Asia Travel Archives - Page 2 of 3

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

February 20, 2013 by Cate Brubaker

What’s wrong with this picture? At first glance, it seems as if very little is wrong with it. Just two women, enjoying a walk around a cultural site. However, the larger picture tells a very different story. The cultural site these women are visiting is Wat Phra Kaew, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Thailand, and the woman on the right is quite disrespectfully under-dressed. What makes this photo even more damning is that she would have been issued a shawl upon arrival, and had she refused it at that time, she would have been denied entry into the temple complex. I can only surmise that she removed the shawl as soon as she felt the coast was clear, effectively telling the Thai people that she has no respect for their religious culture. None. And if that isn’t a hearty “fuck you”, I don’t know what is.

Some of the most visited sites in the world pertaining to ancient history and culture are religious ones. Mosques, churches, synagogues and temples all over the globe have endured wars, the elements, and much more to become popular with tourists, but to the people whose faith these structures represent, they are much more than a place to take photos and check off of the bucket lists.

All too often I see tourist deliberately flaunting the rules of various religious sites. When I was in Istanbul last year I was so very excited to see the Blue Mosque. As we left our hotel for the day, I made sure that I had a long-sleeved sweater and a scarf in my bag, so I could cover up appropriately for my visit to the mosque. We neared the front of the line to enter the mosque, and I noticed female volunteers distributing scarves to the women so they could cover their hair. I donned my own scarf and we were granted entry. The crowds were thick, but not so much that I didn’t notice Western women removing the scarves as soon as they were inside. I overheard one woman say, in a distinctly American voice, “I’m not Muslim. I’m not wearing that shit.”

I don’t care if you’re not Muslim. I don’t care if you’re not Buddhist, or Christian, or Jewish. I don’t care what you are, or aren’t. When you enter a place that people use to pray, or worship, or meditate, or whatever is significant to them, show some respect. If they ask you to cover your hair, do it. If they ask you to kneel, do it. If you don’t want to do any of those things, don’t go in. It’s very simple.

I’m not a religious person. I don’t subscribe to any faith, and, to be frank, most modern religions trouble me and leave me confused. However, just as I appreciate my ability to to be free in my lack of faith, I appreciate the ability of others to be immersed in theirs. I respect their devotion, and consequently, I respect the places they go to show that devotion. I have no agenda other than a desire for cultural awareness, and a few minutes spent observing the rules so I can visit these amazing places is time well spent.

And to those ladies at Wat Phra Kaew and the Blue Mosque and all the others who ignore the rules, if you don’t have time for respect, then perhaps you shouldn’t be traveling.

Sunsets Around the World

December 24, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

“Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgundy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish mysteries.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

I am a sucker for a gorgeous sunset. Who isn’t? There is something so stupendously satisfying about seeing another day race off to be tomorrow in some other part of the world. A setting sun is one of those moments that can be experienced anywhere in the world, even your own backyard.

Sunsets have sometimes been the definition of beauty as I judge a place and compare one to another. I realize that can be unfair. Each place in the world has its own identity, and its own signature sunset.

These are some of my favorites.

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

This is one of the places in the world where my favorite sunset did not necessarily involve an ocean view. Taiwan lies on almost the same latitude as Hawaii, so it has similar tropical weather and high humidity. These combine to create skies filled with marshmallow clouds and the golden and pink colors that I love. I loved to climb to the roof of our 27 story apartment building and spend an hour taking one photo after another as the sun set behind the buildings and the busy shipping port. It was truly one of the most spectacular views in the city, and it was all mine.

Kapua Bay, Big Island, Hawaii

It goes without saying that Hawaii has spectacular sunsets. Virtually any place on any of the islands has an evening view to melt your heart. However, I was fortunate enough to visit the beach house of my friend, photographer Sandi Child, on several occasions. This rustic cottage, located at the end of a long, 4×4 only, lava road through a macadamia nut and honey bee farm will always be one of my fondest memories of the Aloha State. Sunsets were spent on the lanai just a few feet from the water, with cocktails in hand, and abundant laughs. If we were lucky, dolphins or humpback whales would pay us a visit as well.

Huanchaco, Peru

Before we made the journey from Kaohsiung to Huanchaco, I asked Will if there were sunsets. He immediately showed me photos from his time there a few years before. I was satisfied, but it wasn’t until I witnessed one for myself that I realized just how gorgeous they truly are. Whether we were ensconced on the patio of our little casita with a bottle of wine, or we carried said bottle down the street to perch on the breakwall above the Pacific Ocean, sunsets in Huanchaco are one of those wide awake in dreamland moments that made it so hard to live that perfect place.

Amazon River, Peru

Not to be outdone by her Pacific coast, Peru serves up some spectacular sunset vistas in the interior as well, particularly in the jungles surrounding the Amazon River. I’m no meteorologist, but I have to assume that it’s the steamy, humid air that coaxes the amazing colors out of the sky as the sun sets. Beautiful pinks and magentas merge seamlessly with royal purple and midnight blue and tint the mighty river with their hues. Dark always seems to come too quickly in the tropics, but while the color and light show is going on, there’s no better seat in the house than the deck of a cargo boat on it’s journey to Iquitos.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

I have developed a love/hate relationship with the sun since I arrived in Abu Dhabi. On one hand, the often dusty haze that hangs in the sky contributes to stunning, blood red sunsets, and on the other hand, the sun is actively attempting to kill me. However, as the inhumane heat of the summer has faded to the deliciously pleasant temperatures of winter, a cocktail or dinner outside is an actually feasible endeavor. Whether it’s a luxury hotel’s rooftop lounge, or the deck of our villa, Abu Dhabi sunsets are some of the most unusual I’ve seen. Reds shift to orange and orange morphs to purple as the sun settles into the Arabian Gulf, all of it heralded by the sometimes otherworldly ululation that is the call to prayer . It’s an incredible sight to see.

No matter where I am in the world, I will usually drop what I am doing and run outside to catch the sunset, and I am grateful that I have seen yet another day to its close. Maybe at some point in the near future I’ll wake up early on a regular basis to do the same with the sunrise.

Until then…

Where in the world are your favorite sunsets? Let us know in the comments section below!

Our Five Most Memorable Trips

December 3, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

If there’s one question I get more than any other it’s this one: What’s your favorite place that you’ve been? I love that people are interested enough to ask, but I hate the quantification and limits that an answer requires. Each and every place that I’ve been has made the favorites list in one capacity or another. Some are more “favoritey” than others, but if I couldn’t find something amazing in everything, then I probably shouldn’t be traveling.

Will and I have discussed this topic, as well. Since many of our trips were made before we even knew each other, we have our own favorites and our mutual favorites, and some that fall somewhere in between. For the sake of argument, we have whittled down a list of the five most memorable trips that we have taken together.

Here they are, in no particular order.

1. The Panama Canal

Cate’s Take: Our trip to Panama did NOT go as planned. It was supposed to be visa run from Peru combined with a visit to Boquete to see friends and a cruise to the San Blas Islands. The Boquete portion was amazing, but when we returned to Panama City to start our journey to San Blas, things went horribly awry. Suffice it to say that we got up at 4am for nothing, but we did get our money back. On the plus side, that left us with nothing to do in Panama City on the one day a month when a tourist cruise through the entire Panama Canal is available. What an incredible sight to see! It’s a full day of locks and lakes, huge ships and engineering awesomeness that is not to be missed.

Will’s input: The San Blas Islands are my bucket list item that almost happened. We could have gone anywhere for our visa run, but we had the time & resources to go to Panama. The motivation came in the promise of free drinks in Boquete and the possibility of going to San Blas. When San Blas obviously wasn’t going to happen for us, it caused us to explore our options. We decided on a full transit of the Panama Canal. The Canal is one of those things that has had a huge impact on the world as we know it and to have the pleasure of seeing it up close and personal is an experience I will never forget.

2. The Peruvian Amazon

Cate’s Take: I just love how this trip was “planned”. We were sitting on our lanai in Huanchaco drinking wine with friends and it just popped up, “How about we go to the Amazon?” Two days later we were on a bus headed northeast. We made a few leisurely stops before we boarded a cargo boat, complete with bananas and livestock, in Yurimaguas. The river was high so the trip to Iquitos only took forty eight hours, but the sunrises, sunsets and stops in the little villages along the way were some of the most wonderful hours of my life.

Will’s input: This trip was very unique in that the journey itself was the destination. The vast expanse that is the Amazon region remains mind-boggling to me. We really just surrendered ourselves to the trip and let things happen and everything went very smoothly. The interactions that we had with others along the way really make this trip stick out in my mind.

3. Chernobyl, Ukraine

Cate’s Take: We booked tickets to Kiev simply because they were inexpensive, and it’s a direct flight from Dubai. It wasn’t until a few days later that it dawned on me, Chernobyl is near Kiev! It did take some leg work and a change of date on our plane tickets, but we got permits and went on a tour of Chernobyl and Prypiat, the abandoned town nearby. I was simply speechless the whole time. The beauty of the landscape really belies the disaster that occurred there just twenty five years ago, and the ghost town of Prypiat is haunting and compelling to look at. I feel very fortunate to have seen that place. And Kiev is a spectacular city as well!

Will’s input: When you think of ruins, you usually think of ancient structures abandoned for whatever reasons the inhabitants had for vacating them. The reason that Prypiat was abandoned is something that I witnessed on television. The thing that really sticks out in my mind though is that my expectations of scorched earth were completely shattered. Our visit to these modern ruins was a truly unique experience.

4. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Cate’s Take: Cambodia was one of the places I had visited long before Will and I met, and I was beyond excited to see it again with him, especially as this was something of a honeymoon, kind of. Regardless, Cambodia will always be a very special place to me, and sharing the hikes through the temple complex with my favorite traveling companion was a delightful experience. Plus, it was our first trip together that involved something other than resorts and room service, and I think we worked as a team really, really well.

Will’s input: Angkor Wat was the first place that we visited together that Cate had been to before. She got to fill the role of destination expert and I got to enjoy it without putting too much thought into the logistics. Beyond the grandeur that is Angkor Wat though, this trip occupies the front of my mind because it was both a honeymoon and where our engagement became official when I presented Cate with her ring. Of course she said “Yes”.

5. Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Cate’s Take: This could have been combined with the above post and simply labeled as “Cambodia”, but Sihanoukville was a very different part of the same trip. We took a death-defying cab ride from Phnom Penh to get there, then the shenanigans began. Those few days were a booze-filled extravaganza and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. From a drunken walk home in the torrential rain with a gigantic “borrowed” beach umbrella to our own personal booze cruise in the Gulf of Thailand on a boat that later capsized (we weren’t on it, of course), Sihanoukville reminded me why it’s so important to be with someone that makes me laugh. Uproariously.

Will’s input: The tension caused by getting there (I’d recommend against being on Cambodia’s roads in the dark) followed by the relief of being there are what I remember most about Sihanoukville. This seaside town is a bit off the beaten path and I’ll always remember it fondly for the rustic beach bungalow, the golden sand beaches and the aforementioned “borrowing” of the beach umbrella during a violent deluge.

Rustic Beach Bungalow, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

So there you have it. Will and I don’t always agree on everything, but we do agree that these five journeys were memorable and important in so many ways. I look forward to updating this list frequently.

What are your favorite trips? What makes those journeys special to you? Let us know in the comments section below!

Weekend Getaway – Sri Lanka

November 29, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

Not many of our readers know that we tried to go to Sri Lanka several months ago. We, unfortunately, missed that flight due to a simple mix up between am and pm on the alarm clock. However, intrepid travelers that we are, we refused to give up and booked another flight from Abu Dhabi to Colombo. This one left at a time of day that did not require an alarm and we arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare.

The Sri Lankan Airlines flight departed Abu Dhabi on time, and we flew through the night en route to Colombo. Undeterred by the 4:30am arrival time, we breezed through immigration and met our driver outside customs. Our final destination was Galle, which is only about 150 kilometers south of Colombo, but due to horrendous traffic the trip has been known to take several hours. After a brief stop for refreshments, my darling companion fell asleep as I watched the city of Colombo wake up and hit the streets. It was a full two hours before we arrived at the Southern Expressway, but Galle was only an hour away at this point, so I began to relax.

The Sri Lankan countryside is gorgeous, with rubber plantations lining the highway and misty blue skies above. Religious shrines dedicated to several different faiths are abundant, and tiny communities spring up amid the green. Rice paddies occupy the land that the rubber trees don’t, and families were knee deep in the mud, planting their food. I could have gazed at that pastoral scenery all day.

Before I knew it, the Indian Ocean was straight ahead, and a few moments later we were deposited at our home for the weekend, the Thaproban Beach House. After a quick check in, we were shown to our second floor room. Overnight flights and I have never gotten on too well, so I collapsed onto the soft bed and slept for several hours. When I woke up, we ventured down to the open air lobby bar of the hotel and ordered beers and something to eat. A wonderful rainstorm decided to pay us a visit at that moment, and with a cold beer and a delicious Sri Lankan curry in front of me, I couldn’t have been happier.

The rainstorm passed almost as quickly as it had come, so we took a stroll down the beach in the fading light. Bars and restaurants line the waterfront, most with oceanside seating under big, beautiful trees. We decided on the Happy Banana for our second round of drinks, and lingered there for the rest of the evening, enjoying the ocean breezes and the people-watching. A quick walk down the street opposite the beach led us back to our hotel and more much-needed sleep.

The following morning, we awoke and decided to partake of the Thaproban Beach House’s included breakfast. I was delighted to be presented with a menu, as opposed to the standard buffet fare. I tried the Sri Lankan omelette and fried ham, both of which were delicious, as was the fresh juice. We lingered over our coffee then decided to explore the area.

As often happens, at least in my case, we wandered down the road, and ended up sipping a cold beer a few minutes later while gazing at the gorgeous blue ocean. We shifted gears toward a couple of beach loungers, then took a dip in the warm water. A few more beers and a nap later, we were ready for the sunset and a great dinner.

Tropical Drink at Unawatuna Beach Sri Lanka

We chose the Kingfisher Unawatuna on the recommendation of our hotel, and made the short walk to the restaurant. We sat at a table in the sand and ordered tropical drinks as darkness fell. Unfortunately, our meal was less than stellar, but the servers and the manager did all that they could to make up for the errors. We rounded out the evening with a return trip to the Happy Banana for cocktails on the beach.

Unfortunately, as is the usual, our weekend was over much too quickly. Shortly after breakfast the following morning we piled into a van for the trip back to Colombo and the airport. However, Sri Lanka bewitched me, and we are definitely planning a return trip next year, when we can devote much more time to exploring this beautiful island!

Dive Shop Heroes

November 19, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

No trip to southern Thailand would be complete without a dive. After all, this is where I became PADI certified eight years ago. We were pleased to find that Hilton Phuket has partnered with Sub Aqua Dive Centers to offer their guests a comfortable dive experience. We paid a visit to the dive shop to schedule a two dive trip to Koh Racha Yai. We were also fitted for equipment at the same time.

The morning of our dive dawned clear and beautiful, and we ventured to Sub Aqua a few minutes early for our departure time. Marc, our guide for the day, greeted us with coffee and a briefing of Koh Racha Yai. We finished our coffee and chatted for another moment or two before we hopped in the truck for the short trip to the pier where the dive boat was waiting.

The boat, run by Andaman Ocean Safaris, was an incredibly comfortable and refreshing change from dive boats we have used in the past. There was plenty of room to spread out as we started the 60 minutes journey to Koh Racha Yai. After a safety briefing from the charming boat manager, we settled in at a table on the middle deck with Marc. We chatted about the upcoming dive and arrived before we knew it.

Both dives were exceptional, with good visibility and delightfully warm water. Since neither of us had been diving in some time, it took us a bit to get accustomed to it, but Marc was a patient and relaxed divemaster. A filling lunch prepared on the dive boat was delicious, and with our two dives completed, we made the journey back to Phuket.

The following day we wanted to meet with Kerry Leach, the manager of Sub Aqua Phuket, to learn more about the business. She met us on the terrace of the Hilton Phuket pool where Sub Aqua conducts their free Introduction to SCUBA courses for Hilton guests. Passionate about her work and the waters of southern Thailand, Kerry was proud to talk about the initiatives regarding ocean health that Sub Aqua Phuket has been a major part of.

At the forefront of the environmental movement in the area is Go Eco Phuket. A collaboration between like-minded businesses and other community organizers, Go Eco Phuket has mobilized to be the voice for the area’s oceans and reefs. Most recently, Go Eco Phuket launched the world’s largest collective ocean clean up on September 30, 2012. Supported by local Phuket officials and bolstered by the presence of the Royal Thai Navy, more than 650 participants battled refuse both under the water and on the beach. Collectively, these volunteers collected over 15 tons of debris, including a 4.5 ton discarded fishing net.

In addition to actively working to collect rubbish that fouls the reefs, Go Eco Phuket is inspiring the next generation to care about the oceans. The group has an active presence in Thai schools, educating young people about reef ecosystems and the environmental factors that can threaten these fragile habitats. Equipment donated by local Phuket dive shops and heavy radio station involvement aids in spreading the word, and outfitting the volunteers with the tools they need to get the job done.

Not only were we incredibly impressed with our experience diving with Sub Aqua, the professionalism of the staff and the impeccable condition of their equipment, but we are now more inspired than ever to return for a second Phuket dive vacation. Sub Aqua has first-hand knowledge of the importance of clean reefs, as a draw for increased tourism, and as a benefit to the future of the environment. Their continued activism can only benefit the Phuket area as a whole for years to come.

Thanks to Kerry, the rest of the staff at Sub Aqua, and the whole of the Phuket diving community, the waters of southern Thailand are now more beautiful than ever.

Paradise in Phuket

November 4, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

I knew that it would be a great weekend as our Air Berlin flight sailed over the water and the beach to land at Phuket International Airport. The gorgeous red sunset visible outside the airplane window simply sealed the deal. After a swift trip through immigration, we were in a taxi headed south to Karon Beach and the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa.

Our taxi deposited us at the welcome lobby, where we then boarded the hotel shuttle bus for the quick ride to the main part of the hotel. We were greeted by the smiling staff and ushered into the Andaman Lobby for check in. The open air design of the area is the perfect way to bring the beautiful Thai outside in, and the breezes were delightful as we waited to check in to our room.

Check in was efficient despite the fact that there were many other guests arriving at the same time we did. We received our keys as well as a map and directions, and made the short walk past one of the pools to the Lotus Wing where we would stay for four glorious nights. I opened the door to our room and stepped onto the hardwood floors to find the space softly lit, artfully decorated with Thai inspired furnishings and decor, and a lovely basket of fruit. I slipped out to the spacious balcony to see the lush mountains illuminated by an almost-full moon. A few drinks and a snack later, we were snuggled in the comfy bed after a long day of travel. Yep, heaven.

The following morning I had breakfast on my mind, and the Sails Restaurant was the answer. While fairly bustling with the guests hurrying to eat before activities, the buffet style tables and stations were laden with sweet and savory treats of all kinds. Thai and other Asian foods shared the space with omelette and fresh juice stations, and the pastry tables offered up sugary morsels of all shapes and sizes. A friendly host showed us to a table and provided coffee and tea carafes, then we attacked the spread with gusto. I was pleased to know that I could look forward to this each morning.

Our next stop was a visit to the hotel’s tour desk. We had a good idea of the activities we wanted to do, considering our relatively short time in Phuket, and the tour agent was able to get us booked on a Phang Na Bay kayaking trip within minutes. I was pleased to notice the wide array of tour and activity companies that Hilton Phuket works with, and an undecided guest would have no trouble choosing an activity that perfectly

suited them. Hilton Phuket also works with Sub Aqua Dive Center, located just outside the hotel, and we scheduled a dive as well.

A stroll around the park-like tropical grounds revealed five pools, nine restaurants and bars, three tennis courts, a lovely spa with traditional Thai treatments on offer and a fully staffed kids’ club. After a morning walk on the beach and lunch in the nearby village, we opted for a swim and two shaded lounge chairs next to the pool as our afternoon activity. I was just getting settled with my book when a staff member arrived to offer me a cold slice of watermelon on a stick. That was the perfect touch.

While we spent the majority of the rest of our time in Phuket away from the hotel taking advantage of our kayaking and diving adventures, it was such a pleasure to return each afternoon to our sparkling clean room, complete with a hand towel folded into an elephant shape in the bathroom. An evening round of cocktails in the Andaman Lounge was the perfect way to end our wonderful days on or under the water.

Our last day in Phuket came all too quickly, but we made sure to visit Sails Restaurant one last time for breakfast. We then made arrangements with guest services for airport transportation and stowed our bags with the porter desk in the lobby. The few hours that we had before leaving for the airport were spent by another Hilton Phuket pool with a cold drink, and a snack in the lobby bar. Before I knew it, it was time to collect our bags and meet our car to the airport. As the sun set over southern Phuket, I bade the Hilton a fond farewell.

Appealing to families, couples, and groups, the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa is a great choice in southern Thailand. The amenities are plentiful, the staff generous and professional, and the property is beautiful. Our sole complaint was the high charge for internet access, but I was informed by our liaison that management is looking into ways to make wifi more accessible and more reasonably priced for guests. I fully recommend the Hilton Phuket to any traveler looking for an exquisite stay in beautiful Phuket, Thailand.

Disclaimer: Our stay was partially sponsored by the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, but our opinions are entirely our own.

The Sport of Travel

October 31, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

I’m no sports enthusiast. Not in the slightest. I’ve simply never seen the appeal. However, I have, at times, been persuaded to attend a pro basketball or American football game and found myself enjoying the competitive, carnival-like atmosphere. It’s infectious. People all over the world crave the competition, whether it’s an alley football match between groups of kids, or an international event with a production level that rivals Hollywood blockbusters.

Additionally, more and more travelers are either including international sporting events in their travels, or making a certain event the main reason for their trip. With major events, and minor ones, held in virtually every corner of the globe, it’s easy to tailor a trip to include as much, or as little, sports action as you like.

Formula One

Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix 2009 — Photo: Powwow

I’m from the United States, and car racing in the USA is something completely unique, and very different from the car racing events held in the rest of the world. Had I been more of a fan, I might have been aware early on that Formula 1 is considered to be far superior to NASCAR. As it is, I never watched or even paid attention to either. Until we moved to Abu Dhabi, that is.

Yas Marina Circuit is the location of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, held this year on November 3,4, and 5, and is just minutes from my house. I have walked the 5.5 kilometers of that track, which is open to the public on most Tuesdays and Sundays, and marveled at the absolute splendor of it. Add to that the concerts and other events that are held on race weekends, and I definitely see the appeal.

Throughout the season, races are held in places all over the world. Monte Carlo, Shanghai, Budapest, New Delhi and Sao Paolo are just a few of the cities holding fabulous race weekend events. If those events are even half as lavish as the one on order for Abu Dhabi this weekend, I consider Formula 1 to be one of the ultimates in a sports vacation.

Horse Racing

Easily one of the oldest, and most loved, of international sporting events, horse racing enthusiasts and gamblers the world over look forward to annual races as they might look forward to the birth of a child. The glitz and glamour of race meets are legendary, as is evident by the star studded photos that turn up in the tabloids after a race is over.

While many countries hold local “bush” events, the big races offer millions of dollars in prize money and the finest and most carefully bred and trained horses in the world. The most famous of these races are carefully orchestrated events designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of people, and include parties, concerts and other activities.

Each of the top races prides itself on being the best, but each also has something unique to offer. The Dubai World Cup, held in Dubai, UAE in March, is the richest horse race in the world with a ten million dollar purse. Sheikh Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, enters his own horses in the race, and the well-known opulence displayed in the UAE is increased tenfold for this fabulous event.

Royal Ascot in England is held over five days in June. Attended by the Royals and with a strict dress code enforced, this is one of the most attended racing events in the world. The Gold Cup is the most prestigious race held during this event, and the aristocracy and the rest of us turn out in droves of over 300,000 strong, making this one of the best attended race meetings in the world.

The Kentucky Derby in the United States is undoubtedly one of the most iconic races in the world and epitomizes the Sport of Kings. Held each year in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, this race, the first in the Triple Crown series, showcases the best 3 year old Thoroughbreds in the world. Additionally, the legendary mint juleps and the ostentatious hats and costumes worn by the attendees and the festive atmosphere combine to create one of the United States’ most loved sporting events.

Boxing

Boxing has always been a popular sport around the world, and famous fights have garnered international attention. After all, who can forget the Rumble in the Jungle held in then Zaire in 1974 between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman? Since then, and with the rise in popularity of the UFC, boxing has become an international phenomenon, with fights held in cities around the world.

Las Vegas may always be synonymous with the prize fight, but international destinations such as Macao, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro and Stockholm have all offered up great fight cards this year, with thousands of people attendance, and many more paying hefty fees to watch on television.

Additionally, Thailand, where the mother of UFC, Muay Thai, originated, also sees a significant number of tourists arriving solely to experience the sport. Whether actively training for their own fighting career or as a spectator, thousands of travelers seek out the best trainers and fighters that Thailand has to offer.

Whether making an elaborate trip for one of the four-year extravaganzas like the Olympics or the World Cup, or taking in one of the yearly events, sporting event travel is something that travelers from all walks of life are experiencing more and more. Sadly, I’m not going to be in attendance at the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, but I may climb to the roof with a pair of binoculars to see what I can see.

After all, it’s not NASCAR, people. It’s Formula 1.

Have you traveled solely to take in a sporting event? What would be your dream sports-themed trip? Share your ideas and experiences with us in the comments section below!

In a City of Fourteen Million

October 22, 2012 by Cate Brubaker

A strange thing happened on the way to the market. It happened over five years ago, but happen it did, and I can still remember it so clearly and so vividly that it may as well have happened yesterday. I watched a man plummet from the sky.

It was my last day in Beijing. I had been there for several months, studying Mandarin at Beijing Foreign Studies University. I had little on my mind that morning besides completing my souvenir shopping, and breakfast. Definitely breakfast. The parties had not stopped as my new Chinese friends insisted on making my last days in the city the drunkest. I was hungover and hungry.

I gathered my friend and fellow American classmate, we’ll call her H, and her sister, C, who had flown in from the USA a few days prior. We planned to walk down a street near campus which housed some of our favorite restaurants. This street also led directly to the bus stop which would take us to the Metro, and on to the Silk Market. Despite my pounding head and gnawing belly, the morning was shaping up wonderfully.

This street was a go-to during my stay in Beijing. One side was lined with great restaurants and shops and the other with imposing high-rise apartment buildings. These buildings were shiny and new, and sported elaborate, and often nicely designed, high fences and gates, along with the requisite security that the Chinese just love. I was up and down this street almost every day.

Although it was almost 10am on a Sunday morning, that street was quiet. So quiet, in fact, we became aware that the restaurants weren’t even open yet. A young lady swept past us on a bicycle as we discussed simply waiting to eat until we arrived downtown. I grumbled inwardly, certain that I would die if I didn’t eat right that minute, but I agreed and we walked on.

I was peripherally aware that the young woman on the bicycle was entering a locked gate at the apartment building on the other side of the street. I glanced over to see her walking her bike through the gate, then she climbed back on and began to pedal. She and her bike had covered about fifteen feet down the driveway when all hell broke loose.

A man came crashing down, feet first, onto the pavement just behind the woman, missing her by inches. H,C, and myself froze in shock. Had I really just seen that? That was a person, right? Tell me it wasn’t! How does this happen? Did he jump? Was he pushed? I thought those ideas were just thoughts, until I realized that I was screaming all of those words and more as I ran across the street. I vaguely recall H dialing 120 on her mobile as we made it to the gate, and I could see the man lying on the pavement just inside. The woman on the bicycle had frozen in shock for a moment, then sped away.
I looked frantically around, for someone, anyone who could help. There was no one. The gate was locked and impossible to scale. H spoke from behind me that an ambulance was coming, and I tried to assess the man’s condition from where I stood. One leg was badly broken, and I fully expected a pool of blood to begin seeping from his head at any moment as a seizure gripped his body. I looked up the side of the building to try and assess how far he had fallen. Curious faces began looking out of their open windows, but no one had an expression or attitude that would suggest this was their husband or father who was lying in a heap on the driveway below.

Suddenly, a security officer appeared from behind the building. Terror and shock were apparent on his face as he approached the man. It was at that instant the man on the ground moved his head. Although he was looking at the officer upside down, it was obvious he could see him. I couldn’t hear what was spoken, but the officer said something, then placed the man’s fallen glasses on his face and turned to run away. The man on the ground reached his arm in the direction the officer had fled, then proceeded to scream. That was the first sound I heard him make. Above his screams we heard ambulance sirens approaching, and H and C literally dragged me away. As we grabbed a taxi I saw the ambulance arrive, and we went to the Silk Market as planned.

I spent the rest of that day, and many after it, trying to figure out what happened. I tried to decipher, with my limited knowledge of physics, the trajectory and path that his body took to the ground. I created stories in my head to explain the sequence of events. He owed money to the Triads and was thrown from the window. The woman on the bicycle was his unfaithful wife returning from her lover’s house. He was so distraught and had planned an elaborate murder/suicide by jumping to his death and taking her out as well. If that were the case, he must have watched at the window and waited for a long time. Maybe he was simply cleaning the window and fell. And perhaps the biggest question of all, did he survive?

After I returned to my home in Hawaii, I checked Beijing’s online newspapers for weeks. I never saw a single mention of a man who had fallen or jumped from an apartment building near BFSU.

In a city of fourteen million, his accident was likely just one of many that took place that day. In a city of fourteen million, I was just one of many people who could have been at that place, at that moment. I’ll never be able to remember Beijing, and all of the wonderful experiences I had there, without remembering this man, and my limited knowledge of his life, and perhaps his death, as well.

I really, really wish that I knew.

Mae Hong Son Loop

July 15, 2011 by Cate Brubaker

I wrote this poem for a class a few years ago…. it ended up being a “down to the wire” kind of assignment, as I sat down to write the night before the assignment was due. It came to me in what I can only refer to as a miracle, as I don’t know that I’ve written anything as good since. I hope you like it.

Mae Hong Song Loop

Teak forests rarely offer directions.
Neither do terraced rice paddies
Gleaming an impossibly brilliant green,
And roadside Buddha shrines are often silent.
Children appear from nowhere, everywhere.
We play basketball with them.
They mimic our curses at missed shots
Relishing the American-ness of our words.
The old men don’t speak,
Pacing broken roads that lead to Burma
And caves inhabited by holy carp.
Opium pipes and Bic lighters,
Cradled in weathered palms.
The poppies thrive beneath tarps
On hillsides and in yards.
Kilometers, liters and a pieced together motorcycle
Take us through the Golden Triangle.
Where tiny towns beckon with glass bottles of Coke
And forbidden jungle curry
Served by breathtakingly lovely young girls.
Embarrassed by me or for me I can’t tell.
I speak no Thai.

Holiday in Cambodia

July 6, 2011 by Cate Brubaker

Ahhhhh, Cambodia, the “Wild East” at its finest, in my opinion. Thousands of tourists flock there every year for pretty much two things… the booming sex trade and Angkor Wat. I, of course, prefer the latter.

Angkor Wat has been a requisite stop on the backpacker trail for years and I made my first sojourn there back in 2004. In addition to marveling at the splendor of this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, I also came down with dengue fever and spent a bit more time in Cambodia recovering than I had initially planned. However, I was mesmerized by the ruins, delighted by the people and vowed to return.

My now-husband and I spent our pre-honeymoon there in March of 2011. We flew from Taipei to Phnom Pehn and promptly hopped on a bus for Siem Reap, approximately 300km away. 300Km and seven hours away. Between the vomiting children, cell phone ring tones at jet engine decibel levels, bad Cambodian karaoke, and the constant, persistent, never ending horn honking, I completely lost it. Full blown freak out. No joke. Thankfully I had no weapons with me or someone would have gotten hurt. Badly. If anyone asks my opinion on the journey from PP to Siem Reap, I’d recommend a plane… without question. Or hire a private car.

Of course, we arrived eventually, hired a tuk tuk driver to take us to our guest house, and we also arranged for him to be our driver into the Angkor Wat complex the next day. The entire complex covers about 70sq km and can only be entered by bicycle or by tuk tuk. Typically, your tuk tuk driver takes you to the various sites and waits while you look around, then you move onto the next site, and so on. Depending on how much time you want to take exploring every nook and cranny, this could take days. We only had two, so the main, most iconic sites were all we had time for.

Our second day we arranged an early pick up, as sunrise over the main temple of Angkor is supposedly a sight you’ll never forget. About a thousand other people had that same idea, and it was overcast, so no sunrise and throngs of people. People taking pictures, Cambodian children taken out of school to sell trinkets to tourists, and flag waving tour guides herding their charges to and fro.

However, despite all the people that flock to Angkor Wat, it is very easy to be utterly and completely alone. Alone inside a stone temple, centuries old banyan trees slowly working their roots through the stone and completely free to contemplate the whys and hows of the construction of this marvelous ancient city.

As so many people say about so many places, “If you have the chance, go…”. In the case of Angkor Wat, MAKE that chance, and go. You won’t be disappointed.

See the photos: