Category: Hotels

Plans for Salzburg Sound of Music hotel hit sour note | ABS-CBN News Online Beta

The photo, featuring Maria von Trapp, 94, the second eldest daughter, center above, with her brother Johannes von Trapp and their sister-in-law Erika von Trapp, at the opening, belongs to a NY Times post stating that they opened June 29, 2008….

VIENNA – The former home of the Trapp family, made famous by the 1965 film “The Sound of Music,” will not re-open as a hotel after all following opposition from residents and politicians, the owners said.

The villa in Aigen, near Salzburg, failed to receive final approval Wednesday from the city after neighbours complained it would bring hordes of tourists to their peaceful suburb.

“It seems like the Villa Trapp, the original Sound of Music family home, is not getting a permission to open as a hotel, although all legal conditions have been complied with,” the owners, Marianne Dorfer and Christopher Unterkofler, said in a statement received by AFP.

“Local politicians… are obstructing the permission,” they added.

Local councillor Traudi Lackner told the daily Kurier: “The owners wanted to open not only a hotel, but also to use it for events: the house would have become a magnet for day tourists.”

Some 300,000 fans of “The Sound of Music” visit Salzburg every year, taking part in special themed tours, and local residents feared the small villa would soon become a tourist spot as well.

The Villa Trapp, which was inaugurated in July, needed formal approval as it is located on protected land.

Dorfer and Unterkofler said they planned to appeal the decision.

They said all previous city assessment reports had been positive and that politicians had supported their project until residents pressured them to turn it down.

“All the politicians we contacted were positive and motivated us, saying how important this project was for Salzburg tourism,” they said in their statement.

“There is no objective or legal reason to block a 14-room hotel in Aigen,” they added.

The villa was the home of Captain Georg von Trapp, his seven children and their governess Maria, later known as the Trapp Family Singers, from 1923 to 1938.

as of 12/05/2008 1:20 AM

Plans for Salzburg Sound of Music hotel hit sour note | ABS-CBN News Online Beta

Update

I found a later article that claimed the original Von Trapp residence is available as a B&B at a blog Visit Salzburg, a guide to Salzburg written by locals.

Last edited by GJE on December 3, 2011 at 11:01 am

10 Questions For (19): James Van Dellen of Future Gringo

Happy to present a young Travel Blogger this time, and yes he has a Dutch connection like the previous two persons featured here in the 10 Questions For: series.


Here you see James on a windy dike in Friesland, a Dutch province

1) Who are you?
My name is James Van Dellen, and I write Future Gringo, a travel and Colorado blog. I grew up in Michigan and relocated to Denver in my early 20s. I spent a few years in Los Angeles, and then returned to Colorado in 2001. I’m proud to call Denver my home. The city has a vibrant urban core, a great mix of people, and nearby recreational opportunities which are the envy of the world. Many of Denver’s distinct neighborhoods have a true small town feel. My partner and I own a home in Congress Park, an older neighborhood just east of downtown.

As much as I love Colorado I love traveling as well. I’ve traveled extensively around the west visiting big cities as well as the wilderness, deserts, and mountains between California and Colorado. A few years ago I decided to expand my horizons internationally. I set a goal in 2004 to travel abroad twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. So far I’ve been fulfilling that goal and have visited Europe twice, South America, lesser traveled parts of Mexico, and some new regions of the U.S I haven’t seen.

2) What do you like about what you do?

I work for a large media company doing commercial scheduling and production, and free lance audio production and copy writing. I’ve been with my company for eight years and am fortunate to have coworkers who appreciate my love of travel. We’ve engineered our office so that we all share responsibilities, thus making it easy for one to take time off with ease.

Through my company I’ve been involved in some great causes. For two years I’ve captained the MS150 bike tour for Multiple Scleroris and look forward to another fun ride in 2009. A coworker of mine runs a charity providing wheelchairs and medical supplies to disabled Afghan children. I recently created and began administering her website and am happy I can help expand the presence of this cause.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

If I take a sabbatical to travel for an extended period of time I’ll be required to dive into the logistics of independent health insurance. I’m a very healthy type 1 diabetic, however inexpensive access to supplies is a must and requires decent health coverage. When I discuss this topic with friends abroad they’re absolutely baffled that good health care is so closely linked to your employment status. Frankly this baffles me too.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it

I chose the moniker “Future Gringo” because it represents my long term goal of spending time abroad, plus my ongoing journey of visiting small corners of the world. I’m certainly not as well traveled as some others, but I’ve been able to see new places regularly throughout the recent months and years, and give insight about cities and countries I have been too. In addition to documenting my geographic explorations, my site details how to make travel a priority in life including budgeting, selecting destinations based on current prices and exchanges, and the research and preparation of travel. The idea of “going where it’s cheap,” allows one to travel frequently and on a regular basis, rather than a sole once in a lifetime journey.

Rather than focus on long narratives I prefer to share special or unique places I visit. There are plenty of itineraries and to-do lists for major cities, however a coffee shop, bookstore, underground club, interesting restaurant, or ongoing art exhibit might be off the radar yet appealing to some.
Down the road I would like to live abroad and divide my time between Colorado and a foreign city. I enjoy reading expat sites and journals of those living abroad who document the experiences of daily life and the occasional challenges that come with it.

A large portion of my site is devoted to sharing views and information on my home state of Colorado. I write about restaurants, events, and give insider tips on skiing, camping, and various activities and adventures around the west. This hopefully provides a helpful resource for those visiting Denver and Colorado. In between articles on travel and Colorado I comment on news and local issues. I’m also a big advocate of utility cycling and promote biking as a method of transportation in your own town and when traveling.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Perhaps due of its distant southern hemisphere location, or the exotic nature of the city and people, the most memorable and remarkable place I’ve visited has been Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before flying south I received an invite from Laura who runs “The English Group,” a group of locals that meet weekly at a coffee shop to practice and speak in English. They welcome visitors, and one Friday evening I had a very memorable and engaging evening discussing life, culture, and travel with several Buenos Aires locals. This was during the 2005 provincial elections, so I got a first hand look into how passionate and active Portenos are in politics. Having studied Argentina’s chaotic political history I was thrilled to witness the activism and street demonstrations from young and old alike. During my stay I also traveled across the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay and partook in an enjoyable pastime of exploring the quiet countryside by bike.

Seward, Alaska. A few years back I traveled up to Alaska during the off season month of February. From Anchorage I road tripped it up to Talkeetna then down to Seward in the Kenai Peninsula – while getting some skiing in at Girdwood too. Being winter I found almost zero tourists, as opposed to the high season when cruise ships dock and unload many masses. Visiting during the “dead season” was a positive. People were surprised to see me and very talkative. I was invited to a VFW taco night fundraiser, shared a table with some locals at a culinary school’s open house dinner, and listened and learned more about locals’ opinions on Alaska issues.
The most memorable event was one afternoon on a sparsely filled boat in Resurrection Bay. Returning to the harbor I walked out to the bow of the small ship and just stood there for a half hour simply staring at the incredible beauty of the glaciers and surrounding mountains. Feeling the biting wind on my face, while gazing at the surrounding glaciers and mountains was absolutely spectacular. For many people personal reflection and appreciation of the world comes when alone. For me that’s been camping in remote parts of Wyoming, or pondering the difficult lives of the Anasazi Indians atop a cliff overlooking Mesa Verde. However I’ve been moved and inspired even while surrounded by people, such as taking in small Czech villages from a crowded train while clipping through the hills, or in this case being awestruck at the beauty of the northern white landscape. It could have been a simple boat ride, but for some internal reason I found it remarkable.

National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis. The Lorraine Motel, where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was slain, was purchased by King’s family and in 1991 became a full museum. I had expected a few rooms of artifacts and a view of the motel room, but I was astounded at the depth and size of the complex. The entire movement from the 1950s and 60s to present is chronicled, and includes extremely detailed histories on many notable figures and events. It was amazing to see the gathering of people and ideas from all regions of the south and the coming together to create economic boycotts organized marches and peaceful protests. From the sit-ins and freedom marches to the gut wrenching resistance by the opposition and even local governments and religious groups, I found it overwhelming to see up close. The museum’s culmination displays artifacts and stories of the march in Washington D.C., and ends at room 306 where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It was a moving experience following the timeline of the people, events, and politics of the southern states. The documents and exhibits portray a vivid chapter in our recent history.

I can say without doubt that this is by far one of the most powerful places I’ve visited in the United States. Certain places have an unforgettable presence to them. For me most of these places have consisted of the natural world; however I entered the simple looking Lorraine Motel expecting a brief tour, and found myself transported to the stormy era of segregation and the civil rights movement. Being a white boy from Michigan the extent of my Civil Rights Movement education was, “Rosa Parks refused to budge on a bus and now African Americans have equal rights.” The collection and comprehensiveness of this place was overwhelming. No trip to Memphis would be complete without immersing yourself here – and I would insist that any visitor to the south, U.S. citizen or foreign, allot time for this experience.

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why

Prior to traveling I always spend time beforehand reading reviews and scouting out places to stay. Many articles on my site are devoted to showing the ease of finding well run independent establishments, which compliment your stay by providing a unique and personal experience. While a fancy bed and breakfast is beyond my needs, I find that guest houses and small hotels tend to offer a personal touch. Most serve a breakfast and have social areas where you can meet the staff and chat with fellow travelers. Nicer hostels also offer this same environment, and unlike stereotypical dorm style hostels many offer private rooms and nice amenities.

In the fall of 2006 I visited the Burgundy Bed and Breakfast in New Orleans during a road trip around the south. Located in the Faubourg Marigny district, this quiet community is just east of the French Quarter and populated with beautiful old shotgun houses, small coffee shops, bars and markets. Carl, the owner, gave us a first hand account into the city’s struggles over the past year following Hurricane Katrina. Residents of New Orleans have a true love and pride in their city, which is shown throughout the Faubourg neighborhood.

Pension u Kaplièky, Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic. We stayed in this popular town on the Czech / Austrian border as a base to spend a few days while exploring the area by bike. After arriving via train from Prague we started knocking on pension doors looking for a place to stay, and found this establishment in an old church. The proprietors, a friendly middle age couple, spoke only Czech and German, but we managed to converse and figure out the rate. The highlight of our stay came daily at 8am, when a cart of fresh breakfast was delivered to our door: Croissants, scrambled eggs, crepes, tea, juice, pancakes with powdered sugar, pastries, and fresh fruit. That homemade breakfast was the most memorable meal of the trip – including the meaty dishes and fine beers in Prague.

The Luz en Yucatan, Mérida, Mexico. I love the colonial architecture and culture of Merida. The arches seen throughout the city and thick limestone walls are a reminder of the centuries they’ve been standing there. I haven’t seen this style anywhere in Mexico; small towns don’t have grand architecture save for the town church, and in Mexico City the buildings are a hodgepodge of different styles. Merida is clean, classy, and like Mexico the people are welcoming and friendly. Located a few blocks from the Zocalo, (town plaza,) the Luz is located on a quiet street next to an old church. Inside the Luz is a stately dining room and hall leading to a lush tropical courtyard. Spacious guest rooms and suites are tucked into three floors overlooking the pool, while flowers and banana trees rise to the roof. The staff is friendly, and you can see by their humorous website that they’re good natured people who go out of their way to please. Their website also offers a “sliding payment” scale – allowing you to select a payment you feel best suits your budget. By offering their guests a variety of economic options, which results in a nice variety of guests too.

james-at-the-beer-festival-in-munich
James and Caleb in the Augustiner Beer Garden in Munich, Germany

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

Te Mataré Ramirez, Buenos Aires. Spanish for “I will kill you, Ramirez,” I saw this restaurant in a local to-do magazine – it was advertised as an erotic themed restaurant, (whatever that meant.) Upon arrival it was more classy and refined than expected, and not the least bit cheesy or tacky. Although we were the second people to arrive the restaurant soon filled up and I was surprised no one left. People take their time with meals, and don’t rush through their dinners. The tables were filled with mostly couples, but some small groups of friends congregated at tables too. We had a magnificent meal of chicken, asparagus, and a chocolate dessert. Then came the weird part: We had been there about two and a half hours and were ready to head out, but we realized no one else was leaving! We weren’t sure if a show of some sort was going to start, so we got up to leave and our waitress rushed over to make sure everything was ok. We explained we had some plans for the night and it certainly wasn’t our perfect meal and mellow ambiance causing us to leave. I found out later that later in the night black clothed actors perform risqué puppet shows – a blend of racy art and comedy. This will definitely be on the list for a return trip.

Augustiner Beer Garden, Munich. A friend set us up with a couple she knew in Munich. They were kind enough to take us to the Augustiner Beer Garden on a beautiful May evening. A true authentic place in the heart of the city. The Bavarian beer gardens came about as brewers would store the kegs in the shade of the trees in these big lawns. Most locals prepare their own food to eat with the German beers. Our friends, (who live quite close,) prepared salads, potatoes, turkey, and desserts to enjoy with the German beer and pretzels. We were amazed watching the petite girls carried four heavy steins in each hand out to the tables.

Albatross Seafoodhouse, Amsterdam. While in Amsterdam earlier this year my sister and niece flew out to join me for the last week of my stay. My beautiful niece Lili was 15 months old, thus giving me an immersion on traveling with kids. It was well worth it in order to spend time with the newest member of my family, and gave me newfound respect for my sister and others who handle the challenges of parenting.

Our days were spent biking around the city and taking in the old canals and fairy tale like buildings. In the evening we would visit the local market and cook dinner in the apartment we rented. I insisted my sister and I treat ourselves to a nice dinner out, so we walked a few block over to Albatross Seafoodhouse, which I had been eyeing since arrival in the Jordaan neighborhood. A large aquarium greets you as you walk in – providing some underwater eye candy and atmosphere. We started with an order of Dutch oysters served with warm bread, and we order two dishes for the two of us: prawns with coconut curry sauce and the sea bass with ginger and sesame. The owner of the establishment visited our table a few times through the night – and of course we received many smiles due to the cutest, (and sleepiest,) member of the table. We chatted with a very nice gentleman from New Orleans, who was traveling to Amsterdam after finalizing his divorce. I supposed if you get divorced in Des Moines you travel to New Orleans for fun and frivolity, however if New Orleans is your home the logical trip is to Amsterdam. He was kind enough to send a bottle of wine our way – and of course we wished him the best, and a safe journey.

9) Your 3 worst destination/accommodation- food experiences to date and why?

Mayan Riveria, Yucatan Peninsula. This hotel isn’t filthy, poorly staffed, or mismanaged. It’s simply NOT my type of place. A family member has a time-share membership with the Mayan group, which owns resorts in various Mexican beach cities. During a jaunt around the Yucatan Peninsula we stayed at the Mayan Riveria for a few days, located halfway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The Mayan Riveria is the size of four Las Vegas super-casinos and I consider it a scar and monstrosity on the landscape. The walk to the pool is literally about a quarter mile from some rooms. Any place that requires golf carts to shuttle residents around the grounds is just too big for me. Places like this are purposely isolated to they can expand the property, and also keep you fenced in paying top dollar for meals and drinks. In the Mayan’s case the main lobby is located almost a mile from the highway. Meanwhile a few miles up the coast is the hidden town of Puerto Morales. The entire town could easily fit inside the Mayan’s footprint with room to spare. Visit Puerto Morales and you’ll find small guest houses on the beach, and a short walk into town nets a wide variety of restaurants. All of which are far cheaper than the digs at the Mayan.

I’ve also found the term “all inclusive” doesn’t mean “cost effective.” I’ll take a small taco shack and some Pacificos on the beach any day. The isolated nature of such places makes it difficult to reach and explore local restaurants. Staying at a small family run places are far more worthwhile, and the internet makes it a breeze to find such places. It’s a far more rewarding experience. Of course there are many options places in between full service resorts and basic hostels, and some people will always prefer an all inclusive- but my experiences have showed me the value of “thinking small.”


James biking in Colorado

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accommodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

The Cherry Creek Bike Rack, Denver. As mentioned I support biking advocacy, and biking is a great way to explore Denver. The Cherry Creek Bike Rack is operated by the long standing retailer Campus Cycles in conjunction with a city run program promoting bike commuting. The Bike Rack location, at 2nd and Detroit in Cherry Creek, exists to serve bike commuters by providing valet parking, wash up facilities, snacks, and a comfy place to unwind and park your bike. Being located two blocks from the Cherry Creek trail their rentals are popular with visitors to the area. Because they open at 7am they can facilitate daily bike parking for commuters, or cyclists passing through the area who need early morning service. It’s a great place to rent a bike, and close to trails and pleasant wide bike routed streets. They’re knowledgeable and have maps, bikes, and gear of all types.

Marion’s of the Rockies, Idaho Springs. 12 years ago during my first winter in Denver, some friends took me on my first ever ski day to Winter Park. I wasn’t even familiar with Colorado ski resort geography much less prime breakfast joints. En route we pulled off I-70 at the first Idaho Springs exit and whipped a parking spot at Marion’s. We piled out of the truck, I saw the friendly faces for the first time, and I’ve been going there ever since. On weekends Denverites heading to the high country make up a large percentage of the patrons, but many Idaho Springs locals make regular stops through Marion’s too. Visit on a quieter weekday and you’ll hear plenty of community news and gossip. Casino workers from nearby Black Hawk and Central City call Idaho Springs home and some also make Marion’s a stopping point. When you’re zooming up interstate 70 for a ski weekend, make a stop in Idaho Springs and pay Marion’s and family a visit. I can promise you won’t be disappointed. And you might see me there sipping coffee out of their brown mugs and accidentally pouring too much A1 Sauce on my chicken fried chicken. I believe the Rotary club meets there on Fridays.

The Arkansas River Valley, Colorado. A part of Colorado that’s overlooked by many visitors is the Arkansas River Valley, from Leadville along highways 24 and 285 south to Salida. Most people visiting Colorado in the summer pass through Denver and head west up Interstate 70. This is where the large and well known ski resorts are located, and provide plenty of summer activities too. However the area south of Leadville offers many recreational opportunities, with cheaper lodging, and a more rural setting. An alternative after visiting Breckenridge or neighboring cities in the summer is to travel south on highway 24 through Leadville, and continue south to Buena Vista. The scenic hill climb to Leadville has outstanding views, and past Leadville the highway follows wide valleys and the railroad into the Arkansas River Valley.

Buena Vista is an excellent base for recreational activities. A small town in the center of the valley it makes a perfect location for hiking, rafting, or climbing activities. Several rafting companies can be found along the Arkansas River. Cabins speckle the rivers and creeks, and you’ll find small motels, family restaurants, and outdoor outfitters in the friendly towns of Leadville, Buena Vista, and Salida.

Traveling from Denver it’s a two and a half hour drive down highway 285. After climbing some steep hills into the mountains west of Denver the land opens up in wide fields before arriving in Buena Vista. The land along this stretch is a drastic change from the mansions overlooking the hills along interstate 70. Along 285 past Bailey you’ll still see large parcels of land with a single small home or trailer sitting alone in a vast field with horses occupying the rest of the land. The mostly two lane road passes small local bars, hardware stores, and fishing stores serving the nearby South Platte River. It’s a much more rural and slower feel than speeding through the steep canyons on I-70. Between the majestic 14ers you see wide open spaces, some farmland, and remnants of the 1800s mining boom are still seen along the highways and county roads.

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?
No. Thanks for reading all about my travel and goals for the future. Please drop by anytime and visit!
James… futuregringo.com

Thank you James. You have a lot to tell to your readers. I believe it comes from your very Dutch habit: biking around the World! You seem to be used to observe a lot of your environment by this slow means of traveling. Excellent! Now you mention it, I have to check out the Albatross in Amsterdam…

10 Questions For (18): Carl-Peter Echtermeijer of The New Vienna Ring Hotel and The Grand Hotel Wien

Happy to present a real hotelier to you. Ha, I should have known that asking him my 10 questions would create as answers: “The Ring, Grand Hotel Wien and The Ring”:-). The first photo shows him very proudly with the 2008 Tripadvisor award for The Ring.


Carl-Peter Echtermeijer with the 2008 Tripadvisor award

1) Who Are you?

I am currently Assistant General Manager of 2 luxury hotels in Vienna, the famous Grand Hotel Wien, part of Leading Hotels of the World and The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel, a luxury design hotel we opened in 2007

2) What do you like about what you do?

I like working with people for our guests, I like the fact that hotel industry is like theater, every day and every situation is different, I like facing challenges, making things possible to our clients and guests, having an overall thinking-out-of-the-box  mentality.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

This question took me a while to think about, I cannot tell you what I do not like, my personal opinion is that one should see this job as a hobby.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

The blog we recently developed and implemented (The Ring Press) for our The Ring, Vienna’s Casual Luxury Hotel is meant to inform guests, journalists, actually the on-line community about who we are, what people think and wrote about us and with which partners we work. I personally see this blog as a very unique on-line marketing tool.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

Thailand due to the spa experiences, France due to the excellent food and the French mentality, Holland due to the very open culture and off course Friesland.


Grand Hotel Wien with the Concierge and Bellboy in the cold

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

Paris as I wanted to surprise my wife, Bratislava to experience this upcoming city, Garda lake as we (my family and myself) needed a summer break.

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

The famous Heuriger in Vienna and Austria, this is so typical and so nice. Google it and give it a try, our Japanese restaurant Unkai as it is indeed the best Japanese food in Vienna ..number 3 is yet to come

8) Your 3 worst destination/ accommodation /food experiences to date and why?

I only had a very bad food experience in Bratislava due to the fact that 1.) the food was terrible and 2.) we were definitely treated like foreigners..one does not expect that anymore

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accomodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

Do stay at one of Vienna’s trendy design hotels or at the recently opened Hotel Stadthalle (a bit of a green hotel focusing on green travel), visit the Heuriger restaurants and do plan culture, culture, culture ..also nightlife is great in Vienna. For dinner : our restaurant At Eigh at The Ring : aroma cuisine, new and spectacular.


The Ring Hotel with its new led Xmas lights

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?

No, I would have asked the same questions and I am so happy to have the opportunity to get presented in this blog. Thank you!

Thank you Carl-Peter!
First congratulations with the Tripadvisor Award! A great achievement! Secondly: I have been informed that your at eight Ring restaurant got a very high Gault Millau rating recently – you should update your Blog!

I started this presentation with a bit of teasing, but when I was new to the internet I think I would have reacted the same as Carl-Peter: “Don’t divulge too much of yourself: They can use it against you”.

I will be meeting Carl Peter soon and get a personal tour of this new Viennese Hotel The Ring. Looking forward to it. Stay tuned!

10 Questions For (17): Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere

Happy to present another male in this series: Gary Arndt, a man who is lucky to combine three passions: Real Globe-trotting, Blogging and Photographing:


Gary Arndt at the Sydney Bridge Walk

1) Who Are you?

My name is Gary Arndt. In March 2007, I sold my house, put my possessions in storage and set out to travel around the world. Since then, I’ve visited 43 countries and territories and almost 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Prior to this I had a life as an entrepreneur. I started an internet consulting firm which did early web application and database development back in 1994, and which I later sold in 1998. Since then I’ve been involved with several startups and went back to school to study geology in 2005. My previous degrees were in Mathematics, Economics and Political Science.

2) What do you like about what you do?

What is there to not like about traveling around the world? 🙂 I’ve been able to go to places, see and experience things, which most people will never get to do in their lives. I get email from people almost every week who write to tell me how lucky I am and how I’m doing what they would love to one day do.


Clown Fish Great Barrier Reef by Gary Arndt

I also like technology and blogging. Being able to merge both of the things you love is great. Blogging actually gives me a chance to slow down so I’m not always rushing to the next location. I enjoy the combination of having something to work on and being able to travel at the same time. It really is the best of both worlds.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

There is very little consistency in what I do. You never get to know people for more than a day or two. I haven’t seen my friends or my family in a year an a half. I sometimes go long stretches without being able to wash my clothes. Dealing with my bank from overseas is a challenge to say the least. Sometimes working on the blog or my photography seems like a pain, but in the end it is worth it.

Overall pluses outweigh the negatives and I have no regrets.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

My travel blog, Everything-Everywhere, is simply the journal of my travels. Unlike many travelogues, it isn’t a diary of my daily goings on. I like to talk about history and oddities I find in the places I visit. I am also a photographer and feature my photography on my site. I have a daily photo where I feature one of the pictures I’ve taken on my trip. It isn’t a travel blog in the sense that many travel blogs are. I don’t review hotels, I don’t talk about airlines or the travel industry. I’m more interested in people, places and things I experience.

My aim for the site is really simple: to let people virtually travel along with me. Unlike reading National Geographic or watching the Discovery Channel, I’m a real person, really traveling, in real time. I talk to my readers, often at length. Most people will never be able to do the type of traveling which I’m doing. I let people travel vicariously, if only a little bit, through me. Many of the places I’ve visited have been at the suggestion of my readers and on a few occasions, I’ve been able to meet up with readers and other bloggers if our paths cross.

5) Your top 5 destination experiences you’ve had to date and why?

1) Swimming with jellyfish in Palau. The jellyfish lake in Palau is the only place in the world where you can swim with tens of thousands of harmless jellyfish. The experience is totally surreal.

2) Watching the sunset on Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong. If you are on the Kowloon side of the harbor at sunset, you can experience the light show of the city. While this is happening you have the ferries crossing the harbor, and all the bustle and craziness which is Hong Kong. There is even a statue of Bruce Lee! You can’t beat that.

3) Visiting Milford Sound, New Zealand. Milford Sound is one of the most underrated natural attractions on Earth. When I was there it had just finished 24 hours of raining. and the walls of the sound had hundreds of waterfalls, some of which were very large.

4) Rennell, Solomon Islands. A very out of the way island in a very out of the way country. I even went to a very out of the way part of the island. I’ve never felt more remote than I have on Rennell. I had the pleasure of going to a beach which probably hadn’t seen a human being in several years.

5) Easter Island. One of those destinations where everyone dreams of going, but few actually make the trip. Being alone with toppled Maoi with a rough Pacific Ocean breeze blowing at me is something I’ll always remember.


Easter Island by Gary Arndt

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

You will notice a common theme in my choices. All are on island countries and all are very affordable. The best places are not measured by the thread count of the sheets.

1) The Village Inn, Pohnpei, Micronesia. Owned by expat Americans who have lived on Pohnpei for 30 years, the Village Inn is an affordable resort overlooking the Pohnpei lagoon. All the rooms are bungalows and where I stayed had a water bed. Micronesia has no large resorts and is a real undiscovered travel destination. Fresh tropical fruit is available every day as well as locally caught fish. If I ever get married, I’d want to come here for my honeymoon. When people ask me where they should visit, my first answer is always “Pohnpei”.

2) Anywhere in the Yawasawa Islands, Fiji. The Yawasawa Islands in Fiji are a big magnet for backpackers. The resorts on the islands are all owned by locals or villages. You can experience locally grown tarro and cassava and seafood every day. You can sleep in a grass bungalow just a few meters from the sea. Lodging and three meals will run you no more than $20/day. The people who run the resorts are usually the ones who benefit from the money it brings in. As such, the service is usually very good. Most places will be singing songs to you when you get off the boat.

3) Walindi Dive Resort, Kimbe, Papua New Guinea. Also run by expats, the Walindi Dive Resort is the premier dive resort on Kimbe Bay on the island of New Britian in Papua New Guinea. Kimbe Bay has the largest diversity of coral species in the world, as well as having been the site of major battles in WWII. Walindi offers great diving, wonderful food, and unique mix of people. The food was great and the British expats I’d talk to over drinks at night had some of the best stories I’ve heard on my trip.

7) Your top 5 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

1) Poisson Cru, Tahiti. Poisson cru is the national dish of French Polynesia. It consists of raw tuna marinaded in coconut mil and served cold with cucumber. It is the one dish I have every intention of making when I return to the US. In the capital of Papeete, there are food truck called roulettes which will congregate near the harbor at night creating a makeshift food court. Many of the vendors will be selling it there. This is something I’d eat every day if I could. (It is known as Moutu Iki in the Cook Islands)

2) Tskuiji Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan. As an experience, the fish market should be on anyone’s list of things to see if you are in Tokyo. You have to get up very early to really experience it, but it is well worth it. It is organized chaos at its finest. You can see every type of seafood from every corner of the Earth here. There is also a sushi restaurant on site as well as several others close by. Get there very early if you wish to eat at the sushi restaurant because the line goes around the block (yes, sushi for breakfast).

3) Eating samgyopsal in South Korea. I never at much Korean food prior to my trip. I met a girl on the ferry from Fukuoka, Japan to Busan, South Korea. She ended up taking me to a Korean BBQ where I got to experience samgyopsal, soju, and everything Korea. I’ve since developed an affinity for the food.

4) Fen Jeou, Taiwan. I met a woman named Rubyko who was my guide for a day in Taipei. It was national day and we went to restaurant which specialized in Chinese dumplings and later went to the town of Fen Jeou, where we went through the market sampling foods from vendors. I had a desert soup, which was very surreal. It had red beans and sweet potatoes in it, as if it were a normal soup, but was as sweet and sugary as any desert.

5) Asado, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Best meat I’ve ever tasted in my life. Period. I was in Argentina a few years ago doing research and we were temped just to get back to Buenos Aires to gorge ourselves on beef. Not only is it amazing, but it is also cheap. I also developed an affinity for Malbec wine in Argentina. I’ve been tempted in the past to fly to Buenos Aires just to have asado.

8) Your 3 worst destination/ accommodation /food experiences to date and why?

1) Eating insects in Thailand. I got very ill after eating some grasshoppers from a street vendor. I don’t think the problem was with the grasshoppers per se, but with the fact that they were probably cooked a day before I ate them. Lesson: if you buy from a street vendor, make sure it is cooked before your eyes.

2) Traveling to Preah Vihear Temple, Cambodia. I documented my trip there on my site, but it was 14 hours spent on the back of a motorbike over very rough roads. The destination was a war zone, with solders getting killed the day I was there. I was in so much pain from the trip when I got back, I could barely sit.


Kiribati: Forbidden Country for Gary

3) Getting denied entry to Kiribati. After going through great lengths to get a visa to Kiribati and booking an expensive ticket to fly there, I was denied entry into the country because the ink from the pen used on my visa stamp bled off. I ended up in five different countries in 30 hours spread across the Pacific Ocean: Solomon Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, Fiji, and Hawaii.

4) Jollibees in Manila, Philippines. Jollibees is a fast food chain in the Philippines. I went there to try it out and ate a hamburger. It was the worst hamburger I’ve ever had. It tasted as if it were boiled. I then noticed that everyone else in the restaurant was eating spaghetti or chicken. They probably knew something I didn’t.

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/ food / accomodation / things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?


Gary via Twitter in Heaven (Mui Ne)

I’m currently writing this on a bus between Saigon and Mui Ne, Vietnam, so I’m not really living anywhere. Prior to my trip I lived in Minneapolis and I can give you a few tips for those visiting the Twin Cities:

1) Arts. Per capita, I’d say the Twin Cities has the best arts scene in the United States. The Minneapolis Institute of Art is one of the best museums in the country. As far as its collection, i’d say it is better than the Kimble in Fort Worth or even the Getty in LA. (both of which I visited at the start of my trip) The collection of Asian art is especially good. I think many people would be surprised to see a museum of its calibre in a city its size. The Walker Art Museum is close by and is Minneapolis’s answer to the MOMA. Minneapolis also has an exceptional theater in the Guthrie and a superb orchestra.

2) Go walk around the lakes. Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun and the Lake of the Isles are the major lakes within Minneapolis. There are ample walking paths and if you are there in the summer, you can rent boats.

3) The Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul is the best in the country. Held at the end of August through Labor Day each year, it has a great selection of food (mostly fried and on a stick), farm implements and music. Visiting the fair was an annual ritual for me and I’d often go several times each year.

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?

I am often asked the following questions: do you get lonely, how much did it cost, what is your favorite country and when are you coming back home? My answers are, sometimes, less than you think, can’t pick just one, and April 2009 for a few months.

My comments:
Thank you very much Gary. This is an amazing story.You have a very inspiring blog and a beautiful collection of photos uploaded at Flickr (I took the liberty choosing different ones than you indicated). This is a real Travelogue. I take it that you’ve become heavenly addicted to it:-)

Last edited by Happy Hotelier on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 17:23

10 Questions for (16): Kevin May of Travolution (formerly) – Tnooz (currently)

Happy to present Kevin Luke May of Travolution [update: Kevin cofounded Tnooz after the interview] to you. Yay! The second male in this series! Am glad I have a photo of him where he smiles (a bit), because usually he likes to look as stern as possible – no he didn’t work for Der Stern (German Gossip) – 🙂


Kevin as part of a Blogger forum at ITB Berlin

1) Who Are you?

I am Kevin May, editor for three years of Travolution, the UK-based media brand for the online travel industry. I have overall editorial responsibility for our website, blog, magazine, podcasts and video content, events and awards programme, speaking engagements and research projects. I was previously web editor for advertising and media title Media Week, deputy editor of a regional newspaper, The Essex Enquirer, and a writer for the Police Gazette. I studied criminology at university.

2) What do you like about what you do?

The opportunity to understand and write about one of the most diverse and fascinating industries in modern business as well as meet some fantastically innovative and entrepreneurial people, all of whom are incredibly passionate – like me – about the internet.

3) What don’t you like about what you do?

Long working hours and appalling work-life balance.

4) Please tell us all about your blog and your aims with it.

The Travolution Blog is just one element of what we do alongside the other editorial products I oversee. The blog is primarily to comment on issues or point users in the direction of other relevant content related to online travel that we find elsewhere on the web. We also use it to poke fun at the travel industry in general, which isn’t difficult! It has also been a very useful shop window for users to see the other things we do as a media brand. Two of my writers, Linda Fox and Martin Cowen, also contribute regularly.

5) Your top 3 destination experiences you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

  1. Hanoi, Vietnam (crazy city – colour, life, history, mayhem everywhere).
  2. Annapurna Region, Nepal (trekked around Annapurna Range for nearly 4 weeks and saw the most incredible landscapes, met some life-long friends, and got very fit in the process – extremely rewarding).
  3. Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia (a forgotten world, a sunken caldera volcano, rich in wildlife and extremely friendly people. Very few tourists there in 2000 as well as the Aceh conflict was still out of control).

6) Your top 3 accommodations you’ve ever stayed to date and why?

  1. Shangri-La Resort, Muscat, Oman (the first REAL five star hotel I’d ever stayed in. The hotel had only recently opened and it was immaculate. The service was awesome and the rooms were incredible).
  2. Munchies, Ko Pha-Ngan, Thailand (a collection of rustic huts just yards away from the sea. 15 friends congregated there for Christmas and New Year in 2000 and the vibe was amazing. Coconut Olympics on Christmas Day!!).
  3. The Grove, London (I won a non-travel industry competition, I hasten to add, to stay for one night in the capital’s top retreat-style resort. Fantastic rooms, beautiful spa, stunning food in the restaurant).

7) Your top 3 most memorable food experiences to date and why?

  1. The Grove, London (see above).
  2. The Gate, London (best vegetarian restaurant in London by a long shot. Imaginative menu, beautifully prepared, brilliant service).
  3. Ad-hoc barbeque, Lake Toba, Sumatra (joined a group of locals to catch fish in the lake, picked fresh vegetables, freshly cooked bread, all eaten by the lake as the sun went down. Perfect!).

8) Your 3 worst destination/accommodation/food experiences to date and why?

  1. My wife was rushed into hospital in Vanarasi (Benares) in India. She was in intensive care for a few days with an extreme case of Delhi Belly – in other words amoebic dysentery and other stomach infections. An absolutely terrifying experience.
  2. Not exactly a destination experience, but a decrepit bus I was travelling in from Vientienne (Laos) to Hanoi (Vietnam) began filling with smoke in the middle of the night on a bumpy Vietnamese highway. Mass panic amongst the sleepy passengers as we scrambled off. Luckily no-one was hurt.
  3. Standing at an ATM in Kuala Lumpur and my debit card expires. No travellers’ cheques or access to any money, so ended up borrowing £50 from Her Majesty’s Government (at the British embassy, in return for my passport) until my new bank card arrived five days later.

9) Can you offer the readers 3 travel/food/accomodation/things to do tips about the city you are currently living in?

  1. Kew Gardens is an oasis on the edge of our capital city, close to Heathrow Airport. I regularly spend a day here with the family, wandering around the beautiful park and enormous greenhouses. Plenty here for the kids, too, and reasonably good value for money if you stay the whole day. Bring your own picnic!
  2. Use a top-up Oyster Card for the London Underground, bus network and Overground system. The best new system introduced to the network for decades, saving time, tickets AND money.
  3. Visit the Brick Lane and Shoreditch area for the best selection of Indian food and nights out in the city. Lots of good bars The area also happens to be full of new web-based, start-ups, so a real buzz about the place, even if it does take itself a little bit too seriously sometimes.

10) Any Question(s) you’d expected me to ask that you would like to answer?
What is the difference between a blogger and a journalist? I am asked this all the time, often by people trying to trick me into saying something that damages one of these skills, probably as I sit in both camps! The real answer, which many Old School journalists despise, is that is very little difference between the two. The lines are increasingly blurred as bloggers ‘report’ on events just like reporters such as I do every day, while journalists write blogs so they can comment on issues in a way that is very different to the traditional op-ed, leader-style columns you see in newspapers.

However, we both write content which is read by consumers and industry people (increasingly blurred lines there as well, it must be said) and, on the whole, try to engage with our readers in the best and most efficient way. The channel is not important (blog, newspaper, website, TV/radio broadcast) how well you engage with the audience is critical.

I would say, however, a difference that prevails is the idea that many bloggers who do not work for established media companies think of themselves as being beyond accountability. I have seen on countless occasions bloggers who have written something which, produced by any traditional media provider, would never see the light of the day, or would end up in the libel courts. Blogging might be a niche distribution channel for content, but as it grows and becomes just another mainstream media outlet, more bloggers will find themselves increasingly under scrutiny by trigger-happy lawyers if they are not adhering to media laws of fairness in comment and, most of all, accuracy. At the end of day, we are all publishers.

My Observations:
Thank you Kevin for taking the time for this.

As to you last question: Very intriguing! I see a convergence occurring, but I also see many differences. I see myself more as a blogger and not so much as a journalist. That doesn’t mean I feel beyond accountability. I’ve been roaming the web for more than 13 years, but started only relatively late with reporting about my cyber adventures. I’m not edited. I’m the Publisher, Editor and Blogger here in the House. I’m an amateur in the sense that I do not rely on my blogging for my living, it’s a hobby. It would help if my blogging attracts more guests to my small hotel, but it is not my main goal of this Blog. My goal is more to share my own experiences in many fields and wonders about the big outside world. Moreover I’m a (very slow) two finger typist. As you I have a background in law and am too much aware of possible liabilities. Hence I always try to be my self. Honest, direct and sometimes offensive which also stems from the fact that I blog in another language than my mother tongue.

Last edited by GJE on August 16, 2011 at 1:28 pm