Travelogue
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
Mosques and Towers in Malaysia
Islam was first introduced to the Malay Peninsula Coast in 674 CE, just over fifty years after the Prophet’s flight from Mecca to Medina, and again by Arab merchants and traveling Sufis in waves throughout the 12th to 15th centuries. Today, over 60% of the population practices Islam, almost 20 million people. …
Long White Cloud
The Maori call New Zealand's South Island the “Land of the Long White Cloud.” It rained nearly every day, allowing for great familiarity with the Cloud. Alternatively, the rare unveiling of the sun encouraged the surfacing of extreme sand flies, mini participants in another one of New Zealand’s famous adventure sports: blood-sucking. One way or another, we spent many evenings inside the shelter of Shadowfax, our ancient white rental Corolla. …
Santa’s Christmas Beach Village and Other Inversions
… Apogee: Santa's Christmas Village at the Beach, as I affectionately referred to one particular monstrosity in Maroochydore, New South Wales. The tent site was a little slab of hardened grass in the midst of the most absurd tent-and-lightcircus-show imaginable. Friendly suburban outglow-your-neighbor Christmas light displays wouldn't stand a chance against THESE vacationers. I declared it a consummate experience after walking past a life-sized, sparkling, blow-up Santa on a surfboard, with not one, but TWO sharks nipping at his toes …
Roosters and Cliffs
While waiting, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, for a rental car at the Kauai airport, I wondered foolishly why someone would bring their pet rooster to work at the outdoor car rental counter. …
