But then I started thinking. He has a good point. The tropical island-inspired Catamaran has everything a kid and his family loves. It offers a big, beautiful swimming pool, a sandy beach, spacious rooms and suites, bike rentals, a video arcade, an onsite restaurant, and lots of opportunities to make new friends. 

Our getaway to the Catamaran Resort began recently when we checked into a gorgeous Bayfront Suite overlooking San Diego’s stunning Mission Bay. Spanning 438 sq-ft, the room was highlighted by a large patio that is literally steps from the sandy beach. 

The suite also boasts a big private bedroom, with two queen beds and a large TV; a separate living area with another big TV, a pull-out sofa, a wet bar with a refrigerator, and a dining area. A large, spacious bathroom with a walk-in shower, completes the room’s layout. 

Beyond the suite, the rest of the property is just as impressive. Featuring 310 rooms, the sprawling Polynesian-themed resort is surrounded by palm trees, waterfalls, koi ponds, exotic birds and lush vegetation.

The hotel is located in San Diego’s Pacific Beach community and sits on the shores of Mission Bay, a large, artificial saltwater bay created for recreational activities such as wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, camping, cycling, jogging, roller skating, skateboarding, and sunbathing. 

One of my family’s favorite spots at the resort was Mission Bay’s sandy beach, located steps from our patio. Here the kids made sand castles and played in the water, while we relaxed in lawn chairs, soaking rays and admiring the coastline.

The beach was also where we rented a 21-ft Hurricane powerboat and cruised around the bay for a fun-filled hour. We got the boat from Action Sports Rentals (www.actionsportrentals.com/catamaran-resort-hotel-spa/), which has a booth on the dock in front of the Catamaran Resort. 

It was an epic voyage. After learning how to control the vessel and the proper speed for the bay, we cruised into the morning sun. Along the way, we waved to boaters and paddle boarders, sailed beneath an old bridge and past expensive condos and luxury hotels. The boat was easy to maneuver, had lots of seating and shade, and was a perfect family outing for the afternoon. 

After mooring the boat, we went to the resort’s large pool area, where my kids played in the water and made new friends. Secluded behind tall palm trees, the pool is a tropical oasis, with lots of seating, a Jacuzzi, and a bar. Each day, the pool area offers a free kids program for hotel guests. 

Next to the pool is also a video arcade, full of free games for kids and their parents. My son and I had a great time here, shooting basketballs, racing cars and playing foosball. 

From the pool, we walked along a lush, tropical path to Oceana Coastal Kitchen, the resort’s onsite signature restaurant. Boasting beachfront dining, with spectacular views of Mission Bay, Oceana serves creative, coastal California dishes with an eclectic flare. The restaurant, led by Executive Chef Paul Arias, won TripAdvisor’s 2023 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Restaurants for Everyday Eats, ranking 10^th best in the U.S. 

Our dinner at Oceana began with a delicious bowl of New England style clam chowder, with bacon, red bliss potato, thyme, cream, and steamed little neck clams on top and mixed in. I am a major chowder fan and this bowl had the perfect amount of creaminess, along with clam and potato ratio, making it one of the best I’ve had. 

The restaurant also specializes in sushi and when we sampled the Oceana House Roll, we fell in love. The rolls are exquisitely filled with eel, tempura shrimp, crab, nori, avocado and unagi sauce. This dish is a work of culinary art. 

We completed our dinner at Oceana with a succulent grilled prime hanger steak with smoked potato puree, watercress, cippolini and macadamia chimichurri; and  a tasty Hawaiian style pad thai with stir fried vegetables, tofu, pineapple, chili, macadamia nuts, cilantro and soy. 

After dinner we strolled along the beach and watched the sun fall into Mission Bay. 

The next morning we had potatoes and eggs, and a plate of Chilaquiles for breakfast at Oceana, and then rented a surrey bike from Action Sports Rentals. We then pedaled around the bay. Along the way we saw sailboarders fling over waves, and then stopped at a park for the kids to play. 

Back at the resort we watched a demonstration featuring the hotel’s exotic parrots,  

including vibrant macaws, beautiful cockatoos, and a lilac-crowned amazon. Some of the birds talk and can say things like “hi,” “hello” and “goodbye.” The parrots are available to view outside daily, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. pacific time, depending on the weather.

We concluded the day at the resort’s Sunset Luau. Held on the shores of Mission Bay, the luaus are a festive celebration of Polynesian food, music, and dances perfect for family and friends. The party begins with a lei with real flowers and a delicious Mai Tai. This was followed by an all-you-can-eat buffet with Hawaiian-inspired rice and salads and various succulent meats, including pork, chicken and fish. 

Local luau group Pride of Polynesia provided authentic island music and dance, featuring hula and fiery torch dancers. Kids also got a chance to hula dance and participate in activities at the Kids Corner, where they made flowered leis, festive crafts, colored and played with stick-on tattoos.

Catamaran Resort and Spa is located at 3999 Mission Boulevard, San Diego Ca 92109. For more information and reservations call 858. 488-1081 or visit: www.catamaranresort.com

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What are some of the “things” or activities that visitors do for fun?

ANSWER: There is so much to do while visiting Kaua’i depending on your interests. Some of the more popular activities are: Viewing the Napali cliffs from a boat tour, seeing Kaua’i from above in a helicopter or plane tour, kayaking the navigable rivers, take a zipline over the treetops, take an ATV tour, horseback riding in beautiful scenery, playing on golf courses with views that can distract you, enjoying a luau and the list goes on and on.

What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Kaua’i?

ANSWER: Kaua’i is nicknamed the “Garden Island” and in fact Kaua’i has many gardens to enjoy while visiting. Three of those gardens are part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG): Limahuli Garden, Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden. The National Tropical Botanical Garden is the only tropical botanical garden with a charter from the United States Congress. In the early 1960’s a group of forward-thinking individuals recognized the need for a tropical botanical garden on U.S. soil, and banded together to form a foundation with the purpose of ensuring such a garden was established. NTBG has the mission to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions. One of the most recent programs at NTBG is The Breadfruit Institute founded in 2003. The mission of the Breadfruit Institute is to promote the conservation and use of breadfruit for food and reforestation. The institute is taking a leading role in the conservation of breadfruit diversity and ethnobotanical research documenting traditional uses and cultural practices involving breadfruit.

What has Kaua’i contributed to the world?

ANSWER: Kaua’i has contributed millions of wonderful vacations, weddings, honeymoons and memories, as well as iconic images via the movies and television. From 1934 “White Heat” to 1958 “South Pacific” with Mitzi Gaynor to 1961 Elvis’ “Blue Hawaii PERIOD” Kaua’i has been immortalized in many blockbusters, including the recent “Jurassic Park” films, “6 Days / 7 Nights” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” to the Academy Award winning “The Descendants.”

For more on Kaua’i, visit

Kauai Official Travel Site: Find Vacation & Travel Information

The post About Kaua’i. Hawaii. appeared first on Traveling Archive.

This installment of Three Things is courtesy of Shelley Kekuna, Executive Director of the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association.

1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that people at Ka’anapali or Ka’anapali Resort do for fun?

Answer:

Ka’anapali is a diverse vacation destination that can appeal to any kind of traveler when it comes to activities. Not only have we been rated as a top beach in the world, which lends itself to multiple water activities, but the mountains behind us are also rich with things to do.

The beach is generous with sand, snorkeling opportunities, paddling canoe, stand up paddle, surfing, embarking and disembarking of luxury catamarans for snorkeling, whale watching (within season), dinner cruising or a cocktail sunset cruise. When the Humpback Whales are not visiting (May 15 – December 15), We have parasailing, jet skiing and small craft fishing. All of the activities mentioned can be accessed from the shoreline.

Ka’anapali is located at the foot of the West Maui Mountains, which has ziplining, quad riding and lots of fantastic hiking. A helicopter ride over the West Maui Mountains reveals the intricate network of natural fresh water flow that is captured at the top of the mountains, considered one of the second wettest places in the Hawaiian Islands.

Culture is also a big component of the Ka’anapali Beach Resort. Once a place rich in Hawaiian history, many properties offer cultural classes and ways to learn of this history over and above a simple hula lesson.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Ka’anapali?

It’s difficult to name just one thing when it comes to Ka’anapali’s mystery and secrets so I will list them below:

A. Ka’anapali Beach Resort is the original master planned resort in the Hawaiian Islands. After it was developed, it became the benchmark for all other self contained resort destinations.

B. Ka’anapali is rich in history because Historic Lahaina (1 mile away) was once the original capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, prior to well-known Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Because of Ka’anapali’s location, there are significant pieces of history and legends that center around this special location on Maui.

C. Ka’anapali Coffee, grown in this region on the side of the West Maui Mountains is the largest commercial coffee production in the United States and is shipped all over the world.

3. Question: What has Ka’anapali contributed to the world?

Regional Hawaiian Cuisine! While not the only birthplace in the Islands, HRC is available at all of our F&B outlets, expensive or otherwise. We continue to welcome global visitors and make them aware of the beauty of the culture through the amazing cuisine, which has change the way the world prepares food, by mixing traditional and inclusive combinations of flavors from a variety of cultural influences.

Ka’anapali has taught the world that it is possible to mix culture, recreation and community in a world class setting. Ka’anapali, Maui is an exotic location with a unique eco system and rich culture that you can experience without leaving the US.

The post Three Things About Ka’anapali appeared first on Traveling Archive.

1 Anne Frank’s Childhood Friend Recalls Their Years Before the Holocaust – Smithsonian Magazine

2 Will AI destroy the music industry? – theweek.com

3 Guide to the Scottish Highlights – tripsavvy.com

4 FDR’S First Fireside Chat: March 12, 1933 – Miller Center

5 How Native Hawaiians Have Fought for Sovereignty – history.com

6 Common Causes of Foot Pain – verywellhealth.com

7 The Jewish Refugees Who Fled Nazi Germany—Then Returned to Fight – history.com

8 Costa Rica Wildlife – Meet the Red Brocket Deer – ticotimes.net

9 Movement and Nature’s Patterns of Leadership – kathleenallen.net

10 The 10 Best Films of 1971 – Traveling Boy

“If you want to make a documentary you should automatically go to the fiction, and if you want to nourish your fiction you have to come back to reality.” – Jean-Luc Godard

The post Spring: History, Health, Film & Wildlife appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The pilot on the Jack Harter Helicopter tour glided the chopper through the lush green valley of Waimea Canyon. Coined the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, you could smell the gentle fragrance of the Kaua’i laua’e ferns, alluded to in many Hawaiian chants and traditions. From my bird’s eye perspective, I was stunned by the tropical beauty of this Polynesian Garden of Eden of waterfalls, rainforests and deeply-cut valley.s.

When visiting a new destination I try to start my trip by heading up to the area’s’ tallest structure to get a good orientation of the landscape. But this was not to be due to kapu (local law) that prohibits buildings on this rural 552 square mile island to be no taller than a coconut tree – so I opted to take a helicopter tour to reflect on what I had already seen as well as sites I had missed. After all, much of Kaua’i is inaccessible by car, plus 50% of her 111 miles of coastline are beaches.

Our pilot offered a non-stop educational narration that took the helicopter tour to even a higher level. The oldest and 4th largest of the major Hawaiian Islands, it is believed that the first humans migrated to Kaua’i from the Marquesas Islands around 500 AD.

The ingenious Polynesian explorers were ultra-sophisticated sailors, with a highly complex navigational system based on the observation of the stars, ocean swells and flight patterns of birds. Their primary vessel was a 50 to 60 feet long canoe, consisting of two hulls, connected by lashed crossbeams. A precursor to the modern catamaran, the sails were made of matting drove. Long steering paddles enabled the mariners to keep it sailing on course. The canoes could accommodate roughly two dozen people, food supplies, livestock of pigs and poi dogs, and planting materials, essential for the long expeditions and the eventual founding of new island colonies. Like athletes, they would go into vigorous training prior to voyages, even conditioning their bodies to deal with less food and water.

British captain James Cook was the first westerner to arrive in 1778, which led to the invasion of grizzled New England whalers, unflinching missionaries, and unscrupulous plantation owners from the U.S. mainland. They also brought European diseases in which native Hawaiians had no immunity, killing 90% of the population. In the Marquesas Islands alone, it is believed that 98% of its people perished due to various pandemics. It is a tragic story that existed throughout the Columbian Exchange, a tragedy which history often prefers not to mention.

As the helicopter flew over 22 mile-long Na Pali Coast State Park, I could almost make-out some of the same hikers on the rugged 11-mile one-way coastal hike that I had spotted the day before while a guest on Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures for a snorkeling experience. As before, most of the hikers were too busy to look-up; their eyes firmly on the ground, navigating the treacherous hike, while passing mountain springs and Hanakapi’ai Falls.

Revisiting by air, I remembered how the Waimea Canyon and Wailua River Tour offered a good overview of the island by road, with the reward of a cruise on the sacred 20 mile-long Wailua River, home to the remains of historic religious sites.

Numerous family farms came in view with orchards of pineapple, papayas, avocadoes and other exotic fruits. Cattle and sheep could be seen grazing on grassy fields. Soon we flew over North Shore of Hanalei Valley to the largest taro-producing-farm in the state.

Today 90% of all food items in Kaua’i are now imported from the mainland. This includes even sugar and pineapple. Prior to the arrival of canned food brought by plantation owners and the military during WW2, there were virtually no instances of obesity. There’s now a group of cutting-edge chefs on Kaua’i who are doing something about this phenomenon – by partnering with local farmers, ranchers and fishers; bringing food items directly from the source to the table. Rather than designing a menu, then trying to find the ingredients to match them, they are creating indigenous menus based on available locally-grown produce, grass-fed livestock and fresh-caught island seafood – thus showcasing the bounty of Hawaiian Region Cuisine. The food is fresh, healthy and flavorful – and helping to sustain Kaua’i’s local food industry.

How does an entrée of wasabi-crusted snapper with Lilikoi Lemon Grass and Beurre Blanc sound? Well, how about ahi poke in a crispy Lumpia bowl with an Asian slaw of spicy sesame Aioli & Tobiko Caviar or a mushroom, fennel, onion and goat cheese tart with spinach and shaved red onion?

But let’s still not forget about the luau (feast); after all, it is all part of Hawaiian fun and an institution in backyard celebrations.

• Taro – a starch staple, generally pounded into poi, used to cut down on the more salty traditional foods
• Laulau – pork or chicken and salted butter fish, steamed in taro and ti leafs
• Lomi Lomi – diced salted salmon, tomatoes and onion
• Sweet Potatoes – by way of the Peruvian Andes
• Poke – cubed items, but primarily fresh squares of ahi/tuna
• Kalua Pig – cooked whole in an imu underground oven
• Hapuia Cake – made with coconut milk
• Shave Ice – no, not Shaved Ice, made with secret homemade tropical syrups

Where to Stay

Due to the small scale size of Kaua’i, virtually every property is convenient to the island’s seemingly endless attractions.

• Sheraton Kauai Resort
• Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas
• Outrigger at Waipouli Beach

Perhaps Jean-Marie Josselin, owner/chef of Josselin’s Tapas Bar & Grill, said it best: The greatest pleasures of the heart are the simple ones.

For further information, log on to www.kauaidiscovery.com

The post A Taste of the Garden Island of Kaua’i appeared first on Traveling Archive.

My charming tablemate, Shelley Kekuna, Executive Director of the Kāʻanapali Beach Resort Association, explained that Kahekili II actually jumped from around the corner of where the evening dive is performed today as it was  Pu’u Keka’a‘s highest point. Indicative of Hawai’i embracing its past and still emulating the Islands’ culture of the present, the contemporary Kāʻanapali Beach Resort diver stands at the top of the cliff each evening at sunset, recites a Hawaiian chant, offers a torch and lei to the ocean, then leaps into the sea. Kahekili’s feat of legend has spread throughout the globe for lele kawa is now a world-wide sport. This was only the beginning of what would prove to be an enchanting evening at Huihui, the Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel’s new beachfront open-air restaurant.

As I sipped Huihui’s Navigator cocktail, local Maui musicians gently serenaded us in the background. The waitstaff carefully pointed out its signature dishes and ingredients on the menu, but never too busy to throw in a bit of history. I was impressed how the restaurant embraced traditional Hawaiian food items of the past to a fusion of healthy recipes of the present.

The menu was orchestrated by Chef Tom Muromoto, Huihui’s award-winning executive chef at Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel. Born and raised in Hawai’i, Chef Muromoto developed a lifelong understanding of the islands’ ethnic diversity, ultimately combining Hawaiian culture and Native Hawaiian diet, creating a style of Hawai’i Regional Cuisine that is uniquely his own. When designing his new dishes, he looked back to when traditional Hawaiian foods were simple, natural, and never overdoing it. His mission is lofty, where Huihui’s signature items reflect the practice of Polynesian navigation and migration, using ingredients of the sea, ingredients used to sustain themselves on their brave voyages from the Marquesas Islands, approximately 300 to 600 AD, with a second wave 400-years later, by way of Tahiti.

The ingenious Polynesian explorers were ultra-sophisticated sailors, with a highly complex navigational system based on the observation of the stars, ocean swells and flight patterns of birds. Their primary vessel was a 50 to 60 feet long canoe, consisting of two hulls, connected by lashed crossbeams.

A precursor to the modern catamaran, the sails were made of matting drove. Long steering paddles enabled the mariners to keep it sailing on course. The canoes could accommodate roughly two dozen people, food supplies, livestock of pigs and poi dogs, and planting materials, essential for the long expeditions and the eventual founding of new island colonies. Like athletes, they would go into vigorous training prior to voyages, even conditioning their bodies to deal with less food and water.

Moanaku’inamoku Voyaging Academy

Huihui also functions as a sailing academy dedicated to the ancient Hawaiian art of voyaging. The new Moanaku’inamoku Voyaging Academy expresses the theme that the ocean that connects islands together, which provides an authentic experience of Hawaiian wayfinding for guests and community members.

WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE

Navigator Cocktail: Fid Street Gin (Hāli‘imaile Distillery), Blue Curacao, Ali’i Kula Lavender reduction spray, Maui Bees Honey, fresh squeezed lemon juice, topped with sparkling tonic water.

Today, many associate tropical drinks with Hawai’i. But the Piña Colada from Puerto Rico and the Mai Tai, invented in 1944 at Oakland, CA’s Trader Vic’s, are both made from Caribbean rum. The Mai Tai (Maita’i means good in Tahitian) was such a success in mainland North America that Trader Vic’s introduced it to the Hawaiian Islands. Orange and pineapple juice was added to the cocktail constituting the birth of the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai. The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel boasts the Hawaiian version, but also Huihui’s refreshing Navigator, made with Maui produced gin and additional Maui products.

Molokai Venison Poke: Smoked and wok seared venison fresh from Molokai, pickled ogo (seaweed) & onions, scallions, tomato, nīoi (Hawaiian chili pepper) lemon soy dressing.

Poke (poh-kay) is a dish generally made with chopped sashimi, commonly fresh cubes of ahi/tuna, marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil, and mixed with Kula Onions. But, you’ll find many variations around Hawai’i, which include venison from Axis deer, brought to Moloka´i in 1868 from India as a gift to King Kamehameha V. In 1959, the deer was introduced to Maui, where it has caused a problem due to overpopulation — so don’t feel bad upon devouring a few bites.

Kula Onions: Fried thinly sliced onions, seasoned flour, nīoi (Hawaiian chili pepper) aioli, furikake.

Also known as the Maui Onion, this sweet onion is named for the growing region of Kula, (sometimes referred to as Upcountry). Nestled on the green upper slopes of Haleakala’s dormant volcano, Kula Onions are one of the first spring onions to appear and are considered one of the sweetest varieties in the world. Kula is also endowed with colorful flower farms, botanical gardens, expansive farmland and ranches with grazing cattle. And all this with views of Pacific in the distance.

Lāwalu: Traditional lāwalu (wrapped in ti leaf and grilled) is a cooking method of grilled banana leaf wrapped daily i’a (fish), creamy abalone sauce, cilantro, pohole (fiddle fern) & ogo (seaweed) relish.

Traditional Hawaiian llāwalu are ingredients bound in ti leaves for cooking. The ti plant, an emblem of high rank and divine power, is referred to as a canoe crop, brought to the Islands by the early Polynesians. Considered sacred to the Hawaiian god, Lono, and to the goddess of the hula, Laka; the plants are often planted around homes to ward off evil and bring good fortune.

Koala Lamb Chops: Marinated lamb, inspired by the traditional kō‘ala (barbeque) cooking method, seasonal papaya or mango mint relish.

Sheep, goats, and cattle were introduced to Hawai’i in the late-1700s by European explorers. Pryor to that there were no grazing or browsing mammals anywhere in the islands.

The Big Island of Hawai’i is world-renowned for its Kona coffee, but today Kāʻanapali Coffee, grown in the West Maui Mountains, is the largest commercial coffee production in the United States. The variety of Arabica coffee beans seduce your scenes and demand a second cup. West Maui has more than 50 coffee estates just a short drive away from the Kāʻanapali Beach Resort.

The following hot, but pleasant afternoon, I strolled through the Ka’anapali Beach Resort, and noticed a small structure serving shave ice. Yes, shave, not shaved. The line was long, but well worth the wait for shave ice has long been my favorite refreshing snack throughout Hawai’i. Connected to Hawai’i’s agricultural past with the advent of plantations, workers used to have only Sundays off from a week of labor, and would carry blocks of ice, sweetened with pineapples and sugar canes syrups from which they had planted.

More on Hawaiian History, Food and Culture

“In Hawai’i our diversity defines us, rather than divides us.“

— Former Governor Neil Abercrombie

When British Captain James Cook and crew first arrived in what is today’s Hawaiian Islands (circa 1778) he found a civilization of strong, healthy, and statuesque people; a population believed to have typical life spans as high as 70 or 80-years-old, with the British only making it to 40 or 50. Cook noted that he came in contact with the oldest people he had ever seen, some thought to be around 100-years-old. According to archaeological research by Dr. George Kanahele: The traditional Hawaiian diet was one of the best in the world. It was a simple, high starch, high fiber, low saturated fat, low sodium and low cholesterol diet which focused on taro, poi, yams, breadfruit, greens, seaweed, fruit, and small amounts of fish.

In a past culinary press trip to Hawai’i, I recall a representative from Kaua’i informing me that there was virtually no indication of obesity prior to the British and Euro-American invasions. But obesity would soon arrive by way of food items from grizzled New England whalers, strict protestant missionaries and unscrupulous plantation owners. They also brought European diseases in which native Hawaiians had no immunity, killing 90% of the population. In the Marquesas Islands alone, it is believed that 98% of its people perished due to various pandemics. It is a tragic story that existed throughout the New World’s Columbian Exchange, a tragedy which history often prefers not to mention.

As foreign plantation owners began building their own empires with factories for sugar cane and pineapples — both imported today — the population had been decimated to such an extreme that the money-mad owners scoured the globe for much needed workers. And the new workers migrated by the thousands, primarily from Japan, China, the Philippines and Korea. Portuguese paniolos (cowboys) arrived in the islands after Captain George Vancouver — one of Cooks’ first mates on his final voyage, along with William Bligh of HMS Bounty fame — gifted six cows and a bull to King Kamehameha I in 1798. Kamehameha created a 400-acre pasture and issued a kapu (forbidden) on killing cattle so that they could grow in numbers, leading to approximately 25,000 wild cattle. The experienced Portuguese paniolos taught Hawaiians how to run a ranch, and also introduced the Malasada donut to the islanders.

A new class of the Hawaiian impoverished was created, as in the North American mainland, who consumed easy to find, often inexpensive, fattening canned foods, with spam the most popular. (Curiously, 90% of all spam produced in the U.S. today is eaten in Hawai’i). Fast food restaurants would soon follow, where the Golden Arches offered their own twist on the Hawai’i menu with saimin noodles (inspired by Japanese ramen, Chinese mian, and Filipino pancit) and McTeri Delux (a teriyaki burger made with a Japanese marinade). Yet, today, with supreme gratitude to Huihui’s Chef Muromoto, forward-thinking Hawaiians and many of the Kāʻanapali Beach Resorts’ restaurants, Hawai’i is the second least obese state in the U.S., after Colorado and before Massachusetts.

Kāʻanapali Beach Resort Association

Kāʻanapali’s three-mile stretch of white sand beach has long been touted as one of the best beaches in the world. Nestled at the foot of the West Maui Mountains on Maui’s southwest coast, Kāʻanapali Beach Resort was established in 1963 as Hawai’i’s first master-planned destination resort. After it was developed, it became the benchmark for all other self-contained resort destinations. The Kāʻanapali Resort is dotted by six oceanfront luxury hotels and five condos and vacation club resorts resting on expansive tropical lawns thanks to the Maui sun and freshwater springs flowing from the mountains. Education is paramount at the resort with many properties offering cultural classes to learn more about Hawaiian history, spirituality and intense devotion to the land and sea.

Kāʻanapali’s diverse destination can appeal to any kind of active traveler. The beach lends itself to snorkeling, paddling canoe or stand-up paddle, surfing (Hawai’i its birthplace), parasailing and jet skiing, Humpback Whales watching, and dinner and twilight cruising, all easily accessed from the shoreline.

And the mountains behind the resort are also rich in activities with zip lining, quad riding and hiking, including the historical Trail in Kāʻanapali; an easy 4.40 mile out-and-back trail, paved with history and oceanviews, best to experience during sunset or early morning to avoid the strength of the Maui sun. Yes, there is so much more to put on my Kāʻanapali checklist upon my return, including a revisit to the innovative Huihui restaurant at the Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel.

• Ka’anapali Beach Resort Association
• Ka’anapali Beach Hotel – Oceanfront Hotel in Lahaina, Maui, HI
• Home | Huihui
• Virtual Tour Huihui

The post Kāʻanapali’s Huihui Restaurant: A Cultural Immersion of the Mind, Soul and Palate  appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Lawrence Brooks, the Oldest US Veteran of World War II, has died at 112

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250 Cruise Ships Will Sail in January, as Covid Omicron Cases Rise, Story courtesy of Brittany Chang of Business Insider

Almost 250 cruise ships will sail in January despite rising COVID-19 cases and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advising travelers against cruising.

In the first month of 2022, 242 cruise ships across 68 brands will operate around the world, the highest number of ships to sail since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data compiled by Cruise Industry News. Royal Caribbean will send off 20 vessels, the most of any brand, while Carnival and MSC Cruises will operate 17 and 13 ships, respectively, this month.

This update comes less than a week after the CDC raised its cruise travel warning to the highest level as COVID-19 cases continue to spike on cruise ships amid the spread of the Omicron variant. The agency is now investigating over 90 ships amid this outbreak, including vessels operated by Disney, MSC Cruises, Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean.

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Motivational Words For 2022

Courtesy Ashley Austrew, DICTIONARY.COM

As we step into 2022, many people make resolutions for all the things they’d like to accomplish in the 365 days ahead. Unfortunately, that may not be the best approach. About 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail, according to U.S. News & World Report, and that’s likely because the “new year, new me” philosophy is really difficult to master.

1. determined
Determined means “to give direction or tendency to; impel.” As a theme for the year, it can indicate your intention to approach everything you do with excitement, drive, and a sense of purpose.

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2. focus
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus,” as is commonly attributed to Bruce Lee. Maybe you aren’t heading into battle in the new year, but the point is that anyone can accomplish great things if they set the intention of maintaining focus on what’s important to them.

3. clarity
Maybe you aren’t sure about what you want out of the new year yet. That’s okay! This could be a year dedicated to seeking clarity about what you value, what you need, and what steps you want to take next.

4. presence
We live in a world full of distractions, and that can make it difficult to feel fully present. Presence is a great theme for the year because it sets the intention of showing up for yourself and for others in all the big and small moments of your life.

5. accomplish
Is this the year you put in the work learning that new hobby or throw your name in the hat for the big promotion? If so, accomplish may be the word for you. Remember: accomplish doesn’t mean coming out on top everytime. It means “to bring to its goal or conclusion; carry out; perform; finish.”

6. balance
If your life was a pie, how big are the pieces devoted to work, family, friends, and self-care? If one piece of the pie is taking too much of your energy away from the others, this may be the perfect year to seek balance.

7. courage
Making courage a theme for the year doesn’t mean diving in with no fear. As author Mark Twain once wrote, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear-not absence of fear.” Committing to courage is about committing to taking steps forward, even when it’s new and uncomfortable.

8. belief

Belief means “confidence; faith; trust.” Making 2022 a year focused on belief could include expanding your ability to believe in yourself, exploring and challenging your own long held beliefs, or inspiring others to believe in a movement or cause.

9. gratitude

It’s easy to take opportunities, comforts, and even people we care about for granted. Practicing gratitude throughout the year is an effort to combat that. Showing gratitude may take the form of offering more words of affirmation, journaling, meditating, or even literally saying “thank you” more often.

10. joy

If joy is your intention, then you may find yourself naturally looking for more opportunities to laugh, play, be happy, and love others. Spreading joy by being more giving, open, honest, and vulnerable may also be a goal.

5 Best Countries for Americans Who Want to Live Abroad

Courtesy of LILLY GRAVES, Travel + Leisure

Canada: As President Biden recently put it to Prime Minister Trudeau, there is no closer friend to the United States than Canada. Regardless of who is – or isn’t – in office, Canada remains a top contender for American expats for a number of reasons that may include affordable education, cultural diversity, stability, and countless adventures in the unspoiled natural wilderness. If seeking a job, consider the largest city of Toronto, often compared to the Big Apple, where the majority of Canada’s work opportunities are located. There are plenty of other livable cities to choose from like Vancouver, surrounded by sea and mountains, which may include weekend trips to Tofino, a year-round surf town on the edge of the continent.

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Or Calgary, which is experiencing a renaissance with cool eateries, hip neighborhoods, and proximity to the best trails in the Canadian Rockies (Banff National Park is an hour away). Then there are the French-infused cities of Montreal and Quebec City in the east for those who want a slice of European living without the long flights. Depending on your circumstances, you can take your pick between several different ways to make the move; start by checking for eligibility if one of your parents or grandparents was born there.

Portugal: The fashionable country due west of Spain is attracting young expats in recent years, particularly entrepreneurs, given its incredible value and welcoming business incentives that help stretch your hard-earned dollars. Take the second city of Porto, buzzing with modern and creative energy as a manufacturing and textile hub, with a slew of new designers who have made the city their home. Following decades of decline in the late 20th century, Porto’s cobbled streets today are filled with cool cafes, restaurants, and boutiques selling goods from local weavers and ceramists. On a day off, take advantage of the city’s art district, historic churches, and palaces, as well as the Douro River that leads to the oldest wine region in Europe (Alto Douro). Less than an hour from Porto is Portugal’s third city, called Braga, which, for its part, offers a reduced tax rate for start-ups. Nicknamed the “Rome of Portugal” thanks to its Baroque architecture, Braga also offers attractive green spaces, international schools, and high-tech companies for qualified candidates. Further south is the Algarve coast with more than 300 sunny days per year for digital nomads, families, and retirees who enjoy life at the beach. You can also check out the nine islands in the Azores – some offer incentives to attract businesses and start-ups. No matter where you choose, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a kinder nation to call home.

Costa Rica: Relocating to well-trodden Costa Rica isn’t a novel idea for anyone who has ever visited the country (and likely met a few friendly expats along the way), but there’s a reason for its persisting popularity. Situated between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, this utopic Central American nation wins people over with volcanoes, cloud forests, and exotic wildlife in the form of sloths, capuchin monkeys, and toucans. More than that, it’s the Pura Vida (“Pure Life”) philosophy for good living, which sums up this peaceful Spanish-speaking gem. Sweetening the deal, the country offers expats a straightforward residence program, affordable dental and healthcare, a stable democracy, and easy flights to the U.S. from two international airports. While the capital of San Jose has a notable food and arts scene, expats can head for either coast for long stretches of undeveloped beaches, seaside villages, surfing and yoga classes, neighborly expat communities, and business ventures often tied to eco-tourism. If you prioritize a healthy, laid-back lifestyle surrounded by natural beauty with an evergreen cool factor that is hard to imitate anywhere else, then this might be the place for you.

South Korea: The country that invented K-Pop, K-barbeque, K-beauty, and 24-hour jjimjilbangs (Korean bathhouses), draws expats wanting to be a part of this living and breathing epicenter for popular culture. The sleek city of Seoul, Asia’s third-largest economy, will surround you with killer restaurants, shopping, entertainment, night markets, and a high-tech scene with international workers who partake in the work-hard, play-hard mentality. Professionals based here will find tight-knit social groups and regular networking events for those looking to hob-nob over soju cocktails. But don’t overlook Busan, South Korea’s edgy second city with beaches, fresh fish, and an international film festival. (Fun fact: You can take a ferry to Japan from here.) No matter where you decide to live on the peninsula, enjoy access to rugged mountains and thousands of islands offering plenty of outdoor adventures like winter skiing and treks to 7th-century temples. South Korea is a safe place to live despite its close proximity to North Korea, but stay cognizant of the situation.

Austria: This Central European country can have you hiking in the Alps in the morning and enjoying a performance in a famous opera house later that evening. Austria’s capital, Vienna, has been recognized in Europe for its high quality of life and low crime rates, as well as an exciting food and wine scene, focused on organic, local ingredients. It’s also a good choice for those looking for affordability, healthcare, and international schools. Further south is the youthful city of Graz, which offers its own version of Renaissance and Baroque architecture as well abundant parks and upbeat nightlife. Beyond all of the aforementioned pleasures of living in Austria, if the idea of being surrounded by Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia gets your heart pumping, then you may have found your place.

Doctors develop new COVID-19 test that checks antibodies’ ability to fight Omicron variant

A new rapid test can identify antibody effectiveness against COVID-19 variants, including Omicron, in just 15 minutes.
Scientists say the quick and simple test could measure patient immunity against multiple COVID-19. variants – such as Omicron and Delta at once – and also indicate which treatments to use.

Biomedical engineers at Duke University devised the test to quickly and easily assess how well a person’s neutralizing antibodies fight infection from multiple variants of COVID-19.

They say the test could potentially tell doctors how protected a patient is from new variants and those currently circulating in a community or, conversely, which antibodies to treat a COVID-19. patient.

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The post Motivational Words, Rages in Planes, World Relocation appeared first on Traveling Archive.

James Boitano – T-Boy Writer:

Iceland’s Keflavik Airport handles most international flights and is the convenient gateway for Icelandair’s connection from North America to a many European destinations. Transfers are the quickest and easiest than I have found in any other European airport. Even if your flight is less than an hour from landing and you have to pass through Schengen, it’s enough time. And if you have to spend any time here, it’s such a pleasant and user-friendly airport with every amenity. The airport is about an hour from Reykjavik and the bus ride over the lava fields to the city is a magical introduction to this land of fire and ice.

In contract, Iceland’s domestic flights are handled by their tiny city airport, Reykjavik Airport It’s more like a glorified bus terminal with a minimal of fuss and amenities. I don’t know if this is still the case, but when I took a domestic flight in 2013 there wasn’t even any airport security. It doesn’t get more low maintenance than that.

I have transferred to Munich Airport twice, and it was second only to Keflavik in easy of customs and transfer procedures. Both times they seem to have arranged that my outbound flight was at the same gate as my arrival. If you have ever spent an hour trying to get between terminals at Heathrow, you will appreciate that convenience. I also remember their lovely free coffee and newspaper stations and pleasant waiting areas.

Kevin Revolinski – T-Boy Writer:

That’s easy, Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea

Richard Carroll – T-Boy Writer:

It was a memorable experience flying to Cabo San Lucas in the late 1960’s before it was tagged Los Cabos. The airport or landing strip was located in San Jose del Cabo, and it never seemed to be fully paved and always felt like we were landing uphill in a cloud of whirling dust. It was like flying into another world. The terminal was basic with no A/C and I could always smell the sweet bouquet of tequila, which was probably from a small booth in the terminal hosted by an attractive senorita offering shots to anyone strolling by. A few Taxis that would give you the ride of your life were lined up outside the terminal for the 20-mile drive from the working town of San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas, which was along a gorgeous coastline with few hotels, a wide expanse of ocean, sandy beaches, coves washed by a strong surf, and a scattering of fishermen casting their lines. Arriving in Cabo San Lucas the cabbie’s carefully dodge the dogs snoozing in the streets.

Yap’s International Airport consists of one runway, no tower, and if a plane fly’s es over it must be Wednesday. Yap Micronesia, 541 miles southeast of Guam in the Western Caroline Islands, was invaded and occupied by the Japanese during World War II until the official surrender in 1945. The single taxiway was built by the Japanese in early 1944, and was heavily bombarded by the U.S. Army Air Force and Navy. Landing on the runway among thick foliage and a sparkling ocean, I could see the wreckage of Japanese aircraft near the runway which vividly brought to mind the history of warfare in the Pacific. The terminal consists of a small A-Frame style building with bird life in the rafters and is nicely organized. English spoken.

Portland International Airport is a feel-good destination and my favorite large city airport. Disembarking, travelers are greeted by live music, and it could be a guitarist performing blues, jazz and classical charts, or an agile violinist with a smile, or Liz Wister an accordionist. Local musicians with great skill also light up a permanent upright splendidly tuned piano, the sound system perfected to relax harried travelers. A big cheer to the Portland International Airport Music Program where volunteer musicians perform an average of 65 weekly sessions providing some 200 hours of live music each week for travelers. Performers have a time limit with changing talent throughout the day and evening. Even the giant, 24-foot-tall Cuckoo Clock has a song to share. It’s an ideal airport for a dreaded layover, and if traveling with a dog there is a Pet Relief Area.

Landing in Hawaii my first impression is always the fragrant splendor of fresh flowers, and being greeted by the smell of freshly cut blooms, the scent drifting along the air currents and possibly created from the profusion of orchard leis’ that have found a home in the airport. For the airports of the world this is a special and unique greeting for sure.

Flying to Tsavo West National Park in southeastern Kenya in a steamy single engine puddle-jumper we circled the landing strip for a length of time that seemed like an eternity waiting for a large herd of elephants to move off the runway, all the while watching the fuel gauge slowly waver downward. When we finally touched down on a bumpy strip of land with the help of the remaining fumes, the terminal was a small hut with a man inside stretched out on a bench soundly asleep.

Jim Gordon – T-Boy Writer:

Airports for me begin and end with Palm Springs! I’ve never been to an airport where my stress level drops as soon as I walk through the open-air structure, small though it is!

Rodger Fallihee – T-Boy Writer:

I loved Hollywood Burbank Airport (now Bob Hope Airport) because of the stars that I saw there over the years. Robert Redford, Beau Bridges, Jon Voight, Lynda Carter, Jerry Lewis, Tom Poston, John Ritter and I’m sure more than I have forgotten. They also had the best parking at Carter VSP. They would wash the car or change the oil.

Ed Boitano – T-Boy Editor:

Shop till you drop is an alien term to me. To be more specific if there was no such thing as online shopping, I fear many birthdays and holidays would be celebrated gift-free. This all changed upon an early arrival at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport when waiting for an international flight back to the states. The statistics were in my favor for Schiphol is regularly voted the best airport for shopping, plus it’s run by the Dutch who have the characteristic of being orderly and forward thinking, already anticipating the needs of the traveler. Yes, that includes a shopping mile, a casino, spas, a library and even a branch of the Rijksmuseum all neatly laid out along Schiphol’s Holland Boulevard. My only dilemma was whether I should purchase Dutch gin, chocolates or gouda cheese for my Aunt Kate back in the states. I already knew tulip bulbs should only be purchased by the grower.

I had made it, complete with a backpack stuffed with unnecessary items. Zürich Airport was calm, and it was just what I needed after having taken the train there in the early morning. But I kept thinking I had forgotten something. Oh, yes; it was a trip to the bakery to bring a bag home of silserli (Swiss Pretzel Rolls). I rendezvoused with my photographer at the airport and explained my dilemma. Take it easy, she replied, pointing to Brezelkönig Bakery, just a few steps away from where we were standing. Painfully aware of uncivilized price gouging in captured U.S. airport settings, I replied, Yes, but won’t they cost a $1,000 U.S. or something? No, she smiled. The prices are regulated, they’re no more expensive than on the street. Yet, another reason why I love Switzerland and silserli.

I knew that Singapore Changi Airport would be clean and sparking, as all things are in Singapore. But I never expected an airline representative in pre-pandemic and post-9/11 Singapore to approach me while I wandered around the terminal in my usual daze. I was also aware that the rules are strict in this handsome island nation, and wondered if I committed an airport infraction. The employee’s words were simple: Can I help you? It appears that you may be lost. No, I replied. Just marveling at your airport. Well, please enjoy it, she said. We have free Internet over by the window.

Skip Kaltenheuser – T-Boy Writer

Hard to imagine that the last time I was in one of my top favorite cities, Hong Kong’s head honcho was still the amiable Governor Chris Patten, and I was soon to be scribbling columns from DC for a now long-gone Hong Kong magazine called Windows. Kai Tak was still the airport. When I first flew into it, a side trip after visiting a pal in Tokyo, during the landing it looked like the plane’s wings might snag lines of laundry hanging off the balconies of apartment buildings, or flatten TV antennas. There was a sudden hard turn that made me wonder if our final destination was Victoria Bay. It was a spectacular landing and prelude to a great city.

Preparing for a trip to Hong Kong with my wife, I learned she had an abhorrent fear of airplane crashes, not unlike William Shatner in the Twilight Zone episode, Terror at 20,000 Feet. So we got a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication which she topped off with drinks. Upon landing the passengers cheered and clapped and I smiled at her. I couldn’t tell if the expression she returned was one of stark terror or a promise of revenge. I looked down to see four ripples of blood dripping from my forearm from where my wife’s fingernails had been embedded. I remember thinking future plane travel for her might not be much in the cards. On a prior trip to Hong Kong, I came across a fortune teller who was a doppelgänger of Ho Chi Minh. He answered my query of a contemplated union by requesting a photo that would allow him to compare noses. As the mystic was closely tuned to Hong Kong, the foreboding on his face must surely have presaged the coming airplane fright, I figured.

How do I convey the thrill of landing at Kai Tak, with or without fingernail acupuncture in one’s arm? Here’s an article that gives a notion of an approach to the airport’s runway 13/31, known as the “Kai Tak Heart Attack.” Built on reclaimed land in Kowloon Bay, the airport was in a bowl, surrounded by mountains and water and plenty of apartment blocks and skyscrapers. Runway 13/31 extended out into Victoria Harbor, across from Hong Kong Island. Imagine the additional excitements at night, with all the distracting lights of Hong Kong, or in rough and/or rainy weather, and the occasional typhoon. Automated landings could not carry the day here. For pilots, it was revered as the best test of competence. Takeoffs weren’t the easiest liftoffs either. Remarkably, despite this airline gauntlet, runway 13/31 was the world’s busiest single runway, with an hourly log of 36 landings and take-offs. One every 100 seconds. No one tarried when there was a mishap. One of the times a plane overshot the runway into the drink, the airport blew off its tail so it could be quickly towed out of the way.

To master the unique requirements of landing on that runway, often while fighting powerful crosswinds that, like wind speed, were in constant flux, airline pilots trained extensively on special simulators before they took on the low-altitude, manual 47-degree visual right turn at 200 miles per hour, immediately kicked into gear by the sight of a large orange and white checkerboard painted on a hill, with only two nautical miles to go before hitting the runway.

For a better sense of the challenge to pilots, try this video explaining it by a pilot very experienced with the runway and checkerboard approach:

And here’s a fun look via simulators showing the added value of the buildings all about:

Some additional photos are hyperlink: here at the Daily Mail website.

Despite a dozen air disasters, by 1996 Kai Tak was handling thirty million passengers a year. The airport closed on July 6, 1998, but that landing remains indelible in many millions of minds, for the passengers, pilots and crew, as well as the plane watchers on apartment rooftops and balconies and in the streets. Landings there made Kai Tak one of my two favorite airports. It’s now a cruise liner terminal, but I doubt docking there is quite the same. I get emails updating me almost daily from pals in Hong Kong. Though they no longer have to land in Kai Tak, I wish them luck on all other fronts, now every bit as tricky.

EXTRA

The post Favorite Airports of our Past appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Curated by Ed Boitano

10 National Parks Tied to Asian/Pacific American History

Courtesy Kaila Yu

The importance of honoring Asian American history is especially timely with the disturbing rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic. Many Americans are not aware that anti-Asian hate has been taking place since the early 1800s and aren’t taught about Asian American achievements. Several national parks honor the considerable contributions that Asian Americans have made throughout U.S. history, from building the transcontinental railroad to fighting in the military in World War II. In honor of the upcoming Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, travelers can visit one of the 10 parks on this list tied to Asian/Pacific American history.

Make sure you read Ed Boitano’s Horrific Past: The 1849 California Gold Rush – on Traveling Boy

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Designer Becca Saladin Reimagines Famous Historical Figures as Modern People Living Today

Courtesy of Jessica Stewart 

From Julius Caesar to Anne Boleyn, Becca Saladin spends hours modernizing historical figures through expert digital manipulation.

First, a little about graphic designer Becca Saladin.

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Why Costa Rica Is One of the Best Vacation Destinations in the World

From the rainforests to the beaches, these are the top reasons you need to visit Costa Rica.

Courtesy Andrea Romano

It’s no wonder, considering that there’s literally something for everyone when you plan a getaway there. Costa Rica is known for its incredible national parks, where tourists can enjoy some thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and zip lining. It’s also one of the best places for animal lovers to discover some interesting wildlife like macaws, sea turtles, and adorable sloths.

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Singer/Musician/Composer Stacey Kent on Hit Series, Our City Tonight

Hosts Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins ask Ms. Kent compelling question about her life as a musician during the Covid pandemic. Her answers are profound and thought provoking.

The 16-Year-Old Chinese Immigrant Who Helped Lead a 1912 US Suffrage March

Mabel Ping-Hua Lee fought for the rights of women on two sides of the world.

Courtesy of Michael Lee

In 1900, at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 banned most Chinese immigration and reflected a climate of deep anti-Asian prejudice, 9-year-old Mabel Ping-Hua Lee came to America from China on a scholarship to attend school. At 16, she would cement her place in women’s suffrage history, helping to lead a storied New York City march.

But while she fought for women’s voting rights, she herself would not be eligible to cast a ballot for decades after the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. That’s because the Exclusion Act prohibited Chinese immigrants from obtaining any rights of American citizenship.

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Extreme Places: A Night in an Ice Hotel

Spending a night in ice and snow is possible in the far north of Europe. The “Icehotel” in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, was built back in 1989, making it the first of its kind ― and therefore part of our “Extreme Places” series.

Courtesy Hendrik Welling, DW reporter

A visit to an ice hotel isn’t exactly the first choice if you prefer to spend your holidays under palm trees in warmer climes. But if you can manage to overcome your fear of freezing, you’ll be rewarded with a unique natural experience.

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Extreme Places: A Night in an Ice Hotel Video

Courtesy DW Travel

Europe at its most extreme: the series “Europe to the Maxx” in DW’s lifestyle and culture magazine “Euromaxx” makes Europe’s superlatives experienceable ― from extraordinary architecture and spectacular landscapes to unique cultural phenomena. Accompanying the series, the book “111 extreme places in Europe that you shouldn’t miss” was published in cooperation with Emons Verlag. An alternative travel guide, both informative and entertaining. For avid travelers, fans of Europe and anyone who likes to show off with unusual pub quiz trivia. Full of guaranteed record breakers!

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Twenty Essential English Language Films Noir (1940-2021)

T-Boy Society of Film & Music

But first, what is a Film Noir?

The term film noir, French for ‘black film’ (literal) or ‘dark film’ (closer meaning), was first applied to Hollywood films by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by the Hollywood establishment of that era. Marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace; its style is often characterized by cynical heroes, stark lighting effects and set design, intricate plots, and an underlying existentialist philosophy.  Highly influenced by German Expressionist cinema of the 1910s and 1920s, film historians generally define the genre retrospectively, focusing primarily on American crime dramas of the post-World War II era.

See Top 20 Films Noir

8 Bizarre Reasons Why Passengers Get Kicked Off Planes

Courtesy Evie Carrick, Travel and Leisure

From smelling bad to wearing sagging pants, these are some of the most unusual reasons people have gotten kicked off planes.

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From a Small, Rural Schoolhouse, One Teacher Challenged Nativist Attacks Against Immigration

Courtesy Ross Benes

In the wake of World War I, rabid anti-German sentiment led to the arrest, later deemed unjust by the U.S. Supreme Court, of Robert Meyer.

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What Americans Abroad Should Not Expect

Pancakes

The fluffy flour-based pancakes that American’s have come to love at breakfast time (or for brinner) just aren’t found abroad. French crêpes are too thin. The Japanese version (okonomiyaki) is too thick and most often topped with savory things like meat, seafood, and cabbage.

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Greta Thunberg

After capturing the world’s attention at the United Nations in New York City last September, Thunberg, now 17, spoke in December at the UN’s climate change conference in Madrid. Her main theme: science. “I’ve given many speeches and learned that when you talk in public, you should start with something personal or emotional to get everyone’s attention,” she said. “But today I will not do that because then those phrases are all that people focus on. They don’t remember the facts, the very reason why I say those things in the first place.”

Ghost Forests: Louisiana’s Wetlands

Courtesy National Geographic

A mindful mission: Louisiana’s wetlands near the Mississippi Delta are being lost to a rise in the sea levels, leaving eerie “ghost forests.” Under the state’s coastal restoration plan, Jacqueline Kehoe writes for Nat Geo, “more land could be saved than lost by 2060. It’s a plan that could save species, create new science and industries, and mitigate climate impact on millions of lives.” Ecotourism could help this ‘Amazon of North America’ recover, Kehoe writes.

HOW TO HELP: A number of groups are trying to help save the Lower Mississippi. Here are four: Imagine Water Works, the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, and Waterwise Gulf South.

It Will Take 20M Antibacterial Wipes to Clean the World’s Biggest Theme Park!

Courtesy Laura Solloway

Online interest in theme parks has increased by 65% in the past three months, as we get excited for whenever restrictions will ease.

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Check Out 5 of Our Top 10 Favorite International Destinations, Now Open For Business

Courtesy Austin Adventures

Week by week, safe travel beyond borders has become more viable for eager adventurers. We are excited to share a countdown of our top 10 international destinations that are open and safely navigating the new travel world. This week we are revealing the first five accessible destinations and stay tuned, next week we’ll release the last five in the top 10 countdown!

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Global Rescue: Going into the Wilderness

Spring is here and people restless from the pandemic protocols will start hitting the trails, pitching camp site tents, and exploring the great outdoors.

“Going into the wilderness means you are entering some level of a survival situation. There are many emergencies and contingencies in the backcountry that do not have a medical requirement. For these instances, you need survival equipment,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and the senior survival instructor at the U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Course in Rangeley, Maine.

What to Pack in a Survival Kit

Asian Americans Grieve, Organize in Wake of Atlanta Attacks

Asian Americans were already worn down by a year of pandemic-fueled racist attacks when a white gunman was charged with killing eight people, most of them Asian women, at three Atlanta-area massage parlors.

“It didn’t help with former president Trump referring to the COVID-19 pandemic as the Kung Fu virus. Recently there were seven propaganda incidents with direct anti-China references to COVID-19.” – Ed Boitano

Hundreds of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders turned to social media to air their anger, sadness, fear and hopelessness. The hashtag #StopAsianHate was a top trending topic on Twitter hours after the shootings that happened Tuesday evening.

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Along With Youth

By Ernest Hemingway

A porcupine skin,
Stiff with bad tanning,
It must have ended somewhere.
Stuffed horned owl
Pompous
Yellow eyed;
Chuck-wills-widow on a biassed twig
Sooted with dust.
Piles of old magazines,
Drawers of boy’s letters
And the line of love
They must have ended somewhere.
Yesterday’s Tribune is gone
Along with youth
And the canoe that went to pieces on the beach
The year of the big storm
When the hotel burned down
At Seney, Michigan.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

Earth’s Mountains May Have Mysteriously Stopped Growing for a Billion Years

Courtesy MAYA WEI-HAA, National Geographic

Starting about 1.8 billion years ago, the planet’s continental crust thinned, slowing the flow of nutrients into the sea and possibly stalling the evolution of life.

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Archaeologists Discover What May Have Been World’s Oldest Brewery in Egypt

The remains date back to 3100 B.C.

Courtesy of Cailey Rizzo

Archaeologists may have found the remains of the world’s oldest brewery buried in Egypt.

The potentially 5,000-year-old beer factory in the city of Abydos dates back to the reign of King Narmer — around 3100 B.C. — the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed this month in a press release.

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5 Things Science Says Will Make You Happier

Research-backed habits that will improve your outlook and positive attitude

By Nataly Kogan
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

It’s easy to assume that things like money and a luxurious lifestyle lead to happiness, but research shows that it’s the more simple experiences — like practicing gratitude or spending time with friends — that promote a sunny outlook.

Whether you need to shift from negative thoughts or want to continue a streak of positivity, here are five ways to boost happiness every day.

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The post National Parks Honoring Asian Americans appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Curated by Ed Boitano

Designer Becca Saladin Reimagines Famous Historical Figures as Modern People Living Today

Courtesy of Jessica Stewart 

From Julius Caesar to Anne Boleyn, Becca Saladin spends hours modernizing historical figures through expert digital manipulation.

First, a little about graphic designer Becca Saladin.

MORE

It Will Take 20M Antibacterial Wipes to Clean the World’s Biggest Theme Park!

Courtesy Laura Solloway

Online interest in theme parks has increased by 65% in the past three months, as we get excited for whenever restrictions will ease.

MORE

Singer/Musician/Composer Stacey Kent on Hit Series, Our City Tonight

Hosts Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins ask Ms. Kent compelling question about her life as a musician during the Covid pandemic. Her answers are profound and thought provoking.

Global Rescue: Going into the Wilderness

Spring is here and people restless from the pandemic protocols will start hitting the trails, pitching camp site tents, and exploring the great outdoors.

“Going into the wilderness means you are entering some level of a survival situation. There are many emergencies and contingencies in the backcountry that do not have a medical requirement. For these instances, you need survival equipment,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and the senior survival instructor at the U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Course in Rangeley, Maine.

What to Pack in a Survival Kit

Asian Americans Grieve, Organize in Wake of Atlanta Attacks

Asian Americans were already worn down by a year of pandemic-fueled racist attacks when a white gunman was charged with killing eight people, most of them Asian women, at three Atlanta-area massage parlors.

“It didn’t help with former president Trump referring to the COVID-19 pandemic as the Kung Fu virus. Recently there were seven propaganda incidents with direct anti-China references to COVID-19.” – Ed Boitano

Hundreds of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders turned to social media to air their anger, sadness, fear and hopelessness. The hashtag #StopAsianHate was a top trending topic on Twitter hours after the shootings that happened Tuesday evening.

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Extreme Places: A Night in an Ice Hotel Video

Courtesy DW Travel

Europe at its most extreme: the series “Europe to the Maxx” in DW’s lifestyle and culture magazine “Euromaxx” makes Europe’s superlatives experienceable ― from extraordinary architecture and spectacular landscapes to unique cultural phenomena. Accompanying the series, the book “111 extreme places in Europe that you shouldn’t miss” was published in cooperation with Emons Verlag. An alternative travel guide, both informative and entertaining. For avid travelers, fans of Europe and anyone who likes to show off with unusual pub quiz trivia. Full of guaranteed record breakers!

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Twenty Essential English Language Films Noir (1940-2021)

T-Boy Society of Film & Music

But first, what is a Film Noir?

The term film noir, French for ‘black film’ (literal) or ‘dark film’ (closer meaning), was first applied to Hollywood films by French critic Nino Frank in 1946, but was unrecognized by the Hollywood establishment of that era. Marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace; its style is often characterized by cynical heroes, stark lighting effects and set design, intricate plots, and an underlying existentialist philosophy.  Highly influenced by German Expressionist cinema of the 1910s and 1920s, film historians generally define the genre retrospectively, focusing primarily on American crime dramas of the post-World War II era.

See Top 20 Films Noir

8 Bizarre Reasons Why Passengers Get Kicked Off Planes

Courtesy Evie Carrick, Travel and Leisure

From smelling bad to wearing sagging pants, these are some of the most unusual reasons people have gotten kicked off planes.

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From a Small, Rural Schoolhouse, One Teacher Challenged Nativist Attacks Against Immigration

Courtesy Ross Benes

In the wake of World War I, rabid anti-German sentiment led to the arrest, later deemed unjust by the U.S. Supreme Court, of Robert Meyer.

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What Americans Abroad Should Not Expect

Pancakes

The fluffy flour-based pancakes that American’s have come to love at breakfast time (or for brinner) just aren’t found abroad. French crêpes are too thin. The Japanese version (okonomiyaki) is too thick and most often topped with savory things like meat, seafood, and cabbage.

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Why Costa Rica Is One of the Best Vacation Destinations in the World

From the rainforests to the beaches, these are the top reasons you need to visit Costa Rica.

Courtesy Andrea Romano

It’s no wonder, considering that there’s literally something for everyone when you plan a getaway there. Costa Rica is known for its incredible national parks, where tourists can enjoy some thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and zip lining. It’s also one of the best places for animal lovers to discover some interesting wildlife like macaws, sea turtles, and adorable sloths.

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Check Out 5 of Our Top 10 Favorite International Destinations, Now Open For Business

Courtesy Austin Adventures

Week by week, safe travel beyond borders has become more viable for eager adventurers. We are excited to share a countdown of our top 10 international destinations that are open and safely navigating the new travel world. This week we are revealing the first five accessible destinations and stay tuned, next week we’ll release the last five in the top 10 countdown!

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The 16-Year-Old Chinese Immigrant Who Helped Lead a 1912 US Suffrage March

Mabel Ping-Hua Lee fought for the rights of women on two sides of the world.

Courtesy of Michael Lee

In 1900, at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 banned most Chinese immigration and reflected a climate of deep anti-Asian prejudice, 9-year-old Mabel Ping-Hua Lee came to America from China on a scholarship to attend school. At 16, she would cement her place in women’s suffrage history, helping to lead a storied New York City march.

But while she fought for women’s voting rights, she herself would not be eligible to cast a ballot for decades after the 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. That’s because the Exclusion Act prohibited Chinese immigrants from obtaining any rights of American citizenship.

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Extreme Places: A Night in an Ice Hotel

Spending a night in ice and snow is possible in the far north of Europe. The “Icehotel” in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, was built back in 1989, making it the first of its kind ― and therefore part of our “Extreme Places” series.

Courtesy Hendrik Welling, DW reporter

A visit to an ice hotel isn’t exactly the first choice if you prefer to spend your holidays under palm trees in warmer climes. But if you can manage to overcome your fear of freezing, you’ll be rewarded with a unique natural experience.

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Along With Youth

By Ernest Hemingway

A porcupine skin,
Stiff with bad tanning,
It must have ended somewhere.
Stuffed horned owl
Pompous
Yellow eyed;
Chuck-wills-widow on a biassed twig
Sooted with dust.
Piles of old magazines,
Drawers of boy’s letters
And the line of love
They must have ended somewhere.
Yesterday’s Tribune is gone
Along with youth
And the canoe that went to pieces on the beach
The year of the big storm
When the hotel burned down
At Seney, Michigan.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

Earth’s Mountains May Have Mysteriously Stopped Growing for a Billion Years

Courtesy MAYA WEI-HAA, National Geographic

Starting about 1.8 billion years ago, the planet’s continental crust thinned, slowing the flow of nutrients into the sea and possibly stalling the evolution of life.

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Archaeologists Discover What May Have Been World’s Oldest Brewery in Egypt

The remains date back to 3100 B.C.

Courtesy of Cailey Rizzo

Archaeologists may have found the remains of the world’s oldest brewery buried in Egypt.

The potentially 5,000-year-old beer factory in the city of Abydos dates back to the reign of King Narmer — around 3100 B.C. — the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed this month in a press release.

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5 Things Science Says Will Make You Happier

Research-backed habits that will improve your outlook and positive attitude

By Nataly Kogan
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD

It’s easy to assume that things like money and a luxurious lifestyle lead to happiness, but research shows that it’s the more simple experiences — like practicing gratitude or spending time with friends — that promote a sunny outlook.

Whether you need to shift from negative thoughts or want to continue a streak of positivity, here are five ways to boost happiness every day.

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