucky enough to spot one of the black swans nesting right along the shore! To finish out the cruise, the captain took us along the outer edges of the lake, showing us some of the stunning, massive desert luxury mansions that beautifully line the resort’s championship golf courses.

A Taste of the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert”

After the boat ride, we drove 10 minutes from the Marriott to dinner at Porta Via, a contemporary California bistro located on El Paseo, a glamorous, palm-lined street also known as the “Rodeo Drive of the Desert.” A hotspot for stylish locals and visitors looking for a premium dining experience, the restaurant serves quality steaks, pastas, and sushi in a sleek, mid-century modern space that feels upscale, but is still very family-friendly.

Our dinner at Porta Via began with fresh, golden-crisp crab cakes and a vibrant Jalapeño Tuna Roll loaded with nori, rice, spicy mayo, avocado, jalapeño, scallion, toasted sesame, lime juice, cilantro, and savory ponzu. For the main courses, we enjoyed a perfectly grilled skirt steak seasoned with a dry rub marinade and topped with an incredible, vibrant chimichurri sauce, alongside a spectacular Parmigiano-Crusted Alaskan Halibut served with sautéed green beans and cherry tomatoes. The kids were happy with a classic burger and crispy chicken nuggets.

Back at the Marriott, we took a moonlight dip in the pool and watched stars appear in the dark sky above the Santa Rosa Mountains. We then wrapped up the evening on our 7th-floor balcony, sipping wine and absorbing the warm desert breeze.

Scaling New Heights on the Aerial Tramway

The next morning, we drove a few miles northwest to the world-famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Our getaway began at the base of Mt. San Jacinto, where we boarded a large, rotating circular tramcar. The car begins its journey at Valley Station at an elevation of 2,643 feet and ends at Mountain Station at 8,516 feet above sea level.

As the 80-passenger tram scales the mountain, visitors are transported through five unique ecosystems—a change in landscape and life equivalent to a drive from Sonora, Mexico to the Arctic Circle in Alaska. It makes this trip in about 11 minutes. During the journey, the car is pulled up nearly 13,000 feet of cable and passes through five huge support towers. At each tower, the tram shimmies and shakes, giving riders a roller coaster thrill.

At the top, there is a lodge-like visitor center, two restaurants, and Mount San Jacinto State Park, which offers 54 miles of hiking trails and a few primitive campsites within a 13,000-acre pristine wilderness. When we got to the top, we set out on a hike of Long Valley, following a three-quarter-mile-long loop trail through a large, beautiful meadow and had a memorable lunch at Peaks Restaurant high above the clouds.

Wellness for Parents, Ultimate Arcade Action for Kids

The next morning, I hit the fitness center, located inside the hotel’s state-of-the-art Spa Desert Springs. The massive, 38,000-square-foot facility boasts 47 private treatment rooms, volcanic rock saunas, steam rooms, and an exclusive 75-foot saltwater lap pool. Its treatments are uniquely inspired by Blue Zone lifestyle principles designed to foster longevity and deep relaxation—making it the ultimate haven for anyone looking to recharge.

After working out, I met the family for breakfast at Rockwood Grill, the hotel’s premier dining spot. Sitting near the outdoor patio overlooking the water, we indulged in a hearty big breakfast loaded with perfectly cooked eggs, savory potatoes, toast, coffee, and juice, while the kids were in absolute heaven tackling a mountain of decadent chocolate pancakes.

Our last adventure at the Marriott was a visit to the JW Entertainment Zone, a 12,000-square-foot mega-arcade located near the pool. Here, the kids went wild playing a mix of retro classics and cutting-edge titles, jumping between air hockey, Mario Kart, Skee-Ball, and the World’s Largest Pac-Man. It was a perfect burst of family fun to cap off a wonderful desert trip before heading home into the bright sun.

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Arkansas has shed its undeserved Dogpatch reputation. Northwest Arkansas has become prosperous, with a wealth of places of interest for tourists, and offering some of America’s most beautiful nature, along with cultural events, and many craft and antique fairs. The new Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport serves as the gateway to Ozark towns and villages, such as Bentonville, home of Walmart, and Eureka Springs, as well as Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas.

Crystal Bridges

What has really put Northwest Arkansas on the American cultural map is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, founded by Sam Walton’s daughter, Alice, in Bentonville, and opened on November 11, 2011.

Alice Walton hired internationally renowned architect Moshe Safdie, who envisioned a building that would complement the surrounding Ozark landscape. Nestled into a natural ravine, the Museum integrates the element of water through the creation of two spring-fed ponds that are spanned by two bridges and surrounded by a group of buildings housing museum galleries and studios. Mrs. Walton named her museum Crystal Bridges – “crystal” for the name of the natural spring on the site, and “bridges” for the bridges built over the meandering water running through the property. It’s a beautiful place, inside the buildings and in the rolling landscape outside.

Along with outstanding examples of nineteenth century American painting, the museum has a fine collection of paintings and sculptures representing various schools of twentieth century art. The collection continues to grow, and there is always a temporary exhibit on show. The current temporary exhibit is State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now. It consists of 227 works by 102 unappreciated artists from all over the United States. Objects in the exhibit range from 3 inches to room size.

The museum’s glassed-in Eleven Restaurant, with water on both sides, has a beautiful vaulted wooden roof in the middle of which hangs Jeff Koons’ huge, 3000 pound golden heart, ten feet wide and dangling nine feet above the heads of diners. In the restaurant, guests can choose from a variety of sandwiches, salads and a few hot dishes for lunch daily, except on Tuesdays when the museum is closed, and dinner on Wednesdays and Fridays.

The park surrounding the museum is filled with trees, flowering plants and sculptures complementing the landscape. More than three miles of trails, each offering different plant life and terrain, meander through the Ozark forest and are open year round.

Robert Indiana, “Love” (Cor-Ten steel)

Admission to the museum is free, and it has brought a sense of excitement to Bentonville and the surrounding communities. Programs and classes for adults and children are part of the lure, as are the temporary exhibits and concerts. Children, many of whom have never been to a museum, are bussed in from surrounding states.

Bentonville

Bentonville itself is a lively small town, with a pretty square with a statue of a Confederate soldier in its center. The brick buildings encircling the square house shops, galleries, restaurants and the Walmart Visitors Center, located in Sam Walton’s original Five and Dime store, established in 1950. The Visitors Center, which includes a gift shop, is a small museum of the Walmart history and Sam Walton’s rise to fame and fortune. It includes cabinets filled with artifacts based on Walton’s autobiography as well as interactive displays

Other sites of interest are The Peel Mansion and the Museum of Native Americans. The former is an 1875 Italianate villa built by Colonel Samuel Peel, the first native-born Arkansan to be elected to the United States Congress. On the site is a pre-Civil War log cabin, and an outdoor museum of heritage roses, perennials and native plants. The Museum of Native Americans begins its exhibition with Paleo objects through the Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and Historic periods, including a large display of stone tools and arrowheads.

On the first Friday of every month, music, crafts and food take over the central square, which is home to an extensive farmers’ market every Saturday morning. The First Fridays also include outdoor movies and musical entertainment. The town has a lively art scene, and there are murals to enjoy in the downtown area, many painted by Bentonville’s children.

Bentonville’s renaissance has brought about a flourishing of dining options and an “art” hotel. The 21C Museum boutique hotel opened in 2013. The hotel’s special feature is contemporary art work throughout the public rooms, the outdoor spaces and the hallways. The art changes every six months. The rooms are very contemporary but with only a single reproduction on the walls. The real art is downstairs, as are the big green penguins that show up at odd times in odd places, including sometimes at your table in the dining room, the Hive, which offers diners a sophisticated meal of contemporary American dishes. A nature trail leads from the hotel through the Crystal Bridges Museum park to the entrance of the museum.

Armando Marino, “The Raft” (wheel-less body of 1950 Plymouth supported by
Cuban legs “on the march”)

Just down from the central square, the Tusk & Trotter is an informal restaurant, serving a variety of pork cuts, including fried pig ear chips, as well as traditional American dishes.

For breakfast, the Station Cafe, owned like much in town by the Walmart Company, is the place to go. It’s a folksy, colorful spot with early twentieth century decor, small booths with tables covered in checkered oilcloth, good coffee and fresh eggs.

There are half a dozen cafes on the square and on First Fridays, Bentonville celebrates with food trucks parked around the central square offering ethnic and American foods. At the end of the Walmart Center tour is an old fashioned soda fountain where a visitor can still get a heaping scoop of delicious ice cream for 99 cents.

A few miles east of Bentonville is Rogers, where the first Walmart store opened in 1962. Rogers is home of the Daisy Airgun Museum, which displays guns dating from 1888 to the present, including a World War II exhibit. Its gift shop sells limited edition guns. Rogers has a major indoor arts and crafts festival in the spring and in the fall in the Frisco Station Mall.

Between Rogers and Eureka Springs, just off Highway 12, is the War Eagle gristmill, built originally in 1832. Thrice destroyed, first by flood and then by fire, the mill was finally rebuilt in 1973 and is the only working mill in Arkansas. The mill is powered by an 18 foot cypress waterwheel.

The site is home to the War Eagle Craft and Culinary fair and the Sharp’s Shaw fair that take place at the same time in early May and mid-October. Both feature crafts of all kinds, food and music, as well as antiques.

A little music at the War Eagle Craft Fair

Eureka Springs

Eureka Springs is a mountain town of some 2,000 inhabitants, many of them artists. The town’s streets meander up and down the hills, never intersecting. They are lined with beautiful Victorian houses and cottages, many of which are bed and breakfast inns. Since its founding in 1879, the town has attracted tourists, initially for its healing spring water, and now for its shops and galleries offering the work of local artists and craftsmen and women. The healing spring waters were known to the American Indians long before the town’s official founding.

Since Eureka Springs became a major tourist attraction in the Ozarks, the dining scene has become upscale and sophisticated. Perhaps the best restaurant in town is the Grand Taverne, located in the Grand Central Hotel. The restaurant has the atmosphere of an old Victorian establishment, but the cooking is sophisticated, contemporary American cuisine. The restaurant serves dinner only, and on weekends, dinner is accompanied by a pianist playing show tunes and popular songs of decades past.

Another excellent restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine at slightly lower prices for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, is Local Flavor. While Local Flavor doesn’t have the charm of the Grand Taverne dining room, it serves food that’s first rate. The restaurant is popular with locals and visitors alike and tends to have long waiting lists on weekends and for Sunday brunch.

A delightful spot for breakfast, a ‘burger or an afternoon drink is the balcony on the second floor of the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. On Fridays, a fish fry is served all day long. On one side of the balcony, guests have a perfect view of the shops on Spring Street, and the comings and goings on the street. On the side of the hotel facing Basin Spring Park, guests have a clear view of the little park and the spring that gives the town its name. Many events take place in the park.

A highlight of events is the early May, Eureka Springs’ Artrageous parade when artists dance down Spring Street to everyone’s delight. Locals and tourists line the streets to watch the costumed members of the artists’ colony entertain the populace.

Another major attraction is the summer long Great Passion Play with its cast of 170 actors and dozens of live animals, but the town also offers music festivals, craft and antique fairs and even a summer Opera of the Ozarks, which produced Mozart, Puccini and Sondheim operas this past summer in the Fine Arts Center. Eureka Springs is also a good place to buy hand-made quilts; the Quilt Shop in the center of town has a large selection of beautiful (and expensive) hand sewn quilts.

The Crescent Hotel & Spa is Eureka Springs’ grand old hotel, built in 1886. The renovated hotel has retained its 19th century character, including the 14 foot ceilings in the Crystal Ballroom, the elegant lobby and the verandas on which guests can enjoy the fresh Ozark air. The hotel is known as America’s most haunted hotel and offers nightly ghost tours.

About three miles outside Eureka Springs en route back to the airport along Highway 62 is the Thorncrown Chapel, a magnificent wooden structure rising 48 feet up into the Ozark forest. The chapel contains 425 windows and over 6,000 feet of glass. It sits atop 100 tons of native stone and colored flagstone. The chapel, designed by Arkansas architect E. Fay Jones, a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright, was the dream of Jim Reed, who purchased the site with the intention of building his retirement home. Instead, he decided to give wayfarers a place to relax and enjoy the beautiful Ozark scenery. Don’t miss it.

As for Dogpatch, it may still be on the map of Northwest Arkansas, but it never was a real place. Dogpatch was a themed amusement park, based on characters created by Al Capp in his “L’il Abner” comic strip. It opened in 1968, and closed in 1993. All that is left today are ruins with grasses growing and leaves blowing through the remnants. It never was the real Arkansas to begin with.

If You Go:

• Crystal Bridges Museum
• 21C Museum Hotel
• Bentonville
• Craft Fairs
• Eureka Springs
• Thorncrown Chapel
• Northwest Arkansas

This article was first published on 2017.

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Svalbard, Norway – Wildlife

As late as 1990 there was virtually no tourism to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Located between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, Svalbard was first the place for explorers, then whalers and coal miners. But thanks to companies like Hurtigruten – the Norwegian Coastal Voyage, it is now on the tourist map for the whole world to see. My adventure began aboard the coastal steamer MS Nordstjernen from Longyearbyen – the most northern city in the world. Heading northwest, I experienced breathtaking fjords, calving glaciers, unique animal and plant life, and a midnight sun that refused to go down. Over 60% of the archipelago consists of national parks, nature reserves, and bird or plant sanctuaries. Only four land mammals can survive on this barren tundra: the Svalbard reindeer, the Arctic fox, the Svalbard mouse and the polar bear – which has become the very symbol of Svalbard. The largest living land carnivore, they are considered the only animal that actively hunts humans. Actual encounters with this mighty species are rare, but their presence is felt all around. Visitors cannot leave settlements without a weapon or armed guide, and instructions are given on what to do with an unexpected encounter. From the deck of the vessel, I spotted a mother and her cub sleeping on an iceberg. After a couple of restless nights of my own, I would have liked to have asked them how they managed to sleep through the midnight sun.

Tahiti & Her Islands – Cuisine

The first thing you notice is the fragrance. The intoxicating perfume of the tiara flower announces to your senses that you are in a tropical world, overflowing with island vegetation and soothing trade winds. Indigenous Tahitian cuisine features what’s available from the land and sea. With such a plethora of fresh fruit and fish, it is virtually impossible to starve on the islands. Due to presence of the French (Tahiti is part of French Polynesia) there is a delectable hybrid of French and Polynesian creations. Coconut milk and vanilla – much stronger than the vanilla found in Mexico – are incorporated in many of the dishes. Poisson Cru, tuna cured in lime juice with chopped green onions, cucumbers and tomatoes; and Fife, a chicken stew with spinach-like taro leaves are among my favorites. The taro root (more flavorful than Hawaiian poi) is boiled like potatoes and not pounded. Breadfruit, sweet potatoes, and plantains also offer typical island starch fare. Mangoes, bananas, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, guava, sour sop and pummelo are in abundance. From the lagoons come parrotfish, perch, and mullet; from the open sea the freshest of tuna, bonito, Wahoo, scad and mahi mahi. For an insightful overview of these gastronomic delights, visit the main market in downtown Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. Bon appétit!

Corfu, Greece – Literature

In Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey, the mythical Greek character Odysseus builds a raft and attempts to return to his home island of Ithaca. But Odysseus’ enemy, Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, unleashes a storm and the raft is destroyed. Half-drowned, Odysseus washes ashore on the island of Corfu. He staggers into an olive grove and collapses. My arrival on Corfu was a slightly different experience. Poseidon must have been smiling for the seas were calm and shimmering. And my mode of transportation was the 360 feet long luxury sailing vessel the, Star Clipper – but my thoughts were colored by Homer in preparation for my arrival. In the story, Odysseus is found by a local family who nurse him back to health. Soon he tells the family of his 20-year odyssey, which began with his departure for the Trojan War. Homer, a traveling blind minstrel, articulates the narrative orally in “heroic hexameter” – known as a form of meter in poetry or rhythmic scheme. His approach to the story is considered by many a landmark in literature as the first-time most of a story is told in flashback. Today, odyssey means ‘an extended adventurous voyage or spiritual quest.’ I’ve often wondered how Odysseus was pronounced in Greek. So with a look of a surprise when the question was proposed to a local resident, I was told, ‘O-da-Say-us,’ of course!”

Venice – Romance

Arriving in Venice on a sweltering summer morning is similar to negotiating Disneyland on opening day. Hordes of day-tripping tourists pour into the city in search of Venice’s seemingly endless attractions that include San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace, fish market, various boat excursions on the Grand Canal, and a sampling of Venice’s famed seafood and risotto. With a dwindling population of 90,570 designated as permanent ‘lagoon city’ residents, it has been said that every door in Venice now leads to a shop. But who was I to complain – after all, I was a tourist too, and Venice now belongs to the world. For many, the centerpiece of a trip to Venice is taking a gondola ride on one of its many canals. It is touristic, can be expensive and you’ll find a plethora of hungry gondoliers anxious to take you on a short trip. My advice is to wait until the sun goes down, when most tourists have left the island, and taking a gondola ride on the quiet, back canals, avoiding bumper to bumper gondolas during the daytime. Riding on canals in less touristic areas allows you see a different perspective of the city. The best way to do it is to walk a few blocks off the Grand Canal and look for a gondolier who is anxious to please. At that point, you can choose what neighborhood you want to explore. A standard gondola ride is 40 minutes – and yes, to my surprise, it was romantic. The gondolier even honored my request to refrain from singing as he gently maneuvered the gondola through Venice’s  back canals.

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Thanks to Greg of Fontana, CA

Raoul’s 2 Cents. October 9, 2026

I Think I’m Turning Japanese

As you read this email, I will be somewhere in the streets of Osaka, Japan. I still wanted to make sure you had something to smile about this Friday.

My group has been to Kobe, Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Tokyo, and surrounding areas. There are a lot of temples here. They said the reason for so many different temples was because Buddhism has several different sects and politics is not far behind these beliefs. This is an indication that power struggle has existed since the dawn of time.

The Japanese culture lives up to its reputation as a disciplined, advanced, quirky and fascinating country. The US dollar goes a long way here. The restaurant prices are similar (if not cheaper) than in California. Wagyu beef, shrimp, fish, crabs, oysters are in abundant supply. There’s a restaurant in every corner. Prices, style of cooking, amount of serving are similar to each other. Somehow, they all seem to survive. 

The Japanese culture lives up to its reputation as a disciplined, advanced, quirky and fascinating country. The US dollar goes a long way here. The restaurant prices are similar (if not cheaper) than in California. Wagyu beef, shrimp, fish, crabs, oysters are in abundant supply. There’s a restaurant in every corner. Prices, style of cooking, amount of serving are similar to each other. Somehow, they all seem to survive. 

I wouldn’t mind moving here … at least for a year or two. I could work digitally from here. But friends and family are home in the USA. I guess no matter where you are, no matter how interesting and attractive a place may be, home is where the heart is. 

I’ll be writing an article in TravelingBoy.com when I get back home. I’ll give you tips and share images. See you next week. Same time. Same channel.

TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“In Japan, robots are so advanced, they probably apologize for bumping into you. .”

— Anonymous

“I’m pretty sure my washing machine in Japan is smarter than me.”

— Kelly Jones

“I saw a vending machine in Japan that sold hot corn soup. I didn’t even know that was a thing.”

— Anonymous

“The Japanese are masters of creating adorable things that are secretly terrifying.”

— Anonymous

“I tried to ask for the bathroom in Japan, but I accidentally asked for a bowl of rice.”

— Anonymous

“The Japanese are masters of understatement. They can make a joke so subtle, you’ll miss it entirely.”

— Anonymous

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

— Romans 12:2

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

— Proverbs 3: 5-6

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Ken of La Habra, Jason of Eagle Rock, Jan of Alhambra, and Debra of Sydney.

SUBSCRIBE

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

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Imagine a sunny morning when you’re about to leave home for a long-desired road trip. You’ve picked your destination, planned out your route, and packed up your car. While nowadays road trips are easier to plan and undertake thanks to modern vehicles and the equipment they carry, the road isn’t as predictable as the destination may be. Because of the conveniences modern vehicles offer, travelers are better prepared to navigate through different weather conditions during one journey.

Although road trippers may keep in mind that temperatures and road conditions change across regions and elevations, they may still be surprised by heavy rain, colder temperatures, mountain road conditions, or unexpected snow. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, especially when traveling through different areas of the country. However, being prepared can help you avoid even the slightest weather-related inconvenience on your next road trip.

Today’s Road Trips Are More Weather-Dependent

The main reason road trips are so popular is the flexibility and spontaneity they offer, something you don’t get when you book a flight. Cross-country road trips, like taking Route 66, offer a unique experience that travelers increasingly enjoy. Mountain getaways and winter escapes become more fun when you start in a sunny place and then travel up a snow-covered mountain. Everyone enjoys a beautiful scenic fall foliage drive, especially when taken through a national park. Whether you go on a spontaneous weekend adventure or plan a coastal-to-inland journey, being well prepared for different weather conditions is the key to a successful trip. As travelers take longer, more diverse trips to see as many attractions as possible, changes in elevation and geography can dramatically affect road conditions.

Why Traditional “All-Season” Thinking Isn’t Always Enough

Preparing for a road trip isn’t just about packing your bags and mapping out routes. Your car needs just as much preparation as you do. The main reason why all season tires are the most common choice is that they can be perfectly suitable in moderate climates. However, while all season tires are designed for different everyday weather conditions, travelers who regularly encounter genuine winter conditions prefer tires with additional snow capability, like all weather tires. This is because all weather tires hit the sweet spot between standard all season tires and dedicated winter tires.

The Technical Difference – Why All Weather Tires Matter

There are plenty of reasons why all weather tires are more convenient for frequent travelers who drive through different weather conditions. They feature a more winter-oriented, aggressive tread design with extra siping that helps the tire grip slush, wet roads, and light-to-moderate snow. Additionally, they use special rubber compounds that help the tire stay effective across a broader temperature range.

All weather tires carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, which is an official winter rating that proves that a tire meets official performance and safety standards for severe snow. The 3PMSF designation indicates that a tire meets standardized snow-traction performance standards, but it does not mean it performs like a dedicated winter tire in every snowy or icy situation.

One Set of Tires, More Freedom to Explore

Maybe you like frequent weekend getaways, or you are planning a longer road trip that will take you across multiple states. This is where having a single set of tires comes in handy because you don’t have to plan your trips around seasonal tire changes. You don’t have to worry about taking your car in to get the tires changed depending on the season, and you don’t have to worry about storing a second set. With a single set of tires, you can load up your vehicle and stop worrying that bad weather will force you to change your itinerary. Overall, having the right equipment gives you more confidence on a long trip that takes you through different weather zones.

Where All Weather Tires Make the Most Sense for Travelers

Maybe you live in a sunny valley and need to drive across a cold, snowy mountain road to get to your office or class. Or you’ve decided to visit a national park, which means you’ll need to take long routes, cross multiple elevations, and go through different weather systems. Perhaps you visit family members every week, and this takes you between warmer and colder regions frequently. Some travel for work or school, some for family obligations, and some simply for leisure, and everyone hates canceling a trip because of bad weather.

Know Their Limits

All their benefits aside, all weather tires also have certain drawbacks. While they are an excellent choice for light-to-moderate snow, they are not suitable for every weather condition. In severe snow, ice, or prolonged winter conditions, it’s better to use dedicated winter tires as they provide superior ice and snow traction and maintain excellent flexibility in freezing weather. Even though all weather tires are suitable for a range of weather conditions, it’s always best to consider your destination, climate, and route, as well as your vehicle type and driving habits. It’s also recommended to carefully inspect your tires before each trip. Check their condition by inspecting tread depth, punctures, scuffs, and pressure, and always make sure you have the correct tire size.

The Road Ahead: Preparing for the Journey, Not Just the Destination

While we go on a trip to reach a certain destination, being on the road is a major part of the experience. Modern-day road trips require flexibility, but travelers enjoy them because they can be spontaneous. Some of the best memories come from switching up the plan and taking an unexpected turn to see a fun attraction or a beautiful sight.

We cannot control the weather, but we can prepare for a long-distance trip by checking the forecast and ensuring our vehicle is properly equipped. As long as the vehicle is set up correctly, including the tires, we shouldn’t be apprehensive about our next trip.

• About the Author: Moughees Butt

  “Thirst to learn and explore till he finds ecstasy” are Moughees’s pivot charms! He loves to craft and comprehend deeply anything happens around!

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In a warm July afternoon in 2013 following a 32-hour flight, Thomas Lee, a prominent Southern California dentist, and his wife Lita, first set foot in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, a landlocked country in central-east Africa with a populace in great need. The couple were beginning a passionate, heartfelt mission along with the Lees’ 17-year-old son Nathan, five medical doctors, a nurse, pharmacist, four support staff, and the Lee’s pastor and his wife.

The Lee’s were greatly aware, as is the world, of Rwanda’s appalling past. In 1994 a government-sponsored genocide unfolded during which an estimated 800,000-plus ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by dominant Hutu forces, and some 300,000 children were left orphaned.

The Lees’ first impressions of Kigali were of having been propelled backward fifty years in time. They observed vast throngs of people moving about on the streets, many clutching yellow plastic water buckets, deftly evading swarms of chaotic motor scooters negotiating for space, while a thick blanket of gray clouds combined with a choking haze of dust and gas fumes covered the landscape.

Working tirelessly on the comeback trail from its horrendous past, the Republic of Rwanda, bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is among the smallest countries on the African mainland, and slightly smaller than the state of Maryland. With few natural resources, the country’s economy is overwhelmingly based on subsistence agriculture. Coffee and tea lead the major exports.

Rwanda’s stunning landscape

Rwanda boasts one of the highest population densities on the continent, and yet the average life expectancy of men there is just 54 years. The country lacks a concrete social and medical infrastructure for the disadvantaged, which unquestionably contributes to the low life expectancy and was one of the factors that drew the Lees to Rwanda.

The faces of Rwanda’s future

The Lees were discussing a much-needed vacation from their busy and demanding “Leading Edge” dental office in Granada Hills, California. The office, designed by personable Dr. Lee, an avid jazz aficionado and University of California Berkeley alumni, is reminiscent of a boutique art gallery with rare photos of jazz musicians and posters decorating the walls, along with some striking images of Rwanda.

Following a long work day and with jazz playing in the background Lee remembers that “it was my 50th birth year, and our 25th wedding anniversary and I was discussing with Lita places to visit–possibly someplace we’ve never been, do something off the chart, set aside two weeks and climb Kilimanjaro, or go on a safari. Then in January, 2013, on an unforgettable Sunday at church our lives were forever touched when we listened to the testimony of Rwandan, Jean Claude Rwagasore, and his incredible survival of the genocide as a 12-year-old-orphan.”

Dr. Lee kneels in prayer with a young Rwandan boy

After a long pause Lee continues, “Jean Claude, now an esteemed Rwandan attorney and Director of Best Family, shared his life story about how he and three young orphan boys the same age came together on the streets to share and survive. Quickly the orphan group became eight and rapidly expanded, eventually becoming the starting point of Best Family Rwanda” A stirring power today, Best Family Rwanda is a ministry dedicated to making Jesus known to the orphaned children in Rwanda through holistic development.

“Incredibly, during this time,” Lee explains, “another orphan came to Jean Claude and Best Family pleading for help and was warmly accepted, though during the height of the genocide, while Jean Claude hid in a closet, he watched the orphan’s father murder Jean Claude’s father and sister; his mother was lost in the chaos on the streets.”

“After all this,” Dr. Lee said, “I quickly put aside the safari, Kilimanjaro and all the rest, and realized I needed to do something for those in need of help. I was struggling to ask Lita if she would like to go to Africa, and to my surprise she mentioned it first.”

Dr. Lee begins his work as curious Rwandan children look on

Dr. Lee said that he had no clear ideas about Rwanda, but it was like God was speaking to both him and his wife, a strong voice from above calling out, and it was at that moment their hearts were moved to travel half-way around the world to Africa to serve at an orphanage and share the dental expertise Dr. Lee had to offer.

Dr. Lee and his small dental staff

“We prayed, and decided with great fervor that Rwanda would be our personal mission. My 50th birth year and celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary would take place in Rwanda. I felt this is what I was created for: to help the children of Africa.

Dr. Lee performs a procedure on a stricken Rwandan woman

Another confirmation took place when a church member at the Garden Christian Fellowship in Chatsworth asked us if we would be interested in a mission to Africa treating orphans.”

On that memorable first trip to Rwanda, after a prayer breakfast, Dr. Lee, along with his team, set up his portable dental chair, surgical light and equipment, and organized a clinic in Kigali’s Nyarugunga sector. They connected with a pastor who is providing education and Christian training at his small school for poor children who were roaming the streets aimlessly, had no money for public school, and were in great need. Moving to the Gasharu sector working with Best Family, Dr. Lee treated widows and victims of the genocide.

During that first two-week mission the Lees were floored to see hundreds of people, many with throbbing pain in their mouths, patiently waiting for help. In Gisenyi, close to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the team set-up in the Noel Orphanage which houses some 800 children. The staff were so lacking in help that they asked some of the team members to hold small children ages six months to one year for 15-minutes in order for the children to experience meaningful human contact. Regardless of the ongoing difficulties, the Lees found the people to be calm, a smile on their face, quietly waiting in line, exceedingly polite, soft-spoken, and considering their history, cheerful.

“I was seeing about twenty patients a day, and despite the long days, if someone is in bad shape I can’t just let them walk away. A young man was in great pain suffering with an infected wisdom tooth that was impacted sideways in the gums. It took almost two-hours to extract, but it was a great feeling to see a smile on his face.

“At the tail end of the last day I noticed a lady in her mid-20s, the left side of her face badly swollen, with a high fever, and breast-feeding a two-year old baby. I removed two badly infected teeth and administered antibiotics. If I hadn’t been there for her she would have died. She had nothing to eat in three days and was in appalling shape. It was an incredible feeling to know that I saved someone’s life. With only 28 dentists in the entire country and with the average wage two dollars a day, and the charge for a filling $40, dental care for most Rwandans is out of the question.”

July 2016 will see the Lees’ third mission to Rwanda. Together with the medical team, they will be providing medical and dental treatment, holding a soccer camp for the children, teaching Bible-based lessons, and scouting for a location to set up a community dental clinic in a few years, which will be dedicated to providing free dental treatment for the orphans, vulnerable children and widows.

“Regrettably, sodas and candy are a special treat in Rwanda,” Dr. Lee said, “Therefore the country is badly in need of preventive education. My goal is to find bright students and send them to dental school to set up dental clinics and establish a dental center to train dentists,” Broadly smiling, “For me, all of this is imprinting in Rwanda the footprints of God. I will be striving to heal and bless the children though gospel-centered health care ministry. This is my calling.”

While the Genocide is forever a concern, the other side of Rwanda, seen through the far-reaching eyes of tourism, is a land of steep mountains, deep valleys, and numerous lakes, and is home to elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebras, leopards, and friendly people. The country is a noted destination for those who covet the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the rare mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in the far northwest of the country. The gorillas somehow survived the war-torn period though other animals were not so lucky.

With Christianity the largest religion, and official languages English, French and Rwanda’s melodic Kinyariwanda, Rwanda offers an opportunity for those planning a holiday to make very special memories. Dr. Lee and Lita, who have yet to see the gorillas, have found their calling there and feel enormously blessed.

Dr. and Mrs. Lee with the children of Rwanda, each holding a toothbrush kit

His Hands On Africa

The Lee’s through the newly established non-profit organization, His Hands on Africa, are working towards providing scholarships to dental schools, build free community dental clinics, establish a superlative dental center to provide dental care and training for young dentists who will be future leaders in Rwanda, and eventually send out these dentists to other African countries in need of help. For more information on how you can help the children of Rwanda please go to, www.hishandsonafrica.org

This article was originally published in 20013.

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There was not a hint of litter on the street. Mexican children frolicked on the beach. Los Pacenos (La Paz natives) offered gentle smiles as they jogged past me along the Malecón – La Paz’s bay-front boardwalk that stretches along the historic downtown. It was hard to take it all in with the sun setting on the glimmering Sea of Cortez, which Jacques Cousteau christened “the world’s aquarium,” with one of the planet’s most abundant ecosystems.

I had it all wrong. US Government warnings have repeatedly alerted us to watch our backs in Mexico. Yet La Paz (“The Peace”) experiences only a fraction of the robbery, rape, assault and murder found in most US cities, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. With ten universities, statistics also indicate that it is the most educated and affluent city per capita in all of Mexico.

Once a sleepy fishing village nestled along the protected waters of Southeast Baja Sur, La Paz was put on the radar when immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novella, “The Pearl” in 1947. Sportspeople journeyed from around the globe for the deep sea bounty of marlin, Dorado, roosterfish and yellowtail. This component of tourism is still very much alive today, and so are snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and eco-tours. For lovers of sea life, it is the dream of all dreams.

The UNESCO-protected site, Isla Espiritu Santo, features 32 species of reptiles and 89 species of birds.

A day-long boat tour with Fun Baja was an experience that I will never forget. The day was spent snorkeling with sea lions and whales, just off Isla Espiritu Santo, followed by a catered picnic lunch of local seafood at Espiritu Santo Beach.

After an afternoon of kayaking and swimming, the boat tour continued for a look at native bird estuaries and historical attractions.

Despite the fact that La Paz is the capital city of Baja California Sur with a population of 220,000 it still maintains the charm of ‘Old Mexico,’ with quaint shops, museums, galleries, markets and restaurants serving indigenous food. But if you want action, there’s a dazzling nightlife with cafes, clubs and bars. Plus if you desire to take it to a higher party level, Los Cabos on the southern-most tip of Baja Sur, is just a scenic two-hour drive away.

I think, though, what I liked best was the openness and gentle spirit of the Los Pacenos. They seem genuinely happy you’re enjoying their city and seeing why they have chosen to live in La Paz.

What to Eat

The Baja is the birthplace of the fish taco, served with the above mentioned fresh seafood caught that very day by local boats. The chocolate clam gets its name from the shell’s brown color, and is eaten alive with a twist of lime. If the clam doesn’t flinch after a lime twist, it’s best to move on to the next one on your plate. Another treat is the ‘hotdogueros,’ a La Paz hot dog, wrapped in bacon and topped with grilled onions, jalapeno ketchup and peppers. This should be all washed down with a Baja-style cerveza – beer on ice with lime juice and a salt rimmed glass. The beer of choice? Baja California’s own Tecate.

Where I Stayed

CostaBaja Resort & Spa redefines luxury. The centerpiece of the 550-acre CostaBaja development, it is the first 5-star resort in La Paz. The resort is just ten minutes from downtown, set on the Sea of Cortez overlooking a 250-slip double-basin marina and a white sand beach. What was I doing there? The 115-room hotel offers a selection of ocean, mountain, marina and golf course views. Yes, golf course views.

Mexico’s only Gary Player-designed 18 hole golf course meanders from hilltops to sea level with stunning water views just steps from the resort. Built into the landscape, as opposed to the opposite, this very ‘green’ course only utilizes desalinated water. The resort is also home to Steinbeck´s restaurant, and the first spa in La Paz, which features locally-inspired treatments. A dip in one of the three luxurious pools is not a bad way to end a day of activities.

Retirees and Real Estate

By 2020 as many as two million foreign retirees will make Mexico their home, according to the Mexican Federal Tourism Ministry. CNN Money Magazine and the New York Times recently named La Paz one of the top ten places in the world to retire. Mainland Mexicans, Canadian and US tourist are visiting La Paz in droves, then buying second homes or becoming full-time residents. For American retirees, a Yankee pension goes a long way in Mexico. Come to think of it, maybe I should consider retiring there, too.

This article was originally published on 2009

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