It’s the time of year when kids are graduating, and some of the lucky ones get to travel abroad on their own. The first time I traveled in Europe — with an oversized backpack and …
June 12, 2017
Go Abroad!
A European burrito mission
Vietnam War, remembered
Morale Seemed So High Mark said he’d had some bitter experiences with black sailors on the ship. When a group of recruits came on board, he lined them up to get some paperwork information. “Hey, …
May 29, 2017
Myanmar on the move
Last year I visited Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), a country which only opened its doors to tourism in the past 5-10 years. Prior to this, the country was under strict military rule. Many travelers …
May 21, 2017
Soccer stadium investors deal hops from New Zealand farm
A San Diego–based investment group has taken a stake in New Zealand–grown hops. La Jolla's FS Investors bought a New Zealand hops farm last year for $9.8 million, more than $32,000 per acre for the …
April 13, 2017
I heart Hong Kong
You lazily open your eyes. Life is fuzzed by sleep, and the glare from the snow-white sheets adds to your blindness. A delicious stretch and yawn to get your blood flowing, and you swing your …
April 11, 2017
Intrepidly visiting hotspot Israel
Just as I last left Israel, the bodies of three missing young men had turned up. The week before I was to return, there were two young men murdered in front of Old Jerusalem’s Jaffa …
January 28, 2017
Adventures in Tokyo
Japan had been on our vacation destination list for decades, but it always seemed too far away and too expensive. This year, noticing a substantial drop in airfare prices and the introduction of an 11½ …
Army platoon interpreter in Afghanistan ends up in El Cajon
Sher Mohammad Haidari heard the radio crackle with Taliban chatter as the Army platoon he was with trudged through a valley in eastern Afghanistan looking for a U.S. soldier who had abandoned his post. The …
December 14, 2016
Flashes: Helsinki and the Åland Islands
Mingling on the Esplanadi The Sky Wheel spins remembrances of childhood. A southeastern breeze carries emotions, the X-girl laughter camouflaging the dark in her eyes. I smell apples and lilac. Sweden’s due west, Estonia to …
December 13, 2016
Chaos, cops and captivity on the Eastern Cape
It was New Year’s Day, and the party in Chintsa, on South Africa’s Eastern Cape, had been long and wild. The hangover was severe, and the need to leave immediate. You see, included on the …
November 7, 2016
Máncora, not Monaco
Máncora, not Monaco, is the destination for the jet-setting crowd of Peru. This beachside resort town is on the Pacific Ocean, near the country’s northernmost border that it shares with Ecuador. Think sun, surf, and …
September 19, 2016
Latin America's "Gringo Trail"
The "Gringo Trail" refers to the well-trodden backpacker route within Latin America, encompassing Mexico and Central & South America. In 2015 I spent 3 months on "the trail." This region of the world is so …
September 7, 2016
Lesser-visited China: Suzhou & Tongli
Shanghai is the most populous city in the world, and it can become a bit overwhelming for both visitors and locals. If you’re living or visiting here for any length of time, you’ll welcome a …
August 1, 2016
Former U-T owner sees future in oil
Former Union-Tribune owner Douglas Manchester reported last month that he purchased 16.3 percent of GeoPark Limited, a Santiago, Chile–based oil-and-gas exploration and production company. Manchester's purchase of 9.7 million shares for around $30 million makes …
June 24, 2016
Memorializing the Vietnam War
Camp without Joy Vietnamese have been brought to Camp Pendleton. The Camp Pendleton that sent Marines to Danang in the first place, just 10 years ago. With little imagination, you could think it's sort of …
May 30, 2016