Myanmar. A country with over 3,500 years of history, much of it war-torn and bloody, sits cradled in the elbow between India, China, Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Closed to the outside world for much of the past century following a century of devastating British colonial rule, Myanmar is a captivating destination for travelers interested […]
Laureen Haydock-Lund
Laureen Lund is a Silverdale native who has spent the past 25 years living in Gig Harbor. Retired from a career in marketing, media and public relations, Laureen and her husband, Arne, are on a multiyear world tour that will take them to all corners of the globe in search of adventure in their fabulous 50s. Laureen is a freelance writer and manager of the popular blog:
Posted inPeople & Places
Cruising on China’s Yangtze River — The Ancient and The New
It’s mind-boggling. China’s population is more than 1.4 billion. Yes, billion with a B. Eclipsing the United States with the 2019 population count at 330 million (India fast gaining on China with 1.3 billion). Billions of people. Where to put them all? How to manage them? This is China’s challenge. There are small but noticeable […]
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Central America’s Diamond in the Rough — Discovering Guatemala
Colorful and shy Mayan women go about their day, much the same way they have for centuries in Guatemala. Within the country, there are 21 indigenous groups, many existing in traditional style. But look around and you find a more modern Mayan/Spanish ethnic group known as mestizos, as well as the Garinagu of African descent. […]
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The Beach Basket Gift Shop 50 Years in the Making
A great many things have changed since 1969: the world, technology, the Kitsap Peninsula, Gig Harbor. But The Beach Basket, a mainstay iconic retail store in Gig Harbor, has remained. Since 1969, The Beach Basket and the Schmidtke family have toiled through all the changes to keep their gift store consistent — friendly, affordable, traditional […]
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A Visit to the Amazon Rainforest
Visiting the Amazon Rainforest is akin to being a teeny insect in the greatest biodiverse area on the planet. It’s humongous and you will never see it all — 2.1 million square miles. One-fifth of the freshwater flowing into the Earth’s oceans comes from the Amazon River. The Amazon has more than 40,000 different kinds […]
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Belize as a Group Kayak Adventure
Close your eyes and imagine water as blue as turquoise. Sand shimmering like diamonds. Sunsets glowing like amber. Jungles glistening like emeralds. No, it’s not a fantasy land of rare gemstones in a mystical story. This is Belize. Beautiful, colorful, friendly Belize on the Caribbean Coast. You can come to Belize for relaxing beaches and […]
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The Panama Canal — World’s Greatest Shortcut
You don’t need to be an engineer or construction worker or sea merchant to appreciate it. In fact, it’s just as fascinating for its historic, geologic and economic attributes. The Panama Canal is one of the ultimate modern-day structures of the world, and cruising through it is diverting for just about anyone. There are several […]
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Egypt — Ancient Land of Fascinating Historical Significance
Egypt is a mystical place where your emotions take a rollercoaster ride. Look right and see some of the world’s most ancient antiquities. Look left and see traffic congestion and pollution. Read the news and there is terrorism and unrest. But spend several days on the placid Nile River and find peace and tranquility. Egypt […]
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The Greek Island You Never Knew You Needed to Visit — Antiparos
We always hear about the well-known and touristy Greek islands such as Crete, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes. All of these islands have an abundance of beauty but also an abundance of tourists. Some, an overabundance. And then there is Antiparos. Where, you say? Antiparos, the little sister island to Paros, one of the Cyclades […]