Head to Tahiti

by Adrienne Wilson on

Before I really knew anything about Tahiti hearing the name of the country always reminded me
of the vacation grand prize you could win on a game show, but I always
wondered did anyone really go there? Whether or not anyone really flew the friendly skies then or now, it
sure is calling my name. With the weather not so bueno in the Caribbean these days the Pacific seems
perfect. There is tons of deep blue to dive, lush green to hike, and hot sand to fall out on. You get the
picture.

There are also numerous culture and outdoor events happening year-round as found on the
Tahiti Tourisme web site.  For the coming months visitors
can attend the Polynesian Artists Festival happening in August, Raid Painapo, a mountain team race through the Oponohu
Valley on September 24 and The 3rd edition of surf competition at the Taapuna Pro also taking place in September.
Sounds like a good mix of everything.

Up the Amazon

by Erik Olsen on

Years ago, I
took a trip up the Amazon River out of Belem (a
beautifully awful city) up to Manaus. I took one of those rickety river boats that seems to putt up river at about 1/2
mile an hour.

The Amazon is epic. Like no other body of water I’ve ever seen. There are places on this river where the water is so
wide, you CANNOT see the riverbanks in either direction. A river, folks. It’s amazing.

This piece in the Philly Inquirer
(subscription) takes a look at the Amazon, but with a focus on the whole ecotourism thing. The writer sees an
eco-lodge, hangs out with the monkeys, eats the local fruits and grubs (literally). It’s not bad. Gives a nice flavor
of the place. It’s a bit shallow as far as stories go, but if you’ve ever wanted to go, it gives a nice glimpse of what
touristy travel on the river is like.

Maine Lobster Festival

by Erik Olsen on

If there’s one thing Maine is known for, it’s lobster. Those big claws, the delicious white meat. The bright red
carapace after a good beach bake. We used to head to Maine every few summers to hang with family, and despite the
mosquitoes, there’s really nothing quite like a good lobster bake. I’m actually up here right now, in a town called
Rockport, where I’m doing a video editing program at the Workshops. Sadly, I’ve been indoors editing most days, but the
weather up here is amazing, and I seethe with jealousy every day as I watch the kayakers out in the bay. Damn.

But there is one thing folks here seem to be getting geared up for. That is the
Maine Lobster Festival, which runs from August 3-7 this year, and
always attracts legions of hard-core lobster lovers. I wish I was going to be here, but alas, I’ll be heading back in a
few days. I was here for the festival several years ago, though, and it was wonderful. Lobster still ain’t cheap, but
you can get loads of it up here in the form of rolls, tails, kebabs, and so on. If you haven’t made any August plans
this year, this might be one to check out.

Sugarcane Restaurant in Brooklyn

by Adrienne Wilson on

I went on a hunt for some of the best shark dishes out there after reading a bio on a friend that
loves shark on occasion and though I wouldn’t go for shark (not a big seafood eater) I
thought I’d find something out there for the rest of you that might be just as anxious to taste. Through
a couple of clicks I managed to find this Caribbean food spot out of Brooklyn at
City Search dot com.
Sugarcane, a West Indian restaurant scores a 9.3 review. Pretty impressive. What speaks to the folks most
is the filet of shark sandwich and also the oxtail which certainly seems to be the hit at the
place. Sounds like a good bite with great atmosphere, but that’s all according to the critics.  You can check
them out for yourself by visiting their web site or better yet for
lunch while you’re in BK.

Happy in Hanoi

by Erik Olsen on

Among the places at the top of my “must visit” list is Vietnam. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Thailand, and
went to Cambodia just a few years ago, but the one place in
Southeast Asia that really fascinates me is Vietnam. I’ve had a couple buddies live there, and each has said Vietnam in
immensely beautiful, the food is awesome and the people are friendly.

And while Saigon would be cool, there is something, too, about Hanoi that really intrigues me. So I was very pleased
to read this piece in the Mercury
News (subscription) about Hanoi. It gives a nice low down on the town and how far its come since the war, and makes
mention of some of the places you might want to visit should you be lucky enough to go. Among these is, of course, Hoa
Lo prison, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton”, where American POWs were kept during the war.