YA Eco Mysteries, Memoirs, Novels & Travel
Phuket and Phang Nga Bay Thailand
I am a Passionate Traveler who asks questions and digs below the surface of the places I visit to get the most our of the experience. Here’s my take on Phuket. Our ship dropped anchor just off the beach resort of Phuket—know worldwide for the horrific tsunami that swept the town, and the surrounding area, away in 2004. As we trudged across the sand on the beachfront in the bright morning sun, I could not stop searching for remnants of the devastation, or from thinking about the thousands who had died here.
Read More...Bali The Dream and The Reality
Visions of magic places on our bucket list float in our heads even if we are only dimly aware of them. I imagined Bali with pristine beaches framed by swaying palms, and bathed in sunlight radiating from a pure blue sky. In reality, as our tour bus rumbled along the highway from Bali’s port of Benoa, the tropical paradise I envisioned was nowhere to be seen. Instead, mundane shopping strips with old houses jammed in between, and heavy traffic with scooters buzzing everywhere.
Unexpected MacDonalds in Benoa, Bali
Read More...Tropical Island of Penang Malaysia
Penang is an island in Malaysia's north, not far from the Thailand border. George Town is the capital of the state of Penang in Malaysia (also spelt Georgetown). Penang’s mosaic of cultures, languages and religions can be clearly seen in the old heart of the city called Colonial George Town, and named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. A fascinating fusion of East and West, George Town's heritage is testimony to more than a century and a half of British rule fused with Malay, Chinese and Indian traditions. The shophouses are still both shops and homes.
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
The Passionate Traveler Lombok Indonesia
Kuala Lampur from shanty town to metropolis
Kuala Lampur, the federal capital of Malaysia with a population of around 1.5 million people.
About a half hour’s drive from Kuala Lampur brings you to a towering series of caves in an ancient limestone cliff known as Batu Caves.
Singapore A Multi Racial Nation
On a recent visit to Singapore I could sense that Singaporeans take pride in the racial and religious tolerance enshrined in their constitution. The Chinese are the majority and follow Buddhism mixed with elements of Chinese folklore. Most Malays are Muslim. Indians are mostly Hindus while a smaller percentage are Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Christians. This interesting multicultural background is clearly evident as one strolls thorough the distinct old ethnic neighborhoods like Little India, Chinatown, and Kampong Glam. See: The Passionate Traveler: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia
Read More...Komodo National Park Indonesia
Like many of you, I’ve seen pictures and videos of the Komodo dragon, or lizard (Varanus komodoensis), but since it lives on the remote island of Indonesia thousands of miles away from my home in Birmingham, Alabama, I never imagined that I would have a chance to see this awesome creature in real life.