Roger J. Wendell
Defending 3.8 Billion Years of Organic EvolutionSM
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Travel |
Me in Antarctica!"The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise
somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower
is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise
eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and
islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls."- John Muir
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Click Here for my "Travel Two" overflow page... |
 Here's me (the one with grey in his beard) visiting the Agricultural University at Urumqi, Xinjiang, China |
"Rushing around and traveling without connecting can put us in danger of treating people and cultures like commodities that exist solely for our consumption and entertainment. It helps to stay humble and remember that everyone and every culture has something to teach us, even if it's unpleasant."
- Amie Thao |
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"Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter."
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"To travel best is to be of the sportsmen of the road. To take a chance, and win; to feel the glow of muscles too long unused; to sleep on the ground at night and find it soft; to eat, not because it is time to eat, but because one's body is clamoring for food; to drink where every stream and river is pure and cold; to get close to the earth and see the stars - this is to travel."- Mary Roberts Rinehart
from Through Glacier Park in 1915
 Northeastern New Mexico |
I've never thought of myself as any kind of travel expert. In fact, as I entered my 40s, my reluctance to travel grew
stronger as I wanted to spend more time with my wife, children and family. Nevertheless, despite some serious bouts with
"homesickness" I seemed to not only find myself in various corners of the globe, but spending lots of time there as well!
Anyway, since I'm not a guide or travel expert this page is mostly for me and my memories. If you need serious information for any destination or activity I suggest you look elsewhere, around the Internet, as the stuff I put here is all just for fun... |
However, I do have one serious recommendation for anyone traveling - purchase travel insurance!!! In 2005 my ex and I took a long road trip through Australia. After eight days of some great fun she severely broke her ankle and had to be flown back to the United States by the most direct means (and in a way that would allow her to keep her leg elevated). So, on a Friday morning we were able to purchase two tickets, one business class for $7,000 USD, and one economy class (for me) for $5,000 USD - both for departure that evening. [This was at a time when our roundtrip airfare from Denver to Australia was $1,800 USD]$12,000 USD for airfare, and thousands of Australian dollars for their medical care and other expenses, would be much more than we could ever have afforded on our own. So, take my advice, buy travel insurance - we did, and it paid for nearly every related expense!
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Okay, although I don't like making commercial recommendations many travelers have asked me which insurance agent treated
my ex and I so well on that fateful trip to Australia back in '05 - it was STA Travel with Berkeley Care as the underwriter at that time. Although I, myself, wouldn't hesitate to use either again I still recommend you do your own research to find a policy that works best for you!
Oh, and one more thing, Money! As much as we may enjoy traveling it more often than not requires money. I know, people have written me suggesting they've traveled Europe on ten dollars per day or gotten by in South America for a dollar a day, etc. Nevertheless, the fact remains that it takes a certain amount of money to pay for your passport, obtain a visa, purchase transportation, and then come up with enough cash to cover food and lodging once you're "there." So, most of us reading (and creating!) these kinds of travel web pages are very lucky in that we've met our basic survival needs and can afford to explore other places while our brothers and sisters, in other lands, are struggling just to find their next meal. Luckily I, myself, have had enough money to pay for a guide, travel service, or nice hotel at times. At other times in my life I've been so poor I've had to hitchhike, sleep on the ground alongside some forgotten road, or simply forego ANY travel. Nevertheless, I count myself as being very fortunate to have had the luxury of traveling for pleasure. For, the most important things in life are your health, a place to live, food to eat, and a family to love - traveling for pleasure is one of those little "extras" in life that gives you a few more memories and something to brag about on a web page - nothing more!
Golden, Colorado - Summer '07 |
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My List of Countries So Far:
By my estimate, I've visted well over 40 "countries" but it's difficult to calculate, excatly. For example, |
United States: I've been to 'em all (including D.C., Guam, CNMI, and the Virgin Islands) and have lived (for extended periods of time, as measured in months and years) in California, Nevada, Hawai'i, Maryland, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and, of course, Colorado - the one place I've called home since 1972. Oh, and I've also climbed, hiked, and walked to the top of over half the state highpoints as well!
Canada: I've driven the length of Canada a couple of times and just love it there! I've been to most of the provinces, including the Maritimes, and have camped all over British Columbia, Alberta and Québec.
Caribbean: Bahamas (Eleuthera Island), Saint Kitts and Nevis (Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis)
Mexico and Central America: I've been visiting Mexico, regularly, since 1965. I don't speak a lick of Spanish (I studied the Russian language in college) but seem to get by pretty well as their people have always been so kind to me. I've driven the length of Mexico, starting in Denver, to get to Guatemala and back again (6,000 miles, roundtrip). So, I think I've spent a little time in nearly every Mexican State [The country's name, that most North Americans aren't aware of, is Estados Unidos Mexicanos (United Mexican States)] and have found each to be special in its own way. I've also stopped, briefly, in Panama City but hope to get back for a closer look some day. However, I've had a really good look at Belize and have spent some time on Roatan Island in Honduras.
Europe: I've seen a lot of the United Kingdom (Wales, Scotland, and England) along with Germany, France, Switzerland, and Italy. I've also had some great one day and overnight trips to Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourgh, Liechtenstein, and the Netherlands. I hope to see more of the continent as time and money permit!
Africa: Got a pretty good look at Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, witha couple of brief layovers at Dakar, Senegal.
Asia: I've traveled extensively throughout Tibet, Macau, Hong Kong, China, the Silk Road, and India. I've had wonderful experiences visiting my son in Japan as well!
Southeast Asia: I've traveled extensively throughout Malaysia (including Borneo) and Thailand in addition to some brief explorations in Burma (Myanmar) and Laos.
South America: Made some brief airplane stops in Peru and Chile but got a real good look at Argentina while on separate climbing and sightseeing trips. Took a separate trip to Amazonia and Ecuador over the Christmas holiday of 2005/06 and visited Iguazu Falls in Brazil in February 2011. In June, 2013 got a good look at the Cordillera Real mountain range and Lake Titicaca in Bolivia.
Oceania: In 2013 I enjoyed a 4,351 kilometre (2,703 mile) drive through the North and South Island of New Zealand. A few years earlier, I experienced a 5,800 kilometre (3,600 mile) drive through western Australia despite my ex breaking her leg in the middle of our trip! Neverthless, before her accident we fell in love with Australia's exotic scenery, really wide open spaces, and big sky (much bigger, in fact, than the skies of Texas and Montana combined!!)!
Antarctica: In early 2011 I had the privilege of making six different landings along Graham Land (the Peninsula) and adjacent islands. The world can be proud of the Antarctic Treaty System - hopefully it will stay intact in perpetuity!
Russia: In late summer 2011 I joined Mike Miller's CMC group exploration of the "Land of Fire and Ice" on the Kamchatka Peninsula. In addition to all the bubbling mud-pots, fumaroles, and sulfur clouds I also got to experience Moscow in depth for a few days on my way home.
 Pages from my Passport... |
 International Driving Permit |
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"Apparently, short of setting fire to a forest, flying is the single worst thing an ordinary individual can do to cause climate-change." - Lisa Guy in the 2009 documentary, The Age of Stupid |
TSA body scan (circa 2010)(Note: "Self-loading cargo" is a derogatory term used by airline personnel for any
passengers who didn't spend a few extra thousand dollars on a First Class seat...)
It's no secret that air travel has become a lot less fun since 9-11. Most of us remember the days when you could chat with a pilot, use sewing scissors at your seat, or even do stretching exercises at the rear of the cabin. Now, of course, we're packed in like sardines, searched like convicts, herded about like cattle, and charged exorbitant prices for everything from a soggy sandwich and a soft drink to extra leg room and checked luggage. Oh, and don't forget all the airline mergers that had been completed by the end of 2013 - a sure formula for ensuring prices will always rise as competition evaporates!However, maybe the "good old days" of air travel weren't that great either - remember when each and every flight allowed, and even encouraged, smoking??!! Boy, big business and capitalism didn't seem to have our health and comfort in mind until Uncle Sam stepped in. And, even without the smoking it took years for airlines to cleanup cabin air - they seemed to pride themselves on re-circulating filth no matter how sick it made their passengers and customers feel. Oh, I might mention that the FAA, internally, never seemed to care too much about the smoking issue either. During the 80s I was a student at their Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, in Oklahoma, where they allowed instructors and students to smoke in the classroom - and these were three month sessions!
Let's not forget all of those airlines who "expire" your frequent flyer miles! Even as I write this in early '07, some major airlines have announced reducing time-lines to as little as 18 months! And, the meal situation only worsens with time - not only has the food been historically horrible but they're now starting to charge $5 USD for a simple lunch box or simply not provide any food at all. In 2006 I started to notice people bringing aboard sack lunches, half-eaten McDonald's sandwiches, and over-priced airport pizza because their seven hour flight to Honolulu wanted to charge $5 for a wet sandwich and a cup of pudding the size of a thimble! Actually, it wouldn't hurt me (especially!) to miss a meal or two except the terrorist scare of '06 wouldn't allow us to bring liquids aboard! Later, of course, the TSA agreed that passengers could purchase $4.00 sodas along the concourse as long as they hadn't attempted to bring their own liquid refreshments through the security point...
Anyway, as I suggested earlier, aircraft seating has always been pretty pathetic unless you had a few extra thousand dollars or Euros necessary for a first-class seat to London, Sydney or Tokyo. And, of course, the only seat that ever seems to be available is the dreaded middle one unless you happen to know the reservation agent or pilot! Oh, and don't even dream of anything other than the middle seat if you booked your flight through Travelocity, Orbitz, HotDeals or TripManager as there must be some international law allowing them to only bulk purchase middle seats - nothing else! Flying with a friend, loved one or family member and want to sit next to them? Dream on! I can't tell you how many flights I've been on where couples have had to semaphore across isles and rows of seats for the most basic of communication exchanges - ramp agents and reservationists having told them, before the flight, that there was just no way they could be seated together on this flight!
If the in-flight seating isn't bad enough, have you ever had to wait any length of time for a flight that was delayed due to bad weather, mechanical problems, or just plain old incompetence? Airport terminal seating is a bad as it gets - they've perfectly engineered concourse chairs so that there's no way to lay down, stretch out, or get comfortable while waiting that four or six hours for the next flight. People, including me, have had to curl up like pill-bugs (small terrestrial isopods) on worn carpeting and tile floors for the chance at 15 minutes of sleep before being stepped on or kicked. Okay, I'm sure there isn't an airport manager on the planet who wants his terminal lined with beds and looking like a youth hostel or boarding house. Still, they could do something with those horrible seats, couldn't they?!*
Which airports and airlines are to blame? Well, in my experience it's been nearly all of them. Although I've tried to avoid flying I easily logged over a half million miles by the time I'd reached middle age and was making this web page entry (not many miles by most standards but certainly a lot for somebody who prefers hiking over fine dining and shopping malls!). Further below I've posted a partial list of the airlines and airports I've experienced over the years (some were good, some were very bad - I'll let you research that part for yourself...) but I'm still committed to avoiding air travel whenever possible!
Bad Passengers!
HOWEVER, I must also come to the defense of flight attendants and everyone else in the airline industry who has to come into contact with the general public. Assaults on crew members, public intoxication, verbal abuse, and other obnoxious behaviors can make working with the public a miserable experience. Although COVID times really brought out the worst in passengers the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) still logged tens of thousands incidents from unruly passengers before and after the pandemic. So, here's a warning to those who believe they can abuse airline staff: The FAA has adpoted a "zero tolerance" policy for unruly passenger behavior that skips warnings or counseling and goes directly to penalties that can include heavy fines and jail time!
My Airline Experience:
(airlines I've been a passenger on)
Island hopping on a small plane...Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Aerolíneas Argentinas, AirAsia (yes, it's one word...), Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Aloha Airlines, American Airlines, ANA (All Nipon Airways), Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cape Air (Hyannis Air Service, Inc), China Xinjiang Airlines, Compass Airlines, Continental Airlines (decades before their merger with United), Delta, Frontier (both the old and new one), GoJet Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, Jet Airways (India), Lan Argentina, Lan Chile, Lufthansa, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Qantas, SFO Helicopter Airlines (San Francisco and Oakland Helicopter Airlines), South African Airways, Southwest Airlines, Star Marinas Air, Inc., Ted Airline, United Airlines (decades before their merger with Continental), US Airways, and Wilderness Air (previously Sefofane Air Charters).
My Airport (and Airstrip!) Experience:
(places I've either flown into or out of)
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So, what's the verdict after having to put up with obnoxious fellow passengers, lack of
competition, high prices, cramped seating, flight cancellations, and generally poor service?
Don't Fly!
But, as I explained earlier, I've had a pretty tough time avoiding air travel - especially for business trips and vacation destinations outside of North America. So, like most everyone else, I'll continue to demean myself with crowded, unhealthy, wasteful, polluting, and dangerous flying when other alternatives are scarce...
As far as post-911 security goes I've had a particularly difficult time for reasons unknown to me (although I have my suspicions...); In 2004, while en route Argentina the entire aircraft was stopped on the Los Angeles tarmac until they could find Air Marshals to escort me and a fellow passenger from Nepal off the plane for interrogation. Seems suspicions were raised when I filmed the gentleman sitting next to me with his camcorder for the benefit of his friends and family back in Nepal (who had never seen the inside of aircraft before). It's not that photography is forbidden inside an airplane (it's not) but a crew member thought it suspicious that a heavily bearded American (me) was photographing a very shy dark-skinned person (the guy sitting next to me from Nepal). Anyway, the Air Marshals had their way with us for nearly half an hour and then released us just in time so that my seat-mate could miss his flight home to Nepal. Luckily I had at least another ten minutes before missing my connection to Argentina...
In 2005 I learned why certain airline tickets have "SSSS" printed across them (Okay, I'm a little slow when it comes to these things!)) - If you look carefully at my airline ticket (# 1, below) you'll see the letter "S" repeated four times in two different locations on the card. This means that I was "randomly" selected for an extra special screening before boarding the plane. In this case something went wrong as nothing had been done to me until I was physically boarding the plane at the American Airlines gate in Los Angeles. Then, in front of everyone (of course), TSA had me "spread-eagle" for a complete pat-down search that included removing my shoes and tearing apart my carry-on luggage. So much for any privacy rights!
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Click Here to register your pledge not to fly! |
Looking down from a plane:
"From my airplane window seat the city appeared like a computer motherboard, a chaotic network of lights and wires, all organized on a grid. The plane descended, and the motherboard slowly transformed - high-rise hotels, the lights of moving traffic, billboards, and lit green highway signs. The mechanical shifting noise of the landing gear, that rush of approaching ground a jolting reminder of the speed with which we had just traveled, and then the touchdown of tires. What I had planned as a week's worth of travel had just been reduced to hours."
Air Travel Can Be Dangerous!
My ride on a 1941 UPF-7 Waco...April 03, 2011 - Widespread cracking found where a hole opened up on a Southwest jet at 11,000 metres (36,000 feet) over Arizona two days ago. Also on this date French investigators announced they had found pieces of the Air France jet that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, killing all 228 people on board - still no idea what caused the crash as the two flight recorders haven't been found yet...
Strange tags, signs, flyers, and warnings:
 1. SSSS |
 2. Panama Baggage Tag |
 3. TSA tag |
 4. TSA tag |
 5. Lost luggage... |
 6. Excess Baggage |
 7. Vegetarian meal |
 8. Premier means I fly too much!! |
 9. A very nice Thank You note |
 10. Frisking booth, India |
TSA
TSA stands for "Transportation Security Administration" and is a government agency that was created by the Bush Administration shortly after the 9-11 attacks. Unfortunately, for TSA employees, the government (at that time) ensured they would be exempt from many of the work place protections most of us take for granted (early newspaper reports suggested TSA employees were required to attend off-the-clock briefings, didn't receive training pay, were forbidden to join unions, etc. [ref: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 01-15-2003]). Unfortunately, for us (the traveling public), employee discontent at the TSA will only make uncomfortable and time-delaying encounters that much more frequent...
Massive TSA Security Breach As Agency Gives Away Its Secrets
Online Posting Reveals a "How To" for Terrorists to Get Through Airport Security
by Brian Ross and Matt Hosford, ABCNews.go.com (December 8, 2009)
"In a massive security breach, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inadvertently posted online its airport screening procedures manual, including some of the most closely guarded secrets regarding special rules for diplomats and CIA and law enforcement officers.""Document mistakenly posted online reveals agency's top screening secrets.
"The most sensitive parts of the 93-page Standard Operating Procedures manual were apparently redacted in a way that computer savvy individuals easily overcame.
"The document shows sample CIA, Congressional and law enforcement credentials which experts say would make it easy for terrorists to duplicate.
"The improperly redacted areas indicate that only 20 percent of checked bags are to be hand searched for explosives and reveal in detail the limitations of x-ray screening machines."
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On August 20, 2006 I was flying from Denver to Tampa, Florida - less than two weeks after the British had foiled a plot to bring liquid explosives aboard a transatlantic flight. In response, cologne, mouthwash, lotions and all other liquids were banned in carry-on luggage worldwide. Although I was aware of the ban it didn't occur to me that it would be prohibited to bring liquids onto the concourse since they were already being sold there! So, I went through the initial security screening, at the entrance to the concourse, and the TSA agents discovered the small bottle of fruit juice I was carrying in my daypack.
They were very understanding, as this had been happening to hundreds of passengers before me, and allowed me to leave the security area to drink the juice (or they would have thrown it away right there at the X-ray machine!). I was given this orange card so as to avoid additional waiting once I returned to the screening area. Not a bad experience but certainly illustrative of how sensitive their X-ray equipment is! |
NJ airport cameras faulty during security breach
China Daily, updated: 2010-01-06 10:25
"NEWARK, N.J.: Federal agents weren't able to immediately retrieve surveillance images of a man who breached security at Newark Liberty International Airport because a camera system wasn't working properly.""John Kelly, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman, said the camera at a security checkpoint was streaming live images but wasn't recording them.
"That made it impossible for Transportation Security Administration personnel to check an image of a man seen walking in through an exit door Sunday evening until it could view tapes from a nearby Continental Airlines surveillance camera.
"It was not known how long the camera at the TSA security checkpoint had stopped storing footage because archived images are only retrieved if an incident has occurred or is suspected, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said Tuesday. According to Davis, TSA will check the cameras' archiving daily.
"The cameras were installed by the Port Authority about two years ago, and the agency maintains and operates them.
"The incident shut down an entire terminal at the airport and stopped flights for six hours. The man, who has not been identified or located, was seen on a surveillance camera image leaving the terminal about 20 minutes after the security breach."
Baggage Blues
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My mistake! Okay, there have been a few times when I've over-stuffed my luggage with too much junk - too many electronic gadgets, too much clothing, or too many souvenirs. Not only does the bag become too difficult for me to carry but it's gotta be really tough for the ramp agents and ground crew who have to handle it as well. So, the airlines don't hesitate to put this little tag on every piece of luggage that could do possible harm to their personnel. However, before you start feeling too sorry for the airlines you need to know these few extra pounds are charged many tens of dollars extra to my already purchased ticket! [and, of course, by mid-2008 airlines were devising all kinds of ways to charge extra for baggage - ostensibly to offset the huge increase in fuel prices...] |
 Delayed Baggage Report |
Bummed Out In Baggage Claim The incidence of lost luggage is up dramatically. Here's how to speed recovery. By Lauren Young BusinessWeek, April 23, 2007, p. 102 |
"You know your trip is in trouble when only a trickle of suitcases from your flight arrives in baggage claim. Then the conveyor belt halts, never to start up again.""Short of not checking your luggage in the first place, you can't do much to prevent it from going missing. However, you can take steps both before you board and after you find yourself bagless to improve the chances of recovery."
- For starters, use that camera in your cell phone to take a picture of your suitcase so you can give a good description.
- Pay careful attention when your bag is tagged at check-in, an obvious safeguard that many travelers overlook in their excitement or haste - It only takes one key stroke to get the airport code wrong at the ticket counter...
- Place a copy of your itinerary and contact info inside your bags - it'll help the airlines join you and your baggage again!
- What do you do when you arrive at the airport and your bags don't? Never, ever leave until you file the appropriate paperwork and get copies!
- Instead of waiting on a long claims line in the baggage area, hightail it to the ticket counter, where the agents should be able to help.
- A comprehensive travel insurance plan can save you a lot of hassle if your bags are lost or delayed.
- If your bags do show up but items are missing, don't put the matter to rest until you've contacted (phone, fax, email, letters, etc.) that airline's customer service chief, operations manager and other top officials.
Roger's Remedy: What are the best ways to travel?
Speed WarningOkay, I'll admit it! As much as I love to save fuel and get exercise I've also enjoyed the grand adventure of a road trip! Even at age 16 (1970), having just received my driver's license, my parents allowed me to drive (their car!) the length of the southern California desert and across state lines. As time went on I drove all over Canada, Mexico, and huge portions of nearly every U.S. state. Problem is, as friends and family will attest, I received more traffic tickets (always for speeding) than anyone I've ever met. Luckily most of 'em didn't go against my driving record as I "earned" them in other states and countries. And, even more lucky, as I approached age 50 officers seemed less inclined to give me "real" tickets - just a lot of verbal and written warnings with amazed looks that somebody twice their age could be in such a hurry! A disclaimer, of course, is that folks (including me) really need to obey traffic laws because other people can be hurt beside just us. Nevertheless, thank you Officer #221 in Globe, Arizona for the warning ticket (photo below) you wrote me that warm spring evening in June '07 - of course the thorough car search wasn't much fun but it sure beat paying a fine!! Oh, and a big thanks to officer #3272 for the warning he gave me as I was speeding down Interstate 70 back to Denver from business in Grand Junction. I was in a 55 mph zone (88 km/h) when the officer stopped me and asked how fast I thought I was going. I replied that I was pretty sure it was around 78 mph (125 km/h) and said that matched his radar reading and that he appreciated my honesty - viola, another warning was issued!
 Globe, Arizona warning ticket |
I use this list as a reminder of things I should be bring or do most trips:
(Remember, this list is just to jog my own memory - you will
probably need a lot of other things besides what I've listed here!
Also, my Gear page lists a lot of outdoor stuff you might need...)
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