Untitled

According to the World Bank, Malawi is the fourth poorest country in the World. It is a small landlocked nation in Africa whose main source of income is agriculture. Unfortunately their number one crop is tobacco and as you might expect there is a dwindling demand for that product. With over half of the population living in poverty they truly do rely on foreign aid and help from people like…

It’s easier to visit these countries in the winter time when you live in California. It’s not like you live it everyday so it can be considered a vacation. However, that means you either have to borrow clothes or like me, you’ve saved a bag of clothes for any type of travel. Cold immersion experiences are a thing now. Because many travelers look for physical health benefits in addition to…

Many airlines have recently revisited appropriate attire worn by you if you want to fly with them. You may be denied boarding if your clothing is offensive, smelly or overly revealing! Shoes are mandated as well. Airlines who enforce these codes are American, Delta, United, Southwest, Hawaiian and Spirit. And some foreign airlines are even more strict like Qatar who find casual wear not suitable…

While I didn’t reach my goal of visiting five new countries this year, I did explore two: Bolivia and Turkmenistan. I also had the joy of revisiting India and Spain and celebrating my 55th college reunion! My sense of humor may be a bit over the top, but life is good, and I’m looking forward to a wonderful New Year for all of us. Cheers to 2025!

I did not visit all of Benin as it was ill advised to travel North. But I was fortunate to have a driver/guide for a few days allowing me to learn much about the history, the culture and daily life. Benin, formerly known as the Dahomey Kingdom, was depicted in The Woman King, a movie based on the African female warriors during the 17th-19th centuries. They were a warring society whose economy…

While confined to home due to Covid I decided to explore another frontier: Artificial Intelligence! Is it bad? Is it good? Will it replace me? Is it to be trusted? I’ve been hearing all these concerns and more. Granted, it is still a work in progress but isn’t everything? My next trip as the Aging Adventurer will take me to Benin and Togo. I have my visa, my rough itinerary, my hotel in Benin…

I was diligent, I was cautious and I was a bit of a control-freak. I thought I just had “trust” issues but one of my daughters assured me it had to do more with “control” issues.For three years I avoided Covid. I have had 5 avoidance vaccines and I still get my groceries delivered. I haven’t returned to the gym and I wear a mask anytime I go into a crowded space, like airplanes and airports.Last…

Lipstick on a Pig

I hate to diss on my favorite airline as I work hard each year to prove my loyalty. But my trip to Sao Paulo had me more than a little discouraged. I had hoped to use my global upgrades both ways but in order to do so I had to book the next highest level. For this flight it was their new “cabin”, the Premium Select, which is saddled between their domestic first class and their Delta One. I was…

The Waterfalls of the World

I like waterfalls, if you’re close enough it’s like an expensive spa treatment. But mostly I like the sound, the fury, the amazing beauty and the spritzing! When I was quite young my folks took us to Niagara Falls and made sure we saw them from both New York and Ontario. What I remember about them are the stories of the crazy people who attempted to go over them in a wooden barrel and the first…

Cape Coast Tour of Ghana

Accra, the Capital of Ghana