First of all, there’s nothing to worry about. Raoul just went on a very long vacation of sorts. He went to Dalipuga, a small village in Southern Philippines. He’s there to take care of his 94 year old father who was reported to be in fading health. You can read about this adventurous trip here in TravelingBoy.com.

He didn’t intend to stop sending his Friday emails. But when he attempted to log into his email program, he was locked out because of a 2-Step verification he had set up. He turned off “roaming data” on his cell phone so now he cannot access his account’s text messages.

I’m sure there’s a way around this but Raoul thinks maybe it’s time to have a “real” vacation … the first in over a decade. So please be patient for his return in the beginning of July.

Thank you for your loyalty.

The post Where’s My TGIF? appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I’m going to share a very personal and practical account of my travel from Los Angeles, California, USA to Dalipuga, Lanao del Norte: Mindanao, Philippines. I hope this will help many post pandemic travelers as they access the globe. You will find more tips at the end of the article.

David Z was my Lyft driver to LAX (Uber drivers were available but they were about $5 more expensive). If you’re in Los Angeles, I highly recommend David Z. He drove a 4-door sedan, but it reminded me of a mini-limousine. Because of the pandemic, we still had to be cautious and roll down the windows (no AC) and David had a wide transparent plastic sheet separating passenger from driver. He even fashioned black curtains on the passenger windows in case his customers want to be protected from the sun. He had a small video player to project my choice of Spotify music. The one thing that amused me the most was a small passenger table made of a glass bowl on a carpet with a complimentary bottled water in the center and candies around it. I found out that he graduated from Alabama and came to LA to produce video shows. Fate brought us together because I patched him up with one of my clients who was looking for people like him. We hugged when he dropped me off at the airport.

CHECK IN AT LAX

I had to show my passport, proof of vaccination and a 2-day old negative Covid Test result. I was surprised that I needed a Philippine Health pass. My online research didn’t mention any need for that. Fortunately, I was directed to a website that allowed me to fill it up online (www.onehealthpass.com.ph). This hassle reminded me of a few days earlier when I dropped by the AAA (Automotive Association of America) in Alhambra, CA to inquire about the necessary documents for Philippine travel and the sales agent tried to sell me Travel Insurance claiming it was still required by the Philippine government because of COVID. I was suspicious so I asked him to show me where it said it was required and (surprise! surprise!) he couldn’t find evidence to his claim. I saved myself a couple hundred dollars. I don’t trust AAA anymore. 

WHAT TO WEAR 

For the long flight, wear something lose and comfortable. Tight clothes will only make you squirm even more. Many travelers wear shorts and T-shirts. Be prepared for back and butt sores. Unless you’re traveling in First Class, the regular seats do not have thick cushions. After a few hours it will feel like sitting on a wooden chair without any pillows.

SLEEP

There’s plenty of entertainment on each seat but you will tire and want to sleep during long flights like this. I don’t find those neck pillows helpful at all. So I got myself a gartered eye mask that loops around the back of the airline headrest. This is perfect. It prevented my head from bobbing up and down. And I wore my N5 Face mask which kept my mouth shut.

BAGGAGE

Most flights (especially international flights) allow one hand carry and two baggage with a max of 70 lbs each (check the website of your own airline). But if you will be transferring planes, you should really consider the rules of the local flights where they tend to have smaller weight allowances to avoid paying hefty overweight fees. In my case, Singapore airlines allowed two baggage while Cebu Pacific Air (a Philippine airline) only allowed one baggage and a lighter maximum weight. I had to pay for the extra bag and extra weight. Plan around the least common denominator (i.e., base your baggage allowance on the more restrictive airline) and avoid unexpected fees.

For your hand carry, use as big a bag as allowed. An expandable knapsack will do just fine. If your baggage tips the scale over the limit, you can transfer your extra weight into your knapsack.  Fortunately, I found that the people at the check-in counter aren’t that particular about weighing your bags. They don’t charge you for going ten pounds over. It seems to be an unwritten rule to be lax about the weight.

I was planning to bring a guitar but my sister said that would be considered an extra carry on. That wasn’t true. You could bring your guitar and the flight attendant would park it somewhere in front with no extra charge. They do it for baby carriages and wheelchairs too. 

AT THE SCANNING MACHINE

Belts, shoes, wallets, cell phones, shoes and coins need to be placed in a basket to be scanned. Laptops also need to be placed in a separate basket. iPads can remain inside your carry on. It’s best to wear comfortable slip-on shoes or you will be tying your shoes in the middle of the frenzy. 

SINGAPORE LAYOVER

I passed the international date line and was on my second day of travel from Los Angeles to Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. If your cell phone is set to point out your geographic location your clock automatically adjusts to local time. To save your sanity don’t worry about how much time you’ve lost or gained… the only time that really matters is the local time because that’s what everybody else around you is functioning by. This is very important to know especially if you have a connecting flight. You don’t want to miss your flight.

After 11 grueling hours I arrived at the Singapore airport at 3 a.m. It was a ten-hour layover before my connecting flight to Manila. I was excited to land in this airport because of the videos I saw about how cool this airport was. But to my horror, the waterfall and eateries were closed until just about the time I had to depart. 

TWILIGHT ZONE

I stepped into the Twilight Zone where and time needs to reset. The airport at the wee hours of the morning is when pilots, stewardesses, ground crew, and other airplane personnel go to dreamland. I imagine this is where passengers who opt for the bargain flights are dumped, where toys wake up and where dogs and cats start walking with their hind legs and engage in intelligent conversation. The whole complex airport building was eerie and empty. There were other stragglers like me sleeping in different corners of the airport. It’s first-come-first-serve at the sleeping lounge where there were comfortable lounge chairs. Most sleepy heads created make-shift beds by pulling chairs together. The lazy ones simply slept on the carpet floor using their bags as pillows. Security guards and cameras follow you wherever you go. It was safe to sleep in any little corner of the empty airport and not worry about theft.

Inviting though the aroma of warm Ramen was, I resisted the temptation because I didn’t want the hassle of exchanging currency I would never use again. Besides, I’m used to fasting and skipping meals, so this was not a problem for me. Starbucks Coffee, 7-Eleven and a few local establishments were open but one would need to exchange one’s currency to Singapore dollars to purchase anything. Surprisingly there was one Foreign Exchange booth (with a real person working) near the D section claiming to convert currency with zero commission. If you ever do need to exchange currency in the Singapore airport, this is the only one of its kind.

Singapore is a very cosmopolitan country with many ethnicities (I did notice a very strong presence of Asian-Indians traveling, but not sure why). In fact, my plane ride there was a microcosm of the United Nations. I sat in the middle seat. On my left was an older Vietnamese. On my right was a Cambodian. In front were Koreans. Behind was a Panamanian headed for Indonesia. Of course, some old wounds never heal; the Vietnamese didn’t want to talk to the Cambodian because he said their countries hated each other.

NINE HOURS LATER

Five hours into my Twilight Torture Chamber, my legs began to hurt from all the walking. I found a cozy cushiony chair near the Information Center and managed to grab a few winks.

I woke in a panic because the Schedule Board listed that my flight was leaving in 30 minutes. I made a dash for the departure gate and I saw the plane taxiing away from the retractable tunnel. The people from that section were walking out and I begged them to call the plane back. Well, it turned out that it was another flight after all. Although I had mud on my face, it was also a welcome relief.

To avoid confusion with my real flight, I decided to wait beside the designated departure area. There I found a bevy of Filipinos waiting patiently for the gate to open. I befriended two OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who were on their trip home for a much-needed vacation after years working in Milan, Italy. They shared their struggles and blessings working a lifetime away from their homeland. They both spoke fluent Italian; unconsciously saying “Si” instead of “Yes.” They said some OFWs are more fortunate than others (the unfortunate ones wound up in Middle Eastern countries where they are abused to this day). They spoke of one famous Italian actor (I think they said “Ronald”?) who adopted the child of one of his servants. They said the Italians (as a whole) were generous and decent employers. They had established a professional working environment where the OFWs paid taxes and fed into their Social Security (their retirement benefits would average about $600 a month by age 65). One of the women was able to bring her husband and her kids to Italy. The other had a son studying to be a doctor. The older woman suffered from cancer but believed it was now in remission. The one with her family in Milan turned out to be a member of the JIL church in the Philippines (Jesus Is Lord church). The older one had no concept of the spiritual bond I shared with the younger one. We were three peas in a pod sharing a yearning for home inside the vast travel bubble of the Singapore “Changi” Airport.

MANILA

Our Boeing jet plane circled the Manila landing strip for 20 minutes before we were allowed to land. Bad weather was to blame. I was getting panicky again because my final plane ride from Manila to Cagayan de Oro was leaving Manila in less than two hours upon landing. That meant I had to go through Immigration, Health Check and secure my baggage within that little window of time. I prayed. The long wait to deplane was excruciating. But to my delight, I breezed through all of the lines with more than an hour to spare. I guess it pays to be a senior citizen with an American passport and a big smile. Outside, domestic planes were lined up for takeoff because the storm delayed the departures as well.

As I settled in my final departure area, a woman was screaming at the top of her lungs with words I could not understand. Airport security and personnel surrounded her. Apparently, she was autistic and (nightmare of all nightmares) her plane left without her. The gentle Filipinos did not complain. All were deeply concerned. I prayed for her too.

We landed at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro at nine in the evening. A friendly face, Tata, our family’s trusted helper, was there to lead me to our family Isuzu Trooper. I was surprised to see my sickly father inside the Trooper waiting with our driver. They’d been waiting for two hours. Tata said my 94-year- old Dad insisted they prepare for the airport ride as early as six o’clock. My sweet Dad was that excited to see me.

It took us a good hour whizzing in and out past the slower vehicles to our ancestral home in Dalipuga, a small beach village on the Western side of Iligan City. I chatted with Tata and the driver along the way: me with my Americanized Tagalog (the Philippine national language) and they with their thick Visayan accent (the language of Southern Philippines). My Mom spoke Visaya so I grew up understanding but not speaking Visaya.

When the large faded blue steel gate opened, I knew I was home. It took about two days from Los Angeles to Dalipuga. And now the real adventure begins: immersing into a culture long forgotten and helping my aging Dad understand the real meaning of the Gospel before it’s too late. It’s a sad fact that not everyone will get to heaven. And no words of wisdom can change a person’s heart towards the Gospel. Real conversion comes from the Holy Spirit. With the short time I have with my Dad I will be sharing and I will be praying — and if he chooses to remain in his disbelief, at least I know it was never meant to be. This is what I believe. It’s that important to me. And this is why I traveled this far.

Booking Tips

• The closer you are to the date of departure, the more expensive it gets. But then comes a magical period when the airline has empty seats they’re just dying to give away and if you list yourself as a chance passenger, you can really get amazing discounts. My round trip ticket in Singapore airlines cost less than $900 (all inclusive) when I booked for a weekday departure four months prior. I checked and within a month off departure, it had already doubled.
• Check all your flight options going to and fro. Many airlines like Singapore Air and EVA Air (Taiwan) offer huge discounts if you decide to stopover in their country for several hours. What that means is you land in their country during their last flight and you stay inside the airport when most shops are closed and you walk around in zombie land till the flight crew wakes up. Uninviting though it may be, it forces you to have precious “alone time” for reflection of where you are in life with a backdrop of a different culture in God’s great kingdom.  

Local Air Booking

• Air travel in the Philippines is really just between three airlines: PAL (Philippine Airlines), Cebu Pacific Airlines and Air Asia. PAL, the flagship carrier of the Philippines, does international as well as domestic flights. Cebu Pacific and Air Asia are strictly local. Air Asia has the fewest routes. Local flights are about $50. Naturally, PAL is more modern and cleaner but I’ve had nightmares with PAL. The management system (at least five years ago) leaves a lot to be desired. One needs to really plan one’s itinerary well. Do that and life is beautiful. Make changes to the itinerary while you are on vacation and you release the dogs of hell. You can read all about it in my article about “The Crooks of Philippine Airlines” in T-Boy. 
• Throughout my trip, most of my fellow travelers kept their face masks on.
• I like to travel as inexpensively as possible. Doing so not only saves money but I get to mingle with the common crowd. Immersing into the culture is what traveling is all about for me.  Of course if you have money to spend, don’t bother with my tips.

Tech Tips

There are things we take for granted while living in America. We forget that technology may not be as advanced elsewhere. And if we aren’t careful, we may be unwittingly wasting money. When you get out of the US and Canadian borders here are things to remember:

• ROAMING CHARGES: Your US-based internet and cell phone providers will charge you about $2.05/MB, up to $3/min, $0.50/message sent, $130/photo or video message sent. So before you depart away from the US, be sure to disable your text and calls. Turn off your “DATA” in your settings or you will be charged every time you talk or text.
• ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION: Viber and WhatsApp are two popular apps you should download on your phone. They both allow you to text, talk and enjoy video calls to anyone in the world that has internet access. No extra charge. Of the two, Viber tends to shut down if idle for a minute or so. You do not have that problem with WhatsApp (this is definitely better). Be sure to inform people whom you want to communicate with (family, friends, business relations) while abroad to also download those Apps. Both parties need to use the same program. Viber and WhatsApp run on different technologies so they do not communicate with each other.
• No need to worry about email. As long as you turn your “DATA” off (to ensure you aren’t being charged for ROAMING), your cell phone will pick up your emails using available Wi-Fi (just like your laptop). This is free. Just be aware that any public Wi-Fi is not secure
• In developing countries like the Philippines, you can purchase data minutes at increments you choose. Rather than explain the details, it’s best you ask the locals. I just want to assure you that you can still use your cell phone if you really want or need to.
• Most airports are internet friendly. They have free Wi-Fi and offer several charging stations. You need to go to your SETTINGS and log on to their Wi-Fi. Most of the time you will need to give out your name and email address before you can avail of the free internet access. It’s not entirely free; you do get advertisement but that’s okay. Let me reiterate that using your phone or pad in public areas is not secure. If you can help it avoid doing any online banking or business.
• Be sure to tell your banking institution(s) that you will be traveling. Give them the dates so you won’t raise red flags with your purchases abroad.
• TWO STEP VERIFICATION. Your access to some of your favorite websites require two-step verification. While that is good when you are in the US, it may cause a problem when you are abroad if the verification code is sent via phone text. It’s best to have verification come in the form of email.

The post Long Road to Dalipuga: From Los Angeles to a Little Village in Southern Philippines appeared first on Traveling Archive.

As the brutal heat of summer assaults our lives as if we were a roast in an oven, FAVORITE BEACH DESTINATIONS has been selected for our new T-Boy Society of Film & Music’s poll. Research revealed that the origin of the word “beach” is somewhat ambiguous, ranging from the Old Norse bakki (bank, as of a stream) to the Old English baece (stream) to “beach,” a mutation of “bleach” (as stones are bleached by the sun and water). In the period of King Henry VIII, the English used the word specifically for a pebble beach because ‘strand’ sounded more like a sandy beach. The modern-day definition is simple: an expanse of sand or pebbles along the shore of an ocean, sea, large river, lake, etc. I did further research and found that tourists’ second favorite activity while on vacation is going to the beach. Yes, shopping is number one. Indeed, tourism is the main source of income for smaller nations, particularly those in the Caribbean, renowned for their charm and enchanting beaches. As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, tourism has been brutally impacted, and we wait for better days to come. But, until then, let’s take a journey and experience our FAVORITE BEACH DESTINATIONS from the past. — EB

A favorite beach is very much in the taste of the beholder. For some members it meant basking in the sun, water sports or a simple dip in the water, while other preferences included colder, windswept beaches like Washington State’s NW Pacific coast.

Favorite Beach Destinations and its Players

Richard Carroll — T-Boy writer:

• Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman — Seven Mile Beach on the west shore of the island just north of George Town is a glorious strand of soft coral sand though not quite reaching seven miles (5.5 miles), is a setting offering a marvelous opportunity to walk the entire length of the beach greeting visitors from throughout the world. At dusk, as the sun drops below the horizon, the beach changes from a seaside stroll to a warm sensuous waltz as the sparkle of each new light is reflected in the glassy Caribbean. Ranked among the world’s best beaches and a starting point for more than 150 classified dive and snorkeling sites, a Grand Cayman highlight.
• Honeymoon Beach, Turtle Island, Fiji — A small secluded beach seemingly tucked away in it’s own world of towering coco palms with a gentle surf, accompanied by the songs of unseen birds and the rush of a gentle offshore breeze, is a sensuous beach with passion to share.
• The Beaches of Los Cabos — The coastline at the tip of Baja, Land’s End, stretching from San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas and miles further, has a collection of beaches unlike anywhere in the world with unusually diverse personalities thanks to the mighty Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. On the Pacific side many are unswimmable due to unpredictable strong waves, undertows and rip tides. My favorites, dating to my first media trip in 1978, is Divorce Beach, Playa del Divorcio in Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side. Located behind Lover’s Beach which faces the Sea of Cortez, accessed by boat, greatly secluded, and also unswimmable, Divorcio is a beach to enhance the strength of nature and the beauty of Baja. A long-lasting Cabo favorite, Palmilla Beach is overseen by the One&Only Palmilla Resort in San Jose del Cabo on the Sea of Cortez. Palmilla is swimmable, a Baja beauty and a popular beach for fashion shoots.
• Ka’anapali Beach, Maui — Ka’anapali in West Maui catches the eye with a wide swath of deep sand 1.5 miles long, bordered by a walkway that is often filled with joggers and strollers. The all-encompassing beach with views of both cloud-draped Molokai, and Lanai which appears like a large whale up for air, are soothed by the Maui trade winds that flow east to west on the Ka’anapali side of the island. The channel is tagged “Whale Soup” when December 15th to mid-April visitors can lounge on the beach and enjoy the acrobatic humpbacks breaching and slapping the water as they mate and birth. Ka’anapali is ideal for families, swimmers and water play. The north end of the beach at Black Rock you can spend the day snorkeling.

Stephen Brewer — T-Boy writer:

• Red Beach Matala, Crete — If you want a beach that dishes up some mythology and history along with sand and sun, the Greek island of Crete is a good place to be.  In the south coast settlement of Matala, about 12,000 years ago early fishermen and farmers dug caves out of cliffs that rise on one side of the beach to shelter from the sun and elements. A little later the beach gained renown as the place where the Zeus had his way with the princess Europa. Minoans made the caves into warehouses, and Roman legions under Brutus camped out in them. So much for ancient history. Jump forward to the 1960s, when Matala became a troglodyte mecca on the hippie circuit and Joni Mitchell sang, The night is a starry dome, And they’re playin’ that scratchy rock and roll, Beneath the Matala moon. These days Matala is a laidback resort with some simple hotels and waterside restaurants, and the beautiful beach is a little too crowded with beach umbrellas and day trippers. For a scenic getaway, follow the well-marked path over the headland to so-called Red Beach, a paradisaical slip of sand where goat bells mix with the sound of surf.
• Capri, Italy — The island of Capri has been associated with hedonism ever since the Emperor Tiberius tossed lovers of whom he’d tired off the sea cliffs in front of his palace. These days, seeing all the chain-bedecked Lotharios and glamorous Milanese models strutting around might evoke the words of onetime visitor D.H. Lawrence, who called this beautiful isle in the Gulf of Naples “a gossipy, villa-stricken, two-humped chunk of limestone.” Even we glamor-challenged visitors can partake of one of the great pleasures of an Italian summer and join celebrities, minor royalty, software billionaires, and just plain folks at La Fontelina, a beach club at the foot of the famous Faraglioni rocks. The best approach is the path from Capri Town through pine-scented forests to sky-high Punta Tragara, and from there down hundreds of stone steps cut out of the cliffs to the seaside. The routine is to swim from one of the platforms perched above the remarkably blue water, then to take a seat beneath bamboo awnings for a simple meal of insalata Caprese (invented here on the island) and grilled fish, washed down with the house sangria, followed by a nap on a lounger in the shade. As the sun sets and this memorable beach experience draws to a close, a motor launch will whisk you back to civilization and reality — well, as real as life ever seems to be on Capri.

Richard Frisbie — T-Boy writer:

I’m not a beach person, really — I’m a swimmer. Beaches are for walking across to get into the water. That being said, I’ve seen some fabulous beaches on my way to an invigorating swim.

In no particular order:

• Aguas Blancas Beach in Ibiza, Spain — With a laidback hippy vibe and gentle waves lapping the golden sand, it is a sweet little place to watch the sunrise as you recover from the disco nights (or so I’m told).
• Knip Beach in Curacao, where the cliffs break and a soft white sand beach spills into clear, cerulean waters. Pure swimming, cliff-diving, and beer-drinking hedonism.
• Buzios Beach, Rio de Janeiro (the state not the city) — Copacabana and Ipanema are nice enough, but an hour or so outside the city is a small fishing village with a cosmopolitan European vibe and the sweetest crescent beach. I could move there. (Brigitte Bardot did.)
• Gulf Breeze, Florida — The beaches of Gulf Breeze, especially the white talcum powder sand one where you have to shuffle into the water to avoid stepping on the rays. But they are all beautiful!
• Los Cabos — And finally — for beaches meant for walking, not swimming, go to Los Cabos. The beaches are beautiful stretches of endless sand with, for the most part, dangerous undertows and rough surf. Pretty to look at, but dangerous!

Allan Smith — Artist & T-Boy writer:

• St. Pete Beach, Florida — White sand, relaxing sound of surf crashing on the beach, incredible sunsets, pelicans, sandpipers, beach bars with cocktails and popcorn shrimp.

Tom Weber — T-Boy Writer:

• La Città Bianca, Ostuni, Puglia, Italy — For the 26^th consecutive year, the 20km length of Italy’s Adriatic coastline just below Ostuni, La Città Bianca (The White City), in southeastern Puglia — my adopted hometown — has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag designation by the Federation for Environmental Education (FEE). From Torre Canne in the north to Torre Guaceto in the south, this unspoilt stretch is dotted with a series of long beaches, small inlets, rocks, dunes and Mediterranean vegetation. Only a 20-min. drive from my house to the coast, I can’t really favor one spot of sand or rocky crag over another. They are all so breathtakingly beautiful in their own unique way, regardless of the season. If your travels ever take you to La Città Bianca, make it a point to venture down to the coast and admire the Adriatic Sea. Why, you might even see me waving a blue flag.

Deb Roskamp — T-Boy photographer & writer:

Try as I might, it is not possible for me to come up with a ranking of my favorite beaches. I am someone who loves the beach and don’t recall one yet that hasn’t given me pleasure. Therefore, my list is not a ranking, but rather, a list of beaches experienced, in chronological order, that inspire vivid memories of the occasions that added meaning to my life.

• Unknown name, northern coast of Haiti — On a rare excursion from volunteer ‘duties’ one college summer, we scrambled down a tall scruffy hill to reach the sand and the waters which teemed with life I hadn’t realized existed. My first snorkeling and swimming in the raw experiences. I can still feel the freedom of the warm waters enveloping me and see the vivid colors of the creatures around me…
• Naples Beach, Florida — On an early winter trip to Naples with a UW college friend, we jogged and swam along the beach with the pier in view every morning. Coming from Washington state, I couldn’t believe the luxury of heat in December. I don’t know now if they remain, but the sands then were filled with varied shells so bountiful, one could have scooped them up and filled a bucket, easily.
•  La Push, Washington State — The opposite of tropical, this beach has such rugged beauty, with its sands ‘littered’ with trees & driftwood, to a backdrop of sea stacks, crashing waves, blisteringly cold winds, and (of course) rain.  I stayed with a friend from my first job as an RN at University Hospital, Seattle in a little cabin.  We warmed ourselves with an indoor fire and potato soup (which I still have the recipe for).
• Na Pali Coast, Kauai — Back to tropical. With another nursing friend — this one from my first job in LA, at the County Hospital. After deciding to hike the long Kalalau trail there, we got a late start and ended up literally running the last miles to try to beat the sun, which we could see rapidly falling towards the ocean in front of us. We arrived in the dark and awoke to a garden of Eden. It felt like the 60’s (I won’t describe why!), and we slept in the open on the sand, ‘showered’ in the waterfall. If we’d had food, we could have stayed forever. We didn’t, but the stains on our clothes from the soil on the hike were permanent reminders of that experience.
• Golfo dei Poeti, Lerici, Italy — There are many beaches in Italy that could have made my list, but this one is special for a number of reasons.  The history — dating back to Etruscan times.  The Shelleys, Byron, DH Lawrence.  The architecture — two castles on either end of the bay, the ‘usual’ churches, villas, shops in between. The fishing boats. The promenade.  The food. The Saturday flea market. The ferry to the Cinque Terre and Portovenere. My visit there was with my best friend from UCLA graduate school days and was too short.  I long to return and explore more.

James Boitano — T-Boy writer:

• Pacific Coast Beaches, Olympic National Park, Washington State — Incredibly beautiful and rugged coast line, sea stacks, tidal pools and giant logs of driftwood on the beach.
• Magens Bay, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands — Turquoise waters at a perfect temperature in a sheltered bay makes any tropical dream come true.
• Black Sand Beach, Vik, Iceland — Volcanic sand as black as night in front of basaltic columns meet the dramatic waves of the open ocean.

Annie Brouwer — T-Boy writer:

• Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
• 1,000 Steps Beach, Laguna Beach, California 
• Lincoln City, Oregon
• Ruby Beach, Washington State

Ed Boitano — T-Boy editor:

• Monterosso, Cinque Terre, Italy — The Cinque Terre is a string of steep, hillside towns on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, each with its own majestic setting of colorful houses and vineyards clinging to the terraces.  The Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail links the five towns and offers sweeping, almost unimaginable vistas of the sea – and you must try to experience each of the towns!  Monterosso, the first and largest of the five towns, is the only one with an expansive sandy beach, and is the best place to choose as your home base, with a recommended stay of a minimum of five days. After a day’s hike a refreshing swim is in order, followed by a Sciacchetrà, a liquored white wine from the vineyards’ slopes, a plate of fried anchovies (acciuga) caught that very day, and a bowl of Pesto alla Genovese at one of the many trattorias on Monterosso’s pulsating promenade.
• Concón, Chile — Like a Hitchcock film, an armada of unknown species of birds blanketed the sky as violent waves crashed along the rocks.  My Italian-Chilean uncle Rinaldo said it was his favorite beach in Chile, where he and his wife would often visit from their nearby home in Viña del Mar. He had gone to great lengths to make my Seattle family’s time in Chile a monumental occasion; adding later that we were the only relatives who had ever visited him.
• Svalbard Archipelago, Norway, Arctic Ocean — With towering glaciers bearing down on me, I waded out into the icy waters and took a headfirst plunge. As I came up for air, I rallied my senses trying to comprehend what I had just done. My instincts told me that I should hurry back to the shore, but noticed many eyes upon me, so I faked a stoic composure and gallantly waded back to the applause of the Hurtigruten Expedition Vessel’s  passengers. And for this, I was awarded Hurtigruten’s Arctic Swimming Certificate. Was it worth it? Well, with or without the esteemed certificate, it’s something I shall never forget.
• Brownes Beach, Barbados — The coast of the island nation of Barbados ranges from beaches with powdery sand and protected Caribbean waters to the powerful swells on the eastern Atlantic coast, good for surfing, but dangerous for swimming. Brownes Beach is conveniently set near the capitol city of Bridgetown, and serves as the perfect venue for a serious dose of Bajan flavor with nearby tropical bars and grills, local music and dancing, crowds of people swimming and snorkeling; and yet you can still find your own place in the sun. And all this from a former English colony; today a fascinating cultural fusion of the descendants of plantation owners and slaves, who serve elegant high tea and play cricket.
• English Bay Beach, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC — A mandatory pilgrimage for me is to stroll down Robson Street in downtown Vancouver to Stanley Park, my favorite urban park in the world. In the days of my honeymoon, we knew it as Robsonstrasse, due to the number of its German and European delis and bakeries. Today, I continue further west towards the bay, and soon I am at Stanley Park’s English Beach. With the exception of a kayak trek, I’ve never once set foot into its waters; for the cool of the evening is my desired time to visit. Locals after work congregate on the beach or at nearby bars and grilles. Bicyclists and rollerbladers traverse the lanes along the shore, and I simply take a place on a piece of driftwood and bask in the beauty of what is Vancouver today.

T.E. Mattox — T-Boy music critic:

• Cannes, France — The beaches on the Mediterranean are pristine. Off season is spacious and restaurants and bars ring the sand. Beware-lots of naked people eating and drinking around you! It’s Europe!
• Moonstone Beach, Cambria, California — This central California stretch of sand is located between the tourist crowds of San Luis Obispo to the south and Carmel and Monterrey to the north. Perfect small town vibe, ideal for turning off your electronics and unplugging.
• Venice Beach, L.A., California — The Strand is iconic. Skaters, chainsaw jugglers, musicians, and bodybuilders for miles. So much activity that the beach becomes the perfect option to stroll and explore.
• Dog Beach in Del Mar, California — It’s got miles of sand and dogs, Happy Dogs… everywhere!
• Gulf of Fonseca, Tiger Island — This body of water is surrounded by Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua and the beaches are inviting. Albeit, I was there in the military and used this area for R&R. But I remember vividly how relaxing and safe I felt.

Rourke — Musician & composer:

When traveling I usually prefer walking in cities versus beaches, but here are my favs based on my limited experience:

• Kapalua Bay, Maui — Years ago, I was fortunate enough to be assigned Hawaii as a sales territory, which meant I would get sent there for a week at a time. So, what could be better; renting a car and driving to all the beaches and getting paid for it. My boss decided to come on the first trip, a total workaholic whose idea of fun is reading How to Win Friends & Influence People. While driving along the Maui coast to appointments, he suddenly had me pull over so we could watch the sunset. I had never seen a sunset in Hawaii and I had never seen my boss stop working. Years later I married my wife in front of that same sunset.
• Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica — The rainforest meets the ocean.
• Mui Ne, Vietnam — White pristine sands, not too far from Saigon.
• St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands  — Any beach, on any of these islands could easily be on this list.
• Black Sands at Waiʻanapanapa, Maui — Pictures are better than words.

Alex Brouwer — T-Boy writer:

• Muizenburg, Cape Town, South Africa
• Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, California
• Islas Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico
• Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California
• Huanchaco, Ica, Peru

Ringo Boitano — T-Boy writer:

• Magens Bay, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands — Perhaps it’s due to being my first Caribbean beach, Magens Bay will always reign as my favorite beach on the planet. Stretching for nearly three quarters of a mile, the waters are calm, pristine and warm, and the beach is tropical, serene and spacious. As I waded out into the water, I noticed there was not a soul around, except for a Yoga class barely seen in the distance. Suddenly, a man charged through the beach path and dove into the gentle waves. Over his shoulder he shouted, I just flew from England to swim in this very beach. It made complete sense to me. It was a paradise worth sharing.
• La Push, Washington State — La Push is a mere seven miles from Twilight’s film location in Forks, close to the Olympic National Park. It’s sweater weather in the summer, and heavy clothing during the other three seasons. While sitting on aged driftwood with stories to tell, watching unforgiving waves assault rock formations in the sea; La Push is a place for deep contemplation with one of the world’s most magnificent seascapes before me.

Greg Aragon — T-Boy writer:

About 72 percent of earth’s surface is covered with water, which means there are a lot of beaches out there and most of them are beautiful spectacles of nature. A few of my favorites include the island of Lanai in Hawaii, Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, and the Cook Islands.

• Lanai, Hawaii — This tropical paradise can be reached by plane or ferry from the neighboring island of Maui. If you take the 14-mile voyage by across the Auau Channel to tiny Manele Bay Harbor the views of the Hawaiian Islands are incredible. A highlight on Lanai is mysterious Shipwreck Beach, known for a sunken, WWII oil tanker just offshore. The beach is only accessible via four-wheel drive vehicle. On my last visit, a friend and I rented a Jeep and drove up a mountainous road lined with volcanic rock and red clay. In a few miles we came to a narrow turnout, where the road became a tunnel of trees, paved with deep sand and bumpy rock.
• For the next 1.6 miles we bounced along the northeast coast with intermittent views of the ocean and an outline of Maui. The road ended at Big Rock, where we parked and continued on foot to find the sunken vessel. We then climbed over black volcanic rock and sand, then waded through warm tropical water until we saw the rusting vessel, leaning in a reef about 100 yards off the shore. Built in the 1940s, the ship was once a ferrous-concrete oil tanker that the navy unsuccessfully tried to sink after WWII. Today, it provides a hauntingly beautiful backdrop to Lanai.
• On my visit to Lanai I stayed at Lanai Hotel that was originally built as a retreat in 1923 by pineapple pioneer James Dole.
• Carmel-by-the-Sea, Northern California — Another memorable beach location is the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. This tiny postcard village of shady, tree-lined streets, charming hotels and inns, unique shops and gourmet restaurants, also boasts Carmel Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches around. Located at the end of the town’s main drag, Carmel Beach welcomes visitors with giant Monterey Pine and cypress trees, and gorgeous, rolling sand dunes leading to the water. The beach is great for surfing, dog walking, relaxing strolls and viewing sea live such as sea otters, which love float and roll on the surf just offshore.
• One of the best times to visit Carmel Beach is at dusk, when people from all over the world come to sit on the sloping sand dunes and watch the sun fall into the Pacific Ocean. It is an unforgettable nightly experience, similar to a concert in the park. But the stars of this show are the sun and ocean. On my last visit to Carmel I stayed at Hotel Carmel, a cozy, boutique hotel a few blocks from the beach.
• Rarotonga, Cook Islands — These enchanting islands below the equator are lost in time. They are that remote island paradise pictured on old postcards and posters from the 1950’s, when the South Pacific was a faraway dream. Located in the Tropic of Capricorn, the 15-island archipelago is spread out like stepping stones across the water, about 2,000 miles from New Zealand. The capital and largest island is Rarotonga, where a tiny international airport with a single runway connects the Cooks to the outside world.
• Rarotonga is surrounded by a large emerald lagoon. It has one main road and a jagged rock mountain known as “the needle,” which jets 650 ft from the interior. The island has a 22-mile circumference and is essentially one big beach!  On my last visit, I stayed at Rarotonga Beach Bungalows, where I found Polynesian paradise on the sand, steps from a turquoise lagoon with coral gardens. The bungalows boast coconut thatched roofs, woven bamboo walls, exotic wood furniture, native paintings, large bedrooms, kitchens and dining areas, and big wooden porches overlooking the lagoon. The bungalow’s best feature is its proximity to the crystal-clear lagoon, close enough to see and hear the water splashing on the sand.
• Because Rarotonga is encircled by a lagoon it is great for snorkeling. The water is filtered clear turquoise so you can see a rainbow of thousands of fish and you don’t have to worry about sharks. The reef is such an imposing boundary that one morning I walked two hundred yards into the water and it never reached my shoulder. It’s like a gigantic fishbowl. A great way to see Rarotonga is by the Island Bus, which runs every 20 minutes and can circle the island in about one hour.

Harrison Liu — Atlas Ocean Voyages:

• Sunshine’s Beach Bar & Grill, St Kitts & Nevis — My favorite beach destination? Hands down, the idyllic Island of Nevis. Beautiful, uncrowded beaches; delicious, fresh seafood; and kind and welcoming Nevisians make this my Caribbean jewel. In fact, Alexander Hamilton was born on Nevis, but this island’s history goes further back to the earliest days of colonialism. And there is no place better place in the Western Hemisphere to see the most glorious sunsets at Sunshine’s Beach Bar, with his delicious, world-famous rum punch in hand. Located just a short walk from the Four Seasons Resort, the colorful Sunshine’s Beach Bar was not named just from its brilliant surroundings but also from its proprietor, Llewellyn “Sunshine” Caines. He acquired the name from his grandmother when he was born with a sunny smile lighting up his face. When work started on the Four Seasons, Sunshine catered to its hungry construction workers, and slowly expanded — by adding a few picnic tables and a thatched palm-leaf roof for better shade.  The luxury Four Seasons resort opened in 1991, and Sunshine’s small, humble shack on the beach became a popular hangout for well-heeled tourists, locals and world-renowned celebrities.

Fyllis Hockman — T-Boy writer:

I’m one of those bizarre people who actually love the brutal August heat! And I am very much a beach person (shopper not so much… meaning not at all) and one of my favorite activities in the world is diving into waves; any waves anywhere (Caveat: the water has to be warm enough to actually approach.) The problem is that I haven’t been able to find any in the places I’ve been the past few years.  So yes, I have on past occasions enjoyed them in Ocean City, MD and the Outer Banks, NC and very infrequently, on the Atlantic side of a Caribbean island but no luck recently. So I’m still lusting after them.

• Ocean City, Maryland
• Outer Banks, North Carolina
• Atlantic side of a Caribbean island

John Clayton — T-Boy writer:

• One Foot Island, Aitutaki, The Cook Islands — Have you ever had one of those dreams where you’ve fantasized about a gorgeous South Seas Pacific island beach that’s surrounded by pristine, crystal clear waters so beautiful it makes you wonder if such a beach might REALLY exist somewhere in the world? Well, dear friends and fellow adventurers’ let me assure you that YES, a beach like that DOES exist. With its breathtaking and idyllic landscape, powdery white sand, warm azure waters, and the gently swaying palm and coconut trees, the intriguingly named One Foot Island is my all-time BEST BEACH in the world. One of the 22 islands in the Aitutaki atoll of the Cook Islands, it is only 2,000 feet long and about 689 feet wide. One Foot Island was, in June, 2008 in Sydney, Australia, named, by the World Travel Awards Organization, the title of “Australasia’s Leading Beach.”

Brent Campbell — Musician and composer:

• Lake Chelan, WA at Campbell’s — I went there at least 25 times in my first thirty years).
• Hanalei on Kauai. — When the tide is right this is the best body surfing beach in HI.
• Cannon Beach, Oregon — Just spectacular natural beauty.
• Golden Gardens, Seattle — Until it was taken over by homeless and criminals, it is simply not safe to visit these days.
• San Blas, Mexico — I went there 40 plus years ago and it was an untouched gem. Probably not anymore.

Roger Fallihee — T-Boy writer:

• Secret Beach, Maui — We heard about this spot from friends. It’s called Secret Beach, also known as Pa’ako Beach. As you drive there you need to watch for a stone wall with a narrow passage. Park on the road just south of the more popular Big Beach, and continue walking south until you find a break in the wall – that’s the beach’s unofficial entrance.  Walk through the passageway and about 30 yards to the beach. When we were there it was just us and a family. There are no restrooms or food. About 1/4 mile before you arrive there’s a food truck.

David Erskine — T-Boy VP of advertising:

• Kailua Beach, East Oahu, Hawaii — Obama’s vacation home is there.
• Crane’s Beach, Plum Island, Ipswich, Massachusetts — Where I got engaged.
• Sharks Cove, North Shore Oahu, Hawaii
• Aghios Nikolaos, Crete
• Bellows Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
• Lifeguard Tower 28, Santa Monica Beach, California
• Laguna Beach, California
• Magnolia by the Sea, Magnolia, Massachusetts
• Good Harbor, Gloucester Massachusetts
• Stinson Beach, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California

Raoul Pascual — T-Boy writer:

• Dalipuga, Mindanao, the Philippines — The most beautiful beach I’ve ever experienced were the beaches in Dalipuga, on the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Our grandmother owned a whole stretch of sandy beach which was so clear and had coral reefs some 20 feet away from the shoreline. It was always nice and warm. I never saw so many exotic fishes in such pristine waters. But that was over 50 years ago. Now, civilization, industries and pollution have done their destructive deed. Construction companies actually harvested the sand and left the beach with nothing but barren corals. There are still several virginal beaches in the Philippines (a few you’ve seen in the reality TV show Survivor) but Dalipuga is no longer the paradise I remember.

• Nice, France — This was back in the 80s. I was traveling via Eurail and decided to visit a beach in France. Nice was a convenient stop. I walked towards the beach and I was shocked to see a few obese ladies with their tops off. Walking a little further the crowd started to get younger and I had my lunch on the cemented breakwater wall. Along comes this stunningly sunburned goddess who decided to take a shower right in front of me. I think she enjoyed me ogling at her because she really took a long shower. I may not have gone down to the sand and I may not have waded through the water but I will always remember my brief encounter with the topless beauty.
• Long Beach, Southern California — The beaches in Southern California are all too cold even in the summer. People go there more to sunbathe, to watch the sunbathers, to exercise and for the activities alongside of it.  Perhaps the one that I frequent the most is Long Beach. We don’t go for the water but we go to window shop.

• Laguna Beach: The Artist’s Beach, Southern California — I’ve been curious about Laguna Beach ever since I heard about the Pageant of the Masters — a 90-minute performance where live actors in costumes bring famous paintings to life on stage. My wife wanted to go to a beach where she could bring our dog for a stroll. We decided to finally go there. I did not expect to see so many art galleries. What was amazing was the variety of art.

• Robert Wyland, the conservationist painter of huge whale murals lives there on top of his gallery. I was unaware that he created furniture sculpture. I liked those better than his murals. There were other 1st class novelty shops like Art for the Soul that sells paintings, mixed media collages.  Elena Bulatova Fine Art  sells kitsch sculptures (similar to Jeff Koons) and nostalgic posters and crafts. The displays were excellent – they would fit well in a museum. No wonder the prices were in the tens of thousands for some of them. There was even a gallery where the artist was actually painting his masterpiece for the tourists. There was a gallery of huge nature photographs that blew me away with the composition not unlike Ansel Adams.

• By far my favorite gallery was Edward Bobinski’s Narrative Gallery who carried original art by the famous Dr. Seuss. He said this was just one of the many galleries that carried Dr. Seuss’ official artwork. He bragged it was a 40-plus million dollar business. The COVID scare did not slow down his sales. He just had more online business. Some of the limited edition serigraphs were priced as much as $50k. His cheapest piece was $300.  A little-known fact was Dr. Seuss also created sculptures and some of those are also in display. When asked why a pencil sketch costs more than some colored pieces, Edward said, “It is what that artwork means to the individual… if a child grew up reading the Cat in the Hat, that poster would mean more than this other more elaborate pieces.” He’s right.

• Despite the virus, there was a good enough crowd in some restaurants. You could tell which were the favorites by the crowd eating in the patio. There they were in their beach attire and alongside their family dogs.
• Laguna beach’s shoreline is a nice and cozy cul-de-sac compared to other beaches. I didn’t get to see the Pageant of the Masters because that was called off due to the pandemic. But what I saw more than impressed me.

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