I was pretty excited about visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. ever since I heard about its opening in the summer of 2016. I’ve always been interested in minority history and issues. In my adulthood, I came to the realization that I really didn’t understand the origin and impact…
It’s 178,926 square feet with more than 250 rooms. Those stats alone are impressive, but don’t visit the Biltmore House just to gawk at its size. True, Biltmore House is the largest privately owned home in the U.S., but what’s more impressive is its preservation. Walking through the house feels like stepping into a time machine. Can’t…
Checking in to the luxurious Maya Ubud is a five-star experience. Bali is hot and you’ll be sweaty from a day zipping around in a taxi bound for temples, coffee plantations, rice fields, and beaches. At Maya Ubud, you’re greeted with a welcome drink and a cold towel. Cool off in the open-air lobby before…
You know those Booking.com commercials where the weary travelers check-in to their hotels and are elated? That’s how I felt arriving near midnight in Sydney at Finger Wharf Woolloomooloo. Getting from Guam to anywhere besides a handful of Asian cities is a long process. I often arrive in a new city under the cover of night,…
Tucked away on a narrow hillside road is the charming No. 5 Valley B&B in Yangjiajie, China. The B&B is just 2 km from the breathtaking national park that inspired the movie “Avatar” with its mystical mountains. No. 5 Valley was constructed in July 2015 and is the B&B for R&R — a rural idyllic…
The most densely populated city in the world is also the most shoppable. Manila is a direct flight away from Guam and as such, a place that’s becoming not only a frequent stopover, but a destination for food, medical, and shopping. Manila has its share of inequity, crime, and pollution, but I’ll focus on its entertainment value of its popular Makati City.
I just upgraded to the iPhone 6 Plus. Even though I have been accused of such, I’m not a technology junkie. I don’t camp out overnight like a pimply pubescent with nothing better to do every time Apple releases a new phone. I toted my iPhone 4s for years, opting out of the upgrade frenzy to the iPhone 5. It just wasn’t different enough. However, the iPhone 6 is a game changer for me. Admittedly, some of the features I’ll describe were available in the iPhone 5s and are a result of iOS8.
Park Hyatt Chicago is the way to experience the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s famous shopping district. Our room had a perfect view of the Chicago Water Tower, surrounding architecture, and a swath of Lake Michigan. Located on Michigan Avenue, we were within walking distance of most of the itinerary stops for One Perfect Day in Chicago. To…
The Fuji Rock Festival in Japan was one of the most fun weekends of my entire life. Read my review of Day 1 and Day 2 in case you missed the action. As a photographer and journalist, I had a backstage pass to see some of my favorite musicians perform, including one of my new favorites, Lorde….
While rock festivals in the States symbolize rebellion, in Japan they are about camping and family and nature. It’s amazing how small the Japanese can go with their tents. Hundreds of the brightly-colored tents lining the slopes of this dormant ski resort were no larger than a pup tent. What amazed me more were the…
