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The World's Best Airport, Hoskins on West New Britian, PNG

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:35:00 +0000

I have a new favorite airport, Hoskins in West New Britian, PNG. As our prop landed the volcanic mountains in the back ground was the first sign. The small wooden building was a hive of activity, da plane has arrived. The people waved as we walked a few feet to the baggage claim, a wooden table under an arbor, I actually could follow my bag’s trail from cargo hold to said table. That was it done and gone.
Leaving today was airport heaven, toss over my bag and out to the gardens outside. When it was time to board I followed some locals on a short cut through a barbwire fence after a quick stomp on my cig butt. No pushing, no snarls just smiles. It has been years since I enjoyed an airport, this one I loved!

Under The Spell of Papua New Guinea

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:58:00 +0000

After just 3 nights here in PNG I am convinced that the bounty of cultural and natural diversity would take a life time to discover. I knew that would be the case when I read facts such as, PNG has 25% of the world’s know languages. There is 700 species of birds and a whopping 37 different varieties of the Bird of Paradise and the world’s largest and smallest butterfly.
The real beauty is in the faces of the people here and not just the face painted variety, the villagers waving at our van as we pass is astounding. The servers at our lodges want us here and show it. Mix in some fantastic diving and treking and I feel a bit like I entered a place not of this earth.

My very first day was spent looking through a mask at colors I will never be able to name, much less the kinds of fish displaying the hues. Afternoon PNG kept giving as I sat in a small river that was heated the temp of a hot tub, the jungle sounds filled the air.

Today I will fly by small charter prop into the highlands far away from anything of my normal world. It will include stops in villages living by rules that have nothing to do with every day life in the modern world. Tribal conflicts still happen out there and the concepts we live by will fall away. The most important thing PNG has done for me so far is to feel like such a lucky man. The magic spell I am in will last a very long time.

Some Faces of PNG

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:25:00 +0000

It isn't fake our for tourist, this is how strong the tribal culture is here in PNG. Tomorrow we head out to the highlands and a very out in the wilds lodge. Posting may be impossible for the next few days. Will try my best!

Papua New Guinea Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:14:00 +0000

PNG is amazing! Love the colors above and below the waters. Walindi Resort a must for divers! posting is slow so this is short.

sashi in Manhatten Beach with Jerry Prendergast

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:49:00 +0000

I had one of the best meals of my life at lunch today and with an old friend I haven’t seen in thirty years, yup one of those remarkable lunches. Jerry Prendergast is a foodie’s foodie, he develops restaurants around the world and works with the very big boys and I mean very. He goes through the whole development thing to finish and has in cities such a London, Tokyo, New York and various other points on the food map. His company is P&A and especially centered now in LA, he has worked with Leo, Toby and numerous other stars. He is known by the best resorts and plenty of the world’s finest restaurants.

We had an amazing Japanese lunch at a cool and sleek place called sashi in Manhatten Beach and our lunch was crafted by the amazing Chef Makoto who trained under the Master Sushi Chef Kumazaki. Sashimi Pizza was just one of the treats, below are a few more. The quality and creative mixed so perfectly that I would highly recommend traveling to sashi, I would fly back to LA for aother meal! In any case I would let Jerry pick the place.

Shishito Peppers
Sautéed Shishito Peppers in a Szechwan Sauce topped with Dried Bonito
Japanese Soft Taco Trio
Asian BBQ Steak, Ginger Pork, Spicy Chicken and Sesame Chili Salsa served in Handmade Corn Tortillas
The Hot Rock “Wagyu”
Thinly Sliced Japanese Wagyu Beef Presented “Table Side” with Special Sauces
http://www.sashimb.com/

Leg One of the Papua New Guinea Tour, Santa Monica

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:32:00 +0000

It was a tough start to the first leg of the PNG (Papua New Guinea) Tour 2009. If there is one thing you never want to hear while waiting to take off it is de-plane. Flight 201 to Lax from JFK had problems so we switched planes. Finally I made it to LAX and headed to my hotel on the beach in Santa Monica, more jet lagged than in my last 4 trips combined, domestic flying sucks in the US.
It was however a pleasure to be rambling around SM this afternoon. As a good friend of mine put it, "Californian's got bounce". I spent the afternoon dragging but watching alot of bounce. tonight I am keeping on the move and dining out in a meeting situation, fortunately revived from the Pacific air blowing in my wide open window.

Travel Writing Advice, Flexible

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:16:00 +0000

If there is one piece of advice I would give to those who want travel for writing I got just one thing to say, be flexible. Often you will not know exactly what time you depart and in this case for me a day earlier than I thought. An earlier flight out of NYC means a night in a hotel near JFK, I like it, and it is a routine I am used to. I also opted for one night in LA before heading to Papua, New Guinea. It works and I think I have a meeting there that I’ve been dealing with for a bit. In fact being in the air is really the only time that I shut down completely. With a new netbook from Gateway, I hope to take you all with me.

Close to fifteen years I have been hopping planes, I do not see that stopping anytime soon. It keeps me close to me and a host of fantastic people, just stay flexible, you will need to if sanity matters.

Lily Chuang, Best Guide in Taiwan

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:07:00 +0000

It has to be one of the toughest jobs around, guiding a small group of travel writers. Even tougher after they spent time running around mainland China. Our guide and Taiwan’s best is Lily Chuang, the lithe and amazing Lily. From the moment we meet her on landing in Taiwan the poor girl had to know the week would be no walk in the park, but her smile worked wonders. It is almost a question of physics that when a van filled with writers stops they all head in different directions, as if drawn magnetically. We all have different ideas of what we want to do and see. Lily did her best to please all factions.

Ever resourceful Lily tracked down myself and two other members of our ramshackle group on Facebook and made my day. I meet many guides in the course of a year, many great, but one of the best is Lily, a reason alone to head to Taiwan.

Chinese Creature Invades the Hudson River

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Markets fascinate me, especially food markets. In Guangzhou China I was just plain blown away at the Wet Market especially when I was escorted by the Ritz Carlton’s Executive Chef Hoeksel. The many strange creatures were fascinating to this round eye and the Chef’s explanations took my visit over the top.

I was reading Hudson Valley magazine this afternoon and learned that the Hudson River has its own battle going on with a strange creature, the snakehead; The Snakehead is a fish that can grow up to three feet, has many teeth, and can survive and travel on land for up to four days. There is a lack of predators and it thought that the fish was brought here from Asia as part of the food market. Severe risk to the echo system is being battled by using rotenone, a poison extracted from the roots of tropical plants. Better is to find strange creatures in a food market in China.

Two Standout Lodgings in Papua, New Guinea

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:21:00 +0000

I got the final itinerary for Papua New Guinea today and it looks sweet! I went online to check out some of the lodges I will be staying in and it looks like two standouts are in the line up. The first is in a prime diving zone and is called Walindi Plantation Resort, bungalow style accommodations. The other is in the jungle and also looks great. To get to Karawari Lodge we will travel by chartered plane and small boat, no roads where we are going. It sits on a ridge above the Karawari River and the dusk is said to be amazing and your morning is greeted by Lorikeets and Eclectus Parrots. I have a few days to clear up back stories for GN before I leave, don’t want a back log when I head to a place few get to see.

Jackson Browne at UPAC Nov. 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Someone you lost track of long ago
Tell them that it's someone you need worse than
Anybody else you'll ever know

Clyde Jackson Browne was just fantastic last night at UPAC, in Kingston, NY, a troubadour with lyrics that move the heart. Years ago I remember late night drives all over the East Coast singing his ballads while just heading out, anywhere. That dates back from eight track times. To hear Clyde play acoustically was a cross between going back in time and yet hearing a whole new song that you just knew the words to. Sixteen guitars, an electric piano and one tuner was all that was traveling this route. Many thanks to my old AZ friend, Julie (Party) Parker for getting me a ticket and motivating me to go, after this gig I will not let old friends or music fade.

Time running out time running out
For the fool still asking what his life is about
Time running out time running out.

Fifty Four and There is so Much More, Past Mid- Field

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:33:00 +0000

I had a very strange thought today as I drove around Kingston; I tried to grow up here, never happened. I just never grew up! I have however expanded my world quite a bit. For some reason after I heard about some criminal getting sentenced to minimum twenty years, I bummed. I am fifty four and twenty years from now, well figure it out. I have gone beyond the half way line, packed a lot in though, wouldn’t have changed a thing. That thought really drove the bad mojo away, I got some great destinations coming up and a list of great people met on the road as well as here. I have tasted the best the world offers and not in a cell. By coincidence while working tonight the song Twenty Four and There is so Much More by Neil Young played on my computer, seemed like not long ago I heard it for the first time.

The Kimberly Hotel in NYC a Suite Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Things look sweet from a suite on the Kimberly Hotel’s 22nd floor, stepping out onto a balcony in NYC’s Eastside is a rarity. Pair that in with a spacious 2 bedroom suite done in style and you may be humming, My Way, like Frank Sinatra. The spa tub and bathroom flat screen TV is a great way to start your evening; the hotel’s location is perfect for those who want ease in reaching the best of NYC. The feel is intimate and private and the Kimberly a wonderful match to the Big Apple.

Ritz Carlton in Shenzhen China, WOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:00 +0000

I am a true hotel freak; I love checking them out and see many in the course of a year. One of my new favorites is the Shenzhen Ritz Carlton in China. The huge living room and super large work area was such a plus. The roomy balcony over looking the pool and city, perfect for a place to sip a strong coffee from the machine in room.

One of the best meals of my trip was the Chiu Chow cuisine from the hotel’s Xingli Restaurant, the Cantonese specialties sublime and setting calm and elegant. One great feature of their Spa was the treatment rooms with complete privacy. If I were Dorothy I would be clicking my heels to return right now!

Meeting of Online Travel Minds at M. Silver and Associates in NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:01:00 +0000

It was a pleasure sitting in the conference room of M.Silver PR this morning, six of the best online travel publishers as company. It was a face to face of those who love traveling and getting the word out. Some were old friends like the charming and decent dude Johnny Jet; the Jetster has always done me great! Hard working and thinking Tim Leffel the engine for this meeting another old bud was there. The maestro and online pioneer, Sean Keener was also in the mix. Of course my oldest pal and big boss Max Hartshorne was across the table.

I finally got to meet Greg Hubbs; his dad Clay was the first man to publish my very first article years ago. New also to me were Mike Richards and the Hobo, Andy Graham and great to do so. All of the sites are as different and diverse as the people I met, the common ground being travel. For us old timers it was an amazing feeling as we all recalled the days when online was travel publishing’s bastard child. That has changed and this prodigal son felt right at home! Check out the links and thanks to M.Silver for understanding that changes are constant.

The Tribe Gathers at the Herrick Guest Suites

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:43:00 +0000

Tonight I am in a apartment that is headquarters for Max and me during the VEMEX gathering, speed dating for travel writers and editors to Europe. We have a sweet apartment on Hudson Street in the West Village.No cooking though the place has everything you would need is there, out the window the full moon shines with NYC skyline, full moon and meeting other travel writers the aim. Love the place, Herrick Guest Suites.

Rasputin, Devil or Mystic

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

Raving mad, total lunatic or dumb as a fox, forget Bill’s intern and Bush’s madness, they pale compared with Rasputin. The basement room in the Yusupov Palace where he was poisoned then shot was a highlight of St Petersburg for me. His body was dumped in a canal and an autopsy showed he drowned. He was a debaucher, drunk and for awhile controlled Russia. The book Nicholas II: The Last Tsar by Edvard Radzinsky is a favorite book of mine, I bought Rasputin: The Last Word by the same author at the palace. A super read! The picture of me with the book was taken by buddy Lisa Sonne.

Home in the Country, Witticism Runs Rampent in the Hudson River valley

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:23:00 +0000

I walked to the country store this morning in the foggy Hudson Valley Oct. haze, cold and damp brings fog. As I filled my coffee cup, I was asked by the locals here in my little hamlet of Cottekill where I was recently! I regaled my stories for the boys of eating snake in China and borsht in Latvia. I told about the pits outside of Vilnius where 90% of the Jews in Lithuania were shot in mass killings. So one old boy said, “Not a good time huh”? Hard to call what I do a good time, interesting for sure. I tried to explain that it is not all Cracker Jacks and peanuts, life isn’t.

I truly live in one of the art creating places found in the lower 48, but I do love meeting those whose lives have been spent here, the witticism is comforting. If a leaf falls let it, might fall on deaf ears elsewhere. I however know exactly what is meant. I have lived in the big cities before but the vibe after that makes Jake cool… He can tell I am beat, I am!

Ritz Carlton, Guangzhou and the Fabulous Lai Heen Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:24:00 +0000

It is all about Asia tonight, sparked by memories of a recent visit to the amazing Ritz Carlton, Guangzhou. One of the best things about my visit was a memorable meal in the lai heen room. The many courses were matched by various teas; they have close to a hundred different types. The large spinning center table was filled with delicacies that will long be remembered.

Cantonese cuisine is said to be the finest China, it certainly was well represented at lai heen, Dim Sum delight. One of my favorite things about Ritz properties is the fantastic dining venues, a rarity in the hotel world.

Jet Lag Blues, Wouldn't Change a Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:44:00 +0000

For a long time I have never fought off the Devil called jet lag, the curse of travelers. Four continents in the span of a few weeks has apparently broken that chain of good luck, inevitably the pay back comes, like a velvet glove striking the skull. Still the bizarre blue and grey skies here in the Hudson River Valley keep the spacey blues at bay. The chance to actually cook my own meal and flick through channels is an undeniable pleasure; I am off the stage for a bit. The motley colored maple leaves clinging to my boots add sparkle to the wide pine planked floors as I dump firewood into the pine box. The glow of a warm fire reminds me that I am back. Duties simple and plain are the order of the day; New Guinea is in the future, simple pleasures please.

Great Company in Latvia, Lithuania and St Petersburg...

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:25:00 +0000

It is a small world we travel writers live in, three from this trip I met in Kenya a bit back. It sounds wonderful to truck around the world, care free, seeing amazing things. It is but the group you’re with makes all the difference in the world. This recent blitz through Lithuania, Latvia and St Petersburg was a wonderful experience, made so by traveling with great people.

I had my old buddy Lynn O’Rourke Hayes to keep me moving and smiling, such a pleasure! Peter Guttman was there to help me with my fascination of shooting pics, no better teacher than this award winning magician with a camera. The always up beat Lisa Sonne kept those moments of despair at bay, the smile always a delight. The one new face also was such a pleasure, Norma Davidoff, anytime or place, you were such a nice surprise. To all of you, many thanks!

A Night With Tchaikovsky at the Mariinsky in St Petersburg

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Seeing Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg, Russia was such an amazing experience, especially since we had the Tsar’s box directly over the stage, we sat so close that you could see the sheen on the ballerina’s necks. Amazing choreography in a setting that stunned, it put me back in time to the Imperial days of Russia. The theater was built in 1860 and was the starting point for many of today’s best loved ballets by such as Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky. The place sparkled and the show amazing, a must even if ballet leaves you cold, you will not regret it!

A Visit to the Hermitage, St. Petersburg

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:43:00 +0000

It is said that if you spend a minute seeing every picture at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg it would take you nine years to finish. Every period of art is covered and treasures by masters on display. The Hermitage was also known as the Winter Palace or home of the Tsars. It was from the balcony that Nicholas II announced Russia’s entrée into WW I, almost four years to the day, he and his family were murdered.

St Petersburg, an Icy Night

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:00:00 +0000

An icy rain falls from my EMS hood of a thin jacket, all around me the people of St Petersburg scurry as I walk down the Nevskiy Prospekt, towards my temp home. Hard faces softened by neon and that cold rain. Smiles appear under hoods and umbrellas, the American also walks.

It is with fear that trudge further on after knowing I have been sated with a meal fit for a Tsar, caviar black and rich, placed back in the shell of an egg, forgotten times these days. No other faces have a caviar glow.The scruffy boots over rule the dress pants, we all smile, I walk in the icy rain.

Art Nouveau in Riga, Latvia

noreply@blogger.com (Kent E St. John) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Riga is unparalleled in the amount of Art Nouveau Architecture, according to UNESCO. Walk any street in the centre of the city and you will feel a bit like Alice in turn of the century wonderland. Screaming faces and roaring lions can be found everywhere as themes. Some of the styles are National Romantism and Perpendicular. Elizabeth and Albert streets are teaming with treasures of a bygone era.