WanderingJustin.com Rotating Header Image

Uncategorized

New Plane Inspires Hawaiian Airlines Fare Special

Hawaiian Airlines has a sweet new fare special to get you to Honolulu. And it’s taken the novel approach of linking it to the new Airbus A330 joining its fleet.

Don’t Call Me a “Consumer”

I hate being called a “consumer.” It connotes greed, sloth and corpulence. Businesses should think of their customers according to the products and services they offer, not one hideous catch-all word.

La Mansion Inn a Great Place for Costa Rica Luxury

I’m not much of a luxury traveler – I like it rough. But a glimpse of La Mansion Inn in Costa Rica convinced me of the benefits of some occasional swankiness.

Local Encounters – Putting Personality into Travel

I travel to see new places. I bring tons of batteries and memory for the camera.
But often, it’s the people I meet who steal the show: the Icelanders, kiwis, Aussies, ticos, etc.
If you have some decent people skills, the locals are the ones who will really make your trip better. They’ll clue you in to cool places, give you an insider perspective to their home and maybe help you out when your plans go awry. And not because it’s their job – just because they’re being nice.
Sometimes, you never even catch their name. It might be just a quick conversation, but it sticks in your mind and is part of your vacation’s story. I’m not really talking about tourist industry folks who are paid to be nice, but people who you just run into randomly.
So in honor of the locals, let me share a few memories about some I’ve encountered:
Iceland – Stjarnan FC Soccer Fans
During our first night in Reykjavik, my wife and I wandered past a stadium. We quickly struck up a conversation with a bearded, staff-wielding character with blue and white face paint. He clued us into what was about to take place: an epic Icelandic Premier League clash between league leaders Fram and his team, Stjarnan FC (just about a month before it became famous for its goal celebrations). Moments later, we were seated near Ragnar and his crew as they beat drums, sang songs and clapped incessantly. This was a perfect example of what happens when [...]

Sword Training – A Look at Ryu Iaido

I recently sat in on a workout for students of a Japanese sword-handling art. Here’s what I learned about Iaido and the people who practice it.

Optimized with InboundWriter

4 Reasons I Turned to the Dark Side – Night Mountain Biking

Mountain biking at night used to give me the willies. But I’m so over that – I’ve fully given myself to the Dark Side. Here’s why.

News Roundup: Pump Track to Open, Turn Exercise into Funds for Charity

There’s been some interesting mountain bike news here in Arizona. First of all, the state’s first pump track on public land is scheduled to open in late August. That’s huge – it’s a nice bit of cooperation between McDowell Mountain Regional Park and volunteers. And mountain bikers can turn mileage into money for their favorite charity. It’s because of a social network that tracks mileage and matches riders with companies that will shell out for a cause when they hit the trails

How Visiting Family is Ruining America

Traveling to visit family deprives Americans, with their meager vacation time, of the chance to go abroad. Here’s why you need to say “no!” to visiting your family so you can visit other countries.

Preview Discovery Channel’s “Dual Survival” Show

Get a preview of the new Discovery Channel show “Dual Survival,” which features two survival experts with vastly different styles struggling to survive in the toughest conditions.

Not Every Arizonan is Behind Anti-Immigration Bill

People are howling to boycott Arizona. Are they right? No: They need to focus their anger where it belongs – on the grandstanding legislators who passed SB1070.

Subscribe in a reader

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Dont want to go to the cinema? Watch Movies.