Cruising the road to Hana: Epic road tripping in Maui
It’s been called one of the world’s most scenic drives. The Hana Highway along Maui’s eastern coast is 52 miles of narrow roads that carve through lush rain forests along rocky coastlines. Stretching from Kahului to the sleepy coastal town of Hana, this curvaceous highway coils around the island, across hundreds of curves and one-lane bridges. A trip there reveals the rugged natural beauty of postcard perfect Hawaii, from sweeping ocean views, to tropical waterfalls and volcanic black sand beaches.
Unleashing the Power Within: A Weekend With Tony Robbins
Picture 6,000 people dancing like lunatics, high-fiving each other, shouting “YES!” and “I OWN YOU” at the top of their lungs. Add personal breakthroughs, hilarious storytelling, group massages, moaning, nose picking, a Jumbotron, coarse language, and a fire-walk across hot coals—there you have the Tony Robbins experience. It’s a unique blend of convention meets summer camp, therapy meets rock concert, motivation meets techno party mega church.
Best of Bali: Top 5 Things to Do in Ubud
An artistic town and hippie hangout in the heart of Bali’s terraced rice fields, Ubud is a go-to spot for most travelers passing through the popular Indonesian island. Whether it’s for a few days or a few months, the charming community of Ubud promises lush landscapes, exotic culture, Hindu temples and mischievous monkeys. A featured destination in the Elizabeth Gilbert franchise “Eat, Pray, Love,” Ubud is Bali’s cultural capital promising a laid-back vibe, yoga retreats, spiritual healers, affordable guesthouses, romantic restaurants and traditional dances. Having just returned from Bali a week ago, I’m excited to share some of the best activities in Ubud:
Jungle Survival in Guyana
With jaguars, anacondas, black caiman and piranha, the jungle is home to a long list of creatures eager to eat, squeeze, bite or nibble on you if given the chance. With so many predator-free high-end luxury resorts around the world, it’s a wonder why people would choose to spend their vacation time in the thick of nature, (far from air-conditioning, room service or HBO) battling the elements. Seems counter-intuitive but learning to survive in the jungle is the exact reason why I, like the many other adventure-seekers before me, have found themselves in Guyana. Nestled between Brazil and Venezuela, approximately 80 percent of this small South American country is primary tropical rainforest, making it the perfect locale for Bear Grylls wannabes on a quest to survive.
My Quirky Valentine: Weird Ways To Say I Love You
With ancient Roman, Christian and pagan roots, Valentine’s Day is now less about history and more about Hallmark. It’s a retail cash cow, drawing billions of dollars annually in chocolates, roses and sexy gifts. Many people share in the sentiments of Jay Leno, when he said: ”Today is Valentine’s Day. Or, as men like to call it, Extortion Day.” In this spirit of romance, raunch and bitter cynicism, I bring you some weird and wacky eros-themed Valentine’s Day events to check out this year. From luchadore wrestling and burlesque strip shows in Hollywood, to the Museum of Sex in Manhattan, there are many titillating and provocative events in cities across the country that are sure to spice up your V-Day plans:
Money Saving Travel Tips from New York Times Travel Show 2013
Thank you so much to everyone who attended my talk “Break The Routine: Extreme Adventures in 2013″ at this year’s New York Times travel show!! It was an awesome turn out! Below are many of the budget, money-saving tips I shared within my talk. For those who weren’t able to attend this year, here are some of the highlights in terms of booking your own travel adventures:
Memories of Che Guevara: Road Trip Argentina
Spanning more than 3,000 miles along the Andes, Argentina’s Ruta 40 is one of the longest stretches of highway in the Americas. This national route runs the length of the country, from Argentina’s border with Bolivia to Rio Gallegos in the south. Follow in the footsteps of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, who traveled this road during his yearlong motorcycle trip through Latin America, crossing a variety of terrain including salt flats, sandstone deserts, rivers and national parks.
Obama Tourism in Hawaii
(Before his Presidency, Obama was an original member of Color Me Badd. Fact. photo credit: Surian Soosay)
Beyond sugarcane and pineapples, Hawaii boasts another well-known export: Barack Obama. “You can’t really understand Barack until you understand Hawaii,” said his wife, Michelle. If you’re looking to get more insight into the President, here are a few hot spots to visit. Check out Kapiolani Medical Center, where Obama was born in 1961; his childhood home, a modest high-rise apartment building in Honolulu; and Punahou High School, where he played on the basketball team and graduated in 1979. From Olomana Golf Links — the president’s favorite golf course — to the Baskin-Robbins where a teenage Obama worked as an ice-cream scooper, now is a great time to say, “Yes, we can” to Hawaii.
