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Lee Abbamonte

@leeabbamonte

Travel Blogger, Travel Expert, TV Personality, Speaker, Author
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On the last day of a 2 week Japan extravaganza I went to Gunkanjima! The name translates to Battleship Island because it resembles one at some viewpoints. (Photo 4) Also known as Hashima Island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015: it’s most famous in my eyes for being the island James Bond was taken to in Skyfall. In the island’s heyday it was a goldmine for coal; which brought high rises, workers and their families. By 1960 the population was over 5000. Fun fact: it was the most densely populated place on earth. By 1974, petroleum replaces coal as the dominant energy source and the island was completely deserted. Now the population is zero! It was closed off completely until 2009 when it opened for tourism. I knew nothing of the island until I saw Skyfall. I did some basic googling to see if it was a real place and where it was located. It was an easy choice to visit from Nagasaki. That’s the only way you can visit. There are multiple companies that run morning and afternoon trips but they fill up fast and websites are mostly in Japanese-plan ahead. I used a company called Yamasa Shipping. The tour was all in Japanese but I didn’t care. It’s a 45 minute boat to the island. Seeing it approaching is super cool. If weather is good you can land as I did. You’re only allowed in a small area of the island. There are 3 viewpoints because the buildings are very unstable. The views on island are cool. But the best views are on approach on the right side upper deck and left side on departure where they do a full circumnavigation of the small island and you really get to see it. If you’re a Bond fan or just like really cool, interesting places, with checkered history-you’ll love Gunkanjima as I did. It’s a very unique place. Have you been to Gunkanjima? Did you see Skyfall? Any other Bond movie locations you’ve traveled to? 2025-09-23 18:54:33 On th.. 0 -100% 11 -81%
In July 1945, the Potsdam Declaration called for the immediate surrender of Japanese forces. This demand was not met. Also at that time, the U.S. had just completed the Manhattan Project. Successfully making and detonating an atomic bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico. The new, unelected President of the United States, Harry Truman, was eager to show the $2 billion project success and power to the world. On August 6, 1945 an atomic bomb (Little Boy) was dropped by the U.S. on Hiroshima, Japan. The Japanese did not immediately surrender. On August 8, 1945 a second atomic bomb (Fat Man) was loaded onto a B-29 bomber called Bockscar on the island of Tinian. The USAF HQ in Guam issues an order for the bomb to be dropped the next day. On August 8, the Soviet Union also declares war on Japan. The primary target on August 9 was the Japanese city of Kokura with its sizable arsenal. The Bockscar was under visual drop orders and it circled Kokura 3 times but was unable to drop due to heavy smoke and cloud cover. So it diverted to its backup target of Nagasaki. After nearly returning to Tinian, there was a narrow break in the clouds and the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. 30-40,000 people were instantly killed. Another 30-40,000 would die in the ensuing fires, effects of radiation, burns, wounds and illness. 6 days later, the War in the Pacific was over. Japan surrendered unconditionally as Germany had done in May 1945. World War II was over but the unconscionable suffering in Japan would endure forever. I write these as facts, not opinion. I’ve written extensively on World War II in prior posts. Nagasaki was the last major WW2 site in the Pacific Theatre I had yet to visit. It is solemn, yet it has become a beautiful, vibrant city much like Hiroshima. I really enjoyed my visit. The Peace Park and Atomic Museum are mandatory in Nagasaki. Otherwise the gorgeous waterfront city surrounded by mountains on 3 sides is a great place to explore, eat and drink. If you didn’t know what happened here you wouldn’t know. That’s why it’s important to remind people of the sheer horror of nuclear warfare so ‘Nagasaki’ never happens again. Have you been to Nagasaki? Or Hiroshima? 2025-09-22 19:02:08 In July 194.. 0 -100% 24 -58%
I first heard about Fukuoka 20 something years ago when Hard Rock Cafe opened a restaurant in Fukuoka and a few other lesser known Japanese big cities. Fun fact: a lot of my early travels were based upon Hard Rock Cafes because I collected their location specific shot glasses even though I rarely ate there. Strangely enough, Hard Rock Cafes helped me learn geography and took me to some pretty exotic places early on in my travel life. But Fukuoka had always been elusive. Fukuoka is best known for their unique brand of ramen. Tankatsu Hakata Ramen is simply out of this world delicious! It’s made up of a thick white pork bone broth with long, thin, hard noodles. I’ve never tasted better ramen and I eat a lot of ramen! Small gyoza is also a specialty in Fukuoka and is delicious as well! The city of Fukuoka looks and feels like a slightly smaller Osaka. It’s very safe, pleasant, pretty, canal filled, and has everything you need. The subway service is good and the main Hakata Train Station is massive and fabulous. You could literally live there because it has everything. Highlights for me of Fukuoka aside from eating my face off were the enormous 41-meter long Reclining Buddha at Nanzoin Temple outside the city. It’s a 30-minute train ride out but so worth it! I also went to a baseball game at the Fukuoka Dome to see the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks vs the Seibu Lions. It’s a great retractable roof stadium and fun fact; Frank Sinatra had his last 2 public concerts there in 1994! Fukuoka has a good cocktail bar scene. Cherokee Bar was my favorite in Nakasu. The nightlife is typical of a big Japanese city. The hotels are nice, reasonable and there are very few tourists. This was the biggest difference to Tokyo and Kyoto. You could actually breathe at tourist sights! Fukuoka also has a teamLab Forest, Japanese baseball legend Sadahara Oh Museum, and a MLB Cafe in the building directly next to the Fukuoka Dome. Plus, nearby Fukuoka Tower offers great panoramic views of the city. I really enjoyed 2 days in Fukuoka. I highly recommend it for a refreshing change from the usual Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka tourist route. Have you been to Fukuoka? 2025-09-19 18:33:28 I first heard a.. 0 -100% 51 -11%
This was my third time visiting Kyoto. Each time I’ve dealt with some extreme weather. First, heavy rain. Second, snow. This time, excessive heat-like 95 and very humid…and excessive tourism! I cannot believe how many tourists are in Kyoto right now! It’s honestly shocking and pretty annoying. But I get it obviously-Kyoto is a magical place. Plus, the Yen is down against most major currencies and flights are pretty cheap to Japan, etc. But there’s probably 10x the tourists I’ve seen in my other 2 visits. That said, Kyoto is everything you want it to be. It’s photogenic, beautiful, quaint-ish, has great food, coffee, matcha, cocktail bars, feels old timey, but has all the modern amenities and people are super nice. Kyoto deserves all the accolades it gets from major publications. It’s that good a place…but the word is out and the people heard the news! Some tips for dealing with the crowds are essential to enjoying what you’re seeing. First, get there before sunrise to be there as the sun rises. That’s when the least people will be anywhere you go. If the site isn’t 24 hours then see when it opens and be there first. Second, be patient. If you get to Fushimi Inari Taisha and expect to get amazing photos all to yourself at noon-you’ve got a major disappointment ahead. If you walk up a while, there’ll be less people or if you sneak into the exit side you can get some good photos. But sunrise is your best bet. Lastly, Uber and trains are readily available to get to further sites but walk around town if you can. It’s the easiest and best way to get around-just be ready to walk uphill for some temples. Have you been to Kyoto? What’s your favorite thing you saw or did there? 2025-09-17 18:13:49 .. 0 -100% 58 +2%
I can’t accept an argument that Tokyo is not a top 5 city in the world. Tokyo was the first place I ever went in Asia back in 1999. And each of the 10 or so times I’ve been since, I like it more. It’s so good. It’s so easy. It’s so clean. It’s so efficient. People are so friendly and the food is so good! Tokyo is the world’s most populous city and it feels nothing like that. Tokyo is fantastic. I could gush about Tokyo all day. But for those who haven’t been here are a few valuable tips and recommendations for first timers. First, here are a few of my favorites: teamLab Planets; Meiji Jingu, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden; Baseball at Tokyo Dome; and Tsukiji Outer Market for fresh sushi, etc. Do some research and stay where you think you’ll like to be. I like to stay in either Ginza, Tokyo Station area, Minato City, or Harajuku. If you’re more into night life, etc. consider Roppongi, Shinjuku or Shibuya. Tokyo is huge but it’s easy to get around. The subway is great. Ubers and taxis are readily available but costs add up quickly. So stay where you want to be so you can walk or near a major train station. Traffic isn’t bad in Tokyo because most people use public transportation. Most places to eat and drink that you’ll want to go to require reservations. Trust me. You can make them online or have your hotel concierge do it-email them before you arrive in Tokyo. Everything in Tokyo is by the book. Nobody breaks the rules-ever. It’s almost annoying! There’s no crime, no pollution, no homeless, it’s super safe and people respect each other. If you break rules they’ll let you know it-nicely. It’s an incredibly civilized society. Most places in Tokyo take foreign credit cards or tap but not everywhere. So have Yen in cash on you at all times-especially for the subway. Tokyo is the way all big cities should be. It’s an incredible place with unreal food options. It gets very hot and humid in summer, it’s relatively cold in winter and it can rain at any time-but otherwise it’s pretty perfect! Have you been to Tokyo? Any tips or places you loved-restaurants, sights, etc? 2025-09-15 18:44:50 .. 0 -100% 63 +11%
24 years ago I saw the worst of humanity. My life and the lives of countless millions changed forever. At 47, I’ve lived more than half my life post 9/11. Not a day has gone by in 24 years that I’m not grateful that I, and so many friends and former colleagues are still alive. It’s a bond. It’s hard to talk about and hard for others to understand; but 9/11 shaped my adult life for better and for worse. My life and mindset were distinctly different before and after 9/11. I wouldn’t have done half the things I’ve done, good and bad, if not for 9/11. I’d be a very different person. My youth and innocence ended that day. I’ve struggled with that for 24 years and will the rest of my life. On this solemn day I can’t help but think-did the horrors of 9/11 make us better as a people? For a while I thought so. But in today’s polarized America, human life and worth seems devalued to your beliefs or your last Tweet. Whether you agree or not…people do matter. Once a person is gone, they’re gone and their family picks up the pieces-forever. Senseless violence and hate needs to stop! WE MUST BE BETTER! That said, for myself and those who personally lost that horrific morning; it’s also a day to say aloud the names of the slain to ensure they are not forgotten. I’m now older than most of them were when they were murdered. I remember. I remember my great friend, Andrew Stergiopoulos; who is eternally 23 and whom I miss dearly. I remember. I remember Monique DeJesus, Jonathan Uman, Doug Gardner, Paul Acquaviva, Greg Richards, Lynne Morris, Billy Tselepis, Arlene Fried, Debbie Bellows, Joe Sacerdote, Deanna Galante and her unborn child, Fred Varacchi and so many more. I remember. I remember these were real people who lived, laughed and cried-not just numbers or names on a wall. As years go by and memories fade, real people often get forgotten and become statistics. But I remember. I see faces. I hear voices. I remember encounters with people whose names I never knew. I remember the innocent people murdered that day. I could’ve been one of them. It’s a pain that never goes away. It’s a part of me. I remember every single day. I will never forget. I can’t. Ever. 2025-09-11 17:47:24 .. 0 -100% 45 -21%
Today I’m announcing 2 separate group trips for 2026: India and Sri Lanka! Join me in exploring the wonders of these exotic countries! India: March 20-27, 2026 Cost: $2650 per person Sri Lanka: March 30-April 6 Cost: $2150 per person To secure your spot, we need a refundable $400 deposit. Details, itineraries and payment can be found at the link in my bio, stories and story highlights. Feel free to comment, DM or email questions. I hope to travel with you soon! 2025-09-04 19:55:46 Today I’m announcing 2 .. 0 -100% 14 -75%
I spent my birthday morning talking about inflight brawls, unruly passengers behaving like imbeciles, frivolous lawsuits against airlines, and how flying brings out the worst in people. Basically the joys of air travel in 2025! But it was a very fun segment! Cheers to 47! Crazy to even say that number! Any fun Labor Day Weekend trips/plans? 2025-08-29 23:14:47 I spent my birthday morni.. 0 -100% 88 +54%
Southwest Airlines recently announced they will be requiring ‘Plus Sized’ Passengers to purchase a second seat when flying the airline. A plus sized person is loosely defined as someone who encroaches into someone else’s space. I suspect other airlines will follow suit. I put up a poll on IG Stories last night and incredibly more than 4 out of 5 people (82%) agree plus sized folks should be forced to buy 2 seats. Determining who is plus sized is interesting. There are very obese people and very large people who aren’t obese. There are very broad, muscular and tall people. What defines plus sized and who determines this? I’m about 6’3”, 195lb give or take. So I’m a pretty big guy but not too big. I comfortably can fit into an economy seat with no issues. I’m pretty broad in the shoulders but I don’t encroach upon others’ space. But anyone who flies a lot has been next to someone that made their flight miserable. The worst for me was being next to a former college football lineman who was conservatively 375lb, and enormous in the upper body and arms as well. It was a 2-3-2 configuration and I was on the window. I was pinned up against the window unable to move for 6 hours NY-LA. The plane was sold out, I couldn’t change seats. I’ve never been more miserable on a flight. I am empathetic and realize plus sized folks deal with a lot…but how is that fair to me? That man should not have been allowed to sit in a normal economy seat. You never want to discriminate or put people in awkward positions but there has to be a middle ground. So what do you do as an airline? You can make them buy 2 seats. They can pay up for business class although many cannot afford this. Or airlines could build in a few bigger economy seats at reasonable prices that can accommodate larger people. It’s a sensitive issue but something should be done-especially as seats are getting smaller and more expensive. Do you have a story like mine? Please share. Any plus sized people care to share their perspective? What should airlines do? 2025-08-26 19:43:50 .. 0 -100% 114 +100%
It’s criminal that I hadn’t been to Rio de Janeiro since 2007! But I am so glad I finally retuned. What a city! Rio, like Bangkok, Vegas, etc. is a city that just has a palpable energy about it. You feel it the second you land. The feeling of excitement that anything can happen. Rio is a city full of life. Between 2002-2007 I was in Rio 3 times but that feels like a lifetime ago. I did all of the touristy stuff including: Carnaval, hang gliding, Corcovado, Sugarloaf, etc. multiple times. So I wasn’t sure what I was going to do this trip, but I knew it wasn’t going to be the usual stuff or those silly Instagram steps! While I walked 27 miles in my 2 days here along the famous urban beaches of Rio-I had a real ‘Carioca’ tour of Rio! I saw things and views I wouldn’t have ever seen otherwise. Big thanks to my new friend, Gabriel for taking the time to drive and walk me around these local areas. Nobody goes to Downtown Rio. Last time I was here it was a no-go zone. Post Olympics it’s a really nice place to walk around by the harbor and see the historic areas of Rio-a city with significant history that I was unaware of until this trip. We also walked the back alley streets where more simple Cariocas live and exist. Old men doing Samba in a back alley on a Sunday afternoon. Eating feijoada, where I was the only foreigner to be seen. Crazy streets built on big rocks where people live, dance and eat. Seeing things through a locals eyes is always the best way. Of course I found time to go to the beaches; Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana. Of course I went to a football match between Botafogo and Palmeiras at the Olympic Stadium where Usain Bolt won his last gold medals. That’s Rio de Janeiro. An exciting city with all the obvious stuff but a whole lot beneath the surface. I feel like I won and really expanded my Rio experience. Rio is fantastic. It won’t be another 18 years til I’m back! Have you been to Rio? 2025-08-19 19:57:42 It’.. 0 -100% 91 +60%
Florianópolis, known locally as Floripa, is simply fantastic! The jewel of Southern Brazil is completely different than anywhere else in Brazil I’ve been. It’s got a clean, modern, sophisticated, relaxed feel to it. It’s absolutely gorgeous and the safest capital city in Brazil. Floripa is famous for its nightlife and beach parties but I came in winter so it was pretty chill. I had the beaches to myself with good weather. Plus, my partying days are behind me anyway. But the beaches are excellent. I spent my time on Santa Catarina Island, named after the state of the same name, driving around exploring the villages, beaches and lagoons of this gorgeous island. The beaches vary in size and shape but there’s a definite Western Cape/Cape of Good Hope look and feel to them. My favorite was probably Joaquina Beach. It felt like an African or Indian Ocean beach with big limestone rocks like the Seychelles-just not as pretty. But it got my nostalgia going. Plus, it’s a cool little beach village topped off with massive sand dunes-obviously I climbed them! The best beaches are in the east and south of the island. The city has an incredible beach walking path that goes for miles along the sea. The water is calm, clean and the views are vast. It’s a great place to chill and get some exercise. It’s easy to walk anywhere along the coastal walk or just inland but you’ll have to uber or hire a driver to get elsewhere on the island-it’s pretty big but definitely manageable. Aside from Fernando de Noronha, the Amazon, and Lençóis Maranhenses-Floripa is my favorite place I’ve been in Brazil and I’ve been quite a few places in Brazil. Have you been to Florianópolis? 2025-08-18 19:09:36 .. 0 -100% 25 -56%
After 22 years I finally returned to São Paulo, Brazil. São Paulo is a megalopolis in every sense of the word. It’s an enormous city. It’s not a pretty city at all but it has some pretty parts. The obvious comparison is Mexico City but it also has some New York, Buenos Aires and Paris feel to it in parts. São Paulo Is essentially the capital of Latin America. It’s the financial and cultural hub of Latin America and the 4th largest city in the world. The traffic is brutal-appallingly bad. Not quite Dhaka, Jakarta or Manila bad but close. In 2 days I walked over 30 miles simply to avoid traffic. Walking around Avenida Paulista (the main drag), you’re pretty unimpressed with São Paulo. It’s basically the Magnificent Mile meets Wall Street. But once you get off and explore the backstreets and neighborhoods you’ll discover little pockets of beauty, luxury, quiet and realize why Paulistanos love it here. It’s a good walking city that has a lot of steep hills. Not Seattle or San Francisco bad but a lot of hills! São Paulo has everything you could want or need but there’s not one thing you could say is the must see or do thing. My highlights were Iberapuera Park; a lovely urban park with good views of the city behind. It’s their Central Park. I also loved the Football Museum; a homage to the history of Brazilian Soccer inside the old Pacaembu Stadium-a host site for the 1950 World Cup. I got to play the São Paulo Golf Club. It’s the best course I’ve played in South America. An absolutely beautiful gem of a course hidden in the middle of the urban jungle of São Paulo. The other highlight was just food. São Paulo, like any city in Brazil, has amazing food. If you’re a meat lover it’s heaven. São Paulo has more good restaurants than you could ever eat. São Paulo is a frenetic city of energy: good and bad. I don’t think it’s anyone’s favorite city, but it’s a good place for a few days. I feel like it’s a place if you have a plugged in local showing you around it could be awesome. But for a tourist, they have good hotels and everything you could want but it’s a tough city to wrap your head around. Have you been to São Paulo? 2025-08-14 19:22:53 .. 0 -100% 55 -4%
Recife is one of the largest cities and metropolitan areas in Brazil. It’s the capital of the state of Pernambuco and it’s often referred to as the Venice of Brazil. To me, it feels like Miami as everything is spread out with multiple high-rise building areas and you’re always crossing bridges to get places. It’s a bit confusing but a very nice place to be. I stayed on Boa Viagem; which is one of the nicer urban beaches you’ll ever see. In fact, I was going to do a few more things with my time in Pernambuco but decided to just hang and walk on the long, vibrant, wide and beautiful beach that my hotel looked over. It was a good choice! The other highlight of Recife is Recife Antigo or the Old Town. It’s a vibrant, beautiful, at times crumbling cobblestone part of town where the city is said to have started at Marco Zero. I spent a wonderful Sunday evening there just strolling, eating, drinking and watching live music in the streets. It’s a very wholesome, communal place where families and couples just do life. It felt present, like things did before technology. It’s like what you wish your city was like on a random Sunday. Just north of Recife is the UNESCO World Heritage City of Olinda. This is the definite must-see of any visit to Recife and Pernambuco. Olinda was awesome. A colorful, vibrant place to walk, eat, sip coffee, sightsee and sweat your butt off climbing hills! Olinda has that old world Latin feel of places like Trinidad, Cuba; Antigua, Guatemala; or Granada, Nicaragua-just not quite as well preserved. The views from Alto Da Sé are spectacular looking out to the modern city of Recife with colorful Olinda below. Recife is similar in many ways to other big cities in the Northeast of Brazil. Places like Natal, Fortaleza and even Salvador. There’s nothing you absolutely must see or do but it’s a vibe-maybe I’ve been in California too long! But it’s very pleasant, fun, relaxing, and you’re just happy to be there. It’s easy to be comfortable in Recife. Have you been to Recife? 2025-08-12 21:20:02 .. 0 -100% 45 -21%
I had always wanted to go to Fortaleza, Brazil. I love where it’s located on a map-closer to Africa than to Western Brazil. It looks like a mix of old Miami, Havana or Panama City. Most of the high rises built along the sea are clearly from the 70’s and 80’s. The promenade; which is the heartbeat of Fortaleza is typical Brazilian with a touch of Venice Beach. I was told by many that Fortaleza is just a big city that’s a gateway to other places in the State of Ceará. But I really enjoyed my time in Fortaleza on its own. Fortaleza is the 4th largest city in Brazil, a country with over 200 million people. Fortaleza is a great place for a day or two. It has an unmistakable energy about it. A great vibe. Good food. It feels right, especially as the sun goes down and the streets fill up with life after a hot day. Some highlights include the beach clubby Praia do Futuro; which had the best infrastructure of any of the Fortaleza beaches. Arena Castelão; a 2014 World Cup host stadium; where I caught a Botafogo/Fortaleza game. In fact, Botafogo was staying in my hotel! And of the course the fantastic promenade along Beira Mar. A gorgeous walk along the coast with everything you need along the way including a vibrant night market and beach volleyball all night! Fortaleza is the type of place where you don’t really have to see or do anything in particular. You just kind of exist within it and feel the energy and the vibe. That’s a nice feeling. Just “being” and not feeling like you have to see or do things when you travel is underrated. Fortaleza is not a life changing experience or anything but it’s a good experience and a nice place to be. I look forward to returning to Ceará and exploring more of what it has to offer. Have you been to Fortaleza? 2025-08-10 19:51:29 I ha.. 0 -100% 43 -25%
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses is a different world. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s like White Sands, New Mexico but way bigger with emerald lakes. It’s the best place I’ve ever been swimming. It’s tremendously annoying to get to and from. Plus, I didn’t see a single foreign tourist. Not one. Not even a rogue Brit, Frenchie or German. All Brazilians. That’s pretty unusual these days but also very cool. Lençóis Maranhenses isn’t just cool-it’s spectacular. Lençóis Maranhenses is somewhere in the world. I’ve been saying places are somewhere in the world for 20 years but few places fit the phrase like this one. It’s close to nowhere. It requires effort to get here. Pictures cannot possibly do it justice. But it is perfect, beautiful and peaceful…yet brutally harsh. At this point in my travel life, few things or places get me truly excited. Lençóis Maranhenses is one of them. It was so worth it. The word may be out but the tourists aren’t here. I didn’t even see any backpackers which is shocking. They’re usually first to market on hot “new” cheap spots. That’s refreshing. I feel like I really got my moneys worth. I highly recommend a private driver and guide to avoid being with packs of loud, picture crazy Brazilians. Visiting Lençóis Maranhenses is like a dream but it isn’t for everyone. The truck ride in and out is soul rattling. There’s a lot of tough dune climbing by foot. It’s really hot and super windy-and no matter how hard you try: you’ll find sand in your bag, in your phone, in your hat, in your butt crack, ball sack, behind your ears and in your hair. But that’s part of the fun! I am so happy I finally made the effort to come to this magical place. Somewhere in the world. Have you been to or heard of Lençóis Maranhenses? 2025-08-09 03:31:53 .. 0 -100% 161 +182%
You’ve all probably seen some of these lists from big travel publications that have come out recently. Things like best cities, airlines, hotels, etc. These lists always make me giggle and roll my eyes. Who are these people deciding? How many peoples’ input goes into it? How many of these voters or writers have been to each of the places listed? I have no idea. But what I do know is most of these lists are lame and driven by money or whatever the case may be. So I decided to rank my 30 Best Major Cities in the World. So that means big cities, world capitals or major population centers. Sorry, Venice doesn’t count. I have no stake in this. Nobody is paying me for this list. I am completely unbiased and it’s all based off my own experience. My one caveat is I have been to each city at least three times. So I feel like I have a pretty good authority on the subject. Here’s my list: 1. Sydney 🇦🇺 2. Tokyo 🇯🇵 3. Barcelona 🇪🇸 4. New York 🇺🇸 5. Cape Town 🇿🇦 6. Bangkok 🇹🇭 7. London 🇬🇧 8. Hong Kong 🇭🇰 9. Paris 🇫🇷 10. Buenos Aires 🇦🇷 11. Melbourne 🇦🇺 12. Rome 🇮🇹 13. Dubai 🇦🇪 14. Madrid 🇪🇸 15. Mexico City 🇲🇽 16. Prague 🇨🇿 17. Shanghai 🇨🇳 18. Berlin 🇩🇪 19. Seoul 🇰🇷 20. Los Angeles 🇺🇸 21. Ho Chi Minh City 🇻🇳 22. Istanbul 🇹🇷 23. Amsterdam 🇳🇱 24. Singapore 🇸🇬 25. Moscow 🇷🇺 26. Beirut 🇱🇧 27. Chicago 🇺🇸 28. Tel Aviv 🇮🇱 29. Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷 30. Belgrade 🇷🇸 What do you think? 2025-07-14 23:50:28 .. 1,602 +82% 120 +111%
It’s almost America’s 249th birthday and a record amount of Americans are hitting the road and skies this weekend…are you one of them? What are your plans for the 4th of July? 2025-07-03 19:46:49 It’s almost America.. 0 -100% 28 -51%
St. George, Utah is a bit of a dream destination. It has amazing desert scenery, mountains, climate, golf, and it’s close to several National Parks-plus Las Vegas. I’ve been to St. George 5 times now and I already can’t wait to return. If you’ve been to Zion National Park, you’ve likely been through St. George. It’s a great base camp to explore Southern Utah, Northern Arizona or Southern Nevada. It doesn’t have much in terms of nightlife or good restaurants but I suspect that will be coming as St. George is one of the fastest growing cities in America. The golf world has caught on. The St. George area is home to several top courses and several more are on the way. In fact, the brand new amazing course, Black Desert, is currently building 2 new championship courses and a Par 3 course. They will be amazing when they open. Everything is close, easy, and cheap in St. George-even most golf. Nearby Mesquite, Nevada is a sleepy old western town with some crappy casinos and resorts, and a growing retirement community. It’s not the type of place I’d hang out in but it also has some of the top golf courses in the country and Mesquite is less than an hour from Las Vegas and only 35 minutes from St. George. This quick golf trip was meaningful to me for a few reasons. I surpassed 750 different golf courses played. I now stand at 755 in 34 different countries. 96% of the 755 are since 2019. My goal for no particular reason is to play 1000 different courses. I also set my personal scoring record at Falcon Ridge with a 4 under 68! So St. George and Mesquite make a helluva golf destination. I’ve now played just about every course, and surely every notable course, in both St. George and Mesquite. Here are my top 10 public golf courses in the area: 1. Black Desert 2. Sand Hollow 3. Wolf Creek (Mesquite) 4. Conestoga (Mesquite) 5. Coral Canyon 6. The Ledges 7. Copper Creek 8. Sky Mountain 9. Oasis Palmer Course (Mesquite) 10. Falcon Ridge (Mesquite) Have you been to St. George or Mesquite? 2025-06-13 19:21:10 St. G.. 0 -100% 24 -58%
How was everyone’s Memorial Day Weekend? Did you go anywhere? Any travel issues with weather or other issues? Also a quick tease…I’ll be announcing details for my first ever group trips very soon…they will be to Algeria and Libya in October! 2025-05-27 21:34:28 How was everyone’.. 0 -100% 9 -84%
Back in LA and back in studio as the busy summer travel season ramps up. Happy to say New Jersey Transit ended their strike as predicted! Are you flying anywhere for Memorial Day Weekend? Where to? Anyone flying to or from Newark? Or has flow to or from Newark recently? What’s the status? 2025-05-19 19:35:59 Back in LA and back in .. 0 -100% 15 -74%
After 5 days stuck in Pakistan, I’m thrilled to say I’m typing this from Dubai! After an 18 hour driving day because the airports were closed and 3 trips to the Islamabad Airport to leave the country-we finally made it! Not once did we ever feel in danger, threatened or scared. This was one of my favorite trips actually. Pakistan was wonderful. But it surely was frustrating and weird to feel trapped and be stuck. Had a ceasefire not been called and we didn’t get out today: tomorrow morning we were heading to Peshawar to get an Afghan visa and crossing the world’s craziest border and onto Kabul to get a flight out. Needless to say I’m glad we didn’t have to do that. It’s dangerous, chaotic, and just a pain in the ass with a lot of extra steps, time and money. Luckily, Islamabad was a lovely city. Not as vibrant as Lahore but pretty, clean, green and relaxed. I really enjoyed it; even though we were there longer than anticipated. The main sights are the Mosque and a park with a city overlook. Islamabad is not Paris in terms of sights to see but it was very pleasant. The 2 highlights for me were staying in the Islamabad Marriott that had a terrorist bombing in 2008. A beautiful, very secure hotel. In fact, to get in and out we had to go through the kitchen and laundry past all the workers. I felt like Ray Liotta entering the Copa in Goodfellas! The other was playing the Islamabad Club-the most exclusive club in Pakistan-I’m told. It was a lot of fun albeit steamy! So we are safe and sound in Dubai. DrewBinsky and I have been to Dubai 3 times together in the last 2 years although this was unplanned. But Dubai is always a good idea! Big thanks to UntamedBorders whose guide looked after us on the ground in Pakistan and from the UK with great communication during this hectic trip. I’ve been through and seen a lot whilst traveling but this is the first time I’ve truly been stuck in a country for an indefinite time. It’s a very helpless feeling I hope I don’t repeat again! Thanks to everyone for the messages and well wishes. Thanks to the people of Pakistan for making us feel welcome. Pakistan Zindabad! 2025-05-11 21:55:28 A.. 8,817 +900% 87 +53%
A full and immediate ceasefire between India and Pakistan was announced just minutes ago! That is tremendous news for those of us who are stuck in Pakistan! As fun as crossing into Afghanistan would have been, I much prefer to fly to Dubai and onto LA! The irony of fleeing a country for Afghanistan… Also, this trip in Pakistan has been so wonderful, I’m glad it ends well and I’ll only (hopefully) be one day delayed getting home. Now back to beautiful Pakistan content! The Hunza Valley is like a dream. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. Northern Pakistan is simply breathtaking everywhere you look. But even moreso, the people are so friendly it’s honestly awesome. Especially if you’ve traveled other places in this region. Not to mention great food! I’ll let the photos and views speak for themselves but some highlights were definitely Altit and Baltit Forts. They’re historic, fascinating, beautiful and have great views! We stayed in Karimabad; which was a great base to explore the Valley right off the Karakoram Highway. I’ll be honest, I’m so elated about the ceasefire, I can’t even formulate intelligent thoughts so I’ll leave you with the photos and videos! Any thoughts on the ceasefire? Be nice Indians and Pakistanis! 2025-05-10 18:40:50 .. 2,585 +193% 39 -32%
I can confidently say that the Karakoram Highway is the best drive I’ve ever done-and I’ve done some great ones. Photos and videos can’t do it justice-you need to experience it. The KKH, as it’s called in Pakistan, is 1300km long. It officially starts near Rawalpindi, Pakistan and ends in Kashgar, China. It’s a “somewhat paved” engineering marvel that mirrors the Old Silk Road; which can still be seen from parts of the highway. Driving from Skardu, we joined the KKH, at Jaglot, near the junction of the worlds 3 highest mountain ranges: the Himalayas; Karakoram; and Hindu Kush mountains. We drove up past the Hunza Valley to Passu-not too far from the Chinese border. And we drove it 16 hours down to Islamabad. That’s about 80% of the KKH in Pakistan. Ironically, after the attacks and airport closures the other day; we debated going up to China (we both have 10 year visas) to get out of Pakistan. But the remoteness in a weird part of China made that undesirable. The only other overland option would be via Peshawar and the Khber Pass, Afghanistan onto Kabul to get a flight via the Gulf. Our backup plans haven’t needed to be executed, as of now, and we were able to enjoy the trip. Driving the KKH isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s honestly pretty scary. Let’s just say it’s not quite the 10 or I-95! Landslides are a common thing; guard rails are minimal; drivers are aggressive and awful, and it’s a long way down with one misstep. That said, your head is on a swivel because it’s just constant beauty like you’ve never seen before. Attabad Lake was particularly stunning and the Hussaini Suspension Bridge is a must. But mainly, just look around. Stop, eat and have coffee with locals. They’re incredibly friendly. It’s refreshing! The KKH and Northern Pakistan had been at the top of my list ever since I wasn’t allowed up North when I first visited Pakistan 17 years ago. That was a different time but it was worth the wait. It’s so good. Have you driven the Karakoram Highway? What’s the best, most scenic or harrowing drive you’ve ever done? 2025-05-10 00:29:58 .. 3,809 +332% 73 +28%
Waking up in Pakistani controlled Kashmir this morning to the 3am news of the Indian missile strikes was an interesting way to wake up! I can assure everyone that we were nowhere near danger and are very safe now. Honestly, you’d have no idea anything is going on up here-contrary to news reports on American media. Zero Pakistanis we’ve encountered are concerned and it’s business as usual. We will be getting out of Pakistan as scheduled barring any unforeseen circumstances. I appreciate all the messages! That said…What a first day of our Northern Pakistan adventure (I wrote this before the news)! It started with one of the most scenic flights I’ve been on up to Skardu from Lahore. Passing a few 8000m peaks before circling the Skardu Valley to the very remote airport smack dab in the middle of the Valley. Northern Pakistan (and India) has been a hotspot recently and honestly for the last 75 years or so. Tensions and disputes between Pakistan and neighboring India go back decades. The primary issue between India and Pakistan is the dispute over the Kashmir region, a disputed territory that both countries claim in its entirety. There are no clear borders and the geographical lines of Kashmir as a whole, Baltistan and Gilgit-Baltistan are tough for a foreigner like me to understand. But the bottom line to a tourist is it’s all beautiful! The Skardu Valley is simply breathtaking. Our first stop was Satpara Lake. I have a thing for alpine lakes and Satpara didn’t disappoint. Reminiscent of something you’d see in Alberta, Canada. Next up, we headed to the village of Shigar for lunch, the Fort and an impromptu polo match where the whole village attended. It wasn’t exactly the Santa Barbara Polo Club but it was probably my favorite thing we did all day. It was perfect. And to be honest, I had no idea they played polo in Pakistan! The weather was perfect. People were so nice to us. Food was good. Roads are paved. Life is good up in the Himalayas. Have you been to Skardu, Shigar or anywhere in Kashmir or Baltistan? 2025-05-07 21:05:10 Waking .. 2,742 +211% 65 +14%
I didn’t see Lahore becoming my favorite city on the Indian Subcontinent but that’s where we are! I hadn’t been to Pakistan in 17 years. Restrictions with travel, visas and other issues had deterred me from returning but it’s long been tops on my list to return. Lahore is the biggest city on Earth that I had not been to so I was eager to visit. I had heard good things about it. But I am scarred from some other city experiences on the Subcontinent so my expectations were pretty low. And they were blown away. Lahore is a very pleasant place to be. The city is relatively clean. The roads are excellent. The traffic and general Subcontinent chaos are minimal. The pollution and poverty aren’t appalling. Plus, the people, sights, and food are fantastic. Lahore isn’t Paris, Sydney or LA but for this part of the world; it’s pretty darn good. We checked out the main sights around the walled city and Badshahi Mosque. We got to play the top golf course in Lahore with the top player from Karachi who was in town for a tournament. I saw the lovely UNESCO site of Shalimar Gardens. But most interesting to me was the Wahga Border ceremony between India and Pakistan. Given the current tensions between the two nuclear powers; it was a fascinating, very nationalistic time to go. It was very festive. Music was loud, crowds were loud, flags were flying on both sides of the border. Each side was like a half oval stadium. The Pakistan side was under construction so I estimate about 1500 people were around me watching. I’d guess the India side had about 4000 people in attendance. It was quite a spectacle that I really enjoyed and only about 45 minutes from Lahore. Overall, Lahore was a great place for a short visit. 2-3 days is ideal to get a really good feel for this city of some 14 million people. I highly recommend getting a driver to stay with you all day. I also highly recommend eating out in the posh Gulberg area of town for awesome restaurants. And now…the real adventure in Pakistan begins! Have you been to Lahore? 2025-05-06 07:32:22 I didn’.. 2,488 +182% 77 +35%

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