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April, 2009:

7 Recycled Airplanes that Still Thrill

Apr 29th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
4 comments

These days, recycling is cool. And so are airplanes – even the Honda Civic of the skies that is the 737.
That makes recycling airplanes an off-the-charts, Ricardo Montalban-level of cool. I’m not talking about turning Cessnas into aluminum cans. I’m talking about turning Boeing jumbo jets into backpacker hostels, or shady old military cargo planes into jungle restaurants.
Here are a few really cool places where you can eat, sleep and/or drink in a recycled airplane. The small but vibrant Costa Rican town of Manuel San Antonio seems to have the largest number, per capita, of such projects. (NOTE: If you know of any others, e-mail me and I’ll include them in a future post).

Not So High-Flying in Costa Rica
El Avion (Manuel San Antonio)

This Fairchild C-123 is linked to the Iran-Contra Affair – but these days, it’s as benign as a glassful of house-made sangria. You’ll find ticos and touristas side-by-side chomping bar food and downing cans of Imperial. And enjoying an unmatched ambience – perched on a cliff, with the occassional monkey cruising by (especially if there’s an unattended trash can nearby). El Avion has history, scenery and a low price. Some of these aircraft carry a hefty price to enter, but at El Avion, a few colones for a pint is all you need. Last Visited – 2003
Hotel Costa Verde (Manuel San Antonio)
Most of the Hotel Costa Verde is pretty typical upscale jungle fare. Unless you book passage in the 727 suite. This room is not only cool for [...]

48 Hours in Queenstown, New Zealand

Apr 26th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
5 comments

If New Zealand gave birth to adrenaline sports, Queenstown is where those sports gestated. It’s flanked by the aptly named Remarkables mountain range, perched on a lake that rivals Lake Tahoe, and criss-crossed by canyons, rivers and gulleys. Here’s just a taste of what you can do in Queenstown in the summer in just two days – winter is a different animal, and very suitable for snow sports:
Activities

TSS Earnslaw – This steamship was built in 1912, making it younger than most of its current passengers. Okay, I’m exaggerating – but not much! Cruises can just take you for a lake excursion on Lake Wakatipu, or for a multi-course meal on the far side of the lake. Watch the steam engine crew at work, and hang out on the bridge with the captain, who will likely be rockin’ The Police while fogeys do a sing-along by the lounge piano. Sedate, but relaxing.
Street Luge – A cable car gives you a great view. But you’d better focus on the twisty track when bombing down in an unpowered go-cart. It can get plenty fast, but the track is more tame than I’d prefer. Still fun, though!
Bungee Jumping – A signature activity. You’ll have your pick of operators and sizes.

Paragliding – Not quite as extreme as skydiving, but you’ll get an incredible view of The Remarkables, the town and Lake Wakatipu. It takes about 10 minutes. Get there around 9 a.m. so you can book your flight before the winds change – they often stop gliding in [...]

Stop Taking Boring Travel Photos – Yes, You!

Apr 22nd, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
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Most vacation photos stink. That’s the hard truth. But you don’t have to be “Scary Boring Vacation Photo Taker.” You just need to learn a few tricks to make your own luck. Some could be posts on their own, but here’s a quick overview.
1. Know How to Pick a Camera
A cell phone camera or even a compact will not get you a great photo, no matter how many megapixels it has. Megapixels are a salesperson’s best friend, not a buyer’s. See, the size of the image sensor is the real issue. Compact cameras have postage-stamp size sensors. Superzooms are a bit bigger, and SLR cameras are even bigger. Give me a 5-MP digital SLR over a 10-MP compact any day. The bigger sensor will capture more color and detail.
2. Crank the Quality
When you’re on a big trip, resist the temptation to take small photos. Some people try to cram as many onto their memory card as possible. Big mistake! You can easily buy more cards – but if you take a photo of beautiful scenery on a low image setting, game over. You can’t do anything to re-capture the lost detail. If you’re camera shoots in RAW format, go for it! Otherwise, just choose your biggest JPEG setting.
3. Befriend the ISO Setting
The ISO setting tells the camera how much available light there is. Many cameras range from ISO 64 (for super-sunny conditions) to 1600 and beyond (nighttime, caves, indoors, etc.). Use ISO carefully - high setting increase grainess (or “noise”).  ISO 200 and [...]

My Recipe for Vacation Fitness – Preparing for Adventure

Apr 20th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
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Adventure travelers can’t just hop on a plane and hope we’re ready for the rigors of wandering from the beaten path. When I became infatuated with the idea of climbing New Zealand’s Mt. Ngauruhoe, I concocted a training regimen that would let me enjoy climbing to 7,520 while carrying a fully loaded backpack rather than just surviving it. This active stratovolcano is not to be taken lightly – it stood in as
Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings for a reason.
Figuring out my goal (getting through the Tongariro Crossing and getting to the top of Ngauruhoe in 9 hours or less) was the first target, and it should be yours, too. Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can devise a plan to suit your adventure. Here are some of the components of my plan – borrow some ideas in getting ready for your adventure!
Push the Iron
I honestly do not enjoy lifting weights. But my weekly lifting session was essential for building upper body strength. I tracked my exercises, their order, the amount of weight and the number of repetitions. I also switched a few elements to keep my body guessing. I’ll probably add a second weekly session soon.
Pack in Some Training
The Phoenix metro area is silly with steep climbs, though none are quite as steep or loose as Ngauruhoe. Still, loading my backpack exactly as I would in New Zealand and climbing around local peaks helped. It also gave me a chance to dial in the fit [...]

Phoenix Foodie Teaches the Art of Urban Foraging

Apr 19th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
5 comments

Join me as I take a lesson in urban foraging from “Ian the Veg.”

Arizona Tourism Boss Blows Chance to Show Vision

Apr 16th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
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Sherry Henry is the new Arizona Office of Tourism director, recently appointed by Governor Jan Brewer. Her goal is to get more people to visit Arizona. She recently answered some questions posed by The Arizona Republic. I think she missed a great chance to address some real issues, so I’d have to give her a grade of C.
There were three particular questions in her interview that I wish I could’ve answered for her: Getting foreign travelers to Arizona, helping Arizona residents find more of the state’s unsung treasures and identifying her favorite place in the state. Really, I think Henry needs to think more like a traveler. She needs to better understand the obstacles people face in getting here, and she needs to know that there are many alternatives that offer much of what Arizona does – golf, shopping and sun. And those need to stop being the main weapons in her arsenal.
If Henry wants travelers to visit Arizona, she must start with Phoenix Sky Harbor International (in name only) Airport

One lousy daily flight to London along with a few to Canada and Latin America do not a true international airport make. The lack of international flights should deeply embarrass the officials of America’s fifth-most populous city.
People want to get to their destinations quickly, with as few stopovers as possible. Henry identifies her craving for French, Japanese and German tourists – but she doesn’t say “I’m going to work with Sky Harbor officials to do everything possible to get Air [...]

A Warning on the Latest Qantas “Deal”

Apr 14th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
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The Qantas Red e-Mail just arrived in my box this morning, touting another 2-for-1 special from U.S. airports to Australian airports (no mention of New Zealand).
I have to say, this is possibly the worst deal I’ve seen from Qantas in a long time – check it:
For one week only! Book these amazing deals for 2 on selected Qantas International airfares. Deals are available in Premium Economy to Sydney & Melbourne (where service is available) and International Business to Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane**.
This great 2-for-1 offer applies to selected International airfares for departures in International Business between 19 April and 31 August 2009 and in Premium Economy between 1 May and 8 June 2009 or between 24 July and 31 August 2009. Each passenger must pay applicable taxes and fees and tickets must be purchased at least 72 hours prior to departure. Child discounts apply to this offer. More Australian destinations available at additional cost.
Here’s what Qantas isn’t saying: If you plunk down for one of these “Specials,” there’s a sneaky surprise waiting for you. You’ll only get 50 percent of your mileage from American Airlines – but from the formerly wonderful folks at Continental Airlines -which boldy lists Qantas as an airline partner, you’ll get zip. Zilch. Nada. Not a single, solitary air mile.
If you look around the Qantas site enough, you can get a decent deal without coughing up your valuable air miles. Don’t fall for this deal. If the airmiles aren’t that big a deal, at least put [...]

A quick update …

Apr 13th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
No comments yet

It’s been a few days since my last post, and I didn’t want to leave you hanging. I’m working on a pretty neat little piece about an interesting local character here in Phoenix. What’s it got to do with travel and adventure? Well, you’ll see how I tie that in soon.
I’ve got some photos to process, and a few key ideas to zoom in on for this post. I think you’ll dig it, even though it’s entirely confined to a city area, and involved no volcanos, marsupials or frozen tundra wastelands.
Something else – visit your favorite movie rental house and check out Werner Herzog’s Encounters at the End of the World. I’ll discuss it more in depth here later. It’s not perfect, but the cinematography is very cool – so are the characters both human and animal.

8 Ways to Live Through Summer Exercise

Apr 10th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
4 comments

Arizona is bizarro world. Most places in the country hibernate and cower from the elements during the winter, but we do it in the late spring and summer – and heck, a little bit of autumn, too. You wouldn’t believe the number of people in this desert city who never learn to deal with the elements, preferring instead to scurry like suited-or-skirted rats from one air-conditioned space to another.
Those of us who choose to embrace the desert do it differently, especially when it comes to outdoor exercise in the heat. You really can survive summertime exercise and adventures in 100-degree-plus heat – you just have to be smart. Ask any member of the local fire department about all the nasty ways heat can hurt you – they’ve rescued enough ill-prepared people to know.
Here are some of my favorite tips to ensure YOU won’t need to be rescued. Feel free to suggest any I’ve overlooked!
1. Bring enough water. It would astound you how many people prepare badly for a foray into the hot sun. My rule of thumb is 30 ounces per hour. You can use a hydration pack, or one of these new-fangled water belts favored by runners.
2. Electrolytes – they’re what YOU crave. Sweating a lot burns off your electrolytes. Get too low on
sodium and potassium and you’re headed for cramp city – or worse. You’ll also feel horrible the rest of the day, with headaches a frequent symptom. If you’re out longer than an hour, use a good-quality [...]

When Travel Fuels Contempt for the Familiar

Apr 8th, 2009
by WanderingJustin.
1 comment

Wandering Justin names five things about New Zealand culture he’d like to import.

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